among us that came in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh We must believe in him as the true Light that lighteth every Man which cometh into the World There is a Sufficiency in this Light which is the Light of Life and the Arm of God's Salvation But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart saith the Apostle That is the Word of Faith which we preach that we might hear it and obey it And if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead thou shalt be saved Here is the Means of Salvation the powerful Working of Faith in thy Heart and that is the Light within the Spirit within It is the Power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ that worketh this Living Faith in thy Heart This Faith in Christ Crucified when thou shalt be assured of Eternal Life in him of Eternal Salvation by him This Work of Faith with Power is wrought by Christ in all that believe on his Name He is the Dispenser of it This is the Word of Faith which we preach if thou shalt confess Christ with thy Mouth and believe in thy Heart that God raised Christ from the Dead who died for our Sjns and rose again for our Justification and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at thâ— Right-Hand of God and liveth for ever to make Intercession for us By this Living Faith in the Lord Jesus which worketh by Love which constraineth thee to live to him that died for thee thou shalt escape the Wrath to come and obtain Eternal Salvation by means of this Living Justifying Faith thou maist receive the Spirit of Adoption and call God Father Christ Jesus is become now thy High Priest and Elder Brother and thou maist walk by Faith in the narrow way that leads to Eternal Life And if thou hast received Christ Jesus the Lord then walk in him and follow his Example who was Holy Harmless and Undefiled and separate from Sinners and made higher than the Heavens by Faith in Christ thou shalt overcome the world and obtain Victory over thy Sins and Lusts And if we be once united to Christ by a Living Faith he will be a Light and a Leader to us and as a Pillar of a Cloud by Day and a Pillar of Fire by Night as he was to the Israelites when he conducted them out of the Land of Egypt through the Red Sea and the Wilderness and brought them safe into the Land of of Canaan a Land flowing with Milk and Hony O the Showers of Mercy that come from this Heavenly Cloud and fall down upon the believing Soul Who can declare the Showers of heavenly Joy and Consolation that are poured down upon those that are Childreâ— of Light that walk in the Light and have the Light of God's Countenance lifted up upon them O thou poor distressed sorrowful Soul that art clouded and at a distance from the Lord that art cast down and disquieted having all thy Sins set in order before thee thou art greatly afflicted and almost overwhelmed with Grief when thou remembrest how thou hast transgressed the righteous Law of God and sinned against the tender Love and Compassion of thy Heavenly Father that waiteth to be gracious rely upon his Grace and Mercy and pardoning Love and he will subdue thy Lusts and Corruptions and speak Peace unto thy disconsolate Soul If he appear unto thee as unto his Servant Moses in a Flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush when the Bush burned with Fire and was not consumed If God appear terrible to thee as a Flame of Fire it is not to consume thee but to burn up and destroy thy Sins and Lusts which would destroy thy Soul When he appears as a consuming Fire he will purifie and refine thee from thy Dross and only burn up the combustible Matter in thee And when he appears as a Cloud to thee thou shalt feel Divine Showers of Joy and Refreshment to thy Soul which will make thee as a watered Garden to be green and flourishing Here is the Baptism of the Cloud of which the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 10.1 Moreover Brethen I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the Cloud and all passed through the Sea â—nd were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea When the Lord shall suddenly come into his Temple saith the Prophet Malachy even the Messenger of the Covenant who may abide the Day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like a Refiners Fire and like Fullers Soap and he shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver Here is a Refiner and Purifier indeed When he hath refined thee with Fire he will then water thee and cleanse thee and make the Cloud thou art under drop down divine Dews of Refreshing upon thy disconsolate Soul and he will lead thee in the way as he did Israel of old by the Pillar of Fire and of a Cloud both by Day and by Night so he will shine into thy Mind by the Light of his Dear Son When the Children of Israel were marching out of Egypt they were in a great strait Pharoah and his Host pursued after them to destroy them they saw no way to escape they must unavoidably go into the Sea or fall into their Enemies Hâ—nds Then the Lord appeared to deliver them by a mighty Arm of Power when the Egyptians pursued after them all the Horses and Chariots of Pharaoh and his Horsmen and his Army and overtook them encamping by the Sea And when Pharaoh drew nigh the Children of Israel lift up their Eyes and behold the Egyptians marched after them and they were sore afraiâ— and cryed out unto the Lord and they said unto Moses Because there were no Graves in Egypt hast thou taken us away to die in the Wilderness wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us to carry us out of Egypt And Moses said unto the People fear ye not stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord which he will shew to you this Day for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to Day ye shall see them again no more for ever So when thy Soul is brought into great Straits then stand still in a pure Resignation to the will of God and he will deliver thy Soul wait upon him and be resigned up to him and he will work Deliverance for thee from Time to Time when thou art in great Straits and Troubles and afflicted and distressed and seest nothing but a Sea of Trouble before thee that thou must pass through thy Faith
Sin of Justification of Peace with God and of eternal Life and Happiness as Christ was held forth in the Promise we lay hold on Christ as his Doctrine is preached As we lay hold on a Man by taking hold of his Cloaths or a Lap or Skirt of his Garment so we lay hold on Christ by the precious things testified of him So that there is a great difference between common Illumination given to all Mankind and that special Illumination which is proper to Believers and whatsoever other Differences there are may be reduced to these three But though the common and special Illumination be differing yet they both come from one Fountain and Root God Christ and the Spirit according to 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. And the common Illumination is of a saving tendency by way of introduction and preparation to the other But some may put the Question and say Of what Use is this common Illumination if it belong not to the new Covenant then of what use is it to us I answer it is of great use it is of the same use with the Law it is as a School-master to bring us unto Christ to point us unto Christ This common Illumination is like John the Baptist his Ministry and Baptism he was sent before to prepare the Way of the Lord. This common Illumination prepares Men and Women for Christ it will make them sensible that they are miserable Sinners miserable Offenders and Transgressors and that God is angry with them and that they deserve to die and that the Wages of Sin is Death they having sinned Death is their Wages I say this is of great Service to People to be thus far convinced that they are Sinners and that they need an Advocate and Mediator to come between God and them because they have offended him If we had offended a great Man we would be glad for some who had Interest in him and great favour and friendship to speak for us If we had offended the King and committed Treason would not we be glad of some Person that hath a great Interest in the King's favour to intercede for us If the King had a Son would not we be glad that he should mediate for us and interpose between us and the Wrath of the King and turn away his Indignation and make Reconciliation for us Would not we be glad that the King's Son should obtain a Pardon for us and restor◠us to the King's favour We have offended the King of Kings and the supream Lord of Heaven and Earth so that we need a great Mediator we need one to make our Peace and purchase Pardon and Salvation for us God hath laid help upon one that is mighty he hath given his dear Son Christ Jesus to be the great Mediator between God and Man to be the great Peace-maker and Reconciler and the Saviour of Sinners But it should not be thought that Christ hath greater tenderness and love for us than God the Father Who so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life And now in the next place there is another thing that is weighty upon my Spirit and it is of great concernment and that is to answer this Question Question How doth God do this great Work of putting his Law in our inward Parts and writing his Law in our Hearts Doth he do it without all outward Means Helps and Instruments I answer In God's ordinary way he doth this great VVork by outward Means Helps and Instruments tho' he can do it without them It may suffice us that God hath vouchsafed to us these outward Means and Helps of Instruction in the Preaching of the Gospel and in our Reading of the holy Scriptures It pleaseth the Lord by the mighty working of his 〈…〉 it to go along with the outward Ministry of the VVord and to make impression upon us and to write his Law in our Hearts this Law of the New Covenant This I testify from mine own Experience and I doubt not but divers here can witness the like to have been their Experience that God hath by the mighty power and operation of his holy Spirit accompanying the outward means and helps of Instruction made impression upon them and written his Law upon their Hearts This Law of the New Covenant here expressed in the singular Number is sometimes stiled Laws in the plural Number When it is stiled Law in the singular Number it signifies a Body of divine Laws consisting of many parts I will put my Law in their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my People Now the Laws and Precepts of God which he gave to his People the twelve Tribes of Israel some have computed their number to be above six hundred Laws many of which were typical and ceremonial How do these typical and ceremonial Laws which were given to them bind us that live under the Gospel Do they oblige us now I answer they do not bind us as to the typical and ceremonial part but they bind us as to the spiritual part as they have a spiritual and moral signification as the Law of the Sabbaths and Sacrifices and New Moons c. they bind us not as to the ceremonial part but as they have a spiritual and moral signification in them I shall now proceed to some few things that remain In the new Covenant God hath promised to his People To blot out their Iniquities and to remember their Sins no more The Law of the first Covenant doth not admit of Pardon of Sin The Soul that sinneth shall die but the new Covenant hath Pardon of Sin through the Mediator Christ Jesus upon the account of shedding his Blood for us This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of Sins Mat. 26.28 Why doth not he say for Remission of the sins of all He died for all and shed his Blood for all but it is only effectual to those that believe in him Pray observe with me this weighty Matter of Doctrin which is this None hath his Sins blotted out but as he comes to God's Teachings the Father's Teachings but as he comes to be taught of God over and above all Mens Teaching whatsoever every one that is taught of God doth know more of God more of his Love more of his divine Grace more of his Power more of divine Enjoyment those that are taught of God know more of a divine Sweetness and Enjoyment and of Comfort than can be had by the Teachings of Man or in the Bible it self according to that Expression of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of Man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him The full fruition of these things is reserved to the World to come but the deep things of God are
manner Am I one that hath lived as without God in the World and walked after the imaginations of my own Heart And do I find my Conscience reproving me in my sinful course and requiring me to forsake it Let it be thy Souls care and concern to leave off sinning against God for the time will come when God's Patience and Long-suffering towards thee will cease and come to an end this is the day of God's Visitation The Lord affords thee a day of Grace wherein he is pleased to call upon thee to turn and live Ezek. 33.11 Thus saith the Lord by the Prophet Say unto them As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye die O house of Israel God's love is universal to all the Sons and Daughters of Men. God hath so loved the World all Meâ— rhe worst of Men that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shouâ—â— not perish but have everlasting Life for Gâ— sent not his Son into the World to condemn thâ— World but that the World through him mighâ— be saved We know there is Election and Reprobation but where is the Election It is in Christ of them that come to believe in Christ they that do not believe in the Lord Jesus Chrisâ— are in a reprobate State The Lord hath not reprobated any from Eternity but for Sin and final Impenitency he hath not appointed any to Destruction The Lord hath been so abundantly merciful and gracious as to afford a way and means whereby all may come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved I do not say that all shall be saved for they will not come to Christ that they might have Life and therefore their destruction is of themselves God hath appointed a way whereby all Men may obtain eternal Salvation What is that way That they believe on him whom God hath sent This is Life Eternal to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 Let every one of us be sensible of the great love of God to us we have all great cause to say That the Lord hath been merciful to us in that the day of our Visitation is continued The Lord hath sent his Son the Lord Jesus Christ in his spiritual Appearance as he appeared sometimes in his prepared Body and was crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem â—nd he is ascended into Heaven into the preâ—ence of God and liveth for ever to make â—ntercession for us Let it be our care to â—orsake our evil Ways and turn to the Lord who is pleased to hold out the Scepter of Mercy to us The Invitation is That we will come unto Christ whom God hath exalted to be â— Prince and a Saviour to give us repentance â—nd remission of sins Luke 13.1 2. We read in the New Testament That when some told our Saviour of the Galileans whose Blood Pilate had mingled with the Sacrifices Jesus answering said unto them Suppose ye that these Galileans were Sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things I tell you nay but except you repent ye shall all likewise perish Or those eighteen upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell and slew them think ye that they were Sinners above all that dwell in Jerusalem I tell you nay but except you repent ye shall all likewise perish And again John 8.21 Our Saviour tells the Jews I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall die in your s ns whither I go ye cannot come These are searching Doctrins and should put us upon a Proving all things and holding fast that which is good that we may believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and have an â—bundant entrance into his everlasting Kingâ—om My Friends I desire that you may all be in â— good state and condition and keep close to the gift of God and the measure of Grace given to you and prove all things that are oâ— a religious Concern and so come to be Christians indeed Israelites indeed like Nathaniel in whom there is no Guile that you may set a Watch before the Door of your Lips Saith the Apostle James If any Man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue but deceiveth his own Heart this this Man's Religion is vain Jam. 1.26 You must watch over your Words and be true in your Words that your Religion may not be in vain that when you prove all things you may hold fast that which is good If I should put the Question to the most ignorant Man or Woman among us Friend What dost thou think hast thou a Soul to be saved What dost thou think will become of thee Such a one would answer I have a Soul that may be saved But I would put the Question further What assurance hast thou that thou shalt be saved I am in some doubt I have not assurance of my Salvation but I hope to be saved Then I might ask again Why hast thou not Assurance of Salvation there is something that is the cause of it My Sin saith such a one lies at the Door there is something within that will let thee know that it is some allowed Sin or Iniquity that thou livest in There is an awakened Conscience the gift that God hath given to Men that will reprove Men for Sin though sometimes they may get over it yet sometimes or other there will be an awakening of Conscience that will make them cry out and say Lord I am a sinful Man â— am not fit to die I am not prepared for my â—atter end So David cried out Lord cleanse â—e from my secret sins What is it that keeps Men in doubt of their Salvation but some secret sin or other When a Man comes to be awakened and the Book of Conscience is opened and a Man readeth therein that he hath done this and the other evil thing lived â—o and so Then humble thy self under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt thee in due time and speak Peace to thy Soul If thou wilt prove all things and hold fast that which is good live according to what thou knowest to be the mind of God if thy own Conscience condemn thee God is greater than thy Conscience and knoweth all things We must direct Men to look to the Witness of God in their own Souls Thus saith the Psalmist Psal 4.4 Stand in Awe and sin not commune with your own hearts upon your Bed and be still If you will come to consider your Ways and commune with your own Hearts you may know how it is with you the Lord hath lengthened out your time a little longer therefore he would have you come to bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance and amendment of Life and be concerned for the Salvation of your Immortal Souls Ask your self this Question Am I fit to
under a Divine preparation as many are 〈◊〉 our Days who are ready to say Lord havâ— mercy upon us among so many Religions 〈◊〉 would to God we knew how to chuse thaâ— which is right these are under a Heavenly preparation that earnestly enquire after the truâ— way and worship of the Lord wherein they may seek and serve him and find acceptance It is left upon record concerning Christ He gave his life a Ransom for many to be testified in due time If you speak of a Ransom to one that is a liberty he will not regard it being unconcerned but come and tell a poor captive in Algiers that he shall shortly be discharged from his slavery and sore bondage and set at liberty and that a noble Friend in England will pay his Ransom for him â—and his Heart will melt and leap for joy and he will be transported and greatly affected to hear such glad tidings As the Captives in Babilon when they sat down by the Rivers there and hanged their Harps upon the Willows and wept when they remembred Zion when they that carryed them away Captive required of them mirth saying sing us one of the songs of Sion They said How shall we sing the Lords Song in a strange land So it hath pleased the Lord in our Days to make Thousands sensible of their woful Captivity by reason of sin and to say after this manner alas I am where I would not be I am under bondage to sin and Satan I would be at liberty I am confined and shut up in a dark Dungeon I would be Discharged I am in Darkness and would have the light of Gods Countenance lifted up upon me and he refreshed with the Rays of the Sun of Righteousness I am labouring under weakness and I would receive strength and strugling under my many Infirmities I would receive Power from on high to do the will of God and never be a weary of well doing I am now at a distance from my Fathers House and as a stranger on this Earth I would have my conversation in Heaven and live unto Christ here that I may live with him hereafter and sit with him at Gods Right Hand in Heavenly places Now those that are made sensible of their state of Captivity and darkness and how they have been under the very region and shadow of Death to such as sit in darkness and as it were under the shadow of Death God hath caused light to spring up whereby the Soul comes to perceive that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses to them Christ gave his life a Ransom for many to be testified in due time The Soul hath its lodgment under fears and doubts questioning whether ever it shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God and we are all Children of wrath by nature as well as others the first step of quietness and comfort is like that of the Fathers running to meet his Prodigal Son when he saw him afar off It is when the Soul seâ— and apprehends that God is in Christ reconciling the World unto himself the Lord saith I have found a Ransom I have laid help upon one that is mighty that is able to save to the uttermost Now after we perceive there is a Ransom that there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared then the light of that prophecy opens to us Isa 55.6 7. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Then the Soul begins to perceive this Morning of the Day of God and will say with the Psalmist return to thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Until the Soul comes to behold and tast of this Passover and to believe the record that God hath given of his Son it cannot be unlocked and unchained from its bondage and Captivity He that believeth not is condemned already and the wrath of God abideth on him because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son The believing this record and embracing the promise of God is that whereby we feel a spark of Divine hope kindled in us So that I say the greatest comfort that can be enjoyed in this life is to be assured by the spirit of God that we are saved from the wrath to come we must begin and go on gradually â—â—d work out our own Salvation with fear and â—embling till it appear to thee and thou art â—â—tisfyed that thy Faith stands not in the Wisâ—om of men but in the power of God and â—hat thy sins are remitted Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and â—hose Sin is covered Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is no guil When you come â—o perceive the Benefit which you have received by Christ Jesus and that by a true belief in his name you receive Remission of Sins this kindles in your Souls a love to God and you will be ready to say What hath he paid my debt that I might be discharged from Prison Paid that debt which I could not pay I was in Captivity from which I could not Ransom my self and hath God given his Son and hath his Son Jesus Christ given himself to be a Ransom for me I was under a strange King as the Israelites of old under great slavery in the land of Egypt and house of Bondage hath the Lord brought me out from thence by a mighty Hand and out-stretched Arm and brought me as it were through the Red-Sea as on dry land hath he destroyed those Enemies that designed my Destruction and wrought a great deliverance and Salvation for me What shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases who Redeemeth thy life from Destruction and crowneth thee wiâ—â— lovingkindness and tender mercies When we apprehend that our sins are remâ—ted and that God is in Christ reconciling tâ— World to himself not imputing their trespassâ— to them then we have quietness and peace Rejoyce and beglad O Daughter of Zion thâ— Lord that is Righteous will bring Salvation and he will send forth thy Prisoners out of thâ— Pit where there was no Water Methinks I hear a sound in a Disconsolatâ— Soul saying I believe that God is mercifuâ— the Night is far spent and the Day is at hand yet notwithstanding this is my trouble that â— do not yet feel any Power to live to Christ thaâ— died for me and to walk worthy of my vocation the Soul may therefore cry out
clean Beasts and entered into the Holy place made with Hands It was not without Blood that the High-Priest offered Sacrifice for the Sins of the People and for his own Sins for almost all things wete purged with the blood of the Sacrifices which were offered and then he entred into the most Holy place made with Hands But Christ being come an High-Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with Hands neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Ye believe in God believe also in me He bids them believe in him as the Light of the World and follow the Dictates and Motions of the Spirit You do well to believe in this divine Appearance if so be you live in it and follow the divine Motions of it O then it will be a Sanctuary to you as the City of refuge was to the Manslayer under the Law There were six Cities of Refuge appointed in the most convenient places of the Land for the Man-slayer to fly to if any one had killed a Man at unawars against his Will there was a City of Refuge to have access to If he could get into that City of Refuge he was in safety from the Avenger of Blood from the Pursuer if he was over-taken by the Avenger of Blood then he might be slain then he might be destroyed but if he got into the City of Refuge there he was to remain in safety in safe custody under the safeguard and Protection of the Law But if he went out of the City of Refuge then the Man-slayer might take hold of him These things are written for our Learning the Lord hath provided a City of Refuge for his Children and for his Servants to fly unto And what is this City of Refuge It is the Light of Christ Jesus the Light of the World in its first Ministration of Gods Holy Spirit If so be you fly to it and come under the Protection of it it will preserve you in safety But if we depart from our Obedience to this Heavenly Light then the Man-slayer the Justice of God will take hold of us then we shall feel the Wrath of God to be kindled against us and smite us and cut us down And this we have known by living Experience while we have remained under the Protection of God and under the safe-guard of the Law and of God's Light in our Hearts we have been in safety from the Avenger from Gods severe Wrath and Justice God's wrath hath not been kindled against us to burn us up and consume us but if we have been rebellious and disobedient then the wrath of the Lord hath been kindled against us and his Judgments executed upon us But when we have run to the City of Refuge under the divine Protection we have strengthened our Hearts and Hands in the sight of God But if we have sinned at any time then our own Hearts have accused us and condemned us We are to remain under the safeguard of the Law until such time as the death of our great High-Priest Christ Jesus be revealed in our Hearts when we have heard the joyful sound when the tidings of the Death of the High-Priest comes to be sounded in our Ears when the Mystery of Christ crucified comes to be revealed unto us then we have a glorious inheritance to go unto a most desirable possession beyond all the Enjoyment of this World The state in Paradice wherein Man was at the beginning is not to bâ— compared to it it is in the Country we are travelling to the Spiritual and heavenly Canaan a Land flowing with heavenly Milk and Hony Joy unspeakable and full of Glory This is the Country which we are travelling to if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and follow the great Captain of our Salvation Who was made perfect through sufferings we shall be made Heirs of Eternal life Let us believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who is gone to prepare a place for us In the time appointed of the Father he will come again and receive us to himself that where he is there we may be also O blessed are you that have a living Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and do follow him and the Conduct and leadings of his divine Spirit and he will lead you to this heavenly Country he will go before you and he hath made this Promise to all his faithful followers Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am sate down with my Father on his Throne He is the Bridegroom and you shall be the Bride the Lambs Wife And you shall be joyned to him in the heavenly Marriage Union and you shall be with him in Glory to all Eternity We Read Gen. 82.24 that Jacob being left alone there wrestled a Man with him all Night until the breaking of the Day and when he saw that he prevailed not against him c. He said let me go for the Day breaketh And Jacob said unto the Angel I will not let thee go except thou bless me And he said unto him what is thy Name And he said Jacob And the Angel said to him Thy Name shall no more be called Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou Power with God and with Men and hast prevailed And he blessed him there So my Friends if you would have the Blessings of Jacob the Blessings of Abraham O then wrestle with the Man Christ Jesus and wrestle in Faith wrestle with this Angel of the Covenant all Night until the dawning of the Day until the Day-Star shall arise in your Hearts and not only so but persevere in the Faith until the Son of Righteousness arise As Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Covenant Christ Jesus who is both God and Man he wrestled with him all Night until the dawning of the Day Then he blessed him And Jacob called the Name of lhat place Peniel For I have seen God Face to Face and my Life is preserved He said a Man appeared to him and he called him God How is this to he understood The Man Christ Jesus he is both God and Man None but he that is both God and Man can bless us with eternal Blessings therefore let us believe in him that can save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him for he hath obtained Eternal Redemption for us FINIS ERRATA PAge 16. line 26. after do read to trust in p. 21 l. 11. after again r. to the bodies of the saints and l. ult dele to the bodies of the saints p. 23. l. 25. r. Deut. 30.11 12. p. 30. l. 12. r. after Moses and from Moses to Christs coming in the Flesh p. 192. l. 14. dele like and r. it is a measure of the divine nature p. 47. l. 32. for held r. help Books lately Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultery near Cheap-side I. THE Doctrin of Christ crucified asserted in Three Declarations or Sermons by George Keith Exactly token in Shorthand as they were delivered by him at the Meetings of the Christian people called Quakers in London Price 6 d. II. The Concurrence and Unanimity of the People called Quakers in Owning and Asserting the principal Doctrines of the Christian Religion Demonstrated in the Sermons or Declarations of several of their Publick Preachers Namely Mr. Robert Barclay Mr. George Whitehead Mr. John Bowater Mr. Chacles Marshall Mr. William Bingley Mr. John Butcher Mr. James Park Mr. William Dewsberry Mr. Francis Camfield Mr. William Penn Mr. Richard Ashby Mr. Samuel Waldenfield Mr. John Vaughton and Mr. Francis Stamper Exactly taken in Short hand as they were delivered by them at their Meeting-houses in Grace-Church-street Devonshire-House St. Martins le-grand S. John's-street Wheeler-street and Ratcliff in and about London And now faithfully Transcribed and publâ—shed with the Prayer at the end of each Sermon Price one Shilling six pence
The Great DOCTRINES OF THE Gospel of Christ Owned Believed and Asserted In several DECLARATIONS OR Sermons Preached in London by Sundry Servants of Christ of the Society of Christian Quakers London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheap-side 1694. A SERMON Preached by Thomas Budd At Devonshirehouse London June 17th 1694. 1 Tim. 3.16 And without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory A Great and Glorious Mystery indeed-it is beyond what Man can conceive or apprehend God manifest in the Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ For in the fulness of Time the Word took Flesh The Word became Flesh The Word took Flesh in the Womb of the Virgin being over-shadowed by the Holy Ghost she conceived with Child and in the appointed Time of the Father she brought forth her First-born into the World and according as the Angel directed his Name was called Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins And it is said This Child increased in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Man When he was Twelve Years old he disputed with the Doctors in the Temple in the Temple at Jerusalem He disputed wisely and they greatly admired his Wisdom and when the Time was come that he was to shew himself to Israel and to do the Work that was appointed him of the Father He came to John to be Baptized of him in Jordan but John forbad him saying I have need to be Baptized of thee and comest thou to me And Jesus answering said unto him Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness Then he suffered him And Jesus when he was Baptized went up streightway out of the Water and lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And having received the Holy Ghost and being fitted for the Work which he was afterwards to accomplish He was led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil and when he had fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights he was afterward an hungred And when the Tempter came to him he saiâ—â— If thou be the Son of God command that these Stones be made Bread But Christ resisted the Temptation and told the Devil That Man doth not live by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth cut of the Mouth of God And then the Devil not prevailing by this Temptation He taketh him up into the Holy City and setteth him on a Pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their Hands they shall bear thee up lest at any Time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone And he overcame the Devil in this Temptation also and said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God And the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high Mountain and sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them and said All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me Then said Jesus unto him Get thee behind me Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Here was a great Temptation indeed how apt are these things to prevail over Mankind The love of Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World but these could not prevail over our blessed Saviour who was the Holy One of God Therefore we that profess to be his Followers should tread in his Steps and follow his Example How can we be his Disciples except we deny our selves and take up his Cross and follow him who is the Captain of our Salvation Who is our High Priest who is ascended into Heaven and entred into the holiest of all made without Hands As the High Priest under the Law he entred into the Holy Place made with Hands not without Blood which he offered for himself and the Sins of the People But Christ being become an High Priest of good Things to come neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with Hands saith the Apostle which are the Figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the Presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high Priest entred into the Holy Place every Year with the Blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World but now once in the End of the World hath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9.24 And he is able also to save them to the utmost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them And God the Father hath regard to the prevailing Intercession of his Son him he heareth always and if we pray in Faith and in the Name of Christ our Prayers shall enter into the Ears of the Father as the Father heareth the Son always so he heareth those that believe in him and pray in his Name they are sure to receive the Spirit of Adoption whereby they cry Abba Father Therefore ask in his Name and receive that your Joy may be full you shall receive fulness of Joy that will give Satisfaction to your Souls and you shall receive a double Portion of the Divine Spirit and come with a filial Confidence and humble Boldness to the Throne of Grace and obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in the Time of Need. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3.16 They that receive the Dear and Well-beloved Son of God receive him as God's Gift and they that believe in him believe in both his inward and outward Appearance Ye believe in God saith our Saviour to his Disciciples believe also in me John 14.1 So that it is not enough to believe in Christ's Inward Appearance and to look only to the Spiritual Appearance and Operation of the Divine Word of Truth within us but we must look unto Jesus that is the Dispencer of Life and the giver of his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Look unto me and be ye saved all the Ends of the Earth We must look unto him that is the Giver of Grace and the Dispencer of Life and Salvation as the Author and Fountain of it We must believe in Christ the Eternal Word that came down from Heaven that took Flesh and dwelt
c. Look therefore unto Jesus how shall I look unto him Look unto him by Faith believe that he is an Advocate an Intercessor and Mediator and a Propitiation for thy sins This will give thee an entrance and admission into his Presence again and thou wilt have the Springs of Life that were stopped opened again the Wells of Salvation opened and thou wilt come to know Joy and Consolation again and then thou wilt declare what God by this living Faith hath wrought for thee when thou comest to know the overcoming of Unbelief If thou hast this living Faith thou canst say to this corrupt Tree of Unbelief that is grounded and rooted in thee be thou plucked up and it shall be so If thou hast Faith as a Grain of Mustard-seed a very small seed thou shalt say to this Mountain Be thou removed and it shall be so and to thiâ— Sicamore-tree Be thou plucked up and planted in the midst of the Sea and it shall be done O this living Faith this Faith unfeigned it works by Love and Charity which the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 1.5 Is the end of the Commandment out of a pure Heart and good Conscience This pure divine Faith doth witness the overcoming of Unbelief and it is more precious than Gold that perishes and will be found to Praise Glory and Honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ. This Faith will endure all Temptations Tryals Afflictions Buffetings O this pure living Faith that is wrought by God's powerful Word and declared by the Light within by the Arm of God's Salvation it doth do the Work that is appointed for it to do The Hand cannot do any thing without the Body or the Head no more will this Arm of God's Salvation within work without the power of the Man Christ Jesus that is the Giver of it nor without his Death and Sufferings but it is all-sufficient to save us with them with his Death and Sufferings Resurrection Ascention Mediation and Intercession Look not only to the Light within but look unto Jesus the Dispenser of it It pleased the Father that in his blessed Son Jesus Christ should all fulness dwell The fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in him of his fulness we all received and Grace for Grace A Brief DECLARATION OF Thomas Budd AT The Close of a Meeting in Harp-lane October 14th 1694. Rom. 10.6 7 8 9 10 Say not in thine heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart That is the word of Faith which we preach That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart Man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation IT is not a bare litteral traditional or historical Faith or Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that he was raised from the Dead will save us but we must know a living Faith wrought in our Hearts by the living Word 〈◊〉 God that Word that is nigh that is in oâ— Hearts and in our Mouth we must know thâ— operation of the living Word of God to worâ— Faith in our Hearts in the Man Christ Jesuâ— This Faith must be wrought in our Hearts bâ— the living Word and by the Spirit of Chrisâ— by the same Power that raised up Christ froâ— the dead It is not a bare historical Faith or Knowledge that will save us but we must have living Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we muâ— believe in him that he died for our Sins anâ— rose again for our Justification and that he ascended into Heaven and sate down at the righâ— Hand of the Majesty on high and that thâ— Heavens received him and will retain him until the time of the restitution of all things according to the Testimony of the Angels aâ— his Ascension into Heaven Act. 1.9 10. It iâ— said That while the Disciples beheld he was takeâ— up and a Cloud received him out of their sight and while they looked stedfastly towards Heaveâ— as he went up behold two Men stood by them iâ— white Apparel which also said Ye Men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven The Apostle saith The Heavens have received him till the time of the Restitution of all things he will come again and restore all things and raise the dead to life He will open the Graves and cause the Dead to come forth then he will come to be glorified 〈◊〉 his Saints and to be admired in all â—em that believe in all them that â—elieve the divine Promises and that put â—heir Trust in him He will be glorified in all â—hat believe in him and expect Salvation by â—im Then Believers shall be restored to their â—rimitive State and to a greater dignity and â—lory than Adam enjoyed in Paradice when â—e was created in the Image of God That â—ost Image shall be restored again when the Lord Jesus himself shall descend from Heaven with a Shout and with the Voice of the Archâ—ngel and with the Trump of God and the Dead in Christ shall rise first they shall have â—he preference For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every Man in his own order Christ the first Fruits afterward â—hey that are Christ's at his coming then he will change our vile Body that it may be fashiâ—ned like unto his glorious Body according to the Workings whereby he is able even to subdue all â—hings unto himself to the Bodies of the Saints A SERMON Preached by George Keith At Devonshire-house June 17. 1694. Rom. 10.6 7 8 But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above Or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart That is the Word of Faith which we Preach THE Apostle Paul by the Wisdom given him of God preached Salvation by Christ Jesus both within us and without us This is the true Gospel of Salvation the true Gospel-Doctrin which Christ Jesus himself preached and all the holy Prophets Evangelists and Apostles they preached Salvation by Jesus Christ by the Knowledge of him without dividing him It is not our Principle to divide these Christ within us and Christ without us but to join them I have fully preached â—saith the Apostle the Gospel of Christ Say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above But we may know
This Faith comes from this Living Fountain this Living Root and Foundation Christ within the Hope of Glory This would make Christendom as the Garden of Eden and the Paradice of God but Christendom is now become a barren Wilderness there is little true Faith found among them The Lord hath some even a remnant that love and fear him and that are near and dear to him that have a True and Living Faith in the Lord Jesus but they are as a Cluster of Grapes in a barren Wilderness but the rest are as a Thorn-Hedge My Friends Is Christ ascended into Heaven Let us by Faith ascend and dwell with Christ in Heaven let our Faith ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Meditation ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Hearts and our Affections ascend to Christ in Heaven while we are in the Body and in the Wilderness of this World yet in our Minds and Affections let us be with Christ in Heaven and let us witness with the Apostle That our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the Working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself They looked for the last Appearance of his glorified Body and they looked for his daily coming into their Hearts I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you How will he come unto them By daily renewed Incomes of his Spiritual Life and Light and Divine Power He knew they would have but little Meetings at first yet he encourageth these little Meetings Where two or three are gathered together in my Name I will be in the midst of them It is not limited to a great number the Promise is to Two or three as well as to an hundred or many hundreds If a Man be in his House alone or if he be on the Top of a Mountain or by the Side of a River in Prayer if he be a true Disciple of Christ and takes up his Cross and follows him he shall find the Holy Spirit present with him If a Man love me saith Christ he will keep my Words John 14.23 and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our Abode with him So that here is a daily coming From whence From Heaven Here is a daily Coming from Heaven of Christ's Descending from Heaven The Father Son and Holy Spirit will come from Heaven to a true Believer and make their abode with him We must not understand this coming so grosly as if the Father Son and Holy Spirit should leave Heaven and come and dwell with the Sons of Men. What is this coming then It is the Heavenly Influences the Heavenly Powers and Heavenly Vertues like Heavenly Rains the Heavenly Gifts and Manifestations of the Lord Jesus by his Blessed Spirit in our Hearts So then Friends I beseech you observe these following Words which are of the like Import and concern to every one of us The Word is nigh thee this is the Command saith Moses which I command thee this Day this Word is not hidden from thee neither is far off it is not in Heaven that thou shouldst say Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it How may we be sure it is God's Command as well as the most known and revealed Truth It was a Command to them I say to them to believe that Christ was to come in the Flesh they were to obey that Commandment the Word of Christ in their Hearts the word of Faith the word of Righteousness the word of Reconciliation to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was to die for Sinners In the Time of the Law and before the Time of the Law they were to believe that Christ was to come and die for them and shed his Blood for them Heb. 11.1 Faith is the Substance of Things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Now from the beginning of the World all that long Trace of Time between Adam and Moses for about Four thousand Years they lived by that Faith they hoped for Christ's Coming and had got an infallible Assurance that God would forgive them their Sins and receive them graciously into his Hands when they should come to die and go out of this earthly Tabernacle of the Body and give them an abundant Entrance into his Everlasting Kingdom the Paradise above But why is this Word called the Commandment in the singular Number I will tell you because one Word not many is comprehensive of all God's Commandments be acquainted with this word in thy Heart and it will learn thee all God's Commandments It will teach you all that can be preached from the Holy Scriptures This Word of God that is in your Hearts is comprehensive of all Then you will object and say What need I have any outward Preaching I will sit at home and only mind the Light within the Word that is nigh and in my Heart No that is a great Mistake to say there is no need of outward Preaching many things are greatly profitable that are not of absolute necessity I do not say the Bible is of such absolute neceâ—sity that if Men should take the Bible from us we must perish for want of it God forbid If we should be banished into Turky and they should be so cruel as to take our Bibles from us as they do other Goods and think to bring us over to their Religion this word of Faith in our Hearts will bring to our Remembrance what is written in the Holy Scriptures so that the Bible is a necessary and profitable outward Help but not of such absolute Necessity that we must be undone for ever and perish without it This word of Life that is in thy Heart will preserve thee from perishing eternally O be acquainted with it If a Time should come that there should be no Meetings no outwatd Preaching or Hearing or that we should be shut up in Prison and see the Face of Man no more yet this word of God in our Hearts will teach us and witness the love of God to us in our dying Moments and we shall feel our departing Souls in the Hands of the Lord and may say with our Redeemer Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit O what Joy will this be to us in a dying Hour Now what is it that gives this Knowledge Understanding and Assurance to us The word of Faith in the Heart It may well be called the word of Faith An hypocritical Faith is a Faith without Charity Love and Obedience All Faith is false that is not grounded upon this Word of God it is needful to be preached this inward Word this Word of God within how doth it reconcile us to God It reconcileth us to God by opening of the Mysâ—ery of Christ Jesus and discovering to us
for Life and Salvation I would never speak a Word to diminish â—r lessen the great Work of Faith but we may easily see the Vanity and falsness and unprofitableness of that Faith that abounds in the World The vain Person 's Faith the worldly and covetous Man's Faith and the proud Man's Faith which greatly abounds in Christendom 3 Men say they believe in Christ and yet Covetousness earthly-mindedness Pride of Spirit and Envy and Malice and Strife and Contention abound among us I say If Faith had but room and Place in the Hearts of People here in Christendom the Lord grant that Time may come it would then remove these Mountains and had it taken Place it would have removed them long ago If any shall ask me What Time I will prefix or allow that this little Grain of Faith will remove all those Mountains of Sin and Unbelief and Unrighteousness and the Powers of Darkness that are in Peoples Hearts I answer No time is to be prefixed for the effecting of this wait the Lord's time for his time is the best time If thou desirest to make this time short then improve that little measure of Grace bestowed upon thee that little Grain of Mustard-seed pray with it and give Thanks to God for it pray with all the strength and ability that the Lord hath already given thee There is none of us to whom some measure of Grace and Held is not given there is no ground to complain that â—nough is not given but our Complaint should be That we have not made use of that Hâ— that is given us Do not despise the Dayâ— small things Who art thou that despisest 〈◊〉 day of small things Do not despise a litâ—â—â— Grace a little Help that God hath given 〈◊〉 thee let us make use of that little Strengâ—â— we have and God will give us more and 〈◊〉 will do it in due time in his own time whâ—â—â— is the best time I may be bold to say The time shall nâ—â— be long if thou wilt do thy utmost Endeavouâ—â— the time will not be long before the Lord râ—move these Mountains of Sin and Unbelieâ— and of the Powers of Darkness and give thâ— the sense of his Love and Mercy and refresâ—ment from his Presence then all those Cloud shall be scattered and vanish away whiâ—â— formerly interposed between the Presence 〈◊〉 God and thy 〈◊〉 I shall next â—â—me to shew how Paul preached Christ 1 C 1.23 24. We preach Chriâ—â— crucified saith he unto the Jews a Stumbling block and unto the Greeks Foolishness but untâ— them which are called both Jews and Greekâ— Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom oâ— God This Power and Wisdom of God diâ— dwell in Christ in all Fulness and out of thaâ— Fulness he distributes to every one a suitable measure Eph. 4.7 saith the Apostle Paul But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Wherefore he saith When he ascended on high he leâ—â— Captivity Captive he received Gifts for Meâ— yea for the Rebellious also that the Lord Goâ— might dwell among them or inhabit them â—s the Word signifies I come not here to shew my self skilful in Hebrew Greek and Latin I hope it is no Ofâ—ence to tell you of a better Translation of a â—lace of Scripture as in the Margent of your â—ibles I come not hither to speak Hebrew â—reek and Latin and to shew my Skill in seâ—eral parts of Learning and Philosophy after â—he Rudiments of the World as one vainly â—uft up by a fleshly Mind I relinquished it â—â—ove thirty Years ago I never reckoned â—mane Learning a necessary Qualification to â—ake a Man meet to be a Preacher of the Gospel of Christ There is needful another Quaâ—ification for the preaching of Christ and him â—ucified preaching his Cross which is a Stumbling-block to some and Foolishness to others but unto them that are sâ—â—â—d it is Christ â—he Power of God and the Wâ—â—dom of God â—orasmuch as the Fulness dwellâ— in him and â—orasmuch as we receive our several Measures one after another and we receive them by him and through him and from him Christ is the Author or Beginner of our Faith and the Finisher of it he is the Light of every Man â—hat comes into the World a common Illumiâ—ation is given to all There are some that say That Lam gone from â—ny ancient Testimony to the Light within they have not said it to my Face though they insinuate and whisper against me I am bold not in mine own Ability and Strength but in â—he Lord to say None can justly charge me that I am gone from my ancient Testimony tâ— the Sufficiency of the Light within that therâ— is a Sufficiency in the least measure of it to profit withal tho' it be never so little if Meâ— labour to improve it God will not be wanting to give more I am yet to learn that there ever were any among our Friends in former Days or of thosâ— that are newly risen up among us will sayâ— Any have received so much that they need noâ— depend upon the Lord for more as if thaâ— was sufficient for all time to come we havâ— already received We are to pray for ouâ— daily Bread we are to pray for daily Supplies of the Spirit Lord give us more of thy Spirit and multiply thy Mercies and Blessings upon us saith the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and Peace be multiplied to you through the Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. But to proceed and speak a little further concerning that Doctrin which Paul and Silas preached to the Jailor and his Houshold Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House I did not study a Text before I came hither I did not know what I should speak but waiting for the pure Motion of the Lord that Scripture was brought before me and a sweet Motion was upon my Spirit and yet continues with me Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Observe here that Paul nor Silas doth not say That he must witness Regeneration or Sanctification before he doth believe in the â—ord Jesus Christ He doth not say Thou â—ust have a pure Conscience before thou dost â—eceive the Mystery of Faith which is a Doâ—trin that some hold that a pure Conscience â—ust be witnessed before Faith Tho' the â—ords are true Faith is held in a pure Consciâ—ce But we must not say That the Conscience â—â—st be first pure and then Faith will be giâ—n to a pure Conscience Faith and a pure â—onscience go together I have experience of 〈…〉 â—lessed be God â— have known a defiled Coâ—â—â—â—ence and now â—o God's Praise I spea◠〈◊〉 I know in some â—easure a purified Conscience My Consciâ—nce was not purified before I did receive the Faith of Christ the very same moment that â— received a measure of this pure Faith this â—ure Faith purified my Conscience
it that it may bring forth more Fruit. He cuts and dresseth it with his Pruning-knife that he may cut off fruitless and superfluous Branches You may take notice from hence that it is manifest that those that are grafted into Christ and bring forth Fruit they may have some Superfluities that may need cutting off but so long as the Branch brings forth Fruit the Husbandman will not cut it off if there be any Life or Vertue in it he will spare it that it may become fruitful God is the wise Husbandman every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit He comes with his Pruning Knife and cuts off the superfluous Branches that the fruitful Branches may grow and flourish by the Sap and Moisture they receive from the heavenly Vine As new born Babes saith the Apostle desire the sincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Those that are in Christ may have some Superfluities if we may be as Instruments to cut off those Superfluities and save the Branch it is well In this Parable of the Vine representing God as the Husbandman Christ as the Vine and Believers as the Branches God the Father acts the part of a Husbandman What is the Office that God exerciseth towards Christ the Vine under this Figure Metaphor and Allegory representing him as a Husbandman We know what Christ the true Vine doth to us that are Branches if we be grafted by Faith into him he supplies us with heavenly Sap and Moisture The Vine gives Sap and Moisture to every Branch it hath such plenty of Sap and Moisture and Fatness in it self as to make every Branch fruitful There is no want in Christ the good Vine to minister and convey heavenly Sap and Vertue to every Branch that abideth in him We now understand what the Office of Christ the true Vine is to Believers that are the Branches and what he doth to them But may some say what doth God to Christ What doth God the Father the heavenly Husbandman do unto Christ the Noble Vine What Influence hath the Son from the Father We need Influences from the Son of God but what Influence hath the Son from the Father I answer Christ as the Son of Man needs a continual Influence from the Father as we need a continual Influence from Christ As the Father hath Life in himself so he hath given to the Son to have Life in himself and he quickneth whom he will Saith Christ John 5.19 Verily verily I say unto you the Son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the Father do for what things soever he doth these also doth the Son likewise for the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things that himself doth And in another Place he saith My Father worketh hitherto and I work But some may say Is not Christ God Yes he is God and he is Man too we must have a right Faith in him not only as God but as Man Had Christ been God only and not become the Son of Man he had not been a Saviour that is a perfect and compleat Saviour It behoved him to become Man to take upon him the Form of a Servant it behoved him to bear the weight of our Sins in his own Body upon the Tree and become a Sacrifice and die for us and then to rise again from the Dead and ascend into Heaven and live for ever to make Intercession for us We needed such an high Priest that was sensibly touched with the Feeling of our Infirmities and in all Points tempted like as we are yet without Sin That is an excellent Place wherein David prophesied of Christ Psal 69.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity captive thou hast received Gifts for Men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them or as it may be better translated That the Lord God might inhabit them and dwell in them Here David prophesied what Christ received from whom doth Christ receive Gifts to give unto the Rebellious He received them from the Father he received them from him for them So that you may understand that Christ is a Mediator or middle Person between God and us God the Father hath sealed the Son and appointed him to give Bread to all the Household of God Labour not for the Meat which perisheth but for that Meat which endureth to Everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed He hath put a Mark upon him whereby he may be known from all others all are inferior to him and short of him all are Servants under him Heb. 3.5 6. Moses verily was faithful in all God's House as a Servant c. but Christ as a Son over his own House◠whose House are we if we hold fast the Confidence and the rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the end Believers are God's House he is their Master Christ is the Steward of the House God hath sealed Christ and hath marked him How hath he marked him With the fulness of the Holy Spirit John the Baptist taught the People 〈◊〉 to know Christ before all other I indeed baptize you with Water unto Repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire John when he had Baptized Christ in Jordan saw the Spirit descending on him Jesus when he was Baptized went up straightway out of the Water and lo the Heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Now to open a little further in a few words the Relation that the Father hath to the Son that is here set forth by way of Metaphor or Allegory in this Parable wherein Christ is styled the true Vine and the Father the Husbandman what the Husbandman doth to the Vine that God the Father doth unto Christ You will say what is that what doth the Husbandman to the Vine doth Christ need any pruning purging or dressing was there any Sin in him No he needs no pruning or purging there is no Sin in him nor never was What doth the Husbandman do to the Vine He puts Earth and Fatness to the Vine and the Vine it self must have Earth and Soil to grow in The Vine cannot grow unless it have a Soil to grow in As a Branch cannot grow unless it hath a Stock to grow upon neither can a Tree nor a Vine grow unless it hath Earth and Soil to grow in Now God the Father who is the heavenly Husbandman he gives Divine Influence and Fatness and Moisture unto Christ the true Vine It is an Allegory a Metaphor and Figure but there is a Reality under it and in it the Son is planted in the Father and we are planted in
us exceeding great and precâ—ous Promises that by these we might be Partakers of the divine Nature according to his divine Power whereby he hath given unto us all things partaining to Life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue You see the Promises are of great use to us in order to our being made Partakers of the divine Nature and to witness Regeneration and the new Birth It is not enough to read them outwardly unless a divine Work be upon us to enable us to see the Promises and our Right and Interest in them otherwise they will not be effectual upon us The next thing that I would speak to is the Subject of Faith that is the Seat of it as it is placed in a Man or Woman whether it is only in the Understanding as an assent to the Truth or placed in the Will and Affections so as to have an influence on all the Powers and Faculties of the Soul I answer True and saving Faith is seated in the Understanding and in the Will and so hath an influence upon the Affections and so the Affections come to be renewed and sanctiâ—ied through the Power of Faith As Faith is â—n the Understanding it respects Christ as he â—s faithful and true but as Faith is placed in â—he Will of Man he iâ— the Beloved of the Soul â—nd the great desire of the Soul and Faith reâ—pects Christ and God in Christ as he is good â—nd gracious not only as he is holy and â—â—ist faithful and true but as good merciful and gracious tender and compassionate 〈◊〉 Faith in God and in Christ Jesus as it is seated in the Understanding and Will it esteem him as the supream Truth and chief Good submits to his Scepter and depends upon hiâ— Sacrifice and Satisfaction resigns and surrenders up to his Government to commanâ— the whole Man the Affections Memory anâ— bodily Members that Christ may be All in All. And now to come to a Conclusion and to end as I begun it is the Duty of every one that professeth himself to be a true Christian to examine himself whether he hath the true Faith of Christ or be in the true Faith Now I have opened the nature of true Faith it is the more easy for you to come unto an Examination of your selves examine your selveâ— by all the Marks and Tokens that can 〈◊〉 given you whether you are in the Faith anâ— the true Faith be in you if you have thâ— Spirit of God ye may know the things freelâ— given you of God It is by the Spirit of Goâ— that we may know whether we have Faith and Love and Meekness and Humility anâ— other Evangelical Graces There are divers Helps and such things as may be called Marks and Evidences whereby we may be helped to know whether we have true Faith oâ— no. But some may say if we may know whether we have true Faith by Marks and Signs what need we the Spirit And if we maâ— know it by the Spirit then what need wâ— Marks and Signs and other Evidences It is the work of the Spirit to intimate to us whether we have these Marks God hath given us the Book of the holy Scriptures that tells us If we have Faith it works by Love it is such a Faith as hath Works accompanying of it such as love to God and love to one another If thou lovest not thy Brother whom thou hast seen how canst thou be said to love God whom thou hast not seen If we love God above all and love our Brother and love our Enemies these are good Marks and Evidences that we are in the Faith The holy Scripture giveth Marks and Signs of a Man's being a true Believer but the Scripture doth not tell us that we have those Marks But you will say If a Man do examine himself he may be mistaken though he attend â—o what Conscience shall speak You are not to rely upon the Testimony of Conscience alone a Man 's own Conscience may err and his Heart deceive him when it tells him That he hath Faith and Love and other Evangelical Graces But if the Spirit of God witnesseth with our Spirits that we have these Marks and that we are indeed the Children of God then be sure we cannot be deceived when the Spirit of Truth doth give us this infallible Testimony A SERMON Preached by John Raunce AT Harp-Lane near Towerstreet August 19th 1694. 1 Thess v. 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good IT is a Saying of the Apostle Paul to the Church of the Thessalonians Prove all things hold fast that which is good The Thessalonians were a People too like to many in ouâ— Days they wanted to be truly settled in thaâ— which is good and that made the Apostle speak in Commendation of the Men of Bereaâ— Acts 17.11 These were more noble than thosâ— in Thessalonica in that they received the Worâ— with all readiness of Mind and searched thâ— Scriptures daily whether those things were so that were preached among them And truly Friends I have this to say among you That every one who is come through the Exercises they have met with to a tryal of things that offer themselves to their Consideration they may be said to be a happy People if they have so proved all things as to hold fast that which is good This is the Day wherein we live wherein things offer themselves to a seeking Peoplâ— after such a various manner that truly all who desire Salvation to their immortal Souls ought to be very mindful of the Exhortation I now mentioned Prove all things and hold fast that which is good Some may ask me What is here meant by All Things that the Apostle bids them Prove I answer They were such things as are of a Religious Concern He did not bid them prove all things of one kind or another that offered themselves to them but these all Things relate only to religious Matters We are among a People that are religiously concerned about many things that offer themselves unto them There are many Ways many Perswasions and Professions and many things that offer themselves to our Consideration It ought to be our Care and Concern like the noble Bereans to try all things and prove all things It greatly commends those Men and Women that will try and examine Matters and not receive things upon Trust as too many do in our Days There are a great many as the common Proverb is that are ready to pin their Faith upon another Man's Sleeve to be of his Opinion and Perswasion without any good Ground or serious Consideration That which I have to mention among you at this Time is the Apostle's Exhortation Prove all things hold fast that which is good In Matters of a Religious Concern Matters of Faith wherein your Eternal Salvation is concerned go not by hear-say because other Men say so but let us all come to practise
when thou hast fought the good fight and the Battle is over and Victory obtained thou shalt find a Song of praise to God as Israel of Old upon the Banks of Salvation when Pharoah and his Host were drowned in the Red-Sea Thou art discouraged and cast down and thy Soul is disquieted within thee because thou art affraid thou hast committed the unpardonable sin the sin against the Holy Ghost â—any of the Israelites were bitten they did look up to the Brazen Serpent a Type of Christ and they were immediately healed if the Devil the old Serpent hath bitten thee and wounded thy Heel look up to Christ by an eye of Faith and thou shalt be healed As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Dost thou think thy sin like that of Demas that embraced this present World Or like those Rom. 1.21 who were without excuse because that when they knew God they glorifyed him not as God neither were they thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish Heart was darkened Is thy sin like theirs who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness Is thy sin like theirs that made Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience Is thy sin like the sin of them that blasphemed Christ when he wrought mighty wonders and miracles opened the eyes of the blind raised the Dead and cast out Devils and said he cast them out through Belzebub the Prince of the Devils Look up unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith look up unto him who was Crucified and lifted up upon the Cross raised from the Dead and is now Ascended into Heaven and is on the Right-Hand of God making intercession for us And the Apostle James giveth encouragement and direction to us James 5.14 Is any man sick among you Let him call for the elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with Oil in the Name of the Lord And the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous man availeth much These are the helps that God afforded to believers in that Day and time and he hath given us ground of hope in our time and Day that our iniquities and transgressions shall be pardoned and blotted out upon Confession and deep humiliation and turning from sin to God It may be thou canst say I did not sin willfully against the Lord and with an high Hand I did not say as they of old after a mighty deliverance wrought for them let us make us a Captain and go back again to Egypt I have not so presumptuously sinned yet I have been tempted and overcome the enemy the Old Serpent hath snapt me by the Heel and bit and wounded me then look up to Christ as they to the Brazen Serpent and that look of Faith will heal thee If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous believe in him and then Add to your Faith vertue and to your vertue knowledg and to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlyness and to godlyness brotherly-kindness and to brotherlykindness charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ It may be another Poor dejected sorrowful Soul may say I have met with many Trials Troubles and Exercises and I have been ready to sink under my burden I have been made a Spectacle to God Angels and Men and another may say what is like to this I want the assurance of my Salvation the enjoyment of all other things is inconstant and uncertain We have heard of terrible Earthquakes wherewith many have been suddenly swallowed up and ruined and we hear of Wars whereby the Blood of many thousands hath been shed and their Lives extinguished O the Joy of Gods Salvation they that have the lively hopes of this may say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a Building of God an House not made with Hands Eternal in the Heavens As you come to enjoy this blessed Priviledg and have a prospect of a happy End you will not be much concerned about any Troubles or Exercises in the way to it The Devil your Adversary goes about continually like a Roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour He will assault and tempt us as he did our Saviour and hit us in those places where he is most like to wound us He taketh our Saviour up into the Holy City and setteth him on the Pinacle of the Temple and then said unto him if thou be the Son of God cast thy self down It is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their Hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a Stone And then he took him up into an exceeding high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory of them and said All these things will I give thee If thou wilt fall down and worship me Then said Jesus to him get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Then the Devil left him and behold Angels came and Ministred to him In his first Temptation when he came to our Saviour and said If thou be the Son of God Command that these Stones be made Bread Our Saviour repelled the force of that Temptation and said Man liveth not by Bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God Resist the Devil as our Saviour did and he will fly from thee and look unto Jesus the Captain of our Salvation and he will enable thee by Faith to quench his Fiery Darts and he will be a Saviour to save thee from thy Sins and also from the wrath to come I have opened the Poinr I propounded to insist on How we may know whether we belong to Christ if we are his he will save us from our Sins and if we belong to him we are under the drawings of the Father For none can come unto me saith Christ except my Father which hath sent me draw him And I have given you several other Marks and Tokens whereby you may examine your selves and know whether you be of Christs little Flock for whom he hath prepared a Kingdom When I come out of the Country unto this great City among a People that hear the Great Rabbies the learned Doctors the Silver-tongued Men and the admired Preachers and great Wits of the Age I cannot but observe how easy it is for People to be bewildred and imposed on and take things on trust from those they
us to do it we should be at a great loss and disadvantage But God is so full of Grace and Bounty blessed be his Name that he giveth us both Wisdom to know his Will and Power to fulfil it Therefore the Spirit of God which was promised to rest upon Christ the Root and Stem of Jesse God promised that the Spirit should rest upon him and that a measure of it should be given to all the Members of that Body whereof he is the Noble and Holy Head he giveth it in one measure to one in another measure to another and in a suitable measure to all according to every ones Capacity to some more and some less as in the â—istribution of Talents he giveth to every â—ne according to their ability The state and â—ondition of Men with respect to Spiritual â—nd Divine gifts they are like the Capacity â—f Vessels some of a lesser and some of a greater quantity There are Cups and Flaggons and Barrels and other Vessels that contain greater and lesser quantities So for Vessels of the Sanctuary Vessels of the Lords House there are Cups and Flaggons and other Vessels A Cup is not capable of holding so much as a Flaggon nor will a Flaggon contain so much as a Barrel or Firkin herein appears the Wisdom of God in that he gives to every one according to their Capacity so that none have reason to repine and murmure and say Lord thou hast not given enough to me Grudge not at the gifts of God to others but consider that though God hath given thee but a little he hath given thee what is fit for thee to receive if he had given thee more there might have been more danger to thy Soul if thy Cup run over there is more than it is capable to receive and therefore God gives that measure to thee that is fittest for thee God gives to every Man and Woman a measure of his Grace which was purchased for them by the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ by what he hath done and suffered even by his Obedience to the Death The Spirit of God which rests upon his dear Son Christ Jesus is said to be the Spirit of Might Isa 11.1 2. And there shall come forth a roâ— out of the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots And the Spirit of the Lorâ— shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom anâ— understanding the Spirit of councel and might the Spirit of knowledg and of the seat of the Lord Here is a Spirit of might as well as a Spirit of VVisdom and Understanding here is I say a Spirit of might and of the fear of the Lord. The Holy Scripture saith perfect love casteth out fear what fear is it that it casteth out Slavish fear but Filial fear Evangelical fear perfect Love casteth not out for this Love and fear are Twins they are Inseparable they are of one kind of one nature our Lord Jesus Christ himself was filled with this Holy Spirit of fear it is said Hebr. 5.7 Who in the Days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Isa 11.3 The Spirit of the Lord saith the Prophet shall rest upon him c. The Spirit of knowledg and of the fear of the Lord. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord and he shall not judge after the sight of his Eyes neither reprove after the hearing of his Ears but with righteousness shall he judge the Poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the Earth If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ sincerely and truly by this belief we shall receive VVisdom and Power sufficiency of it plenty of it one measure and degree after another we shall have the Spirit of God to teach â—s and counsel us what we ought to do what â—s our Duty to God to our Neighbour and â—o our selves and all that is required of us in order to our Eternal Happiness and Salvation which is given by Christ Jesus and also Power to do what we ought to do and also Power to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ There are some have made such an Objection as this and I have sometimes made it my self in my own Thoughts O! say some we want a Power to believe we find it very difficult to believe It is good to be thus sensible of thy own Inability and it is good to be perswaded that it is not so easie a thing to believe as many hold it to be The generality of Christians here in Christendom they think it to be an easie thing to believe It is impossible for any Man or Woman rightly and truly and sincerely to believe in God or in Christ with the least Measure of true saving Faith unless the mighty Power of God work this Faith in us And this Faith begins in a very small beginning it is first sown in the Heart of Man or Woman as a grain of Mustard-seed he that soweth it will make it to grow he is not like an unskilful Husbandman that begins to plant or build and is not able to go through with it the Lord is wise and Powerful he will go through with his Work if thou dost not by the Obstinacy Subbornness and Carelesness of thine own Heart hinder it the Lord will carry on this Work of Faith by his mighty Power And if you have Faith but as Grain of Mustard-Seed you shall say to thâ— Mountain Be removed and it shall be removed This Faith is witnessed by a Blessed Remnant that know the removing of Mountains not earthly Mountains but all those inward Letts Impediments and Hindrances that thâ— poor Soul feels within it self even Mountainâ— of Sin and of the Powers of Darkness thaâ— stand between God and their Souls which intercept the Light of his Countenance from shining on them they would get near to the Lord they follow hard after him The Lord lifts up the Light of his Countenance in some lesser degree upon them which is like a little Beam of Light coming through a Cranny they have not that full and satisfactory Enjoyment of the Lord that they desire Act Faith upon the Lord 's Almighty Power that hath given thee a little Grain of Faith a small measure of it and in due Time thy Faith shall be strengthned and be able to remove all those Mountains of Sin and of the Powers of Darkness that are in thy Heart I say it hath often been an Objection to me O! I would fain believe I want Power to believe and I bless the Lord that let me see that I was not able of my self to believe that I had no might or Ability of my self to act Faith the Lord was pleased by the shining of his blessed Light into my Heart to enable me to act Faith and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
of the Apostle Peter Pet. 1.1 8. Whom having not seen ye Love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with Joy unspeakaâ—le and full of Glory These words Import â—hat though now ye see not the Man Christ â—esus yet the time will come when you shall see him that is when he shall appear in his Glory at the great Day of Judgment when â—he Nations shall stand before him then they shall certainly see him though now they see him not and then Believers shall rejoyce with â—oy unspeakable and full of Glory I say Faith is a very great mystery in that it joyns the Souls of them that truly believe in him to Christ now in heaven Believers do not rejoyce Imaginarily but really True Faith is incomparably a more excellent thing than Imagination is Faith joyneth us to Christ it knitteth us to him and giveth us access unto God by him Remember what our Lord said to Thomas after he arose from the Dead when he appeared to his Disciples the Doors being shut the eleven had seen Christ before when Thomas was not present he would not believe that the Lord Jesus Christ had appeared to them John 20. When the other Disciples told him we have seen the Lord. He said unto them except I shall see in his Hands the Print of the Nails and put my Finger into the Print of the Nails and thrust my Hand into his Side I will not believe And after eight Days again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the Doors being shut and stood in the midst and said peace be unto you then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy Finger and behold my Hands and reach hither thy Hand and thrust it into my Side and be Faithless but believing And Thomas answeâ—ed and said unto him my Lord and my Gâ—â— Jesus saith unto him Thomas because thou hâ— seen me thou hast believed Blessed are they thâ— have not seen and yet have believed O my Friends these VVords are preciouâ— my Heart is touched and tendered with theâ— Blessed are they that have not seen yet haâ— believed we have not seen him risen from thâ— Dead he appeared not to us as to them and 〈◊〉 he appeared to Paul outwardly this is oâ— case you are blessed if ye believe in him whoâ— ye have not seen in the Lord Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 the Man Christ Jesus and if they are Blesseâ— that have not seen yet have believed then follows by the Rule of contraries that theâ— were not blessed who did not believe in hiâ— though they saw him and heard him Preach I cannot say it is a Sin in them not to bâ—lieve in the Lord Jesus Christ who have nâ— heard him Preached to them outwardly nor Inwardly who have not heard of his Death Burial Resurrection and Ascension and sittinâ— at the Right-Hand of God I cannot say 〈◊〉 is a Sin in them not to believe who nevâ—â— heard of those things but those that have haâ— this Doctrine preached and also read in thâ— Holy Scriptures and yet do not believe Chrisâ— risen from the Dead that do not believe Chrisâ— died for their Sins nor believe that he is gonâ— to Heaven and liveth for ever to make intercession for us It is so great a Sin not to believe Christs Incarnation Death and Resurrection when it is preached that they bring a Curse upon themselves that believe not this Doctrin after it is plainly preached to them I do say it and am ready to prove what I say They that have an opportunity to hear this Doctrin preached and read it they have an obligation lying upon them to believe it not because of the outward Testimony barely for where-ever the Scriptures come and are read and preached there is an inward Witness and Testimony goes along with the outward Testimony and it cannot be supposed that the inward Testimony of God's holy Spirit will be wanting to them that enjoy the preaching of the Gospel of Christ to enable them to believe It is Unbelief that brings Men under the Curse and makes them guilty before God Our Saviour told the Jews Except you believe that I am he ye shall die in your Sins O this is most dreadful and whither I go ye cannot come It is not a bare literal traditional or historical Faith or Belief in Christ that I preach to the People which is a Faith of no Value or Worth for Hypocrites have this Faith but that Faith which I preach it is a living Faith wrought by the mighty Power of the Spirit of Christ accompanying the outward Teaching It is a living Faith a fruitful Faith and where-ever this Faith is Love is it is never without Love for Faith Hope and Love always go together and all the Fruits of the Spirit all evangelical Vertues Humility Meekness Temperance and Patience so that they that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ they have a Faith that worketh by Love Love to God and Man That Faith that they have in them is a pious devout religious consciencious Faith and this Faith is accompanied with a Desire that every one might partake of the like precious Faith Every one thaâ— hath it they feel an earnest Travel and concern upon their Spirits that all might be partakers of it they are zealous for the Faith of Christ's Doctrine for by the Faith of Christ's Doctrine we have the Faith of Christ himself So that I do not understand for my part how people can have the Faith of Christ that have not the Faith of his Doctrine A Man or Woman may have a measure of the true Faith of Christ and be short in some matter of Doctrine that is not fundamental they may be wanting in some measure but it were better that there was nothing wanting if possible I long to see you saith the Apostle Rom. 1.11 compared with 1 Thess 3.10 that I may perfect what is lacking in your Faith He did suppose those that were partakers of the Faith of Christ might have something lacking in their Faith that might be supplied to them Christ's Doctrine as it is powerfully preached hath this Service in it to help a Man to lay hold on Christ by Faith as you know we can more easily lay hold upon a Man that is cloathed than upon one that is naked we can more easily lay hold upon Christ by laying hold upon his Doctrine and upon his precious Promises the Promise of Remission of Sin and of his Holy Spirit John 7.38 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water These are exceeding great and precious Promises by which we may be made partakers of the Divine Nature I can tell you something of mine own Experience I was enabled to lay hold on Christ by laying hold on the Promise of Christ Christ comes cloathed with the precious Promises to believe the Promise of Salvation through Christ Jesus the Promise of Remission of