"By faith, Noah being warned of God, of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness, which is by faith,' and was not Noah a husbandman? G. F.

Here you may see all was to be purified by fire and water before it went into the camp of God, in the old testament; and all must be purified by the baptism of the holy ghost, and by fire, and the circumcision of the spirit; and washed by the water of the word, and made clean, before they go into the kingdom of our God, and heavenly Jerusalem.

THE Jews in the old covenant and testament, when they went to war, this was the ordinance and law of God to them, whatsoever they took in the wars, whether it was gold, silver, brass, iron, tin, or lead, that would abide the fire, they were to make it go through the fire, and to be purified with the water of separation; and all that which abideth not the fire, they were to make it go through the water; and they were to purify all the raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all works of goats' hair, and all that was made with wood, and they were to wash their clothes, and on the seventh day to be clean, and afterwards they were to go into the camp.

So you may see all things were to be purified by fire and water, and that which would not abide the fire, was to go through the water; and they were to wash their own clothes, and purify themselves seven days; the perfection of days were to pass over them before they came into the camp. And they were to purify the captives they took prisoners, before they brought them into the camp; so that nothing was to go into the Lord's camp, but what was clean, purified by fire or water. And the warriors were to purify themselves before they went into the the Lord's camp, as you may see in Numb. xxxi.

And Christ in his new testament, saith, that all must be born again of the spirit, before they can see the kingdom of God, or enter into it,' as in John iii.

And Christ, he baptizeth with the holy ghost, and with fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his garners; but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire, as in Matt. iii. 11, 12.

Here you may see the chaff comes not into God's garner, but must be burnt up, and no unclean thing enters into the kingdom of God, as you may see in the Revelations.

And though the gates of heavenly Jerusalem are not shut at all by day, for there is no night there, there shall in nowise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whosoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.' Rev. xxi. 27. and xxii. 14, 15.

So here you may see all must be purified by the spirit, and by the heavenly fire, and washed by the water of the word, before they come into the city of new and heavenly Jerusalem, or the kingdom of God, and walk in the light; and they must go through the baptism of fire and the holy ghost, and the washing of the water of the word, before they come into heavenly Jerusalem, and the kingdom of God, as before. And they that are married to the Lamb, which are his wife, his church, shall be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints; and the armies which were in heaven, and followed Christ upon white horses, were clothed with fine linen white and clean.' Rev. xix. 7, 8. 14.

So as is said before, all must be washed, and clean, and purified, and circumcised with the spirit, and baptized with the holy ghost, and with fire, before they come into heavenly Jerusalem, and the kingdom of God.

The Lord saith, a dwarf shall not come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire;' he might eat the bread of his God, as in Levit. xxi.

Therefore, you that profess the new testament grow in the truth, and feed upon the bread from heaven; take heed you be not dwarfs, but live and walk in the spirit of God, that you may be kept by the spirit without blemish, and that you may grow in grace, and faith; that you may be a royal priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ, as in 1 Pet. ii. 5. 9. and that you may not be dwarfs, but eat of the heavenly bread, and grow that you may offer the spiritual sacrifice as before.

Concerning the ministers of Christ, and his church, and the testimony of them.

How God hath anointed the ministers of Christ, and his church, and they have the anointing in them.

Now he who establishes the ministers of Christ, and his church in Christ, and hath anointed them, is God. Now here you may see Christ's ministers God hath anointed. And the apostle saith, 'who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of his spirit in our hearts.' Here you may see God seals his people, his ministers, and his church, and

gives them the earnest of his spirit in their hearts, and anoints them, and establishes them in Christ Jesus. 2 Cor. i. 21, 22.

Now concerning the son of God, the Lord saith, Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy fellows.' Heb. i. 9.

Here you may see Christ's ministers and his church are anointed, and they have the anointing abiding in them; and they need no man to teach them, but as the same anointing teacheth them of all things, &c. 1 John ii. 27.

But God hath anointed Christ with the oil of gladness above his fellows, who brings many sons unto glory; 'for both he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified are all of one; for which cause Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren.' Heb. ii. 10, 11.

And Christ maketh his able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit gives life.' 2 Cor. iii. 8. And he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.' Gal. vi. 8.

Here you may see what Christ's ministers sow to, and what they reap; for Christ when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men; and he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.' These gifts of Christ to them, were and are 'for the perfecting of the saints; for the work of the ministry; for the edifying the body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of the faith, and knowledge of the son of God, and unto a perfect man, and unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' And this was the work of the ministry of Christ, and so brought them into the unity of the spirit, in the bond of peace.' There is one body, and one spirit, even as you are called children into one hope of your calling;' and this hope is, Christ in you the hope of glory, whom the ministers of Christ preach, 'warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.' And the ministers of Christ brought the church of Christ to one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and unto one God, and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.' Ephes. iv. from 3 to 14. Col. i. 28. And the apostle saith, If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature, old things are past away, behold all things are become new; and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation.'

Mark, the ministers of Christ have the ministry of reconciliation given to them, to reconcile people to God through Christ. And now let all the ministers of Christ consider, how many they have brought to

the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the son of God, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; and how many they have presented perfect in Christ Jesus; and with the gift of the ministry of reconciliation, how many they have reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

And the apostle saith, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, &c. not imputing their transgressions unto them.' And again, Christ having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by Christ, I say, whether they be things in the earth, or things in heaven; and he hath put in us, or committed unto us, the word of reconciliation. Now then, we the ministers of Christ are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.' 2 Cor. v. 17 to the end. Col. i. 20.

Now here you may see the ministers of Christ have the word of reconciliation committed to them, to reconcile people to God and Christ; for the apostle saith to the church of Christ, the Colossians, ⚫You that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your minds, by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.' Col. i. 21. Therefore let all the ministers of Christ consider how many they have reconciled to God by the word of reconciliation.

And the apostle saith to the church of Christ, The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart; and this is the word of faith which we preach. If that thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Rom. x. 8, 9, 10.

And again the apostle saith, Wherefore God hath also highly exalted Christ, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' Philip ii, 9, 10, 11.

Now here you may see all are to be subject to Christ's power, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father; though they are not ministers and apostles, &c. yet they are confessors, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, and the word of faith being in their mouths and hearts, that with the heart they may believe, and with the mouth confess. And this is the word if they will hear it and obey it, and that will reconcile them to God.

Now friends, if the Lord hath counted you faithful, and put you into his ministry, seek to perform and fulfil it, and not neglect the gift that

is given you; and be good examples of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity; and always be ready to preach the word, and be instant in season, and out of season. He that observes the wind or storms, will not sow the seed; and he that regards the clouds will not reap. Eccles. xi. 4. But the word of the Lord must be preached in season and out of season, as in 2 Tim. iv. 2. And the apostle saith to Timothy, 'I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee.' 2 Tim. i. 6. Which indeed there is need enough now to put many in remembrance, and to stir up the gift of God in them, and to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold of eternal life, whereunto they are called; and to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, and meekness.

And the apostle saith, that the holy ghost witnesses in every city; saying, 'That bonds and afflictions abode him, and waited for him, but none of these things moved him; neither counted he his life dear unto himself, so that he might finish his course with joy; and the ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus Christ, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.' Acts xx. 24. You may see the apostle had received his ministry from the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a resolution was in him to finish it, though bonds and afflictions waited upon him. He did not mind the storms and winds of persecution; and he exhorted others to take heed of the ministry which they had received from the Lord to fulfil it; and did exhort all to let their speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that they may know how to answer every man, commending themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

And Peter saith in his General Epistle to the church of Christ, As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same to another, as good stewards of the manifold graces of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.' 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11.

'So here you may see the ministry is not limited to one sort of people, or to a tribe. But as every man hath received the gift, even so let him minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.' So this gift they receive from God, and are stewards of the manifold grace of God. And if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.' So not the oracles of men. And if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth him.' So it is not of the ability that they minister which men give, but what God giveth. So it is to the glory of God through Jesus Christ.

6

And the apostle saith, God hath dealt to every man a measure of faith.' And be that ministered, was to wait on his ministry; and he VOL. VI.

54