1 13. And though it cannot be denied, but that the Qates of Qrace still stand open, yet the false and dazzling Light of the outward Reason of the Soul so deceived and hindered such Men, that they suppose they have the Pearl , while they yet live to the Vanity of this World , and dance with the Devil after his Pipe.
Chapter V.
How a Man may call himself a Christian , and how not.
c
H ERE therefore a Christian should consider why he calleth himself a Christian , and examine truly whether he be one or not. For surely my learning to kMow and confess that I am a Sinner, and that Christ hath destroyed my Sins on the Cross , and shed His Bloody for me, doth not make me a Christian.
115. The Inheritance belongeth only to the Children. A Maid Servant in a House knoweth well enough what the Mistress would have to be done, and yet that maketh her not the Heiress of her Mistress’ Goods. The very Devils know that there is a
Of ‘Regeneration . 79
- — — »
God, ydt that doth not change them into Angels again. But if the Maid Servant in the House shall be married to the Son of her Mistress, then she may come to inherit her Mistress' Goods And so it is to be understood also in the Matter of being a Christian .
1 16. The Children of the History are not the Heirs of the Goods of Christ , but the legitimate Children, regenerated by the Spirit , of Christ are the only true Heirs . For God said to Abraham , Cast out the Son of the Bondwoman , he shall not inherit with the Son of the Free . For he was a Scorner , and but an Historical Son of the Faith and Spirit of Abraham ; and so long as he continued such a one, h^ was not a true Inheritor of the Faith of Abraham , and therefore God commanded he should be cast out from inheriting his Goods ; which was a Type of the Christen - was to come.
1 17. For*the Promise of Christendom was made to Abraham ; therefore the Type was therf also set forth by two Brethren, Isaac and IshTnael , in order to show how Christendom would behave itsejf, and that two Sorts of Men would be in it, vis,, true Christians and Lip- Christians. Which latter under the Title of Christianity would be but mockers , as Ishmael was and Esau , who also was a Type of the outward Adam , as facob was a Type of Christ , and His true Christendom.
1 18. Thut; every one who will call himself a Christian , must cast out from himself the Son of the Bond - Woman , that is, the earthly Will , and be ever-more killing and destroying it, and not settle it in the Inheritance .
1 19. Nor give the Pearl to the Bestial Man , for him to sport himself with in the outward Light , in the Lust of the Flesh ; but we must with our Father Abraham being the Son of the right Will to Mount Moriah, and be ready in Obedience to God to offer it up, ever in Will dying from Sin in the Death of Christ , giving no Place to the Beast of Vanity in the Kingdom of Christy not suffering it to grow wanton , proud, covetous , envious, and maliciqus. For all these are the Properties of Ishmael the Son of the Bond- Woman, whom Adam begat in his Vanity on the wanton Whore the false Bond-Woman , by the Devils Imagination * out of the earthly Property in Flesh and Blood .
120. This Mocker and Titular Christian is the Son of the false flond- Woman , anji must be cast out; for he shall not possess the Inheritance of Christ in the Kingdom of God. He is not fit, he is but Babel, a Confusion of that one Language into many Languages. He is but a Talker and a Wrangler about the Inheritance; he means to get it to himself by Talking and Wrangling, by the Hypocrisy of his Lips and seeming Holiness, although he is
So
The Way to Qhrist.
no better than a hlood-thirsty^Murderer of his brother Abel, who is the right Heir.
1 13. And though it cannot be denied, but that the Qates of Qrace still stand open, yet the false and dazzling Light of the outward Reason of the Soul so deceived and hindered such Men, that they suppose they have the Pearl , while they yet live to the Vanity of this World , and dance with the Devil after his Pipe.
Chapter V.
How a Man may call himself a Christian , and how not.
c
H ERE therefore a Christian should consider why he calls himself a Christian , and examine truly whether he be one or not. For surely my learning to kMow and confess that I am a Sinner, and that Christ has destroyed my Sins on the Cross , and shed His Bloody for me, does not make me a Christian.
115. The Inheritance belongs only to the Children. A Maid Servant in a House knows well enough what the Mistress would have to be done, and yet that makes her not the Heiress of her Mistress’ Goods. The very Devils know that there is a
Of ‘Regeneration . 79
- — — »
God, ydt that does not change them into Angels again. But if the Maid Servant in the House shall be married to the Son of her Mistress, then she may come to inherit her Mistress' Goods And so it is to be understood also in the Matter of being a Christian .
1 16. The Children of the History are not the Heirs of the Goods of Christ , but the legitimate Children, regenerated by the Spirit , of Christ are the only true Heirs . For God said to Abraham , Cast out the Son of the Bondwoman , he shall not inherit with the Son of the Free . For he was a Scorner , and but an Historical Son of the Faith and Spirit of Abraham ; and so long as he continued such a one, h^ was not a true Inheritor of the Faith of Abraham , and therefore God commanded he should be cast out from inheriting his Goods ; which was a Type of the Christen - was to come.
1 17. For*the Promise of Christendom was made to Abraham ; therefore the Type was therf also set forth by two Brethren, Isaac and IshTnael , in order to show how Christendom would behave itsejf, and that two Sorts of Men would be in it, vis,, true Christians and Lip- Christians. Which latter under the Title of Christianity would be but mockers , as Ishmael was and Esau , who also was a Type of the outward Adam , as facob was a Type of Christ , and His true Christendom.
1 18. Thut; every one who will call himself a Christian , must cast out from himself the Son of the Bond - Woman , that is, the earthly Will , and be ever-more killing and destroying it, and not settle it in the Inheritance .
1 19. Nor give the Pearl to the Bestial Man , for him to sport himself with in the outward Light , in the Lust of the Flesh ; but we must with our Father Abraham being the Son of the right Will to Mount Moriah, and be ready in Obedience to God to offer it up, ever in Will dying from Sin in the Death of Christ , giving no Place to the Beast of Vanity in the Kingdom of Christy not suffering it to grow wanton , proud, covetous , envious, and maliciqus. For all these are the Properties of Ishmael the Son of the Bond- Woman, whom Adam begat in his Vanity on the wanton Whore the false Bond-Woman , by the Devils Imagination * out of the earthly Property in Flesh and Blood .
120. This Mocker and Titular Christian is the Son of the false flond- Woman , anji must be cast out; for he shall not possess the Inheritance of Christ in the Kingdom of God. He is not fit, he is but Babel, a Confusion of that one Language into many Languages. He is but a Talker and a Wrangler about the Inheritance; he means to get it to himself by Talking and Wrangling, by the Hypocrisy of his Lips and seeming Holiness, although he is
So
The Way to Qhrist.
no better than a hlood-thirsty^Murderer of his brother Abel, who is the right Heir.
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