SUch as is the state of a Man , so he understandeth the holy Scripture : if he be still in nature , he interprets their Meaning to be of natural things : but if he is ascended Higher , he understandeth them of things more Sublime : and by how much the Higher he goes , he finds in the Scriptures so much the more Sublime Testimonies of things . Things below are the Image and Similitude of things above : if therefore a Man is still in the lowest degree , the Scripture propounds to him the lowest Matters : but if he be got up into things above , the Scriptures sheweth to him superiour Matters .

When Paul saith : Not in riotous feastings , and drunkenness , not in chamberings and wantonness , &c. in the 13 to the Rom. 19. That concerns a man according to the various state of his Life , either litterally , or spiritually : if he liveth carnally , it is to be understood of the gross flesh : but if he liveth spiritually , flesh also is thereby meant ; but a more refined sort of flesh , to which also he must die : But before he can die to it , it 's Necessary he should first have lived thereunto ; and he cannot first have lived thereunto , unless first he hath died unto the more gross carnallity .

It is impossible for a Man to be able to understand this Sublime way of dying , before he is come up unto that degree● Now if any one is come up thither , rather in a notional understanding thereof , then in the true essence of the thing , he is in very great danger of wandering into errour .

The spiritual Life of flesh is most cleanly expressed in that Rich man who lived Sumptuously and was cloathed in Scarlet : When on the contrary , Lazarus lay Poor , Hungry , Naked and full of Sores . But what came it too ? the highest riches were brought unto the lowest poverty , and the lowest poverty was changed into the highest Riches .

Christ sayeth , John 12.32 . When I shall be lifted up from the Earth I will draw all unto me : There the Earth is Purified and Glorified , and made fit for God : there then a Man abides yeilded up to God , and suffers all in God , whatsoever he shall do in him . Here therefore a Man is in a state of Passion under God , but not in a state of Action , and God possesseth him for his proper own . And if a Man doth not yet possess God as his propriety , viz. whilest he is yet alive , and not when he is dead ; then is not the very bottom of his heart as yet purged from sin ; for the root of sin still is in him , and is not as yet eradicated : But at length this bottom is made manifest to the Man , and sin is accounted , and is condemned as sin . When Christ is lifted up from the Earth , then a man stands in death , and the Judgment of God cometh upon him : There the bottom of his heart is purified , and the root plucked up .

When a Man knows , that he is to omit this or that , and yet Commits it , his prayers for more Sublime gifts , are not heard , for he lifts not up pure hands . Because so long as he layeth not aside inferiour things , he receiveth no virtue to omit Higher things . As long as he hath not as yet done or omitted , that which he acknowledgeth is to be omitted or done by him , so long are hid from him the doing or omitting of more Sublime things , nor can they be acknowledged by him : But if he hath been Faithful in lower matters he shall be advanced to higher , if somethings are to be renounced by a Man , and yet he will not renounce them , then although he prayeth yet is he not heard , but is forced to depart empty handed .

IF a Man abstaineth from external Idolatry , as also from the Company-keepings , Feastings , Merry-meetings , and Drinkings , from the proud Apparel , and from all such like , that spring out of sin , yet is he not so to rest satisfied : it 's true indeed , that these ought to be so , that every one should omit what are to be omitted : yet this I say , that however , he is not to be at rest , or to content himself thus . For just as he who is to go to ●olen , is not content to pass over the Rhine only , nor stops he there , but continueth on his journey , until he cometh to Colen : So also we must alwayes be going forward , and looking still further on to internal Purification , that as the external Conversation is purged , so also must the inward Foundation be purged . Now Christ alone affects that , he cleanseth the Foundation , and takes away sin , and beyond all our endeavour , or workings , expells it by Faith only .

If Satan was so powerful , that he could bring in sin , then is Christ much more powerful , and can both conquer and expell it . He that experienceth the thing it self , how Christ expelleth sins , and purifieth a Man , he only truly feels the effect thereof .

Before purgation sin may indeed be supposed , that it shall not break forth into fruits , yet is it still present , viz. in the bottom , and thence it must be removed and cast out , if a Man would arrive at Regeneration , and Righteousness be advanced in him , which renders a Man inclinable and chearful to all good whatsoever , but loath and heavy to all that is evil : Even as before sin made the Man loath and heavy to good , but ready and chearful to evil .

If evil is not omitted by and through Regeneration , nor good by and through the same Regeneration performed , all things are done forcibly , with regret , against our wills , whatever of evil is thus omited , or whatever of good is thus performed : for there in that case is as yet no renewing , but the old evil stock still remaines , which endeavours to effect its proper works , and to produce them into act , and is quite contrary to the new Creature . But when the Victory and Regeneration is obtained , the Man then is prone to all good which he performs , and slow to every evil which he omitteth : For whatsoever is proceeded and performed from Regeneration , that is done with delight , and if it be hindred , it breeds Sorrow or Grief .

NOw ariseth a queston , viz. whether a Man hath also the Motions of sin after he is purified from sin , and Regenerated ? The answer is this : In the mind or Foundation it self a Man hath not the Motions of sin : for if the Motions of sin were still there , then were not sin yet throughly taken away . But after that sin is cast out of the Mind , then it betakes it self to the Members : therefore all the Motions of sin whatsoever , that are then excited , are only done in the Members , but not in the Mind : For sin can no longer enter into the Mind , and because that Christ hath suppressed it , and cast it out thence , it must remain suppressed and rejected , else his action and work would not be constant and firm : But now Righteousness planted in the place of sin , which Righteousness is Christ , who now has taken up the Man , and worketh and performeth all the mans Commissions of good and Omissions of evil , but the man only yields up himself quietly to Christ , and he himself is at rest , and takes care of none of them which Christ both is and acteth in him , but he leaves all to Christ , to whom they belong : Moreover what praise soever or glory Springeth from hence , he ascrib●s all of it to Christ , but attributeth nothing to himself , because that nothing thereof did indeed belong to this performance .

Before Christ hath borne upon himself the sin of Man , and planteth himself into Man , and taketh up the Man , it is necessary , that a man should account of himself to be yet but a sinner , and an unjust person , yea even in a pious Life , and holy conversation , although nothing should appear in him that is reprehensible , and that , he by his own study shall be ascended so far , as he can ascend , even as far as it is possible for a man , by his own endeavours to come : yet that which is the most material point remains still behind , in which are placed all , viz. Internal Purification , and Regeneration : and this inward Purgation without all labour or endeavour of man , is compleated only by Christ our Lord , so that the glory then belongs only to God , but not to Man : For otherwise , if that was not done above all power or operation of ours , it would not be done by Faith , ●or would it be the work of God , nor would our Salvation consist in the Lord and by his hand , but all this would stand upon us , and in our hands ; whence it would follow , that the glory was not to be attributed to God , but to our own selves . But all such opinions are removed far from , a Christian ; in that all these are manifested to him , viz. how the matter proceedeth , and whence it ariseth , for which cause also he remaineth in his humility , without having any Gall of Bitterness ; or judgment to pass upon his Neighbour . Also concerning his own experience , he speaks not with Joy , but with great grief . Therefore our Purgation , Regeneration , Exercitation , Adoration , Salvation , Wisdom ; and all the rest are placed only in the hand of God ; but not in our hand , and we cannot take them up when we will , but when God freely bestows them on us .

IN a man who is purged from sin there no longer remaines Complaint , nor Murmuring , nor Anger , nor Hatred , nor Exacerbation upon the account or any whatsoever adversity , persecution , suffering or defect : and these good qualities proceed not out of any force , but from Regeneration ; and a man does them willingly , for such is his property , nor can he do otherwise : Just as a living man must live , so that he cannot do otherwise , but lives willingly : so also the Regenerate cannot do otherwise , then fullfill the Law of God ; and do his will . Nor is there any need that they should use any force to them upon this account , but all such are pleasant to them , and are performed by them with a willing mind ; for this is the Property of these Persons : Just as the Hungry-man is prone to Eat , and the Thirsty to Drink , and the Sleepy to Sleep ; for as much as they do all these as uncommanded and without coaction . The Lord hath no unwilling Servants , to whom his will is nor pleasant : it is written in the Psalter , Psal. 110.3 . Thy People is a willing People , and Psal. 40.10 . In the volum of thy Book it is written of me , that I would do thy will O my God : I am delighted because thy Law is in the midst of my heart : And Christ saith , John 4.34 . My meat it to do the will of him that sent me .

Continency and the repulse of sins , and of the wickedness of the world , when done with a mind that is yet polluted , is not so bitter as afterwards it is pleasant and affecteth with joy , when performed with a mind purified .

In a just and righteous man there is alwayes a desire of going forwards , yea he alwayes gets further and further on , and though he should live long , and his dayes should be almost without Number , yet would his Life , be alwayes in a prof●●iency , and the man would alwayes be more and more elevated in God . Now they that come up thither where they think they can abide and rest , let them esteem that for a bad sign . For by how much the more subtile or Spiritual Christians do become , by so much also they become more Sublime : and by how much the more Sublime they are , by so much the more Subtile and Sublime is their sufferings , which point is altogether unknown to them , who are yet but in some lower degree or step .

Unless God should more put a man forwards , then he doth put himself , he would never be saved , nor indeed be able to come to Regeneration . Now God hedgeth up on all sides , to an elect man , his way , that when he deviates from the right Path to his own destruction he hinders him , and sets to him his bonds , and then a man comes to acknowledge , that that was nothing but the work and Commiseration of God : and then he becomes really humble and Judgeth no man , but hath and beareth himself with a Benevolent and Merciful mind towards all men , when he can clearly discern , how much misery hung over his head , from which notwithstanding he apprehendeth himself quite freed through the wonderful mercy of God : therefore he cannot boast himself against them , being mindful alwayes of his own self : for if God hath not spared them , nor perhaps will he spare thee . And because lie Shines forth with a greater grace above others , he is not lifted up above others , but rather is touched with a Commiseration and compassion towards them . So that if upon very urgent Necessity he must say some what of others , he doth it with fear and trembling , and but that the Necessity of his Neighbour should require it , he would more gladly hold his peace . Yea oftentimes he purposeth with himself for his part , to be silent but when time and causes do drive , then in truth he is forced to speak , seeing the thing now urgeth him . And that too , not out of Envy , Hatred , or Exacerbation , but is only performed through the moving cause at least of his Neighbour . Now before this , a man did not behold others with a benigne mind , but was unmerciful , and full of taxations against others : so that if also he now sees any one that doth so , yet doth he bear all this with a willing mind .

Alas ! how miserable do those men live , who seek not after God : When they have lived Thirty , Forty , Fifty , yea an Hundred Years , yet are all these passed away as it were by a blast , and so many years have slipped away in vain . It behooveth a man to be Faithful and Serious in that degree in which he is set , and the Lord will advance him yet Higher .

THere were many Commandme●● given to the Israelites , which w●●● not commanded to the Gentiles : so a●● when Moses , that is , the Light of L●●● is come in us , many depravities are 〈◊〉 covered in us , and made manifest , whi●● the Gentiles were Ignorant off , and d●● not think them for sin . Now as ma●●● sins were then detected , so also do 〈◊〉 we want expiation , Sacrifice , and Spri●●ling , by meanes of which we may 〈◊〉 purified , expiated and corrected . A●● as those things were Typically and Fi●●ratively amongst the Israelites so also 〈◊〉 they really and essentially among us .