is built on these two Points, the killing and deftroying of the natural Man, the Man of Adam's Sin, and the renewing of the inner Man, the Seed of Chrift, and feeding him with the fpiritual Flefh and Blood of bis own Begetter. The Ground and Reafon of this Work I have shewn to be this, that it is the divine Subftance for incorruptible Bodies to be formed from, and to be nourished with, till they are perfect. They are called Garments and Clouds in Scripture: A facred Hunger and Thirft is that Mouth, that Magnet and attractive Defire which draws the fpiritual Ffluxes of our Lord's glorious Body into the new Temple and living House rebuilding in Man.

I would, in particular, give this Council to those who may have the Ear to hear this Interpretation, that they decline all Difpute with others who cannot favour this Kind of prophefying. It is enough for them to rejoyce in their new Man, that they have found Chrift in them, the Lord in his Temple within, and that the (a) Spirit itself beareth Witness with their Spirit, that they

(a) Rom. viii. 16.

they are the Children of God, and can cry, abba, Father. Let Men (b) difpute about the Nature of this Witness, till they, to avoid the Danger of Enthusiasm and Fanaticifm, run into a worse extreme of explaining it away. Falfe Pretences, which are indeed many, and the great Abuses of this Text, take not away one Tittle of its Truth.

Let not the Reader imagine, that I am fo weak in Understanding as to throw fuch deep Ground of Interpretation before every one. I preach not, as I write, because the greatest Part is to be confidered as Babes. I am fenfible too, how much evil Report is raifed at this Day against the fundamental Doctrine of Regeneration, jo that the Word itfelf can scarce be mentioned, without the Charge, or Sufpicion of Methodifm or Fanaticifm. It is, however, the Duty of a (c) good Scribe inftructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, to bring out of his Treasury Things new and old; and it is equally the Duty of the Teachers under the Gospel, to give (d) Atrong Meat to the Adult, as well as Milk

52.

to

(b) Vid. Critici Sacri in Locum. (c) Matt. xiii.

(d) Heb. v. 12, 14.

to Babes. The firong Meat which the Apoftle intends, does not fignify the plain Leffon of moral Duties, but the inner Ground of the Kingdom, and the Powers of Christ, and of his Spirit revealing in Man.

A Reader of moderate Capacity may eafily conceive the principal Truths of this Work, which proves in a real and proper Senfe, a new Creation of immortal Bodies from the Water and Blood of Jefus Chrift, and by the Power of the holy Spirit, the living Fire, or Light of Eternity. They may fee too, the glorious Extent of this most precious Blood, as well as the Principles and Powers, through which the Temple and Houfe of the Spiritual Body is (e) gradually renewing by the continual Energy of our High Prieft.

With Regard to myself, I know the World too well to expect any Favour from it, and all fond Errors and Delufions of Religionists. Had I confulted Fame or Profit, I would not have taken this unfrequented, and defpifed Path. And I can perhaps write in a way, that would pleafe, because it flatters; and be grateful to the many, because it gives forth

(e) II. Cor. v. 2.--ovi. I. Pet. ii. 5.`

Smooth

.

fmooth Deceptions in the Language of Scripture mis-interpreted. But I feek not the Character of an ingenious Writer, nor the Patronage of the Great, which is feldom procured by a firm Adherence to facred Truths, in Oppofition to the Errors of popular Religion, powerful by Length of Time, and by Supporting falfe Conceptions of the Mercy and Favour of God. Faith has raifed me above fuch mean Motives; I feek neither Honour, nor Reward from Men, but from him, who bhas given me this Light, and enabled me to declare it to the World.

4

By which the Law and the Gospel may be more eafily understood.

A

DAM by his Sin brought the Body of this Flefb, called by St. Paul, the (a) Body of Sin, the (b) Body of Death, and the (c) Body of our Humiliation, when his paradifical Body died, and he became a Prifoner under the fame Elements, and in the fame temporary World with the animal Creation.

II. This paradifical Body, called the white Garment and the Glory, cannot be recovered, but

(a) Rom. vi. 6. (b) Rom. vii. 24.-viii. 10. (c) Phil. iii. 21.