as much exceed the other's who is a Creature and by him made as the whole Ocean doth a single Drop of Water In the 1st and 2d Chapter of Job in the 3d. of Zechariah and in Rev. 12. 10. we see and understand God's superlative and over-ruling Goodness and Equity how he doth moderate the matter and affirm it by the way of Favour and Mercy on the side of Mankind And this is but as talking a little before the Day of Assize an Emblem and Forerunner how he will determine it eternally on their side at the last and great Day of Judgment notwithstanding all the Informations Accusations and Aggravations of Satan And now if there should be any of his Ministers transformed into Ministers of Righteousness alike unto Satan in this who draw up more heavy and false Indictments than the true and very nature of the thing doth require and will bear Or if the Conscience it self which is yet more pressed with Sin and Guilt should fore-cast too grievous things all this will not do one joâ— of harm in the Day of the Lord for he who hath prepared his Throne for Judgment knows all things in the World He shall judge the World in righteousness he shall minister Judgment to the People in uprightness Psal 9. 8. In the new Translation it is said He shall minister true Judgment to the People Who weighs the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance He will make things to hang even exact and equal Judgment will I lay to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet Isai 28. 17. He shall judge the World with Righteousness and the People with his Truth Psal 96. 13. With Righteousness shall he judge the World and the People with equity Psal 98. 9. Now Equity is a mild thing which doth state moderate and adjust a matter And then after all God doth reserve Mercy even after Judgment and Condemnation for that is its proper place At the last Day Mercy shall rejoice against Judgment in such a signal eminent great and universal a manner even as to swallow up all Judgment in Victory When I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord God Ezek. 16. 63. When this Song shall be sung Thou hast taken away all thy Wrath thou hast turn'd thy self from the fierceness of thine Anger Psal 85. 3. God is more merciful than ever it entred into the Heart to conceive or the Ear hath heard that as it is written at the first Creation The Morning-Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy Job 38. 7. Now compare this with Isai 14. â—2 Lucifer is there called Son of the Morning so that if ever he sang for joy it was before he fell from Heaven And it is both possible and probable that for joy when he was first brought forth into being he might sing a Song of Praise and Acknowledgment unto the great Creator of all Things And so if we look back to Gen. 6. 2 4. There we find the wicked and ungodly of the World styled The Sons of God for so they are by Creation and Workmanship This was fresh and soon after the Creation for we never as I know of find them so called again throughout all Scripture So that by what may be gathered from Psal 104. 30 31. Thou renewest the face of the Earth The Lord shall rejoice in his Works So at the very last upshot and end of all things Goodness Equity and Mercy will display and manifest that that if so be the Morning Stars may not again sing together and all the Sons of God observe that Particle all including both the Sons by Creation as well as those by Grace and Adoption may not shout together for joy yet at least it may be somewhat more tolerable than that certain fearful looking for of Judgment and the fiery Indignation Heb. 10. 27. or when they did believe and tremble Jam. 2. 19. They must indeed undergo the devouring Fire for all Scripture must be fulfilled and they must see and suffer also which in probability will be throughout a much longer duration than the time was in which the Mosaical Institutions did last which were said to be a Statute for ever or as it is written That the Ordinances of Day and Night shall not cease while the Earth remaineth Gen. 8. 23. Which Earth in the Book of Psalms is said to be established for ever Psal 78. 69. Again it is written If those Ordinances depart from before me saith the Lord then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a Nation before me for ever Jer. 31. 36. And yet the Seed of Israel doth at this day seem to cease to be a Nation as it is yet more certain that this Earth at last shall pass away and the Ordinances of Day and Night shall then also cease and come to an utter end But God only knows what may succeed after all this when those miserable Creatures have lain under condemnation and punishment a much longer space of duration than six or seven thousand Years now within which time all this lower Creation and the Works thereof in probability will be determined and finished God will look down from the height of his Sanctuary when the Psalmist spoke thus by the Spirit it was then to come from Heaven will the Lord behold the Earth yea and who knows whether he will behold yet lower If I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there To hear the groaning of the Prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death Psal 102. 19 20. In the Margin there it is Children of Death This one portion of Scripture is of more worth than ten thousand Worlds If any thing of good or mitigation is intended to them it will come in upon this account That they are the Creatures of God and his Workmanship The Lord shall rejoice in his Works and they shall reciprocally rejoice in the Lord their God If those very Creatures who seem rejected Heb. 12. 17. and hated Rom. 9. 13. by him can but then call upon him by the Name of the Lord and lay hold on him as Esau did with his Father Isaac compare Gen. 27. 34 38. with Heb. 12. 16 17. And when Esau heard the Words of his Father he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry and said unto his Father Bless me even me O my Father Here he continues and keeps up and puts in mind of the Relation After his Excuse and Answer had still he doth continue and repeat and again double the Words of his Relation Hast thou but one Blessing Bless me even me also O my Father and Esau lift up his voice and wept So it may be conceived of those condemned forlorn and miserable Creatures that after they have been long in wailing and gnashing of Teeth with howling and great crying if they can but then call upon Him by the Name of Creator and remember and lay it before
this Body there succeeds Judgment and Account and strict requiring for all those Omissions of Good and Duty which I have been guilty of which are now utterly gone by and cannot be retrieved for all eternity Trial was once had but now it is over even as to all the Days and Doings of this Life here upon Earth Now the Days are passing and we are as yet in the Flesh but then they will be all over and gone and our Spirits will be removed from hence Then shall they remember Luke 16. 25 the several Steps and Passages of our Life here on Earth which at firsâ— may seem as faint as the remembrance of â— Night-Vision or of the things which havâ— been lately or long since past But they shalâ— be all call'd over again and appear before usâ— All the Thoughts Words and Actions of thâ— past Life will remain present before the Souâ— and appear more lively and make yet a greater impression because then she is to receivâ— accordingly than when they were first done The Word of Instruction which doth arisâ— hence is that every thing now should be so done as it will be then wished and desired that it haâ— been done and this is to strive to the utmost iâ— pleasing and finding acceptance with Almighty God In what fear should we pass the timâ— of our sojourning How should we improvâ— every moment of our precious Time and nâ— suffer the least portion thereof to pass away iâ— unprofitable and vain things The dispropoâ—tion between Time and Eternity is vast anâ— as much greater as between the whole Oceaâ— and a single Drop or as the whole gathering â—f the Waters is to a narrow Gulph or Stream The Rivers run to the Sea and in like manâ—er as soon as we draw Breath we are gliding â—n 'till we launch forth and are swallowed up â—nto Eternity The Odds will be as great or â—ather more exceeding than when one who â—as imprisoned in a dark Dungeon or cubâ—ed up in a narrow close Room is let out to â—he liberty of the whole Earth Or like a Swalâ—ow which for a little time was pent up in a Cage is let out again to fly up and down in â—he wide and immense Regions of Air. The â—lteration and Change which will be then â—ade upon us is yet more unconceivable It â—oth not yet appear what we shall be Now â—e know nothing or but little of the Soul â—e shall then perceive nothing besides the Soul â—ow we are wholly taken up with the Conâ—erns of the Body then we shall have nothing â—o do with it And so though our Bodies do â—â—oulder towards the Dust and then seem to be â—tterly lost yet it is not so for ever for they â—â—all be raised up again and rendred glorious â—nd incorruptible Now we do mind if not â—nly yet chiefly things sensible and carnal â—ut then we shall be wholly taken up with the â—onsideration of things spiritual The whole Creation with all the Things and Works of God will be more clearly manifested before us and understood by us than they are now as much as the Understanding of a Man doth exceed and surpass the Conception and Instinct of a Beast It will be a very great change and renewal of things now no more to turn to Corruption nor to be destroyed nor yet dissolved But as it is said of Melchisedeck That he abideth a Priest continually Heb. 7. 3. By which Word Priest according to its first institution is signified the most Sanctified and Holy and Choice of the People And ye shall be unto me a Kingdom of Priests and a holy Nation Exod. 19. 6. from whence cometh that Word Clergy So in like manner it may be affirmed when those true Things are erected and set up whereof the Things heretofore made and now in being are but the figure when the new Heavens and the new Earth are created which are spoken of in Isai 65. 17. then if we may so speak after the manner of Men with much humility trembling and reverence that it may be understood by their Capacities God hath done his best For the new Heavens and the new Earth which I will make shall remain observe that before me saith the Lord Isai 66. 22. This Word Remain doth denote an eternal unchangeable state or whatever is to last for a time if it be a thousand or million of Years that is transitory for the several parts and portions of Time do pass away and succeed one another Now there is both Time and Motion which are relative Terms and these do point forth unto as they will be swallowed up at length in the eternal Rest The whole Earth is at rest and quiet they break forth into singing Isai 14. 7. This doth respect and look back unto that Confusion Desolation Destruction Trouble and Weariness which hath been heretofore on the Earth when there was fear and weeping It is before said The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow and from thy fear and from thy hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve vers 3. These former evil things shall be done away and the contrary good things shall succeed in the room thereof And though this will in some measure be fulfilled in the latter days on the Earth when the Sinners who cause all this evil and trouble shall be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked shall be no more Psal 104. 35. For in what Prayer the Spirit of Truth doth dictate is included a Promise that so it shall be And then the People who inhabit here shall practice the same Holiness and live in peace as in Jerusalem which is above which is the Mother of us all Which Word Jerusalem by Interpretation is the Visions of Peace Though this will be in a less degree and more imperfect manner just before the Church on Earth shall be received up and swallowed into that of Heaven And it shall then come to pass that the whole Creation shall be at resâ— and quiet They shall sing for joy and breaâ— forth in loud Voices and everlasting Hallelujahs as is described in the Revelations They shall not only be so as to rest and inward peace of Soul and Spirit but also as to outward Resâ— and Motion The Sun shall no more be thy lighâ— by day thy Sun shall no more go down neither shall thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting Light Isai 60 18 19. So shall it no more rejoyce as a strong Man to run a Race nor any longer continueâ— his going forth from the end of Heaven nor his Circuit unto the ends of it but the reason of the thing will then also cease and God Himself will then supply that immediately to his living Creatures and Spirits which they had before by the means and instrumentality of the inanimate Creatures There shall be no more any weary Beast but if these sensitive and irrational Creatures should be raised up also to being
And the like Zeal should be indefinitely shewed forth for all the Commandments of God and for all the positive Duties of the Gospel without confining or limiting of it to one thing more than another But now if any thing is done against any of the Commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done see Levit. 4. 22 27. there is an indifferency and unconcernedness Some could wish but it will never be done with wishing that things were right and according to the Law of God Ezra 10. 3. there is the utmost pitch of their Zeal Tho' God hath given them knowledge and ability for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness they would have God excuse them now and pardon them hereafter if they neglect this gift in them If present interest or any doctrine or opinion which is espoused and peculiar it perhaps giving denomination to such a Sect or Party is any wise concerned here they will exert their Zeal Knowledge and Industry But they will not in like manner contend earnestly for the weightier matters of the Law as Judgment Mercy Faith and Obedience to all the Commandments of God every one of which is to be observed towards and by every Creature without exception or respect of Persons They say These things are sufficiently known already But are they practised and done accordingly Herein they speak after a like unworthy manner as those who said Will a Man plead for Baal let Baal plead for himself and it is almost the same what they speak in reference to the God of Israel For if they may not so properly be styled Scoffers of these last and worst days yet they are ignorant slothful walking after their own Lusts and saying What need one do any thing for God he will do his work for himself This they are willingly ignorant of that there is such a Duty That people should help the Lord against the mighty Judg. 5. 23. which signifies the Sons of Violence and Transgression who will do things of their own strength because it is in the power of their hand Mic. 2. 1. and they are not nor yet will they be kept within the bounds of God's Commandments But these People do err which they utter forth against the Lord Isai 32. 5. not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God nor yet the way of the present dispensation of his Kingdom For tho' the help which God doth upon Earth he doth it himself yet it is always done by the Means and Instruments of his Servants as they do act and exert forth those Principles of Goodness and Truth which he hath implanted in them As the Apostle argues from this Word Yet once more Heb. 12. 27. so every Sentence yea the least Word and Particle in Scripture is observable Where we read of some People that their Spirits were stirred there is a motion or making known or a Command of God to the Heart which yet the Creature doth not obey But where it is written God stirred up the Spirit of such an one as Gideon David Nehemiah Zerubabel there the Person doth actually obey and goes forth and is doing according to the Work God calls and employs him about Be instructed all ye slothful and faint-hearted Christians God hath put nothing in vain in any Man or Woman That Goodness which he first ingrassed and doth afterwards infuse should increase and grow up and it ought to appear forth through the Person in whom it is Agreeable hereunto is what our Lord saith and commands Ye are the Light of the World a City that is set on an hill cannot be hid neither do Men light a Candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the house Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Matth. 5. 14 15 16. That which is of God in any Person is either Goodness or Truth and as Goodness ought to appear forth so the Truth in him ought to be spoken out For tho' the common Saying of the World is agreeable to the Wisdom of the Flesh which is for sloth ease and present safety Thaâ— all Truth is not to be spoken yet we have learned another way to Heaven Lord who shall abide in thâ— Tabernacle Who shall rest in thy holy Hill He thaâ— walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness anâ— speaketh the truth in his heart Psal 15. 1 2. So thaâ— as sure as the Spirit of God doth here teach thâ— way to Heaven and lay down the foregoing Qualifications and Conditions which we musâ— have and do before we come there whateveâ— Truth is in our heart provided it be the Truth oâ— God as coming from Him and arising out of hiâ— Word we must and ought to speak it come whatever will hereof if we do not mean to be disappointed of Heaven at last And if this doing should bring trouble upon our Loins for this Objection the worldly-wise Man hath against thiâ— Duty and therefore he will refrain to utter it wâ— must do it for all that this being that kind of manifold Tribulation which we must go throughâ— before we enter into the Kingdom of God All People will not be saved who constantly go to Church or Meeting for of the four sorts of Hearers of the Word in Mat. 13. there is but one who beareth and bringeth forth fruit unto everlasting life But there is another sort which comes exactly to the present case But he that receiveth seed into stony places the same is he that heareth the word and anoâ—â— with joy receiveth it yet hath he not root within himself but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is â—ffended Mat. 13. 20 21. There is no Person but who would willingly be saved and doth perceive â—ome lightsomness and satisfaction to arise from â—he Ordinance of Preaching because he thinks â—hat this doth somewhat further him towards this happy and blessed End But when such a Duty is presented before him or such a thing seems to be commanded and required of him in the same Word which hath a shew or perhaps a real consequent of worldly loss trouble or inconvenience This is such a Stumbling-block in his way to Heaven that he cannot or rather will not get over So that here if he doth not the thing he cries out or secretly ejaculates with Naaman The Lord pardon thy Servant in this thing considering that he doth so much towards God besides Or when God requires and calls them forth to such a particular Duty they answer like those invited to the Wedding-Dinner I pray thee have me excused for if I should do so I should suffer damage in such worldly matters Nay if he should do the Duty but yet he is offended that tribulation and persecution is come upon him for it This indeed is another step further
wonderful Works of God Acts 2. 11. they are taken up with mans Notions Sayings and Phrases and they are bewildered in the little things of this lower World for they do not understand even them throughly and clearly Where seems to be a little pure and primitive Christianity is not there much Ignorance and coming short of the Knowledge of the Things of God as they ought to be known There are either some affected Phrases of their own which they harp and insist altogether on or there is a preference of some select parts and portions thereof before the whole Word of God all which ought to be brought in equally upon occasion without preferring one thing before another or at least not to make the one a pretence to shut out the other Are there not dark Speeches used if it be not sometimes unintelligible and mystical nonsence whereas the time now is that they should speak no more to us in Proverbs but they should shew us plainly of the Father John 16. 25. And in these larer times the Spirit speaketh expresly 1 Tim. 4. 1. yea and clearly viz. such things as may be understood not in Words which Man's Wisdom teacheth not in humane affected Phrases but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual with spiritual And compare Scripture with Scripture we shall find that such whether they be Men or Women who say when the Lord hath not spoken or who speak a Vision of their own heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord Jer. 23. 16. Which prophecy out of their own heart Ezek. 13. 17. Or who say that it shall so come to pass when the Lord hath not commanded them and it will not come to pass and the thing doth not follow such are presumptuous Deut. 18. 22. They take God's Name in vain and a Woe is now pronounced against them which at last will fall down upon them to their own misery and condemnation Is it not in some measure fulfilled at this day We see not our Signs there is no more any Prophet neither is there any among us that knoweth how long Psal 74. 9. That knoweth any thing certainly from God as in times past he did reveal his Secret unto his Servants the Prophets or how long this Judgment of the Sword will be upon the Nations nor after what manner and when God will work Salvation and establish Peace in the midst of the Earth For God is my King of old working Salvation in the midst of the Earth Psal 74. 12. I will be thy King Where is any other that may save thee in all thy Cities and thy Judges of whom thou saidst Give me a King and Princes Hos 13. 12. These things will so be when God doth reign immediately over the Hearts of all Men and they yield that Obedience unto him as now they do to their Kings and Governours after the Flesh But at this day it is fulfilled Therefore night shall be upon you that ye shall not divine and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets and it shall be dark over them then shall the Seers be ashamed and the Diviners confounded yea they shall all cover their Lips for there is no answer of God Mic. 3. 6 7. Consider throughly of this all ye Preachers in the several Churches and Congregations and do ye not sensibly perceive the Truth of this last There is no answer of God There is at this day and accordingly he that is most spiritual and knows most of God doth most sensibly perceive it the face of the Covering and the Veil that is spread over all Nations Isa 25. 7. There is a Veil and Covering over the Hearts and Understandings of Men I feel it upon mine own that they have not that constant lively Faith and clear Knowledge of the future and invisible things of God as was in the days of Moses or of Christ or as themselves had in former times when they were illuminated Heb. 10. 32. Or as themselves shall have when God shall be pleased according to his gracious Promise here to destroy that Covering and Veil and to break it that we may see through But even unto this day when Moses is read the Vail is upon their Hearts nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the Veil shall be taken away 2 Cor. 3. 15 16. Religion is now at a low ebb I do not mean as to outward Worship the Profession Appearance and Shew thereof for that was retained all along throughout the foregoing Generations But so it is as to the walking in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless in all Righteousness and true Holiness To shew the exceeding stress that the People lay upon this thing of their going constantly to the place and their performing the outward act of Worship the Holy Ghost doth repeat it three times in his Caution concerning it Trust ye not in lying Words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these Jer. 7. 4. That is as much as to say it is a lying and false Word let People repeat it over and over and insist upon it never so much It is not the bare going to Church or to such a Congregation is all that God doth require of Men and Women nor is this sufficient to bring them to Heaven To say or affirm that this is all which God doth require or that this with no more ado will bring them to Heaven is a lying Word For the Lord hath shewed in the foregoing Verse what he doth require of Men namely Amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place This is the way to be fixed and for ever to abide in the high and blessed place of Heaven Again he finds fault Will ye steal murder and commit adultery and swear falsly and burn incense to Baal and walk after other Gods whom ye know not here the Prophet enumerates the breach of Six Commandments and in like manner it may be applied to the other Four viz. Sabbath-breaking Dishonouring of Parents Falshood and Covetousness and come and stand before me in this House which is called by my Name and say We are delivered to do all these Abominations Is this House which is called by my Name become a Den of Robbers in your eyes behold even I have seen it saith the Lord Jer. 7. 9 10 11. So that the Inference is natural and necessary That it is not the going to Church or to any other Place of his Worship upon the Lord's Day or upon every Week-Day will serve to make an atonement or blind and deceive God for the breach and transgressions of his Laws and Commandments for he doth here say I have seen it even through this Veil of Hypocrisie let them think or say what they will that their Trade or Business or Necessity of Affairs do require them so to do To the same purpose is the first Chapter of Isaiah throughout I hate
I despise your Feast-days and I will not smell in your solemn Assemblies Tho' ye offer your Burnt-offerings and Meat-offerings I will not accept them neither will I regard the Peace-offering of your Fat Beasts Take thou away from me the noise of thy Songs for I will not hear the melody of thy Viols what must we do then But let Judgment run down as Waters and Righteousness as a mighty Stream Have ye offered unto me Sacrifices and Offerings in the Wilderness forty Years O House of Israel Amos 5. 21 22 23 24 25. Have ye worshipped me according to your several Ways and Congregations in this Wilderness of the Earth where one is at a loss to find the right Way through your manifold Opinions and Divisions for almost six thousand Years O ye Children of Men But still ye have continued in your own Doings and in the things ye have made to your selves whereas that is the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not Man Heb. 8. 2. And now what if God himself should say in the last Day as he doth now speak from Heaven in this his Word I hate I despise I will not accept neither will I regard your Burnt offerings Meat-offerings and Peace-offerings Which he himself did yet command and institute and Man did then use them to please atone and be reconciled to Almighty God This is to be understood by the way that God will one day speak himself in person with a loud and outward audible Voice what he doth now speak from Heaven in the still Voice of his Spirit or in the Scriptures which are his Epistle sent unto the Inhabitants of the Earth And whereas with many Men their Letters are powerful but their bodily Presence is weak and contemptible it will be contrariwise as to God For his Word now as written or spoken by Men is weakness 1 Cor. 1. 25. But when himself shall utter his Voice the Earth will melt Psal 46. 6. The Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat 2 Pet. 3. 10. For the Lord himself shall descend with a shout with the Voice of the Archangel and with the Trumpet of God 1 Thess 4. 16. So that he will make a yet greater impression and cause a greater shaking not only upon the living Creatures but also upon the very material Works of God even all the World over than that manner of giving the Law did formerly upon the single and particular place of Mount Sinai concerning which see Exod. 19. Heb. 12. 17 18. 19. So it will be pronounced concerning the several Acts and Parts of Worship outward Prayer Praise Hearing the Word Baptism and the Lord's Supper Not that these are to be cast off and neglected in no wise But yet so it is when it doth become the Sacrifice of Fools the Sacrifice of Sinners and Transgressors for they provoke God and deceive themselves whereby they are Fools when they keep up one with another that is when they worship God and yet continue in sin and transgression The whole Scripture is full to the same purpose But here it may be surmised That if the case is so it is good for such not to worship God at all But all Men cannot receive this Saying but unto whom it is given for Worship is due from every Creature unto God and these things are written not that they should cast off and neglect it in no wise But that every one should turn away from his Iniquities Acts 3. 26. and cease from all manner of sin and transgression And then they are to obey all the Commandments of God which relate to Good or Evil Righteousness or Wrong Truth or Falshood enjoying the one and forbidding the other as well as they do already obey those his Commandments which pertain to his Worship Except they do this also they cannot be saved and all their Worship will signifie nothing It is strange but yet true and common That many People of both Sexes should go on blindly and ignorantly for thirty forty fifty and sixty Years yea throughout all their life in this Deceit of being Worshippers of God and yet not doing his Will whereas it is written so plainly that every Capacity may understand it Now we know that God heareth not Sinners but if any Man be a Worshipper of God and doth his Will him he heareth John 9. 31. As we read that Prayer of Moses and David and that Promise which God made unto his People by Isaiah of Levi he said Bless Lord his Substance and accept the Work of his Hands Deut. 33. 8 11. Remember all thy Offerings and accept thy Burnt-sacrifice Selah Psal 20. 3. They shall come up with acceptance on mine Altars Isai 60. 7. and Ezek. 20. 40 41. We learn this Word of Instruction which may make us to fear and take heed and beg pardon for the Iniquity of our holy things and to pray instantly and continually for acceptance that in all things we do in order to God or pertaining to Religion as it is commonly named or understood unless God do accept thereof it all signifies nothing Nay what is yet further It is as cutting of a Dog's neck there is not much in that it is as offering Swines blood this doth displease God it is as blessing an Idol Isai 66. 3. which is the highest and superlative degree of provoking God to the greatest manner that possibly can be So they do rather displease than please they make God to be further off and more angry rather than bring him near and make him reconciled unto us Hear this Word all ye People of England that enter in at the Church-doors or Meeting-Houses to praise the Lord. Another thing wherein ye are defective and found wanting is this For they say and do not Mat. 23. 2. They hear read and talk of many good Words and precious Truths but they do not turn them into practice and suitable action It is recorded of Moses the Servant of the Lord He was mighty in Words and in Deeds Acts 7. 22. so he was for both and therein he pleased and was accepted by God who had hereupon a favour and love towards him But this belongs not to the nominal nor yet to the real Christians of this Age who make a fair shew in the Flesh and they are sincere and of the better sort yet herein they are found wanting many of them are mighty in Words but not in Deeds They do talk of the highest Duties and Attainments of Religion and they do conceive speak read hear and write of the great Truths of God but how to perform the same at all times and in all places and in reference to all Persons they find not Towards the publishing and making known these Truths throughout all this Region or to hazard or even to suffer actual tribulation for the Word's sake they are offended and themselves will not run the risque and experience of it The like
Character is given unto him who is greater than Moses with a transversal of the same Words Jesus of Nazareth a Prophet mighty in deed and in word before God and before all the People Luke 24. 19. The Holy Ghost hereby signifying that he did actually more good than himself talked of and herein he did exceed Moses and all the Children of God For with them their Thoughts and Words do rise higher than their Actions For none ever did nor yet can obey and do more for God than he doth think or speak of But their Performances and Doings come short of their Words as both Words and Actions do come short of their Thoughts for many good excellent high great and glorious Things are thought of which are never spoken out But this is Man's fault and infirmity for every thing that is good and true ought to be spoken out and if possible the same is to be put into practice But where power is wanting or opportunity is not to be had there it should come forth into will and real endeavour so that in good and duty we should still go as far as we can If we seek out of the Book of the Lord and read we shall there find that the whole of Mankind is distinguished not into such Names as we give one another of Papist Protestant Church-of-England-man Presbyterian Independent Anabaptist Quaker Sabbatarian Socinian Dissenter or such-like but into Righteous and Wicked they that serve God and they that serve him not Mal. 3. 18. This serving of God is not calling him their God nor yet styling themselves the Children of Abraham nor yet the ranking themselves among the Members of a pure Church at this Day nor yet paying unto God Acts of Worship every morning and evening for whosoever keeps all the parts and times of Worship and yet will not obey one point of the Law of God when he doth all the rest he is guilty of all and an ungodly Man for all that But this is the Service of God to do all his Will and Pleasure for as to our matters according to the Flesh it is not the bare calling him Master or living in his Family or paying unto him outward Respect all this will not make them to be Servants indeed But it is the constant doing of their Business according to what they are bid and commanded from time to time The Spirit of God doth foresee there is a sort of People who goon in that Deceit of calling themselves of the Holy City and staying upon the God of Israel of worshipping God and speaking honourably of his Name These would take it ill if any one should say they did not serve God As indeed they do not tho' they serve with an Offering and weary themselves with Incense Isai 43. 23. Tho' they spend never so much time in outward Worship and take all the Opportunities and Seasons for it yet in the meaning and requiring of the Holy Ghost they do not properly and truly serve God unless they do confirm all the Words of his Law to do them The same Spirit doth caution us hereof and give us to understand as much by what is written Ye Ministers of his that do his pleasure Psal 103. 21. Hereby intimating that there are such who think themselves and are called by the World Ministers and Servants of God who yet do not his Pleasure Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say Luke 6. 46. And yet more plainly this is signified by what the Spirit saith His Servants shall serve him Rev. 22. 3 This is brought in upon describing the manner of the New Jerusalem above which herein is opposite and different from that on Earth for many here are called Servants of God who do not in deed and in truth serve him Whereas such only who do in deed and in truth serve him shall be admitted there Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works and I will profess unto them I never knew ye depart from me ye that work Iniquity Mat. 7. 21 22 23. These things I have written not that I had ought as of my self to accuse my Nation of but to manifest from the Word which flatters none but declares unto all Men what his thoughts and ways are that though a form of Godliness is spread and diffused throughout the several Congregations and Places of this Island yet they all come short of the Power and substance thereof And as we do all look for the appearance of the Great GOD who shall render to every Man according to his Work both ye and my self are to be diligent that we may be found of Him without spot and blameless I speak not these things as a Man but they do proceed forth from the Word and Spirit of the Lord and from Him that gives Man Knowledge who sees all this and much more and is displeased As Wounds and Bruises and putrifying Sores are launced in order to a cure so these things are laid open before all the Churches which they may at least come to the sight hearing or rumour of that they may know such things have been written that according to the Commandment of the God of Israel they amend their Ways and their Doings Jer. 7. 3. if they intend to have the Favour of God now be accepted of Him at last and if they would dwell with him in the highest Heavens for evermore Amen saith my Soul come Lord Jesus come quickly FINIS