So then we are caused to perceive that the old man in his old knowledge of God and Jesus Christ after the image of man, is created into that image by the power of man, and may be called the Old Creation of Man.

Again, we are further taught of the Spirit, that the New Creature is made into the Image of God by the teaching of the Spirit, after the thoughts of God, concerning the truth.

But the Old Creature is made into the Image of Man by the teaching of man, after the thoughts of man, concerning the truth. For the Spirit instructs us concerning the root of all truth and error in spiritual things, saying, That we are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Cor. iii. 5.

So then if our own thoughts are not sufficient to guide us into truth, they are sufficient to lead us into error, concerning God and Jesus Christ.

But we know that the thoughts of God are sufficient to guide us into truth, and therefore they are sufficient to deliver us from all error concerning God and Jesus Christ.

It therefore follows, that the thoughts of God are good, and sufficient to make us wise in knowledge concerning spiritual truth. And it also follows, that the thoughts of man are evil, and only sufficient to make us fools in knowledge concerning spiritual truth.

Now by this teaching of the Spirit we are caused to know, That to hate our own thoughts, and to love the thoughts of God, must be the beginning of wisdom and true knowledge in the sight of God.

But on the other hand, To love our own thoughts, and to hate the thoughts of God, must be the beginning of folly and of error in the sight of God.

So then the man who says in his heart, That his own thoughts concerning the Scriptures are sufficient to guide him into the knowledge of the truth concerning God and Jesus Christ, that same man deceives himself, and he holds the Truth in unrighteousness; because he bears witness unto the Truth contrary to the testimony of the Spirit of God.

But the man who says in his heart, in the sight of God, That his own thoughts, concerning the Scriptures, are only sufficient to guide him into error; and the thoughts of God, only, are sufficient to lead him into the knowledge of the truth concerning God and Jesus Christ; that man is then delivered from his former error; and he holds the Truth in righteousness; because he bears witness unto the Truth according to the testimony of the Spirit of God.

It is then according to the good pleasure of the Spirit, who doeth all things after the counsel of his own will, that one of his creatures should

be raised up from error into truth, that he might be made a faithful witness with the Spirit as it is written, To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. John xviii. 37.

But this witness unto the truth is a poor, weak, and helpless creature like other men; as it is written of him, I can of mine own self do nothing: (because I am not sufficient of myself to think anything as from myself) as I hear, I judge. John v. 30. That is to say, As I am caused to understand my holy Father's thoughts, concerning the Truth, so I judge and bear witness unto the Truth. And being made of God a faithful and true witness unto the Truth, (as the firstborn of many brethren,) he is determined of the Spirit, The beginning of the new creation of God. Rev. iii. 14.

For he is the first of that new creation in whom the righteousness of faith and the judg ment of truth is found to dwell. But our God is not a partial God, in that he is the Father of the spirits of all flesh-and as our common Father, he loveth all his creatures alike. And therefore it is the good pleasure of his will, that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he will gather together in one all things in Christ— That is to say, in the man Christ Jesus shall be found that oneness of Faith and Knowledge,

concerning all spiritual things, of which all flesh shall be made partakers, as it is written-Till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ephes. iv. 13.

So, then, it is the good pleasure of the Spirit, to fill one man first with the knowledge of his glory, that, of God, by that one man, all flesh may be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. For it is written, But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Cors. viii. 6.

Now when there shall be in every man the true knowledge of the Father, and of the man Christ Jesus, then the Idol will be no more confounded with God, neither will the glory, that is due unto God, be any more given unto the creature. For then every man will know, that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee; and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one in judgment, even as we are one in judgment. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one judgment unto truth; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. John xvii. 7, 8, 22, 23.

Now the creature that is appointed of God to

bear witness unto the Truth is the Firstborn of many brethren; foreknown unto God from the day that he was conceived in the womb of his natural mother, until the day that he was predestinated to be called, and to be justified, and to be glorified. Now the spiritual testimony of this creature, chosen of God to bear witness unto the Truth, is after the order of every man's testimony who bears witness unto those things which he hath seen and heard-for how can a man bear witness unto those things of which he hath neither seen nor heard. Wherefore it is testified of him by the Spirit, saying, For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. Acts xxii. 15.

So in another place it is testified of him by the Spirit, saying, I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness of those things in the which I will appear unto thee. Acts xxvi. 16.

Now the good Spirit hath appointed and foreordained three stages and three times according to these stages to deliver his creature from error, and to lead the same into truth concerning the Glory of God, which is the Truth of God. To bear witness unto the Truth, according to the three great stages which the Spirit hath appointed, and foreordained to be fulfilled in that creature who must bear witness unto the same, is the great work which the Father hath appointed'