contrary to the Mind of God than that the Devil should have the Rule of us for God would have the Government of us himself When we consider the infiniteness of God's Power for destroying that which is contrary to him who can believe that the Devil must ever stand and prevail I believe it is inconsonant and disagreeable with the true Faith for People to be Christians and yet to believe that Christ the Eternal Son of God to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is given will suffer Sin and the Devil to have dominion over them There is no other Name under Heaven by which I can be saved therefore I have put my confidence in him If the Devil must have the Rule of me here then I cannot be subject to Christ in all things I may go to Meetings but I can never master the Devil and his Temptations this is as inconsisâ—ent with the Faith of a Christian as Light with Darkness and Christ with Belial If Christians think themselves true Believers then let them see how far their Faith will reach whâ—ther it be like that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints for by that Faith their Hearts were cleansed and they became free from Sin Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin and the servants of God saith the Apostle you have your Fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life you were Servants to Sin but now you are free from Sin so that this Faith is but one and if Men have got another it will do them no good Take heed thou art not mistaken about thy Faith I have heard some learned Men say That a Believer is a Servant of Sin and he is ever like to be so but he is not at the same time free from Righteousness for he hath the Righteousness of Christ imputed to him and God looks upon him as righteous in his Righteousness there cannot be a more Anti-apostolical Doctrin I may be a servant of Sin and yet have the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness I may be a Servant of Sin say they yet Christ is Righteous he is the Righteousness of God and he hath fulfilled the will of God and hath purchased salvation for me and he is the Object by which I am made righteous Consider this the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness will never do me good till I come to partake of his Righteousness till his Righteousness be made my Righteousness in me and for me Christ is made to us of God wisdom righteousness sanctification and reâ—emption so that if a Sinner one that was a Sinner the other Day come through Fâ—â—â—â— in Christ to have his Heart cleansed and purged and true Righteousness planted in him where Sin was planted there Sin through the Blood of Christ is cleansed and purged away So that Christ is made Righteousness to me and not his Righteousness barely imputed and reckon'd to me Christ is my Wisdom I am a Fool without him Christ is made Righteousness to me for my good Deeds and holy Living cannot be acceptable to God till they be done in him and commended to God by him the proper Work of Faith is to fix the Soul on him that worketh all things in us and for us that worketh in us both to will and to do according to his good pleasure and it is the good pleasure of God that we should live in 〈◊〉 Righteousness They that come to receive this Faith at first receive it from an inward Feeling they have the Operation of the Word of God in them so the Apostle reckons Faith not because such a Man heareth and such a Man believeth what such a Man preacheth but Faith is the operation of God you may hear me and a Thousand preach and you may die Unbelievers for all that except you come to thiâ— to know the Operation of God and the woâ—â— of Faith in you How doth my Heart close with this how doth my Soul joyn with this What Vertue and Power do I feel in my self It may be others that preach feel the Powâ—â— but do I feel it if not I come but to a Noise and Sound If People feel not their Hearts joyning with the Word preached there comes no advantage to them You read in Scripture That the word preached did not profit because it was not mixt with faith in them that heard it This is your Cafe you come to Meetings and you love to hear the Doctrin of Truth preached I tell you and I will speak plainly to you unless you come to feel the Operation of the Word of Truth in your Hearts you may hear the Gospel and the Word of Life preached to you but it will not profit you much How is it possible for a Man to have a Testimony against Drunkenness and yet be drunk a Testimony against Uncleanness and yet be unclean How can a Man hear such a Testimony and believe it and yet commit the Sin he heard it but did not feel the Vertue of it within himself and so he did not mortifie the Sin that he was inclinable to but they that come to joyn with Truth and with meekness receive the ingrafted word they find the Power and Ability of it they find how able it is to save their Souls they find how it worketh not only just when they hear it but it goes along with them and dwells with them and they feel the vertue of it overshadowing their Souls with the Dread and Terror of the Lord not with the Words that a Man speaks I do not trust to them but here is the Power â—â—d the Feaâ— of the Lord which will preserve my Soul and keep me in safety this is that which will keep my Mind fixed upon him and keep my Mind inward that I do not gaze about me so that every one may have an Infallible Testimony of what they have heard and known I have known the Doctrin of several Sects that have been among us and the main thing that many have gone from one People to another about is this that they might know what such a Man holds forth more than such a one and they think the truth is more perspicuous among such a People than other People if you examin the Matter it is this Who preached and proved his Doctrin beâ—â— Alas if they did all concur together and did preach as certain and infallible Doctrin as ever Chrâ—â—â—â— and his Apostles preached this will all â—â— thee and me no good unless we know the Power You know there were Thousands that heard Christ Preach as you now hear me and there were some so taken with him that they went away and said Never Man spake like this Man But were they all Christians did they partake of Life by him No some of them were ready to stone him Now bring this home and consider with your selves whether you are not some of yoâ— in the same State when you hear Trutâ— preached there is an assent and agreemenâ— with it in your
have builded up whereby the Glory and favour of God was hid from the Soul we believed this to be true we would have been looked upon as Heires â—â— God 's Kingdom yet when we are come to hearâ—en to the Truth we find that we are Children 〈◊〉 the Devil and do his works shall a Man believe this after he hath been forty years a professor of Christanity If a Man believe Truth there is no danger in believing it tho' it be his own Destruction that is threatned Now the great thing that I would have ushered into the Hearts of Men is that they may believe the Truth for Truths sake If Men will believe the truth they must believe many things against themselves which they are not willing to believe but saith Christ no Man can be my Scholar my Disciple but be denying himself I must deny my self my pretensions to Christianity my supposed Saintship and â—itle to the Kingdom of God now if I would be convinced that I am a wicked Man a prophane Man one that doth not live as becomes the Gospel I must believe truth the Voice of truth being of infallible certainty it is signified Divinely by the immortal Word that cannot deceive us this ought to be the reason why People should believe the Testimony of it tho' it be against themselves they that do so presently come to find the effects of it for they were in their Sins and Trespasses before and so are still they were before in a kind of liberty in a kind of ease and indulgence of themselves and still their Sin remains in them and they remain in it but they are now under a sense of Sorrow under a weight under a Burden under an oppression which signifies they are alive and quickned for if you take an outward comparison they remain not senseless and dead now lay what Load you will upon a dead Man he will neither groan nor grumble at it but if he comes again to life he cryes take off the Burden the weight and oppression that lyes heavy upon me This is the difference between being deaâ— in sins and trespasses and being brought to liâ—â— and sense again this word of life that comâ— from the Mouth of God begets a sense in evâ—ry one that receiveth it it is of great serviâ—â— and use to all People to be acquainted witâ— it that desire to be Heirs of life eternal thaâ— desire to be Inheritors of the Kingdom of God But how should they come by it they thinâ— by this duty and the other duty and this and the other Temporary performance to obtaiâ— it no but if they will have life they muâ—â— have it from the God of life that created them he must Create them again to good works they can have it but by one way all must be brought to it that way it cannot be by hearing a Man preach unless the Spirit doâ—â— cooperate with the word of God there is nâ— possibility of being quickned and necessiâ—â— binds me to hearken and have a regard to the one means Now I say to you saith Chriâ—â— speaking of Peoples way of living to eterniâ—â— Man liveth not by Bread alone but by evâ—â— word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of 〈◊〉 now when we come to understand this 〈◊〉 as spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ we 〈◊〉 conclude there was a possibility of understaâ—â—ing and hearing that inward Voice and Word of Truth in our own Hearts that God did speak to us by his Son Jesus Christ who enlightned us Hereupon Meetings were appointed at first that the Word should minister Life in them and Life to them that attend them and to this Day our Meetings are appointed for this purpose that we may have â—he ministration of Life and Vertue from Christ the Fountain of Life and Vertue by whom we are to be quickned and strengthned and by whom those that are dead in Sins and Trespasses are to be quickned Therefore I would have every one always to have a Reverence to the Word of Life that speaks in themselves for if we speak as we are moved by the Spirit of God and utter those things by verbal Testimony which God hath made known to us if you have not an Oracle in your Bosoms if you do not at the same time perceive an Eccho of Truth in your own Souls this will do you no good but be an empty sound which will pass away again but the Mind that is serious and settled in waiting upon God with an earnest Desire that it may receive Benefit in going to this and the other Meeting such aâ—one will say I pray God bless this opportunity to me that so I may receive Benefit to my Soul Where People meet in this manner they have not only an administration of Doctrin from without from this and the other Instrument but they have a Ministration of the Word of God in â—â—emselves by which a Man liveth Let us not be 〈◊〉 and hurried away with the grand Error of the Times the great Error of this Age and of the Ages by-past that there is no possibility for People to understand and hear this Voice of God this inward Voice There are say they no immediate Teachings now adays no Inspirations now adays they had as well said that there are no Conversions now adays I will prove it from the Holy Scriptures that there is no Man in this Age is like to be converted to God or redeemed from his Iniquity and brought to the knowledge of his Maker unless he have it by the inward Working of the Eternal God Not by Mans Preaching and Instruction nor by reading all the good Sermons that ever were preached without the Co-operation of the holy sanctifying Spirit which begets Life in them that believe and if these Men say none can be Converted then we must all go Headlong to Hell and they and all These Quakers may say what they will there is no immediate Teaching now adays no Man can know the mind of God nor understand the Scriptures none can open theâ— to you But blessed be God this Darkness is râ—moved this Vail is gone over and taken â—way the brightness of the glory of the Goâ—pel hath expell'd this Darkness and thousanâ— now adays do not onlâ— hear the Minister reprove them but they â—eâ— a Voice within that doth reprove them 〈◊〉 â—â—iquity and they find and feel a Judgment and Tribunal within themselves and that God hath an immediate way of Counselling and Instructing them if they will hearken to him You that are under any sense of this that are come to such an inward sense of the operation of the Word of God if you have heard it reprove you exhort you judge you and condemn you consider that this Word proceeded out of the Mouth of God and not out of the Mouth of any Man You hear the sentence of God upon you in your own Consciences Whence comes it This is out of the Mouth of God Every Word that comes
believe that such a way leads to God's Kingdom that that way will lead men to God that will not lead them to Holiness The Scripture saith If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me though a Man keeps close to Meetings and Ordinances and Duties and Performances iniquity it seems must remain still there is no rooting it out in this World This continuing and remaining with a Man makes all his Performances and Duties and Prayers unacceptable to God they are all turned back again upon him and cast as Dung upon his Face and true enough too so that here is no coming unto God in this way the comers thereunto know well enough they are not reconciled to God if they are Men that are Conscientious There are a sort of People so stupid and sordid in their Judgments that if a Man tells them they are reconciled to God they will believe him though Conscience reâ—â—oves them an hundred times a day If the 〈…〉 the Parish say That he hath made this Câ—â—â—â— an heir of the kinâ—â—â—â— of God and an inherit oâ— of eternal life I know some have believed it forty Years after and have born themselves up upon this Man's Word all their Life Do you think there is any Danger of me that in Baptism was made an Inheritor of Eternal Life and an Heir of the Kingdom of God God hath not appointed Ordinances in his Church for nothing I speak not of such sordid hard-hearted People that never entred into themselves to know how it was with them whether they are â—onverted but I speak of sober conscientious People that will not be cheated in a Point of Salvation though they have been deceived a great while they may be undeceived Then they must take this for certain Doctrin that nothing can reconcile them to their Maker but that which takes away Sin God hears not sinners he will never be reconciled to a Man in this World as a sinner but there are many thousands blessed be God in this Ageâ— as well as in other Ages that were Sinners and reconciled to God through Christ and had Remission of Sin but never any Man in his Sin was reconciled to God though he did believe the Truth if he did not come to thâ— Sanctification of the Spirit he could never 〈◊〉 reconciled to God So that there hath been in all Ages a way of the working of the Spirit of God in the Hearts of them that believe to prepare them for the sinless Kingdom for that glorious Kingdom into which nothing that hurteth and defileth and corrupteth can enter And because we cannot enter with Corruption and Defilement he hath appointed the Ministration of his Spirit to work out that which might hinder to cleanse us from Sin that we might have an abundant entrance into his glorious Kingdom so that whilst they say there is an impossibility of living without Sin I had as leave they had said there is an Impossibility of entring into the Kingdom of God for never any shall come into the Kingdom of God but those that are without Siâ—â— for there is no Purgatory after Death The Papists have a better conceit than the Protestants in that respect The Protestanâ—â— conceive Sin to be expelled at the point of Death and they say all the Sins of Believers all the guilt of Sin after we are Believers is pardoned forgiven and done away by the Death of Christ upon the Cross we will have it if we can get it If Men can imagin to find a way into the Kingdom of God they will have one They believe that a Man may sin and contract no Guilt and that he may sin till his dying Day and then all Sin shall pass away and he shall enter into God's Kingdom The Papists say none can come to Heaven till they be purged from Sin and they say God hath appointed a place for that purpose and Persons must go into Purgatory and they must lie there till they are putted and purified and fitted for Heaven Now say the Protestants truly There is nâ— such thing we find no such thing mentioned in the Scripture therefore such a thing as this cannot be for the Aâ—â—â—tle said We have declared to you the whole Counsel of God and he speaks not a Word of Purgatory in all the New Testament The Protestants they have got a way to help themselves and the Papists to help themselves and both lie under Danger As for the Papists if their Priests mistake and there be no such Place as Purgaâ—â—â—â— then they mâ—â—â— be brought back to the Doctrin of the Sâ—â—â—â—â—â—res which declares That as death leaves us so judgment shall find us and as we sow so we must reap if we sow to the â—â—â—sh then of the flesh we shall reap Corruption Then the Protestants likewise if they mistake in saying A Man may act Sin and yet contract no Guilt then they must be brought back to the Doctrin of the Scriptures that tell us The soul that sinneth must die If a righteous man forsake his righteousness and doth that which is evil his righteousness shall be remembred no more but in the sin that he hath committed he shall die This is sound Doctrin I had rather trust the Doctrin of the Prophets and Apostles than the Doctrin of them all either Protestants or Papists and had rather depend upon their Doctrin for Salvation that were inspired by the Holy Ghost than upon those Doctors that say There is no Inspiration now-a-days Some conceive this Scripture may be interpreted thus and thus and others conceive it means so and so but we must say they submit to better Judgment I am a fallible Man I submit it to better Judgments Now when People are concerned for Immortality and Eternity to have such things dished out in such a manner what Souls are so dull but they would bestir themselves and consider and look about them before they go hence how it shall go with them when they are gone We are now to work out our own Sâ—â—vation that is on our part None eveâ— have earned out this Salvation it is wrought out on God's part already and it is to be made ours he that is our Saviour he hath suffered for our sins and rose again for our justification He was made to us of God wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption Now Wisdom signifies the opening of the Counsel of God Righteousness signifies the Subjection of our Wills to the Will of God Sanctification signifies Obedience to the Spirit of Christ Sanctification signifies Obedience to something to what what shall we be obedient to what is our Rule He that is led by the spirit of Christ he is his but he that is not led by the spirit of Christ is none of his so that it is plain Sanctification signifies Obedience to the Spirit of Christ and Redemption signifies buying again or setting free from Bondage We know when our Friends are in Captivity as in Turkey or
What dost thou declare of God He is the God that made the World and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth and dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is Worshipped with Mens Hâ—â—ds as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all Life and Breath and all things and hath made of one Blood all Nations of Mâ—n for to dwell on the Face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their Habitations that they should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and find him though he be not far from every one of us for in him we live and move and have our being for as certain also of your own Poets have said for we are also his off-spring for as much then as we are the offspring of God we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto Gold or Silver or Stone Graven by Art and Mans device Here is a way of learning you need not turn over Books any more if I would know the true God I must know who gave me Life and motion and who created me he is not far from me and how should I find the knowledge of him Feel after him if haply you may find him for he is not far from any of us in him we live and move and have our being we cannot live without him one Moment he giveth life essence and power to all Creatures in Heaven and Earth we must have him with us or we cannot live I die as soon as my Life departs from me so do you if my Breath and Life continue with me 〈◊〉 by the power of him that giveth it in whom I live and move and have my being still it is in him that first gave it Here all the great Scholars and Philosophers were counselled to feel after him 〈◊〉 are all People now a days this is our Business when we go to Preach the knowledge of God to them that want it our Commission runs not that we must read such a Book such an Author and turn over such a Leaf and there you shall have a discovery and a fair demonstration of the attributes of God of his Wisdom Power Goodness and Mercy Omnipotence Omniscience our Commission runs not that way but our Commission runs thus that we turn People from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God to turn their Minds from that which may hinder the knowledge of Christ from darkness blindness and ignorance God is not far from them perhaps they might find him if they did feel after him There are a sort of Men now a-days such as were in former times that say unto God depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy wayes such a sort of People are dark and blind and ignorant and are like to continue so that say to God depart from us God is come to them but they bid him depart from them We are sent to these People that are dark and ignorant and have not the true knowledge of God though they have abundance of notions hear-say knowledg learning and speculation our business is to convince them of their ignorance and to turn them from Darkness to Light There are a People that have mocked and scoffed at us many Years what say they is there a light within must we go to the light within Hath every body a light within Yes I believe so and you must believe so too if you will believe the Scriptures Christ is the true Lighâ— and he hath lighted every Maâ— that cometh into the World If he did light them how did he do it I will tell you say they he spake a great many gracious words and some body hath writ them down What will this prove the light within because we have got a new Testament and Christ hath spoken a great many gracious Words and they are written down and recorded doth this prove the light within No People might have been in darkness still for all the Books of the New Testament and the Old Testament to and for all the Books in the World for they would never have conveyed light into the Hearts and Consciences of Men if God had not placed it there Indeed these Books may be instrumental and God doth make use of them as a means for the conveying of Light and Grace and working of true conversion but the holy Scriptures cannot do it of themselves unless there be a coacting and cooperation of the Spirit of Christ with them without this Spirit they cannot convey saving Light to us How prove you then a Light within the Apostle tells you if you will believe him 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commandeth the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined into our Hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ so that every one that retireth into himself will know quickly and understand his Error and confess that there is a Light within and that by this rule because there is something in the Heart that makes manifest that which is reprovable if they do or say a thing reprovable that which manifesteth a thing is Light that which manifesteth dark words or works is Light Now when they have found this Light within the next question in controversie is whether this will give Men sufficient Light for the true knowledg of God whether this be sufficient to bring a Man to Life and to Salvation I am of that judgment that it is sufficient 〈◊〉 and I believe it hartily and preach it boldly in the name of the Lord that the Light that shines in your Hearts shines there to give you the true knowledg of God in the Face of the Mediator the Lord Jesus Christ You cannot believe this you will say for you have had this ever since you was a Child and you know not the least good it hath done you all our learned Men and Ministers go to what sort you will they speak very slightingly of it this Light within it is nothing but natural conscience a poor Light it is but an Ignis Fatuus that will mislead us But let me tell thee the reason why it doth thee no more good is because thou hast been loose and wanton and vain and wouldst not receive the reproofs of it reckon but up the time and call to Mind when thou didst receive the reproofs of it then it did thee some good and brought thee to remorse and brought anguish and sorrow and trouble into thy Mind and brought thee to a right sense of what evil thou hast done but if thou didst not regard it no wonder it did thee no good its reproofs and counsels were like the seed sown by the high way the Fowls of the Air gathered it up and it did no good that is the Devil plucked it up and then thy Soul lay as seed that brought forth no Fruit to God and the Devil might have what
is a plâ—ce appointed for the Woman in 〈◊〉 Wilderness where she is preserved by the â—â—mighty Power where she is nourished for a Time and Times and half a Time from the Face of the Serpent but she must come out again after some Time in spite of the Devil and all his Instruments of all his Dragons and Serpents The woman must come out of the Wilderness and the Man-Child must come down with great Power to rule the Nations This hath been accomplished say some above fourteen hundred Years ago and if you will take their Word the Church hath been come so long out of the Wilderness But the Church that they speak of hath it not wanted Holiness and Righteousness Hath it given glory to God on high with peace on earth and good will to men No their Church hath lived in Tyranny and barbarous Cruelty and shedding of Blood They say the Churcâ— was in the Wilderness in Dioclesian's Time and when Constantine came to the Empire theâ— she came out of the Wilderness If it had been a Holy Church we should have seen the Man-Child come down from God and Holiness and Righteousness would have run down like a mighty stream and Truth would have filled the whole Earth All these things have not yet been fulfilled for we have seen the Professors of Truth fallen in the Streets they have been persecuted and troubled and thrown into Prisons and … on s but there is a better Church some … to be found I read of the Holy Church the Lamâ—â— Wife the Spouse of Christ that hath been hid somewhere a great while in some Corner or other in the Wilderness but she will come forth again out of the wilderness leaning upon her well-beloved She doth not come leaning on this Prince and the other Potentate She comes not out of the Wilderness leaning on Captains Generals and Armies but leaning on Christ her well-beloved the Immortal Invisible Power of the Son of God she trusteth in it All the other Churches I have read of they have leaned upon one Prince or Potentate or one Emperour or another and they have relyed on these great Men as on their Bulwark but this Church that comes out of the Wilderness will come leaning only upon her well-beloved the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of her Faith she will put her Trust in him for he will deliver his Church from all her Enemies And though the Serpent cast out of his Mouth Water as a Flood after the Woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the Flood 〈◊〉 the Lord will cause the Earth to help â—he â—oman and thâ— Earth shall open her Mouth and swallow up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth Let the Dragon do what he can to destroy the Woman and her Seed she knows what her beloved can do he will command the Earth to open and swallow up the Flood and she shall go dry through it How happy are they that lean upon Christ their well-beloved The Church of Christ in all Ages hath leaned upon him and he hath founded his Church upon a Rock so that the Devil and all his Instruments and the very gates of hell shall not prevail against her The Members of this Church have their Teacher Christ Jesus and they receive Counsel and Direction from him He is their Priest and Teacher and he teacheth them by his Spirit and his Word which he hath placed in their Hearts and given them an Understanding to know him that is true Christ's Word you must keep to 〈◊〉 if you will be true Schâ—lars This 〈◊〉 true Divinity if you will have the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God communicated and opened to you give heed to 〈◊〉 word and that Truth that is in your 〈◊〉 parts Attend to that Light and that 〈◊〉 that is manifested in your Hearts and 〈◊〉 Lord will shew you more of the Power 〈◊〉 Efficacy thereof and if you be faithful 〈◊〉 little he will make you ruler over much 〈◊〉 answerable to the Understanding and Knowledge that God hath given you and if you be faithful in a little he will communicate more and more of his Mind and Will to you and if you be led by the Spirit of Truth you will trust in it and hearken to it and understand the Language of it in your own Hearts and if you be a willing people in the day of God's power God will work all things in you and for you and work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure SERMON IX The wonderful love of God to Mankind Preached at S. Martin's-le-Grand November 9th 16â—0 IT is our great concern while we are in this World to promote the Glory of God and 〈◊〉 work out our own salvation to endeavour â—hat in us lies to be sensible and to help one another to be sensible of the Love of God to 〈◊〉 This is the only thing that can give us 〈◊〉 comfort to have a Sense of the Love of God to us in Christ Jesus There is 〈◊〉 more certain â—haâ—â—hat all of us are Partakâ—â—â— of the Love of 〈◊〉 which is imparted to us daily and we live noâ— a Day without it but we may if we have not a care live maâ—â— Days without it and without the comfortaâ—â—â— Sense of it and that is the reason that 〈◊〉 great many of â—he Sâ—â—â— and Daughters of Men do 〈◊〉 in their Liâ—â—â— so little Love to God becaâ—â—e they have so â—â—â—tle Sense of his Love to them for the Apostle â—ohn that had attained 〈◊〉 great Knowledge and Experience in Christianity plainly declareth that â—he â—â—â—son of that Love â—â—at we have to 〈◊〉 is â—â—â—ause he first loved us and I do not believe that any Man can have any true Love to Gâ—d that is not sensible of the Love of God to hâ—m And 〈◊〉 those temporal Blessings that we enjoy 〈◊〉 thâ—â—â—â—fe as Health and Strength and our very â—â—eath 〈◊〉 â—â—ing and well-being that every Day and Hour are continued they are from 〈◊〉 Love of God to us and the lengthning 〈◊〉 of our Lives and vouchsafing us Oppâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—es for the good of our Souls are evident Tokens of God's Love and Good-will to us Where these things are not coâ—sidered and regarded men live like the 〈◊〉 that perish and regard not him that mâ—dâ— them but go on in Disobedience to him 〈◊〉 Dishonouring of his great Name and hoâ—â—â—ing up Wrath upon their own Souls Aâ—◠〈◊〉 doth every Man while he remaâ—â—â— in 〈◊〉 natural state and conditionâ— foâ— there is in every Man by nature the Sâ—â—d aâ—d Root of all Sin and Rebellion against 〈◊〉 which makes him return evil to God fâ—â— the good he doth to us And I believe we are â—ll of us sensible in some measure of the depravedness that is fallen upon all Maâ—â—â—d and of tâ—â—t â—â—mity to God and that aveâ—â—â—â—ss that â—s 〈…〉 the doing the will of God and that impotency and inability
cometh when no man can work Let every one of us that are now met together labour to be sensible of the Love of God to us and love him above all and express our Love by a willing and persevering Obedience that we may have the love of God shed abroad upon our hearts by the Holy Ghost and offer up living Praises to him through Jesus Christ â—ho hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made to kings and priests unto God and his father To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and â—ver Amen SERMON X. Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ Preached at Devonshire-House August the 9th 1691. IT is a general Doctrine in the World That no man by any means in the World can ever be set free from Sin in this Life This is universally received almost among all Christians in all Churches one and another tho' they differ never so much in other things yet they agree in this so that this Doctrine hath â—ot a Sway in the World and it is accounted a great Delusion and a Heresie and a grand Error for any to question the Truth of it Now while a Man is of that Belief That there is an impossibility of living without Sin and of breaking down the Kingdom of Satan in any one Soul in the World How can Men hope or believe that Righteousness should prevail in the Heart of one Man Therâ— neither King nor Beggar if he be a Bishop 〈◊〉 a Gospel Minister the Devil must have a Rulâ— and Goverâ—â—ent in him so long 〈…〉 this World As long as this is believe 〈◊〉 not possible that the other Belief should tâ— place It is madness to think that I must bâ— under the Rule and Government of Satan if I am under the Government of the Son of God And it is still greater madness to say That Christ and the Devil are both my Governours and Rulers It is prodigious Folly and Madness to speak after this manner This Belief prevails over all Men over the Wise and Mighty and Noble and Learned that they can never be freed from the Power of Sin in this World but that the Devil will lead them into Sin every Day leâ— Men be never so sober never so abstemious in their Lives let them spend never so many Hours in Prayer every Day let them come to Meetings and hear Sermons and write them and repeat them and do what they will here is a Bar of Unbelief that lies in the way that makes Men depart from the living God and his Power and lose the Benefit they should receive from Christ And therefore they go to fetch it another way that is to have the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them and they shall be holy and pure in the sight of God when they are polluted in their own Eyes and when they see their daily Failings Infirmities and Corruptions yet God may not see them but that he sees them Holy Just and Righteous in his Son What strange kind of Doctrine is this I must prâ—sume that God will see me in his Son Jesus Christ when I never was in Christ How can this be He that is in Christ 〈◊〉 new creature old things are done away and 〈◊〉 things are become new But if there be Oâ— things remaining still and I be not becomâ— New shall I presume that I am in Christ and that God will see me in his Son When People come to use the Understanding that God hath given them the will look upon themselvâ—â— as barred out by their Unbelief that the Nations have drunk in and it is as sweet to them as the Honey and the Honey-Comb But blessed be God many have vomited it up already If they would have placed this Doctrine upon Man's Natural Ability I would have said Amen to it I know there is none of us all have a natural Ability anâ— Power to deliver his own Soul from Sin and Satan but when they come to place it upon God that though the Lord make bare his arm and reveal his power though they come to have the Grace of God that still they could not be delivered from Sin this hath Blasphemy at the bottom of it The other reflected upon man's Power this reflects upon the Power of God Almighty That the Devil hath got such a Power over us that God hath noâ— Power over us nor cannot have Power aâ— Dominion over us so that of a whole Nâ—tion he cannot have one Man to serve him Much might be said in answer to this When Men are once willing to serve Goâ— they will be willing to leave the Seâ—vice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devil There is no way to answer that good Wish but by waiting upon God for the revealing of his Power I pray God that when you come to a Meeting you may say Lord let thy Power go forth upon my Heart Let thy Arm be made bare and deliver me from the Power and Dominion of Sin Some will say they feel God's Power in a Meeting I feel the Power of God workinâ— upon my Heart in order to the taking away Sin and Transgression and giving me Victory over it through the Lord Jesus Christ If they feel this Power of God upon them it is their Duty to believe it and depend upon it If I believe it I must wait for the Dictates of it and believe that I shall be able to do all things â—hrough Christ that strengthens me Then Faith will come forth into Works and appear to be a living Faith You may remember what the Apostle James saith As the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also As soon as a Man comes to joyn with the mighty Power of God he will be able to withstand Temptation If he comes into evil Company he will deny them and not comply with them 〈◊〉 will find then something of a Power 〈◊〉 Ability to serve God though he is â—ot come to Perfection yet he is walking 〈◊〉 the way of Holiness and pressing forward towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus He will say I am got a little â—â—arer than I was towards the place where I would be towards that Life which I wâ— live and die then let Death come wheâ— pleaseth God it shall be welcome This is the wickedness of many in thâ— World they will not live such a Life as they would be willing to die in They cannot come at it unless it be given them to believâ— for it is the Gift of God they must come to thâ—â— Governour and Leader which goes beâ— to the Gift of God which is eternal lâ—fe then let Death come when it will if I have the Gift of eternal Life It is a miserable thing to think that there arâ— divers that have not laid hold of eternal Life It is manifested that we may lay hold of it there is a Hand of Faith joyning with it When a Man comes to lay hold of
his Power or I will submit to him Which of these is the best way the safest way Are there not a great many in this Age that are as sensible of the Workings of God's Grace for their Conversion as ever you and I were that are as sensible that God hath call'd them to Holiness and Righteousness as any of us can be and yet they have resisted the Grace of God They have said in their Hearts We will not submit to this Power that will make us so holy and so watchful and so careful diligent and obedient for this very reason because it will cross my Interest it will cross my Pleasure it will hinder my Preferment in the World and my Reputation among men and for this reason I will not bear this Yoke I would be glad to hope there are none such here that have made such a Covenant with Death and Hell and yielded themselves up to the Devil to serve him all their Dayes Let us who are at this Time and at this Meeting under the Operation of God's Grace and do feel the Lord calling us by his Grace and working upon us by his Spirit let us enter together into a holy solemn Resolution That we will obey this good Spirit and take him for our Leader and submit though it should be to a Cross Thus People will think they will come to this Resolution when the Work of Redemption is begun in their Souls and when they are convinced of their Sin and their Eyes are opened to see the way of Holiness and though they never take a Resolution to walk in it yet every one shall be convinced and see there was a better waâ— than their own and be convinced by the Grace of God one time or other that in respect of God's working of it it is a beginning but in respect of Man that should join with the operation of God it is not beginning for he haâ—â— no desire to those things which he doth not know he still depends upon himself but when the Soul comes to be satisfied that it is the Visitation of God and joins himself to him in a holy Resignation of his own will and saith This is the Lord he is come to work upon me he is come to change and alter the Frame of my Mind It is the Lord let him do what he will here is a Mind brought to submit to the Grace of God God is able to do that for him which he cannot do for himself When People come to the right Object of their Faith and act their Faith upon that Object they every Day find a Progress a going forward in the Work of Grace according to the Work of Faith in their Souls and there is a Power that inclines them to believe it is not for such to cry If they had Power they would do more he that hath the Spirit of Grace the Spirit of Christ that had all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him to put it forth on purpose for the bringing back of Men and Women home to God he that hath this Object of Faith before him he will not look for Power in his own Will and Affections to redeem him he expects a Power to be daily ministred and dispensed to him as he hath need of it through the Lord Jesus Christ who is present with him in all his Tryals and Temptations He cries Here is a Temptation that will carry me away O Lord help me Put forth the Arm of thy Power and save me plant thy Fear in my heart and deliver me Their Eyes shall see their Saviour saith the Prophet Thus when a Man comes to be joined to the right Object of Faith and doth exercise and put forth lively Acts of Faith upon Christ hi Eyes shall see his Saviour the light that shines into his Heart discovers to him the Temptation and it also shews him a Redeemer at hand his Saviour is nigh him and he trusteth in him and relies upon him and says This Word of God is in my Heart and I do really believe that although the Temptation that assaults me be strong yet it shall not prevail whether it be the Profits the Pleasures or the Honours of the World if I put my Trust in this Power I cannot go near the Evil I am a Christian I am entred into a Covenant in Christianity that I will joyn with nothing but what God approves of now when I have represented to my Mind the Temptation of the Devil and that evil which he sets before me and I know it is contrary to the Mind of God How can I go into that evil and break my Covenant with God after I am entred into Covenant with him to love him serve him and obey him the Power of Grace upon such Souls the Operation of Grace is so powerful that the Temptation comes and goes and they are saved and delivered out of it because God helpeth them but if they comply with the Temptation then Tribulation Wrath and Anguish pursues all such as are rebellious and disobedient to the Will of God Now this Redemption is carried on gradually from day to day the Truth that thou believest it operates by degrees thou art delivered first from one evil Practice and then from another evil Work but there is a great deal more thou rejoicest and art glad that thou art delivered from one sin but thou wouldest be more glad to be delivered from them all I speak to those that are serious for their immortal Souls when they see themselves delivered out of one Evil that they were ready to run into they would be glad that they were redeemed out of every evil that their crosness and perversness their frowardness and Wantonness were removed they should be glad to be delivered from all their Sins What do you think say some that a Man while he liveth here may come to see all Sin all Evil and Corruption brought under and nothing but Holiness and Righteousness and Truth remain in him and that there shall be nothing but Simplicity and Innocence Do you think that such a thing can be Why should not I think so You will grant me That the Power of Grace is able to get such Power and Victory over Sin and Corruption that you may come to hate it as much as ever you have loved it if you grant me that the Consequence will follow he that gave me Victory over Sin can give me Power over all Sin All Christians believe That God's Power is infinite the Scripture testifies All things to be possible to God with whom we have to do If all things be possible to God sure this is possible there is nothing so contrary to God as Sin is and God will not suffer the Devil always to rule his Masterpiece Man Mankind is God's Masterpiece the most eminent Creature in this lower World made after God's likeness and though the Devil hath brought Men into his own likeness now yet nothing can be more
out of the Mouth of God administers Life Sense and Conviction and you feel it and receive it and you may have more familiar Acquaintance with it There is not a Day or Hour that passeth over your Head nor mine but if we attend to this inward Voice we may know what it speaks to us by its Counsels Doctrins Reproofs Convictions and Illuminations for the Spirit speaketh expresly with an express signification unto the Spirit of Man and if he be under a Temptation to tell a Lie and he comes to a little Pause or Question whether he shall tell it or no if he hearken to this inward Word he will not pause long about it but such a Sentence will arise in him as that to Joseph How can I do this great Wickedness and sin against God How can I speak a Lie tell a Lie when in so doing I sin against God Here is a sentence of Truth wilt thou receive it or not No saist thou I will venture to tell a Lie then shalt thou come into the rank of them that do Despite to the Spirit of Grace that trample under Foot the Son of God and count the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing What Sentence such shall have at the latter end you may read at large in the Holy Scriptures Now there is a great necessity that every one be persuaded to hearken to this Voice not only at a Meeting but on all Occasions they have in the World I hope I speak to many serious and religious Persons that are enquiring about their Immortal Souls what may be best for their Souls whether 't is better to go on in Wickedness or leave off and that resolve and say I would be glad to leave my Sins as well as you if I had Power and to live a holy Life As for the want of Power that you have not Power I do not wonder at it for till you come to an exercise of Faith in that which hath empowered the People of God in all Ages I wonder not that you have not Power You say I am so weak that I am overcome before I am aware the Devil is so subtil and cunning with his Temptations that I am surprizeâ— and snatch'd into Temptations and overcomâ— with evil before I am aware He is like 〈◊〉 Roaring Lion going about continually so all 〈◊〉 whom he may devour But who can he devour Can he devour those that hearken and submit to the Word of God If he could then none could escape him if the Devil could pluck out of Gods Hands then no Body would go to Heaven nor ever shall if he have Power Where the Devil finds any in their own Hands as suppose a religious Person of this and the other Religion who never experienced any thing of this Power of God but trusteth to his Duties and Performances this Man is at his own Hand now such a one the Tempter hath Power over He can make him cheat his Neighbour and lead him into Drunkenness and Uncleanness sometimes and into the greatest Abominations but if a Man come into an exercise of Faith and dependance upon God and hath left trusting in his own Hands and saith I see I cannot preserve my self from sin I see a necessity of putting my trust in the Lord and of waiting upon Gods Power to keep me If the Tempter come to such a one he cannot prevail all the Devils in Hell cannot stir him one jot the Devil may tempt him but he stands in the Power of Faith he knows his Name and saith Get thee behind me Satan when the Devil comes before him and lays a Temptation before him he casts it behind him if the Devil rises up against him he can chain him down he can say in the Name of the Lord Get thee behind me Satan This is the Reason why many are tempted and not overtaken why many are tempted to sin and not overcome How comes it to pass that we do not do every thing that we are Tempted to There is something that keeps us the Devil is not so bad to Tempt but we are as bad in our own Inclinations to yield to him The Heart is deceitful above all Things and desperately wicked who can know it There is more Wickedness in it than can be uttered If People be tempted and not overcome something must preserve them if there be something that preserves a Man from any Evil it can preserve him from all Evil. The Reason why some People are led into Temptation sometimes and resist it is because sometimes the Temptation suits not their Inclination sometimes their Reputation lies in the way sometimes one thing sometimes another But when a thing they are Tempted to suits their Profit and Pleasure then away with the fear of God and nothing shall hinder them I will have my Pleasure But they that understand the Keeper of Israel and come to know his Power living in their Hearts these always bring their Deeds and Temper before him and they come to him for a Verdict and Judment and they ask Doth this tend to the Honour or Dishonour of God Is it good or evil The Oracle of God in the Heart says do it not it is evil Thou wilt kindle the Indignation of the Lord against thee what will it profit to gain the whole world and lose thy own soul or what wilt thou give in exchange for thy Soul Here is one at hand that can give Counsel to all of us at all times this is he that we must advance our Labour and Work upon the Stage of thâ—s World among the Sons and Daughters of Men is to advance the Vertue and great Authority of this mighty Counsellor Christ Jesus we do say and affirm in the Name of God that the same Light and Grace by which God hath brought us out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and from the Power of the Devil into the Kingdom of his dear Son the same Power is extended to you that you may be sanctified and saved from your Sins One Sect will say my Tenets are so and so and our Ordinances are so and so will you come over to us You shall be a Member of our Church Our duty is to come over to the Grace of God that shines in our Hearts now we are Witnesses for God that he doth not desire the death of them that die but rather that they would turn and live for his Word is gone forth and his Light shines and his Glory is risen upon the Nations that they that inhabit the Earth may fear him Fear God and give Glory to God The hour of his Judgment is come Do you know that to be true that you may not be deluded you shall certainly know that the Hour of God's Judgment is come Thus when any one suffers himself to be led away with the Evil One when he feels after that a Remorse upon his own Heart 〈◊〉 finds a secret Judgment and Tribunal set up in his
but the grand question that every one ought to enquire about and put to themselves is What progress they have made in this way Whether they are Baptized yet or no Whether they have Put off the old Man and his deeds and put on the new Man and the new Mans deeds which are righteousness and holiness They that find that though they are believers they are short of this they do also find that their shortness is their hinderance their shortness in not coming up to the pattern that hath bin shewed them is their hinderance so that they enjoy not the things here spoken of the being under this sense and really sitting under this sense in a Meeting though there should be no Man speaking to them outwardly yet being come to this faith and made partakers of this baptism People would find in their own Bosoms the hidden Word of life ministring to their condition they would have enough there would not be a famin of the Word unto them nor they should not need to be in expectation of going out to this or the other Instrument but they would be satisfied when they are met together with the presence of the Lord that the Lord is in midst of them ministring to them the Word of life in his operating and working speaking in a tongue that every one can understand it speaking with a kind of Voice and Language that every one may understand his own state and condition and this is the way that God brought up People at the beginning to the knowledge of Heavenly things and opening of the mysteries of Salvation we had it not of Men but of Jesus our Lord he was our great minister we waited upon him and trusted in him and he taught us himself he hath ministred to us at our silent and quiet waiting upon him those things that were convenient for us we might well say he gave us our Food in due season he hath not only given strong Meat unto Men but hath ministred of the sincere Milke of his word unto Babes that lived in sincerity and self-denyal loving God above all things and he taught and conducted us in our way this way of simplicity until our understandings came to be opened until our Souls came to be prepared to receive the mysteries of his Kingdom In those Days there were some that started up in Knowledge and that built their Nets on high and took Flax and Wool and Silver and Gold and decked themselves with them but the Lord found them out and brought them down and took the Crown from their Head and cloathed them with Dishonour So God doth from Age to Age his Judgments will begin at his own House if you would Grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ then grow in humility and self-denyal and keep a constant watch upon your Hearts examine your Hearts and Commune with your selves upon your Beds and be still take heed lest you sin against the Lord and provoke him There were some that provoked the Lord of old and they commited two great evils What be they They have gon away and forsaken the Fountain of living Water as much as to say they have not their dependance upon an invsiable power as they ought to have for I am a living fountain and t is by an invisible power that I am able to councel and teach direct and purify and open their understanding but they have forsaken me that is one great evil and the other is they would not be without somewhat they have forsaken the Lord and they would have somewhat instead of God They have digged to themselves broken Cisterns that will hold no Water And how many in this Age have committed these two great evils My Friends examine your selves are there not many that have been guilty of these two great Evils They do not keep their close dependence trust and reliance upon the invisible Power of God as they profess they ought to do but are hurried away from it some by the love of the World some by Lusts and Pleasures some by Passions and others by worldly Interests are drawn away from the Power to do and say that which the Power is against Is not this a forsaking of the Lord the living Fountain What do they do then Are they not for this and that and the other Man for hearing this and the other Mans word and digging to themselves broken Cisterns And have they not their trust and confidence in going to Meetings in commending this and the other way Have they not their trust in their Profession outwardly when it ministers nothing to their Souls so that they secretly wither for all this If you had all the Men and Angels that were ever sent of God appointed to preach to you that could not minister Life to you unless there be that Faith that stands in the Power of God The Faith that stands in any Mans Words that will not overcome your Lusts but the Faith that stands in the Power purifies the Heart it will not suffer any unclean thing there As for Preaching let a Man preach against this and the other Lust and Corruption there it will remain for all his Preaching unless Men know Gods Power and Life in which there is Righteousness for Words and Knowledge and Sight and Speculation will never give People Victory over their Sins Therefore you know every one who is setled must be setled where the Foundation of Religion is it is not coming to Meetings and owning this and the other Doctrin which is the Foundation of our Religion God hath revealed his Power to every one of us God hath not given his Spirit to Preachers and Prophets only for then there would be a Famine of the Word as was in Israel The Priest's Lips preserved Knowledge If you did take away the Priest you did take away their Knowledge The Prophets had the Word of God and they only spake the Word of God If the Prophet was taken away then the Word of God was taken away The Lord threatned to send a Famine among them they grieved and vexed and killed and destroyed the Priests and Prophets therefore saith thâ— Lord I will send a Famine among you not of Bread but of the Word and they shall go from City to City and enquire for the Word of the Lord. Thus it was in the Jewish Church if there was a Prophet they would go 30 40 or 100 Miles to him that had the Word of the Lord They shall go from City to City to enquire for the Word of the Lord But blessed be God we are come to another Day for now the Word of the Lord is manifested in the Hearts of all that believe they know the Word I do not say all that believe do preach the Word or ought to preach but the Word preacheth to them they are not as broken Cisterns that can hold no Water when they find the Word and hear it they speak
it presently what is ministred to their own Condition that they tell to other Folks when People come to the Blessing of this Dispensation that Gods Word revealeth in their Hearts they then know what the signification of it is they understand the Doctrin of it the Doctrin preacheth Holiness to them not that they should preach Holiness and yet remain Unholy not that they should preach Humility and yet remain Proud It preacheth Holiness Humility and Singleness of Heart to a Remnant that like good Scholars and Disciples learn the Lessons and Doctrin of the Word of God Now when thou hast learned them well and art come to see the effect of the Word and dost bring forth the Deeds and Works which are the Fruits of Holiness Perfecting Holiness in the fear of God and with Humility known and witnessed in Christ Jesus and art not only meek in shew but meek and lowly in Heart when People come to be meek and lowly and of a clear Conscience purged from all dead Works to serve the living God then if the Lord gives them a Word of Exhortation of Doctrin or Counsel it is very welcome and it hath a Savour through the Blessing of God and they come by it to be built up in their most holy Faith and this Word is brought forth in Holiness and Righteousness in their Lives and shews it self in a Life of Holiness then thou wilt shine in thy Conversation to all that thou conversest with so that they may see thee to be such a Man or Woman as hast been with Jesus and learned of Jesus and receivedst a word ingrafted when thou dost receive the Word into thy Heart there is the engrafting of it If it hath not Root there then saith Christ My Word doth not abide in you If you feel something of this Invisible Word in your Hearts it brings you to a Resolution to serve God and to keep your selves from sin and to answer the Profession which you make of God this is the effect of the Word of God if it doth abide in you Doth it abide You shall know anon or to morrow so soon as a Temptation comes to stir you up to Pride or Passion to Fraud or Deceit then you will see whether the Word abide If it abide you sin not This is Scripture a certain Foundation Doctrin that may be as safely preached as any Doctrin If the Word abide in you you sin not What of that Let the Word go and you will sin when ever you are tempted to it I write to you young Men because you have overcome the wicked one you are strong and the Word of God abides in you and you have overcome the wicked one We shall see as soon as a Temptation meets with thee whether the Word abides in thee if it abide thou wilt not sin but resist the Tempter Set thy Foot upon the Temptation and go over it and thou wilt have the Dominion and this will make thee a Free-man or Woman and thou wilt stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made thee free The Apostle supposeth them free and that they have got Dominion then Stand fast saith he in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made thee free It is a liberty not of Lust and Sin but a liberty of the Soul the Soul now is not at the Devil's Will and Call For it is a shame to the Doctrin of Christianity that we profess things and yet deny them in Practice We profess that there is a Power in Christ to keep and preserve us out of sin and we profess to believe this Power is communicated to them that do believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for their Preservation that is he will not with-hold it from them We profess these things in the face of the whole World and yet when the Devil calls one Man to Covetousness and another to defraud his Neighbour and another to defile himself he is drawn away thereby what Hypocrisy is here to profess this and act the contrary I do not wonder that they that profess they cannot live a day without Sin that they should fall but they that profess to believe there is Power enough in Christ and that it is offered to them for them to live in sin and yield to temptation this is horrid Wickedness They that are of an upright single Mind would die before they would sin knowing that God is Almighty and gracious and willing to bestow his Power and Wisdom and Grace upon them that ask it they would die rather than sin against God presumptuously Let it cost me my Goods my Estate my Liberty or my Life How can I do this great Wickedness and sin against God They love God above all you never heard them complain that they wanted Power For the Lord is at their right Hand and they shall not be moved They cannot fall tho' they are Tempted they will not fall into Temptation They have Power when they see the Devil before them to put him behind them the Nobility of their Extract of their new Birth and Regeneration puts such a Temper and Disposition into their Souls that they scorn to be at the Devils Command as if they were his Children Oh it is a noble and honourable thing to be a Child of God a very high Dignity to be in such an honourable Relation to God and to have a Right to the Heavenly Mansions To sit down in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus I would to God you were all ready for it that you had the Wedding Garment on that you might not be bound Hand and Foot and cast into utter Darkness What is the reason that you do not sit down in this heavenly Frame and Temper and draw the Waters of Salvation our of your own Souls Could the Lord do any thing more than he hath done and could his Servants do any more than they have done for your Help Are not their Labours demonstrations of it We have been as Epistles of Christ written in your Consciences We have been testifying that there is something wanting in too too many the want of resigning up themselves to the Baptism of the Cross People are willing to be counted Friends but they are Friends of God that do whatsoever he commandeth 'em that is the Christian Lesson not to say I will be a Friend to you and a Friend to the Church and to such a sort of People but I will be a Friend of God and do whatsoever he commandeth me whatsoever Command God lays upon you either to take up a Cross or to deny your selves and follow him Learn this Lesson and you will be Disciples indeed and Members of the Church too not Members of a Church priviledged outwardly only but members of a church of the first-born and you will have your names written in heaven when one comes to have his Name written in Heaven he comes to know his Name 't is a white Stone not a speckled one they that have it they
have an Eye to Christ the Author and Finisher of their Faith when Men have a reference to their Faith in Christ this makes their Duty acceptable I cannot do it except the Lord strengthen me therefore I will have respect to the Mediator Christ Jesus who was sent for a Light into the World God sends forth his Grace to every one to lay hold on that generally believe that tho' they are unable to do what God requires yeâ— he will enable them to do it 〈◊〉 aâ— many as receâ—ved him to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God tho' they were the Devils Children before He is the same yesâ—erday to day and for ever He abides alâ—â—â—s the same in his Grace to Men he is in his operation to them the same he offers Grace to them that are out of a frame of Mind to receivâ— it they may know that his Power will givâ— them Ability and that whatsoever they do of themselves will prove fruitless because it is not done in Christ's Name and Power and so not acceptable to God The greatest thing that we are to be concern'd about if we will be Religious and concern our selves about divine Matters about the Kingdom of God and the World to come is to see what frame of Mind we are in at present whether the high Places are taken away whether we are not exalted in our own Conceits of Knowledge and Wisdom and reckon not to be beholden to him for his Grace If we be highly conceited and think we can stand upon our own Legs the high Places are not taken away Men are not prepared to seek the God of their Fathers therefore let every one mind turning to God and see how it is with you see whether there be a Mind brought low enough to be subject to Christ and to the gracious Teachings of his Spirit A Man may say I can make a good Sermon I can make a good Prayer and Exhortation and I can make a Book â—nd 〈◊〉 it abroad I can do all this by mine own Pâ—â—ts and Abilities so thou maist and maist maâ—e it all full of good Words but thou canst never make it acceptable to God for without me saith Christ you can do nothing Tâ—â—â— must have the assistance of the Spirit of Christ else thou canst not make a good Prayer nor a good Book nor any thing good God esteems the very Plowing of the Wicked to bâ— an Abomination to him Where the Mind is not exercised by the Spirit of God if he should pray from Morning to Night and spend all his Days in Pennance it will do him no good If I saith David regard Iniquity you may think I am a Man in favour with God a Man after Gods own Heart yet if I regard Iniquity in my Heart the Lord will not hear my Prayer What signifies Prayers and Sermons made of good Words if they come not fâ—â—m a Heart separate from Iniquity If it be not so it will do no good at all in point of Acceptance with God O let the fear of the Lord enter upon every Heart wait all to feel the Divine Power of the Lord that brings down every high Thought that so you may look to the Preparation of your Heart that is a right Preparation when People are so low so broken and so tender that they are nothing in their own Eyes but what the Lord will make them to be Then they are as Clay to the Hands of the Potter they are fashioned by his Hands and 〈◊〉 the Worâ—â—anship of God in Chrâ—â—â— Jeâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—e one Mediator between God and Mâ—â— They must bear Christ Jesus his likeness 〈◊〉 his hâ—â—â—enly Image they must â—â—ve hiâ—â—ualities and have the same Minâ— in them that was in him I do always that which pleaseth my Father saith the Lord Jesus Christ Indeed he hath the doing of things in the Hearts of Men and God is pleased with him and where Men have the doing of them themselves they are thrown back as Dung in their Faces where any aim at infallible Justification where Men have a right preparation of Heart so to seek the God of their Fathers as to find him and be accepted of him it is through Jesus Christ in whom he is well pleâ—â—â—â— In all your Assemblies Prayers Exercises and Meditations you must be separated and drawn oâ—â—â—â—m your former Lovers and you must be joined to him that God hath sent to be a â—eader and a Guide unto you then you will find daily his Assistance and as you have Assistance from him you will find Acceptance wiâ—â— God and he will shew you the Father and that and nothing else will satisfy the Soul hungring and thirsting after God Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us So when Christ the Mediator comes to have wrought so far as the purifying of the Soul and the sanctification thereof and thereby fitted it for his Glory such holy Souls 〈◊〉 behold his Glory For the Lord 〈…〉 Grace and Glory and no good thing will 〈◊〉 hold from them that walk uprightly That you may be brought to this State and â—ept and preserved in it that the Heavens may rain down Fatness upon you and that you may feel the living Vertues that flow from Christ to every Member this is the Labour and Travel of the Servants of God for their own Souls and the Souls of others that are in Unity and Fellowship with the Holy Spirit SERMON VI. Captive Sinners set free by Jesus Christ Preached at Devonshire-House April 29th 166â— THere is nothing will make People live to God but that which they received from God For as all Men by Nature are in a state of Death so there must be something beyond Nature to make them alive again and that â—s it that every one ought to wait upon God 〈◊〉 that you may feel something that is supernatural And that you may be acquainteâ— with God's Gift The gift of God saith the Scripture is eternal life Many find a Life in this World that is not the Gift of 〈◊〉 The Life that People have in Sin it is not the Gift of God the Delights and Pleasures of this World are become a Life unto them The World is that to which every one must die they that are not dead to that they live all to themselves they do not live to God for none can live to God but by the Life that comes from him That which People receive of Man gathers them unto Man that which they receive of God carries them to God So Men have made Gatherings and have communicated of what they have to one another and by vertue thereof have made them a People Many Men have gathered many People â—â—ny Churches and they live to them that gathered them they do not live to God for want of receiving something from God 〈◊〉 all they that come to receive the Gift of God they die to the World and they come to live such a Life as the World doth
elswhere we pay down our Mony for their Redemption but we will not pay our Mony if they be kept in their Fetters still Would not any one think himself cheated to pay so much Mony for their Redemption and the Bargain be made so that he shall be said to be redeemed and be â—â—lled a redeemed Captive but he must wear his Fetters still How long as long as he hath a day to live This is for Bodies but now I am speaking of Souls Christ must be made to me Redemption and rescue me from Captivity Am I a Prisoner any where Yes Verily verily he that committeth sin saith Christ he is a servant of sin he is a Slave to Sin If thou hast sinned thou art a Slave A Captive that must be redeemed out of Captivity who will pay a price for me I am poor I have nothing I cannot redeem my self who will pay a Price for me There is one come that hath paid a Price for me That is well that is good News then I hope I shall come out of my Captivity What is his Name is he called a Redeemer So then I do expect the Benefit of my Redemption and that I shall go out of my Captivity No say they you must abide in Sin as long as you live What benefit then have I by my Redemption I could have been in Captivity no longer if I had not been redeemed I must wear my Shackles and Fetters still and be subject to my old Master and Patron and when he will have me be drunk I must be drunk and when he will have me be unclean I must be unclean Thus many profest Christians there be you see it with your Eyes that will tell you they believe all the Articles of the Creed and they have been baptized into the Christian Faith and can rehearse all the Principles of the Christian Religion and perform the Duty of Christians in going to Church saying their Prayers and in giving Alms too it may be they are such as would be called Christians they would be called so yet they are not Redeemed from their vain Conversations for what makes their Shackles and Fetters about them When their old Master bids them be Drunk they will be Drunk and when he bids them commit Whoredom or Lie or Cheat their Neighbour they will do it You do believe the Devil leads you to this you will not say the Spirit of God led you to it If one demand How did you do it You say the Devil prevailed upon me What hath the Devil Power over Men after they are Redeemed What sort of Redemption is this Then comes in the old Shift again we are Redeemed from the Punishment of our Sin but not from the Act of it Now if those that are called Ranters had told me this Tale it had been like them but when Doctors of Divinity tell us this Tale it is so unlike Divinity that it is Carnal Sensual and Devilish To tell Believers they are redeemed from the Punishment of Sin but not from the Act of Sin that this is the benefit which we receive from Christ's Sufferings that we may sin on free Cost that there is no Guilt contracted by it will any Man or Woman that understands they have a Soul venture their Immortal Souls on this Divinity I hope not They will not venture their Soul on this Foundation-Doctrin I hope God will awaken the Consciences of People that they will not hazard their Souls upon such a carnal devillish Foundation that if the Devil should preach he could not preach a worse Doctrin than this to persuade Christians they may live in Sin and Sin will not hurt them nor impair or break their Peace with God and Reconciliation with him I will tell you how it hath been with me in my Childhood if I had spoken a vain Word or a false Word I had contracted such a Guilt thereby that I was ashamed to draw near to God to pray to him I knew he would not hear Liars I knew there was no way to be accepted without Repentance and Amendment of Life I believe others have met with the same dealing from God by the secret Strokes of Conviction that have come upon their Hearts when they have sinned against God So that I am still of the Mind that the Persons that depend upon this kind of Doctrin do at some times especially when Sickness comes and Death looks them in the Face or in times of common Contagion or Pestilence at such a time they have a weight of Guilt upon their Consciences for this Doctrin will not support them at Death but that then they believe they have contracted Guilt or committed Sin I have wished many times that the Lord would open the Eyes and Hearts of the People of this City and of this Nation to see how miserably they have ventured their Souls Will Merchants in this City ever venture their Goods at such a Rate as Men commonly venture their Souls What will they venture their Goods in a Ship without a bottom before she goes to Sea Now this Doctrin hath not a Foundation shall I believe a Person that tells me I do not contract Guilt when I feel it upon my Heart when I commit Whoredom and Drunkenness and Cheat my Neighbours shall any one persuade me that I do not contract Guilt O Friends we are speaking of great Matters it is about Eternity that we are speaking it is about the hazard of Eternal Happiness therefore I pray let every one be serious and consider what I say for I speak â—n Gods Name and on your behalf Men are â—o come to a true search in themselves what a Life it is that they live Many support themselves by the Doctrins and Precepts of Men and they buoy themselves into Conceits of Salvation let them examin whethâ—â— it be a Life that hath its supportation by tâ—â— Spirit of God this is material for every oâ—â— to consider There are none can live tâ—â—â—d buâ— by the Life they receive from God The grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men Now here is an universal Doctrin There are a sort of Men in this City and Nation that tell us That saving Grace is given only to the Elect. Saving Grace is given to all Men but you must construe those Words all the Elect where they are somewhat injurious and would cast off the condition of the Text if they make a distinction in the latter part of the Sentence for it will not be good Sense The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all the Elect teaching us to deny all Vngodliness c. Here is Vs taken out of the All. The same Grace that is our Teacher appears to be the Teacher of others tho' they turn it into Lasciviousness The Grace is the same tho' they make many School-distinctions between common and saving Grace The Apostle explains it by telling what Grace he means The grace of God which
bringeth Salvation appeareth to all Men and that is by teaching us What doth it Teach I pray consider it iâ— teacheth us To deny all Vngodliness and 〈◊〉 worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteoâ—â— and godly in this present World Where is 〈◊〉 Sin now if a Man be taught by this Gâ—â—â—â— and the Dictates of it Can a Man live Sin and yet live righteously soberly and godly too Can a Man live in Sin and yet deâ—y all Ungodliness at the same time Where â—ave Mens Understandings been that cannot understand their Mother Tongue and consider sense Where are Mens Understandings that will say I may deny all Vngodliness and worldly Lusts and yet follow the Lusts 〈◊〉 my own Heart You would think I speak Nonsense if I should speak thus and yet we â—â—ve been put off with such nonsensical Stuff as this We must pray to God to send his holy Spirit into our Hearts to enable us to live godly righteous and sober Lives and at the same time believe that we shall never do it but that it is a business of Impossibility Now when Men come to lay these things together and when they consider between God and their own Souls how it is with them many are amazed to think they should ever be put off with such incongruous disagreeing and dissonant things that are not consistent with one another But do you think it is possible for any Man to live without sin Yes or else I would say it is impossible for any to be reconciled to God for God will never be reconciled to Sinners as such for his â—argain and Covenant is made with such kind 〈◊〉 Articles Isa 1.16 17. Wash ye make ye â—â—ean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes Cease to do evil learn to do well c. Then come and let us reason together saith the Lord tho' your Sins be as Scarlet thâ—â— shall be as white as Snow tho' they be Red 〈◊〉 Crimson they shall be as Wool still these 〈◊〉 the Terms Put away the evil of youâ— doingâ— then Patience Mercy and Long Sufferiâ—â— shall be extended to you God will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold what from those that say their Prayers or gâ— to the Church or a Meeting No but no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 These are the Men. And when the Lord is distinguishing by his Prophet who he would have among them he speaks of a sort of People that called upon the Name of the Lord Those that feared the Lord and spake often one to another that is of the goodness of God they were a sort of People that Trembled at the Word of God a sort of People that did not do as others did hunt after Pleasures Riches and the Honours of the World but to be acquainted with the inward Word that wrought upon their Hearts In that Day that I make up my Jewels they shall be mine saith the Lord Whose shall the others be Thou wilt own these for thine but whose shall the others be that think not upon thy Name and tremble not at thy Word There is a Place for them too Tophet is â—â—â—pared of old made both wide and large 〈◊〉 Fuel thereof is Fire and Brimstone and 〈◊〉 Wood and the breath of the Lord kindleâ—◠〈◊〉 This is for all that are Wicked 〈…〉 work Iniquity This is in the Old Testament then comes the New Testament in John's Revelations there is a separation again There are a sort of Folk which are called the true Worshippers and the Angel was commanded to go and measure the Temple and those that worshipped therein The outward Temple was not measured but left for the Gentiles to tread in and left without the measure For without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a Lie And then the Lord speaks to his Prophets in the Old Testament again If thou put a difference between the Precious and the Vile then thou shalt be as my Mouth unto them but if thou huddle them altogether and sow Pillows under their Elbows then thou shalt be as my Mouth So that in all Ages God aimed at a separation of the state and condition of his People and one sort of People were purified through the sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth and another sort were unsanctified and unpurified and remain'd in their Sin and the end of Christs coming into the World it was to call People to Repentance He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to â—epentance and to leave off their Sin To as â—â—ny as received him to them he gave Power 〈◊〉 become the Sons of God to as many as beâ—â—â—ed on his Name Whose Sons were the other They made as high a rattle of Profession as the other He tells them who is their Father You are of your Father the Devil oâ— he did orderly prove it and that was tâ—â—â— That they did the Devils Works Ergo Tâ—â—â— were the Devils Children It was Christ himself the greatest Doctor of Divinity that evâ—â— was in the World that spake these Woâ—â—â— And this is the manner of Logick whereby 〈◊〉 argues with the Pharisees to make them believe that they were the Devils Children they that do the Devils Works are the Devil's Children but you do his Works therefore you are his Children so they sought to 〈◊〉 him they could not bear such Arguments If one should go and search out a People in thâ—â— City and Nation and see one Man of this Religion another of that Religion and pick them out and use this Argument with them There is a Man professeth high he professeth a Light within if you look upon his Deeds they are dead and dark why then he is one of the Devils Children If you put me to prove this I say he doth the Devil's Works he is an Extortioner a Deceiver and a Drunkard and unclean Person and doth the Devil's Works and so is none of God's Children And so go to another sort and use this Argument it is safe enough you can never fail in this kind of Argument which Christ used and if People would use it with â—â—eâ—selves and think themselves no better 〈◊〉 we should have People confess themselves 〈◊〉 Devil's Children None come to be God's Childrâ—◠〈…〉 come to acknowledge their lost estate 〈◊〉 deplorable condition that they are fallen from God and through Sin and Iniquity are got into a nature that is at â—â—mity with God then they will cry out Who shall deliver me â—rom this body of death and Childship of Saâ—â—â— this Heirship of Wrath I am an Heir oâ— an Inheritance I am an Heir of Wrath and I would fain lose my Inheritance and Heirship and have an Inheritance with the Saints in light we shall never know this till we come to Divinity without Sophistry and without Tricks and Quirks and come to Christ's Râ—â—â—â—ning He that doâ—â—
sight of God that is but the painting of a Sepulcher and covering the rottenness that is in many but the Lord sees into the inside of every professor and whosoever names the name of Christ and departeth not from iniquity they do but take his name in vain and contract a guilt upon their own Souls so that every one that seemeth to be Religious ought to enquire whence their profession springs If it springs from a real possession of a measure of that which sanctifies the Life and shews it self forth in its working and operation many times abundantly more than it doth in Word and profession It manifesteth it self in Holyness and Righteousness to the Honour of God it s the aim and design of all such to exalt the name of him whom they profess by Holyness and Righteousness shining forth in their works for it will never shine through words alone many good Words may be spoken yet God not glorifyed but his name may be dishonoured by them but whosoever comes to feel that which is Life in themselves they know what will Honour God they feel the Birth Immortal that is of God of his own begetting by the Word of Truth This living birth is that which brings fortâ— living praises the other is but flesh that which is Born of the 〈◊〉 is Flesh and it glorifyes the Flesh and â—â—en the Flesh is most of all glorifyed most of all exalted it is then but as the â—â—wer of the Field it is then cut down and withered the Sun of Righteousness shines with the beams of the Everlasting glory of God and causeth it to wither and come to naught So Friends let your Minds be gathered inward that you may be able in your own selves by vertue of the divine gift of God to distinguish between the Voâ—â—â— of the true Shepherd and the Voice of a Stranger that so your minds may not follow a strange Voice that you may follow the Lord with your whole Heart with a fuâ—â—â—â—â—pose 〈◊〉 Heart for there is a real Word of prophecy discovered in the inward parts which doth Distinguish between the precious and the Vile in every ones particular and that which is precious in one it answereth to that which is precious in another and that which is vile in one it answereth to that which is vile in anothcr For there is an inward and secret mistery of iniquity as well as a mistery of Godlyness The mistery of Godliness is when God is manifested in the flesh the mistery of iniquity is when the wicked one is making himself manifest and appears and discovers himself in the Flesh that he may rise up and glory in the Flesh Now the eternal Truth which never changeth that is it which giveth a discerning this hath always put a difference between the true and the false Prophets the true and the false Apostles between the true and the false Ministers the difference hath not been so much in words as in Power as the Apostle speaks concerning some in his Days that had endeavoured to deceive and draw Men aside from the Simplicity of the Gospel when I come saith he I will know now their Words were not so much taken notice of what they said whether their Words be true or no I will not know their Words but their Power How should he know their power if he was not in the power himself Now this Divine Power as every one acquaints himself with it it worketh unto the Sanctification of them when they have fellowship with the stirrings and movings of all others that are partakers of it this is that which will establish and confirm your Minds in the true Faith and simplicity of the Truth that you turn not aside to the right Hand or to the left If you have regard to the principle of Divine Truth that you have received from God then you can receive confirmation from any one that hath a Measure according to it There is a measuring Line and the Reed of the Sanctuary that measureth the Temple and all that dwell therein that measures them with one Reed and one Measure and every one answereth to that Measure according to the stature and degree of growth of the grace of God they arrive to and now they are come to a fixed foundation Others there are in the World that haâ—â— laid their foundation upon this creaturely help and the other creaturely help upon this Man and the other Man but now true Christians they come to have their foundation their rooting and Building upon Christ Jesus upon that word of Life that first of all gathered their Minds into a desire after Holyness into a desire after acquaintance â—â—th God that made them You that are true Christians can remember how you were begotten and that which did beget you that Word of God that is incorruptible that is immortal that was not of a dying quality that need not be supported by this and that and the other means but it hath its support in it self it hath its nourishment in it self and it grows up in 〈◊〉 â—â—lf and every one that receiveth it they grow up in it until they come more and more to partake of the Life and qualities of it that as he is so they may be in the present World But alas this is never known but where the Word of God hath its free passage Many have tasted of this Word of God and by tasteing of it have been acquainted with the powers of the World to come they knew well enough the Power that would bring forth another World A new Heaven and a new Earth and Righteousness in it many have felt the Power that have never continued to see the working of it never continued to see and witness what this Power would work going â—â—de from the Power of the World that was to come they have never seen the coming of it but their foolish Hearts have been darkned again and their Imagination have grown vain and they have conceived to themselves a false liberty to the Flesh and their Wills have been strong and have prevailed over them that tho' they had tasted of the Powers that did belong to the World to come they never saw the working and operation of that Power to bring to pass that which by sight and vision they did behold Therefore it is needful for every one of you in every state and condition that the Lord hath brought you into to keep your selves in a deep Humility to know the Afflictions Temptations and Trials you are under and to exercise â—â—ur Minds not only on what you have got over for when some come to look at what Sufferings and Difficulties they have got over they are apt to be exalted above measure and lifted up in their Minds but let every one know the state and condition in which at present they are labouring let every one consider what is their present state and work their help lies in that condition Some have always a
and yet knows in his own Conscience that he is condâ—mned he believeth a Lie he is seduced and deceived A Man cannot be justified â—y Christ when the Spirit of Christ condemneth him Such 〈◊〉 whâ—â—â—e comes to lay down his Head upâ—â— his Dying Pillow all his Faith will fly away I 〈…〉 with some Instances lamentable I◠〈…〉 those thaâ— were called Christians 〈…〉 made a Profession of Religion an◠〈…〉 have laid down their Heads in So◠〈…〉 this be your Mistake consider while y◠〈…〉 Time â—â—at you may die in Peacâ— Now 〈◊〉 Proposition and Tâ—â—der o◠〈…〉 Loâ—â— of God 〈◊〉 Mankind hath alâ—â—ried that Limitâ—â—â—on with it that is 〈◊〉 in the World ought to observe If a Man hope to be saved by Christ he must be ruled by him Iâ— is contrary to all manner of Reason thâ—â—â—he Devil should rule a Man and Christ be his Saviour The whole tenour of the New Testament is against it pray read it as oft as you pâ—â—â—se for it is a good Exercise you will find the true Christian's Faith to be this That he that hath Faith in Christ hath an Operation upon him for the Cleansing his Heart and purifying and purging his conscience from dead works that he may serve the living God though he hath been a Servant of the Devil it will make hâ—â—r leave his former Servitude and bring him under the Influence of another Law the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which will make him free from 〈◊〉 law of sin and death The Apostle sets down â—he several Conditions he had â—â—ssed through I was alivâ— without the law once he thought himself a Man a brave Man a Man of Understanding thâ—â— had profited among the Jews I was alive having respect to that Law which should have been my Goverour but when the commâ—ndment came sin revived and I died He hâ—d â—ead the Law the Commandment many 〈…〉 and had been at the reading of it in the 〈…〉 â—gue but there was a coming of the Comâ—â—ndment which he had not been acquainted â—ith there was a Writing of thâ— Law of God in his Heart when he 〈◊〉 to this inward World upon him â—â—â—re was thâ—â— the 〈◊〉 he lived When the 〈◊〉 came Sin revived and I died There was a professing Life he formerly liâ—â—d but he was slain by the Power of thâ—â—â—â—manâ—ment it laid him in the Dust as a â—â—ain Man when he was in a 〈◊〉 condition he found out that Law in him that was the Law of Sin and Death and this caused a Combat and a War in him I find a law saith he that whâ—â— I would do good evil is present with with me for I delight in the law of God in the inner mâ— but I see another law in my membe◠〈…〉 against the law of my mind and b◠〈…〉 into captivity to the law of 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 members Now this brâ—â—ghâ— him 〈◊〉 a Poverty of Spirit into a Sense of his miâ—â—â—â—ble Condition and then he cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Now some People in this Day they are like the Apostle they have a law in their mâ—mbers warning against thâ— lâ—w of their minds the good that they would dâ—â—â—ey do not and they can go no further But the Apostle Paul did reach further though he did not in that state know Deliverance yet 〈…〉 that he should be delivered and that he 〈…〉 be miserable all his Days Thus haâ—ing 〈…〉 Romans into the several Staâ—â—s through whâ—â—â— he passed he brings them to a furtheâ— Sâ— The law of the spirit of life in Christ 〈◊〉 hâ—th made â—e free from the law of sin 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â— And now there is no condemn◠〈…〉 â—â—em that are in Christ Jesus How sh◠〈…〉 know this They walk not after the flesh 〈◊〉 after the spirit Nâ— Pâ—ul was come to that sanctified state tha◠〈◊〉 of Freedom and Liberty which Christ â—esus will bring all those unto that believe â—n him Holy Men in former Days did experience and find a greaâ— Strife and Warfare in their own Hearts they would do all well and exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man but there is a Law of Sin that wars in their Members if we yield to it it leadâ— to Sin and Death but if we yield our selves to the law â—f the spirit of life there is a Power tha◠〈…〉 â—ved from the Mediator that will â—â—anslate the Soul out of the kingdom of darkness and Sin which the Devil is the Prince of and bring it into the kingdom of God's dear Son There must be a real Change wrought in us before we can come tâ— God and to Fellowship and Commâ—â—ion wiâ—h God which â—lone can make th◠〈◊〉 happy Let this be tâ—e Exercise of eâ— one of us to adore and magnifie and 〈◊〉 Mercy and the kindness of God â—hat 〈…〉 not withdrawn his Spirit from yo◠〈…〉 hath placed a Mâ—n for in your 〈…〉 â—s upon you to cease to do evil 〈…〉 and to consider that the 〈…〉 sin is death Here is a Sin I may â—mit it there is a Temptation beofre me 〈◊〉 I know there is a Bait and a Hook 〈…〉 swalloâ— it if I will but if I do iâ— will 〈…〉 â—y Râ—th Would I come to eternâ—l Death and have my Portion with Lyars and wicked Persons in the Kingdom of Darkness Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched or would I have my Portion with Saints and Angels If I would have my Portion with the blessed in the Kingdom of God when I die I must walk in the way that leads to it but the Gate is strait and the way narrow and few there be that find it Labour then to be one of those few But what signifies our Labour some may say if we can do nothing that is good not so much as think a good thoâ—ht What signifies our Labour all the Labours and Endeavours in the whole World cannot â—â—â—ke a Man happy I now speak to a People to whom God doth vouchsafe the Help and Assistance of his Gracâ— and Spirit and the Visitations of his Love and Power you mu◠〈…〉 â—ndeavour to do somethâ—â—g if a Man enâ—â—avour with the help of 〈…〉 â—ie may doâ— great deal of good and 〈◊〉 a great deal of Evil Though all our Endeavours in our own Power and Strength can signifie nothing yet they are required by God and â—y joyning them with his Grâ— and layinâ—â—old of Opportunities by 〈◊〉 Assistance we may do whâ— God will aâ— But if a Man do 〈◊〉 thing in his own Poâ— and Strength whether Prayer Hearing Râ—â—ing Meditation or any other Duty he ha◠〈◊〉 good let it â—â—one I would consider you as those that God hath followed with his Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit this is given to every Man to profit withal and every Man hath Opportunity to work with it but he must work while it is day for the night
according to the Preparation of the Sanctuary the Preparation of Gods Dwelling and holy Place The Worshippers must be holy there must be the Fear of God and a reverence of the great God upon their Minds before People can offer an acceptable Sacrifice unto him as the holy Apostle saith Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is which signifies that a Preparation ought to be in the Minds and Hearts of People that would draw nigh to God or perform any Service or Worship to God they must have the knowledge of the God whom they worship they must first know that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Here is a qualification for Worshippers for religious Persons as they expect when they meet together to find the Lord in the midst of them they must be qualified accordingly there must be an Awe upon their Minds I am in the Presence of God I have an expectation from God that he will open his abounding Treasury and minister some good unto me or else to what purpose do People draw nigh to God It is because they would have something of him but they must come in an humble petitioning frame He giveth Grace to the Humble It is the Lofty the Proud those that exalt themselves the Fat and the Full that want nothing These saith the Prophet the Lord beholdeth afar off A proud Man or Woman cannot draw nigh to God the Lord looks upon them afar off nor do they partake of those divine and heavenly Comforts and Blessings and Counsels and Instructions that the humble Mind hath the Promise of and will certainly enjoy The humble God will teach he will instruct the Meek in his Way but what is this to the lofty Mind What is this to one that is exalted and conceited and puffed up and reckons himself full and wanting nothing while he is swimming in the Streams of the Pleasures of this World and savours only the things of the Earth the Pleasures of a sensual Mind These Persons are not hungry and so they are not fed they are not thirsty and so they never obtain that which can satisfie the Soul Our Lord Jesus Christ pronounced a Blessing upon them that hunger and thirst but that is nothing to them that are full and lack nothing So my Friends in this and all other religious Assemblies a great care ought to be upon every one that their coming together to wait upon the Lord may be in that reverence and fear and that hope and expectation at the Hands of God that they might be bettered by it or else they all lose their labour as Cain did he would be an Offerer he offered Sacrifice but was not accepted because his Miâ—â— and Heart wiâ—â—â—ot right before the Lord 〈◊〉 Sacrifice was rejected It was before he had killed his Brother â—he had great Guilt upon him before he had â—illed his Brother he wanted a well-doing If thou dost well â—â—â—lt thou not be accepted But if thou dost noâ— wâ—ll Sin lies at thy Door Hâ— was got into evil doing and an evil Mind hindered his acceptance with God so iâ— doth with all Men and Women in the World that meddle with religious Worship and Sacrifice to God if they meddle with evil doing There must be a taking off the Mind frâ—â—he evil of Sin and Corruption and the Min◠〈…〉 be brought over to something that they have received from God before ever they can be accepted You know the general Doctrin of all Protestants is That we have no acceptance with God but through Jesus Christ we have no way to please God nor can do any thing that shall be liked of in his sight but only through one only Mediator Now if so be I go to worship God or perform any religious Duty without respect and reference to the sense and participation of the vertue and power of that only Mediator how can I be accepted And it hath pleased God out of his infinite Love to Mankind to send this great Mediator into the World that every Man that comes into thâ— World is made a Participant of something of the Life and Vertue of that Mediator So you read John 1.4 In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World and that with respeâ—â— to Men whether they are good or no both to good and bad tho' Men are bad as all Men are by Nature So that tho' they are Children of Wrath and Heirs of Eternal Damnation and in their natural State by reason of Sin yet for all that this one Mediator in whom this Light hath shined he hath sent forth that Light among the Sons and Daughters of Men that is the Light of Men that enlightens every one So there is an Offer made of something that presents it self to the view of every Man that is good if he apply his Mind to it he may have that Good that comes by Jesus Christ he may draw nigh to God as bad as he is he hath some good that God hath bestowed upon Men good and bad There is no Man such a Liar but he hath some Truth in him there is no Man so ungodly but he knows that which is pure and holy that which hath reproved him checked convinced him of his Ungodliness This presents it self to the view of every Man and Woman and calls them to Repentance Now for Men to make a shew and pretence to Worship and not have regard to the glory of God how can they draw nigh to God or God draw nigh to them Our Lord Jesus Christ saith That where two or three are gathered together in my Name I will be in the midst of them but if People meet together in their Sin and Wiâ— me◠〈…〉 â—hey hâ—ve a looâ— and a vain Mind â—nd intend to 〈◊〉 Wicâ—edness and Sin if theâ— meet 〈…〉 â—et not in Christs Name but in the Devils Name and he is in the midst of them and he works and Rules in the Hearts of the Câ—â—â—dren of Disobedience So that this hath been the ground and reason why abundance of Meetings upon this account have been fruitless as to any Benefit to their Souls and Peoples Expectations have been frustrated as to their Salvation they have not met with that in which the Blessing is and to which the Promise is made The Promise is not made to People that the Devil rules there is no Promise to such but the Promise of Eternal Wrath to be executed upon them with the Devil and his Angels to all Eternity if you can make that a â—romise The Promise of Life and Salvation which is recorded bâ—â—â—â—e Prophets and Apostles it hath always relation to the Seed that are iâ— Covenant with God In this the Covenâ—â—â— stands saith God to Abraham Gen. 17â—â— I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting
Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee The Covenant is made to Abraham and his Seed that is with Christ Jesus the Mediator It is he that brings to God those that trust in him and come to him He that cometh to him he will in no wise cast out they that do not come to Christ are cast off already All Men by Nature are cast 〈…〉 if any of theâ— will be 〈◊〉 it is by coming to Christ whâ— is able to â—ave to thâ— uttermost and to makâ— Peace for them and of Twins to make onâ— new Man and to make Peace between God and their Soulâ— There is a necessity for all People that have sense of their natural state and condition that according to Nature have no Title to the Kingdom of God to be reconciled to God By Nature they cannot make a claim to Righteousness and Life they cannot reconcile themselves to God by all their Works saith the Prophet Micah Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand of Rams or with ten thousand Rivers of Oil shall I give my first-born for mâ— Transgression the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul He hath shewed thee O Man what is good And what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and love Merâ—â— and walk humbly with thy God They that will be saved must lay hold of Salvation in that way and method that the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath prescribed He hath prescribed a way for every Body to be saved he would have no Body to perish but that all should come to Repentance and obtain everlasting Life God hath made a way that will serve every Body alike Thousands as well as Ten and all the World as well as one Man Now the way that God hath made is turning out of the State into which they are fallen and a forsaking that Governour that rules in the Hearts of the Chil◠〈…〉 Disobedience aâ— closing with Christ 〈◊〉 God hath appoinâ—ed to reign in every â—â—dy's Heart Peopâ—â— in Christendom will all say they have closed with Christ Do not you hope to be saved by Christ on the Terms of the Covenant It is not crying Lord Lord but doing the Will of God the Terms are All Men must believe in Christ the Eternal Son of God and through â—he Power of that Faith they have in him he comes to rule over them and they become subject to him And if a Believer be not subject to Christ he is all one as if he was an Unbeliever Circumcision or Vncircumcision avails not any thing but a new Creature and Faith which worketh by Love The Covenant doth not stand in meer Words 〈◊〉 I conform to such Articles then I am a Christian if I believe all the Articlâ—s of the Creed then I am a Christian and a Child of God If a Mâ—n will say I believe his Say so is not sufficient The condition of the Covenant that God hath made is That Christ shall rule and have the government of those Souls that he presents to God How should it be otherwise seeing he is not to present any to God that are unclean Christ hath no Commission to present any to God in their Uncleanness and Wickedness He that believeth he must be cleansed and purifyed by him If so then that cannot be done by ruling over them If they had the Rule of themselves they would be polluted and be like Water whose Current is stopt with Di◠〈…〉 â—d not running in its own natural S◠〈…〉 People will commit Sin when they have the Rule of themselves but when Christ presents People to God and when they come to be led by him they are cleansed and purified When the Apostle describes true Faith he doth it by this quality and property of it It purifies the Heart All other Faith is but the Hope of the Hypocrite but real Faith is the operation of God saith the Apostle and that Faith worketh in an unclean Heart to the cleansing of it and in an impure Heart to the purifying of it If the Heart comes to be purified then it must needs follow that the Conversation must be pure also No body doth an ill Work nor speaks an ill Word but it is from an evil Heart Now if the Axe come to be laid to the Root of the Tree and the Word of the Lord operate in the Heart powerfully if never so much evil be in it the Axe when laid to the Root of the Tree will cut it down the Power of God will execute Judgment upon every thing that is contrary to him Christ is holy harmless and undefiled and separate from Sin and Sinners and tho' he extend his Life and Vertue to the Life and Soul of the most wicked Man in the World it never joins with their Uncleanness but keeps immaculate and undefiled in the Heart of the worst of Men. Now this immaculate Power that comes from Christ it will purifie the Hearts of Men and preserve them from evil Thoughts Wâ— and Actions This is the manifestation of 〈◊〉 one Mediator that they must be governed bâ— else they cannot be presented spotless to God the Father There is a necessity of coming to a Saviour otherwise than by Words and Profession we must come to him and heartily joyn with him we have all joyned with the Devil he hath suggested moved and instigated and People have followed his instigations and motions there is no Man but is sensible of a devilish motion why not then of a Divine motion Though now it is become a Bugbear to say we are moved by the Spirit of Christ why not by that Spirit as well as by the Spirit of the wicked one No Man doubts but that there are motions of the Devil which they are sensible of that sometimes they have joyned with him and sometimes they withâ—â—â—nd him What is the reason that Men should joyn with evil motions There is no just reason for it The reason why you and I withstand the motions of the Devil is bâ—cause we find another motion conveyed into our Hearts by the Spirit of God if a Man hath one motion to commit uncleanness he hath another motion to keep himself pure if he hath a motion to speak a Lie he hath another motion to speak Truth there are two movers at the same time in the same Heart which shall we joyn with Shall I joyn with the Devils motion If I find any thing of the â—ove of God in my Heart it will constrain me to â—â—nd the good motion and make me withâ—d the evil motion so that the movings 〈◊〉 the Spirit of God is not such a wonder There are none but they have bad motions in them and they have also motions of the Spirit of Truth they have met with evil motions and they have admired them too much then it is time to repent if there be a distinction between a motion of the Spirit of Truth and a motion of the
Spirit of errour then I may boldly say it 〈◊〉 our duty to joyn with the Spirit of Truth and not with the Spirit of errour if there be a desire in us to be saved from the wrath to come then the way to be saved from Gods wrath is to be saved from the cause of it take away the cause and the effect ceaseth The cause of Gods wrath being kindled against Man is Sin for God had no wrath against Man when he first made him for he made him after his own â—â—â—ge and gave him Power to conâ—inue in 〈◊〉 Holyness and Righteousness wherein he created him but he fell and was cast out of Paradise and an Angel was sent with a Flaming Sword 〈◊〉 turned every way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life Thus Man fell under the wrath of God by his sin but how shall I have the wrath of God allayed By breaking off from sin and returning to God again This looks like a covenant of Works say some do you say I must break of from Sin and so escape the wrath of God Yes I do but no mortal Man 〈…〉 off from Sin but by joyning with the 〈…〉 He is the Author of Eternal Salvation h◠〈…〉 in us to will and to do and enableth us to 〈◊〉 out our own Salvation it was Sin that dr◠〈◊〉 Man our of Paradise and brought upon him the wrath of God Sin is the Devils work now that Christ might be a Saviour to us 〈◊〉 will destroy the Devils work for this purâ—â—â—â— saith the Apostle the Son of God was manifested that he might Destroy the works of the Devil Now the Devil was not the destruction of Man simply in himself but by tempting him to Sin which is the Devils work now Christ was manifested to destroy the Devils work that Propensity to Sin that is in the Nature of Man which makes him rebel against the Mind and Will of God Christ the Eternal Son of God he became Man he took the Nature of Man that he might bring Man again to his primitive state wherein he was Created after the Image of God Now how doth the Devil work his works doth he do his works coercively No he useth no irresistible force But doth Christ the Mediator work coercively with an irresistible power and force to bring a Man again to God No no more than the Devil did to bring a Man from God Man might have stood and continued in his state of Innocency if he would he might joyn with evil and yield to the Temptation of the Devil if he had a Mind he knew if he gave over his Mind t◠〈…〉 â—e should be ruin'd and it proved so 〈…〉 â—as resolved to try what it was to yield 〈◊〉 Devil and obey him He told them that 〈◊〉 they did eat of the forbidden Fruit they should be as Gods but they became more like the Devil this they got by being obedient unto him not that the Devil laid an irresistible force upon them you shall eat of the Fruit of this Tree but there was only a presentation of it to them and with that he prevailed and so came the destruction of Mankind So Christ the Mediator that he may present us to God he comes and presents himself to us in his commands and his command is that we must break off from that servitude and subjection that the Devil had brought Man into and there must be a yielding of subjection unto Christ we must believe in Christ and harken to the word of God and break off from Sin But where is the Power If God would have me Holy let him make me Holy if he would have me Pure let him make me so and give me ability to do that which of my self I cannot do when it pleaseth God to give me Grace and captivate my Will I shall become a good Christian Now here is a great mistake that People should think they must wait for an irresistible power to bring them back to God there is a presentation of love and mercy and earnest invitations and the long-suffering and patience and goodness of God's long waiting upon Sinners 2 Cor. 4.6 God who Commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined into our Hearts to give the Light 〈◊〉 knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face oâ—â—â—sus Christ What shall I do with the Liâ— that shines into my Heart I will shut miâ— Eyes against it I love Darkness rather thaâ— Light and evil more than good this Light will lead me to Holyness and Righteousness I will quarrel with it it comes to bereave me of my Comforts in this World of my merry Companions and of all my Bravery I will not harken to it Who can help it This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather then Light because their deeds are evil saith our Saviour If I had not come and spoken to them they had not had Sin but now they have no Cloak for their Sin Here is the Gospel Preached by Christ himself here is the presentation of an opportunity for every Man and Woman to return again but I must be in the way of returning that is by joyning with that which presents it self with Holyness with Righteousness with Chastity and Humility that presents and offers to the Soul all the Vertues and Graces that are in Christ and shews it the Light and Grace that comes from Christ Now this Light and Grace shewing it self to my Soul I have a view of it Hast thou a view of it Hast thou seen Purity Humility Sobriety Meekness and Self-denyal and an Heavenly frame of Spirit in thy self or some body else How dost thou like it I like it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I love to have Honour and Dignity â—ower and Dominion and my Elbow-Room in the World I love not this Meekness Humility and strictness of Life that a man must have a Care what he speaks and set a Watch upon his Lips and upon his Heart and Tongue and Hands I do not like this kind of Life If thou dost not like a good Life some body will like it and live in it and for all your Vapouring and Hating and Despising it when People come to live this kind of Life they will out-live thee thy topping Life thy reigning Life and thy having Elbow-Room in the world will at last come to be limited the Hand of God is against it and it will bring down the Pride of Man When thou comest to life upon thy Dying Pillow expecting every moment to expire and breath thy last then thou wilt wish O that I had been more serious and lived more like a Christian lived a godly Life and given up my Heart to God and been more watchful over my Thoughts and Words and Actions There is such a Friend of mine that hath lived better than I if I had lived such a Life as he hath lived I should have had more Comfort And they that are despisers of
Deâ— Works that Christ came to destroy 〈◊〉 doth he not do it He will destroy 〈◊〉 Devil hath wrought in every Man that will be subject to him Can a Chirurgeon set a Bone if the Patient be not subject to his Hand But this is far beyond all comparison Christ hath received all power in heaven and earth yet he â—â—â—â—ays looks for a willing People he sends 〈◊〉 Day of his Power upon a People anâ— he worketh upon thâ—â—r Heâ—rts by an invincible Power he makes them willing to be helped and mended and healed and cured and then he cures them I dare say there is not one here that is willing to be reformed and to submit to Christ to be saved and redeemed by him but he will do it He that is willing and obedient shall eat of the good of the land and shall know the Good of Redemption See whether it be come to a State of Redemption here is universal Grace offered for the light of Christ Jesus lightneth every one of you It shews you your lost State and Condition When you see yoâ—â— Condition bad that it is not as it ought to be who would not have it better What means Prayer that Christian Duty 〈◊〉 us What shall we pray for Must not People be sensible in themselves what they should pray for before they come to pray And what is it that will make them sensible but the Light and Grace of God They see their own Wants when God worketh Faith in their Hearts and they believe that God can supply those Wants Why should I go to a Beggar to pray him to give me an hundred Pounds I believe he cannot do it therefore I will not pray to him for it Now necessity brings People to go to Prayer but there must be Faith in him to whom 〈…〉 he is able to supply their Wants 〈…〉 relieve their Necessities Upon this acco … the Apostle saith H … cometh to God 〈◊〉 believe that he is and that he is a rewarder 〈◊〉 them that diligently seek him He must 〈◊〉 know that there is a God to come unto anâ— then that he is a Rewarder Here is the Foundation of all true Religiâ—â— and true Worship they that go to God 〈◊〉 say their Prayers and joyn with others in â—â—â—ing their Prayers if they have no 〈…〉 God they had as good hold their 〈…〉 for their Praying is to no purpose They 〈◊〉 pretend to believe in God without an expâ—â—â—mental Power of God working upon 〈◊〉 Hearts their Belief is not worth a Strawâ— without their Respect to the Power of God all their Belief is nothing but if they know that God hath such an Operation upon them that no Man of Woman in the World can discover that to them that God discovereth then they know that God is the searcher of hearts and the tryer of the reins Jerem. 17.10 Suppose I know that there is a God and at the same time I believe that he will never hear me that I am a reprobate Creature and that he hath cast me off for ever and that he hath sealed Condemnation upon me to all Eternity What reason hath such a one to pray This is a desperate condition But while we believe there is a God and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rewarder of them taht diligently seek him it is not in vain to pray yet there is someâ—â—ing antecedent to to Prayer there is Knowâ—edge and Faith upon that Knowledge that God is a Rewarder He that hath this let him pray in God's Name But what must he pray for He must not offer the sacrifice of fools he must have regard to his Lips if it â—e mental Prayer he must pray for that he â—â—ands in need of it is for something he prays â—â—at God hath revealed by his Holy Spirit â—e stands in need of it is for something that he needs it is Power to overcome Corruptiâ—n and Power to overcome Temptation that â—e stands in need of he stands in need of a Mediator to procure for him the Pardon of his Sins These things he stands in need of then let him pray He that is afflicted let him pray So that if a Man or Woman go to Prayer they must pray to God in the Belief of his Goodness â—d Mercy that he will bestow some Blessing upon them that may be for the better that may be for their good When they come to a Meeting to worship God and hear the Word spoken outwardly they must pray for something that may be for their good Lord give me something that may support my Soul and something that may withstand Temptation People should have their Minds thus exercised and they should think upon the Name of the Lord according to their particular Necessity they should pour out their Supplication to the Loâ— This is such Worship as God looks for 〈◊〉 such as he likes and is pleased with he wâ— deliver those that thus pray to him out 〈◊〉 Temptations so that they shall not prevailâ— over them One Man's Temptation is of one sort another's of another sort but they are all delivered by â—e Grace of God and helped over them upon their Prayer to God for they find by Experience that God is a God hearing prayers Now when we have â—â—â—yed what is thâ— next Work It is to â—â—it for an Answer of our Prayer I prayed 〈◊〉 other Day to God for Power to withstand such a Temptation when that Temptation comes agâ—â—n I do expect that God will answer my Prayer Dost thou so Then I pray thee have an Eye to the samâ— Grace â—f Gâ—d that convinced thee and shewed thee the Tâ—mptâ—tion and have thy Faith exercised upon that Gâ—â—ce of God and thou wilt find it sufficient for thee I will warrant thâ—e Let the Devil come with a Temptation never so suiâ—â—ble and subtil keep thine Eye upon the Grace of God and it will deliver thee This was the Case of Paul when a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him he besought the Lord thrice The Temptation did attend him and God gave him an answer of his Prayer My grace is sufficient for thee As if he had said Let the Devil come with never so much Power he shall never overcome â—hee I speak to those that are well skilled in 〈…〉 of Work and have met with sharp Temptations and sometimes perhaps they â—ave been overcome by them and at other times they have withstood them What is the difference why one while they are loose and careless and did not pray for the Assistance of Divine Grace anâ—â—her while they kept close to it and were delivered Therefore when you come to Meeting with a desire to receive Benefit from God with you Expectations God-ward to receive Comfort from the Hands of the Lord let your Eye be upon â—im and the Working of his Grace in your own Hearts and hearken to that Voiâ—â— that is within you and it will be more effectual than mine If you find thâ— Work of Grace in you to
be the same thing that I speak of then believe me 〈◊〉 the Truth's-sake believe me beâ—â—â—â—e you find the same Worâ— and Tâ—stâ—â—â—â— within your selves And I m perâ—â—adâ— there is never a one here but â—â—metime 〈◊〉 other they have withstood that Temptaâ—â—oâ— which they have met withal Prâ— tell â—e how they did it Why the Temptaâ—â—â—â— came unto me and it pleased God to shew me the evil of it that it was a bad thing if I yielded to it How didst thou resist it had not the Devil a coercive Power over thee to force thee to it whether thou wouldst or not That God that shewed me the Evil of it delivered me from the evil of it I was not judged and condemned 〈…〉 because I 〈…〉 delivered from it there are no◠〈…〉 you would not be lazy and id◠〈…〉 might be delivered every Day and h◠〈…〉 â—â—perience in your own Souls that w◠〈…〉 Devil comes and tempts the Lord is a◠〈◊〉 to deliver you 〈◊〉 his Grace and Power So that t◠〈…〉 way for People to be â—â—served from Sin and Iniquity is to haâ—â— a reverent respect to that Grace of God which they have alreaâ—â—â—â—ceived I would haâ—â— that taken out of your Head that vain Conceit that hath loâ—g reigned in 〈◊〉 World When you see a wiâ—ked Husband Wife or Child you say If they had Grace they would be better I say they have from degree of Grace already God hath sâ—nt forth his Grace and Truth to teach men to deny ungodliness 〈◊〉 â—at I wâ—uld not pray that God would give my Hâ—â—band Wife or Child or Friend Grace but tha◠〈◊〉 would break his hard Heart that he may submit to the Grace of God that is already â—estowed upon him I believe there is noâ— a graceless Person here that is utterly void of all Grace but they walk not according to it they trample upon it For everâ— one being endued with a measure of Grace through Christ our Duty therefore is to have a reverend regard to the Grace of God that 〈◊〉 have received What Gâ—â—ce have I received from God may some one say 〈◊〉 received so much Grac◠〈…〉 truly say that I can tell whâ—n the 〈…〉 â—gs a Temptation to me that when 〈◊〉 â—empts me to Uncleanness Theft Wrath 〈◊〉 â—ee or to deceive my Neighbour I have 〈◊〉 much Grace that I can tell I am tempted â—n such a respect the Grâ—â—e of God shews 〈◊〉 this is a Temptation of 〈◊〉 Devil But the Question is Whether I am subject to the Grace of God and do love his Grace better than the Profit or â—leasure of a Temptation It comes as a Bait but the Devil cannot make me do that which he tempts me to it is not in the Power of all the Devils in Hell or of his Servants on Earth to make me do this evil thing The Light of my own Conscience shews it to be a Temptation Now I am free and at my Choice whether I will love the Profit and Pleasure thâ—â— comâ—s with the Temptation more than the Grace of God I believe there is no â—â—â—ly that hath been tryed by a Temptation but they can say so I leave it to him that searcheth and tries all your hearts and knows your thoughts to judge whether you joined with the Temptation that you might have the Profit and Pleasure of it or joined with his Grace that might have resisted the Temptation You thâ—â— have done the one and the other tell me which is the best Bargain When you â—ave joined with the Temptation that you mâ—ght have the Profit and Pleasure of it that came alonâ— with it or when you joined with the Gracâ— of 〈…〉 â—hat sâ—â—wed you th◠〈…〉 â—â—ger of 〈◊〉 Temptation a◠〈…〉 speaks to you that spake to Cain 〈…〉 well shalt thou not bâ— accepted A◠〈…〉 dost not well sin lieâ— at the door 〈…〉 yielded to a Temptation sin lies 〈…〉 there is a Breach made between Go◠〈…〉 Soul The same Man at another time having â—â—ted so deeply for it being judged by his 〈◊〉 Conscience when he meets the Temptatiâ—â— again he saith Let the Profit or Pleasure go where it will if I yield to this Temptation I cannot go to God but as Thief to a Judge Let the Profit or Pleasure be what it will I will not touch with this Temptation Caâ— the Devil force thee to comply with his Temptation No if thou be true to the Grace of God in thy own Heart it will make thee able to resist the strongest Devil in Hell Christ hath purchased for the Sons and Daughters of Men a Power to withstand the Devils Power and all his Devices and Temptations and you shall obtain Victory and have Dominion over them If you have a mind to grow in this Dominion when the Devil comes to temâ—â— you resist him and you shall through the â—â—wer of Christ be enabled to oveâ—come If Satan tell thee of the Profits and Pleasures of this World tell him That the wâ— passeth away and the lust of it b◠〈…〉 with God endures for ever By the 〈…〉 〈…〉 will be able to overcome 〈◊〉 Devil 〈…〉 Angels This Power is given to 〈…〉 â—â—ve and obey the Gospel If you 〈…〉 â—ve Benefit by it you must be exer◠〈…〉 resisting of Temptation and have 〈◊〉 to the Grace of God and the Work◠〈◊〉 it in your own Hearts and then you will be able to say when a Temptation comes pâ—omising Profit and Pleasure How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Turn your Eye to God's favour which is better than life and you will be more than conquerors you will say the Fear of God seized upon my Soul and the Grace of God came in to my Assistance and made me stand like a Bulwark against Temptation Here Praises will go up to God here will be occsion for thee to speak good of his Name Remember what David said My soul praise the Lord that hath delivered me from the horrible Pit Thus David and the Saints of old praised God in their Day and why should not we They breathed forth living Praises and Thanksgivings for the Deliverances wrought for them and shall not we do it Now this cannot be done without thinking upon his Name the Name of that God that made us Here I live in the World I live and breath still I have Health and Strength and an Estate how came I by all this Did I make my self No there is a God that gave me Life and Breath and Beâ—ng he holds forth the Hand of Mercy to gather me to himself and to redeem m◠〈…〉 iniquity that I might serve him wit◠〈…〉 in holiness and righteousness all the 〈…〉 life If I believe all this I shall re◠〈…〉 him and love and pâ—â—ise him and dai◠〈…〉 upon him for the Accomplishment o◠〈…〉 Work He desireth not the death of s◠〈…〉 If 〈◊〉 will believe the Almighty it is 〈◊〉 possible for him to lie all things are possible to him
who didst love us when we were Strangers and preserve us when we were Enemies and brought a glorious Day of visitation upon us and opened our eys 〈◊〉 behold the Light thereof so that we are an engaged People to speak good of thy â—â—me Thou hast declared and manifested to the Sons and Daughters of Men thy good Will and thy universal Grace that thou art daily extending to them that all may be made partakers of the Riches of thy House and of thy great Salvation which by the Lord Jesus Christ thou hast ordained And O thou Powerful God of Life since the Day that thou first gathered us thou hast been with us thou hast been our Guid and our Eyes have been towards thee for instruction thou hast taught us and â—ed us in the way in which thou wouldst have 〈◊〉 to walk thou hast led us O Lord in the way Everlasting â—ith the po◠〈…〉 and the meek of the Earth 〈…〉 placed our Feet O Lord near the Eve◠〈…〉 Mountain which thou hast exalted 〈◊〉 the high Hills of the Earth and thou haâ—â—â—â—vealed the Glory and the splendor of 〈◊〉 House thy Holy Dwelling Place and 〈◊〉 raised Breathings in the Hearts of thy Peoâ— that they may dwell in thy Courts for evâ— And now Holy Father thou hast gathered 〈◊〉 Remnant and brought a peculiar People 〈◊〉 trust in thy Name but still we do all thâ— we do by thee thou must be our Keeper thou must be our preserver therefore we wait upon thee we expect all from thy Hand therefore our applications are unto thee that fâ— Day to Day and from time to time we 〈◊〉 find thy living Presence in the midst 〈◊〉 And O living God of life thou hast give◠〈◊〉 Children large experience that thou art a 〈◊〉 nigh at hand to us in all our Tryals in all 〈◊〉 Exercises as our Eyes have been turned 〈◊〉 thee thou hast preserved us and revealed thâ— Heavenly Power O Lord in preserving and delivering thy Church and People that they may bear a testimony in their generation tâ— thy great love and the great Salvation 〈◊〉 thoâ— hast wrought for them and made 〈◊〉 pertakers of Now Blessed God of Liâ— desires and supplications of thy Peopleâ— unto thee for the glorifying of thy Pâ— the exalting of thy glorious Name 〈…〉 leâ— the mighty operation of thy 〈…〉 〈…〉 and stubborn ones that 〈…〉 â—gainst thee and that havâ— withstood 〈◊〉 tenders of thy Grace and the Motions â—d striving of thy Holy Spirit Thou art â—ole to bow them and to break their stony Hearts thou art able to speak effectually to their Souls and to make them submit themselves to thee Holy and living Father let the progress of thy Word and Gospel be great in our Day let it have a free course and spread it self mightily to those that believe not to beget a Seed of Faith in their Souls that they may believe in thy Name and Trust in thy Power ad wait to see the great Work of Redemption wrought for the Salvation of Immortal Souls before the Daâ— of Visitation goes over Powerful God 〈◊〉 Life thy little Remnant which thou hast â—edeemed keep them by thy Power and preserve them in Uprightness and Cleanness of Mind preserve them in the places and stations wherein thou hast appointed them to dwell and in all their Tryals and Tribulations and Distresses that may come upon them that they may be quiet and still and in patience possess their Souls and let them â—ave strong consolation in that Everlasting â—â—venant which in thy Son thou hast made â—th them and râ—vealed to them and let 〈◊〉 not be moved and tossed with the hurâ— of this World with the tumults and disâ— that evil Men make in it and the Storms 〈…〉 that are raised but let thâ—â—â— Hearts and Minds be â—â—â—yed upon 〈…〉 they may know how to behave then 〈…〉 wards thee and one another and tow◠〈…〉 t◠〈…〉 â—e without and thereby glorify 〈…〉 m◠〈◊〉 thy great Name by the Beau◠〈…〉 Holyness shining in their Conversations wâ— may reach the Consciences of Men that 〈◊〉 that see them may say these 〈◊〉 the Planâ— that the Right Hand of God hath Plantâ—â— and see the Fruits that are brought forth f◠〈◊〉 that Root of Life revealed in Christ Jesuâ— Powerful God of Life carry on thine owâ— Work in this City and the whole Nation and in other places among that People whiâ— tâ—â—u hast chosen and gathered to thy 〈◊〉 of the World Powerful God of Life remâ—â—ber those that groan in secret making 〈◊〉 moan to thee that they cannot lay hold oâ— Salvation for their Souls Prepare them 〈◊〉 that consolation that their Souls are breaâ— afâ—er They are Night and Day wrestling 〈◊〉 thee by earnest Prayer But what will all theâ— wrestling signifie except thy Word and thâ— Power of thy Grace assist them and 〈◊〉 them to lay hold of thy strength that 〈◊〉 may Fight the good Fight of Faith tha◠〈◊〉 may get the Victory and rejoyce in thâ—â—â—â—vation and see the Glory of it Thou se◠〈◊〉 the Children of Men are working anâ—â—â—â—triving divers ways for their own Salvâ— make theâ— to know that all their o◠〈…〉 and inventions arâ—â—n vain Bless◠〈…〉 the de◠〈…〉 â—y waâ—â—â—â—y Heritage and 〈…〉 thou hast gathered by thy Word do 〈◊〉 preserve them that they may serve thee â—â—th sincere and upright Minds all the Days 〈◊〉 their Lives and offer up daily Tha◠〈◊〉 â—ings and living Praises to thee the 〈◊〉 and living God and Jesus Christ whom thou â—ast sent and â—hy Eternal Spirit who alone art worthy who art God over all blessed 〈◊〉 ever and ever Amen A Catalogue of Books Printed for Nath Câ—ouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside 1. The History of the Principality of 〈◊〉 in three parts containing 1. A brief â—â—â—unt of the ancient Kings and Princes of Britâ—â—â— and Wales till the final extinguishing of the â—oyal Brittish Line 2. Remarks upon the 〈◊〉 of all the Princes of Wales of the Royal â—â—milies of England from King Edward the first to this time particularly of Edward the Black Prâ—â—ce of Wales who with 30000 English defeated an Army of 100000 French at Cressy and at Poictiâ—â—s with 10000 beat 80000 and took John the French King Prisoner also of Henry of Munmouth afterâ—â—â—d King Henry the fifth who with 13000 〈◊〉 90000 French whose Son Henry sixth was 〈◊〉 King of France at Paris 3. Remarkable â—vations on the most memorable Persons and 〈◊〉 in Wales and of divers considerable passages 〈◊〉 any Hundred Years past with the Birth and 〈◊〉 Actions of Merlin the famous Welsh Pro◠〈…〉 with natura◠〈◊〉 artificial â—â—â—ities 〈…〉 Princi◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—wered in above 300 〈…〉 â—ontaining 1. Dreadful Judgments upon 〈…〉 Blasphemers and Perjured Villains 2. The 〈…〉 ends of many Magicians c. 3. Remarkable â—â—â—dictions and presages of approaching Death aâ— how 〈◊〉 event has been answerable 4. Fearful Juâ—â—ments upon bloody Tyrants Murderers c.