Exposition of Ecclesiastes

Vers. I. The words of the Preacher, the Son of David, King of Jerusalem.

THIS Book (written by King Solomon, about the fortieth year of his Reign, and last of his Life, Anno 〈◊〉 , 3030) is called, in Greek, Ecclesiastes; in Hebrew, Choheleth; both signifying, a caller unto (or a gatherer together of) Men, to declare to them the words of God's Wisdom, relating to their everlasting blessedness. This is the proper work of the infallible Spirit of Christ, in himself and Saints, Pro. 1. 20-23. and 8. 1, -9. This living Creature-Word and Wisdom of God, is called the Beginning, in and by which, God created the Heaven and the earth, Gen. 1. 1. The purely divine Form of God, did (by way of emanation or generation, not properly creation) produce that Supreme Creature-form of him, in personal Union with itself, from everlasting, as itself tells us, Prov. 8. 22, 23. This became his fitted Hand, by which, to Create the World, as also to mediate between mere creaturality in Angels and Men, when made, and the single infinite Divinity. This fountain Creature-Spirit, is, by Divine Authority, called God, and asserted to be the immediate Creator of all things, John 1. 1, - 3. Col. 1. 15, 16. Yea, the Man Christ, as the polished Shaft in this hand of God (ready to be sent forth in due time) is said to be him by whom God made the Worlds ( Heb. 1--3.) Natural and Spiritual, by a first and second Creation. He gave an Immortality of Being, not of Life, to Angels and Men, by the First: but true Life and Immortality are brought to light, and set up in them, only, in and by the Second. The First was a mortal Law-life; the Second is an everlasting Gospel-Life, 2 Tim. 1. 10. Whoever fall short of Christ's Gospel-life (as all do, that finally refuse to part with their fading Law-life, by a holy obedient death of their own Spirit and Nature) fall short also of the glory of God, never come to see and enjoy the divine glory, as Co-heirs, with Christ, of God. This living, creating, preaching Word and Creature-Wisdom of God, is the supreme receaver, and infallible declarer of the whole counsel of the divine Mind, relating to Angels and Men. The words of this living Word, will prosper in the thing, whereto sent, the Eternal Life or Death of the obedient 〈◊〉 , or willful rejecters thereof, Isa. 55. 11. 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. God effectually makes obedient submitters to, and receivers of it. Wicked Men and Angels make themselves willful haters, final refusers, and incorrigible enemies thereof, Hos. 13. 9. In this supreme Creature-being, the original Creature-Book and living Word of God, did all things consist, or stand up together, in a Radical existence, before brought forth in their actual subsistencies, by Creation. In this Book were all our Members written, when, as yet, there was none of them. Our substance was not hid from God, but seen by him, together with all we shall ever come to be, or do; and all, he will do with us, to all eternity, Psal. 139. 15, 16. Seen and known to him were all the works of his hands, and all the works of those works, Men and Angels, towards him, before their actual Production or personal Individuation: Yea, before their said radical Existence. There are no Futurities to His infinite Understanding. All things, past, present, and to come, were ever present to him. The Supreme Creature-Spirit, Word, and Wisdom of God, is called Man, as also are Angels, both good and bad. The man Gabriel, that appeared to Daniel, Zacharias and Mary, ( Dan. 9. 21. Luk. 1. 19. & verse. 26, 27.) was this Creature-Spirit in the Mediator. Good Angels, also, have been frequently represented as, and called Men, Gen. 18. 2. and other Scriptures. Evil Angels also, are called Men of sin, Sons of Perdition, in and with their Luciferian Head, 2 Thes. 2. 3. By the communicated Spiritual Light of the Man Christ, to Angels and Men, can either of them, under and with him, become true seers of God, in his divine and creature-glories, so as to be true Preachers, and rightly qualified Declarers of his divine and spiritual Things or Truths. Such a Seer of God was Solomon the Preacher and Writer of this Book. And in the same Light, in which a Seer of the things of God, was he enabled, infallibly to see and declare the Vanity of all first-creation Life and Goodness, and the never-fading Glories and excellencies of the Second. In the all-penetrating Spirit of true Prophecy, did he see the deep things of God's divinity, and the natural and spiritual things of the first and second Creation, what each amounted to. So could 〈◊〉 , with other awakened spiritual Saints, infallibly prophesy or foretell what will become of any Men or Angels to Eternity (as found rebelliously fixing in their first-creation Life and State of Vanity, or obediently surrendering it for the second) in Eternal Life or Death. In this true spirit of Prophecy, did Solomon (with his Father David, and other Saints) find out and set in order many right words, words of Truth, given from one Shepherd, Eccl. 12. 10, 11. The spirit of the Lord, the rock of Israel, spake to and by David. His Word, says he, was in my tongue, 2 Sam. 23. 2, 3. Such words only as the Holy Ghost teacheth, words of God's wisdom, show the way of salvation, and of scaping damnation. Such words only show those glorious things, God hath, in everlasting love, provided for Saints; and the dreadful amazing things, he hath, in everlasting wrath, prepared for incorrigible sinners; neither of which, can the Eye, Ear, Heart, or Understanding of natural Man or Angel, take any right measure or notice of. Man and Angel, in the utmost wisdom of their own nature, are bounded with first-creation vanities, for Object; of which number, its very self is; and they, therein. When viewed in the infallible Light, and weighed in the just Ballance of God's new-creation Sanctuary-Spirit, they'll all be found lighter than vanity. t. The Son of David, King of Jerusalem. So, a Type of the Man Christ (as Son of the great and originally unchangeable Creature-spirit of the Mediator) the true King of his New-Jerusalem Saints; set up, by God, on his holy Hill of Zion, Psal. 2. 6. John 5. 22. 27. Act. 17. 31, &c.

Vers. II. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

The doubling of the words, Vanity of vanities, is emphatical, more strongly asserting this irrefragable Truth, That vain are all things in the first-creation world, or natural state of Men and Angels. This say's the Preacher, Solomon, as turning from his own Wisdom or Understanding, and owning the Holy Ghost (or New-creature, Gospel-spirit of Christ) in him, the sole dictating Author of this Book. Vanity of Vanities, in the Hebrew manner of expressing, signifies most vain, in the superlative degree? Man, at his best estate, (and so, Angel, at his best, before the Fall of either) were altogether Vanity, (Psal. 39. 5.) and since the Fall, are they worse, lighter then Vanity itself, less then nothing, Psal. 62. 9. Isa. 40. 17. Neither of them had, at first, any durable Life, Wisdom, 〈◊〉 , Glory, nothing but what was mortal, perishable, and vanishing. All was but a fading Flower of the first-creation Field, or World. The utmost growth, beauty, flourish and fruitfulness of the corruptible seed of God's left-hand planting in them by a first-creation, is no more or better. And all their best desires, births, fruits, thoughts or actions therein, are vanity; can never exceed the fading nature and title of the root, whence they spring; the fleshly Tree of good and evil, on which they grow. All visible things, Glory, Riches, Power, (together with the literal Sun, that produces and renders the rest, visible) are but Vanity of vanities, shadows of shadows, to wit, of the intellectual 〈◊〉 Sun, the first-covenant Spirit, with all the inward mystical riches, 〈◊〉 , wisdom, righteousness, glories and excellencies produced thereby, in the natural first-creation state of Man or Angel, at best. The most excellent births, fruits, performances, or works of Righteousness, brought forth and done, but under the impregnating and fructifying influence of the first-covenant Spirit, and so, of Christ therein, as a fleshly Bridegroom to them; all these still, are but Vanity, or vanishing shadows of spiritual, heavenly, eternal, substantial things or truths, durable riches, everlasting life, food and clothing; the glory that excels and remains forever, in the New-creation state of Man or Angel. All's but the Life and Image of the earthly, in the Spirit of Nature; not of the heavenly, in the new-creature Spirit of Grace. The life, wisdom, form of godliness, righteousness of Man or Angel, in their own nature, as at first created, were real, but not true, in a Scripture-sense. All are but shadows of the everlasting Life, power of Godliness, wisdom and righteousness of God, in the New-creation, or Second Covenant. Holy flesh; cleansed, righteous nature (and so, the common or general Salvation all men are capable, since the Fall, of being restored into, by the Redeemer) is but a shadow of true holiness, special, everlasting salvation, in God's holy New-creature spirit of Grace and Truth. True godliness; the mystery, the power of godliness; true or everlasting Life, Salvation, and blessedness; the Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, in his New-covenant spirit of Grace, none of these true things were possessed by any Angel or Man, in the Primitive unstained purity of their 〈◊〉 , by the first-creation. All these true things of God were represented to them all, in the Tree of true Life, by way of Object, as what God had in reserve, to bestow upon them, by a new-creation; on their obedient surrender and parting with that mortal Life and State, they received by the first. God calls what he gave them, by the first-creation, their own; their life, wisdom, righteousness, &c. What he offers them by a new-creation, he calls his own; his life, wisdom, righteousness, &c. All men, that Satan can bring to savor only the natural things of Man or Angel, and never at all, the spiritual, new-creature things of Christ and God ( Mat. 16. 23.) are fixed with him in unchangeable enmity to God. The New-creature Life and things, God calls his own, are transcendently superior to Man's own, as the Litteral Heavens are above the Earth. The duplication of this Hebrew superlative, the double Out-cry or Proclamation, here, implies the absolute certainty and great importance of the assertion, as also that Solomon would have the thing here proclaimed, understood as the sum or compend of this whole Book, which he explains by degrees, in the various parts thereof. What he, indistinctly, and as in a transport, cries out of as Vanity of vanities, he begins to lodge and fix his meaning in, saying, All is vanity. And this (All) yet, as somewhat indistinct, is (after) limited within its due bounds, yet allowed its full extent and circumference, over and over, in this first Chapter. All things under heaven, under the sun, all earthly, mortal life and goodness, received by Man or Angel, in their first-creation; all below what is heavenly, spiritual, and everlasting, in and by the second, are vanity, or vanishing, perishing things, however good in their kind; and useful in their place. This fixes and completes this leading Proposition and Foundation of the ensuing Discourse. All visible things under the literal Sun (depending on its influence, as a concurring second Cause of their Production and Preservation, and rendered visible by its light) and then, all the invisible things of Man and Angel, all the Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, Excellencies, Glories, and all the Desires, Thoughts and Operations of their invisible, immortal spirits, under the mystical first-creation Sun, or first-covenant spirit of nature in the Mediator, all these things are comprehended under the title, Vanity. All their counsels, studies, purposes and contrivances for true happiness, within the compass, and in the single activity of that natural state, or life, life and all, all is Vanity. Vanity is written out upon Tree and Fruit, Root and Branch, Principle and Operations, throughout, in that state of both. The infallible new-creature spirit of true Prophecy, declares this, concerning all the goodness, life or 〈◊〉 , found in the old, natural, first-creation state of Angel and Man. This Spirit, in Christ and awakened spiritual Saints, can prophesy or certainly fore-tell, what will become of any man (as finally rejecting or complying with its reproofs of Death on his own spirit of Nature, and instructions of Life, in God's Spirit of Grace) in Eternal Life or Death. This New-creature spirit of Life and true Prophesy, is below the infinite Divinity, but transcendently above all natural, first-creation Life and Things, in Man or Angel. Paul, in all the Light, Wisdom, and Righteousness of his restored naturals ( Phil. 3. 4, 6.) Was exceedingly mad against Christ's Gospel Truths and Saints, Acts 26. 11. What work then is Man (though wise, strong, and honorable in Christ, (1 Cor. 4. 10.) as to 〈◊〉 -covenant attainments) like to make of it at Gospel, or showing the true way of Salvation? God knows all the Thoughts of man, in his highest wisdom, to be 〈◊〉 , 1 Cor. 3. 20. All purely divine things, the deep things of God; and all spiritual, heavenly, new-creation things, lie clear out of the reach of all single natural understanding of man or angel, 1 Cor. 2. 9-14. Their vain wisdom has nothing but Vanity, for its immediately discernible Object. If we extend this, all is Vanity, beyond the sphere of natural, to divine or spiritual creature-things, we blaspheme. If we narrow or confine its significancy to mere visible outward naturals, and call the upper sort of Vanities (the invisible excellencies of natural Man or Angel) Spiritual, we blaspheme also, by thrusting them into the room, and giving them the Title of the New-creation things of God. Flesh and Spirit, natural and Spiritual, in Scripture, are the distinguishing characters of all natural first-creation life and things thereof, in Angel or Man; and of the things of God, in the second. To reckon, with the young man, the Corinthians, and Laodiceans, that when full, rich, wise, strong, and honorable, in the restored first-covenant Law-life of our own nature, we need nothing ( Rev. 3. 17.) as to Eternal Life, we shall find ourselves so far mistaken, that indeed we want everything, and must part with all we have, for that everything. Neither Uncircumcision, nor Circumcision, corrupt nor righteous Nature, holy or unholy flesh and blood, signifies anything, as to eternal Life, or our entering the Kingdom of God, but that we be New creatures; have spiritual, new-creation Life, about us. If true Righteousness and Salvation were to be found or had in the Law-Life, or first-covenant, first-creation state, no need of Gospel, or a new-covenant Life by the Second, Heb. 8. 7.

If the natural life of Angel and Man, set up in both, by the first-creation, had been immortal, unchangeable, eternal, everyone of them had infallibly been saved. And, if but mortal, and no more excellent life and things had been prepared by God, to bestow upon them, by a new and second-creation of them, not one of them could ever have been saved. All had infallibly perished, forever. None will now so perish, but such as finally refuse to part with and lose their fading life and things, in the first creation, for God's everlasting creature-life, wisdom, righteousness, and glory, in the second. Misse but the true extent and bounds of the word all, in this saying, all is vaniry, and we miss all, as to the main scope and design of this Book. That all visible, outward things are vanishing shadows, the common light of reason, in heathens, can declare. But, the reputed orthodox wisdom of man, in the glory of a restored first-covenant righteous life, is the Arch-heretic in the main point, when peremptorily asserting the invisible natural excellencies he is possessed of, to be spiritual. For so, he perfectly excludes the true spiritual things of Christ and God, and shuts up the kingdom of Heaven (Mat. 23. 13.) excludes all the truths or things thereof, out of his doctrine. Then, the whole counsel of God, about the salvation of man is counted foolishness and madness, by him. Where will man be, when God is Judge himself? The Heavens will declare his Righteousness (Psal. 50. 6.) not Man's, to be that which qualifies any for entrance into his Kingdom. A most dismal conclusion, will the self-confident Disputers of this World, against God, and all his things, in the next, come to. When their Consciences are opened, all their mouths will be stopped. They'l have nothing to say. All Words of Man's wisdom about the things of God, are most false and Heretical. They assert those to be the things of God, which are not; and utterly deny those that are. All Man's Doctrines, Reasons or Arguments, Uses, Motives, &c. amount to but the persuasive words of his foolish wisdom, to establish his hearers in a direct contrariety to God's. All's but the jingling confused noise of tinkling Cymbals, giving no certain sound, as to what is pleasing to God, or wherein to resist the Devil. They labor to keep off any the least word of a true tendency this way. This work are multitudes of blind leaders and their followers at, sporting themselves in their own deceivings, as to the grand concern of both. Any word, towards the opening the Kingdom of Heaven, they reckon the arrantest Heresy in the World. All this, from want of a right owning the distinction of first creation vanities and shadows (in the full extent and comprehensiveness of this, All is vanity ) from spiritual, new-creation Substances and Truths. All that is natural is Vanity, and so, the subject on which the Cross, or spiritual Sword of Christ, falls; it must die, in every Angel and Man, as brought upon them in love or wrath, whether on obedient Saints, or incorrigible sinners. Job was amazed to see his restored human Excellencies, smitten by the Cross. And his three mistaking Friends were amazed to find his Spirit, as to all the natural wisdom, restored life and excellencies thereof, lie a bleeding under the friendly death-wounds of Christ's spiritual Sword. To 〈◊〉 Jobs Body, Children, and outward concerns only, all that was struck at, by the Cross, is to miss the principal scope and intent of that Book. So, to miss the full extent of the All that is vanity, here, is to miss the main design of this. All that so state Job' s Case, miss the main design of God's Love, which was thereby accomplished upon him, for his Salvation; and the main design of the Devils wrath, for his final destruction, which was not accomplished, nor could be. A parallel mistake of this leading word, here, All is Vanity, will gravel the utmost wisdom of the most soaring, 〈◊〉 undertaker, in the wisdom of man, to interpret this Book. He will never border upon, or come near the design of it, which is, to undeceive men in their pursuit after true happiness, which all implicitly desire, but millions unalterably hate that Life, wherein it does consist. Man gad's abroad, to change his way, in a vast heap of perishing vanities, first-creation desireables, delights of the sons of men; and wholly misses all those substantial new-creation things or truths which are the delights of the Sons of God. Thus does Man labor for, and seek after true happiness, under a perfect and absolute impossibility, of ever 〈◊〉 it. Man, in all possible variety of condition, within the compass of his first-creation make 〈◊〉 never gets out of, or surmounts the sphere of Vanity. Vanity 〈◊〉 writ upon all he is, hath, can think, speak, or do, therein. Root and Branch, Tree and Fruit, Principles and Performances; all is Vanity Why, then

Vers. III. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the Sun?

What remains to a man, after dead, of all his labor in this world? read's the Chaldee. Nothing. How dies the Wise man? As the fool: the righteous? as the wicked; both perish, forever. The highest righteousness of man gives him no Title to the Kingdom of God. And where then must he be? Nothing of his fading, mystical, inward Riches or Glory, as well as outward, shall descend after him, or remain with him; Psal. 49. 17. Praised he was of men (verse. 18.) and liked himself passing well, as truly blessed, but will find he never had the praise and approbation-Seal of God (as truly good in his sight ) or anything conducible to true blessedness. Man blesses the covetous heapers up of inward or outward perishing Riches, whom the Lord abhorreth ( Psal. 10. 3.) as they, him, and his true. What profit then can man expect of all his labor under the Sun, in but a first-covenant Life and Righteousness? Nothing below the Holy Ghost, or new-creature constant, right, steady Spirit ( Psal. 51. 10.) and principle of everlasting righteousness, signifies anything, as to his true salvation. When he reckons he has all, he has nothing of durable life, riches, food, or clothing, but is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. The wisdom of self-confident man, misses the design and principal intendment of God, in the whole Scripture. To preach up the righteousness of man, in the first-covenant-law, is good, in its kind. But, to assert this, to be an everlasting Gospel-life, or state of true salvation, is the highest evil; the very doctrine, Satan preached to Eve. Ye shall not die at all; the Life ye have in the first-creation (that's but natural) is eternal. This is Man's and Satan's accursed other Gospel, handed to men, with great confidence, in the words of their twisted human and Serpentine wisdom's. To establish and warrant men in their own righteousness, holy flesh, for salvation, is the very doctrine of devils. 'It is a setting up of Man and Angel, in their spirit of Nature, against God's Spirit of Grace and Truth. All, that finally persist in this Doctrine and way, instead of the Saints everlasting rest, will 〈◊〉 the Lake of fire and brimstone, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Enmity to God and his Gospel-Spirit, is inseparable from the restored first-covenant life of the Law, in man; yea, gets strength, courage, credit, and great authority, by the coming of the command, or fresh setting up that lost life, in him, by the Redeemer; as Paul found; Rom. 7. While then men are heaping up riches, and reckon they are doing well to themselves, there, so as to despise the riches of God's goodness, they are treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath. Their, moth-eaten, cankered, rusty, corruptible Riches, mystical as well as literal, will testify against them, in God's day, for trusting in them in their day, on earth, against all his faithful warnings, to the contrary, Jam. 5. 1-3.

Vers. IV. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever.

Eternity and Immutability are the requisite Adjuncts of that, wherein man's true felicity consists. He must look for it in things Eternal, or never find it. And these are not seen by natural understanding, 2 Cor. 4. 18. The literal sense of these words, is evident to the common understanding, and universal experience of mankind. The spiritual, is a mystery to the highest wisdom of the most enlightened, righteous party of men, in but their own single spirit of nature, short of spiritual light. Man, therein, esteems and values only the cleansed 〈◊〉 , rich and fruitful mystical House or Land of his own Nature, as that which will continue forever: So, desires it may be called by his own Name. This is the inward thought of the wise, rich, and full first-covenant Saint, in his holy 〈◊〉 , the sandy-foundation'd building, though he see such holy, wise men perish, as well as brutish fools, in the corrupt life of nature, Psal. 49. 10. 11. Man's calling his Lands, or outward possessions, by his own Name, is the literal shadow of this mystical folly. Yet, 〈◊〉 posterity approve 〈◊〉 sayings (verse. 13.) steer the same course, do the same things, and so, generation after generation, go to the same 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and death, where they never see Light, verse. 19. Through the unsuspected wiles of the old Serpent, are new raw stagers 〈◊〉 , one after another, in the fame 〈◊〉 . They reject the voice and instructions of true Wisdom, as the greatest folly. They say to true Seers, see not, prophesy not unto us right things. They hate the Lord's Prophets, as Ahab, Micaiah; embrace Satan's, with their smooth words of deceit, Isa. 30. 9, 10. Thus one generation of visible Saints, in holy flesh, after another, passes away into the same dismal end, eternal death, as found, from first to last, a serpentine generation of vipers, fixed in enmity to God's holy spirit. They say they are true spiritual Jews; but Christ says, they are of the synagogue of Satan. Rev. 3. 9. This generation passes away, and, yet passes not away (Mat. 24. 3, 4.) though always passing. How So? Why, new comers into this world, still keep up the old Trade, the same spirit, Principles and Perswasions, all along Satan's reign, from the beginning to the ending thereof. A fresh supply of new Teachers and Hearers, carry on Satan's work, to their own eternal ruin. t. But the Earth abideth forever; That is, Man's and Angels immortal Spirits, in the earthy, leaky, first-creation make thereof. All of them, that refuse to have that first-creation building taken down (in order to become new Bottles or Vessels, by Christ's new-creation workmanship, fitted to hold the new-wine, or Spirit of his Kingdom) do, through the immortality of their beings, become the subjects of God's unchangeable wrath, for their unchangeable enmity to him, by which they have made themselves Vessels of dishonor and everlasting contempt. This is such recompense of their error, as is meet, even the vengeance of Eternal Fire, ( Rom. 1. 27. Jude 7.) on mystical, more than literal Sodom, Mat. 11. 24. All that yield up all, received in the first-creation, to be filled and clothed with the everlasting life and righteousness of the second, become Vessels of honor, glory, immortality, and eternal Life.

Vers. V. The Sun also ariseth, and the Sun goeth down, and hasteth to (or panteth aster) his place, where he arose.

The literal Sun, that has a causal influence on all the visible parts of this World, is vanity. 'It is restless in its motion and revolution, direct and periodical. And this, yet, is but a shadow of the invisible first-creation Sun, the first-covenant-spirit of the Law, under which Men and Angels were created, and Christ himself, in our flesh, was made, Gal. 4. 4. Under and by the causal influence of this, in Christ's Person, as a fleshly-bridegroom, to first-covenant Saints, in holy flesh, are all such righteous fruits and works brought forth and done, as have been found in a restored enlightened sort of Professors and People, since the fall; or, in Man and Angels, before the Fall. This mystical first-creation Sun, is yet but a shadow, or figure of the seven-fold (and seventy times seven-fold) brighter spiritual, intellectual, new-creation Sun of everlasting righteousness, the Holy Ghost or new-covenant, new-creature spirit, in Christ's person, of which all new-creatures are born, and under the cherishing influence thereof, enabled to bring forth fruits unto God, in a newness of Life. All, thus brought under this Law of the spirit of Life, are made new Bottles, Vessels of honor, and eternal Life; and no other. This is the Sun, Mal. 4. 2. Through this most glorious creature-Sun, in the Mediator, as the 〈◊〉 Chrystaline Medium, or transparent Sea of Glass ( Rev. 4. 6.) does the infinite glory of the divine Sun shine forth forever, with safety (in a modifying mixture and allay) on blessed Saints and Angels, which, in its single infinite brightness, would overset and consume them, Heb. 12. 29. Only the original creature-sun or spirit that's in personal union with the infinite divinity, can behold and enjoy the divine Sun or Spirit, in its immediate brightness. This supreme creature-veil on it, is the absolutely necessary means of unvailing it, or leting it down, with safety, to all mere-created beings, Angels or Men, in their highest spiritual capacities and understandings. On this account, and in this sense, will Christ be a Mediator between God and them, to all Eternity. The literal and mystical Sun of the first-creation, will set, and come to a final period. Then will all the flowers of that field, literal or mystical, wither, fade away, and come to nothing, as to all the perishing beauty and goodliness thereof. But, the Word of God (the new-creation Gospel-Sun of righteousness) will abide forever, upon all the blessed Inhabitants of the true Mount Zion, Isa. 40. 6-8. 1 Pet. 1. 23-25. On the first sin of Man, against God, and his Creature-Sun of everlasting Righteousness, did Christ with-draw the mystical first-creation Sun; causing it to go down, set or disappear to all mankind; taking from them what they had, and so leaving them in darkness and death, dead in trespasses and sins. Then, as Redeemer, does Christ cause this Sun to rise upon them again, for the fresh enlightening of every man that comes into the world, more or less ( Joh. 1. 9.) with rational, first-covenant light, against which if they sin, it accuses; if they obey it, it excuses them, Rom. 2. 15. This is the Light, or Law of rational nature, in all men. By this Light, are men shown the way for a returning towards the righteous life, they were, at first, created in; which is called, a making straight (in the desert of their barren, fallen state) a high way for their God ( Isa. 40. 3.) a setting their first-creation House or State, in order, again. But, this done, and Man growing up into a fruitful, flourishing posture herein (the ruling intellectual powers, and ruled sensual, each performing their duty, in rightly commanding and obeying) still, still, this very mystical Sun, or first-covenant-spirit (under the quickening, enlivening and fructifying influence whereof, all this is done) will, according to its orderly appointed motions and revolutions, with the literal Sun, be withdrawn again, go down, set, and disappear from them. Christ, as a fleshly-Bridegroom or Husband to them, will depart and leave them, so as never to shine upon them, more, there. All then, that do not timely, and obediently surrender and part with all the life, fruitfulness, and comforts, they have found under his influence, as the first-covenant Sun of Righteousness (in order to receive from him that newness of life, in which to be married to him as risen from the dead, and bring forth fruits unto God Rom. 7. 1-4. under the influence of his new-covenant-spirit) will be found (on the setting of the former mystical Sun) in a total darkness and death; a Nightstate, in which no man can work righteousness, more, forever.

Vers. VI. The Wind goeth towards the South, and turneth about unto the North; it whirleth about continually; and the wind returneth again, according to his circuits.

Here's another teaching, instructing similitude, fetched from the literal wind. Christ, in his first and second covenant spirits (not unfitly represented by the North and South-wind ) does powerfully breath and blow upon the spirits of men, in the actual distributions of the one, and convincing discoveries of the other. This mystical wind of Christ's twofold creature-spirit, is, in the workings and motions thereof on men, compared to (and fitly figured out by) literal winds, which manifest themselves in their powerful effects, however unseen in their true cause and nature. Christ himself uses this similitude Joh. 3. 8.

Vers. VII. All the rivers run into the Sea; yet the Sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

The literal Sea is a figure of man's immortal spirit, the fathomless depths of which, are such, that it is impossible it should ever be filled, with all the streams of comfort that can flow into it, from all variety of visible or invisible things and excellencies, in the whole first-creation World, Satan's permitted dominion, the sphere and bound of his activity and walk. All these things, highest, lowest, and intermediate, from the tallest Cedar to the meanest Shrub in the whole lump of this worlds perishing, transient vanities, are resembled, here, by gliding rivers. Satan has the most glittering excellencies, of the first-creation sort (in his angelical nature, superior to man's) to offer, communicate, and lay before him, to feed upon and delight in. He is permitted, by God, to retain all these, in unchangeable enmity to him, and all his divine, Spiritual and Heavenly things, in the second. Yea, also, by his sinful transforming skill and power, can he gild them over with the nearest resemblance and beautiful appearance of the second, so as to deceive, if possible, the very Elect, with his baits, and catch them in his snares. But, the far greater part of mankind feed on husks, as his Swine; on the lowest part of the dust of this mortal world, the gratifying satisfactions of the most brutish lusts of the lowest sort of life, in their confounded, fallen nature. All these things of Man or Angel, within the compass of their first-creation state ( in distinction from the things of God, Delights of the Sons of God, in the second) are the delights of the Sons of Men. Satan has a vast Herd of Swine, amongst men. And, as for those that are not only enlightened but enlivened; quick'ned out of their death in sin, into the righteous life of their own nature again, he is ready with all sorts of diet, suited to the palate of that state. And, if the single excellencies and dainties, suited to their palate in that state, will not serve their turn, he is ready with his superior angelical first-creation vanities, for them to feed on. If these yet will not hold, and satisfy them (when by Christ's spiritual enlightenings, convincingly shown and offered his more excellent new-creation life and things) then will he gild over all human and angelical excellencies and meats, with the exactest counterfeit resemblance of the things of God, the never perishing meats, in the second. If this, yet, will not do; he is gone; and the true Saint delivered from all his snares. All the things of Man or Angel, under all Satan's false glosses, and glistering appearances of the things of God, can never answer or satisfy the vast, deep, botomless 〈◊〉 of man's immortal spirit. The most swelling rivers and full streams of all worldly vanities, flowing into it, can never fill it. Nothing below the Ocean-fullness of infinite divinity, and the rivers of spiritual life (flowing there-from, and returning thereunto, as in unchangeable union therewith) can truly satisfy it.

Vers. VIII. All things are full of labor, man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Man, in his natural, first-creation state, at best, in all possible attainments and contentments thereof, is but laboring in vanity, from first to last; and his misery therein, not to be conceived or uttered by him. Everlasting perplexity and unutterable vexation of spirit, will inevitably seize him, forever, after all his doting mirth in his fools paradise, here, if he get not out of this sinful folly and madness. The understanding, or eye, ear, and heart of his immortal spirit, in the best natural state thereof, cannot see, hear, desire, take in, or enjoy the divine and eternal spiritual creature-things of God, provided in the Mediator for them that love him, which alone can answer all the wants of their immortal spirits, not only to satisfaction, but ecstasy and wonder, to all eternity. A new, spiritual eye, ear, intellect and palate, are absolutely necessary, for man's rightly taking in, seeing, hearing, savouring, enjoying, and delighting in these things of God. But how, or which way must or can man come by these spiritual senses, eye, ear, palate and understanding? By the assimilating, regenerating touch of Christ's new-creature heavenly spirit, on man's natural and earthly. Man, obediently submitting to the death-work of Christ's heavenly priestly spirit (as himself did, in our spotless fleshly nature, offering it up in sacrifice to the will of God, in the fire thereof (Heb. 9. 14.) kindling that fire, on the earth, or earthly state of our nature, in himself, Luk. 12. 49-51.) by this means and way only, can any truly please God, effectually, resist and overcome world and devil, scape eternal death, or find eternal life, in the senses whereof, to be satisfied with seeing, and filled with hearing. He must be content to have his right eye, hand, and foot, plucked out, cut off, and cast away (to part with and lose the best discerning, wisdom and light, the exactest working righteousness, and walking righteously, in his own renewed natural state (offended at the cross) signified by eye, hand, and foot ) in order to be filled with another life, springing up from the incorruptible seed thereof, as begotten and born of the spirit or ever-living word of God (1 Pet. 1. 23.) in which alone he can see, hear, work righteousness, or walk with a right foot according to the gospel of the grace of God, so as truly to please God, or find true blessedness for himself; where his eye, ear, and heart can take in what will fully answer all the wants or desires of his immortal spirit, to eternity. Thus only can man come, so to delight in the Lord, as to have the whole desire of his heart (Psal. 37. 4) all the needs of his immortal being, eternally over-answered, in such enjoyments and things, as the natural eye, ear, or heart of Angel or Man can never see, hear, desire, understand, or take any right measure and cognizance of; 1 Cor. 2. 9. By submitting to the death of nature, at best, under the hand of the gospel-high priest of our profession (Heb. 3. 1.) as himself, in our nature did, can these things be brought to pass. The promise of the father will be certainly performed by the son, for the quickening us up, out of the death of our obediently sacrificed nature, into the life of the true Melchizedek, or sacrificing High Priest of God. So shall we come to have an eye that can be satisfied with seeing; and, an ear, filled with hearing, in the fight and enjoyment, not only of the Rivers of true Life, in the creature-spirit of the Mediator, but infinite divine Ocean-fullness of God most high. The natural Eye, Ear, Heart and Understanding, have nothing for Object of the desire and thought of Man, but a heap of perishing, (visible or invisible) vanities, that can never answer the wants of his immortal being. All his appetite there, is but a belly for meats, and meats for a belly, that God will destroy, both one and toother (1 Cor. 6. 13.) desires and desirables, which are all, Vanity. Man, in whatsoever variety of his own nature, then, is vainly laboring under an impossibility of pleasing God or profiting himself, as to true blessedness. All he does, in his natural state or Body, the restored living soul and Image of the earthly, is but bodily exercise, 1 Cor. 15. 44-49. 1 Tim. 4. 8. Man, by trusting and establishing himself in his righteous Law-life, becomes the unchangeable enemy of God and his Gospel-life, and Truths. Filth of flesh or spirit (an enmity to the divine and everlasting righteous creature-spirit of Christ and God) fixed in, makes Men a literal or mystical Sodom, to which the vengeance of eternal sire is the meet recompense. When Man is once come to this pass, all his labors are but as the tossings and uncertain tumblings of a raging, foaming Sea, casting up mire and dirt, 〈◊〉 of flesh or spirit; Isa. 57. 20. No peace with God, no peaceable fruits of righteousness to God, in a fixed spirit of enmity to him. These can only be found and brought forth in that Gospel spirit of truth, which is called Love, as unchangeably loving and beloved of God, the fulfiller of his whole Law ( Rom. 〈◊〉 . 10.) in every point, in the full comprehensive, literal and mystical meaning thereof; the fulfiller of all righteousness, God's and Man's, to God's well-pleasing, and Man's Salvation. Man, established in the most righteous Life of his own nature, and, so in unchangeable enmity to the Righteousness of God, in his spirit of Grace, is unchangeably wicked. He walks but in a vain show, a troublesome dream, disquiets himself in vain, heaps up Riches, and knows not who shall gather them, Psal. 39. 6. Christ, by the same Cross, or spiritual, Gospel-Sword and Fire, in final wrath, will seize, gather, take and consume all; which, had they obediently submitted to, as offered to be brought upon them, in Love, he would have given them his durable Riches, and everlasting Life, in the room thereof; and so, a spiritual Eye, that should have been satisfied with seeing, and an Ear, that would have been filled with hearing. Without Gospel-exchange-Traffick of Nature for Grace, the Life of Man for God's, of the Creature for the Creator's, who is God blessed forever, we never find true satisfaction. In his own nature, Man trades only in shadows, will never make anything on it, to purpose. That Life, and all it feeds on, are but vanishing shadows; all the visible and invisible goodnesses thereof, but fading flowers. All that willfully and knowingly spend their days in such vanities, will in a moment go down to the grave, and all their thoughts perish. Job 21. 13. All their beauty will be consumed in the grave, from their dwellings, Psal. 49. 14. This will men come to, by the willful neglect of this timely warning from God, that the inmost Eye and Ear of their Immortal Spirit, in the worldly Life of their own Nature, can never be satisfied, or find any durable good, for its portion. Unhappy man, in all possible variety of his own nature, corrupt or righteous, foolish or wise, wholly eyes, doats upon, chooses, delights in, and hunts after perishing vanities, which God calls things that are not; and turns his back upon all things spiritual and eternal, as Chimaerical nothings, which God calls the only things that are.

Vers. IX. The thing that hath been, is that which shall be: and that which is done, is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the Sun.

There's no new thing to be found in the first-creation, worldly spirit of nature, under the mystical Sun, or first-covenant spirit: nothing of the new-creature spirit of everlasting righteousness; no things of God, or his kingdom; things spiritual, heavenly, eternal; things ever new, fresh, green and flourishing. Man and Angels, as soon as made, were old, that is, had no life or goodness, but what was subject to mystical gray hairs, decays, old age, and death. These are the several steps, by which the mortal life and best things, put into (or set up in) Angel or man, come to expire and vanish. All, vanity. All their fading goodness ( when they flourish therein as a green Bay-tree, Psal. 37. 35. 36) carries mortality and vanity, written out, in its forehead: has a day of adversity, set over against their utmost prosperity therein. The thing that hath been, is that which shall be. The sinless, Innocent state of man, at first, is that which shall be generally experienced, on earth, under the reign of Christ, again. At entrance thereof, he will give a restitution of all, to their primitive natural purity; Act. 3. 21. Some gradual restorations of the first-covenant light, or also life, man was created in (under Law and Gospel, and before either were put into written oracles) have been experienced, more or less, by all men, from the redeemers hand, the light that lighteth every man that comes into the world. What, all such light, life, wisdom, righteousness, or 〈◊〉 , works, duties, and performances thereof and in, amount unto, has been sufficiently experienced. This spirit or state is so far, at best, from being any security to man, for salvation, that a false confidence and resting therein, is his sore and remediless destruction; Mic. 2. 10. Men bring forth fruit but to themselves, in all this, at best; are empty vines to God; Hos. 10. 1. They never bring forth fruit unto God, but in his newness of life, as born of (living and walking in) his spirit of grace. All, in nature, best or worst, Root and Branch, the fleshly Tree of good and evil, with the fruit, all's but a perishing vanity. There is nothing new, to be done or found therein, as the innumerable multitude of mankind have experienced, generation after generation. For,

Vers. X. Is there anything, whereof it may be said, see, this is new? it hath been already of Old time, which was before us.

Satan is ready to suggest; and man, as ready to believe, there is some new thing in the but renewed old nature of man, beyond what, at first, was in it. All men are experimental witnesses of Satan's first lie to Eve, that the life of nature, given in the first-creation, was eternal; and, that they should not Die at all. No such thing as Death, incident to it. But, this life, renewed and confirmed by the second Adam, says Satan (and Man joins in it) is Eternal. But, this confirming and warranting man safe in the established life and righteousness of restored nature, is Satan's doctrine, and Man's accursed other Gospel. Christ restores man's lost first-covenant law-life; Satan asserts this to be a Gospel state, and man agrees, to take it so, and look no farther, for salvation. As soon as any are renewed by Christ, into some degree of the lost righteous life of nature, Satan is at their Elbow, with the same lying Suggestion, as to Eve, this is Eternal Life, ye shall not Die at all. Paul (not without a cause) was afraid and Jealous of the Serpents thus beguiling the Corinthians, through his subtlety, as he did Eve, 2 Cor. 11. 2, 3. This is his other Gospel, in a perfect contrariety to every tittle of Christ's (v. 4) another Jesus, another spirit and state of life, for salvation, in direct contradiction to all, Paul preached; which, nor Paul, nor any true Gospel-preacher, ought to let pass, undiscovered and uncontrolled. Fixing in nature, at best, for salvation, is union with the Devil, in unchangeable enmity to God, and his new-creature spirit, in which, ever, any could be saved. Under Satan's reign, nature is seldom fully restored in man, from filth of flesh. And, filth of spirit, or enmity to God and his spirit of truth, is inseparable from the highest restorations of it, till the Reign of Christ. Yet, under all these disadvantages, and shortnesses of primitive purity, is it, when restored, asserted to be better and safer then that, for Salvation. This, Satan most wickedly suggests, and Man most foolishly believes, to his own destruction, as he will find, at winding up. Thus Satan and his Apostles, transformed into the likeness of Christ and his, in word and language, preach up restored nature, a-fresh, for a currant Gospel-state of absolute salvation; in which, men are under an absolute impossibility of ever finding it. All the enticing and persuasive words of Satan's and Man's serpentine and human wisdom, look, and run this way. Scripture interrogatories are the strongest assertions. Is there anything new, any newness of life, in man's restored Old? nothing of it. whatever can be found in this restored state, has been already of Old time, before us, in the unstained purity of it, in Adam, who yet was not fence-proof against Satan's charming wiles, and power. Twas then, perfect, in its kind; rarely yet so, since. Twas but a corruptible perfection of a loseable goodness. And, lost it was. Most vain; mad and unprofitable then, is all Man's labor, since the fall, in seeking for, asserting (or undertaking to prove) eternal spiritual life, to be found in fading natural. Man, now, in his best restored naturals, is tainted with a treasonable Enmity to God, and that spirit, in which alone any can be saved. Paul, in his restored righteous law-life of nature, was a fierce enemy to the spirit of grace, and all the Gospel-truths or things thereof. After the universal experience of man-kind, and universal warnings of true wisdom, to the contrary, to preach up Salvation in the but restored first-covenant righteous life of nature, is inexcusable madness. True Wisdom calls out to these simple stragglers and wanderers after Vanity, with their backs willfully turned upon him, and all his Reproofs of death upon Nature, and instructions of Life, in his Spirit of Grace. How long re simple ones, will ye love simplicity, delight in scorning my counsel, and hate true knowledge? Prov. 1. 22. Turn from your own Understanding at my reproof, and I will pour my spirit into you, by which ye shall rightly understand all my words, verse. 23. While men ramble after their many things, spend all their labor and money for that which is not Bread, Satan's divers and strange Doctrines, they come to be established in their own Nature, with his meats, to their final destruction, instead of being established with the Grace and Doctrine of Christ, for their everlasting 〈◊〉 , Heb. 13. 9. All our Old things, Life, Light, Wisdom, Righteousness, &c. must pass away, that we may receive Christ's new, 2 Cor. 5. 17.

Vers. IX. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall their be any remembrance of things that are to come, with those that shall come after.

All former things, excellencies, and perfections, found in the natural first-creation state, before the fall (or gradual restorations of the like, since) are of no account or remembrance, with God. Nothing, short of his Life of everlasting righteousness, set up in Man, brings him under his approbation-Seal. Men must be unmade, broken down, and pulled up by the roots (as to that Building and Life, they were set up in, by God himself, in their first-creation-make) in order to be new Vessels of his newness of Life, by a second. God planted in Man, an incorrupt seed of corruptible Life (that, in its utmost flourish and fruitfulness, amounts but to a fading flower ) by his left hand, in a first-creation. He offers to plant and quicken up in him, on the obedient death and removal of all this (Root and Branch, Tree and Fruit) an incorruptible seed of an everlasting Life, by his right hand, in a new-creation of him. See both Seeds, with a negative on the former, in all, born of the latter, 1 Pet. 1. 23. This only (and man therein) will be of everlasting account and remembrance with God; the other, never, in time past, in innocence or any restorings of it since; or time to come, by the like restorings of it, in following generations, under Satan's reign; or the full perfection of it, under Christ's reign, which shall come after.

Vers. XII. I the Preacher was King over Israel, in Jerusalem.

What more contemptible than Satan's mercenary Priests and Preachers of Lies? What, or who more honorable than the Preachers of God's Truth? King Solomon, and a far greater than he, Christ himself, the high Priest of God, is the Preacher of his Truths, and Declarer of his Counsels, to Angels and Men. Preaching Christ's Gospel, is the best of Callings; Satan's, the worst of Trades. Solomon; the Preacher, and Writer of this Book, was King over literal Israel, in Jerusalem; and therein, a Type of Christ, King over the whole spiritual Israel of God, in the New-Jerusalem. In the all-discerning Spirit of Prophecy, does Solomon reflect upon his former vain thought, for finding true happiness, or the way towards it, in the single wisdom of his own enlightened nature, however eminent; as follows.

Vers. XIII. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by Wisdom, concerning all things that are done under Heaven: This sore travel hath God given to the Sons of Man, to be exercised therewith.

Solomon, here, in the true preaching Spirit of Jesus, reflects upon, and gives an account of his own mistaking wisdom and thought, about blessedness; and, of his sad experience, therein. I gave my heart to search out by my own Wisdom (wherein I excelled others) concerning all things, under Heaven. The result was; he found this sore travel and labor of his natural mind, to be what God has given to the sons of men, to exercise, afflict, or humble them, by: In the new-creature Wisdom of God, he finds the vanity of his own, and his vain design, thought and labor, therein. He finds that, and all the things, or works and fruits thereof, to be but earthly, from beneath (below that Life, wisdom, and things of God, he had now the experience of, in him) under Heaven. So he, at once, confesses, declares and corrects his vain thought, of reaching, knowing and doing all things, relating to his true blessedness, therein. By way of Recantation, toward the close of his Life and day in this World; he confesses the vanity of his thought, and unprofitableness of all his labor, therein, calling it (as by sad experience he had found it) a sore travel. He declares also God's design, in letting even Saints, for a season, run their course there, to humble and Afflict them, and so, dispose them to a willing surrender of that, for a better Life and Wisdom, in which alone they may find, what they were, under an impossibility, seeking for. Thus, God let Job and his three Friends, run to the end of their Line, in their own Wisdom, and Spirit, as Disputers of this world, till at an absolute puzzle and period, none of them being able to unriddle the design and methods of God's Wisdom towards Job, under that dispensation of the Cross. Then he opens the mouth of his fore-running Messenger, 〈◊〉 , to instruct them all, in another Wisdom and Spirit, on which they were 〈◊〉 , answered no more; but, left off speaking, Job. 32. 2. 15. Enmity to God, inseparable from the highest restored Life and Wisdom of Man, must needs render his utmost labor therein, about happiness, a sore travel. God, in greatest love, on Man's fall, 〈◊〉 , the mystical Ground, Earth, or earthly state of Man's nature, and that for Man's sake, so as to render that enmity to him, contracted by the Fall, unextinguishable, otherwise then by the perfect death thereof. Thorns and Thistles shall it bring forth, say's God, to Adam, Gen. 3. 17. 18. Both the literal, and also mystical earth of Man's Nature (in the very restored Life of the Law, Image of the earthy, and righteousness of Man ) fell immediately under this Curse. All, in the best works of their Law-life, are under this Curse. Gal. 3. 10. What Thorns and Thistles, was Paul (when eminent herein) bringing forth, in a fierce persecuting enmity against Christ, and all his Gospel Truths and Saints? Phil. 3. 6. Act. 26. 11. The death of nature then, the right way (not in, but to sin, so that sin becomes dead in them, not they in it) under the Cross and Gospel-sword, is undispensably necessary to the ridding man of all evil, and capacitating him to receive a Life of everlasting righteousness, wherein he will find himself possessed of all good; a state, wherein 'tis as impossible not to please God in everything, as in his own Life at best, ever to please him, in anything. This comes Man to, by obediently complying with God's design, in gladly receiving his sentence of Death within him, as Paul, and so getting rid of his own Law-spirit of bondage, enmity and death (and all his sore travel and labor therein, to no purpose, as to his grand concern) in exchange for the Gospel-life of Christ, and therein, glorious liberty of the sons of God, an everlasting freedom to good only, and from all Evil of sin or punishment, forever. Then all our works are wrought in God ( Joh. 3. 21.) and God works all our works in us and for us. We, therein, are co-workers with God. All such works are ever acceptable to him, and most easy, delightful and profitable to man. What, all works, in man's earthly Life and Nature, under Heaven, amount unto, we find, yet farther,

Vers. 14. I have seen all the works that are done under the Sun; and behold, all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.

Solomon, in the new light and wisdom of God, positively concludes the most rectified Principles of nature, and man's utmost fruitfulness, exactest walking, best works, designs, counsels, thoughts, and purposes therein, to be but vanity in themselves, and vexation of spirit to himself. The more rich and full Man is, in the righteousness, wisdom, and glory of his own nature, the more apt to grow offended at the Cross, that comes to seize and set fire, on all; and hereby, the more is God offended at him. A confidence in such increasing riches, as are but vanity, increases vexation of spirit, every way.

Vers. 15. That which is crooked, cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting, cannot be numbered.

Human nature, at best, in innocence, as liable to wax old, decay, and die, in all the Wisdom, Life, and Glory of it; and, as liable to corrupt, and be depraved (through Man's evil use of all, in preference and opposition to what's more excellent) might be called old and crooked. But, since the fall, 'tis actually, and apparently, so. A glory it had, which was no glory, to the glory that excels, and remains forever, in new-creation Life; The Life, Wisdom, Righteousness of man, in his first created state, was no Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, in respect of what is given to, and set up in him, by the second; is admitted no comparison; looked upon as nothing, to it; is to be folded up, and laid aside, as an old garment, for it. God himself thus handles all the first-creation works of his own hands, Isa. 34. 4. & 66. 1, 2. Heb. 1. 10-12. Man, though made perfect and upright, at first, all the life and goodness he was possessed of, was corruptible and changable, though not corrupt. So, not to be compared with the incorruptible, unchangeable, everlasting Life, Wisdom, Righteousness and Glory of God, set up in, and put upon man, by a new-creation. Man's and Angels attempts and designs, for holding fast, making straight (and establishing themselves in) their natural, first-creation Life, ( which God hath made crooked, 〈◊〉 . 7. 13.) in opposition to his offered straight, and incorruptibly perfect new-creation life, is peerless madness, and inexcusable folly. God requires them both and all, to part with their own crooked life, how ever straight in their Eye, for his own absolutely straight and incorruptibly perfect new-creation life, which only is straight in his Eye. But farther, what God made 〈◊〉 to crookedness (and, in that sense, crooked ) fallen Angels and Man have made actually perverse, crooked, and tortuous. In evil Angels, tis made unchangeably so, in rebellion against God, and a justling competition with his unchangeably straight new-creation life. In fallen man, enmity to God and his everlasting righteous creature-life, is inseparable from his natural state and life, however restored. But, both that enmity and his life, are seperable from him, by his obedient death, in sacrifice to God, on which he receives thepromise of the Father, the unchangeably straight new-creature life of the Son. Evil Angels are continually at it, with Men; follow them close, with this lying suggestion, that their but restored righteous natural state, is the straight thing in God's sight, as well as theirs, which will give them entrance into the kingdom of God. Multitudes, multitudes, all along this World, under Satan's reign, have drunk in this serpentine venom, to their eternal ruin, as will appear in the valley of decision. Fixure in the life of nature, corrupt or righteous, renders men literal or mystical Sodomites; both, most Crooked, perverse, and abominable, in God's sight and thoughts; be what they will in their own. Such establishment in the righteousness of Man, as is highly esteemed amongst men, is abomination in the sight of God. Such an evil concupiscence, lust, or covetousness after, and delight in, the mystical riches, fruits, wisdom, glory and righteousness of their own nature, or house, as makes them finally to despise the durable riches, wisdom, life and glory of God, in that spirit of grace, which is his house, and to refuse the required exchange of all their fading vanities for them, is death without mercy. Thus do men by an evil covetousness to their own house, consult shame to themselves, and get everlasting contempt, as vessels of dishonor. Hab. 2. 9, 10. This did the Pharisees, who were thus covetous. Luk. 16. 14, 15. This fixes man in an unchangeable bloody mind of enmity to the constant, steady, right (Psa. 51. 10.) unchangeably straight creature-spirit of everlasting righteousness and truth, and to God most high.

The defects of man, or what is wanting to him, for eternal Life, in his own nature, corrupt or righteous (from which, since the fall, filth of flesh or spirit, are inseparable) cannot be numbered. For he wants everything, all things Spiritual, Heavenly, and Eternal; and must part with everything he has, for them. Till poor, desolate, and undone in himself, he cannot be rich and strong in God; till impoverished even to death, in his own spirit, not rich in God's; but wretched, poor, blind, and naked; destitute of, and wanting all things, for eternal Life. Enmity to God, and that Spirit of Grace, in which alone any can be saved, is as inseparable from man, in the corrupt or righteous Life of his own spirit of nature, as the Ethiopian hiew, or Leopards spots, from them. Jer. 13. 23. Till the said exchange, by death, be obediently yielded to (the terms, God's wisdom put's on man, as his part, in order to an entrance into his new and everlasting covenant-life, on which, he will certainly perform his part of that covenant, in giving him that life) the things man wants, for salvation, cannot be numbered. All the numberless spiritual, new-creation things, the everlasting creature-Life, Wisdom and Righteousness of God, with the innumerable fruits to be brought forth by men therein, to God; and the innumerable fruits of God's love therein, 〈◊〉 man, Love, Joy, Peace, &c. Gal. 5. 22, 23.) All these things are wanting; that is, everything.

Vers. XVI. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom then all they that have been before me, in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience ( Heb. seen much) of wisdom and knowledge.

Solomon was eminent in mystical earthly-Jerusalem life, and in the Ornaments or excellent, best, and most spiritual enlightening gifts of the Heavenly. In this super-eminent wisdom and understanding, the vain thought and pussing up Imagination of his own heart, was, that he now wanted nothing, for the rendering him completely happy. His wisdom and largeness of heart was as the Sand on the Sea-shore, 1 Kings. 4. 29. The mystical inward riches of his restored, adorned nature, rendered him as much above others therein, as in outward worldly greatness and visible pomp. And he resolved to make the best, of all these advantages, offered him; try what they all amounted to, not without a secret hopeful-thought of finding absolute blessedness therein.

Vers. XVII. And I gave my heart to know Wisdom, and to know Madness and Folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Here's that he find's all to amount unto; Wisdom, Righteousness, Wickedness, Madness, Folly; all (within the compass of Man's natural state, corrupt or righteous) vanity, and if finally trusted in for blessedness, will leave Man (to his sore and amazing disappointment) in eternal darkness and death, unutterable torment and everlasting vexation of spirit, as his due portion, the, meet recompense of his error, from God. Solomon found the search after all Earthly vanities, all things under Heaven or below what is heavenly, a sore travel (verse. 13.) a grievous labor; man, little the better, when he has found them. For, setting himself to experience what the utmost pleasures to be had in all, amounted to (as gratifying to all variety of life and desire in him, sensual or intellectual) he found all such knowledge and folly in corrupt or righteous nature, and all such practice and experience, vanity and vexation of spirit. He was qualified and furnished, to take the largest and deepest draughts, as to all delights of the Sons of Men; and take them he did, and this he found all to be. Though he found wisdom, acquired or infused (nature, cultivated, advanced and adorned by human learning in Heathens; or made wise, strong, and honorable in Christ, by his restoring the lost righteous first-covenant life thereof) better then the folly of dark, ignorant, uncultivated, and unrenewed nature; yet, he found, that all these varieties in nature, fall under the same general title, vanity and vexation of spirit. This is the conclusion he arrives at, in the preaching, all-searching spirit of infallible truth. All Wisdom, Folly, Light, Darkness, Righteousness, Wickedness, in man's natural state (which he had taken the liberty to experience, as well as know) all is vanity. This is King Solomon's Proclamation and warning to his fellow-mortals; and the true King Solomon's faithful and timely warning to all man-kind, in all generations; Prov. 1. 20, &c. 8. 1, &c. Final disappointment, torment, and vexation, will befall all that finally fall short of true, substantial, divine and spiritual things, in which alone true blessedness can ever befound.

Vers. XVIII. For, in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.

All increasings with the increases of man, in the fading Life, Wisdom, Riches, Righteousness and Glory of his own nature ( not of God, in the everlasting Life, Wisdom, Glory, and righteousness, things of God) are but additions to, and multiplications of his sorrow, in getting, keeping, and then loosing all, again. For, all must go, first or last, by the dispensation of the Cross (in love or final wrath) upon every Man and Angel. Men cannot but have misgiving thoughts (from the self-evidencing nature of the perishableness of all they can be there possessed of) that all will be gone, again. So are, all their life time therein, subject to bondage, in the highest glory and flourish thereof, through a fear, by death, of losing all; Heb. 2. 15. Job declares, that, as safe as he was apt to 〈◊〉 himself to be, in the highest righteousness, wisdom, and glory of his own nature, in afirst-covenant-life, he had a secret bottom-fear, all would fail him. The thing I greatly feared is come upon me; Job, 3. 25, 26. I find I had nothing of that true safety, rest or quiet, in the utmost wisdom and glory of my own restored nature, that I fondly flattered myself into the false persuasion of. He found all, death-struck, by the Cross; the very righteous life and mystical riches of his spirit, as well as outward concerns of his body. His secret fear was the truest thought, and faithful 〈◊〉 of him, as to what he was to expect, at winding up. Man's increase in the wisdom and knowledge of his own nature, amounts but to the clearer sight of the miseries and defects of himself and others, therein; and, all such wisdom shows itself insufficient to correct his own or others errors. Young sciolists are apt presently to think they know all; but when they have travelled farther, in their inquiries, come, with Socrates, to see and confess, they know only this, that they know nothing, with certainty, infallibly; and so, find no rest, or satisfaction, in all they find. Yea, and are still more and more vexed and pressed, thereby, with the foresight of future evils, incident to them. The wisest man, will more and more find himself, in the, exercise of his own wisdom (as to things past, present or to come) but in a self-tormenting labyrinth, and 〈◊〉 maze of vain, self-bewildering imaginations. All knowledge and thoughts, depending on the temper and fitness of bodily Organs, are enfeebled, in the old age (and, at length, quite extinguished, at the death) of the body. Then, that all that sort of thoughts perish, all see. Again, the higher man's light and knowledge, if uncompliant therewith in practice, the heavier (he knows) will the wrath of God be, upon him, forever. Thus, the sad and inevitable result af all Man's increase in his own wisdom and knowledge, is the increase and aggravation of his sin, and sorrow at every turn. Lastly the higher man is advanced in the life, riches, wisdom, and righteousness of his own spirit, the more apt, with Paul, to be a fierce zealot for that law-life, and forwardest opposer of the everlasting Gospel-life of Christ, and all the words thereof. The Cross seems a harder dispensation, to the righteous Scribe and Phaisee, that have much to lose, then to Publicans & Harlots in the corrupt life of nature, who therefore (as more easily induced to submit to and own the doctrine thereof) enter into the Kingdom of God, before them. The mystical rich young man went away very sorrowful, when he heard of parting with all he had, for eternal life. Zacchaeus and Mary-Magdalene did not so. Final trusting in the corruptible life, riches, wisdom, and righteousness of man, render's entering into the kingdom of God, absolutely impossible. Mar. 10. 24, 25. The very Disciples (acquainted yet only with first-covenant riches) were astonished out of measure, at this word, saying, among themselves, who then can be saved? verse. 26. Encrease in outward riches, also, and in that wisdom and subtlety, by which gotten, and for a season, kept; all such riches, pomp, and glory therein, as figures and shadows of inward, are usually found to be but the amusing snares of Satan, by which he keep's men in a total mindlesness of truelife, with all the words thereof, and leads them blindfold to the chambers of Death, in Mirth and Jollity, Job. 21. 7-13. Thus are all worldly riches, wisdom, and glory, literal and mystical, by man's willful madness, made an occasion of his everlasting grief, sorrow, torment, and vexation of spirit. Who can utter it? what life, treasure, meats, food, clothing, man should not seek, and what he should, Christ declar's and commands; nothing, that's liable to moth-eating, rust, corruption, loss, or death; but heavenly, unsubjected to any of these things; above all dangers, decays, deaths, enemies or fears; Mat. 6. 19, 20. Joh. 6. 27. And, by James, he show's, what, all that take not this counsel, will come to, at last; as found possessed of no other riches, literal or mystical Gold and silver, but what will be cankered and the rust thereof witness against them, as guilty of inexcusable folly, in neglecting all the faithful warnings of Christ, against their trusting in such selfevidencing vanities, for true hapines. Jam. 5. 1-3. What they reckon a heaping up treasure for themselves, for the last days, they'll find to have been a treasuring up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath. Man's passive obedience, to the death and loss of all his life, wisdom, and riches, is the highest point of obedience, God requires, or he can perform, in the right use thereof. This makes way for the quickening and springing up of the incorruptible seed & principle of a new and everlasting righteous life, in which alone tis possible for man to bring forth 〈◊〉 unto God, or perform such active obedience, as shall be ever pleasing to God, and 〈◊〉 to himself. This is the counsel, and method of God's wisdom, about man's salvation, which, all that 〈◊〉 reject, will inevitably perish. If they will follow the words of man's wisdom, in perfect contradiction thereunto, This will they have of God's hand, they must lie down in sorrow.

Vers. I. I said in my heart, go to now; I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and behold, this also is Vanity.

SOLOMON set his Heart to try, what, all Mirth, Joy, and Pleasure, in all sorts of first-creation things, amounts unto. After the utmost Proof thereof, he finds and declares this also to be vanity; all worldly delight and desire, of the same complexion, with the desirables, delighted in, whether visible or invisible; delights of bodily life, and the corrupt spirit of nature, therein; or, of the rectified intellectual, rational powers, more properly the delights of the Sons of Men. The other are for beasts, brutified men, drowned in the lusts of literal Sodom, where sensual Powers usurp dominion over rational, using what should be their Masters and Rulers, as Slaves to fetch in provisions for them, by right or wrong. Some are recovered out of this disorder and confusion, towards a rectitude of their natural powers, where the rational command, and sensual obey. But, to show the unstable, slippery standing of Man, here; Solomon, not only restored into the right exercise of his naturals, but under strong spiritual convictions of true wisdom, was caught, and miserably entangled in this lowest sort of worldly snares. His suppressed sensual powers struggled for, and recovered their formerly usurped dominion, over his rational and intellectual. The signal aggravation of this 〈◊〉 , was, that he was eminent, in the restored first-covenant wisdom of his own spirit of nature, and spiritual light of the second, the self-discoveries and revelations of God's wisdom, in his own spirit of grace, as his pleasing request to God, and the gracious answer thereunto, do evince, 1 King. 3. 5-14. And again (ch. 9. 1-9) where the Lord also threaten's him and his people, in case of apostasy, or turning from following him; v. 6. After all this, his sensual lusts after strange Women, run him a-ground. They turn his heart after strang God's also from the true. He not only tolerated, but himself went after the God's of the Idolatrous borderers, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, &c. whence he fetched his Wives, 1 King. 11. 4-8. The Lord takes notice of the aggravation of this folly and madness, as after his remarkable appearing to him, twice, and solemnly commanding the contrary v. 9. 10. On this threaten's to rend the greatest part of his Kingdom, from his Son, 11-13. It is like, his expenses about Idols and his Idolatrous Wives, occasioned such unreasonable taxes and oppressions, as moved the people to capitulate with his Son, for redress of grievances, which, he refusing, they refused him for their King, Chap. 12. 'Twas an amazing thing, a double-portion'd saint, and kingly Preacher, when old, and near his exit out of this world, should be found guilty of such gross enormities, as many mere heathens, in a long life, avoid, to their dying day. To increase the wonder, under all the violent impetuous hurries of his own disordred spirit, the wisdom of God's, still remained with him. Without this, his foolish, hurtful lusts had drowned him in destruction and perdition. A seed and principle of true wisdom was his powerful preservative from final apostasy. And the want of this, will be found no excuse to final apostate's from, and haters of it, when convincingly shown and offered it. Solomon exercised his brutish lusts, for a season, not only in a flat contrariety to this, but, to the very light of his own reason, also. The unsubdued natural spirit, or mystical Woman, in himself, carried him forth in lust after the literal, who involved him in their gross Idolatries. He allowed himself the full experience of all worldly desirables, from the higher to the lower parts of the dust of this mortal, first-creation worldly vanities. He sent forth his heart on this errand, to try what satisfaction, the whole lump of this world's vanities, from the Cedar to the Shrub, intellectual delights, to Husks among Swine, would afford him; and, set's down at the foot of his account; All is vanity. In a union of mind, with Christ, by spiritual light, he acknowledges all his ransacking the whole bulk of this world's desireables, and roving up and down (as thinking to pick up a satisfying food for his immortal Spirit, amongst them) direct madness. So, comes he from dear-bought experience, to say, as follow's;

Vers. II. I said of Laughter, it is mad: and of Mirth, what doth it?

Laughter and Mirth, here, signify the highest delight and satisfaction, can be had, in the fullest possession and enjoyment of all worldly desireables, relating to the corrupt or righteous life of man, in his own nature. Solomon therefore, in the all-discovering light of the spirit of God, reflects upon his former foolish design therein, judging his whole course and race, there, evil, because his force (or principle) was not right: but indeed, a spirit of enmity to God. All his delusive and destructive Joy, he found Madness; a making large and swift steps, under the bewitching influence of the God of this world, towards the chambers of death. His words, pleasing suggestions and gratifying offers to men, are smoother then oil, yet are drawn swords; his method of wounding men to eternal death. The spirit of man, since the fall, is a deep dark dungeon and miry pit of all sorts of filth of flesh or spirit, a literal or mystical Sodom, in the corrupt or righteous life thereof; in the dark, as to the excellent things, God offers, and wholly disposed and inclined to close with Satan's offers, out of his vast heap of perishing vanities. Merriment and Jollity in such a destructive course, is madness. God therefore calls man into a state of poverty, mourning and death, as to all this life of vanity; and that, as the only possible way of his deliverance from all evil Prov. 1. 33.

Vers. III. I sought in mine heart, to give myself unto wine (yet acquainting my heart with Wisdom) and to lay hold on Folly, till I might see what was that good for the Sons of men, which they should do under the Heaven, all the days of their life.

Vers. IV. I made me great Works, I built me Houses, I planted me Vineyards.

Vers. V. I made me Gardens and Orchards, and I planted Trees in them of all kind of Fruits.

Vers. VI. I made me Pooles of Water, to water therewith the Wood that bringeth forth Trees.

Vers. VII. I got me Servants and Maidens, and had Servants born in my House; also I had great Possessions of great and small Cattle, above all that were in Jerusalem before me.

Vers. VIII. I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of Kings, and of the Provinces, I gat me Men-singers and Womensingers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical Instruments, and that of all sorts.

Vers. IX. So I was great, and increased more then all that were before me in Jerusalem; also my Wisdom remained with me.

Vers. X. And whatsoever mine Eyes desired, I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any Joy: for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion of all my labor.

Here's, in Letter, a large account of Solomon's most desirable circumstances, as to his outward condition, in this World. He excel'd other Kings, in all kind of wealth, wisdom, greatness, and honor, 1 Kings 10. 23. Of all worldly contentments he had more then heart could wish. And he set his heart to deny no desires thereof, but fetched up the utmost pleasure and satisfaction to himself, that all these things could afford him. To interpret, then. Every outward circumstance was figurative to the inward condition and mystical riches of his spirit. All import, in mystery, his beautiful structure in the glory and wisdom of a first-covenant life; and the works of his own hands, therein. All this, Paul counted dung, and parted with, for the riches, wisdom, and righteousness of God, in his Gospel-spirit of grace and truth, Phil. 3. 6-9. The wisdom, inward beauties, and excellent natural accomplishments of Solomon's spirit, are here represented by stately Houses, fruitful Gardens, Orchards, &c. At length, in the awakened principle of true wisdom, from the Fountain of living Waters, he sees and declares the vanity of his broken Cistern, or leaky natural Vessel, with all the fading Waters, buildings, plantings, and fruitfulnesses thereof. All, within man, and all from without, relating to him, in this world, is but Meats for a belly and a belly for Meats; all, perishing vanities. God will destroy all, belly and meats, desires and desireables. All confidence, laughter, mirth, and joy therein, is folly and madness. All natural perfections and excellencies, in the unstained purity of his first-creation state, together with the convincing discoveries and revelations of the spiritual perfections and excellencies of the second, soon ran out of the leaky natural Vessel of the first Adam. He did not long keep the twofold waters of first-covenant Life, or second-covenant Light; the loss of both, soon left him and all his posterity, in darkness and death; Dead in 〈◊〉 and sins. Solomon finds all his natural braveries, outward or inward, but tottering Houses, leaky Vessels, all his possessions therein, altogether vanity. In the infallible light of spiritual wisdom, he makes a right judgment of his natural principle, and all fruits, works, or buildings, therein; typed by the abundant literal varieties of pompous Houses, Plantations, &c. All is vanity, say's he. This is the result; this, his verdict (on the review of all) after his full trial, largest draughts, and utmost experience of all possible desireables or satisfactions, to be found in nature. To particularize, farther. Men-singers and Women-singers may fitly signify the well-tuned frame and pleasant harmony of Solomon's spirit, in the orderly comportment and beautiful subjection of the sensual, to his rational and intellectual powers, figured by great and small Cattle, making up but the human Beast, in scripture Language. Every man is a Beast by his own knowledge, in the utmost wisdom of his own nature, earthly, sensual (so all, in Man or Angel, is called, short of spiritual, new-creation life) having not the spirit ( Jude 19.) so, if fixed in, devilish, by unchangeable enmity to that spirit, and God most high. Jam. 3. 15. The head of fallen Angels (in the fading glory of first-creation life, rebelliously exalted against the second) is the most subtle beast in the first world or field; Gen. 3. 1.

Solomon gathered Silver and Gold; was great, and increased more then all before him, in Jerusalem; mystical Gold and Silver, the peculiar treasure of Kings, such Princes of this world, Scribes, Pharisees, &c. (in the riches, flourish, and fruitfulness of their own restored nature, made wise, strong, and honorable by and in Christ, there) as crucified the prince of life in the next, the Lord of Glory. In sum, he exceeded all such mystical (1 Cor. 4. 8.) as well as literal Kings of the earth, for wisdom; and for riches inward and outward. And, his great delight in both, and all, is figured by Men and Women-singers, with musical Instruments of all sorts, importing his full enjoyment of the utmost delights of the Sons of Men, nature (in it's most widen'd capacity) can take in. Whatever his eyes desired, he kept not from them, nor withheld his heart from any joy. He allowed himself a latitude of rambling, to take his utmost pleasure in all the literal and all the mystical riches, and fruits of his labors. He rejoiced in this portion, as the result of all his labor; reckoning, he had ground, so to do. The wisdom of God, that remained with him, in & under all this doings, was the only preservative in him, that kept him from sinking and drowning in this full tide and affluence of all worldly desireables, streaming into him. He gives proof of the awakened exercise of this wisdom, in this recantation-book, and of the contrary Judgment thereof to man's, at best, as to the things wherein his true hapiness lies. In the hurry of his busy, active natural mind, in worldly contrivances and enjoyments, this true wisdom in him lay sorely clouded, obstructed, silenced, and neglected. But at last, up it gets, under Christ's powerful influence, and pronounces himself and all his former designs, works, and enjoyments, in his own fading nature, vanity and vexation of spirit; as follow's.

Vers. XI. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit; and there was no profit under the Sun.

Solomon, in the infallible light and wisdom of the second, looked upon all his works, labors and enjoyments in the first-creation World and life, and finds all, vanity and vexation of spirit; of no profit, avail, or conducibleness at all, to true hapines; but rather, as mistaken and abused, signal lets and hindrances thereunto. All will come to nothing, and therefore, finally trusted in and relied upon, will leave Man naked and destitute, to eternity. In all moyling and toiling in his own nature, he is found in direct enmity to God, and that spirit of grace in which alone he can be saved. All life, goodness, things of this world, are not only unprofitable, but destructive to man, if rested in. His inevitable loss of all, is legibly written out, in the changable nature of all, for his own reading. The resolute choosing, therefore, his own fading creature-life, and things, before, above, and against the unchangeable creature-life of the Creator (and everlasting Righteousness and wisdom of God, therein, with all the ever-new fruits thereof, things of God) is an unpardonable crime, the sin against the holy Ghost, or spirit of God, and Gospel-life of Christ; the great, the presumptuous sin, unto death, exclusive to all benefit of Christ's sacrifice, all intercession of Christ or true Saints; Jo. 5. 16. Heb. 10. 26. So will man be left, forever, in the most forlorn condition, imaginable; unutterable torment, and vexation of spirit.

Vers. XII. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly: for, what can the man do, that cometh after the King? even that which hath been already done.

Solomon turned from his own fallible, to the infallible wisdom of God, or light of his spirit, in which he saw the perpetual course of madness and folly he had been guilty of, under the conduct of his own. So saw he the wisdom of God, in his new-covenant spirit of grace; and folly of man, throw-out, in his old-covenant spirit of nature. Partakers of that creature-holy ghost (or spirit) that's in personal union with the divine, are brought into unchangeable union of mind, with the divine. When Solomon turned to the exercise of this, he turned from his own, as he advised others, Prov. 3. 5, 6. The spirit of God is the creature-wisdom, the living Word of God, that is God (Jo. 1. 1.) everlasting righteousness, true holiness. To keep up the life and way of Man's will, wisdom, and spirit, against God's, is destructive Madness and folly. For, what can he do that comes after the King? Solomon, King of literal, and also, mystical earthly Jerusalem, in all the glory, wisdom, and righteousness of man? He reigned as a King there, for a season, over his sensual powers, with the Corinthians, in the but restored first-covenant spirit of the Law, 1 Cor. 4. 8. He had the start and vantage-ground of all others, in his day, for finding true hapiness in worldly vanities, if any such thing were ever to be found, therein. What, literal or mystical, all visible or invisible Riches and Glories of that sort, signified, or amount unto, he had so full an experience, that for any to think or hope to find therein, what he could not, is madness. The King, here, may also point back to the first, or forward to the second Adam, in our flesh, made under the Law, as the first. Both first and second Adam, in holy flesh, life of the Law, righteousness of Man, were greater then Solomon, in the first-creation Principle of life and action, and free from enmity to the second. The first could not secure his standing, in that changable principle. The second refused to attempt it, but surrendered and let it fall (for that principle of unchangeable righteousness, in which he could) as the first ought to have done. He would not be a Judge, Ruler, or King, in the former, as the professing Jews, in that spirit, would have had him, who crucified him for owning himfelf a King, in the latter, wherein the Son of God. Yet, such a King, will he show himself to be, to their sorrow, whether they will or no. What can men hope for, in but some gradual restorings of that life of nature, they had in perfection, untinctur'd also with filth of spirit, or enmity to God, and the power of godliness, in his spirit of grace, which lurk's under the highest restored Righteousness of Man, or form of godliness, in his spirit of nature? Adam, in innocence, had not eternal life; and God took away what he had, his fading, for his sinful keeping it up against (and refusing to surrender it in exchange for) his everlasting life. If what was Adam's sin, to do, be asserted the duty he ought to have done (to Wit, the keeping what he had, and where he was) what instructions are we like to have, towards the avoiding a sinning after the similitude of his transgression? And they that confine the Death of the second Adam to his body, denying the surrender and Death of his spirit, as to its first-covenant Life of the Law, will teach the pitying, sparing, and keeping up of that ( as Satan, by Peter, counseled Christ himself ) to be the very way of salvation. Thus runs the doctrine of Satan's and Man's other Gospel, in a flat contradiction to Christ's, in every point.

Vers. XIII. Then I saw, that Wisdom excelleth Folly, as far as Light excelleth Darkness.

Wisdom and Folly, Light and Darkness, character the first and second Covenant, or Old and New creation Law and Gospel-principles of life, desire, thought, and action, in Men. The excellency of the second, admits no comparison with the first. The first has no Glory (Wisdom, Light, Righteousness) to the second, that excel's and remain's, forever; 2 Cor. 3. 10, 11. The first is marvelous darkness, as to all spiritual things of God, and grand concerns of man: The second, marvelous light, discovering all things, divine, spiritual, and natural, in their distinct goodnesses. Ye were darkness (in your own spirit of nature, corrupt or enlightened) now are ye light in the Lord's spirit of grace; walk as Children of this light. ( Eph. 5. 8.) walk, not as fools in your own spirit; but as wise ( verse. 15.) in the Lord's. Man's spirit, since the fall, in the highest renewals, is of Satan's palate, savors not, sees, or receives any things of the spirit of God; Mat. 16. 23. 1 Cor. 2. 14. All, that finally prefer their darkness to God's light, will find everlasting darkness their portion. The glorious advantages of the wisdom and light of God's spirit, render it most desirable to man; Prov. 3. 13- 18. and, 4. 5- 13. True wisdom call's out to all, in corrupt or enlightened nature, as fools and simple, in their main concern; Prov. 1. 20-23. and, 8. 5. The folly of Man, in corrupt nature, is seen of all. But, enmity to God, and the power of Godliness, in that spirit of grace, wherein alone any can be saved, is seen of none, in the highest wisdom of restored nature. And this is the root of all spiritual Wickednesses, Uncleanesses, Idolatries, and Murders. These all lurk under fair shows in holy flesh, form of Godliness and righteousness of Man, in the restored Image of the earthy. All natural excellencies in Man or Angel, are but a fading flower. All the mystical Gold, Silver, and Rubies thereof, perishing nothings, to the new-creation Wisdom and things of God. And, what then, to the infinite divine Wisdom and things of God? less then nothing; Isa. 40. 17. Christ offers his durable Life, Riches and Substance, his Heavenly treasures, for Man's fading Earthly shadows, and is refused; Mat. 19. 21, 22. Wisdom of nature, in corrupt or moral Heathen, and in first covenant Saints, excels the folly contrary thereunto, as Light, Darkness. But this reaches not the intended mystery and truth of this scripture.

Vers. XIIII. The wise Man's Eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also, that one event happeneth to them all.

The truly wise, sees with the Eyes of Christ, his spiritual Lord and Head; in his light, he sees light (Psal. 36. 9.) in the spiritual light of Christ, the infinite divine Light and Glory. Man, and all he does, in this light, this spirit, has the praise of God; but, not at all of men, wise, righteous Men. Paul was of high account with such, when a persecuting first-covenant Saint, in his holy flesh; of no account with them, when a suffering spiritual Saint, in God's Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 4. 8-13. 2 Cor. 10. 12. He was contented to be a no-body with men, when such a one as the Lord commendeth; passed not for Man's day, or judgment of him. The righteousness of Man kept up in enmity to God's, is highly esteemed of men, but, abominable to God. And, the righteousness of God, in the spiritual Saint, is highly esteemed of God; but abominable to man, with all the words thereof. Man's Soul, established in his own Righteousness, loath's God's soul, or spirit; and God's, his, Zec. 11. 8. Man's loathing God, is the greatest wickedness: God's loathing him, and dealing with him accordingly, the just punishment thereof.

In the spiritual Eyes of their Head, do true Saints fix their eyes on Christ, their Lord and Head; receive his counsels, and obey him, amid'st all uncertainties, darknesses and miscarriages of their natural Man. They walk in his spirit of light; fools, in their own spirit of darkness. Paul, when wise in God, seemed a fool to men, men wise in Christ, by his first-covenant communications. Christ marred that visage, wisdom, and image of the earthy, in his own person, which they trust in, for Salvation. Paul cast away all they trust in, as dung, for the spirit and wisdom of God, the life and image of the Heavenly. No being wise in God, without being fools, to Men; 1 Cor. 3. 18. and, 4. 10. Man, in the highest Light and Wisdom of his own nature, is indeed the Fool, tossed up and down by the various Winds of Satan's divers and strang doctrines, walking in darkness, not knowing whither he goes, or what he does; who, or what he worship's. He reckons, he is making safe steps toward Salvation, when making swift steps to destruction. Man, that finally trust's in his own Wisdom, for directing his steps; sides, and hold's with the Devil, as his Head; true Saints, with Christ, for directing their Steps, in his spirit. But, how does one event happen to them all, Wise and Fools? This one event is a twofold death, incident to both, in the twofold mortal Life of their Body and Spirit. 'It is appointed to all men, good and bad, Once to Die (Heb. 9. 27.) as to both these lives, in their natural state. By such Death, are all, first or last, cut off from (and forever deprived of) all outward or inward, literal or mystical riches and comforts of this World. The whole Life of the natural state, in the love or wrath of God, will be taken from every Man and Angel. Mortality and Death is legibly written out upon all, in the perishing nature of all they are possessed of, however obstinately kept up, and trusted in, by most. The event that happens or falls to the Lot of the obedient surrenderer of his natural Life, under the Cross; or rebellious refuser so to do (which brings him under the same Cross or Gospel-sword, in final wrath) after the said one event that happens to both, and all, will be found exceedingly differing, even a state of eternal Life or Death. God rejects men's false confidences, but approves of their distrust and despair in themselves, or best things in their own Nature; as, verse. 20.

Vers. XV. Then said I in my heart, as it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

Here is the bottom thought of Solomon' s heart, in this matter. In the Wisdom of God, he reflects upon and reviews himself, in all his former glory and wisdom of a man, and then compares himfelf (and any other, in like case) made wise, strong and honorable in Christ (by his renewalls of their old natural state, and fresh quickening them up into the life thereof, out of their fallen state of death in trespasses and sins) with the fool, and finds one Chance or Lot, happen to all that are but such wise men (never proceeding farther) and the fool; even a state of eternal darkness and death. The Fool, in the lowest sense, is, what we call a mere Natural, destitute, in a manner, of any use of his rational Powers, through indisposition of Body. Again, a man, weak and shallow in his natural Powers, and uncultivated by Education, Reading and Converse with better Understandings, is a Fool, to a man of deep Natural Judgment, quickness of Mind, of a soaring searching Capacity, and great Reach, advanced also by Learning and Converse. This Fool and wise Man may both be found, and oft are, in the but heathenish spirit of nature, and that, in the corrupt, rebellious state thereof, walking contrary to such, and to all light and wisdom, natural and spiritual. The moral righteous Heathen, that endeavors to obey such light of nature ( as Christ a-fresh sets up in every man that comes into the world ) though of less light and speculative wisdom or capacity then the former, is a wiser and better man. The first-covenant Saint, with his holy flesh, wise, strong and honorable in Christ, though of less speculative wisdom then either, is wiser and better then both; and then, the spiritual, new-covenant Believer and Saint (that seems a fool to them all, as having quitted all Wisdom of man, for God's, is not only wiser then them all, but the only truly wise, and they all fools, as to the whole of their eternal concerns. In general, all are fools in a scripture sense, God's judgment, that make the visible or invisible glories and excellencies of this world's perishing vanities, the only objects of all their desire, delight, labor and love. All inward mystical riches, heaped up in the fruitful exercise of a restored first-covenant life, under the fructifying influencings of Christ, as a sleshly Bride-groom, are passant vanities, as mortal and perishable as the life and outward concerns of the body, that all men know to be so; and will make themselves Wings and slee away, or depart from all the possessors thereof. This then, leaves the title wise, only to the spritual saint, thats counted the veriest fool of all, by all (but such as himself, that is, by all fools) as not fit to live, any longer upon the Earth, amongst them. Thus thought and said, Holy, Wise, Righteous, first-covenant professors, concerning Paul. Act. 22. 22. And, of Christ himself, they said, he hath a Devil, and is mad, why hear ye him? Jo. 10. 20. All, below the truly wise, Spiritual Man (both wise and fools, within the compass of their natural state, in all the fore-mentioned senses) will be alike brought to the greatest loss, disappointment and misery, imaginable, as to anything of hapines, in eternal Darkness, Torment and Vexation of spirit, under unquenchable Wrath. They'l all lie down, in Sorrow, forever. This being so, Solomon says, Why was I then more Wise? to wit, in my renewed Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of Man? To what purpose, do I labor in this, that's but folly and darkness itself, as to all Divine, Spiritual, Heavenly, most concerning things and Truths? Moreover, from the changableness and Mortality of it, always's exposed to death and loss. All therefore that trust therein, must needs meet with eternal vexation of spirit. This is yet more fully witnessed.

Vers. XVI. For there is no remembrance of the wise, more then of the fool, forever; seeing that which now is, in the days to come, shall all be forgotten; and how dieth the Wise Man? as the Fool.

Man, in the corrupt, and man in the Righteous Life of nature, are brought to an equality in the grave of both. Death level's their spirits as well as bodies. All the fading inward or outward riches and glory of the Princes of this World, literal or mystical (such professing first-covenant Saints, as crucified Christ, for the life and doctrine of the second) that come to naught (1 Cor. 2. 8.) will vanish, and come to nothing. However good in their kind, and for a season, the highest excellencies, beauties and glories, of human or angelical nature, be; all that is now so, in the days to come, shall be forgotten. It has the praise of man, but's of small or no account with God, while it last's. Spiritual Seer's, God's watchmen, warn both the righteous and wicked, of this; Scribe and Pharisee, as well as Publican and Harlot, that in the life of nature, corrupt or righteous, they will all likewise perish; and the established 〈◊〉 , found the highest and most criminal sinners; Ezek. 3. 16-21. and ch. 18. 20. 28. ch. 33. 11-19. The same Cross, or slaming Gospel-Sword, they refuse to submit to, in love, will be upon them, in sinal wrath. Js. 1. 19, 20. The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. What need of farther testimony? Let the righteous turn from his righteousness, to his old sins, in corrupt nature, or turn it into the highest wickedness, by setting it up, against the righteousness of God; let him turn from his righteousness, either of these two ways, he lies down in sorrow with the fool, or fixed common sinner of the Gentiles, forever; Ezek. 33. 13. This dismal end, come both to. Such righteous men, exalted to Heaven (in the restored Life of the first, and light of the second) instead of admission into the kingdom, will be laid under greater final wrath, then literal Sodom, as their most dreadful doom, and amazing disappointment. They have rejected confidence in God; and he, their confidences in themselves; Jer. 2. 37. By establishing their own righteousness, in the first, against God's in the second-covenant, they become of a Changable People of God, an unchangeable Synagogue of Satan, in unchangeable enmity to God, and union with the Devil. All, fixed in nature (corrupt or righteous, fools or wise, therein) will go to the same Tophet, prepared for both, under unquenchable wrath, and the said righteous have the worst on it, there, forever.

Vers. XVII. Therefore I hated life, because the Work that is wrought, under the sun, is grievous unto me: for, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Solomon, in the wisdom of God, sees all he had been long doing in his own, vanity and vexation of spirit, all his 〈◊〉 and labor therein, grievous to him. Rightly considering and reviewing all, in the infallible light of true wisdom, he argues himself into a most concerning duty ( without which, Christ says, none can be his disciples ) the hating his own life (with all the desires, designs, thoughts, ways, righteousness, wisdom, and best things thereof, as vanishing shadows) for the durable Riches, Wisdom, Life, Righteousness, and things of God. All pleasures, and delusive joy in the former, all love of this World, the delights of the Sons of Men, he finds, in the spirit of the next, enmity to God ( Jam. 4. 4.) and so, destructive to man. In nature, corrupt or righteous, since the fall, are men found hating (and hateful to ) God, and one another, as scrambling for a hapines to them all, out of things that can never make any one of them happy, but leave everyone in the eternal loss of their own Souls. 'It is a just Judgment of God (on all obstinate seekers for hapines, where God has abundantly convinced and warned them, 'tis never to be found) it should be so. Solomon's reason for hating this life, and man's whole course and race therein, is, because it, and all done in it, under the sun, is grievous unto him; not only unprofitable to the worker, towards hapines, but directly destructive to his whole being. When this is discovered by the spirit of God, in and to men, all the former delusive Mirth, Joy, and Laughter, is spoiled. Then nature grows sullen, and angry at the discoverer, fighting continually against it, in the very Saint. Flesh is offended at (offend's and grieves, opposes and fights against ) the said spirit, as Paul found even holy flesh, righteous nature, in all its workings, desires, and thoughts, to do, Rom. 7.

Vers. XVIII. Yea, I hated all my labor, which I had taken under the Sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

In the former Verse, he hated his own vain Life; in this, all his vain labor therein, as both, and all, vanity and vexation of spirit; not only unprofitable, but grievous to him, Life and Works, Principles and Operations. Here, he gives another reason for hating them; because he should leave the Product and Result of all such his labors, to the man that shall be after him. As figure and shadow of his meaning, herein, 'tis with many, the whole design of all their Labors and Travels, to heap up outward treasures to themselves, and leave to their Posterity, great Possessions, called after their own Name; as if they had any concern therein, when deceased; or, any relief thereby, when, with Dives, tormented in the flames of God's Wrath. And, as to any advantage to Posterity, how know they, but their Successors will blot out and deface, by their unwise and sinful practices, what they got by their wise and honest labors; though great things, of that sort, are seldom so gotten? Such great things puff up, and are oft the ruin of those that come after them. This was Solomon's own case, in his foolish Son Rhehoboam, who following the rash dictates of ignorant young 〈◊〉 , and rejecting the sage counsel of grave Senators that stood before his Father, disobliged the People, lost ten parts of his Kingdom, at first entrance on his Government; and he, and his Successors held the rest, not without great confusions, troubles and desolating Wars, with the Kings of Israel, their Brethren, and from such Nations round about, as were common enemies to both; Moab, Ammon, 〈◊〉 , Edom, Philistines, &c. 1 King. 12. Yet is this but the lowest and least part of Solomon's meaning, in these and the following words.

Vers. XIX. And, who knoweth whether he shall be a wise Man, or a fool? Yet shall he have Rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise, under the Sun. This is also vanity.

Here is a deep mystical Truth. The fading Laodicean Riches, and great Possessions, treasured up, in and by the fruitful exercise of my own spirit, in the restored first-covenant Life of the Law, Who knoweth 〈◊〉 a wise Man, or a fool shall (get, and) rule over it? Whether the supremely wise man, Christ himself, by his Gospel-sicle, Sword, or Cross, as freely and obediently surrendered to him; or the Man of sin, and Son of Perdition, the greatest mystical Fool, the Devil? Those that give up themselves and all Christ's gifts to them, of first-covenant Life, Wisdom, and Ornaments, and second-covenant Light (with all their fruits and effects, brought forth therein, mystical Corn, Wine, Oil, Silver and Gold ) to Baal, or Moloch, the Lord or King, and god of this World, are willing he should reap and gather all; and so, use all Christ's own gifts to them, and all the fruits of their own labors therein, against Christ and God himself, to their own destruction, as qualified thereby to be the most gygantick opposers & fighters against God. Man walk's in a vain show, disquiets himself in vain, heaping up Riches, and not knowing who shall gather them, Psal. 39. 6. Till Man come to a resolution, whose Arms he will cast himself into (with his changable Life and Riches) Christ's or the Devil's (in order to be fixed in the unchangeably good Spirit of the former, or evil one of the latter) He knows not who shall gather all; or, what will become of him and all he has gotten. One of these will certainly gather all, in conclusion. All puffed up self-exalters against Christ, give themselves, and all they have, into the hands of that Lucifcrian Head, and King over all such children of Pride (Job 41. 34.) receiving his spirit of unchangeable enmity to God, for the Principle of their Life, Desire, Thought, and Action. All fixed first-covenant Kings, are absolutely engaged in Satan's reign, in perfect opposition to Christ and his invisible Saints; whose saintship, or spiritual Life, is hid with Christ in God, till Christ's second appearing, and rendering it visible in himself and them, which will be the Manifestation of the Sons of God. Christ offers true freedom to all, even the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. But, multitudes of enlightened, holy, first-covenant Professors (and no better, whatever they reckon themselves) choose rather, for self-preservation, against the Cross, to be slaves of the Devil (the arrantest slave of all) and so, to have their ears bored, as his servants forever, on their willful refusal of true Liberty. This is figured out, Ex. 21. 5, 6. At last, Christ, by his Cross and spiritual Gospel-Sword or Sicle, will reap down and gather or take from all evil Angels and Men, all the Riches and Comforts, all the fading Glory and Power they have used against him, under Satan's reign, and tread them all underfoot, in his reign. From a sober Reflexion upon the whole matter, in the Spirit of Truth (discovering the vanity of all first-creation Life, and things of Man, with all his vain Labors, and uncertain Riches; and then the uncertainty, as to who shall gather them, to his everlasting damage or greatest gain) he looks on all Man's Labors, and Possessions in the confounded state of his own Nature, corrupt or righteous (on all these accounts, put together) to be but a hateful vanity, and vexation of spirit. So he farther declares,

Vers. XX. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the Labor which I took under the Sun.

So should everyone (in union of mind with Christ) hate his own Life, with all his Labors, and Fruits, brought forth in the but restored natural Principle (or Spirit of the first-covenant Law of Works) for the Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, in the second, the new-covenant spirit of the Gospel. The former, at best, was but changably good; and since the Fall, enmity to God, or filth of spirit is inseparable from it; direct enmity to that creature-spirit, or holy Ghost, in the new Life whereof only, 'tis possible to please God, or be saved. A heart, set to love that Life, in which man hates (and is hateful to) God, is a heart fixed in (or set to do ) evil, forever. Solomon therefore sets his heart to hate the whole Life, and all the best works, done in the single activity of his own nature, at best, under the twofold first-creation Sun, literal and mystical; as abovesaid. Of this he gives a farther account, verse. 21, -23.

Vers. XXI. For, there is a man, whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity: Yet, to a man that hath not labored therein, shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity, and a great Evil.

Solomon gives an account of himself, in the Man here described by him, travelling in Wisdom, Knowledge, and Equity; that is, in the wise and righteous actings of his own restored, enlightened nature. All this, he finds vain, and unprofitable; yea, a great grief and sorrow to him. Here's the sad result of all man's goodness and fruitfulness, in his own nature. All is vanity, the 〈◊〉 tree of good and evil (and since the fall, of evil only, filth of spirit at least, which is the greater sort of evil) with the Fruits; the Root with the Branch; Principle and Operations, Desires, Thoughts, Counsels, Purposes, Words, Actions, all naught. The loss of all, as obediently surrendered to the sacrificing hand, Gospel-cross, Sword and Fire of God's High Priest, is our only way of being delivered from all evil, of sin or punishment, forever. And, on such obedience, we shall certainly receive the promise of the Father, the everlasting creature-life and spirit of the Son, which will fill us with all good, forever, above wonder.

Is not here great Gain, on all hands, to encourage us to bear such loss, the spiritual Law of the Cross, and ordinances of God's new-creation sanctuary call for, as undispensably necessary for our admission or entrance thereinto? This exchange-traffic of Law for Gospel, Life of Nature for Grace, Earthly for Heavenly, the natural life of the Creature, for the spiritual life of the Creator, is the highest and best market, man can make, of all his first-creation vanities. Truth (or the Gospel-spirit of truth) can never be bought, but to Man's unspeakable advantage; never sold or parted with, from love to what's to be parted with for it, but to Man's unspeakable loss. Buy the Truth, therefore, at any rate; but Sell it, at no rate, though all the kingdom's of this World and glory of them (all natural, human or Angelical excellencies) be bidden for it. Paul, when eminent in first-covenant holiness, parted with all, as dung, for this Truth. All that have tried this most gainful traffic, have found it so. No active obedience, performable in Man's own nature, ever does his work for salvation; but, passive; a right ceasing from that life, with all its activity and labors. Should a Man live a thousand years twice told, in the utmost fruitfulness of his rectified naturals, he will still find Solomon's account true; all vanity. All that's but Earthly, in Man or Angel, all first-creation Life and fruits or works thereof, will be burnt up by the fire of the second, 2 Pet. 3. 10. Christ's new-creature spirit will try, by its all-discovering light, all principles and works, whether natural or spiritual, earthly or Heavenly; and then, all the former, that's changable and perishable, will most certainly perish, or be burnt up by the fire of this trying spirit. All that obediently submit not to this fiery trial, fall inevitably under its everlasting burnings, in and upon them, in final Wrath. All changable goodness, earthly, first-creation Life and Fruits, first or last, must pass away, from obedient Saints, and incorrigible sinners, in God's Love or Wrath. This fiery trial, seem's grievous, at present, to nature, in Saints; Heb. 12. 11. Our nature, in Christ himself, was sorrowful to death; cast out a word, for scaping the Death-Cup, but he instantly called it back. His living Soul, of the same kind with the first Adam's, was sorely put toit, made exceeding sorrowful, under the death-work of his second-Adam's quickening-spirit, or gospel-sword and fire upon it; Mat. 26. 38, 39. Obedient submission to God's present, temporary Wrath, in this case, is the only possible way of deliverance, from his Eternal; the Wrath to come. All willful refusers of the former, are sure to meet with the latter. Those that with Paul, received God's just sentence of Death within them, On their naturals, at best, have unspeakably the best on it. Those that please themselves a-while in resisting and scaping it, fall under it forever. The sufferings and shame brought on the natural man of the Saint, are not to be compared with the joy and glory of spiritual life, that follows. Nor does the present false joy, stiffnecked resisters of the Cross (or holy Ghost, in its demolishing operation upon their naturals) please themselves with, signify anything, in comparision of the griefs, torments, and vexation of spirit, this cross will bring upon them, in Eternal Death. The demolishing-work of the Cross, is grievous to nature, in Saints, at present: but, in no comparison so grievous as 'twil be to it, in rebellious resisters; and that, forever. True Saints soon find the benefit of their obediently sacrificed nature, by a resurrection out of the death of that, into the everlasting righteous life of the sacrificing high Priest of their Gospel-profession; Melchizedek. So have they eternal life abiding in them, the Kingdom of Heaven within them, live and walk in Christ's kingdom-spirit, the Gospel-principle of everlasting righteousness. Thus, by submitting to the temporary wrath at present (brought upon them, in God's everlasting kindness) do they scape the wrath to come.

But, what mean's Solomon, in saying, that all his wise labors, in his own restored nature, must be left to a man that has not labored therein? Who is this? Christ, in his originally unchangeable creature-spirit of everlasting righteousness and truth. Himself surrendered the earthly first-covenant righteous life and labors thereof, in our flesh, to the flames of his own eternal ( Heb. 9. 14.) everlasting righteous creature spirit, in sacrifice to his own divine spirit, and God most high. The sacrifice, he offered; the sacrificing Priest that offered it; and God, to whom offered; all are comprehended in the worderful person of the Mediator, as the divine and twofold creature form of God, originally spiritual, and spiritualized, transformed, regenerate natural, baptized into the death, and assimilated in the resurrection life of it, to the originally spiritual. This divine and twofold creature-being, image, or form of God in Christ, is all called God, even the spiritualized man Christ; Jo. 1. 1. All are the living Word and Oracle of God's infinite divine mind; his Wonderful Counselor, to Angels and Men. And, in all, stands he in a distinction, forever, from God most high, in the single and uncompounded divine essence, in which, the Father to this divine and creature-Son, begotten from eternity, as the divine; and from everlasting ( Prov. 8- 23) as creature-Son of God. Hence is it said, the Mediator is not of one (nature) but God is one. Gal. 3. 20. This sacrificing, Priestly, Gospel-spirit of Christ, reaps or gather's, cut's down, burns up, and utterly consumes all the life and labors or workings of Angel or Man, in their natural first-creation make and life, as he served our fleshly nature, in his own person. By his Cross or Gospel-sword, he gathers all, for sacrifice to God, as his due required Tithes and Offerings (the mystical truth of the literal) that never labored or did anything, in that natural state of life, but was originally spiritual. This also is vanity, says Solomon, or shows the insignificancy of man's or angel's labors in their earthly, first-creation Life of vanity, about salvation. All must go, life and all, or they never can be saved. And this is a great evil, or grieving consideration to man, that his life, at best, and all done in it, are but perishing vanities, vanishing shadows of things to come, or to be brought a-float in men, by a new-creation. 'It is also Man's great evil, his unpardonable Sin, if he rob God, or withhold his Mystical Tithes and Offrings, Mal. 3. 8. (the most high and criminal Spiritual sacrilege, many first-covenant Professors are guilty of in holy flesh; Rom. 2. 22.) the best fruits or works of his own nature, life and all, from Christ's Gospel-sword or Cross, and spiritual Circumcision-Knife; and so, from being an obedient sacrifice, or holocaust to God, in all. There is also a great evil, even direct enmity to God, found in all man's first-creation life of vanity, the most restored Image of the Earthy, and best fruits producible therein. This filth of spirit cleaves fast unto all, and is inseparable from Man's nature, since the first sin of it. Christ's communicating to, and setting up his spiritual life in Saints, makes them Lilies, that neither toil nor Spin, yet grow into a flourishing fruitfulness. No labor or toil of the natural spirit, in the case; but, a rest from all that labor. God works all our works in us: and we, all our works in him; Jo. 3. 21. Solomon, in all his glory, was not Arayed like one of these; Mat. 6. 28, 29. In all his fading natural excellencies and perfections, he had no glory, to these beautiful new-creation Lilies, that excel. Men yield up all their fading natural life and fruits to Christ, as the man, the spirit of everlasting righteousness; or to the Devil, the Man of sin and everlasting wickedness. If to Christ, he offers all up, in sacrifice to God. If to Satan, he sets up and uses all, in unchangeable enmity to God. When the Son of God had this life of vanity about him, the life of the Law, God spared it not in him; nor did he pity or spare it in himself, as the Devil by Peter advised him to do. Some, that have a mind to be bidding at Salvation (and the new-building) in the way of the Cross, and would not bid up; are willing to part with the corrupt life of nature, and palpably evil fruits and lusts thereof, the refuse and worst of their Cattle; but, as Saul (in letter and mystery) spare the choice things ( the King and best of the Cattle, in this Amalekite-spirit of nature; keep back part of their earthly possessions, with Ananias and Sapphira, the righteous Earthly life and fruits thereof) will come off, or fare as they did, lose their own selfchosen kingdom, life and all; 1 Sam. 15. 8, 9. and v. 18-23. Acts. 5. 1-10.

Vers. XXII. For, what hath a Man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the Sun?

Without a surrender of all, for that newness of life (in which alone he can bring forth fruit unto God and be saved) all turns to his eternal loss and disadvantage. This question is resolved.

Vers. XXIII. For, all his days are sorrows; and his Travel, grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

If first-covenant life be not, first or last, surrendered for the second (that has been no active principle or laborer in the way and Wisdom of the first) all's lost. For, 'tis in the new life of the second, only, can any bring forth fruit unto God, or be saved. This exchange of first for second, finally refused, Man will have nothing to reap, of all his labors and travels in the first, but inexpressible sorrows, grief, shame, and everlasting contempt, as having willfully rendered himself a Vessel of dishonor, forever, under wrath. He has changed all his goodness, the wrong way, into unchangeable evil and enmity to God, for which the unchangeable wrath of God will be upon him. And this will make that mystical Night of Darkness and Death, his heart can take no rest in. This, come all men's vain labors for rest, in the life and activity of their own nature, to; against all the faithful counsels, and timely warnings of God. So will all the days, belonging to their immortal beings, even to all eternity, be spent in torment, and vexation of spirit. They have rebelliously walked in the light of their own Fire, and Sparks of their own kindling, the fruits and births of their own light and wisdom, in the life and activity of their own nature, and must lie down in Sorrow, for their pains. All first-creation life of the Law, thus unlawfully used, in rebellion against God, will be found not only vanity, but a great and sore evil to them, forever.

Vers. XXIIII. There is nothing better for a man, then that he should Eat and Drink; and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

This eating and drinking as a taking pleasure and joy in man's labor, Solomon recommend's, as savory advice, and a peculiar gift from God, cannot be anything, bordering upon brutish sensuality; nor yet Men's feeding and gratifying themselves with the best fruits of their labors in a first-covenant Law-life: for, in both these, men lie under the Curse of God; Gal. 3. 10. No feeding on perishing meats, in a perishing life, can be the meaning of the spirit, Solomon gave this counsel, in: but, a feeding on never-perishing Meats, suited to a never-perishing life, as Christ, the true Solomon advises, with a negative dash on all other life and meats; Jo. 6. 27. This only is a true blessing from God; puts man under his approbation-seal; a Belly and Meats, he will not destroy; All other, he will. All other life, finally kept up and fed in, tends to man's final destruction. Right eating and drinking of Christ's living Bread and the kingdom-Wine of his spirit, strengthens man in his newness of life, to bring forth fruit unto God, daily more and more, from thirty to sixty, sixty to a hundred-fold, and from that, to a thousand, &c. endlessly. David, Solomon, and other Saints have seen and proclaimed the vanity of all other Life and Meats, with all Man's delusive, destructive joy, mistaken pleasures and confidences, therein. They have recanted and declared the wrong measures they took in their own fallible wisdoms, both of themselves, and God's various dealings with them and others, in this world. Enemies are gratified with more than heart can wish, literal or mystical riches, in their own nature, will, and way after their own hearts, while true saints are plagued all their day long, in this World, and chastened every morning; Psal. 73. 4. 14. The natural man of the saint, envies, frets, and is vexed at this worldly prosperity of the wicked; but their spiritual, in God's Sanctuary-light, sees what all will come to; and so, quiets their wrangling, envious natural, as an injurious quarreller at God's dispensations, and the methods of his wisdom; v. 16-19. Spiritual light extricates them out of that labyrinth, and consused maze, their own wisdom and thoughts run them, into; and sets all to rights. The blessed end of Saints troubles, and dreadful conclusion of wicked Men's prosperity, pays for, and answers all. This, seen, quiets the Saint, and fills him with Joy unspeakable and glorious. This we find, over and over, Psal. 37. & 73. 〈◊〉 21. and, in plenty of other scriptures. Envy not their fools-paradise here, that ha's Hell at end on it. All their laughter and merriment is but as the crackling of Thorns under a pot, a short blaze, in this mortal World, and away. After their Resurrection of Damnation, they'll have time enough to pay their sad reckoning, under the flamings forth of unquenchable Wrath, upon them. This will they have, from God's hand. When Saints clearly see this twofold Issue of their trouble, and others prosperity, in this world; can they envy, will they not pity them? The afflictions of the one, and prosperity of the other, are both but a Dream. Truth will out, at last, in the endless end, both arrive at, and come to, in eternal life or death. When the Wicked awake out of their dreamish hapines, God will despise their Image; destroy their life, and all their false comforts, in the Image of the Earthy; Psal. 73. 20. When Saints awake out of their afflictiondream, they will be satisfied with God's Heavenly Image, and his new-creature life, Psal. 17. 15. One has but an Imaginary hapines: the other, Imaginary trouble; all's but a vain show; Psal. 39. 6. As Saints more plentifully feed on the Lord's never-perishing Meats, from his heavenly table, they are more strengthened in that newness of life, in which they bring forth never-perishing fruits, unto God. God requires (and delights in) their eating and drinking abundantly, at his Heavenly Table, the glorious fruits of his divine and creature-spirit, the Tree of Life. They can never be too much filled with his spirit ( Eph. 5. 18.) and fruits thereof. No rioting or excess, at his Table: never too much of his Wine. The more, any feed at his table, the more they discover and nauseate Satan's worldly meats, and wine. Let him gild his perishing vanities with never so near a resemblance of Christ's meats, 'twonit do. They can spy out his Contemptible meats, under all the beautiful disguises he puts upon them, and reject them. See then the mystery and truth of Solomon's declaration, here. There's nothing better for a man, then to eat and drink the good of all his spiritual labors, which never are in vain in the Lord; 1 Cor. 15. 58. All other labor, in man's own nature, is in vain, as to his grand concern. Life, Fruits, Labors, nothing vain, in a new-creation state; all, in the old. All's unchangeable, in the new; all, vanishing, in the old; Tree and Fruit, Root and Branch, Womb and Births. Fruits in the new, are Peaceable fruits of Righteousness, in a union of mind with God; not so, in the Old. All, there, is done in a spirit of enmity to God; even the best and most righteous works of man. By works of Grace, in God's new-covenant spirit, Abraham was Justified, and not by Faith only, Jam. 2. 21-24. Such works, wrought in God, or in the spirit of faith, are ingredients into the saint's Justification; not any works or deeds of the Law-spirit of nature; Rom. 4. 2-6. The true saint does not live, war, or walk after the flesh, but against it, in the spirit. The ruling principle in man, denominates. A predominant exercise of the corrupt spirit of nature (with the vile affections and brutish lusts thereof) denominates Man, a Beast. The ruling exercise of the enlightened principles of nature, declare a man, a Legal Christian, or, at least, a moral Heathen. The ruling exercise of the Gospel-spirit, in man, makes a spiritual Saint, a Gospel-Christian. And now, by this opening of these words, into the mystical truth of them, is not excluded a shadowy literal sense thereof, as countenancing a right and free use of the concerns of bodily Life, for the end by God intended in them, against the folly of those, that from an evil covetousness, and vain, self-tormenting solicitude, find no heart or power to eat thereof, to the best advantage of the Life, that's more then meat; and the Body, that's more then Raiment; Mat. 6. 25.

Vers. XXV. For, who can eat? or who else can hasten hereunto, more then I?

Solomon, here, declares his Priviledg, through the awak'ned Wisdom of God in him, of hastening to, and feeding at Christ's Heavenly Table, on the things of God. Who carried forth with a stronger bent of affection to things above (Col. 3. 2.) then I? He found a strength of spiritual appetite, carrying him forth to eat and drink abundantly, according to Christ's Invitation to his supremely doubleportion'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saints (of which number, himself seem's to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his own mysterious Song; Cant. 5. 1.

Vers. XXVI. For, God giveth to a man that is good in his sight, Wisdom, and Knowledge, and Joy: But, to the sinner he giveth Travel, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

The good man, in God's sight, is the spiritual Saint, in distinction from all others. What's unchangeably good only, is properly good in God's sight. None good, insinitely, from Eternity, but God only: 〈◊〉 everlasting to Eternity, is the creature-spirit in the Mediator, good. And, to Eternity, are all obedient Angels and Saints, born of that spirit, and brought forth in the everlasting righteous Life thereof, good before God. No Angel, no Man, nothing, in the first-creation-make or State of Angel or Man, is, in this sense, good; however good in their kind, and right use; yea, very good; Gen. 1. 31. The natural man of the Saint, in the restored first-covenant Life and Image of the earthy, is made good in God's sight, by submitting to the Plow-work of the Cross ( Christ's spiritual husbandry upon it) pointed so deep, as to tear up by the Roots, the natural principle of enmity. And then, by the same hand, or spiritual Plow, is quick'ned up, the (before) dormant seed of an incorruptible righteous new-creation Life, in which Man's nature, as made new earth, brings forth fruit unto God. This is the Earth, that, by drinking in the spiritual Rain-waters of Life, that come oft npon it, brings forth herbs, meet for them by whom it is dressed; Christ, and God most high; Heb. 6. 7. Saints are thus, God's Husbandry; and Christ, the Mystical Husbandman, that does the work. He cleanses from filth of flesh, the vile fruits and lusts of the corrupt Nature. This yet, 〈◊〉 not or enables men to bring forth fruit unto God; but to themselves only ( Hos. 10. 1.) towards the farther enriching and adorning their own nature. They are empty Vines, and but fallow Fields, yet, to God. Some-what cleared are they, from the Nettles and Thistles of the corrupt spirit of nature; but they bring forth no right Grapes, or good fruit, unto God; unchangeably good. A seed of enmity, remaining in them, after all natural cleansings, is a Root of bitterness, bearing Gall and Wormwood, Briars and Thorns, in a bloody, bitter, murderous mind of enmity against God, Christ, and all his Gospel-Saints and Truths. So see we the good man, here, rendered so, by God's unspeakable Gift, consisting in true Wisdom, Knowledge, and Joy, joy unspeakable and Glorious in the holy Ghost, or spiritual principle of everlasting righteous life, desire, thought, word, and action. And hereby is he fitted to enjoy God, in whose favorable presence is fullness of Joy, and at whose right hand are pleasure's for evermore; Psal. 16. 11.

Secondly then, who is the Sinner, here?

This sinner is, not only nor chiefly, the common sinner, in the corrupt spirit of nature, unfix'd there. All are so born, Children of Wrath and death, serving divers lusts, hateful, and hating one another; Eph. 2. 3. Tit. 3. 3. All are sinners against the son of man, or light and righteous life of the first-covenant law, the highest edition and dispensation whereof, was found in Christ's person, as Son of Man, in the earthly law-life of our nature, holy flesh. If such sins and sinners were not pardonable, and the wrath thereby provoked and demerited, atoneable (by Christ's obedient sacrifice of that spotles law-life, and by his powerful intercessions) no man could be saved. The sinner here, then, is of a higher rank, and deeper die, then so. The principles of corrupt and righteous nature, in a kind of struggle and fight against each other, in man, too generally mistaken for flesh and spirit, are but corrupt and holy flesh, which join in war against what's truly called spirit, in scripture; the spirit of Christ, and spiritual mind thereof, in Saints; Gal. 5. 17. Paul, in holy flesh, was a fierce persecutor of God's Holy Spirit, and true saints. And, when a signal Apostle, he found that holy flesh a fighter against God's holy spirit, in himself, as he abundantly complain's; Ro. 7. While man then interprets the words of God's wisdom, by the short-sighted conceptions and words of his own wisdom, he shuts up the kingdom of Heaven, excludes all the mystery and spiritual truth of scripture, out of all his teaching, and reputed orthodox divinity. All this lies buried in deep silence and inadvertency. And, would this were all. When the spiritual mystery, and kingdom-sense of all scripture, is offered, such human divines (in their lying spirit of 〈◊〉 , as to all Gospel-truths or things of God ) set themselves, might and main, to 〈◊〉 and decry it; dissuade their hearers from listening toit, as the most detestable, blasphemous doctrine, in the world.

The enlight'ned, professing, righteous Jewish Teachers, said, on this very account, of Christ himself, he hath a Devil, and is Mad; Why hear ye him? Joh. 10. 20. Do any of the Scribes or Pharisees believe him? None but silly ignorant Women and Fishermen, Publicans and Harlots, such as know not the Law, and are cursed, regard his words. Here's the pass, Golpel-truths were at, amongst the only professing people, at that day, in the world, when Christ himself was the Preacher. Such Sinners against the Holy Ghost (or gospel-spirit of truth, when rich, full, and reigning as Kings, as needing nothing for Salvation, when they want everything; 1 Cor. 4. 8. 10. Rev. 3. 17.) Wise, Strong, and honorable in Christ, as to first-covenant attainments, and fruitful in the life thereof, these are the very sinner or sinners, here meant, when obstinately fixed there. The self-same law-spirit, or restored principle of righteous life and action, in their own nature, fixed in, under the outward dispensation of the Gospel, renders men a-like prejudiced, now, against the whole mystery and truth of Gospel ( the very Christ, the very Gospel) as they were, under the outward dispensation and ceremony of the Law. They exclude all the Gospel-sense of all scripture, old and New Testament, out of all their divinity. 〈◊〉 are the divines that shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men, not entering themselves nor suffering others to enter. They set up Satan's kingdom of marvelous darkness, for Christ's Kingdom of marvelous light. They preach up that accursed other Gospel, he preached to Eve (and is at, ever since) that man shall not die at all, that is, that in his own enlightened righteous nature, he has eternal Life. So Second-covenant, newness of Life, true Grace, Regeneration, &c. are all frustrated or made void, as useless nothings, that are all in all, for true salvation. All new-covenant Titles are given to the old, and the very new, 〈◊〉 , with all its doctrine, as madness. These that pass thus for Christ's only Church and Saints, will be found, when God is Judge himself, the most criminal sinners, beyond literal Sodom, even a spiritual Egypt and Babylon. In all their conformity to Christ, in that Life of our nature, he crucified, are they in flat opposition to that spiritual, he raised it into, in which he lives for evermore, Rev. 1. 18. These 〈◊〉 painted Sepulchers, whited Walls, full of enmity to God, filth of spirit, mystical rottenness and corruption. They are Thieves and 〈◊〉 , that (having shut up the right Door of Entrance into the kingdom, by the death of nature at best, under the Cross) climb up some other way, to take it by violence; force their entrance, in holy flesh, their own Wisdom and strength, with Satan. Christ crucified and abolished all that, in himself, they daringly and presumptuously attempt to enter it, with. These are Wolves in sheep's Clothing, dressing up their visible saint-ship in but holy Flesh, with all the words, and titles belonging to the invisible saint, in God's holy spirit, a life yet hid with Christ in God. In this disguise, are these mystical robbers of Christ and his true saints, of all their titles, their fiercest and most outrageous enemies; as Christ warn's his followers; Mat. 10. 16-18.

Next then, what's meant by God's giving such a sinner travel, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God?

• 1. First, what is it, this sinner gathers and heaps up?
• 2. Secondly, in what sense is God the giver to him, with pain and travel, so to do?
• 3. And, thirdly, how, and in what sense, is what he so heaps up, given to him that is good before God?

To the first. The peculiar treasures of the choicer sort of Kings of the earth, mystical Silver and Gold ( v. 8; and, Jam. 5. 2, 3.) the Laodicean treasures of such first-covenant Kings ( Rev. 3. 17. 1 Cor. 4. 8.) of the earthly Jerusalem-spirit, as are totally destitute of the heavenly. Men reckon their matters safe, as to eternal life and peace with God, in a spirit of direct enmity to him

To the second. As a present punishment for so doing, God gives them pain and travel in heaping up such riches. How? By spiritual light, he convincingly shows them the vanity of all that life and treasure, and requires all in sacrifice (by a holy death) to him. This (besides the far greater punishment that follows, under the wrath to come ) gives present pain, amid'st all their self-deluding satisfactions in this upper sort of the delights of the Sons of men. The distinct superior excellency of spiritual life and things of God, in the second or new-covenant, beyond Man's, in the first or old ( as far as the heavens are above the earth ) convincingly set before them, in mercy, when willfully sinned against, torment's them. For, such conviction becomes a self-condemning witness against them, as fixed dwellers on the said mystical Earth, or their earthly life, when offered Heaven, or God's spiritual, heavenly life, by a new-creation. Christ sends his spiritual convictions into them, as faithful spies, that give a good report of his true land of promise, or state of life. These, sinned against, and not hearkened to, vex and torment them, taking from them such full undisturbed delights and uninterrupted pleasure, as they desire to find in their earthly life, will, and way. God's spiritual conviction-light (given in mercy) finally rebelled against, is, in wrath, kept up in their consciences, as a never dying Worm, that will torment them, to all eternity, witnessing against themselves, as unpardonably guilty; and for God, as most just, in his unquenchable wrath upon them; Mar. 9. 44. Now, this gnawing Worm, that will be this sinner's everlasting tormentor in the world to come, is a sore allay to his false joy, in this. Spiritual conviction is as a particular day of God's Judgment in and upon man, before the general comes. The accusing voice thereof in him, holds him toit, and forces him to see, that all the treasure he's heaping up, for the last day's ( Jam. 5. 3.) is indeed, no other nor better then a treasuring up wrath for himself, against the day of wrath; Ro. 2. 5. This is a souring ingredient, in the midst of all the sweet and contentment, this unpardonably guilty sinner desires to find in his own self-chosen way, and self-choosing will. He may know and conclude, nothing remains to him of benefit, from Christ's sacrifice and intercession; and so, nothing at all, from God, but fiery indignation, Heb. 10. 26, 27. So, of the first part of his punishment, even at present, in this world. The second, we shall find, in considering the third particular.

To the 3d, then. By God's over-ruling hand, he shall be made to give all his heaped up treasures, to him that is good before God, whom he unchangeably hates. And, this will be a tormenting consideration, and sore vexation of his spirit, his heaped up vanities will prove unto him; which is the concluding word of this Chapter. All, the sinner (in the latter part of this verse) labors for, and gathers, he must give, or shall be given, whether he will or no, to the good man or spiritual saint, in the former part. In the parable of the talents ( Mat. 25. 14-30) we find, that the evil servant, who kept his own single earthly talent, or earthly first-covenant life, refusing to exchange it, for Christ's heavenly, is called Wicked and Slothful Servant, and his Talent taken from him, and given to him that had ten, as having made the required Exchang, by death, to his advantage and great gain. All the 〈◊〉 goodness, and Comforts, in the first Creation-Life and State (kept up, and held fast, by Evil Angels and Men, in Rebellion against God) shall be finally taken from them; and given to, or Possessed by Spiritual Saints and Angels, as Comprehended in (and unspeakably outdone by) the New-Creation Life and State, where they receive their own (and all others own) again, with Usury; ver. 27. Thus Christ Interprets his own Parable. From him that hath not the durable Riches, in New-creation Life, shall be 〈◊〉 away all his Fading, in the First; and given to him that hath true Riches in the second, with abundant Increase, forever; ver. 29. This is of like Significancy with that other faithful saying, and sure word of Prophecy; whoever will spare or save his natural, earthly Life, from the death-work of the Cross, shall lose it, under the same Cross, in final wrath; and, whosoever will hate and lose his natural and earthly, for the sake of and love to Christ's spiritual and heavenly (the only right use of his single first-creation Life and Talent ) shall find it with Usury, in Christ's heavenly; Mat. 16. 25. Never was anything in the former, could make up any degree of true hapines to Man or Angel. God convincingly shows and graciously offer's his life to men; waits with much patience and longsuffering for their accepting it, on his terms, the death of their own nature, at best, or in what ever variety of condition, in Publican and Harlot, or Scribe and Pharisee. He knocks at the Dore of their hearts, warn's, counsels, instructs, reproves them, invites, entreats, beseeches them by his Ambassadors of grace. He calls out to them, to hear his voice and not harden their hearts against him, while the day of his gracious call and offers to them, last's. At length, on their willful Provoking him beyond pardon, the great Master of the New-Creation House or Building, shuts the door, and is gone ( Luk. 13. 25.) Swearing in his Wrath, they shall never enter into his Rest; Heb. 3. 13. Then, they may seek and knock, while they will, they'll never find him (Prov. 1. 28) nor any place for Repentance, or change of their Rebellious Mind, and desperate condition, forever ( Heb. 6. 4-6.) Esau' s Case; Heb. 12. 17. An obedient Exchange, by Death, of Fading First-Creation Life, for the Everlasting Second, is unspeakable gain to Man. The Rebellious keeping it up, in Enmity to the Cross, and Second, or to the Spirit of God, and its Crucifying, Death-work upon it (in order to set up its own Life in the Room) is unspeakable loss, to all that so do. This, Paul told the Self-Confident Professors at Philippi, of, (in the fruitful Flourish of a First-Covenant Righteous Life) even weeping, Phil. 3. 18.) and reproov'd the Corinthians for, in like case (1 Cor. 4. 8. 10.) as Christ himself ( when Ascended and Glorified ) the Laodiceans; Rev. 3. 17, 18. By the very same hand, Cross, or Gospel-Spirit of Christ, will that Perishing Law-Life, with all the Fruitfulness, heaped up Riches and meats thereof, be taken from them, in Final Wrath, whether they will or no.

Vers. I. To everything there is a Season, and a time to every Purpose under the Heaven.

NExt to no difference from our Translation of this and the Seven following Verses, in the Original Hebrew, three Eastern Versions, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, or the Septuagint's Greek Translation.

In this Scripture, to Verse 8th, Inclusive, have we the Character of Man, in his whole Personal Constitution, and Make, by the First Creation; or in whatever Flourish of the restored Wisdom, and Exercise of a First-Covenant Righteous Life, therein. In Body, Soul, and Spirit, no Life but Mortal, by Creation. And, the same kind of Life, restored in him, since, is much short of the perfection it was in, at First. Something of Filth of Flesh hangs about it, still; and Filth of Spirit, that's worse, is inseparable from it, since the fall. Life and all, therefore, must go, by a Holy Obedient death, in Sacrifice to God. If 〈◊〉 spared, and Rebelliously kept, it will be an Unholy life, in unchangeable Enmity to God, doing despite to his Divine, and also, to his New-Creature, Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth.

In the Various Litteral Expressions, here, Relating to the Body, have we the Shadow of a great Mystical Truth, relating to the Spirit, living soul, or inner Man of Man, the life whereof also, being Mortal, is subject to (and therefore figured out by) the like changes, as are Incident to Bodily Life, in the Birth, Flourish, Decay, Death, and Resurrection thereof. First then, to the Figurative Shadow, knowable to all; and after, to the Mystical Truth, knowable to few; to none, aright, save such, as are of the same Spirit, Solomon was, when he Writ these Words.

1. There' s a set time to all Visible things, under the Litteral Heaven and Sun, as the Answer and Accomplishment of God's most wise design and purpose, concerning them. There's a time allotted for their Appearance and Manifestation; and then, for their Disappearing and Vanishing, again. Both these general Dispensations of God, to them, do Minister Important Instruction to Man. The Positive Assertion of this Truth, in general ( v. 1.) does Solomon prove, by particularizing the Various things, Circumstances and Occurrents, relating to Man's Bodily part and Life (in reference to which, the whole Visible Creation, in the greater World, without Man, was set up, before hand, as requisite for his entertainment; Gen. 1. and Ch. 2. 7.) and then, to the declinings and Death thereof, under the Various Dispensations of God, to this lower work of his own hand, in Man. And, hereby is signified the like Various Dispensations of God (and thence, a like Variety of Condition, Incident) to the Spirit or inner Natural Man, as to its but Mortal First-Covenant-Life, put into and 〈◊〉 up in it, by Creation. Man therein, at best, was but a Mystical Tree of good and Evil, a changable thing, a Fading Flower. Since the Fall, this Fleshy Tree, is (in a manner) only, always's Evil. Man's fallen nature, herein, is a Gursed Mystical Earth, bringing forth Thorns and Thistles, in Filth of Flesh or Spirit; Gen. 3. 17, 18. His Immortal Spirit, in its Unstain'd Mortal First-Covenant Life and State, before the Fall, with all, done, or possible to be done, in the Activity thereof (all Riches, Fruits, Righteous Works, Producible, or Performable therein) all was Vanity, 〈◊〉 but Vanishing Shadows of durable substantial things, the Everlasting Righteous New-Creature Life, Wisdom, 〈◊〉 , things of God. Man (with all his natural, First-Created Life and things) is, in another Sense, under Heaven, or below the Spiritual, Heavenly Life of Christ, the New-Creation Sun of Everlasting Righteousness, and things of God. Nor Man nor Angel, in Innocency, had anything of that Life about them, or Fruits thereof. And, in that Life only, can any bring forth Fruit, unto God. They that say, Adam should have held fast that Righteous Life he was Possess'd of, by Creation; kept where he was (as Job, once, through a great mistake, said, he would hold fast his Restored Righteousness, of that sort) they that say this, what else must they say? This. That Man, Restor'd by the second Adam, to something of the lost Life of the First, must hold it fast, Establish himself there, never part with or let it go, again; and Heaven is his own; this is true Salvation, and Eternal Life. In their Lying Spirit of Divination, do such Teachers warrant their Deluded Hearers, safe and truly Blessed, here; causing them to hope, they will confirm their Word; Ezek. 13. 6. They follow ( Heb. walk after) their own Spirit of vanity, see nothing of God's; they are vanity, and see nothing but vanity, the things of man, which they presumptuously call the things of God; and so, teach Rebellion against the Lord. They establish themselves and others in a life and Righteousness, that's but Vanity, a Fading Flower, for Salvation. And, Irrefragably Confident they grow, herein. All the World wonder and run after them, Rev. 13. 3. 1 Jo. 4. 5. Mean while, no Man, in the but Restor'd Worldly Spirit of Nature, the Life, Wisdom and Righteousness of man, receives Christ Gospel-Testimony, given by his Spirit of Truth, in himself or followers; Jo. 3. 32. That, which (indeed) is the very Unpardonable Sinning after the Similitude of Adam' s Transgression, do Men Preach up, as their undispensable Duty, for Salvation. The holding fast, and keeping up what they received by the First-Creation (against the everlasting Creature-Life, Wisdom, Righteousness and things of God, clearly showed and offered them, by a second) was the very Unpardonable Sin, that gave the Irrecoverable fall, to the Devil and his Angels. Their fall, evil Change, and Punishment, lies in this. They retain all the Natural Life, Glory, and Excellencies of their First-Created State, as by their willful Folly and God's Righteous Judgment, turned into (and used in) unchangeable Enmity to God. They kept not their first Estate, but left their own Habitation; Jude 6. What was that? A State of Unstain'd Natural Purity, and of changable Obedience (in their Wavering Natural Principle) to Spiritual Light, by which, clearly showed and offered an Unchangably Righteous Creature-Life, by a New-Creation, on the Obedient-Surrender and loss of their Changable. The Lord was pleased to deal more favourably with Man (as of less Natural Capacity, and so, under lower Spiritual Conviction then Angels; and then also, as Over-reached and Overset by the Superior Subtilty and Power of the Evil Angel) taking from him the Fading Righteous Life, Wisdom, Excellencies, and Corruptible Perfections of his Inferior, Human Nature; not leaving him them, to Fight with against himself, as he did, to the Evil Angels. But, when this Life (with the things thereof) is gradually Restor'd by the Redeemer, in Men, Satan is presently at the same point, with them, as with Eve (2 Cor. 11. 3.) that they shall not die, at all; they have Eternal Life. Though it was not so, in the first Adam; yet, when Restor'd by the Second, and Men Confirm'd or Establish'd therein, by him, it is. Indeed, this Fixing, Establishing Doctrine to (and work upon) them, is Satan's, not Christ's. For, it fixes them in unchangeable enmity to Christ's Gospel-spirit, and all his Gospel-things or truths. Adam' s attempt and design, for keeping up the Righteous Life he was Created in (and thence, Refusing to Surrender, and part with it, for what was Presented to him in the Tree of Life ) was his very Sin. The Losing, or falling from the Righteous life he had, was his punishment. God took from him, What he had, his fading righteous Law-Life, for Preferring it to his Everlasting, New-Covenant Gospel-life. The day, he ate of the tree of good and evil (or pleased himself with his own changable righteous life, and the 〈◊〉 , Meats, or Delights thereof, in preference to God's more excellent Creature-life and never-perishing meats thereof) he died (as threatened, Gen. 2. 17.) that is, lost that fading righteous Life; and so, with all his Posterity, became dead in trespasses and sins. Now, if Establishing our selves in the restored Righteous Law-Life of our Nature (Called our own) be Asserted our duty, and security for salvation; then, a sinning after the similitude of Adam's Transgression (which done, thus, the second time, after all Experience of man, and Warnings from God, to the contrary, is as Unpardonable as the Devils first sin) must be the very way of Salvation. What-else, or less? And then, as to the second Adam; Let his original Creature-nature or Spirit ( Set up by himself, in Personal Union with his divine, From Everlasting, Prov. 8. 23.) be denied; and the very Creation (in effect, or rather in the cause of it) is denied. For, this Living Creature (or all comprehensive Creature-nature, under the God of Israel ( Ezek. 10. 20.) and in personal Union with him, comprehending in it, as a Polished shaft in God's Quiver, the very man Christ, that in the Fulness of time, was made flesh ) was the very immediate hand by which God Made the Worlds. By this Creature-Wisdom and word of God, which is called God also, were all things made, Jo. 1. 1-3. and so, by the very man Christ, as comprehended therein, were made, both worlds, natural and spiritual, in a first and second Creation-workmanship of his, passing upon them; Heb. 1. 2. Col. 1. 13-16. The same WORD, also, by which all Angels and men were made, was the provided means, Mouth, or Prophet of God, to speak forth the whole Counsel of his Divine Mind, to them, when made; and to Mediate between them and Infinite Divinity, which, without this Interposing Creature-Vail would have been a Consuming fire to them all. This Word is also the Executer (as well as Declarer to them) of the whole Mind and Will of God, from first to last, on all Angels and Men, as Obediently Submitting to the Methods and Terms of his New-Creating Workmanship, or Incorrigibly Rebelling against it. He is the 〈◊〉 Roll of Woes, to the one; the Book of Life and Mercy-Seat, to the other; in which are Treasured and Sealed up all the distinct Measures and Portions of Wrath for the one, amongst the distinct Portions and Measures of Grace and Love, for the other; Deu. 32. 34, 35. This Living Book (in which, all, they do towards God; and all, God will do towards and with them, are exactly Recorded and Registred; the Living Stone, that bear's and know's all, on all hands, God's Words to them, and theirs to him ( Jos. 24. 26, 27.) by way of Covenant) will be the Infallible Witness for, or against them, and Irresistible Executor of the Mind and Will of God, towards and upon them all, in Everlasting Love or Wrath. See then the case of those that deny any Creature-Nature or Spirit in the Mediator, of elder date, then his being made Flesh. And then, when in that Fleshy State, Crucified, they that narrow and consine his Crucisixion only to the Violent Death of his Body, and Exclude (or take no notice of) the Death he put his natural Spirit, to, as to the Spotless but Changable earthy, Law-Life thereof, by kindling upon it (and Offering it up in) the Mystical Fire of his Eternal New-Creature Spirit (Luk. 12. 49. Heb. 9. 14.) What Conformity to his Death, will they Preach? If the principal thing, he Crucified in himself, be denied, the principal thing that's to be Crucified in us, will be denied. And what then? Why then, the Subduing the Vile Affections of the Corrupt Spirit of Nature, must be Reckon'd Conformity to Christ's Death, whereas he had no such things in him, to Crucify. And then, Conformity to him, in the but gradually restored Righteous First-Covenant Life of the Law, Holy Flesh (call it what else we will) which he Crucified in himself, at best; must be reckoned a State of true Salvation, the SAINTS EVERLASTING REST. And then, the Counter workings of (in part) restored nature, and the Corrupt, must pass for Flesh Warring against Spirit, and Spirit against Flesh ( 〈◊〉 . 5. 17.) when indeed, all's but Flesh. Paul, when Eminent in Holy Flesh, was a fierce Fighter against Christ's Gospel-Spirit. Here's your Divinity and Anti-Gospel Teaching, in perfect Contradiction to the declared Methods and Words of God's Wisdom, for Salvation, in every point. Some care is taken to Preach down and Subdue the Brutish Lusts of Litteral Sodom, in the Corrupt Spirit of Nature; but, Mystical Sodomy, more criminal then Litteral, is Preach'd up, for Salvation; to wit, such establishment in Righteousness, as is unchangeable enmity to God. Gross sins, in the dark, ignorant, corrupt Spirit of nature, are cried down; but all Mystical Uncleanesses, Adulteries, Idolatries, Thefts, Murders, Sacrilege, &c. are preached up, for Salvation. A hard saying! What is Truth? Said Pilate to Christ, not waiting the answer; Jo. 18. 38. Christ had told him beforehand, that he came into this world, to Bear witness to the truth; V. 37. What truth? That there's nothing but vanity or vanishing shadow's in this World, the whole first-creation; my Kingdom therefore, say's he, is not of this World (or, to be managed in my worldly, law-spirit of nature, Holy flesh, where the Jews would fain have had him own himself a King Jo. 6. 15.) but (as is Implied) of the next, and to be managed in my new-Creation Spirit of truth. All things in the first-Creation state of Angels and men, are but vanishing shadows of the truth (all Substantial, durable, Eternal things or truths) in the second. This is the good confession, Negative and Affirmative, Christ Witnessed before Pontius 〈◊〉 (1 Tim. 6. 〈◊〉 .) as we find ( Jo. 18. 36, 37.) the former Expressed, the other Implied in the Word, Truth. Christ Witnessed or Declared in his Infallible Spirit of Truth, that there's nothing of truth or substance, in God's sight; nothing unchangeably good, no Eternal good things or Truths, but in the New-Creation State, and World; in, and over which he owned himself a King. They that will finally and conclusively be Reigning as Kings, in the but worldly restored First-Covenant-Life, Holy Flesh (as 1 Cor. 4. 8.) will be found Pseudo-Fift-Monarchists, in direct Hostility to the true Reign of Christ and all true Spiritual Saints, in his Holy Gospel-Spirit; and so, in a Flat contradiction to every tittle of his Gospel-Testimony. Christ's witnessed good Confession to Pilate, my Kingdom is not of this World, gives the dash, Solomon Proclaim's, on all First-Creation-Life of Man or Angel, with all the things and fruits thereof, as Vanities or but perishing Shadows of God's durable New-Creation substances, things, and truths, the Everlasting Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, in his Spirit of Grace and Truth; with the Blessed Fruits thereof in Men, True Love, Joy, Peace, (&c.) to, from, and with God; and all right Fruits brought forth by them, therein, unto God. All these are Everlasting, Incorruptible things, the Spiritual Tree, Root and Branch, Fruits, Leaves and all; Psal, 1. 3. In this Spirit of Truth, have Men durable Riches, Life, Food, and Cloathing. In this Spirit of the Son, only, can they rightly Worship the Infinite Divine Spirit, or Father. He must be Worship'd in Spirit and in Truth; in a Spirit of Everlasting Righteousness and Truth. All Worshippers, in any other Spirit, Worship they know not what (Jo. 4. 22-24.) may be, the Devil, as God. For, he can deceive all Men, short of the Spirit of Grace and Truth, to Worship him, as so; above, and against God himself, 2 Thes. 2. 4.

Vers. 2. A time to be Born, and a time to Die: A time to Plant, and a time to pluck up that which is Planted.

Vers. 3. A time to Kill, and a time to Heal: a time to break down, and a time to Build up.

Vers. 4. A time to Weep, and a time to Laugh: A time to Mourn, and a time to Dance.

There's an appointed time, for every Man to be Born, in a Fleshly Body, which is his personal appearance or Manifestation. The Body is an Essential Ingredient into the complete Constitution of every Man, which, under all Temporary Vicissitudes, Alterations, and Changes, by Decay's, Death, and Resurrection, remain's forever, the distinguishing part of Man, from other Created beings, in Heaven, and Hell. Angels are completed in their personal Constitution, without any such thing as Man's Earthly Body or Life. The Spirit of Man (before it enters the Body, or after departed out of it) is not the Compleat Person of a Man. For, Man consists of Spirit, Soul, and Body, as distinct Essential parts of his being, which Paul distinctly Pray's, may, in Saints, be Preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; 1 Thes. 5. 23. The whole Spirit of Man Comprehends, in its make, a Dormant Souly, Animalish Life. So, has a Natural tendency of desire, to a Union with its fitly Organized Body, in order to bring its Latent Soul, or Souly Life, into actual Exercise and Operation. At the death of the Body, this Soul (or Souly Life) ceases, as to exercise; lies dormant, again, in the Spirit, as before it's entrance thereinto. So, till the Resurrection of the whole Man, the Spirits even of Just Men made perfect in Spiritual New-Creation Life, Act and Converse, as pure Intellectual Powers, Intuitively, after the manner of Angels, only. Now, as there's a time for the Birth of Man's Body; so, from the frail materials, and constituting Ingredients of it, is there an appointed time for its dissolution; and so, for the Death of the Man, by a Seperation of his essential parts. This is a truth, universally experienced and known by all. And, the like Vicissitudes and Seasons are appointed for other parts of this greater Visible World, without Man, as well as lesser World, the Sum and Abridgment of all, within him.

From the Moment of his Bodily Birth, may be Dated, the Building, Planting, Laughing, Dancing, Rejoicing, and Embracing season, during the growth, and Flourishing State of his Bodily Life. When this is at its height, Approaches God's appointed Season (from the perishing Materials thereof) for plucking it up, breaking it down, and Slaying it. This Season is attended with Man's Weeping and Mourning, as the Consequents thereof. These literal truths are Experienc'd by Man, in the Decay's, Gray Hairs, Old Age, and Death, inevitably incident to his body. In the declining state thereof, is he reduced to a kind of equality with Childhood, as debilitated in the exercise of his rational Powers, in and by bodily Organs or Instruments, Brain, Animal spirits, &c. So, if he come to 70 or 80 years, his decayed strength affords him little but labor and sorrow (Psal. 90. 10.) as finding himself to have out-lived the brisk and vigorous exercise of that Reason, by which distinguished from brute Beasts. In this case, 'tis man's duty, and wisest course, to fall in, and comply with God's twofold dispensation upon his fleshly body, by willingly owning and submitting to the decay's thereof, in God's latter, demolishing work upon it, for pulling it down, as well as to be found rejoicing and delighting in his former planting and building up of the same. 'It is man's gross folly, to struggle and contend for an impossibillity, even the keeping up of that, which he sees, by an inevitable Law of necessity, must be laid down. He is as sure to die, as he was born; yea, to go stripped and naked out of the World, as he came into it; Job. 1. 21. God has determined the time, for both. Death comes as an armed man, on man's Body, and on all that sort of understanding, that's exercised in, and by it. There's no discharg in this War. The decay's of it, all along, from the turning, declining point, preach the death of it, and of that organical Understanding, exercised in and by it.

Come we, now, to the Mystery of all this. All the methods of God's wisdom in his dealings with man's body (or bodily life, the outward part of his natural man) are typical to the like methods and dispensations to his immortal spirit, considered in the but mortal, first-covenant, natural righteous Life thereof, planted in it, by the first creation. A birth, life, death, and burial are incident to this also, as God's appointments to it. At the birth of the Body, the Spirit or inner natural man is dead, as to the mortal first-covenant life of the Law of Works, it was, at first, created in. But, a fresh birth of (or quickening up into) this shadowy Life and Image of the Earthy, wherein the first Adam was created, is offered to all, and may be actually received and experienced by all, as the common or general salvation, if they will. The far greater part of mankind, refuse to part with the corrupt life of their nature, for the righteous. And many that receive the righteous, as the common salvation (Jude: 3.) from the general Savior of all men (1 Tim. 4. 10.) refuse the special (or eternal Salvation) receivable only by and in a spiritual Faith. This cannot be received, without the obedient surrender and death of all, received twice from Christ's own hand, by his first-creation and general-redemption-workmanship. Such death, according to the declared methods of God's wisdom, must undispensably be yielded to, and we become as fools, and little Children (as to all the restored wisdom, life, and glory of our own Nature) as the undispensable way to our receiving the Life, Wisdom; and Righteousness of God, in his Gospel-spirit of Grace, and Image of the Heavenly, which, alone, is Eternal. The former is but Reformation-Life, in restored, enliven'd naturals: This latter, a true Regeneration into spirituals, by the Birth of such a new Life in us, springing up from the quickened incorruptible seed thereof, as plants us together in the likeness of Christ's resurrection, on our obedient likness to his death; Rom. 6. 5. Nor Angel, nor Man, had anything of this Life, in the Innocency of both, by creation: but only, as objctivetly presented to their understanding, in the Mediator. As God, at first, gave Man that that's natural, and called his own, offering him that which is spiritual, God's own; So, he first, restores something of the first-covenant-Light, or also Life, that's natural; and after, that that's spiritual. Paul, when eminent in restored naturals ( holy flesh, by knowledge of, or conformity to Christ in the flesh, or righteous life of the Law ) quitted such knowledge of Christ after the flesh (2 Cor. 5. 16.) in a righteous Law-Life, for the knowledge of him after the spirit, in his spiritual, Gospel-life, into which risen out of the Death of the former; Phil. 3. 7-10. This, according to his own advice, in the Holy Ghost; Rom. 7. 1-4. That which is born but of the Flesh of Christ, the Fleshly First-Covenant, Law-life, is but holy flesh, not Eternal Life: But that that's Born of his Gospel-Spirit, only; Jo. 3. 6. The former, when taken by himself, as made under the Law, he Crucified, as the only means and way of exalting our nature, in himself, into the second, in which he Lives for evermore. So must we. As there was an appointed time for him (and so for us, by his mean's) to be Born, or have this Righteous Law-Life brought forth in him; So, was there an appointed time for the death and loss of it, in him; and is, also, in us. By the fresh Gift and Birth of it, from him, is he the Healer, Planter, Restorer, and Builder up of Man, afresh, out of the Shameful, Bloody, Polluted State of Nature, dead in Trespasses and Sins, into the Fading Glory, Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of Man, the Goodliness of Holy Flesh, which yet is but as a Flower of the Field; Isai. 40. 6. This Restoring, Healing-work of Christ (as to the deadly Wound given to all Men, by the First Sin of the First) to the top-stone of this Renewed old Building, by his comeliness or perfect Righteousness of the Law, imputed to, or put upon them, he warn's against the abuse of, by an over-value of it, over-confidence in it, and doting love to it, so as to prefer it before his offered Spiritual Life and Everlasting Righteousness, in the Image of the Heavenly, the new Building. For, this is Mystical Adultery against him, as their true Spiritual Lord and Husband, worse then Litteral. Yea, and Murder also (as a Murdering Mind of Enmity against him, there, is Interpreted) for which, they are to be Judge'd, as the most Criminal Adulterers and Murderers; All this, we find; Ezek. 16. 1-15. and v. 38. Man, as Dead in Sin, is figuratively Charactred by the helpless condition his Body is Born in, as to anything he can do for himself; v. 3-6. These Expressions Represent the Dark, Black, Dismal, Bloody Condition, and Desolate State of his Spirit, that none but Christ can help. Let him look within, without, and round about him, there's none to Pity or have Compassion upon him, that can help him. This disconsolate State, and Extremity, God declares to be a motive and opportunity to him, to help him, restore Life to him, Cleanse or Sanctify him, and by Imputation of another's Righteousness, justify him, and render him fruitful in his Restor'd Naturals, under the Fructifying Influences of Christ, as a Fleshy Bride-groom and Husband; who also puts the Mystical Ornaments, Bracelets, and Jewels of Supernatural, Spiritual Enlightning Gifts, upon him. And, he causes him to feed at his earthly, First-Covenant Table, on such Meats or Communications from him, as tend to Nourish, Strengthen and Build him up, into a Fruitful Flourish in that Life, to the Encreasing with the Encreases of Man; not of God; in the Wisdom and Glory of his own Life; not of God's. So grows he exceeding Beautiful, prospering into a kind of Kingdom State (in his own Life and way) consisting in a Ruling Power of his Restored Spirit, over all the Inferior Powers of Nature, in him. Such Kings, Paul found amongst the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4. 8. Multitudes refuse this common Salvation; love their Chains and Bondage under the Brutish Lusts of their fallen, degenerate nature, so as not to accept of deliverance there-from. And, Multitudes of First-Covenant Believers and Professors, that receive this Common Salvation, refuse the Special, the Crowning benefit of Christ's Death, his Spiritual, New-Creation or New-Covenant Life, his unspeakable Gift. Their Restor'd Spirit of Nature or the Law, is still a Spirit of Bondage, under the Law, and Curse (Gal. 3-10.) another State of Death, by Filth of Spirit, or Enmity to God's Spirit, in which alone they can be finally saved. Paul found his Holy Flesh or Restor'd Natural State, a Body, a Law of Sin and Death; as Phil. 3. 6. and Ro. 7. 24. 8. 2; compared, do Evidence. Man's Rational Powers and Free-Will, at best, are the Living, Holy Sacrifice, God requires, as their reasonable Service, and true Gospel-Free-Will Offering, unto him, by the death of all; Rom. 12. 1. Final refusing to do this, renders men Conformable to this World, v. 2. yea, to the Devil, the God of this World, who has set up his Superior worldly life, wisdom and glory, in unchangeable enmity to God. Thus, fall first covenant Saints, by refusing the second and crowning benefit of Christ's death, under greater Guilt and sorer Condemnation, then if they never had received the First. They refuse to listen to Christ's Heavenly, second voice and call to them, out of the Fading Life and Earthly Freedom of the Sons of Men, into the Everlasting Life and Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. Thus do Men sin away their First-Covenant Life, and second Covenant Light, again, after the Similitude of Adam' s Transgression, by preferring such Life and Ornaments, to the very Gospel, New-Covenant, more excellent Life and way; 1 Cor. 12. 31. And so come they to a latter end, worse then their beginning, either in Innocency; or, as Born, dead in Sin; because now Irrecoverably, Unpardonably, and Unchangably dead.

This then is Solomon's meaning, here; God has appointed a time for the Birth and Death, the Planting and Plucking up, the Building and Pulling down, the Healing and Wounding or Killing and Destroying Man, as to this mortal first-covenant-life of his own nature. The Birth of, the Planting and Building him up therein, is the ground and cause of his Laughing, Dancing, Exulting and Rejoicing in the Embraces of Christ, as a fleshly Bride-groom. The pulling down and destroying all this again, by his Gospel-Cross or spiritual Sword, is the cause of his Weeping and Mourning. All this, have we, Vers. 2, 3, 4.

Vers, 5. A time to cast away Stones, and a time to gather Stones together: a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

Christ has a set time for gathering together the stones of Man's ruined, desolated Building, in his own nature, and a time to pull down his rebuilt natural state, and cast away the stoues thereof, again, uot leaving one stone upon another in this fleshly Church-building. Thus served he the first mystical Temple-building of our spotless nature in himself, figured in his Prophecy of the downfall of the literal Temple, at Jerusalem, in Answer to his Disciples; Mat. 24. 1, 2. Christ has a time to embrace Men, as a fleshly Bridegroom, to them, and a time to refrain from embracing, on his dying and departing from them, there And he requires them to desire, expect, or look after him no more, there, for a knowledge of him after the Flesh, but wholly fix their Eye and Heart upon him, with Paul, in that Spiritual Life, into which 〈◊〉 out of the Death of the former; and be Married to him, there, as their Everlasting, Spiritual Lord and Bride-groom; Ro. 7. 1-4. While Christ Pipes to Men, in First-Covenant Communications, as he did by John the Baptist' s Ministry, they are to Dance and Rejoice. When he with-draw's, and call's them into the death of that State, they are to Mourn; else are they Immorigerous, and Undutiful; Mat. 11. 17. Their Natural Hearts will be filled with Sorrow, as the Disciples, when, as a Fleshly Bride-groom and Comforter, he departed from them; Mat. 9. 15. Jo. 16. 20-22. Right Obedient Mourners, in this case, are Blessed, and sure to hear of Christ, as a better Comforter and Bridegroom, in his Spiritual Life. The Death of Man, as to a Mortal, First-Covenant Life, is as sure as the Birth of it; as the case is, with the Birth and Death of the Body. And indeed, the House of Mourning, and Death, is better to Man, in the tendency of it, then the Birth and utmost Flourish of a First-Covenant Life, in him. For, though after Rebuilt in the Restor'd Righteous Life of his own Nature, and then pulled down again, he be seemingly in a worse condition, and more hopeless, then before ever Christ meddled with him, at all 〈◊〉 yet is this the only way to Christ's House of Everlasting Feasting and Rejoicing. Those that refuse this way, and Laugh now, their 〈◊〉 Joy will end in Everlasting Mourning; and Saints Transient Sorrow, in everlasting Joy; Mat. 5. 4. Luk. 6. 25. Jo. 16. 20. Christ came not to speak Peace, but War and Death, by his Spiritual Fire and Sword, to the earthly Life of Nature, at best, in himself and followers; Luk. 12. 49-51. We must follow the Suffering-Steps of this great Captain of our Salvation, or never come where he is. True Saints, with Paul, Glory in the Cross of Christ, Conformity to his death, and in bearing about them the marks of the dying of the Lord Jesus. So the Spiritual Life of risen Jesus, comes to be, more and more, manifested in their Mortal flesh; 2 Cor. 4. 10, 11.

Vers. 6. A time to Get and a time to Lose: A time to Keep, and a time to cast Away.

A time to seek after and recover the exercise of our nature, in the first-covenant righteous life thereof; and to heap up Riches, by a fruitfulness therein. And then comes a time to lose, and cast all away again, as dung and loss, with Paul, for the more excellent Life, Christ's unspeakable gift; Phil. 3. 6-9. And so, is there a time to keep up the exercise of our nature, in the restored first-covenant righteous Life thereof (so long as Christ own's that to be his Dispensation to us, by continuing as a fleshly Bride-groom with us) and a time to part with and cast it away again, for the second; in the same sense, with what is meant, in the former clause of this Verse.

Vers. 7. A time to Rent, and a time to Sew: A time to keep Silence and a time to Speak.

That which has been Sew' d, Heal'd, and made up again, after the sore breach, by the first Sin; and so, fitted (or fitting us) in its kind, to speak to, and instruct the dark, ignorant, corrupt Spirit of nature, in others, as a Teacher and Guide of such blind ones; all this healed, speaking State (in the Wisdom of Man, made Wise in Christ ) must, in its season, be rent, broken down, and torn in pieces, again; silenced, and wholly laid aside, to make way for another, better Dictatour, Ruler, and Guide, the Infallible Spirit of Truth. The final refusal to submit to this change of Ruler and Guide, lodges up first-covenant Saints in unchangeable Enmity to God and the spirit of the second, under the guilt of the most Criminal Adultery, Theft, and Sacrilege; Ro. 2. 17-22. God speak's once, and he speak's twice, yet Man perceiveth it not; Job 33. 14. God call's Man out of his Death in Sin, into the righteous Life of a Man (or of the first-covenant Law) again: Then, by the voice of his second-Covenant spirit, into the death of the first, as his only pass into the Life and Righteousness of God, in the second. Under pretence of continuing in obedience to his first voice, does man Rebell against his second; and is found an Enemy to the Spiritual Cross of Christ. He prefer's the oldness of Letter, in his Living Soul, to God's newness of Life, in his quickening Spirit. Man's Laughing, Dancing, Speaking time is over, in his own Wisdom and Righteousness, when showed the unprofitableness, as to true Blessedness, of all, done or said by him, therein. The right understanding and obedient Submitting to Christ's Various Voices, and observing the several seasons of Speaking and Silence, is Mans safety; and he, therein, well-pleasing to God. 'It is a high point of true Wisdom, for Man to be more ready to hear (the voice of the Spirit of Christ, in himself or Saints) then to speak, and so, Offer the Sacrifice of Fools, in his own; Ec. 5. 1. Man, in his highest Wisdom, is a Fool, as to all spiritual things, his greatest concerns; the unreasonable Man Paul desired to be delivered from the Impertinent Trouble and Babbling Loquacity of, about Gospel things, that he has no discerning, in. The restored Law-principle of Life and Action in Man, is but a ceremony, to be abolished, and becomes an antiquated thing, with all the Fading Glory of it, when to be done away, to give room for a spiritual Principle of everlasting Righteonsness, as a new Root and Spring of his Desire, Thought, and Action. This refused, all Duties performed in the Law-spirit, are thenceforth, but Sacrifices of Fools, that do evil. What, in its appointed Season and day, was Obedience, in that Law-State, becomes then, direct Rebellion. As Man has Lived therein, to God; so, the Season come, is he to die therein, to him; that both living and dying, he may be the Lord's; Rom. 14. 8. Passive Obedience is the utmost, required of Man, in his own nature, to make way for the true spiritual principle of active Obedience, to God's well-pleasing.

Vers. VIII. A time to Love, and a time to Hate: a time of War, and a time of Peace.

There's a time of Love and Peace (such as it is) to be found in a first-covenant Union with Christ, and such obedience as is performable, therein. But, at length, Christ speaks War and Death to this state; comes to break down, demolish and cast away all the stones of this old 〈◊〉 -creation building.

And thus have we seen, in these eight Verses, God's twofold dispensation to Man's Body, and fleshly or natural Spirit, in all the fading, first-creation Life and Glory thereof. The Birth and Death of the Body; and so, of the natural Understanding, as exercised there in, and by; all this is Typical to the like twofold dispensation of mystical Life and Death to his Spirit, as to its first-covenant righteous state, under the temporary wrath of God, executed by the Cross, on obedient Saints; or, eternal wrath of God, by the same Cross, on incorrigible sinners. And so, are we brought by Solomon, to consider the Result from all this, which he declares, by way of Question.

Vers. IX. What profit hath he that worketh, in that wherein he laboreth?

A like Question to that ( Chap. 1. 3.) already spoken to. Who is this he that worketh? Man in the twofold perishing life of his Body and Spirit; both, inevitably falling under a twofold Dispensation of Birth and Death, from God. A vicissitude of building up, and breaking down, are unavoidable to both. For, Man, in the utmost flourish of both, is but a fading flower, altogether Vanity, lighter then vanity, less than nothing, Isa. 40. 7. 17. Psal. 39. 5. and 62. 9. The Life of both is mortal. So was that of Angels, in their innocence. So is this Question of great weight. What profit can Man have of all his Labors, in a Life that's Vanity? All his best Labors therein, do but increase his heap of Vanities. And, what is he the better? Eccl. 6. 11. Both lives, in conclusion, vanish; and all the works, fruits, riches (literal and mystical) all the things thereof, things of man, come to nothing. Man then, struggles under an impossibility, to keep up the said lives, or things thereof, in rebellion against God's declared order and Command, for surrender of all to him, in obedient sacrifice by death. If he refuse to give up all, as demanded in love, God will take away all, In final Wrath. 'It is utterly impossible to avoid one of these two way's of losing all. No remedy. All striving against these unalterable Appointments of God, and fading nature of the things themselves, renders the inevitable parting with all (and all Death-blow's of a tendency there-towards) more Heavy, Painful, Bitter, and Uneasy, to Man's sore disadvantage, and at last, total, amazing disappointment. If he has no other ground to stand on, when all that is gone, where is he? What was his duty, and beautiful in its season (righteous performances in the activity of first-Covenant principles) when called to Passive Obedience, by the death and loss of all (in order to active Obedience in the new-covenant Spirit and Principle of Everlasting Righteousness) is Rebellion, as the Sin of Witch-craft, and Idolatry; 1 Sam. 15. 23. It is a keeping that Amalekite, Law spirit of Bondage, alive, as Ruler, that God requires the death of. Under such Witch-craft, Paul found the Galatians; Gal. 3. 1. No saving natures head from the irresistible Sword of the spirit of Grace. No scaping in this War, for Fighters against God. Should the whole Creation, Angels and Men, lend their helping hand, set their Shoulders to Boulster up and Support any one Man, in this case, he is gone. They are all less then nothing to him we have to deal with. All proud helpers and helped, all final Resisters must stoop and fall under his Victorious, Flaming, Twoedged Spiritual Sword. Wherein any deal proudly (presumptuously keeping up the Life, it 'larum's them in, and summon's them to surrender) it will be above them. All, that submit not to it, in order to be made by it new Vessels of Honor and Fternal Life, it will make their old ones, Vessels of Dishonor and everlasting Contempt, in Eternal Death. To one of these two final Periods, will the Versatile, changable Spirit of Man, Infallibly come. The Obedient Saint, when he awakes out of the Marred Visage, and Death of the Earthy, will be satisfied with the Image of the Heavenly; Ps. 17. 15. And, when Christ shall awake or come forth in the Visibility of the Heavenly, he will despise or destroy, all self-exalters against him, with their Image of the Earthy; Ps. 73. 20. In the Morning of Christ's day of Appearance with all his Saints, in their Spiritual, Resurrection-life, (after the long Night of this World, under the Powers of Darkness) will they have Dominion over all their Enemies in the Earthy, and Consume all their Fading Beauty or Comliness; Ps. 49, 14. And, what profit then will they find of all their Labors, in a Law-Spirit of Bondage, Death, and Enmity to the Gospel?

Vers. X. I have seen the travel which God hath given to the Sons of Men, to be exercised in it; Heb. To afflict or humble them thereby.

Here's Solomon's experience and Conviction of the unprofitableness of all Man's Labor and Travel, for the gratifying and keeping up the Life of his Body, or Spirit, in the fading glory of a first-covenant state. God gives (or permits) this Travel to Men (in answer to, and pursuit of their own vain Desire and Thought) to humble or afflict them; even by that very self-exalting Labor, and State, they choose, delight in, and please themselves with. They must, with Job, Solomon, and others, sit down at last, in dust and ashes, acknowledging the vanity of both the said Lives, and of all, done by them, in the activity of both. Happy they only, that are timely humbled, by the due consideration hereof, so as to be willing to cease from the same (quitting the folly of all their unprofitable Labors and false Confidences) to walk with God, in the more excellent Life and Way.

Vers. XI. He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the World in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh, from the beginning to the end.

Man, by Creation, was made beautiful in the glory of a first-covenant Law-life, for God's appointed season to him, there. So again, when restored by Christ, while he continues a fleshly Bride-groom to them there, as his present dispensation. But, when by the convincing light of his new-covenant, Gospel-spirit, he discovers all this beauty to be but a fading Flower, a Glory to be done away, and that there's Enmity to God, under all; then does Man's unlawful use of the Law, or Rebellious keeping up his Law, against Christ's Gospel-Life, render that which was Beautiful, most Filthy, and Abominable to God; Spiritual Sodomy, worse then Litteral. Man's hardening himself in his Law-Life, against Christ's graciously showed and offered Gospel-Life, provokes him to depart, and Swear, he shall never enter his Rest; Heb. 3. 7. 11. Thus, does Man bring his matters to a desperate pass, by willfully refusing so great Salvation as is offered; and so, is excluded, forever, from it; shall never be offered it, more. Christ and his true Saints and Seers, will meddle no more with him, in their Gospel-ministry; nor intercede for (but against) him; Act. 13. 46. 51. 1 Jo. 5. 16. They'l shake the Dust off their Feet, against him, and away. If Men say to Christ's Seers, see not, Prophecy not unto us right things; They'l'a done. Their Commission is out. In Judgment on them, they shall be Dumb; Ezek. 3. 25, 26. I know God has determined to destroy thee, said the Prophet to King Amaziah, because thou hast not 〈◊〉 to my Counsel; and so, on his threatening, forbare; 2 Chro. 25. 16.

When Men 〈◊〉 six (or set up for themselves) in their worldly nature, and Life of the Law, and so set up the World in their Hearts, as the only Object of their desire and delight; then does God Judicially harden and six them there, or set the World in their Hearts. And then, is their highest Wisdom, a Black, Darkning Vail upon their Hearts, disabling them forever finding out the Work of God, from the beginning of it, in the first-creation, to the Blessed end of it, in the second. The God of this World, fixing Men's hearts in the love of this World, that's Enmity to God, blind's their minds, that the light of the Glorious Gospel may not shine into them. They see not to the end of that which is abolished (2 Cor. 3. 13.) So, set up for Salvation, in that Law-Life that's to be abolished; that Glory, thats to be done away; v. 7. Fleshly 〈◊〉 ts were not able to behold the spiritual Glory of Moses; his true face of Spiritual Saint-ship. He therefore put a Vail on it, that is, came forth in the appearance of the Righteousness of Man, or the Law, to them; They that set up in the Light and Life of the Law, for Salvation, set up in the Vail. Such, never see (to their comfort) the true Face, inward Beauty and Spiritual Glory of Moses or other Saints, nor the true inward Face, or spiritual meaning of any Scripture. All Spiritual things or truths, in Scripture; all spiritual Light, Life, Wisdom, Understanding; all things of God, in his Saints, lie quite out of their sight; as mere nothings, in their day, their Judgment. They no more skill or ken them, than a Beast the Rational Powers and things of a Man; 1 Cor. 2. 11. So, they absolutely deny all Gospel things and Truths; and positively assert there's no more excellent Creature-Life or things, Man is capable of, then what were set up in the first-creation-state of Angel and Man. What work will such make, at Gospel? specially, if fixed here; and so, hardened in unchangeable Enmity thereto? Thus Christ found the Righteous Scribes, Pharisees, &c. in a Murdering Enmity to the truth, that is, the Gospel-Spirit; and so, of their Father the Devil, who abode not in that truth, or Obedience to the said Gospel-Light, in which Created, but quitted that his Habitation or first Estate; Jo. 8. 44. Jude 6. They that Rebelliously set up this Shadowy World in their Hearts, cannot receive the Spirit of truth, nor words thereof; Jo. 14. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 14. They provoke God to give them their desire, in Wrath; to set up the World in them (or them in their worldly, Law-spirit of Enmity and Death) to choose their Delusions (Isai. 66. 4.) send them strong delusion, that they should believe Stan's Lie, and be damned; because they chose rather to believe that, than his Spirit of truth; 2 Thes. 2. 10-12. So, God, Christ, Themselves, and the Devil, all concur and center in one point ( the setting the World in their heart, or fixing them in their own worldly spirit) but, upon very differing accounts. Then is their case as desperate as that of the Evil Angels; Heb. 10. 26, 27. Though yet highly Esteemed of Men, as owners, yea, Ministers of the Gospel, are they most abominable to God, Mystical Sodomit's, the most Criminal Sinners in the whole World. By being set or fixed in their worldly Spirit, they become wholly Strangers and Enemies to the spirit of the World to come, which will be upon them, at last, in Irresistible Wrath.

Vers. XII. I know that there is no good in them, but for a Man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

Solomon, at a dear rate, had experienced, that there's no durable, unchangeable good to be found in all first-creation Life, and most Righteous Actions or things thereof. No true Joy or Happiness, to be had, in this World, but by doing what is truly good in God's sight, in the Life and Spirit of the next. True Godliness (or power of 〈◊〉 , exerciseable only in the Gospel-spirit of Christ) is profitable to all things, having the promises of this, and the Life to come (1 Tim. 4. 8.) that is, it comprehend's the promised Spiritual Life of Christ, and Comforts thereof, in this, and the World to come; the daily increasing first Fruits of it, here; and fullness, there. Yea also, the promises even of this life, or worldly things thereof, such as 〈◊〉 seek, belong to true seekers of the Righteousness of God, in 〈◊〉 Kingdom spirit. All these shall be added to you, say's Christ himself; Mat. 6. 31-33. The only right rejoicing in, and doing good (in its kind) with such things of this Life, is, as received on the said account, and managed in the Kingdom-spirit of the World to come.

Vers. 13. And also, that every Man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his Labor, it is the gift of God.

'It is in the unspeakable gift of God, only (the spirit of Christ) the inmost man of the Saint, in the Life hid with Christ in God, can feed upon the hidden Manna, the divine Glory, as veiled by that Spirit of Christ, and thereby also unveiled, or rendered visible, in a suitableness only to 〈◊〉 , not natural understanding, in Man or Angel. The never-perishing Meats and Drinks, the Bread and Wine of the Kingdom, the divine and creature-glories of God, in the Mediator, are the things, true Saints, eat, drink, feed, and live upon; enjoy, rejoice and delight in; even in the peculiar delights of the Sons of God, divine, spiritual, heavenly, substantial things, things eternal. All this is the comfortable fruit of all their right labors in that Spirit, that's the peculiar gift of God, distinct from the natural spirit, or state of Life, with all the Fruits brought forth by Man's utmost, and best labors, therein.

Vers. XIV. I know that whatsoever God doth, it shall be forever: Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: And God doth it, that Men should fear before him.

Whatever is the immediate Divine Workmanship, shall be for ever; that is, the new-creature Spirit, set up by the Divine, from everlasting (Prov. 8. 23.) in personal union with it, and also called God, that made the worlds, Jo. 1. 1-3. Heb. 1. 2. Both Worlds, Natural and Spiritual, and all in both, were comprehended in it, and brought forth by it. This Fountain creature-Spirit in Christ (and Streamings forth of the Living Waters thereof, into Saints) is of an unchangeable nature. The Gift thereof to Men, or heavenly call of them into The Life thereof, is without Repentance, Variableness, or change. The natural first-covenant principle of life and action, set up in Man and Angel, by the first-Creation, is a Starting, Variable, Wavering thing; Ps. 78. 57. Man breaks that Covenant with God; and then God, his Promise, therein, with him; Numb. 14. 34. Though Men be Children and Spouses to Christ, therein, (Jer. 3. 14.) they break with him; and then, he departs; Jer. 31, 32. In this sense, God Repents, (Gen. 6. 6.) that is, changes his dispensation towards Back-sliding Man. If Man turn his changable Righteous Life, in the first, into unchangeable Enmity to God, and his second-Covenant Life, Christ will turn from a changable Husband and Savior to them in the first, into an unchangeable Enemy to them, in the second; Isai. 63. 8. 10. If a Back-sliding people return to him, he returns to them, and repents of the Evil, threat'ned them; Exod. 32. 14. Jer. 26. 19. Jonah 3. 10. But, he overthrew Sodom, &c, And Repented not of the evil of Punishment, Threat'ned, because they Repented not of the evil of Sin, by them Committed; Jer. 20, 16. On Man's obedient change of his sickle Life and freedom of the Sons of Men, for the unchangeable Life and Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, all this Starting, Repenting doings, is past, on all hands. What God does for, and in Man, by his New-Creation-Workmanship, will continue forever; and they, in an everlasting Covenant Union with him, Establish'd in all things, and sure. They'l never depart from him, nor he from them, to do them good; Jer. 32. 40. No breach, incident to the new-covenant ( Jer. 31. 33, 34.) because managed in a Spirit, on God's part and Man's, too, that can never err, Sin, or miscarry. It is infallible Truth, and Ever-lasting Righteousness, in Christ and his Saints. Whatever God (yea, or Man) doth in this Spirit, shall be forever. All the Fruits, Labors, Works, produced or done therein, are Incorruptible, Everlasting; will be forever. As the new Root and Tree, so are the Fruits and very 〈◊〉 . The Incorruptible Gospel-Tree, will be known by its fruits, in distinction from the Mystical Fleshly, Law-Tree, and Corruptible Fruits thereof.

God's offering and setting up his new-creature Life, with the glory, Wisdom, and Righteousness thereof, in the room of Man's obediently surrendered old, is the main design and scope of all Scripture. This, 〈◊〉 , where are Men, with all the words of their Foolish Wisdom? Setting up Law-Life, for Salvation, and Calling it a Gospel-State, is directly Satan's Gospel-Work, his Mystery of Iniquity, with its hidden Works of darkness, under the Form of Godliness and Righteousness of Man. All the Mystical, Spiritual sense of Scripture, is, by such, excluded out of all their Teaching. Those that thus take away or deny a spiritual Creature-Life in Christ, the Whole Living Book and Word of God (and so, the Character, Doctrine, and declaration thereof, in the Scriptures, or Written Oracles of God ) do take, not only some, but all the principal intended things, Engraven by God himself, in the former, or by his Holy Inspired Pen-men, in the latter. And then, will God take from them any part of the truly good things, in either; and Inflict on them all the Plagu's, Written in both; Rev. 22. 18, 19. Sure, 'tis no small, retail-heresy, that exclud's all Gospel Truth, and the whole Doctrine of Salvation. This, does Man's Wisdom, that's Foolishness to God's, and reckon's all the Word's of God's, and whole Gospel-Doctrine of his Cross upon nature, at best, Foolishness, 1 Cor. 1. 18-25. It shuts up the Kingdom of Heaven; excludes all Kingdom-Life, and sense of Scripture. But, though Gospel-undertakers, herein, not only derogate from, and diminish; but (what in them lies) utterly Deny, Despise, and Destroy all true Gospel-Life and Doctrine, in Christ, Scriptures, and Saints, 'tis not by all their or Satan's 〈◊〉 , Wiles, and Skill, that anything can be taken from it, or added to it. All the Opprobrious Titles of Heretics, Enthusiasts, or Fanatics, Blasphemers, Mad-men, that they bestow on Christ ( Jo. 10. 20.) and true Saints ( Hos. 9. 7.) belong entirely to themselves. This will be undeniably Evidenc'd, at Christ's second appearing, and final Decision of all Controversies between true Spiritual Zion-Saints and these Hypocritical 〈◊〉 in Zion ( Isai. 66. 5. and 34. 8.) that in the worded-dress of Spiritual Saint-ship and New-Covenant Principles, are but a Law-spirited Generation, that only personate and would pass for the true Heirs, and so labor to 〈◊〉 them out of their right, and take their Inheritance from them. These are the Ravenous Wolves in the Spiritual Sheeps Clothing, that bestow no other Titles on them, but Devil, and Mad (as Inquisitors, on Lutherans) and so Kill them, as not fit to live upon the Earth; Act. 22. 22. The determining this Controversy, will give an amazing Consternation and Disappointment to Hypocritical Sinners in Zion, and unspeakable Joy to the (all along this World, under Satan' s Reign, and in Man's day) oppressed Zion-Saints; Is. 33. 14. This will be, when Christ arises, or comes forth, to Judge Enemies, and have Mercy upon Zion; Psal. 102. 13. In his new-Creature-Spirit and Life, God does whatsoever he will, and Enables Saints to do so, too; even whatsoever he will's; as universally Obedient to him, in everything. No Man or Angel, in single, First-Creation-Light or Understanding, can discern this Spirit of Life, or any of the things thereof; and therefore, would make nothing, of them all. Proud Man and Angel, will needs have anything they cannot see, to be nothing. But, God hath so ordered his matters, as to the final Salvation of Man, that Men should fear before him, yield to his term's of saving them, and not Proudly and Presumptuously exalt themselves against him, in that Life and Wisdom, the Death and utter abolition of which, according to the declared Methods of his Wisdom, is absolutely necessary to their being saved. So only, can any receive that Life, in which, infallibly to know and declare the whole Counsel, and to do the whole Will of God, after his own Heart. Solomon having declared this Incorruptibly perfect New-Creature-Life (that admits to Chang, Addition, or Diminution, forever, when completed; being above all Death, Dangers, Enemies, or Fears) proceed's to show the Weakness, Insufficiency, and unprofitableness of all other Life or things, First-Creation Vanities, compared therewith; saying,

Vers. XV. That which hath been, is now; and that which is to be, hath already been; and God requireth that which is past;

Somewhat like what is said; Ch. 1. 9. That which hath been (in former Generations) is now; a gradually Restor'd First-Covenant Righteous Life. And that which is to be (set up again in full perfection, at Christ's second Comming, for the Restitution of all things; Act. 3. 21.) hath already been, in Primitive Innocency. But, still, still, what is this that has been, at first; and shall be, at last, in full Perfection; and in the gradual Renewals of it, all along, between? A Starting, Labile, Versatile thing, a fading flower, altogether Vanity; liable, not only, to such a fall, as happened to Man, at first, into changable; but also, into unchangeable Enmity to God, and Eternal Death to Man. This is a latter end worse then the beginning, in Innocency, or, as Born dead in Trespasses and Sins; This Life then, at best, is of no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or everlasting advantage to Man, however conceitedly confident he be, that it is. True happiness is to be found only, in New-Creation Life, the one and only thing necessary, still wanting to man, till the Obedient Surrender of all his old things, for God's new.

T. And God requireth that which is past; Heb. that which is driven away; Chal. and Syr. will seek out him that suffers Persecution. God will call all those Men and Angels, to an account, who have finally chosen a known changeable Life of Vanity, for their Rest and Habitation, in willful Rebellion against all his manifold Warnings, and convincingly shown and offered Spiritual Life of everlasting Righteousness. They ought to have come trembling before him, and lay down all their heap of Vanities, with their vain Hopes and false 〈◊〉 therein, with themselves, as Old Bottles, to be made new ones, and filled with the Mystical Wine of his Spirit, in which there can be no excess; nor they, ever, too confident (or bold to appear before him ) therein. Those that, instead of fearing and trembling before him, Exalt themselves against him, must prepare (as well as they can) to meet him, that can declare all their thoughts (Amos 4. 12, 13.) and find out all their hidden works of Dishonesty and Rebellion. So, in his method and way of dealing with them, will he require an exact account of all done in their natural Body or State of Life. He will make a strict Inquisition, as to all that's past, in that First-creation State of Vanity, in itself; and Enmity, to himself. They'l be called to give an account of every Idle word (Mat. 12. 36.) Thought, and Action, therein; as all Words, Thoughts, and Actions, in that Life of Vanity, turned into Enmity, will be found. All Preachings up of that Life, for Eternal Salvation, will be found the Idle, Vain, and Lying Words of Man's Wisdom, in direct contradiction to God's. To Preach up a Fixure there, is to Preach up a State of unchangeable Enmity to God, for Salvation. Let them palliate their Doctrine of Devils, with what good Words and fair Speeches, they will, 'tis but their own Righteousness, they warrant Salvation, in.

This last Clause, in the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac reading ( God requireth that which is driven away; and, will seek out him that suffers (or has suffered) Persecution) may import, the Inquisition, God will make, for the Innocent Blood of his Saints, shed by this confounded World of Enemies and Rebells, from Cain, downwards. Then, will there be a sad reckoning for all the strong Bulls of Bashan (Ps. 22. 12.) Rich, Flourishing, First-Covenant Cattle, that have thrust with Side, Shoulder, and Horns, all the Diseased, Lean, Impoverish'd little ones of Christ, when Christ comes to Judge between the fat Cattle and the lean. He will search out his Meek, Suffering Sheep, in his day, that have been scattered in Man's day (as Weak, Fools, and despicable, with Paul, and the off-scouring of all things ) by the Fat, Rich, Wise, Strong, and Honorable First-Covenant Cattle (1 Cor. 4. 8-13.) who have made havoc of them, in the cloudy and dark day of this World, under Satan. He will Strengthen and Establish his Sick, broken-spirited, scattered Sheep, and destroy the fat and the strong; feed them with Judgment; but, his delivered Sheep, in a fat and good Pasture, upon the Mystical high Mountains of his Spiritual Israel. So shall they be, no more, a Prey to their Enemies, forever; All this, we find; Ezek. 34. 11-24. This will Christ do for his Saints, when the set time to favor Zion, is come. When the day of the Lord's Vengeance, the Year of Recompences for the Controversy of Zion, is come, woe to all willfully blind Incorrigible Enemies, that have (all along this World) molested, Push'd at, and scatt'red them.

Vers. XVI. And moreover, I saw under the Sun, the place of Judgment, that Wickedness was there; and the place of Righteousness, that Iniquity was there.

The literal Sun, all along this Book, does figuratively signify the utmost light and perfection of Man's day, or judgment, in his own Wisdom, distinct from God's day of Judgment, in the infallible Light and Wisdom of his yet sevenfold brighter, mystical new-creation Sun, his Gospel Spirit of Grace. Solomon' s seeing (in the infallible light of the new-creation Sun, the true spirit of Prophecy ) what he tell's us of, here, may take us off, from wondering at his observation. He saw wickedness and iniquity in the highest evil angelical and human I 〈◊〉 , Dominions, Principalities and Powers of this World. In the highest respective natural wisdom of such 〈◊〉 Men and Angels, are they both found in a direct contrariety to the divine, and infallible creature-wisdom and judgment of God, contesting with and fighting against both. Paul, in holy 〈◊〉 (an eminency of first-covenant light and life) was at the same dangerous work, for a season, ignorantly. He imprisoned Gospel-saints, for the life and words of God's Wisdom; punished them 〈◊〉 in every Synagogue, compelled them to blaspheme, gave his voice to put them to death, and was exceedingly mad against them. But Christ, on a sudden, converts this outrageous Persecutour into a signal Preacher of the very Gospel, he persecuted; Act. 26. 9-19. Gal. 1. 23. One would think, such a pattern should convince the stoutest self-confident, in the utmost flourish of a first-covenant law-life, though not convert his obstinate will into obedience to the like Heavenly vision or discovery. But, instead of convincing (and appeasing) the professing Jews, with this true narrative of his Gospel-conversion, in his speech from the Castle-stairs, to them, at Jerusalem, they grew more exceedingly mad against him, cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the Air, saying, away with such a fellow from the earth; for, 'tis not 〈◊〉 he should Live; Act. 21. 40. and, 22. 1-23. Thus say all, of the like sour, legal-spirited, leavened temper, with the Pharisees, concerning all or any true Gospel-Saints, and their testimony. 〈◊〉 is not fit they should live. Who? even those, God reckon's not the World worthy of; Heb. 11. 38. See you the differing, contrary Judgment of God, and wise, righteous men? Who will be judge, at last? God himself. The earth (man in his earthly wisdom ) denies; but, the heavens will declare his righteousness; Psal. 50. 6. The sour legalist character's Gospel-Saints, as the worst of malefactors (Christ himself was so handled by them) worse then Papists or Mohammedans, the filth of the World, the off-scouring of all things, 1 Cor. 4. 13. But, think ye this will always be so? If Satan's reign, and Man's day or Judgment may take place, forever; it will. But, run and read the contrary; Psal. 50. 20-22. Isai. 66. 5. Mat. 7. 21 — 23. with abundance of other most harmonious scripturetestmonies, in this point. Search the scriptures. Resign up yourselves to the teachings of that spirit, that dictated them. Be in earnest, about your salvation. Let your principal enquiry be, after the kingdom-spirit and righteousness of God. Ye never find it, else, or enter it. 〈◊〉 from your own understanding. Consult not (or confer with) flesh and blood, in yourselves or others, what ye shall do to be saved. That principle will never own one right word, towards eternal life. T'is a flat enemy to every word of God's Wisdom, about it. They that despise (and wonder at) such words, will (everlastingly) perish; Acts. 13. 41. Those that gad abroad (in a spirit of vanity, enmity, and death) to change their way, from form to form, in Religion; tossed and Tumbled up and down by every Wind of Satan's and Man's Doctrine, or other Gospel; who can help them? That that dieth, say's God, let it die: and that that is to be cut off, let it be 〈◊〉 off. Zec. 11. 9. Litteral and Mystical Sodom, do seem to carry all before them, in this most Antichristian-day and Perillous Season. A Gospel-Testimony is (almost) universally rejected. When Christ himself Preach'd, he met with Multitudes of Wilfull, Proud, Heady, Traiterous, Contradicting, and Blaspheming first-covenant Saints; Wise, Righteous, Holy Men, in the form of godliness in the first, denying the Power of it, in the second-Covenant Spirit, the Gospel-Principle. This was, always's, the case: And, even so is it now; 2 Tim. 3. 1-5. Gal. 4. 29. Who but Professors, in Holy Flesh, urged Christ's Crucifixion, when Pilate and his Heathen Party would have freed him? They'd rather, a Robber, a Murderer, any Malefactor should scape, then he. Wise, Righteous, Holy Men, and a Currupt, Dark, Profane, Grosly Idolatrous Party, are in a contesting Scramble: But, both have had their season, to speak Lies at one Table, against the Saints of the most High. Are we at a loss, for an instance? The Vizard will fly off. The guilty Shedders of Innocent Blood, will be unpalliated, at last, and forced to appear in their more then Ethopian hiew, that yet lies hid, under the form of Godliness. God exercises longsuffering towards them, and lets them think him such a one as themselves, till he set their Sins in order before their Eyes; and so, tear them in pieces, that none can deliver; Psal. 50. 20-22. His longsuffering towards Enemies, is with design to complete and fulfill the Patience, or Sufferings of his Saints, by their hand, for their unspeakable advantage, and their Enemies final Destruction. A Comfortable Consideration! True Saints ought to Comfort themselves and one another, with such right Words, and Thoughts. In conclusion, Christ will appear to their Joy, and their Enemies shall be ashamed (Isai. 66. 5.) Yea, lie down in Sorrow, and Everlasting Contempt, as Vessels of Dishonor. Eternity will be a long day, to pay their full reckoning in. God, in the exercise of his infinite Justice and Mercy, will bring all to rights, give everyone their due recompense, for Obedience to, or Rebellion against him.

New-covenant, Gospel-Saints are more odious to the legal, first-covenant professor, then is the common sinner of the Gentiles, in the corrupt spirit of nature. The wisdom of this world, in the most enlightened first-covenant Saint ( Wise strong, and Honorable in Christ, there) is 〈◊〉 to God's,; and God's, in his new-covenant Saints, to theirs. Was not Paul a fool, weak, and despicable, in Christ's Gospel-spirit, to but such wise, strong, and honorable ones, in Christ? 1 Cor. 4. 10. Flesh and Spirit, or Man's spirit and God's, are directly contrary to each other, in all their designs, desires, and thoughts, about true Salvation. The former, fixed in, is the carnal mind of enmity to God ( Rom. 8. 6, 7.) that will prove eternal death to man. The latter, becoming the principle of life, desire, thought, and action, in Man, is eternal life to him, and in him. The carnal mind of enmity, was not found in Man or Angel, the day they were created; Ezek. 28. 15. Neither of them, as they came out of their Creator's hands, were found in enmity to God, or the life of his spirit of Grace (though they had it not) till they both sin'd, and fell. The voluntary evil, rebellious use of their own mind, introduced this enmity to God's. Changable enmity, in man, is now inseparable from his life. Unless therefore, life and all, at best, be parted with, he will become unchangeable therein, as Devils are; and so, be found in a state of eternal death. No wonder then, if in the place of Judgment, and Righteousness, or in the most enlight'ned Righteous state of the natural spirit, in fallen Man and Angel, be found (by the all-searching spirit of Christ, in himself and Saints) the deepest and most Criminal (Mystical) Wickedness and Iniquity, hidden works of Darkness, rendering them most abominable to God, unchangeable Enemies to the Saints of the most high; and to ths most High himself. But, what? Have Gospel-Saints all truth, and First-Covenant Saints, none? Can any believe this? Yet, most true. Let but the Scripture-sense of truth, be duly considered, as the Character of the Gospel Spirit and words thereof, in distinction from the Law-Spirit of this World (in all its variety) and words thereof, the Wonder at (and unbelief of) this, would cease. But, does the wise, first-Covenant Holy Man, receive nothing of a Gospel-Testimony? Not one word. No man, in the Spirit of nature, corrupt or righteous, rightly receives such Testimony, in any point. That Spirit is a Spirit of total darkness, and Universal Error, an absolute Heretic, as to all Gospel-Life and truths. This seem's hard. What then? The Jews were for Moses; who, but they? Christ found, they took not the Mystical truth of one word of Moses; So, told them, they were Infidels as to the principal intendment, and main scope of all his Writings. For, says he, had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: But if ye believe not his Writings, how shall ye believe my Words? Jo. 5. 46, 47. The Scriptures are owned as the Words of God, by all, under the name of Christians, but how do they read, hear, or understand them? In the literal Shadow, only, or Mystical truth, also? As teaching and preferring the Righteousness and Wisdom of Man, to the dark, ignorant State, and Vile Affections of the corrupt Spirit of nature, only; or, as also, farther declaring the everlasting Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, in his Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth? For this latter, nature, at best, is to suffer death, the right way; Viz, by the death of the guilty Sinner, and so, death of Sin, in Men; whereas by the fall, Men became dead in Sin; Sin alive in them, and they dead; now they alive, and Sin dead; and that, forever. This, by the death-work of the Cross, or Gospel-Spirit, on the natural. Men (in their own confused Spirit of Darkness, as to all Gospel-Truths) have much variety of thought, and Opinion: But all, as one Man, are against every tittle of Gospel-truth, words of God's Wisdom, which the Holy Ghost teaches. Though they all read all the Words of God's Wisdom, in the Letter, they do not read them in the sense of Christ's Question to the Lawyer (or teaching Legal-Spirited Professor) how 〈◊〉 , that is, understandest thou, what's Written in the Law? Luk. 10. 26. Let any come in the true spirit of Prophecy; King, Princes, Priests, and People, in the once only Professing Nation of the whole World, all against him; Jer. 1. 18, 19. So, when Christ Preach'd, 〈◊〉 , Pharisees, Sadducees, &c. with all their differences of Judgment, all against all his right Gospel-words, to a tittle. And, so is it now; as much, shall I say, or more then ever? Why not the latter; if these be the latter (and therefore worst of) times?

Solomon, having thus declared, goes on, to acquaint us with his thoughts in the Holy Ghost, What the most high will do with all these literally righteous workers of Mystical Iniquity; how he will handle them, at last; as follow's,

Vers. XVII. I said in mine Heart, God shall Judge the Righteous and the Wicked: For, there is a time there, for every purpose, and for every work.

God will be even with all his Enemies, both sorts of Satan's Subjects, the righteous and the Wicked. In righteousness and truth will Christ Judge and make War upon them both; Rev. 19. 11. And, have they an arm, like God? What then will become of them? The righteous sort of Sinners, will be found most Heretical Enemies to Gospel; and so, the most loathsome to God, of all; the very Spiritual Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon. The fixed literal, in the corrupt Spirit of nature, will have bad enough on it, in Dooms-day-work, and what follow's. Neither of them can escape the Damnation of Hell. If Judgment begin at the First-covenant House or People of God (that, by fixing there, in Enmity to the second (and so, not obeying the 〈◊〉 ) become no People of God, but a Synagogue of Satan ) where shall gross Sinners appear, that are fixed in Enmity to all 〈◊〉 , God's and Man's too, with Elymas the Sorcerer? 1 Pet. 4. 17, 18. The Light or Law of nature, restored in every Man, 〈◊〉 Damnation to themselves, as fixed in the vile affections of corrupt 〈◊〉 . And, the all-searching Light of Christ's Gospel-Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus ) Preaches absolute Damnation, to fixed first-Covenant righteous Men, who have rend'red any Repentance or Change of their Mind to the better, Impossible; Heb. 6. 4-6. and 10. 26, 27. and 12. 17. This is the case of willful Sinners against the Holy Ghost, or Gospel-Spirit, and all its counsels; its Reproofs of Death, upon their Spirits; and, Instructions of Life, by their being transformed into, and built up in its own Life of everlasting Rightoousness. Esau' s Morsel of Meat ( for which he sold or parted with the offered Birth-right, or new-Creation Life and never-perishing Meats of Christ) comprehend's all sorts of first-Creation Vanities and Shadows, from the highest part of the Dust of this Mortal World (all Human and Angelical Excellencies, natural) to the lowest, the gratifying delights of Brutish Men. The particular Books of all Wicked Men's Consciences, shall be opened (by the setting up of Spiritual Conviction-Light, in Wrath, therein) and found to agree with that other, general, Living Book or Word of God (Rev. 20. 12) Christ's Gospel-Spirit; and so, shall the inward parts of the very righteous Sinners, be found very Wickedness, unchangeable Enmity to God. All the most hidden works of darkness, in the Mystery of Iniquity, shall be Proclaim'd upon the House tops, manifested to all Angels and Men, good and bad. Then shall it be seen, there is a Reward for the Righteous (and Wicked, too) because he is a God that Judgeth in the Earth; Ps. 58. 11. All sorts of Sins shall then be brought into Judgment, and reckoned for, even the most hidden works of Dishonesty, Mystical, Spiritual Wickednesses; the most secret Intents of all Wicked Men and Angels. All will be manifested and laid open, before that Judge, whose Judgment-Seat they'll be Summon'd (and irresistibly forced) to appear, before; Heb. 4. 12, 13. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Then shall it appear, there is a time for every purpose, and for every work (desire, thought, and intent of the Heart, in the corrupt or enlightn'ed Spirit of nature (fixed in Enmity to God and his Spirit of Grace) to be brought into Judgment, and laid open, before all.

Vers. XVIII. I said in my Heart, concerning the Estate of the Sons of Men, that God might Manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are Beasts.

In this and the four next Verses, Solomon Summ's up, in a manner, all, insisted on, before, in this and the two former Chapters. Men, made by God, rational being's, good, in their kind, have made themselves Beasts, by their Sin and fall. In the corrupt spirit of their nature, are they Beasts; by loss of their changable goodness, Created in, they Inherit a Brutish Spirit or principle of sensuality. Bestial Powers Rebell against, and insult over their rational. And, the predominant Power, Denominates. This, Solomon saw, and desires God would manifest to them, that they may see what a deplorable condition they have brought themselves into; and clear God, as having no hand therein. And this yet, is but one part of the consideration, in which they are like Beasts. Man, restored out of the dismal, dark, 〈◊〉 Life of his corrupted nature, into the clean, enlight'ned, righteous state thereof, as to filth of flesh, and taking up there, for Salvation, is yet, but another sort of Mystical Beast; yea, a worse Beast then before, in the unfix'd corrupt state of nature, because now, fixed in Enmity. His Carnal Mind, and Earthly Wisdom thereof, that, at best, is but sensual (in Scripture-Language) when fixed in, becomes Devilish; Jam. 3. 15. This brings Man into the same condition, with fallen Angels, or Devils, in unchangeable Harmony with them, against Christ and God. Man, in the highest Honor, Wisdom, Righteousness and Glory of his own restored nature, is but as a Beast, and altogether Vanity; Ps. 39. 5. and 49. 12. 20. From a self-ruining mistake, he puts himself under the conduct of a spirit of unchangeable Enmity to God. Man, also, in his bodily part, is like a Beast. Of this, a large account is given; v. 19, 20.

Vers. XIX. For, that which befalleth the Sons of Men, befalleth Beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a Man hath no pre-eminence above a Beast: for, all is vanity.

Solomon, here, speaks of the Bodily, sensual part of Man; consisting of the like corruptible ingredients, and feeding on the like perishing Meats, with mere Brutes. So, the same dissolution befalls them. All alike, in birth, life, and death. Dust, both, and all, and turn to dust, again. This is positively asserted of Man's Body, in distinction from his Spirit; Gen. 2. 7. and 3. 19. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life; Heb. the spirit of Lives (one Soul, with sundry faculties and operations, vegetal, sensual, and rational) Cald. a speaking, reasonable Soul, different from Beasts. So, in Man are found all sorts of mortal, first-creation Life, with the operations thereof; intellectual and intuitive, with Angels; sensual, with beasts, birds, and fishes &c. Vegetal, with plants, trees, &c. And then, has he bodily parts, made of elementary materials, with all inanimate compounds. Every individual man therefore is fitly called a Microcosm, or little World; an Epitome or Compound of all, found in the greater, without him. And, all these Lives in him, are mortal; All, vanity. The very righteous first-covenant Life of his immortal spirit (whether in the intuitive, inorganical; or rational, organical operations thereof) is mortal too. All men are witnesses of this, by the death and loss of it in all, for the first sin of all, in, and with the first. Yet farther; One sort of Life, Man has, that's not found in the whole Macrocosm, or greater World, without him; a Life of rational-sense, exercised in and by his Body. Neither Angel, nor Beast have this; no Creature, above or below him. The Result, from God's uniting Man's Spirit, and fitly organized Body, is called a living Soul; Gen. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 45. The Soul (Souly or animalish Life) sleep's (or remain's dormant and unexercised) in the Spirit, when departed, till a re-union with its Body, at the Resurrection, whether of Life or Damnation; John 5. 29. The essentials of Man, Body, Soul, and Spirit (whatever suspension of exercise, or temporary alteration be incident to any of them) make up the discriminating form of Man, from all other Creatures, in both Worlds, forever, in Earth, Heaven, or Hell. Man's corruptible Body, at first, made of dust, received an additional frailty by his sin, in the degenerate state of his whole Nature. The Spirit departed out of it, it soon molder's into dust. Then does Man cease from the exercise of Bodily Life, as well as the Beast, when he dies. In this, therefore, Man has no pre-heminence above a Beast. For, he is made of the same materials, has the same Breath in his Nostrils, and comes to the same end. The Beast receives his animation, by the quick'ning up of a mere sensual Life in his Body. So, his Spirit never has its Body again; nor any Life above, and without it: but ceases forever. Brutified Atheists would fain persuade themselves and others, out of the immortality of their Spirits; and, that Man has no other kind of Life or Being, than the Beast; but only, a superiority to the Beast, therein; as Angels have to Men, in intellectual Life, though man had the same kind of Life, by Creation; and that, perfect too. See the Apocryphal Wisdom of 〈◊〉 , sor a Character of these Atheistical Reasoners; Wisdom 2. 1-9. Plenty of these brutish disputants (that labor to out themselves and others, of all the Prerogatives of man, above the Beast) find we, at this day. Having wickedly made themselves Brutes, fain would they persuade themselves, God made them so. And, if others think themselves better, they set themselves to prove their thought, a whimsical Imagination; and that, we have no being or Life, forever, after the dissolution of our Body. What's Eternal death? Annihilation? No. That's the thing they plead for, and seek after, but will never find. The incorrigibly vile, will be most exquisitely sensible, under everlasting Burnings, in every particle of their beings.

The Righteous Life, Man had before the fall, he lost by his first Sin. That was but mortal, and a perishing Vanity, as well as the Life of the Beast, though of a more excellent sort. But, he has degraded his nature, into a kind of Equality with the Beast. He may know the insignificancy of his lost Life, as to true Blessedness, by its being lost. But, instead of looking upwards, for a better, he chooses rather to sink down into a worse (the mere Brutish Life of the Beast) hating all Discourse, Counsel, or Instruction, of the least tendency towards a Gospel-Life of immortality, suited to the immortality of his being. This appear's the case of most Men, by the following Words;

Vers. XX. All go unto one place: All are of the Dust, and all turn to Dust again.

Here's the condition of all Men, as to the Mortal Life of Body and Soul; the Mortal, first-creation earthy righteous Life of their Spirit, turn's also to dust again. Their Spirit, indeed, as an Immortal being, is distinct from, and Superior to the mere sensual Spirit of the Beast. This appears,

Vers. XXI. Who knoweth the Spirit of Man that goeth upward, and the Spirit of the Beast that goeth downward to the Earth? Or,

Who knoweth and rightly consider's the Spirit of Man, in its distinguishing Prerogative, from the Beast? What is said (v. 18-20.) may seem to countenance the mistaking sensualist's forementioned Atheistical Doctrine. But, this pulls him back, to another Lesson. Man, in his bodily part, Life, and Breath, was like the Beast, even before the fall. But, his sinful doting on the same sensual delights, with Beasts, (and so making his whole Man, a Beast) this was not his case, by Creation. God made him a Man: He has made himself a Beast. And, the Beast has vastly the start of him, herein: Sin's not, in his delights; has no principle of Life, desire, or palate, in his nature, to which, anything above mere sensual Objects, is calculated; Is not subject to the Judgment, Man is; nor, has any Immortality of being, to sufler the pains of eternal death, in. The Spirit of the Beast goes downward to the Earth, as well as his Body. There's an end of him. He never hear's of himself, more. Such death, incorrigibly Wicked Angels and Men, will vainly seek, but never find. It will ever flee from them. They'l find themselves in a fixed hatred to what is eternal Life. And, they'll find themselves dreadfully Tormented, in eternal death. What then can be their desire, but insensibleness, or annihilation? They'l never find either. Being will stick close to them; and most exquisite sensibleness, never depart, one Moment, in Eternity, from them. They must lie byit, forever, in Sorrow; Tormented in every particle of their make.

Man, by the Right use of his rational Powers, in law or first-covenant-light, ought to Perform active obedience to god's law; and when called to it, yield himself up in passive obedience to his Cross, and so, receive his Gospel spirit and principle of eternal and well pleasing active Obedience. Thus ought Man to live to the Lord, and die to the Lord (Ro. 14. 8.) in his Law-Spirit of nature, that he may live forever to the Lord, in his Gospel Spirit of Grace. Thus is Man to obey God, in a Law, and Gospel-state, successively, one after another; in the Life of his own Spirit; and then, of God's. This is the Method and Doctrine of God's Wisdom, for Man's Salvation. tion. Man's unbelieving, contradicting Wisdom, will (if persisted in) bring him to Weeping and of Gnashing of Teeth, forever; the Just Portion of all his 〈◊〉 company ( Luk. 12. 46.) the Just Punishment of all willful Mistake, Unbelief, and Rebellion, in this matter. The aggravated madness of Man, lies herein. He chooses rather to lay his Ruling rational Powers, under the sensual, in his own person, then Submit to God's terms and way, for the bringing them, by way of Death and Resurrection, into eternal Subjection to the ruling Powers of Spiritual Life; and so, unchangeable Obedience to God most high. Man chooses rather to be like a Beast, then God. He is offered an advance into a kind of Equality with the new-Creature-spirit, in Christ, by personal Union with it. And this, in Christ, is in a kind of equality with the infinite Divine Spirit, by personal Union with that; the Man God's fellow; Zee. 13. 7. True Saints are personally one with this Man, as he and the Father are one; Jo. 17. 21, 22. What Words, what Tongue of Men or Angels can express this Folly; Man's choosing the Life of a Beast, to his eternal Damnation, before all this, that would be his eternal Salvation? God has made Man, Lord of the visible Creation ( Ps. 8. 5-8) and he alone, of all visible Creatur's, walks unsutably to his principle, in Rebellion against his Creator. Man's Wisdom is capable of receiving Conviction, by the right-Gospel-opening of the Word's of God's: But, his will may not be trusted, for Gospel-Conversion. That's to die, by the way. It likes not that. Every thing would live. His understanding can tell his will, it must die; cease from all its own Activity, Life, Desire, and Motion, as the only possible way for the final Salvation of his whole person. Man, abusing his rational Powers, to fetch in gratifying Provisions for his sensual, only, turn's his earthly nature upside down; perverts the whole course and order of it; serves, what he ought to rule over: So, makes himself a Beast, by the very Verdict of his own Conscience, and all mankind. When he suffer's the Bestial Powers, within him, to rule over him, 'tis Just with God, to give the literal Beast, without him, Power over him, so as to kill him, for Rebelling thus against God; Deut. 32. 24. Ezek. 14. 15. Man, by yielding Obedience to the Law (but, much more, when to Gospel) shall be freed from Beasts destructive Dominion over him. They shall not devour, nor make him afraid; Ezek. 34. 28. Solomon had sadly experienced the boundless Ramblings of his Bestial Powers, after whatever was gratifying to the inordinate Lusts and vile affections thereof. But, as the Face of Man's Body, so of his Spirit, is fitted to look upward, to a Life, a Glory that excel's; and so, to God most high. Man and Angel, by Creation, had abundantly the ascendant over the Beast. But, the best things corrupted, become the worst. The Devil, with all the Glory, Wisdom, Power, and Righteousness of the First-Creation, turned into (and used in) unchangeable Enmity to God, is, in God's sight and thought, the most contemptible varlet, in the World.

Solomon, in this interrogatory, bewail's the willful ignorance, folly, and inadvertency of Man; his Brutish unwillingness to take any right notice of his prerogative-difference from the spirit of the beast. He is ready, even to deny the Immortality of his Spirit. They would gladly die like Beasts, that live like them. If they own their 〈◊〉 , they suspect a sad reckoning, behind, for the abuse of it. Man, in his natural Creation, had (and is, since the fall, capable of recovering) the intellectual, intuitive, inorganical exercise of his mind, after the manner of Angels, by which, immediately to see, what organical reason call's hidden essences, qualities, and properties of things; all which, still, are Vanities, and that, of the lower order. Organical reason, discourses, or, run's from one thing to another, from what is seen, to prove, gather, and guessingly conclude something not seen or known, before. This way of getting the knowledge of things, by sensible species, taken in by the outward, and presented or conveyed by inward natural senses, to the understanding, was Aristotle's low, conjectural way of gaining knowledge, far short of the Soaring, Intuitive Platonist. But, no Spiritual, Eternal things are the Objects of either of these ways of natural understanding, in Men. These are wholly out of all their reach. Now, what a wretched wicked self-denial are they guilty of, that neglect all these advantages of their nature, to level themselves with Beasts? To throw up all rational and Intellectual pleasures, and betake themselves wholly to Bestial? Their Practice Inclines them to Judge, or, at least, declare, they have no other principles of Life, but Bestial. Their Immortality is a tormenting consideration, to them. For, this renders them, by their own madness, fit Subjects and fuel of God's unquenchable Wrath. Man's great fault of all, is the willful refusal of God's convincingly discovered and offered new-Creation Life. When this Gospel-Life of Immortality is brought to light, in his Immortal being, all's his own. For, then he is Christ's, and Christ is God's (1 Cor. 3. 22, 23.) one with Christ, as he with the Father. So, comes Man to be an Infallible seer and doer of the whole Will of God, forever. Man, in his whole natural being, Body, Soul, and Spirit (all his essential parts, and Powers of natural Operation) is to be considered, as distinct from a first or second Covenant Spirit, or Life, by Christ (as Creator, or Redeemer) put into him; by which, he is found in a shadowy changable righteous State, and Earthy Image of God; or unchangeable Heavenly Creature-Life and Image of him. The former is but a fading slower, and Man therein, at best, altogether 〈◊〉 , Principles and Operations. By Christ's second, new-Creating Workman-ship, attains he a State of Everlasting Righteousness and true Holiness; Eph. 4. 24. So, has he the Kingdom of Heaven within him, and 〈◊〉 Life abiding in him. He lives and walk's in that Spirit, Christ, with his Saints, will Reign in, and Judge the World.

Vers. XXII. Wherefore, I perceive, that there is nothing better, then that a Man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his Portion: for, who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

What works? deeds or works of the Law, wrought in his own Law-Spirit of nature, such as Paul excludes from ( Rom. 4. 2-6.) or, such as are wrought in Christ's Gospel-Spirit of Grace, which James, in the same Spirit, with Paul, own's as Ingredients into Abraham' s Justification, before God? Jam. 2. 21-24. Own works, here, which the Holy Ghost, by Solomon, commands (and commends) Man's rejoicing in, as his Portion from God, cannot be anything, done in his own nature, that, since the fall, in its highest renewals, is found in direct Enmity to God. This State of Man (with all possible Labors therein) is so far from being his happy Portion from God, that he lies directly under the Curse and Wrath of God, in and with all this, which is altogether Vanity. But, can right Gospel-works, which God work's in Men, be called their own works? Yes; as owned by God, co-workers with him, in his spirit; living and walking therein. He that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God (Jo. 3. 21.) Deeds, wrought by God in Man; and Man, in God. Thus God Judges of, and calls such works; the Labors of Man, in Christ's Gospel-Life. See what is said, in this case, on Ch. 2. 24. and, v. 12, 13, of this Chap. Solomon does not here countenance Man's rejoicing in such Labors of his own Spirit, as he reckon's vain in themselves, and unprofitable to himself ( Ch. 1. 3.) as to any final good to him, therein, or by. Nothing, short of the new-Creature-State, and Man's Labors therein, signify anything, towards eternal Life; Gal. 6. 15. Neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, righteous or corrupt nature, or anything done by Man, in either, can be of any avail, or 〈◊〉 thereunto. So have we found out these works of Man, he is to 〈◊〉 in; done in that Life, which is his peculiar portion, and new-Creation Birth-right gift, from God. If works, wrought in Man's own spirit, will, and way, were meant, towould be a Flat contradiction to the main scope of this whole book, which Proclaim's the absolute Vanity and insignificancy of all first-Creation Life and things, at best, as to Man's pleasing God, or finding true blessedness, for himself. Such works are meant, as Man may, ought, will, cannot but rejoice in, with Joy unspeakable and Glorious. Here's Man's inward Summum bonum; a Life, wherein he can do all things, after God's own Heart, Steddily, Infallibly, Eternally; and so, enjoy the transcendently yet higher Summum bonum, without him, the Divine Glory, in Favor and Love, shining upon him, forever. First-Covenant Divines (as well as Evil Angels, and Heathen Philosophers) place Man's Summum bonum, in but first-Creation excellencies (whatever other title they give it) within the compass of natural Objects, and in the activity of their natural State, that's a fading flower, altogether Vanity. The Spirit of truth, by its Penmen, acquaints us with other matters, for hapiness; another Life, other excellencies, objects, and works, Man is capable to be found in the possession and exercise of. The spiritual Man's Joy and delight, meets and center's in the same works or things, with God's. True Saints are in a Union with his Divine Spirit, in Will, Understanding, Desire, Thought, Love and Hatred. They love what he loves, with a perfect love: Hate what and whom he hates, with a perfect hatred; Ps. 139. 21, 22. All Man's Labors are vain, in his own Spirit of Vanity: Not so, in the Lord; 1 Cor. 15. 58. Paul rejoiced in that Gospel-Life he had, by the Faith of the Son of God (Gal. 2. 20.) and his Labors therein: but found his Law-Life and best works therein, Dung, when touching the Righteousness which is the Law (or to be found in that Law-State) blameless; Philip. 3. 6. Enmity to God Tinctur's, Sullies, and desiles all that Life and Works, at best, with filth of Spirit.

If Man Submit not to God's terms for receiving his new-Creation-Life, who can bring him to see, what shall be after him? Either what will become of good or Evil Angels or Men, in Eternal Life or Death, after their fading Life of Vanity (with all the things thereof) is over, and gone? These grand and most concerning futurities (things, no natural Eye, Heart, or Understanding can see or imagine, on all hands; the things provided in Heaven, for those that truly fear God; or, in Hell, for incorrigible haters of him) lie quite out of the reach of Man or Angel, in their natural, first-Creation State of Enmity and Vanity, Darkness and Death. The Spiritual Man, in the true Preaching Spirit of Prophecy, discern's or judges all things (1 Cor. 2. 15.) and can declare, Infallibly, what all Men and Angels will come to, as finally Obedient or Disobedient to God's term's of receiving Eternal Life. He (knowing the Terrors of the Lord (2 Cor. 5. 11.) and, what a fearful thing it is, to fall into the hands, or under the final Wrath of the Living God) does, Might and Main, Labor in the Spirit of Christ, to warn and caution Men, as to the only way of entering into the Joy, and escaping the Wrath of the Lord; the Wrath to come. By refusing so great Salvation, as God offers them, come they to Eternal Death, Want, and Vexation of Spirit; Prov. 8. 34-36. They'l want everything that's good, and have everything that's evil, in and upon them, in Extreamity, forever; unchangeable Wickedness in them, and positive Inflictions of God's Wrath (as Punishment) upon them, without any Interruption, or Relief ( Luk. 16. 24, 25.) to Eternity. They have chosen rather (in the declared, known causes and way thereto) to be Vessels of Dishonor and Everlasting Contempt; then, on God's term's, to be made Vessels of Glory, Honor, Immortality, and Eternal Life. By Enmity to God's Divine and New-Creature Holy Ghosts or Spirits, do they bring fiery Indignation, on their unpardonably guilty heads; Heb. 10. 26, 27. Ro. 2. 6-10. These great things, that will be found and felt hereafter, do evidence the great weight of these Words of Solomon; and grand concern of Men, to be circumspect, in taking the true meaning of them. Who, but the awak'ned Spiritual Saint, can foresee and tell, the unutterable Confusions, final Refusers of God's Counsel, will be found in, forever? The Cares and Pleasures of this Life, choke Men's understandings, as to any right and hearty enquiry after their grand concerns, in the next. The Noble Bereans did set themselves to search the Scriptures, for the Gospel-Kingdom and Righteousness of God. Who does so, now? Those that, in this World, seek not the Kingdom and Righteousness of God, in the next ( Mat. 6. 33.) will never find it; let them flatter themselves in their Loose, Negligent, Inadvertent course, while they will. The most trifling, outward Vanities of this World, do universally amuse, and take up Peoples time and thought, so as to detain them in a deep oscitancy, and regardlessness, as to the unutterable Woes, prepared in Tophet, for Incorrigible sinners; or unspeakable Joys, in the Kingdom of God, for Spiritual Saints. Believe not your own Thoughts, O ye Sons of Men, about Salvation. Lean not to your own Understandings. Conferr not with Flesh and Blood. Regard not the Voice of Strangers, the Words of Man's Wisdom, about it.

Vers. I. So I returned, and considered all the Oppressions that are done under the Sun. And behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no Comforter: And on the side of their Oppressors, there was power; but, they had no Comforter.

I Returned ( Heb. was Converted) from my fallible wisdom, to see the Affairs of Mankind, in the infallible wisdom of God: particularly, to consider duly, the manifold Oppressions, under the Sun. Even himself, through his vastly expensive extravagancies, had given occasion to his oppressed Subjects, to bespeak his soolish Son 〈◊〉 , after his Decease, on this wise. Thy Father 〈◊〉 our 〈◊〉 grievous: make his heavy Yoke upon us, lighter, and we will serve 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 King. 12. 4. He takes three days, to consider of an Answer to them, verse. 5. He consults with his Fathers Old Counselors of State, who give him good Advice. But he 〈◊〉 their Counsel, and consults with his Young Companions; verse. 6. 7. So, His answer was; My Father 〈◊〉 your Yoke, heavy; and I will add to it. He chastised you with whips; but, I will 〈◊〉 you with Scorpions. They reply; To thy Tents, O Israel, and let David's House look to itself; take their course; Vers. 8-16. The 〈◊〉 Son acknowledged his wise Father's oppressing them; but, instead of relieving, threatens to add to their grievances; though he saw them upon the turning point, with Jeroboam the in head of them, whom they make King of ten of the twelve Tribes, which never returned to the House of David, more. This got he to himself, and Successors, by his madness, in following the counsel of his rash, young Hectors. But, if even holy David, and his wise Son, Solomon, eminent in spiritual Saintship, and signal Pen-men of the Holy Ghost (through some remain's of uncrucified nature) demean'd themselves so, in King-ship, as to cause many grievances to the Subject, what's to be expected, in the utmost degeneracy of Heathen Monarchy, from Golden-head Nebuchadnezzar, to Iron and Clay, though called most Christian? God gratified Israel's foolish request ( 〈◊〉 a corrupt human Monarchy, like the Nations round about them, to a Theocracy, the Government of God himself; 1 Sam. 8. 5--7.) Giving them a King, in his Anger; whom he took away in his Wrath (Hosea 13. 11.) by the Philistines Sword, on Mount Gilboa; 1 Sam. 31. And were not the sad Consequents of David's numbering the People ( seventy thousand men's Lives ) with the quelling his Son Absalom's Rebellion, and matter of Uriah, &c. sore Grievances?

But, in the principal meaning of these words, we shall find the Oppressors, more; and the Oppressed, fewer than is commonly considered. Till the truth, concerning both, be brought into public view, 'It is matter of wonder, to hear it. Solomon, in God's, found the mistake of his own wisdom; so, endeavored to take off others, with himself, from wondering; and also, to show them the Cure of the Evil, that, through ignorance, they wond'red (or were amazed and discouraged) at. If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of Judgment and Justice in a Province, marvel not at the matter (Heb. Will, or Purpose of God in it, who can use evil Magistrates, as Instruments of his Providence, though they be not properly, Ministers of his Ordinance; but indeed, directly contrary; a terror to good works, and workers, and a countenance and encouragement to evil; Rom. 13. 3.) for he that is higher than the highest, regardeth, and there be higher than they; Eccl. 5. 8. The good Angel is higher than the highest, invisible, evil angelical Principalities and Powers of this world; and, Christ and God most high, are yet (unspeakably, infinitely) higher than they. In this Reason, is contained relief enough for the Oppressed, in the last, and worst of times; and Power, more than enough, to deal with the Oppressors, Devils or Men; as we shall farther and more clearly see, when we come, in course, to consider Chap. 5. 8. In this Chap. 4. verse. 1. and that, with divers other passages, in this Retractation-Book, doth Solomon prepare his spiritual brethren, to quit their ignorant natural man's wondering, by having recourse to spiritual sanctuary-Light, with the Psalmist; Psal. 73. 19. The highest wisdom of Man, in first-covenant Light and Righteousness, secures him not from being a Fool, and as a Beast, before God, in this matter, verse. 22. And so, indeed, is he, as to all his spiritual, eternal concerns, all the heavenly things or truths of God, and methods of his Wisdom, in his dealings with Men; with Friends, as Foes; and Foes, as Friends. All these things are Uninterpretable Riddles, Unintelligible Mysteries, not only to largparted and most Cultivated Learned Heathens; but, to Wise, Strong, and Honorable in Christ, as to first-covenant attainments in him, and Union with him. These, yet, are Fools and Beasts, to the truly or Spiritually Wise, Strong, and Honorable in Christ, who seem (and are reckoned ) Fools, to them, with Paul; 1 Cor. 4. 10. God's giving Incorrigible Enemies, more (in this World, within and without) then heart can Wish; and plaguing his Friends, Spiritual Saints, every Morning (as to all, he gratifies the other, with) puzzles the Prophet's Servant, or natural Man, even in the Saint himself; till Baptiz'd and Advanc'd (through a Mystical Death and Resurrection of his Spirit; the only true Regeneration, Transformation, or New-Creation thereof) into the Spiritual Light and Sight of the true Seer and Prophet, in him. The figurative Shadow or Type hereof, we find; 2 King. 6. 15-17.

In fallen-nature (even when, in Measure, restored from filth of Flesh, oft deeplier guilty of filth of Spirit, Enmity to God's) do all worldly Governors, more or less, pervert and violate (under all specious and plausible pretences of doing) Judgment and Justice. Those, appointed to redress and remove (by forming up, and contriving a corrupt Interest to themselves, contrary to the Community) do oppress, and make the Grievances. This, two general way's; by perverting good, or making Evil Laws. The Throne of Iniquity frames Mischief by a Law. And then, do they gather together against the Soul of the Righteous, and Condemn Innocent Blood; Ps. 94. 20, 21. The Wicked Compass about the Righteous, and then wrong Judgment proceedeth; Hab. 1. 4. The Wicked walk on every side, when the vilest Men are Exalted (Psal. 12. 8.) and the worthiest rejected; yea, cut off, as dangerous to the Peace of Tyranny. An evil selfinterest in Rulers, suggest's deceitful Policies, called Reasons of State, ugly unreasonable Reasons, for oppressing the helpless, instead of doing them Justice. Such Reasons have been remarkably recompene'd, sometimes, even in this World, by God's Righteous Visible Judgments on the guilty Heads of the Wicked Inventers and Contrivers thereof. Pharaoh and his Council Judge'd it Reason of State, to kill the Male Children of the Hebrews, as soon as Born, least they should grow too many for them. This was paid off, with a Vengeance, upon them. After several other Plagu's, their own first-born Sons died for it. Exod. 12. 29. And, at last, Pharaoh himself, &c. with a Multitude of Egyptians, were over-whelm'd in the Red Sea. Jeroboam, for a reason of State, set up the old Egyptian Idolatrous Worship of Calv's, to prevent his Peoples going to Jerusalem to worship at solemn Feasts, which he feared, might endanger a Revolt from him, to the House of David. 1 King. 12. 26-28. This was the very trade, Israel had been soundly punished for, in the Wilderness. What will warn Vain, Vile Man? All the Israelit' s were Threatned with Destruction for it. But, on Moses his Intercession, the Punishment was narrow'd, to three Thousand, Kill'd by the Levite's, and a Plague on some others of the People; Exod. 32. They said, (v. 4.) and Jeroboam said, after them, in the like case, behold thy God's, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt. O Madness! To the Egyptian God's, that could not deliver their own People from them, do they ascribe their deliverance from their Egyptian Bondage and Task-Masters. So, Ahaz Sacrificed to the God's of Damascus, which were the ruin of him and all Israel; 2 Chron. 28. 22, 23. and 2 King. 16. 10-13. So also, Amaziah set up the Edomit's God's, to be his God's, and sought after them, which could not deliver their own People out of his hands (2 Chro. 26. 14, 15.) and was destroyed, for his pains, as threat'ned by the Prophet, for not hearkening to his Counsel, though against and contrary to the King's Wicked, Idolatrous Council. v. 16. 27. And, what became of Jeroboam, for his Calf-worship, erected on a self Interested Reason of State? See, 1 King. 14. 10, 11. I will cut of Jeroboam, and take away the Remnant of his House, as a Man takes away Dung, till it be all gone. Him that dieth of him, in the City, shall Dogs Eat, and him that dies in the Field, shall the Fowls of the Air Eat: For the Lord hath spoken it. Is not here, enough?

When Christ shall take possession of (and actually reign over ) all the Earth (his right, always Psal. 2. 8.) all Visible and Invisible Principalities and Powers of this World, Evil Men and Angels, will be laid in the Dust. Nothing but Righteousness (of one sort or other, Man's, or God's in Man) will be found in the whole World ( his Holy Mountain, or Kingdom) by his Executing that Judgment and Justice in the Earth (Jer. 23. 5. always, all along his peaceable, Righteous Reign) that they allway's perverted. Saints also, that he will bring with him, to Reign, will do the like, in Harmony with their Universal Fift Monarch; Dan. 7. 18--27. Jude 14, 15. Rev. 5. 10.

Solomon, in Spiritual Light, sees and mean's, not only, nor chiefly, the oppression of the Body, in the concerns thereof, by Heathen Governments, violating the Common Law or Light of rational nature, in mankind: but, the Oppression and Violence, exercised by first-Covenant Brethren, against the second, the only true Heirs and Saints of the most high. The new Light and Life, they are found in (under the fructifying Influence and Beamings forth of the Mystical New-Creation Sun of everlasting Righteousness, Christ, as a Spiritual Bride-groom ) is Scorn'd, Hated, contradicted, Blasphem'd; and they, Persecuted and killed for it (by none, so much as) by their envious Brethren, in Holy Flesh, restored Law-Life, under the Mystical first-Creation Sun, or First-Covenant Spirit, wherein Christ has been a sleshly, Law-Bride-groom to them. Thus, are true Saints, the Oppressed, peculiarly and most properly (here, and Chap. 5. 8.) meant by Solomon. And then, shall we find the vast number of Dead Heathens, in the corrupt Life or Spirit of nature, dead in Trespasses and Sins, and the far smaller number of enliven'd first-Covenant- Brethren, professing Saints in Holy Flesh (in all variety of Judgment, Form, or way) in one kind or other, Oppressors of the smallest number of all, Christ's little Flock, the few that are saved, true Saints of the most High (in God's Holy, New-Creature-Spirit) stripped and destitute of all Worldly Power or help. All in this World, against them: No thing, No body for them. They are Men Wonder'd at, Scorn'd, Hated, by all: Men of Contention with the whole Earth. The whole Earth (or worldly party of Angels and Men, fixed in their earthy, natural, first-Creation-make and State, despiteful Enemies to the Spirit of Grace, and all in the second) are their Implacable Adversaries, in everything. The but first-Covenant Righteous Professor (call himself what he will) sometimes gets a considerable Share in the Civil Sword, or Power; and uses it, with greatest fierceness, against the new-Covenant professing Spiritual Saint; who, with Christ, look's not after the Kingdom of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heavenly, managable only in the Spirit of 〈◊〉 , not the most enlight'ned, righteous Principles or State of nature ) and, not actually commencing, till Man's and Satan's be at a Period. Such a Kingdom, such a King (or Kings) as Christ (and his true Disciples) lay claim to (or own themselves, of right, to be, as Sons of God ) even Heathen Pilate was able to see and Judge, carries no clash in it, at all, with Worldly Ceasars, or Magistracies; John 18. 36-38. True Saints are not for throwing down all Heathen Magistracies, in the corrupt Spirit of nature, that they may rule over all, in the renewed worldly spirit thereof. They that design (and drive at) this, are the Pseudo-Fift-Monarchists, who, in all their Zeal and high Pretences for the King Jesus, are the highest, and fiercest Enemies and Opposers of the very Jesus, the very Christ, in his very Gospel-reigning Spirit of Grace and Truth. They are, themselves, the most signal part and Branch, at least, of that little Horn, with the Mouth speaking very great things (Dan. 7, 8. 11. 20, 21. 24, 25. Rev. 13. 3. 5--8. 11--17) which they would wholly fix upon, and appropriate unto a corrupt and grossly Idolatrous Heathen party in the Fourth, Roman Monarchy, under the name Christian. These are they, with the deadly Wound Healed (given by the first Sin, that laid all Mankind, dead in Trespasses and Sins ) who, with a great mouth, speak great things, blasphemous words against God, and his new-name, or Gospel-Spirit, the Holy Ghost, God's Heavenly Sanctuary or Tabernacle; and them that dwell in it, even the Saints of the most high, that dwell (or have their conversation ) in Heaven, Christ's Heavenly Gospel-Spirit of Grace. By the false Fift-Monarchist, is to be understood, not only a party, peculiarly, and apart from their Fellows (at Munster, or lately amongst us, or in any former Generations and other Countries, pretending this way, by throwing down all corrupt Worldly Monarchies or Governments, to set up themselves) but the whole fixed first Covenant-Spirited Generation and Party of Professors, in all times and places, found in the same uniform Spirit of unchangeable Enmity to the true Spiritual Saint, on the one hand; and a selfconfident, Disturbing, Traiterous Opposition to corrupt worldly Caesars, on the other. This troublesome Spirit, is charactred by the Apostle, in the Jewish Professors, that both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own Prophets, and Christ's Apostles: And, therein, please not (but indeed, highly displease and Provoke) God, and are contrary to all Men, on their right and left hand, Spiritual Saints, and polluted Heathens. For this, Wrath came upon those Jews, to the uttermost; and will, upon all, in like case; 1 Thes. 2. 15, 16. These are they that speak great swelling Words of Vanity (with their self-exalting Luciferian Master, Satan, the old, great, Bloody-minded Red Dragon ) against the most high himself, and all his true Spiritual Saints. These are they, that said of Christ himself, the Supreme Preacher and Prophet or Mouth and Living Word of God; he is a Blasphemer, a Sabbath-breaker, a Glutton, a Wine-Bibber, a Friend of Publicans and Sinners (implying him to be a Hater of, an Enemy to Good, Holy, Righteous Men) and that he has a Devil, and is Mad. These are they, that Persecute the Spiritual Brotherhood; say, in their hearts, to true Spiritual Prophets and Seers, see not, Phophesy not unto us right things; speak to us smooth things (pleasing to nature, when righteous; things, after, or according to our own Hearts) Prophesy deceits; turn aside, out of the Path, the good old way; cause the Holy one of Israel (and all his right words of Counsel and Instruction) to cease from before us; Isai. 30. 9-11. We desire not to hear of him, to have any knowledge of his Words or Ways; Job. 21. 14. and, 34. 27. Jer. 44. 16, 17. Desperate Resolutions! But, why should the Servant look to fare better then his Lord, amongst them? These are they, that proudly say to the blind Heathen, on the one hand, in Scorn and Contempt, stand by, come not near me (touch me not) for I am Holier then thou; Isai. 65. 5. And, the same do scorn, ravenously trample upon, and insult over the Spiritual Saint, on the other hand, as the filth of the World, the very off-scouring of all things; 1 Cor. 4. 8. 13. These are the signal Objects of their Scorn and Hatred, they shoot forth their most Malicious Arrows, even bitter Words, against; Psal. 64. 3. As for their left-hand Men, the corrupt Heathen; they can, on occasion, call and make use of them ( as the Professing Jews did ) even the most Debauch'd and Corrupt, amongst them, any lew'd Fellows, of the baser sort, to help carry on their Persecuting-work, against Gospel-Saints; Act. 17. 5. But, seldom shall ye take them calling in them, to their assistance, against the corrupt Party, except unawares, or in an exigent. And, when successfully helped and delivered by them; rather then bear their Words, if they cannot otherwise suppress them, they'll e'ne call in their Subdued lewd party again, to their assistance, in the case. So, has the true Fift-Monarchy-Saint (not allowed any name or place, at all, amongst these corrupt and Righteous worldly Scrambles for the Scepter) the slip given him, on all hands, by the whole twofold earthly party, Professing and Profane. When the former have made use of his assistance against the latter (and then, find him, not to be for their turn, in that first-Covenant Principle, or Life of the Law, the Pseudo-Fift-Monarchy-Spirit, Christ would not Reign in, Jo. 6. 15. Paul could not Reign in, 1 Cor. 4. 8.) they call back the latter, to their assistance against him; deliver him up into their hands, as Guilty of Death, for what he did, in Union with them, against them. This, though what he did, was, in such extraordinary, unusual, and, never before, happening Circumstances (the dissolving and parting asunder of the Supreme, Legislative Powers) as, might reason have had any hearing or place, would fairly have 〈◊〉 to justify him, as doing the best, that, in so difficult a case, could be done. On the reformed Parties Victory over the Corrupt and Idolatious, in any Nation, the Trumpet is (presently and confidently) blown, and makes a ringing Noise, as a tinkling Cymbal; gives a Confused, Uncertain Sound, for the King, Jesus. But, in what Spirit? In that, he'd never own himself a King, in; yea, directly contrary to that, in which he did; so, in a flat contradiction to that good profession, he made before Pontius Pilate, concerning his true Kingly Spirit, and Reign, both Negative and Affirmative (the one expressed, the other, necessarily implied) 1 Tim. 6. 13. Jo. 18. 36, 37. He bore Witness to the Truth; or, to and in that new-Creation- Spirit of Truth, in which alone, his Reign is to be. There's nothing but Shadow, Letter, Figure, Type, as to any life or Goodness, found in the first Creation. All truth is found only, according to Scripture-Testimony, in the second. So, Pilate's question, what is Truth? (v 38.) was answered, beforehand; v. 37. Thus are true Saints, the truly poor and needy (inwardly in their Spirits, as to first-Covenant Life and Laodicean Treasures; and oft, also, outwardly, in bodily concerns) Shuffled out of all Play, on all hands; and, at length, out of the World, as not fit to live any longer, in it; Act. 22. 22. Heathens and a first-Covenant people, mean while, can join Counsels, and speak lies at one Table, against them (Dan. 11. 27. even against those, that are the best Subjects of the one, and, on lawful, warrantable grounds, the best helpers of the other) yea, they'll join forces, also, in one Army, against them. Thus, down goes the true Saint, on all hands. They have no visible relief. All are against them. They are men of contention to the whole Earth (Jer. 15. 10.) or earthly party, corrupt and righteous. They are poor and needy on all accounts, within and without, while their combined Adversaries, Heathens, and a professing People ( Psal. 2. 1.) are fat, rich, full, and flourishing (in outward or inward, literal or mystical riches, or both) and join hand in hand, or hand and heart, maliciously, against them. On the side of both these Oppressors, there is Power; but, they have no comforter. God helps them, supports them; Christ and good Angels are for them. But, all this Relief is invisible; and is not visibly put forth for their deliverance from Persecution, and violent bodily Death; but makes such 〈◊〉 and Death, the method (in their wonderful, mysterious contrivance) to secure them from eternal Death, and bring them into eternal Life. Here's comfort for them, to purpose, in their utmost Trials. And this, are they well aware of. Enemies, of all sorts, hate and despise the mar'd Visage of their natural man, which they see; and they mortally hate their spiritual man ( hid with Christ in God ) which they see not, but only hear, hate, and dread the unpleasing words or doctrine of.

But this, yet, is not all, nor half the worldly power, engaged against them; which they have to deal and grapple with, combat and wrestle against. We wrestle not against flesh and blood (only, or chiefly, in ourselves or others) but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high Places; against unchangeably wicked spirits, Devils, coming forth in their counterfeit, heavenly, spiritual appearances of God, Christ, and holy Angels; a disguise (by their permitted, sinful transforming arts) put upon them, whereby to deceive, if 〈◊〉 , the very Elect. These are more subtle and potent, than both their visible, inhumane enemies. But, There are higher than these highest enemies of the Saints of the Most High, on their side; and then, who can be against them, and finally prosper? or what can any do against them, that can 〈◊〉 them? yea, that shall not be of a direct tendency, under God's over-ruling order, to their final and everlasting good? comfort, enough. Good Angels excel (all Enemies, evil Angels or Men) in strength; Psal. 103. 20. And Christ, and God most high, with their Infinite, Almighty, and irresistibly mighty, divine and new-creation power; all these are on the Saints side. Power, more then enough. Yea, Saints themselves have that Life and Power of Godliness in them, that will render them more than Conquerors; Rom. 8. 37. Yea, when but Babes and Sucklings, Low and Weak in the Life of God, or of his Spirit of Grace, are they able to still (quell, or subdue) the Enemy and the Avenger; Ps. 8. 2. Here's Power, upon Power; and so, Comfort upon Comfort; strong, rich consolation to the spiritual, in the greatest tribulation that can befall the natural man of the saint. But still, while visible and invisible enemies are permitted to oppress them, for their good (during Christ's and their suffering season) on the side of their oppressors, is power; but they have no comforter. This is the case, all along this world, under Satan's reign, till the holy angels be commissioned to come forth about their preparatory work to Christ's second coming, for preaching the Everlasting Gospel, for the wakening up, and gathering Saints out of all Nations, to Christ; and, for the giving of signal dashes on all their Worldly Enemies, by the gradual pourings forth of the Vials of God's Wrath, upon them. Till this, are Saints, Men wondered at, in Scorn, ( Zec. 3. 8.) Men of contention with the whole Earth; Jer. 15. 10. All, in the but single worldly spirit of nature, corrupt or righteous, are against them, to a Man; to a Devil. And, as deprived of all worldly Power, within or without, are they (in the Judgment and sight of their own reason, as well as of their Enemies) naked, and exposed to the insulting Fury of all their said Adversaries (to all their Proud, Rhetorical Mockings and Insolencies) without Relief. But, since Flesh and Blood are set aside, as far Inferior to a higher and more dangerous, subtle, and more Powerful sort of Enemies, evil Angelical Principalities; let us, more particularly, take notice of their more unperceived Practices, and methods of proceeding, against the true Saint. They Accused God, to Adam and Eve, as envying the happy Life and State he had set them up in, by Creation. And so, engaged them, in a Union of Mind with themselves, as far as they could, to Envy, Hate, and 〈◊〉 themselves above and against, both the Divine and Creature-Life of God; Isai. 14. 14. 2 Thes. 2. 4. And, as Satan, their Luciferian head, falsely Accuses God to Man; so, Man, to God; Job 1. 9-11. and, 2. 4, 5. Satan is the Accuser of the Spiritual Brethren, before God, Day and Night (Rev. 12. 10.) that is, continually. This, though abundantly convicted of Perjury and Falsehood, in all such Witness-bearing; as in Job' s case. What reception can he hope for, in his Testimony against true Saints, at the Bar of their Infallible Friend and Judge? What most gall's this Insolent Adversary? To see Christ approach, in the garb of an Enemy, to the Saint, with his two-edged Flaming Gospel Sword. This may seem yet more strang, to Man's Wisdom. Why should this Sworn Mortal Enemy of Saints, be troubled at Christ's coming as an Enemy upon them, too? He know's, why. Christ comes to kill and offer up his party, the natural Man, Life, and Will, in them, in Sacrifice to God. And, he know's a Gospel-Spirit and Principle of Life and Action, will be set up in them, in the room thereof, that's Wiser and Stronger then he; which he can never reach, or touch; Jo. 4. 4. and 5. 18. This is the Thing, the Life, he unchangeably hates, and dread's. 'It is the Friend of the World and Devil, and Enemy of God, in the Saint, that Christ cast's into the fiery Furnace of his Cross, to destroy. And, this Destruction of Man's Flesh (or fleshly natural Life and State) makes way for his Salvation in God's Spirit. This Devil, Enmity to God, is not cast out, but by Fasting and Prayer. (Mat. 17. 21.) the Impoverishing of nature, the Mourning-State, and Death thereof, at best; an abstinence from all the Serpents Diet, all worldly desireables; and earnest Prayer, for; and labor of the Spiritual Mind, after the never-perishing Meats, at Christ's Heavenly Table. When Satan observe's Man, in a long course of Faithful Obedience to Law-Light, and cannot fix him there, but find's in him a dangerous Inclination to obey God's farther, Gospel-Light (as giving notice of a better State, yet, in the new-Creation Life or Land of Promise; and so also, fair warning of Christ's Approach with his Cross, on that Law-Life, he long owned him in) he bestirr's himself, and labors (might and Main) to cause him to resist the work (and so, prevent the effects) of this Cross. Job was sore put toit, for a season, under the demolishing, death-work thereof. And Satan was in a wonderful toss, through fear of what matters might come to, with him. That which Job feared, did come upon him (Job. 3. 25.) the Death of his Law-State, at best. And, that which Satan chiefly feared, came upon him, too; the Life of Christ's Gospel-Spirit, that's greater then he. One First-Covenant Saint (fixed in Holy Flesh, and the Law-Life thereof, against God's Holy Spirit, and the Gospel-Life and words thereof) becomes a more Useful, Creditable Instrument, for his Service, against the Gospel, then a thousand Profane Persons, in the corrupt nature, that have no color of Religion, about them. Till then his matters are sure with Man, by a fixed Enmity (or, the business is determined, beyond all hopes of recovering him into a fixed Enmity to the Cross) he plies it, in accusing God to such a Man; and him, to God. Thus turn's he every Stone, leaves no Means unattempted, for the carrying on of his Oppressive and Destructive Designs upon Saints. For shame, says he, to them, be not baffled out of all Sense and Reason, so as tamely to deliver up yourselves (in a Life, by Christ himself, twice set up in you) to a Murderer. So Represents he Christ himself (in the Shakings and Brandishings of his Spiritual Flaming Sword, over their Heads) as no other, or better, then a Murderer, a Devil, and Mad; Jo. 10. 20. He offered at persuading Christ himself, by an Apostle, to spare his own Innocent, Spotless, Righteous, Earthly nature, Life, or self; Mat. 16. 22, 23. But, Christ kindled his Spiritual, Gospel-fire, on that Earth, or earthly, Law-Life, in himself; spoke no Peace, but War and Death, toit; Luk. 12. 49. 51. But, when the subtle Enemy hath seemingly prevailed with any (hopefully secured and steeled them, with his Serpentine Armor and Doctrine) against the harsh Accents and sharp Disciplin of the Cross, as a most Absurd, Unreasonable, and Destructive thing; he frisk's about, turns his Dragon's-Tail upon them, and Accuses them to God, as those, whom (if he touch them to the quick, in the Mystical Skin and Life of their righteous natural Spirit, break the Mystical Bones, cut asunder the Nervs thereof; Enervate, Abolish and take away all the Strength and Power thereof) will Curse him to his Face; that is, utterly quit and separate from him, forever; Job. 2. 4, 5. Thus, as the Father of Lies, and a Murderer, on all hands, from the Beginning to the end of this World, in a Murdering Mind of Enmity towards God, Christ, and Saints (and an actual Murderer of all he fixes, with himself, against them) does he act his part, towards God and Men; belying Saints, to God; and God, to Men. If true Saints be guilty of lesser Slipps, he will Aggravate and Aggrandize them. If they cannot be caught tripping, he will forge down-right lies against them. See all this, in the Practice of his Inspired Instruments, against Jeremy. All tends, in their design, to the Invalidating his true Spiritual Testimony; that no heed may be given to any of his words; Jer. 18. 18. and 20. 10. Who were these that Watch'd for the haltings; and lay at catch, for advantages, against true Prophets, Christ himself, and Apostles, all along? Familiars, Brethren, a first-covenant righteous party of Professors, and their Teachers. So, David found it also, Psal. 41. 9. The Spiritual Saint, that's a Lively Stone in the House on the Rock, sets Fire on their House upon the Sand, he once was in, and of. Will this be born? No. Away with such a Fellow from the Earth, say they; Act. 22. 22. Then, they betake themselves to the use of such Fire and Sword, as they are furnished with, against him. Their Tongue is set on fire of Hell. They forge 〈◊〉 against him, to prove him a Traitour against Caesar; and so, make the Heathen Magistrate, their Executioner. Christ himself was thus handled, by the Professing Jews. Thus, Solomon beheld the Tears of the natural Man of the Saint, under the Cross, as, on all hands, Oppress'd and Suppress'd, by God, or Christ himself; and by evil Angels and Men. Enemies are all for destroying (and Christ makes all, they do, exactly serviceable to his design of saving) them, forever. He sits at the head of the work, as the Master-Contriver, and Over-ruler of all. He designs the destruction of their flesh (or fading natural State, Enemies can reach and touch) that they may be saved in his Spirit, which they can never touch; though all their spite, and aim, be at that. He uses wicked Angels and Men, as his Sword, and hand on Saints; Ps. 17. 13. This Sword is in his hand. He manages all: Keeps all, on the right Wheel. All works for good, to his Saints. All mischievous intents of Enemies, for utterly destroying them, are frustrated. They cannot go one step out of the ready Rode to his designed favor, for them. They can hit nothing but their Friend, the natural Man of his Saints, which he would give Death-touches to, were there no such Enemies, in being. They do his work, then; remove that that lets, or hinders the springing up of that Life, in which the Saint is sure to break all their Heads, and tread them all under his Feet. This is all they get, by bruising their Heel, or destroying their natural Man, that's to die. Saints ought to Comfort one another with such words, and rejoice with Joy unspeakable and glorious, a-midst the utmost Tribulations, can befall them; not reckoning the present Sufferings in their Flesh, worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed, to, and upon them, in Christ's Spirit; Ro. 8. 18. For this Joy, set before them, and made known to them, well may they, with Christ, endure his Cross, and despise the Shame; Heb. 12. 2. Here are the richest Cordials, in (and Glorious allay's to) their sharpest Trials, in the fiery Furnace of the Cross. The Son of God is among them, as Nebuchadnezzar saw and said, of the 3 Children; Dan. 3. 25. He has a fellow-feeling with them, as their Compassionate High P riest; Heb. 2. 18. All's but to hasten away the Old Man, with all his old things, that all may become new. Would not Oppressors let them alone, if they knew the good they did them, by their Injuries? But the natural Man, even in Saints themselves, knows not what to think on it, when stormed on all hands; finding God, Christ, good and evil Angels and Men, all against him, on differing accounts, and with 〈◊〉 contrary designs. He finds no Comforter, among them all, after his own heart, or in his own will, and way. All runs Cross. Paul earnestly groaned after the complete dissolution of his Earthly Tabernacle (2 Cor. 5. 1-8) natural body, or whole State, which kept him short of a completeness in Christ's Resurrection-Life; Phil. 3. 11-14. The Jews false Accusations of him, for Treason; and Nero's Sword, did his work. The complete Death of the Saint's natural Man, sets him free from (and above) all Enemies and Deaths. 'It is the death of death in them, of their Spirit of Enmity and Death; and so, frees them from him that has the Power of Death (or over all that's subject to Death) the Devil. Hereby, enter they into Peace, lie down in a Bed of perfect Rest, forever. Is. 57. 1, 2. Would Enemies hurry such out of the World, if they knew all this? But, what care they, so they are rid of such Tormentors, at present? Rev. 11. 10. They Rejoice and make Merry, for being shut of them, till they see them upon their Feet again, an exceeding great and Invincible Army; then their high rejoicing, is turned into great fear and amazement; v. 11, 12. and Ezek. 37. 10. And then appears a Judgment-Seat, and Righteous Judge, all of them must stand before (2 Cor. 5. 10.) and give an account of all, done against him, and his Saints. What care they? Let them rule in this World, take the next, that will. Awaken'd spiritual Saints, does Satan look upon as unalterably principled, to be Fix'd Enemies and Traitours to his Crown and Dignity; the Peace of his most Oppressive, Tyrannical Domination in his Universal Province of this World; the only, Dangerous, Mischievous spies, that discover all his wiles and secrets, in his whole Mystery of Iniquity; as Elisha (in Figure) served the King of Syria. But, as bad as Legal-spirited Professors reckon them, so as falsely to accuse, and charge them with Treason against Heathen Caesars; they are their quietest and best subjects. Their Principle is absolutely against Tumultuous Insurrections. Christ himself paid Tribute to the then Heathen Caesar. And, Pilate acknowledged his owning himself a King, no clash with his Master, Caesar. Indeed, had he owned himself a King of the Jews, in that worldly, first-Covenant spirit, they'd have had him ( Jo. 6. 15.) he and they had been Enemies to Caesar, as outing his Government. That's the Pseudo-Fist-Monarchy-spirit. Judge, who are Traitor's against Caesar, first-Covenant Professors, that struggle with him for worldly Sovereignty, as their right; or, spiritual saints, that with Christ, pretend to no such matter. Would worldly Caesars, Heathen Magistrate's be Lictors and Executioners of Traiterous, Heady, High-minded Professors Rage (in the form of Godliness, denying the power; 2 Tim. 3. 4, 5.) on their most Peaceable Subjects, spiritual saints, if they knew what they did? 〈◊〉 not lawful for us, to put any Man to Death, said the Fanatick Jewish Professors. Such are not usually possessed of the Civil Sword or Power; have no way, but to get the Magistrate to do their Bloody work, upon the spiritual saint. The whole Earth, all the World is against the true saint; and he, with Jeremy, a Man of Contention with them all, Heathen, and a first-Covenant people. These belie him, make him a Traitour, and the other Execute him. Every Man's, every Devil's hand, is a natural Enemy to saints. All, against them. The better they see, the worse they like, the more they hate them, as in an 〈◊〉 contrary way, to them. Their help is in God, in that new name and Life of the Lord, that's a Rock and strong Tower. Enough, enough. Infinite, Almighty, and Irresistibly Mighty Divine and new-Creation Power, is on their side. But Enemies, seeing them destitute of all worldly Power, say also, there's no help for them, in God; Ps. 3. 2. and 42. 3. Were this true, they were gone, indeed; quite gone. The like was Reproachfully said by Men, under the Devil s Influence, to Christ himself, as to David, his Type; Psal. 22. 6-8. Mat. 27. 39-43. And so, find we it, in the Apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon ( Ch. 2. 10-22.) concerning Christ, and all his true followers. The natural Man, in the saint himself, is in a union of mind and Judgment, with Enemies without, also, against his spiritual mind; the fleshly Warrior, in every desire, thought, lust, and motion, against it; always's for War, no Peace to be had with it; Psal. 120. 7. Gal. 5. 17. Rom. 7. Psal. 73. 1-20. Jer. 12. 1. Till saints have recourse to Sanctuary-light, the exercise of their spiritual mind, all appears dismal; but then, all's Right, and Comfortable, again. Psal. 73. 17. Jer. 20. 7-13. Not fully Crucified and Transform'd Human Reason and Wisdom, in Saints, is the most dangerous homebred Traitour to them, within Doors, of the same mind and party against God and himself, with all Enemies without Doors, Devils and Men. This Foe, these Foes, of the Saint's own House (a Multitude of evil lusts and thoughts, peopling his own soul, and making up a Tumult of those in him, that rise up against God and himself, Encreasing, and Ascending continually, to provoke, and cry for Vengeance, upon him) must be run down by him. This, through his powerful stirring up of the unspeakable Gift of God in him, watching constantly all their motions, and skillfully managing all Spiritual Weapons, put into his Hands, to Crucify that fleshly mind and life in him, that, in all its Affections and Lusts, Fights against God and his own Soul. Steddy walking as well as Living in God's Spirit, and continual earnest Prayer to God, therein, will do the work; Gal. 5. 16. and v. 24, 25. When these Enemies, within, are stormed on all hands (from Christ, without, in answer to their Prayer; and by themselves within, in answer to their Duty and grand concern) they'll certainly fall under their Feet. Paul found himself, when looking on any Body, anything (within, without, or round about him) of this World clear gone, there; as by his Marred Visage and Image, of the Earthy in Holy Flesh, rendered a Spectacle of Scorn and Derision to the whole World, wicked Angels and Men; stripped of all Power or Defense, they can take any right notice of. So, in their sight, was he most despicable, as the off-scouring of all things. And this seemingly deplorable condition, will be more the lot of Saints, in the last Age of this World, then ever, before. Ezekiel' s natural Man, could not see the possibility of spiritual Israel' s recovery out of the desolate State of dry Bones in a Valley, then, or now; but said, in answer to the Lord's Question, thou knowest; Ezek. 37. 3. With him, what seems Impossible to Man, is Possible. This can God do. And, he reserves the Exercise and Demonstration of his Power, herein, for such a desperate season; to fetch up Saints out of all their Visible and Invisible Enemies Hands; and put their Enemies Necks under their Feet; as in Type, Joshua, the Kings of Canaan, under his Captains Feet; Jos. 10. 24. The natural Man's thoughts, even in Saints, are not as God's thoughts, in this matter. The Powerful breath of his quicknnig Spirit (Ezek. 37. 5. 10.) recovers all; as Abraham (in Type) Lot, &c. out of the four Kings hands, who were Types of the four worldly Oppressing Monarchies, Assyrian or Babylonish, Persian, Greek, and Roman.

Solomon, in the same prospect of things, by spiritual Faith, with Ezekiel, would secure Saints from being dismayed at the universal oppression they are under, from all worldly powers. These meek, poor, oppressed ones, shall have their day, to inherit, even the earth, at Christ's coming to Reign over all; Mat. 5. 5. Mean while, all their Oppressors are perfectly seen and noted (by God, Christ, and holy Angels, that are all higher than the highest Powers of this World) with a black Character, to the unspeakable Comfort and relief of the Oppressed. Their helpers, will be unspeakably above all their Enemies. And they over-rule all (Oppressors do) for their good, even now. In the close of the bloody red-Dragon's day, they'll be found the manifested, visible, declared Heirs of Salvation, in the view of all, Friends and Foes. This, will matters come to, after all scrambling Controversies between Zion-Saints, and their unreasonable Adversaries, hypocritical Sinners in Zion-dress. In this world, Enemies find no sure way of silencing them, but by violence. The professing Jews, not able to resist the wisdom in which Steven spoke, ston'd him. This is their way. Now from the certain sight of what follow's, Solomon, and Christ himself, would have Saints possess their souls in faith and patience, under all worldly Oppressors. God exactly marks, and regards all their demeanour under Oppressors, as well as Enemies demeanour towards him and them. Comfort enough! come what will. They are Co-heirs with Christ, of God; Rom. 8. 17. What would or can they have more? They that laugh now, will have time enough to weep; and weepers now, to laugh. Eternity. Eternally blessed are the latter: Everlastingly cursed, the former; Mat. 5. 3--12. Luk. 6. 21--25. Oppressors will be paid home, at last, with everlasting sorrow; the Oppressed, with everlasting Joy. For shame, leave off Complaints, O Saints of the Most High. For shame, leave off exulting, and rejoicing, O mad enemies of God and them. Saints see ground for this advice to them. Enemies (not seeing all, at winding up) will on, and rejoice in their oppressing-work. They oppress them, who alone, in greatest love, show them the way of Salvation. But, this disturbs them in their large and swift steps, towards damnation. They desire to hope well; and so, march on quietly to their everlasting torment. Hell here; torment here, and hereafter too, they reckon too hard. Let them please themselves with false hopes, and confidences here; and come what will, think they, hereafter. At length, they must leave their false present rest, and lie down in everlasting sorrow. Who can help? Satan's twofold party, corrupt and righteous men (fixed in nature, with him) will on, in their fools Paradise; in their various paths, under Satan's counsel and steerage, to the same Tophet. Saints ought to do their best, in all meekness, to recover any out of the snares of the Devil, till evidently fixed in Enmity. God's method with men, is, that none should (usually) have two Heavens or two Hells.

All Good, is the Saints; all Evil, the incorrigible sinners; in the world to come. All Saints tears are put into God's bottle of remembrance, to requite all, hereafter; as Enemies, oppressive madnesses shall also be paid off, with such recompense of their Errors, as is meet; the vengeance of Eternal Fire; Jude 7. All will come to their rights, at last; Friends and Foes. This very Argument does Paul comfort oppressed Saints with; 2 Thes. 1. 4--10. At Christ's second coming, will Saints ride in their Triumphal Chariots (as more then final Conquerors ) over the Heads of their Oppressors, Devils and Men; who have had their turn, to ride over their heads; Ps. 66. 12. The Lord regards every sigh and groan of his Prisoners, appointed to death, under worldly Powers; Psal. 12. 5. and 69. 33. and 79. 11. 146. 7. He will make his despised, oppressed ones, a praise in the Earth, in the sight of all that have scorned and trampled on them; Psal. 102. 13. 16. 19. 20. The true Saint pants after final deliverance from all Enemies within him ( Rom. 7. 24.) as well as without. All will be 〈◊〉 , at last, in Answer to their Prayer; Psal. 74. 10. and ver. 〈◊〉 . Saints groan after deliverance from their mortal righteous earthly life of Enmity, as well as from that of the Body; 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2. All, in nature, within and without them, is in a universal confederacy against them. What matter? If God be for them, who can be against them? Or, who can hurt them? Rom. 8. 31. Here's enough. The whole first-creation world, lies in wickedness, literal and mystical, filth of flesh or spirit (1 Joh. 5. 19.) and so, in a universal daring affront, and contradiction to all words and things of God, in the next; Jer. 44. 16, 17. But, God will hear (or deliver) Saints from the horns of the Unicorns (Psal. 22. 21.) That is, from all oppressive Powers of this World, visible and invisible, without and within. So have we, in some small measure, the meaning of these words.

Vers. II. Wherefore I praised the Dead which are already Dead, more than the living which are yet alive.

The weight of these words lies not in the Litteral Sense. For, no miseries or oppressions, incident to bodily Life, in this world, are comparable to the sad condition of the wicked, after death, under final wrath. The spiritual truth, here, relates to Saints. Saints departed, are in a far better condition, than those left behind them, in the Body, that have not fully passed through the twofold, inward and outward oppression, or suffering-work, that's to be undergon by them. Saints departed out of the Body or (while in the Body) out of the Law-life of their own spirit, are those, A voice from Heaven, command's John to write, as a most certain Truth, blessed. Blessed are the dead, in the Lord; Rev. 14. 13. All, so dead with Christ, will live with him, forever, in his Immortal, Gospel-life. All others, will perish in their own corruption (or corruptible Law-life and state) which they have rebelliously chosen, and trusted in, for blessedness, against the Lord's known commands and warnings, to the contrary. By keeping up, what Paul cast away as dung, for Christ's spiritual Life, will they perish as their own dung, forever; Job 20. 7. A perfect death of the natural Spirit and Principle of Life and Action, in man; an everlasting cessation and rest from all the desire, thought, and unprofitable labor thereof; and so, the honorable burial of it, in the mystical grave of Christ, is true conformity to his death. Christ came not to do his own Will, nor speak his own words, the Dictat's of his own understanding, though spotlessly perfect in our fleshly nature; but Crucified, and ceased from all. We must follow his suffering steps, through the same fire of his eternal Spirit, (Heb. 9. 14.) kindled, by him, on us, as on himself; Luk. 12. 49. Spiritual Circumcision, and fire-Baptism, put nature (corrupt or righteous) to death; cut off, and burn up all flesh, even Holy Flesh; Col. 2. 11, 12. Man, in the restored righteous Life of his own nature has nothing but a Body of Sin and Death, about him, which Paul prayed for deliverance from; Ro. 7. 24. Phil. 3. 6-8. Since the fall, filth of Spirit, Enmity to God, is inseparable from the Life of nature, corrupt or righteous. Nature (in whatever condition) and Enmity to God, Live or Die, breath or expire, together. Paul, when eminent in Holy Flesh, breathed out Enmity, Threatenings and Slaughter against God's Holy Gospel-Spirit, Saints, and Truths; Act. 9. 1. From the time, this Spirit of Enmity was Death-struck, by Christ, in his way to Damascus, he lived and brought forth Fruits unto God, in a newness of Life. In the restored Life of nature, the great Sin of Enmity revives; gather's Strength, Credit, and Authority. By the death of it, under the Cross, that, and all other Sins are plucked up by the Roots. He that is so Slain, and dead, is freed from all Sin, forever; Ro. 6. 7. When Planted together in the likeness of Christ's Death and Resurrection, the Old Man is Crucisied; the Body of Sin, destroyed; v. 5, 6. Man's natural Body, or whole natural Man, at best, as a Righteous Living Soul (1 Cor. 15. 44, 45.) is, by the twofold, death and Life-work of Christ's quickening Spirit, Transformable into the likeness of his Glorious Body, or the glorified Body, Soul, and Spirit of our nature, in his person; Phil. 3. 21. On such death of nature, Man ceases from sin, forever; 1 Pet. 4. 1. If Obedient to the Slaughter-work of Christ's Gospel-Spirit, on our Lawless, or Law-Spirit, in corrupt or righteous nature; shall we, by the second operation of it, be quick'ned up into the Life of his Gospel-Spirit. All, dead with Christ, shall, after their season of dwelling in Dust, arise with his dead Body, into a newness of Life, and Sing, forever; Isai. 26. 19. Paul' s argument in this case, looks both way's. If the Dead rise not, Christ is not Risen (1 Cor. 15. 12-19.) implying, if Christ be Risen, the Dead with him shall be Rais'd, into that 〈◊〉 of Life, our Crucisied nature, in him, Lives in, for evermore; Rev. 1. 18. Our nature in Christ, is raised also into (and possessed of) the very Divine Life. So, the fullness of the very Godhead dwells in him, bodily; in personal Union with his Manhood. This is his peculiar Prerogative, transcendently above the highest Saint, forever. But, all Saints, in new-Creature Life, are in Personal Union with that, which, in him, is in Personal Union with the Divine nature, and thereby fitted to see and Enjoy the Divine Glory, as coheirs with him, of God; Ro. 8. 17. They are thus one with him, Personally, as he and the Father are one; Jo. 17. 21, 22. We must Obediently suffer and die with the Man Christ (as to the best and most righteous first-Covenant Law-Life, in our restored nature) or not live with him, forever, in his Spiritual, Gospel-Creature-Life; 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. Such dead ones rest from all their sinful and unprofitable Labors, in their own Spirit of Enmity; and their righteous works or fruits, done and brought forth by them, in the Spirit of Grace, follow, stand by them, before the Judgment Seat of Christ; and justify them, as owned and approved, in their whole persons, and all such works. The changableness before the fall, and enmity also, since, found in Man's whole nature, render it, not properly, that is, unchangeably good, and truly Holy, in God's sight, as under his Approbation-Seal. Yea, since the fall, is Man, at best, in his single naturals, hateful to, and a hater of God; and therefore, cannot be profitable to himself, by anything done therein, as to true hapiness. Wilful fixure in nature, at best, is unchangeable Union with the Devil, in Enmity to God. So, that which he willingly mistak's for Salvation, is Everlasting Damnation, to him. Instead of the Saints Everlasting Rest, he will find the Sinner's Everlasting Torment and Vexation of Spirit, as the Fruit of all his Vain Labors. Solomon therefore Preferr's the dead, in and with Christ (as to the Life of their own nature, corrupt or righteous, in the Profane Publican, or Righteous 〈◊〉 ) to any yet alive in their own nature.

Vers. III. Yea, better is he then both they, which hath not yet been; who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the Sun.

Better are the completely dead in the Lord, then either those Saints that yet live in the Mortal Body (and have something of the remaining Uncrucified first-Covenant Life of their own Spirit, about them; so, are yet under the Oppressive Practicings of Devils and Men, without; and Fleshly Lusts, within them, Warring against the Spirit, Gal. 5. 17.) Or, those Saints, who are yet Unborn. The departed Spiritual Saint is better then the Saint, yet in the Mortal Body, amidst a throng of Enemies, without and within, surrounded with all sorts of worldly Allurements, Disturbances, wicked Men, and Devils. Paul therefore earnestly groaned after deliverance from his earthly Tabernacle, by the dissolution of it, that he might be at home, with the Lord, in his Heavenly House; So only, comes Mortality to be completely swallowed up of a life, that's above all death or change; 2 Cor. 5. 1-6. And, if Saints departed, enter into a full peace, and rest (Isai. 57. 1, 2.) and so, a better condition, then that of Saints, in the Body; more yet are they beyond such as shall be Saints, that are yet Unborn, who have all the said Miseries and Oppressions, without and within, wholly behind, to pass thorough. But, the letter of this Scripture seem's to look another way; that the yet Unborn may seem better then the actually engaged in this Mortal World of Miseries and Troubles; or then the deceased, who has passed through them (and that, all sorts of deceased, good and bad Men) as not having yet seen the Oppressions and evil work, that's done under the Sun. This, as relating to the Miseries of all, in this Mortal World and Life of Vanity, only. He that's dead, is freed from all these things, be he unchangeably good, or evil, forever after. The wicked cease from troubling them, and the weary are at rest. Prisoners no more hear the voice (or feel the hand) of the Oppressor; Job. 3. 17, 18. The sense, in which the yet Unborn is better then both they that are in, or have passed thorough (and out of) the Miseries of this World (singly considered, without what follow's, to wit, the Grievances and Oppressions, incident to the natural Man of Saints or Sinners) may seem to import a never being Born, at all; a mere nullity. Such a nullity, by an annihilation-death, will all that finally perish, ever desire and seek, but never find, as better than to be tormented forever, in Hell; or afflicted with the miseries and Oppressions of a mortal Life, on earth. In this twofold sense, had it been good for Judas, never to have been born, or been, at all; Mat. 26. 24. And this, Job seem's to mean; Job 3. 11, 12. 16. and 10. 18, 19.

Vers. IV. Again, I considered all travel, and every right work; that for this a Man is envied of his Neighbor: This is also vanity, and vexation of spirit.

Fallen Man is so brutishly wicked, as to envy and hate every right work, and worker, in the but restored Spirit and Life of his own nature, as condemning him, for the contrary. Some of them have affirmed, God gave not Man Free-will, but with intent, that he may lawfully walk in the uncontrolled liberty thereof. And so, is it lawful to hate the righteous Life and Action of their own nature, in Legal Christianity, or Heathen Morality. Hence, Speak they evil of all that run not with them into the same excess of riot; 1 Pet. 4. 4. While such Brutes please themselves with (and promise others) such Liberty, they are the servants of (and will utterly perish in their own) corruption; 2 Pet. 2. 12. 19. Thus do they render the righteous works of restored nature, which yet are but vanity, vexation of spirit to the workers. And hence, does Satan puff up such persecuted conscientious workers, with a confident opinion, that they are Christ's true persecuted Gospel-Saints. Thus, does he play his game, so as to be a Winner, every way, in both these bussling worldly Combatants, corrupt and righteous; keeping them all in his differing snares, and at his beck, to let them both loose, as he sees occasion, against the spiritual Saint. One sort of them hates all that run not with them, into literal uncleanness, with greediness; the other, all that run not with them, into mystical uncleanness. The righteous first-covenant-professor, is the odious Butt, at which a profane party shoot their revengeful Arrows. And, they are at the same work, towards the spiritual Saint, Because his way's are of another fashion from (and better then) theirs. For this very cause, Cain killed Abel; 1 Jo. 3. 12. Cain, mystically wicked (the fixed Enemy of God, in the established righteousness of man) a first-covenant Brother, murdered his natural Brother, as found a Second. The right work 〈◊〉 here meant, is, what's done in the Spirit of Grace (not of Nature) that can never deceive, be deceived, sin, err, or miscarry. All, done and said in this spirit, only, is pleasing to God; hateful to righteous men, in restored Nature, only. All, in the right, or constant, steady spirit of everlasting Truth and Righteousness (and Works thereof) David prayed for (Psal. 51. 10.) All, fixed in the but starting, righteous natural spirit or principle of Life and Action, hate with a perfect hatred; as they, them; Psal. 139. 21, 22. Righteous first-covenant Brethren are the most fierce persecutors of the second; cannot afford them a good word: sit and speak evil against them; Psal. 50. 20, 21. Such Crucified Christ. Profane persons hate all such right works, as are performable in renewed naturals. But, all of both sorts, Profane and Professors, are against all spiritual Saints, Works, Things, and Truths. Many lesser Ruffles may the fixed first-covenant righteons have, with the Profane party: but, they mortally envy and hate the spiritual Saint, with all his right works and words, as seventy times seven fold more abominable to them, than the profane party, with all their brutish vilenesses. Away with them, 'tis not fit they should live, say they; Masqu'd Papists, worse than bare-faced; or Mohammedans. Spiritual Saints, with their truly right works, are a thousand-fold more envied by sour, leavened Legalists, then common sinners of the Gentiles, and their generally discernible wrong works. This has been found, in all times and places, towards all true prophets, Christ himself, and Saints, before, and under Law and Gospel. Christ came to his own, in the first-covenant; and they blasphemed and Crucified him, for the Gospel-doctrine of the second. Never more, will the whole World be in an uproar, against Christ and his Saints, then when he is just at the Door, ready to come forth with them, to reign over all such enemies. What a universal surprise and amazement will this be, to them all, one and 'tother, Heathen and first-covenant people? As wondering at both their madnesses against Christ, in his first and second coming, the Psalmist ask's ( Psal. 2. 1.) Why do the Heathen rage, and the People imagine a vain thing? What vain thing do they imagine, and tumultuously assemble (in a Union of their otherwise 〈◊〉 minds) to do? to cast down Christ, God's supremely anointed one; and Saints, Christ's anointed ones; verse. 2, 3. A likely Project, to thrive in! Do either or any of them, know what they do? The Mystical Kings, do, in some measure; the greater their madness: the litterai, less; the less their folly, though they also Rage, and Tumultuously Assemble, in this case. Both are guilty enough, to find a conclusion bad enough, to them all. Let the two earthen Pot-Sherds, corrupt and righteous, tugg and fight it out with one another. That's a lower trade of Sinning, in either. But, if they piece up, and jointly fight against their maker, they are at the highest point of Folly and Madness. And then, highest woe to both and all. Isai. 45. 9. They contend against Almighty, and Irresistibly mighty, Divine and new-Creation Power. Is all this Hubbub, and Tumultuous Assembling of Mankind, with all their combined Counsels and Forces, against the infinite Divine Father, and his Divine and Creature-Son, like to Prosper? They'd break their Bands, and cast away their cords srom them. This is the Rebellious Design and Plot. They'l not be subject to; limited, or bound up by their Laws, or words of command. This is their desperate case, and Resolution.

This Universal Conspiracy (to be remarkably the case, in the last, beyond all former times) is, on the very account, here declared, their incorrigible envy at (or Enmity to) God's Divine and new- creature-Spirit of Grace, with all the right words, works or fruits thereof, in true Saints, which offer to lay Bands on all their unruly Wills. This, they'll not endure, but labor (might and main) to shake them off, and cast them away from them. This is that, which corrupt and righteous human (with Evil Angelical) nature, make head against God, Christ, and Saints, about. The two-edged Spiritual Sword, in all these hands, speaks death to nature, in them all. Therefore, they all fight against it. But this will, in Love or Wrath, perform the whole Will and Counsel of God (as to the death of nature) on every Angel and Man, good and bad; Isai. 1. 19, 20. and 55. 11. 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. Christ, in that Spirit, wherein any can (or ever could) be saved, is the stumbling-Stone, and rock of Offence (the only Rock of Defense to Saints) to the numerous Troops of innumerable evil Angels and Men, that Build on the Sandy, fallible Principles of nature, for Salvation. They utterly defy all the words of the Builders on the Rock, that speak nothing but War and Death to them, attempting to set Fire on their House. Guess, who, of the Earthy party, are like to take this, most heavily, at Christ's and his Saints hands, as offering to take down a beautiful Church-building, with pretence to set up a better, unchangeably glorious. That Mystical Temple of his Body, or whole natural State, that, Christ said was to be pulled down (So as not to have one stone of it left upon another) and in which, he Refus'd, at the Jews desire, to be their King, saying, he'd build it up into another, more glorious Temple-State, in which he would be a King; this was the very ground of the Professing Jews proceeding against him, to the death. He has built up our nature, in himself, by way of Resurrection, into a new-Creation Temple of the Living God, for evermore. His Doctrine of the Cross upon them, and Practice of it upon our nature in himself, did the Professing Jews and their Teachers, Priests, Scribs, Pharisees, &c. call Blasphemy or evil-speaking against the first-Creation. Temple, and Life of the Law, as no State of true Salvation. This, they reckoned an Evil, Hurtful, or false speaking, that is, Blasphemy. And in saying so, they Blasphem'd or spoke (and did) evil and hurtful things, Maliciously, of, and against him, and all his Gospel-Truths. First-Covenant Brethren hate the very Gospel-Principle, and all the Right Works and Words of Christ and Saints, therein. For which of my good works do ye stone me? Said Christ. Not for any good work, but for Blasphemy; replied the Jews. Jo. 10. 32, 33. What must Steven, or any Servant expect, if the Lord were thus handled? See (Act. 7. 51-60.) with the ground; Act. 6. 9-14. A first-Covenant People, among the Gentiles, under Gospel, do the same things ( to their Spiritual Brethren, as the Jews, under the dispensation of the Law) in the self-same Law-Principle and Life, the very leaven of the Pharisees. But, these disturbers of God's true Israel, in both, will be cut off; Gal. 5. 12. They labor to keep off all true Gospel-Doctrine from all hearing, as the most abominable Heresy; and Preachers of it, not fit to live; Act. 22. 22. and 24. 14. Law-circumcision for cutting off Filth of Flesh, they prefer to the true Spiritual Gospel-circumcision, that cutts of Holy Flesh, restored, righteous nature, from which, filth of Spirit, or Enmity to God's Gospel-Spirit, is inseparable. For this, Murdering-minded Cain's, Envy, Mortally Hate and kill Spiritual Abel's, from first to last. This is their evil work, in Enmity to God, and the Power of Godliness, under the form thereof, and Righteousness of Man. Their envy, in this case, is called Murder, though they be not furnished always for the ouvert act, on Saints Bodies. They Breath out Threatenings and Slaughters, against Christ's Spiritual Disciples; and so, against himself, his new name and Life. Why Persecutest thou me? said he, to Paul. Here's the Butt, all their Revengful Arrows, even bitter Words, are Shot 〈◊〉 . They are six'd, with their Father, the Devil, in the first-Creation; and so, in unchangeable Enmity to God, and the second; Jo. 8. 44. They Mortally hate that, which is Eternal Life. How then should they have it, abiding in them? 1 Jo. 3. 15. Joseph' s Brethren, Paul and other unawak'ned Spiritual Saints, have, amongst others, said, lets kill these Dreamers (so call they, the most awak'ned true Prophets and Saints) and see, what all their Dreams, or aery Notions, will come to; Gen. 37. 19, 20. But, the guilt of the convinced 〈◊〉 (in Christ's Vineyard, that saw him, and his Saints, the true Heirs, and said lets kill them, that the Inheritance may be ours) is of another hiew. All such knowing, willful Sinners against the Holy Ghost, or Gospel-Spirit of true Saintship, are unpardonable. True Saints are a wonder, even in Israel, a first-Covenant People of God; hatred, in that House of God; Hos. 9. 7, 8. They are a Spectacle of Scorn and Derision, in their Marr'd naturals, to the World, all Angels and Men, in the Flourish and Glory of a fixed worldly Spirit; 1 Cor. 4. 8. 13. Such despisers of true Saints, Wonder, and Perish. They will in no wise, believe, though a Man declare it to them; Act. 13. 41. They persist in a willful Enmity, against Spiritual Conviction-Light. These Hypocritical Sinners in Zion-light (Justling out, and killing those, they know to be the true Spiritual Heirs ) when sorely Oppress'd by Heathen-Rulers, beyond hope of Visible help, will pitch, for relief, on Christ's appearing for them. And, his appearing will be a thousand-fold more Amazing and Tormenting to them, then all Oppressions they groan under, from their Brutish Egyptian Task-Masters. His day will be darkness, and not light, to them; the most sad, gloomy day, that ever befell them; Amos 5. 18-20. They'l be found in unchangeable Enmity to the very Spirit and Light of that day.

The true Saint, then, we see, is called to, and required, patiently to pass thorough all sorts of Oppression, from Devils, and from the corrupt and enlight'ned Spirit of nature, in other Men, and in himself. All desires, thoughts, and motions of his own nature, are constant fighters against his Spiritual Mind; 1 Pet. 2. 11. and Ro. 7. No treating about Peace. They are always for War; Ps. 120. 7. Gal. 5. 17. As true Soldiers of Christ, therefore, are we to fight down, and Crucify our Flesh, with the Affections and Lusts, that War against our Souls. On the death of all Enemies within, will Saints be completed in a ResurrectionLife; and therein, become more then Conquerors of all Enviers of their right works, and words. But, till this, all along their Warfare in the Mortal Body, their Envious first-Covenant Brethren and Neighbors, labor to make their Travel, under the pangs of Mystical death, to appear a sore vexation of Spirit. But the downfall, weeping, and tears of the natural or Old Man, is the ready and only Road to the everlasting Harvest-Joy of the new; Ps. 126. 5, 6. Saints, aware of this, ought with Paul, to Glory and Rejoice in nothing, save the Cross (or Spirit) of Christ; Gal. 6. 14.

Vers. V. The Fool foldeth his Hands together, and Eateth his own Flesh.

The Fool here, is a Man, that, through willful Folly, makes no right use of his first-Creation Talent of light or life, restored by the Redeemer. A Character of this Fool, have we; Prov. 6. 9-11. How long wilt thou sleep, O Sluggard? Yet a little Sleep, a little Slumber, a little folding of the hands to Sleep. So shall Poverty and want come upon thee, as an Armed Man; irresistibly. And, Prov. 24. 30-34; The Field of the Slothful is all grown over with Thorns and Nettles: The Stone Wall thereof, broken down; &c. A remiss, negligent, slothful person, failing in his outward call, and civil capacity, brings these inconveniences upon himself, which render him miserable in himself, and despicable to others. The deep mystical truth of this, we find in the Parable of the Talents; to wit, Christ's several distributions to Men, in restored first-Creation-Life. Mat. 25. 14-30. He requires a diligent improvement of all. This was answered, by them that received the five, and the two Talents. They doubled them. So, as good and faithful Servants, are bid enter into the Joy of their Lord. But, he that received the one Talent, hid it in the Earth. This is the Fool, Solomon means. His Talent was a Measure of restored first-Covenant Light and Life. This Light tells him what he should do: And this Life furnishes him with Power, to do it. He is not, therein, to live to himself; but, to him that died (or put that State to death, in himself, to purchase and recover that life, again) for him; 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. This is done, by our giving it up again, in Sacrifice to God, as he did; the only way, to come at that Life, above all death, which he raised our nature into, in himself. This way, did the five, and two-Talented Servants, improve their Talents. And, he that had but one, knew he ought so to have done; by putting his Money to the Exchangers. Christ Condemn's this wicked and slothful Servant, out of his own Mouth; that, knowing he Reap'd where he Sow'd not; and that to receive his own again, would not serve his turn; ought, by Exchang to bring it to him, with advantage, in Usury, as the other two did. He knew, he had received it, on the same terms, with the other two; to improve it, by a faithful and fruitful exercise of it, in its own activity and way, for a season; living therein, to him that died to Purchase it for him; and then, to cease from that way of improving it (as called and warned, to do) in order, to receive, in way of Exchange, a Gospel-Principle of Everlasting Righteousness, and Fruitfulness to God. This Foolish, Slothful Servant neglected both duties; the improving his restored Law-Principle, in its own activity and way; as also, the obedient Exchang of it, by death, for a Gospel-one: Or, if he performed the former; yet, neglecting the latter, he fall's under the same Condemnation, as if he had failed in both. If he indulg himself, and follow his own evil Concupiscence, into the enormous Practices of the corrupt Spirit of nature; or, in preferring the most fruitful, righteous exercise of his enlight'ned spirit, to the Gospel-spirit of Grace; he is gone, as unpardonably Criminal. By either of these Rebellious ways, he comes to the same dreadful conclusion, as justly and unanswerably charged with hiding his Talent in the Earth. Not using it at all, to Suppress and Resist the vile affections of his corrupt Spirit of nature; or, evilly using it, in Preference and Opposition to the spirit of Grace, and Everlasting Righteous Life of God, brings him to the same point. From both, or either of these Follies, comes his whole person to be a Mystical Field or Vineyard, all over-grown with Thorns and Nettles, and to have the stone-wall (or Fence) thereof, broken down. God puts it to such a fleshly Israel themselves, to judge, what they can desire he should do for them, that he has not done; Isai. 5. 1-7. God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up to Death, for us all. That Son spared not his own natural Life, at best, but laid it down, of himself, for us. What unpardonable folly then, must it be, for any to keep up the shat-ter'd, Sinning Life of their own Spirit, in preference to the everlasting righteous Life of God's? But, so far are they, after all, done and said, from yielding to the Exchang-Traffick of old for new-Creation Principles, that they signally hate and Oppress those that do. Christ gathers out the Stones, Thorns and Weeds, found in Man's Barren, Wilderness-State of Polluted, fallen nature; cleanses him from filth of Flesh, the Pollutions of his worldly State; and then, requires and warns him, not to return to his Old Sins therein, with the Dog to the Vomit; Nor commit new and more dangerous ones, under all the righteousness thereof, in despite to his Spirit of Grace, the only infallible Principle of every truly right work, which would secure men from an unpardonable return to their old, or being guilty of the said new Sins. On returning to their old, or committing the said new Sins, the stone-Wall is broken down, and they become a ruinated heap, a Barren, Desolate, Howling Wilderness, a Habitation of Dragons, Devils, and Wild Beasts, or Bestial Lusts; worse then before cleansed and restored; as now, unchangeably so; 2 Pet. 2. 20-22. By observing what, other Sluggards and Apostat's have thus come to, ought they, with Solomon, to receive Instruction, and avoid the like evils of Sin and Punishment. Christ's restoring them into the righteous, cleansed nature of Man, does clear them, for a season, and in degree, from Thorns, Nettles and Brambles: But, they are yet but Fallow Field, bring forth no Fruits to God, till the Plow of the Cross go so deep, as to fetch up that very Life and Tree of good and evil, by the Roots, to make way for quickening up in them, the incorruptible Seed of a new Life, in which only they can so do. When, by following Spiritual Conviction Light, for a season, they ran well (Gal. 5. 7.) putting their hand, with God's, to the Plow of the Cross (to carry on such mortifying-work on their renewed Earth, or Earthly State) by looking back, and turning from such Husbandry on themselves, become they Apostat's, unfit for the Kingdom of God. Such looking back, is a Repentance (or change of mind) unto death; which they can never truly Repent of, or change back again, from. This turns them into a Mystical Sodom. As Bewitch'd with their Holy Flesh, a Glory to be done away; they Recant, fly back from, and quit Christ's Holy Spirit; Gal. 3. 1-3. Such persuasion comes not of God, that call's them forward, toward Salvation; but of Satan, that call's them back again, to Destruction; Gal. 5. 8. So, a Spirit of unchangeable Enmity to God become's the principle of all their Desire, Thought, Life, Word, and Action; a Root of bitterness against God, Christ, all Spiritual Saints and Truths. This renders their Earth, or earthly, natural State, not only nigh unto Cursing, but forever Accursed, without Remedy or Chang. Obedient yielding to the declared Methods of God's Wisdom, 〈◊〉 Salvation, is the only way to prevent all this mischief. From a contrary demeanour, all the good, benefit, or comfort of their restored natural Talent, is taken from them, which the right Users and Improvers of, Receive again with Usury and great gain, in another, a new-Creation Life. In this sense, is the Talent taken from the Wicked, Slothful Servant, and given to the true Spiritual Sons of God. These go into Lise Eternal; and the other, into outer Darkness, where shall be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth. Thus, Eternal Poverty (Woe, and Misery) comes upon such Sluggards, as an Armed Man.

They lose all the fading good, they once had; and are, forever, excluded from the unchangeable goodness, once offered them. This, come Sluggards, to. They fold their Hands together, and Eat their own Flesh. In love to their own Flesh (or sleshly, natural State, and Food or things thereof, and Hatred to God, and his Spirit) they choose it, as turned into unchangeable Enmity to God. So become they sit Fuel for his Unquenchable Wrath. God, in just Judgment, gives them up to Satan's strong Delusion, and their own mad and willful choice. So, all concur, on one account or other, to destroy them, forever. All this, because they refused to submit to such a Temporary Destruction of their Flesh (or fleshly nature and life) under the kindlings of the same Mystical Fire of the eternal, Gospel-Spirit (Heb. 9. 14.) Christ kindled upon it, at best, in himself (Luk. 12. 49.) as their influencing and Meritorious Pattern. They pity, spare, and save their Fleshly Life of nature, in their own will, and way, after their own Heart, (as Satan, by Peter, would have persuaded Christ himself) and so, lose it, and Perish forever; Mat. 16. 21-26. By refusing to have it rightly and most advantageously Destroy'd, by the 〈◊〉 of the Cross, in Sacrifice to God; they do Destroy it, and so, themselves, forever. They lose their own Soul, forever, after all their conceited worldly gain, in Rebelliously keeping up their Fading life, with the Perishing Food, Moth-eaten Clothing or Filthy Raggs (their best Righteousnesses are no better, Isai. 64. 6.) and Canker'd, Rusty Riches, Mystical Gold and Silver, their Laodicean Treasures, heaped up in the Fruitful Exercise of their restored nature, in a Righteous first-Covenant Life. For this most Criminal, Sacrilegious robbing God of his Mystical Tithes and Offrings (Mal. 3. 8.) by keeping up the Life and Activity of nature, as the fit Sacrificing Priest (that, God requires, by Passive Obedience, to become the Sacrifice to him) do they Provoke him to kindle a sire within (as well as upon) them. He will set up his Spiritual-Conviction-Light, in their Spirits, Hearts, and Conscicnces, by which they shall everlastingly be kept in the forced sight of what they had been fairly warned about ( Mat. 6. 19, 20. Luk. 12. 33.) in their Mortal day and State, on Earth; that all they trusted in, was liable to Moth-eating, Cankers, Rust, and Thievs; and so, in conclusion, would (as to all the Goodness and Comfort thereof) Vanish, and Perish forever, as Dung. This very Corruption, Rust, and Canker, coming upon their Riches (all they are, or have) will be a Witness against them, for their Madness and Folly, and Eat their Flesh as Fire; Jam. 5. 1-3. They refuse the kindly kindlings of the Fire of the Spirit, or Cross of Christ upon them, to eat up their Flesh, as Fire eat's Wood, by Consuming it, in Sacrifice to God. He therefore kindles it in, as well as upon them, in Final Wrath, as a never dying Worm in their Conscience, a Fire that never shall be quenched; Mark 9. 44. 46. 48. Thus, shall Incorrigible Sinners, or Fools, find that, in and about them, in which they'll become Eaters of their own Flesh, or fleshly nature, without ever such a Consuming it, as Annihilation would amount unto; the only death, they'll ever seek, but never find.

Vers. VI. Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full, with travel and Vexation of spirit.

Here's the opposite state, to the mystical Fool. In effect, of the same significancy are these words of spiritual counsel from or by Solomon, as those of Christ himself; Mat. 5. 29, 30. 18. 8, 9. Mar. 9. 43. 47. The right 〈◊〉 , Hand, and Foot of Man, offend themselves, oppose their own true intorest, in being offended at the Cross, that comes to cut them off, and cast them away, as dung and loss, for a more excellent life and way. The best light, wisdom, or understanding, the most righteous practice, or walking, signified by the right Eye, Hand, and Foot of Man (in his own nature, restored, by Law-conversion, to the first-covenant or first-creation sort of righteous Life, Discerning, Action, and Walking) are to be cut off, and cast away, by the kindly death-work of the Cross; or the demolishing, crucifying, mortifying operation of Christ's heavenly, Gospel-spirit, upon Man's righteous natural spirit, in the said Law-life; as Paul found and yielded to; Phil. 3. 6--11. He counted (and parted with) all, as loss and dung, to win Christ, in his spiritual Resurrection-Life. So only, can any be truly acceptable to God; or, bring forth fruits unto him, in a newness of Life. All the former state, to be quitted, is called (in Scripture) but oldness of Letter. In the best Life thereof, Man brings forth fruit, but to himself, for the enriching and adorning his own deceitful nature; not unto God, in his Gospel-spirit of Grace and Truth, in which only he can be rightly worshipped, to his well-pleasing acceptation, and man's true advantage. All others worship they know not what; Joh. 4. 22--24. They know not what they do, or whither they go. The divine spirit of the Father, can be rightly worshipped in the Gospel-spirit of his Son, only. All that finally refuse to part with their natural, Law-spirit, and Life (by a holy death, under the spiritual Cross) never receive, or partake of Christ's Gospel-spirit of Life, in which, only, 'tis possible to worship God, aright, or do anything well in his sight. The natural man, by Legal conversion, made wise, strong and honorable in Christ, by his first-covenant communications of Life and Light to him, hates Christ's Gospel-spirit with all the crucifying work and Cross-doctrine of death upon nature, corrupt or righteous; as Paul, once, did. Man hates that, which he undispensably needs; must submit to, and pass thorough; or never be saved. His restored natural right Eye, Hand, Foot, must off, and be cast away. This, Man stumbles (and is highly offended) at. He is ready to reckon such doctrine the damnablest 〈◊〉 , heresy, madness, and blasphemy, that ever was broach'd or uttered by man. The enlightened professing Jews reckoned it so, when Christ himself preached it. Yea, his very Disciples stumbled sorely at it, and took it heavily; Mat. 16. 21, 22. Mar. 10. 23--26. John 16. 6. 20. Though he Preached his Resurrection, in the same breath with his Death ( Mat. 17. 23.) still they were exceeding sorry. This would not do, no not so much as allay their grief. They knew not clearly what he said, or meant, by Death, or by Resurrection (Mar. 9. 31, 32.) and were afraid to ask him. What he Preach'd the Death and loss of, in himself and them, even of a first-covenant Life, they somewhat perceived, to their sorrow: But, as to the more excellent Life and Glory, he declared was to follow, to him and them (by way of Resurrection, out of the Death of their fading) this, they understood not; and so, got little or no relief, yet, by the bare tidings of it: But, enough, when they came to experience it; Act. 2. The Cross is a stumbling block to the righteous first-covenant Law-Jew (or Gentile, under the outward dispensation of Law and Gospel, and before either were written by the Pen-men thereof, in the Bible) and foolishness to the wise Greek, with all his moral Righteousness, and obedience to the common Light or Law of rational Nature, in Mankind; 1 Cor. 1. 23.

Both these sorts of Wise and Righteous Men (bidding at, and fondly pleasing themselves with a hope of true Salvation, in their several way's) do stand, as with Drawn Swords, in the Armor of Man, on Satan's side, to bid defiance to this seemingly Bug-bear Doctrine of the Cross, upon all they are Possess'd of, and trust in. They decry it, as the highest Blasphemy and Folly, Imaginable. They warn others, by no means to regard a word of it, in Preaching, or Books. As for the Brutified, Immorral Heathens, the far greater party of Mankind, walking (and allowing themselves) in the Abominations of Litteral Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon, hating all Righteousness (God's and Man's too; Man's in Moral Heathenism, or legal Christianity) they little regard the Doctrine of the Cross, on one or 'tother. The hopeful Party of Mankind, in Moral, or Legal, first-Covenant Righteousness, that have something (considerable, as they reckon) to lose, by the Cross, these are ready to fight against it; as Paul found and told the Philippians, even Weeping, Phil. 3. 18. But, Jews or Gentiles, that answer Christ's Heavenly call (into the death of their fading earthly State, however good in its kind) in Obedience to the Cross, as the only pass into the Everlasting Life of the Crucifying High Priest of their Gospel-Profession (Heb. 3. 1.) they find the said Cross, the Power and Wisdom of God, to, and in them; 1. Cor. 1. 24. This they receive, in lieu of the form of Godliness and Wisdom of Man, as made Wise, Strong, and Honorable in Christ, by First-Covenant Artainments in him, and Union with him; 1 Cor. 4. 10. Others choose rather to keep their first-Covenant-State, Whole, Unmaim'd, Unbroken, or Uncrucified, and so, to go with their whole Body or 〈◊〉 , their own two Eyes, Hands, and Feet, to Hell; then 〈◊〉 , and Crucisied, in Conformity to the Lamb Slain (and his true Saints, that suffer with him) to Heaven. What if one Man had all the single, first-Creation Glories, Excellencies, Riches, Wisdom, and Power of all Men and Angels, and lose his own Soul, what's he the better? Where's his gain? Mat. 16. 26. All, Man gets, by pitying and sparing himself, in this case, is the loss of all his own fading goodness, and the positive Inflictions of final Wrath upon his whole being, forever. Sad gains! Beware then of Satan's most destructive, 〈◊〉 Counsel, for sparing righteous, first- Covenant-self, in Enmity to God, and his Everlasting Creature-Life and Righteousness, offered in the second. If Satan could make an Apostle his SpokesMan, for this, to Christ himself; guess at your danger of being Beguiled by the same old subtle Serpent, that so Beguiled Eve, at first; and a World, since. Take heed of following this Enemy's pleasing Counsel and Example, and so, of Rejecting Christ's. The highest Glories (tallest Cedars) in the first-Creation-State of Angel or Man, are fading flowers, perishing vanities. Look about you, and consider what ye lay hold on, or trust in, for happiness. The same death of nature (that qualified the slain Lamb, to open the Sealed Book of the Mind and Visions of God ) can qualify any followers of him, to read it, when opened. Till they have a spiritual understanding, read while they will, the main Scope and Intent of the Author, God himself, is not seen, or taken out. The Scripture's (that are a Transcript or Copy of that whole Mind and Counsel of God, about the Salvation of Angels and Men, that's Engraven in the Gospel-Spirit of Christ, the Original Book and Living Word of God) are a Book Sealed up, from Learned; and more, from Unlearned Man; all, destitute of Spiritual Wisdom. See, else; Isai. 29. 11, 12. 1 Cor. 2. 14. But, after all that can be said, still, still, the Cross is a Stumbling-block, and Foolishness, (and the truly Obedient followers of Christ, under it, are highly offensive) to Moral Heathen, or Legal Christian, in the flourish and Wisdom of their unbroken naturals. They are what, and where they were; say or warn the Spiritual Seer, what or while he will, or can. The more will be their sorrow, for such destructive Self-Love and Pity. They loath God, and he them; Zec. 11. 8. Who can help them? All, offended at the Cross of Christ, become an offense to Christ. Where are they then? who will be found uppermost? Have they an arm like God? Can they thunder with a voice like him? Job. 40. 9. If flesh, Holy Flesh, that cannot Inherit the Kingdom (1 Cor. 15. 50.) be kept up; and that Holy Spirit, in which Men can, be rejected) where will they be? On supposal, a Man should violently crow'd into the Kingdom, in Holy Flesh, and sit at Christ's Wedding Supper; still, what the better? Bind him, hand and Foot, say's Christ, and cast him into outer darkness, where shall be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth. Why? Because he has not the Spiritual Wedding Garment of Everlasting Righteousness, but of the filthy ragged Righteousness of his own nature, kept up and held fast, in direct Enmity to (and Rebellion against) God. The Man, so handled, will be Speechles; he will see, he has nothing to say for himself; Mat. 22. 11-13. The hating the fading Life of our own nature, that's, at best, altogether Vanity, is a requisite qualification of all true Disciples; Luk. 14. 26. Jo. 12. 25. Loving our own, loses us Christ's Eternal Life: Hating our own, is the only way to get it. A fixed self-Love, in corrupt or Righteous nature, is Eternal Damnation. 'It is unchangeable Enmity to God. And what think you, then? Better is one handful with quietness, then both hands full, with Travel and Vexation of Spirit. Better is it, to go to Heaven, with one Eye, Hand, or Foot; then to Hell, by keeping both, and all. Better, go Slain to Heaven, then alive to Hell. Better, die under Christ's Sacrificing hand or Cross, then be catched alive in Satan's Snare, a first-covenant Righteous Life; the very Snare, by and in which he takes Men, at his Will (2 Tim. 2. 26.) and so, fixes them with himself, in Enmity to God, and the second. Better, go Poor, Halt, Maim'd, Crucified, to Heaven, with Christ; then Rich, Wise, Full, Strong, and Honorable (in the fading natural Glory of a first-Covenant Life, turned into unchangeable enmity to God) with the Devil, to the lake of fire and brimstone, prepared, of old, for both; even all incorrigibly wicked Angels and Men. The Spiritual, 〈◊〉 Eye or understanding, set up in the 〈◊〉 natural Man of the Saint, is that single, Chast, Dove-like Eye (Mat. 6. 22.) that fills the 〈◊〉 Body, or Man, full of Light. This is the Eye, or 〈◊〉 , by which, Man understands all things (1 Cor. 2. 15.) not that Eye, that turns and looks both way's, to good and Evil; and that good, it regards, but fading. 'It is Man's inexcusable Folly, to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Labor of his own Spirit, to his Vexation and Everlasting Destruction; rather then quit that, for God's, and unspeakable, everlasting Joy and Blessedness. But, notwithstanding all the known advantages (of quitting all evil, with the Life of his own will, for all good, in the Life of God's) Man will on, in his own self-chosen way and course, come what will. Man's one handful (in quietness and final Peace with God, in his Gospel-Spirit of truth) is transcendently better then both his Hands full of such Riches, in his own Law-Spirit of nature, as are Vanity, and will prove Eternal Vexation of Spirit, to him. Mystical as well as Litteral Riches, the Laodicean Treasures of nature, in but a first-Covenant Righteous Life, are heaped up with Disquietment, kept with Anxiety and fear of loosing, from the known, self-Evidencing Perishableness thereof; So that Men are in continual Bondage, all the days of their Life therein, through fear of the Death and loss of all. Ps. 39. 6. Heb. 2. 15. Out of this Life, and Spirit of Bondage, are true Saints brought into the Glorious liberty of the Sons of God; made truly Rich, Wise, Strong and 〈◊〉 , in his new-Covenant Spirit of Everlasting Life and 〈◊〉 . Amidst all Jollity in the first-covenant House of Feasting, Men cannot but with (Job 3. 25.) have a Secret, bottom-fear of losing all, from the Perishing nature of all, therein. All there, is gotten, and kept, with sore Travel, and Vexation; and then, leaves a Man ( after all his Labor, Sorrow, and 〈◊〉 , Anxiety, and disquietment ) in Eternal Vexation of Spirit.

Vers. VII. Then I returned, and I saw Vanity under the Sun.

What Vanity? This.

Vers. VIII. There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither Child nor Brother: Yet is there no end of all his Labor, neither is his Eye satisfied with Riches; neither saith he, For whom do I Labor and Bereave my Soul of good? This is also Vanity; yea, it is a sore Travel.

Here's another Similitude or Comparison, to manifest the truth, already spoken to. In Letter, Solomon Character s the Vanity and Folly of the Covetous Man, that Toil's and Labors wholly for the Litteral Wealth of this World, when destitute of any Heir, Child, or Brother, to Inherit the same; any second, to Succeed, and enjoy it, after him. Yet, grow's he daily, more and more Solicitous, about heaping up, and increasing this lowest sort of worldly Riches, as he draw's nearer his Journey's end, Death. The less he needs, the more Covetous and Raking is he, to heap up such Treasure; the more Tenacious and Churlish, as to the free parting with anything, to those that want. This is familiar to common Observation. Thus, is Vanity and Folly Written out, in all his Foolish Labors, Solicitud's, Carking Thoughts, and Sharking Practices, to heap up Wealth in his last day's, which render's them his worst; his Litteral latter end, worse then his beginning, or any other part of his Vain, Shadowy Life in this World. All he Labors for, is but Vanity of Vanities, Shadows of Shadows, Figures of the inward, Mystical, Laodicean Riches, heaped up in the fruitful exercise of our own nature, in a first-covenant righteous Life. All's but Shadow, and perishing Vanity, one and toother. All that are for either, walk in a Spirit of Darkness, as to all Gospel things and truths, in a vain show, disquieting themselves in vain, in direct contradiction to Christ's own Counsel, and Irrefragable Arguments for it; Mat. 6. 25-34.

In every Circumstance of the Litteral Rich, Covetous Man, does Solomon Represent the Mystical, in all the inward Riches, Glory, Comeliness, and Fruitfulness of his restored, righteous natural Spirit, which, at best, is but a fading flower, and he therein, altogether Vanity; lighter, worse then Vanity itself; less then nothing. All the Rusty Mystical and Litteral worldly Mammon of Unrighteousness, heaped up in a Spirit of Enmity to God, will be found by the final Choosers and Possessors thereof (with their Moth-eaten Garments, or filthy, ragged first-Covenant Righteousness) to Testify against them, for their Folly, in trusting thereto, for acceptance with him, at last day, against all his faithful warnings, and their own experiences, to the contrary; Mat. 6. 19, 20. Jam. 5. 1-3. The only profitable use of the said twofold 〈◊〉 Mammon, according to the command of the giver, is the giving all up (with themselves) to his disposal, to do with them and that, as seem's good in his sight. For, then will God and Christ bestow upon them, that durable Life and true Riches, in which they will ever be owned by them, as Friends of both; and they, to them. Luk. 16. 9. This making themselves Friends of the Mammon of 〈◊〉 or the Unrighteous Riches, is the only way for the gaining of the true Riches, in which they'll find their own again with Usury, and be received into Everlasting Habitations, even Mansions of Glory, in the 〈◊〉 House.

But, of the two, the mystical rich man is in a state of deeper vanity, and 〈◊〉 travel, than the Litteral. And, he is at the same loss; has no Heir or Second, Child or Brother. He cannot, without self-deceiving, propound any good end to himself, in his distinct higher scene of Vanities, beyond the literal covetous rich man, as the issue and result of all his labor and travel, therein. For, his Riches are equally perishable as the others. And he has no Heir, to inherit them, more then the other. They are both and all under the same impossibility of ever finding any true content or satisfaction in their Riches. They Both fall under the same just Judgment of God (for doting upon, inordinately laboring for, and coveting after such fading Riches) by which, they are given up to, and caused more and more to increase in their insatiable desire after, and love to them. And so, are they gradually, more and more alienated from God, and his durable Life, 〈◊〉 , Food, and Clothing, till absolutely fixed in unchangeable Enmity to all. The whole design and course, then, of both these sorts of Rich Men, who Trade wholly in Vanities, is down-right madness.

Two things are, here, distinctly to be considered.

• First, What's meant by the unprofitable Labourer and Labor, reproved here?
• Secondly, What, by the said Labourer's being destitute of an heir?

To the first, Man's Immortal Spirit is the Labourer. His unprofitable foolish Labor, is the whole Desire, Thought, Word, and Action of it, in a restored first-creation or 〈◊〉 -covenant-Life. All this Life, Action, Desire, Thought, and Things thereof, the Tree with the Fruit, is but a lump of perishing Vanities, Shadows, mere Impertinencies and Nullities, as to anything of (or conducibleness towards) the true blessedness of man's Immortal being. For his heart, labor, tug, toil, and lay about him while he will; do what he can, he never arrives at the enjoyment and possession of any good, that exceed's the sphere of vanities. The fleshly Tree, with the Fruit; Root with the Branch, as to any goodness thereof, will be burnt up, and vanish away. And then, will all that trust therein, be left in the most destitute, helpless condition, imaginable, to eternity. No Creature can secure or deliver them from being torn in pieces, by their Creator's wrath; Ps. 50. 22. None of their fellow-rebels, human or Angelical Rocks or Mountains, Principalities or Powers of this World, can shelter or hide them, or enable them to stand before him, when the great day of his wrath is come; Rev. 6. 15-17. Yea, those Supreme Rocks and Mountainous first-Creation Powers of Darkness, the evil Angels, proud Man's proud helpers against God, shall not themselves be able to keep upon their feet, in their unchangeable hostility to him; but stoop, and lie down forever, with all their children of pride, from amongst men, under the same final wrath of God; Job. 9. 13. The whole mystical and literal Babylon, King and Subjects, will all go to wrack, into eternal Confusion, darkness, and death, under wrath. This will be the end, all such proud, covetous, boasting, traitorous, heady, high-minded despisers of Christ's dominion and Government, will come to; 2 Tim. 3. 2-4. Those that finally resist the Government of God, delegated to the Man Christ, will receive final damnation; Rom. 13. 1, 2. 2 Pet. 2. 10. Jude 8. What Man (that deserve's to be reckoned in his wits) can think any possible Labors in his own Life of enmity to God (and that spirit of Grace, in which alone any can be saved) can signify anything, towards his true Rest, or Blessedness? Can he ever be blessed in his deeds of the Law, that does all in a spirit of enmity to God and his Gospel-Life? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 does, or teaches others, in his own wisdom, finally persisting there, 〈◊〉 not the least aim towards the Saints Everlasting 〈◊〉 ; but, 〈◊〉 , wholly to a fixing them in an (unchangeable enmity to God, and) everlasting exclusion from it. Such Preachers do shut up the Kingdom of Heaven, exclude and detest the Righteousness of God, In a perfect contrariety to their Judge's own counsel; Mat. 6. 33. Hence, will that most righteous Judge (who, if 〈◊〉 , obeyed and 〈◊〉 to, would be their Advocate, to plead their 〈◊〉 with the Father; 1 Joh. 2. 1.) intercede against them, as his implacable Adversaries. They that hear not Moses and the Prophets, will not be persuaded though one rose from the dead; Luke 16. 31. Be willing and obedient to the spiritual Counsel of Moses and the Prophets; and, all's 〈◊〉 . The Jewish Teachers and Professors willfully missed and rejected all the spiritual counsel and sense of their own Prophets, whom they highly pretended to obey and follow. When Christ, the great Master Prophet came to work with them, they were found in direct Enmity and contradiction to them, and him. He finds, and unanswerably proves them to be Infidels or Unbelievers, as to all the Spiritual Gospel-meaning of Moses and the Prophets. Is ye believe not Moses's Writings, say's he, How shall ye believe my words? Joh. 5. 45-47. Both Christ and they appealed to the Law and to the Testimony. The whole Controversy lay (and still lies) in the right understanding it. So found he, and proved them 〈◊〉 enemies to Moses, and himself, the true Accomplisher of all the significant Types, Shadows, Ceremonies, Sacrifices, Commands, Ordinances, Statutes, Judgments, and Institutions, that Moses under his Conduct, taught and writ. Such self-confident Professors, when the Visor is taken off, are found Infidels, as to the Gospel-sense of all Scripture. Christ asked the Lawyer, enquiring after Eternal Life; What's written in the Law? How readest thou? These are two Questions. As to the first, about the Letter of the Law, this they were presently agreed on. But, How readest, or understandest thou this Law? In the first-covenant wisdom of Man, or new-covenant wisdom of God? Here arises all the Dispute and difference; about the reading. As to the first Query about the Letter, Christ granted he answered right. Do this, and thou shalt live, said he, that is, have Eternal Life; the thing queried. Both the Lawyer (Luke 10. 25-29.) and the young Man, in like case ( Mat. 19. 16-20.) willing and ready to justify themselves, reckoned all this, already done by them. But indeed, nothing. For, 'tis not in the first-Covenant Spirit of the Law, but new Covenant Spirit of the Gospel, any can answer the true meaning of the Law; as Austin said. Both Lawyer and Young Man loved themselves in the fading Law-Life of their own nature, not the Lord their God, at all, in the everlasting Gospel-Life of his spirit of Grace. This is Charact'red, in its own Oracles, by the word, or title, Love (1 Cor. 13.) as unchangeably loving, and beloved of God. So, is positively asserted to be the fulfiller of the whole Law (Rom. 13. 9, 10.) on all accounts, to all intents and purposes, to God's well-pleasing, and Man's Salvation, in the comprehensive literal and mystical meaning, sense, and requirings thereof, towards God or Man. The terms, on which 'tis possible (according to the methods and appointments of God's Wisdom) for any to receive and be possessed of this Gospel-spirit (or principle of Life, Desire, Thought, Word, and Action) being rejected, and the Law-spirit of Nature kept up alive, in which 'tis impossible to do any of the things required, for eternal Life; what must such self-confident, vain boasters come to? In their own Law-spirit, at best (from which enmity to God is inseparable, since the fall) instead of loving the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, and their Neighbor as themselves, they'll be found to hate both God and his new-creature Gospel-spirit, the supreme mystical Neighbor and Friend of God and Man, in personal union with God, and offering, personal Union with its self, unto Man. And, if unchangeably fixed in their Law-spirit, they'll, with the fallen Angels, Hate the Lord their God, and their said Neighbor, with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind. All their good words, and fair speeches, by which they deceive themselves, and simple, undiscerning hearers ( Rom. 16. 18.) all their plausible pretences of love to God, Christ, and his Gospel-Truths (by which they palliate their evil matters) will not serve their turn.

This great Mystical Neighbor, Christ's Gospel-Spirit, called LOVE, is the Fountain Creature-Vine-Tree, that brings forth right Fruit, true Wine, cheering to the Hearts of God and Man, as in Jotham’s Parable; Judge. 9. 13. Christ, in our fleshly nature and fading first-Covenant Law-Life thereof, would not leave this right and true, steady, constant Gospel-Spirit (Ps. 51. 10.) of Everlasting Rightcousness, in which alone, he is to Reign, to go to be Promoted over the Law-Trees (Inferior to that pure and spotlesly perfect Law-Life, in himself) to wit, Scribs, Pharisees, and Professing Jews, the Mystical Princes of this World, that Crucified their true King, for owning himself in his Reigning Gospel-Spirit of Life; and, because he would not be their false King, in his Law-Spirit and Life, as they desired, yet, would have forced him to be; Jo. 6. 15. This had spoiled all. For had he so done, he had quitted the true reigning spirit, for a 〈◊〉 ; the Gospel, for a Law-spirit, as they did, and Devils have done, in unchangeable Rebellion against the true King Jesus, and God most High. He would not thus quit the true Vine-Tree, his Gospel-Spirit, the Wine or Fruits whereof, are cheering (or delightful) to God and Man (Spiritual Men) to be promoted over Men, as Mystical first-Covenant Trees, in Holy Flesh, Trees of good and evil, in Enmity and Rebellion against both God, and Caesar, the Jew' s then worldly Sovereign, at Rome. Yet, even they, that would have made him such a King, Crucified him because he would not be such a King, as had been an Enemy to Caesar; and, told Pilate himself to his Face, if he let him go, he was not Caesar's Friend; Jo. 19. 12. They Mortally hated him for making (or owning) himself a King, in the Spirit of the World to come ( that Pilate saw and declared to their Faces, was no fault, at all, against Caesar ) and for not owning himself a King in that Law-Spirit of this World, in which he had been an Enemy to God, and Caesar too. Yet, in a Tumultuous Vociferation, and most Brutish, Irrational Out-cry, admitting of no distinction, the general Word King, served their turn to Proclaim him an Enemy to Caesar; and to get Caesar' s Roman 〈◊〉 , Pilate, to Crucify him, as King of the Jews. Whosoever makes himself a King (in any sense, tell not us of Niceties and Distinctions, a King is a King, and there's an end on it) speaks against Caesar. And, we have no King but Caesar, say these very Jews, that would have set up Christ, a King, against Caesar. 〈◊〉 ye, how matters go, between Heathen Magistrate's and first-Covenant Brethren, against Christ and the second? A plain case. What unutterable Confusion, Blindness, and Madness, on all hands? Pilate's Conscience, and his Wive's Dream, are against 〈◊〉 with Christ. Yet the Jews Out-cry, Crucify him, Crucify him, carries it, without any reason given; and Crucified he was. And, the Spiritual Servant must not look to fare better then his Lord. What evil hath he done? Said Pilate. Not a word, to that question. But, they cried out the more, saying, let him be Crucified; Mat. 27. 22, 23. Stark Madness! But,

To the second Query. What's meant by the said Frivolous, Vain, Carking, Sharking, Covetous, Unreasonable, Unprofitable Labourer's being destitute of an Heir? This. Man's whole Immortal being, in a Resurrection of Damnation (Jo. 5. 29.) will have nothing of good, to Inherit. This second Child, that shall stand up, forever, in his stead (v. 15.) in an Immortality of being (which, in the true Saint, will have everlasting Life, Joy and Blessedness; even God himself, for his Inheritance) will, forever, be laid down in Sorrow, under the Positive Inflictions of Wrath, in unutterable Torment and Vexation of Spirit, Inheriting Everlasting Darkness and Death. So, will this Covetous worldling, doting wholly upon Vain, False, Deceitful, Worldly Riches, Litteral or Mystical (and, as wholly Neglecting, Hating, and Rejecting the true) find no Heir to Inherit, no Child, Brother, or Second, that will have any of that fading good, to Relieve or Comfort him, forever. Whoever has no second, no younger, Spiritual Brother, in his person, no true Heir of Salvation (that will help and fetch up his natural, elder, first-Covenant, Law-Brother, into his newness of Life, Gospel-Life) will find himself undone, to all Intents and Purposes, forever. The Old Man, or Elder-Brother, left alone (by his own choice, and God's Righteous Judgment) to shift for himself, will find himself (in a Resurrection of Damnation, and Immortality of his whole being, Body, Soul, and Spirit ) an Heir only of God's final Wrath; a Dismal Inheritance! But, in the true Saint ( Holy as God is Holy, Pure as Christ is Pure (that is, unchangeably) as Partaker of Christ's, of God's Everlasting Righteousness and true Holiness ) is found a younger, Spiritual Brother, that will fetch up the Elder into the same Everlasting Righteous Life, with itself. And so, will Crown all the Righteous Labors of the natural, Elder Brother (or Old Man, in his Law-Life, and nature) with a Glory never to be done away, in an Immortal Gospel-Life, with Christ in God; a Life, suited to his Immortal being. He that spares and saves his Old Law-Life of Enmity to God, from the Death of the Cross, will lose it, in Eternal Death. He that obediently delivers it up to a Temporal Death, will find it again, with Usury, in Eternal Life. These are of the true and faithful Sayings of Christ's Spiritual Law of Liberty; Mat. 16. 25. This is the one thing necessary, for the rendering Man truly acceptable to God, or profitable to himself (a true and right Heir of the Kingdom ) even the true Second, Child, or Brother, Son and Heir. The Old Man; or Man, in his old, natural Spirit, Life, and State (in whatever Variety of Condition, found) is under an absolute impossibility of ever finding true Rest, Food, or Satisfaction, after which he has been (all along his day in this World) Coveting and Labouring. In a willful blindness, Inadvertency, and Stupidity, he will not allow his own Heart or Understanding, any fair Play, by reflecting upon himself, and considering his own Folly. He does not so much as say in his Heart; for whom do I Labor, and to what end do I bereave my Soul of good? And all this, under a self-Condemning Light, which tell's me, all, I am Treasuring up and Labouring about, is but a heap of Perishing Vanities. From inordinate love to, and evil Concupiscence after this, shall I turn from, hate (and so, bereave my Soul of ) that blessed new-Creation-Life, convincingly showed and offered me by God, that would render me everlastingly blessed? Unexpressible Madness! Shall I choose and Steal my own Eternal Death, Torment, Vexation, Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth, by Stealing from, and Robbing God of his Mystical Tith's and Offrings; withholding my nature, from Sacrifice and Death? Shall I, with Esau, greedily choose and dote upon my own first-Creation Morsel, and lose the new-Creation Birth-right; while the true Spiritual Jacob' s get, and go away with all? It highly concerns Man, thus to commune with his own Heart, and alter his vain Course, for so great Salvation as is offered him.

Vers. IX. Two are better then one; because they have a good reward for their Labor.

The Birth of new-Creature Life, in the true Saint, makes, with his natural Man, the two that are better then one; or, then the natural Man, single and alone, however Perfect, Wise, Strong, Honorable and Glorious. The natural Man of the Saint, is, by his Spiritual (under and with the Fountain-Spirit of Life in Christ) fetched up, by way of Death and Resurrection, into the everlasting Life of the Spiritual, in lieu of its fading natural. This, completed, the whole person is Spiritual. I live, yet not I; but Christ, in me; say's Paul; Gal. 2. 20. He had the two, better then one; He, and the spirit of Christ. By the death of nature, as to its own Law-Life, and quickening of it up, into Christ's Gospel-Life, the Spirit of Christ lives in the whole Saint, and he in it, as his Ruler, Lord, and King. But, Man alone, in his own nature, however Wise and Righteous, will find himself, at length, not only destitute of, but in unchangeable Enmity to that spirit of Christ, in which alone any can be saved. The natural Man, in his own Uncrucified Will, and selfchosen course therein, remain's single and alone, to his final ruin. The reason, why the said two are better then one, is, because they have a good Reward for their Labor. Man, fixed in his own Life and way, and so, in Enmity to God; what reward can he expect, but final Wrath, as the meet Recompence of his Error? On the Obedient death of nature (in which 'tis impossible to please God, in anything) is man raised into that Life of Grace, in which 'tis as impossible not to please him, in everything. The Reward of this, will be the full enjoyment and clear Vision of God, forever.

Vers. X. For if they fall, the one will lift up his Fellow; but Woe to him that is alone, when he falleth: For he hath not another to help him up.

The Gospel-Spirit of Christ, in the Saint, takes his whole natural Man (partly Crucified, and partly not) into its care and Protection. And so, the Fountain, Gospel-Spirit, in Christ himself, takes the whole Man of the Saint into its Protection, under the covering Shadow and Cherishing Influence of its twofold Cherubin-Wings, as also under the joint regard and care of his Infinite, and Almighty Divinity. The Saint is deeply concerned, in this case, when Christ has committed to him (set up in him, and entrusted him with his unspeakable Spiritual Gift, or Life) that unchangeable good thing, to recommit that and himself back again, to Christ, for the Nourishing, Strengthning, and Encouraging it, against all the Counterworkings of his Rebellious, and (in part) uncrucified natural Mind or Man, which will, to its last Gasp, without any Interruption, fight against God, and his Spiritual. Till all the Mystical Nervs and Bones thereof be cut asunder and broken, all the Life and Strength thereof, utterly Extinguish'd and Abolish'd, is it a perpetual Warrior against the Spirit of Christ, in himself and Saints. Paul found this fleshly Foe of his own House, this Carnal Mind of Enmity, about him, long after his Gospel-Conversion, and true Spiritual Saint-ship. Ro. 7. 15-23. On this, he Cries out, O Wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? v. 24. This Enemy, within the Saint, till fully run down into Death, exposes him to frequent Slipps, and sore Miscarriages, as in David, Solomon, and other Saints, has been evident. But, that that's Born of God, in them, and never Sin's, recovers their falling, Miscarrying natural Man, or Spirit (by a gradual, and at length, total deathwork thereof, upon it) into Harmony with itself, Christ, and God most high, in a newness of Life, for evermore. This War of Spirit against Flesh (Gal. 5. 17.) is not finished, but by the total death of the fleshly Mind. Flesh will not leave fighting, till dead; and therefore, ought not Spirit (or the Spiritual Man in the Saint) leave off Fighting, while anything of Life is left in it. The continually sinning natural Spirit, till fully Crucified, will, in the course of its own will, need daily forgiveness, as well as an offending Brother, even to Seventy-times seven; Mat. 18. 21, 22. Through the Propitiatory covering-Mercy-Seat, which, Spiritual Life brings the Saint under, God so looks on his Obedient Spiritual Man, as not to Impute to him, the daily Sins of his natural; Ro. 4. 7, 8. Thus, is the Spiritual Man, also, under Christ, as a covering Shadow to the natural, in the same person, and qualified to help up, or recover it out of all its failings, and Back-sliding-Steps. The Spiritual Man, under the Holy Anointing, is, to the Decay'd, Old, Gray-headed, Crucified natural, the fresh Oil, David Pray'd for (Psal. 71. 9. 18.) that gives a new Verdure and fresh Luster to the whole person of the Saint; a Glory that excels, and remains, forever. Thus, on all accounts, to wit, the Sins of the guilty natural Spirit (or, the Mystical Gray Hairs, decay's, Old Age and Death, brought upon it (by the demolishing, Crucifying-work of Christ and the Spiritual, as its only cure) the spiritual is ready at hand to help it up, out of all falls, in his life-time; and out of that grave or death, that extinguishes all power of sinning, or falling, in him. Christ and the spiritual man, fetch him up, into an everlasting harmony with them, in their newness of Life.

Here's the deplorable condition of all, fixed in the life of nature; and so, in unchangeable enmity to the spirit of grace, that's the only meet helper and lifter up of the natural spirit, out of all its falls. Submitting to the death of the natural Man, is the only way, by which the Saint receives that spiritual Life, that can help it at all dead lifts, out of its falls; and out of that death (that's the only Cure of all evil, in it) into its never-sinning Life. When Man chooses his fading creature-life, before God's; and God, in judgment on him, gives him his choice, or, chooses his delusions (Isa. 66. 4.) Who can help him up? If God be against him, who can be for him? Himself, he cannot help. He is gone, then, on all hands. All that finally refuse the terms of receiving the spirit of Grace, reject it. And all, that willfully reject it, God will reject, with all their false confidences in their own. He will swear in wrath, they shall never enter into his rest. What then can they say, or do? or, any other, for them? who will, or can help them up, when fallen under the final wrath of God?

Vers. XI. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but, how can one be warm alone?

The natural man of the Saint, receives light and warmth from the spiritual, as fast as baptized, transformed, and raised into a marriage-union with it, in its Life, and so made an equal yoke-fellow to it, under Christ's most easy and delightful yoke, or government, over both. As fast as the natural and spiritual man of the Saint, come to a right conjugal union, as of twain made one new man, the whole Saint and Christ do lie in the intimate embraces of conjugal love, with mutual delight and satisfaction in one another, forever. A most comfortable spiritual warmth, and cherishing influence from Christ, does the Saint find in this mystical marriage-union with him, figured by the literal; Eph. 5. 22-32. Christ and the Saint are one spirit; as man and wife, one flesh. 1 Cor. 6. 16, 17. Christ is head to all saints, and every saint: They, members of his mystical body, flesh and 〈◊〉 . So, is Christ's spiritual state of life and headship, and saints relation to him therein, expressed in the very words of the figurative literal headship and relation of the man to the woman. The marriage-union of the saint with Christ, and their mutual love therein, is indissoluble and everlasting, because founded in a spirit of everlasting righteousness, and love. Saints are everlastingly subject, and most delightfully obedient to him: and he, most delightfully kind to them, beyond all words, forever.

God, having, from Everlasting, set up his Creature-Son, the Spiritual or second Adam, Creator of the first (the natural state was first in Creatures, Angels and Men; afterward, that which is spiritual, in the Life of the Creator) he judged meet he should have a Wife, as is figured in what he saw meet, for the first Adam, who had a literal Woman, taken, and formed out of his own Body; Gen. 2. 20--24. This Wife, taken out of Christ, Spirit of his Spirit, is, from the borrowed Language of the Litteral, said to be Bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. The infinite divine King, that set up his Creature-Son from Everlasting, did, from the said everlasting, appoint a Marriage for him, and a Wedding-feast, to which all Men and Angels have been invited. But abundance of both, refuse to come. For, through their willful folly, are they found unchangeable haters of the Bridegroom, Bride, and Feast; all the diet, the never perishing meats, at the heavenly Table and Marriage Supper of the Lamb, in the Kingdom of his Father. All the proud, huffing, self-exalting party of Angels and Men, drive another Trade; are at their worldly Farming, and Merchandise, laboring for, feeding on, and wholly delighting themselves in a Life, a Belly and Meats, desires, and desirables, that will all perish and be destroyed, in God's final wrath upon such wicked willful abusers of all given them, in the first-creation, against God and all his things, in the second. But, all such Men and Angels, as submit to the death of the first, for the Life of God in the second, will be admitted in their true Wedding Garment ( the everclean Linnen, the everlasting Righteousness of true Saint-ship ) to the Marriage-Supper; Rev. 19. 7-9.

Those Men, that gladly answer the Lord's Heavenly Call of them to the said marriage Supper (out of the Life of their own nature, the Mystical Land of their Nativity, and Fathers House, the Image of the earthy, or first Adam, in order to receive the impressed Image, and Indeleble Character of the Heavenly, 1 Cor. 15. 49.) are the Mystical Poor, Maim'd, Halt, and Blind (Luk. 14. 21.) that have been content to have the right Eye (or best understanding and light of their own nature) plucked out, cut off, and cast away from them; and so, their right Hand, and Foot (or best Power of working and walking, in a suitableness to that Light, or dictat's and ruling Power of that understanding) cut off. Their Obediently Sacrific'd, Slain, Crucified earthly nature is raised into the Everlasting righteous Heavenly Life of Christ, God's and their Sacrificing High Priest, in which they are fitted to enter into the Kingdom of God, and drink Wine with Christ, forever, therein. All, whose Palate and Appetites are tuned, only, for Perishing Meats (first-Creation diet, Satan' s and 〈◊〉 ' s Morsel ) do slight the true Manna, as Light, contemptible Bread, Typed by the Rebellious Israelit's slighting and loathing the Litteral; Num. 21. 5. They are directly of Satan's temper and palate; savor only the first-creation things of Man (or Angel) not new-Creation things of Christ and God; Mat. 16. 23. Neither did the infinite Divine Father need a Creature-Son; nor that Son, a Wife, as properly any gain or advantage to either. To be sure, pure Divinity is infinitely blessed in itself, above all possibility of Addition or Diminution, by anything that ever Angels or Men can be, do, or say, to Eternity. And, as for the advantages of the Spiritual Marriage-Union with his Creature-Son, they do all redound to his Mystical Spouses, Elect Angels and Men. For the accomplishing of God's designs of love to his Creatures, his infinito Wisdom saw it meet, his Son should have a certain number of them (though comparatively with them that Perish, in the broad way, few, yet, an Innumerable Multitude Rev. 7. 9.) as an Aggregate Body, or one Mystical Woman and Spouse, in general, who lies warm in the 〈◊〉 of the Heavenly Creature-Son: as he, in the bosom of the infinite Divine Father. But, besides this General, has Christ a Select number out of the Elect, which make up the peculiar Spouse and Bride, the Lamb's Wife; Rev. 21. 9. But, natural Man and Angel, choosing to abide single and alone, in their own nature, not only vastly distant from; but in unchangeable Enmity to both Divine-Father, and Creature-Son, will find themselves in a cold, starvling condition, forever, in Eternal Death, destitute of all comforting warmth, under the Tormenting, Scorching heat of God's fiery Indignation upon them, forever. On the other hand, Saints have the heat and Comforting warmth of their Divine Lord and Creature-Husband, as Scituated under the direct, strong, and clear Beamings forth of the Divine and new-Creature Suns of infinite, and Everlasting Righteousness, upon them, as the highest Satisfaction imaginable, to them, for evermore. By personal Union with the Creature-Son, that's in personal Union with the Divine Father, come they fully to enjoy the unsearchable Riches of their Husband's Glorious person, his conjunctive Divine and Creature-Glories, with everlasting safety, and Comfort, Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. Through the Transcendent cherishing influence and warmth of the Divine and everlasting Creature-Sun, in Christ's person, will they bring forth the fruits of his spirit, offer up the Spiritual Sacrifices of Praise and Thanks-giving, acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ, for evermore. There's no durable warmth, or Comfort from Christ, to be had, in a first-Covenant Marriage-Union with him. He will die or depart from them, as to that fading warmth, as known by them, only, after the Flesh; and rendering them, for a season, beautiful and fruitful in their own nature, will, and way. So, if not Married to him, in spirit; or in that Spiritual Life, into which raised out of the death of our nature, we shall find cold comfort at last; yea, none; yea, and unutterably Tormenting heat, or flaming Vengeance upon us, forever.

Vers. XII. And, if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold Cord is not quickly broken.

The Saint is in personal, in Marriage-Union with Christ, in his irresistibly Mighty, Invincible Creature-spirit, that's in like Union with Infinite, Almighty Divinity. This threefold Cord who can break? Who is sufficient for these things? So much as to declare the Transcendent Security and Privileges of Saints? They are above all language; yea, wonder. If Christ, if God be on their side, who can be against them, and prosper? How can they be less then more then Conquerors? Rom. 8. 31. 37. Saints, the third and lowest. Link of this Chain, or 〈◊〉 , are, in effect, in the same security with the higher and highest. Christ and God. Who shall separate them from the Love of Christ, v. 35? Or, from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord? 35. 39. They are secured from all Enemies, without or within, in Christ's Gospel-Spirit, that's greater then he that's in the World, the Devil; 1 Jo. 4. 4. The Gates of Hell, all the secret Counsels and Strength of Enemies; the Powers of darkness, with all their Mystery of Iniquity, shall not prevail against them. They can discover all their secret Counsels and Projects against God's Spiritual Israel; as Elisha, the King of Syria' s, against Litteral. And, they can trample all their Power, under their feet, being by God, delivered up into their hands, as the Syrian Army into Elisha' s, to lead them blindfold, whither he pleased, and to do what he listed, with them. Mad are the evil Angelical Principalities and Powers of darkness, at those who can discover all their Devices, Wiles, Designs, and Projects, for destroying Men; as also are their Apostles and Ministers, when they find the Falsities of their whole accursed other Gospel, detected. 'It is the self-same case with both and all of them. They are all of a knot. The small number of Christ's awak'ned Spiritual Gospellers must look to be Charactred by them all, as the most Proud, Presumptuous, Insolent, Censorious Contradicters and Blasphemers of all good Men, all Goodness, and saving truth, in the whole World. This is Man's (Wise, enlight'ned, first-Covenant Man's) Censure, in Harmony with Satan's, concerning the truly Meek, and Humble, Poor, Needy, broken-Spirited Seed, Sheep, and Flock of Christ, contented, with Paul, to become Fools, Weak and Despicable, as to all, their Enemies put value upon. 1 Cor. 3. 18. and 4. 10. Enemies, not being able to deal with them, at Spiritual Weapons (or to Resist and bear up against the Spirit and Wisdom by which they speak) ( Act. 6. 10.) have recourse, and betake themselves to other Weapons, Human Laws, and outward Belluine Force, to silence, suppress, and destroy them, as the 〈◊〉 Jews served Steven (Act. 7. 57-60.) and as the King of Syria would have served Elisha, if he could. True Saints, as on the strongest and surest side (though the tide seem to run so strong against them, that there's no stemming it; all visible and invisible Powers of this World, coming with a swift and full Torrent upon them, to run them down) have this to say (by what the Spiritual Man or true Prophet and Seer in them, sees) their Rock is not as our Rock, even our Enemies themselves being Judges; Deut. 32. 51. Be the present awak'ned Spiritual 〈◊〉 of Christ, in any Generation, never so few; yea, if there be but one single Jeremy, amongst the only professing people of God in the whole world, and all against him, even there, King, Princes, Priests, and People, he will be too hard for them all. Moe and greater still are they that are with and for him, then against him. They shall 〈◊〉 , but not prevail against thee, for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. Sure, he, or they, that have God on their side, will have the best on it, though all the World be against them, as indeed they always are. All Inhabitants of the Earth, and Sea, 〈◊〉 in their own earthly Life of nature, corrupt or 〈◊〉 ; Inhabitants of the Mystical foaming Sea and Land; All worldly force, by Sea and Land, is full against the Saints of the most High, dwellers in Heaven, that have their affections and Hearts set on things above, their Conversation in Heaven, while Bodies still on Earth. The Saints Rock is the new-Creature, Gospel-Spirit, the new name or Life of Christ, into which they run, and are safe from all that pusse at them, and swell in an implacable mind of enmity, against them. What Spirit then, is the Enemies Rock? The Devil's. He has made choice of (and set up for himself and followers, in) all the sading Glory, Wisdom, Strength, and excellency of the first-Creation; all the Life and Power of Human and Angelical nature, as six'd in unchangeable Enmity, and used in a perpetual War, against God, Christ, Blessed, Angels, and Saints, so long as they can (by God's Permission, for most Wise and Holy ends, known to himself) hold it, and make a Vain Tumultuous 〈◊〉 against them. The Saints Rock will be found, at winding up of all, to be too hard for all their Inhumane Enemies Rocks, viz. all evil Angelical Principalities and Powers. Their Rock will dash 〈◊〉 these Rocks, to 〈◊〉 . Their Mountain or Kingdom, with Christ, will be established in the top of their Mystical Angelical Mountains, and exalted above all their Human Hills, or visible worldly Principalities, and Powers. When wicked Men shall flee to their Angelical Confederates and Masters ( higher, Subtler, and Stronger then they, in their first-Creation make and nature, and so, the Supreme first-creation Mystical Rocks and Mountains) to shelter, hide, or Protect them, from the Wrath of the Lamb, the Saints Rock; all would not do. They'l not be able to bear up, stand, or keep upon their Feet, before the Lamb, when the great day of his great Wrath is come. Rev. 6. 15-17. All such Rocks and Mountains, with all runners to them, for safety; all will to wrack, under the irresistible Power and Wrath of the Saints Rock, upon them all, Mountains and Hills; or, Angels and Men. Then, all Proud evil Angelical helpers, with all their Proud, helped self-exalting Subjects, amongst Men, must all stoop, bow, and lie down under his and his Saints Feet, forever. Christ will not withdraw his anger, but cause it to rest on them all, forever, as a Fire never to be quenched; and therefore, thus it will be with them, look as big, and be as confident as they will, now; Job. 9. 13. Kings of the Earth, both Human and Angelical, in their earthly first-Creation make and life; again, human or visible Kings of the said Earth, and that, of two sorts, in corrupt and Righteous earthly nature and life, Heathens and a professing first-Covenant People, who are all ready to lay their Heads together, and join Heart and Hand, against true Saints; all these Litteral and Mystical Kings can agree, and consult at one Table, how they may, both and all, rid their hands of, and wear out the Saints of the most high, by changing times and laws, perverting good, or establishing evil ones, and so, mischief, by a Law; Dan. 11. 27. and, 7. 25. These Crafty Consulters shall all be at a loss, when Christ comes to set up his and his Saints Kingdom in the World, or upon the earth. His and his Saints Mountain or Kingdom, set up, on the top, or over the heads of all their Mountainous, worldly Rocks and Powers, will crush them all to pieces, yea, grind them to Powder. When he takes to himself his great Power, and Reign's, will this most certainly be. And, then will he have the Universal Praises, Hosannah' s, Hallelujah's, and most joyful Acclamations of all that dwell in Heaven, all his Saints, whom he will bring (and cause to Reign) 〈◊〉 him (Jude 14.) as we find; Rev. 11. 17. But, even now, during Christ's and his Saints suffering season, under Man's and Satan's domineering Reign, he suffer's neither of these visible or invisible Powers, without, to do anything to his Saints, but what's exactly conducible to their true good, the destruction of their Flesh, or slaying all Enemies within them, the Foes of their own House, the desires, thoughts, affections and lusts of their natural Man (Life and all, at best) which Fight and War against God and the true interest of their own Souls. These combined Enemies, Devils and Men, are the wicked, Christ uses, as his Hand and Sword (Psal. 17. 13, 14.) against the natural Man of his Saints, in a pure serviceableness to their everlasting advantage, in all their most malicious designings and practicings against them, with intent to destroy them, forever. The Prince of this World, strik's at Gospel-Life and Spirit, in Saints, nor he nor his Instruments can ever hit or touch. They hit only their own party in them, flesh and Blood (or their natural Man, in the full comprehensiveness thereof, corrupt or righteous) on the perfect destruction whereof (under the Cross, by their own obedient consent and submitting thereto) are they filled with his Spirit and Life, in the irresistible Power whereof, they will break all their Heads, and trample them under their Feet. This is the pass, they bring their matters to, in all their despite to Saints, and the Spirit of Grace, they are of. A most comfortable consideration, in all their Sufferings! This is abundantly evident, in Job' s case. All he had, in the righteous Life and Wisdom of his own nature, was, by the Lord, put into Satan's Hand, or Power; Job. 1. 12. And, toit he goes, bestirring himself, with all his Malice and Power, to destroy him. What was the Result? Job' s Arriving, by way of Death and Resurrection to his spirit, at that all-powerful spiritual Life, in which, to break the Serpent's Head; the latter end better then his beginning. Flesh (or the natural Man, at best) till Crucified and subdued, Hurries even true Saints, with an Impetuous, Violent Torrent of Desire or Lust, after Satan's Perishing Meats; and so, into many Rebellious Practices against God, Christ, and their own spiritual Mind; Ro. 7. 15. 23. Solomon had a larger sad experience of this, then Paul. But, though this one (even the natural Spirit of the Saint, in its own Life, lust, will, and way) oft prevail against him, even against his spiritual mind, or man, two shall withstand him; even this rebellious flesh, or natural man. What two? Who are these? The Fountain Spirit of Christ, in himself, and the quick'ned up Seed thereof (or Spiritual Man) in the Saint. The Rebellious natural Spirit, Satan's Party in the Saint, and he at the back of it (to encourage and strengthen it, with all variety of Arguments, Motives, Reasons, and Uses, against its own Savior and Salvation) shall both fall down together, under the prevailing Power of the Spiritual Man, Christ's Party in the Saint, and he at the back of it, making up the blessed two, here. These will weaken Satan' s Party in the Saint, and, at length, quite extinguish all the Life, and abolish all the Power thereof; laying it in the Dust. Then, the whole Man shall be filled with (and actuated by) his Spirit of Life, there's no dealing or meddling, for Satan, with. Perfect Conformity to Christ's Death and Resurrection, is all; complete's the Saints work, and deliverance from all Enemies, without and within. He that's thus dead, is freed from Sin; Ro. 6. 7. Sin, or the guilty Sinner, the natural Spirit, is dead and gone, as to its own sinning life of enmity. So comes a ceasing from Sin, forever; 1 Pet. 4. 1. The same mind in the Saint with Christ, for a complete, full suffering in the flesh, extinguishes all Sinning, self-destroying Power, forever, in him. And this bring's the Saint's matters to the self-same pass with Christ's, when he said; Now come's the Prince of this World, and hath nothing in me. Jo. 14. 30. Satan would have persuaded Christ himself, and that, by an Apostle, to pity and spare his first-Covenant Law-Life, or righteous natural self: But he utterly rejected these flattering Judas-Kisses, and Smooth words of the Enemy, which are drawn Swords, to Wound and Kill Men, eternally. He took not the Enemy's Counsel; but, clean contrary, brought his own Spiritual Sword and Fire upon it; Crucified, offered it up, by a Holy Obedient death, in Sacrifice to his Fathers Will. Saints must do likewise. They must hate that Life in themselves, he Crucified in himself, or cannot be his Disciples. But, under all plausible appearances of kindness (for Self-Preservation, and Salvation) does Satan animate his Party in Man, the Disputer of this World, to Dispute and Contend for his own everlasting Destruction, against all Christ's Gospel-things and truths. By Man himself, does he carry on his work, smoothly and fair, for the destroying him, forever. Men are, generally, in their fallen State of nature, Children of Wrath, dead in Trespasses and Sins, hateful to, and hating God, and one another. So, are they half Devils, ready (as 'twere) made to Satan's hand, by his own hand, or first blow upon human nature, in our first Parents. They are Enemies of God; Lovers and Friends of World and Devil, in corrupt, or, in part, righteous nature. They are Litteral or Mystical Adulterers and 〈◊〉 ; Jam. 4. 4. Thus we see, Men want no more of being complete Devils, as Christ asserted Judas to be ( Jo. 6. 70.) then of being fixed and rendered unchangeable in Enmity. They are born and live, as thus forward, in the ready Rode and broad way, towards their everlasting Destruction. And, to forward and encourage the restored righteous Party, in this way, there want not for a World of false Christ's, and false Apostles, in the Counterfeit guise, apparel, and dress of the true, fitted to deceive, if possible, the very Elect. These evil Angelical Roaring Lions, in Christ's Clothing; and 〈◊〉 in the Clothing and appearance of Christ's true Apostles and 〈◊〉 , will, in their Lying Spirit of Divination and false Prophecy, warrant this, their very way to Salvation; Ezek. 13. 6. Here's Man's dangerous condition, on all hands, as to his grand concern. In this deplorable State (these, almost, desperate Circumstances) all Men are in, does Christ, the true WISDOM of God, publicly warn and cry out, aloud, to them all, to take heed of being taken with this deceitful Doctrine of Men and Devils; their false, accursed, other Gospel; and, that they listen to his contrary Counsel and Instructions of Life, submit to his Reproofs of Death, on that Spirit of nature that's 〈◊〉 ; and so, receive, his Spirit of 〈◊〉 , that can never Sin, or be deceived, err, or miscarry; but, 〈◊〉 discern and own all his words of truth; Prov. 1. 20-23. See then and consider, Oye Sons of Men, the different posture ye are in, towards your Blessed Savior, and the Abaddon, Apollyon, Red Dragon, and Destroyer. Christ comes to Cross and run down fallen nature, as to the corrupt Lusts, and vile affections of Litteral Sodom. This done, and nature recovered, and set afresh, upon its 〈◊〉 , in a rectified first-Creation orderly state or mystical house; he comes again with Fire and Sword upon this, to pull it down and destroy it, in order to the new spiritual Building and Life of the Rock. Here's all this unpleasing Cross-work, to nature, corrupt or righteous, which must be submitted to, and obediently complied with, or no Salvation. On the other hand, Satan that comes to destroy Men, finds them in a ready posture, gladly to receive and entertain him and all his words, his flattering Kisses and smooth Sayings in his accursed other Gospel; all, after their own Hearts desire, and Palate. And, if he can but fix them in Enmity, they are his own, forever; direct Devils. Now, whom think you, like to be most welcome to Man, the destroying Savior, or the saving destroyer? Christ, or the Devil; the Angel or Messenger of God's everlasting Covenant, or the Angel of the Bottomless Pit? The whole World (or, earthly party of mankind, corrupt or righteous) lieth in Wickedness (1 Jo. 5. 19.) or, in the wicked one, the Devil; liable to be used by him, against God, Christ, all awak'ned Spiritual Saints, and Gospel-Truths, as Paul, when eminent in the Law-Righteousness of Man, was. Ready are all, save actually awak'n'd Spiritual Saints, to embrace his smooth words of Counsel (which are drawn Swords, to kill them, saw they all) and to be at his service, greedily receiving, teaching, and Hearing, the very doctrine of Devils, without the least scruple, for Salvation. All the World wonder and run after the Beast; Rev. 13. 3. His Ministers and Apostles are of the World (or, worldly, earthy nature and Life, in the Image of the earthy, the Wisdom and Righteousness of Man) so, teach only such worldly things, for Salvation; speak of the World; and the World (all of the like earthy-temper and Spirit) hear, follow, and Embrace their Doctrine. Down it goes, without any chewing, pause, doubt, or suspicion. If this Doctrine wear thread-bare; and lose its color, he will clothe it with the appearance of Christ's Spiritual, true Gospel-Doctrine. In this dress, he, with his Angels and Apostles, come, as Spiritual Wickednesses, in Heavenly places or likenesses, to deceive, if possible, the very Elect. But, all would not do. The said two, in and with the Saint, can pluck off all their Vizor's, detect the Mummery of these Wolvs in Sheeps-clothing; and, wherein they deal proudly and subtly, will be above them, every way, at every turn. The new-Creature-Spirit of Christ, in himself and Saints, is abundantly too Wise and hard for them all. And then, the infinite Divine Spirit (the supreme strength of all, the Fountain-Contriver and former of the other) makes up the Triple-League, or Threefold-Cord, which secures the Saint, above all words or wonder. What think you now, of the Saint's Furniture, To fight the Battels of the Lord against the mighty, evil angelical, or human Principalities and Powers of this World? May they not safely say, as Elisha to his Servant, when besieged by the Syrian Army, in Dothan, 〈◊〉 that be with us, are moe than they that be with them? 2 King. 6. 16. Our Rock, our Army, our Arms, are not as theirs, fleshly, weak, feeble, and nothing worth, but Spiritual and mighty, in and through God, invincibly strong and powerful, to beat, profligate, and cast them all down, with all their vain imaginary strong holds, high Places, and self-exalting confidences therein; 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.

The threefold Cord, here, not quickly, or easily (yea, utterly impossible, ever to be) broken, may seem to import, first, the most high Union of divine Father and Son, the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Form of God. In this Union, the Three that are (impersonally as 'twere) One, in the divine Essence, are distinctly and personally three and One, in the infinite and purely divine Form. And so are they, from Eternity to Eternity, ineffably, the peculiar Object of their own infinite understanding, in a transcendent sublimity, above all Creation; or Creatures, when made. The divine form, or Son of God, is the Three that are One, in a personal visibility or discernableuess, properly calculated and suited, only, to him, whose understanding is infinite, Ps. 147. 5.

The second link in this threefold Chain or Cord, imported here, may be the Union of divine and creature-nature, in Christ's person; the divine and supreme creature-Form, or Image of God most high, the Infinite divine Father or Essence.

The third and lowest of the three Cords or Links in this golden Chain, is found in the unchangeable Union of Christ and Saints, in his new-creature-spirit. They are personally united with him, as he with the Father; are one with him, as he and the divine Father are one; Joh. 17. 21--23. Thus come all things to be the Saint's, as he is Christ's, and Christ God's; 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. This, have Saints, in their lowest of these three unions. By the Second, all the fullness of the Godhead dwell's bodily, in the Man, Christ; Col. 2. 9. He is Possess'd of all divine and creature-fullness, in absolute perfection. These twofold fullnesses make up that unsearchable divine and creature-riches of his person, Paul preached; Ephes. 3. 8. All creature-nature in Christ (all, below his infinite divinity) is called Man. Man is a warranted Scripture-Title for all, below pure divinity, in Christ, and in all Angels and Men, good and bad. Christ, thus, is the Man or Angel Gabriel, that appeared to Daniel and Mary; Dan. 9. 21. Luk. 1. 19. 26. Evil Angels are Men of sin, with their Father, the Devil. So are all men, that are, by them, fixed in enmity, with them. And Christ, with two of his holy Angels, were the three Men that did eat of Abram' s Calf, with butter and milk, under a Tree; and warned him of the near approaching destruction of Sodom; Gen. 18. All rational, intellectual creature-nature (natural or spiritual, in Creator or Creatures) is comprehended in the Word MAN. Saints then (by their personal union with the Man Christ, as Mystical members of that one Body he is Head to) are entitled to all the divine and creature-riches of his most glorious and wonderful person. Such riches therefore, do all true Gospel-Ministers preach, declare, and offer, under Christ, unto Men ( Ephes. 3. 8.) to all Men, Jews, or Gentiles; Heathens, or a first-covenant People of God.

Vers. XIII. Better is a poor and a wise Child, than an Old and foolish King, who will no more be admonished (Heb. knoweth not to be admonished.

This poor wise Child, is the true Saint, as run down under the Cross, from a rich, prosperous, fruitful state of his natural spirit, into poverty and barrenness; from the fading beauty, visage, and glory thereof, in the restored Life and Image of the Earthy, into a weak, despicable, and (in the sight and judgment of the self-confident, flourishing first-covenant Saint, in holy flesh) shameful condition; yea, in the mar'd visage, glory, life, and wisdom of Man (all the other looks upon, or trusts in, for salvation) the very filth of the World, and offscouring of all things. All this, Paul, when a Gospel-Saint, rich, wise, strong, and honorable in the Lord (even in that spiritual Life, which yet lies hid with Christ in God ) seemed to the Law-Saint. A, who but he, a non-such was he, when an eminent Law-Saint, in his own holy flesh, or restored nature. But, when a true, Gospel-Saint, in Christ's Holy Spirit, a mere nobody, or worse, with them that still are where and what he was; his righteous Brother Pharisees, and other Professors. Once, beyond them all, at Holiness: now, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the World, the off scouring of all things; 1 Cor. 4. 13. See you what the Judgment of Man's Wisdom, at best, is, about persons or things, that belong to God? Or, will ye never see? Take heed of that. If any had whereof to Glory (and rest on, for Salvation) in Holy Flesh; Paul, more, when but there; Phil. 3. 4. Just Job' s case, in the eye of his three Friends, far Inferior to what he had been, in the Light, Wisdom, and Righteousness of that Holy flesh-state of restored naturals. And thus is it, universally, with all true Saints, when passing under the Cross, out of the Holy-flesh Church or House on the Sand, into God's Holy-spirited Church upon the Rock; from a Law, to a Gospel-Principle and State of Life. David's familiar Friends and Companions in a first-Covenant House, People, or Church of God (Intoxicated and Drunk with Satan's Charms, and Wine, there, in the first-Covenant, so as to despise Christ's Kingdom-Wine in the second ) on his withdrawing and removal under the Cross (upon all that Life, Principle, Doctrine, State, and things of Man) for Salvation, in, the second, they became his forest Enemies. They lifted up the Heel (Heb. magnified themselves, above and) against him; Psal. 41. 9. Am I become your Enemy, say's Paul, on this very single account, because I tell you the truth? Preach a Gospel State, to you? Gal. 4. 16. David, though a King, became a Song of those Mystical Drunkards (Ps. 69. 12.) Drunk with Satan's first Creation-Wine, that gratified their natural Palate, Belly, or Appetite; the Belly, that's but for such Meats, as will perish with it; 1 Cor. 6. 13. They that sat in the Gate, spoke against him. Was not the great Lord and Master, Christ himself, thus handled? Despised and Rejected of Men, even his own People in the first-Covenant, for Witnessing and Practicing the Doctrine of the second? Isai. 52. 14. and 53. 2, 3. Jo. 1. 11. Was not Job (the next signal instance, for suffering, to his Lord) thus handled, on the self-same account, by his first-Covenant Friends, when brought under the sharp Disciplin of the Cross, in order to the second? They vexed; 〈◊〉 broke him in pieces, with reiterated, frequent, and continued 〈◊〉 Words. They made themselves 〈◊〉 to him. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 themselves against him, in pleading his Reproach, when God was Stripping him (by his Cross-work, on that State) of the fading Glory 〈◊〉 that State, and taking that Crown from his Head (Job. 19. 2-19.) which he had long worn and enjoyed, as a first-Covenant Prince or King in the Army (Job 29. 25.) of that sort of Pseudo-Fift-Monarchist's. Thus was Poor Job destroyed, and gone, on every side; forsaken and abandoned, on all hands, by God and Men, as to anymore or farther Comfort in that state he had king'd it, in, over his fellow-Mortals. His very inward, Bosom-Friends abhor'd him. And, was not Paul so handled by his Friends, presently after his quitting their Law-Principle and House on the Sand, for Christ's Gospel-Principle and House on the Rock? The next news we hear of him, is he, signally, beyond other Gospel-Saints and Apostles, Persecuted by Law-spirited Jews, at Damascus; Act. 9. 19-25. 2 Cor. 11. 32, 33. What clear, plain, undeniable instances are here? Who would think, any sober Man (whose obstinate will does not bribe off, Pervert, Obstruct, and deafen his understanding) could withstand such undeniable demonstration, in this case? I would. For, who believe's the report? Who takes any spiritual, Gospel-Testimony, with whatever undeniable Demonstration, attended and Ratified? No Man, in the single Wisdom of human nature, at best, when made Wise, Strong, and Honorable in Christ, but there; Jo. 3. 32. 1 Cor. 4. 10. The natural Man, even in awak'ned Spiritual Saints, is ready and apt to wonder at this. But, retreating to the Sanctuary-Light of their Spiritual Man, they see how matters go, and the wonderment ceases. The Spiritual Man, the true Watchman, Prophet, and Seer of God, is a Fool, Mad, a Snare, Hatred itself; Where? With whom? With a first-Covenant People, and House of his God; Hos. 9. 7, 8. Was this always's so? Is it so, even now? ( Gal. 4. 29.) will it be so, to the end of this World and Satan' s Reign? E'ne cease wondering then, at it, O Saints of the most High. What? Wonder at what has been the constant course and Practice of Human nature, in all mankind, corrupt or righteous, Popish or Reform'd, true Saints themselves not excepted, till unwoman'd by the Cross, as to their mutable, fickle, Womanish Spirit of nature, and made actual Partakers of Christ's manly Life, in his Gospel-Spirit of Grace, springing up from the quick'ned Incorruptible Seed thereof? 1 Pet. 1. 23.

Be not dismayed, to see the Law-Church of God, your Brethren in the first-covenant, Children, Spouses of Christ as a sleshly Bridegroom, in their Holy Flesh, turning themselves into a Synagogue of Satan, and serving his designs, in persecuting Christ's Gospel-Church, in his Holy Spirit; sitting and speaking Blasphemies, against them; Psal. 50. 20, 21. Paul, when a new-Covenant, Gospel-Saint, was a Fool, weak, and despicable to Law-Saints, in the renewed old, or first. These were still Wise, Strong, and Honorable in Christ, after the flesh, as to both Inherent and Imputed Righteousness, from him, Sanctifying and justifying them, according to the Tenour of that changable first-Covenant Life and State. True Saints, when, with Paul, Job, and others, they find all that, to be but a fading flower, altogether Vanity, or a vanishing Shadow (however good in its kind, and beautiful in its day and season) a Glory to be done away; away they sling it, as Dung, for Christ in his Spiritual, Resurrection-Life, and Gospel-State. Paul also advises others to become Fools, with him, as to the Law-Wisdom of Man, in the first-Covenant, for the Gospel-Wisdom of God, in the second; 1 Cor. 3. 18. In short, Paul was a Poor Wise Child, in Christ's newness of Life, or second Covenant, that had (with the doting, first-Covenant, Law-spirited Corinthians ) been, for a season, an old Foolish King, in the 〈◊〉 of letter, his restored old first-Creation spirit of nature: But, with this difference; not a fixed, knowing, willful one, that would no more be admonished. For, as discovered therein, what he amounted to, and convincingly showed and offered a more excellent life and way; immediately, he confer'd not with Flesh and Blood (consulted not with, or listened to the reasonings of the first-Covenant Wisdom of Man, in himself or others) but, was Obedient to the Heavenly Vision. Trembling, and astonished, he said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Act. 9. 6. Had he (after such convincing discovery of his folly and Madness, in Persecuting the Gospel-Spirit and Truths of Christ, in his Saints) obstinately persisted therein, he had been absolutely unpardonable. But, he did it ignorantly, 1 Tim. 1. 13. For, as soon as he knew a better, a Gospel-Life, and more excellent way of obeying and Worshipping God, he instantly yielded to God's terms, the death of his Law-principled, Persecuting nature, as 〈◊〉 , for Christ's Gospel-Life. He found the Corinthians, after all this, confident in that State, he was in, when a Persecutor; Full, Rich, and Reigning as Kings; Wise, Strong and Honorable, in first-Covenant Attainments, from Christ himself, after the flesh. They were brought out of the corrupt, into the righteous Life of theirnature; and so, into some good degree of Conformity to the Life of Christ, that first Covenant Life of the Law, under which he was Born of a Woman: But, were, in no degree of Conformity to Christ, in the obedient death of that state, in Sacrifice to God. So, if they finally refused Paul' s Counsel, Example, and Admonitions, for becoming Fools, Weak, Poor, and Despicable there (as he had done, in following Christ's own example and Counsel) they proved themselves (with thousands of others) in all Ages and Generations, the very Old, Foolish, doting Kings, here meant; and Paul, with his true Gospel-Disciples and Followers, proved themselves the Poor Wise Children of God, in a newness of Life; a Wisdom, a Glory, never to be done away. He was content, with Christ, to have his Visage Marr'd, his fading Law-Life and Glory, in the restored Image of the earthy, or first Adam, done away, as the undispensible means, of receiving the Life and Image of the Heavenly, or second Adam; 1 Cor. 15. 49. Job (with other first-Covenant Saints or Holy Men, in their own restored nature) while in the dark, and (in great measure, if not altogether) ignorant, for a season, as to the spiritual Life and Glory that was to follow (and fall to his lot) was sorely afraid, all along, in the flourish and fruitfulness of his own nature in first-Covenant attainments) of losing all, again; Job. 3. 25. That sort of Life, carries, in its very fading nature, something of a convincing, self-evidencing Demonstration, to the richest Possessour thereof, that it may be all lost again, come to nothing; and so, stand him in no stead, as to Salvation, or any safety, in a day of greatest necessity. The thing I greatly feared, is come upon me. What thing? Mystical Wrinckles and Leannes brought upon his smooth, fat, flourishing, rich and full natural spirit, or Man. And, these did bear Witness to his Face, against him; Job 16. 8. For What? For his Foolish, self-flattering thought, that the wisdom and glory of his own restored nature, amounted to anything of true happiness. By the Blasts of God's Temporary Wrath (or dispensation of the Cross, upon it, and him therein) he found all, withering and dying away. All that, in all that have it, is subject to Mystical Rust, Moth-eating, corrupting, and becoming a Prey to Thieves; as Christ himself warns, with advice to all, to look after that Heavenly Treasure, and Life, that's liable to none of these things, Mat. 6. 19, 20. Such first-Covenant, 〈◊〉 Riches, wisdom and glory (in the Possession and Enjoyment whereof, Men are apt to think they need nothing, as to true blessedness) is but a state, in which they are Wretched, Miserable, Poor, Blind, and Naked; wanting everything that's durably, everlastingly, and unchangeably good; Rev. 3. 17. The Mystical Riches and Garments, Gold and Silver of Laodicean, first-Covenant Saints, finally trusted in, will, by the Corrupted, Moth-eaten, Cankered, Rusty state thereof, be sound at last day, witnessing against them, in them, to their faces, as Fools and Madmen, for having willfully trusted therein, against God's plentiful warning them, the experience of all Mankind, and their certain knowledge, that they trusted in a lie, a mere Vanity, for Salvation. God, by his Prophet, calls all the righteousnesses of Man, in a first-Covenant Life of Enmity to him, and the second, a fading Leaf, an unclean Thing, a menstruous Cloth, or filthy Raggs; Isal. 64. 6. Enmity to God, that's filth of spirit, is found in them, and all their righteous works. Trusting in this fading slower, their own enlightened and enliven'd nature, with all possible Ornaments and Embellishments thereof (that God, by Christ, and all his Holy Prophets and Apostles, since the World began, has warned them of the 〈◊〉 of, for true hapiness) will render all, that finally so do, undeniably guilty of inexcusable folly. True Saints rejoice, and Glory with Paul, under the death-work of the Cross, upon all that, which such willful Mistakers, trust in, for Salvation; Gal. 6. 14. That which Crucifies the World to Man, and him to the World, all worldly Life or desire in Man, to all or any worldly desirables (and those to him) is far from giving any true ground to the natural Man of the Saint, to complain of, or murmur with Zipporah, in letter, against Moses ) at Christ, as a hard Master, a Bloody Husband unto them, by reason of the spiritual Circumcision. For, this cuts off Holy Flesh (kills and offer's up righteous nature, in Sacrifice to God ) as that, which cannot enter (1 Cor. 15. 50.) but lets and hinders Man's entrance into the Kingdom of God, or God's Kingdom's entering into him, by his receiving Christ's Kingdom-spirit into him, so as to have the Kingdom of Heaven within him; 〈◊〉 Life, abiding in him. Christ tells us, therefore, his Yoke is easy; and Burden, light. His Cross, or death-work on nature, corrupt or righteous, in Publican or Pharisee, is so far, if rightly considered and understood, from being a frightful and unsupportably Burdensome and Embondaging a thing, that it is the only undispensable means and way of taking away from Man, the unsupportable Burden of Sin and Punishment, which otherwise, nature at best, will bring upon its own head, in a state of everlasting Bondage and Death. 'It is the only Curer of all Diseases in, the remover of all Evils of Sin and Punishment, from Man, by the death of the continually guilty Sinner, the natural Man or Spirit, corrupt or righteous; and so, the bringer of the whole person of the Saint, into a Life and State of Everlasting Rest and true Blessedness. All this, have we, from Christ's own Mouth; Mat. 11. 28-30. Christ himself Marr'd the form of Godliness, the Image of the earthy, his first-Covenant Law-Life, his fading Glory, Beauty and Visage, when he had taken it, in our nature, even spotles Holy flesh. He had more of it to Marre, and so, was it more Marr'd in him, then it can be Marr'd in any other Man. And he Marr'd it, to some other ends and purposes, then it is Marr'd in his Saints and followers. He answered for the Sins of Mankind, aton'd or appeased the Wrath of God, thereby, &c. None of these things are done, by any obedient followers of his suffering-Steps. But, 'tis their duty, to submit to the renting of the Vail of their (but in part) Holy flesh, as he did, of his perfect Holy flesh, as the undispensable way of entering within the Vail, into the true Holy of Holies, and so, of ever coming where he now is. Will such death and loss, expose to Contradiction, Shame, and Contempt from Men; from Wise, Holy, first-Covenant Saints? Such despised and rejected, contradicted, and Blasphem'd all Christ's Gospel, new-Covenant Doctrine, and Crucified his Person; Isai. 52. 14. 53. 3. Heb. 12. 2, 〈◊〉 . The new and living way (yea, and the old and only way ) by which, any ever could enter within the Vail, into the true Holy of Holies, is that, which Christ Consecrated for us, by 〈◊〉 his fleshly Vail, or Holy flesh, his righteous natural state, that was a Vail, a Wall of Partition, between even our fleshly nature, in his own person, and the Holy of Holies. He therefore, did not the Will, spoke not the Words of that understanding, in our fleshly nature, though pure, spotless, and perfect, in its kind; but suffered (yea, in and by his Holy Spirit, put it to) death.

The changably righteous Law-spirit, in Christ himself, was not the infallible Gospel-Preacher: but, his everlasting righteous Gospel-spirit, that Preach'd death to the natural, Law-spirit, in himself & all others. He, herein, spoke the words, did the works ( Joh. 14. 10.) and will of the Father that sent him ( Joh. 4. 34.) even in preaching death to, and kindling the mystical fire of his heavenly spirit upon his own earthly, and crucifying his own natural, fleshly understanding and will, though perfect in its kind. This is the work, his Father sent him to do, which when finished, he prayed for his return, out of the death of our crucified nature, into the Life and Glory of his Father; Joh. 17. 4, 5. The words of Christ's Gospel-spirit, are Spirit and Life ( Joh. 6. 63.) they all recommend unto Men, and tend to the persuading and counseling them, to submit to the terms of having his everlasting righteous spiritual Life, set up in them; to wit, the death of their natural state. Christ could do nothing of himself (or in his fleshly Law-life and state) Joh. 5. 30. nothing, that his Father sent him about. His errand and business was, to put it to death. Passive obedience to his own Gospel-cross, Spiritual-sword, or Circumcision-knife, was the high duty of his natural spirit and whole Man. There's no other way of coming to do all things well, in God's sight (which can only be in his Gospel-spirit or principle of everlasting righteousness, and active obedience) but, by the passive obedience and death of our Law-spirit, or natural state, in which we can do nothing well, before God, nor ever enter into his Kingdom. Christ, in his Gospel-spirit (the true principle of active obedience to God, forever) did and said, always, what was well-pleasing to to his Father ( Joh. 8. 29.) as found in exact harmony with the very mind and will of his infinite divine spirit. He despised the shame and contempt of those that despised his Crucified natural man; Heb. 12. 2. And those that do not so, he will despise, disown, reject, and be ashamed of, when he comes in the Glory of his Father, with the holy Angels; Mark 8. 38. Christ's Doctrine was not his own, but his that sent him. Whoever does receive, or despise and reject the words of his Gospel-spirit, in himself or saints, receives or despises the Father that sent him; and him, that sends them. The four Gospels abound with words to this purpose; especially, John' s.

First and second Covenant-Saints; poor wise children, in the second; and Old, doting, foolish Kings, in the first, are in a perfectly cross constitution and thought, about salvation; absolute sools to one another. The Cross on Man's wisdom, is reckoned the starkest, arrantest folly and madness, imaginable, by natural Man and Angel. But, one broken, contrite-spirited, crucified Saint, is of more esteem with God, than millions of unbroken, uncrucified Men and Angels, in all the excellencies, glories, wisdom, and righteousness of their first-creation human and angelical natures; Isai. 66. 1, 2. Man's day, or light and Judgment, in first-covenant wisdom; and God's day of Judgment, in the second, will be found in flat contradiction to each other, in this grand concern of men, about Salvation. Whose Judgment, whose word will stand? His or theirs? Think well on it, before too late. Ther's no speaking, at present, to the old self-deafened, doting, foolish King, by the poor wise Child. He scorns and rejects (with a wry mouth, Rhetorical mockings, in utmost contempt) all his words and warnings. His whole Gospel-doctrine of the cross, on all, the foolish King rest's in, for Salvation, is rejected, as absolute foolishness, and madness. 1 Cor. 1. 18--23. and 4. 8. 10. Hos. 9. 7, 8.

These foolish, self-confident, first-covenant fifth-monarchists (that tugge it out sometimes, with worldly Caesar's, for the civil sword; as that, by which, to manage the reign of Christ, in this world) are but at the same work, the Jews desired to have Christ have been at, by owning himself a King in his first-covenant law-life, and righteousness of man, which he refused them in; 〈◊〉 . 6. 15. Refusing to be a King, in the fading Law-principle of first-covenant life and operation; and asserting his kingdom in the Gospel-spirit of the second, they crucified their king; Joh. 19. 15. They, that would have set up Christ for their King, in this world, against Caesar, say (to rid their hands of him) we have no King but Caesar, in answer to Pilate's question. This is the confusion and falsehood, found in man's shusfling wisdom, on all accounts, at every turn, about and against his own Salvation. When God, not only by words, but deeds, in his blasting dispensations, witnesses his displeasure against them, and all their false confidences, not suffering them to prosper in them ( 〈◊〉 . 2. 37.) still they are at the same point. When they find mystical gray hairs, decays, and old age, convincing Harbingers and Messengers of the approaching Death upon them (as to all that 〈◊〉 Life and Riches, they have trusted in) still, there they'll hold, and hope for safety. When God comes upon them, in his beginning Judgments on that State they trust in, so as undeniably to evidence to them, that as six'd in, 'tis but the Mystical Land of their Nativity, and Border of Wickedness; and they (therein) the People, against which and whom, he hath Indignation forever (Mal. 1. 4.) still, they obstinately rest, and trust for safety, therein. Here's the case of these old foolish Kings, that will not be brought to any happy, obedient change of mind, by anything the Lord either say's or does to them. They obstinately persist in bringing forth Wild Grapes, Gall and Worm-wood, from a bitter Root of Enmity in them, against God. And, they will, still, needs pass for his only Gospel-People and Saints, when a downright Synagogue of Satan, fixed in unchangeable Enmity and Rebellion, against him. This do they, to their literal Graves. And, to carry on the like destructive work on others, that they leave behind them, as their Counsel-Legacy to them, in their dying words, they'll charge their hearers, the pretended Gospel-Churches of Christ, that they look not after, regard, or receive any other Gospel, then (that accursed false one) they have Preach'd to them; even the same, the Old Serpent Preach'd to Eve, that Eternal Life is to be found in the Old or first-Creation State of nature, and that they shall not die at all; and so, that all Preaching the Cross and Death upon it, is a Blasphemous fiction, against the Law, and that Holy place or State of Man. Thus the Jews accused Stephen; Act. 6. 13. The whole Gospel is reckoned by them, Blasphemy against the Law. The whole current of Scripture (in the Gospel-sense of all, run's for the Poor Wise Child: But, the whole current of their false, other, Law-Gospel, and short sighted Interpretation of all Scripture, run's clearly, for the old Foolish King, in exact Harmony with the Old Serpent, that Bewitches Teachers and Hearers, through self-love to the sading Life and Glory of their own nature, into a state of unchangeable Enmity to God, and Death to themselves, with him.

Oh, but say they, that which you call Satan's, and our accursed other Gospel, is the very same, you call Christ's. You only come forth in an affected singularity of words, but say all the same things, we do. We Preach and own the Cross of Christ. Upon what? The corrupt Spirit of fallen nature, with the vile affections and lusts thereof. But, what say you to the Cross on your enlight'ned, restored, righteous nature, made Wise, Strong, and Honorable, in Conformity to that Life of the Law, or Holy Flesh, Christ took, as Born of a Virgin? Is this the Subject of the Cross of Christ? Are ye willing to part with all this, in case ye had it to part with? To despise your own righteous Law-Life, or Living Soul, for Christ's Gospel-Spirit? Job. 9. 21. What else, did Christ Crucify in himself, but this Living Soul? He had nothing of the vile affection of corrupt nature, about him. And, as for the Cross, so they are for (and they Preach) Regeneration, new Birth, new Creature, Grace, &c. Who but they? But, what call they so? Reform'd, enliven'd, righteous nature. Thus, while we all talk of, and apply Christ's Gospel-Words, to our several Saintships (natural and spiritual, in first and second Covenant, our Holy Flesh and God's Holy Spirit) all seem's in a Confused Buzz and Jumble of words, to simple, undiscerning People ( Ro. 16. 18.) yea, to Man's Wisdom, at best, to be one and the same thing; Christ's and Satan' s Gospel, all one. All manner of good Words, fair Speeches, Scripture-Language, in one as well as toother. While this, in a manner, universally carries it, with Professors, all's their own. Their teachers find little need of any troubling themselves, to defend Satan's and their Mercenary, False, other Gospel, against Christ's true. But, if the point and edge of Christ's Spiritual Gospel-Sword, the Living WORD of God, come forth in such a sharp, distinguishing sound and way, that this first shuffle would not serve their turn; then go Satan's Apostles and their followers, another way to work. Blasphemers, Mad-Men; the Prophet's a Fool, the Spiritual Man is Mad; This is their Language. So said the Holy Professing Jews, of Christ himself ( Jo. 10. 20.) for his new-Covenant, Gospel-Doctrine. I, but yet, while few hear or regard Christ's Gospel, and, almost all the few, that do hear the outward sound of its words, take nothing right (though they conceit they do, and so Halt between God and Baal, Christ's true Gospel, and Satan's lie) all's well. No need, think they, of any 〈◊〉 against this new light. While things go at this rate, that the God of this World, the Devil, can cast his Mist before Professors eyes, or blind their minds, by a sound or noise of all the words of Christ's Gospel, from the letter of Scripture, to carry on his contrary Gospel (as all in all, that's nothing at all) what need his Ministers trouble themselves, to encounter Christ's? While Christ's 〈◊〉 next to 〈◊〉 hearers, and yet fewer understanders, e'ne let it alone, 〈◊〉 Satan, say his Apostles. No need of taking notice of it, or souling our singers about it, in willful Contradicting and Blaspheming it. Thus is it, yet. But, if an awak'ned Multitude, under the latter Rain of the Spirit (as under the former, in Primitive Gospel-times) should listen to and look after the very Christ, the very Gospel, with a seeing eye, a right hearing and distinguishing car, so as to know, clearly, the voice of the true Shepherd in himself and Saints (in its distinction from, and direct Opposition to the Voice or Doctrine of Strangers, Satan and his Apostles, or Gospel-Ministers) this (when it happen's) will cause some Tumultuous, out-ragious doings, you will find. Some valuable number of Followers and Receivers of Christ's Blessed Gospel, will give such disturbance to their cursed one, as will nettle the Teachers and Hearers thereof, and put them into the temper, Paul once was of, so as to be continually Breathing out 'l 〈◊〉 and Slaughters against the Disciples of the Lord (Act. 9. 1) the Asserters and Followers of his Gospel. Will ye hear a comfortable word, yet? While any do this, as ignorantly and innocently as Paul did (in Zeal for his Law-Life, or first-Covenant principle of action) why may we not hope, that they, as Paul, may (through greater Mercy, then they are yet aware of) be turned by Christ, into signal Preachers and owners of Christ's Gospel? But then, with Paul, they must look presently for Persecution, even from those they were joint-Persecutors, with. Sure, this is an encouragement, worth noting, and may serve to wipe off the Injurious Imputations of Censoriousness, Satan's self-confident Gospellers do so brand Christ's, with. Multitudes of Professors, enamout'd wholly with Satan's, will most carefully take heed of coming near the sound of one word of Christ's Gospel, lest they should be Perverted, to their own Salvation, and delivered from the Wrath to come. But, there are a second sort (a far smaller number, yet) of Christ-haters, that can afford, sometimes, to hear the sound of true Gospel-words, but take no heed how they hear them. So, do they, little or nothing, perceive, or regard any distinction between the Voice of the true Shepherd, and that of Strangers; Christ's and Satan's Gospel. May we not reckon these shuffling Halters between God and Baal, in a more dangerous condition, then the former? They'l boast of their Wisdom, and Charitable Opinion they have of (almost) everybody, any teachers, that take and own the letter of Christ's Gospel, and talk against Profanes, or the like. These glory in their shame. Oh, thank God, say they, we have a liberty to hear anybody. What's all this? A Liberty to be Mad, and Rebell against God, that has convincingly evidenced to them the true Shepherd's Voice, Words, or Doctrine (in and from himself and Saints) from all variety of Strangers Voices, or Doctrine. They'l please themselves to talk much of bottom; that they hope, at bottom, and as to the main, all may be well, though at top, ouvert Action, Practice, Choice, and their whole course, be of a dangerous Complexion, and that, against acknowledged Conviction of Christ's Gospel-truths, & a kind of general owning, and worded-kindness for them, and the Assertors thereof, in a Corner. But they follow after, and sit under such Teachers and Doctrine's, as are, in all extremity, contrary thereunto, as Hell to Heaven (sure, Doctrines of Devils are so, to Christ's) and this, when the Doctrine of Christ's Gospel, lies before them, and is fairly offered to them, in the Words of God's Wisdom, which the Holy Ghost teaches. A most dangerous boasted Libertinism! God defend me from such embondaging, destructive Liberty. For, 'tis sorely doubtful, whoever halt thus between God and Baal (as to own God's Words with their Mouth only, and Baal's in their Heart) that, at bottom, they down right hate God's, and love Baal' s Gospel; like that, not only, best; but, only. What less can be feared, when their halting, brings them, at length, wholly to avoid God's offered Gospel, and positively own (so far as wholly choosing to sit under Satan's, is an owning) a directly contrary Gospel? Yea, contrary, in all extremity; that Devils themselves shall be saved, at longrun. Might this generally take place, all other Doctrine's of Devils might be spared. If they can get Men to swallow down this, what need any other, or any care, or troubling our selves about Religion, or Salvation, at all? We shall all be saved, say Devils, and you shall all be saved. We'l warrant you, ye shall fare as well as we do. I believe that. This Perswasion is the largest inlet to Rantism, that ever was devised, be Practice what it will, from a little present self-interest. How powerful and prevalent is self-destroying self-love? The general and uniform Doctrine of Devils, is, what the old Serpent Preach'd to Eve, that Eternal Life is to be found in the first-Creation State of Man and Angel; so, no need of a second, or second Covenant Principle of Life, in flat contradiction to Heb. 8. 7. Men, in all variety of Church-form or way, all sorts of Pretensions towards God, Christ, Gospel, and Salvation, within the compass of first-Covenant Principles, are all of a Batch, all as one Man, against the true, new-Covenant Gospel of Christ, to a tittle. All spiritual Light, for discerning of Christ's from Baal' s Gospel, does but highly aggravate their Sin, in rejecting Christ's for Baal's. The Devil and his Angels had fuller Light, clearer discerning of Christ's Gospel-Life, at first, then even Adam in his Innocency, and of the necessity of parting with their first-Covenant Law-Life, for it, as their unspeakable advantage, for the gaining Eternal Life, and scaping Eternal death; yet chose, as we find, their own eternal Ruin. All Men, that hate Christ's Gospel-Life, fixedly, unchangeably, do the same thing; make the same evil choice, and will come to the same end; Pro. 8. 36. All Men, since the fall, are (in light) below Adam before the fall, that was below Angels before their fall, who yet made such choice as proved their irrecoverable Destruction. Consider this, well. And then, since the fall, is there positive Enmity in Man's whole nature, and so in all Mankind, to the Gospel-Life of Christ, and all right words thereof; which was neither in Angel or Man, before their fall. Bare Light or knowledge then, by the best mere Enlightning Spiritual Gifts, is so far from doing our work for Salvation, that through Obstinate, Wilful, Knowing Rebellion against it, does it lay Men under far deeper and sorer Condemnation, then if they had never had such Light, or heard of Christ's Gospel, at all; Heb. 10. 26-29. 2 Pet. 2. 21. 'It is, indeed, the direct, full, unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost, if finally persisted in. Nature, in itself, corrupt or righteous, is as a nether Milstone, to Christ's Gospel; an Infidel, as to all the Doctrine thereof. What? Wise, Strong, and Honorable in Christ, Infidels, Unbelievers, as to Christ's Gospel? They, or Paul, choose you whether; 1 Cor. 4. 10. But, let such take their course; the poor wise Child sees, where both he and they are. He know's that Christ the Righteous Judge of all, ha's pronounced and declared, already, beforehand, the poor wise Children, blessed, to their unspeakable Joy; whom, they labor, by their Lies, to make sad, as reckoning and calling them Blasphemers and Mad People.

And, as for the wicked rich ones, the Old foolish Kings, in a state Christ pronounces woe to, they streng then their hands, and confidences (against all the warnings, counsels and power of God himself) promising, assuring, and warranting them eternal Life; Ezek. 13. 6. 22. See Christ's contrary Judgment, on both sides; Mat. 5. 3-12. Luke 6. 20--26. Men's presumptuous, self-confident Kinging it, in their own renewed law-nature, in a willful despite to God's Gospel-spirit of Grace, renders them a spiritual Sodom, and Synagogue of Satan. Though they impudently say, they are Jews, or the very Gospel-Church and Spouse of Christ ( Rev. 3. 9.) They lie; or, at least, deceive themselves with most false imaginations, and delusive dreams. They need everything, conducible to true blessedness. The highest and utmost folly of these Old, doting Kings, is, they'll not hear of their madness; not be told on it. They'l no more be admonished. They deafen their Ear, and willfully turn away their understandings from any such true openings of Scripture, as open that Kingdom of Heaven, they set themselves to shut up against themselves and others. Yea, if any word, of a seeming tendency towards the Kingdom, or spiritual, Gospel-sense of any Scripture, drop from themselves, unawares, in their ministry, or sick-bed, they'll carefully call it back, or limit it into a compliance or harmony with all their other false words. They'l, by no means, leave any jealousies behind them, in their hearers, as to the truth of their reputed Gospel ministry and doctrine. Thus go matters, all a long their lives, and at their deaths. So, their hearers applaud their doctrine, praise their sayings, and follow them to those chambers of darkness and death, where none of them ever see light. This get's man in honor (or in the fading Glory of his own restored nature, form of Godliness, Image of the earthy, not dull considering, or willing to understand, how little it amounts unto) by fixing there, in unchangeable enmity to God, and the power of Godlines, in the Image of the heavenly. See, for all this; Psal. 49. 12-20. The old foolish King, in all Generations, is at this desperate work; reckon's and call's Christ and his poor wise children, mad; and say's, they have a Devil; Jo. 10. 20. Hos. 9. 7, 8. But, such Kings are the fools and mad-men, beyond words, in refusing all spiritual admonition and counsel, as to the unspeakable gain of parting with that fading law-life (they trust in) for Christ's everlasting Gospel-life and riches. These foolish Kings are in a Toil. The more they struggle, bestirr themselves, and lay about them, to heap up their deceitful riches, and strengthen their false confidences therein, the more are they ensnar'd in the works of their own hands; more and more entangled, catched, and held fast by Satan, in that fading life, he know's will prove eternal death to them, with himself. They strive for Salvation, in direct enmity to God, and that spirit of grace, in which it ever can be found. This is the sad condition (these, the deplorable circumstances) of these old foolish Kings. And all this, under the undeniable experience of the withering and decay's of all, rested in, by them, for Salvation. Here's the case of Teachers and Hearers, at this day, under the blastings of God's displeasure upon them all; and upon all, they trust in. Such a course, finally persisted in, will render them despicable Creatures, to God, Christ, Spiritual Saints, and Angels, for evermore. But, room still is left for a hopefulness of seven thousand, yea, seventy times seven thousand Spiritual Saints, yet involved in the Universal Heresy of the sleshly Professor or Carnal-Gospeller, amongst us. Nothing will doit, with others; neither Words nor Blows. Such a fixed 〈◊〉 Israel, Kinging it in the flourish of their own restored nature, are 〈◊〉 by Edom; Mal. 1. 4. Though they know and say, we are 〈◊〉 (under the blasts of God's displeasure, a clear case) but, we will return and build the desolate places; we will yet build (upon our sandy foundation) and rest confident still, in our desolate, impoverish'd, blasted life of nature. Build, if ye will, while ye will, says 〈◊〉 ; I will throw down all, again, as fast as ye build; as a Land, a 〈◊〉 , or state of unchangeable 〈◊〉 , that I have indignation, forever, against. Obadiah gives us a full and large account of this mystical Edom-spirit in an earthly-minded generation of Angels and Men, represented by literal Esau, or Edom. God sends his ambassador, Obadiah, to declare their offense, and proclaim war against them, for it; v. 1-3. They say in their hearts, who shall bring me down to the ground? This, they Presumptuosly say, in the very day of God's Controversy with them, and Judgments upon them; even when they feel that Power of his, they know there's no bearing up against, or standing before. Yet, they say, who shall bring us down from those Clefts of the Rock, those Mystical high and strong places, we have made (and got for our) Habitation? This high, Rocky Habitation does import that high and Heavenly place or appearance of Christ's truly Rocky new-Creation Life and Glory, they (most wickedly) transform themselves into the likeness and resemblance of, to fight against, even against the true Rock of safety and everlasting Salvation, which the poor wise children trust in, run into, and are safe, for evermore. The old foolish Kings, get into these counterfeit Heavenly places or Gospel-appearances, Satan's prepared strongest holds for them; and there (as fondly imagining themselves out of the reach of God's Wrath or Power ) do they boldly bid defiance to him and his Spiritof Grace; as if they should say, let God do his worst. We fear him not. For, Who can bring us down, from our high and strong place? They have made their Eagles-Nest so high, that they reckon themselves secure from the Power of evil; any Punishment from God. Habac. 2. 9. Thus accoutred and fortified for self-defense, do they most proudly, daringly, and Presumptuously send their challenge, against the Almighty Divine and irresistibly mighty new-Creation Power of Christ and God, as if higher and stronger then both; and so, in no danger of being brought down, by either. Who shall bring us down? Here's their confidence in their Mystical first-Creation Rocks and Mountains, evil Angels, their proud helpers, who must all stoop under Christ's all-powerful Revenging hand (helpers and helped) which when actually upon them, they'll still persist obstinately in their Presumption, saying of themselves, I am God, before him that slay's them; but say's God, thou shalt be seen and found to be but a Man, and no God, in, or under the hand of him that slayeth thee; Ezek. 28. 9. They say, Who shall bring me down? I will, says God; Obad. 4. Though thou exalt thyself, as the Eagle-ey' d Spiritual Saint, as if Wiser then Daniel ( Ezek. 28. 3.) and though thou set thy Nest among the Stars (as if equal to my Holy Angels) thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. Thus will they, by ouvert Acts, give the utmost evidence of their most desperately wicked Hearts; by which, fully to ripen themselves for the final Triumphs of God's Justice, upon them all. Though hand join in hand, Men with Angels, in this desperate Confederacy and Combination, against God most high, for the practice of the utmost Spiritual wickedness against him, they shall not scape unpunished. He is infinitely above them, in all their proud dealings against him; and, will do, as he sees meet, to them all. They pretend to all the safety, Strength, and Wisdom of Spiritual Saints, and Angels. All this will not do their work; but, ripen them for God's strang and wonderful work, in Judgment, upon them all. The things of this Esau-party of Angels and Men, shall be searched out, and their hidden things sought up (v. 6.) their hidden Works of darkness, not only hidden under the form of Godliness and Righteousness of natural Man or Angel, but under the disguise, and counterfeit resemblance of the very Power of Godliness and Righteousness of God. All would not secure their Mystery of Iniquity from God's infinite divine, and all-searching, all-discovering, infallible new-Creature understanding. All their first-Creation Vanities and Deceits, under whatever Artificial Gildings and Glittering appearances, will be discovered, blasted, and destroyed, by him they have to do with. 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. They'l, too late, find it so. All the disguise and deceit, used by them, has been, to manage their design, for offering Violence to their Brother Jacob, God's poor wise children, true Spiritual Saints. For this, Shame shall cover them, and they shall be cut off, for 〈◊〉 ; v. 10. Cruelty, and Persecuting Enmity to them, Christ takes as done to himself. Why Persecutest thou me? Act. 9. 4, 5. Mat. 25. 45. No kindness, from the old foolish Kings, is to be expected by Christ's little ones, his poor wise children. The season, for Jacob' s absolute deliverance, will be the season of Esau' s absolute destruction; Obad. 21. When the Kingdom shall be the Lord's, Savior's (even Christ, with his Angels and Saints) shall come upon Mount Zion, to judge the Mount of Esau. Then shall it appear, whose Rock or 〈◊〉 is strongest, or greatest. Their Rock will dash all Enemies Rocks, in pieces; their Mountain or Kingdom, crush and sink all the Enemies Mountains or Kingdoms, under-Foot; and be set on the top of them, over all. Spiritual Saints, out of all Nations, shall flow unto it (Isai. 2. 2.) as their invincible strength and safety, against (above, and from) all the Powers of darkness, and Gates of Hell, itself. For, on this Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and the House of Jacob and Joseph shall be a fire, and a flame; and, the House of Esau for Stubble, to be devoured by them. Will any doubt or question this? The Mouth of the Lord (the Mouth or new-Creature Wisdom, the Living Word or Supreme Prophet of God, Christ himself) hath spoken it; Obad. 17, 18. The fire and flame of Jacob and Joseph, signify the irresistibly burning and bright-shining Light of Christ's new-Creation, Gospel-Life and Spirit, in true Saints, at that day of Judgment, that shall undeniably evidence the unpardonable wickedness of their implacable Enemies, and irresistibly burn and consume all their Glory and Power, forever. So shall the whole Babylonish party of incorrigibly wicked Angels and Men (as fitted fuel for the said Mystical fire and flame) sink, and never rise more; as is figured in God's denounced Judgment, on Litteral Babylon; Jer. 51. 64. They shall be punished from the presence of the Lord, and Glory of his new- Creation-Power, in himself, in his Saints, and in his Mighty Angels; 2 Thes. 1. 7-9. This get the old foolish Kings, by their obstinate return to build up the desolate places, or that State and Life, in themselves and others, God is blasting and pulling down in them all, by his righteous Judgments upon them. This work, and design of theirs, is the highest aggravation of their wickedness, under a self-condemning Light within them, and the certain effects of God's evident displeasure, upon them. God will render their final destruction, and the cause of it, so manifest to themselves and all others, that they shall be seen by all, to be justly called, the People, against whom he hath Indignation, forever.

And thus have we some account of the poor wise Child, and old foolish King, here; and, what conclusion they will both come to, in Eternal Life or Death.

Vers. XIV. For, out of Prison he cometh to Reign ( Heb. Out of the House of Bond-Men, or Bondage, he goes forth to Reign) Whereas also, he that is Born in his Kingdom, becometh. Poor.

The true Saint (finding the Land of his Nativity, a narrow, strait'ned place; the Life of his own nature, in the Image of the earthy, at best, to be but a State of Enmity, Bondage, and death) come's out of this his own Mystical Country, and Father Adam' s House, or natural State, by a Holy death, to reign, in another, Spiritual, more excellent Life. He find's his own Spirit of nature, in whatever variety of condition, a State of Bondage, or House of Bond-Men; a Prison, a deep, dark Dungeon, a miry Pit of filth and corruption (filth of flesh or spirit, literal or Mystical Sodomy, or both) out of which, by the death thereof, he find's it his unspeakable advantage, to Ascend, come, or be brought forth, into a large place, in a Life, above all death, to Reign; whereas the old foolish King, who will no more be admonished (hear of the Cross, or death-Doctrine of Christ's Gospel-Spirit, on the restored Law-Life of his own, wherein he sets up his Kingdom) becometh Poor. He is, even now, in this World, by Christ, and awak'ned Saints, seen to be Miserable, Poor, Blind, and Naked, as Happy, Rich, Cleer-sighted, and Well-clothed, as he think's himself. He will find this too true, at last, in eternal Poverty, Darkness, Nakedness, and Death. Here are the exceeding different Conclusions, they come to; even the old foolish King (in the birth of a first-Covenant Life, fixing himself there, in unchangeable Enmity to God and the second, the incorrigible first-Creation sinner) and the poor wise Child, broken and undone, as to all the fading Life, Riches, Wisdom, and Glory of his own nature, and so becoming a truly reigning new-Creation Saint, in the spirit of Grace, the reigning, Gospel-Principle. That restored natural State, which the old foolish King sets up in, as his Palace, the House of his Kingdom, to reign in; the poor wise child, find's to be a Prison, and hasten's out of it, as a Spirit of Bondage and Enmity, into the true Palace-Light and Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, whom the Son mak's free indeed. Where the Spirit of the Lord become's the principle of Life and action, there is true liberty. Man's freedom or freewill, at best, is but a Liberty in Word, Figure, Letter, Shadow; not in deed, and in truth. No true freedom, sure, in a Spirit of Bondage, and Enmity to God; a Spirit, that's in Union with World and Devil, as the spirit of nature is, in all mankind, corrupt or righteous: Yea, so far as uncrucifi'd, even in the awak'ned Spiritual Saint, himself; Ro. 7. and Gal. 5. 17. That renewed natural State, the old foolish King make's his Palace, will prove his everlasting prison and dungeon of darkness and death, in which he will be shut up forever, as the evil Angels in their narrow Angelical nature. All of them shall be dealt with, as unchangeable Enemies of God (and that Heavenly Sanctuary-Spirit, that's his true resting place, and the everlasting habitation of blessed Angels and Saints) in Chains of everlasting darkness, in which, reserved to the Judgment of the great day. The unpardonable sin of Men and Angels, is the self-same; even a fixed Enmity against the Holy Ghost, God's Gospel-spirit, or Heavenly Sanctuary, convincingly shown and offered to them all. They were all Created perfect in their own natures, Human and Angelical ( Ezek. 28. 15.) and in Obedient Subjection to the Gospel-Spirit, in the Light of it. But, they soon hated that Life, turned from the Light that showed it them; and this was their Apostasy. All this, from an evil self-love to the fading Life, Wisdom, and Glory of their own nature, which they chose to set up in, in a known contrariety to the revealed mind of God, and unchangeable Enmity to his Spirit of Grace, the very Gospel-High Priest of God, the true Melchizedek, by whose hand, they ought all to have given up that selfish life, in Sacrifice to God. So, become they all, Mystical Sodomit' s; guilty of all the highest and most Criminal, Mystical, Spiritual Wickednesses, Uncleanesses, and abominable Idolatries. God, in Faithfulness, Favor, and Love to his Saints, Plagu's and Chasten's this Rebellious Spirit of nature, this Carnal mind of Enmity, in them; while he gives more then Heart can wish, to it, in-Enemies, to their final ruin; Heb. 12. 5-8. Psal. 73. 7. 14. God's giving the old doting Kings, their Hearts desire, and more, is a sore and heavy Judgment on them, though they take it for a great favor, and Token of his Love to them. Desolation, and an utter consuming of them with Terrors, the true Saint certainly foresees, to be the eternal issue of all their Temporal flourish and Prosperity; v. 18, 19. All, the old foolish King dotes on, the poor wise Child cast's away as Dung. So foolish are the old Mystical Kings, and also literal Heathen Kings of this World, as to bandy together against the Lord and his anointed; as if hopeful to prevail against the infinite Divine Lord, and his Anointed King Jesus, with his Saints and Followers. Their design is, to break their Bands a sunder, and cast away from them all their Cords of restraint upon them. He that sits in Heaven, laugh's at all these foolish Kings. He will speak to them, in his Wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Ps. 2. 1-5. Have they an arm, like God? Can they thunder with a Voice, like him? What madness, to think of prevailing in this Rebellious Insurrection and Contest against the Almighty Divine, and Irresistibly Mighty New-Creation Power of Christ? These old foolish Human Kings, will all fare as their evil Angelical King, the King of all such Kings, or Rebellious Children of Pride; Job 41. 34. They'l all 〈◊〉 into the same Condemnation with him, will all have their Portion in the same Lake of Fire and Brimstone, the Tophet, prepared of old, for them all. They'l be all finally stripped of all Power of resisting the Will of God, and forced to suffer the same to be done upon them, in 〈◊〉 Wrath. Then, with their everlasting Poverty, will they have unutterable Shame and Confusion of Face. All, they refused obediently to part with, will be forcibly torn from them, in final Wrath. All their fading goodness or beauty, 〈◊〉 Consume in their eternal Grave, from their dwelling, their whole Mystical Houses, earthly Habitations, or persons; all the goodness of that natural State, they chose for their dwelling; Ps. 49. 14. There's no middle State, forever, between the poor wise Child that will be eternally rich, in Heaven; and, the old rich foolish King, that will be eternally poor, in Hell. The poor wise Child believe's, and follow's the Faithful Sayings of Christ's Spiritual Law, or Gospel-spirit, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. He is content, willing; yea, glad to suffer and die with Christ, as to his short Law-lived nature, that he may Reign with him, in his long-lived Spirit of Grace; 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. 〈◊〉 we be dead, and 〈◊〉 with Christ, we shall live and reign with him: There's for the poor wise Child. If we deny him, he will also deny us: Ther's for the old foolish King. The 〈◊〉 , by death, come's out of his Prison-State, or natural Spirit of Bondage, to Reign: The latter, King's it, like an old doting Fool, in his Prison-Spirit of Bondage and Death. These old foolish Kings, the Mystical Princes of this World, under the Devil, by God's Permission, have been the self-confident Persecutors and Murderers of Christ and his Spiritual Saints, in all Ages. Cain, a first-Covenant Worshipper of God, began this work, on Abel, a second. 〈◊〉 winding up of all, true Abel-Saints will be the Fowls of Heaven, that are to feed upon (or delight themselves (in a Union of Mind with God) in the final Slaughter of) all such Mystical and Litteral Kings and People of the Earth, as are found in unchangeable Enmity to God and them. Rev. 19. 17-21.

Vers. XV. I considered all the living which walk under the Sun, with the second Child that shall stand up in his stead.

Here's Solomon's confirmation of what has been said; his judgment upon the whole matter, in sanctuary-light. In this, he considered all the living, under the mystical first-creation-Sun, walking under the Conduct (or in the Light) of the first-covenant spirit, as therein made alive again, in some degree, by the Redeemer. By the unlawful use of this restored Life or Light of the Law, in enmity to God and his Gospel-spirit of Grace, do they bring themselves into everlasting poverty and nakedness. Their immortal spirit (as thus pleasing themselves, by taking up their rest for salvation, in the restored natural righteous Life thereof) he considers, with their whole man, in that state they shall be caused to stand up in, forever, in the stead of what they were, in this mortal World and Body. This second Child, or state of Man in the Resurrection, will, to the Old foolish King, be found a state of everlasting darkness and death, in a Resurrection of damnation, under final and unquenchable wrath. The full infliction of wrath is reserved for this second Child, in the said Resurrection-state of the whole Man. This second Child, or state of Man, is that, in which he must answer, by way of suffering, for all the evil done by him, in his natural body or slate, on earth, through a willful abuse of the first-covenant Life of the Law, in unchangeable enmity to God and the Gospel. This, comes the said old foolish King, to.

Vers. XVI. There is no end of all the People, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after, shall not rejoice in him: surely this also is vanity, and vexation of Spirit.

Solomon (having considered the present generation of old foolish kings, in his own day, upon earth) tells us, the case was always's the same, in former, and will so be, in all after-times of this world. So, these two last Verses of this Chapter, are a farther enlargement, as to the Character, and future condition of the Old foolish King, to Eternity. As to the poor wise Child, he asserted him, in general, to be better than the Old foolish King; verse. 13. Then, verse. 14. gives his reason for it; because he comes out of his Prison to reign, with Christ, in a state of eternal Life, absolute freedom, and true blessedness. There's enough for him; all that need be said of him. But the Old foolish King (verse. 13.) declared in general (verse. 14.) amidst all his conceited riches, to be poor; he farther signifies (verse. 15.) that he will so be found, to all eternity. And then (verse. 16.) that this is the Case of all the like old foolish Kings, in former generations, from the beginning of the World, and will be found the Case of all of the like spirit, in after-Generations, to the World's end.

To the first of these, he speaks in the former part of this Verse; There is no end of all the People, even of all that have been before them. There's no end of their immortal beings, and exquisite sensibleness of their whole Persons, Body, Soul, and Spirit, in a Resurrection-State of Damnation. Annihilation-death they'll ever desire, but never find. Such death will ever flee from them. And Eternal Life they can never have. For, though in a general, confused, random-guess at happiness, everyone would be happy; that Life, in which true happiness ever can be found, are, and will they be found in a Spirit of unchangeable enmity to. Such life, then, can they never have; nor, such death, as annihilation of their beings, or insensibleness in their beings, amounts unto, however hotly pursued, desired, or sought by them. There's no end of their being, nor yet of their most exquisite sensiblenes therein, under the tormenting wrath and fiery indignation of God, forever. The immortality of their whole being, in a resurrection of damnation, will hold them close toit, under punishment, forever, in hell, for the ill Use they made of their immortal Spirits, and mortal first-covenant righteous life thereof, while in their mortal Body's, upon earth. The second Child or whole man, body, Soul, and Spirit (put together again in a resurrection-state of immortality, as to being) is to answer for all, done in the mortal body, or natural state and life of all; 2 Cor. 5. 10. and Ec. 12. 14. Thus will it be with the Old foolish King, forever, as to being. But, as to that Mortal, changable first-Covenant righteous Life (which he pleased and flatt'red himself with, as an endless Life of true blessedness) that will come to an end. He will find himself rid of all the fading good, and comfort of that, which he would fain keep; and will be kept up, forever, in a most desolate wretched State of being, under wrath, which he would fain be rid of. So, is he gone, every way. All he would not have, he must have, and that, forever: and all he would have, he will forever be deprived of, without the least relief (when Tormented in the flames of God's Wrath) so much as by a drop of Water to cool his Tongue; Luk. 16. 24.

The mortal first-Covenant Life of his immortal Spirit, Exspires and Vanishes; dies away, and ceases, with the mortal Life of his Body. So, such wise, old foolish Kings ( wise in Christ (1 Cor. 4. 10.) as to first-Covenant attainments, and fixing there, in Enmity to the second) will die, and perish forever, as the Fool, or Brutish Sinner of the Gentil's. Yea, worse will be his final Doom, of the two. The righteous Mystical Sodomite (in the form of Godliness, righteousness of Man, in his own restored nature, but Enmity to the Power of it and righteousness of God, in his Gospel Life and Spirit of Grace, which is filth of Spirit) will have worse on it, then the Litteral Sodomite, in filth of flesh. His greater advance, and 〈◊〉 advantages toward Salvation, neglected, and abused, do highly aggravate his evil of Sin, and accordingly will be his evil of punishment, forever. After all Exaltation, with Capernaum, in first-Covenant-Life, and second Covenant or Gospel-Light, even up to Heaven (so as 〈◊〉 to see, and then obstinately refuse God's only appointed way of entrance; the death of their earthly spirit of nature, for the life of his Heavenly Spirit of Grace) will all such Mystical Sodomit's, be tumbled or thrust down to Hell, where it shall be more tolerable for Litteral Sodom, then for them; Mat. 11. 20-24. Luk. 10. 12-15. Christ himself gives the reasons for this difference in Punishment; v. 21. 23. and Luk. 12. 47, 48. He that (clearly) know's his Master's will, and does it not, shall be beaten with many Stripes: He that does not (so clearly) know it, shall be beaten with fewer. For, to whom much is given, of him shall be much required; as the case is with Men; to whom they have committed much, of him they will ask (or expect) the more. Man, in the dark State of his corrupted nature, know's not his Master's will, at that rate, as the old foolish King (in the restored Life of the first, and light of the second Covenant) does. By abusing the Life of the first, in Rebelliously keeping it up (and himself therein) against the second (when discovered by its own light, to him, to be that which cannot be received by him, but on his obedient surrender of the Life of the first) does he deserve a sorer Punishment then the common Sinner against the Law; Heb. 10. 28, 29. For, he Sinn's, more immediately and knowingly, against the Holy Ghost, or Gospel Life of the Son of God in Heaven, even the Man Christ as risen from the dead, into that Life, wherein he lives for evermore: The other, against the Son of Man on Earth, or that Law-Life of nature (the highest Edition of the Law) which Christ took, and was found in, as made Flesh; and, which he Crucified and abolished out of our nature, in his own person, in order to bring it forth again, in the new, Gospel-Edition of it, by a new-Creation, in unchangeable Harmony with his Originally everlasting righteous, spiritual, new-Creation, Gospel-Life. So only, can (or ever could) first-Covenant Law-Life, come, in him, or in us, to dwell, forever, with new-Covenant Gospel-Life, as Brethren in Unity. This unchangeable Union of the natural and spiritual Man, in Christ and true Zion-Saints, is pleasant in God's sight, and of everlasting advantage to Man; Psal. 133. 1. For so, and so only (by the death of the natural, and Resurrection of it, into the Life of the Spiritual Man in the Saint, and the Spiritual Man in Christ's person) come the poor (but truly wise) Crucified, dead Children, to live forever, in unchangeable Union and Harmony of Mind, with the infinite Divine Spirit of God most high.

Christ enlighten's every Man that cometh into the World; Jo. 1. 9. None then, are absolutely in the dark; stark blind, wholly ignorant of his will. Even the Gentil's, all Heathens, have the light or Law of nature within them, accusing or excusing their thoughts, Words, and Actions, as found compliant with, or contrary thereunto; Ro. 2. 15. God's rule, given in the Scripture's of truth, in reference to all Men, is this. If any be unfaithful, in, and to their little, Dimme, rational Candle-Light, in some degree, set up a fresh, by the Redeemer, in all men: If they do allow themselves in a constant course of Rebelling against the same, without any remorse or change of mind; they'd not be true to higher natural Light, in the actual Privileges of a first-Covenant Life; and less yet, to the higher, Spiritual, new-Covenant, Gospel-Light, if not only offered but actually received by them; Luk. 16. 10, 11. He that's unjust in the least, is (or will be) unjust also, in much. Those that are not faithful in the unrighteous Mammon, the fading Light, or also Life, and inward Riches of their own restored Nature (which yet is but a Spirit or State of Bondage to them, and Enmity to God, at best; as in Paul, before Gospel-Conversion) who will commit to their Trust, the true Riches? Those that do not rightly use any fading Light, Wisdom, Life, Riches, in their own Spirit of Nature, by such active Obedience as is performable therein and with, while that is God's Dispensation to them; and then, by such passive Obedience, in despising, surrendering, and giving all up, as Dung, with Paul, when God requires it, in order to receive his more excellent, spiritual, heavenly Gospel-Life, in a Resurrection-state ( Phil. 3. 6-10.) how should they ever come at, or be possessed of the true durable Riches, and everlasting Life? The only possible, undispensable way and means for this, in the declared Methods of God's Wisdom, is the obediently, surrend'red natural State, as to all the fading Life, Glory, Wisdom, Righteousness, and Riches thereof; even the Death and Loss of all, in Sacrifice to God, as Christ himself did, when he had taken our fleshly nature, in the full Glory and unspotted Purity thereof. Eternal, Gospel-Life, is, by the Wisdom of God, or Gospel-spirit of Christ, freely proclaimed and offered to all men, Prov. 1. 20-23. and 8. 1-9.

The old foolish Kings, the highest and most criminal provoking Sinners, that receive and abuse the Life of the first, and Light of the second Covenant, will fare worst under final Wrath. All others; fixed common Sinners of the Gentil's, literal Sodom, will have bad enough on it, under their fewer wrathful Stripes, or lesser Torments, in Eternal Death. But, the hottest fiery Indignation, and Mystical Flames of Wrath, in the lowest Hell, will be, forever, upon the old foolish Kings. Sore, amazing Tydings for such self-confident, presumptuous Sinners, as reckon their Plea good, for entrance into the Kingdom of God. Yet thus it will be. For the mouth of the Lord himself hath spoken it. Mat. 7. 21-23. and 11. 23, 24. Mar. 6. 11. Luk. 10. 12. All first-Covenant Saints, in Holy Flesh, that finally refuse the whole new-Covenant Gospel-Testimony, the Words of God's Holy Spirit, and Life thereof; this will most certainly be theircase. Easier will it be for Litteral 〈◊〉 (Profane, Brutisied Sinners, in the corrupt Spirit of nature) then for them. It had been better for them, never to have known the way of everlasting truth and righteousness, then after they have known the truth (or Gospel-Life of Christ, in its own Light and Beamings forth upon them) to turn from the Holy 〈◊〉 of God, therein, and willfully Rebel against it; 2 Pet. 2. 21. Heb. 10. 26, 27. Isai. 1. 20. Much sorer Punishment belongs to fixed Sinners against the Holy Ghost, than 〈◊〉 sinners against the Son of Man, forever; v. 29. Such recompense of both their errors as is meet, will they all receive, both Litteral and Mystical Sodom, even the Vengeance of Eternal Fire; Ro. 1. 27. Jude 7. None, fixed in Enmity to God, can reasonably expect less then the unchangeable Wrath of God, upon them. There remain's to them all, one and toother, nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and Fiery Indignation, to devour them. All foolish Kings, that choose to live and walk contrary to God, in a known Spirit of Enmity, and, at an all-adventures with him ( Levite. 26. 21. 23) in their starting ( Ps. 78. 57) unsteddy Spirit of nature (when offered his constant, right, steady Gospel-Spirit of Grace, that David Pray'd for, Ps. 51. 10.) he will walk contrary to them ( Levite. 26. 24.) in an unchangeable dispensation of Wrath; and, but at an all-adventures with them, while that first-Covenant Principle, is his dispensation to them, and their active obedience required therein. When they break with him, he will break with them. They shall know his Breach of Promise, therein. They break the first-Covenant, by refusing Christ in the second; Jer. 31. 32. They break it, by keeping up that Life he crucified; and warn's them to depart out of, as not their rest, but sore destruction; Mic. 2. 10. 'It is polluted with filth of spirit, though, in part, cleansed from filth of flesh.

The evils, done by man, in his first state, and mortal body, upon earth, must be answered for, by the whole man, as the second child that shall stand up forever, in his stead, in a resurrection of damnation. No old foolish King, or other fixed sinner, at present, upon earth, before, or after, from the beginning to the end of this World, shall ever find cause to rejoice in him, that is, in this second Child, that shall stand up in everyone of them, forever, instead of the mortal life and state of their whole man, in this world. They shall all, and everyone of them, find all the essentials of their personal constitution, Body, Soul, and Spirit, put together again in a resurrection of damnation (and a most exquisite everlasting sensibleness of all) to pay off the reckoning in the world to come, for all done in this mortal world, and life of all, under final wrath, as vessels of dishonor and everlasting contempt. Christ has besought them by his ambassadors of grace (while it was called today, with them, in this world) to listen to his voice, submit to his terms (that himself obediently submitted to, in our nature) his declared method and way of saving them: but they would not. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, says he (meaning the mystical earthly-Jerusalem party of men, under law or gospel, Jews or Christian Gentiles, the old foolish kings, reigning in a first covenant righteous life, or image of the earthy, before absolutely fixed there, against the second, and image of the heavenly) How often would I have gathered thy Children together, as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, and ye would not? Behold, therefore, your House is left unto you, desolate; Mat. 23. 37, 38. Luk. 13. 34, 35. How oft would I have gathered thee, under the protecting shadow and cherishing influence of my divine and creature-wings, my almighty divine, and irresistibly mighty new-creation Power, for your security and everlasting blessedness; and ye would not? Therefore is your house, or immortal being ( that ye have consulted shame to, by your evil coveting, choosing, and delighting in the fading perishing riches and glory thereof, in preference to my durable and everlasting, when offered you; Hab: 2. 9) is left unto you desolate, in everlasting contempt; destitute of all good, and in utmostmisery under the positive 〈◊〉 of the wrath of God, for evermore. But, Christ does not rise up, and shut the door of the kingdom upon any men ( Luke 13. 25) nor swear in his wrath, they shall never enter into his rest, till he hath waited to be gracious, and tried all ways and means for their good, they can wish or desire; Isai. 5. 4.

There's no end of all the people, no not of incorrigibly wicked Angels and Men (fixed in their first-Creation Spirit of nature, against God and his new-Creature Spirit of Grace) either as to their beings, numbers, or 〈◊〉 . If Christ's little Flock, from amongst Men, the few that are saved, be a numberless Multitude ( Rev. 7. 9.) what must the many that Perish, be? Mat. 7. 13, 14. Endless Sufferings, will the old foolish Kings (after their self-confident race in Holy Flesh, form of godliness, all along this World, against the Power of it) find, the due recompense of their error; the just fruit of their own doings; the most sad and dismal end, issue, and result of all their sore labor and travel in their own nature, under the mystical first-creation Sun-light, or first-covenant Spirit, fixed, by them, in enmity to God and the 〈◊〉 ; Prov. 1. 31. Isa. 3. 11. This will be found the Case of this serpentine seed of first-covenant Professors, fixed in enmity to the second, in all former generations, in the present, and in the succeeding generations, that come after this, to the very end of this world, under Satan's reign. They have been, are, and will be found in a universal contradiction to the Gospel-Truths, and Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom. They greedily suck and drink in the old serpent's poisonous doctrine's of devils, and considently teach the same, in a known unchangeable enmity to God. And, this renders them, serpents, devils, a generation of vipers, that cannot escape the damnation of hell, the wrath to come; Mat. 23. 33. These old foolish Kings are the beloved darlings of the old serpent, the king of all such kings, and self-exalting children of pride ( Job. 41. 34.) who therefore fall into the same condemnation with him, the same Tophet or place of torment; the same lake of mystical fire and brimstone, forever; Rev. 19. 20. Mat. 25. 41.

These old Kings, in the old or first-Creation State, are the choicest Subjects and most creditable Instruments, to carry on the old Serpent's mischievous designs and intendments, against all the Gospel-Doctrine of the Kingdom of Christ, and all Gospel-Saints, from Abel, downwards; from the beginning to the end of this World. They directly and knowingly choose rather to be Born of the Devil's Spirit of unchangeable Enmity to God, then of Christ's Gospel-Spirit (that's in unchangeable Union with him) as the principle of their whole Life, Desire, Thought, Word, and Action; of all their Preaching and Praying, shall I say? Why not? Can they speak truly good things, out of the abundance of their Heart, that's in Union with Satan, Establish'd with his Perishing Meats (as carried about, with his divers and strang Doctrine's) not with God's Grace; contrary to what's advised and required; Heb. 13. 9. Can such Mystical evil Trees bring forth any good Fruit, to God? Will not all, they speak and do, be continually evil? And, must they not suffer for all? Lie down in sorrow, under Wrath, forever? All they have rested on, and trusted in, for happiness, proves (as they have been sufficiently warned) Vanity; and so, must needs leave them, in eternal Vexation of spirit.

Vers. I. Keep thy Foot, when thou goest to the House of God; and be more ready to hear, then to give the Sacrifice of Fools: For, they consider not that they do evil.

HEre's the Result and Use of all, declared in the fore-going Chapters, as to the Vanity and vain Labor of Man, under the Light of the Mystical first-Creation Sun, or Spirit of the Law, in and under which, Man and Angel were, at first, Created; and Christ, Born; Gal. 4. 4. Paul draw's the same useful Instruction, from the doctrine of the 11 former Chapters, to the Roman's (Chap. 12. 1.) for quitting, or giving up the same earthly natural State (the same thing with the Foot, here) when restored (or made, again, Holy Flesh, the righteous natural Body) in Sacrifice to God, as our reasonable Service, and true free-will Offring, even the Offring up of our free-will to good and evil, that we may receive his free-will to Good only, the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, with which the Son makes free indeed, all that are Born of his Gospel-Spirit of overlasting righteousness and truth. First, then, consider what this Foot is, or signifies; and secondly, what's the House of God, it's to be kept out of, as not fit to enter.

1. This Foot 〈◊〉 the whole Man, in a first-Covenant Life. The Heel, Satan is permitted to bruise ( Gen. 3. 15.) is of the same extent, and comprehensive significancy. And, so were the Shoes, Moses was Commanded to put from off his Feet, where the ground was Holy; Exod. 3. 5. This Foot, or natural Spirit of Man (corrupt or righteous, being found in Enmity to God, at best, as in Paul, before his Gospel-Conversion) can bear no part in the right Worshipping of God, which is wholly to be performed in Spirit and Truth, Christ's new-Creature Gospel-spirit of everlasting righteousness and truth. The infinite Divine Spirit and Father, requires all Men and Angels to Worship him in the Son's Gospel-Creature-Spirit of truth. How can Man please him, in duties of Worship, or any other Performances towards him or Man, in his own Spirit of Enmity? Such Enmity, as is no otherwise extinguishable, but by 〈◊〉 death of nature, being absolutely inseparable from the Life of it, at best. Christ's Gospel-Spirit of Love, in unchangeable Union of Mind, and Will, Desire, and Thought, with God (when it become's the sole Principle of Life, Desire, Thought, and Action, in Man) will perfectly and completely fulfil all Law, perform all duty to God and Man, to God's well-pleasing, and the Performer's certain and everlasting Salvation. Man is not to come, in his own Spirit of nature (however Wise, Strong, Rich, and Honorable in Christ, by his first-Covenant-Communications to him, as a fleshly Bride-groom, and 〈◊〉 at his earthly Table) into the new-Creation Sanctuary of God, the everlasting Righteous Fountain Gospel-Spirit of Christ. The Courts of this Sanctuary, are too Holy Ground, for anything that's but changably good (as Man and Angels, before the fall) or also, positively evil (as nature corrupt or righteous, in all Men, since the fall) to tread on. For a Man, in a Spirit, that's a Root of Bitterness, bearing Gall and Wormwood, Briars and Thorns, in a continued Enmity to God (every Imagination, Purpose, Desire, and Thought thereof, being only evil, continually; the old World's case, before the Flood, Gen. 6. 5.) to appear in the unchangeably righteous new-Creation Sanctuary of God, what a strang, incongruous thing and sight would it be? If any, filled and Clothed (by Satan's 〈◊〉 , and their own consent or choice) with a Spirit of unchangeable Enmity to God, do (as 'twere) crowd in, and appear at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and his Bride, in the Kingdom of his Father, see what's like to become of him ( Mat. 22. 11, 12.) Friend, will the King Jesus say, how camest thou in hither, not having a Wedding Garment? And, he was Speech-less; had nothing to say. Then, say's the King to his Servants (the Holy Angels of his Power, that excel, in strength, all fixed first-Creation Enemies of God and the second) bind him Hand and Foot, and cast him into outer Darkness, where shall be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth, to all Eternity. Let the fixed first-Creation Sinner and Enemy of God, in his form of Godliness, Righteousness of Man, do what he can, get where he will, he is gone forever. No Stranger was to come into the Litteral Sanctuary, under the Law, the Type of this Spiritual, Gospel-Sanctuary-Spirit of God, in Christ's Person, and in his Saints, the lively stones of the House, upon the Rock, that Christ is the living head-corner Stone, and Foundation of. He spirit's, influences and enliven's all the rest; hold's them fitly compacted together, and firmly cimented, in his one Gospel-spirit of new-Creature-Life, that's a Universal Bond of Love and Peace, to and with God, Christ, and one other, for evermore. The Foot, Heel, or Shoe, that's to be kept back, laid aside, or put off (that we may be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, and so, walk orderly, with a right Foot, according to the Gospel of the Grace of God; or, on a new foot of account, in the single-ey'd discerning, strength, and Power of Christ's Gospel-spirit) is that Flesh and Blood, which cannot enter into and inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15. 50.) or tread the Courts of his Heavenly Sanctuary. Angels, in the purity of their first-Creation-make and changable Life, were to cover their Faces, as not fit to appear before God, to behold (or be beheld by) him, therein. And, say's God to the Jews, when ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hands, to tread my Courts? Isai. 1. 12. No right, acceptable Worshipping God, or doing anything else, but in the Gospel-spirit of Truth, that spirit of Love, that's the complete fulfiller of the whole Law; even of all that God requires of us. Sure, the natural spirit, at best, that's a spirit of Enmity to God, and a bloody-minded Spirit against his true Saints, can do no such thing. It's hands are full of blood. It breathed out Threatenings and Slaughters against the Disciples of the Lord, even in Paul, who had therein, lived, according to his light, in all good conscience; ( Act. 23. 1. exerciseable in the activity and restored Life thereof) as a strict, circumspect Opposer, and Suppressor of the vile Affections and Lusts of his corrupt nature. This Foot, then, is to be cut off, cast away, laid aside, by us, as not fit to perform any part in the true Worshipping of God. Man is not to come alive into the House of God, but be brought into it, by the High Priest, Christ himself, dead (as to his own Law-Life and principle of active obedience) and quick'ned up into his Gospel-Life and Principle of active obedience, wherein alone 'tis possible to please God, or be saved. Passive obedience is the highest service, performable in (or with) Angel's or Man's natural, first-Creation Life or Make. For, by this, the guilty Sinner, the Belial-Party, the Enemy of God, is slain; and all Power of Sinning, abolished, forever; Ro. 6. 7. 1 Pet. 4. 1. The obedient death of the guilty and continually sinning natural Spirit, is more pleasing to God, and profitable to Man, then any Obedience or Duty, performable (in its kind) in the Life and Activity thereof. The House of Mourning or Death, as to the first-Covenant Principle of Life, is better than the House of Feasting, in the utmost Flourish, Prosperity, Wisdom, Glory, and Fruitfulness thereof, or Joy therein. The death of the natural State, at best (from which, since the fall, Enmity to God is inseparable) obediently yielded to, must needs be more acceptable to God, then the Life thereof, or anything performable therein. From Love to God's Mercy (or the unspeakable gift of new Creation Life) to submit to, yea, and join with God, in doing justly (or Executing his righteous Judgment and Sentence of Death, on our fleshly, natural, law-state) in the awak'ned Life and Power of his Gospel-Spirit, in us; this is the Sum of all, God requir's of us, as the terms and condition of our full entering into (and striking) the new and everlasting Covenant with him, Establish'd in all things, and sure. This doing justly, in humbling our guilty natural Man or Spirit, the Enemy of God, even to the death thereof; and, living wholly to him, in our never-sinning Spiritual Man, or his never-sinning Spirit (1 To. 3. 9.) is all, he requir's of us; Mic. 6. 8. Man must quit his own ( cieled, Hag. 1. 4.) adorned House, or natural State, to enter into God's Spiritual House, or new-Creation Sanctuary. His own House, or nature, is not (ought not to be reckoned) his dwelling place, or state of true rest, for him. Men will find all their Labor to keep up that building, with the fading glory and riches thereof, but a wearying themselves for very Vanity ( Hab. 2. 13) a disquieting themselves in Vain, by heaping up Treasur's ( Ps. 39. 6.) for their own destruction, in the day of wrath. This, will Man get, by coveting an evil covetousness to his own House, or natural State, and setting his Nest on high, as vainly puffed up in his self-confident fleshly mind, and thinking to secure himself from the Power of evil, the Wrath of God; Hab. 2. 9. He say's in his Heart, Who shall bring me down to the Ground? Obad. 3. I will saith the Lord; v. 4. We must depart out of our own Country and Fathers House (the Life and State of our own nature, at best, in but the restored Image of the earthy, or first Adam; form of godliness, righteousness of Man, a glory, a wisdom, to be Crucified, Defac'd, Obliterated, and done away; a Visage, a Beauty, to be Marr'd and Spoild) in order to enter into God's own Country ( the far Country, the Man Christ is gone into, before us, to prepare Places or Mansions of Glory, for us; Luk. 19. 12. To. 14. 2, 3. We must depart from (or out of) our own House (or nature, however Ciel'd, Adorn'd, Swept, Cleansed from the filth of flesh, and Garnished with Spiritual Light, or best enlightening Gifts, short of the more excellent Spiritual Life and way; 1 Cor. 12. 31. called Love; 1 Cor. 13.) in order to our right and worthy entering or going into God's Spiritual Sanctuary, or House, to Worship. Our own Country, Father's House, Image of the earthy, first-Covenant Life of our nature, righteousness of Man, Spiritual Conviction-Light, &c. All these make up but the Foot (the whole Life and State of nature, at best) that's to be cut off, and cast away, as loss and dung, to enter in a Resurrection-Life, with the Man Christ, into his Father's House, where are many Mansions. And so, come we to the second thing, here; the House, Man is to keep his Foot from, or out of, when he goes into it.

2. This House is the Supreme, original new-creature Spirit of Christ, the Living Creature-Book, Word, or Wisdom of God, in which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Written out the whole Counsel of his Divine Mind. And, the Man Christ is the Supreme Prophet, Mouth, and Infallible Declarer thereof, to Angels and Men. Christ's whole Creature-nature is the immediate Temple and Sanctuary of his own Divinity, set up by his Divine Hand or Workmanship, from everlasting, in Personal Union with the Divinity; Prov. 8. 22, 23. This was Typed out, by the Litteral Sanctuary, under the Law. No Strangers, no, nor 〈◊〉 , while unclean, might Approach, or enter into it. The polluted Heathen-Stranger, and the unclean 〈◊〉 , in Mystery and Truth, signify the natural Man, corrupt or righteous. This is the stranger and Fool, here meant, that (being altogether ignorant of this new-creation Sanctuary, of God's own pitching, not Man's; Heb. 8. 2.) is ready, with Paul, to think he does God service, in denying and opposing this his own house, and himself, the Divine Inhabitant thereof, in personal Union with it; as also, in Persecuting to the death, true Saints, that own and assert such a House, as Partakers of, living, walking, and speaking in the spirit of it. The new-Creation Sanctuary-Spirit, the Creature-word, Wisdom, or Hand of God, set up from everlasting by God's own very Divine hand, was the immediate hand by which the whole old or first-Creation World was made ( Isai. 66. 1, 2.) Men, Angels, &c. which, therefore, are all to be rolled up and laid aside, by God, as an old Garment ( Heb. 1. 10-12.) and in Harmony of Mind with him, and obedience to him, are the life and all the best and most glittering things thereof, to be laid aside, and parted with, by Angel and Man, to partake of his Heavenly Sanctuary-Spirit, and Live with him in that place of his and their true rest, for evermore. All the Heavenly, Eternal things of his Sanctuary, seem Foolish, Idle Dreams, (which Men conspire to kill them, for, Gen. 37. 19, 20.) and all right Words concerning them, Vain or Lying Words (as Pharaoh called Moses his Messages from God) to the most enlight'ned natural Man, who is wholly ignorant and in the dark, as to all Divine and Spiritual Creature-things of Christ and God; 1 Cor. 2. 14. 'It is a vain imagination, when Man thinks to Prie into, and View the most Holy things of God's Spiritual Sanctuary, in the highest Wisdom and best Light of his but restored natural state. If he finally persist in such a Presumptuous mistake, he will meet with a final Blasting upon him, to Eternal Death, figured by the fifty Thousand Presumptuous Peepers into the Ark of the Lord, who were smitten by him, to a Temporal death of their bodies; 2 Sam. 6. 19.) All the best things in the first-Creation-make and life of Angel and Man, are of no nearer kin to God's new-Creation Sanctuary and Holy things thereof, then as figures and shadows of them. The rational powers and things of man, are not more hid from the brute beast; then the Spiritual things of-God, from the wisest and most rational man; 1 Cor. 2. 10, 11. 14. 'It is too painful, yea, 'tis impossible for man (Save in sanctuary-life and light, Ps. 73. 16, 17) to discern the spiritual, new-Creation things of God's House; and, less yet, the deep things of his very infinite Divinity. The truly Spiritual Man, Judges (or discern's and sees) all things (1 Cor. 2. 15.) Divine, Spiritual, and natural. The highest first-Covenant-Saint, in Holy Flesh, Righteousness of Man, is a Fool, a Stranger, an unreasonable Man, a Profane Infidel, as to all Gospel-Things and Truths. Such troublesome self-confidents, Paul desired to be delivered from (2 Thes. 3. 2. and 2 Tim. 4. 14, 15.) as most impertinent, irreconcilable Babblers and Disputers against all those Gospel-Truths, or Sanctuary-things, they bid at, and pretend to the knowledge of. That contradicting Wisdom and very Understanding, they use in the dispute, is to be abolished by the Cross, as the Blasphemous Enemy of God, and all his Gospel-Truths. Thus Paul found it in himself, till Christ knocked down that earthly Wisdom, and caused him to turn from that fleshly Mind, Understanding, or Principle of reasoning, in obedience to his heavenly; Act. 9. 3-6. Gal. 1. 16. Christ himself, in the flesh, turned away his foot or feet, his own fleshly or natural understanding and will, the two Feet of the Living Soul (on which it walks abroad, to View, Desire and feed upon worldly Vanities, Perishing Meats) refusing to think the thoughts, do the will, or speak the words thereof, but the will and words of him that sent him, by Crucifying that Will and Understanding, utterly Abolishing all the Life, Desire, Thought, and Motion thereof. And, such death is the only Consecrated Living way, into the new-Creation Sanctuary-Life; Heb. 9. 12. and, 10. 19, 20.

The natural man, even in Christ's person, however perfect, was a prohibited Stranger, amongst the rest, that might not enter into his own new-creation Sanctuary, House, or Temple, in the single, changable, first-covenant law-life, in and under which, made. 'Twas impossible, even for him, as so, to enter. By Death, he ascended into it, and set it open, to his followers in the like Death of nature. Such obedient Death is the only way to eternal life. Never was there any other way to it, for any Angel or Man. That law-life, that was but a changable shadow, in him and in us, must pass (by the death of nature in both and all) under the cross-work of the Gospel-spirit, that the life which is true in him, may be true in us, also; 1 Joh. 2. 8. and 5. 20. In Scripture sense, all's true, in the new-creation; all, shadow, in the old. True Life, Light, Wisdom, Righteousness, is found in the new, only. All things eternal, things of God, are there. All the Wisdom, Life, Light, Righteousness, Glory, things of Man or Angel, in the old, are but shadows of the substantial things of God, in the new. The changable, earthy Image of God, and righteous first-covenant Life of the Law (Man was at first created and set up in) is but shadow of the new-creature life and Image of the heavenly, or second Adam. All, in the former, are things of man, Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, of Man: all in the latter, things of God, Life, Wisdom, Righteousness of God. A zeal for God's heavenly, Spiritual things, must eat up our earthly, or natural. The fire of his heavenly Sanctuary-Spirit, must consume our Earthly Life and state, eat up all mortal desire and thought, root and all. By such destruction of our flesh, or natural state, can we come to be Saved in that Spirit. We must put off the old Man, the Image of the earthy, or can never put on the new, and Image of the heavenly. The Earthly House and Life of this present tabernacle must be dissolved, that we may have that Building of God, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; 2 Cor. 5. 1. Think any to enter into that House, any otherwise, then Christ himself could? to go whole and unmaimed into it, in that Life or natural state, he crucified? Gal. 3. 1. Nature, in all men, is an enemy to God, and his Sanctuary-Spirit. Paul, in righteous nature, was (in union of mind with the Devil) an enemy to the Spirit of Grace, to God, Christ, all Gospel-Saints and truths; a stranger to all things divine and Spiritual.

God the Mediator, in his changable Angelical nature, from the beginning; and human, toward the latter end of this world, did cease, by a Holy death, from all the works of both, in the activity of the changable principle of first-covenant Life. Angels and Men must do (and suffer) likewise, or never enter into his rest; Heb. 4. 4. 10. The mystical Sabbath-Law of the Cross, upon the works and and working Spirit of nature, is expressed by turning away our foot from the Lord's Sabbath, from delighting in our own will and way, 〈◊〉 our own Pleasure, and speaking our own Words; Isai. 58. 13, 14. This is the very same Death-doctrine, and work of the Cross on the whole natural Spirit, at best. The Obedient submitting thereto, is the keeping our foot from the Lord's house, and turning it away from his Sabbath. Those that honor God herein, he will put everlasting honor upon, lifting them up over the heads of all earthly powers, human or angelical, called the high places of the earth.

He will cause them to ride upon these high places, that have had their turns to ride over their heads; Psal. 66. 12. But those, that from a fond love to their own vain life, despise the Lord's sanctuary life, shall be lightly esteemed (1 Sam. 2. 30) yea, made vessels of dishonor, and everlasting contempt. The Spiritual, Heavenly Original Gospel-Light of Christ's Sabbath or Sanctuary-Spirit, is the day the Lord hath made, in which Saints will rejoice and be glad, for evermore; Psa. 118. 24. This heavenly Sanctuary and Sabbath, that's the Lord's doing (his own immediate divine Workmanship, from everlasting; Prov. 8. 22, 23.) is marvelous in our eyes. The earthly Wisdom of man, at best, despises and wonders at this heavenly creature-wisdom of God. The Orthodox human builders of a first-covenant Church (which their Wisdom Judges, asserts and warns, firm and safe, for Salvation) reject and refuse the cornerstone of the second; and so, the whole new-creation building on the rock, the true church or house of God. Man's wisdom would not believe or receive the words of God's, though plainly declared to it; Act. 13. 41. Abundance of professing, wise, first-covenant Saints believe not any such thing as that creature-Wisdom of God, in the Mediator, from everlasting, by which the Worlds were made.

How can ye believe (says Christ to the professing Jews) who receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God, only? Joh. 5. 44. A mercenary, self-seeking trade in the first-covenant, exceedingly indisposes, and hinders any listening to one right word of the second. None so highly Prejudic'd and offended at the least Word of Christ's Gospel, in the second, as the engaged ministers of Satan's, in the first. Such Gospel-Teachers are themselves 〈◊〉 or Unbelievers, as to every tittle of Christ's Gospel. No first-coven 〈◊〉 Saints ought to trust in themselves, that selfish, fleshly life or natural state, however righteous; but, in God, that raises men from the Dead, or out of the obedient Death of that, into his life and righteousness, in the second; 2 Cor. 1. 9. They ought, with Paul, gladly to receive God's Sentence of Death in themselves, or, on their Spirit, in the first, that they may be raised into his life, in the second. And as none are to trust in themselves in the first, so are no men there, sit to be trusted by Christ or 〈◊〉 Saints, being yet but in an unsteddy, starting Principle; Joh. 2. 23-25. For, they know, in the alsearching Spiritual light of God, what is in man, all men, in their highest restored Life, Light, 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . The best of them is as a brier; the most upright, 〈◊〉 than a thorn hedge; ( Mic. 7. 4.) As found in enmity to God and all his Saints and Truths. Paul himself, while but there, though eminent, breathed out slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. What such temporary first-covenant believers came to, under Christ's own personal ministry, when he came close upon them, with the cross doctrine of the second, upon all that; we find, Joh. 6. 66. A way they go: walk no more with him: regard not him, or his doctrine. Let not the true followers of the Lamb, whither soever he goes (not only into the Law-life of the first-covenant, but, through the death of that, into the Gospel-life of the second, in which he lives for evermore (Rev. 1. 18.) expect other doings, from such false, hollow-hearted, apostatizing professors, who are presently upon the turning point, to Satan, and drawing back to Perdition, when clossly plied and followed with the true, full doctrine of the Gospel-Cross, on the Law-Life of nature, at best, which they are willingly and therefore easily persuaded by the words of Man's Wisdom, is a true Gospel-state of Salvation and Eternal Life. Such drawers back, and those that go on to the saving of the Soul, grow daily farther and farther asunder, more and more strang and contrary to each other, in Thoughts, Words and Deeds. One is Marching on, with a swift Foot, towards the Chambers of Eternal Death: The other 〈◊〉 towards the Kingdom of God. Their Bodies meet, and touch Elbows, still, in these daily increasing Distances and Elongations of their minds, hearts, or spirits; till they find one another, at Length, in fixed, irreconcilable distances and contrarieties of Mind, Will, whole course, and way towards eternal life, or death. Apostat's from Gospel Light, turn from the hot, fiery Doctrine of the Cross (when they find it touch nature, at best, to the quick; at the very root; bringing a flaming sword upon the very principle) into the cool shade of a worldly Church-doctrine, where Satan's pleasing-Gospel is preached, nature (specially righteous, restored nature) tickled and gratified with words, after its own heart. 'It is the language or thought and Desire of all natural Hearts, Prophesy to us smooth things, Prophesy Deceits; Isai. 30. 10. We have heard enough, and too much, of the right things of God's Seers and true Prophets. Their Doctrine is too hot for us. We like it not. Let them that bring such strang and sad Tydings to our Ears, sit and speak to themselves, or stools, if they will; which, indeed, may be to near as much purpose, as to any good, such regardless hearers of Gospel-words, have gotten. 'It is a dreadful Season, in which 'tis rare to find any that are in earnest about Salvation, or, at all, inquisitive after it. Who, with the noble Bereans, search the Scriptures, about their eternal concerns? Who regard, anymore then Pagans, that Command of Christ, for seeking first or chiefly the Kingdom and Righteousness of God ( Mat. 6. 33.) or, to lay up Treasure for themselves, in Heaven? v. 20. Even the but Shadowy, Mystical Laodicean Treasur's, heaped up in an earthly first-Covenant Life, are now, as 'twere, under God's Blasting and Professors negligence therein, almost in the Dust, as Conclamated, Wither'd, Unregarded things. Profanes, and a regard of (and inquisitiveness after) mere bodily concerns and Ornaments, steal away the Heart; and, in a manner, all the time of Professors. How, too generally, are they laying about them, wholly, to fetch in Provisions for the lowest and basest fleshly Life and Lusts, of confounded, fallen nature, common with Brute Beasts? But, if any, yet, are conscientious Walkers in first-Covenant Principles, and reckon they have whereof to trust in the flesh, Holy flesh, restored, righteous, cleansed nature; Paul, more ( Phil. 3. 4.) Christ, most. But, Christ Crucified it in himself, and Paul rejoiced, or gloried to find him Crucifying it in him, also ( Gal. 6. 14.) as the only way of delivering him from that Body of Sin and Death, he before took to be a state of Eternal Life; Rom. 7. 24. 8. 2. The kindly death of nature, under the Cross, brought upon it, in love from God (and submitted to, by Man, in Obedience to God) is the only means and way of his deliverance from all evil, by the death of the guilty Sinner; and of being furnished with and Possessed of all good, in God's Gospel-spirit of everlasting righteousness, that never sin's; 1 Jo. 3. 9. All Sabbath-keeping, and other Litteral Performances (in Man's Spirit of Enmity to God, and his true Sabbath-Spirit, Sanctuary, and place of his rest, that he delights in, when known, so to be) are, with their Persons, an Abomination to God; and so, their Solemn Meeting on his Sabbath, that was his own Appointment (what's ours?) Isai. 1. 13, 14. All their Incense, and Sacrifices (all our Praying, Preaching, &c. ) in a known Spirit of Enmity to God, are Mystical Murder, Idolatry, Sacrilege, the highest and most criminal wickednesses, in God's sight. Why? Hands full of Blood, a bloody mind of Persecuting Enmity, against his Gospel Saints and Truth's, spoil's all. I will therefore hide mine Eyes from you, and not hear your Prayers. Ye are a Mystical, most Criminal Sodom and Gomorrhah, to me. v. 10-15. and Isai. 66. 3. Ye do all in your own self-chosen way, after your own Heart, in your own spirit; not mine, but in perfect contrariety thereunto. None of you hear's and answer's 〈◊〉 Heavenly Call, in true Wisdom's Words, or Preachings. I will, therefore, not hear or answer your Prayers and pretended Callings upon me; v. 4. If you will not hear my cry to you; 〈◊〉 not hear your's, to me; saith the Lord of Hosts; Zec. 7. 13. Is man, in Enmity to the whole Mind, Counsel, true Sabbath, and Sanctuary of God, like to be a faithful and able Minister of his Gospel-Truths? Yet, who else is heard, or regarded? Who, but the Woman, or private, natural spirit, that's Enmity to God, and all his right Words of Counsel and Instruction for Eternal Life?

Be more ready to hear, then to give the sacrifice of fools. Man, in the best wisdom, the most righteous life and activity of his own Spirit, offer's but the sacrifice of fools, in God's judgment, however highly he esteem the sacrifice, or himself, for it. He does not rightly know what he does, what he is, whither he goes, whom he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ospel things and truths, the whole Counsel of God, the 〈◊〉 and only way of salvation, the methods of God's wisdom, in order thereunto; all the law's, ordinances, statut's and judgments of his new creation-sanctuary, described in the nine last chapters of Ezekiel; all these things lie quite out of his sight. How can Man (in his own best Wisdom, that's foolishness to God's; in his own Spirit, that, at best, is enmity to God's) perform, do anything, or offer up any sacrifice, acceptable to God; any, but the sacrifice of fools? These fools consider not (will not consider) that they do evil. Stiff-necked are they, in their own self-confident understandings, which are not only blear-ey'd, and dim-sighted, but stark blind and wholly ignorant of all Gospel-things and truths; yet, on they will, turning their deaf ear to (or, setting their mouth against the heavens; Ps. 73. 9.) all heavenly, Gospel-doctrine and instruction. They'l listen to nothing that may induce them to consider the great mischief they are doing to themselves and others, by preaching, promising, and warranting peace with God, in a spirit of direct enmity to him ( Ezek. 13. 6. 10.) and decrying, might and main, that which is the only way of salvation (and the only spirit, in which any can be saved) with all the words thereof. This desperate work are these blind leaders, with their self-confident followers, at; all, reck'ning they are doing very pleasing and acceptable service to God; Act. 26. 9. Having nothing of Christ's very Gospel-Spirit, or doctrine, in their Church, do they, with great indignation and scorn cast all that are wholly for the very Christ, and his very Gospel, out of their church ( Isai. 66. 5. Ps. 50. 20) yes, and out of the world too, when they can, as not fit to live any longer, in it; Act. 22. 22. All this, do these Gospel-Wolvs in Sheep's Clothing, reckon, to be a doing God service ( Jo. 16. 2.) in a (blind) zeal for him, and his law, against every word of his Gospel ( Rom. 10. 2, 3) for the first-covenant life of the law, in their own restored spirit of nature, against the second-covenant life of the Gospel, in his own spirit of grace. So, think they do God service, when they join with the Devil, to do despite to the spirit, of grace ( Heb. 10. 29) casting all the words thereof, behind their backs, and all contempt they can, on all such words, and all the speakers and right hearers of them, as the worst of blasphemies, and blasphemers. What was Saul' s Sin in letter and mystery too, is their's in mystery. They must be brought to acknowledge, with Saul, that what the wisdom of God (and the words or commands thereof) require to be destroyed; their foolish wisdom, in the words thereof, preaches, keeps up, and warrants currant, for salvation. The Spirit of nature in Man (recovered and restored, by Christ, out of the fall, into the life, wisdom, and ruling power thereof, over all inferior, sensual, brutish power of life and operation, in him) amounts to no more, in mystery and truth, then the Amalekite King, Agag, and best of the cattle. The refuse of the cattle, the vile affections, the disorderly & unruly lusts of the corrupt state of nature, they have subdued (yet not fully) but, the King, and best of the Cattle (the rational and sensual powers, reduced, to good order, in the ruling authority of the former, and due subjection of the latter) these, they judge fit to be spared. And what are these, both king and subjects? All, but still the Amalekite spirit of nature; and Man, therein, the direct enemy of God, and all his Gospel-Saints and truths. Was not Paul, in and with all these, fighting against God, when he thought his had been fighting for him? With Saul, will all such self-confident justifiers of themselves, be condemned out of their own mouth; even amid'st their self-justifying plea, against the Lord's and his true spiritual Prophet's charge, drawn up against them; as Samuel's, against Saul. They'l be found partial in God's Law. The refuse things, the vile affections of their polluted nature, they are content, should be subdued, in obedience to it. But, the choicer things thereof, nature at best, in the Glory, Wisdom and righteousness thereof; that all this must go up, in sacrifice, by a just and holy death to God (being an unholy life, or state of enmity to God, however, in a sense, holy, as cleansed from filth of flesh) though convinced, God's Wisdom requir's this, also, do they, with Saul, under a self-condemning light, refuse to obey, &c. and yet stoutly assert, with him, that they have obeyed the voice of the Lord. All this, find we, 1 Sam. 15. 18-23. This get men by setting up their own Wisdom and Spirit, as judge or interpreter of the Oracles, dictat's, or words of God's, in a known contrariety to the spiritual meaning and intendment of all. In their restored, righteous, inlight'ned nature, that's God's required Gospel-sacrifice (sigured out by all clean law-sacrifices in the Old Testament) do they, presumptuously, with Saul and King 〈◊〉 , intrude or thrust themselves into the priests office, 1 Sam. 13. 8-14. 2 Chron. 26. 16-21. In their own Foolish Wisdom, and Spirit of Enmity to God and all the Words of his Wisdom, do they pretend to the Office of Christ's Priestly Gospel-spirit of Infallible Truth and Everlasting Righteousness, as the only true declarers of the Will and Words of God, that rightly take not his meaning in any of his Words, nor ever can understand them.

This Presumptuous course, persisted and fixed in, will render the contagious over-spreading Leprosy, the Sin of Enmity to God, filth of Spirit (that's no otherwise curable, then by the complete and full death of nature) absolutely incurable, and mortal; as the case was with the Litteral Leprosy on Uzzia' s Body, to his dying day; though said, for a season, to have done that which was right in the sight of the Lord, in his long Reign of two and fifty Yeers; 2 King. 15. 2, 3. The true Priestly Gospel-Spirit of Christ, offered up our nature in himself, at best, in Sacrifice to God. When Samuel Reprov'd Saul, for Sacrificing; his answer was; The Philistines were ready to come upon me, to Gilgal, and I had not made Supplication to the Lord; so, I forced myself, and Offer'd a Burnt-Offring. These 〈◊〉 Pleas and Apologies of nature, go for nothing, when thoroughly searched by the Spirit of Christ, in his seers. Thou hast done foolishly, say's Samuel, and shalt lose thy Kingdom, Life and all, for it, by those Philistine's, through the fear of whom, thou didst Offer this Sacrifice of Fools. And, what befell Adam and all his Posterity, with King Uzziah, for Presumptuously setting or keeping up his Law-State (or changable first-Covenant righteous Life of his own nature, as therein the fit Priest, to perform all well-pleasing active obedience to God) in Preference and Opposition to the Gospel-Spirit, presented and offered to him, in the Tree of Life, wherein alone 'tis possible to please God, and do all things well, without any possibility of failer or Miscarriage? What came of this willful mistake and Heresy of Adam? A Universal Leprosy, and contagious Disease (of Sin and Enmity to God, and death in such Sin ) upon all mankind; Rom. 5. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. The very sin, by which Adam brought this sore Mystical Leprosy, upon the spirit of human nature, in all mankind, in the beginning of this World, do many Professors in the ending of it, reckon, had been his duty; even, to keep up the righteous life he was created in, from death and loss. This is directly contrary to God's Command to first and second Adam, which the first Rebell'd against, and second obeyed; Jo. 10. 18. What was offered Adam, in the Tree of Life? Nothing? All things; the one thing necessary, comprehending all things conducible to man's true blessedness. Nor Man nor Angel had this Life, in their first-Creationmake and State. What they (both and all) had, was not Eternal Life; but a Mortal, Perishing Vanity; a fading Flower. 'It is Eternal Life, say's Satan, ye shall not die at all. Hold fast your own.

He had Rebelliously so done, in his Angelical nature, which turned that which was but changably good, into unchangeable evil; a mutably good Angel, the work of God's hand, into an incorrigibly wicked Devil, the work of Satan's own hand, which he would also bring all Men and Angels to, if possible, in a fixed, unchangeable Enmity to their Maker. The setting up ourselves in a righteous first-Covenant Life, against God and the Spirit of the second, is the highest sort of Rebellion, as the Sin of Witch-craft; such Stubbornes as is, indeed, the highest and most criminal Idolatry; 1 Sam. 15. 23. Paul found the Corinthian and Galatian Professors of the Gospel, in danger of this most criminal Witch-craft, to wit, of being beguiled by the Old Serpent, as Eve 〈◊〉 (2 Cor. 11. 2, 3.) and fetched back again, from Christ's unchangeably Holy Gospel-spirit of Life (exhibited to, convincingly showed and offered them, in his Ministry) to a confident taking up in their own changably Holy Flesh, or natural Law-Spirit of Enmity and death, for Salvation. This, after they had begun in the Spirit, running well, for a season, in obedience to Gospel-Light; Gal. 3. 1-3. and 5. 7, 8. Who hindered you, or, did drive you back, that ye should not obey Christ's Gospel-Spirit of Truth? Who, but the Devil? We find in both Old and New- Testament-Saul, that the confident resting in a first-Covenant-Life, for Salvation, renders Men mortal haters of all the right words of the second, and fierce Persecutors of all that bring such unwelcome Tydings to their Ears, as the Doctrine of the Cross seem's to the Wisdom of righteous Man, though indeed the only Words or Doctrine, whereby any can be saved; the Power of God, unto Salvation; 1 Cor. 1. 18. Saul, in the Old Testament or First-Covenant Spirit, Persecuted David, singly and merely, as found in the new Name and Spirit of the second, in which, he saw the Lord to be with him; 1 Sam. 18. 12. For this very thing, was he afraid of him, and resolved to kill him, though his Son in Law.

So, Old Testament legal-spirited Saul, in the New Testament, till he became a Gospel-spirited Paul, and preacher of the Gospel, was the fiercest opposer of it, breathing out threatings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord, for it; Act. 9. 1. Old Testament Saul's unpardonable, presumptuous sin against the Holy Ghost; his unchangeable murdering mind of enmity against David, for its sake, was the great transgression, David earnestly prayed to be delivered from, in his own person; Psal. 19. 13. God sets up, first, that that's natural; and afterward, that that's spiritual, in the Saint. All that stick fast in the natural state and life of man, are against the spiritual state and life of God. Those are figured by the Elder; these, by the younger brother; in Cain and Abel, 〈◊〉 and Isaac, Jacob and Esau. He that's born after the flesh (by the knowledge of Christ, after the flesh, as a mystical parent and bridegroom to him, in a restored, fruitful, first-covenant righteous life) persecut's him that's born of the same Christ, after the spirit, in the second; and so, brought forth in (or raised up into) that life, into which Christ himself is risen from the dead; Rom. 7. 1-4. Thus, was it always's. And, so is it, now; Gal. 4. 29. These two births in Christ; the former, making men wise, strong, and honorable in the first covenant; the latter, wise, strong, and honorable in the second, we find; Jo. 3. 6. 1 Cor. 48. 10. The rich, full, first-covenant Corinthians, reigning as Kings, there, were the former; to whom, Paul, in the latter, seemed a fool, weak, and despicable. But Paul, in the latter, knew them to be fools, weak, and despicable, in all the Wisdom, strength, and fading Glory of the former. Paul himself had experienced both, in an eminency; had been eminent, in holy flesh, and, therein, the eminent'st Ring-leading Persecuter of them that were born of Christ's Holy Gospel-spirit. And, when Eminent in Christ's Gospel-spirit, was he persecuted by those that were fixed, or unfix'd (as himself, before Gospel-conversion, Act. 9. 1.) In Holy flesh, enemies of the Gospel, and Cross of Christ. Even those that will prove true Saints, while but in the first-covenant, persecute the second, and consider not, or think they do evil; but indeed, good and acceptable Service to God; Joh. 16. 2. Act. 26. 9. Solomon's advice to them, here, is, that they be more ready to hear the voice of the Spirit of Christ, in himself and Saints, then to speak in their own; to hear the words of the true public new-creation manly Spirit of Grace, in the second Adam and his Spiritual descendants or posterity, then to speak in their own private, changable, womanish Spirit of nature, or the first Adam.

We should be swift to hear the true spiritual shepherd's voice, rather then forward (or, at all) to speak in the highest Wisdom of our own Spirit, that's the stranger, and indeed, the very woman, Christ prohibits any speaking at all, in his true Gospel-Church. Paul, on Christ's manly, astonishing voice from heaven to him, turned from his own womanish understanding, confer'd not with flesh and blood; nature, at best, in himself or others; Gal. 1. 16. None more prejudiced against, or more unfit to hear Christ's Gospel-Doctrine, in the Church on the Rock, then the self-confident Speakers and Preachers of Satan's, in the House upon the Sand. Satan's false Prophets and Ministers, that see Vanity, and divine Lies, are most unfit of all Men, to be so much as Members in the Gospel-Church of Christ, the Assembly of his People; Ezek. 13. 9.

V. II. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for, God is in heaven; and thou, upon earth: therefore, let thy words be few.

In this farther advice, Solomon confirm's (and open's his meaning, in) the former. The mouth, we are not to be rash with (nor suffer our heart to utter anything before God, by) is the mystical mouth, or tongue of the natural Spirit, Comprehensively signifying all its variety of expressing itself, in outward action and a sound of words, as also the inward agitation of mind, in thought and desire. The latter is called by Philosophers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the thought or inward word of the mind or spirit of Man, within himself; the other, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the outward expression of it, to other Men. The Mystical Tongue of the natural spirit (in this comprehensive sense of the Word, Mouth, or Tongue, we are not to be rash with, nor hasty to utter anything (or word) before God, by) is abundantly more untamable, and unreclaimable, in its exorbitances, then the figurative, Litteral Tongue. And, of this mystical extent and significancy, abovesaid, is Tongue to be understood, Jam. 3. 8. The Tongue can no Man tame, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly Poison. 〈◊〉 kind of Beasts, 〈◊〉 , Fishes, and Serpents or Creeping things, in Air, Earth, and Water, have been tamed by Man. But, the Tongue (his own Spirit, in the unruly Life, Motion, and Various 〈◊〉 of it) can no Man tame. This is beyond Man's Power or Skill. And, more so, when beside all the Evil and Enmity to God, found in its fallen earthly state of nature (and fiery Zeal (of love to, and) for the defense of its own Life, Will, and Way; Specially, when restored, and cleansed from filth of flesh) 'tis also, set on fire of Hell. This may seem to import its being brought, by Satan's farther workman-ship, into a fixed state of Flaming Zeal and Love, for, and to itself, with him, in unchangeable Enmity to God and his Spirit of Grace. This full account of the Tongue (the same with the Mouth, here) have we, with the Litteral Figure, that little Member that boasts great things; and, with its little fire, or heat, in the beginning of a contention, kindles a great matter, increases into a huge flame, and tumult, so as frequently to bring two persons or more (before, in Union) into a final separation, and an irreconcilable parting-blow, to their dying Hours. Thus is the Tongue (in Letter and Mystery, put together) a fire, a World of Iniquity, defiling the whole Body, or Man, and setting on fire the course of nature; and all this, beyond Retrieve or Remedy, when it is once set on fire of Hell. Any Man then, that's reduced by the Cross of Christ, the only effectual and powerful Bit, Bridle, and Helm, for ruling or bringing about his natural spirit (more untamable, and unreducible to order, then any wild Horse, Mule ( Psal. 32. 9.) or other Beast; more ungovernable then a Ship, in a Storm, or other dangers) into due order, peace, quietness, and right demeanour towards God and Man; any, or every such Man is a perfect Man, not offending in Word, but able (on all accounts) to bridle and order his whole Body, or Man. All this, have we; Jam. 3. 2-8. In many things, we offend all, say's that Apostle; that is, the natural Spirit, in its own will, course, and way (at best, worst, 〈◊〉 any intermediate condition) is a continual Offender, without any intermission, in principle and all manner of operation or motion, desire, thought, word, or action. The very Spirit itself is a Root of Bitterness, bearing Gall, Wormwood, Briars and Thorns, in Enmity and Rebellion against God. Yea, in the very awak'ned Spiritual Saint ( 〈◊〉 perfectly Crucified and Slain, Dead and Buried in the mystical Grave of Christ) 'tis a continual contrary-minded Warrior and Fighter against God, and the Saint's own spiritual mind; Gal. 5. 17. Rom. 7. 22, 23. Thus have we, by Solomon, Paul, and James, a sad, strang, but true description or Character of the temper and condition of the Spirit of Man, within the compass of nature, or in the Sphere of its own activity, corrupt or righteous. It 〈◊〉 in wickedness, or in the wicked one; 1 Jo. 5. 19. Satan has a twofold party, in mankind, the corrupt, Profane Heathen; and a mistaking righteous, Professing first- 〈◊〉 People. Both are against Christ's little Flock, Spiritual Saints, a third party in this World, 〈◊〉 in Heaven. We find the mention of all three; Psal. 2. and Rev. 12. 12. Inhabitants of Earth and Sea, a mystical earthly Jerusalem party of Professors, in all Ages; and a prosane party (foaming out their own shame, casting up Mire and Dirt, as a mystical 〈◊〉 Sea) these are, all of them, against the dwellers in Heaven, that have their Conversation 〈◊〉 Heaven, affections fixed on things above. Another wonder. Of Satan's two parties in the World, Professors, in first-covenant Holiness, as gained by him, and made his Synagogue, in a fixed Enmity to the Gospel, prove, all along, his most serviceable Instruments (as the righteous Scribes and Pharisees, against Christ, and his whole Gospel-ministry) his choicest Subjects; the strongest, frontier Garrisons in his whole worldly Dominion, or Universal Monarchy; before, and all along the four Universal Human Monarchies, with the Roman or last whereof, his also is to be Perioded. They are the signal with-standers of Gospel-Light, and of all Christ's true Gospel-Witnesses, in all times, whose Testimony is Tormenting to all that dwell upon the Earth, or take up, with confidence, in but earthly, restored natural Principles, for Salvation. These false Apostles, Messengers, or Emissaries of Satan, that so generally amuse Men with his accursed other Gospel, for Christ's true and blessed one, are his most useful Engineers, to keep off the true Gospel and Preachers thereof, in the whole World. Why? What if Christ's Messengers or Ambassadors should have a hearing? Why, they are the only dangerous Invaders of Satan's Universal worldly Monarchy; discoverers of all the intriqu's, wiles, and most subtle devices, by which he 〈◊〉 on his whole Mystery of Iniquity, manages all his affairs, for the maintaining his ground, against any Encroachments, or Dawnings of the Kingdom or Spirit of Christ. So long as he can keep out Christ's Gospel (as the most formidable Blasphemy and Heresy, in the World) and make his Law-Gospel pass currant with the generality of Professors, he reckon's himself well; and his matters, at a very good pass. And, if he have thus prevailed wonderfully, all along this World, even in the very day of Christ's and his Apostles Ministry, what's to be expected in this latter day, the worst of times? He has always's, in a manner, engaged magistratical Human Powers (as under his influence and steerage) on his Gospel's-side, to assist against Christ's; help first-Covenant Brethren, against the second; a worldly Church against a heavenly; Hypocritical Sinners in Zion, against true Spiritual Zion-Saints, in their Controversies with them; the Orthodox Doctrine of Man's Wisdom, on nature's behalf, against the 〈◊〉 , and Gospel of Christ, as the common enemy of nature, in them all. Though these two earthen Pot-sherds, a corrupt and righteous party, do sometimes dash one another in pieces, they still find it their joint interest, to piece up again, and lay their heads together, to consult at one Table, against the true Saints of the most high. Righteous Law-Saul, that siercely fought Satan's Battle, against the Lord and his Saints; when everlastingly righteous Gospel- Paul, he became the most dangerous enemy to, and disturber of the peace of his worldly Territories, or Universal Province, in the whole World. For, then he could discover all his wiles, and Cabinet-Counsels; as Elisha, the King of Syria' s. And yet, the natural spirit, with its Mouth, Tongue, and whole expression, inward or outward (in thought, desire, word, and deed, as to its own remainder of Life, in its own activity, will, and way) was still on Satan's side; the Belial-party, even in Paul; the Unbeliever, as to Gospel; the continually guilty Sinner, the Fighter against God and his own true interest; Ro. 7. Gal. 5. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 11. But, it was weakn'd and battered by the Cross, he having gladly received the sentence of death, upon it, within him; and rejoicing to find death-work going on, a-main, upon it; yea, joining with Christ, in his spiritual mind, to Crucify his fleshly, with the affections and lusts thereof; Gal. 5. 〈◊〉 . This Belial-party, in the very Saint (2 Cor. 6. 15.) his natural Spirit, or fleshly mind, not fully Crucified, is that Tongue, that's 〈◊〉 to be set on fire, by the influence of the Devil, and to be kindled or awakened up, into strong, hot, fleshly desires and lusts, after his perishing Meats, or worldly desireables. Whence else, could Solomon himself, after God's answer to his pleasing request for true Wisdom (Spiritual and Heavenly) have been fetched back, and hurried, many Years after, into such a World of gross Uncleannesses and Idolatries? The natural spirit, in its own unsubdued motions and way's, defiles even Saints themselves; and this is figured by the Tongue, a little Member of the Body, but an unruly one, as used by the unruly Spirit and will of Man. 'It is a raging and enraged Expresser and Provoker of unruly Passions in our selves and others. Whatever may be done with the Litteral, the Mystical Tongue of Man's Spirit, can no Man tame, by any Curbing-Bit or Bridle, any device, or means, to be found in the first-Creation World, or, nature. Yea, this Tongue waxes more unruly, raging mad and blasphemous (of all things, against all saving Gospel-Truths) even in the flourish of Legal-Christianity, form of Godliness, righteousness of Man, or Holy Flesh; Act. 26. 11. If no Man, nothing, in first-Creation nature, can curb and tame this Mystical unruly Tongue, 'tis implied, this can be effectually done, only by God himself, or his appointed all-searching, all-powerful Spirit, Cross, or Spiritual Gospel-Sword and Fire, Slaying and Offering up the Life of nature that's Enmity to God, in Sacrifice, by Death, unto God. The obedient death of a Spirit, a Life, a State of Enmity to God, is acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ, the High Priest, Slayer, Offerer up, and Presenter thereof, unto God most high. The Cross of Christ, is the Yoke, the Bit, the Bridle, put upon it, for like reason, as Yokes and Bridles, on unruly Beasts, to make them obey their Masters and Riders. The natural Spirit in the Saint, though cleansed and righteous, is, since the fall, found in Enmity to God, and Union with World and Devil. So Paul sound it; Ro. 7. Nature (corrupt or righteous) World, and Devil; or, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil are all of a Knot, in a united interest against God, Christ, all Gospel-Saints and Truths.

This unruly beast, in the Saint, greatly need's a taming-bit and bridle, to fetch it about, and teach it obedience to Christ, its divine and Spiritual Lord and Master. The demolishing, death-work of the cross, upon it, can only do this. Satan was riding this mystical beast, the natural or legal Spirit in Paul, towards Damascus, against the Gospel. Christ meets him, throw's off that rider (forever, and not only for a season, as from Balaam ) strikes down the beast, flat to the earth; the earthly, natural Spirit, as well as literal body of Paul. The latter was a figure of the former. Christ turned about his understanding and heart, or will, into a full career of opposition to the Devil's design and Kingdom. So he presently preached the Gospel, at Damascus, whither he was coming, with full purpose and resolution, to persecute it. Then, forthwith, the Devil and professing Jews, hunted and forced him out of the City. But, let Satan Strike while he will, at Paul, and do his worst, in rage, against him (whom, before he used as a serviceable instrument) when Christ is the rider. The more deadly wounds he or his instruments do give anything in Paul, that can be wounded and slain, the more tame and obedient does it grow, to his new rider and true master. Christ will render the most malicious practices of all enemies against Paul (or any, in like case) conducible to the bringing him to his own hand, which is the Saint's true good, and great gain. The Wicked (Angels or men) that are his Sword, are used by Christ as whipp's and scourges, to tame the unruly tongue, natural Spirit, or rebellious fleshly mind in the Saint, that war's against his Spirit, in himself and Saints. The said wicked are (as 'twere) ridden also, or overruled by Christ, the Saint's new rider ( Psal. 17. 13, 14) used, as his Sword and hand, to carry on his cross-work on what's to die in the Saint, the said unrulytongue. The whole knot of evil angels and men, can do nothing to, or against his Saints, but what's exactly conducible to their good, at every turn, in every point. All's on the right wheel, still, come what will or can, under Christ's conduct, for the Saint's advantage. The due consideration of this, will cause Saints to rejoice, with Paul, in the greatest tribulations (and triumph over all enemies, amidst the thickest troop's of them, round about them) having a fixed eye upon the glory that follows, which exeell's and remain's, forever. Instead of sinking, and growing weary under contradictions and persecutions, he said, God forbid I should glory or rejoice in anything, save what's doing to me, by the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; let who will be the instruments, for carrying on its demolishing, taming work, on my unruly fleshly mind, and body of death. The full taming it, is the complete death of it. The more thick, speedy and powerful death-blow's are given to it, the better; the sooner will the happy work be done, and the Saint delivered from his Spirit of bondage, the perpetually guilty Sinner; and so, from all evil of sin or punishment. The natural Spirit, corrupt or righteous, is in a union of mind, with the Devil, till this death-work of the cross upon it, be finished. Be not, therefore, rash with thy mouth, tongue, language, or expression of thy natural Spirit; nor let thy carnal mind or fleshly heart, that's in union with the Devil, be hasty, forward, and confident, to utter anything before God. Let not that be the Speaker to Men, in Preaching; or to God, in Prayer, public or private. It will do Satan's drudgery, carry on his designs, where or whenever it is the speaker or actour. It will do all, in enmity to God, to his Spirit of truth, and Saint's. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything (or word) before God. This show's, Solomon mean's by mouth, in the first clause, the expressing and doing of the will and mind of the natural heart or Spirit, that's in enmity to God. The Saint ought to have a jealous eye over it, and keep a continual watch against it; so as never to do the will, or fulfil the lusts thereof; but oppose, fight against, and crucisie them. If we live and walk in Christ's Steddy Spirit of everlasting righteousness, thus we shall do; Gal. 5. 16. and, 24, 25. All yielding Obedience to, or doing the will and lust of the flesh, or carnal mind of enmity to God, is compliance with the Devil, against the Gospel-will of Christ (in himself and us) and divine will of God. The natural Spirit is the home-bred traitor, wrapped up in a confederacy with the Devil, in enmity to God; the Foe of our own House, or in our own persons, by which, Satan seek's to mischieve and destroy us. 'It is our great concern, to watch against this foe, and keep it out of action, till perfectly abolished, and cut off; and then, shall we never be troubled with it, more. The restored Spirit of man, that has been as a bosom-friend and guide, in the first-covenant house of God (leading us out of the corrupt State of our nature, and opposing the vile affections and lusts thereof, filth of flesh) turn's flat against the new guide and leader, the Spirit of Christ, in himself and us, under the conduct whereof, only, tis possible for us, to 〈◊〉 into God's rest. This familiar friend and wife, that lies in our bosom, lifts up the heel, and turn's flat against the new governor (the Spiritual and sure guide to true bessedness) as well as former familiar friends without doors, that remain wholly in the first-covenant house, established by Satan in the righteousness of man, and so, in unchangeable enmity to God; Psal. 41. 9. Trust not thy bosom-friend, when indeed, turned into a bosom-enemy, the Foe, the worldly disputant, the carnal-minded reasoner against, and opposer of Christ's Gospel-Spirit in us, our new guide. Confer not with her (Gal. 1. 16) Suffer her not to Speak, or, open her mouth. And, keep the door of thy mouth, from her. Let not the thoughts, words, prayers of thy Spiritual mind or man (that's to seek, study, and join with Christ, to put her to death) be offered to her, in way of conference, or treaty. For, She will be against all, to be sure. Ther's no treating with her, for peace, whose enmity to God is curable only by her Death. She is for war, as long as one drop of mystical blood, or life is left in her. She will fight against Spirit, to the last gasp. Trust her not, then; Mica. 7. 5. I am for peace, say's David's Spiritual Man, but if I open my mouth to speak of peace, to my natural; that (with all the affections and lusts thereof, that fight and war against my own soul, 1 Pet. 2. 11.) is always's for war; Psal. 120. 7. The carnal mind, or natural Spirit, is the he, that hates peace; that peace with God, which is no otherwise attainable, but by its Death; The soul of the Spiritual Saint sojourn's in Mesech, dwells in the tents of Kedar, with him that hates peace, the Foe of its own house, till utterly abolished, dead and gone. v. 5, 6. If we follow our former old guide, in us, against the lusts of our corrupted nature (when thus turned against the new and sure Spiritual guide in us) we are so far forth, servants of sin and Satan, Rom. 6. 16. These two Spirits, natural and Spiritual, Man's and God's, first and second-covenant principles of life, desire, thought, word, and action, in Man (clearly stated and laid before him, in their vast differences, and irreconcilable contrarieties (with the advantages and disadvantages of choosing this or that, for the principle of our life and action; eternal life or death) does not a wrong and most foolish choice, render a man undeniably and unexcusably guilty of his own eternal ruin? Be not, then, rash with this mouth of thy Spirit of enmity to God, nor hasty in that heart, to utter anything before God. For how is it possible to speak right words or things to God, or men, in a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 to God, whose mouth speaks all its words, in union with the Devil? All, that after Spiritual Light and strong conviction (as to all these things) afforded them, do still persist in speaking the words of their hasty, forward Spirit of enmity to God (in preaching to men, or pretended prayer to God) are abominable to God, in all. For, as their most aggravated wickedness, madness and folly, do they deliver themselves up to the Devil, as his sworn, bored Slaves and vassals, forever. When, by way of death and 〈◊〉 , Man's natural Spirit is transformed and baptized into a union with his Spiritual mind or man (the Spirit of God in him) then, as a Seer of God, and right obedient Servant to the true Prophet or Spiritual man, in him, 'tis a meek, rightly tuned spirit, fitted to be a mouth, or door of utterance, for the things of God, to his Spiritual man.

For God is in Heaven, and thou upon Earth: therefore let thy words be few. God resides or dwells in the all-searching Light of his new-'creation Sanctuary-Spirit, that can discover the bottom intent of all hearts ( Heb. 4. 12, 13) that take up with Satan in his first-creation house or state, in unchangeable enmity to him and the second; his heavenly house or Spirit. When thou prayest, then, enter into thy Closet, and shut thy Door (Mat. 6. 6.) exclude thy own Earthly understanding, Mind, or Will, let them have nothing to do, in, or with thee, in thy Prayers; keep secret from them, what thou pray'st, and treatest about, with God, for thy Salvation. For, the Life of that, is to be the Sacrifice, by which, to enter into the new and everlasting covenant with God; Psal. 50. 5. Keep the Door of thy mouth from this false bosom-Friend, and guide. She will never consent to her own Death. And, in all true Saint's preaching to men, and Prayer to God, is this very thing to be taught and sought. This foe is to be excluded out of the cabinet-counsel of Christ and the Saint, who jointly conclude the Death or utter abolition of all the Life and motion thereof. If that therefore be admitted into our Closet of prayer, and consulting with Christ, about it's own Death, so as to have a vote in the case, it will pray, plead, and vote against it, always's; and reckon Christ and the Saints Spiritual Man, it's unreasonable enemies. It will reckon all the prayers of the Spiritual man against it, cursing, and all his endeavors, in union with Christ, to crucify it, murder. 'Twil cry out to the Devil, Oh! Murder, murder; and call for assistance, against its and his enemies. All, that it will agree to pray for, will be but an asking amiss, such things as may gratify its own lusts, in enmity to God. It is the perpetual disputer, wrangler, and quarreller against the only way of Salvation, under the Cross; against its own Death, which is God's declared undispensable way, in the appointed methods of his wisdom, for man's Salvation. This secret, faithfully kept (according to Christ's counsel) by the Spiritual man of the Saint, from his own natural; when the sacrificing Death-work on the natural, is over, and finished, Christ will reward him openly (Mat. 6. 6.) at the manifestation of the Sons of God, in the visibility of his (before) hidden Spiritual Life; hidden (till Christ's second coming and manifestation in Spirit) in himself and Saints. The Saint is deeply concerned to check his own hasty, rash, forward Spirit, as a most dangerous foe, in his own house, or Person. God is in his heavenly Spirit, thou in thy earthly, therefore let thy words be few; indeed, none at all. If that foe be the speaker or chuser, all will go wrong. All its prayers will run for (and be calculated to) its own interest, Life, and livelihood; the belly and meats, the desires and desirables, that will all be destroyed and perish. It will hate Christ the fountain of Life, and choose its own eternal Death, in the causes of it, and ready way to it; Pro. 8. 36.

Vers. III. For, a Dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words.

Man, at best, in his own nature, is altogether vanity, walks in a vain show (Heb. an Image) lead's but an Imaginary Life, in the Image of the Earthly, the Law-Spirit of nature, shadow of the heavenly, the Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth. All man's concerns and labors, relating to such a Life; all his disquietings of himself about it, must needs be in vain. The very life, to which all relate, is very vanity. In all the noise, trouble, stir, and din, man makes about himself, herein, can he never please God, or profit himself, as to true blesedness. Vain are all his solicitudes in getting, heaping up, and keeping such literal or mystical riches of his own nature, as will all make themselves wings and fly way, do what he can, when all's done. All such riches are but a vanity, tossed to and fro, by them that love Death. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but a tumbling cast, in which men are tossed up and down, by providence, like balls (as the Poet say's) never at any certainty. Many, rich in outward, literal wealth, live to see all gone, and themselves run down into poverty. And so, as to mystical; many, rich, for a season, in 〈◊〉 treasures, and fruits of a first-covenant righteous Life, roll back again with the Dog to the vomit, and Sow to the mire of their old sins, brutish vilenesses, and so come again to be as poor, and tattered there, as other beggarly, brutish sinners of the Genti'l's. Yea, in a worse condition then they (if unfix'd there) because now come to their latter end worse then that beginning, as born dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Pet. 2. 20-22. For but these two sorts of 〈◊〉 deceitful riches, especially the mystical, do men turn their backs on Christ's true riches, heavenly treasures, eternal Life, with the Young Man in the Gospel, not regarding them, at all, anymore then a brute beast does. And this renders man's whole Life and labor, in this World, from his Cradle to his Grave, a very dream. In the multitude of his business (cumbring himself as Martha, with the many things of this World, that Satan is called Prince and God of) he wholly neglects Mary's better choice of the one thing necessary, which comprehends all things, relating to true blessedness, in the World to come. The full sum of all, man labors but for some little particle of, the god of this World offered Christ, and was refused; even all the Kingdoms of this World and Glory of them, that is, all human and angelical excellencies, sound in the first creation; yea, and all these, by his transforming art, gilded over with the nearest resemblance of all the things of God, the spiritual Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, in the second. What madness is it, for Men to trade in, seed, and wholly dote upon, but such perishing vanities, or meats, Satan is the known permitted Master and dispenser of? Mean while, all eternal things and concerns, are as wholly neglected, despised, and hated; even that spirit of Christ, that one thing (comprehending all things) necessary to salvation. This Gospel-spirit of God, with all its words, the only right do-all and say-all, to God's well-pleasing and Man's salvation, Man will not reckon worth his thought, regard, looking after, or listening to. But, on he goes, in his dreamish Life of Vanity, to try what work he can make on it, there, for true happiness, under an absolute known impossibility of ever finding it. He sondly seeks for it, in perishing vanities, which God reckon's things that are not; and, never 〈◊〉 things spiritual, heavenly, and 〈◊〉 , which God call's the only things that are. Thus cross and contrary is the judgment, are the conceptions and words of Man's wisdom, at best, to God's. Man will own nothing above his fading natural things, first-creation vanities, but infinite divinity. He will not believe there are any middle sort of things, of a spiritual everlasting righteous new-creation nature, between natural, and purely divine things. Thus, does Man leave no room for his advance in creature-ship, above his natural first-creation state of vanity, but only a being swallowed up, into infinite divinity, wholly losing his creaturality, by annihilation: and so, indeed, getting just nothing. Infinite Divinity will be where 'twas, and what it was, from Eternity to Eternity, beyond and above all possibility of addition; and, all Creatur's, Men and Angels, where they were, before Creation; a mere absolute nullity, vanished Shadows.

If there be no other creature-state, but what they (both and all) received by the first creation, what else imaginable, can become of them, but a reduction of them all, into their primitive nothing? The towering, presumptuous thought of being godded with God, is, at bottom, when well examined, a being downright nothing'd; and no better. God will not only confute, but destroy all this wisdom of man, in which he presumptuously, rambles about for happiness, in his own will and way (against his makers known mind and counsel, about him) pitching upon his own fading, natural creature things, in preference to, and exclusion of God's heavenly, Spiritual Eternal creature-things, as not worthy his regard, or minding. They deny, they decry them. They call them blasphemous 〈◊〉 (and therein do they blaspheme) devised fables only, to 〈◊〉 , diminish and disparage their conceited natural things, perishing vanities, which they reckon the only creature-things that are, in a perfect contrariety to the 〈◊〉 of God. By those very Spiritual Saints and things, man's Wisdom count's Fools and foolishness, will God confound all their foolish-Wisdom and self-exalting power. By these foolish Persons; and despised things, Man looks on as worse then nothing, will God bring to naught things that (in man's Judgment) are; in God's, not; 1 Cor. 1. 9. and v. 27, 28. who'l be Judge, at last? God, and wise, holy, first-covenant Saints, are of a directly contrary Judgment, in this great case. Those that, with Paul, have Praise with God (are such as the Lord commendeth) go for nobody, worse than nothing, with them.

They that are mere dreamers, and please themselves with their dream ( Jer. 23. 25-32) or dreamish hapiness, call all Gospel-truths, a dream, 〈◊〉 , a delusion of the Devil; and say to Gospel-Saints, as Joseph's brethren to him, behold these dreamish-heirs, that pretend to the everlasting inheritance, in a Spirit and doctrine, we hate; let's kill them all, and see what will become of them and their dream's. Gen. 37. 18-20. They reckon their doctrine Wheat; and Christ's, Chaff. But, he will say, what's your Chaff to my Wheat? The true Spiritual circumcision-Saint, seem's a fool, a mad Man, in the house of God, or, to and amongst first-covenant brethren ( Hos. 9. 7, 8) yea, the filth of the world, the off-scouring of all things; 1 Cor. 4. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 10. 12. Those, that rejoice in Christ Jesus, or in his Gospel-Spirit, the Holy Ghost, with joy unspeakable and Glorious, are despised and trampled on, by their first-covenant brethren, whose confidence is wholly in their holy flesh, or restored naturals. The first and second-covenant Saint, are properly the natural and Spiritual man. The enlightened moral heathen, obedient to the restored rational, first-covenant light, or law of nature, may be comprehended under the title, natural man. But, the corrupt heathen, living and walking wholly in the brutish lusts of his degenerate, fallen nature, is a beast. He has not, what is properly, in a Scripture-sense, the life of a man, or any part of it. That Death in Sin, threatened (and accomplished upon) Adam and all his posterity, they delight in, rather then accept of deliverance out of it. But, the enlightn'd, restored natural man, in the light, or also life of the first-covenant, is of a distinct, contrary palate, desire, appetite, and thought or judgment, from and to the Spiritual. All his regard, desire, love, and delight, is for, after, and in worldly, perishing vanities, passant shadows, dreams, that come from a multitude of business, that he vainly makes to himself, about such empty, perishing nothings. So, will they themselves (even these first-covenant kings, the mystical Princes of this world, such as 〈◊〉 Christ ) come to naught, yea, worse then nothing, with all their trusted in nothings. They'l be at a total loss, forever, pining and starving in everlasting poverty and nakedness, under the positive Inflictions and Burnings of unchangeable and unquenchable Wrath.

T. And a Fool's voice is known by a multitude of words; good words, fair speeches, as the only Ministers of Christ's Gospel, deceiving the hearts of the simple, or undiscerning; that cannot discern, or, at least, 〈◊〉 own the difference between Christ's and Satan's Gospel. All the while, are they gratifying or serving their own palate, appetite, desire, or belly of their natural Spirit, in the perishing Life, and with the perishing Meats, of a first-Covenant State, as the true Salvation and blessedness of any. These Wise-Fools, are the fiercest enemies of the very Christ, the very Gospel, of all men. A multitude of Words and Books do they come forth, in. And, nothing must pass for Orthodox, right or true Gospel-Doctrine, but what the wisdom of Man, that's a flat enemy to all Christ's Gospel, sitting in its Magisterial Chair of Infallibility, gives its ratifying nod, or Imprimatur, to. Be such, what they will, they do and will yet pass for the only signal owners and Trumpeters of Christ's everlasting Gospel; whereas indeed they are the most careful shutters up of the Kingdom of Heaven, the most industrious decriers of the very Christ, the very Gospel, or Spiritual sense of all Scripture, in the World. This was the Pharisees case, in Christ's own time; Mat. 23. 13. The first-covenant law-spirit or principle, fixed in enmity to the second, is the 〈◊〉 -same leaven with that of the Pharisees, under the outward dispensation of the Gospel, as well as under the Law. They, for a pretence, made long Prayers, compassed Sea and Land, left no means unattempted, no stone unturn'd, to proselyte or fetch back any from Christ's Gospel-truth, to Satan's lie and falsehood, his accursed other Gospel; and so, to make them twofold more the Children of Hell then themselves, as sinning against clearer discerning, greater Light and Conviction, then they ever had, as to Gospel-truths. And, this done, they Triumph, as having done God Service, in converting them from Christ's to their 〈◊〉 , which Man's wisdom styles Orthodox. So, all run's smooth and fine. 〈◊〉 keep's silence, and they please themselves to imagine he is of their mind and judgment, such a one as 〈◊〉 ; Psal. 50. 20, 21. But, he warn's them beforehand, he will find a time to 〈◊〉 them in pieces, so as none shall be able to deliver them; 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . And, as he 〈◊〉 them, he comforts Saints, abused by 〈◊〉 , with this 〈◊〉 , Pl. appear 〈◊〉 your Joy, and they shall be ashamed. These threat's 〈◊〉 the one, and promises to the other, will be accomplished, at one and the same time, Christ's second coming; 〈◊〉 . 66. 5. If such 〈◊〉 were used, to keep off people from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himself, what may the true Ministers of his 〈◊〉 , now, 〈◊〉 from the like legal-spirited Generation of 〈◊〉 and Professors? The Pharisees said among themselves, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing? To wit, as to the gaining and keeping off the people, from listening to his Ministry? 〈◊〉 , the World is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Jo. 12. 19. Indeed, the World goes after 〈◊〉 (1 Jo. 4. 5.) hear's and own's them and their Doctrine. People, a 〈◊〉 People, 〈◊〉 after the Beast, admire his Apostles, praise, reward, and follow them.

The deadly Wound, given mankind by the first Sin, being 〈◊〉 in these Teachers and 〈◊〉 (by which they are recovered out of that Death in Trespasses and Sins, they were born in) they reckon, all's their own. And, who but they? Rev. 13. 3. With what a wry Mouth, and scornful Indignation did the Pharisees take up theirs and the Chief Priest's Officers, who were sent to Apprehend Christ, but did not? Never Man spake like this Man, said the Officers. Are ye also deceived? said the Pharisees. Have any of the Rulers or Pharisees 〈◊〉 on him? But this People that knoweth not the Law, are Cursed. None, but a sort of ignorant, simple People, Women and unlearn'd Fisher-Men (So they reckoned Peter and John, Act. 4. 13.) follow him, or regard his doctrine. At this rate, did the signally enlight'ned ring-leaders of the then only Professing People of God, in the World, say of Christ and his Doctrine. What will convince? Are we blind also? Said the Pharisees. Jesus said, if ye were blind, ye should have no Sin; or would not be guilty of the unpardonable Sin, against Spiritual Light; and so, the Holy Ghost: But ye say, we see: Therefore your Sin remain's, forever, upon you, that is, is unpardonable. Ye willfully and knowingly Sin against my Gospel-Spirit of truth, the Holy Ghost; so, remain's to you nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation, forever; Heb. 10. 26, 27. Ye are of your Father the Devil, Jo. 8. 44. Ye Serpents, ye Generation of 〈◊〉 , how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell? Mat. 23. 33. This is the language, on both hands, that passed between Christ and the enlight'ned Professors and Teachers of that day. What will warn, or induce self-confidents, to a suspicion of their rotten Principles, and Sandy Foundation? If any think he has whereof to boast, there, Paul and other enlight'ned Pharisees of that day, more. And, as confident was Paul, all was right with him, and he doing God Service, in Persecuting the Gospel, as any now can be, in like case and Principles. The case of blind Leaders and their blind followers, all of them stark blind (or worse, willfully blind, as shutting their eyes against, and turning away their understandings from Christ's to Satan's Gospel) is the same now, as then. And, the punishment of both and all, will be the same. They'l all fall into the Ditch, the Bottomless Pit, the very Spirit of the Devil, the unchangeable enemy of God. They said of Christ, he hath a Devil, and is Mad, when convinced of his Doctrine, as the truth, they had nothing to say against, but, in a way of railing, against a Witness for him, and against themselves, in their own Consciences. The true followers of Christ, in all ages, have the same lot and handling; are called Fools and Mad-men, at a venture, in despite and scorn, by those, whose own Consciences fly in their Faces, and condemn them, for their folly and madness, therein. These are the Fools, whose Voice is known by a multitude of Words. Brutified Sinners, at this day, Litteral Sodom, Egypt and Babylon, destroy or make void the Law; Psal. 119. 126. And then, a sort of righteous mystical Sinners ( Spiritually called Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon, such as Crucified Christ, Rev. 11. 8.) what in them lies, destroy the Gospel; make void the Grace of God. Yet, in all this combined interest of Litteral and Mystical Sodom, against the Gospel (and yet, clash amongst themselves, in their practical pro and con, as to the Life righteousness, and Doctrine of the Law, with their multitude of words, and many things, on all hands) remain's a hopefulness, that Christ may find his seven Thousands, or seventy-times seven thousand, amongst us, that have not willfully, but ignorantly bowed the knee to Baal, or followed and owned the first-Covenant-Doctrine of his Priests, and righteousness of Man, for the Power of Godliness, the grace, and righteousness of God, in the second.

Vers. IV. When thou vowest a Vow unto God, defer not to pay it: For, he hath no pleasure in Fools; pay that which thou hast vowed.

His Father David did ( Ps. 66. 13, 14.) as required; Deut. 23. 21. 23. The Vow and Engagement of Men, in the first-Covenant (on God's bringing them out of Egypt, Bondage in the corrupt nature, death in Trespasses and Sins, contracted by the first Sin of Man) is, faithfully to walk there, in suppressing the vile affections and lusts of their degenerate nature, and to pay such Worship, Service, and Obedience, as is performable to God, therein. So, do they live unto God, in that state, for a season. This, do Men often fail in, and so, break that Covenant with God, after entered into it; and forfeit all the benefits and advantages thereof. For then, God breaks with them, the promises of it being but conditional; Numb. 14. 34. Jer. 31. 32. Levite. 26. 15 25. Deut. 29. 30. and 31 Chapters. Man, in his first Covenant, Law-Principle (his restored, enlight'ned spirit of nature) is always's in danger of breaking this Vow, Covenant, or undertake (by contract) with God. God therefore promises to make another Covenant with them, in another Spirit, his unspeakable gift to them; a steady, right, constant Spirit of everlasting righteousness ( Psal. 51. 10.) the Gospel, new and everlasting Covenant-Principle of Life; Jer. 31. 31. 33. This, God engages to do, by quick'ning up the incorruptible Seed thereof, into Life, motion, and prevailing activity, if they obediently submit to his declared terms, in giving up their cleansed nature, to him, in Sacrifice, by a holy Death. Their polluted nature was no meet sacrifice for him, neither is it slain, but somewhat disabled only, by Law-Conversion; and, is continually striving to fetch them back to their old Sins, with the Dog to the Vomit, often prevailing, so as to recover its former Dominion over them, and ride in Triumph again, with its uncontroll'd vile affections and lusts. The first-Covenant, natural, or Law-principle, failed of its duty, in the first Man, when at best; and more liable, sure, is it, to fail, in but some gradual renewals thereof. God therefore finds a fault, or defect in that first-Covenant-state of Life, as to Mans steady, well-pleasing obedience to him, or true happiness to himself. So, offers a second; Heb. 8. 6-13. This is the better (the new and everlasting) Covenant. The Gospel-spirit of God, undertakes the performance of all obedience in Men, when it becomes the principle of life, desire, thought and action, in them; which can never sin, err, or miscarry; deceive, or be deceived. In this new-Covenant Spirit or Principle, God becomes their God, and they his people, forever. He will never depart from them, nor they, from him; Jer. 32. 38-41. The undispensable condition, on man's part, for entering into the second covenant with God, is the obedient giving up in Sacrifice to him, all the fading life and things, received from his own hand, in the first. When convinced of this twofold differing covenant-principle, with the methods of God's Wisdom, and his requirings from them, as also with the unspeakable advantages of quitting the first for the second, then are they bound to vow the sacrifice of their Life in the former, and not to be slack in performing the said vow. If we be not slack in that our part, for entering into the new or second Covenant with God, he will not be slack concerning his promise; the promise of the father, even the Spirit of the Son, will, by the Son, be set up in our hearts, which is the Gospel-principle, the Apostles were commanded by Christ, after his resurrection, to wait in their earthly-Jerusalem-state, for; Act. 1. 4. and Luke 24. 49. Both these testimonies are given by the same hand; Luke. Man is to part with all, called his own; his Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, and all the things of man, in his first make; and then, God will give to him, and set up in him, what he call's his own, by a sesecond; his Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, the things of God. All the Life of Man's Spirit, with the free will, and rational Powers thereof, must go, in Sacrifice to God, as our true free-will Offering and reasonable Service; Rom. 12. 1. These things, clearly seen, assented to, agreed on, and engaged for, on all hands (as to what man is to suffer, and God to do, in order to man's being actually brought into the new and everlasting covenant, with him) man's willful Apostasy and flying off from all, after, for a season, he hath run well, in obedience to Gospel-light, and suffered many things, towards the demolishing his law-life ( Gal. 5. 7. and 3. 4.) Spoils, loses, and forfeits all. Dislike to Ghrist's Gospel-life of truth, from love to his own law-life; and so, a fixed enmity to God, and despite to his Spirit of Grace, exclud's him all benesit of Christ's Sacrifice and Intercession, forever; 〈◊〉 . 10. 26, 27. 29. This is the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost, or new-creature Gospel-Spirit of Christ. There's no plea, or excuse, left Man. Nothing to be looked for, by him, but the fiery Indignation of God, to devour him, as the far sorer punishment for 〈◊〉 sinning against the Gospel-Light of the Son of God, then Law-Light of the 〈◊〉 of Man.

T. For, he 〈◊〉 no pleasure in Fools; pay that which thou hast vowed, without delay. Deser not to pay it; that is, to perform thy part, vowed and engaged for, by thee, in order to thy entering into the first or second Covenant with God. For, the not paying it, will be found the greatest Folly and Madness, and of most desperate and dangerous consequence, to thee. Hence does Solomon farther say, by way of Information, in this case.

Vers. V. Better is it, that thou shouldest not vow, then that thou shouldest vow, and not pay.

So, Deut. 23. 21-23. When thou vowest a vow unto God, thou shalt not slack (or delay) to pay it. But, if thou forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. Thou shalt perform thy free-will Offring, as thou hast vowed. Better not vow, then vow and not pay. Better for men, never to have known the way of everlasting righteousness and truth (2 Pet. 2. 21. Heb. 10. 26, 27.) then, after known, to turn from the Holy Commandment, delivered to them. What Commandment? That, which Christ received from his Father (and obeyed) even the yielding up our nature, at best, in himself, to death; To. 10. 17, 18. God connives at Man, in the day's of his ignorance and darkness, as to a Gospel-Life of everlasting righteousness, whether in the vile state of polluted nature, dead in sin; or moral Heathenism, in obedience to the Light or Law of rational nature; or in the first-Covenant Believer, Professor, and Worshipper of God, under the outward dispensation of 〈◊〉 or Gospel, as Paul, when a Persecuter.

These 〈◊〉 sorts of people, while wholly ignorant of Gospel, though they reject, yea, oppose; yea, persecute it, to the death of the true Professors thereof, it is no unpardonable Sin in them. We find this in Paul' s case, who was the highest of the three sorts of Sinners, above-mentioned. He was an injurious Blasphemer and Persecuter of Saints, for Gospel-truth; but because he did all ignorantly, in unbelief, he obtained 〈◊〉 , was not an unpardonable Sinner against the Holy Ghost, or Gospel-Spirit; 1 Tim. 1. 13. He soon became more eminent in Gospel-Life and knowledge, then those he Persecuted: Yea, a signal Teacher of them, and more abundant Labourer in the Gospel, then all the other Apostles, who were in Christ before him. So, as, while a righteous Law-Pharisee, if any had whereof to Glory, or trust in Holy Flesh, he more (Phil. 3, 4) now, if any had whereof to glory in the Spirit, or Resurrection-Life of Christ (that 'tis duty and absolute safety to trust in) he more; 1 Cor. 15. 9, 10. No Man is brought to an absolute Trial (till Christ, the mystical Sun of everlasting righteousness dawn upon him, in the beaming forth of Spiritual Light, by which to give undeniable notice of his Gospel-Life and State, to him) for vowing or engaging the giving up the Life of his nature, in Sacrifice to God. Neither Publican or Pharisee, the common Profane Sinner, nor righteous first-covenant Jew or Gentile, is bound to vow, nor therefore to perform the vow, as to that devoted thing (nature, in whatever variety of Life or condition, will, in all, first or last, be found to be, even) devoted to death, under the final Love or Wrath of God. Fixure in the Life of nature, corrupt or righteous, which renders Men literal or mystical Sodomit' s, will be found, against (at least) negative conviction and Testimony, that they ought not so to do, being, by its own self-evidencing demonstration, a fading Flower, a perishing Vanity. But, when Christ, by spiritual Conviction-Light, clearly discover's (and graciously offer's) his Gospel-Life, to Men (in its own self-evidencing excellency above their Law-Life) and, that they are bound to give up their fading Law-Life, or natural state, in whatever condition (corrupt or righteous) for it, then are they both bound to Vow the giving up this devoted thing, to death; and to pay their Vow; yea, speedily, sorthwith, not be slack; not delay, or defer the Payment. 'It is better, never to have experienced the righteousness of Man, in a renewed first-Covenant Life, then, after all, either turn back to their old sins, in the corrupt Life of nature; or establish themselves there, in unchangeable enmity to the righteousness of God, in the Gospel-Life of his Spirit of Grace. The sorest Punishment, forever, in Hell; the many 〈◊〉 belong to such knowing not-doers of their Master's will. 〈◊〉 in such knowledge, and rebelling against all, will increase 〈◊〉 everlasting sorrow. Most aggravated wickednesses, will be recompenc'd with such aggravated punishment and Tormont, for eever, as is meet. 〈◊〉 Salvation is seen by Man, at his door, when under the undispensable obligation to vow the death of nature, in obedience to 〈◊〉 ; and accordingly as he perform's or not persom's this most deeply concerning vow, he has, or misses it. Refusing finally to vow, or perform, when bound to both, is fixing in nature, in unchangeable 〈◊〉 to God and his Spirit of Grace.

This break's all Covenant with God, first and second, the staff of 〈◊〉 , comeliness ( Ezek. 16. 14.) or righteousness of man, in the first; and of Bands (Zec. 11. 7-11.) or, such an unchangeable band of Union, as they ought 〈◊〉 to have entered into, with God, in the second. All's 〈◊〉 and gone. They are, forever, excluded by God's Oath, or swearing in Wrath, they shall never enter into his rest, in the second. And, for their unpardonable Sin, he will take from them, all the fading beauty or goodness he had bestowed on them, in the 〈◊〉 . So, all's gone. God's first-Covenant-gift, set up in unchangeable enmity to his convincingly showed and graciously offered second, is the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost, comprehending all the most criminal Sins or Abominations, Man can be guilty of; mystical, spiritual Adultery, idolatry, Murder, &c. Ezek. 16. 15. 38. Ro. 2. 21, 22. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Gal. 5. 19-21. The proud, reigning, 〈◊〉 , old first Covenant Kings, despise all these words, to their own destruction. But, the poor of the Flock (Christ's little ones, content to be impoverish'd, and run down into the barrenness and death of their own, however 〈◊〉 and enlight'ned nature) understand, own, and obey all such words of the Lord; 〈◊〉 . 11. 11. They are willing to be made Fools, weak, and despicable, with Paul, in the 〈◊〉 visage of a first-covenant State, Image of the earthy, that they may be all glorious within, in the Image of the heavenly, such as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 , rich, strong, and honorable in God; in the spiritual, Gospel-Life, 〈◊〉 with Christ in God. All that finally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , are the greatest Fools, as to their greatest, eternal concerns. All that 〈◊〉 , boggle, and fly off, at the Gospel-Tydings of the Cross (and Death, thereby, to be brought upon nature) resolving to maintain the sandy Foundation (and untemper'd Walls of their earthly, worldly, first-Covenant Church-building) for Salvation, are be witch'd by Satan, with their glittering Holy Flesh and things of Man and Devil, into unchangeable enmity to God's Holy Spirit, and all the things of Christ and God.

This work, Satan is at, with first-covenant Professors, in holy 〈◊〉 ; the self-same, as with Eve, 2 Cor. 11. 3. And, through God's most wise permission, has he wonderfully prevailed, in all Ages and Generations (and not less, sure, in this last and worst of times) to keep men short of the Grace of God; yea, to fix them with himself in enmity to it, and so deprive them of all advantages or benefits of both God's Covenants. Many that begin well, engage and set their hand to God's Spiritual, mystical-Plow (the Cross of Christ, for running down nature in them, toward the commanded Death, suffering many things that way) their foot, in the same Gospel race of suffering, with the thorough-pac'd resolved Gospel-Saint (that follow's the Lamb slain, whithersoever he goes, even to the mystical Death and Grave of nature) many of these engaged Racers, does Satan fetch back again, to himself; and sixes them with himself in first creation-Life, and so in unchangeable enmity to God, and the second; Gal 5. 7, 8. and 3. 1-4. When come to the borders of the heavenly Canaan, as Israel, of the literal, they hate it, and turn back to mystical, if not also literal Egypt, sixing in the righteous, or rolling back to the corrupt Spirit of nature, and that as their professed Judgment, for Salvation, with Ranters. After all high Spiritual enlightening (partaking of the Light of the holy Ghost (and offered the Life thereof) and so tasting of that heavenly gift; the good living word and wisdom of God; and Powers of the World to come ) they Apostatize or fall away, beyond all possibility of recovery, or renewal of them again, unto repentance; Heb. 6. 4-6. The high Priest's, among the Jews, offered literal Sacrifices: Christ, the true high Priest comes to Preach Death to nature, in their very Persons, as the true Gospel Sacrifice, they ought obediently to give him, to offer up in the fire of his Eternal Spirit, as he offered our nature at best, in himself, to God most high. For this, they blasphemed, and crucified him. The fixed Shadowy Law-Priest's and their blind followers, abhor the true Gospel-Priest, with all his Spiritual Seers and Doctrine. Many shuffling devices and inventions, Devils Suggest and men find, to shift off the Cross of Christ, wave all the unpleasing words or doctrine thereof, which indeed is the only way to, and Door of entrance for any, into the Kingdom of God. Through a fellowship with their Lord, in sorrows, sufferings, and manifold tribulations, of and to their natural man, inward and outward, do true Saints enter, with him, into his everlasting joy. All others must lie down in everlasting Sorrow, eating the fruit of their own way, & be filled with their own devices, under final wrath. Had they owned God's reproofs (given by the mouth of true Wisdom, his living word, to them, even the reproofs of Death, to their nature) and followed his instructions for Life, they might have dwelt safely, forever; and have been quiet from all fear of evil; Prov. 1. 20-33. The Pisgah-Prospect into the new-creation Life, or true Land of promise (given to their natural understandings, by Spiritual irradiations or Light) should have invited, moved, and drawn their wills, with cogent arguments, to the most delightful embraces thereof, on any terms.

Man, convinced of the more excellent Gospel-Life and way (and setting hand and foot to work, in prosecution of it, and towards attaining it) is actually under the vow of surrendering nature, to Death. And this is upon record, in that living corner-stone, the fountain Gospel-Spirit, or living creature-Word, Wisdom, or Book of God, in Christ's person.

This was figured by the Stone, Joshua set up, under an Oak, by the sanctuary of the Lord, that, in figure, heard the Spiritually enlightne'd Israel •• s vow, promise, and engagement, over and over, for the true serving the Lord (in his Spirit of truth, the principle of the new and everlasting covenant) accordingly will witness for, or against them, as they firmly hold, or perfidiously fly off, from the said engagement. As for me and my house, say's Joshua, we will serve the Lord. So will we; answered the people, again, again, again, and again ( Jos. 24. 15. 18. 21. 24) yet, after all these good words, fair promises and engagements, a world of them flew off, and came to worse then nothing. Christ, the living Stone (sigur'd by that, Joshua set up) will witness against, and deal with all such, according to their works and dealings toward him; v. 26, 27. Man must not dispute or defer the performance of the said vow; but, with Paul, should be forthwith obedient to the heavenly vision of the mind of God; come roundly and readily off, with his holocaust, or whole burnt-offering of his natural State. His eye must not pity, nor hand spare anything in it, that God requires to be destroyed, as Saul spared Agag, and best of the Cattle, in letter and mystery; whereas Abram spared not his very Son Isaac, Nature at best. Our true father Abraham, though tempted to it, by Satan, and his own apostle Peter, spared not the true Isaac, our spotless nature in his own person; but, offered it up, in the mystical fire of his eternal Spirit of grace, unto God; accounting, with literal Abram, that God was able to raise him or it, up again, from the dead, into the everlasting righteous life of the true Melchizedek, or sacrificing high-Priest of God, and of our Gospel-profession. Abram was a type of Christ's priestly, Gospel-Spirit; Isaac, of his natural, law-Spirit, offered up, by that Priest, in his own person. For this obedience, God most high, blesses the said true Abram, Christ himself, in and with the figure, promising him an innumerable multitude of Spiritual Saints, the true seed, descendents, and posterity of the second Adam. Gen. 22. 16-18. The new covenant is a covenant of oath, by which the Lord ratifies his mercies to all obedient enterers into it with him, forever, by an oath; and excludes all rebellious, willful refusers of the terms of entering into it, with an oath, also; Swearing in his wrath, they shall never enter into his rest; Heb. 3. 11. 18. And ( Heb. 6. 13-18) we sinned the new-covenant promise to Abram, established with an oath, and that oath itself, made or confirmed by two immutable things, God's infinite divine, and his immutably righteous and Glorious new-creature self, or Spirit, the living word, and Eternal Wisdom of God, in personal union with infinite divinity.

The terms of the first covenant, on Man's part, is to part with the vile affections and lusts of the corrupt Spirit of nature: on God's, to set up the restored righteous life thereof.

In the second, is man to give up the very righteous life, to God, in sacrifice, as a perishing vanity, a fading flower, which was God's part to give him, in the first; as the clean sacrifice, for entering into the second. Thus, first, God gave Abram an Isaac, and then required the offering of him up. And so, did Abraham, by that very thing, in mystery, enter the second, and was justified forever, before God; Jam. 2. 21. This gives him, and all his Spiritual seed, complete victory over all enemies; so, as to 〈◊〉 their Gates, take away all strength and power from them; Gen. 22. 17, 18. They will, in the 〈◊〉 mighty power of 〈◊〉 new-creation Gospel-Spirit, tread all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 law-enemies, evil Angels and 〈◊〉 , under their 〈◊〉 . Nothing is of greater advantage to the Saint, then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his vow, relating, to the new-covenant, sor the 〈◊〉 death of nature: nothing, of more dangerous 〈◊〉 , then his deserring or delaying the performance of this vow. Nothing gives greater advantage to the Devil, against him, then 〈◊〉 delay sor extinguishing his part in him, the natural State. The most 〈◊〉 , resiless, Implacable enemy (that, in his mighty power and 〈◊〉 , roves up and down, as a roaring Lion, to devour all he 〈◊〉 light on) will not 〈◊〉 to make his utmost advantage of such delay. If he sinned Saints lingering, and loath (with Lot ) to depart out of literal or Mystical Sodom, or both (even the whole Life and lust of nature, corrupt or 〈◊〉 ) he will labor, might and main, to turn their lingrings, into a 〈◊〉 and absolute establishment, there, and so, 〈◊〉 their hearts in them to do evil; six them with himself, there, in unchangeable enmity to God, and Death to themselves.

But, God is 〈◊〉 to his Saints, and lay's hold on them, by his Angels, as on ling'ring Lot, to hasten them out of both the said Sodom's; Gen. 19. 15, 16. 〈◊〉 great mercy in the Lord, and should be the earnest prayer of the Saint to him, to hasten the execution of the guilty Sinner, the 〈◊〉 party in him; and so, his deliverance srom all evil, in enmity to God, or compliance with the Devil. 〈◊〉 uses his utmost power and skil, to cause a delay, in this case. God gives his most faithful counsel and instruction to us, to hasten the performance. To be sure, linger while we will, done it must be, first or last, or we perish forever. The sooner and speedier done, the better sor us. We should not look on Christ, as Satan represents him, a hard Master, a bloody Husband; but, a most faithful Creator and gracious Redeemer. What? (Suggest's Satan to men) does Christ come with a sacrificing Knife, Fire and Sword, speaking War and Death to a righteous Life of his own twice setting up, in vou? first, by creation; and then, redemption? Never believe it. With God is no such variableness or shadow of turning. He quoted Scripture, to Christ himself. 〈◊〉 unreasonable, say's he, to think, God should pull down and destroy the Work of his own hands. And, when he has thus steeled them with arguments, for self-defense, and keeping up themselves in their own native Country, and Father's House, the restored life of the first Adam, the image of the earthy, as a most desirable land, or state; then fall's he to work, the other way, to bring a false and evil report on God's Country, the new-creation land of promise or state of life. This is the Far Country, the man Christ is gone into, where he lives for evermore. This Far Country (even a heavenly, that God engages, as his part, in the new Covenant, to bring men into, on their obedient, speedy departure out of their own) does Satan bring an evil report, upon. First, say's he, you have but a report, a hear-say of it, you have no certain knowledge or experience of it. And then, 'tis a Land that eateth up the Inhabitants thereof (as the spies, doing his errand therein, said of the literal, Numb. 13. 32) your destruction and very death itself, is the propounded and declared terms, on which only ye can enter into the possession of it. So, when brought by Christ's Spiritual Light, to the very borders of the heavenly Canaan, by and with his evil apostles and spies (ministers of his Gospel, that's no Gospel) are they easily persuaded & induced to start aside, and fly off, as offended at both the promised land or life itself, they should enter into; and also, at the loss oftheir own, with all their mystical riches & large possessions, therein. So, instead of speedily performing the commanded and vowed sacrifice of their old nature, in order to enter into (and take possession of) the said new land of promise, they peremptorily and conclusively refuse the terms, and consult with Satan and one another, about a return back, rather into Egypt (literal, or mystical, corrupt or righteous nature) and there fix and establish themselves, in their own nature, land, or Country, in unchangeable enmity to God's. This, the rebellious fleshly Israel was at, in letter and figure. If holy flesh, a righteous natural State; and strict, holy walking therein, would not doit for salvation, they'll not be saved. This desperate resolution is a crime of a dangerous, destructive complexion, of an Ethiopian hiew. 'It is the Leopards spot, never the spot of God's Children, Spiritual Saints. It is the highest folly, imaginable. If they'll never obediently come out of their own land, the fading life of their own nature, they'll never enter his, even the life of his Spirit of Grace. If they'll not suffer and die with Christ, in the former; they'll never live and reign with him, in the latter. If they'll not follow his suffering steps, they never come where he is. They prefer the earthy life and Country of the Creature, to the heavenly life of the Creator, Blessed forever. The issue of (and for) this disobedience, matters come to, is this. God will strip them of, and take from them, all the fading good they are possessed of, in the mystical earthly Country, or land of their own restored enlightened nature, as willfully retained in a known rebellion against him. The very same Mystical Sword (or new-Creation Spirit of Christ and God) will be drawn against them, in final wrath, to destroy them forever, which they so feared, startl'd at, and turned from, when offered to be brought upon them, in love, to give them a kindly and right death-pass, into the true land of promise. Had they willingly obeyed it, they had entered, and eaten the good of the true land of promise. But having absolutely and conclusively refused it, and rebel'd against it, they'll be devoured by the same sword, or Spiritual cross upon them, forever. The mouth of the Lord (the living word of God, Christ himself) hath spoken it. Isa. 1. 19, 20. Obediently lose the fading life of nature, and enter. Rebelliously save, pity, spare your own life, and ye lose all, forever, in eternal death, under final wrath. This is Christ's doctrine; Mat. 16. 25. And this, Christ presently delivered, on Satan's contrary doctrine, by an Apostle, with the persuasive (and seeming friendly) words of his wisdom. When he had spoken of his sufferings, Peter rebuked him, and preached the self-same doctrine to him, the Old Serpent preached to Eve, and by her, to Adam. Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee; that is, thou shalt not suffer, or die, at all. This Spotless righteous law-life, in holy flesh, is eternal life; no danger of death. The Gospel-Riddle, uninterpretable by Man's Wisdom, is this; die must nature, or all's lost; nature and grace too; all good, in first or second covenant, changable or unchangeable. And what succeeds? unchangeable evil of sin and punishment. The obedient death of nature, under the cross; the full, sevenfold purifying of it in the fiery furnace thereof, from all dross, tin, and reprobate silver, all filth of flesh and Spirit too, renders man clean every whit; Jo. 13. 10. This delivers him forever, from all captivities, bondages, enemies, dangers, and death's, literal and mystical Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon, the life of nature, corrupt or righteous, both of which are a state of enmity to God, and death to man, if fixed in. Thou shalt never wash my feet, said Peter; No? say's Christ, then, thou wilt have no part in me. Oh then, not my feet only, but hands, and head, said Peter; If feet be washed, 'tis enough, say's Christ, there need's no more, to make perfectly clean, every whit whole, and spiritually sound. If the feet (the will and understanding, the two mystical feet on which man walks, in his esteem, judgment, thought of, and desire after things; if these) be Spiritual, Heavenly, Gospel-feet, the discerning and desiring powers of the Gospel-Spirit and principle, all will go right. Heavenly things, never-perishing meats, will be wholly and only esteemed, desired, and fed upon, in this bottom-principle. All will be right a-top, in all Holy, Gospel-Conversation, when all's right at bottom. A Spirit greater then he that's in the World, the Devil, in which 'tis impossible to displease God (Sin, err, miscarry, deceive, or be deceived) must needs ever do all things well, and man be truly blessed in the deeds thereof.

The extreme folly then of man, in not only deferring, but finally refusing to pay his engaged, commanded vow, for giving up his whole nature, or Spirit (the devoted thing) in sacrifice, by death, unto God, is unpardonable. And then, God will be extreme (and that most justly) in marking all, done amiss by him, in his self-chosen nature and life. He will call him to an account, for everything, done therein, from first to last. This great transgression, the presumptuous unpardonable sin unto eternal death, will bring all other sin's at its heels, to be answered for, as creditors come upon a man, for lesser debts, when clapt up in prison, for a great one. And then will every Spiritual conviction, offered men (in the day of their trial, and God's patience towards them) be revived in them (and stare them in the face) to witness against them, judge, and condemn them, in harmony with God himself. When man's trial is over, and sentence of death irrevocably past upon him; God will not repent or change from his dispensation of wrath, and man cannot repent or change from his rebellious mind of enmity against God. Repentance will be hid from God's eyes, and man's, on all hands. Unchangeable enmity to God, lay's man under the unchangeable wrath of God; thrust's him out of all distance, as to any favor, forever, or benefit by Christ's sacrifice or intercession. Christ died not, nor will intercede for the pardon of unchangeable enmity to God and him. And God will revive his formerly given Spiritual light, to testify for him, against them, in their own consciences; the evidence whereof, can never be silenced, extinguished, or denied by them. The irresistible testimony of it, will be a perpetual condemner of them, and justifier of God, in his most wrathful proceedings against them. This is the worm, never dies; witnessing the fire of that wrath, to be undeniably just, which can never be quenched; Mark. 9. 44. 46. 48.

Vers. 6. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to Sin; neither say thou before the Angel (70. before God) that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

The Spirit of man, at best, in its own life, is but flesh. The life, mind, will, desire, thought, wisdom, righteousness, glory, all the things thereof, are but sleshly, earthly, perishing vanities: Man, in all, altogether vanity; is possessed of no goodness, but what's a fading flower; no beauty, no glory, but what will be consumed and done away; Ps. 39. 5. and, 49. 14. Isa. 40. 6. Man, in all this, is the flesh, his mouth should not cause to sin. Mouth, as said, signifies all manner of expression of this flesh ( 〈◊〉 mind, or natural Spirit) inward or outward, in desire, thought, word, or action. If the inmost mouth, bottom desire and thought of man, be found approving of (and consenting unto) the entering into a firm, unchangeable union with the Devil (the striking up an everlasting covenant with him) then does it cause his flesh (or natural Spirit) to sin, unpardonably, against the Spirit of Grace, the Gospel-Spirit, or Holy Ghost, in which, convincingly showed, he ought to enter into (or strike) a new and everlasting covenant with God. His knowing, willful choice, is, rather to comply with the Devil (in a fond self-destroying love to himself, or his own life and nature) to be, by his most destructive workmanship, Baptized into his spirit of unchangeable enmity to God, then by Christ's new-creation workmanship, baptized into his Gospel-spirit of unchangeable union with God. What's the meet recompense of such error? The same Tophet, punishment, lake of mystical fire and brimstone (the literal is but a Shadow of) unquenchable wrath, fiery indignation, the vengeance of eternal fire. In this and other variety of language, does the Holy Ghost or Spirit of truth, in the Scripture's of truth, clothe the joint everlasting torment and vexation of both. For, such a covenant with the Devil, is a covenant of oath, a swearing everlasting allegiance to him, and a taking also his oath of supreamacy, owning him as the supreme ruler and infallible dictatour, in Church and State, in the room of the holy ghost, or Christ in Spirit, and God most high, himself; 2 Thes. 2. 4. And so his bored Servants they are, forever, whom they have sworn to obey forever, on all accounts; and own for their Supreme, Paramount-Ruler and guide, so as to place themselves under his protection, wing, and conduct; Rom. 6. 16. They agree to Obey Sin and the Man of Sin, Satan, the unchangeably sinning Spirit of Eternal Darkness and Death. Can this be less then the sin unto death, eternal death? They'l be sure of the portion, they have chosen. They unchangeably hate Christ's Gospel new-Creature Spirit of everlasting righteousness; choose and love a Spirit of unchangeable enmity to it, and death to themselves; Prov. 8. 36. Can they miss of what they love, and have chosen? Rebellious Children are they. They take counsel; not of me saith the Lord; but, of the Devil. They cover with a covering; not of my Spirit, but the Devil's, for their clothing and protection. They are willing to be dressed up in his furniture and armor, to fight against God. All this, for this very end, that they may add sin to sin; unchangeable enmity to God, the unpardonable sin, to the pardonable, changable state of enmity and death, they were born in. So, come they to a latter end, worse than their beginning, by their own choice; when offered a better end, then ever nature, in its beginning, at best, before the fall, amounted to, in the the changable, spotless life thereof. They are now, in a known, chosen confederacy with the Devil, forever, against God, Christ, all Gospel-Saints and truths. They have greedily drunk down the poison'd wine of the very Spirit of the old Serpent. Their wine is the poison of Dragons, the cruel venom of Asps; Deut. 32. 33. The poison of Asps is under their lips; Rom. 3. 13. They spit venom, breath out slaughter, against the Saints of the most high. They are established by Satan; made men, fully after his own heart; So, unchangeable, irreconcilable, implacable enemies of all, after God's own heart; as Saul, to David. In these two fixed states, after God's or the Devil's own heart, will all men, in conclusion, be found, in heaven or hell; everlasting joy, or sorrow; under the final favor, or unquenchable wrath of God.

Neither say before the Angel, 'twas an error. This Angel is Christ, the supreme Apostle, or Messenger of God's Covenant, the living Creature-word and book of God, which is God ( Jo. 1. 1) So the Septuagint render it; neither say before God, it was an error; and therefore, why should he be angry &c.? To what porpose is it, for any to pretend ignorance (as having done all this, by a mistake, and surprise) before this Angel, or word of God, that's of an all-penetrating sight, so as infallibly to discern and discover the bottom-thoughts and intents of all hearts? Heb. 4. 12, 13. He will undeniably evidence, all this wickedness to have been willfully and knowingly done, against his clear declarations of the mind of God to them, and most faithful warnings of them, to the contrary; and of the unspeakable danger thereof. No good words, fair speeches, plausible pretences, whereby they have deceived their fellow-creature's, will signify anything, towards their defense, or excuse, before this infallible Angel's judgment-seat. He will silence and stop every mouth of iniquity, and fill all that have thus caused their flesh to sin, thereby, with everlasting shame and confusion of face. Peter, in the Holy Ghost, or that Spirit of this Angel, Christ, wherein he will judge the world, detected the falsehood of Ananias and Sapphira, and executed God's sentence of death upon them, as having suffered Satan to fill their hearts; their undeniable guilt; Act. 5. 1-10. Such Spots are not the Spots of God's Children. They are never guilty of unpardonable Sins. And then, do those, guilty of such errors, think to get anything, by 〈◊〉 , why should God be angry and destroy our works? Or, Solomon in the Spirit of God, asks them, why should God be angry at thy voice (or mouth, that hath agreed with Satan, to cause thy flesh or whole man to sin, 〈◊〉 ) and so, destroy the Work of thine hands? But let this Question be put by whom it will; the Works which have been wrought in a Spirit of unchangeable enmity to God, will be 〈◊〉 . If put, by the Holy Ghost, in Solomon, 'tis by way of counsel, to 〈◊〉 such madness in Men, whereby to receive such a Spirit of unchangeable enmity into them (for the principle of all their Desires, Thoughts, and Works) as will most certainly expose them and all such Works, to be burnt up and destroyed, forever. They have done all such wicked Works, and the leading wicked Work, to all the rest (in receiving the Devil's Spirit of unchangeable enmity, for their working Active Principle) before the said Angel, or under his convincing Spiritual Light, and clear discoveries of himself to them, in his Spiritual Life of Truth, wherein alone they can be Saved. He will, at last, undeniably convince them, that they were convinced and fairly warned of all these things, beforehand, in his gracious exhibitings and offers of himself to them; doing all they could desire he should do, for preventing such a self-ruining, willful, unpardonable error. All has been done by them, against the known commands of his Spiritual law. And will they say, it was an error? a mistake, of mere ignorance? And so, think to prevail with this Angel, to plead for their Pardon? Alas, Alas! He will make them see it most Just, for him to intercede against them, as his and his Father's incorrigible, willful Enemies; and to say to his mighty Angels, slay these mine Enemies before my face (Luke 19. 27.) that would not, I should Reign over them, but the Devil. God, or this Angel, is most Justly angry at their Voice, or Mouth, by which they have chosen (and declared their consent, for) unchangeable union with the Devil, rather then with him. And he will destroy all the works of their Hands, that, in such union, they have done against him, in whatever nearest resemblance of his Gospel-Spirit and Truths (by the transforming Arts and Skill of their Master-Workman) purposely to express their utmost Malice against him, thereby.

Vers. VII. For, in the multitude of Dreams, and many Words, there are also divers Vanities: but, fear thou God.

This concluding Word on this subject, is a Character of the first-creation Spirit or State, as chosen by men, in union of mind with the fallen Angels. Solomon calls it many things and businesses, a multitude of Dreams; as v. 3. a multitude of business, whence cometh a Dream. The busy, boundless, wandering, gadding Spirit of man, cumbers itself, as Martha, with a heap of first-creation Vanities, that can give him no true satisfaction. All his conceited happiness therein, is but a Dream. His many Words and Labors about them, are but divers Vanities, a variety of glittering nothings, things that God says, are not; perishing, vanishing shadows. All labor of man, in his first creation life of Vanity (all his Works, Fruits, Duties, performance, to God or Man, therein) is Vanity. All inordinate love to, and 〈◊〉 after, the outward or inward, literal or mystical Riches and Treasures of that State, in the most fruitful Exercise of a first-covenant Life, is but that Love of Money, Paul call's the Root of all 〈◊〉 . For, from this Love to his own Worldly Life and Riches thereof, is man sound in direct enmity to God, and his Gospel-Spirit, and Riches, which alone can make any, truly Happy. So, all he is, has, or does; all his Attainments, Works, Fruits, Riches, Possessions, rested in, will prove a most unhappy, destructive Dream; out of which, when he awakes, he will find himself to have been, all along, deceived with Imaginary things, that have no durable reality in them. Christ convincingly show's men this, now; and will hereafter, convince them, he hath so shown it, and fairly warned them thereby, of their danger. Let him then that Preaches up such a vain State, with all the best things of man, therein, for happiness, tell it, but as a Dream, not considently assert it to be a Gospel-State of Salvation, but a Law-Dream; Jer. 23. 28. Man's Chaff, Dream, Vain Glory, Shadow, Life and Image of the Earthy, fixed in (in unchangeable enmity to God's Wheat, his Word, Wisdom, Righteousness, durable Life, Riches, Food, and Cloathing, in the Image of the Heavenly ) is certain damnation. What's the Chaff to the Wheat? the Words of Man's Wisdom, in his lying Spirit of divination (as to all Gospel things and truths of God, into the Room whereof he thrusts the things of Man, and says, the Lord saith Ezek. 13. 6.) to the Words of my Wisdom, in my Gospel Spirit of Truth? What are Man's Law-Dreams to my Gospel-Truths? Instead of this dangerous Trade and destructive practice, Solomon's advice is; Fear thou God. This fearing God, and keeping his commandments, he declar's ( Eccles. 12. 13.) to be the whole Duty of Man; the Conclusion, and sum of the whole matter, in all Books, and Words of Right Instruction unto Life. Follow after, obey and close with the Lord's own Counsels, Teachings, Leadings, convincing discoveries of his mind, and Gracious Offer's of that Gospel-Spirit that's in unchangeable union with his divine Spirit; and you will ever know and do his whole mind and counsel, and Worship him in Spirit, and in Truth, to his well-pleasing acceptance and your Salvation. His Spirit is that Love, that's the fulfiller of his whole Law; Rom. 13. 10.

Vers. 8. If thou seest the Oppression of the Poor, and violent perverting of Judgment and Justice in a Province, marvel not at the matter (Heb. will or purpose) for he that is higher then the highest, regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Her's encouragement to right Fearers, true Believers and beloveds of God, that have abandoned their own first-creation Life of vanity and enmity, for his new-creation Spirit of Truth and Love. In this, are they too hard for all Enemies. For, the Almighty Divine, and irrisistibly mighty new-creation Spirit of Christ and God, are on their Side; as also, the Angels of his Power, who in their Spiritual, new-covenant Life of everlasting Righteousness and Truth, transcendently excel, in strength, all first-creation Evil Angelical or human, invisible or visible Principalities & Powers, that are against the Saints of the most high. Saints, then, are sufficiently furnished, under the great Captain of their Salvation, to deal with, and be more then Conquerors over all Enemies, all worldly Powers of Darkness, and Gates of Hell. Muster they never so strong; Bluster, Storm, and Look as big as they can, Saints Infallibly see and know where they shall have them, in conclusion, forever; even, under their feet, as the necks of the five Kings of Canaan were put under the feet of Joshua's Captains; Jos. 10. 24. Those Kings were a Type of all first-Creation Powers, fixed in Opposition to the second. Spiritual Israelites know how to demean themselves under all Oppressors, the great mystical Goliath, the Devil, with his whole Army of Philistines, evil Angels and men. They have so learnt Christ in their Spiritual man, which no Enemies can touch; that they fear not them that can but kill the Body, or whole natural man, as to a first-covenant, first-creation Life of vanity; and have no more that they can do. They know their great Captain, Christ himself, turns all Injuries, done to their Body, or natural man, to their great advantage, as hastening the Death of what's to die in them; and so, completing their conformity with himself, therein; the consequent whereof, will be a completing them in his resurrection-Life, that's above all Enemies and Deaths. Their Way of ascending into his all-conquering Spiritual Life, is the Death of their natural State. They overcome by such Death of what can die, as found in a state, that can never die, the certain result and issue of such a Holy obedient Death. This way, the Captain of our Salvation overcame; Heb. 2. 10. And, his good and faithful Soldiers must fight, as they have him for an example, and not look for a final, absolute Conquest, any other Way, than he obtained it. Satan and his Party seem to conquer, by killing the natural man or Body of Christ and Saints; who finally conquer them all, by being so killed. They fight with exceedingly differing Weapons; Enemies, with Weak and Carnal; Saints and their Captain-General, with Spiritual and Mighty, through God, for pulling down all their Strong Holds, and laying them all in the Dust. Another Riddle. Enemies fight against the Spirit of God, or Spiritual man, in Saints, but can hit or touch only their natural, which their own Spiritual is fighting against, in their own persons. So, though they have Perfectly contrary designs, Christ, Saints, and all Enemies, what'ere they strike at, they all hit only flesh and Blood, which cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, but lets or hinders the Saint's fully entering, till it be fully destroyed. By suffering Devils and men, seemingly to overcome him and his Saints, as bringing death on their natural man, do Christ and they overcome them all, in their Spiritual, which is greater then they: and which they can never touch; V. 14. 1 Joh. 4. 4. and 5. 18. Satan's Battels against (and seeming Conquests over) Saints ( the few that are saved, Christ's little flock) are performed with a confused noise, and Garments rolled in Blood. Christ's and Saints victory over them, is with burning and fuel of Fire, by which the 〈◊〉 of and by the Lord, will be the many that perish; Isai. 9. 5. and 66. 16. Enemies kill Saint's Body's, but they'll kill their Spirits, Souls, and Bodies, forever, in that Spirit they aimed at, to kill, but could never touch. It will touch them, to purpose, at last. But, Who are the Oppressors, here? What, the Oppression? Who, the Oppressed, in the Province of this World, Satan's universal Monarchy, through a violent perverting of Judgment and Justice? Much has been said 〈◊〉 these queries, on Vers. 1. of Chap. 4. Evil Angels and Men, are the invisible and visible Principalities and Powers, that set themselves to oppress the Saints of the most High ( the Poor and Needy, as to the Treasures of their inward natural Man, their Spirit; and oft, outward also) as the Signal Tormenters of such Dwellers upon the Earth, or fixed Inhabitants of the Earthy, first-Creation State of Nature, evil Angels and Men; disturbers of the Peace of their Joynt worldly Dominion, and tyranical Domination, therein. For, they declare all that worldly Life and Strength, they trust in, for Happiness, to be but a Bubble, a Dream, a fading Flower, insignificant as to true happiness; a fixed confidence, therein, unchangeable enmity to God, and certain Damnation to themselves. Can the Rulers of this World, visible or invisible, bear such Doctrine, concerning that State, they set up in, for Salvation? Though Devils more fully know the Truth thereof; will men (under their strong delusions, pleasing themselves to think their sandy Foundation'd Church-building, good, and their matters right with God, as therein doing him service) let the true Saint's contrary, spiritual, true Gospel-Doctrine, pass uncontrol'd, or the Preachers and Owners of such Doctrine, unpunished? Never look for it. And, least of all, in these last, and worst of Times; in which, the Scripture proclaim's, and warn's, this Oppression will rise to a higher pitch, than in all former Ages of this World, under Satan, the Prince and God, the Moloch, and Baal, or King and Lord thereof; King of Kings, and of all the Children of Pride, all proud self-exalters, in this World; as Christ, King of all Spiritual Kings, and meek subjected Children of his Kingdom, in the next. Satan, the permitted God and Prince of this, when he know's he hath but a short time to Reign (his Kingdom drawing near a Period) will more outrageously and Subtly then ever, lay about him, to hinder and prevent the Dawnings, and commencing of Christ's; Rev. 12. 12. He will then enrage his visible Powers in this World, against Saints, to the causing such a time of Trouble to them, as never was, or shall be; Mat. 24. 21. As certain Tokens of Satan's expiring Reign; and so, of the approaching of Christ's, the Love and Practice of all sorts of Iniquity (literal and mystical) will abound; and of all sorts of goodness, decline and decay. By both these, will the Devil most dext'rously serve his designs, as to all sorts of Oppression, by the violent perverting of Judgment and Justice, towards the Poor of Christ's Flock, stripped of all natural Power or Relief, visible or invisible. He will use a profane Party, to destroy the common Rights and Properties of men, on civil accounts. And he, will use first-Covenant, Law-Brethren, as by him turned into gospel-wolv's (and yet dress'dup by him, in Sheeps-clothing, Spiritual appearances) to worry and hunt true Spiritual Gospel-Breth'ren, in the second, to Death. But Saints are fore-warned of all this, as to what they are to expect, in the worst of times; Mat. 24. 25. Joh. 16. 4. All's by God's permission, and under his over-ruling Power. They ought not therefore, to marvel or be dismayed at the matter, or will and purpose of God, herein, which is wholly for their Good. Be not dismayed; for, he, or they, that is (or, that are) higher than the highest (the Holy Angels) do regard, see and take notice of all, as Standers by and Lookers on, til fully impowr'd and commissioned to come forth, in the effectual Preaching of the everlasting Gospel, to Saints; and pouring forth the Vials of Wrath, on their Enemies. And, Christ and God, yet unspeakably, infinitely higher than the Holy Angels, sit, as 'twere, silent, but exactly regarding and observing the injurious demeanour of Enemies, towards his Saints; together with Saints dutiful and quiet demeanour, under such Injuries, and worst Occurrents.

The spiritual Gospel-life of Christ, in Elect Angels (yea and in Saints, too) render's them as much higher then all evil first-creation Powers, Angels or Men; as the Heavens, then the Earth. And, though the Good Angels come not forth, in their immediately preparatory dispensation to Christ's second coming, till peculiarly commissioned for such blessed work, in the last and worst of times, when enemies are grown most rampant and confident; yet, mean while (even all along this World) are they (and have they been) sent by Christ, as ministering spirits, keepers, and guardians to blessed Saints on earth, heirs of salvation, surrounded with enemies, on all hands, in this scrambling, confounded world of cunning Devils, and ignorant men; ignorant, as to all Gospel, saving truths, abundance of them not knowing, or very little thinking what they are doing, as even Paul once, Act. 26. 9. Luk. 23. 34. Act. 13. 27. They protected Elijah, from the king's 3 Captains and their fifties; Elisha, in Dothan, from the Syrian Army; and Hezekiah &c. from the Assyrian Army, before Jerusalem; as Isaiah prophesied, 2 Kings. 19. 20. 35. By the decrees of Christ's spiritual Angelical Watchers over, and observers of all men, good and bad (as Hesiod say's) will the great Tree of all oppressing Worldly Monarchies, be cut down, when ripe for the Sicle; Dan. 4. 17. Mat. 13. 39-42. Rev. 14. 19, 20. That Devils are not ignorant of Holy Angels Guardianship over Saints, appears by Satan's quoting ( Psal. 91. 11, 12) to Christ himself, Mat. 4. 6. They keep Saints, also, as the natural man of Christ himself in flesh, from being induced by tempting Devils (by the contrary workings of flesh and Blood in themselves, or persecuting-work of enemies, without doors) to stumble or be finally and unpardonably Offended at (and so, found offenders of) Christ, the corner-stone and foundation of the new-creation building on the Rock, as coming on flesh and blood (or their natural man) with mystical fire, and a flaming twoedged sword, to kill, slay, and offer it up, in sacrifice, to God. In the close of this world, will they pour down the wrath of God, gradually, on the several parts or branches of Satan's universal Empire, or worldly dominion, till all be laid in the Dust, under Christ's, theirs, and his Saints feet; Rev. 16. Saints, waiting, in a lively hope, for this, ought to possess their Souls in faith and patience, and not marvel or be dismayed (seeing clearly the mind, will, purpose, and method of God's wisdom, in all) at the most daring, presumptuous practicers of highest wickedness against God or them. They are sure of advantage, by all they can do against them, now. And, they are sure of having them under their feet, hereafter, forever. What would they have, or can they wish more, in this point? God is for them, who can be against them? They must needs be more then conquerors. If this threefold Cord will hold (conjunctive divine and new-creature power, in Christ; the conjunctive, personally united new-creature power, in Christ and Elect Angels, and Saints also, for their security against all worldly Powers) all's safe.

Vers. IX. Moreover, the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

The chief intendment of this literal truth (which, hit upon, is properly and truly, right interpretation) is, the fruits and products of man's nature, in the renewed old; earthly, or first-creation state thereof, the Image of the earthy. The profit of this, is for all; And, this is figured by the fruits, profits, and products, of the literal Earth, by which King and Subjects, Rulers and Ruled, even all Mankind, are supported and maintained in their bodily life. The fruits of the said mystical Earth, or righteous earthly Life and state, afford a natural food and clothing to the immortal spirit, or inner man of man, in his first-creation make and fashion of being. In this make and life, is man to serve or obey God, as the fruits thereof serve or preserve him: both, but for a season, till called out of this, man's own earthly life, make and fashion of being, into God's Heavenly, which (with the fruits and meats thereof) is everlasting. The Earthly state of man (or Angel) before the fall, in a first-covenant law-life, was figuratively represented by the Tree of good and evil, signifying the corruptibility thereof; and the danger, incident to man (or Angel) by their own evil choice, and use of it. To prevent this evil, both were strictly prohibited the feeding upon, terminating, delighting, and establishing themselves therein, with a confidence to find true blessedness, there, to their immortal beings. The so doing then, was rebellion against the command of God, and turned their natures into a direct enmity to that more excellent and durable creature-life of God, spiritual and heavenly, a Gospel-state of everlasting righteousness and truth. And, the same miscarriage and abuse of all, turned their earthly-state (life, or mystical field) into a uselessness to themselves, so as to be of no true avail or profit to them: but indeed, a prison-state of darkness and death, rendering their nature an accursed earth, bringing forth nothing but Briars and Thorns, Gall and Wormwood, from a root of bitterness or enmity to God. This brought the sinning Angels, on their first sin, under an absolute unchangeable Curse, and everlasting Burnings; and, man's mystical Earth, or earthly life and state, it brought nigh unto Cursing, as bearing Thorns and Briars, also; and, if he persist finally therein, against all offered Grace and Mercy, his end will be also to be burned, in the same Lake of mystical Fire and Brimstone, the unquenchable slames of God's wrath, for evermore; Heb. 6. 8. Adam's first sin, left no profit in this mystical field or earth of man's nature. All men, since, are born dead in trespasses and sins. Their nature is a wast, howling, barren Wilderness, full of ravenous, devouring wild Beasts, bestial thoughts; foolish, noisome lusts, that hurt, wound, sink, and drown them in destruction and perdition; 1 Tim. 6. 9. The King, or kingly, superior Angelical nature; and the subject, inferior human nature, by their fall, lost the right use and true profit of the mystical earthly, first-creation field, life, or natural state. Both were brought to feed on dust, or the perishing vanities of this World, or Worldly state, having turned their Backs on God's never-perishing Life and Meats, figured in the Tree of Life, and offered to them both and all. They forth-with forfeited and lost the paradisical-state of their corruptibly perfect natural, in Subjection to that Light that showed and offered them God's incorruptibly perfect spiritual creature-Life, State, and Meats, which was their first habitation or state of Innocency. Fallen Angels, as their greater punishment (for their greater and more criminal first Sin, against higher and clearer Light than man) have the Dust of their not only corruptible, but corrupted first-creation Field or natural State, left them to feed on, and are permitted to use all their Strength and advantages therein, against God and his Saints. But Man, as a lesser punishment, was instantly deprived of all; both of the righteous Earthly Life of his nature, and of the proper Food and clothing thereof. He is ever since, born Naked, Dead, Helpless, and Loathsome; Ezek. 16. 5, 6. He has nothing left, but a mere bestial, bodily Life, and the lowest part of the Dust of this World, in common with Brutes, to feed upon; even the gratifying contentments of bodily lust, only. He has nothing, proper to him as a man, left him to feed on. But, he is pardonable, and recoverable into the righteous Life of a Man, again, by the Redeemer. And, when actually recovered into, and set up afresh, therein, if he, as willfully, against conviction, abuse it again (in sinning against, and rejecting God's more excellent new-creature, Gospel-Life, at first represented in the Tree of Life) he is gone forever, as fallen Angels, at first, were. Yet, is he left, for a season (after so irrecoverably and unpardonably gone) to the self-confident exercise of his restored changable righteous first-covenant Law-Life, and feeding on the meats and fruits thereof, handed now to him from the Evil Angel, that's higher than he, in that fading Life and Meats. And so, is he permitted by Christ, to have more than Heart can Wish, (Psal. 73. 〈◊〉 .) therein, to his dying hour; yea, and die with great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and satisfaction, to by-Standers, that all's well with him. And, thus goes the inferior human Beast, into the Arms of the superior and more subtle evil-angelical Beast of the first-creation World, whom he has taken to be his God; Gen. 3. 1. 2 Thes. 2. 4. Man's second personal sinning after the similitude of Adam's Transgression (in restored nature, against God's Spirit of Grace, and Light thereof) brings him to the same point, with Devils, a fixure or establishment in his own changably righteous nature, which is unchangeable enmity to God, and his everlasting righteous Gospel-spirit of Grace.

If men suspect the offe'rd serpents 〈◊〉 , as earthly, he will gild over his earthly, natural excellencies, with the nearest resemblance of Christ's Spiritual and heavenly, and then they'll down for right heavenly, never-perishing meat's, with all but, the very elect. And, he wants not for apostles, from amongst men (transformed by him and themselves, into the likeness of Christ's) the supreme Wolv's in sheep's clothing, to carry on his work; making his Gospel-vanities pass for Christ's durable Gospel-riches, everlasting life, and never-perishing meats. Thus does Satan sport himself with those that sport themselves with his and their own deceivings. By such, makes he his utmost batteries against the very elect, to deceive their souls; or if that would not be, to destroy their bodies. All that have resolutely taken up with him, to feed on dust (the perishing meats of the first c reation) does he perfectly deafen to the voice of all true Spiritual Charmers, Charm they never so Wisely. Not a word of Christ's Gospel, or any of his never-perishing meats, will they anymore listen to, regard or look after, forever, then stones. They are fixed absolute infidels, as to all his things, truths, or doctrines. They are the hottest, fiercest, zealous decriers of all such things, or words, in the whole World. Paul was so, for a season, when a righteous first-covenant Saint; they, forever. But, to prevent man's self-destroying choice of his own selfish, earthly, first-creation life, or righteous natural-State, with the perishing food, ragged clothing, and fading riches thereof, in preference to Christ's durable riches, neverperishing meats, and pure garments, clean linen, or everlasting 〈◊〉 , in the second; Solomon farther declares;

Vers. X. He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver: nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this is also vanity.

The mystical silver here (that with all possible increase thereof, is vanity, as well as the literal figure) import's the heaped up Laodicean treasur's, in the fruitful exercise of a first-covenant righteous life of vanity. Man, at best, therein, is lighter then vanity, weigh's less (is worse) then nothing, in the balance of Christ's new-creation sanctuary; Psal. 39. 5, 6. and, 62. 9. Isa. 40. 17. He is a flat enemy to God and it; to all the heavenly life and treasure thereof. Man's inordinate, preferring love to (and delight in) his own righteous nature, and riches thereof, is an evil concupiscence, an evil covetousness, destructive to his own mystical house, whole nature, or person ( Hab. 2. 9, 10) the highest, and most criminal idolatry; that love of money, in the highest sense, that's the root of all evil, keeping up a murdering mind of enmity against all doctrine, or persons, that come to seize and take it away, as their unspeakable advantage, if obedient to the Cross of Christ, therein. Man, wearies himself, tires, and sin's himself into eternal death, for very vanity; v. 13. and Psal. 39. 6. All, men seek and contend for, in their own nature, will, and way, Paul found, in Gospel-light, dung and loss; Job, dust and ashes; who both, once, thought themselves truly happy, there, in God's sight, as well as in their own. He that loves this mystical silver, or fading inward riches of his own nature, shall not be satisfied with such silver, in the most abundant increases thereof. There's nothing in it, can truly answer the wants of his immortal being: or, give the least degree of true happiness to him. Nothing but new-creature life, does this ( Gal. 6. 15) neither corrupt or righteous Old-Creation life, signified by uncircumcision and circumcision, which avail not anything, in this case; as to eternal life.

Verse. XI. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes.

Here's the vanity of all perishing treasur's. The utmost increase of Laodicean riches, in the most fruitful exercise of a first-creation life, or first-covenant principle, makes but a heap of perishing vanities, when all's done. The right parting with all, as dung, for Ghrist's heavenly treasure, durable riches (acquirable only in his Gospel-Spirit or new-covenant-principle of everlasting righteousness) is the best, and only true improvement of all. In this Exchange, does Man receive all the fading goodness and riches of his law-life, with usury and great gain; even in Christ's Gospel-life, or Spirit. Thus 'tis, with all thorough-followers of Christ's Counsel. Christ receives, in this right improvement of his first-creation gifts, his own again with usury, and man his own also, with transcendent advantage, in God's own Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, Glory; all the everlasting things of God's Spirit of grace, for the fading vanities, perishing next to nothings, in his own Spirit of nature; the Life of the Creator, or new-creature Spirit of Christ, the living WORD and Wisdom of God, by which the Worlds were made. The final refusal of this change, is man's changing, selling, or parting with God's Gospel-Spirit of Truth, for Satan's and his own 〈◊〉 , his perishing vanity, his law-Spirit of nature. And this is 〈◊〉 serving, worshipping, and loving the Creature, even himself, rather or more (yea, above and against) the Creator, who is blessed forever. Can such ill-choosers, expect less then to be Cursed forever, and perish as their own dung, that they prefer before the very Life, Righteousness, Wisdom, and Glory of God, that's never to be done away? Paul threw away this mystical dung, for the unsearchable divine and spiritual riches of Christ's Glorious person; which, when he came to be a happy possessor of, he became also the most Powerful Gospel-Preacher of; Eph. 3. 8. He that loves his own life, and the riches or Mammon thereof, literal or mystical, in preference to God's, hates God's. Christ therefore requires the hating our own very life, at best, in love to God's, or declar's, we cannot be his disciples; Luk. 14. 26. For thus did he. Not my will, but thine be done. Not my words, but thine be spoken; The word's of thy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, that's in unchangeable union of mind with thy infinite divine Spirit, and, not the dictates of my natural wisdom or understanding, the words of my Spirit. Job said, though righteous, he would not know or own his own soul, but despise or destroy, crucify his very righteous natural self or life, as dust and ashes, to God's: dung and loss ( Phil. 3. 7, 8) for God's; with Paul. All true Saints think, say, and do thus, first or last. What amount all fading riches (treasured up by man, in the activity of faulty, or defective first-covenant principle's) unto, by the most fruitful exercise of the restored righteous life of his own nature, therein, when not rich towards God, in his Spirit of grace, the second Covenant Gospel-Principle of life, desire, thought, and action? Christ himself does thus resolve his own most pertinent and concerning question, by way of instruction and warning to men; Thou fool, that hast heaped up vast perishing treasures, in thy own enlightened, righteous nature; and art merry, confident, and at hearts-ease therein, as if happy for many years, even forever, as possessed of what will never fail thee; this night shall thy soul be taken from thee, even this righteous life of thy living soul, and then, if thou have not the everlasting life of my quickening Spirit, and my durable riches therein, where art thou? and whose shall all those things be, which thou hast provided? none of thine, to be sure, forever. 'It is the true Saint, only, receivs all the good of the first-creation, transcendently advanced, in the second. All others, that finally refuse the second, will be excluded from it, forever; and, have all, in the first, taken from them, too. Where are they then? They lose the riches, laid up for the ease of their own soul, soul and all, forever, in conclusion. Here's their Doom. Christ therefore denounces woe to such first-covenant rich ones (reigning with confidence, as Kings, there, in their own righteous, cleansed nature) as having received their consolation, their penny, the Praise and reward of Men, in this World. They are to have no good in the next; Luk. 6. 24. Mat. 6. 2. 5. 16. No entering there, for a rich Man, rich in the first covenant life of his own nature, and confident therein, so as to reject the true riches, of the second-covenant-life of God, in his spirit of grace, Mat. 19. 24. As to anything of the new-creature-life and riches of God, are such, with the Laodiceans, wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; Rev. 3. 17. They have nothing of that, about them. Yea, they loath, mortally hate all such life, riches, and God most high, himself. They'l be needs Reigning as Kings, in a Spirit, a life, Christ would not Reign in (when offered, Joh. 6. 15) Paul could not, might not Reign in, 1 Cor. 4. 8. Such hate that Gospel-Spirit, Christ will Reign in, with all his Saints. The Rich and Full, in First-Covenant Life and Treasur's, are confident therein, and laugh now, under the Applause, Reward and Praise of Men, as were always's the False Prophets; Luk. 6. 24 — 26. How blank will all such self-confident Laodiceans, look, that now reckon themselves rich, full, increased with goods, and needing nothing, when forced to find themselves in everlasting Poverty and nakedness, needing everything, that's ought? Litteral and mystical rich men, possessed of nothing but perishing vanities, must needs fade away in both their ways, as the withering grass, and falling flower thereof; Jam. 1. 11. God rejects both their false confidences. They shall not Prosper in them; Jer. 2. 37. Amidst all the mirth and jollity of both, are they bid howl and weep for the miseries that shall come upon them; Jam. 5. 1. why? why, because both trust in lying vanities, liable to rust, canker, moth-eating, thieves; in sum, to perish; yea, infallibly certain so to do, from the intrinsic perishableness of the very nature of them; v. 2, 3. And where are they both, then? This get they, by listening to Satan's Man-pleasing counsel, and rejecting Christ's, who warns men, in this great concern, to quit such, for his heavenly treasure and life, exposed to none of these sad inconveniences; Mat. 6. 19. 20. When men heap up, in, for, and to themselves, the said vain riches, perishing goods, so that such goods increase, they are increased that eat them. The mystical truth of this saying, is this. The inordinate lusts of man's boundless, rambling, roving Spirit (from the immortality of its being) increase, as his riches increase. So, he is never the nearer, yet, towards any full or final satisfaction. A bottomless desire, an insatiable appetite, growing still bigger and wider, increasing as the heap increases (and their sinful dotage on, and love to the heap, increasing with the heap) man grow's worse and worse, every way, as to his case, towards God; or, any satisfaction to himself, in all such riches. The sinful, false appetite of his immortal Spirit, after mortal riches, is the eye that's never satisfied with seeing, or with riches; the ear, never 〈◊〉 with hearing. Ec. 1. 8. and, 4. 8. Men, after all the sad experience of man and Angel, at first, will be trying over and over, again (generation after generation) the self-same evil and unlawful use of first-creation vanities, that, at first, gave, many Angels and all men, their fall. This, notwithstanding all the faithful warnings of the Lord, also, against this course, before and since the fall, as to the dreadful consequents thereof. What peerless, unparalleled folly, must this needs be? Yet, this course will men steer; this way, will they take. Former Generations of professors have took this way, followed such doctrine as has directed, and assured them of safety therein; and their posterity, in the same first-covenant principles, now, approve their sayings, applaud their doctrine, and follow their example; and so, also, follow them into that state of eternal darkness and death, where they shall never see light. Thus goes one generation after another, to the generation of their fathers; to the same chambers of death, with them; Psal. 49. 13. 19. They all feed on such things, only, as perish in the using; and, will, as certainly perish, for for so feeding on them. And, mean while, before the final stroke of wrath be upon them (to cut them off, forever, and put a full period to their false mirth) are they under an utter impossibility of ever being satisfied with the greatest possible increases and heaps of such perishing vanities. For, they Add, or afford nothing, no good to the Owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their Eyes. There's no durable, truly satisfying good in them, to man's Immortal Spirit. The mystical Stomach, Thirst, Hunger, or Appetite and desire thereof, can never be satisfied, quenched or answered, thereby; but, only cozened, while'd off, and amus'd with the self-pleasing entertainments of this World, in a Fools-Paradise of vanities. The increasing vain desires, after such encreasingvain desirables, frustrate's and deprives the Possessor, still, still, of any good or benefit by them, save the beholding them with his Eyes, which are never satisfied with seeing them. So is man, in a mere maze and labyrinth of self-tormenting disquietment, in getting, heaping up, keeping, and, at last, inevitably losing all, again; on which, he will be left in a Bed of sorrow, in Eternal Darkness, Want, Nakedness and Death, under the inflictions of final Wrath, for such madness and folly; of which, fairly and oft warned, in his day, on Earth. All his present joy, delight, laughter, pleasure, in seeing his heap of vanities, is but delusive and destructive to him. All amounts but to an increase of vanity, in desires and desirables; and what's man the better? Eccl. 6. 11. Yea, how much still the worse? worse and worse. The true living Bread, the Waters of 〈◊〉 , the never perishing Meat and Cloathing, Christ's Gospel-Spirit of everlasting righteousness, brings with it, answer all man's wants, and make up a true blessedness to him, forever. True Saints increase with the increases of God, in his never-perishing Life and Riches. They are Co-heirs with Christ, of God (Rom. 8. 17.) feeding on (and enjoying) the very divine Glory, shining forth upon them, in favor and love, for evermore.

Vers. XII. The sleep of a laboring Man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance (Arab. covetousness) of the Rich, will not suffer him to sleep.

First, to the literal sense. Man, in his civil Capacity and lawful Calling in this World, diligently performing his Duty, and referring the issue and success of his labors, to Providence (without any carking solicitud's, or murmuring, repining thoughts, against God, when crossed in his expectations, and disappointed of his hopes) has rest and quiet to himself, therein. Such a one, however low in outward Riches, Solomon prefer's, as to outward worldly Happiness, before the literal covetous rich man, that (from excessive, inordinate Love to such Wealth) robb's and deprives himself of all right comfort therein. His solicitous, self-tormenting thoughtfulness, for getting and keeping such Wealth; and then, fear of losing all, again (all which the other is freed from) render him a very 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . His abundance of Riches fills his Heart with abundance of trouble and disquiet (as well as his Coffers, with Silver) which will not suffer him to rest or sleep. Through this vanity, under the literal first-creation Sun, Solomon saw such Riches, downright hurtful to the Owners thereof, instead of being of any benefit or advantage to them. Semblably, the inward Riches of man's Spirit (under the mystical first-creation Sun; the enlightening, enlivening, fructifying influence of Christ, as a fleshly Bride-groom, in his first-covenant Spirit, Single, upon man's nature) Laodicean Treasures, heaped up and trusted in, and to, by man, for true Happiness, produce the same restlessness and disquiet to him. Full of solicitud's is he, in getting and keeping, and of Fears, about losing all, again; as the literal covetous rich man is. Is there not a cause for such Jealousies and Fears? All's but a vain show, in Holy Flesh, a first-covenant Spirit of bondage and fear, about his known perishing vanities; refusing Christ's convincingly showed and offered durable Riches and true Freedom, even the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, in his Gospel-Spirit, or perfect Law of Liberty, to good only; and that good, unchangeable. That's Freedom indeed; to purpose; Heb. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 3. 17. Joh. 8. 32. 36. Jam. 1. 25. and 2. 12. The Truth (Christ's Gospel-Spirit of Truth) makes us Christ's true freemen, though, in letter, man's Servants; 1 Cor. 7. 22. And, the Master, that's free, in letter, if effectually called by Christ into his heavenly Life of true freedom, is his Servant. Christ's new-covenant Law, or Gospel-Spirit of Life, by its death-work on our old or first-covenant law-Spirit of Sin, Bondage, Enmity, and Death, sets us free from Sin and Death ( Rom. 8. 2.) all vain Trouble, Bondage, and Fear. He that's so dead, is freed from Sin (Rom. 6. 7.) ceases, forever, from it; 1 Pet. 4. 1.

Vers. XIII. There is a sore Evil, which I have seen under the Sun; namely, Riches kept for the Owners thereof, to their hurt.

This, with the Verse before, and four following, jointly Character the folly and misery of the literal and mystical covetous rich Man; the former, as a Type of the latter. One of them is filled with cares and solicitud's, about making provision for his bodily ease; the other is as busy, about provisions for his Soul's ease; Luk. 12. 16-19. Both of them trade but in perishing vanities. 'It is but for perishing meats, that gratify the evil Lust's, the Belly, Desire or Appetite of a mortal, perishable Life of Body and Soul, these two sorts of foolish Laborers, Toil, and fill their Heads and Hearts, with vain, self-tormenting cares and solicitud's. All's but to compass and finger the vain Delights of the Sons of men. Nothing of the never-perishing Life and Meats of the Son of God, delights of the Sons of God, are admitted into their regard. God is not in all, or any of their thoughts Psal. 10. 4. Nothing of God's, Christ's new-creature Life, is sought after. They'l not come to him for it, nor regard it, when he comes and offers it to them; John. 5. 40. How oft would I have gathered you together, unto me, under my divine and Creature-wings, in this Life, and ye would not? Mat. 23. 37. Ye are all for yourselves, your own Life; will have none of me, or mine. Then take your course; ye shall never have mine, at all; never enter into my rest: So will be left to your own desolate house, forever; V. 38. The mystical rich man delightfully contemplat's the Beauty, Fruitfulness, and Riches of his own enlight'ned nature, and too oft arrivesat this highest point of Spiritual wickedness, as the result of his own wisdom, to strike up an everlasting-covenant-union with the Devil. He agrees to receive, by his transforming Hel-fire-Baptism, an advance of his own nature, out of a narrower changably evil human capacity, into a wider and unchangeably evil angelical. This, by suffering Satan to fill his Heart with his Spirit of unchangeable enmity to God. This is the making man's mystical House or Barns, greater (Luk. 12. 18) the enlarging and heightening his natural capacity, by a kind of mystical death (through Satan's false cross-work, or counterfeit mortification, for the death of man's Spirit of nature) on his engagement by covenant, and satisfying assurance, that he will raise and catch him up, out of that mystical Grave, into his higher, wiser, stronger, more excellent and capacious angelical nature. Thus, by bargain, does he touch man's Spirit, with the transforming, alterative, assimilating touch of his, and translate him out of his narrower human, into his larger angelical capacity, of the first-creation sort. Man rather chooses this heightening and enlargement, in his own way, and after his own heart (in the first-creation state of nature, which renders him a man after the Devil's own Heart, in unchangeable enmity to God) then such destruction of his fleshly nature (or whole natural state and life, at best) as leaves him no hopes of ever finding himself in a single natural first-creation-life, more, forever; but, in a spiritual and heavenly, by a new-creation, in the new & everlasting covenant Gospel-principle, God's Spirit of Grace and Truth. The assimilating, transformingwork of Christ's Spiritual Cross, or heavenly fire-baptism upon man, would translate him (if obediently submitting thereto, and compliant therewith) into the life of God's sacrificing Gospel high-Priest of our Profession, or of that very Spirit and fiery law of liberty (Deut. 33. 2. Jam. 1. 25) that puts his Law or lawless Spirit of bondage, enmity, and Death, to Death; with engagement, by Covenant, to raise it into the everlasting Life, and Glorious liberty of the Sons of God. Satan will Personate this very high Priest of God, and God himself; 2 Thes. 2. 4. And, he will transform his higher Angelical excellencies and capacity, into the likeness or nearest possible resemblance of Christ's new-creation Glories. This is the top-stone of his mystery of iniquity; the strongest delusion, by which this most subtle old Serpent, Dragon, and roaring Lion, deceives and devours men when and where God permit's, for his own most wise and holy ends. Think, what this choice of man, under Gospel-conviction-Light, to join unchangeably with the Devil, rather than with God, deservs. In order to secure their beloved nature's head, from the Gospel-Sword, and Fire of the Cross or Spirit of Christ, do men mount up into superior first-creation strength, subtlety, and power, to oppose and fortify themselves against Christ and God, that they may be delivered from the power of evil, even from the wrath of God; Hab. 2. 9. This is man's design, in his evil covetousness, to set his nest on high, amongst the evil angelical Rocks and Mountains, with a vain hope, to fight and make good his ground and standing there, against God himself. Most daring, foolish, presumptuous, self-destroying wickedness! Thus comes the mystical House of man's swept, garnish'd nature, but empty of the Gospel-Spirit of Christ, that's greater than Satan (after all cleansing from filth of flesh, and adorning with Spiritual, enlightening, excellent Gifts) to be re-entered and repossessed by him, in a sevenfold more dangerous manner, than before he was cast out of his changable corrupt state of nature; that is, unchangeably. This is cleansed, righteous man's latter end, worse than his beginning, in polluted nature, dead in trespasses 〈◊〉 sins; but, recoverable and curable, by the redeemer; Mat. 12. 43-45. In this desperate and most deplorable condition, did Christ find and declare the self-confident righteous. Scribs, Pharisees, and professing Jews (who asserted themselves to be true Children of Abram; yea, and of God himself, as born of God; Joh. 8. 39. 41.) to be of their Father the Devil, as born of him, and walking, acting, and speaking in his very murdering, lying Spirit of unchangeable enmity to God, as the very principle of their life, desire, thought and action; V. 44. Man's Body or natural state, given up to be burned (not in the true Fire of that Gospel-Spirit that's called Charity or Love (1 Cor. 13. 3.) but in the false Fire of Satan's Spirit of unchangeable enmity to God) profits him nothing; but indeed, become's the highest, and utmost imaginable disadvantage to him. It renders him a fixed Temple of the very Spirit of the Devil; as the true Saint, of God's. This abundance of mystical first-creation Riches, men singer, by advance into evil angelical excellencies, superior to mere human, will not suffer them to sleep, being forever excluded God's Rest, the new-creation Spirit of Christ. They must lie down forever, with their Father, the Devil, and his Angels, under wrath, in eternal vexation of Spirit. But, the mystical poor Labourer, that sets his hand to the Plow of the Cross, to turn up the very Root or natural principle of all mystical first-creation riches or fruits, will have sweet sleep, rest and peace with God, for evermore. He cast's away, and willingly parts with all the riches, as dung (that the other cumbers himself with) and all desires after them, or care and solicitud's about them. Who has the better on it? the rich, Christ pronounces woe, to (Luk. 6. 24.) or the poor in Spirit, whose is the Kingdom of Heaven? Mat. 5. 3. The more speedily the fleshly Tree, with all the fruits and riches, produced in and by it, is daily dying and withering away, under the Cross; at the farther distance is the true Saint from the danger, the covetous rich naturalist is involved (and in a perilous tendency towards an unalterable fixure) in, by not submitting to God's sentence of Death upon nature at best (as Paul did, 2 Cor. 1. 9.) so, as to have it speedily executed, upon them. This exposes men to Satan's fixing, or setting their Hearts in them, to do evil (Ec. 8. 11.) in unchangeable enmity to God, with him. So, all their heaped up riches are kept (by, and) for the owners thereof, to their own hurt. Hurt? yes, to purpose, their eternal ruin. He that incorrigibly loves (and dotes upon) such riches, hates Christ and his true life and riches; so, loves Death; Prov. 8. 36. Had the young man listened to Christ, and quitted the fading earthly life and riches of his own nature, for his heavenly, he had found that eternal Life, he inquired after. But, quitting Christ's faithful Command, and gracious Offer (all, for his unspeakable advantage, if complied with) in case he finally persisted therein, what, less than eternal Death, could befall him? Mat. 19. 16-22.

Vers. XIV. But, those riches perish by evil travel (Heb. in the evil use (or employment) of them) and, he begetteth a Son, and there is nothing in his hand.

Litteral riches, got by evil travel (and, as ill used) are, by the just hand of God, oft taken away, again. Man set's himself, to build Castles in the Air, or leave house and land to his Posterity, called after his own name; and all comes to nothing. The Son begotten by him, and left behind him, bring's his matters to such pass, that nothing remain's to him, or is left in his hand. As for the deceased Father, he could carry nothing of such riches away with him.; Psal. 49. 17. Job. 21. 13. -21. What a dismal issue is here, of all vain travel, relating to the outward pelf of this World? and, the same issue come all the mystical rich man's labors, to, as has been above evidenced, abundantly. He trades but in (a higher sort of) perishing vanities, with the literal. Both of them, as they came naked, in Body and Soul, into the World; so do they march out of it, again, after a long travel, and trading in a scene of perishing shadows; as follow's.

Vers. XV. As he came forth of his Mothers Womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and, shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

No comfort, or benefit, forever, will remain to either of the said evil Laborers and Abusers of literal or mystical perishing worldly riches; Psal. 39. 5, 6. and 49. 11-20. They carry nothing away, to stand them in any stead, in a resurrection of damnation, for the second Child, that shall stand up in an immortal being of Body, Soul, and Spirit, in lieu of their mortal Life of all, in this World; Eccl. 4. 15.

Vers. XVI. And, this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath labored for the Wind?

Man, wholly destitute of the Life, Riches, and Glory of the World to come, labor's in Sin, Vanity, and Darkness, all along his day, in this. He has nothing but a delusive, transient jollity in things that perish in the using. Belly and Meats, Desires and Desirables; all, vanity. God will destroy one and toother. All's but a passant wind, he labors about. And all his false joy, lead's directly to eternal sorrow, that he's to lie down in, under wrath.

Vers. XVII. All his days also he eateth in darkness; and he hath much sorrow, and wrath with his sickness.

In this verse and the two former, have we a true description of man's doleful state, after the largest possessions, literal or mystical, that can fall to his lot, in first-creation life. He huggs but a wind, phantome, shadow, or self-pleasing Dream. All's nothing; and, he comes to worse than nothing, unspeakable misery and confusion, without the least relief, forever, under unquenchable wrath. Man is born in a naked condition of Body, and dead in Sin, as to his Soul. When revived and Cloath'd again by Christ, as to some measure of his restored lost Life and Righteousness, in the first-covenant; by keeping up that, in enmity (to an everlasting Life and Righteousness, offered him by Christ, in the second, and so, sinning after the similitude of Adam' s first transgression ) he is worse than ever; his latter end worse than his beginning, a state of unchangeable, incurable evil, sorrow, nakedness, poverty, and death. His whole man, after all possible revival, comsort, flourish, or fruitfulness in the mortal first-covenant Life of his Spirit, or sensual Life of his Body, goes destitute of all good or comfort, naked out of the World, as he came intoit. He takes nothing of the fading Glory of his revived Spirit (anymore than outward riches and comforts, relating to his Body) away with him, at the death of the Body. All goes. In all points, on all accounts, he goes as he came; stark naked; stripped of all comfort or goodness. All fruits and labors of his Spirit and Body, go together; all vanish. They that obediently part with all such fading Life, and but things of man, in their Spirit, before the death of their Body, find their own again with usury, forever, in the everlasting Life, Wisdom, Righteousness and things of God, in the Gospel-Spirit or Principle of the new and everlasting Covenant. This is the unspeakable Gift of God, offered all, on obedient surrender of their fading Life and things, in the first-covenant, for his everlasting, in the second. They that refuse this surrender (as most do) lose all good, in both Covenants, forever; and fall under the positive inflictions of wrath, forever. This, for the evil use of all their things and labors in the first, against God, and the second. When charged for all, before the Judgment-seat of Christ, they'll be found in a silencing, self-condemning consciousness, as to all, charged with; will have nothing to say. When their evil consciences are opened, all their mouths of iniquity will be stop'd. No disputing, pleading, apologizing, but e'ne take their charge and sentence; and so, lie down forever in sorrow, shame, and confusion, under the wrath of their most righteous all-seeing Judge. Then will they find nothing of all their evil travel, left in their hand. The wrath of God will be upon them; and, the awak'ned spiritual convictions, afforded them, in mercy, on earth, will be set up in them, forever, in hell, as a never-dying, ever-gnawing worm ( Mark. 9. 44. 46. 48) to torment them within, by the perpetually forced sight of their madness and folly, on earth, against the universal experience of all mankind, and all faithful warnings from God. All their fading beauty will be consumed, in that Grave, from their dwelling (Psal. 49. 14.) or that earthly state of their whole persons, which they have chosen for their final habitation. They have rendered themselves fit fuel for the wrath of God, eternally to flame forth, upon. When Christ awak's or comes forth in his heavenly, he will despise or destroy their earthly Image (Psal. 73. 20.) or state; burn up all the fading Glory, perishing Life, Riches, Fruits, and meats thereof, or works therein; 2 Pet. 3. 10. Their fleshly principle or root, with the branch; tree, with the fruit, as Grass; at best, a fading flower, will wither and perish forever; Isai. 40. 6. These things and life, then, chosen by them, when known to be so (and Christ's everlasting Life and Things, as knowingly and willfully rejected, when convincingly showed and fairly offered them) will cause their unutterable confusion, forever, in eternal darkness and death. They'l have nothing but wrath to feed on, forever, in a resurrection of damnation. Much sorrow and wrath will they have in and with their sickness, inexpressible wrath, rage, and madness within them (as the Septuagint render) in their languishing, incurable sickness, or unchangeable enmity to God, under the final wrath of God. This will befall them, after all patience of God, and favorable offers ( while 'twas called today, with them, in this world) all which, they abused and refused, to their sorer condemnation and punishment. So, become they most desolate, forever. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, &c. Mat. 23. 37, 38. As vessels of dishonor, will they be forced to eat the fruit of their own way, 〈◊〉 be filled with the fruit of their own devices; the wrath of God; Prov. 1. 31. 'Twill be sorely ill with them, when that just reward of their hands shall be given them; Isai. 3. 11. Had they 〈◊〉 to his Counsel, they might have dwelt safely, forever, and, have been quiet from fear of evil. Prov. 1. 33. Their simple turning from his offers, and their prosperous flourish in their own nature, will, and way, destroyed these incorrigible Fools. V. 32.

Vers. XVIII. Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor, that he taketh under the Sun, all the days of his Life, which God giveth him: for, it is his portion.

Having, in some former Verses, finished the Character of the incorrigibly wicked, as to their dreadful condition, Solomon proceed's here, to declare the blessed condition of all, that are of a perfectly contrary temper of Spirit, to that of unchangeable enmity, above-said; of another Spirit, with Caleb and Joshua, who wholly followed the Lord; Numb. 32. 12. 'It is the Spirit of Faith, only, the law of the Spirit of Life, and true Liberty, the Gospel-Spirit of Truth, in which the Lord can be rightly owned, fully followed, and acceptably worshipped, in Spirit and Truth. Sure, none of these things can ever be done in man's own spirit, will, and way, that, at best, is enmity to God. True Saints bring forth all the fruits of their labors, unto God the Father, in this Spirit of the Son, which makes them free indeed; in this newness of Life, and Law of true Liberty, the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. And they reap the benefit or fruit of all their such labors in the Lord, which never are in vain; 1 Cor. 15. 58. All labors in our own Spirit of nature, uncircumcis'd or circumcised, that is, corrupt or righteous, are in vain, as to eternal Life; Gal. 6. 15. Nothing but the new creature, and its actions, are conducible, or of any tendency towards that. There, God work's all our works for us; and we, all our works, in him, as co-workers with God, in his own Spirit; Isai. 26. 12. Joh. 3. 21. Without me, or my Gospel-Spirit, 〈◊〉 can do nothing in the way towards true Life, say's Christ to all; Joh. 15. 5. These Gospel-works of the Spirit of Faith, in Abraham, justified him ( Jam. 22. 21) not law-works, in his own Spirit of nature, or principle of the covenant of works; Rom. 4. 2-6. By the works of the Spirit of Grace, not nature, are we justified and saved; Eph. 2. 8, 9. One of the works, by which Abraham was justified, was the sacrificing death-work upon his Spirit of nature, at best, typed by Isaac. And Abram, therein, with Isaac, were both of them Types of Christ, as the Gospel high-Priest and Sacrifice. Works and reward, in man's dealing with God, on the terms of the first-covenant, in his own spirit, will, and way, are of debt; in the second, both and all, on all hands, are, of Grace; works and reward. True Saints can say, not I live, walk, speak, work, but Christ, or his Gospel-Spirit lives and does all, in me; Gal. 2. 20. 'It is his Spirit of Grace, in and by which, they are what they are, do what they do, say what they say, 1 Cor. 15. 10. All, done in the participated creature-Spirit of the Son, exactly answers the very divine mind and will of the Father. All's after his own heart. By eating and drinking at Christ's heavenly Table, feeding on his never-perishing meats (Bread of Life, and Wine of his Kingdom, his divine and creature Glories) do they enjoy the good of all their labors in the Lord. They eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (Act. 2. 46.) with joy unspeakable and glorious, in unchangeable union with God; whereas others are feeding at the Serpents Table, in a Spirit of darkness, death, and unchangeable enmity to God, with him. Avast difference. There's a fixed, unpasable Gulf between these two sorts of feeders, eaters and drinkers. The generation of God's Children, born of his Spirit, to whom he has given his heavenly riches, and power to eat thereof, do truly rejoice in all their labors, even while in their mortal Body, on earth, under the literal Sun; This is their happy Portion, and Gift from God; as follow's.

Vers. XIX. Every man also, to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his Portion, and to rejoice in his labor; This is the Gift of God.

The obedient Saint chooses not his Portion, in his own will, and life, to his eternal ruin: but, is content, God should choose (as well as provide) his Portion, for him. In a dutiful compliance with his Spiritual Law, he readily parts with his own fading Life and riches, perishing vanities, for God's everlasting; which is absolute Salvation. Others, rebelliously and knowingly, choose, what he obediently parts with (as dung) for their final portion; which lay's them under final wrath. Saints quit the best Life and Things of the living Soul of the first 〈◊〉 , for the transcendently better Life and Things of the quickening Spirit of the second; their earthy Image, for his heavenly. No other way of bearing the Image of the heavenly, but a quitting the Earthy, as a glory to be done away, for the Glory of the heavenly, which excel's and remain's forever; 2 Cor. 3. 10, 11. In this 〈◊〉 of Life, and all the labors, right works, and fruits thereof, do they eat with unspeakable gladness of heart; and this is the Gift of God. The reason of this gladness, is given.

Vers. XX. For, he shall not much remember the days of his Life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

The day's of the Saint's Life, in his own Spirit of vanity, and unprofitableness to himself, as also enmity and sin against God, shall not be remembered by God. So, he shall not be called to an account, for what he has done in them. God pardon's, and puts all out of his Book of remembrance, on man's delivering up the guilty Sinner (the Son of Bichri, spiritual King David's Enemy; 2 Sam. 20. 21) his own Spirit, to Death, in order to be quickened up into the Life of the Spirit of mystical King David, that can never sin. And this, done by God, the Saint himself shall not much remember, so as to be confounded with the review of his innumerable and unutterably aggravated follies and abominations, in the Life and Day's of his vanity. All's pardoned and done away, Sins and Sinner; never to be remembered more, by God; Jer. 31. 33, 34. Heb. 8. 12. and, 10. 16, 17. In their newness of Life, they delight in God; and God, in them. He answers them therefore, in the Joy of their Heart, giving them all the desires thereof; Psal. 37. 4. Their and his desires meet and center in that one thing, necessary to their pleasing him, or being saved, the new-creation Spirit of Christ, his appointed and determined unspeakable Gift to them, from Eternity.

Vers. I. There is an evil which I have seen under the Sun, and it is common among Men: ( Hebr. much upon man) What?

Vers. II. A Man, to whom God hath given Riches, Wealth, and Honor, so that he wanteth nothing for his Soul, of all that he desireth; yet, God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

IN letter, a man furnished with all sorts of outward worldly desirables, heart can wish, from the unlawful use and feeding on them, may be said not to eat thereof, so as to receive any right comfort, in its kind; but, signal disadvantage, thereby. Hence, are all such his goods, left a stranger, to feed on, being to himself, so abused, nothing but vanity, and an evil disease. A right, lawful, comfortable eating thereof, is the gift of God; Eccl. 5. 18, 19. without this, is he in a worse condition than he that wants all, he enjoys; as by the abuse thereof, more deeply guilty. Fading things give no true comfort or satisfaction in their kind. The gift of God, added to them, distinct from such things; this only can give right comfort, and the lawful use of them. 'It is a disease or infirmity inseparable from the nature of such things, singly of themselves, to give any right comfort or advantage to man. Solomon had himself large experience hereof, in the abuse of such vanities, given him by God, in greater abundance, then to others: he wanted not, for any such outward Riches, Wealth, and Honor (1 King. 3. 13.) and he did set himself, as much or more than any, to try what satisfaction he could find, therein. Whatever his eyes desired, he kept not from them. He withheld not his heart from any joy; Eccl. 2. 10. This trade in vanities, he long drove, after signal mercy of the highest sort, afforded him, a principle of true wisdom which remained in him (ver. 9.) unextinguishable, under all; though sorely interrupted, as to exercise, by such mad, extravagant doings. On his return from such sensual delights, he declares, all, vanity, in this recanting book. All such desires and desirables, belly and meats, are vanity of vanities, shadows of a higher, mystical sort of vanities, belly and meats, that (with these lower, brutish) are all to be destroyed, 1 Cor. 6. 13. And, where's man, then? The same evil disease, in mystery, is found commonly among men, under the mystical first-creation Sun, the first covenant Spirit (as to all their fruits and Laodicean riches heaped up, there) as in the literal Rich man, under that Sun that produces the literal riches and fruits of this Earth, we tread upon. The influence, rain, annointings, gifts, enlightenings, and comforting warmth of Christ, 〈◊〉 his single distributions of first-covenant light and life ( as a fleshly Bridegroom and Comforter ) makes men first-covenant Saints, in holy, cleansed flesh, or a righteous natural State, freed, in degree, from the pollutions of their sormer polluted worldly nature. This makes them 〈◊〉 , fruitful, rich, full, flourishing, wise, strong, and honorable there, in holy flesh, by such knowledge and experience of Christ after the flesh. Christ's mystical husbandry and husbandly influence upon them, there, has these real effects upon them; brings them, a-fresh, into the 〈◊〉 of godliness, and real righteousness of man, in the image of the earthy or first Adam, restored and put upon them, as a comeliness and beauty; all which, yet, is but a 〈◊〉 flower, a perishing 〈◊〉 , as at first, in Adam. And now also, filth of spirit, or enmity to God's divine and new-creature Gospel-spirit of grace, is inseparable from this restored life of holy flesh. This disease therefore is curable only by the obedient death and loss of all this, again, for Christ's spiritual, Gospel, everlasting righteous new-creation life, by which to become one with him, there, as married to him in that life, into which he is risen out of the Death of that Law-life of holy-flesh, in his own person, Rom. 7. 1-4. These first-covenant Brethren, Children, and Spouses of Christ, in the first-covenant, finally refusing the terms of being Married to him in the second, which is the death and loss of all their fading vanities) come to be Married to the Devil, forever; and so, of a changable spouse and people, become not only no spouse, children, or people of God, but a very Synagogue of Satan. 〈◊〉 the mystery and power of Godliness, they are finally catched, and, forever, swallowed up, in Satan's mystery of 〈◊〉 . Such righteous first-covenanters in Law-life (thus joining unchangeably with the Devil, in an everlasting Marriage-Union with him) hated all Christ's spiritual, Gospel-Doctrine, and Crucified the Lord of Glory; put to a temporal Death, the very Prince of everlasting life. These drive a more dangerous trade with their vanities, then the literal Rich man, with his. Paul, and all spiritual Saints follow Christ's suffering steps, out of the Glory and Life, to be done away, into the Glory that excel's, and Life that remain's, forever. This is the rendering any man, truly blessed. And this (in great variety of Scripturelanguage, and Figurative, Parabolical instruction) is signified to men, by the voice of the true Shepherd and wisdom of God; the words of his heavenly, Gospel-spirit, in himself and Saints. But man (notwithstanding all that can be said) pitches his foot, resolutely, in harmony with Satan, for Salvation, in the but restored earthy first-covenant life of his own nature, in his own will and way, after his own heart; which, in fine, render's him a man after Satan's own heart. They so interpret all Scripture, by the words of their own wisdom, and in their lying spirit of divination, as to warrant this, a state of true and everlasting blessedness. This Doctrine, in all its variety, is the Doctrine of Devils, and no better; the self same, the Serpent Preach'd to Eve, and prevailed in; Gen. 3. 4. Ezek. 13. 6. So have ye Satan's and his Apostles accursed other Gospel-Ministry, in flat contrariety to every word of Christ's. If ye follow it, ye must take what follow's, forever; the wrath to come, be as jocund and confident as ye will, now. This has been Satan's and Man's delusive, cursed other Gospel, that's no. Gospel, from the beginning, and will be, to the end of this world, under all variety of dispensation from God, before and under written Law or Gospel, the Oracles of God in a sound of words, which make up the Scriptures of Truth, the holy Bible or Book of God, a transcript of the living Oracles of God, in the person of Christ, the living creature-wisdom, word, and book of God's whole very Divine mind and counsels, about the Salvation of his Creatures, Angels, and Men; and the supreme Prophet and declarer thereof; Prov. 1. 20-23. and 8. 1-9. Man and Angel must die, as to first-creation 〈◊〉 , at best, that's but vanity and a fading flower, say's 〈◊〉 No such matter, says the Devil, and say his Gospel-ministries, in all their tosses, variety of thought, and clashing language of their wisdoms; Ye shall not die at all. No danger or death is incident to you, to be suspected or feared by you, in your righteous cleansed natural State. Here's the universal clash and contrariety of Satan's lying, and Christ's true Gospel; which will ye choose, O simple ones?

Object. 1. The willingly deluded followers of Satan's, object against Christ's, that 'tis but one and the same thing; whereas that, they call Satan's, has great variety. Hear you, say they, or turn your books, while we will, open them at any leaf, we find still one and the same thing, insisted on. 'It is all one, where we open, or what we read.

〈◊〉 . What amounts this objection to? That Christ's Gospel-words are in exact harmony thorough-out, and Man's and Satan's Babel-gospel has great confusion of Language and contradicting words, proceeding from contrary Opinions, Thoughts, or Apprehensions, larded with a world of fine stories, similes, and persuasive words of man's eloquent wisdom. But all, uniformly against (and contrary to) all Christ's 〈◊〉 Gospel, to a Tittle. This variety tickles the itching Ear (2 Tim. 4. 3.) and gratifies that Palate in man, which, with Satan's, savor's only the many natural things of Man or Angel, in the first creation, and not at all, the one thing necessary, that's comprehensive of all the things of Christ and God (communicable to Men) in the second.

Object. 2. We deny, say Satan's Gospellers, there's any creature-life or spirit, distinct from what God set up men and Angels in, by the 〈◊〉 creation, above that, or between that and the infinite divine life 〈◊〉 spirit. And this is that, fill's all your Books, and is the substance of your pretended-gospel. And, this higher creature life, you call the life of God, and the wisdom, righteousness, and all the things of it; the wisdom, righteousness, and things of God. What can you mean by all this, save the very 〈◊〉 life, the eternal righteousness and wisdom? And, we hold a swallowing up of creature's beings and wills, at last, into the Divine life and will of God.

Answ. What's this, at bottom, but annihilation of Man and Angel? and then, God is where and what he was, from Eternity; and nothing of the Creature (in any sense or capacity) remain's at all.

Here's the sum of the controversy, between hypocritical Sinners in Zion (pretending to right saving Saintship, in renewed naturals, first-covenant principles of the Law) and true Zion-Saints, in new-creature, spiritual, gospel-life. God himself will judge and determine this controversy, at Christ's second appearing, in that very new-creature spirit of life, true Saints assert and own, the other 〈◊〉 deny, detest, and hate, with all the words thereof. In man's day, under Satan's reign, the hypocritical Sinner in Zion (that only 〈◊〉 , and passes for the true Saint, and Heir of the Kingdom) carries it, clear, universally, under the title, Orthodox. In God's day of judging, the other 〈◊〉 beforehand, they are sure to carry it. So, in faith, do they patiently wait for his infallible decision. The Heavens, against which, the other, confidently and daringly, set their mouth (Psal. 73. 9) will declare his righteousness; for God is judge himself, Psal. 50. 6. Christ will undeniably manifest, that the everlasting righteousness of God, communicable to Man or Angel, is found only in his heavenly, new-creature Gospel-spirit of grace, not in our earthly spirit of nature. And, this is the very controversy, all along this world, between the said hypocrites and true heirs. The year of recompenses for these Controversies of Zion, will be the day or season of the Lord's vengeance on the whole earthly contending party, against the life and image of the heavenly Adam, in the true Zion-Saint, Isa. 34. 8. and 63. 4. The Lord's appearing for his true redeemed ones, will be ruin to all their obstinate, rebellious opposers, fixed in the first-creation, with the Devil, in unchangeable enmity to him and the second, Mic. 6. 2. Hos. 4. 1. and 12. 2. Everlasting shame, confusion, and silencing of the one, will be co-temporary with the unspeakable joy of the other, on the final decision of this controversy. The Enemies of Christ's gospel, have yet, another frivolous, impertinent objection.

Object. 3. Why so many words? such large tautological speakings and writings about one and the same thing, a pretended Gospel-life (in distinction from a righteous Law-life) a mere fiction, a nullity? Canit ye say, in a word, what you would have, that we may be presently rid of any farther trouble with you? open your Book, where we will, all's one and the same thing. In our gospel, we have abundance of pretty knacks, to entertain us with; passages out of Poets and History, many pleasant recreative things, and variety of opinions, which is very delightful. We can hear one thing at one place, and another thing at another meeting, and observe the various wit, eloquence, and fine language, with similitudes, and the like, by which, each illustrates, and proves his different judgment and way.

Answ. But all this while, do ye observe, how, in all this toss and variety of persuasion and words, there's a deep silence as to anything of Christ's gospel-state of true Spiritual Saint-ship, save to oppose, contradict, or blaspheme it? This objection of first-covenant Law-gospellers, against the second, is, in effect, what the Athenian Philosophers said of Paul (Acts 17. 18.) What will 〈◊〉 Babbler say? But, must we needs have all Christ's gospel, in a word, that God hath thought fit to use so many, about, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelalation? This is the mad, rash, rebellious, hasty spirit of man, about his Eternal concerns. But, if it be all, in millions of words, but one and the same thing, why may not one word be enough, to declare it? say ye so? And is not your accursed other Gospel, one and the same thing, at bottom? Sand? Vanity? a fading flower? righteousness of man? What need you use anymore than one word, to declare your accursed Law-gospel, in? All your rhetorical flashes of wit and eloquence, histories, and similitudes, &c, What signify such embellishments of Art, in the case? Yet, about this your one and the same thing, Satan's gospel, what a world of Books in Libraries, Shops, and Houses? what a world of Preaching in thronged Auditories? And, must Christ's gospel be crowded into such a strait place, such a little narrow corner, as to have but one word, for it? A hard case. But indeed, Satan would have it have never a word, would you, so, too? Ye come too near it. Is one word like to do it, for Salvation? and must so many words be allowed, for Damnation? Must there be many words, and those warily placed, to secure any little parcel of literal earthly possessions; and our Eternal inheritance be allowed but one word? And this, when so many crafty Gamesters, Devils, and Men, fill the world with Words and Books, to deceive? Open your Bible, where ye will, and you will find the Gospel-life, Spirit, and Doctrine of Christ, most harmoniously and uniformly signified to you, under abundance of figures, similitudes, parables, &c. as you will find, if ever you come to know the true mystical reach, meaning, and significancy thereof. All's about the one thing necessary to Eternal life, the gospel-spirit of Christ. Will ye dare to accuse God himself of tautology? teach the most High how to speak his own mind? will ye call his oft Repetitions of the same thing, in the same or various words, vain Repetitions and Impertinencies? Let men, that are at this daring pass, against Christ and God most high, cry tautology while they will, at Christ's true Gospellers words and writings; who cares? Must Satan's gospel have such a world of Words, Books, Preachings, and Christ's, but one word? what a hard case is this, for the true Sons and Seers of God, amongst the deluded sottish sons of Men, that 〈◊〉 their own Ruin? Are ye so deeply in Love with Damnation, O ye sons of Men, as to hear such plenty of what leads that way, and but one transient word about true Salvation, and then deny that word too? whiff it away with a breath, and a losty cast up nose of Pride? The wicked, through the pride of his countenance ( Heb. loftiness of his nose, cast up, in pride and anger) will not seek after God, but reject, all his words of counsel and instruction. God is not in all his thoughts, Psal. 10. 4. The gospel-spirit, life, truths, and things of God; his wisdom, his righteousness, are not at all regarded by him, or reckoned worth his consideration. Those that think the scaping Eternal Damnation, or finding Eternal Salvation, a trivial, slight, impertinent thing, let them reckon, and think thus, if there be no remedy. The Jews came round about Christ, and said to him, how long dost thou make us to doubt, or keep us in suspense? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly; in a word. I told you, says he, and ye believed not: Then, they took up stones, to stone him, as a Blasphemer; Joh. 10. 24. 31. 33. Here's the posture and temper of those ravenous Wolv's, that are only for a word and away, as to Christ's gospel; but, as much as you will, of Satan's. Instead of being humbly inquisitive after Gospel-truths, in a readiness to comply with, own, and obey them, for their good; all their questions, about Salvation, to Christ or his followers, are calculated and designed only to catch at something from them, to accuse and charge them for, right or wrong. This was Christ's own case, all along his Ministry on Earth, among the Jewish Professors. When brought Prisoner before the chief Priests and Council of the Jews; very inquisitive are they, for Witness against him, to put him to Death, but none can they get, that will serve their turn. Then, they seek to pick something out of his own mouth, to do their work. For this, the High Priest ask's him; Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? Tell us, in a word. Jesus said, I am. Oh! now we have him, here's enough out of his own mouth, to condemn him; what need we any further witnesses? ye have heard the Blasphemy, what think ye? Guilty of Death, say they, as a cursed Jury of Rebels: All's of a batch, Judges and Jury, against Christ and his Followers. They all condemned him, as worthy of Death. They never examine his Doctrine, but cry, tell us in a word, this or that, and lie at catch for an answer; and then, in another word, condemn him for witnessing an infallible truth; that's their next word. Then they spit on him, buffet, mock him, and so on, to his Crucifixion and Death, Mark. 14. 61. 65. What may the Servant expect, when the Lord was thus handled? So, Luk. 22. 66-71. The Elders, chief-Priests and Scribes lead him into their Council, and all of them say to him, Art thou the Son of God? On his Answer, they say, What need of further witness? For, we our selves have heard of his own mouth. He has said enough, at the Bar, to take away his life, though we had nothing else against him, before: What think ye? Think? bad enough, no doubt; all of a mind, the whole rout of Wolves and Bears; guilty of Death, say all. Christ asserted himself, the Son of God. Blasphemy, cry they; not considering whether true or false. But, Satan, will such own, not only for the Son of God, but God most high, himself. He will assert himself to be God, and the true new-creation Temple of God (2 〈◊〉 . 2. 4.) in his transformed appearance thereof, and find followers and owners enow, even amongst Professors, Chief Priests (Types of Christ, by Office) Elders and People of the Jews, the only then professing people in the world. Christ owned himself the Son of God, by way of Eminency, above all other Sons of God, begotten and Born of his Spirit. Do any such, dare to own themselves Sons or Children of God, in his new and everlasting Covenant-Principle, his Gospel-spirit of Grace and Truth? Dare they speak the words of that Spirit? Words, the Holy Ghost teaches? and, are these words contrary to their's and Satan's accursed other Law-gospel? Down they go, at a word, for Blasphemers. Guilty, my Lord, say the goodly Jurors, all of a Pack, choose where you will. Professors notion of grace, is short. They look 〈◊〉 it, only, as an act of favor from God, as it is also; and a transcendent gracious one. But, they consider not, or own it, as a distinct principle, root, and spring of life, desire, thought, and action in man, from the natural first-covenant, or first-creation Law-principle. A word to the wise. But, to undiscerning fools (or worse, willful Rebels against conviction) what words will serve the turn, to recover them out of their folly and madness? Here's the great turning point, for Eternal Life or Death. Single nature, corrupt or righteous, fixed in, is certain Damnation: Grace, Salvation. We are saved by Grace, or in Grace, through Faith, or in the incorruptible new-covenant Gospel-Principles of everlasting Righteousness; not in or by Nature, which, at best, is but a fading Flower, altogether Vanity; not of our selves (or anything performable by us) in our own Nature, the first-covenant Principle, Eph. 2. 8, 9. 'It is the gift of God, the unspeakable gift of his Spirit of grace, in us, is Salvation to us. Here's a word, to those that are only for a word and away, about Christ's Gospel-Doctrine for Salvation. All ye talk of, is but one thing, say they, 〈◊〉 therefore hear it, in one word. What need such a do, with so many words about it? Pray, what's yours and Satan's Gospel (all that Man's and Satan's wisdom jointly preach up, declare, and warrant to be Salvation, that indeed will prove eternal Damnation to all final and resolute followers and owners thereof) what's this but one thing, as abovesaid? That the righteousness of Man, or Man, in his restored righteous life, according to the Law blameless, is in a state of everlasting Salvation? Did not Paul, when all this, most fiercely persecute Christ, and all his Gospel-Saints and Truths? And was he not as fiercely persecuted by such, as soon as he became a Gospel-Saint? What would ye have? where must one be, to get the least of Truth into your understandings and hearts? What, but this one thing, the Righteousness of Man, is the bottom-story of all your innumerable Books and Preachings, for Salvation? And what do all such jingling words, such tinkling Cymbals amount unto? A confused uncertain sound. And if the Trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the Battle? What Battle? the Battle of the Lord against the Mighty. What Mighty? Evil Angelical Principalities and Powers of this World. If the righteous Life, Armor, Strength, and Wisdom of Man, be asserted fit to undertake them in, all such Doctrine is a Lie. All these are but as straw and rotten wood, ( Job 41. 27.) to the superior Wisdom and Strength of evil Angels, the mystical Leviathan or Goliath, and his Philistine Army. All such Doctrine, from top to bottom, in all variety of words and dress, by Eloquence, Wit, Art and Method, Reasons, Uses, Motives, &c. all is an absolute downright falsehood; Satan's Synagogue-Lie ( Rev. 3. 9.) his accursed other Gospel; the Laodicean Delusion, v. 17. The Power of Godliness, Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, things of God, all comprehended in his one Gospel-Spirit of Grace, the unspeakable Gift; these are the Gospel-onething, necessary to be found in Man, for Salvation. Form of Godliness, Righteousness, Life, Wisdom, things of Man, in his restored Law-spirit of Nature, the first-Covenant Principle; these make your one Law-thing, you place Salvation in; clothing it only with the Gospel-words and titles of God's one thing, to deceive. See ye now where we both are, with our several one-things? And will ye allow God's one-thing, and Christ's Gospel, but one word? and your one thing, or Satan's Gospel-principle and state, Millions, in thronged auditories and crowd's of numberless Books and Writings? Must God's one-thing be decried for Heresy, Blasphemy, and a diabolical Fiction; and the Devil's, and your one-thing, be the only orthodox sober Truth, or thing? Fools, when will ye be wise (Psal. 94. 8.) and look about you, as to your most important concern, which you, yet, leave at random, and an all-adventures, in the hands of your trusty Trojans, your blind Leaders of such blind followers, neither of whom know what they are doing, whither a going, or whom they worship; all, in a manner, doing they know not what?

The Objections here made, have I oft heard from the unanimous defenders of the Doctrine of Devils; who with hearts believe or obey, and with their mouths make confession of Satan's Gospel (calling it Christ's) unto damnation. Holy Men, a first-Covenant People of God, blasphemed, said of Christ, he had a Devil, and was mad; why hear ye him? Joh. 1. 11. & 10. 20. Do any wise, knowing, righteous Men believe on him? Joh. 7. 48.

But, to return from this requisite digression. A Man, restored and made by Christ, rich, 〈◊〉 , wise, strong, honorable, fat, fruitful and 〈◊〉 in his own nature, again (in the same kind of life, Adam was at first, set up in) has (with the literal rich Man, in his case) no power to eat thereof; so as to receive the comfort, that's to be found in the right use of his fading mystical riches. The right using and eating them, to true advantage, is in the zeal of God's House, ( Psal. 69. 9.) the mystical fire of his Sanctuary-Spirit, to eat, consume, devour, and burn all up, in Sacrifice to God; as Christ handled our spotless nature in himself. If not eaten thus, in and by the true Priestly Spirit of God (in an obedient, friendly union of mind with the Cross or Spirit of Christ) the same Spirit or Gospel-sword will come as a stranger, yea, a downright enemy, and devour, eat all up, and destroy the Rebel forever; Isa. 1. 19, 20. Ps. 69. 9. Joh. 2. 17. The single Spirit of 〈◊〉 , in its highest renewals, and most righteous restored life, since the fall, is a continual sinner, and an enemy of God. The Gospel-Spirit of Grace, that's, on its death, to succeed, and become the sole and single principle of life and operation in the Saint, never sins. The true Saint, therein, joins with Christ, to destroy the former, that he may live forever with him, in the latter. Such suffering and dying, is God's appointed method for living and reigning with him, for evermore; 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. A right death of Nature, is a ceasing and a being freed from Sin forever; 1 Pet. 4. 1. Rom. 6. 7. They that feed on perishing, lying vanities, and gratify that fleshly belly, or desire and life that's to be destroyed, will be destroyed, for such rebellious feeding, in a forbidden life and way, on such forbidden fruits; 1 Cor. 6. 13. They gratify but that carnal, earthly mind, that minds only earthly things, first-creation vanities. So, sin they, after the similitude of Adam's first transgression. This great Sin, Solomon observes to be a vanity, and an evil disease, common among men. Multitudes of first-covenant Professors (call themselves what they will) will be found guilty of this unpardonable Sin, unchangeable enmity to God and his Gospel-spirit, at the final determination of Zion-controversies. They are strangers and enemies to the Cross of Christ (Phil. 3. 18, 19) and that, as a stranger and enemy to them, will eat up, or consume and destroy their fading life and goodness, in final Wrath. It also eats up all the same kind of fading life, riches, beauty or glory, in Saints themselves, in a way of everlasting kindness, love, and faithfulness, for their eternal good. Away then will all first-creation life, riches, and glory go, forever, as to any goodness, comeliness, or comfort therein, from all, Saints or Sinners, in love or wrath. In wrath will he come upon incorrigible enemies, that (by choosing their own first-Covenant-life, before his second) have forfeited the benefit of all his dispensations of Love and Mercy towards them, as well as all their large & great mystical earthly riches and possessions, forever.

Vers. 3. If a Man beget an hundred Children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial, I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

In Mystery; Man, in the top-excellency and most abundant fruitfulness of his restored Nature, though he live long, and be filled with the utmost joy and comfort, all riches, fruits and honors, there, amount unto, he is but an old doting sinner against God and his Spirit of Grace, all along, throughout his whole race or course, in this mortal world and state. He is an old, rich, accursed Sinner; as to any durable life or riches, dead, miserable, wretched, poor, blind, and naked, Rev. 3. 17. He is such a covetous Sinner, that however he has blessed himself in his own way, or reckoned himself blessed of God, as giving him more than heart can wish, there; though he be an hundred years old, live never so long in this fools Paradise, he will find himself accursed forever, under the wrath to come, after all; Isa. 65. 20. The reasons hereof, are here given; his soul is not filled with good, and he hath no 〈◊〉 . The truly satisfying new-creation goodness, (that's only to be attained by an honorable burial in Christ's mystical Grave, or through-conformity to his death of Nature) is not found with or in him. He has nothing of that about him. Satan has 〈◊〉 'd his heart with unchangeable enmity to God, and all his durable riches. Diotrephes-like, loving to have the preeminence, do such prate against true Gospel-Saints with malicious words, and all the durable Gospel-Riches, yea, the unsearchable Riches of Christ's Wonderful Divine and Creature-person, that they preach (Eph. 3. 8.) as a mere blasphemous fiction, a nullity. 'It is but a lump of corruptible vanities, they, at best, are filled with. They, and all this earthly trumpery will be found but the Earth and works thereof, that are the 〈◊〉 fuel, by the fire of Christ's day, to be burnt up, 2. Pet. 3. 10. Man's immortal Spirit can never be filled with true good, but in an immortal Gospel-Life; never, in a mortal, fading Law-Life. He must be emptied of the former, to be filled with the latter. This is done by the twofold Death, and Life-work of the Gospel-Spirit of the Cross, on his Law-Spirit of Nature; slaying his Nature, and raising him, if passively obedient to the death of that, into the life of the sacrificing Gospel High Priest of our Profession (Heb. 3. 1.) the active Gospel-Principle of everlasting Obedience to God most high. Without this, an abortive or untimely birth is better than the said rich, and flourishing, long-lived first-creation sinner. This abortive is either a literal ( that has not known anything, or received any sort of good, 〈◊〉 God; and so, is free from the guilt of neglecting or abusing it) or mystical abortive, that has never received the actual birth and life of a First-Covenant State, from Christ; nor experienced a fruitfulness of his own Nature, therein; and so, has not been possessed of such choicer First-Creation riches, to abuse, in enmity to the second.

Vers. 4. For he cometh in with Vanity, and departeth in darkness; and, his name shall be covered with darkness.

Man comes into the World with nothing but vanity, Sin, and darkness, about him. And if he never attain any other life or riches, literal or mystical, but what's Vanity, he has a dismal exit, or departure out of it, into a state of everlasting darkness and death. He has no true happiness or satisfaction, from first to last. All worldly life or possessions relating to his Body, Soul, or Spirit, are Vanity. Restor'd righteous first-Covenant life, Law-principle and operation, Tree and Fruit, Root and Branch; all's Vanity. In his best, and most flourishing day's, therein, full of (and surrounded with) nothing but Vanity. All will come to nothing, as to any good or comfort to him, therein, forever. And, as the second thing here, must he then (having nothing else to trust to) needs depart in darkness, and his Name, or whole Person come, at last, to be covered with eternal darkness, in a resurrection of Damnation, under the irresistible power of the Cross, or two-edged flaming Gospel-Sword of Christ, coming upon him, in final Wrath, to devour him, forever; Isa. 1. 20. Who-ever, Angel or Man, submit not to God's Sentence of Death, pronounced from the beginning, on their first-creation, natural state, will fall under it, in final wrath, for rebelling against it. This, as the just punishment of their inexcusable willful madness and folly. So, their Mystical Land, earthly Name, Life and Possessions, they have rebelliously set themselves to keep up (rather than exchange all, by an obedient Death, for God's Heavenly Life, new Name, and true Land of promise ) are covered, (and so, their whole persons) with darkness forever. The condition of an untimely birth, is better than any of these abusers of God's first-creation gifts, against him and his offered second, to their eternal ruin. The reason of this Assertion is given,

Vers. 5. Moreover, he hath not seen the Sun, nor known anything: this hath more rest than the other.

He, that is, the untimely Birth (v. 3.) not the He, that comes in with Vanity, and departs in darkness, v. 4. This latter is the He, God has given riches, honor, and all, his Soul could wish, (v. 2.) in its own life, will, and way; and also, long life therein, (v. 3.) with abundant fruitfulness, figured by his hundred Children. An abortive or untimely birth is better than he. The literal abortive, comes not into the exercise of any bodily life, in this world. He has not seen the literal Sun, nor known anything, in or by bodily Organ's and Senses. This abortive is a Figure of the Mystical, never brought forth in the exercise of a living Soul, in a restored first-Covenant Rightcous-life, under the (Law-Spirit of Nature, the Mystical first-Creation) Sun: and, less yet, under the shining-Light of the new-Creation Sun of everlasting Righteousness. The abortive, in this chiefly intended Mystical Sence, is better than he that receives; is, for a season, possessed of, and abuses all first-Covenant Life and Riches, and that under second-Covenant Light, against God, and the life of the second, to his sorer Condemnation and Punishment, under the Wrath to come, than if he had never received or known any such things; 2 Pet. 2. 21. Spiritual, Gospel-Light, clearly, positively, and undeniably show's man the vanity of all he is possessed of in his Law-life, and God's Command to him for surrender of all, by Death, in sacrifice to him, as the true payment of all mystical Tithes and Offerings. In the methods of God's Wisdom, this is the undispensable way and pass for any Man or Angel, into his new-Creature, Gospel-life of immortality (2 Tim. 1. 10.) and everlasting Righteousness. First-Covenant-Light (that springs up with, attends and accompanies Law-life, in Man) discover's the negative, towards this; viz. that all, which Man has, there, is but a fading flower, altogether vanity. The very intrinsic nature of all such fading life and things, preaches this in every such Man's own breast. Hence have the stoutest and most peremptory self-confidents, a secret bondage, all their life-time in that State, through fear of death Heb. 2. 15. And, further, even their first-Covenant Law-light, points towards Christ, for spiritual, eternal Life, who will not fail to give it to all that rightly come to him, for it, and submit to his terms of receiving it, even the death and loss of all they are possessed of, in the first-Covenant, as loss and dung (Phil. 3. 6, — 10.) for the everlasting life and durable riches of the second; Joh. 5. 40. & 6. 54. & 10. 28. & 17. 2, 3. knowingly then, to choose the former, hold fast their own, in the first, in unchangeable enmity to God's own, in the second-Covenant, is unpardonable madness and folly. It provokes God, to swear in his Wrath they shall never enter into his Rest. Then, must their name, their whole persons, be covered with everlasting darkness. The abortive is free'd from such their guilt of neglecting or abusing all such things, received and possessed by them. He never had them; never saw or experienced anything, under the literal or mystical Sun of this World, or next. He is free from condemnation, as to any of these accounts. If therefore liable to Judgment, 'tis only, according to God's infinite all-searching understanding and infallible sight of the inward mind of his Spirit, without the aggravating and additional weight of his own willful evil thoughts, or ouvert actions, by which, any enmity to God, in his Spirit, could be manifested. So, has this untimely birth more rest than the other. For, having never had the other's advantages, he is free from the guilt of abusing them: yet, not free from all evil, or guilt in his sight, to whom belong and are certainly known, all secret things (Deut. 29. 29.) in the spirits of Men, not brought to view, by action, or so much as imagined by them; not so much as imagined Treason against the King of Saints. He saw Jacob and Esau, so as to love the one and hate the other, before either of them was born, or had done good or evil, Rom. 9. 11, --13. All's naked and open to him, with whom we have to do, Heb. 4. 12, 13. He sees all Men's thoughts, long before they think them, or are in being; Psal. 139. 1, 2. He knew all they'll do towards him, and all he will do with them, forever, from eternity. All futurities have been manifest to his Infinite Divine understanding, from Eternity: and, to his all-searching new-Creature understanding, from everlasting. But, they that are never brought into the exercise of bodily (or, if that, not into the exercise, of a first-Covenant) life, such have not had the opportunity of a trial, how they'd demean themselves, therein. As less guilty, then, they'll have more rest (or, at least, less Torment and Wrath for their portion) than the other, though, or in case they also perish forever. For, as there are differences in Salvation — Glory, Joy, and Enjoyments; so, in Damnation--Shame, Sorrow, and Torment. Else, how comes self-exalting Capernaum (any first-Covenant People, exalted or lifted up to Heaven, in second-Covenant Light, so as to taste and see how good the Lord is, in his new-Covenant life, 1 Pet. 2. 3. and Heb, 6. 4, --6.) to be tumbled down to the lowest, hottest Hell, under the most fierce and fiery indignation of God, forever? Their greater punishment, carries, with and in it, a character, that's clap'd upon their backs, as greater sinners, by the abuse of such utmost advantages for their good, then those of literal Sodom and Gomorrhah (Mat. 11. 23.) figuring the general rout of all common Sinners of the Gentiles, in the corrupt spirit of Nature, under what ever outward nominal distinction, by the title Mohammedan, Pagan, or Christian. Names vary not the case, one jot, where there's nothing of Christianity, in a first or second Covenant, a Law or Gospel-life; righteousness of Man or God. They are enemies of all righteousness, with Elymas the Sorcerer; Act. 13. 8, -10.

Vers. 6. Yea, though he live a thousand years, twice told; yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Nothing but Vanity in the largest measures, highest degrees, and most fruitful exercise of a single first-Covenant, or natural, first-Creation life, with the longest continuance therein, is to be found by Man. Let him live a thousand years, twice told, in the largest possessions thereof, he sees not, or enjoys any true, unchangeable good, therein, from first to last. All the goodness thereof comes to the same end and pass, with his bodily life, and the concerns or good things of that. The death of both and all, is the same end of all, to the longest lived Methuselah, and to an Infant, that dies at an hour old. The same period is put to the mortal first-Covenant life of the Spirit, as to that of the body. If therefore a Man have no other life to trust to, beyond both these, he will be covered with unchangeable darkness, in eternal Death (the mystical Tophet, state or place of Torment, forever) prepared for all self-confident first-Covenant Kings, Princes of this World, in the but fading glory of a first-Covenant life. Such Princes crucified Christ, for his Doctrine of the second. They despise (and wonder at) it, and so, perish, or come to naught, with all, they choose, and please themselves, with. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 8. Acts 13. 41. Do not all go to one place? All these eminent long-lived vanity-mongers go to the same place or state of unchangeable enmity to God, and darkness to themselves, with those that had shorter continuance in, and smaller enjoyments of the said righteous life of vanity, in holy flesh; or, with them, that never had anything, at all, of it, polluted Heathen's, fixed in the vile affections and lusts of literal Sodom. All comes to one, at last, wise first-Covenant Saints, and foolish common sinners of the Gentiles. Yea, their greater and higher advantages, willfully abused, gain them only a deeper cup or measure of Wrath, forever, than those of less attainments, and standing therein; or, of none at all. After all their enjoyment of, and flourish in a but changable good, rejecting God's everlasting (as recompense of their most foolish choice, to walk in the light of their own fire, the warmth, light & zeal of, and for their own enliven'd, enlightened nature, and compassing themselves about with sparks of their own kindling, duties, fruits, works, producible or performable therein) must they lie down in sorrow, darkness and death, forever. This will they have from God's hand. Isa. 50. 11.

Vers. 7. All the labor of Man is for his mouth: and yet the appetite (Heb. Soul) is not filled.

No satisfying answer to all the needs of Man's Immortal spirit, in all first-Creation Vanities, is ever to be found. No literal or mystical riches (that are all but perishing Vanities) can doit. Let Man lay about him, while he will, do what he can, in the activity of bodily, or but first-Covenant righteous life, he never finds or gets any such thing, as will stop the craving mouth, or fill the appetite of either, so as to give anything of true rest or satisfaction to him. All Man's trading in a vain life (where Belly and Meats, desires and desirables, are perishing vanities, and to be destroyed, 1 Cor. 6. 13.) is, with himself, altogether vanity, (Psal. 39. 5.) fleshly tree and fruit, root and branch, mouth, appetite, and meat. Unprofitable is all man's labor then, for fetching in Provisions for his flesh (even holy flesh, righteous, cleansed nature) to gratify or fulfill the lusts thereof; Rom. 13. 14. The very meats of Christ's first-Covenant, earthly Table (afforded man for a season, in that state) will, with that renewed holy life and appetite, come to naught. A Plea therefrom, will stand Man in no stead at the last day, (as having eaten and drunk thereat) for entrance into his Kingdom; Luk. 13. 24, --30. Mat. 7. 21--23. He will not know, or own them, but hid them depart from him, as incorrigible workers of mystical iniquity, the highest and most criminal rank of unpardonable sinners. Out of Heathen Countries, from East, West, North, and South, the four winds of Heaven, shall an Elect Seed be wakened up (signally, by the preparatory dispensation of Angels, in association with the risen Witnesses from among Men, to preach the 〈◊〉 Gospel) into the spiritual, Kingdom-life of the 〈◊〉 , and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets, in the Kingdom of God; and such high (but hypocritical) pretenders to it, be thrust out; Luke 13. 28, 29. Mat. 24. 14, 31. All this will be preparatory to Christ's second coming. Abundance of Christ's Spouses and Children in the 〈◊〉 -Covenant, become incorrigible Rebels against him, and his Spirit of the second, and consequently, the siercest Persecutors and haters of all his Gospel-Saints and Truths. Then he most justly, turns from being a Savior to them (as, for a season, he was, in the 〈◊〉 ) to be their unchangeable enemy, and 〈◊〉 against them, (Isa. 63. 8, 10.) or pour upon them his unchangeable wrath, in and by that very spirit of the second, they 〈◊〉 with a perfect 〈◊〉 ; and it, them; Zec. 11. 8. Sure, the unchangeable wrath of God must needs light and rest, forever, on the guilty heads of the unchangeable enemies of God. The stated Case for Salvation, from the beginning, is the surrender of, and passing out of all first-creation life and vanities, into the second. The rebellious keeping up the first against the second, loses all, and excludes from the second, that's God's and the Saint's true Rest, for 〈◊〉 . Solomon, lamenting the folly of Man in his own vain self-chosen life, will, and way, puts these two following Questions to him;

Ver. 8. For, what hath the Wise more than the Fool? What hath the Poor, that knoweth to walk before the Living?

What or who is the Wise? the Fool? the Poor? and his knowledge to walk before the Living? what Living? who? All these are to be inquired into, and considered of (promiscuously and inclusively) in one line of discourse. The Wise, is Man in the restored; the Fool, Man in the degenerate, corrupt spirit of Nature. All's but Nature, both are possessed of, corrupt or righteous: so, all's vanity. Nothing of Grace, true Regeneration, Gospel-conversion or life, in or about the best of them. Paul, at best, in his Law-life of Nature, fiercely persecuted this. And, in his Gospel-life of Grace, was as fiercely persecuted by the other. The Wise, Strong, and Honorable in Christ's first-Covenant communications, finally opposing the second, is a greater sinner and fool, than the fool, in the corrupt spirit of Nature, here; and will fall under sorer Condemnation and Wrath, hereafter. So, is he the worst, and will have the worst on it, in this World & next. He is the disputer of this World, that's perfectly unreasonable and untreatable, as to the Gospel-things of the next, which he can never discern, in the Wisdom and Spirit, he is of. They are foolishness to him; 1 Cor. 2. 14. He denies all, root and branch; the very foundation of all Gospel-Saints and Truth's; the living Corner-Stone, the Rock of Ages, the fountain Gospel-Spirit. He denies there's any such thing. And, if the foundations of all, the true Saint is, has, or has to say, be destroyed or denied, what's to be done? Psal. 11. 3. They deny the Creature-Holy Ghost or Spirit of everlasting Righteousness, in Christ and Saints. They say, there's no such thing. A Spiritual creature-life, between Natural and Divine, the said wise first-Covenant Saint, utterly denies; and shuffles out of all his Divinity and teaching. What's then to be done with him, or said to him? He is the most unreasonable Man, in the World, to be dealt with, about Gospel-affairs, (however highly he pretends to them) being wholly destitute of any spiritual Faith, to discern them; 2 Thes. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 14. True Saints are not to cast Pearls, Gospel-Truths, before such Swine (Mat. 7. 6.) but, beware of such Gospel-Wolves in sheep's clothing; Mat 10. 16, 17. Can any deny this? Law-life, Wisdom, Glory, Honor, Power (all fading things) must be parted with for God's, Christ's Gospel-Wisdom, Righteousness, Glory, never to be done away; 2 Cor. 3. 10, 11. 1 Cor. 3. 18. This is implied; 1 Cor. 4. 10. To the self-confident first-Covenant wise, all spiritual, Gospel-Truths are foolish; and the spiritual Saint, a fool, a mad man; Hos. 9. 7, 8. Christ's own People in the first, reckoned him mad, for the Doctrine of the second; Joh. 1. 11. & 10. 20. what plainer, or more suited to convince? All Men, corrupt or righteous, are fools, and enemies to all Spiritual, Heavenly Gospel-Things or Truths. These things are suited only to spiritual discerning or judgment, which they are wholly destitute of; 1 Cor. 2. 14. Wise Man walks but in a dream, an image, a vain show ( Psal. 39. 6.) dotes only on vanities. All Glorious, Heavenly, Spiritual and Divine things (all true Divinity) lie clear out of the walk of his narrow limited wisdom, that's bounded only with vanities, for object. All divine and spiritual things are stark foolishness to such wise-fools. Such, dying as they live, will be left in 〈◊〉 Want, Nakedness, Misery, and Confusion. The best things they can amuse and please themselves with, are used and enjoyed by them, but in a Spirit of Enmity to God. What was Paul, while but there? But, besides the truly Gospel-wise, in the spirit of Grace; and fool, in general (in the whole spirit of Nature, corrupt or righteous) there is also in the compass of Nature, the wise Man in the restored, and fool in the corrupt spirit of Nature. Also, in the corrupt Nature, is there a sort of wise Men and fools; Some, of great natural abilities, cultivated by learned education and study: others, of small natural light or reason; of weak and uncultivated minds. But all, in Nature, are fools to the spiritual wise, in Grace. And even such wise Men, may be short in natural parts and learning, of either the first-Covenant wise Man, or learned enlightened Heathen, in their own Sphere of activity, a subtlety and deep reach about natural concerns and objects. Children of this World, in their way, may be wiser than true Children of light, or the next; Luk. 16. 8. But, of all sorts of natural wise Men, none so much decry the spiritual Man, for a fool and mad, as the wise, strong, and honorable in the first-Covenant. See else, Hos. 9. 7, 8. Joh. 10. 20. 1 Cor. 2. 14. & 4. 10. 2 Cor. 10. 12. Psal. 50. 20, 21. Joh. 16. 2. Act. 26. 9. 1 Cor. 1. 18, --28. Which think ye, were the fools, the learned Council of the Jewish Priests, Elders, and Professors, or Peter and John, they termed ignorant and unlearned Men? Act. 4. 13. No wisdom of Man can understand or open their Writings. The wisest Men, first-Covenant Saints, are fools to the Gospel-wise Man, whom they reckon the arrantest fool, of all. If the Wisdom of God be foolishness to them, can any wonder, those that come with the words of that wisdom, should be reckoned fools, by them? Paul, that had been a wise Man in Man's day, was a fool, weak despicable, nobody, with such, when a truly Gospel-Wise-Man. The true Gospel-preaching of the cross and death, on all first-Creation-Life and Wisdom, in first Covenant Jew or Gentile, and wise, learned Greek, is an high offense, and sore stumbling-block, to both, in their several states, and way. To be even with such, they both agree to reckon them the veriest fools; the Off-scouring of all things; 1 Cor. 1. 23. and, 4. 13. But all, that have an incorruptible Seed of true Life in them, though (while dormant, and unknown to themselves) they bluster and storm at the Gospel-Believer, a-while, with Paul, they will, with him, when awakened, become true friends of the spiritual Brotherhood, and helpers of their Faith. The wisdom of the natural Man, in all variety, will be found foolishness, at last; and the spiritual Man, the only wise, in the view of all Men and Angels, good and bad. True Saints will laugh, at last, at all their scornful mockers, that have laughit a-while, at them. And, all such laughing wise-fools, will have time enough to recant their misjudging the truly wise, in eternal darkness and death. Who's the fool, then, they'll sadly experience, after all their priding, vaunting, hugging, and blessing themselves, in their vain show, their dream, their fools-paradise. Nothing of their vain pomp will descend after them; Psal. 49. 17. All their shortliv'd merriment and laughter is but as the crackling of thorns under a pot; a blaze, and away, Eccl. 7. 6. Envy them that will. None ought; Psal. 37. 1, 2. Pro. 23. 17. The spirit of Nature cannot well or easily be unriddled, anatomiz'd and laid open, in its deep, self-destroying deceits, in few words: yet, will needs have all in a word; and rather, not that; or, if that, scornfully reject it, with a whiff. 'It is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know (or discover) it? The wisdom of God (in himself and Saints) this only can search it out, and cause it to know itself; teach it, or bring it to the true 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; Jer. 17. 9, 10. Nothing in Nature, nothing below the all-searching Gospel-Spirit in Christ and Saints, can discover all its Meanders and Wiles; anatomize and unriddle it, to the full. The holy Ghost, in and by Peter, found out the falsehood of Ananias and Sapphira, and slew them; Act. 5. 1, --10. The first-Covenant wise Jew or Christian Gentile, boasts himself as a fit Teacher and Guide to the common sinner, in corrupt Nature; little dreaming, that himself, in 〈◊〉 Nature, is guilty of a more criminal sort of mystical 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 , against God and his Spirit of Grace; Rom. 2. 17, -27. He sits in his majesterial Chair, as an instructor of fools; insulting over the gross sinner, with a touch me not, stand by, keep off; for, I am 〈◊〉 than thou. This renders the proud Pharisee, an abomination to God; Isa. 65. 5. To such self-confidents, Paul puts divers searching questions, which discover him more deeply guilty of mystical sins, against the Gospel, bearing the same title, with the literal Adulteries, Thefts, Idolatries, and Sacrilege, he justly reproves, in the common sinner against the Law. The death and loss of all, such boast in, is absolutely necessary (in the methods of God's Wisdom) to Salvation; the receiving that Gospel-Spirit of life, in which any can be saved. Miss this, and miss all. Come short of the Grace, and ye fall short of the Glory of God; never enjoy the beatisical vision thereof. An exact observer of the letter of the Law, may be a most criminal breaker of its spiritual mind or meaning; as Paul, once. The Law-Saint, or legal-spirited Christian Believer, finds the corrupt Heathen, a no-body to him, and he is a no-body to the true Gospel-Saint; a mere blind Ignoramus, as to all-Gospel-truths; yea, worse, a mortal hater of, and enemy to all Gospel-Saints, as no-bodies to him; the worst of Men, the 〈◊〉 of the World. The circumcised, cleansed first-covenant wise Man, by opposing the second, becomes a greater sinner, and worse Man, than the uncircumcis'd, polluted Heathen. If he, and the Heathen fix themselves in righteous and corrupt Nature, the 〈◊〉 righteous Man, will have the worst on it, forever. Twill be easier for the literal, than mystical Sodomite, in Hell; Mat. 11. 23, 24. But, what then hath the wise Man, or first-Covenant holy Man, more than the fool, in corrupt Nature? What advantage has he? Much every way, says Paul, in answer to his own question; Rom. 3. 1, 2. The Law, or restored life of it, rightly used, is of great benefit to Man, in suppressing and keeping under the vile affections of corrupt Nature: but, if abused, against spiritual conviction, in a 〈◊〉 enmity to the Gospel, 'tis rendered by Man, worse than nothing; and he is, thereby, rendered worse than the fool, or common sinner, 〈◊〉 in polluted Nature. For, he is absolutely excluded God's Rest, on his willfully contracted incurable Leprosy, or disease of unchangeable enmity to God; the other, not so. But, leaving both their cases; what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? What has the poor, broken-spirited Saint, beyond both and all the the said wise and fools, that are level'd, at the death of the body, and come all to the same sad end, a being covered with darkness, forever? This truly poor in spirit is a blessed Heir of the Kingdom of God. The natural Man of the true Saint, impoverish'd and run down by the cross (as to that wisdom, life, riches, and fading glory, the self-exalting first-Covenant Princes of this World keep up, in rebellion against God, and enmity to the cross) is the poor and needy, the Scripture so ring's of, specially the Psalms. And, occasionally has this mystical poor, been plentifully spoken of, and charactered in this and the like discourses, on Job, Timothy, &c. Christ pronounces such poor, blessed (Mat. 5. 3.) the opposit rich, or wise, cursed, Woe to the rich; Luk 6. 24. Such mystical rich go merrily (without regarding this woe they are under) with their whole Soul, or unbroken natural spirit, to Hell; while the true Saint, in the broken, crucified, impoverish'd, mourning state thereof, is following the slain Lamb, to Heaven. Blessed are such mourners; Mat. 5. 4. Both the wise and fool, in the restored or corrupt spirit of nature, set by, and laid aside, Solomon ask's, in reference to this third Man, distinct from both, What hath (or is) the poor? &c. What has he got, in the room of all the lost life, wisdom and riches of his own Nature? spiritual, everlasting Gospel-life and riches. This is the case of such, as, with Paul, are content to become fools, weak, and despicable, as to all the first-Covenant rich and wise boast and glory in. What this mystical fool and poor has, is plain; durable riches and life, in God. What has the opposit wise, then? no more, to speak on, than the fool in polluted nature. All are fools, one and 'tother, as to their eternal concerns; mind no such things, Spiritual and Heavenly. These go for nothing with them; but, are all in all. The Spirit of God, asks and resolv's his own question, negatively and 〈◊〉 ; Isa. 66. 1, 2. God delights not in anything of the first creation (where all is corruptible, and altogether vanity; even all the life, goodness, and top-excellencies thereof, in Man and Angel) But, in the second, where all the goodness, materials, and ingredients are incorruptible and unperishable. Hence, delights he in one poor broken-spirited man (in the first, in order to his being quickened up into the second) incomparably beyond all the unbroken glory and excellency of all natural Men or Angels, though not found in enmity (changeable or unchangeable) to that Gospel-Spirit or cross, that will break down all fading good, in all Angels and Men, in Love or 〈◊〉 Wrath. What God delights not in, he requires our obedient submitting to his destroying, in order to be brought forth in what he does delight in, and will delight in, for evermore. So, of the work of his hands, by a first-creation, come we to be the Sheep of his Pasture, in and by a second. All first-creation or Covenant-Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, &c. are but Law-Ceremonies; not Grace, or Gospel-Truths; mere transient vanities, perishing next to nothings. When they have served their season, away they are to go, as dung, for Gospel-life; Phil. 3. 8. The Poor, here, as to all Law-life and riches, are the only true wise Men, that know how to walk before the living; even, before the living God, unto all-pleasing, in the living Word, Wisdom, New-creature Gospel-Spirit of the Son of God. They are taught, principled or spirited, so as infallibly to know the whole mind, and do the whole will of the Father. They have obediently quitted (and departed out of ) their own Country, and Father's House, the mystical Land of their Nativity, their natural state and life; and, are entered into God's new-creation, spiritual, mystical, true Land of promise, or state of life, the Land of the truly living, for evermore. So, know they how to walk before the living God, the living word of God, and all the truly living partakers thereof, blessed Angels and spiritual Saints, in that blessed new land and life. They know how to walk with God, in some degree towards what Enoch did; and to demean themselves as orderly Gospel-spirited walkers, before all the blessed inhabitants of that new Land of the living. These poor ones, little Children (Mat. 18. 3.) Brethren of Low degree (in their own Spirit 〈◊〉 nature, demolished, defaced, and impoverish'd by the cross) are the only right sort of true rejoycers, because sure of an exaltation into that Gospel-life of Christ, wherein they will certainly know to walk before all the said living, God, Christ, blessed Angels and Saints; Jam. 1. 9. The fixed fool or wise (in the natural state, corrupt or enlightened) are utterly uncapable of Repentance, Pardon, or Salvation, forever. The door of Grace is fast shut upon them. If then, Christ had not a secret spiritual Seed of unfix'd ones, amongstus (whether in the corrupt or enlightened spirit of nature) where were any true Church of spiritual Saints, or so much as a hopefulness of such a thing, this dark day, on Earth? Had not the Lord a very small remnant-Seed of true Saints among us, we should be as Sodom and Gomorrhah, literal or mystical. Both, both, in a wonderful degree, however unconsider'd, or unperceiv'd by such, whose minds the God of this World has wonderfully blinded, left the true Gospel-light of Christ should shine unto them; 2 Cor. 4. 4.

Vers. 9. Better is the sight of the Eyes, than the wandering of the desire, (Heb walking of the Soul) this is also vanity, and vexation of Spirit.

The wandering desire or walking Soul, is a fit character of Man's natural spirit, exercised in a first-Covenant principle of life and action, subject to all sorts of uncertainty. Man, therein, lives and walks at all-adventures, as the margin renders Lev. 26. 21. 'It is a starting, turning ( Psal. 78. 57.) versatile principle, in which, Man, at first, was liable to Apostasy; and, since his Apostasy, any Men in that restored principle and life, are exposed to the same, as has been sufficiently experienced by millions. 'It is a tossing, fluctuating principle, unstable as water, with Reuben; Gen. 49. 4. Man, therein, is apt to be carried about with divers and strange Doctrine's; tossed to and fro with every wind of false, deceitful, delusive, and destructive Doctrine, by the sleight and cunning craft of Men (Ephes. 4. 14.) and Devils, Satan and his Gospel-ministries. These false Doctrines (or the matter of them, the Wisdom, Righteousness, Glory, things of Man, or Angel in the first Creation, asserted to make up an absolute Safety and Salvation to Man) do utterly pervert and destroy him, forever. They tend wholly to the establishing of Men, with Satan's perishing Meats, in unchangeable enmity to God. This is a most evil, wicked thing, and state. But, it is a good thing, that the heart be established with Grace, (or in that Gospel-spirit of Grace, that's in unchangeable union with God) not with Satan's perishing (but Christ's never-perishing) meats; Heb. 13. 9. Man's tossing, roving, rolling spirit, wandering in its desire, up and down, to pick up a satisfaction in Satan's vast heap of first-creation vanities, the perishing dust, himself feeds on, (Gen. 3. 14.) if permitted, by God, to make his own final choice, brings him, at length, to be established by such gratifying, ensnaring, captivating 〈◊〉 or things, in unchangeable union with the Devil. He feeds on Wind, (Hos. 12. 1.) Ashes, (Isa. 44. 20.) a deceived heart turn's him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand? 〈◊〉 divers, uncertain Doctrines or things, the Spirit of God calls strang meats, wind, ashes, lies. Satan, by 〈◊〉 , has all first-creation vanities at his dispose, all the Kingdoms of this World and glory of them, as 〈◊〉 up to him, to give to whomsoever he will; Luk. 4. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , on which he offer's all to Christ himself (or anything thereof, to others) are, that he, or they, take and own him for God, and worship him, as so; (v. 7.) and 2 Thess. 2. 4. He can gloss over his vanities, so as to answer 〈◊〉 palate, gratify every extravagant desire of Man's wandering spirit (being completely skilled, and knowing therein, by the over-reaching subtlety of his superior angelical nature) and, by his powerful insluence upon Man, can he kindle, blow up, and inflame his desire or lust after his perishing desirables. Yet farther; if Man, by spiritual conviction-light, grow jealous and suspicious, that his meats are dangerous; and shy, as to an eating of his dainties, he will gild them over with the nearest possible resemblance and counterfeit appearance of Christ's never-perishing meats. And so, does he fetch many back from Christ, that have tasted of his true heavenly meats, begun well in his spirit, or in obedience to his Gospel-light, and ran well, for a season; Heb. 6. 4, -- 6. 1 Pet. 2. 3. Gal. 3. 1. -- 4. and 5. 7, 8. The Devil is ready for Man, at every turn; can humor him to a hair, while at his own choice, as to what he will feed and live upon. And, in presenting his dusty diet, in all variety thereof, he uses all imaginable self-pleasing, and most subtle arguments, as to Eve, to engage men to feed at his table, till established in his spirit of enmity to God, and to his never-perishing Meats. Hold your own, say's he, and ye shall be as God's; Gen. 3. 5. God offers you a happiness, in your eternal and unchangeable subjection to him. 〈◊〉 teach you how to become God's yourselves, in an absolute, uncontroll'd sovereignty of your own wills, like the most High, as I have made myself; Isa. 14. 14. What kind of God's, will he make them? God's or Princes of this World under him, in unchangeable enmity to the true God, most high. He is the God of all such God's, King of all such Kings, and Children of pride; Job 41. 34. Instead of not dying at all, as he flatters them, they sink and dy with him, once for all, irrecoverably, eternally. While people are gadding abroad, to change their way; (Jer. 2. 36.) wandering like Be's, from one fading flower to another, in Satan's first-creation field or worldly dominion, they look not after God; their backs are upon him; they bow down to feed with the Serpent, on dust: their ears are deafened, their eyes or minds blinded by him, that they will not listen to God's Counsel, look after his meats; have no palate to savor or relish his things, the things of God. They are wholly of Satan's palate, savor only natural, first-creation vanities, the things of Man, or evil Angels. Solomon (with Paul ) discovering Satan's devices and wiles, herein, directs Man, here, to get out of his vain wandering walk, in the delusive, destructive desires of his own spirit, after any first-creation vanities. And then, does he direct and point him to Christ, for his never perishing-life and meats, with an eye of spiritual Faith, fixed thereon; and affections (accordingly) unalterably set on things above (all perishing vanities, the dust of this World, Col. 3. 1, 2.) the peculiar delights of the Sons of God. When Men are once brought into the exercise of spiritual senses, for this new diet, in Christ's new-creature spirit of life; as living and walking circumspectly and wisely therein, they'll have no savor or regard for Satan's meats; let him gild them, by his subtle artifices, while he will or can, to make them pass for spiritual. Christ, with his Spiritual meats, once rightly seen and fed upon, takes Men off from their wandering desire after Satan's meats, and discovers the great danger of feeding on them. Solomon, in a right compassion to his fellow mortals, would put a stop to the restless extravagant wanderings of their minds and hearts after Satan's many things (a multitude of delusive vanities, that can never give any true rest or satisfaction to them) and six their eye or heart on Christ's one thing necessary, that comprehends all things, truly, or unchangeably good; Mary's happy and better choice.

Ver. 10. That which hath been, is named already; and it is known, that it is Man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Man's first-Creation state, is a State of Vanity. And, so are all the things, he does, deal's in, seeks, or feeds upon, for his satisfaction. That which hath been, is named already; Man. The convincing view of himself has been given him by God, and experienced by himself; that he has nothing of goodness about him, in his first-creation-make, or natural state, but 〈◊〉 . His vain desire feeds only upon vain desirables, dust, the old Serpent's diet. Till something of new-creation Life and Wisdom, be found in him, and experienced by him, all's Vanity within and round about him, that he is able to take notice of, or delight in. His life, and all his labor in his own Wisdom and Spirit, is Vanity. All's but the number of a Man, or Angel; both are but the higher rank of Beasts, in all their first-Creation excellencies, or natural perfections; Rev. 13. 18. Gen. 3. 1. All their life, and things, Wisdom, Righteousness, Glory, Thoughts, Desires, Words, and Actions, are but perishing, earthly, sensual or natural things; and, if fixed in, devilish; Jam. 3. 15. All such things, at best, while not fixed in, are admitted no comparison, with the Glory, Life, Wisdom, Righteousness, and things of God, communicated to, and set up in spiritual Saints, by a new and second Creation, with all the Fruits, Desires, Thoughts, Words and Actions, performed or brought forth in his Gospel-spirit, the new-Covenant principle of Life and Action. The Glory of Man or Angel, in the first-Covenant State, that's to be done away, is no Glory, to the Glory that excels and remains, forever. 1 Cor. 3. 10. So, the Righteousness or Wisdom of Man, in the first, is no Righteousness or Wisdom to that of God, in the second Covenant-Saint. But, the things of Man or Angel, turned into (and used in) unchangeable enmity to God, become abundantly worse than nothing, the greatest Wickednesses, Madnesses and Follies: their Righteousness, Wisdom, Light, &c. the greatest Wickedness, Folly, and Darkness. The highest, subtle'st and powerful'st Beast in the first Creation, is the Devil, and his whole evil angelical party. Man, the next Beast, in degree, below these, is deeply concerned, to know the number of his own evil human, and this evil angelical Beast's name: to take the right and full measure of them, in their utmost Strength, Poli cies, Artifices, Wiles, Devices, Subtilties, and Methods of delusion, in their whole Mystery of iniquity; else, what will become of him? For, these evil angelical Principalities and Powers, he has, to grapple with, ( Eph. 6. 10, - 13.) and if conquered (as he is sure to be, if he have nothing about him, but his own Life, Wisdom, Strength and Armor of man ) he is undone forever. Unless therefore there be some way for man, to become wiser, stronger and more subtle than the Devil and all his Angels, how can any escape their hands, or be saved? Will any say, 'tis a most presumptuous spiritual Pride in any man, to pretend to this? The proud, self-exalting presumption lies wholly at their Door, who refuse to have their own Nature humbled, in order to this right exaltation, Jam. 1. 9. & 4. 10. They are the proud resisters of that Grace, God bestow's on the humble Submitters to. And, this Grace enables them, so to resist the Devil, and his whole party of incorrigible wicked Angels and men (the Powers of darkness and gates of Hell itself, all their joint consultings and forces) as to make them all, in and with their Captain-General, the Devil, flee before them, and fall under them. This whole Army of rebellious Luciferian self-exalters, God will resist, or fight against; ver. 6, 7. Where will they be then, but under Saints feet, by being forced to pass, with all their incorrigible stiff Necks, or obstinately stubborn Spirits, under their two-edged Sword? Psal. 149. 6, - 9. In the evil angelical nature, is comprehended the full sum and most absolute perfect Beauty, Strength, Power, Wisdom, and Glory, that's to be found in the first-Creation World. But, the least in God's Spirit of Grace, the Kingdom-spirit of God, will master and tread all this underfoot. Yet, therein do wicked Angels set their heart, as the heart of God, as typ'd in the proud, rich King of Tyre; Ezek. 27. 3. & 28. 12. Thou sealest up the Sum, full of Wisdom, and perfect in Beauty. But, with all this, art to be utterly destroyed, forever, as follows; v. 13, - 19. They say, they are God, and sit in the Seat or Temple of God (in a counterfeit appearance of the New-creation Spirit of Christ, the creature-Temple of the infinite Divine King, in personal Union with the inhabitant) and positively require all men to worship them, as God, or God's; many God's, with their many Lord's, self-exalted men, under them; 2 Thes. 2. 4. The very God, the very Christ, the very Apostles and Saints of Christ, will discover and rout all these mysterious workers of Iniquity, and destroy them forever. Saints will prove more then conquerors over them all, at last. Down go all final incorrigible workers of mystical or literal Iniquity, at long-run, and never rise more; literal and mystical Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon; as figured, Jer. 51. 64. What Wisdom, short of God's, in his-communicated Spirit of Grace, the holy Ghost, is able to discover these false God's, false Christ's, and their false Gospel-Ministers, and Apostles, in such beautiful disguise, and taking false dress, as they are permitted to come forth in, to deceive? Spiritual Wisdom, in true Saints, can count, number, discover, and sinned them all out. Yea, and they will be the very hand, at last, by whom, in association with the holy Angels, the vials of God's 〈◊〉 , shall be gradually poured forth, upon all the guilty heads of such Gospel-Wolves and Lions, in Sheeps and Shepherd's clothing, or appearances. Evil Angels, as all comprehended under the name and title of their head, and called Satan, help their 〈◊〉 amongst Men, to transform themselves into the likeness of the Apostles of Christ, to carry on their anti-Gospel-work. This work, Paul found them, both and all, at, 2 Cor. 11. 13, -15. & ver. 2, -4. The end of both, Paul could tell, will be bad enough, even according to their works. These two evil human and Angelical Beasts, do jointly, in design, make up one and the same antichristian Beast, or Man of Sin, the mystical Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon, which the Devil, as the mystical King Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, is the supreme manager and ruler of. Spiritual Saints, in the wisdom of God, 〈◊〉 out this whole body of Mystical Sinners, the whole Man of Sin, and Son of Perdition; number and sum them all up, so as to discover, they all amount unto no more (with all their big looks, stout words, and vast numbers) then the first-creation Beast, fixed in unchangeable enmity to God; which they are sure to have under their feet, in conclusion, at the winding up of this World, with Satan's Kingdom, and beginning of Christ's, on the Earth; Jer. 23. 5. Rev. 5. 10. True Saints know, they are, all together, but a man, and not God, though they set their heart as the heart of God, and presumptuously say, they are wiser then Daniel, (Ezek. 28. 2, -8.) or the spiritual Saint; yea, reckon him a no-body, a fool, a mad man, the off-scouring of all things; 1 Cor. 4. 10, 13. Yea, so stubbornly daring and presuming will they be found, as to say, under the hands of God, Christ, and his Saints, when 〈◊〉 them, that they are God; ver. 9. But, shall be irresistibly forced to acknowledge, they are all but a man, and no God. All their pretensions, crafts, power, Luciserian presumptions, and confidences, will fail them; not do their work, nor serve their turn. The spiritual Saint has a certain, steady, infallible view of the most dismal and dreadful conclusion, all their vain boast and fading Glory will come to; after all their huge swelling words of Vanity, scornful looks, and scoffings at that new Light, that discovers, and will master them all. The three sixes, in the number 666 ( Rev. 13. 18.) make up, and point out to us, the first-creation state, with the utmost Glories and Excellencies thereof, in Man and Angel, as of the six day's works of God's hands. God rests only in the new-creation, or seventh day's state, turning and ceasing from all his first works, in the six days; Psal. 102. 25, -28. Isa. 66. 1, 2. Heb. 1. 10, -12. And, God the Mediator rested or ceased from his first-creation life and works, in angelical and human nature, of the first-creation sort, becoming thereby, the Lamb slain from the beginning, and towards the latter end of this World, in the fullness of time; Heb. 4. 4. 10. The true Saint, finding out the number, weight, and intrinsic nature of all first-creation excellencies (when he has sum'd them all up) can write down, at the foot of the Account (after imprimis, Satan; & item, all other evil Angels and Men) the total sum, the burden of this Book, All's Vanity, and will prove eternal vexation of Spirit, to all that trust therein. Vanity? Yea, lighter, worse than Vanity itself; Psal. 39. 5. & 62. 9. Angels, that are of higher degree: and Men, of lower, in such fading Glories, all are but Vanity. And so, Men of higher and lower degrees, in the literal or mystical Riches, Pomp, and Glory of this World; all, Vanity. No getting out of the sphere of Vanity, within the compass of the first creation. No goodness in Man or Angel, but what's a perishing Vanity. This hath already so been named, or called by its right name, Vanity. And it is known, that it is Man, the Man of sin, in Angel and Man, fixed therein; and whatever is to be found in the whole first-creation. This is God's divine thought and judgment, and the infallible judgment of the new-creature Gospel-Spirit of Christ, in himself and Saints, in exact harmony with the infinite divine understanding and thought. The Spiritual Saint, weighing all, in the balance of the new-creation-sanctuary-spirit, calculates and finds out the total sum, or comprehensive number of all first-creation goodnesses, and excellencies, represented in all the several parts and distinct Glories thereof, and finds all Vanity. All, therein, are found wanting, with Belshazzar, and too light, by this Mene Tekel, as having nothing conducible to true blessedness, about them; or of any avail, towards it: but indeed, as to that new-creation Spirit of everlasting life, Glory, Wisdom, and Righteousness, wherein true happiness is to be found, wholly destitute of it, and unchangeable enemies to it, and all its things, things of God; and, by infallible consequence, are they wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. All old, perishing, first-creation good things, 〈◊〉 pass away, and will be taken from all Angels and Men, good and bad, in Love or Wrath, for evermore. In the room thereof, all God's new and everlasting good things are set up, in obedient Saints; 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 6. 15. Mat. 19. 21. In incorrigible sinners, only the unchangeable Wrath and fiery Indignation of God forever, succeeds in the room thereof.

If the changeable first-Covenant life, set up by God, in the first-creation of Angel and Man, had not been found faulty, wanting, or defective (as to the true unchangeable blessedness of either) no place or room would have been sought or found, for a second: no need of Gospel, or a new-Covenant principle, the Spirit of Grace; Heb. 8. 6, 7. They, that, by 〈◊〉 in the first, make void the Grace of God, in the second, will, in conclusion, sinned all, in the first, void, and of none effect, as to the blessedness they have vainly flattered and promised themselves, therein. Changeableness, and now, enmity, the great defects in the first-creation state of Angel or Man, can neither be cured nor found out by the single first-creation wisdom and light of either. 'It is utterly impossible. Nor therefore does God require it, of them. But, he requires of both and all, to be beholden to him, for his unspeakable new-creation gift and wisdom, whereby, all may be done. For this, must they submit to his terms of receiving it, the free parting with, and giving up their first-creation life of vanity, with all the things thereof, in sacrifice to him, by a holy death, under his cross, or Gospel-sword. First-creation life, in Man and Angel, was represented to them both, by the Tree of that Knowledge or Wisdom that 〈◊〉 up, to their own destruction, if rested in. Life, in an absolute sense, unchangeable and everlasting, was figured by the Tree of life, after which they were all to seek, as that, wherein, the Kingdom and Righteousness of God, is to be found; Mat. 6. 33. By mere natural light, in their first-creation-make, could neither Angel nor Man, in innocence, reach the truth of this Mystery. But, by convincing spiritual light, both had the conviction-sight of it, in their higher and lower spheres. The Angels higher natural capacities fitted them for stronger and clearer conviction-sight thereof, which rendered their resusal to submit to the terms of receiving it, absolutely unpardonable, at first. Man's, through mercy, was not so. But, 'twas the fault of both, to lean to their own fallible understanding, rather than follow and obey God's spiritual convictions and commands to them, forbidding them, so to do. The sad consequence of such foolish choice, will the fallen Angels experience, to eternity. And, so will as many Men, as fix there. Man's true concern, for preventing all this, is, to listen to that voice of true Wisdom, which declares the vanity of all natural, first-creation life; and then, also, another life, above and beyond that, a life of everlasting Righteousness and Truth. This brings with it durable riches and goodness, delights of the Sons of God; and so, takes Man off, from his wandering desires and pursuits after first-creation vanities, the delights of the Sons of Men, where 'tis impossible for them, ever to find any true rest or satisfaction. All such seeking for a happiness, tends to everlasting torment and vexation of spirit.

Solomon's concluding advice then, to Man, in this verse, is, not to contend with him that is mightier than he; by keeping up his own fading life, in a direct known rebellion against God's convincing discoveries of a more excellent, (That he call's his own ) and his express command, for parting with that, he calls our own. For, Hast thou an arm like God? Job 40. 9. contend not with him, then. For, who hath directed his spirit? or been his Counselor? Isa. 40. 13. Shall he that contends with the Almighty, instruct him? he that reproves him, must answer it. Job 40. 2. This silenced Job; Once have I spoken; yea, twice, but I will proceed no further; verse. 5. Presume not then, to keep up thy own forbidden life, to thy known certain eternal Damnation; and to refuse so great Salvation as is offered, in God's own. Woe to him that strives with his Maker: Isa. 45. 9. Let the potsherds of the Earth (Men in their but earthly-Jerusalem or first-Covenant spirit) strive, contend, and dispute with one another, as to this or that way of Salvation, in their tossed, fluctuating understandings (under the various winds and blasts of diabolical Inspirers and Suggesters, on the troubled mystical Sea of their weaker human nature) while all of them equally, that is, wholly miss the only true path of life, one and toother. But, let them all take heed of striving with their Maker, about the way of Salvation, proudly exalting the conceptions and words of their foolish wisdom, against the plainly and abundantly declared word's and methods of his. Shall an earthy, clay-Man say to God, why hast thou made me thus? Rom. 9. 20. whv hast thou set me up in a life, I may not keep, as my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee, and concern to myself? Why didst. not give 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 creature-life, thou call'st thy own, at first? So might I have escaped the hearing of all the hard sayings of the Cross, and the Death-blows thereof, upon mine. Can any Man hope to prosper, in such contest and dispute with his Maker? Nay, but O Man, who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that thus repliest 〈◊〉 God? Job, presently, on such 〈◊〉 , did silence his own quarrelling spirit, that darkn'd the counsels of God's Wisdom, with the ignorant words of his own; Job 42. 3. What a noise have we heard, among tossed human, earthy understandings, pro and con (and the same Men off and on, therein) about Free-will, Water-Baptism (with many other, besides the cinque-points, in the 〈◊〉 ' 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 new Arminian Controversy) while all are in a tumult against God's Free-will, in his new-creation life; and against his Fire-Baptism on their free-will, or cleansed natural state? In what unutterable confusion, are mortals tugging and sweating against their own Salvation, and for their everlasting destruction? A deep silence and inadvertency, we sinned amongst them, as to the true life and glorious liberty of the Sons of God, in all their Skirmishings, and Polemical, quarrelling Divinities, so called. They are, one and all, without controversy, for the same righteous first-creation life, freewill, and delights of the Sons of Men (call all, by what disguising Names they will) and, as one Man, against the spiritual life, glorious liberty and delights of the Sons of God. They all unanimously, with a full mouth, set themselves to hunt and run down the only Gospel-Divinity, and Doctrine of true Salvation, the very Christ, the very Gospel, as the most dangerous, destructive Doctrine, in the whole World. To a seed of unawakn'd spiritual Saints, engaged for a season, thro' ignorance, as Paul once, among these wicked Confederate's, Devils and Men, is it said; Say ye not a confederacy, in a resolved union with them, that are fixed in this Confederacy, against God, to their eternal ruin? Isa. 8. 12. Fix not your foot with them, in this desperate quarrel, against God. As for others, they will on, in the proud waves of their own understandings under the inspirations and doctrines of Devils, swelling up, in their words of vanity, to the highest pich of presumption, against Christ, all Gospel-Saints and Truths. So will they hasten the wrath of God, upon their own guilty Heads. The corner-stone of that rocky new-creation building, they reject, will fall on them, at last, and grind them to powder; dash them all to shivers, as a potters vessel. On these accounts, Solomon continues his advice to Men; saying,

Vers. 11. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is Man the better?

These many things, that, with Martha, Man cumbers himself about, are all variety of things, relating to his outward or inner Man, in his natural state; which he covet's, greedily seeks after, and feed's upon. The whole round of this vast heap of vanities, Men march up and down amongst, to get; Satan walks up and down in, to give them, as he sees occasion, to carry on his interest, among them. All this is his circuit, sphere, walk, and permitted dominion, as God and Prince of this World (Job 1. 7. Luk. 4. 6. Joh. 12. 31.) He is the master-Prince of all such Mystical human first-covenant Princes of this World, as crucified Christ (1 Cor. 2. 8.) for his Doctrine of the World to come, as treason against the peace of their joint worldly dominion, and tyranical domineering over and against the Saints of the most high. A fixed, self-confident, righteous first-Covenant People, will unanimously vote true Saints to death (as they served Christ himself) rather than robbers and murderers. By such, did the Prince of darkness and death carry on his murdering work on the Prince of Life,? and Author of Salvation; and, at same time procured, by them, a pardon for a convicted murderer; Act. 3. 14, 15. That, Men get, by such fighting against the only spirit, wherein and by, they can be saved, is, their own everlasting destruction, by the same hand they oppose, executed upon them. And, what get they in their own way, amongst a heap of delusive vanities? nothing, save an increase of vanity, and of their sin and guilt, for their willful rebellion therein, against all the faithful warnings, advice, and commands of God's spiritual Law, to the contrary, for their good. So, will they find, at length, that by increasing their heap of vanities, they have been heaping or treasuring up wrath to themselves, against the last day. They will be (in such sense) filled with their own devices, and reap the sad fruits of their many inventions ( Prov. 1. 31. Eccles. 7. 29.) under wrath, and a total disappointment of all their vain opinions, and labors, about and for rest and happiness. Abundantly the worse will they be, for all they have been, done, or had.

Vers. 12. For, who knoweth what is good for Man, in this life, all the days of his vain life, which he spendeth as a shadow? For, who can tell a Man, what shall be after him, under the Sun?

There's great cause for these two pertinent queries, concerning Man. For, in his natural state, at best, is he wholly ignorant of both these things, viz. What's best for him to do, in this World; or what will be after him, under the Sun, when he is departed out of it. What's truly good for him, in order to true Blessedness, here, or hereafter, he knows not. But, when convincingly showed all, wherein, from what hand, on what terms, or, by what way and means, 'tis attainable, if he refuse so great Salvation as is offered, in God's Spirit, and choose the life of his own, before and against it, he spends all his days and labors, in and about a shadow; and so, chooses his own damnation. He is possessed of no good, but what will vanish and leave him, forever; Psal. 39. 5. & 49. 12. when he is stripped of all his fading good, and finds himself unchangeably evil, under unchangeable Wrath, he will, too late, be forced to see the Truth, here declared, by way of question, that he spent all his days in (and all his hours about) a shadow. But,

To the second Query. These are the sad things, that will be after a Man has spent his days here, in a shadowy state of Vanity; as amus'd and diverted, all along his vain life, with variety of perishing Vanities, under the influence of the God of this World. Amidst a flush and confluence of these delusive entertainments, he seems little concerned what shall be after him; or what will become of him, forever. He obstinately deafens himself to all counsels and instructions, about what indeed is eternal life, or the way towards it (the death of a fading natural one) as mere aery notion, fiction, and enthusiastical delusion. He strikes in, with the God of this World, as willing to be blinded by him, against all Gospel-Light and things. He desires not to be troubled with such matters, but, to live in 〈◊〉 perfect inadvertency and unconcernedness, as to such good things as cannot be lost; and, as in no danger of losing what he has, which most certainly will be lost, forever. Man's days in this World are but as a hand-breadth, nothing to his endless sorrowful State, hereafter. Yet, all his solicitude is about his concerns here; scarce a thought, about his eternal concerns, hereafter. All duties and performances, in a life of vanity, do but add to, and increase vanity; and, what's he the better, as to true happiness, or anything towards it? In every respect, worse: in none, better. For, what he sinfully heaps up, against conviction, he more and more sinfully delights in. As the heap of vanities, increases, his evil love to, and delight therein, increases. So, in all his labor, he adds iniquity to iniquity, on all hands. His heap of vanities, and his vain love to it, increases; all, in a known rebellion against God. Here's Man's destructive trade in vanities, willfully neglecting all God's Counsel, and durable riches. He neither lay's to heart the desperate consequents of his evil choice and dotage on his own perishing life and riches, or the unspeakable happiness that would have come after, and befallen him, had he obediently exchange'd and parted with all, for God's everlasting. Solomon bewail's this twofold ignorance of unhappy Man, as to the everlasting good things, that would have fallen to his lot, after this life (above all conception, or thought of his natural heart) on a right choice; or sorrows, and torment forever, on a wrong, in a state of everlasting darkness and death. This is the unknown, or unconsider'd state, that will come after all his jollity and deceitful pleasure, in his vain life, under the Sun.

V. 1. A good Name is better then precious Ointment: and the day of death, then the day of one's birth.

NOthing is (properly) good in God's sight, but what's unchangeably so. Christ would not suffer our nature in the changeable first-covenant life of the Law, to be called good, in his 〈◊〉 person; Mat. 19. 17. The good name then, here, is the new name, ( Rev. 2. 17.) which imports (and belongs to) that newness of life, in which only 'tis possible to bring forth fruit unto God, or be saved. Rom. 6. 4. & 7. 4. This is, here, asserted to be better then all the precious Ointment, in its kind, of first covenant Life, Light, Wisdom, with all variety of Gifts and Abilities therein, as also, all spiritual enlightening Gifts, received upon that foot, or in that Law-state, short of the very Gospel-life and more excellent way (1 Cor. 12. 31.) called Love; 1 Cor. 13. To this, only, belongs the new, or unchangeably good name, here. This is the unspeakably more excellent Gift, then the said precious Ointment. All first-creation-Life and Goodness, being corruptible; God, that sees all futurities and possibilities (knowing it will change, or be changed and lost) calls it Corruption, in or with which, no man or Angel, can enter into, or inherit Incorruption, the incorruptible Inheritance (1 Pet. 1. 4.) the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 15. 50. That incorruptible new-creation Life, is convincingly showed and offered Men, (in lieu of their obediently surrendered natural, and corruptible) in which, alone, any can enter into, and inherit it. And, this is imported in the new or good name, here. All old or first-creation life, at best, in Angel or Man, is character'd by 〈◊〉 , grass, flower of grass, Vanity, a Dream; and they, therein, said to be altogether Vanity; Isa. 40. 6, -8. 1 Pet. 1. 24. Psal. 39. 5. Thus is the corruptible seed of a first-covenant life, (set up in both, by the first-creation, or restored in Man, since lost by the fall, which in its utmost growth, flourish, and fruitfulness, is but a fading flower, the mystical natural tree of God's left-hand-planting) distinguished from the incorruptible seed (1 Pet. 1. 23.) of his right-hand-planting, by a new-creation, which springs up in spiritual Saints, prospers into an everlasting Kingdom-state, rendering them mystical Gospel-trees, the fruits whereof are incorruptible; and the very leaves, such, as never wither or 〈◊〉 away; Psal. 1. 3. This spiritual tree of Life, will be known by its fruits, in distinction from the natural, fleshly tree, all the fruits whereof, are (as the root, and tree, they grow upon) perishing Vanities. The new Name or Life of the new-Creature, Gospel-spirit, or living Word of God, set up in man, can never be turned into a lie. Man's old name, and fading first-covenant Law-life, at best, when asserted to be a spiritual, Gospel-state of everlasting Life and Salvation, is turned into a flat lie and falsehood, and all the things, births, works, fruits, and products thereof and in, though good in their kind, when called spiritual, and confidently rested in for Salvation, are all lies, and enmity to God, and his Gospel-Spirit of Truth. Renew'd nature, called Grace; the renewed old or natural Man (with his first Covenant righteous Life and Name) called the new-creature, the spiritual Saint, with the new Covenant-Life, and Gospel-Name; all these are dangerous, destructive lies. In sum, the good Name and precious Ointment, here, are the differing characters of first and second-Covenant Life. The former, through the said mistake, Paul found to be a body, a law, a state of sin and death (Rom. 7. 24. & 8. 2.) which the new-covenant law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus freed him from, by putting his nature, therein, to death. The Spirit of life is the death of death, when it puts the law-spirit of Enmity and Death, to death, in the Saint; utterly abolishing all the Anointings, or said precious Ointment, received in the natural state; and giving all again, with usury, in the unchangeable life and transcendently more precious anointing of the spiritual Man. Man, in restored first-Covenant Law-life, is apt ( as Paul once ) to despise and reject all Gospel-Tydings or witness of the second. The good Name, imports a transcendently higher and better anointing, then the precious Ointment, here, can signify. For, then the spiritual, there is no better kind of precious ointment, receivable by, or communicable to, Man. This true meaning of the Holy Ghost, in Solomon, as to this former, will much conduce to, and facilitate the opening of the latter clause of this verse.

The stress of these words cannot lie in the literal sense, which cannot hold, generally, nor mostly, true. For, the literal death of the vast number of wicked men, is abundantly worse, then the day of their literal birth, and life, in this World. Man, though born dead in Sin, is capable of a restauration-birth of a first-Covenant life in his Spirit, which puts him under hopeful advantages, and possibilities of a new-creation-birth of an everlasting righteous Life. These hopes are utterly cut off, from all that die in their Sins, as all that die, in a state of enmity to God, and his Spirit of Grace and everlasting Life, do. This necessitates the allowing a mystical meaning to these Words; which is this. The death of Man's Spirit (as to all natural first-creation life, 〈◊〉 , or first-Covenant righteous) obediently submitted to, with certain hope of a Resurrection into the life of Christ's Gospel-Spirit (that slay's and offers it up, in sacrifice to God; as he served our nature, at best, in his own person) is transcendently better, then the Birth and utmost flourish thereof, in him. For, now is he much forwarder on his way, in the right method and death-pass, towards an everlasting righteous new-Covenant life. Paul counted the former dung, to the latter, and suffered the loss of all therein, for it. Phil. 3. 7, 8. If Man submit not to the terms and ways of arriving at this new birth, for a newness of life, he will come to a latter end worse then his beginning (in either of his two former Births, literal or mystical, of bodily or first-Covenant life) eternal death. By obediently losing and quitting the former, natural, or Law-life, for a spiritual, Gospel-one, he comes to a latter end, better then any of his beginnings (in Adam, before the fall; or since, in his own said twofold personal birth) eternal life. A rebellious pitying and sparing our own nature in the first-covenant life thereof, loses all, forever. An obedient giving it up, to death, and right losing it, saves all; Matth. 16. 25. The Spirit, or inner natural Man, when crucified, and raised into Christ's spiritual life; the death, or dissolution of the body, is not feared but desired; as by Paul. He earnestly longed and groaned after the shaking off, and being perfectly rid of the dusty, mortal, perishing earthly life and state, of his whole natural Man, body and spirit (2 Cor. 5. 1, — 4.) and so, to be wholly at home with the Lord (ver. 6.) in the entire, single, uninterrupted exercise of spiritual life, amongst the best company, the pure, unchangeable Friends of that life, blessed Angels, and Saints departed. In this World, the Saint is surrounded with innumerable Enemies thereof; very burdensome, ill, unpleasing company to him. In the birth and utmost flourish of a first-covenant Law-life, we are still under Satan's power, and delusive influence. He can deceive us, into the same perdition with himself, by that very righteous life. By inducing Men, to over-value, and and rest in it and on it, for Salvation, he brings them into unchangeable Union with himself, in Enmity to God. When perfectly crucified, as to the life of the Law, & raised into the life of the Gospel, we are not under the Law, but under Grace. Then, Sin and Satan have lost their dominion over us, forever. We wholly cease and are freed from both and all; all enemies, and dangers, whatsoever; Rom. 6. 7, -14. 1 Pet. 4. 1. The birth of a first-Covenant life, gives not full victory over Satan: the right death of Nature, and loss of it, does. Therefore, better, on all hands, as the only way to free us from death, and set us up in eternal life. The right, full death, of Man's Law-spirit of bondage, delivers him from all bondage and fear of death, forever; which, all their first-Covenant life-time, Men are continually subject to; Heb. 2. 15.

Vers. 2. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for, that is the end of all Men, and the living will lay it to his heart.

The house of mourning, or state of sorrow to the natural Man (under the death-blows of the Gospel-Sword, or spiritual cross of Christ) is better for him, to go into and be in, then the house of feasting, in the most joyful fruitful life and exercise thereof, in a first-Covenant state. For, therein draws he nearer to a heavenly, spiritual, new-covenant life. Our nature in Christ, was straitened and sore pained under the progressive work of the Cross, and pangs of Death, thereby caused, till accomplished; Luk. 12. 50. His living Soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, (Mat. 26. 38.) as the Sacrifice, under the crucifying Work of his own quickening Spirit, the Gospel high-Priest, and true Melchizedek. The first Adam ought to have given up that Sacrifice, to God, by the same Priestly hand of (and in) the second. True Saints, with 〈◊〉 , receive the sentence of death within them, and find it their great advantage to have it speedily carried on, upon them; and, their ease, to have it perfected or accomplished. The full death thereof, kindly submitted to, is perfect conformity to Christ's death; and their perfect deliverance from all evil, all wicked enemies, within them and without; and from all the danger of ensnaring vanities and tempting objects, they are continually surrounded with, which are gratifying to their natural life and desire, corrupt or righteous; while they have any activity thereof, left about them. So, all former natural fruitfulness in a first-Covenant, under Christ, as a fleshly Bridegroom, is turned into barrenness; in which, with Hannah, they become a scorn and derision, to such as continue fruitful Peninnah's, in the first; that house of feasting. Paul, that was an eminent somebody, in the first; when converted into the Gospel-life of the second, was a stark fool, a no-body, to such some-bodies. Phil. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 4. 10. 2 Cor. 10. 12. Rich, wise, full first-covenanters, were the mystical strong Bulls of Bashan, that gaped on Christ himself (and so, on Saints) 〈◊〉 him round, as ravening and roaring Lions; Psal. 22. 12, 13. These are the mystical 〈◊〉 cattle, that thrust with side and sheulder, and push all the weak, poor, lean, wounded, diseased 〈◊〉 (under the Death-work of the Cross, upon their natural man) with their horns, Ezek. 34. 20, 21. Such lean, barren, diseas'd ones, fools, and as little Children, are God's: The fat, wise, and strong (finally persisting there, in enmity to the Cross) the Devil's. He gets all such fat cattle. The poor and lean, get the Kingdom of God: the rich and fit, the Kingdom of the Devil, by kinging it, in the same Spirit, with him, against God. But, besides enemies without, the grieved, sorrowful natural man of the Saint, within, adds to the affliction. All its whining passions, and false reasonings, under, and against the Cross, or Spirit of Christ in him, are foes of his own house (or, in his own person) in union with enemies without doors. Thus, is his tribulation completed, in that house of mourning, that's the ready road to Heaven. But, amidst all scornful despisings of first-covenant 〈◊〉 , Christ, as Bridegroom to his spiritual Spouse, figured in Elkanah, loves her transcendently more then any fruitful wife, in the first; and so, is better to her then ten sons, any possible fruits brought forth, in that state; 1 Sam. 1. 1, - 8. Amidst all bitternesses of the natural, the spiritual hidden Man of the heart prays for the full birth of the 〈◊〉 , figured by Samuel, which, when born, turns the natural house or state of mourning, into a spiritual house, or state of everlasting feasting and rejoicing. For this, see Hannah's song of praise, in the true house of feasting, on God's having granted the prayer she put up to him, in her house or state of mourning, and barrenness; 1 Sam. 2. 1, - 10. Christ foretold the sorrow of his Disciples, on his departure from them, as a fleshly Bridegroom, in the first-Covenant, till his return to them, in the second, according to the promise of the Father (and of himself, too) which they were to wait for, in that state of mourning to their natural Man. Joh. 16. 20, -- 22. Act. 1. 4. & Act. 2. 1, — 4, Christ's such return to them, turned all their short sorrow into everlasting joy. Joh. 16. 16, — 22, gives a full account of his fore-hand preparing his disciples, in this case, to look for him as a better Comforter, in a new-Covenant Marriage-Union with him, as risen from the dead. A little while, and ye see me no more, in the first. Again, wait a little, and ye see me, in the second; in a life I have, in unchangeable Union with the Father. They understood not this mystery. They knew not what he said; or what to make on it. Yea, when risen, he found two of his disciples, in a drooping, sad, dejected Condition; Luk. 24. 17. In a little, short, temporary wrath, he forsook their sinning natural Man, in a life of Enmity; but, with everlasting kindness, he soon returned to them, in his never-sinning spiritual-life; and set it up, in them, Isa. 54. 7, 8. 'It is but once, and for a little season, the waters of the Cross (figured by Noah' s flood,) drown and overwhelm their natural Man; extinguish all the life, lust, desire and thought thereof; and then, all joy, forever after, in Christ's rocky spiritual life (figured by Noah' s Ark) a state of everlasting feasting and rejoicing, in the Kingdom of the Father; v. 9, 10. Christ will not leave them, long, comfortless, in a state of, Orphanship and Widowhood, fatherless, and husbandless, as to their natural state. He will soon be with them, again, in that Spirit of truth, the merry, self-confident first-Covenanteer receives not; Joh. 14. 16, - 20. So then, the Saints short mourning, ends in everlasting feasting, and rejoicing: the others short rejoicing, in eternal sorrow, mourning, darkness, and death; Mat. 5. 4. Luk. 6. 25. Who hath begotten me these, even these Children, or Sons of Peace, these spiritual fruits, peaceable fruits of righteousness, brought forth in a newness of life, to God? The Faith of the Saint's spiritual Man, answer's this question of his amazed natural, ascribing all, to the spiritual Bridegroom and better comforter, then himself was in the first-Covenant. No way, but thro' the house of mourning and death (as to all fading first-Covenant life of nature) into Christ's spiritual house of everlasting rejoicing, where all sorrow and sighing 〈◊〉 away, forever; Isa. 35. 10. Psal. 126. 5, 6. Rev. 21. 4. and 7. 17.

The contrary state to the said mystical house of mourning, is Man's flourish, in a restored first-Covenant righteous life, holy flesh, and a fruitful living and walking therein, as a present Victor and Master over (or 〈◊〉 of) the vile affections of the corrupt spirit of nature. Rectified rational and intellectual powers keep the sensual, in some degree of a first-creation rectitude and good order. All this, yet, is vanity, a fading flower. And this, with the fruits and enjoyments of it, is all that's found in the first-covenant house of feasting. The final self-confident keeping here, in refusal of (and opposition to) Christ's offered spiritual, second-covenant life, is certain damnation. Satan has a seven-fold more dangerous hold of them (and abode in them, as his absolute temples and habitations, forever) even of these mystical swept, 〈◊〉 , garnish'd houses, in first-covenant life and second-covenant light, then of Men in the corrupt spirit of nature, unfix'd; Mat. 12. 43, — 45. Luk. 11. 24, — 26. So come such feasters, to a latter end, in restored, worse then their 〈◊〉 , in corrupt nature; a state of unchangeable enmity to God and his Gospel-spirit of Grace. Man chooses, rather, to follow the Devil's pleasing false counsel, through a house of temporary feasting, into everlasting mourning; then God's true and faithful, through a house of 〈◊〉 and death, into everlasting rejoicing, and life.' t. For, that is the end of all Men, and the living will lay it to his heart. All Men, good and bad, must come, sooner or later, for a season, or forever, to the house of mourning, by the death and loss of all the 〈◊〉 goodness in their natural state, or house of feasting. That house, or state of mourning, is the end, all men come to, on the said differing accounts, specified. Such an end, they must all experience, after the most fruitful flourish in their fading Law-life; even the death and loss of all. Here's then a character of the natural heart, in all Men Their inward thought and design, is, to establish themselves in their own righteousness, when they have it; and in the riches, and fruitfulness thereof, and so to have the mystical Land of their own nature, called after their own old name, in their old first-covenant life, or restored first-creation state, figured by Men's calling their outward possessions, so, relating to bodily life, only; Psal. 49. 11. Conviction-light of the new-covenant Spirit, they'll receive, as an ornament to prank up, adorn, and advance their nature; to puff it more up with spiritual pride; not by obedience to, and compliance with it, to let it fall down and be humbled to the death of that state, as they ought. So turn they all spiritual enlightening Gifts upon (as well as fresh enlivenings of) their nature, into their disadvantage, and sorer condemnation, forever. Satan offers to advance them in their own way, after their own heart, into his superior angelical perfections and excellencies, of the first-creation sort, gilding them also by his sinful transforming arts, with the appearance of Christ's spiritual new-creation excellencies; and then, has he them fast in his fools-paradise, which they take for the Kingdom of Heaven. He wants not for Men-Apostles to carry on this work.

Moral Heathens are bidding towards Salvation, by obedience to first-Covenant light, only. Temporary Believers (by the knowledge of Christ, after the flesh) are bidding at it, in a righteous first-Covenant life, under the perfect righteousness of that sort, from Christ, imputed to them; or that comeliness, put upon them; Ezek. 16. 14. The moral Heathen, with the Quaker, aim's at a perfection in his own perpersonal Life and operations, of the same sort, Adam, at first, had; not regarding imputed righteousness in either Covenant; or, at all, the everlasting righteous life of the second. This is not (and so, nor God) in all or any of his thoughts; Psal. 10. 4. The legal-Christian-Believer and Professor, though' advanced beyond the highest pretender to Heathen morality (yea and furnished with spiritual light, also) is yet but the supernaturally adorned natural Man, that, oft, with the 〈◊〉 Galatians, retreats from Christ in spirit (showed and offered him) to a resting in holy flesh, or his own restored naturals, in a first-Covenant-life, for salvation; Gal. 3. 1, - 3. This, finally and absolutely done, is the unpardonable refusal of, and sinning against the Holy Ghost, God's holy new-Creature Spirit of everlasting Righteousness. The Morally righteous Heathen is not so resolutely fierce against first-Covenant life, in the professing legally righteous and Gospel-convinced Christian, as he is against the second, in the true Gospel-believing Christian. Wot ye why? First-Covenant life advances nature, in its own way, above and beyond Heathen Morality. But, in order to true Gospel or second-Covenant life, Christ comes with fire and sword, to pull down and destroy the Wisdom of the Greek, or Moral Heathen, and the first-Covenant righteous life of the Jew or legal Christian. For this, is the Preacher of the Cross, and work of it, a fool, foolishness, and a stumbling-block to both; 1 Cor. 1. 23. Thus, comes the spiritual Saint (though' transcendently advanced over both their guilty heads, as far as the Heavens are above the Earth, into the life and Image of the Heavenly, that's out of the sight and reach of both their Wisdoms or Understandings) to be judged the veriest fool and mad man in the world, by them both. They are agreed against him, to call and reckon him, so, in their several gradual advances in Naturals. The highest rank of Naturalists, in 〈◊〉 -Covenant life and second-covenant light, called Christ 〈◊〉 So, ( Joh. 10. 20.) for his Gospel-Doctrine 〈◊〉 the Cross, on their Pharisaical Law-life and Righteousness, leavened & sour'd into unchangeable enmity to God's Gospel-life and everlasting righteousness. Awaken'd Saints and true Prophets have been so handled by such legal-professors, in all Ages; Hos. 9. 7, 8. Cain, a 〈◊〉 -Covenant worshipper, killed his own Brother Abel, a second, on this very single account. Paul himself, when a righteous, wise first-Covenant, Law-Pharisee, in holy 〈◊〉 , fiercely persecuted the Gospel-spirit, in 〈◊〉 -Covenant Saints. 〈◊〉 , he was despised as a contemptible 〈◊〉 , by such as he had been, when a signal Friend and Preacher of the Gospel; 1 Cor. 4. 10, -13. But, in his transcendently superior Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, he passed not for Man's day, or dark-spirited judgment, whose wisdom reached not such Spiritual Heavenly Mysteries, Things, or Truths; 1 Cor. 4. 3. He regarded not their disregards, mistakes, contradictions, blasphemies, or evil-speakings, and most unjust cenfurings of him. As elevated, by Satan, into natural angelical excellencies (and tongues or language of Men and Angels, intuitive, and by a sound of words, and all 〈◊〉 things, gilded with appearances of spirituality) do first-Covenanteers feed at the Serpent's table with such delight, as to find ecstasies and raptur's of false, delusive joy, in a way after their own hearts, and despise the crucified, abas'd natural Man, in the Saint, as the filth and off-scouring of all things. Satan, thus (all along this World, and his Reign) by his undiscerned, or willfully unconsider'd pranks, plays his game upon Man, so as to carry it, clear, with abundantly the far greater number of professors, high pretenders to Gospel, and bidders at Salvation, and the Kingdom of God, as the only reputed Orthodox, or right-thinking heirs thereof. But, the truly living spiritual Saint, lay's all these things to heart, as having escaped out of the dark, mistaking spirit of bondage and death, others keep in. He sees, the house of mourning, or loss of all fading goodness or life, in the natural spirit, will be the end of all Men (and Angels) good and bad. Those that obediently surrender and lose it, find eternal life: others, eternal darkness and death. True Saints, and incorrigible sinners, all must come toit, at last; even, to experience the loss of all good, in their own mortal life of Nature. 'It is appointed to all, once to die, (Heb. 9. 27.) or lose all mortal life or good, in Body, Soul, or spirit. Is it short of a wonder, that when Saints discover the devices of Satan, all his serpentine crafts, thorough-out his mystery of iniquity; first-covenant professors, jovial and frolic in his mystical, spiritual Snares (and a profane party, in his brutish Snares, or Fetters of a contemptible strumpet) should, both and all, despise and hate him, for his Gospel-news, and discoveries of their madness, and desperate consequence of finally persisting therein? Yet, thus it always was; and now is, more then ever, in these latter and worse then all former times; 2 Tim. 3. 1. The great peril to true Saints, in the power of Godliness, is from 〈◊〉 Brethren, in the form thereof, the life of the Law, righteousness of Man; Psal. 50. 20. Isa. 66. 5. In them, is the highest strain of self-love. For, they have the most plausible, beautiful self, to love; the mystical visage, or clean face of a cleansed, enlightened Spirit. The literal Beauty, or outward Glory, found in a profane party, lies but in bodily complexion, Skin, and glittering outward Circumstances, Pomp, and Ornament. The true Saint, that brings tidings, in his new Light, of a spiritual Life, Beauty, and Glory, (demonstrating all, these two sorts of mad People are pleasing and sporting themselves with, to be but shadows, a dream, a vain show, kick-shows, lighter then Vanity, and themselves also; Psal. 39. 5, 6. & 62. 9.) spoils all their sport; gives a damp to all their delusive pleasure and delight: yea, vexes and torments them all; specially, the dwellers upon Earth, (Rev. 11. 10.) inhabitants of the earthly Jerusalem, in first-covenant-life, holy flesh. The brutish inhabitants of the Sea, a profane party, are more gravel'd with, and vexed at such reproof and condemnation, as is reflected upon them, by the doctrine and conversation of strictwalking righteous legal-spirited Teachers and Professors. They little mind, or are able to take any cognizance, of the spiritual, Gospel-Saint, or his doctrine. And, what need the Law-pretender to Gospel, (gilding all his Law-things with Gospel-words and appearances) fear the Gospel-Saint's Testimony, as to true Gospel-things? What? Why, this spoils all their mystical Babylonish sport, and trading Ministry, with their false Wares. It discovers all, to be but Pictures, or Idols, pourtrai'd on the Walls of their house or Church on the Sand; and on the mystical whited Sepulchers, themselves, who personate and would pass currant, in such disguise, paint, and gildings, for the true Gospel-Heirs of the Kingdom; and so, jussle out the true spiritual Heirs, as blasphemous wranglers about it; and groundless, unwarranted pretenders to it. Mean while, the true Heir's invisible Saintship, (on which his title and claim to the Kingdom of Heaven, depends) consist's in a life 〈◊〉 with Christ, in God; hid, under a veil, of not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or Law-life. But, when this veil wear's off and grow's daily thinner, under the continual batteries and macerating-work of the Saint's spiritual, on his natural Man; the spiritual begins to shine thro' the veil, look out at the windows (or holes made in his natural spirit, by the Gospel-Sword and Cross) and flourish, or 〈◊〉 himself thorough the 〈◊〉 thereof. So, thro' his impoverish'd 〈◊〉 mind or earthly nature, comes his spiritual Man to shine forth in a right Gospel-conversation, to (and with) other awakn'd spiritual Saints ( Cant. 2. 9.) in such Gospel-works, and fruits, by which he 〈◊〉 his Father, which is in Heaven; Mat. 5. 16. But, in converse with unawakn'd Saints, and the generality of the two other sorts of sinners and 〈◊〉 of God and them (that the world is full of) must they, with Moses, pull the 〈◊〉 veil, again, over their spiritual faces, luster, and beauty, that they may appear to, and talk with them, in their own guise, dress, and language. They must, in this sense, become all things to all Men, with design to gain some, to their spiritual Life and Doctrine; yea, turn many to the everlasting Righteousness of God, by a true Gospel-conversion; which, Paul wholly wanted, when an eminent Law-Saint; 1 Cor. 9. 22. They must thus, with Paul, please all Men in all things; 1 〈◊〉 . 10. 33. How? In a serviceableness only to their true interest, and the interest of Christ therein, by gaining the opportunity to insinuate Gospel-Truths into them, and jussle out 〈◊〉 lies. As to a soothing Men up into a confidence in Man's and Satan's Law-Gospel, he say's, do I seek to please Men? then I should not be the Servant of Christ (Gal. 1. 9, 10.) but indeed an enemy to him and his Gospel, as I (too long) was, thro' a confidence in my own Law-life, or holy flesh. But, if no compliance, in any sense, might be lawfully used by spiritual Saints, with otherwise-minded people (common sinners or first-Covenant-Professors of Christ) all opportunity of gaining them to a Gospel-state, would be lost. There's no dealing with them, at first dash, without some-thing of condescension from a pure spirituality of conversation. To grate on them, with forced spiritual discourse, and high mysteries of the Kingdom of God, where there's nothing preparatory, towards the reception of such matters (or hopefulness to give them any advantage thereby) would render the most pertinent things, impertinently as well as unsupportably troublesome and tormenting to any earthy, fleshly-minded company, corrupt or righteous, holy or profane. Such, too generally, is the guise, dress, and temper of (in a manner) all sorts of People, in common conversation, at this day, that should they see or hear the inmost thoughts of spiritual Saints, they'd not endure their company. Self (the Anagram of Flesh, backward, rejecting h, that's no letter) holy or unholy Nature, professing or profane People, are all of a knot, in confederacy with World and Devil, against the spiritual Saint, and all his right words, to a tittle, about Salvation, special; 1 Tim. 4. 10. Yet, enough has he, to bear him up, and maintain in him, an undaunted spirit, and invincible courage, against all the despisings and misjudgings of these two sorts of blind, dark-spirited, confounded haters and rejecters of all Gospel-light and truth. They both sit, as in Plato' s feigned Cave, admiring their little glimmering Moon or Candle-light (their intellectual, rational Lamps, in a Night-state) or, at best, and highest, but such Day-light, as the mystical first-creation Sun, or first-covenant Spirit, gives, and makes out to them. In these various states, postures, accoutrements, and enjoyments of Nature, sit they both, in a readiness, to deride and scoff at the true Saint, pretending to a yet transcendently higher Daylight, under the beamings forth of the New-Creation Sun of infallible, everlasting Light, Life, Righteousness and Wisdom; the Gospel-new-Covenant-Spirit of Grace and Truth. Those that are lifted up from amongst their fellow-mortals, out of themselves, or their own deep, dark, dungeon-spirit of Nature, corrupt or righteous (a miry pit of Corruption and 〈◊〉 ; filth of flesh or spirit; enmity to God, and death to itself; a Body, a Law of Sin and Death, as Paul found; Rom. 7. 24. & 8. 2.) into the marvelous Palace or Paradisical- Light, and glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, cannot forbear to go tell their 〈◊〉 , how they fare. They give them an account, or true report of the new-creation Land of Promise, or state of Life, with the fruits and peculiar enjoyments therein, above all other Countries, Lands, or States, as far as the Heavens are above the Earth. How is this News resented by these two sorts of Sodomites (the Profane in silth of 〈◊〉 ; or Legal-spirited Professor, in filth of spirit, enmity to God and all spiritual Truths) that's brought to both their ears, by the Gospel-spirited Saint? They all hiss at, and deride his pretension to such Sun-light, as the most presumptuous conceit, and phanatical delusion, in the World. They sit them still, would not budg an inch from their opinionated happiness, in Rational Light and Moral Heathenism; or, first-covenant life also, in Legal Christianity; just, as the case was in Plato' s Apologue, or fabulous Cave-students, in their demeanour towards him that had ventured up a rocky Precipice (with great difficulty and danger) into the open Air and Sunlight, on his return and tidings thereof, to them. What of all this? The Saint is not to regard, these contradicting Blasphemers misregarding him, or his words; nor be weary, nor faint in his mind, or Spirit; Heb. 12. 3. They are to look wholly to God, Christ, blessed Angels, and Saints, that know and own them, for what they know themselves to be. What matters it for Man's day, or judgment, in which nothing of their spiritual life or doctrine, is rightly seen, felt, heard, or understood? Saints, by spiritual senses, do all this, natural never can do. They hear, see, look upon, and handle the Word of life, even the original new-creature life, in the living Word & Wisdom of God, Christ's Person; 1 〈◊〉 . 1. 1. And, they 〈◊〉 such life also, in the derived streams of the living waters thereof, in true Saints. When their own Spirit is dead, in Man's sight and judgment, 'tis, most of all, alive, in God's Sight, in his Spirit of Grace. And, those that live and spend their Widow-hood (on Christ's death and departure from them, as a 〈◊〉 , first-Covenant Bridegoom) in the pleasures of that life, he has forsaken them in; however alive in Man's sight, are dead in God's, while they so live; 1 Tim. 5. 6. Incorrigible sinners, in filth of Flesh or Spirit, pass along this mortal World and Life, jollily, in the broad way, to an eternal house of mourning ( Job 21. 13. Psal. 39. 5, 6, 11. & Psal. 49. 10, --20.) while true Saints (through much tribulation and mourning) are passing into an eternal house of feasting. Those that will on, in their various temporary houses or states of feasting, literal or mystical, making large and swift steps towards the Chambers of death, seem to have much the better on it, in this World. Who can help them? Who can lift them up out of these drowning, self-chosen, lustful, goatish ways of Vanity, that will most certainly set them among the left hand 〈◊〉 - Goats, at last day? Mat. 25. 33. Will ye hear a Wonder? Spiritual Saints have the best on it, even in this World; as thus: They have the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. True Godliness, the power of Godliness, is profitable to all things. The form of it, and bodily exercise, or the fruitful exercise of Man's cleansed natural Spirit, therein, profits little. The truly pure, sinless use of worldly enjoyments (without any sinful love to, or delight in them; and spending the strength of all, in a serviceableness to the designs and interests of Christ, upon, and in Men) belongs to the true Spiritual Saint, only. And, they have a daily increase with the increases of God, in the promised life of the World to come. So, have they the best on it, indeed and in truth, even in their mortal day and state, on earth. All their Tribulations, Persecutions, and seeming worst things, are wholly and exactly calculated for their good, by him who cannot miss of accomplishing his design upon them, therein, and by. There are three sorts of Men, on the stage of this Earth, together, in a confused jumble, as a mixed heap, in mortal bodies. Profane inhabitants of the Sea, in the corrupt Spirit of nature; of the Earth, in the righteous, cleansed earthy state or spirit of nature; and dwellers in Heaven, or in God's heavenly Spirit of Grace; Rev. 12. 12. All People upon Earth are living and walking in the corrupt, or changeably righteous Spirit of Nature, or in God's unchangeably righteous Spirit of Grace. No state in changeable nature, is unchangeable, or everlasting Salvation; but a state of Grace only. Eph. 2. 8, 9. Not our working Spirit of Nature, but God's working all, in us and for us, by his Gospel-Spirit of Grace, will give us entrance into his Kingdom. 'It is the unspeakable new-creation gift of God, and workmanship of Christ, fits any, for the Kingdom. And, 'tis then, the unspeakable folly and madness of Man, to refuse the receiving that Gift, on any terms, seem they never so hard to his nature. Woe to Laughers, they shall weep and mourn, eternally. Blessed are the mourners; they shall rejoice and laugh, eternally. These were Christ's spiritual sayings and warnings to all, when in our flesh. And he will be the Judge of all, in that Spirit, wherein himself is justified, forever, in our nature, before God most high; 1 Tim. 3. 16. An innumerable multitude, that have thought it so brave, to have their wills, in this World, will meet with unimaginable, amazing, surprizing disappointments, in the next. An irresistible blast, an irrecoverable death-blow, will they be fore'd to receive on all first-creation delights, desires and desirables, belly and meats; 1 Cor. 6. 13. All these dreadful things, the living spiritual Saint lays to heart, and (as knowing the terrors of the Lord; what a fearful thing 'tis, to fall into the hands of the living God, and be torn in pieces, without any possibility of deliverance, Heb. 10. 31. Psal. 50. 22.) endeavors to persuade Men, while called today, to desist from their jovial march and swift posting it, in their several sensual and intellectual paths of delight, and present pleasure to their mis-judging nature, which do all tend to (meet and center in) one and the same point, a state of everlasting darkness and death, under the triumphs of divine Justice and final Wrath. Solomon bewail's the unhappy choice, most Men make, of the merry self-pleasing-paths to eternal mourning. But, to allay the compassionating grief of this undeniably true observation, he discovers an opposite party of happy People, that, in a new life and spiritual understanding, do lay all these errors, follies, and madnesses of their fellow-mortals, to heart (though they can have little or no hearing with them) and that find it, their unspeakable concern and interest, to obey the counsel, and follow the example of Christ, in his suffering steps, through a temporary house of mourning, into his eternal house of feasting and rejoicing. But, for such doctrine of the cross, and practicing it upon our nature, in himself, was Christ himself contradicted and blasphemed ( Joh. 10. 20.) as by Beelzebub, the chief or Prince of Devils, a master devil, casting out other lesser and weaker Devils; Mat. 10. 25. & 12. 24. Mar. 3. 22. Luk. 11. 15. Holy first-covenant Preachers and Professors handled Christ, thus. And, the Disciple must not look to fare better then his Lord, from or amongst the legal-spirited generation, in any age of this World, under Satan's reign, and in Man's day, while his Wisdom will shuffle itself in for Judge and Umpire, in Religion and Worship, and force all it can, to receive its sentiments, as the only Orthodox and sound 〈◊〉 .

Vers. 3. Sorrow is better then laughter: for, by the sadness of the Countenance, the heart is made better.

The sorrow ( Heb. anger) or mourning of the natural Man, under the cross (at which, offended, angry, troubled, grieved, as run down in his own life, and denied the pleasing himself in his former freedom of feeding on the gratifying delights of the Sons of Men ) all this, as ill as it appears, is better than all his former laughter, in the flourish, fruitfulness, and joy thereof, in its own way, and after its own heart. When brought into such a state of darkness and ignorance, under this dispensation, as not to understand God's design in all his withdrawing from him the favors and fruits of his former presence (as a fleshly bridegroom, in which he has found much content and satisfaction) yet is this a certain truth, he ought to believe, for his own comfort; that this sorrow is better than all his former laughter, in the first-Covenant house of feasting, while the candle of the Lord, therein, shined upon his Tabernacle, which Job (while yet in the dark as to what followed) wished for the fresh experiencing; Job 29. 2, -6. The veneration his person was in, so that young Men hid themselves, aged stood up, Princes refrain'd talking, and Nobles held their peace, when he appeared and spoke amongst them; this honor from others, and satisfaction to himself, he had found in the wisdom, glory, and fruitfulness of his inlight'ned, righteous Nature, begot in him a lingering desire to return thither, again, even to his old house or state of feasting and rejoicing. O that I were as in months past, &c. Under the cross, all his Glory and Visage was so mar'd, that now younger then I, says he, have me in derision, &c. Job 30. 1. Not seeing the more excellent Glory that was to follow; this was a hard point, with him. Paul, when of such a wise, strong, and honorable Man, was rendered by the same sharp discipline of the cross, a fool, weak, and despicable, saw that spiritual Glory (yea, had it in him) which is to be revealed (or made manifest in him and others, at Christ's second coming, and manifestation of the Sons of God, in the visibility of spiritual Saintship) with which he reck'ned not the sufferings of the present time, worthy to be compared; Rom. 8. 18, 19. And, Solomon here, declares the advantage of this amazing dispensation of the cross, wherein, Christ not only with-draws his comforting presence, as a fleshly Bridegroom, but turns his hand against his Spouses and Children, in the first Covenant, coming in the posture of an enemy, with his Gospel-fire, Sword, and Cross, speaking nothing but war and death to them, there. Yea, he runs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as a Giant, with 〈◊〉 force; breaks them with 〈◊〉 upon breach; takes them by the Neck, and shakes them to 〈◊〉 ; and, all this, sometimes, without showing any cause why, that the Saint is able, presently, to take distinct notice of, in such confusion; as in Job' s case. Job 16. 12, 14. and, Job 2. 3. & 9. 17. 〈◊〉 wonderful 〈◊〉 and contrivances of God's Wisdom, leave Saints quite at a loss, till they come to see how matters go. Yet, this sorrowful state is better, in it 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 take it, then all his former laughter and 〈◊〉 , in the house of feasting, by him 〈◊〉 . Christ withdraw's the lesser glory of the first-Covenant-Sun, in order to shine upon him, in that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that excel's, and remains forever. The very Apostles were at the same loss, and sad pass, with Job, on Christ's withdrawing from them, as a fleshly Bridegroom and Comforter. Their hearts were sill'd with sorrow. But, the joy that followed, in the visits of the better Comforter, over-answered all. When Paul had, by the Gospel-Doctrine of the Cross, made the Corinthians sorry, dashing all their vain hopes and false considences in the fading glory of a first-Covenant life, he repented not, but, rejoiced, 〈◊〉 , as that right godly sorrow, wrought a Gospel-repentance in them, to Salvation, not to be repented of; or, that can never be sinally turned again, from; 2 Cor. 7. 8, -10. A Law-repentance, or change of mind, from the corrupt to the righteous life of Nature, they had experienced before, as himself, also, when he persecuted the Gospel. But now, came they to the happy experience of a Gospel-repentance; conversion, or turn of mind, from Law to Gospel, from the life and 〈◊〉 of Man, to God's. The letter, that made them sorry, seem's to be his first Epistle to them, wherein he show's the vanity of their false joy, and confident reigning as Kings, without him, or Christ; yea, against both; 1 Cor. 4. 8. Nor he, nor they, would ever have cause to repent of such right sorrow, as was followed with repentance unto life. For, no damage, but great advantage, received they, thereby. But, say's he, worldly sorrow worketh death. Unwarrantable joy in this world's vanities, disposes to unwarrantable worldly sorrow (about the loss of them) which works death. A crucified mind to all worldly, perishing vanities (upper or lower, mystical or literal) with the sorrow of the natural Man, and pangs of death upon him, in order thereunto, work life; or, a repentance unto life. Such short sorrow of the natural Man, in the Saint, tends to his everlasting joy, in spiritual life. By obedient losing his own life, he find's God's. From all these reasons or grounds, sorrow is better than laughter: and this farther reason hereof, does Solomon give; for by the sadness of the Countenance the heart is made better. The Visage of the natural Man, mar'd, defaced and made black, by the Cross, in Man's sight; the more comely is the Saint, therein, to God; Cant. 1. 5, 6. When Paul was a fool, weak, and despicable, in the judgment even of those that were yet wise, strong and honorable, in Christ (as to a fruitful flourish in first-Covenant life) was he truly wise and honorable in God's sight, such a one as the Lord commended; 1 Cor. 4. 10. 2 Cor. 10. 18. The whole-spirited Man in the fading glory of the first-Covenant, has the praise of Man. The broken-spirited Saint (as to all that) has the praise of God; Luk. 16. 15. Rom. 2. 29. One such contrite-spirited Man, God value's more, than all Angels and Men, in the unbroken excellencies of the whole first-creation; Isa. 66. 2. How vastly distant are God's thoughts, and Man's, in this matter? Again, the more sad and mar'd the Countenance or visage of the natural, or old Man, in the Saint, under the dispensation and discipline of the Cross, the better is his heart, the more thriving, prosperous, and fruitful in spiritual life. The Spiritual Man rises, as the natural decays and falls. The decay and sorrow of the old Man, is abundantly over-answered by the increasing joy of the new. To the full death of the old, does immediately succeed a completeness of spiritual life, in the new. As the outer, or natural Man perishes; the inner, or spiritual, is renewed day by day; 2 Cor. 4. 16, -18. The light and short affliction of the former, work's for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, in the latter; and Rom. 8. 18. Hereby comes Man, to be rid of all bondage, and regard of ensnaring vanities, things temporal, delights of the Sons of Men, and to be advanced into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, so as to look at (and set his affections upon) things eternal, only; ver. 21. Lo then, the plentiful harvest-sheaves, they that sow in the Tear's of their natural Man, shall reap, in the Joy of their spiritual; Psal. 126. 6. The decay of the life and glory of Man, in the first-Covenant, attended with an increase of the never-fading creature-life, glory, wisdom, and righteousness of God, in the second, render's his heart less after Man's, but more after God's own heart, with David; and so, better. The unchangeable good, new-creature life only, with all the things, and never-perishing meats thereof (in the Man-Christ, or his Saints and followers) have God's approbation-Seal, as is implied, John 6. 27.

Vers. 4. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but, the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Here are the contrary places or states, in which the mystical wise and fools are found, as the certain evidence of their wisdom or folly. The latter take up, for happiness, in the flourishing fruitful life of their own restored nature. This, in a known, willful contrariety to the spiritual Law and Example of Christ himself. In such place or state, by them chosen, will they be chained up, as a Prison of everlasting darkness and death, under wrath. So, will their house of feasting be turned into a house of everlasting mourning, torment, and vexation of spirit. And this, will they, as a signal aggravation thereof, be forced, by God's awakn'd convictions in them, to own, as the fruit of their own device, invention, and willful choice, against all fair warning. In a perfect contrariety to these (merry travellers to the Chambers of death, and their own everlasting confusion) are the truly wise, in the house of mourning, under the cross, as their secret Chamber of safety, shutting their doors, ( Isa. 26. 20.) window's, or natural senses, outward and inward, from all first-creation desireables, visible or invisible, Satan's perishing meats; the dust, himself feeds on. By this means, are they not exposed (as all, not under the Cross, are) to be catched in and with the ensnaring vanities of this world. At winding up, out come the reputed fools, under the cross, into an everlasting house of feasting; and down sink their scoffing blasphemous enemies, heathen, or people ( Psal. 2. 1. fixed in nature, corrupt or righteous, and so, in unchangeable enmity to God and them) into a house or state of eternal mourning. Saints are content to pass thro' all sorts of reproach, shame, and much tribulation, without and within, knowing whither they are going, even to the Kingdom of God; Act. 14. 22. Joh. 16. 33. In the world ye shall have tribulation. The world is full of enemies, round about them; corrupt and righteous Men are all enemies to the Life and Righteousness of God, in the spiritual Saint. Thus, does Solomon, distinguish and character, by the marks of wisdom and folly, the contarry-minded inhabitants of the two houses, on the Sand, and on the Rock.

Vers. 5. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a Man to hear the song of fools.

Here's the cause and ground, whence the said wisdom and folly come to be practice'd. The wise obediently hearken to the voice and rebuk's of Wisdom, Christ; his death-reproofs upon their spirit of nature, that they may receive his Spirit of Grace; Prov. 1. 20, -23. They receive (and submit to) the chastening Discipline of the Cross, according to the revealed and known methods of God's Wisdom, for Salvation. On the other hand, fools listen to the pleasing voice and charming song of folly it-self, in Devils and Men; their accursed other Gospel, for Salvation, in the restored life of nature. Man's quiet submitting to wisdom's sentence of death, within him (upon that life, they preach up and warrant, for Salvation) is unspeakably better for him, then to regard the delusive, destructive song, and flattering voice of fools, that set up the first-covenant, law-life and righteousness of Man; most falsely calling it, a Gospel-state and righteousness of God. This Gospel, or glad Tydings, if true, Satan preached to Eve. Ye shall not die, at all. Ye have eternal life in this first-creation state, or life of your own nature. The righteous life of nature, in Man or Angel, is Eternal. This is Man's and Satan's other Gospel, in perfect contradiction to Christ's, and the only way of Salvation. He that hear's the reproof of (the spirit of) life, on his spirit of enmity and death, get's true understanding, and abideth among the wise; Prov. 15. 31, 32. He that refuses it, destroy's his own Soul. Here are the infallible characters of Wisdom and Folly. The only way to get true Wisdom and Life, is to quit and lose our shadowy, under the Cross. To be fools, with Paul, as to all Men do, have, delight in, or feed upon, in the first-Covenant, that we may find the Life and Wisdom of God, in the second; 1 Cor. 3. 18. & 4. 10. God declares that all who refuse the chastisments of his Cross, to the death of their continually sinning spirit of Nature, are Bastards; and not Sons, in his neversinning spirit of Grace; Heb. 12. 8. 1 Joh. 3. 9. So, shall not be provided for, in his house. In short; the rebuke of the wise, leads to eternal life; the song of fools, to eternal death.

Vers. 6. For, as the crackling ( Voice or Sound ) of thorns under a pa, so is the laughter of the Fool: this also is Vanity.

Here's a true character of the short-lived joy, song, and laughter 〈◊〉 fools. All mirth in first-creation life, is but as the crackling of thorns under a pot; a short blaze, and away. This is all, the delights of the Sons 〈◊〉 Men, amount unto. All the fine song, or noise, made in the Wisdom thereof, is but an uncertain sound of a tinkling Cymbal; 1 〈◊〉 13. 1. & 14. 8. It gives no aim at the right way toward Salvation; or, at the right armor, to undertake Satan, in. Yea, no greater or siercer Enemies, blustering contradicting Blasphemers of the very 〈◊〉 of Salvation, and right Armor for the Lord's battles, then these 〈◊〉 Sirens, first-covenant Singsters. Such literal-wise mysticalfools, will meet with a total disappointment of all their 〈◊〉 forever.

Vers. 7. Surely, oppression maketh a wise Man, mad; and, a gift destroyeth the heart.

In letter, the unreasonable Injustice and Oppression, practice'd 〈◊〉 the corrupt spirit of nature, in all worldly Governments, may 〈◊〉 here meant. The root and cause of all, is an evil, false self-interest by which, Men in Government, and Judicature, are mercenarily seeking advantages to themselves, in the outward riches and honors of 〈◊〉 World. This is implied, in saying; a gift destroyeth the heart. 〈◊〉 Joel and Abiah, Samuel's Sons, turned aside, 〈◊〉 lucre, 〈◊〉 gain; took bribes, and perverted Judgment; turned their bench 〈◊〉 Justice into a seat of Iniquity, whence wrong Judgment proceeded. This gave occasion to Israel's asking a King; under which 〈◊〉 they found themselves much worse, and that without remedy. 〈◊〉 could not shake off that new and grievous yoke. God would 〈◊〉 hear, own, or help them, therein, as he had threat'ned and forewarned them. His Spirit, in Samuel, ruled over them, which was a Theocracy. So, God was rejected, Sin their choice of a King, like the Heathens, round about them. 1 am. 8. They have rejected me, that I should not reign over them; says God. Yet gave he them their national evil choice, in his anger, after he had said, I will be thy King; and told them, they had destroyed themselves, by their own foolish choice, but in him was their help; Hos. 13. 9, --11. So, gives he particular persons their foolish choice, to be reigning as Kings, mystical, in the restored first-covenant 〈◊〉 of nature, in preference to his Spirit of Grace, the principle of life and action, in the second; a Theocracy; where God would undertake to rule over, and work all their works of obedience to himself, in them, and for them. Such an evil self-chosen kingly Power, he gives them, in anger, as a Judgment, and will take it away, in final wrath, as he did 〈◊〉 .

For preventing, or, at least, allaying the cammon evil, and general calamity, under the oppressive outward Governments of this World, God gives Laws, and enables wise Men (in moral Heathenism, or but legal-Christianity, by the knowledge of Christ, only, after the flesh ) to make Laws, prohibiting all, in places of government or judicature, to take gifts. The reason, alleged for this ( Exod. 23. 8.) is, because a gift blinds the Eyes of the Wise, (Heb. Seeing ) and perverts the words of the righteous. So, they pass sentence, contrary to their own discerning, Light, Thought, and Conscience. This brings unreasonable oppression upon the innocent. A foundation is laid, and occasion given to this oppression, in selling places of Judicature. Whoever buy such places, are under a temptation, on that very account, to sell Justice; that they may reimburse themselves, as to their own bribe for the place, by taking bribes of others, in it. In the counsel of Jethro, to his Son in law, Moses, approved by God, we find the right qualifications for Men, in such places; that they be able Men, fearing God, Men of truth, 〈◊〉 covetousness; Exod. 18. 2. They were to be wise, understanding Men, such as should not respect persons, in judgment; nor fear the face of Man, but hear (and do justice to) the small as well as great; Deut. 1. 13, -17. Thus did Job. I put on righteousness; delivered the poor and fatherless, that had none to help them. I caused the Widows heart to sing for joy. I searched out the cause, to the bottom; brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth; Job 29. 12, -17. Did I fear a great multitude? or, did the contempt of Families terrify me, so as to hinder my doing Justice to the poor, needy, and helpless? Job 31. 34.

So, of the literal; now, to the mystical meaning of these Words. A deeper and sorer evil among Men, (because a greater sin against God) then the former, is here pointed at, as the principal intendment. The truly wise Man, is the spiritual Saint. By the oppression of him, are signified the additional ingredients and aggravating circumstances of bitterness, by Satan's wiles, put into the cup of sufferings, given his natural Man, to drink. In the weakness and barrenness thereof, under the demolishing work of the cross, causing an hour and power of darkness (all the former flourish and fruitfulness, joy and feasting thereof, in the first-covenant, is turned into) comes the roaring Lion, the Prince of darkness, to oppress, devour, and sink him, quite. Till brought to the test, under the cross, he accuses him to God (be he never so faithful to his first-covenant Light) that all his obedience is but mercenary (from a self-interest, wherein gratified, to the utmost) and not, at all, from any regard or love to God. Put forth thy hand, and touch all he has, and he will curse thee to thy face, says he, of Job, to God. Let me be thy hand, or employed instrument herein, and see where Job will be, then. All he has is in thy hand, or power, says God. Job. 1. 9, — 12. When this dispensation of the cross (and trial of Job, thereby) was begun, Satan wind's about, and employs his Serpentine craft and malice, against both God and Job, another way. He endeavors to bring Job, to espouse his quarrel, against God, as dealing most injuriously with him. He represents to Job, the cross-blows on his righteous natural man, body and spirit (which himself was the permitted hand and commissioned manager of, upon him) as a most unreasonable oppression. And, by thus casting all the seeming oppressing-work, upon God, does he hide his own real oppression, wicked counsel and suggestions, from Job' s natural Man, now brought into darkness, and not knowing what matters would come to; what God would do with him, or what would become of him. Till new spiritual day-light was caused to spring up in him, he could not interpret the riddle of the cross; how this devourer of a fading life, goodness, clothing, belly and meats, should be the very means of giving all again with usury, in a more excellent life and way. Samson' s riddle was the type of this. Out of the eater came meat, and out of the strong, sweetness (Judge. 14. 14.) honey out of the Lion, by him killed, ver. 6. 18. Samson (as a type of the Priestly Spirit of Christ, in its crucifying, sacrificing-work upon nature) rent that Lion, as a Kid; which was a usual sacrifice to God, under the Law. The natural Man of the Saint, while in the dark, under the cross, is ready to strike in with Satan, against God. The Devil stir'd up Job' s three Friends, far inferior to what he had been, in the Light, Wisdom, and Righteousness of a restored first-covenant Life. His mistaking selfconfident Friends (under Satan's management of them, to oppress him, by adding to his afflicton) deny the reality of his first-Covenant Righteousness, and reckon him but a hypocritical pretender thereunto; and now, under the punishing hand and manifested displeasure of God upon him, for his hypocrisy and wickedness. Job, in his dark house of mourning, was sorely put toit, as to what way he should go about to defend himself against their most false and injurious chargings of him with falsehood and deceit, in all his former life and practice. He did find all that life and goodness going to wrack, in him, under the Cross; and knew not why; nor, what he should have in the room thereof, as God's design in all. Yet did he stem the tide, through all difficulties and enemies (with which, on all hands, surrounded and encountered) till safe landed in the wished haven, the true Land of promise, state of true Life, and Blessedness; a newness of life. His own conscience, yea, God himself, were witnesses of his integrity in those first-Covenant Principles, they charged him with Hypocrisy, in; Job. 1. 1, 8. & 2. 3. Their charging him therefore with falsehood, was an unreasonable oppression, and added great bitterness to God's afflicting trial of him, stirring up his muddy earthy part; raising all the dust, and causing all the unadvised speeches, that in a long debate of his case, with them, passed out of his mouth. After all, the Devil or his Wife could do or say, 'tis said, he sin'd not with his Lips; Job 2. 10. Some few questionable words, he had (in his great Agony and confusion) uttered (Chap. 3.) that seem to have introduced (or given some occasion to) the following discourse of his three Friends. When Satan finds the Saint's natural Man, under the Cross (for a removal out of first, into the second Covenant-Principle) he puts him on a vindication of his own faithfulness, in the first, so as strenuously to engage in a self-defense, against the cross-work of the second, upon him. So, makes he the Saint himself, instrumental to the heightening and aggravating of that mystical oppression, which tends to the making him, mad. Saints therefore (and others too, under like trial, that apostatize) are forbidden to take that gift which destroys the heart. This gift is that, Satan offers, to bribe them off, from God, or obedience to his Cross. 〈◊〉 establish you, forever, in the life and liberty of your own wills, a way after your own hearts, says he; all which, God comes not only to oppress, but utterly to destroy, in you; and you, therein. So, represents he God, as the greatest Oppressor, of all, in that very dispensation of the Cross, that's his certain and constant method for bringing about their everlasting freedom from all bondages, enemies, and deaths. Satan and his Instruments, bring all, that finally listen to their promised liberty, into everlasting bondage, with themselves. This, by speaking great swelling words of Vanity, to them, the alluring words of Man's and the old Serpent's Wisdoms; 2 Pet. 2. 18, 19. Ye shall be as God's, says the Devil, if ye follow my counsel and 〈◊〉 , ( Gen. 3. 5.) that is, ye shall be advanced into the highest pitch of happiness, ye are capable of, if established, with me, forever, in the life and freedom of your own Wills and Spirits. And, this is, indeed, a fixed state of unchangeable enmity to God, and death to themselves, in the utmost woe, misery and confusion, imaginable, forever.

1. In letter; 'It is better, quietly to bear any evil, God permits others to do to us, ordered by him, for our good, as the end thereof, that's better than the seeming evil beginning, that really tends to such a good end. 'It is Man's interest as well as duty, to be patient under every dispensation, or, occurrent, by providence, to him. 'It is folly and sin, to be offended at God's dealings with us, as to things, not in our power, to prevent, or avoid. Such anger is founded in pride, and rests in the bosom of fools, amounting unto a jussling competition of their wills, with God's. And hence, are they angry with their fellow-creatures, God permits by injuring, to cross them. On all accounts then, in reference to God, others, and themselves, better are the patient than the proud in spirit. Man ought to suppose, God's infinite Wisdom sees just reasons for crossing his will (that are undiscerned by his short-sighted understanding) to his great advantage.

2dly. In Mystery; these words signify the differing demeanour of two sorts of Persons, under the Cross; a spiritual Seed, that, at length, yield obedience 〈◊〉 it; and a fleshly first-Covenant Seed, that finally resist and refuse it. The former, patiently submit to, and comply with the will of God, therein, as finding their great advantage, in exchange, thereby, of the embondaging, burdensome, perpetually sinning life of their own Law-spirit, for that light burden and easy yoke of Christ's Gospel-Spirit ( Mat. 11. 28, - 30) that's, indeed, the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. They find this peaceable fruit of all their loss & sufferings, even the everlasting Life and Righteousness of God. In this newness of life, only, can they bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness (and not in their own spirit of enmity) to God. This end is better than the beginning. Beginning and end, here, signify God's twofold gift of first and second-Covenant life, and principles of two differing sorts, of righteous fruits, works, duties, and performances, towards God or men. The method of God's Wisdom (in giving, first, the natural or first-Covenant life; and afterward, the spiritual or second, 1 Cor. 15. 46.) is not to be questioned, or disputed against, by Man's. Those disputers of this world, that so do; and obstinately set up their natural, against God's spiritual-creature-life, come to a latter end worse than their beginning, under final Wrath. They, that in a lawful use of the Law (or of their first-Covenant Law-life, called their own) exchange it, by death, for the second (a Gospel-life, called God's own) come to an end, better than their beginning, in unchangeable union with God: others, to a worse, in unchangeable union with the Devil. By the Cross upon Nature, God tries, whether Men love themselves and their own life and things, or him, and his things, best; their natural, or his Spiritual, new-creation-things. Satan himself savors only the natural things of Man or Angel, in the first-creation; perfectly hates all the spiritual creature-things of Christ and God, in the second; Mat. 16. 23. All Men, that he can fix in a union of mind and will with him, are of the same palate, belly, or desire and appetite with him, in unchangeable enmity to all the divine and spiritual things of Christ and God. All Men and Angels, as under this trial, they make a right or a wrong choice, find eternal life or death, the better or worse end than their beginning. All that make the right choice, have the praise of God, but lie under the utmost dispraise and malice of Man, all along this World, under Satan's reign, and the day of Man's orthodox judgment, or Wisdom. This is the great and main controversy between God and his creatures, 〈◊〉 and Men. 〈◊〉 the very turning point, to 〈◊〉 life or death; the obedient submitting to the death of nature, or the rebellious keeping up the life thereof. The Saint sinds the end that's better than the beginning; others, an end, that's worse. The Saint sinds that blessed end of the Lord, that the Lord Christ himself and his Servant Job found, to be the happy issue and result of all their sufferings in the flesh, or natural Man; Jam. 5. 11. The truly patient in spirit, here meant, that submits to the death of his own nature, finds the life of God's new-creature, spirit of Grace, in the room thereof. So, is he transcendently better than the proud in spirit, that contradicts, blasphemes and does despite to the Spirit of Grace, with all its words and followers, to his own everlasting destruction. By sparing, saving, and keeping up his own life, in enmity to the Cross, he loses all life and comfort, forever. The over-value and love of his own freedom, or free-will, brings him into everlasting bondage. The quitting it, for God's Free-will to good only, and that, unchangeably, is everlasting deliverance or Salvation from all captivities, oppressions, enemies, dangers or deaths. The Saints new-creation life of God, swallow's up all death's and enemies into victory; renders them, more than conquerors, over all, forever. The proud lifters up of themselves against God, will be made vessels of dishonor, under everlasting contempt; and lie down in sorrow, forever. This will they have of his hand.

Ver. 9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

The spirit of Man, rich, full, wise, strong, and honorable, in the fruitful 〈◊〉 of a first-covenant life, is apt to be hasty, angry, and offended at what comes to run down all this, in him; mar his 〈◊〉 , and lay all this his fading glory, and honor, in the dust. The wise spiritual Saint, in Seed, may be found in this hasty, angry demeanour against the Cross, or any words or Doctrine thereof, ignorantly, for a season, with Paul: but, such anger resteth or abides, forever, only in the bosom, heart, or spirit of fools, that obstinately persist in such willful madness and folly, as to their grand concern, and utterly perish in their own corruption. Will Man justify himself herein, saying, I do well to be angry at the Doctrine and work of the Cross? He that contends with the Almighty, reproves God's declared method and way of saving his own creature's, let him answer it; Job 40. 2. Why? what? Says Man's wrangling, disputing wisdom; Shall I suffer my house to be set on fire, the Gospel Fire-Baptism (and death thereby) to be brought on my righteous natural state? Christ did, on his more righteous. Shall I suffer the comely visage, beauty, and glory, the wisdom and righteousness of my own nature, ('twice set up in, and put upon me, by God himself, once at creation; and again, by redemption) to be all spoiled and mar'd? Shall I suffer all my mystical riches herein, to be seized, and like a tame fool, make no resistance? The Man-Christ himself, did not. He opened not his mouth against this dispensation. He suffered that fleece to be shorn off, all that riches to be taken away, as the dumb Sheep, her literal fleece; yea, that life and all, as the Lamb brought to the slaughter, without noise, or struggle, Isa. 53. 7. And, Paul was forthwith obedient to the Heavenly Vision and discovery of the Lord's mind herein, without struggle or dispute. He gave not way to the fleshly disputer of this world, in himself or others, against the known Command of God, and method of his Wisdom, for Salvation. He became a tame fool, in this case, as Man's wisdom reckon's; an obedient, wise spiritual Man, as God's Wisdom reckon's; 1 Cor. 4. 10. Here's the clash of two distinct opposite Wisdoms. They that reckon themselves wise, are not wise, in God's account; 2 Cor. 10. 12. And those, they reckon fools, the Lord commendeth; v. 18. Those that finally refuse to be offered up in the fire of the same Heavenly, eternal, priestly, Gospel-spirit of Grace, in which Christ offered up our nature, at best, in himself, without spot, unto God ( Heb. 9. 14. Joh. 10. 17, 18.) will offer up themselves in the false fire of Satan's spirit, unto him; will give their body or natural state to be burnt by him; not in love, but unchangeable enmity to God. This is the state, they choose to pass into, as set on fire of Hell; Jam. 3. 6. They are backed and encouraged by Satan's lie, to set up their own nature, with him, in unchangeable enmity to God. So come these mystical proud in spirit, by their false, self-preserving reasonings, to be guilty of remediless folly and madness, to their own destruction. All this proceeds from a 〈◊〉 up thought, of the wisdom and glory of their own nature, above what is written of it. They take and assert it to be everlasting. But, no such thing was ever written of it, in the Oracles of God's Wisdom; but, the contrary. 'It is therein abundantly, and frequently asserted to be but a fading flower, a perishing vanity, and Man at best therein, altogether vanity, lighter than vanity, less than nothing. It had been better for him never to have been at all, than never to be better. He will find himself worse then nothing. Annihilation-death will be desirable, a reduction to his primitive nothing, rather than a being exquisitly sensible, under eternal torment, and vexation of spirit. When thus gull'd by Satan, do men carry his lie in their right hand, teach it as the only way of Salvation, to their own and deceived blind-followers eternal damnation. To prevent this great danger, Solomon advises not to be hasty in our spirit, to be angry, in this grand concern and case; as knowing it a fault, Saints themselves are too inclinable to; through a readiness to listen to the voice of their own spirit, the words of their own Wisdom, which go forth out of their own mouth (Jer. 44. 17.) with Satan's strong delusions and reasonings, at the back of their own human arguings, to beget in them a rash, hasty, angry temper against the Cross or spirit of Christ, and all the words thereof. A stiff-necked resisting the cross-work of the Holy Ghost (Act. 7. 51.) upon them, is the unpardonable sin; the great, the presumptuous transgression, the sin unto eternal death. They that thus do, reject so great Salvation, as in God's way and Wisdom, is offered to them, and 〈◊〉 what proves damnation, in their own will and way; as the Devil and his Angels, at first, did. But, 'tis the distinguishing mark, brand, and character of fools, to suffer this anger to rest in them, or themselves to be fixed in enmity against the Gospel-spirit and Cross of Christ. The very Elect, Satan would thus deceive: but, though' they be, for a season, ignorantly engaged in the same folly, such anger against God's declared way of 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rest or abide, forever, in them. Paul was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Act. 26. 11. In letter, anger long rests in fools, for any injury, real or supposed, done them; whereas a wise Man will pass by a transgression, and not harbor in his bosom, long, troublesome, revengeful meditations of an injury, to his own and 〈◊〉 hurt. But, the said mystical fool, is the greatest fool, of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in his greatest concern. His lifted up Soul in first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and ornaments, against God and the second, is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4.) indeed, a downright hater of (and hateful to) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in spirit waits for new spiritual light or revelation: the proud in spirit, scorns and scoffs at this new light, and rejects what ever his conceited wisdom cannot receive or discern, that is, all Gospel-Truths and Mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

Vers. 10. Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better then these? for thou dost not inquire wisely, concerning this.

Solomon, here, prevents and rebukes Man's quarrel, and complaint, that the latter day's of this World, since the fall, are worse then the former, before the fall, which brought a desolating change upon mankind, into a dark, dead, ignorant, corrupt state of nature. Man does not judge nor inquire a right, as wisely considering and discerning this thing. Fallen Angels indeed, were gone, without remedy, on their first sin. But 'tis not so with Man. For, God has over-ruled his fault and punishment, to the farther magnifying of his Free-Grace, by which, he is offered better things, and greater advantages than were given him, in his first creation. God has found a way for restoring him to some measure of his lost righteous life. And, the universal experience of mankind, as to the fading nature of that life, by the first sin, and fall from it, and by a world of faithful warnings from God (and multiplied instances of Apostates, after renewed therein) do make up an advantage to them, beyond what Adam had, before his fall. For he, through something of inadvertency, was surprised and catched alive (2 Tim. 2. 26.) in that snare of the Devil, the very righteous life, he was 〈◊〉 of; as if all, that God intended for his final and absolute blessedness. All men, now, find that Suggestion of the Devil ( Adam, thro' the weakness of his flesh, or fleshly state, entertained as a truth) to be a lie. If his saying, Ye shall not die at all, be not sufficiently refuted by the death of all Men (as to that righteous life, set up in the first-creation make of Adam ) when will it? or, what will undeceive men? Man then, restored into something of the same changeable righteous life, Adam was created in the perfection of, may seem to have the advantage-ground of Adam, in order to the second, personal trial of everyone, against the like fallacious arguings of Satan; 2 Cor. 11. 3. And, as men's advantages are greater, for preventing a sinning after the similitude of Adam's transgression, so will their punishment for it, be greater, even an irrecoverable destruction; the latter end worse than the beginning; as higher and greater sinners against the Holy Ghost, then Adam was, or, they, in and with him. The same sin, willfully repeated in any man, is absolutely unpardonable. If that of Adam (and all men in him) had been so, who could have been saved? What Christ the second Adam, has done for all Men, leaves no Men capable of defending or excusing themselves, by that worn Proverb, a fleshly first Covenant Israel or people of God, had got in their mouth's; that our first Parents ate sour Grapes, and their, Children's Teeth are thereby set on edge; Ezek. 18. 2. All Men may be recovered out of their polluted fallen nature, if they will, by Christ's General Redemption-work, as the common Salvation; 1. Tim. 4. 10. Jude 3. Rom. 5. 18. All are capable of such life, and justification therein, as Adam had, before his fall. And, all are capable of a new trial, for the obedient exchange of that life, for a better, an everlasting; which Adam, at first, failed in. Man's latter condition then, since the fall, is circumstanc'd with valuable advantages, both for escaping Damnation, and obtaining Salvation, beyond his former, before the fall. All the evil consequents of the first Adam's sin, are removed by the obedient death of the second; and Gospel-instructions are afforded, to caution against the like, beyond what Adam, in innocence, had. So, in the said respects, God has made the latter day's of Man, better than the former, though' man had made them worse. And, if man make the right use of his advantages therein, as he ought, God will make his latter end better than his beginning, by setting up in him, an everlasting Gospel-life, that never can be lost, in the room of his fading Law-life, that has been, and will be lost, forever by every man and Angel, that do what they can, to keep and save it, in a known rebellion against the only Savior, and all his words of counsel and instruction; Mat. 16. 25.

Vers. 11. Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the Sun.

The new-creature Wisdom of God, in man, qualifies him for the inheriting of God himself; renders him a joint-heir, with Christ, of God; Rom. 8. 17. The corruptible, old, or first-Creation life and wisdom of Man, gives no title to this incorruptible 〈◊〉 ; 1 Pet. 1. 4. It belongs not to flesh and blood (1 Cor. 15. 50.) Man or Angel, in their natural make and state, which, at best, is in both (and they, in it) altogether Vanity. No entering into the second Covenant, and Kingdom-spirit of God, but by the sacrifice of all we received from his own hand, in the first, to him; Psal. 50. 5. All our own, in our natural first-creation-make and life, must go, for all God's own, in the second. If Man yield to his suffering, parting part (in order to his entering the new Covenant) the surrender, loss, and perfect resignation of all his own, without any reserve; if he come roundly and clearly 〈◊〉 , herein, not keeping back any part of his earthly life or possessions, with Ananias and Sapphira, Heaven is his own; God himself, his inheritance, forever. Christ will not fail to perform his part, and undertake in the second Covenant, as to the unspeakable gift, the promise of the Father, (Luk. 24. 49. Act. 1. 4.) which he calls his own. The young Man refused Christ's terms, herein; Mat. 19. 22. The old Man, in him; was not willing to part with his old earthly things, for Christ's new, and heavenly; his natural, for Christ's spiritual creature-life and possessions. A conclusive refusal to part with all we have, is a final parting-blow, between God and Man. Paul found Corinthian Professors, bewitched Galatians, and belly-God Philippians, dangerously engaged towards a sixure in this most presumptuous Sin and Error. 1 Cor. 4. 8. 2 Cor. 11. 2, 3. Gal. 3. 1, -4. Phil. 3. 18, 19. And, Christ found a first-Covenant party, in enmity to the second, in most or all the seven Churches ( Rev. 2. & 3.) In Laodicea, scarce any other; and all this, under the outward dispensation and ministry of the Gospel; owning themselves, as Gospel-Professors. And, what or who else, in a manner, at this day, can we find, but such anti-Gospel-Gospellers, in all variety of opinion, form, and way? All the highly pretending and conceited Children of the Kingdom, in the most sublimated Church-forms, or purest Churches, in but restored first-covenant Law-principles, without advance by exchange, and Gospel-conversion, will be found at a loss, and cast or kept out of the Kingdom of Christ, as not at all, of his new-Covenant Gospel-spirit of Grace and Truth. 'It is in the heavenly Wisdom of this, only, Men can attain the sight and inheritance of the most glorious divine Sun, and of the new-creation- Sun of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , (Mal. 4. 2.) in the Mediator's person, which is the greatest gain, the highest prosit and advantage, Man or Angel can receive or enjoy, to all eternity. This, 〈◊〉 proves, ver. 12.

Vers. 12. For, Wisdom is a defense (Heb. shadow ) and money is a desence; but, the excellency of knowledge, is, that Wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Here's a distinguishing character of the first and second covenant spirits, Lives, Wisdoms, with or by the effects, riches, and privileges of each. The Wisdom and mystical money or riches of the first, are a defense against the rude assaults, the unruly brutish motions of the corrupt state of nature; and, do make up to Man, all, he thinks he needs, for eternal life; 1 Cor. 4. 8. Rev. 3. 17. But, through the fading nature of all that life and riches; and evil use of it (in preference and opposition to the durable life and true riches, in the Gospel-spirit of God) all's spoiled. Man's inordinate love to the former, is that love of money, that's the root of all evil, against God, and to himself; evil of sin and punishment. It renders all, the mammon of unrighteousness as prefer'd to the 〈◊〉 riches of Christ, in his infinite divine, and everlasting righteous new-creation Life.

First-creation Life, with the riches thereof, is to be allowed its due, as good, in its kind, and lawful use, for suppressing the unruly desires, thoughts, and motions of the corrupt state of Nature. Man, so using it, is faithful to the Light afforded him by Christ, in the first Covenant, as a fleshly Bridegroom. But then, farther, is he to follow this Bridegroom, in the death and loss of all this fading life and riches, Wisdom and Money, for what, in spiritual conviction-Light, is showed and offered him, by Christ, as a better Bridegroom and Comforter, in the second. This second and principal thing, done, (as the passive part of obedience, required in the right and lawful use of all, in the first Covenant law-state) God is well-pleased, and Man saved. But, be Man never so faithful in the active obedience, performable in his law-life, if he refuse to perform or yield to the required passive obedience, all his active turns, in conclusion, to no account, at all. Himself is turned out of God's house, forever, as but that servant, in his own law-spirit of bondage, that refused to become a Son of God, in his Gospel-spirit of glorious liberty, that makes free indeed; Jo. 8. 35, 36. The truth, the Gospel-spirit of Truth, makes Man truly free; ver. 32. Where, (or in whomsoever) that Spirit is, is liberty; 2 Cor. 3. 17. The Gospel-law of the Spirit of life, is the perfect law of liberty. It renders Man free, not to, but from all sin and death, at last; Rom. 8. 2. Jam. 1. 25. Man's spirit of bondage, chosen, before and against God's spirit of true freedom, become's a house, a prison, a state of eternal death, to him. If Man use his law-life, aright, as to the first end, for which restored; and miss the appointed and declared second, all comes to worse then nothing, forever. He misses that true Wisdom, that gives and is eternal life to them that have it. This, the Law-life and best Wisdom of Man, can never give (or be) to him; Gal. 3. 21.