55. Again, if that Godhead Spirit of Chrift Jefus our Lord had been within them when they uttered thofe Speeches, I fuppofe it had been more proper for them to have faid, For in us dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily. If the Apoftles had always poffeffed the Spirit of God or Chrift within then, then they uttered but vain Words, when they speak of receiving of Grace and Truth, from a perfonal Chrift without them.

56. Again, if Christ or his Spirit had been within the Apoftles when they spoke of his divine Glory, or Godhead·fulness of Grace and Truth; would it not have been more proper for them to have faid, from that God or Chrift within us, we are filled with all Manner of fpiritual Confolations, or heavenly Perfections whatsoever?

57. If Chrift or his Spirit were within Men when they uttered those Words, all Faith or Hope in Reference to eternal. Glory was vain, and of no Effect: Why? Because if Men have their God or Chrift within them only, they are no more under the Teachings of another Spirit, but are as glorious already as ever they are like to be: But what faith the Scripture, If our Hopes were in this Life only, we were of all Men moft miferable. Again, concerning thefe Words, Chrift in you the Hope of Glory: Or know ye not that the Spirit of Chrift is in you, except ye be Reprobates?

58. My beloved Brethren, what need any Man hope for Glory, if he hath the Spirit of Glory refting upon him already?

59. Again, I hope no Man will fay that he hath a Chrift in him that hopes after Glory, or ftands in need of any Glo rification whatfoever: Well then, the Mind of the Spirit of Christ in thofe Words was this: That except your Underftanding be enlightned from the eternal Spirit of a glorified Chrift in that heavenly Throne above the Stars, ye are but Reprobates.

60. Or thus: Except you are filled with the Gifts of Graces of that glorious God-man Chrift Jefus, who is afcended far above all Heavens, Angels, or Men, know ye not that you are but in the State of Reprobation?

61. Ora

6. Or, as if the Apostle fhould have faid, Know ye not that you are but meer Reprobates; if ye glory of a God or Chrift within you, and deny the Godhead Perfon of that Lord Jefus Chrift that was crucified upon a Tree without you?

62. Again, whoever thou art which glorieth of a fpiritual. Union with a God or Chrift within thee, and defpifeft a perfonal glorified Chrift of Flesh and Bone without thee, yea and diftinct from thee in another World, I fay from his eternal Spirit thou art but a Reprobate.

63. Whoever thou art which boafteth of a God, and a Chrift, and his Ordinances, and of a Glory to come without thee in the higheft Heavens; if thou fhalt be left to the Pride and Envy of thy formal Spirit, to condemn the invisible Teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ in his innocent People, because they are contrary to thy Opinion, I fay from the everliving Emanuel, that thou art alfo but a Reprobate.

CHA P. XVI.

1. Of divers Comparisons of the Spirit or Perfon of Chrift, unto the Face of the natural Sun. 2. No. Man or Angel can be capable of the In-dwelling of God's Effence, but bis own Perfon only.

TH

HE Spirit or Perfon of Christ may fitly be compared unto the Face of the natural Sun in divers Refpects: You may know that the natural Spirit of the Sun by Virtue of the decreed Word of the Lord, is fo exceeding fiery glorious,, that no created Thing that hath natural Life in it, is capable of its in-dwelling Brightness, but its own Body or Face only.

2. So likewife that infinite Spirit abiding within the glorious. Body or Face of our Lord Jefus Chrift, is fo unfpeakable fiery glorious, that no created Spirit of Man, or Angel, is able to.. bear the indwelling Effence of it, but its own Body or Face only..

3. Again,

3. Again, you know that all natural Things of the Day are preferved only by Virtue of that inward Light, Life, Beauty or Glory in them which fhineth through the Body or Face of the Sun only.

4. So likewife all fpiritual Light, Life, Beauty, Joy or Glory within the Spirits of elect Men and Angels, fhineth only through the glorious heavenly Mouth of Christ Jesus our Lord.

5. Again, though both fenfible and infenfible Creatures are preferved in their Well-beings, by Virtue of a measurable Light and Heat proceeding from the Sun, you may know that if the Effence of the Sun were on this Earth, it would not only put out the Fire, but also immediately confume all Things to Athes or dry Snd.

6. So likewife, though the Spiritual Well-beings of elect Men and Angels are only preferved by Virtue of a meafurable Light and Life proceeding from that bright fhining Spirit, through the Face of Christ Jesus our Lord, yet if the Ef'fence of his Spirit were within the Spirits of any created Beings, it would confume them immediately to Powder.

7. Again, though all created Beings under the Sun are enlivened and continued by Virtue of its Light and Heat, through which, according to their Kind, they are full of Joy, yet if the Sun fhould abfent itself a little too long, all his former Light would vanish like Smoak, and the Creature would both languish and perish, for want of a new Supply from its Prefence: So likewife it is with elect Men and Angels, for though that infhining Light and Life be of the very fame Nature of God himself, yet if his Spirit fhould wholly retain its glorious Brightnefs within his own Body, all its former Light or Life would either be fubject to be defiled as Adam's was, or elle it would perish for want of the renewing Prefence of his glorious Spirit.

8. Again, through that Confolation flowing from the infhining Light of the Sun, you know in all fenfible or rational Creatures, there is a Defire to behold that bright fhining Face from whence their Joys proceed.

9. So likewife through that fpiritual Joy and Hopes of Glory flowing from the infpiring Light of the Son of God,

there

there is a strong Defire in thofe that enjoy this Light, to be hold that glorious Face from whence it proceeded.

10. Again, if the Sun had not a diftinct Body or Face to give forth his Light into the Creation, you know there could be no Sun-fhine at all:

11. So likewife you may also know, that if the God of Glory had not a Perfon or immortal Face, to difplay the Sunbeams of his heavenly Glory into elect Men and Angels, there could be no God all.

12. Therefore you that are truly fpiritual may know, that all that Light, Life, or Glory, fhining in the Spirits of elect Men or Angels, doth not proceed from a God or Chrift within them, but from an eternal Spirit of a God or a Chrift without them, too tranfcendent glorious to be poffeffed by. Heaven, Earth, Angels, or Men, as beforefaid.

13. Again, though the natural Life of created Beings, by the Decree of the most high God, be continued by Virtue of the infhining Light of the Sun, yet you may know that what ever Joy the Creatures are poffeft thereby, it doth neither add nor diminish unto the Glory of the Sun in the leaft:

14. So likewife though the fpiritual Light of elect Men and Angels be everlaftingly continued by Virtue of the infhining Light of the eternal Spirit, yet you may alfo understand, that what Joy or Glory foever the Creatures are poffeft withal; that it doth neither add nor diminish the Creator's Glory in the leaft: Therefore you which are truly fpiritual may understand, that if any Man or Angel could be poffeffed with the indwelling Effence of the eternal Spirit, it could not poffibly be avoided, but he must become Infinite, Immortal, Unchangeable, and Eternal, even as the Creator himself is.

15. Again, whether Creatures are poffeffed with Joy or Sorrow, Life or Death, by an extraordinary Light proceeding from the Sun, yet you may know, that according to his Understanding he glories in himself equally, in reference unto what was effected by him; fo likewife whether Creatures are poffeffed with fpiritual Joy or Sorrow, eternal Life, or Death, by a more than ordinary Prefence or Abfence of the eternal Spirit, yet you may also understand that the most glorious

God

God equally rejoiceth in himself, in Relation unto what was produced.

16. Again, tho' the Nature of the Sun, through its created Brightness, is fo exceedingly glorious, that it is utterly uncapable of natural Pollution from any Creatures within its; Orb, yet you know that Things which are not, by vertue of his Power, in Measure qualified with a fuitable Capacity to receive his infhining Light, are rather harden'd or destroyed by his Appearance, than any Way comforted or revived in the leaft: Witnefs the Fire, or any Thing else of an adamantine Nature.

17. So likewise it is with the Son of God, the everlasting Creator; for tho' his eternal Spirit in its own Nature is fo infinitely pure, that if it be his divine Pleasure, it destroyeth all Impurity immediately, and wholly converts a polluted Creature into its own divine Likeness; you may also know, that if the Spirits of Men or Angels, by his Power, be not in fome Measure qualified to receive his glorious Incomes, instead of diffolving their Spirits into a foft and fweet Pleasantness, it hardens their legal Spirits with Envy against the Creator, like unto Brafs, or the Nether-Millftone, according to that of Paul, where he faid, they were a Sweet Savour unto God of Life unto Life, in them that are faved, and of Death unto Death, in them that perifh.

CHAP.