to Babes. The Strong 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 Chrift, 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 Smooth

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

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 bas given me this Light, and enabled me to declare it to the World.

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

A

DAM by his Sin brought the Body of this Flesh, 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 Prisoner 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.

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

-IIL 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 spiritual 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 (ƒ) 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 Process 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 these Stages and Paths of Regeneration, Chriftians muft 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 less heavy and afflicting, which the Apoftle 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."

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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 in 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 Subftance of his Mother.

VI. This new Man is continually renewing, by attracting through a facred Hunger and Thirst the Emanations of Chrift, as the Figure was fhern 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 spiritual Manner, in which the Irradiations and Effluxes from Chrift in the Glory nourish and feed his

(k) II. Cor. i. 5, 6, 7. (2) II. Henry More on this Verfe, Vol. I. 503. Cudworth's intellectual Syftem, Vol. (n) Bishop Andrews's Sermons, p. 402.

People;

Cor. iv. 16.

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