when he seeth me â—â—mming although afar off he will runne 〈◊〉 meet me with sweet kisses and loving saâ—â—tations He will powre the oile and â—…ine of his graces into my wounds he will â—â—t me upon his owne strength and bring â—â—e into communion and fellowship with â—â—m and his Saints in Mount Sion But now O Saints and servants of the â—…ost High God who have laid down your â—…rowns at the feet of Christ and have â—…ade choice of him for your portion reâ—â—yce in your portion let your thoughts â—â—e upon and your speeches of your porâ—â—on You doe say that ye be sonnes and servants of the most High God Let it appear by your obedience to your Father Rom. 6. 16. You say that ye are his sheep doe ye hear his voice Joh. 10. 27. You say that you doe abide in him learne to walke as he walked 1 Joh. 2. 6. If Christ have dyed for you let us know it by your living unto him 2 Cor. 5. 15. You doe say that you doe know him let us see it by your keeping his commandements 1 Joh. 2. 4. You doe say that you are righteous and religious let us see it by your bridling your tongue lâ—…st your Religion appear to be vaine 1 Jam. 26. If you have received a Kingdome that cannot be moved let us see it by your serving him with reverence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28. You say he is your God and that you see your particular interest in him let it be knowne to us by your obedience to him 1 Pet. 1. 17. You say that you be the Spouse of Christ let us know it by your enquiring after him and telling of the excellencies that be in him Cant. 5. 6. 9. If you be his Disciples let us know it â—…y your love one to another Joh. 13. 35. You tell us that you believe in him Shew 〈◊〉 your faith by your works 2 Jam. 18. If you live in the Spirit let us know â—…t by your walking in the Spirit Gal. 〈◊〉 25. If you be grafted into the true Vine â—…et us know it by your fruitfulnesse â—…oh 15. 5. If you are Christs let us know it by the â—…rucifying your flesh Gal. 5. 24. If you be indeed planted in the house of â—…he Lord let us know it by your flourishâ—…ng in his Courts Psal 92. 13. You say that he hath chosen you to salâ—…ation let us know it by your fanctificaâ—…ion of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth Eph. 1. 4. You say that you live in the will of God let us know it by your doing his will â—…nd by your rejoycing when his will is lone though it crosse your owne wills Job 1. 21. O my brethren methinks the spirit of â—…hankfulnesse is not up in your soules we â—…e more sensible of our wants then we be of our mercies O what could the Lord â—…ave done more then he hath done already we have all we have sought for and much more O England England Awake awaâ—â— put on thy strength O Sion put on thy beautifâ—â— garments O Ierusalem prepare to meet thâ—… King Bid adieu to all earthly comforts 〈◊〉 not mercies be so common as not to return the praise to him that gave them Oâ—… what would we have parted with withiâ—… these 10 years for one of the least of the mercies that we doe now enjoy O be not sâ—… much in craving and begging and so little in blessing and praising the fountaine oâ—… our mercies Remember praising the Almighty wilâ—… be the work of a Saint in the life to come 〈◊〉 there will be no need of prayer faith hope and patience all these will end in fruition Oh then begin the work here that thou shalt be alwayes doing in the life to come 〈◊〉 The book of Revel that speaks of the last state of the Church upon earth it speaks of Praising but seldome of Prayer And why Those things were granted that they had formerly prayed for Beloved can a man reckon those mercies that the Lord hath given in within these ten years both National and Personal shall we forget all and in stead of rejoicing with the Saints fall a mourning with the world The voice cries Rejoice ye righteous and howl O Babylon Rejoice ye righteous for ye have a Father to stand by you a Christ to deliver you Angels to guard you Comforts to refresh you and Promises to sustain you and rather then ye shall want the Ravens shall â—…eed you the Heavens shall drop down food to relieve you the Rocks shall stream forth rivers to refresh you therefore let nothing dismay you or draw your hearts back again like Lots wife into Sodome or the Children of Israel unto the flesh-pots of Egypt The wicked and unbelieving they cannot praise him And shall Christ have none to exalt him O let your mouths be filled with his praises sound Hallelujahs to him who liveth for ever and ever for this is â—…he will of God concerning you As for the world alas they know not how to praise him How shall they sing the Lords song in Baâ—…ylon But the living the living in Mount Sion shall praise thee O thou in whom are all our springs and â—…rom whom we receive all our supplies and all you that be the true sheep of Christ make it your work with Mary to sit at his â—…eet and heare his voyce You have heard â—…trangers a long time and have not considered that the glory of Christ doth overâ—…hadow all other glories his voyce is sweet and his countenance is comely his presence desireable and his love unfathomable A few words by way of Prophesie concerning the glorious state of the Church of Christ that will be shortly BEloved if you a little take notice of what is past and fulfilled and diligenly observe what is present you will be the better able to speak or write of something that is to come if you look back and see that the Lord hath delivered us and then look upon the present state and finde that he doth deliver us we shall be the better able to say with Paul In whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 2 Cor. 1. 10. O yee the flocke of Christ for to you I speak chiefly you were scattered but the Lord hath gathered you together and brought you home from exile and banishment and caused you to sit under your owne vine and made you a praise and a same amongst them that had you in derision and a proverb of reproach he hath advanced up between you and your enemies and taken your part and over-powered them and in a great measure stopped the mouths of the dogs of Egypt that did so bark at you some of them are fallen by the sword others of them are fled beyond the seas and those that doe still remaine the Lord is now muffling their mouths Againe your spiritual enemies begin to fall also the Lord hath given you a little more strength against them and discovered his love in the face
Law Christ was made under me anâ—… did observe me so as to obey me and hâ—… commanded thee to learn of him Mattâ—… 11. 28. and to walk as he walked 1 Joâ—… 2. 6. Believ If Christ was made under thâ—… Law and did yeeld obedience to the Law why it was for me that he might set mâ—… free Gal. 5. 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set us free and bâ—… not intangled again with the yoke of bondage O Law wilt thou turn Extortioner to take thy due in my Surety and imprisoâ—… me too when Christ hath paid the debâ—… that I owed thee to a penny and hath takeâ—… up the bond and can celled it Col. 2. 14. Law But saith the Law I would have thee to know that the dearest servants oâ—… Christ as well as Christ himself have been under me what fayest thou of David Psal 38. â—… I having shewed him his sin and pronounced his terrours he cryeth out My sinâ—… are too heavy for me to bear And Jeremiah 〈◊〉 Prophet lay a long time under me 〈◊〉 the whole book of the Lamentations doth â—â—undantly testifie I could instance in alâ—…ost all the Saints in the Old and New Teâ—â—â—ments that lay under me And dost thou â—â—ink thy self wiser then they and so make â—â—e also of none account Believ The Lord for bid that I should â—…ake my self wiser then they or coâ—…pare â—…y self with them David and Jeremiah they â—…ere both glorious instruments to set forth â—â—e praise power and wisdome of God â—â—t O Law this let me tell thee I have now â—…eat cause to praise magnifie and admire â—…od in his wonderful love to me in that he â—…ave me a being in this latter day wherein â—â—ere is greater light and a clearer maniâ—â—station of his free justification by saith â—…ithout the works of the Law Rom. 3. 28. â—…nd that he hath freed me from thee O â—…aw and spirit of bondage that I and oâ—…hers have a long time lain under Rom. â—…0 4. Gal. 4. 4 5. Rom. 6. 14. Rom. 〈◊〉 6. Law But wilt thou not own me so as â—…o take me for thy rule of life Believ No by no means and that â—…or these reasons First thou art dead to me Rom. 7. 6. anâ—… I am dead to thee Rom. 7. 4. Secondly because thou wouldest be uâ—… profitable to me if I should observe the for save me thou canst not for that is 〈◊〉 grace Eph. 2. 5. 8. Thirdly I will not serve thee because am not under thee Gal. 3. 25. but after thâ—… faith is come I am no longer under Schoolmaster Law Well for all this mind what hoâ—â— and heavenly David said of me Psal 119. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respâ—â—â— to all thy commandments Believ He that believeth on him as tâ—â— Scripture saith shall not be ashamed Rom. 1â—… 11. 28. Isa 16. Law Though thou and others do 〈◊〉 little esteem of me because you do not 〈◊〉 the excellencie that is in me yet let me tâ—â— thee that I am glorious so that the chiâ—…dren of Israel could not behold the face 〈◊〉 Moses when he received me 2 Cor. 3. 7. Believ If that which was done away wâ—â— glorious much more that which remaiâ—… is glorious even the Gospel 2 Cor. 3. 11. Law But saith the Law If thou caâ—â— clearly prove by Scripture that the Loâ—â— that gave me to Moses did limit me a timâ—… and that I was not to continue to the end 〈◊〉 the world in my full power force and â—â—rtue I will be silent Believ That I will presently prove Gal. 〈◊〉 19. Wherefore then serveth the Law faith â—â—ul why it was added because of transgresâ—â—on till the seed should come c. Now this â—â—ed is Christ and this Christ is come whereâ—â—re O Law give place Law Have I been so strictly observed in â—…ll ages ever since I was given forth and â—…hat by those men that were accounted the â—…ost religious men upon the face of the â—â—rth and dost thou O sally mâ—…n and a few â—…uch as thou that art ignorant and dost â—…ot know the Law dost thou I say think â—…o make me void Believ I do not make thee void but raâ—…her establish thee in thy place and room â—…om 3. 31. and so in 1 Tim. 1. 8. But we â—…now that the Law is good if a man use it lawâ—…ully Again if I had lived in those dayes in which thou wast in force I had been under â—…hee as well as those you name before and 〈◊〉 do conceive that thou O Law wast in full â—…orce power and vertue from the time that Moses received thee upon the Mount untill Christ came in the flesh Nay and after he came in the flesh thoâ—… wast in force until the Lord Jesus had suâ—…mitted unto thee in all thy demonstrationâ—… and obeyed thee in all thy precepts so thâ—â— there was not one thing that thou requireâ—… to be done but he did do it till at lenghâ—… there was no more required so Christ dâ—…clares it was finished Joh. 17. 4. I have finisâ—…ed the work that thou gavest me to do c. Nay O Law he did not only yeeld obâ—…dience to thy commands and so fulfillâ—â— thee but he did suffer all thy torments anâ—… judgements as if he had broken thee Thoâ—… couldest but require a compleat and intiâ—â— obedience both in principles and practiâ—â— and in case of disobedience to suffer tâ—â— punishment due to such a sinne or sinne this was all thou hadst to say Now tâ—â— Lord Christ took mans nature and waâ—… made under thee and in all things obseâ—…ved thee in point of action and submittâ—â— to thee in point of suffering And if thoâ—… ask me how this obedience of Christ thâ—… second Adam is become mine Let me as thee O Law how was the transgression 〈◊〉 the first Adam imputed to me was I not 〈◊〉 his loyns and so partaker of his sinne 〈◊〉 natural generation and am I not also 〈◊〉 the second Adam by spiritual regeneratioâ—… aâ—…d so partaker of all his obedience and â—â—â—hteousnesse by communication Read â—â—derstandingly 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. 2 Cor. â—…1 Law If thou and a few such as thou art 〈◊〉 winde and twist your selves out of my â—â—wer as not to hearken to me in my pre 〈…〉 s nor fear me in my threatnings yet let 〈◊〉 tell thee O man That the greater part â—…en and women that ever have heard of 〈◊〉 are yet under me and shall be judged 〈◊〉 Christ according as they keep me or â—â—ak me Believ That the greater part of men â—â—d women that ever heard of thee are still â—â—der thee I have granted before in what I â—â—â—e said in answer unto thee And whereâ—…hou sayest they shall be judged by thee 〈◊〉 by Christ according as they keep or â—â—ak thee there is something in it though â—â—nnot fully grant it First there is someâ—â—â—ng in it for our Lord Jesus Christ â—â—aching to the Jews which were under 〈◊〉 Law
here spoken unto is A It is a doctrine of Grace and a doctrine of Free-grace I know what be the judgments of many knowing men concerning this thing If you ask them what the doctrine of Christ is they will tell you it is a doctrine of Faith and Obedience but this is the effects of the doctrine rather then the doctrine it self For the doctrine of Free-grace being preached to a soule and having gotten entrance to lodg in the inward man then it works faith and obedience as the effects or fruits of that Spirit of grace Hence it is that when Christ sent forth his Disciples to preach this doctrine of Grace he commands them saying Into whatsoever house you enter say Peace unto this house Lo peace is the first word which word is full of grace Christ doth not bid them fire the people out of their nests by preaching the Law and then heal them with the balm of the Gospel no they must first preach peace for God is in the still voice that so the love of Christ held forth in the doctrine of Free-grace Tit. 2. 11 12. might teach them to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and constrain them out of a principle of love to live godly and soberly in this present world Now that the doctrine of Christ is a doctrine of grace it will appear by these and the like Scriptures which I shall but name Act. 13. v. 39 43 compared together Act. 20. 24. Rom. 3. 24. Rom. 11. 6. Ephes 2. 5. 8 compar'd together In a word as was said before Creation Election Redemption and Sanctification â—…it is all of Free-grace Now me thinks I see most men in a sense give their assent and consent to the truth of this that the doctrine of Christ is a doctrine of grace and they will tell you further that they do abide in this doctrine Now then let us examine our selves a little by the effects of this doctrine for as a tree is known by his fruit so is this doctrine by its effects First then it is a doctrine of grace enlightening the soul Secondly it is a doctrine of grace working faith in the soul Thirdly it is a doctrine of grace workin love in the soul Fourthly it is a doctrine of grace working upon the will and affections to will and affect the things of God 1. The doctrine of Christ is a doctrine of grace enlightening the soul Luk. 2. 3 2. A light to lighten the Gentiles This is spoken of Christ and his doctrine Luk. 1. 79. To give light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to guide our feet in a way of peace Joh. 1. 9. That was thaâ—… true light that lighteneth every man c. Now if thou dost abide in the doctrine of Christ thy soul is enlightened by Christ hence it is that the children of God are called the children of light Eâ—â— 5. 8 hence it is that they be exhorted to walkâ—…s children of the day Are you enlightened You will say I am What mean these works of darknesse then 2. The doctrine of Christ is a doctrine of grace working faith in the soul Joh. 14. 1. Ye believe in God believe also in me Joh. 6. 29. This is the work of God that you believe Joh. 14. 11. If you will not believe me for my words yet believe in me for the very works sake that you have seen me do 1 Joh. 3. 23. And this is his commandment that we believe on the name of his Sonne Jesâ—…s Christ No obedience like unto the obedience of faith no disobedience like unto that of unbelief for it makes the God of truth a liar 1 Joh. 5. 10. â—…e that believeth on the Sonne of God hath the witnesse in himself He that believeth not God hath made him a liaâ—â— because be believed not the record that God gave of his Son But most men and women will say they do believe but there be but few that can shew their faith by their worâ—…s for faith without works is dead Jam. 17 18 c. 3. The doctrine of Christ is a doctrine of grace working love in the soul First to God Mat. 22. 37. Christ told the Lawyer that came to him to know at least â—â—s he pretended what was his doctrine and what was the most principal part of it why saith Christ Mat. 22. 37. Thou shalt love â—â—he Lord thy God wiâ—…h all thy heart with â—…ll thy â—â—trengâ—…h and with all thy soule Secondly it works love to the people of God Joh. 13. 34. A new commandment give I â—â—nto you that you love one another as I have loved â—â—oâ—… I loved you when you were in your â—…lood and filthinesse my love was free let yours be so I loved all mine do you love all the Saints I laid down my life for the â—…rethren you ought to lay down your lives for the brethren I loved you with a constant love having loved my own I loved them to the end so do you My love carried me forth to become servant to all even to wash your feet you if you will be followers of me and be known to be my disciples ought to do so too Thirdly as the doctrine of Christ is a doâ—…trine of grace working love in the soule first to God secondly to his people so thirdly to our enemies See and well consider that place Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your enemies do good to those that haâ—… you pray for those that despitefully use you aâ—â— persecute you Never think that you continâ—â— in my doctrine unless you observe my commands My commands are that you shoulâ—… not only love God but also your brother and it must not be limited only there buâ—… you must love your enemies or else yoâ—… will not be like unto me and my Father Mat. 5. 45. That you may appear to all thâ—… world to be the children of your Father which is in heaven for he maketh his sun to arise 〈◊〉 the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust For if you love onely thâ—â— that love you the vilest man in the world goeth so far this is no character or badge oâ—â— my servants the Publicans and Harlots did 〈◊〉 much as this Fourthly it is a doctrine of grace working upon the will and affections to will and affect the things of God First it works upon the will it resigns it up unto the will of God nay it makes him live in the will of God 1. By doing his will 2. By suffering his will to be done though it crosse thy will Again it works mightily upon thinâ—â— affections thy affections are taken off the creatures and fixed upon the Creator thou seest more and more beauty in God and â—…nd lesse and lesse beauty in the creature â—…he things of the world would satisfie thee â—â—eretofore Now thou cryest out None but â—…hrist none but Christ Nothing will satisfie â—…ut his presence nothing will
any measure 〈◊〉 I have said before that all our springs aâ—â— in him and all our supplies are from hiâ—… and that all power centers in him as tâ—â— Fountain from whence all small streams 〈◊〉 power do flow I have affirmed furtheâ—… that as this power was given freely to 〈◊〉 from him so it is limited in us by him aâ—â— when the creature hath improved his poâ—…er to the highest he hath done but his dutâ—… Luk. 17. 10. Our salvation is of Free-grace notwitâ—…standing I have not said that our imprâ—…ving or not improving our power câ—â— save us or damn us But this I have affirâ—…ed and do affirm that by our non-improvâ—…ment it will exceedingly harm us for 〈◊〉 shall lose much of our outward and peâ—…haps inward joy and comfort both in 〈◊〉 and death I do not say our eternal weâ—â— being doth depend upon it All our sal 〈…〉 ion is of Free-grace from God through 〈◊〉 redemption of the Son and evidence of Spirit 1. So that our obedience is not the cause 〈◊〉 our salvation for Gods love was the 〈…〉 fe Joh. 3. For God so loved the world c. 2. Our obedience and good works is 〈…〉 t the way for Christ is the way the truth 〈◊〉 the life 3. Our improvement of our power in 〈…〉 y of good works is not the evidence as 〈…〉 our selves for that is the work of the 〈…〉 irit of God in us 4. But our good works do glorifie God 〈…〉 d inform and edifie our neighbours First they glorifie God Mat. 5. 16. Secondly it doth inform our neighbour 〈◊〉 he cannot judge of us but by our fruits 〈◊〉 shall know a tree by its fruits saith Christ Thirdly it doth edifie our neighbour â—â—en every step of our conversation is an â—â—â—truction to him and the Apostle saith â—â—t some are won to God by the good â—…nversation of others 2. And as for Free-will in man I know â—…ne unlesse it be such a Free-will as was 〈◊〉 Paul Rom. 7. 18. For to will is present with 〈◊〉 and ver 13. When I would do good evil is present with me I know no Free-will thâ—â— unlesse it be a free-will to sin A man naâ—â—rally cannot act in things supernaturâ—… as to instance a man cannot believe unlâ—â— the Spirit of God work faith in the souâ—… and yet a man according to common pâ—â—vidence may bring his body to the Oâ—â—nance of Hearing which is the means orâ—â—narily by which the Lord doth work faiâ—… Rom. 10. 17. But he the Lord God 〈◊〉 mighty is the Author and finisher of Heb. 12. 2. And he makes us willing aâ—… desirous to have it wrought in us so tâ—â— he doth not work it whether we will no. So the Holy Ghost that works faiâ—â— is not said to believe Man is said to â—â—lieve Now though man cannot believe of hiâ—… self without the power of the Lord 〈◊〉 man is to attend upon all means as heariâ—â— reading meditation conference for thâ—… be his appointments and he hath promiâ—â— his presence in and blessing upon the usâ—â— these means to make them effectual Hâ—â—â— it is that the Lord commands us to wait him in the use of means Prov. 20. 22. 〈◊〉 wait on the Lord and he shall save thee Isa 〈◊〉 Blessed be all they that wait for him Isa 〈◊〉 31. 〈…〉 y that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 〈…〉 gth Isa 49. 23. For they shall not be asha 〈…〉 that wait for me Lam. 3 25. The Lord is 〈◊〉 unto them that wait for him to the soule 〈◊〉 seeks him Isa 64. 4. Eye hath not seen 〈◊〉 hath not heard what the Lord hath prepared â—…hose that wait for him Now a man cannot be said to wait upon â—â—d unlesse he wait upon him in the use of â—â—ans to which he hath promised his preâ—â—ce which are his appointments and â—â—lks wherein he hath been now is and 〈…〉 eafter will be found Next I shall come unto the Reasons why â—…ave written of the Natural and Spiritual â—â—wer viz. First I have heard many say They ought 〈…〉 to pray read meditate conferre or assemble â—â—â—mselves together to the practice of any known 〈…〉 y untill the Spirit by its fresh gales and moveâ—…s put them upon it And I am mightily miâ—â—â—ken if some have not staid so long for 〈…〉 se fresh gales and movings of the Spirit â—…till they have quite forgotten to pray or â—…ar or conferr of any spiritual thing unâ—â—â—se it be in a carnal way Now it is true â—â—at is the principal time in which a Soule â—â—ght to act but not the onely time I say â—â—ain It is the principal time but not the onely time First that it is the princ 〈…〉 time I have no need to prove for all 〈…〉 tional men will and doe grant that 〈◊〉 then secondly It is not the onely ti 〈…〉 for we finde that the command lies up 〈…〉 us as well at one time as another ne 〈…〉 there is no time in which we are not 〈◊〉 want and therefore need still to seek â—…gain we finde in Scripture written for 〈◊〉 learning that the Saints acted sometimes 〈◊〉 their greatest deadnesse and coldnesse as Dâ—…vid and others When they found theâ—…selves dead and dull cold and slothfull 〈◊〉 we finde they stir up them selves as men sâ—â—sible of their state to instance in one 〈◊〉 all Psal 119. 25. Quicken thou me after 〈◊〉 loving kindenesse so shall I keep the testimony thy mouth c. Again Psal 119. 170. I 〈◊〉 afflicted very much quicken me O Lord accordiâ—â— to thy word So vers 159 c. so in Psalâ—… 153. verse 11. Quicken me O Lord for tâ—â— name sake so in another place he prayeâ—â— Renew a right Spirit within me and agaiâ—… Restore again to me the joy of thy salvation In word let me ask thee O man who is it thaâ—… doth let us see our unfitnesse luke warmneâ—… and coldnesse Doth not God discover thiâ—… by his Spirit and doth not the same Spâ—…rit that doth enable us to see our wantâ—… move us to seek for supplies from the founâ—â—in as it is said in Job The Lord speaketh â—â—ce yea twice and man perceives it not So I â—â—ow by experience in my self and others â—â—at we have many movings and stirrings 〈◊〉 the Spirit of God within us and either â—â—e take no notice of it or if we do we queâ—â—ion in our selves whether it be the stirâ—â—ngs of the good Spirit or proceeds not â—…om the evil Spirit And so we cease to â—â—t because we be unsatisfied But in some â—â—ses the Spirit that doth move us to it â—…ill undoubtedly carry us forth to the doâ—â—g of what it moves us to What are we â—â—ith the Scriptures that we could withstand â—â—e Spirit But in other cases we are said as in the â—…cts to resist the Holy Ghost and in another â—…cripture Quench not the Spirit and be not unâ—â—itfull to the Spirit of God and grieve not the â—…pirit of God whereby you are sealed to
the hardships that â—…acob a man chosen of God went through â—…e is threatened by his brother banished â—â—om his Father abused by his Uncle â—…efrauded of his Wife in the day he is â—…corched with heat in the night troubled â—…ith frost as you may see at large Gen. 31. â—…ers 40. Then see the divisions between his twâ—… Wives two Sisters baulling for one Husbanâ—… after this they both went from their Fatheâ—… and now see a fresh pursuit behinde hiâ—… Laban follows Jacob with a Hue and Cry before him Esau is marching up to him wiâ—â— four hundred men so to go forward were intollerable to go backward unâ—…vailable Well after the Almighty had dâ—…livered him and he marched into his owâ—… Country his Wife Rachel dieth his daughter Dinah is ravished his Son Reuben lie with his Concubines then his most beloved Son Joseph they report is dead theâ—… soon after this arose a Famine and another of his Sons in prison and nothing can redeem him but his onely Benjamine here is the losse of son after son Gen. 42. 36 And Jacob said unto them Me have ye bereaveâ—… of my children Joseph is not and Simeon 〈◊〉 not and you will take Benjamin away 〈◊〉 these things be against me But there was 〈◊〉 time then drawing neer that Jacob should bâ—… delivered from his troubles and enjoy the company of all his Sons again The way to true happinesse is through many difficulties you must suffer a while before you shall be established strengthened and setled God is unstripping thee of thy riches and righteousnesse as he did Job that he may give thee twice as much and ten times better in its room the Vision is yet for an appointed time Hab. 2. 3. and at the end it will come wait for it nay it will surely come it will not tarry It may be thou and I have heard That the mountain of the Lords house shal be established upon the top of the mountains well it shall come to passe but the Vision is for an appointed time Hath the Lord promised that knowledge shall cover the Earth as the waters the Sea and that we shall all know him from the least to the greatest Wel God is faithful it shall come to passe but the Vision is for an appointed time Doest thou not read in Dan. 2. that there was a stone cut out without hands and became a great mountain and filled the whole Earth well the Vision is for an appointed time wait for it for it will surely come it will not tarry Hath the Lord indeed promised to take away thy filthy garments as once he did from Joshua Josh 3. 3 4. the Vision is for an appointed time it will speak and not tarry Hath he promised indeed that sorrow and sighing shall fly away and that all tears shall be wiped from thine eyes and thou shall have no more pain and sorrow why hâ—â—s faithful that hath promised onely the Vision is for an appointed time it will speedily speak it will not tarry Do the Scriptures speak of the calling of the Jews and of the bringing in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles and of the restauration of all things the Vision is for an appointed time it will speak and not tarry Hath the Lord indeed promised that the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shal be seven-fold the Vision is for an appointed time it will speak it will not tarry Hath he said by his servant Isaiah c. 25. 7. And he will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people and rend the vaile that is spread over all nations He is faithfull so that one tittle shall not passe till all be fulfilled onely it shall be done in its appointed time How shall hope and patience be exercised if he should not make us wait and how shall we say as in Isai 24. 9. This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation say not with Moses Neither hast thou delivered us at all Exod. 5. last vers but say with Paul 2 Cor. 1. 10. Who hath delivered us who doth deliver us in whom we trust he will yet still deliver us â—…e thankfull then for what is already done and believe and wait for what is â—…ow a doing I see the Saints saying with Abraham Gen. 15. 2. Lord what wilt thou give â—…e c. But methinks you should rather be saying with David Psal 116. 12. What shall I give thee for all thy benesits to me Again we read in the book of the Revelation of seven Seals and seven Vials and seven Trumpets If we compare these Seales Vials and Trumpets together I suppose we shall finde them hold forth one and the same thing And then if we consider what Seale is now opening what Trumpet is now sounding what Vial is now pouring forth thou wilt see what state the Church of Christ s now under and what the Almighty â—…s now doing for her deliverance Is not â—…he seventh Seal now opening is not the â—…eventh Vial now pouring forth Is not â—…he seventh Trumpet now sounding and â—…ome of the Saints begining to lift up their voices Rev. 11. 15. And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and â—…e shall reign for evermore Rejoice O Sion â—…hy day is dawning Howle O Babylon thy plagues are comming he is gathering his wheat into the barn but he will burn the chaffe with an unquenchable fire It iâ—… true the Saints may be shaken once more as in Heb. 12. 26 27. that those things that may be shaken may be taken away and those and only those that cannot be shaken may remain But Babylon shall be shaken down to the earth and ground to powder and cast into the bottomlesse pit there to continue for ever Oh then lift up your hearts w th your hands unto our God in the heavens Oh lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees Take the two wings the one of Faith the other of Love and flie into the aire of Comfort where thy treasure is saying Come Lord Jesus come quickly take possession of that which is thine own I had many things more in my heart and mind to present unto thy consideration whosoever thou art that readest these words I will here but name them unto thee but in another Treatise shortly present them before thee which being done I shall apply those words of Solomon Eccles 12. 12 13. 1. Beware of extremes Men be very apt in this age either to cry up all Clergy-men or cry down all Clergy-men whereas we should endeavour the plucking up and rooting out all false pretended Ministers for they be the worst of men the Scripture calls them Dogs and Wolves and Cheaters and Deceivers
c. But we should double our love to all that be faithful for they are the mouth of the Lord to us and their feet are beautiful The Scriptures command us to esteem them highly for their works sake And whereas they sow unto us spiritual things let not us keep back from them carnal things 1 Cor. 9. 11. Rom. 15. 27 c. Let us do this lest they say of us as Paul did of his hearers 2 Cor. 11. 8. I have robbed other Churches taking wages of them to do you service I once heard that there was a godly man that had three friends And to try their wisdome he sent to each of them an Apple he knowing by a small instrument that each Apple was rotten at the core The first receives his apple and cut it in the midst and found it rotten at the core and so threw it away The second receives his apple and found it rotten in the midst but because it came from his friend he eat it all The third received his apple and cut it as the former and found it rotten so he cut off the rotten and threw it away but eat only the good Now let us not be like to him that threw away all because there was some unsound Neither let us be like the second that received good and bad together But let us be like the last that received the good and rejected the bad And that thou maiest put a difference between the good and the bad thou shalt see them set forth in their colours that they may be known in what I have written before in my Epistle to the World 2. Beware of murmuring Thou hast been delivered from Egypt and brought through the Red-sea and art now in the wildernesse in thy journy towards Canaan If thou murmure at the present dispensation or distrust Gods power or speak unadvisedly with thy lips against our Moses and Joshua Parliament and Army thou art like to die in the wildernesse and not to have any part in the deliverance that is at hand See 1 Cor. 10. 5 6 7 8 9 10. 3. My earnest desire and request is that you would make Religion your businâ—…sse and the world a thing by the bie for now Religion with most men is but a stalking-horse men look after that when they have nothing else to do the World not Religion is our businesse contrary to the mand of our Lord Jesus Christ Seek ye first the kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof Mat. 6. 33. 4. Spend not so much time and pains aboutt he outside of Religion as Discipline and Order but spend thrice as much about the inside the principles and grounds of truth Me thinks I see most men spend much time in the outside of Religion viz. whether Presbyterie Anabaptisme or Independencie be the way c. And so whiles they be disputing about the garment the power of Religion is much abated The Kings daughter is all glorious within Look to the powâ—…r in the first place and then the form will follow after in its order 5. The more spiritual any truth is let thy soul take the more delight in it reject it not as most do if it be not clothed with some humane excellencie Remember the Stone which the wise builders rejected is become the head of the corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in the eyes of men 6. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not ashamed to own Christ and his cause in publike in the view of all men If the things â—…e hold be sound and true bring them forth Truth seeks no corners light was never ashamed of darknesse the nature of truâ—… light is to destroy darknes The Bishops havâ—… no Courts the Apparitors no Commissions their day is ended wherefore come forth ye Doves that have lain a long time in the clefts of the rocks in the secret places of the stairs let us see thy countenance let us hearâ—â— thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely Cant. 2. 14. Wherefore come forth and so much the rather because there are some that seek occasion to speak evil of you Take off that occasion lest they say of you as 2 Tim. 3. 6. 7. If ever thou intendest to do any thing for God in honouring him in the world do it presently whiles it is called to day for thy time here in this world is almost spent it was but short at the longest the thred of thy life is almost spun out thy dayes flie a way very swiftly yea swifter then the Weavers shuttle Job 7. 6. and so thou and I shall speedily cut off our life like a Weaver Isa 38. 12. R. P. FINIS Reader Let me intreat thee to correct those greater faults that appear at first view for I have not time to peruse it all And pass by in love many lesser caused through my absence and the Correctors oversight