but by a new Seed re-implanted by Grace and Favour.

- III. This Seed was (d) given to Adam and his Pofterity, by the new Covenant made with him after his Fall: (e) For, as Chrift is the Light that lighteneth every Man coming into the World, fo this Light will renew Man to an immortal and fpiritual Body, which he wants for his Clothing and Garment, that he may dwell in the Light of the Countenance of God.

IV. This Seed from the (f) Word, or Jefus Christ, cannot be brought to Life and Perfection, but by a (g) fecret Death, an internal Suffering which is the Cross of Christ, and the (b) Fellowship of his Sufferings. And this State and Procefs no Man knoweth when, and how it will come upon him, though this fecret Dying must precede the Refurrection into a new Life and Form, as the (i) Grain of Wheat muft dye before it can bring forth itself again. Through thefe Stages and Paths of Regeneration, Chriftians must follow their Lord, who has led the Way, and fhewn in himself the Mystery of this great Work. Now, as Man is killed in the Flesh, he is quickened in the Spirit:

(d) Gen. iii. 15. (e) John i. 9, 10. i. 23. John i. 13.---iii. 3, 5. James i. iii. 9. (g) Rom. vi. 5. Phil. 3. 10. i. 24. I. Pet. iv. 13. Rom. viii. 17. xii. 24, 25. Matt, x. 39.

Confolations and Joys (k) abound in fuch Proportion, as the State of Death, inner Darkness and Tribulation, is more or lefs heavy and afflicting, which the Apostle from his own Experience and Senfe of this Work going on in himself, defcribes thus: ()" though my outward Man "is corrupting, yet the inward Man is renewed "Day by Day."

V. This inner, new and spiritual Man as to the new (m) Body, Temple or House from the Heavens, is daily fed from the fpiritual Water and Blood of Chrift, who is the quickening Spirit every Place of the World; and that by thefe (n) divine Elements he must attain his Growth and Increase, as a Child in the Womb does from the Substance of his Mother.

in

VI. This new Man is continually renewing, by attracting through a facred Hunger and Thirst the Emanations of Christ, as the Figure was fhewn on the Altar of Brafs, where the Flesh and Blood of the Lamb went up in a Vapour and Cloud, free and diffufed, with the Meat and Drink-Offering, to point out the fpiritual Manner, in which the Irradiations and Efluxes from Chrift in the Glory nourish and feed his

(k) II. Cor. i. 5, 6, 7. (II. Henry More on this Verfe, Vol. I. 503. Cudworth's intellectual Syftem, Vol. In) Bifhop Andrews's Sermons, p. 402.

People;

Cor. iv. 16.

(m) See Dr. II. 805, 6.

People; with whom he has a (o) continual Union and real Prefence, in a more vital and intimate Way, than the Light and Air have with our natural or animal Bodies. The Spirit of true Prayer is only this Hunger and Thirst, confined to no Time or Place, but awakened, felffelt and known, as the Hunger and Thirst of the Body is only knowable by its own Senfation. True Prayer requires therefore the Words of no other Man, but our own inward Breathings, fervent Defires, and lively Hunger and Thirst to be filled with the Bread of Life and the Wine of the Kingdom. This Prayer is no Burden, nor Yoke of bodily Worship, but fweet, affectionate, and delightful to thofe, who love the divine Bridegroom.

VII. In the fame Proportion as the faithful dye to, and renounce this World, the Land (p) of Egypt and (q) Babylon with her falfe and deceitful Goods, fo the Powers of the World to come, the Virtues and Fruits of Heaven and Paradise enter and fill hungry Souls with the Meat that perifbeth not.

VIII. Few. have Faith in this Kingdom within them, and from that Defect obtain not the (r) white Rayment, and are not clothed upon

(0) Matt. xviii. 20. vi. 8. (p) Rev. xi. 8. Rev. iii. 18.

with

John xvii. 21, 23. Rom. (2) Rev. xviii. 12,

with the (s) Houfe from Heaven, but dye in their nakedness, their State in the old Adam, and are caft out into utter Darkness, till they have paid the last Farthing in the fecond Death: Which is now, and has been adminiftering with different Durations, called Ages, by the Law and Gofpel; in which Part of divine Justice, and exact Retaliation, every one unregenerated, will. receive according to the various Degrees of their Sins and Wickedness.

IX. Chrift will finally (t) fubdue all Things and Perfons unto hirnfelf, and yet will (u) punish the wicked, and reward the good, without pushing the Mercy and Justice of God into thofe Extremes of Lenity on one Side, and inflexible Rigour on the other, which Divines have fo generally adopted.

X. The Order of rifing in Chrift is pointed out in the Feafts of Mofes: The First-born and Firft-fruits in the Paffover and Pentecofte; the Latter-born, and Latter-fruits in the Festivals that follow. This Mystery or fecret Council of God has been more fully explained in the Treatife on the Firft- born and Firft-fruits, publifhed by me in 1763, where the Election of Grace, and of Predeftination is defended, and fet in its true Light.

(s) II. Cor. v. 2.

XV. 28.

Thefe

(t) Phil. iii. 21. I. Cor.

(z) Luke xii. 47, 48, Rom. ii. 9, 10.

Thefe are the principal Truths revealed in the facred Writings, which could not be known. without an exprefs Revelation, because none of them can be derived from the Light of Nature, though Reafon may eafily embrace them, when they have been revealed. Of which I fhall fay in the Words of an excellent Writer and spiritual Heart: "If any one think thefe Things too myftical, fuch as think fo, may "let them alone and welcome, provided they do not thereby any Injury to their own Souls,

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by being meer Hiftory-Mongers, or by pre"ferring the Shells of Religion to the Kernell; "which is the Cafe of all thofe who are wrapt "up in the meer outward Ordinances, without "the Life and Light and Power of the Spirit, "and which is too near a Kin to the Popish "Opus Operatum." For my own Part, I can join in that noble and benevolent Wish of Mofes; (x) "Would God that all the Lord's "People were Prophets, and that the Lord "would put his Spirit upon them:" For it is my greatest Joy and Comfort to fee a Part of the Glory of the Feast of Trumpets, when the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out in more plentiful Measure, and the Fire of Heaven will fanctify more Sacrifices in the Blood of Jefus Chrift, AMEN.

(x) Numb. xi. 29.