a peculiar People to thy self Zealous of good Works O Eternal God of Power let the Souls of the Children of men come to enjoy thy Presence that their Bodies may become Living Temples for thee to dwell in O Eternal God of Life exalt thy own Name and Truth and make thy self known more and more to the Nations of the Earth that they may come to believe in thy Dear Son Christ Jesus and that they may come to know Redemption and Salvation and the things that belong to the Everlasting Peace of their Souls O Lord we pray thee be with the Families of thy Children and People in all their Exercises in all their Afflictions and in all their Temptations be thou near to them to preserve them and keep them and uphold them by thy free Spirit that thou may'st guide them by thy Consel and afterward receive them into Glory O Eternal God of Life be with the Young Generation of the Children of thy Servans that they may serve thee in their Day and keep their Hearts O Lord by thy mighty Power and let them receive the Word of thy Truth in the Love of it and seal them by thy good Spirit to the Day of Redemption And O Blessed God of Life let thy Work prosper in the midst of the Earth and subdue all that is contrary to thy pure Mind and Heavenly Will and exalt the Kingdom of thy Dear Son and let his name be known and trusted in among all the Nations of the World that they may believe in him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to al them that obey him that so Glory and Honour and Everlasting Renown and Pure praises and Living Thanksgivings may Ascend to thee and let all thy sensible Ones offer them up to thee through Christ the Dear Son of thy Love in whom thou art well pleased for thou alone art worthy to receive all Glory and Praise who art God over all Blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JAMES PARK At Ratcliff April 19. 1694. THEY that come to wait upon the Lord and draw nigh to him and diligently attend upon him they shall receive Wisdom and strength from him and Power to enable them to do the Will of God to fear the Lord and call upon his Name to love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and to Work Righteousness in their Time Day and Generation knowing him in whom thay have believed and whom a Remnant are come to and are Baptized into him and walk in him as they have received him and by whom they have been taught All are to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and to Walk in him who is the Lords Anointed the Judge of Quick and Dead all are to have a certain knowledge of him by receiving and embracing him Did we ever know God aright and the Lord Jesus Christ his only begotten Son till we received him and knew him to be in us the Hope of Glory Many of us have received the Lord Jesus Christ and walked in him as we have received him and then we came to know the witness of him in our selves such as know him experimentally can set to their Seals that God is true We have known God the Father at Work in us and his Son Christ Jesus Working mightily by his Almighty Power in and through whom we come to Work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling This causeth a great fear of God to come upon Man I have known in my time a great Trial to come upon Man and then he came to serve the Lord with Fear and that is good service and that undoubtedly will manifest a good servant when a man comes to serve the Lord with Fear and to rejoice with trembling not with an exalted Mind not with a puft up Mind keep out of that beware of that Friends I beseech you all in the Name of the Lord and in the Fear of God wait all in Gods fear and then you will be capable of drawing nigh to God It is Written in the Epistle of James Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you then will you feel the Lord to work in you mightily and to wash you and make you clean and then by the help of the Spirit of Lord you will put away the Evil of your Doings cease to do Evil and learn to do well and endeavour to please God in all things The Children of God are all taught of him and their Peace is great and they are established in Righteousness and they have a living Experience of that Promise of the Lord by the Prophet They shall be all taught of God their Heavenly Teacher and you that are taught of him shall find him near you that Teacher cannot be removed into Corners There shall be an Invisible Eyeâ— an Heavenly and Spiritual Eye opened to you that you may see the Lord near you Draw near to him in Faith and with a true Heart and with fuil Assurance and you will certainly know and you will see clearly that God is no Respecter of Persons but that in every Nation he that feareth God and Worketh Righteousness is accepted of him God is no Respecter of Persons his Love is of large extent with respect to the Sons and Daughters of Men Those thou gave sâ— me saith our Saviour I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled The Mercy of God through Christ Jesus the Son of his Love reacheth all there is Good Will towards Men Luke 2. 9 10. The Angel of the Lord came upon the Shepherds abiding in the Field and watching over their Flock by Night and said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great Joy which shall be to all People for unto you is born this Day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host Praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace Good Will towards men And the Prophet Isaiah tells us For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace You shall have Christ Jesus for your Lord and King and Counsellor and Instructer Christ Jesus the Son of the Highest he will instruct you and Counsel you safely and then great will be your Peace who can disturb the Peace of such a one or bereave him of it Such a one is also established in Righteousness and Christ is made to them of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption that they may be all endued with that Wisdom that is from above which is pure and peaceable and gentle and easie to be intreated Let the same mind be in you saith the Apostle which was in Christ Jesus that great Lord and
man spareth bis Son that serveth him The Lord will bave mercy upon Sion and spare his People in the Day of his fierce Anger until his Indignatioa be over-past The Walls of Sion are the Walls of Salvation and they are a Bul wark to Gods People when did these Walls and Bulwarks fail you Have you not been preserved in your Day and Generation if these Walls of Salvation had failed we had not been preserved in Christ Jesus we had not now been a Peâ—ple we have stood the Brunts we have been kept safe in the strong City where Salvation is for Walls and Bulwarks And so I shall commit you to the Lord Jesus Christ the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World I desire you all to look to him and fix your Hearts upon him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that believe in him and obey him to him be Glory Praise and Dominion who is God over all Blessed forever Amen His Prayer after Sermon MOST Blessed Lord God thou art Lord of Heaven and Earth Infinite in Love and Life and Glory the God of the Spirits of all flesh in whom we live and move and have our Being who art neaâ— to every one that draweth near to thee and call upon thee in Truth Thou openest thy bountâ—ful hand and refreshest our Hearts with thy Mercy and Blessing O Lord God of Power thy Mercies are manifold and they are over all thy Works and the Works of thine own hands do all praise thee and thy Saints bless thee and magnifie thy excellent Name thou art pleased to magnifie thy Law â—nd to send forth thy Light and Truth and to make it honour able in the Hearts of many in the Day of thy Love in the Day of thy Power Thou art Redeeming thy People from Iniquity and purging away all their dross and taking away all their Tin O Lord God of Life and Power Let all that believe in thy Son Jesus Christ be purged and purified more and more let them be washed and sanctified that all that may be done away and removed out of their Hearts that is contrary to thy self that the Glory of thy Truth may arise and shine in their Souls and let all feel the Power of thy Truth and be sensible of it and believe it and obey it that they may follow the Lâ—adings of thy Holy Spirit and answer thy requirings and glorifie thy name and do thy Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven Let us all receive our daily Bread from thee and have the Light of thy Countenance to shine upon us Comfort the Hearts of all thine every where be thou their strength and stay and a presâ—nt help in trouble and solace their Souls with the sense of thy Lâ—ve which is better than Wine and with thy favour and loving kindness which is better than Life Strengthen the weak hands that hang down and coâ—firm the feeble knees and succour those that aâ—e tempted and comâ—ort them and relieve them O Righteous Lord of Heaven and Earth make known thy Mighty Power in working upon the Hearts of thy People here and every where make known by Name and Glory thrâ—ughout the Whâ—le Earth Let thy glorious everlasting Gospel be sounded forth and Preached in all Naâ—ions of the World And let thy renown go forth and thy fame be spread abroad in all Nations let all the enemies of thy Peâ—ple be scattered and all that make opposition against thy Truth be conquered and overcome by the Power of it and submit themselves least â—hey perish in their opposition And let thy People receive thy Truth in the Love of it and become willing in the Day of thy Power to serve thee in the Beauties of Holiness and gird up the Loyns of their Minds and be kept sober and vigilant and hope to the end and live in love and unity with one another and keep themselves in the love of God and by Patient continuance in well doing seek for Honour Glory Immortality and Eternal Life Let us delight our selves in thee that thou mayst give us the desire of our Hearts whom have we in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that we can desire besides thee Thou hast many times refreshed us with the sense of thy Love in Christ Jesus and thou hast brought us into thy Banquetting House and thy Banner hath been spread over us we have been satisfied with the Fatness of thy House and drunk abundantly of the Rivers of thy Pleasures we have sat under thy shaddow with great delight and thy fruit hath been sweet to our tast Bless us and all thine every where and mind us of our latter end that all the Days of our Appointed time we may wait till our change come and be so prepared for our great account that we may give it up with Joy and not with grief Now Blessed God of Heaven and Earth for all thy Mercies and Favours that we have received and the Blessings and Benefits which thou hast bestowed upon us and continued to us and for preserving us from time to time by the Arm of thy Power and for opening our Hearts at this time to receive the Word of thy Truth and the Influences of thy Spirit take thou the Honour and Glory Thanksgiving and Praise which we humbly and sincerely offer up to thee for to thee it doth belong and thou alone art worthy who art God over all blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. FRANCIS STAMPER At Devonshire-House May 3. 1694. God hath laid help upon one that is Mighty to seve to the uttermost all that come unto God by him THis Mighty One that the Almighty Lord Jehovah hath laid help upon for Man it is the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of his Love and they are blessed of God that come to partake of the help that is in him who said to his Disciples and Followers in the days past without me ye can do nothing Friends This is a deep and a very near word and it stands us all upon to consider whether we have him or no for we all owe Service a Duty and a Worship to the Everlasting God and of our selves we cannot perform it without the help and assistance of his Beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ and the comfort of all that believe in him and love him is this that he is not only able to help but willing to help Blessed be the Lord God for ever may all you say that have been made partakers of his Vertue and of his Power and Life that have found a willingness in him to assist you in all your troubles in all your exercises in all your afflictions in all the bowings of your Souls and Spirits before the Lord who have said in your Prayers and Supplications Lord lend me thy help let me have thy gracious aid and assistance Without this help of the Lord Jesus Christ we cannot do that good that sometimes
THE Concurrence Unanimity Of the People Called QUAKERS In Owning and Asserting the Principal Doctrines of the Christian Religion Demonstâ—ated in the Sermons or Declarations of several of their Publick Preachers Namely Mr. Robert Barclay Mr. George Whitehead Mr. John Bowater Mr. Charles 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. Jobn 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 St. John's-street wbeelerstreet and Ratcliff in and about London And now Faithfully Transcribed and Published With the Prayer at the end of each Sermon London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside 1694. ADVERTISEMENT There are lately Published several Sermons or Declarations of Mr. Stephen Crisp of Colchester in Essex Deceased In two small Volumes THE First Volume contains Eight Sermons upon the following Subjects 1. The Great Mediatour of the Everlasting Covenant 2. Heart Preparation for receiving the Gospel 3. The First and Great Commandment 4. The Standard of Truth 5. The necessary duty of remembring our Creator 6. The Divine Monitor or Light from Heaven 7. The Inward Preacher or the Office of Conscience 8. Saving Faith the Gift of God alone The Second Volume contains Ten Sermons upon the following Subjects 1. Truths Testimony against the Power of Sin and Satan 2. Bearing the Cross the right mark of a Christian 3. The Spirit of Christ the only true Guide 4. Pure and Spiritual Worship 5. The Divine Life of Christ Jesus 6. The Kingdom of God within 7. The undefiled way to Eternal Rest 8. The dawning of the Day of Grace and Salvation 9. The Excellency of Peace with God 10. True Christianity With his Prayer at the end of divers Sermons All exactly taken in Shorthand as they were delivered by him at the Publick Meeting Houses of the People called Quakers in Grace-Church-street Devonshire-House and St. Martins-le-Grand London And are to be sold either single or bound together by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside HAving lately published several of the Sermons or Declarations of Mr. Stephen Crisp Decased which have obtained general acceptation with Persons of different Persuasions I often heard it objected that though this Person clearly owns and earnestly recommends the practice of the Principal Points of the Christian Faith Yet others of the cheif Leaders and Teachers of the People called Quakers were not of the same opinion in these Matters Now the Writer of Mr. Crisps Sermons having taken the Declarations of several of their publick Preachers at their usual Meetings I think my self obliged in Truth and Justice to make some of them publick in this small Volume to demonstrate their Concurrence and Unanimity in asserting and pressing the most necessary and Practical Doctrines and Duties of Religion both in their Sermons and Prayers that most Christians profess to acknowledge and believe Thereby to obviate misâ—representations and to rectifie the thoughts of those who are prepossest with contrary sentiments To which end they are novv faithfully Printed and refer'd to the Judgment of all impartial Readers N. C. A SERMON Preached by Mr. ROBERT BARCLAY At Grace-Chruch-street May the 16. 1688. MY Friends This is the Testimony that was born of Old and it is also born this Day that there may be an Agreement betwen the Members and the Head the Word and the Power the Notion and the Substance He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son hath not Life So that in this the Substance is known whereby Men are Redeemed to Live unto God and to Live for God and to Glorifie him This is the end of the Testimony of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus that we may all come to partake of his Life and that by partaking of it we may live upon it and being made alive to him we shall then be made able to serve him then shall we be enabled to Worship him to Glorifie him and to Declare of his Glory and of his Power and of his Wisdom and of his Goodness to those that are Strangers to him and to Invite all to be Partakers thereof Let all your Eyes this Day be towards him and to the Injoyment of his Life that you may be Sensible and that you may be Witnesses of his Life And this Life is not to be obtained but by Death There is a Dying before there is a Living Every Plant Seed or Grain that is placed in the Earth it dies before it grows up there is a Dying before there is a Living Those that come to the Life of the Son of God they come to it through Death For it was through Dying that he obtained this Life it was necessary that the Son of God the Prince of Life should die that he should be Crucified else he could not finish the Work of our Salvation and make way for the Revelation and the Sowing of that Seed and the Dispensation of that Grace whereby we might come to have a Share with him in that Eternal Life he obtained for us They that come to the Life of the Son of God they must obey him for they must receive the Sentence of Death to that Life which they derive from Adam that Cursed that corrupt Life of Unrighteousness that Life of Ungodlyness that Life wherein Self and the Will of Man delights wherein the Natural Man the Animal Man hath a Life We must die and by Dying come to be Partakers of the Life of Jesus He Communicates himself to us and by our Receiving him we Receive Life He that hath the Son hath Life and be that hath not the Son hath not Life and the Consequence is He that hath not this Life hath not the Son of God This is the true way for every One to Try and Examine themselves by and to make a true Judgment of themselves that they may know whether they have the Son of God or not whether they have Christ or not if they have Christ they have the Benefits of his Death and of his Blood and sufferings they that have this Life in them they are in the Faith they are Partakers of Justification and Sanctification and Adoption And all those that are under the Dispensation of the Gospel that have the Benefits of Christs Death to those he giveth himself and those to whom he giveth himself he giveth this Life This is not the Life of Adam a Life of Unrighteousness but a Life that Springs from the Heavenly Incorruptible Seed such as Partake of it are born again of the Word of the Lord that remains for ever This is a Life that comes from the Lord from Heaven the Quickning Spirit and this Life tends Heaven-ward it looks Heaven-ward it carries the Affections towards the things that are above it dwells not in them
that have their Pleasures in this World it looks not to the things of this World it comes from Heaven and tends to Heaven again it raiseth the Soul that is Quickned by it They that are born of it are made Heavenly by it it makes all Heavenly that are Quickned by it By this we may know that we have the Son of God by this we have an Understanding of him and are brought into him that is true And this is the Living Manifestation of Christ whereby he cometh into thy Soul and into my Soul This is the Gift of God We Receive Gods Gift that we may receive Life from and by him that we may Live this Life This is that which makes the Yoke of Christ easie and his Burden Light and his Commandments not Grievous to us The Life of Christ doth the work of Christ naturally Those that are in the Flesh-mind the things of the Flesh those that live a Carnal Life they mind the Works of the Flesh it is their Joy their Delight and their Pleasure that which their Hearts are carried after They Rise early and Lye down late and all for this end it is that which their Hearts Run after all the Day long What is the Reason of it They are in the Flesh in the Life of Lust That Life moves them and Acts them and Governs them That Life useth and Imployeth all their Faculties their Understandings Wills Affections and Imaginations and it useth all the Members of their Bodies to please the Flesh and fulfil the Lusts thereof these are the Consequences of a Life of Unrighteousness in those things that are Unrighteous But those that have Received the Spirit of God they have Received Jesus Christ the Son of God and this is the Consequence they are become Dead to the Life of Unrighteousness All that are Dead in Sins and Trespasses he hath Quickned Now when you have received the Son of God you have received a New Life another Life then your Affections are set upon things that are above and you are come to sit in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus you sit no more in the Earthly place nor Live an earthy Life but in the Heavenly place where the Heavenly Life abounds For this end the Eternal Son of God came into the World that we might have Life and that we might have it more abundantly that we might abound in the Life of Jesus and in the abundance of it This is that which is recommended to us that we might receive the Son of God into our Souls and by receiving him partake of his Life and then let this Life produce its Actions Let the Word of God dwell Richly in you in all those things that are Divine in all those things consequences that it brings forth amongst the Children of God For it is not the things of the Earth that we are to remember and to have dwelling in us but the Word of God and that which proceeds from the Life of the Son of God All Words and Testimonies Preachings Prayer Exhortation and Spiritual Counsel if it be not from the Life of the Son of God it edifies not the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ in Love Let us receive that which comes from the life of the Son of God which is manifest amongst us and shed abroad in our Hearts let us Watch and take care that whatsoever is not of this Life may not appear may not be manifest and made known among us And this Life that we receive from the Son of God is that which will stand us in stead in the Day of Tryal and as many as live unto God in this Divine life he is well pleased with them and the Tempter the Wicked one cannot touch them at all nor reach them nor hurt them This is my Testimony unto you from the Life of God which to the Glory and Praise of his Name hath risen in my Soul in some measure It is the desire and Labour and Travel of my Soul that you may be inwardly gathered into this Heavenly Life that all my Dear Brethren and Sisters who are of the Household of Faith may be inward in this Life that the Fruit thereof may be manifest that the Notice thereof the Sound thereof the Language thereof may be heard in this Assembly at all times that the Lord our God may be made known to us through this Word of Life in our Hearts to the Praise Honour and Renown of his Name who alone is worthy To whom be Glory for Ever and Ever Amen The Prayer after Sermon O. Most Powerful Lord God of Life and of Glory and Blessedness pretious in thy sight are thy People whom with thy Power thou hast Visited with the Day Spiring from on high and upon whom thou hast breathed with a Divine Inspiration and made them alive to thy self through thy tender Mercy and Goodness which in the Son of thy Love thou hast freely extended to us whereby we are made capable of drawing nigh to thee and of having access into thy Blessed Presence to enjoy Communion with thee through the Lord Jesus Christ We desire to wait upon thee and seek fervently after thee All our expectation is from thee from Day to Day and from time to time that we may receive Relief that we may receive strength from thee who art the God of all our Mercies Thou hast not been wanting to us in the needful time thou hast had regard to the sighing of the Poor to the breathing and Supplieation of the Needy whose desires have been truly after thee and the sweet enjoyment of thy Presence the feeling of thy blessed Power and the beholding of the light of thy Countenance wherein there is Life and Salvation Blessed be thy Name for ever all living praises and Holy Thanks givings be in truth and Humility offered up to thee through the Dear Son of thy Love by all thy Children and People whom thou hast sought out by thy blessed Spirit and whom thou hast gathered by the Arm of thy blessed and mighty Power that they might be a People to thy praise serving thee in newness of Spirit Worshipping thee in the beauties of Holiness and in Spirit and truth and not according to the oldness of the Letter not according to an empty and outward formality but in the sense of the Springings up of that pure Life of that fresh Spring of Life that thou hast placed in the Heart of a Remnant by thy blessed Power O Righteous and Holy God the Sense and feeling thereof is beyond Words beyond Expression and beyond utterance Therefore we humbly entreat thee by the blessed Arm of thy Power gather thy People more and more into an Inward Sense of the Springings of Life that they may attend upon thee and feel Life in their Souls and breathings after thee in their Hearts that in their Daily attendance on thee they may receive day by day of those living suitable supplies of Life Vertue Wisdom and Power
Christ and let not any content themselves with a bare Profession of Christ and the name of Christians but make us Christians indeed true Israelites in whom their is no Guile We pray thee let the Power of Godliness shine forth in our Hearts and Lives let none be found among us that Crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame and tramplâ— upon the Blood of the Covenant and do despite to the Spirit of Grace Bring such we beseech thee to true Repentance as have made light of Christ and Salvation that they may seek thee while thou mayst be found and call upon thee while thou art near Glorious God of Lise and Love thine Eye is over all thy People at this time and their condition is known to thee and the living sense which thou hast given thy Servants of the state and condition of thy People makes them humble Mourners before thee and and doth bow down their Spirits in thy sight O Lord God of Glory let not thy wrath and Indignation break forth like Fire against the People of this Land but look down with an Eye of Compassion from the Throne of thy Glory and make bare thy Victorious Arm and make them a willing People in the Day of thy Power that they may be moved and excited to Repent and turn to thee and cease from their vain Conversation and serve thee in sincerity and in the beauties of Holiness Let the Spirit of Life quicken them that arâ— dead in Sins and Trespasses and remove the Stupidity Darkness and Ignorance of those that are strangers to thee and know not the things that belong to their Peace and open their Hearts and Minds that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent And O tender Father of Life thou art at this Day threatning this Nation and shaking thy Rod over the Land of our Nativity cause the Inhabitants thereof to humble themselves under thy mighty hand and bow before thee and to consider how fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God If thy wrath be kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in thee Blessed God of Glory Whom have we in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that can help like thee thy loving kindness is better than Life and thy displeasure more terrible than Death When thou hidest thy Face we are troubled but when thou liftest up the Light of thy countenance upon us and smilest upon our Souls and with a Ray of thy excellent Glory shining on us speakest peace unto us and openest a Door for us into the secret of thy Presence then we are filled with Joy unspeakable and satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness then we dwell safely as in the Munition of Rocks Most Glorious excellent Fountain of Divine Goodness be present with all thy People keep them as the Apple of thine Eye under the shaddow of thy Wings and in all their solemn Assemblies when they meet together to Worship thee O Lord meet with their Souls and let them see that thou Rulest and art present in the midst of them who art the Fountain of living Waters to those that thirst for thee the living God Let them in their Assembling together drink of the Brook of Shilo which runs with pleasant streams and there let them find Refreshment to their Souls we pray let them see the great design of thy love to them in that thou sendest them plentiful supplies from Heaven and givest the streams of Life where thou feedest thy Flocks and makest them to rest at Noon and to lyâ— down in Green Pastures and leadest them by the stil Waters though they walk through the Valley of the shaddow of Death they shall fear no Evil for thou art with them Thou preparest and furnishest a Table for them in the presence of their Enemies and they are abundantly satisfied with the Fatness of thine House and thou makest them to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures But everlasting God of Life thou hast a Controversie with those that dwell at ease in Zion that do not lamen and mourn for the Sins and Abominations committed is the midst of them shew them that their Rest is not the Rest of God Let them cease from their own Works and serve and Worship thee in truth and Sincerity And let them know there is a Sabbath an Heavenly Rest for such to partake of Shew them the many secret working of the Enemy that they may watch against him aâ— not be Ignorant of his devices who is going about like Roaring Lyon seeking to devour them and to destâ—â—â— their Souls Arise O God of Glory and appear in Jacobâ— Dwellings and search Jerusalem as with Candles â—â— not thy People spare or hide any Darling sin froâ— the Slaughter nor keep Amaleck alive nor sâ—â—â— those Enemies which thou hast determined to Destruction Lord God of Life and Love thou Soveraign Lâ—â— of Heaven and Earth do thou graciously strengthâ—â— and keep in all tenderness thy People every where â—â— all their Travels Labours and Exercises let them fâ—â—â— Favour and Acceptance with thee in and through thâ— Lord Jesus Christ the Great Mediatour Let them know thy Heavenly Gatherings and there let them abide under thy Shaddow Let their Quiver be filled with the Arrows of the Almighty that may reach the Hearts of many by thy Power and let their Bow abide in strength let them hear the Heavenly Sounding of thy Trumpet from the Holy Mountain of thy Glory and in all their Assemblies let the pleasant Streams of life flow from thee upon their Souls and 〈◊〉 pray thee let them grow green and flourish and be as a Watred Garden bringing forth pleasant Fruits Then Blessed Father of Life and Glory thy love will be discovered to thy People when they are in the daily exercise of thy Grace and under the living Influences of thy good Spirit when thou takest them into thy Banquetting-House and thy Banner over them shall be love Blessed Lord God of Glory when it shall be thus with us we shall behold thy Heavenly Countenance shining upon us and thy glory in the Face of Jesus Christ and we shall be taken and delighted with the excellency thereof Thy Blessed Banquet will be sweet to our Tast and we shall be satisfied and overcome with thy Love then will thy Glory shine and thy Voice be heard Eat O Friends Drink yea Drink abundantly O Beloved Now for all thy Mercies and Blessings and wonderful patience forbearance and Longsuffering towards us We desire to offer our Thanksgivings to thee for thy tender Compassions extended to those that are sorrowful Afflicted and bowed down before thee Father of Life thou hast opened thy Bosom of Love and given them some ease and Refreshment thou hast Remembred us in our low Estate and thou hast been with us and kept us in all our Exercises and Labours and Travels
upon Earth that we desire besides thee O Lord extend the Riches of thy grace to every one of us in thy dear Son in whom thou art well pleased and turn us from the evil of our ways Lord our Cry is unto thee and our dependance is upon thee thou hast remembred thy People of old and hast remembred us this day thou hast stretched forth thy Almighty Arm in this day of our Visitation and hast shewed us the way of Salvation by Jesus Christ and gathered many into it Powerful Father of Life increase thy little Flock gather the scattered and bring home the lost Sheep of the House of Israel that so a numberless number may be gathered from the four winds say to the North give up and to the South keep not back and bring in thy Sons and thy Daughters from the utmost ends of the Earth And Lord God of Life that which kinders the prosperity of thy work and the spreading of thy Truth and Gospel of thy Dear Son remove it and take it out of the way and put an end to War and Blood shed in thine own time and in thine own way and create Peace on Earth and in thy Churches and let thy Jerusalem be made the praise of the whole Earth and an Eternal Excellency and as the Beauty of all Generations Bring Mankind into the Kingdom of thy dear Son to whom the gathering of the People is to be that so thy name may be glorified and the hearts of thy People opened to honour thy Name for thou alone art worthy of all glory praise and thanksgiving O Lord God of Israel thou hast manifested thy self among thy People in our day that thy Name and Fame may be great in the World and thou hast made thy Gospel to spread from Isle to Isle and from Sea to Sea that so the Earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea that the Glory of the Lord and the spreading of his truth may be from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same Lord God of Life and power bring down the Kingdom of Sin and Satan in this Land and other Lands it is the Sin of this Nation that hath brought misery and calamity upon it and will do more and more the Sins of this Nation have justly provoked thee to send down thy Judgments and to pour out thy displeasure upon the Inhabitants of the Land Let thy mercy be now extended to us and Father of Life be intreated to turn away thy wrath that thy Judgments may not be executed upon the Children of Men Powerful God of Life in this day of our Visitation let thy word go forth and thy Gospel be Preached and let thy light arise and thy Grace be extended that brings Salvation through the dear Son of thy Love unto the Children of Men Lord God of Life when shall the day come that the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of thy dear Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ that he may Reign in Righteousness and Rule in Judgment that the Isles may wait for his Law O Powerful God of Israel arise in thy Glory and let thy Splendor break forth powerfully among all People and let them be thine and enter into an everlasting Covenant with them that shall not be broken let there be a removing Iniquity and a doing away Transgression and Sin Lord bring it down and make the Children of Men weary and heavy laden under it and to groan under the burthen of Sin and cry to thee and seek thee while thou maist be found and call upon thee whiist thou art near give us thy presence at this time we pray thee and draw nigh to us and help us to draw nigh to thee and opâ—n our hearts that we may serve thee and worship thee and thy dear Son And Glorious and Infinite God thou hast extended in a large measure thy grace to us that we might serve thee acceptably and that we and all thy People whom thou hast chosen and set apart for thy self may glorifie thee in our Age and Generation that when our days and time come to be at an end we may live with thee in thy Everlasting Kingdom and sound forth Praises and Hallelujah's unto thee for thou O Lord art worthy to receive Blessing and Honour Glory and Power that sittest upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever For all thy Mercies and Blessings in this Day of our Visitation O make us sensible of thy Goodness and Mercy and Loving kindness to our Souls that we may render to thee Thanksgiving and Praise and Honour and Worship for thou alone art worthy who art God over all from Everlasting to Everlasting Blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JOHN BUTCHER At Grace-Church street March 11. 1693. My Friends THE end of our Preaching to you the Principle of the Light within is that you might come to the Knowledge of Christ as he doth appear nigh to you he is come nigh to the Children of Men in our Age that is by his Light Grace Spirit and Truth whereby he doth appear in the hearts of Men and Women Thus our Preaching of him doth agree with his own Testimony I am the Light of the World and he doth exhort all that they should so believe in him Believe in the Light says he that you may be the Children of the Light What is a Child of Light He is such a one as by the Operation of the Power of Christ hath know a being turned turned from what From Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan unto the Power of the living God And for this we do labour according to our ability which the Lord is pleased to give to us that People may be turned from darkness unto light and the following words are Explanatory from the Power of Satan unto the Power of the Living God so that it doth appear People have been under the Power of Satan the Evil One that is called the Prince of the Power of the Air he hath a Rule and a Government but in whom In the Children of Disobedience Now the Labour of those Ministers that were in the days of old who were the Preachers of the Gospel and Glad Tidings of the Kingdom they being such Ministers as were of Christ's own making their Labour was to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of the Living God that they might be turned from that evil Power and Spirit that Rules and Works in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience who Rebel against the Light that shines in their Hearts and Consciences For the Man of Sin and Worker of Iniquity hath such a power and we all have been in Captivity to him we have all been in Captivity to him we have all been in Bondage to Sin and Satan which God knew and the Apostle takes notice of it saith
he God hath concluded all under Sin we have all been under the Power of the Wicked one For what end hath God concluded all under Sin For what end is it that we might be destroyed No God through Christ the Dear Son of his Love hath extended to you the day of Visitation that you might come to the knowledge of Life and Salvation But wherein may we come to this knowledge it is in that way which God hath ordained even by Christ who is the Way to God Christ Jesus the Eternal Son of God he is the Blessed Mediator and Way to God again What is Gods end in concluding all under Sin was it that he might destroy all the Children of Men that are the Workmanship of his Hands that he hath endued with Rational and Immortal Souls Was it that they might be destroyed No but that he might have mercy upon all Gods end in first Making and Creating of us was that we might Live to his Honour and that we might so live in this World that when we die we might obtain a Life that shall never die and attain to the possession of the Inheritance amongst the Saints in Light which Christ by his precious Blood hath purchased for all them that Love him and give up themselves to be Followers of him Now my Friends the Mercy of God appears so great to all in and through Christ Jesus who is the Light of the World and who is the only Way and as my Friend observed that spake before me we have not another way nor is there any other Name under Heaven by which we can be saved and obtain Eternal Life the Apostle refers this to the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ Well if so be that it is only by the Power of Christ that we must know Salvation where is it that we must attain it How shall we do to be made partakers of it and be saved from thee Wrath of God which shall come-upon the Workers of Iniquity For it 's said the Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God People hope to escape the Wrath to come and Everlasting Misery by Christ whilst they neglect to improve the present time that is afforded to them to obtain Salvation Christ he is come to Redeem us that we may know Redemption by him from what From Sin for Pollution and Defilement by sin is the cause why People notwithstanding all their Names and Profession of Religion still lie under a secret condemnation in their own Hearts If a man should hold such a fair Profession that none could charge him none condemn him yet if he meet with secret condemnation through all should speak well of him if his own Conscience condemn him He would not have any true peace or satisfaction in his own mind for the Testimony of a good Conscience is more to him than all the favour and friendship of the World The light of Christ if you incline your minds to obey it what will be the effect of it This Light or Spirit of Grace and Truth which is all one is sufficient to Save and Deliver you out of the Temptations and Snares of the Wicked one for we may every day while we are here meet with Trials and Temptations of one kind or other What shall a man do that he may be preserved from the evil of the World there are many Provocations and evils that a man meets with in the World How shall he do to be preserved from them Christ hath made Provision for us in his Prayer John 17. 15. to his Father I Pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil Christ will preserve me from the evil of the World when a Temptationis presented before me I shall overcome it if I obey the Light of Christ which will shine upon me and shew me that this must be done and that I must leave the other undone In my own Conscience there is something will tell me this thing is evil and I ought not to do it when this Power of Christ comes to be close with For it is an appearance of Love Grace and Mercy but if I do oppose and withstand this Grace and Mercy I may miss of that Power and Strength which is sufficient to overcome and so be overcome by the Temptation The Apostle John tells us As many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name So that it s they that do Receive Christ and Love his Light and Spirit so as to be led by it that come to know this Power of Christ and thereby an overcoming But if People slight and reject the Grace and Mercy tendered to them hereupon comes that Sentence pronounced by the Prophet Thy Destruction is of thy Self A man may destroy his own Soul by giving way to that which is evil and rejecting that which is good Therefore My Friends Close with that Power which inclines you to that which is good if I mind it and make trial of it I shall find that within me which will incline me to that which is good Though I may find sometimes a corrupt inclination in me to that which is evil yet there is something also that will incline me to do what is required of me why should I reject that which is good Try all things and hold fast that which is good I have tried many things but none will do me so much good as the Grace and Mercy Light and appearance of Christ to me if I mind it and close with it He hath shewed thee O Man what is good saith the Prophet Micah and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God The Lord hath shewed you what is his Will be ye doers of it say then to thy self shall I give way to that which tends to my own Ruine How can I do this wickedness and sin against God Shall I join with the Enemy of my Salvation and yield to his Temptations and Dishonour God and Ruine my Immortal Soul God forbid What you know to be contrary to the Will of God take heed of it Cease to do Evil Learn to do well Be followers of that which is good take up the Cross of Christ Deny your Selves and your own Will know a being Crucified to the World by the Cross of Christ and the World Crucified to you Thus as I said before This is the end of our Preaching to you that noble Principle of the Light within that you might come to the Knowledg of Christ as he doth appear nigh to you and will lead you by his Spirit into all Truth and incline you to that which is good and preserve you from that which is evil when you are tempted to it Why should I join with the Devil that dark Spirit that would draw me to
that which will destroy my own Soul The Lord Christ he is come to turn me from Sin and save my Soul Why should I not close with him He hath stood knocking at the Door of my Heart till his Head is filled with Dew and his Locks with the Drops of the Night Many Souls have known these Wooings and Intreaties of Christ knocking at the Door of their Hearts and have let him In and closed with his appearance by his Light grace and good Spirit and found the benefit and comfort of it Why should not I do so Why should not I esteem him as the chief of Ten Thousand as the Beloved of my Soul He will be the chiefest of all to that Soul that hath chosen him for the chiefest Good Though there may be some comfort in the enjoyment of the things of this World yet though they be useful and necessary for my present supply If I lose them all and find Christ and be found in him and hold him fast I shall count them as nothing but despise them in comparison of him who is the Beloved of my Soul You that are come to the Knowledge of Christ and have embraced the Light of Truth in your own Hearts do know the benefit you have by it in walking in the Light as the Children of Light and of the Day and in Obedience to Christ who is the Light and shines in your Hearts Friends I would not be mistaken I do not Preach Christ as the Light of the World in opposition to his outward appearance and being manifested in the Flesh in that preapared Body wherein he did his Fathers will when he was on Earth All true Christians do esteem and reverence Christs appearance in the Body wherein he suffered death and became a Sacrifice for our Sins as the Apostle saith Eph. 5. 2. Christ hath loved us and hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour If I esteem the Appearance of Christ in my own Heart I shall be so far from having a light esteem of his Bodily Appearance and his being manifest in the Flesh that I shall admire and reverence that Great Mystery of Godliness and bless God for the record given thereof in the Holy Scriptures which the light of Christ is a Key to open Even the Great Mysteries of the Kingdom which men by their parts and acquirements cannot attain to For God hath not made known these great things to the Wise and Prudent as we may gather from Christs own Prayer Mat. 11. 25. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight My Friends walk in the Light more and more that by the Spirit of the Lord you may be acquainted with the divine operation of the Power of Christ which will bring you from under the bondage of Sin and Corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God wait to know this Power in your own Hearts that you may be sanctified throughout in Spirit Soul and Body and Justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 24. Walk in the Light and in Meekness and Humility and in the Truth 1 John 6. 7. If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we Lie and do not the Truth But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Many of you have known the beginning go forward and continue to walk in the Truth that you may know the Blood of Cleansing that as the Apostle saith Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye may have your Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life His Prayer after Sermon Most Powerful Everlasting God of Life who art Almighty in thy Power and canst do whatsoever pleaseth thee we have cause to bless thy Great Name for thy Goodness and Mercy which thou hast extended to thy People in this Day of thy Power Thou hast extended a Blessed Day of Visitation to many that were strangers unto thee and unacquainted with the way of Life and Salvation Powerful God we have great cause to bless thy Name for thy Goodness and that great Love which in and through thy Dear Son Jesus Christ thou hast extended to us Thou first lovedst us before we loved thee Thou it was that through the Visitation of thy Love didst beget and raise desires and breathings in the Souls of many after thee and the knowledge of thy living way And blessed Father of Life not only so but thou hast answered the desires and breathings that thou hast raised in the Souls of many and brought them to the knowledge of the way of Life and Salvation And Powerful God thou hast been near to all thine unto this day that have been truly given up in faithfulness to thy Will and to answer thy Holy and blessed Requirings Living God they that have waited and depended upon thee to be made partakers of that help and strength that comes from thee have been thereby enabled to do thy Will and this is that we wait for and from time to time draw nigh to thee for we wait upon thee that we may come not only to know but to do thy Will and Answer thy requirings Blessed God of Life we have great encouragement from time to time to draw nigh to thee for that comfortable presence of thine which we have enjoyed in the midst of our Assemblies many a time the Hungry have been satisfied with Bread And the Fountain of living water hath been opened and the Thirsty have been Drinking of it Praised by thy Name for ever that thou hast appeared with us and hast given us some sensible injoyment of thy living Presence O Lord go a long with thy People let thy blessing be with us that we may hold on through the whole course of our lives in this World and live to the praise of thy blessed Name thou hast given us to see our own weakness and inability and that we had need depend on thee every day for fresh supplies of strength that we may able to hold on in thy holy way and lay hold on the hope that thou hast set before us There are many Tryals Tribulations and Afflictions that thy Children and People meet with and the grand Adversary the Devil like a Roaring Lyon is going about continually seeking whom he may devour Thy People have nothing but thy self to depend upon and there is a secret help and power that thou givest thine whereby they are enabled to withstand the Enemy in all his Wiles and in all his Temptations Living God What we are it is by thee it is by the Assistance of thy Grace and good Spirit that
of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever Therefore see to it you that make a profession of it see that as you have received the Lord Jesus Christ you walk as he walked that you live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit and not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh that you live not in malice envy or bitterness and so grieve the good Spirit of God and bring a burthen upon the Souls of the Righteous We that are come to the sight and vision of Heavenly things and have the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God opened to us we are come to be Partakers of the gift of Charity which is a more excellent way if this be wanting all is wanting what doth the Apostle say though I speak with the Tongue of Men and of Angels and have not Charity I am become as sounding-Brass or a Tinkling Cymbal and though I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have alâ— Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing and though I bestow all my Goods to the Poor and though I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profits me nothing These things have been often said and declared to you Friends and I have now this General Testimony to give in the dread and fear of the Lord God They that love God above all will Love their Neighbour as themselves they will love those that are the Friends of God and of his People nay it is a duty incumbent on them A New Commandment saith our Saviour I give unto you that ye love one another as I have lovtd you that ye also love one another By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another And we are not only to love one another but to love our Enemies this our Lord Jesus Christ commandeth us Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he causeth his Sun to shine on the evil and on the good and sendeth Rain on the just and on the unjust Now my Friends that you may keep in this love of God and love to one another it is the desire and breathing of my Soul That so your Faith may stand not in the wisdom of Mens words but in the power of God this power will bring down every high thought and imagination into subjection and obedience to Christ that we may walk before bim to all well pleasing that when we come to die we may lay down our heads in peace and be found of him in peace without spot and blameless and at the end of our days we may receive the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Immortal Souls Friends to the Grace of God I commend you the Lord God of life preserve and keep you that you may be safe in the hands of God and abide under the shadow of his wing and be surrounded with his Almighty Arm which hath hitherto preserved us in all our Solemn Meetings and Assemblies when the Enemies of Gods truth have risen up against us The remembrance of it should be sweet and pleasant to us When the floods of the Vngodly were mustred up against us and sometimes halled us out of our Meetings to Goals and Prisons for bearing Testimony to the Truth of God in our day O the sweet and comfortable presence of the Lord that then attended us and blessed be his Name he waited to be gracious to us and did work manifold Deliverances for us and Praise and Glory be given to the Eternal and Almighty God whose Divine Power and Providence hath brought a calm over the Nation so that now we enjoy our Meetings without Trouble and Molestation O that we may be sensible of the wonderful Love and Mercy of God to us And Friends it greatly concerns us to be careful in the whole course of our Lives that we may not give any occasion for the obstructing or hazarding of the present Peace and Liberty we enjoy O there should be a serious care and tender regard to Gods Glory and the Honour of his Great and Excellent Name and also a care and concern for the Reputation of our Religion and Religious Societies that none may have any occasion or just ground to bespatter and reproach us and render us odious to the Government under which we live Blessed be the Name of the Lord for the freedom and quiet Seasons we enjoy and that are continued by the Mighty Arm and Power of the Lord let all our Souls bow before him and let us walk and live in a continual subjection to his Divine Wisdom and Will that our Souls may be all bound up in the bundle of Life that we may serve the Lord with sincerity and perrserverance to the end of our days that then an abundant entrance may be Ministred to us into the everlasting Kindom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ His Prayer after Sermon GLorious God of Life the Visitations of thy Love in thy Day of Grace and Salvation are very sweet and precious to the Souls of thy Children O Lord we have cause to bless thy Name that thou hast extended a Day of Mercy to us a Day wherein thou art visiting the Sons and Daughters of Men a Day wherein thou hast caused the Heavenly Divine Light of thy Son Christ Jesus to shine into our Hearts Thou hast given a Remnant to believe in it the Eyes of our Vnderstandings have been opened by it and wehave come to see and partake of the Visitations of thy tender Love to our Immortal Souls O the shining of this Divine Light hath made us see our way out of Darkness and the Day of thy Glorious Power hath Dawned upon us when many have been in the Region and Shaddow of Death And thou hast manifested thy Loving kindness to the Souls of men in and through our Lord Jesus Christ O Lord be thou graciously pleased to be nigh to thy People Preserve them and Guide them in thy Way the Way of Holiness and Righteousness which thou hast led them into O that they may Perservere therein and obtain Salvation to their Immortal Souls O Eternal God of Life and Glory we humbly pray thee send forth thy Light and thy Truth and open the Eyes of the Vnderstandings of the Sons and Daughters of Men and make them willing in this thy Day to embrace the Appearance of the Dear Son of thy Love in the shinings of his Light and Grace and Truth in their Hearts that they may be Sanctified and Purified and made
whereby they may be supported through all Tryals and Adversities and through all Oppositions and Temptations that they may meet withal for the tryal of their Faith and for the exercise of their Patience that all their Afflictions and Exercises may be sanctified to them for the bringing them nearer and nearer to thy self and into a more lively inward and single Dependance on thee and thy Divine Grace and Truth which thou hast made known by Christ Jesus our only Mediatour by whom alone we have access to thee and whereby we are made capable of beholding the light of thy Countenance and partake of thy Divine goodness and blessing and of those pretious promises which thou hast left upon Record and Impressed upon our Minds and Hearts Thou hast poured into us a living and inward sense of that pure Life of thy Dear Son whereby we may be enabled to live to thy Praise and O Blessed Powerful Lord God those that are not convinced and persuaded of thy Way and blessed Truth that are not come into it and to partake of the Life of it that are not yet come to live to thee and to live in Obedience to thy Blessed Son the Lord Jesus Christ who are not come under the Power of his Cross that they may be Crucified to the World and have the World Crucified to them Lord awaken them utter thy Voice that shakes the Mountains rend the Vail and draw in their Hearts and Minds and Affections from earthly and fading Objects that they may come to breathe after thee and feel that Spirit in them wherewith thou dost Inspire thy People whereby they may supplicate thee for relief for strength and Victory over the Spirit of the World and over the Temptations of the Devil and the Flesh which do easily beset Men and whereby many are led Captive who cannot yet make mention of thy Name and walk in thy Truth Lord awaken them by thy Powerful Voice and incline their Hearts to seek thee while thou art to be found and call upon thee while thou art near that thou mayst be known in thy glorious Visitation The Cords of thy Love thou hast extended that they may lay hold thereon that they may be drawn out of the Pollutions of the World and of Sin and Sathan that have brought Death over them let the fear of God take place that they may be affraid to offend thee as knowing that thou art a Jealous God and thine Eyes are upon all the ways of the Sons of Men thou art the Heart searching God there is no secret can be hid from thine All seeing Eyes Vnder that Consideration O Lord let many come unto thee and reverence thy Great Name and not provoke thee to Displeasure against them And O blessed God thou hast been graciously pleased to begin a good Word a glorious Work of Righteousness in our days and timâ—s Blessed God and Father we humbly pray thee carry it on and make it prosper Prosper the Souls of thy People in it that they may be a growing thriving and increasing People in thy Holy ways and in thy blessed Work and as thou hast sown a precious seed and Planted a Noble Vine by thine own Almighty hand and given us a Root of Life the Foundation of our Faith Love and Obedience which Foundation thou hast laid in Zion Lord keep thy People sensible of it that they may mind it and wait upon thee and be preserved in that Root of Life wberein thy Blessing is that thy People may partake of thy Blessing and grâ—w up into the Nature of that Life to bring forth Fruit to â—hee to encrease in Faith and Love in Obedience and Humility and Meekness that the Life of true Christianity may be Promoâ—ed and Incâ—eased among thine Heritage that they may live in it and shine forth in it as thy Workmanship which thou hast Created in Christ Jesus unto fruitfulness unto all good Works that they may walk in them That so Powerful God and living Creator they may live unto thee and Act intirely to thy Praise Hâ—nâ—ur and Glory in their Day Age and Generation and that their bright shining forth in the Light if Truth and Righteou'ness may appear more and more as an Invitation to thâ—se that are afar off That in this thy Day wherein thou art setting up â—be Tabernacle of David the Kingdom of thy Belâ—ved Son and Repairing the Ruins and wast Places thereof Lord God Eternal grant that the Residue of Men may seek after thee and be sensible that thou art at Work and raising an Hâ—use for thine Honour and promoting the Kingdom of thy Son which is a Kingdom of Righteousness that of his Government there may be no end that all those that desire after Peace and after Happiness in the Kingdom of thy Dear Son may wait to see him Rule and Govern to see him Reign whose Right it is That Sin may not Reign in their Mortal Bodies that Sinful Lusts and Vile Affectiâ—ns and an Earthly mind may not have Power over them and prevail against them that so their Souls may be lifted up to thee That Blessed Eternal God they may wait upon thee and Renew their Strength and Renew their Thankfulness for the Renewing of thy Mercies and the Incomes of thy Love which are fresh and New every Morning That they may fear thee and wait upon thee and Diligently seek after thee and have sweet Communion with thee in the Enjoyment of thy Presence And Blessed be thou O Lord God Eternal for all thy Mercies Preservations and Encouragements so frequently Afforded to thy People whose Eyes and Hearts are towards thee Our Souls are deeply engaged to thee and we have cause to Bless and Praise and Honor thy Great and Excellent Name and through tâ—y Dear Son to offer up praise and Thanks giving to thy Great and Excellent Majesty for thou alone O God art worthy to Receive the Honour and Praise of all thy Mercies Benefits and Blessings by all the â—iving here and elsewhere who art God only over all Heaven and the whole Earth Blessed and Praised for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM DEWSBERY At Grace-Church-Street May 6. 1688. My Friends Except you be Regenerated and Born again ye cannot inherit the Kingdom of God THis is the Word of the Lord God to all People this day this lies not in airy Profession and in vain Imagination and whatsoever else it is that you deck your selves with all you must every particular Man and Woman be born again else you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven This was the Doctrine of Christ in that prepared body wherein he appeared in the World and Preached to Nicodemus That standing Doctrine to this moment of time and will be so while any man breaths upon the Earth there is no other way no other gate to enter into Life by but this great work of Regeneration Now to enforce People to come to this great Work and to set forward
will be your cry it was once my cry O let not your Eyes slumber nor your Eye-lids take any rest till you be sure the Lord is your God If you find these Qualifications you are on your way otherwise you will be like a deceitful Bow and never abide in Judgment If you reject the Counsel of God against your selves and refuse to be Crucified with Christ and to be Baptized with his Baptism you will never have Life But by his Baptism and through the Heavenly operation of his Spirit if thou hast Faith in Christ's name thou shalt be Married to him in Everlasting Righteousness Salvation shall be brought to us and Eternal Life be bestowed upon us even that Life that is hid with Christ in God he will give to every poor mournful Soul that submits to his blessed will and believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ This is not a faith of our own making nor a Garment of our own Embroydery but that which the Lord hath given to us O happy Man or Woman that obtainest this gift of God! O! Who will not lose their lives for this Everlasting Life Who will not die for this Eternal Life Now the matter lyes in the Death of your own Wills when you have done the will of God then watch that your own wills be slain and that your cursed self take not the Jewels of God and his Bracelets and Ornaments and bestow them upon self and Paint and Deck cursed self and take not the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot If you be dead to your own wills you are risen with Christ and shall receive a Resurrection to Eternal Life Crucifie self and set the World at naught and trample upon it and all things of it and count them as dross and dung in comparison of Christ that the Father hath revealed to be our Life in the days of our Sorrow and Mourning in the day of our calamity in the day when we cryed our hope is lost Thus it hath been with the Holiest People on Earth it is not by works of righteousness of thy own that thou canst be saved Christ comes to cut all these down that thou mayst be Ingrafted into him and justified by his Grace Do not make this matter of Talk and say I have heard this and that but look into you own hearts and see what Heavenly workings are there What there is of the Power of the Lord Jesus that hath made you to loath this World and the inordinate Love of the Creature that you may enjoy all these things as if you enjoyed them not We cannot when we are slain and Crucified to this World but say my life is in Christ when we come to ascribe nothing to our selves and all to Christ here is a blessed Harmony broken Hearts melted Spirits and yet joyful Souls poor Creatures that were mourning and sighing and crying before the Lord in retired places and yet rejoycing in Christ Jesus I am risen with Christ I said my hope is cut off I will lye down in thy will O God do what thou wilt with me it is in thy Soveraign pleasure and free gift whether thou give me life or deny it to me There must be a resignation of our selves to the will of God it was so with the Lord Jesus and it is so with every true Saint of God you must be humbled as little Children before judgment be taken away and the loving kindness of God sealed up to your Souls if you seek this work of God you will find it if you seek it upon your Beds in all your Labours and concernments in all your Stations and Relations if you press after the new Birth you must use this World as if you used it not and live a Married life as if you were Un-married for the fashion of this of World passeth away This is not Rantism But let me tell you a New World comes by Regeneration a Man is not lifted up in his own mind but laid low in his own Eyes he waits for the Wisdom of God to govern him and he is as a Steward of the Grace of God to give to them that stand in need when a Man is regenerated and born again he is as contented with Bread and Water as with all the enjoyments of this World what is the matter His own will is gone and put down under his feet and whatsoever it is that gives life to all his vain desires and Affections there is a Harmony of all within a Man praising of God and blessing his Holy Name there are no Intanglements shall draw away the Heart from serving of God and seeking his Glory and if God shall call the Husband from the Wife or the Wife from the Husband for the Glory of his Name there is no whining and complaining and crying out but giving them up and a praising and blessing God when they are called to such an exercise and if they are not called to that then they set their Hearts to glorifie God in their several places and stations then they have a full content in a blessed resignation Here their Wills are slain but they praise God they have no desire but Lord thy will be done always praising God always having the fear and the glory of God before their Eyes All the mischief is hatched in pleasing mens own Wills That is the Counsel of every Heart that Christ doth not govern Will you live as the Quakers then you must live contemptibly the Mistriss and Maid are Hail-fellow well met No every one must walk in humility and live in acquaintance with the God of Heaven sâ—e that is wrought upon by the same Spirit must with all diligence behave her self as becomes a Servant of the Lord. Here is now a New World and the fashions of the Old World are gone all Pride Haughtiness Crosness and Trampling upon one another are all gone all slain through the operation of Christ What remains now Christ is in me and we are all one in him Christ laid down his Life for thee and me Now he reigns in me and he hath prepared my body to die for the truth as his prepared body was laid down for my Sin It is a kind of Foolish Profession to make Profession of Christ and live in Covetousness Profaneness Sensuality and the like they that are come to this Heavenly Birth seek the things that are above thou canst do no other Make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good You must be Ingrafted into the Vine of Gods righteousness O! slight not the Day of your Visitation What was it to me to read of any being born again till I was slain and knew the Heavenly Baptism of Christ Jesus Till I saw the Flaming Sword ready to slay me in every way in every turning The Light of Christ convinced me of Sin and his Righteousness justified me and those Works were abominable to me that hindred my Souls passage to Christ Christ Jesus in
on in the Holy way We that are come to know this Holy way through the Riches of the Love and Grace of the Great God to us it is our main business to walk in this Holy way they that know any thing of true Christianity know this to be their great concern to walk in this Holy way that leads to Everlasting Life Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and every one that comes into this way and walketh in it they are going on towards Perfection And they are putting off the Old Man They feel in themselves a Power at work that Crucifies the Old man with his Deeds then they go on in the Name of the Lord. This Power doth work till every one in their own particular comes to be Crucified with Christ It was the Primitive Christians experience what the Apostle saith of himself 2 Gal. 20. I am Crucified with Christ neverthless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Great is the Mystery of Godliness You that are engaged in the Christian Warfare and that live the Christian Life and are making War in righteousness against the Devil the Enemy of your Souls you know that Great is this Mystery of Godliness this Mystery is opened among the Disciples of Jesus among the Holy Off-spring of God who are begotten again through the Word of Eternal Life who as the Holy Apostle saith are begotten of his own Will through the Word of Truth that they should be a kind of First fruits of his Creatures We to whom God hath Graciously manifested himself in the Blessed Son of his Love our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus how ought we to walk as becomes the Gospel O that the serious and weighty Consideration of this might rest upon every one of us that we ought to have our Conversation as becomes the Gospel of Christ and be going on to Perfection you know what the Apostle speaks 3. Phil. 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprechend that for which also I am apprehended of Jesus Christ This I am sure every true Christian Man and Woman will do as the same Apostle did who saith I press towards the mark for the Price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And as every one comes to grow up in the Life of Righteousness they will come to know an increase of Faith they will grow up in Faith and in that Hope which hath been as an Anchor to their Souls in the day of their deep Exercise and they will remain steadfast and unmoveable as they walk in the holy way And so every one as they keep humble and bowed before the God Heaven they will know his Teachings more and more and have a sensible feeling of it in themselves every one in their own particular And certainly it is all our business to be waiting for the fulfilling of those many great and precious promises which are recorded in the Holy Scripture which were enjoyed by the Primitive Christians in the Ages that are past and gone and in succeeding times shall be likewise enjoyed by all true Christian People as they come to be Followers of Jesus as we have begun well let us go on towards Perfection nâ—t laying again as I said before the Foundation of Repentame from dead Works and Faith towards God and the Lord Jesus Christ for who ever expects Salvation by Christ the only Saviour must be going on to Perfection they must begin at the work of Regeneration and Experience in themselves a New Birth for if we be not born again we shall die in our Sins you know our Saviour hath left this upon Record and it remains the same truth to this day And therefore how ought every one that makes mention of the name of Great God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ How ought every such a one to be weighty and considerate and Examine themselves whether they are come to know Repentance from Dead Works Whether they have turned from the evil of their doings Some are ready to say I would gladly turn from the evil of my doings but I find I am beset with the Devil the Enemy of my Soul Well if thou believest in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened thee then Cry to him and he will give thee Power to withstand the Enemy of thy Soul Praised and Blessed be the Name of our God that a Remnant can say as soon as we did really Believe in the Name of Jesus we received power in some measure as the Primitive Believers did that received Christ we received Power to become the Sons of God you that have received this Power let your Eye be to the Lord and cry to him for Divine Assistance for of our selves we are not sufficient we have not power of our selves to think a good thought or do a good Action but we depend upon the Power of God to enable us to Work out our own Salvation For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Therefore Repentance and Remission of Sins are Preached in Christs Name and without the Knowledge and Christian experience of this and believing in the Name of Jesus we cannot be saved from the wrath to come Let us wait upon God who by our Lord Jesus Christ saveth all his People from their Sins Not by Works of Righteousness that we have done but as the Apostle saith According to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Those that have experience of the work of Regeneration and of being renewed in their Inward parts where Christ bears Rule when they meet together in the Solemn Assemblies of the Lords People he will be in the midst of them and they that come to hear the word of the Lord and wait upon him know it to be so you that are real Christian People you know this by your own experience therefore wait upon the Lord your God that the work of Regeneration may go on and you will find strength more and more ministred to you and you will feel the pouring forth of the Spirit abundantly upon you the same Spirit that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead and quickned him shall quicken you that you may live to him here and with him for ever hereafter The Prayer after Sermon Most Glorious Powerful and Infinite Lord God of Life thou hast sought out a People to serve thee and thou hast made choice of many from among the Sons and Daughters of Men to honour thy Name in the Land of the Living that we might be capable so to do thou hast opened an everlasting Fountain and the streams of Life have
the Outward Man but in the Inner Man there is a putting off that which is Fading Mortal and perishing and a being Clothed upon with Immortality and Glory Blessed are they which come to receive that Word of God which hath been the Life of God in our Souls This is a Day of Life to us Blessed are they that shall be placed in that Eternal Kingdom and Region where all Time shall be swallowed up and all Tears wiped from their Eyes and sighing and sorrow shall be no more O Friends lift up your Heads for the Day of your Redemption draws nigh That you may not be shaken with every Wind of Doctrine know that the Foundation of God standeth sure that is his Word that was in the beginning with God that Word that was God in this Eternal Word which is God know you dwelling and Habitation and wait upon God in it it was Davids Buckler his Shield and strong Tower it was his Rock God set his Feet uyon a Rock that is higher than Man's Power and all Mans Wisdom and Strength In this the Righteous begin in this they Travel on Blessed are they that walk by Faith that Live to the Lord and Dye in the Lord and shall be for ever with the Lord. They are blessed that wait upon the Lord for a sense of this They are above all the Changes of time and Mortality It is this that was a Reviving Cordial to our Deceased Friend who received the Truth in early Days the Days of the Dawning of Gods Power in this Land and in this City the Remembrance of it was sweet to her Soul let us Remember the Love of God and the Power and Glory of the Name of the Everlasting God that shined then that we may be encouraged to keep together as a peculiar People to the praise of him that hath called us out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light That God over all may be Glorified for ever that we may live to the Honour of his blessed Name That Christs Kingdom may be set up among us and that Gods great Name and Power and Majesty may be exalted and all flesh abased before him We are Travellers here in this Vale of Tears in this Earthly Pilgrimage into the Land of Rest the Heavenly Canaan Let us follow our Blessed Joshua that is leading us into that Land of Promise and he will give to every one his Lot and they shall stand in that Lot at the last day O Blessed are they that are waiting for their Lot and Portion in that Heavenly Countrey to which Abraham had his Eye that City the New Jerusalem the Mother of us all and that House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens whose Builder and Maker is God This Word which I have been speaking of is that by which we are humbled and bowed before the Lord and Instructed in Judgment and Righteousness To this Word which is God I Commit and Commend you and all the Flock of God that you may be preserved to the end of your Days that you may then lay down your Heads in Peace that your Testimony may not end before your Lives end that the Lord may be with us to shelter and overshaddow us in the midst of all our Tryals and Exercises while we are following Christ in Patience Humility and self denyal and bearing his Cross for no Cross no Crown That which is pleasing to God is walking by Faith What is this Faith A pure resolution of Living to God in a Holy dependance on him and a committing our selves intirely to him that so we may know and enjoy the purifying Vertue of his Word that we may not offend God for without Faith faith the Apostle it is impossible to please him By what means saith the Royal Psalmist shall a young man cleanse his Way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word This is the Blessed Word that hath been a Root of Life in all Ages let us abide in this Word to the end of our days and we shall then be blessed with that Life which shall never end but shall remain when time shall be no more The Lord preserve you by his Mighty power in his Favour and Divine Presence that you may live to his Glory and Praise and Die in Peace and be gathered into that blessed and Heavenly Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judg of all and the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel That you may Eternally Magnifie and Celebrate the praises of the Eternal God to whom be Glory for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM PENN At Wheeler-Street April 13. 1694. IT is the Great Cause and Work of God in which you are all concerned this day Now that all of you may see how you quit your selves before the Living Eternal God your Maker and Answer the Visitations of his Love in the discharge of your Duty that you may feel an Answer of Peace in your own Bosoms and find your selves nigh who were afar off that you may all know your selves nerer then when ye first believed nearer to the Lord nearer to his Love and more in his Favour that you may perceive your Interest to grow and increase your Divine your Eternal Interest that which will out-last the World for it Centers in that which shall never have an end O Friends see to it this Day it is the Redemption of your Immortal Souls that the Lord God hath visited you for it is in order to this And all the Religions in the World Articles Creeds Confessions and Professions that leave out this they are all Imperfect and insignificant and will not avail Men in the Great Day of Account Therefore see to it how the Work goes on the Work of your Redemption and Salvation Do you feel your selves near to the Lord Do you find your selves to have more Power over your Souls Do you know your selves advanced in the Work of God Are ye come to dye daily to that which is contrary to the Lord For as you dye daily you live that Life you Live in the Flesh by the Faith of the Eternal Son of God Christ Jesus who hath Redeemed you from all Iniquity and called you to Glory and Vertue Now that you may all be Faithful Stewards of the Grace and Mercy and Heavenly Talents which God hath bestowed upon you and be all found working not Idle in the Market Place Christ Jesus the Lord hath not been wanting to you He hath Piped to you have you Danced He hath mourned have you wept He hath called have you Answered his Call See to it this Day for the glorious Power and Presence of that God that visited you in the beginning is here this Day It is his Heart-reaching Power his Heart-melting Power his Divine sweet Presence which brought us out of
of the Earth that hath loved us and cleanseth us from our Sins â—n his own blood The Lord open the understandings of the Children of men that they may come to know the Excellency of his Life and love When the Lord comes to open and manifest to the Children of Men his great Love in sending his Son out of his Bosom in the fulness of time to dye for us for Christ had a being before the World began when Mens Eyes and Hearts I say are wonderfully opened to see this Love of God then their Hearts will be melted and broken and their prejudices removed and they will be brought to the Obedience and Service of God We own the Doctrine of the Life and Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession of Christ Jesus And for any to say we denâ— this how inconsistent is it with what we have Preached and declared and how shameless is it for any to misrepresent or falsely Charge us with the contrary since we have gâ—â—e through many Exercises and suffered many Persecutions Buffetings and Imprisonments for Declaring the Truth as it is in Jesus so that if in this Life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable And if Christ be not risen from the Dead our Preaching is vain and your Faith is also vain We have spoken the Truth according to the Scriptures of Truth yet how have the Children of Men been prejudiced against us How many have been bewildred and led into Errour and into misapprehension concerning what we have plainly declared among you And now to give a little ease to my Spirit I would speak something briefly to you let the Love of God in Christ Jesus extended to you affect your Hearts if you are in the living sense of this love it will engage you to live in Obedience and subjection to this Heavenly Light by which you were brought out of Darkness and Redeemed from Iniquity to be a peculiar People Zealous of good Works It will engage you to live to Christ that died for you and as you know a Translation from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son you will Reap the Fruits and benefits of his Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession at God's Right hand The Lord God of Heaven and Earth open all your Hearts that while you have a little time and are on this side the Grave and on this side Eternity you may serve the Lord in your Generation and fulfil his blessed Will and finish the Work which he hath given you to do that you may Glorifie the Name of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is worthy of all Praise Glory and Renown Worshipâ— Love Service and Obedience who is God over all Blessed for Ever and Ever Amen His Prayer after Sermon MOst Glorious Heavenly and Divine Fountain of Love and Life who hast let us see the beginings of thy Excellent Day and participiate of thy Love in making bare thine Arm of Salvation which thou hast Revealed and made bare in our Age. O God of Glory and Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth it is in the Power of thy hand to open the Hearts of thy People as thou didst open the Heart of Lydia that the things that belong to the Peace of every Soul may be seen known and experienced Lord God of Glory our Eyes are unto thee and our Souls are bowed before thee for the shewing of mercy and the handing forth of the blessings which thou promised'st to the Children of Israel by the mouth of thy Holy Prophets That thou living Father of Life wilt bless them in turning every one from their Iniquities and the Evil of thtir ways for Lord God of Life this is greatly wanting both in this City and throughout the whole Nation Thy mercies and Favours have been received by many and thy loving kindness hath extended it self wonderfully O Glorious Fountain of Heavenly Love and Life be pleased to remove that Insensibility that is ready to come over the minds of men that the nearer thy Wrath and Judgments do approach to us by reason of that Inundation of Sin and Wickedness that overflows the Land the less Sense and Apprehension there is of it Lord open the Peoples Eyes and Hearts that they may see and consider the danger of their State and Condition and be humbled for their Sin and seek thy Face and turn to thee with all their Hearts that Glorious God of Life the Souls of thy Children may be affected with thy Goodness Patience and Long-suffering that this may be the blessed effect of thy Goodness that it may lead all to Repentance never to Repented of that we may mourn before thee for the manifold Sins and Transgressions of the Land against thy Divine Majesty That Glorious God of Love and Life we may not again provoke thee to anger O Rend the Vail of Darkness that is spread over this Land that it may not hinder the bright beams of Gospel Light from shining nor the Children of Men from seeing their Spiritual State and Condition Lord God of Life let trembling and astonishment take hold of the wicked that they may have a deep sense of the Sins and Provocations this ungrateful Land is guilty of that they may lament and mourn before thee O Lord O Tender God of Love and Life thy mercy and loving kindness was extended to the Inhabitants of Niniveh that great City wherein were more then Six score thousand persons that could not discern between their Right-hand and their Left Didst thou not enlighten their minds and melt their Hearts when thou hadst a Controversie with them and denounced'st Judgment by thy Prophet against them Did not the Mighty come down from their Seats and the King from his Throne and lay his Robe from him and the Nobles and all the People of the Land did they not all put on Sackcloth and sit in Ashes and mourn before thee and Cry mightily to thee and turned from their evil ways and thou didst turn away thy Wrath and Repent of the Evil which thou saidst thou wouldst do unto them and didst it not but extended'st thy mercy and favour to them and saved'st them with a great Salvation Blessed Lord thou art our God O save us for we have none in Heaven but thee and none upon Earth that we can desire in Comparison of thee we have none to make our moan to but thy self our Eyes and Hearts are towards thee Let us hearken to thy Counsel and turn at thy Reproof and let sorrow take hold of their Hearts thaâ— have rejected thy Favours and Mercies O give Repentance unto Life that thy wrath may not wax hoâ— against the Nation and the Inhabitants thereof and that thy Fury and Jealousie may not Consume and burn them up O make them sensible of the Sins that have been committed and of the misery they have deserved that they may come to thee for Pardon and Reconciliation with thee through the Lord Jesus
Lord from day to day to be kept and preserved by him and be retired from the Vanities of the World and live that Life we live in the flesh by the Faith of the Son of God that we may come to say with the Apostle Paul Not I live but Christ liveth in me that we may be united to him He that hath the Son hath Life and he hath Power to as many as received him to them he gave Power Here is a Divine Ability I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me My Friends If every one of you do feel this in your own particular you will come to a Heavenly place to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken and dwell in a sure dwelling and have the Candle of the Lord to shine upon your Tabernacles light is sown for the Righteous and gladness for the upright in Heart they shall have Peace through him that is the Prince of Peace It is the desire of my Soul that you may feel this inwardly in your selves Therefore Dear Friends retire to that strength that is Treasured up for you in Christ Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might and let all self Confidence be laid aside and trust in the Lord for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength and he changeth not therefore the Sons of Jacob are not consumed He is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever Let us take comfort in the unchangeable Love of God who hath given us this Promise I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 13. Heb. 5. 6. So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me Therefore wait to receive strength from Christ from day to day they that build not upon this Power are upon a Sandy foundation they make an outward profession of Religion and have a form of Godliness but that will not avail Obedience is better then Sacrifice and to hearken then the Fat of Rams And our Saviour saith Mat. 7. 22. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened to a foolish man that built his House upon the Sand and the Rain descended and the Floods came and the Winds blew and beat upon that House and it fell and great was the fall of it Wait upon the Lord his strength hath been Revealed and his power made known and his Arm made bare Therefore fix your Confidence in him that so your minds may be established Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might and take unto you the whole Armour of God Eph. 6. 13 14. This is the Armour that God hath made known for his Christian Souldiers that are making War against sin and unrighteousness who are fighting the good fight of Faith It was the experience of the Primitive Believers We are more then Conquerours through him that loved us therefore feel your strength fixed upon the Lord retire and wait upon him and be in a watchful frame The Prophet Habbakuk when he saw distress was coming upon the Church says Hab. 3. 16. When I heard my belly trembled and my Lips quivered at the Voice and Rottenness entred into my bones and I trembled in my self that I might rest in the Day of trouble then saith he in the 2 Chap. 1. I will stand upon my Watch and set me upon the Tower and I will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I shall Answer when I am Reproved In this Spiritual Warfare let us be attentive unto Christ the great Captain of our Salvation that maketh War in Righteousness let us hearken one day after another and then there will be a Holy skill and expertness given to us you will be expert in the Spiritual War and you will find strength and power given you from the Lord and he will be a hiding place and a Sanctuary to you you shall come to the Mountain of the Lord where there shall be no distress and the Voice of the oppressor shall no more be heard nor destruction within your Walls Thy Walls shall be called Salvation and thy Gates praise And you that know that Spiritual dwelling where the Spiritual Jews are you are come to sing the Songs of Zion which shall be Sung in the strong City where Salvation is appointed for Walls and Bulwarks where the wicked cease from troubling and where the Flocks lye down at Noon where there is a Shaddow of a great Rock in a weary Land and Rivers in dry places Here is the plenty of all good things which in Gods House is opened to us Now my Friends If you are sitting down in outward forms without feeling the operation of Gods Power and Spirit upon your Souls and be not brought to an inward Conformity the dreadful day will come that the Lord will search Jerusalem with Candles that God before whom all things are naked and bare he is taking a view of the Imperfections of his People he is the searcher of the Heart and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of it whether you fall short of that power and Spirit of true Religion or if there be only an outward Conformity and not inward Obedience The Trumpet of the Lord hath been blown in Sion Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet and tell the House of Judah of her transgression and the House of Israel of her Sins Where there is only an outward Conformity and not an Inward subjection there distress will overtake you which I have seen in the Vision of the Lord which hath been upon me as a warning to the Remiss and careless ones and it was delivered with a voice full of Power in these words All foundations shall be manifested of what sort they are A watcher from the Holy one with severity shall overtake the unwatchful Therefore let this be a warning to you all that you may not fall under the stroke of Gods severity The Apostle Paul saith Rom. 11. 17. to the believing Romans speaking of the goodness and severity of God And if some of he Branches be broken off and thou being a Wild Olive Tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the Root and fatness of the Olive Tree Boast not against the branches but if thou boast thou bearest not the Root but the Root thee Thou wilt say then the Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in Well because of Vnbelief they were broken off and thou standest by Faith be not bigh minded but fear For if God spared not the natural branches take heed least be also spare not thee Behold therefore the Goodness and Severity of God on them which fell to them severity but towards thee Goodness if thou continue in his Goodness otherwise thou shalt be Cut off O my Friends what need is there of a Watchful frame think how necessary it is in your own particular every one of you to be keeping in your Watch Tower the
Name of the Lord is a strong Tower The Righteous shall fly unto it and be safe and when they are assaulted with the Enemy the Spirit of the Lord shall be with them and when the Enemy comes upon them as a Flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard for them against the Adversary and they shall stand still and see the Salvation of God And they shall find the Power of Gods Spirit come upon them for Sanctification and they shall be as the purest Wheat gathered into the Garner of God Therefore My Friends let the Testimonies of Truth which the Lord is pleased by his Servants and Messengers to send to you take hold of you and go along with you and have a place in your secret thoughts It is an Exhortation of the Word of Truth which God gives by his Spirit to you therefore let it be retained While you are in the Light walk as Children of Light and have no Fellowship with the Vnfruitful Works of Darkness and you shall dwell safely and be set upon a Rock that is higher than you you shall be as Stars shining in a Dark World and though there be darkness upon the Earth yet here is Light here is Beauty Those that are in Zion and in Goshen the Songs of the Night shall be given to them When others are in distress these are they that have their Habitation in the Lord and find a Spiritual repose and enter into Rest and enjoy that peace which God through Jesus Christ his Beloved Son doth give unto the Souls of his People that Peace that Passeth Vnderstanding Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom Teaching and Admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts unto the Lord. Salvation and Praise be ascribed unto our God continually for all his Mercies and Favours for to him Honour and Glory and Thanks giving belongs And as you render Praise to the Lord in the Name of his Beloved Son you shall find acceptance with him and an answer of Peace returned into your Bosoms when you pray as the Psalmist Psal 141. 1 2. Lord I cry unto thee make bast unto me give ear to my Voice when I cry unto thee let my Prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up my hands as the Evening Sacrifice Hereby you shall enjoy Divine Rest and Repose and Refreshment from the presence of the Lord and that Joy that is unspeakable and full of Glory This is my Desire and Souls Travel and the end of my Labour among you that this may be your Lot and Portion with the Lord. The Prayer after Sermon BLessed Lord God who hast in this day of thy Power made manifest thy Self unto thy Children and People who are this day waiting upon thee O Lord God we pray thee let thy Infinite Mercy more and more be extended to us and we humbly pray thee do thou preserve us a sensible People that as thou hast afforded the Visitation of thy Love unto us we may delight in it Lord reveal thy Love more and more to us that we may obey thee and delight to do thy Will Lord thou hast an Eye of Pity and Compassion upon the Sons and Daughters of Men whom thou seest in a lost and perishing condition and thou wilt remember them in their low estate because thy Mercy endureth for ever extend the Riches of thy Goodness to such as are strangers to thee that they may come to the knowledge of thee through the Son of thy Love for this is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent O Lord manifest thy Love to us more and more and appear is thy excellent Glory for the bringing down of every thing contrary to thee Blessed Father and Fountain of Life set up thy Throne and Reign in the Hearts of the Children of Men that they may own thy rightful Government and submit to thy Wisdom and become a willing People in the Day of thy Power and be reconciled to thee in the blood of thy Son Be with us in all the Dispensations of thy Grace and Love and manifest the operation of thy Power upon us in our attendances on thee from Day to Day and from one season to another Lord thou that hast revealed thy Glorious Arm and Power to thy People in their many Travels Exercises and Afflictions that have come upon them for the tryal of their Faith and the exercise of their Patience and Humility and other Graces let our Patience have its Perfect Work and let the trial of our Faith be found unto Praise Honour and Glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ and let our humility lay us low before thee that being humbled under thy mighty band we may be exalted in due time for the sake of Jesus Christ whom thou hast hast exalted at thine own Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to us and Remission of Sins Lord our desires are to thee and our expectations are from thee do thou supply us with all things needful for our Souls and Bodies as thou hast mercifully sustained us hitherto O Lord do thou Bless all the Manifestations of thy Love and Power unto us that we may be sanctified and made meet to serve and glorifie thee that we may give up our account with Joy at thy Tribunal that we may then be found in Christ not having our own Righteonsness but being Justified freely by thy Grace through the Redemption that is in him we may enter into Glory and be for ever with the Lord. Blessed Father of Life Remember all those that are scattered up and down upon the Hills and Barren Mountains and are wandring up and down as Sheep without a Shepherd Remember them in this Day of thy Love and mighty Power and bring them home to the Sheep-fold of Christ who is the true Sbepherd and Redeemer and Saviour of Souls Lord go along with us from this place to our several Habitations and Imployments Let the Angel of thy presence attend us Let the Word that hath been preached dwell richly in us in all Wisdom Dearest God of Love and Life one Plants and another Waters but thou alone dost give the encrease we pray thee go along with us and be near unto us when we are separated one from another Now Lord for all thy Mercies and Benefits and Blessings renewed to us from day to day and from one season to another we desire to offer up to thee a pure and living Sacrifice of Praise and Love and Thanks giving for thou alone art worthy who art God over all who with thy Blessed Son and Eternal Spirit Livest and Reignest for ever and ever One God World without end Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM BINGLEY At Grace-Church street March 4. 1693. Friends IT is weighty upon my Spirit this Day to call upon you all to take
our Duty is to endeavour to shew forth our Love in Justice Equity and Truth in all things and to be so far from going beyond or seeking to defraud or over reach our Neighbour as that we should upon all occasions manifest our care and love to him that he may be gained and brought over to the Love of the Truth This is that which God hath made us Witnesses of in his blessed day and Gospel and it should be our great care and concernment to answer this Duty that lyes upon us one towards another faithfully and to encourage one another and Watch ovâ—â— one another for Good and not with an Evil Eye or prejudice in our minds against any nor to let in any sourness or bitterness of Spirit against any I Counsel and Exhort you in the Love of God to perform your Duty to God whereby ye may receive an Answer of peace and acceptance with him an answer of well done from God which we shall if we keep and abide in his Love this will bring you to the Fountain of Wisdom and the opening and springing of it This is the Wisdom that is from above that is pure and peaceable and gentle and easie to be intreated and we shall be preserved in the Conduct of it we shall not be short in our Duty We shall Love one another and Converse one with another This is a particular Mark and Token and a certain distinction whereby the Disciples of Christ are manifested and known to the World Hereby saith Christ shall all men know ye â—e my Disciples if ye have Love one to another 13 John 35. Abide in this Love and in the Truth and shew forth the vertues of it They that do profess the truth but act otherwise and are carried away with any of the Lusts or pleasures and delights of the World or with the Pride Haughtiness Bitterness and Sourness of the Spirit of the World they that are carried away with these all their love to their Neighbour will be hindered and there will not be a sincere exercise of it There are some that make a profession of the truth and come among us whose Conversations shew they have a Root of Covetousness remaining in them they will defraud and over-reach and cheat their Neighbour and so bring a Reproach upon the truth they have an ill Fame they do not perform their Duty to their Neighbour in Love and Kindness neither are they under the Conduct of that Power that should direct and guide them in their duty to God Therefore my Friends Watch against the Enemy in these things be not Ignorant of his devices then the designs of the wicked one will not overcome you and prevail against you live in the fear of God which is true Wisdom keep your selves in the love of God and in love to one another O what Oneness and concord will there be And what sweetness and Harmony will be among us And with what a Heavenly Lovelyness will our Conversations shine in the World when we abound in all the Fruits of Righteousness and in love one to another Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity and Amity This is beautiful indeed It is like the precious Ointment on the head that runs down to the skirts of the Garment O the Heavenly Garment the Garment of Praise that shall cloth those that live in the love of God and of one another O the Holy Robe of the Righteousness of Christ shall cover such Souls O this is that which shines forth gloriously they that live in love shall have this beautiful Garment to cover and adorn them O my Friends the weight of this was upon me O that every one of you may be gathered and made willing to discharge your selves of this great duty to God and to one another that an Heavenly opening may be known This love to God and our Neighbour will be as a Munition of Rocks where our Bread shall be sure and our Waters shall not fail when the Life we live in the Flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God This Union and mutual love will Cement us together when we are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for aâ— Habitation of God through the Spirit If we live in loves as the living Members of Christ the Blood will Circulate into the life of every Member from the Head and we shall know the Vertues of it If we live in love Gods name will be honoured and his Truth will be promoted from Sea to Sea and from Land to Land from one part of the World to another and many shall be brought to behold the Rising of the Sun of Righteousness and his Glory shining in our Day and be preserved in an Holy fear and awe of God and kept from all Evil If we discharge our selves of this solemn and indispensible duty of love to God and one another then we shall have an Answer of our Prayers and of Peace in our own bosoms and know that God will accept of us and we shall be supported under whatsoever trouble or Affliction shall befal us God will be our strength and our stay and we shall have no cause to murmure or complain God will bear us up by his Divine power and keep us in a tender sense of his love to us while we are living in the daily performance of this great Duty of Love to God and mutual love to one another His Prayer after Sermon BLessed and Everlasting Father and Fountain of Life What cause have we to admire thy goodness and Worship thee and Reverence thy Great Name who dost manifest thy self in thy Love and thy tender Compassions from Day to Day in affording us one Visitation after another and in causing thy Love to be shed abroad upon our Hearts in our waiting on thee and crying and breathing after thee Thou openest thy hand from Day to Day and fillest us with thy Spirit and thou makest a Remnant to be as a Watred Garden to spring and bud and blossom O Lord God of Life those that are Plants of thine own Planting they have a Greenness upon them they grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and bring forth the fruits of Righteousness before thee O God of Infinite Power and Love keep them we pray thee that they may be coming nearer and nearer to thee and be more and more acquainted with thee that they may come to know and Witness their being built upon that Foundation which cannot be moved Let the desires and supplications of thy living ones reach to them that are scattered and and are yet unacquainted with thee that know not thy ways nor what thy worship is nor how to perform it Do thou open their Understandings
is a King that shall Reign in Righteousness and the Isles shall wait for his Law the Law shall go forth from Mount Sitn and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem so that Christ is spoken of as a King that shall Reign and Rule and his Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom As Christ is a King to Reign and Rule so he is also a Priest for ever not after the Order of Aaron but after the Order of Melchizedeek He is a Priest what for To finish Transgression to make an end of Sin and purge it away Now the Priests under the Law after the order of Aaron they could not do this they made use of Blood they Sprinkled the Sacrifice with Blood but they could not cleanse the Souls from Sin but Christ he comes he is a Priest and he offers a Sacrifice for all and he offers up himself and by that one Offering he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified he doth it effectually so Daniel Prophecied he shall make an end of Sin and bring in an everlasting Righteousness O say some People we will allow all this to Christ when he comes to Reign with his Church then shall his Reign be one and his Government one but you should let him be a King now and a a Priest now consider the reason of it why it should be now their is Sin and Iniquity in this World but there is no Iniquity in the Kingdom of Heaven nothing that worketh Abomination nor maketh a Lye can come there if Christ will purge us from Sin he must come down from Heaven among us and so he doth blessed be his Name for ever he is the High Priest of our Profession and he hath made us partakers of the Blessing of Cleansing from Sin by the purifying vertue of his own precious blood and the Sanctification of his Spirit Then consider in the next place Christ is a Prophet to teach and instruct his People in the things that belong to their Everlasting Peace If there was an Inspired Prophet in this Land we should be willing to hear what that Prophet did say if he had good things to tell and would warn us what evils we should escape Friends you have a Prophet now but you do not hear him this is according to the Testimony of Moses of old A Prophet saith Moses shall the Lord God raise up like unto me and him shall you hear in all things Do you hear this Prophet Who is it It is the Lord Jesus Christ hear this great Prophet what if we do not hear him He that heareth him not shall be cut off from among the People the Apostle when he writes to the Hebrews he asserts the Divinity of Christ and his Priestly Office and we do own and assert the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ also Now to make the Application of this to your Souls Let Christ be your High-Priest Prophet and King your Law-giver Counsellor and Leader that he may bring you to Glory to a blessed state of Salvation and Eternal Life and so to the Lord Jesus Christ I do recommend you and leave you you may find much of this fulfilled in you as you give up your selves to the Teaching of the Spirit of God and of the grace of God for if People will not be thus taught they will never learn Christianity so that People must come to Christ the great Prophet to learn of him and be taught by him else they can never be good Christians Do not you read this Prophecy concerning God's People They shall be all taught of God and the Apostle Paul tells us the Grace of God the favour of God through Jesus Christ hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying ungodliness and Worldly Lust we should live soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might Redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of all good works So that my Friends this is an excellent State and Condition the Lord bring you all into it and bring you to a certain and saving knowledge of Christ this is my desire this day that you may be Christians indeed and be Followers of Christ and obedient unto him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him His Prayer after Sermon Everlasting God and Fountain of Life from whom all Comforts and Blessings flow unto thy People through thy dear Son our Saviour Jesus Christ before thee O thou Great and Almighty God we are gathered and assembled this day if thou Lord be not with us to open our hearts we cannot be edified or comforted aright Therefore the cry of thy Servants is that thou wouldest this day open the hearts of thy People and Children that infinite God of Life we may have access to thee in and through the Spirit of thy dear Son that thou mayst help us on in the way that we should go and blessed Father of Life our eyes are unto thee and our expectation is from thee for thou alone art the Comforter of thy People and Children Lord thy People of old did look dnto thee their hearts were only to thee from whence all their Beings came thou Infinite God and Fountain of all fulness let our Souls have respect to thee this day that so in our solemn Meeting and gathering together before thee we may be refreshed we may be opened we may be comforted and sustained by thee Lord God of Life we have need of thy Power and of thy strength to sustain us in our Pilgrimage and Journey thraugh this World Holy Farher we beseech thee to remember us and lead us and guide us in thy ways and preserve us by thy out-stretched arm thou didst make it bare for thy People of old make it bare we pray thee this day for the sake of thy People that so infinite God we may be conducted through the whole course of our Lives in this World that when our days and time come to an end our Portion may be with thee and thou be the Lot of our Inheritance that so we may live with thee in thy Kingdom for ever Glorious God of Life thou that didst hear the cry of thy People of old and didst open thine ear to their Prayer and Supplicatsons hear thy Children this day that cry to thee for thou hast regard to the cry of the Poor and to the sighing of the Needy In all their exercises in this World in their many afflictions and distresses be thou near to them and be thou near to us here and comfort and refresh us we pray thee that so we may persevere to the end of our days in thy fear and die in thy favour O Lord God thou Holy one of Israel this is the cry of thy Children to thee for whom have we in Heaven but thee and there is none
we know a perserving and holding on in thy way Living Father we pray thee let us feel every day the Conduct of thy Grace and good Spirit that we may admire thy love and praise and glorifie thy great and excellent Name O Powerful God thou blessest the Assemblies of thy People that meet together in the Name of thy Dear Son Jesus Christ for the enjoyment of thy Comfortable Presence Lord blessand Prosper all the Meetings of thy People every where and the labours of those whose mouths thou hast opened to refresh the sorrowful and to bring glad tidings to the poor distressed Needy and weary Souls that would be glad of Rest and deliverance and those in whom thou raisest desires and breathings after the knowledge of thee and thy blessed ways Lord bear up the Hearts of those and strengthen all those good desires and breathings which thou hast begotten in any that they may come to the know ledge of that blessed Rest where thou makest thy Flock to lie down at Noon and feedest them with living Bread and openest a living Fountain to refesh and satisfie their thirsty Souls that they may praise thy great an excellent Name which is pure and precious above every Name Thou hast brought many to the knowledge of it Let thy Truth be exalted and thy Everlasting Gospel be still Preached in the Land of our Nativity and in other Nations for the Day of Grace the time of love is now come and the Day of thy Power is broken out in the midst of us Arise O Lord in thy Power more and more and send forth thy Light and thy Truth that many may be Called and Converted and brought from far from the utmost ends of the Earth to the knowledge of thy self and thy Son Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Eternal and let many arise and praise thy excellent and Glorious Name from the Rising of the Sun to the going down thereof Blessed Father of Life make thy Dear Son Christ more and more known to the World that they may be no longer Enemies but be reconciled to thee by Jesus the Great Mediatour of the New Covenant Lord the way is thine and the work is thine Let truth and Righteousness be brought in more and more and bring down the Kingdom and Man of Sin and the Power of Darkness and make thy Jerusalem the Praise of the Earth We have seen the beginnings of thy glorious Work and the light of thy glorious Heavenly Day thou hast raised and brought in many to walk in the Light and to love thy Holy ways blessed Father of Life our Eyes are unto thee and our dependance is upon thee Whom have we in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that we can desire in comparison of thee Therefore our cry is What shall we do in this World without the enjoyment of thy self In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right Hand are pleasures for evermore Lord thou hast afforded us thy refreshing presence in this our Solemn Meeting Glory and Honor and Living Praises ascend to thy Name which is as a precious Ointment poured forth therefore our Souls do love thee O thou that didst open the Heart of Lydea open the Hearts of all thy People before thee that they may go away with a sense of thy love and kindness towards them Blessed Father of Mercies bless this opportunity to us all that are here before thee and extend thy blessing to the Meetings and Assemblies of all thy People where ever they are one may Plant and another Water but the increase is from thee Our Eyes are towards thee we wait upon thee whether can we go but unto thee who hast the Words of Eternal Life Lord God of Life go a long with us when we are separated one from another and let the sense of thy mercy remain upon our Spirits and be an obligation upon us to walk in Faithfulness Meekness and Humility before thee that being led by by Spirit we may when we have finished our Pilgrimage lay down our Heads in Peace and know an abundant entrance into that Everlasting Kingdom which thou hast prepared for them that love and fear thee And for thy Mercies and Favours Benefits and Blessings which thou hast made us partakers of in and through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Dear Son and our alone Mediatour all living Praises and Glory be rendered to thee for thou alone art worthy who art God over all Blessed for Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JOHN VAUGHTON At Grace-Church street April 1st 1694. IT is a great mercy and kindness that God hath been pleased to open the way of Life and Salvation unto the Souls of many People that in this our Day and generation were in great distress for want of the knowledge of it and this knowledge is given unto us through the blessed appearance and Revelation of the Power and Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to which my Friends Blessed be the Name of the Lord we have been turned in our Day and Generation For the Message and Testimony that God raised up his Servants to bear among us in our Day and time who came in the Spirit and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ having been made the Monuments of Gods mercy through Faith in him that died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification That Blessed message and Testimony which they bare among us was in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit and Power of the Lord Jesus For they came indeed to Preach the Gospel of Life and Salvation and the way they took to Preach the Gospel to us in our Day was the same way that the Holy Apostle Paul in his Day was sent to Preach the Gospel who said we are sent of God To turn People from Darkness unto Light and from the power of Satan unto God The Holy Apostle he proposed the end for which they were sent to turn the Sons and Daughters of Men from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God that they might receive remission of Sins and an Inheritance among them which are Sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Jesus O Friends This Faith in Christ it is a living Faith it is a Faith of the operation of God God worketh it in us by his own Spirit and Power there are many that pretend to have Faith in Christ that are strangers to the operation of the Power and Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and so do not know nor are made partakers of that Faith which worketh by Love that giveth them Victory over the World and preserveth them and keepeth them out of the Evil of the World Now Friends it is my desire that you may turn from Darkness unto Lighâ— That you may all believe in Christ and walk in him that you may be sensible that the Blood of Jesus Christ the Dear and Blessed Son of God cleanseth from
this City of the dreadful Judgments of God that he will certainly bring upon the wicked and hard-hearted and upon the stiffnecked and Rebellious and I hope that through the Divine workings of the Divine Spirit and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ and through his Divine and Heavenly light that hath attended these warnings and testimonies many will be stirred up to Repentance And I have this more to say that the Lord God in the opening of his Divine Word hath commanded me This say to my People in the City of London and elsewhere where I have ordered thy Lot Be of believing hearts for the Vials of my wrath shall be poured out upon the Transgressors Therefore charge the Daughters of Sion that they touch not with the Daughters of Babylon and tell them that if they partake with them in their Sins they shall partake with them in their Plagues and in the punishments that God will pour down and execute upon the workers of Iniquity and greater will be their Condemnation if they do not repent and believe than of those that have not had such opportunities Therefore Children of Sion look unto the Lord Jesus Christ that Mighty one upon whom help is laid in whom is Divine strength and Power and from whom you may have Divine Assistance that we may perform the good that is required at our hands and that is incumbent upon us and that we owe to our Creator that we may Worship him from day to day and from one time to another they that perform this service in the strength of Christ they will feel the savour of his life upon them and find the sweetness of joy and peace in their Souls and when we are in our Imployments and Callings and Business we shall feel the savour of Divine Life going along with us and in all our Converse and Communion one with another and in our Families we shall instruct and correct and direct our Children and bring them up in the fear of the Lord that they may not do as the Children of Israel when some of their Judges were dead every one did that which was right in their own eyes Let them do what they will saith Joshua chuse you this day whom you will serve as for me and my House we will serve the Lord. O get your wills subjected to the will of God that you may obey his Righteous Law and feel your selves engaged in his service and have the powerful working of his Holy Spirit in your Souls God will by his own Almighty Arm and Heavenly Grace enable you to do what he requires and is pleasing in his sight he will work in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure By Grace ye are saved saith the Apostle not of your selves it is the gift of God To this Divine Gift we are all recommended Now the Lord God Almighty gather you all into a sense of it The Apostle when he wrote to the Churches he committed them to the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for Guiding and Governing them in the whole course of their Conversations that they might live in the pure fear and love of God and obedience to him and in Love and Concord one with another that God in all things may be glorified and Praise and Honour and Thanks givings may be offered up to him through Jesus Christ his Beloved Son and our alone Saviour who alone is worthy who is God over all Blessed for ever and ever Amen The Prayer after Sermon BLessed God of Life who art the Fountain of all our Mercies the God from whom we receive all the good we enjoy our eyes are unto thee and we wait and attend upon thee thou art pleased O Lord to give unto us all things that we stand in need of which should engage us always to have an eye unto thee for thou never failest any that put their trust in thee many a time O Lord have thy People cryed to thee in the sense of their wants and have bowed before thee and lifted up their supplications to thee and Lord thou hast had regard to them many a time and for the cry of the Poor and the groaning of the distressed thou hast risen and been a present help unto them So that O Lord we have had encouragement from time to time to draw near to thee for that thou dost appear in the midst of the Assemblies of thy People that do meet together in thy Name and in thy Holy fear O Powerful Father of Life we have cause to bless thy Name for that we have had a real tast of thy Goodnefs and of thy Mercy to our Souls Thou O Lord it was that didst appear in the time of thy Love and visitedst the Souls of many that were strangers unto thee and unacquainted with the way of Life and Salvation Thou O Lord it was that hadst mercy upon us in the day when there was none to help us when there was none that could save and deliver then didst thou make bare thy Almighty Arm and didst bring many to the knowledge of thy living way and all thine whose eyes have been to thee thou hast Crowned them with thy loving kindness and tender mercy Praises Praises be to thy Great and Excellent Name who livest for ever and for evermore Living God of Life let all thine be preserved by thy Eternal Arm of Power that they may live in the World to the Honour of thy Great Name Powerful God of Life our eyes are unto thee and thou hast given us to see thee and to have the light of thy Countenance lifted up upâ—n us Father of Mercies we are not able to keep our selves and preserve our selves but the eyes of all thine are unto thee that they may be acquainted with thee and have that Divine help and strength which thou affordest to thy People and to thy Children that they may be enabled to run on in that Race that thou hast set before them that at the end of their days they may come to lay down their heads in peace and have an abundant entrance into that Everlasting Kingdom which thou hast prepared for those that love and fear thy Name Blessed God of Life be with all thy People here and every where draw off their minds from the love of this World and the Spirit of it that they may be brought nearer and nearer to thee in their Love and Affections Blessed God of Life we have been waiting upon thee and thou hast graciously appeared in the midst of us blessed be thy Name Thy living presence is the comfort of all thine that wait upon thee How poor and empty and hungry and thirsty have we come into thy presence yet thou dost not send us empty away but thou hast filled the hungry with good things and opened a Living Fountain that the Thirsty Souls have known the Drinking of Our Souls are constrained to offer Praises to thee this Evening that we have found Comfort and Refreshment from thy Blessed Presence Lord God of Life go along with us and bless us and keep us in the fear of thy Holy Name that we may live in the World to the praise of thy Name Lord bless the present opportunity to all that are here before thee that we may go away rejoycing in the sense of thy love and goodness to us and be engaged to walk in humility before thee Lord let our cry come up to thee keep us every day and preserve us and pity and help all those that are crying to thee that are under Exercises Temptations Afflictions Tryals and Weaknesses of Body and Mind Be near to them to help them in their distress and save and deliver them and us from the Enemy of our Souls that goes about like a Roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour O Powerful God of Life be with all thine every where and bless them and keep them while they are in the World from the evil of it that Living Father of Life both they and we for all thy Mercies and Blessings which in the dear Son of thy Love thou hast bestowed upon us from time to time may render Living Praises unto thee And for thy affording us thy Presence at this time and for all the Seasons and Opportunities we have enjoyed for the benefit and advantage of our Immortal Souls we desire to return thee Praise Honour and Glory through thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ in whom thou art well pleased for thou alone art Worthy Worthy Worthy who art God over all blessed in thy self for ever and evermore Amen FINIS ADVERTISEMENT There is newly Publish'd THE General History of Earthquakes or An Account of the most Remarkable and Tremendous Earthquakes that have happened in divers parts of the World from the Creation to this time and particularly those lately in Naples Smrrna Jamaica England and Sicily With a Discription of the famous Burning Mount Aetna and the several dreadful Conslagrations thereof for many Ages To which is added an Appendix containing several other late strange Accidents and Occurences As I. A Surprizing Account of Angels Singing Psalms In the Air over the Ruins of the Protestant Church at Orthez a City in the Province of Bearne and other places in France in the year 1686. with the Words they Sang in the hearing of many hundred Auditors at once Papists as well as Protestants II. The Life of a Great Person of near an Hundred years old who is now an Hermit in a Forrest in France with the Devotions Cloathing Diet and Subsistance of him and his Companions c. III. The wonderful Army of Locusts or Grashoppers that were seen near Breslaw in Silesia Septemb. 7. 1693. and in other parts of Germany which in their March took up 16. Miles devouring every Green thing IV. Three Miraculous Cures wrought by Faith in Christ in 1693. As 1. Of Mary Maillard the French Girl suddenly healed of an extream Lameness 2. The Wife of Mr. Savage Cured of a Lame Hand 3. A Shepperd near Hitchin in Nartfordshire instantly healed of the Kings Evil under which he had languished Twenty Years Price one shilling FINIS