THe Works of this Author have obtain'd such general Esteem that many are desirous nothing of his should be lost I have already published two small Volumes of his Sermons the First containing Eight and the Second Ten of his Declarations and the acceptance they have gain'd from Persons of different Persuasions has induced me to emit this Third and Last Collection containing Twelve Sermons more upon several very necessary Subjects none of which have been yet Printed One of them being his last Sermon preached at Devonshire-house London a while before his Death So that now these are all of this Author's which are to be expected from N. C. THE Third and Last Volume OF THE Sermons OF Mr. STEPHEN CRISP Late of Colchester in Essex Deceased Containing XII DECLARATIONS upon several Divine Subjects Exactly taken in Short-hand as they were deliver'd by him at the Publick Meeting-Houses of the People called QUAKERS In Grace-Church-street Devonshire-house and S. Martin's le-grand London And now faithfully Transcribed and Publish'd with some of his Prayers after Sermon London Printed for Nath Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheap-side 1694. The Contents of the Three Volumes of the Sermons or Declarations of Mr. Stephen Crisp THe First Volume contains Eight Sermons upon the following Subjects I. The great Mediator of the Everlasting Covenant II. Heart Preparation for receiving the Gospel III. The First and Great Commandment IV. The Standard of Truth V. The necessary Duty of remembring our Creator VI. The Divine Monitor or Light from Heaven VII The Inward Preacher or the Office of Conscience VIII Saving Faith the Gift of God alone THe Second Volume contains Ten Sermons upon the following Subjects I. Truth 's Testimony against the Power of Sin and Satan II. Bearing the Cross the right Mark of a Christian III. The Spirit of Christ the only true Guide IV. Pure and Spiritual Worship V. The Divine Life of Christ Jesus VI. The Kingdom of God within VII The undefiled way to Eternal Rest. VIII The dawning of the Day of Grace and Salvation IX The Excellency of Peace with God X. True Christianity THE Third and Last Volume contains Twelve Sermons upon the following Subjects I. The mighty Work of Man's Redemption II. The Word of God a Christian's Life III. The necessity of an holy Life and Conversation IV. Baptism and the Lord's Supper asserted V. Christ the Way the Truth and the Life VI. Captive Sinners ransomed by Jesus Christ. VII The Sheep of Christ hear his Voice VIII No True Worship without the right Knowledge of God IX The wonderful Love of God to Mankind X. Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ. XI The acceptable Sacrifice XII Christians should often think on the Name of the Lord Being his last Sermon preached at Devonshire-house a while before his Death And are all to be sold either single or bound up in one Volume by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside Price Three Shillings SERMON I. The mighty Work of Mans Redemption Preached at Grace-Church-street Feb. 8. 1687. My Friends WE are met upon the most weighty Affair that can be to every one of us even to wait that we may have a true knowledge of the beginning carrying on and perfecting the mighty Work of Redemption that People may know that Redemption is wrought in their Souls for every ones Soul hath been lost and captivated and led away from the pure Presence of God all have been alienated by reason of Sin which hath become an universal Wall of Partition and hath excluded and shut out unholy Souls from the Holy God all that have been defiled and polluted they have been excluded from his Dwelling-place they have been driven out into the World and the World hath become a World of Misery and of Distraction and Confusion to the Sons and Daughters of Men there hath been Anguish Tribulation and Wrath upon all their Souls and an insensibility hath happened unto many that they have not been apprehensive of the great Depravation they have lain under and they have not been sensible of the Glory of that State and Condition which they were to have enjoyed and in that State of Insensibility they have not sought after the Lord but have been captivated and led away by divers Lusts and Pleasures by which they have wounded their own Souls more and more And in such a State as this it is that the Lord hath found us he hath sought us out and he hath found us cast out into the open Field and wallowing as it were in our Blood and yet this hath been a time of Love and he hath manifested his Love to us in this respect in that he hath awakened us and brought us to a sense of our depraved and deplorable Condition and given unto a Remnant to perceive that there is a more excellent Glory a more excellent Enjoyment to be had than any this World can afford But a great many of those whose Eyes are so far opened that they can see and discern a more excellent Glory yet they cannot receive it for they are not in a capacity for the Enjoyment oâ— it many have the Glimmerings and some little sight of Heavenly Things but they themselves are earthly Many perceive there is a holy Life but it is not theirs for their own Life is unholy and yet they know there is a Life that is Holy and Pure Hereupon Desires are begotten by the divine Word of Life in the Sons and Daughters of Men through the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator by him Desires are begotten in People that they might come to enjoy that Life of Holiness that they might not only see a better State than what they do enjoy but that they might come to enjoy it and have iâ— for theirs There is an universal Desire in People that they might have Eternal Life and they believe there is an Eternal Life to be enjoyed but every one hath it not and the reason is because they are not fitted and prepared for the enjoyment of it for it is a kind of Treasure that is never put into an unclean Vessel there must be a cleansing and purifying that so earthen Vessels may come to retain and hold this heavenly Treasure and when it comes to this that People must be cleansed and purified here the World turns out to divers Means and Methods some have gone to outward Washings outward Cleansings and Observations of this and the other Ordinance and when all that hath been done they themselves being Judges were yet unclean when they have done all that lies in their Power and Ability towards their Washing and Cleaâ—sing and towards preparing themselves they have found some secret Testimony in their own Consciences that their Hearts were still unclean and that there was defilement still abiding and lodging in the Secret of their Souls and this hath put a great many to a stand what they should do when they have come to the end of all they know not what
This sort of People are to be pitied and the Souls of all good People will piâ—â— them for such as these seek the Living amoâ—â— the Dead they seek to them to redeem theâ— that cannot redeem them We have soughâ— say they for Power and Strength from them that had not enough for themselves they were captivated as well as we and all this because we came not to him that is stronger than the Devil You will take the same course and stay till grey Hairs come and you go down to the Grave with Sorrow unless you come to one stronger than the Devil and theâ— trust in him believe in him and expect Deliverance by him The Reason why Peoplâ— do not expect Deliverance is because tâ—â—â— Two Things are shut out of their Belief 〈◊〉 I. They believe not that a sinful Life will carry them to Destruction II. They think there is not any possibility in this World to live any other than a sinful Life The Devil hath brought Men to this pass that they live as easily in a sinful Life as a Fish in the Stream We are in the way say they when we were baptized we were initiated into the Christian Church we were baptized with the Sign of the Cross that shews we are Soldiers of Christ and bear his Badge and Banner upon us and the Man said at that Time I was made a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven if this be not true then I am cheated and deceived for I am to believe this to be true the Church hath affirmed that these things are to be belived and to question the Verity of the Church is to question all I would question whether thousands find the Truth of it When thou wert baptized there was a kind of Covenant and Bargain made for this Child of God and Heir of Eternal Life That he should forsake the Devil and all his Works and the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and the sinful Lusts of the Flesh And there is Security given that this Child shall never serve the Devil and sinful Lusts and never be proud but serve God and keep his Commandments Now this Security being taken then they suppose that this Child will certainly be an Heir of the Kingdom of God It is very true stand to thy Church if this Security that is taken for a Child be but effectual then there is no doubt of being a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven But if this Security fail is the Church to blame if Men's Hopes to Eternal Life fail Was it not my Condition That thou shouldest forsake the Devil and all his Works and the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and if thou break the Bargain and thy part of the Covenant and miss of Eternal Life who is to blame Look to the Security see that thou forsake the Devil and all his Works and the Pomps and Vanities of the World But thou mayest rather say I have enjoyed as many of them as I could and for the Lusts of the Flesh I have enjoyed as much of them as I can and what dost thou believe thy self to be a Child of God and an Heir of the Kingdom of Heaven notwithstanding If I promise to deliver a Man such a Bail of Silk or other Goods upon the Payment of so much Mony if I fail in delivering the Goods he will not deliver the Mony A Man must forsake the Devil and all his Works and never lust after the Pomps and Vanities of this World that is a Child of God let us see him grow up and if he goes on to be faithful in this Covenant till he die I do not at all question but he will be an Hâ—â—r of eternal Life but when all this is broken and the Sâ—curity signifies nothing and the Man is given up to serve the Devil breaks all God's holy Laws erreth and strayeth from the Way of God's Commandments like a lost Sheep and Grasps at the Pomps and Vanities of the World as much as he can and thinks he gets no more than comes to his share and when he shall indulge the Lusts of his Flesh this is a Child of the Devil he is a Child of that Spirit that was a Lyer from the beginning Never talk of being a Child and an Heir of God's Kingdom such a Man is in Fetters he is to go along with the Devil and his Angels and there is a Kingdom prepared for them a Kingdom of Darkness and he must have his Portion with them in Everlasting Misery Tophet is prepared of old for all the workers of iniquity What for those that are baptized Yes But do not you deny Baptism No not I I would have Men and Women baptized with a Baptism that will do them some good Some have seen the Vanity and Weakness of this kind of Baptism and called it Baby Baptism and therefore would go and be baptized and plunged in the Water over head and Ears but they came up again with the same Heart and Mind and the same Polluted Soul John baptized in Jordan and all Jerusalem and Judea came to be baptized of him There were a sort of baptized Persons then thâ—â— crucified the Lord Jesus Christ that never did them harm in his Life but much good This Baptism had never an Apostolical Patron but there is another Baptism that is so infallible a Baptism that if a Man were surely baptized withal he was sure of Heaven he would never need any other Assurance of Heaven than to be baptized with this Baptism Jesus Christ The Lip of Truth speaks of him He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved He shall be saved in spight of the Devil and all his Temptations in spight of Persecutions and the Stumbling-Blocks laid before him Here is a Baptism worth a Man's while worth all his Labour if he could obtain it He that cometh after me saith John the Baptist he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Here is a Baptism belongs to Christians an Ordinance ordained Far be it from us to deny Baptism but we would light of the right since there are so many sorts This Baptism is so right and certain that it assertains a Man of his Salvation but it is done by the Holy Ghost and with fire If it be by the Holy Ghost then it is far enough off from us for there is no Holy Ghost in our Days say some so this Baptism is ceased and Inspiration is ceased If the Holy Ghost and Fire be the Matter of Baptism the thing being failed and ceased the Consequence cannot follow thou and I cannot be baptized because there is no working of the Holy Ghost in our Days say some this Baptism is with the Holy Ghost and with fire with Fire for burning 〈◊〉 our Corruptions and purifying our Hearts But the Holy Ghost hath done working upon Men say they why then there is
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
state and 〈◊〉 you see with your inward Eye that your 〈◊〉 is not so good as you would have it â—o 〈◊〉 then trust and rely upon the all-sufficient 〈◊〉 powerful Operation of God's Holy Spiâ—â—â— mend your state and give you Power 〈◊〉 your Corruptions and to go on from one 〈◊〉 to another towards the Cleansing and Sanctiâ—â—cation of your Souls so that you may receive something from God to enable you to live to God for all that you receive from Men will only make you live to Men but that which you receive from God will help you to live to God that will purifie you and sanctify you and make you clean through the word So through the Word you will come to Cleanness Purity and Holiness And when you are come to the way of Holiness you may believe you are gotten into the way of God's Kingdom and never till then It is not enough to make a Profession but we must live up to the Profession of that Religion that we make it is not holding this Tenet and the other Tenet and saying This Minister I am sure preacheth the Truth thou mayest be a Child of the Devil for 〈◊〉 that I now speak indifferently to all People without respect to any fort They thaâ— believe they are walking toward the Kingdom of God and yet their way is not a holy 〈◊〉 â—hey have cheated themselves and deceiv'd their â—wn Souls and they had need look about them â—nd take heed what they do the Glass is â—â—nning and Time is hasting away and our â—ife may end we know not how soon It is â—ood to prize and improve Time while you â—ave it and bring your Deeds to the Light â—ee what Reproofs Instructions Counsels and Openings you have met with from the Lord and see how you have answered aâ—d been obedient to them and so you will come to take a sound and infallible account of your condition and if it be not so good as it should be wait upon the Lord to mend it he that made you can mend you he that made your Ears must unstop your Ears to hear the Word of God To that Power that carries on the Work of Sanctification and Redemption by his word to that word I must leave you and to his Spirit I commit you This word will be with you and if you part not with it it will not part with you it will go with you to your Houses and to your Shops and to your Beds it will lie down with you at Night and rise with you in the Morning To that end Christ he is a Leader and Governour and the Captain of our Salvation to lead the Van and carry you on in the way of Salvation and as many as follow Christ and are led by the spirit of God they are the Children of God SERMON VII The Sheep of Christ heaâ— his Voice Preached at Devonshire-House May 10th 1688. My Sheep saith the true Shepherd hear my Voice THE Sheep of the true Fold hear the Voice of Christ the good Shepherd and know the Voice of Strangers too But saith he the stranger they will not follow This Scripture hath been a Mark of Distinction in all Ages that hath been peculiarly bestowâ—â— upon the People of God that they have hâ—â—â— a discerning Knowledge to make a certain distinction between them that were of God and those that were of the World Now they that are of God hear us saith the Apostle Now that you may all find in your selveâ— this peculiar Gift of God to be able to understand and discern between the precious and the vile that you might know the Ministration of Life from the Ministration of Dâ—â—th you must all be gathered inwardly into â—hat which you have received 〈◊〉 God for they â—â—at are only exercised 〈◊〉 Gifts and Parts and Acquirements that appertain to this world they have been always subject to Delusions apt to be led away into a by-Path and crooked way that leads to destruction but they that are under the Government and Direction of the Gift of God they have been able thereby to make such a Distinction of Voices and of Sounds that they have been preserv'd from the Delusions of the Age. This was the difference of old between the Prophets of God and the false Prophets between the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ and the false Apostles the difference was not so much in their Words for they had in a great measure the same Words if the true Prophets used to say Thus saith the Lord the false Prophets would say so too if the true Prophets declared against Sin the false Prophets likewise would do so for the false Prophet stole his Word from his Neighbour But the great Matter by which the People of the Lord were preserved was that hidden and divine Wisdom they received of God by which they understood the Voice of the Spirit from the Voice of Strangers from the Voice of them that were of the Flesh and that was the Cause that Christians in the Primitive Days did not adhere to and follow those false Apostles that came to them in their own Names and held a form of Godliness but denyed the Power of it But they amongst them into whom theiâ— witchcrafts did enter they went away from thâ— spirit and saught to be made perfect in the flesh they went to the outward observation and to the beggarly rudiments of things that perish with their using and from the Law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus And as it hath been in those Ages of which we have read so it comes to pass in this our Age in which a dispensation of the spirit of Truth is manifested and revealed unto the Children of Men there is a remnant that have received the Testimony of Eternal Life and have believed the Testimony and waited on him of whom the Testimony is born not to have Life by the Testimony but to have Life in him so they receive their Life by the ministration of the spirit of Christ and they live to God and others who have received no Life from him but have a Life in the Words and Sounds and Noizes and Terms and distinguishing Phrases of things their Life 〈◊〉 there they live not to God but to themselves their Glorying is not in the Cross of Christ but in the Words and outside of things so that every one had need at such a time as this to approve their Hearts unto the Lord who knows the inside of Peoples profeâ—sion the inside oâ— of their Religion that knows how the Heart is concernd towards God and what they say and do upon the account of his service so that all that are met together might come to receive more and more of the Life and vertue that sanctifies the Soul of him that receiveth it For Alas my Freinds it is not the gathering together of the most excellent Words about Religion and about worship and service which will approve any Man in the
eternaâ— Life this Life will purifie him and sanctifiâ—â— him at least by degrees till he be wholly sanctified in Body Soul and Spirit This iâ— that which the Apostle writes in one of his Epistles Your salvation is nearer than when you at first believed When they first believed their Salvation was a pretty way off He describes Salvation to be the End of theiâ— Faith and Hope When a Man comes to be delivered from his Sins he shall serve God without fear but when a Man comes to livâ— by Faith he shall overcome he is a 〈◊〉 Soldier of Jesus Christ and he must fight vâ—liantly under his Banner till he gets a Viâ—â—â—ry over all his Enemies and then his Salâ—â—tion is much nearer than when he at first beâ—ieved I would I could say so of some of you for I fear you Salvation is farther off Some go stragling here and there as Sheep not having a Shepherd this is that which my Spirit is intent upon You that are Travellers towards the Kingdom of God it is the wonderful Grace and Mercy of God that evâ—â— it should come into your Minds to seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof They that have obtained this Mercy from God shall receive and enjoy other Mercies better Mercies blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness That is one Mercy but there is another Mercy They shall be filled they shall be satisfied When a Man comes to this he must take up a daily Cross and exercise Self-denial but if he follows Christ he shall be satisfied he shall then have nothing but Peace and Joy he shall then sing Praises and Glory to God in the highest and to the Lamb for ever There is none can understand the Glory that is laid up for those that take up their Cross and follow Christ and love his Appearing This is the great Blessing that God doth give unto his People He hath sent his son Jesus to bless us and turn us from our iniquities This is a Blessing indeed Take heed that you do not admit of any new Terms Do not think to bring God Almighty to new Articles the Terms are declared and concluded on already If you will obtain the Blessing you must be turned eveâ—â—one of you from your Iniquities the Terms are already made the Law of God must be written in the heart and inward thoughts and you must close with that Power that will write the Law in your Hearts and by travelling towards the Kingdom of God you will see the coming of that Kingdom into you It was the Joy of my Soul that I saw the Kingdom of Christ would be set up in my Heart before it was set up there then I saw the Lord's wonderful Work and a great Alteration in me when the Lord was pleased to wean me from the World's Breast and take off my Heart and wean it from worldly Lusts from the World's Joys and Pleasures and Fashions and the World's Honour and Reputation I saw the Lord was pleased to wean me from these things and brought me to an holy Resignation to give up my Heart to him If I have Joy it must be from the Holy Spirit if I have Pleasure it must be in the presence of God who in the multitude of my thoughts within me made his Comforts to delight my soul and if he bring not Comfort to you you will never have it you cannot expect it till you do believe and when 〈◊〉 have Faith you can feel the Kingdom of God within you There must be the New Bâ— the Work of Regeneration for except a mâ— be boâ—â— again be cannot see the kingdom of God there must be a translation from Death to Life there must be a turning out of the old Bottom and a fixing â—pon a new Bottom upon Christ Jesus the rock of ages there must be a Subjection to his Holy Power and Government else you cannot see the Kingdom of God Many have gone on in a Profession mâ—ny Years and never saw the Beauty of it every little Trifle in the World hath diverted them and drawn them away This and the other Pleasure hath drawn away their Hearts they have seen the Glory of the World which hath captivated them But those that make a profession of the Truth and have seen the Beauty and Glory of the Kingdom of Christ they should be shy of returning to the World again for the Apostle saith It happened to them according to the true proverb The dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them They made a Profession and were Members of a visiblâ— Church and had a Name to live but they were inwardly dead the Sight of the Kingdom of God is not given to such but unto Babes that have a Divine Birth and that desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby God hath hid these things from the wise and prudent and â—â—vealed them unto babes You that are hâ—re this day I speak to thoâ—â— that would receive some Kindness from Goâ— and thâ—t desire 〈◊〉 â—nowledge of his ways and that the Myâ—â—â—â—s of his Kingdom may be revealed to yoâ— let your Minds be retirâ—â— and you shall find â—he great things bâ—longâ— to your Peace made known to you We have spoken much of this but I would not have yoâ— know it only by 〈◊〉 Sayings but 〈◊〉 have you g◠〈…〉 â—ur selves toâ—ke whâ— God hath not bestowed this Grace and â—sing upon you If God hath given you Grace do not turn it into wantonness do not abuse the Grace of God What is it that you dâ— when the Grace of God â—â—th convinced yoâ—â—hat such and such a thing is Sinâ— and if yoâ— do it 〈◊〉 â—ll tend to your Ruine Da◠〈…〉 venturâ—â—o commit Sin after you are convinâ— of it O take heed of doing despite 〈◊〉 spirit oâ— grace and of gâ—â—â—ving the holy sâ—â—rit whereby you are sealed 〈◊〉 the day of â—â—demption I wish that the weight of this Consideraâ—â—â—â— might lie upon you and that a holy Dâ—eadâ— Aw of God miâ—ht be wrought in yo◠〈…〉 that you m◠〈…〉 kept from sinnin◠〈…〉 God You know there is a general O◠〈…〉 against presumptuous Sinning Sinning 〈◊〉 Light Why should not we all cry ou◠〈…〉 it It is a most dreadful thing for any 〈◊〉 to sin against his Knowledge and Conviâ— if any of us have been guilty of 〈◊〉 against Light let such a one say I havâ— Iniquity I will do so no 〈◊〉 but enter into Covenant with the Lord and say O Lord so far as thou hast re◠〈…〉 â—y Wâ— unto me I will obey it I w◠〈…〉 light to 〈◊〉 thy Will O God tho' I 〈◊〉 mine own Will Whatever I cross I will noâ— cross God's holy Spirit by which I may
own Bosom against Whoredom Lying Drunkenness Fraud and other Sins he knows he hath done amiss he is not going to a Confessor that will take off and remove the Guilt from his Conscience he hath offended the Majesty of the great God and God hath signified to him Is not Judgment come and hath not God set it up in his own Heart if through Custom in Sin thou losest the Sense of this Judgment it is not because God hath determined to take Advantage against thee but because thou actest against thy self and comest to be past feeling thou wast once under a sense of these things and thou wast not past feeling if thou at any time told thy Parents a Lie thou hadst Remorse but now thou canst tell a Lie and not feel it thou art past feeling whose Fault is this The Lord would have brought thee to love Truth but thou chusest Lying if thou periâ—◠〈◊〉 Blood will be upon thine own head the 〈◊〉 clear from it They that receive the Word of God 〈◊〉 Life for man liveth not by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God You are sensible of God's speaking this Word to you I exhort you all in the Love of God that you would prize this manner of Speaking and look upon it as the greaâ—est Mercy that ever you enjoy'd that God hath not given over speaking to you and that Conscience hath not given over speaking to you and that the Spirit of the Lord doth yet strive with you he will not always strive you may be of that sort of Fools before you die that make a mock of sin and be as trees twice dead and plucked up by the roots You that are sensible of this inward Voice prize it above all your Mercies Health and Wealth and all other Mercies are not worthy to be compared to this Voice of God speaking in you They that prize this will never complain for want of Power they will find Power in it all the Power in Heaven and Earth is contained in this Truth that shines unto you They that come to be exercised in this Word receive Power from God for God gives it to them he gives them Power by degrees from being Sons of Belial Sons of the Devil to become Sons of God to as many as believe in his name They that receive this Truth grow tender of a Lie of a vain Word they find themselves grow tender feeling and sensible Hâ—â—e is a token that the God of Life is quickâ—â—â— them I am now tender of speaking a Lie to my Neighbour I will not do that thing to another that I would not have another do to me when you come to a tender state which is far better than an hard-hearted state you will have an Evidence in your selves That man liveth not by bread only but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God Blessed are they that God hath brought into Acquaintance with his Word of all Nations and People upon the Earth they are a blessed People though there are manifold Blessings that reach indifferently to all the sun shines and the rain falls on the evil and the good and on the just and unjust yet this is a Blessing that can only make the Soul happy that an Intercourse between it and its Maker is open that there is an open Intercourse for the Lord to hear a Man cry and he to receive his Word all those that God hath brought into Covenant with himself by Christ he hath made sensible of this Intercourse and way of God's speaking to his People which he spake to them by in former days Take heed that this way be not stopt up you know by what it was opened and what will stop it up again when you were in much Trouble and Grief you cried to the Lord and he delivered you But if I regard iniquity in my heart said David the Lord will not hear me You cried to the Lord again it may be and he did not answer you and the Lord cried to you and you answered him not but hearkned to your Lusts Yet the Lord by his long-suffering and patience hath won upon a Remnant and hath brought them over to believe and trust in his Power for Salvation and as soon as ever they came to believe in him they found his Power to remove out of the way that which hindred the Intercourse between God and their Souls What a great Stir was there in removing out of the way the Pride Corruption Enmity Loosness Wantonness and abundance more of evil things that made the Soul like a Wilderness What hacking up and burning up was there God's Word like a hammer and like a fire did break up and burn up these things and the same Word of God like a Sword did cut down those Sins and Lusts which prevailed over you before By this means God hath opened a Way for you to have access to him and for his Word to have access to you When you come to the Lord in this way you know you live by this Word and if you hear the Word of the Lord spoken immediately to you your Joy and Consolation increaseth and you have sweet Communion and Fellowship with God and Christ and with one another by this Covenant of Life How came you into it It was by removing a great deal of Rubbish out of the way If you should let this Rubbish grow up again which kept you from the Joy of the Holy Ghost will it not do it again If your Pride Corruption Enmity Prejudice Looseness and Wantonness if these be suffer'd to grow up in any of you they will do as they did before they will separate you from the Lord and from one another As the Truth brought you to God and this heavenly Fellowship with him so if a wrathful Mind and wanton Spirit get up again it will separate you from God and scatter you from one another then you will live in the outward Life and die to the inward one and perish Remember you were told so Every one that goes from this living Word and suffers any thing to arise of the old Nature so much as that riseth so much will your way of Intercourse with God be stopt sometimes Men cry to God but they have a Bar in their way and they come for Comfort to the Throne of Grace but they cannot receive those Ministrations of Joy and Peace which they desire their foolish hearts are darkned and their minds blinded and they will go on in darkness and be left out of the Holy Covenant which God hath called his People to You that God hath engaged to be his by the Operation of his Power O live in a holy Fear and watchfulness and know this That let your Understanding and Gifts be what they will you have nothing but what is given you and what God he hath given you he can take away Thou hast decked thy self with my flax and my wool and
with my silver and gold and other ornaments and followed thy lovers therefore will I take them away from thee and strip thee of all thou gloriest in Those that forget God of whom they had these things that forget their brokenness of Heart and the Subjection of their Spirits to God if they forget this let them know that let their Partâ— be what they will they will certainly wither and their inward Life will fail you that have regard to your own Souls and do desire heartily at this Time to be quickned aâ—â— find that the Lord hath removed your Deadness and quickned and raised you to such a degree and measure of Life that you can say I find Communion with God and Fellowship with my Friends and Brethren in that one Eternal Life I pray God you may continue in it long and lay down your Heads in this Blessed heavenly Life Now that you may so do keep your selves low and humble and in the Fear of God and keep your Ears always open to his Word and live as becomes those that are born again and begotten of God and are brought to partake of the Divine Life Let Temptations surround you that Life will preserve you he that never sinn'd is with you to keep you from Sin and he that never deceived any will keep you from being deceived To his Consel and Conduct and to his Divin Care and Protection I do now commit you SERMON III. The Necessity of an Holy Life and Conversation Preached at S. Martin's-le-Grand March 16th 1687. O How happy are they that have Bread in their own Houses and that can draw Water out of their own Wells These have a blessed glorious Dwelling-place these are the Children that their Father provideth for All the divine Treasures and the Riches of Heavenly Things are laid up for these O that all that have a Sight of this blessed State were got into it that their Minds might no more wander that People might not be scattered in their Thoughts that when they meet together they might have their Expectations entirely from that God whom they profess to worship Lord thou hast said that thou wilt teach thy people thy self here a Cry goes up to the Lord and their Expectations through Faith are pitched upon God they never meet in vain but a well springs up and the water of life comes to them by which they meet with Divine Refreshments for you know the Promise that our Lord made to his Disciples He that drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst more Why will once Drinking serve Because I have tasted of the Living Water that the Lord Christ gives me will that serve No but he giveth me a substantial River that is the reason why I shall thirst no more it shall be in me a well of living water springing up to everlasting life blessed are the Witnesses of it these are they that are satisfied concerning Religion and Doctrin they are satisfied concerning Worship they are looking after no new things when these meet together they meet in the Name of the Lord and they have their Eyes to him who is a Fountain and they discern a Brightness and a Glory that is unspeakable and the Glory that is speakable that appears many times through Instruments will not satisfie them there is something beyond that which must satisfie this will never do it People will never be satisfied with hearing nor never satisfied with seeing till they come to hear and see that which is unutterable and then they are satisfied Christ had preached many Sermons in the hearing of his Disciples and there were a great many said That there was never any man spake like him preached like him yet one of them that was nearest to him and most acquainted and intimate with him after some Years meeting and hearing of his Sermons he cries out Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us My Friends this comes near to many of your States many of you have heard long and have heard the speakable Word of God that which could be uttered that which could be spoken forth by the Demonstration of the Holy Ghost by them that have received it of the Father this you have heard long and yet there are many of you that if you come to a serious Search you will find a Want you will find still that you have not that Satisfaction that puts you beyond Doubt beyond Fear there is some thing that stands in the way that hinders your Enjoyment of the unspeakable Glory of the unspeakable Word and this will never be removed but by your innocent submitting to the Work of the Power of God in your own Hearts that so you may not only be Believers but come to be really Baptized and then all is out of doubt for our Lord said he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he doth not say he may be saved but he shall be saved Woful Experience hath told us in our Days That a great many have believed the Truth and yet they are never like to be saved they have made shipwrack of their faith but if they had been baptiz'd if they would have endured the Baptism if they would have been buried with Christ in Baptism they should have been saved every one of them and now there are a great many that remain in the Belief of the Truth and yet they are not Baptized they are not Dead not Buried notwithstanding they have received like precious faith with us that faith which is of the operation of God and that is alike precious in its nature to all that do receive it and would work the same effect in all too if it were not obstructed but notwithstanding they have received Faith towards the saving of their Souls yet their Souls are Captives their Souls are subject to Lusts and Pleasures and Vanities and unto empty and foolish Things and to Passions and Corruptions after they have received Faith For if you take one that is a Believer of Truth that is overtaken with his Lusts and Passions and Corruptions he will commonly own that he believeth the contrary he believeth that these things should not be that it ought to be otherwise This is the signification of Truth against Untruth If it should be otherwise why is it thus then Why he finds a Life to spring up in that which is corruptible that is always contrary to the life of God and at enmity with it What shall I do I believe the Truth I know it is a holy thing it leads all that submit to it to a holy Life and there is this and that unholy thing this and that corrupt thing remains what shall I do It is an evident Demonstration that thou wantest the Baptism of him in whom thou believest thou hast believed in Christ Jesus that cometh after John and was before him and now having believed in him thou wantest to be baptized by him and for want of that the Pollution and
Corruption that was grown up in thy nature in the time of thy alienation prevails still upon thee contrary to thy Faith and there is no coming to obtain this Baptism but by sinking down into that which will slay thee that which will kill thee But there is such a shifting to save ones Life there are so many twistings and twinings of People to save their Lives that at last they lose them but there are none that could ever find that Life that is Eternal but those that are willing to be given up to the Dead and submit to this Baptism that is by the Holy Ghost and by Fire these only do come to Life they come to the Resurrection for you never knew any that dyed this Death but they rose again it is as impossible for Death to hold any one down that is buried in this Baptism as it was impossible to hold Christ down when he was in the Grave The same power that brought again our Lord Christ from the dead the same power it is that quickens us while we remain in these mortal Bodies after we have sustain'd this Death and Crucifiction But who can believe this Saying for this is a hard saying who can bear it Is it not enough that I am a Believer which makes me a Friend and entitles me to a Community among you and as long as I hold the Truth and profess the Truth I am looked upon as one of your Society This is very true this doth entitle People unto the outward Privivileges of the Church of Christ but there is another inner Court that lies under the Angel's Reed the measuring Reed that is to be measured the Temple is measured and every Worshipper in the Temple is measured there was an outward Court that was for representing the Church of God in general from the particular the outward Court was not measured that the Gentiles might come in the unbaptized People which were never regenerated they might come so far as the outward Court but this did not entitle them to the Privileges of the House of God nor to any Worship or Sacrifice that was accepted upon God's Altar It concerns you and me my Friends to be serious about Matters of this Moment and Importance and not spend your Dayes and as it were speak by rote under an airy Profession though of Truth it self without considering what Progress you have made what benefit you have obtained and whether you are come not only to the shadow of good things to come but to the very Substance of the heavenly things for the comers to the outward worship could never with those Sacrifices they offer'd be made perfect the comers thereunto were not made perfect as to things pertaining to the conscience speaking there of the outward worship Heb. 10.1 but coming to the heavenly things whereof the other were but a shadow they made People perfect as to the Conscience and did bring them to Salvation The Apostle alludes to this Baptism for he speaks in a Figure of the Eight persons that were saved in Noah 's ark then he brings down the Allegory to Christian Baptism not only to the Baptism of John the fore-runner of Christ that preached of Christ but to the Christian Baptism it self by the like figure whereof baptism now saveth us saith the Apostle not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience What doth he mean by Baptism saving us He means the answer of a good Conscience towards God through the resurrection of Christ from the dead so that Christian Baptism did bring along with it the cleansing and putting away of all sin out of the conscience that might bring them under Doubts and Scruples and then there is an arising of Jesus the Saviour in the Conscience the Mediator that brought them to answer for them in the Sight of God for if People be conscious of Sin and do leave off their Sin this doth not yet cleanse the Conscience for there still remains a Conscience of Sin 't is not the leaving off our Sin that makes our Attonement with God or that expiates our Guilt or doth away the Guilt of the Sins that we have committed but there must be a forsaking and a leaving off Sin by the Vertue and Power of the Spirit by which we are enabled not only to leave off Sin but are guided and directed to the Mediator whose blood alone reconcileth us to God and cleanseth us from all sin If I should never commit a sin while I live it is not this simply in it self that will make me have the answer of a good Conscience in the sight of God for there remains the guilt of sin contracted in the Days of unbelief which is a bar and hinderance that none can approach the Holy God but in the attonement and Salvation that comes by Jesus Christ for all that believe and obey the Gospel are accepted in Christ and upon the account of Christs precious Blood that cleanseth us from all sin and unrighteousness Whom doth it cleanse those only that forsake their sins and by his power are brought to a holy life they by the vertue of his power and the cleansing of his Blood come to have their former sins removed from them as far as the East is from the West But what is this to them that remain in their Sins what is this to them that are not baptised for the dead that have not put off the old Man nor put on the new Man but have only put on the name and profession of Christ and put on the outside of him his Garment but have not put him on they are not Created again in Christ Jesus unto good works that they might walk in them no wonder there remains a conscience of sin in them there is a Bar that hinders them from the sight of the glory of God and from real and true satisfaction concerning their attonement and reconcilation with God and this hinders them from the enjoyment of that peace that passeth understanding and it is no wonder because they are not come to this baptism that brings the answer of a good conscience in the sight of God they are not risen with Christ how should they for they are not buryed with him Rom. 6.3 know ye not that so many of us saith the Apostle as were baptised into Christ were baptised into his death therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life here is a change figured out between them that had partaken of the spiritual baptism and were come again to the participation of life in the resurrection of Christ Jesus and those that were not baptized So it is now with every one that cometh to believe the truth and maketh a profession of it there is a way cast up and there is a door opened for salvation
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
were to wait for the Spirit and pray in the Spirit and serve God in the Spirit and that all Religion that is not in Power is not available did they not find it in the Scripture And you that are not Quakers Did you ever read the New Testament How came it to pass that ye never found these Texts But some People read and read the New Testament twenty times over and mock and deride and persecute a Man that shall speak of the Spirits Teaching I have admired at it how intelligent Men to whom God hath given a competent Understanding should be so blinded they have learned to read English and they have read the New Testament over several times and the Old Testament too and they have read those Sentences of Christ's Doctrin that do so currently and unanimously speak of Divine Teachings and Spiritual Operations Spiritual Worship and Spiritual Religion that muâ—t have some Motion and Stirring of the Holy Ghost to be the Original of it and that alâ— others are not acceptable to God doubtless they have read these things but I have often desired and do still desire that they would but read it again once more and try and see what God will do he hath oftentimes made use of the Holy Scripture as a means to awaken People and to open their Understandings and let them see the Mind of the Spirit by which the Scripture is written and the next time if they can find Scripture Text and Apostolical Doctrin to teach People to wait upon the Spirit I hope they will leave Scoffing and Mocing It hath been hitherto looked upon as an Invention to speak of the teaching of the Spirit and waiting upon the Spirit and being moved by the Spirit This Apostolical Doctrin Prayer and Worship hath been looked upon as an Invention that we have brought in To look for the Holy Ghost in that way that was never known to our Fathers is a fantastical Conceit of the Quakers say they To tell People they must be led by the Spirit in Divine Things as in Prayer and Worship and the like that in these things they must wait for the spirit was there ever any Man that was counted good for any thing that ever preached so before they came Do we read any such kind of thing in Scripture O the blindness that hath happened to this Nation I have considered not without admiration how the Devil he is a spirit too and a wicked one the Devil should have power to shove out the knowledg belief sense and feeling of the Spirit of God now a days there are thousands in this Nation that have formerly believed that it was as impossible for a Man to believe the divine motions and struglings of the spirit of God in this life as to raise their Fathers and Mothers out of their Graves some of their learned Teachers have told us it is a Whimsy and Fancy and that there was no inspiration of the spirit now a days but that it was a foolish fancy in us to wait for such a thing it is needless say they there was an Immediate Teaching in the Apostles days and they had the sense of the spirit of Christ working in them to teach them to write Letters and Epistles to the Church which Letters and Epistles were written by the moving of the Holy Ghost but we have no need of it now the Holy Ghost hath brought order and goverment into the Church we have it now in black and white Printed in our Books therefore say they there is no need of the spirit and People need not be acquainted with the operation of the spirit now a days in regard they have it in their Books what manner of Worship they must perform I grant them their due that they have the direction of the Scripture I am able to understand that People are to worship God and pray to him and are to meet together and to observe this and the other doctrinal precepts there laid down I confess I can make shift herewâ—th to frame out a form of Religion and if I do not mistake in the opening and explication of the Doctrine I could make a right form too but I am lyable to mistake another Man that understands Greek better than I saith that the Greek word ought to be translated so and the form ought to differ in such a respect some say the only way of goverment is by Bishops and the word bears it in the original and another saith he hath streched the word for the word means Presbyter another saith Presbyter signifyes no more than choice of Church Elders and Deacons and such like and this is all out of one Book the settlement of Bishops Presbyters and Elders Here a parcel of form-makers all fall out about the meaning of the word what remedy can any mortal Man provide for this We must not be killing and slaying one another about words if I be an episcopal Man and say the word signifyes Bishops I may be a wicked Man still and if another say it must be Presbyter he may be a wicked Man too and if another say it should be Pastor Elders and Deacons he may be a wicked Man notwithstanding Thus they have rent and torn one another about Church Government what remedy shall we have for this that these quarrellings and contentions about terms and words may come to an end Could a Man prescribe a more certain remedy for all these mistakes than this if they had a measure of this spirit which did work in the Apostles when they wrote down these Words which the Apostles had in Writing them then I say they could tell you what the spirit meant for the spirit is the same and not changed and the Words are the same to a small matter so that if a Man had that he might end all the controversie but where shall we have a Man that hath this spirit to end the controversie There is none now a days say the Protestants and say the Papists there is none but one that hath this infallibility and they will not suppose that neither for some of them say that one Man is as infallible as another Man there is a great brangle whether any one Man be infallible or a great many men together are infallible about Doctrin and Worship This might be cured all at once if we could come to this conclusion Papists Protestant and Quakers here is an end of all their out-side Worship He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his If there be not spirit in it it is not Christs Religion and Worship So that they that jangle and bark and bite are without among Dogs and Sorcerers that are straâ—gers to the spirit of Christ there is a spirit in them that denies the spirit of Christ there is a spirit that rules in them that are witâ—out the spirit for no Body that I know on acts things without a spirit and without being moved What are good and
for his Assistance he cries to God to help him he now knows that he hath striven and laboured in vain O God of all Grace if thou vouchsafe not Help to my Soul if thou dosâ— not interpose by the Assistance of thy Grace I cannot overcome this Sin There is a continual Cry to God for Divine Assistance and as they cry to God for Assistance he ministers Assistance to them by which they are able to overcome the Enemy of their Souls and all Temptations when they come And when a Man finds such Divine Assistance his Faith is strengthned and confirmed and so he fights the good fight of faith and at last gets the Victory Victory over his Sin and his own Lusts and Concupiscence and Victory over the Assaults and Temptations of the Adversary and at last he comes through the Grace of God to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live righteously soberly and godlily in this present world Now when People do thus it is by the Grace of God This Life of Righteousness Sobriety and Godliness is not the effect of their Labour and Exercise and of their Endeavours herein but it is the effect of the Holy Spirit that hath been the Teacher When you see a Man is grown a good Scholar eminent in al◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ning you will conclude he di◠〈…〉 to all this of himself he could not leâ—â—n this and the other Language this â—nd the other Art and Science of himself No he had some judicious and able Master and â—eacher who communicated of his Leaâ—ning and Knowledge to his Disciple and Scholar This is the efficient cause of his Improvement Now if a Man by the Grace and the Spirit of God and the Teachings of it live a holy godly Life this is the effect of something he did not always live such a Life How comes he to live such a Life now Is it by his own Industry Labour and Exercise No it is by being exercised taught and led by the Spirit of God so that it is the effect of the Grace of God that he should live such a holy Life though it is not the meritorious cause of it as he is a Creature but acceptable to God in Christ the Mediator Thus a Man comes to be justified and accepted not because he is a godly Man but is made so by the Spirit of God You are not under the law saith the Apostle but under grace You are under the Teachings of it under the Directions of it Grace can reprove People for that Grace and that Truth that comes by Christ and manifests it self as a Light in the Hearts of Transgressors reproves their Sin and calls them out of it it reproves them for it and exhorts them to leave it both at one Time so that we must acknowledge all our Righteousness Holiness and Obedience to be o◠〈…〉 â—â—ll that we do in order thereunto a◠〈◊〉 done by the Teaching by the Influence and Operation of the Grace of God given us in Christ Jesus it is the effect of him who is our Mediator he worketh it in us and for us of his good pleasure If we be justified we are not justified for a righteous holy Life and for our Obedience but we are justified through Christ who worketh a godly Life in them that believe so that a Man is not justified by any other way or means and all other ways a Man takes of being reconciled to God are vain and fruitless and have been spoken against by all that were moved by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament Saith the Prophet What shall I come before the Lord with all I am fallen under Death and Sin and in a separation from God I would fain be reconciled to him what shall I do to be reconciled to God He goes about to reckon without Christ and without Faith and Holiness Shall I take a thousand Rams and ten thousand Rivers of Oil Shall I come nearer still Shall I make an Offering of the Fruit of my Body for the sin of my Soul Shall I offer my first-born to God that I may not be rejected and brought to a separation from him Thus Men when they come to be sensible do feel in themselves that all this is to no purpose The Answer comes Thou maist live but all thy Contrivances about making an Offering are vain 〈…〉 â—â—ewed thee O Man 〈◊〉 â—o do It is noâ— thy findinâ— this way and tâ—â—â— way viz. thy â—â—â—â—s and thy Oil and 〈◊〉 first-born it is no way of thy devising and imagining that can reconcile thee to me I have shewed thee O Man what is good What is this that is shewed It is comprised in a short compass It is to love Mercy to do Justice and to walk humbly with thy God Will this serve without offering Rams and Oil and offering my first born This will do if thou canst but love Mercy when it s shewn thee that is embrace Mercy and love it He hath shewed Mercy to all Men then love it and receive it do justly leave every thing that is unrighteous and do that which is just in the sight of God but do not boast of thy Justice and Righteousness but walk humbly with thy God here is the whole Duty of Man This looks as if I should go to Works and forbear something in order to my Justification Indeed the consideration of these kind of Lessons do corrupt some Men and put them upon doing this or that and upon forbearing this or that and hath brought many to Confession and great Abstinence and put them upon great doings thinking this would answer the Justice of God I have loved Mercy and given all I had to the Poor If I do justly and abstain from this and the other Liberty if I walk humbly that is if I humble my self by this and the other manner of Pennance and Contrition then I do what God requires and then I have pleased God Now all that havâ— gone this waâ— of working to do justly and love mâ—â—cy and to make themselves humble and humbled themselves low in such a manner they have missed the Mark. He hath shewed thee O Man what is good that it is impossible for fallen Man to answer this himself he may be convinced of his Duty to do Justice but by his own Power and Strength he cannot do it there are so many Temptations from without and so many from within such a proâ—â—nsity in Nature that will prevail against all â—â—e â—onds of Charity that he can make Therefore is Help laid upon one thâ—t is mighty without the Grace 〈◊〉 God that comes by Christ Jesus a Man can never do it tho' Convinced Tho' the Lord hath shewed him what is good he shews us that we are unable of our selves he hath taken care to send his Son God hath so loved the World that he hath sent his Son into the World that he might help those that have need of help that every one that is in Distress might
not love doth not care for â—nd hath no Pleasure in If you were of the world saith Christ the world would love you but because you are noâ— of the world they hate you How should this 〈◊〉 understood were not they some of the Men oâ— that Generation How doth he mean theâ—â— were not of the World Why I have takâ—â— you out 〈◊〉 iâ— â—â—ith he and yâ—t they 〈◊〉 â—here still and they were named by certain Names the Sons of such and such Men yet for all that they were not of the World and thâ—â— which differed them was being made partakers of that Life which the World knew not And so there will be an Enmity in the World against the Life of Holiness they will hate any Body that lives in it and as it was then so it is at this Day they that are of the World they hear and receive those things that are of the World from the Men of this World but they that are of God they hear them that are of God and they receive the things of God and their greatest Comfort and Joy that they have is their Communion with God in Christ Jesus through whom as through a Conduit-Pipe the Blessings of the Father are ministred to them and through whom as from the Fountain of Life their Life is renewed from Day to Day But these things are hidden from the World from the wise and prudent of it they cannoâ— dig into the Depth nor ascend to this Height they cannot comprehend the length and the breadth of the things of God which are in Christ Jesus they may reach unto something of the Love of God that is in the Creation they can tell when the Sun shines upon them and when the Rain falls upon their Fields and when it falls in due season they call it a Blessing and while the Covenant with Winâ—â—â— and Summer remains thâ—y look upon it as comforâ—able and perhaps some 〈…〉 stow a Saying I thank God for it All 〈◊〉 things are beneath us and there is neithâ—◠〈◊〉 nor hatred knowâ— by them all I saw 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ed saith one I beheld his dwelling-â—â—â—â—â— and he flourished like unto a green bay-tree and was wicked still for all this But now they that see where they live that live to God they can say That their Leaf never withers but they bring forth their fruit in due season but he did not so But the wicked Man that flourished like a green bay-tree behold I looked and he was removed and his place was no more to be found There came a Blasting upon all his Blessings and his flourishing came to an end his Riches perishâ—â— and his good things passed away from him But the Man whose delight is in the law of God and makes it his Pleasure both Night and Day he is like a tree planted by the rivers of water whose leaf never fades and brings forth his fruit in due season But this is hid there is no body in the World but would have something of this Life too they would be sure of Eternal Life but they would not die to the other Life they would not be crucified to the world they would not be separated from their Lovers if they could get into the state of a righteouâ— Man an Hour or Two before they die whâ—â— they are sure they shall die it would pleaâ—â— them â—ut to live that Life that is to God to die to the World and to part with 〈◊〉 they have their Comfort their 〈◊〉 their Peace and Honour and all their worlâ—â—â— Enjoyments in before they can come to receive tâ—â—â—ift of God they think 〈◊〉 hard But they that loâ—â— after it and have a mind to find it out without parting with the World's Life they befool themselves Do not you see how Men have befooled themselves in these days They have sought after the Kingdom of God till they are scattered in their own way they are quarrelling about their own way as if they never had any Scripture to be their Rule They cry the Scripture is their Rule this is the way to eternal Life saith one and this is the way saith another and the one and the other say â—ll these ways are false saving their own and â—ll these Contenders about the way to eternal Life they all say the Scripture is the Rule And yet the Scripture speaks of the way too and tells us the way plainly the way to Rest Peace and Life Eternal If the Scri had been silent in it and had said nothing but of Genealogies and Histories of Armies and Wars it had been something but the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament speak of a certain way to Eternal Life and say it is the way of Holiness A way shall be cast up for the redeemed and the ransomed of the Lord to walk in which the way-faring man though a fool shall not mistake in it Though he never took a degree at the Univâ—â—sity he shall 〈◊〉 â—rr in it though he be a 〈◊〉 the â—ccount of the World and never understood Greek or Latin yet he shall not 〈◊〉 this way The way that leads to the Kingdom of God is called the way of Holiness but while many have been reading in their Books they have been contending for a way of Unholiness no wonder then they have been quarrelling about it and have all missed it and that in the main point of all Let them make a way which way they will and frame it never so wisely according to the best Wit they have be it a way that hath all the maâ—eâ—ial Qualifications that should make it a way of Holiness these Men may walk in it but they will never find the way to the Kingdom â—f God though they have sought it out Go to one place and another place and ask them what is your way Our way say they is the right way the most sure and certain way that can be found for People to walk in But whither will it lead me It will lead thee to the Kingdom of God That is it I would have but will it lead me to Holiness No never in this World you must never come to Holiness do the best thou canst do here it is but Sin the best days work thou makest is but Sin the best Child of God on Earth cannot live a Day without Sin Do you hold out that in your way Yes then I have done with that and go to another People So many have gone many 〈◊〉 to the Kingdom of God and when the â—â—â—â—t is come they have found every way a polluted way a sinful way I know this way will never lead me to God sin first led me from God I had been well enough as I was created at first if I had never sinned against God a sinful way will lead me from God It is against common Sense and against Rationality to say we did first go from God by sin and must go to God again by a sinful way Who will
exercisâ— of Humility and Watchfulness as becomeâ— Christians for there is now as much Danger and Peril in this time of Liberty and Tranquility as there was before If any one in the time of Persecution and Suffering hath said within himself I had better give over and part with the Truth and forsake the ways of the Lord and give over my Testimony for his Name for I shall be undone and ruined in the World this Man by his carnal Fears hath lost his Testimony So likewise if a Man in this time of liberty and freedom of serving the Lord and bearing Testimony to his Name if he shall not intirely trust in the Lord to carry him on in his Work and Service and continue his dependance upon him and wait for the Assistance of the holy Spirit of God to work in him to will and to do of his good Pleasure this Man shall lose his Testimony as well as the other Therefore let every one of you keep up a dependance upon Gods holy Spirit for carrying on the Work which he hath begun in your Souls consider what Work it is that Christ is now at in every one of you I know what his Work was when I was first Convinced he was burning up and hewing down every thing that hindered his carrying on the Work of Sanctification and Redemption and Settledness and Stability in the Covenant of Life and Peace So that our meeting together ought to be â—n the Name of Christ I hope it is so with most of you I hope it is not to see and hear what this or that Man saith but to know within your selves what part of the Work of Redemption the Lord Jesus Christ is carrying on that you may join with him and be a willing People in the Day of his Power and say as Paul Lord what wilt thou have me to do If thou wilt have me part with my all Lord here it is I offer it up and if thou wilt have any Service done Lord here I am Speak for thy Servant heareth let there be in every one of you an attentiveness and an humble waiting upon the Lord and say as the Psalmist Behold as the Eyes of Servants look unto the hands of their Masters and as the Eyes of a Maiden unto the hands of her Mistress so our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God until he have mercy upon us When ever a Christian hath his dependance upon God's Wisdom and Power such a one shall never want Wisdom the Lord will give him Wisdom to preserve him against all the Wiles of Satan and he shall never want Power for the Lord will enable him to fulfil and perform what he requireth of him he shall be replenished with Judgment and Understanding Ability and Power to direct him into the good ways of God and to enable him to walk in them It is the earnest desire of my Soul that every one of you may be exercised in those things which are profitable for you and which may be comfortable to your Friends and Brethren that you may all grow up into a stability and stedfastness in the good ways of the Lord that you may not be shaken and tossed with every Storm and Tempest that when there comes a time for the trial of your Patience and Fortitude and Courage you may not be tossed to and fro like Children but be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord that so living in all holy Obedience and patient continuing in well-doâ—ng you may have a constant Supply of Strength and Power from God ministred unto you by his Holy Spirit SERMON VIII No true Worship without the right Knowledg of God Preached at Grace-church-street May 24. 1688. My Friends THere is no Man can truly worship God till he comes to a measure of certain Knowledge of him for all the Worship in the World where the Vail of Ignorance still prevails upon the Mind is all abominable there is no acceptance with God There must be a knowledge of God before there can be a true Worshipping of him for they that worship before they know God they worship they know not what they worship a God they have heard of but do not know so every one that would be a true Worshipper must first come to that which giveth a true knowledge that raiseth up a certainty in the Mind This is the Lord we will trust in him this is our God and we will serve him And that all People might come to this certainty of Knowledge therefore it is that God hath sent forth his Spirit that the things of God might be communicated by the Spirit of God for without the Assistance of this Spirit Men seek after the Knowledge of God in vain If they seek after the Knowledge of God they cannot find it and if they seek after the Worship of God and after Acceptance with God they cannot find it so that all Religion and religious Performances that People are exercised in where the Spirit of Truth hath not the beginning they will all prove fruitless in the end There be wise Men in the world and they have imployed their wisdom to find out the true God but God in wisdom hath ordained that the world by all their wisdom shall not know him so there is an end of all their Labour How shall they know him then As none can know the things of a man save the spirit of a man that is in him so none can know the things of God but the spirit of God so that they that resist the Guidance Direction and Counsel of the Spirit of God are like unto those that would enter into a House or Pallace and remember not the Door that leads into it People would fain come into the Divine Knowledge and into the understanding of Divine Mysteries but they would come by it another way they would study for it they would learn it by Arts and Sciences they would attain it by their own Industry and herein they labour to excel one another If there comes a Man among them that tellâ— them Friends you are all out of the way then they are angry and instead of enquiring what is the way they are angry that their way must be rejected Friends you will never come to the Knowledge of God but by the Spirit of God then they mock and then they scoff and scorn the Doctrin of the Spirit for the Teaching of the Spirit hath been the common Scorn and Derision of our Age. It is so in our Day with many if they cannot come to the Knowledge of God any other way but by the Spirit they would deny to make use of that to be subject to that and these put their Trust in their own Power and Industry to find out the Mystery of the Knowledge of God so they are ever learning but are never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth How should they How can a People come to the Knowledge of the
the godly they do not like such a Life now but they will like it then Friends you that are Lovers of your Souls and meet together upon that account of being better and having Expectation and Hope that you shall receive Comfort and Benefitâ— your meeting together I tell you as a Sâ—â—vant of God and a Lover of your Souls it is but a little while and you will wish that you had chosen the most holy harmless innocent Life that ever you saw your selves or heard of from any body else and you will wish that you had been more watchful over your Thoughts Words and Actions There is a day a Day a coming when we must give an Account for every thing that we have done whether good or evil you must give an account for your cursed Debauchery for your Swearing and Lying and inordinate Passions you must give an account for every vain Thought and every idle Word If this will certainly come to pass how shall I prevent these Idle Words and evil Actions Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way saith the Psalmist by taking heed thereto according to thy word I am not as those that say Lo here and lo there I do not say You must come and learn Truth of me but if you find it you must find it in your selves What if I live in the Truth that will not serve thee and if I be a holy Man that will not sanctifie thee thou must hearken to Truth 's speaking in thy self thou mayest hear it speaking in thine own Heart before thou be an Hour older you may hear it call you to Righteousness and Holiness and if you heâ—â— it you may do it too if you please for there is a Power that goes along with it I know enough thou wilt say but I cannot do what I know I have not Power What ails thee that thou hast not Power If I had Power then I would abstain from all Sin and break off from my evil Ways but the Devil throws this Object and the other Object in my Way and by his Temptations he doth insnare me I have not Power to resist Would you have me do more than I can do and as long as I have not Power I am to be excused Now here is a Device of the Devil to keep People in his Net still If Men would be true to themselves they would not be long without Power If thou art convinced of the Evil of thy Ways and that it is thy Duty to break off from Sin there is a Power offered to thee that if thou joyn with it thou mayest overcome all Temptations and forsake thy Sin I would have you all prove and search and see whether I speak Truth or no I am persuaded there is not a Man or Woman here but they have sometime abstained from an evil Work which they were tempted to How were you restrained because you knew it was an evil Work you durst not do it the Devil had not a coercive Power to force you to do it I knew it was an evil thing and I joyned with that in my Mind which dissuaded me from it and I prayed to God to give me Power to abstain from it The Devil tempted thee on still who helped thee against the Temptation God restrained thee by his Grace Will not he be a present help unto thee H◠〈◊〉 the same yesterday to day and for ever depend upon him still and he will be always ready to help thee and support thee and strengthen thee and thou shalt be kept from Sin in an Hour of Temptation Consider that all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to Christ and if he be able to keep thee thou shalt not fall into it 〈◊〉 â—hose that come unto me saith Christ noâ—â— shall pluck them out of my hands and my father is greater than all If thou comest unto Christ he will in no wise cast thee out and if thou depend upon him he will preserve thee and none shall be able to pluck thee out of his hand If thou joyn with the Truth and with that which is holy thou shalt have Strength and Ability to withstand Temptation and overcome it and I may speak with Reverence Christ hath bound himself to those that trust in him Those that keep the word of 〈◊〉 patience I will keep them in the hour of temptation If I keep waiting upon his Power that is ready to help me and have a mind to be â—urified and sanctified and to have Righteousness brought in to my Soul and have mine Eyes unto God and my Expectation from him he will work in me to will and to do of his good pleasure Now here People have a fixed Foundation for their Faith there is no working at this rate without bearing a daily Cross Theâ—â— are a great many can receive the Truth in Words and receive Doctrines and Teneâ—â— and that with Delight but there is no practising Holiness and Righteousness without a daily Cross and Self-denial There are a great many have come to Truth as far as it stands in Words but when it comes to something that they must do to speak the Truth and live in the Truth they meet with so much of the Temptation of the Devil so much Lust and Corruption and Ungâ—â—liness in themselves they meet with such evil things that their Souls joyn with and yield to that they cannot go on in the ways of Holiness unless they look up to Jesus and have an Eye to their Saviour and take up his Cross and follow him Whatsoever Reproaches and Sufferings and Persecutions they endure they must have a godly Resolution to follow the Lord Christ and say I will obey his Commands he shall have the Rule and Government of my Life and be the Guide of my way whatsoever stands in â—y way I will take up my Cross and deny my self Without this there is no good Christianity in the World There are a great many that seem to be religious and are Professors of the Truth We all know there are many Professors of the Truth in Notion and with some Zeal will talk of it but they do not know how to live and walk in the Truth they do not live uprightly and honestly in it they do not keep their Words they do not live justly and honestly with all Men nor do unto others as they would havâ— others do to them They can tell how to speak and act then why do they not do it They have got a Notion thaâ— they are above the Cross of Christ and Self-denial is far below them People will not live in the Truth This is wanting in the whole World If we look into this City we shall find a great many are illuminated there is abundance of Knowledge and Understanding among Professors â—bundance of Learning and great Nâ—â—â—â—rs of learned Men What is the Reason that Oaths and Curses and all manner of Wickedness runs down the Streets like a River there is Pride
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.
5. â—â—mirable Deliverances from imminent dangers deplorable distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divinâ— goodness to penitents with the dying thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state P. 1â— 3. The General History of Earthquakes or Aâ— account of the most Remarkable and Tremendous Earthquakes that have happened in divers parts of the wâ—â—ld from the Creation to this time and particularly those lately in Naples Smyrna Jamaicâ— England and Sicily with a Description of thâ—â—â—mous Burning Mount Aetna and the several dreadful Conflagrations thereof for many Ages To which is added an Appendix containing feverâ— other late strange Accidents and Occurrences As I. A Surprizing Account of Angels Singing Psalms in the Air over the Ruins of the Protestant Church at â—â—â—ez a City in the Province of Bearne and othâ—â—â—â—aces in France in the year 1686. With the Wâ— they Sang in the hearing of many hundrâ— Aâ—â—â—â—ors at once Papists as well as Protestaâ—â— II. The Life of a Great Person of near a hundâ—â—â— years olâ— who is now an Hermiâ— a Foreâ—◠〈◊〉 France with the Devotions Cloathing Di◠〈…〉 Subsistence of him and his Companions 〈…〉 III. The wonderful Army of Locâ—sts or Grâ—â—â—â—pers that were seen near Breslaw in Silesia Sâ— 7. 1693. and in other parts of Germany wâ— their March took up 16. Miles devourinâ— Green thing Iv. Thrâ— Miraculous Cures 〈◊〉 by â—â—ith in Christ in 1693. As 1. Of 〈…〉 〈…〉 2. 〈…〉 Hand 3. A Shepherd near Hitch◠〈…〉 â—fordshire instantly healed of the Kings Evil under which he had languished Twenty Years Price one shilling 4. Extraordinary Adventures of several â—â—mous Men with the strange Events and signal mutations and changes in the Fortunes of divers Illustrious places and persons in all Ages being an account of a multitude of stupendious Revolutions accidents and observable matters in divers States and Provinces throughout the World with Pictures Pr. 1 s. 5. Surprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts containing 1 The Miracleâ— of Nature or the wonderful Signs and prodigious 〈…〉 Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea with an account of the most famous Comets and other Prodigies from the Birth of Christ to this time 2 The Miracles of Art describing the most magnificent Buildings and other curious Inventions in all Ages as the seven Wonders of the World and many other excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the Earth Beautified with Pictures price 1 s. 6. Memorable Accidents and Unheard of Transactions containing an account of several straâ—â—â— Events as the Deposing of Tyrants lamentaâ—â—â— Shipwracks dismal Misfortunes Stratagems of War perilous Adventures happy Deliverances with other remarkable Occurrences and select Histoâ—â—â—al Passages which have happened in several Countries in this last Age. Printed at Brussels in 1691. and â—â—dicated to his present Majesty William King of England c. publisâ—â—d in English by R.B. price 1 s. 7. Martyrs in Flames or Popery in its true Colours being a brief Relation of the horrid Cru◠〈◊〉 Persecutions of the Pope and Church of 〈…〉 hundreds of years past to this 〈…〉 and England 〈…〉 Persecutions lately exercised upo◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—stants in France and Savoy in 1686 16â—7 â—â—gether with a short â—â—â—unt of God's Judgmâ—â—â— upon Popish Persecutors Price 1 s. 8. The History of O. Cromwel being an Impaâ—tial Account of all the Bâ—â—â—â—ls Sieges and otheâ— Military Atchievements wherein he was ingaged in England Scotland and Ireland and likewise of his Civil Administrations while he had the Suprâ—â—â— Government till his Death Relating only matteâ— Fact without Reflection or Observation By R.B. pâ— 9 Th◠〈…〉 Empire in America or a proâ— of Hâ— Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies namely New-found-land New-England Neâ—-York New-Jersey Pensylvania Mary-land Virginia Carolina Bermudas Barbuda Anguila Monferrat Dominica St. Vincent Antego Meviâ— or Nevis St. Christophers Barbadoes and Jamaica With an account of their Discovery Scituation and Product The Religion and Manners of the Indians and other excellencies of these Countries Tâ— which is prefixed a relation of the discovery of thâ— New world and of the remarkable Voyages aâ— Adventuâ—â—â— of Sebastiâ— Cabot Sir Marâ—in Forbishâ—â— Capt. Daviâ— Capt. Weymouth Capt. 〈◊〉 Capâ— Hudson Sir Tho. Cavendish the E. of 〈…〉 Sir Walter Rawleigh and other English Wo◠〈…〉 divers places therein Illustrated with Map 〈…〉 Pictures of the strange Fruits Birds Beasts 〈◊〉 Insects Serpents and Monsters found in th◠〈…〉 of the World Price one shilling 10. A View of the English Acquisitions 〈…〉 and the East-Indies With an Account 〈…〉 â—gion Government Wars strange Cus◠〈…〉 Seâ—â—ents Monsters and other Obse◠〈…〉 〈…〉 Religion as 〈…〉 in the Alcoran Two Letterâ— one wâ—â—ten by the Great Mogul and the other by the King of Sumatra in the East-Indieâ— to our K. James I. of an extravagant stile Th◠〈◊〉 Executions in thesâ— parts with the manner of the Women â—â—rning themselves with their dead Husbands Together with a description of the Isle of â—t Helena and the Bay of Souâ—dania intermixt with pleasâ—nt Relations Pr. 1 s. 11. England's Monarchs Being a Compendious account of the most remarkablâ— Transactions from William the Conqueror to the sixth year of the Reign of their present Majesties King William and Queen Mary With Poem 〈…〉 of every Monarch and a List of the pâ—â—sent Nobility of this Kingdom Price one shilling 12. The History of the House of Orange Or a brief Relation of the Glorious and Magnanimous Atchievments of His Majesties Renowned Predecessors and likewise of his own Heroick Actions till the late wonderful Revolution together with the History of K. William and Q. Mary Being an impartial Account of the most Remarkable Passages â—rom Their Majesties happy accession to the Throne to this time By R. B. Price 1. s. 13. The History of the two late Kings Charles II. and James II. being an impartial Account of the most Remarkable Transactions and observable Passages during their Reigns and the secret French and 〈◊〉 Intrigues and Designs managed in those 〈◊〉 together with a Relation of the happy â—ition and the accession of their present Maâ—â—â—â—ies to the Thrones Feb. 13. 1689. Price 1 s. â— The Wars in England Scotland and Ireland 〈…〉 a particular and impartial Account of all 〈…〉 Sieges and other remarkable Tr◠〈…〉 â—gal Tryal at large of K. C. 〈…〉 â—his Suffering and the most conside◠〈…〉 till 1660. With Pictures of several 〈◊〉 15. Historical Remâ—â—k and Observations of thâ—â— and Present Stâ—â—â—e of London and Westminster â—ing the Foundations Walls Gates Towers Briâ—â—â—â— Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Goâ—â—â—â—ment Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Courts â—ters Franchises and Privileges thereof wâ— most remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plâ— and other occurrences for above 902 years paâ— 16. Admirable Curiosities Rarities and wâ— in England Scotland and Ireland or anâ— many remarkable persons and places and 〈…〉 of the Battles Sieges prodigious Factâ— Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightniâ—â—â— Murders and other Occurences and Accidents â—ny hundred years past Together with thâ— and
Artificial Rarities in every County in 〈◊〉 With several curious Sculptures pr. 1 s. 17. The History of the Kingdom oâ—â—ing an Account of the Ancient inhabitanâ—â— all the Battles Sieges and other consid◠〈…〉 actions both Civil and Military in 〈…〉 from the first Conquest thereof un◠〈◊〉 â—till its entire Reduction by His Majâ—â—â—gether with the most remarkable P◠〈…〉 since happened there to this time 〈…〉 18. The English Heroe Or Sir 〈…〉 Revived Being a full Account of t◠〈…〉 Voyages admirable Adventures n◠〈…〉 â—ries and Magnanimous Atchievemenâ—â—â—liant and Renowned Commander As 〈…〉 in 1572. to Nombre de Dios in the Weâ— â—â—ey saw a Pile of Bars of Silver ne◠〈…〉 〈…〉 â—s Voyagâ— into Aâ—â—â—icâ— in 〈…〉 the Towns of St. Jâ—go St. Domingo Ca◠〈…〉 Augustine IV. His last Voyage into thâ—â—â—â—tries 〈◊〉 1595. with the manner of his Death â—urial Revised Corrected and very much enâ—â—ged reduced into Chapters with Contents and â—tified with Pictures By R. B. Price 1 s. 19. Two Journeys to Jerusalem Containing first â—count of the Travels of two English Pilgrims 〈◊〉 years since and what Admirable Accidents be◠〈◊〉 â—em in their Journey to Jerusalem Grand Caro◠〈◊〉 â—andria c. 2. The Travels of 14 English Mer◠〈◊〉 in 1660. from Scanderoon to Tripoly Joppa 〈…〉 Jerusalem Bethlehem Jericho the River of Jor◠〈…〉 the Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah and back aâ— to Aleppo To which is added a Relation of the 〈◊〉 Council of the Jews assembled in the plains of 〈…〉 in Hungary 1650 to examine the Scriptures â—cerning Christ By S. B. an English-man there â—resent With the notorious delusion of the Jews 〈…〉 â—erfeit Messiah or false Christ at Smyrna 〈◊〉 â—666 and the event thereof Lastly The Extirâ—â—tion of the Jews throughout Persia in 1666. Epistle 〈…〉 to our Saviour with our Saviours Answer Bâ—â—â—tified with Pictures Pr. 1 s. 20. The History of the Nine Worthies of the 〈◊〉 Three whereof were Gentiles 1. Hector 〈◊〉 Priâ—miss King of Troy 2. Alexander the 〈◊〉 King of Macedon and Conquerour of the 〈◊〉 Julius Caesar first Emperor of Rome 〈◊〉 Jews 4. Joshua Captain General and Leader 〈◊〉 to Canaan 5. David King of Israel 6. 〈…〉 â—heus a valiant Jewish commander against 〈…〉 â—ny of Antiochus Three Christians 7. Ar◠〈…〉 Brittain who couragiously defended his Couâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—lives â—â—ruly actions 〈…〉 Death Illustrated with Poems and th◠〈…〉 each Worthy By R. B. Pr. 1 s. 21. Female Excellency or the Ladies Gloâ—â—strated in the Worthy Lives and Memorable 〈◊〉 of nine Famous Women who have been renâ— either for Vertue or Valour in several Agâ— World As 1. Deborah the Prophetess 2. 〈◊〉 valiant Judith 3. Queen Esther 4. The 〈◊〉 Susannah 5. The Chast Lucretia 6. Vâ— Britain in the Reign of Nero Emperor 〈◊〉 containing an account of the Original Inhâ— Britain The History of Danus and of his 5. â—ters who murdered their Husbands in onâ— Of the valour of Voadicia under whose coâ— Britains slew 70 thousand Romans with maâ— remarkable particulars 7 Mariamne Wife 〈◊〉 Herod 8. Clotilda Queen of France 9. Aâ— Princess of Spain The whole adorned with 〈◊〉 and pictures to each History By R. B. Pr. 〈…〉 22. Unparallell'd Varieties or the Maâ—ons and Passions of Mankind displayed in 〈◊〉 notable Instancss and Examples discâ— transcendent Effects 1 Of Love Frieâ— Gratitude 2 Of Magnanimity Couragâ—â—ty 3 Of Chastity Temperance and Hâ— on the contrary the tremendous Consâ— Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude 5. Oâ— Barbarity and Treachery 6 Of Unchaâ—â—perance and Ambition Imbellish'd with 〈◊〉 Figures Price 1 s. 23. The Kingdom of Darkness or t◠〈◊〉 of Demons Specters Witches Apparitioâ—â—ons Disturbances and other wonderful aâ—â—tural Delusions mischievous Feat◠〈…〉 〈…〉 â—ther with a 〈…〉 â—tions and Alle◠〈…〉 of the Age who 〈…〉 with Pictures 〈…〉 â—s Price 1 s. 〈…〉 â—lations Divine and Moral 〈…〉 â—s A. L. Capel Baron of 〈…〉 â—ith some account of his Life 〈…〉 Letterâ— to his Lady the day be◠〈…〉 â—k Behaviour and last 〈…〉 also the Speeches and 〈…〉 the Earl of Holland who 〈…〉 his pious Advice to his 〈…〉 〈…〉 â—ngs Entertainment in two 〈…〉 Ten pleasant Relations of 〈…〉 â—e Accidents and Occurrences 〈…〉 â—es with their Explanati◠〈…〉 â—tions and Morals upon each 〈…〉 Pictures for illustrating 〈…〉 Excellently accommo◠〈…〉 or Young and useful 〈…〉 â—versation Price 1 s. â—INIS