Truth Triumphant Through the SPIRITUAL WARFARE , Christian Labours AND WRITINGS Of that Able and Faithful SERVANT of JESUS CHRIST

ROBERT BARCLAY .

Who Deceased at his own House at Vrie , in the Kingdom of Scotland , the 3 Day of the 8 Month 1690.

LONDON , Printed for Thomas Northcott in George-Yard in Lombard-Street , MDCXCII .

WHen the Son of God had wrought that mighty Miracle of feeding 5000. persons with only five Loaves and two small Fishes , he said to his Disciples ; Gather up the Fragments that Remain , Joh. 6.12 . that Nothing be Lost. This Preface no sooner fell to my share , than this Passage was brought to my Mind ; and very aptly to the Occasion . For our Blessed Lord having also Effectually Gathered and Fed his People by his Disciples in this Generation , it is a Duty we Owe to God and our selves , as well as to them , That we Gather up the Remainder of their Testimonies of Love and Service , that so nothing be Lost. To God we Owe it for his Vnspeakable Benefit ; to our selves , for our Example and Instruction ; and to the Memories of such Deceased Brethren , as their Just but Fairer and more lasting Monuments , than those of Engraven Tables of Marble , or Statues of Brass : As their Works look beyond this World , so their Praise will out-live it . There is an Vnfading Glory in the Labours of Good Men : And though Death is permitted to draw a Dark Shadow over their Persons , they will Live in the Just Reputation of their Good Works ; the lively Characters of their Vndying , Pious Minds : It cannot wither their Fame , or obliviate their Names ; On the contrary , Death often silences Envy , and augments their deserved Praise .

The Author of these Collected Labours was one of them ; and as he has left us , so has he left These to us for his Legacy ; the Better Part doubtless of his Estate , as befitted the Divine Nature of our Kindred . Not therefore for Ostentation , or to Indulge a Worldly Custome , but to the Glory of the Invisible God , the Edification of his Church , the Benefit of all People , and as a Testimony of our Respect to the Deceased Author , and of his Fidelity and Service to the Truth , This Ensuing Volume , Reader , is published , as thou seest : Which brings me to the Nature of it ; and the several Parts , that do Compile it .

Divinity ; Plain , Sound , Christian Divinity , the most Glorious and Entertaining Object of the Soul of Man is the Subject Matter of this following Book ; Divinity , I say , in all the right Senses of the Word : In its first and stricter Sense , to wit , the Divine Nature or Godhead , this is Humbly and Reverently Considered ; but more especially in its larger Acceptation , viz. Of the Knowledge of God , and those Doctrines of Truth and Order , that immediately relate to the Duty we Owe to God and Man , both in and out of Society . In short , Faith and Practice ( which is the Course Mankind should steer through this World to the Haven of Everlasting Rest ) as we cannot find a better Subject , so it will be hard to find it better treated and followed ; not because he was more of a Scholar , than some others , but in that he was more Gifted , than many others . For this Knowledge of Divinity comes not by the Means of Vniversity-Learning ; but that of the School of Christ by the Illumination of his Light and Spirit , and the Holy Doctrine and Discipline of his Cross ; in one great but true Word , Regeneration : which is an Experimental Science , and to be had without Money and without Price , and that both by Gentle and Simple , Rich and Poor , &c. but not without Labour , Pain and Travail . Which made our Blessed Lord say , Labour not for the Bread that perishes ; but for that which endureth to Everlasting Life . Joh. 6.27 . Phil. 2.12 . 2 Pet. 1.10 . And the Apostle tells us , We must work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling , and give Diligence to make our Calling and Election sure . It consists of divers Operations , but all by the same Light and Spirit ; 1 Cor. 12.4 , 5 , 6. and because all have need of it , all partake of it , that they may profit by it . Joh. 1.9 . It Enlightens all that come into the World , says the Beloved Disciple ; and whatsoever may be known of God , his Mind and Will , is manifested in them , for God ( by the Revelation of this Light ) hath shewen it unto them , Rom. 1.19 . says the Apostle to the Romans . And again ; Whatsoever is Reproved , Ephes. 5.13 . is made manifest by it ; It is made the Touchstone of our Lives and Conversation , for we are to bring our Deeds to it . Joh. 3.20 , 21. 1 Joh. 1.5 , 6 , 7. It leads to the Benefit of the Blood of Jesus , That cleanseth from all Sin , and gives us fellowship with God and one with another , as his Children and People . It is our Armour also against all the Fiery Darts , Rom. 13.12 . Rev. 21.23 , 24. and Furious Assaults and Crafty Workings of Satan , our great and common Enemy : Nay , the Nations of them that are saved , must walk in this Light . Yea , it is the Light of the Soul on Earth , and the Light of the Spirit of the Just made perfect in Heaven too in the divers Degrees of it : And Man is Darkness , as to Divine Matters , till he turns to this Blessed Light in him : which is the true Manifestation of the Son of God to and in the Soul and Mind of Man ; the Real Seed and Root of all Divine Knowledge and Life in Man , which only gives him a Sight , Sense and Saviour of Divine things , and of that Immortality he otherways vainly talks of , i and hopes for . The Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord indeed , when it is lighted by this Glorious Light : Prov. 20.27 . but in the Wicked it is said to be often put out ; not the Light it self , but Man's Spirit , which becomes a Dark Candle again , ( as it was , before it was enlightened by this true Light ) through his Disobedience to it . It is called Light , because of that Discovery it makes , and sure Evidence it gives of God's Mind , and Man's Duty and Ways . That which is called Light , is also called Spirit , because of the Life and Sense it begets in the Soul of its Condition : It Quickens Man , that was dead in Sins and Trespasses ; for Sin hardens the Heart , as well as darkens the Understanding : And this Glorious Principle by its Spiritual Efficacy makes it Sensible , Soft and Tender ; so that the least Sin is felt , as well as discerned . Not an Evil Thought passes , or a Temptation to it , but this Living Heart turns against it : An Antipathy shews it self , and Get thee behind me Satan , is the determined Sentence of the Enliven'd Soul . It is of this Spirit the Apostle speaks to the Corinthians , and it makes almost an Intire Chapter . He tells us , that it searches the deep things of God ; 1 Cor. 2. and without which Man cannot discern Spiritual things : And he gives a Reason for it too , grounded on his own Experience , the just Authority of his Confidence ; because The natural Man perceiveth not the things of God , neither can he ( as such ) because they are spiritually discerned . The Natural Man may talk of them , of God , his Nature and Attributes ; of Christ , his Relation , Natures and Offices ; of Regeneration , which is the Great Work of the Son of God in and upon Man : But Alas ! that is all the Natural Man with all his Natural Powers and Skill is Capable of ; he can go no deeper : 'T is all Hear-say and Imagination . For they are a Mystery shut up close from all Unsanctified Hearts and Heads : Yea , they are all wrapt up , and strongly inclosed in this Holy Seed of Light and Spirit , that shines in the dark Hearts of Men , and through the Power of that Darkness they cannot Comprehend it . The Ground of which Darkness is Disobedience : Which made Christ say to the Jews ; If you will do the will of God , you shall know of my doctrine , Joh. 7.17 . if it be of God or not . I say , the Mystery , Power and Virtue of Christianity is shut up in this Divine Seed : And if thou , O Reader ! knowest it not , but art only speculatively a Christian , open thy Heart , and let it into the good Ground ; and thou shalt quickly find the Efficacy and Excellency of it in the Fruits , that will spring from it : The Increase will be very great , and the Tast thereof sweeter much than the Honey or the Honey-Comb . Psal. 19.10 . She is a Tree of Life ( said a Wise and a great King of old Time ) to all them that lay hold upon her ; Prov. 3.18 . ch. 8.19 . and happy is every one , that retaineth her : for her fruit is better than gold , and her revenue , than choice silver . It was by him stiled Wisdom , because it made him Wise ; and will make every one , that is Taught by it : Ch. 9.10 . Job . 28.111 . Psal. 10. For it makes People Wise to Salvation by teaching them the Fear of the Lord , and to depart from Iniquity , and every evil way : All such are said to have a good Vnderstanding . The Apostle Paul also calleth it the Grace of God , Tit. 2.11 , 12 , 13. that bringeth Salvation , that hath appeared to all men , &c. Grace , because it is God's Free Gift , not our Merit or Purchase . God so loved the World , Joh. 3.16 . Ch. 1.14.16 he gave his only begotten Son to save it ; who was full of Grace and Truth : And of his fulness we receive grace for grace in order to Salvation . In which Saying of the Apostle Five things are to be seriously remarked , as Comprehensive of the very Body of our Christian Divinity . First , the Principle , Talent or Gift , which God giveth to Man ; and that is his Grace , The Grace of God , &c. Secondly , This Grace , Talent , Gift or Principle is sufficient to the End , for which it is given , viz. It bringeth Salvation : God bestows it for that purpose . Paul might well say so , that had tried the Power and Virtue of it under the greatest Temptation : As God told him , 2 Cor. 12.8 , 9. his Grace was sufficient for him ; so he found it to his exceeding great Joy . Thirdly , The Vniversality of God's Bounty ; It appears to all Men , more or less . It is so intended ; Christ died for all , and distributes Grace to all , that all might come to the Knowledge of the Truth , 1 Tim. 2.4 . as it is in Jesus , and be saved . Fourthly , The way , by which the Sufficiency and Vniversality of it is demonstrated , and that is , The Teaching Quality and Virtue of it . v. 12. Teaching us , that denying Vngodliness and worldly Lusts , we should live soberly , righteously and Godly in this present World . This every one feels in his own Bosom at Times , and that of all Religions and of all Nations ; A Just Monitor , a Secret Reprover , and a Faithful Witness : Blessed are they , that give heed thereunto , and learn of it what to Leave , and what to Do ; what to shun , and what to Embrace : Prov. 8.20 . Mich. 6.8 . For it Leads in the Ways of Righteousness , and in the midst of the Paths of Judgment . It is by this , God sheweth Man his Thoughts , and what he doth require of him : This it is , that Man has made an Adversary by his Iniquities ; which he must make Peace with , lest he bring him before the Judge , Matt. 5.25 . and he cast him into Prison , and he come not out , till he has paid the uttermost Farthing . This Inward Teaching , Reproving , Exhorting Light , Spirit or Grace of God Learns us Two Lessons , which make up the holy Order of our Conversion and Salvation . 1. What we are to Deny : 2. What we are to Do. We are to Deny Vngodliness and wordly Lusts ; and it will shew us , what they are both within and without , in Thought as well as in Word and Deed , if we will attend to it , and Watch and Wait upon it . And though the grosser Evils , that carry the largest Characters of Impiety , are easily seen and observed ; yet there are Lusts , that lie near , and stick close , that are less perceptible ; and it may be , are hardly by some thought Evil neither : As in Relation to Extreams in Food , Apparel , Furniture , Discourse , Converse , Gain , Honour , Revenge , Emulation , &c. And there is an Vngodliness in a Mystery too , which utterly mistakes and overthrows the true Nature and End of Religion , as well as palpable Enormities : Such is ; setting up the Form above the Power of Godliness , Humane Traditions above the Scripture , and Opposing that to the Spirit of God , which it Testifies of and so often Refers unto , and making , and pressing Civil Edicts about Matters of Faith , and suffering none to Live and Enjoy what is their own , and prosecute their Lawful Callings for the Maintenance of their Families ; unless they will forgoe Convictions , play the Hypocrite , be of their Creed , and receive their Mark in their Forehead , Rev. 13.16 . c. 14.9 . or at least in their Right hand ; by which means they have made a Worldly Interest and Empire of the Church , and of Religion ( that should be the Purity and Peace of the World ) a meer Step and Test to Temporal Preferment . These are the Things , under which Religion , and indeed Civil Society , and true , Civil Policy groan , as well as other Impieties ; though by Worldly Men , and some , that would be thought Religious too , this is as little seen , as the more sensual Vngodliness is amended . For all which the Eternal God is come by many Judgments , and coming in Flames of Fire to Execute Vengeance upon the Wicked , 2 Thess. 1.7 , 8. whatever Carnal and Secure Minds think : And it is not the least of our Miseries ; that we are but too Vnsensible of it .

Thus we see , what we are Taught by the Grace to deny : Let us next consider the other part of our Duty , which the Grace teacheth us ; and that is , What we are to do ? Teaching us , says the Great and Zealous Apostle , that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts , we should live Soberly , Righteously and Godly in this present World . This is also a most Comprehensive Expression ; a plain and easie Compend of our Active Duty to God and Man , yea , to ourselves .

Soberly , That is , with Moderation , Temper , Government of our Passions and Affections : Let your Moderation be known unto all Men , Phil. 4.5 . said the same Apostle ; His Reason was pressing and unanswerable , For the Lord is at hand . So be Sober , for the Lord 's at hand ; and let Men see , that we are so . Though the Exhortation chiefly regards Ourselves , that we may not Abuse or Disorder our selves , Overdo or Act in reference to our own Persons and Affairs : As if he had said ; be sober and moderate in thy Giving , Getting , Conversing ; in thy Pains and Pleasures , in Thoughts , Words and Deeds ; in thy whole Man and Life .

Righteously , Refers to our Neighbour , to do as we would be done to : To defraud none , oppress none ; 1 Cor. 6.7 , 8 , 9. Eph. 6.1 — 10. Col. 3.20 — 25. Prov. 20.10 Ch. 22.28 . but Discharge all Relations and Conditions uprightly , to Parents , Magistrates , Husband , Wife , Children , Servants , Neighbours , Strangers , Enemies : Just Weights and Measures , Old Land-marks , and an Even Ballance ; These are well-pleasing to God in all Ranks and Relations .

Godly in this present World , relates chiefly to God , the Faith , Worship and Obedience we owe to him : Obedience , by a pious Life ; For this is the will of God , even our Sanctification : without Holiness none shall see him . 1 Thess. 4.3 So that to be Godly , is to Live after God , not the World ; and after his Spirit , not our Flesh ; but to Crucify the flesh with the lusts thereof , Rom. 13.12 — 14. Gal. 5.22 — 25. and put on the Lord Jesus Christ ( his Meekness , his Patience , Humility , Mercy , Forgiveness , Love , Temperance and Righteousness ) and make no more provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof : No more be in pain , Matt. 6.31 — 33. what we should eat or drink , or put on , or how we may make our selves Wealthy or Mighty in the Earth , after the way of the Old Gentiles , that knew not God ; as is the Custom of almost the whole Christian World ( so called ) at this very day , ( which General Declension shews , that a General Judgment , and an Over-flowing Scourge of God is at hand : ) but to seek the Kingdom of God first , and deny our selves , Job 14.14 . and watch and pray ; waiting all the Days of our appointed Time , until our Great and Last Change shall come . So that Godliness is God-likeness ; Translation , Renewing , yea , the First Resurrection , that those who Attain to it , the Second Death shall have no Power over them . This Godliness with Contentment is the greatest Gain , 1 Tim. 4.8 . Ch. 6.6 . 1 Joh. 3.5 , 8. and profitable in all things ; the Sum and Substance of Religion and of all God's Dispensations in the World ; yea , the very End of Christ's coming , and the blessed Fruit of his Victory over Hell , Death and the Grave ; that Sin might have an end , , the Devil's Works in Man and Woman be destroyed , and Man made an holy Temple and Tabernacle for God to dwell in . This is Godliness , and this Godliness is the way to please God ; 2 Cor. 6.16 . Matt. 6.20 . 1 Tim. 6.18 , 19. to lay up Treasure in Heaven , to be fruitful in Grace , rich in Faith and good Works , and to lay hold on Eternal Life , and become Heirs of an Inheritance Incorruptible .

Which brings me to the Fifth and Last thing observable from this Comprehensive Passage , viz. The Comfortable Reward and End of this Life and Grace , in vers. 13. Looking for that blessed Hope , and the glorious Appearing of the great God , and our Saviour Jesus Christ : That is , Looking for the Fulfilling of that blessed Hope ; to Have , what they Hoped for : An Hope , that does not make Ashamed those that have it ; but is an Anchor to the Soul in the greatest Storms , that Attend Men on thair Way to Blessedness . It is for the Accomplishment of this Hope , the gracious Livers have a Title to Expect and Wait. They that have been Taught by the Grace , what to deny , and what to do , and to look and live above the World , and by an Eye of Faith to pierce through the dark Clouds of Time , and stedfastly to look into the things that are Eternal , they are but Travellers and Pilgrims , as were all the Godly Fathers of old Time ; and expect with them a City , Heb. 11.10 . whose Builder and Maker is God . These wait for the Glorious Appearing of the great God , and their Saviour Jesus Christ , as the Blessed End of their Hope ; and to them he will certainly come , as the Glorious and Faithful Rewarder of the Faith , Obedience and Perseverance of his poor Disciples and Servants : They shall Reign with him a Thousand Years , and for ever . Their Obedience and Sufferings are but Temporal , but the Recompence Everlasting : Eye hath not seen , nor Ear heard , Isa. 64.4 . 1 Cor. 2.9 , 10. Psal. 84.1 , 10. nor has the Heart of man been able to perceive the good things , that God has laid up in store for those that love him ; But in the Heavens , that do not wax Old , and which will never pass away , those holy Courts of God , the true Followers of Jesus , the Children of Light and Disciples of the Cross , that come through the many Tribulations ( from Conviction to Conversion , from Conversion to Consummation , the End of all ) shall Understand , Tast and Enjoy those Hidden and Divine Pleasures , that are as Ineffable , as they are Eternal .