that is in every Man to the reforming of his ways and the changing of his Heart and leaving of his corrupt and vitious â—ncliâ—ations without the divine â—elp and assistance 〈◊〉 the Grace and Spirit of God Now they that are thus far sensible of their alienation by nature from the Lord and 〈◊〉 also sensible that the time they have here 〈◊〉 the only time they have for their â—â—â—â—â—ing and being fitted for that Everlaâ—â—â—â—â— Kingdom which we all woâ—â—â— enjoy Hâ—w ought this to affect the mind of every â—ne that while they have time they might â—â—rize it and improve in and come to an 〈◊〉 sense of the love of God that for they 〈◊〉 have a love raised in their Hearts again to God for People will never be obedient unto God till they love him nor never love him till they are sensible of his love to them Therefore that which is the means and way of Gods making known himself to the Sons and Daughters of Men that meanâ— and that way ought every one to embrace every one ought to be 〈◊〉 â—â—ted with â—t and have 〈◊〉 exercise of thâ—â— minds in it that so we might come to the knowledge of God and might know by an experimental and sensible feeling the kindness of God to us And truly Friends they that are 〈…〉 to spend their time and exercise themselves in thâ— consideration of the mercy and kindness of God thâ—â— have worâ— enough for their whole life-time â—â—e consider and contemplate the manifold Mercies of God bestowed upon them for we have our Life and Breath from him whom the whole World obeys and serves God that made all living Creatures hath created us preserved us he hath had long suffering and patience towards us until now 〈◊〉 he is yet minded to do us good which â—â—eâ—â— dâ—â—ltly manifest by the invitations and promisâ— he hath mâ—â—e us and the workings of his Hâ—ly Spirit that he hath made us acquainteâ— withal For who is there in this Assembly that God hath not made sensible of the tenders of hiâ— grace and invâ—â—â—â—ions to Repentance and Reformation that they that live loose 〈…〉 vainly in the World might turn to the Lorâ— with all their Hearts and consider their waâ— and doings God hath waited to be gracioâ—â— the Sons and Daughters of Men and his â—â—â—cy and patience hath been beyond all huâ—â—â— patience beyond the patience that 〈◊〉 did bestow upon any this the Lord 〈◊〉 shewed upon you therefore I intreat 〈◊〉 hooâ— the love of God let this â—â—â—â—deration sink deeply into your spirits thaâ— you may be affected with the kindness of God and his patience towards you and his long-suffering while you have been sinning against him But some will say How shall I know this After what manner may I experience this love of God to me How may I be sure that the Lord hath a love for me My Friends it is not only temporal kindness that we enjoy from God it is not only the lengthening out of our Days that is an evident token of the love of God to us but there is a demonstration and manifestation of iâ— that is universally extended to the Sons and Daughters of Men in that he hath sown his Word in them and hath sown his Truth and his Grace in their Hearts that every Man tho' never so wicked neâ—er so â—oolish and vain yet hath many times checks and reproofs in his own Heart I know it and I doubt not but you do Pray whence comes it that which doth stop you in a course of sin and châ—â—k and reprove you for sinning against the Lord If you come to mind this and consider of it you will find it comes from God it comes from him from him comes our life and Breath then People â—â—ould be incited to receive the Grace of God â—â—e favour and mercy of God which he hath â—estowed upon them in order to their salvatiâ—â— The Scripture tells us that Grace and â—â—â—th came by Jesus Christ I◠〈◊〉 hast any good it came by Jesus Christ and if thou hast any Truth it came by Jesus Christ who is the Fountain of Truth and the Fountain of the 〈◊〉 of God it is he by whom God hath mâ—de known himself to the Sons and Daughters of Men it is Christ alone that God hath ordained to be a Mediator between God and Man that so he might be the Minister of an everlasting covenant which we are brought into with God so that now People should comâ— to the consideration of the way and means that God hath ordained for their redemption namely that he hath given Jesus that great and unspeakable gift of his love and kindness to the Sons and Daughters of Men here iâ— Grace and Truth that came by Jesus Christ How is it conâ—â— It is come into my Heart Tho' Sins and Lusts and Corruptions perhaps have a placâ— in many yet Christ hath a place too He haâ—â— made his grave with the wicked and was numbred with the Transgressors he was like that Seed that lies under the Clods anâ— iâ— the least of all Seeds yet when it comes out of the Ground it riseth high and spreads abroad its Branches and brings forth Fruit this love of God this unchangeable Holy Truth is in every one why then should not every Man bâ— ruled and governed by it But some Men will say is Truth bâ— than Falsehood and Grace better than 〈◊〉 and Corruption You may see that by the Light that is d◠〈◊〉 in the inward parts Let every Man 〈◊〉 inward to the Grace of God turn to that Light that shews it self in the Creature and see what it will do for us This is the Doctrine that the Apostle was sent withal he waâ—â—â—nt with a Commission to turn Men from Daâ—â—â—â—ss to Light and from the power of Satan to God Why did he do it It was for this end that Men might have remission of Sins and that they might come to an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord so that this Gospel is the same that it ever was though Men have divers ways of preaching and several methods and ways of declaring the Truths of the Gospel blessed be God the Apostolical Doctrine is pâ—â—ached again and the blessed Gospel hath the same power attending it that was in former Days and 〈◊〉 have the same effect and that this may be the Portion of every one of you this iâ— the end of our Labour And we have i◠〈◊〉 Eye but two things I. First to discharge a good Conscience in the sight of God who hath given us his Word to Preach and to turn Men from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God that we might keep our selves free from the Blood of all Men. II. Secondly another end is the desire that God â—â—th placed in our Hearts that all Men every â—here might be Saved this is Gods Will if aâ— be Damned it is their own will and the
Minds but when a Command comes to be obeyed and a Cross to bâ— taken up and Self-denial to be shewn 〈◊〉 some Increase of Trade lies in the way let Truth go where it will you must follow your Interest there wants somewhâ—â— to fix you in the Principle of Truth which is able to sanctifie you and perfect you that you may be reconciled to God through Christ They that are resigned and given up to Truth it is possible for them that they may be satisfied they have an Infallible Testimony of the Spirit of Truth witnessing with their Spirits that such a thing is bad and if they might get the whole World to do it they will not What is Profit and Pleasure to me My Pleasure is at Gods right Hand and my Profit is to get Grace and to have an abundant entrance into Gods Everlasting Kingdom Those that have the true knowledge of Christ they have Profit and Advantage Pleasure and Delight enough which is hid from the World and ever will be They are for Profit and Pleasure which they may have with a good Conscience Those Things which God affords them as Blessings in this World they despise them not but take them with Thanksgiving and use them for his Glory But if they cannot have Profit and Pleasure without sinning against the Lord and their own Consciences take Profit and Pleasure that will They that come thus to close with Truth they have an infallible Evidence within them they do not conceive it is thus and thus because such a Man saith it is so but they have an infallible Evidence in themselves This is the Mind of the Lord God hath signified it by his Spiâ—â—t and sealed it upon my Spirit and I cannot but know it What do you profess Infallibility Else I would hold my Tongue if I did not know what I assert infallibly I would never Preach more Truth may be many times concealed A Man may have wronged and cheated his Neighbour and he not know it this Man goes away and his Neighbour doth not reproach him but when he comes to lie down in his Bed he hath a sting and a reproach in his Conscience I know I have donâ— him harm Whether is not this Infallible Let me consult some learned Men that I may know wâ—â—ther it was a Lie I told I need not go to learned Men and Logicians to know whether it was a Lie I am infallible in this I know certainly it was a Lie I have a certain Evidence and if a thousand Men tell me to the contrary I will not believe them If there be Infallibility here is there not then Infallibility in the word of Truth Shall I question it or doubt it if I have an infallible Testimony of it Tho' Men have never so little proficiency if they have it upon sure Terms and lasting Foundations let a thousand Men come with all their Logical Skill and Sophism yet they can never remove a Man from the Witness â—n himself The Remnant that God hath â—rought to this Foundation they have a certainty and Infallibility in their Obedience they pay to the Will of God aâ—â— in the comfort they have in their Obedience to the Law of God which he hath written in their Hearts Let what will come they can never be removed for this exceeds all the Precepts and Doctrin of Men it is the Precept and Doctrin of Christ and his Apostles Let People read them and endeavour to practise them but here comes the Testimony the Divine Power by which the Precept was given forth to them and is now given forth again to thee and me with as much Liveliness and Power Let us perform them as did the Primitive Christians Here now Comfort comes to flow forth from a settled Foundation that shall never be moved The Winds have come and blown upon Religion let what Wind will blow and can blow God hath built his Church upon a Rock and it will remain unmoveable against all opposition blessed are they that are founded thereupon Hath God fixed and established us in our Society with one another and with our Lord Jesus Christ This is the Foundation that God hath placed it upon We desire that all Men may come to the same stability and settlement and never more to be tosseâ— with the Winds of Doctrin but be built upon Christ Jesus the Rock of Ages the Rock of our Ages the Rock of us and our Children That God will carry us â—n in this Society is the desire of our Souls for our Selves and all our Friends and Country-men The way for you to be blessed and to have 〈◊〉 Advantage for your Immortal Souls by the Testimony that hath been raised up is to have regard to the working of the same Power that you may come to partake of the Benefit of those Gifts and Graces which God hath bestowed upon his Church His Prayer after Sermon MOST blessed and glorious God and Father of Life how wonderful art thou in thy Appearances to thy People in the Day of thy Power in which thou has stretched forth thine Arm and hast gathered a Remnant of those that were scattered and art yet gathering them and bringing them to thy self those that have been driven away and thou hast made known thy power and goodness in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men that they might love thee That thou mightest beget love to thy self thou hast made known thy love to their Hearts if thou hadst not loved us first we had never loved thee But thou hast been shedding abroad thy love in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost to constrain us to love thee Thy love is manifested to all that are breathing after thee and none do breath after thee but through the Life that thou givest to them and those that were dead in Sins aâ—â— Tâ—esâ—asses hast thou quickned and we wâ—â—◠〈…〉 forth thy Praises and Thanksgivings for the great things that thou hast done for us in Jesus Christ All thy Works praise thee and thy Saints bless thee Holy Father of Life increase and multiply those Graces and holy Desires which thou hast begun to work in us and pluck up every Plant that thy right Hand hath not planted Let spiritual Sodom be burnt up and all that are Corrupt let those things that thou hast planted spring up to the Praise of thy Name and the Salvation of the Souls which thou hast gathered O powerful God of Life let thy blessed Presence and living Fear be among us that all thy Children may offer Praises and the Sacrifices of humble Thanksgivings upon thy Holy Altar Arise O Lord more and more in the greatness of thy Power and dispel the Clouds of Darkness that have been upon the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men and raise up in every one of us more and more holy Desires and Breathings after that Life that is Eternal Those that have been scattered let them be now gathered and let those that have been
to do Many have cried secretly what shall we do to be saved For all what we can do cannot save us We have retained this and the other Doctrin follow'd this and the other Way and made many Observations but all this doth not cleanse our Soul nor purge our Consciences from dead Works this will not bring us to the Inheritance of that Immortal Life that will give us satisfaction We hear many speak of Satisfaction and of Joy unspeakable and full of Glory but here is a weight and burthen still lying upon our Souls Therefore my Friends that all such who are brought so far as to be under such a Burden and Oppression that they might be informed and come to understand where the true Rest is and where that Power can be found that is able to answer those tender Desires that are begotten in them for this cause hath the Lord our God communicated and given the Dispensation of the Gospel of his Son unto a Remnant whom he hath sanctified that they might Speak a word in Season to the weary Soul This is not a day to make a mock of Sin this is not a day to make a Covenaâ—â— with â—â—ath and Hell and to resolve to go on in a wicked Life and continue in it all their Days But yet there are a sort of People that desire to have a Word spoken in Season to them when they are weary How many are there in our Age and Generation that one may reckon of this number that are Sinners and overcome by their Lusts and Corruptions and by the Temptations of Satan and his Instruments But they are weary of it it is a burden to their Souls it costs them many a bâ—â—ter Tear many a Sigh and many a sad and sorrowful Thought in secret that they shouâ—â— have a sight of a more excellent Glory and of a better Life than that of their own and yet know not how to get into it My Friends that same Divine Word of Life by which any of the People of the Lord in any Age were ever restored redeemed and purchased again to the Lord That Word of Life must have been at work in their Hearts and hath been at work in them or else â—hou hadst never been so far opened there hath been something that hath unstopped thine Ears that thou might'st hear and the reason of thy Continuance in thy Bonds after thy knowing something that might have freed thee is because thou hast not heartily closed with that which hath begun the Work God bâ— his redeeming Power in the Hearts of them that believe in Christ to raise an inclination in People to seek after the Lord. You know what the Apostle saiâ—â— It is not of us so much as to think a good Thought But this all People will grant is a good Thought when a Sinner thinks of turning to God and leaving his evil Ways if he had Power and Ability and cries out If I knew how to stand against Tempation I would never sin against the Lord more this must be a good Thought in thy Mind How came it there Who is the Author of this Thought you will say This ought to be attribured to the Love of God in Christ that he hath convinced and persuaded us and that tho' there is Sin and Pollution yet he hath not so forsaken us utterly to cast us off he hath sent forth his quickening Spirit that is the Lord from Heaven that he might stir up and quicken People to consider their condition and bring them to a sense of their present State that they may come into a better State than they are in at present If this may be granted that the Spirit of God and the Grace of God is the Author of all these Desires then it will be granted at the same time that every one of you ought to be sensible that such spiritual Desires stirring in you are from the motion and operation of the Spirit of God that hath raised them in your Souls and then I hope you will grant that if you had but joined with that Spirit and with the assistance of that Spirit all things would have been possible thereunto So that here is the first thing that I would have every one satisfied about in their Understandings whether they arâ— totally exempted from any such Touches and Operations of God or no for it is said by some ignorantly That a great part of Mankind have never had any such Divine Workings of the Spirit of God upon them in order to their Conversion therefore it is not in vain for you to consider your state and condition for if you or I or any here be under such Circumstances that they never had nor are ever like to have any such Divine Operations or Touches of the Spirit of Life in order to Conversion then I am sure you and I had better never have been born If you will consider with your selves and lay aside the Disputes of Doctors and Learn'd men you may know the things pertaining to your selves Things relating to others I may let Disputes alone about them but as for things relating to my Salvation I must have a certain Knowledge of them It concerns you my Friends to know within your selves by an infallible Evidence of the Spirit of God whether you have had such Divine Touches Workings and Operations upon your Hearts as have inclin'd you to seek the Lord. I hope I may believ there are none here but have in their Heatrs an Answer I have had such Touches and Operations in me This is great Love from God more than my Tongue can set forth You will be ready to say I have not deserv'd this I have not so behaved my self towardâ— my Maker as to deserve that he should wait upon me and call upon me When wilt thoâ— turn and amend thy Life and hearken to him that made thee When wilt thou leave serving God's Enemy and serve him that is thy rightful Lord So that now this is a greater Aggravation of our Sin to continue in it and yet to have a Belief that God is still waiting upon us and that he hath such a kindness for us as now and then to touch our Hearts by the inward Operation of his Spirit and Grace in order to Conversion Now when this is agreed and Men settle themselves in the belief of this you know what the consequence will be When I consider with my self I that have been under these Workings have been rebellious wicked and disobedient to God yet the Lord is not so angry as utterly to cast me off but is still waiting to be gracious by the Operation of his Spirit to gather me to himself in order to sanctifie me and heal my my Backsliding to cure my Weakness and Infirmities and at the last to save me and make me an Heir of his Eternal Kingdom What is the consequence of this Love Why the next Resolve must be this I will rebel against his Grace and resist
know it they are not ignorant of one another's Names that are written in this Book they have a Fellowship that no body can declare their Communion is in that Bread and that Cup This is a Cup of Blessing indeed and this hath blessed us and will bless us God will preserve a People in this Fellowship You that are at a distance now you must come nearer to him God will chuse a People by whom his Name shall be magnified Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts we cannot but desire this for all especially for the houshold of faith we cannot but desire their Perfection their growing up in the Grace of God that they might come to be partakers of Heaven And in the next Place our Love is to all People every where we would be glad that all were saved they that despise us when we are speaking of Heavenly things speaking like a Child like a stammering Child speaking of the glorious Excellencies of God of the loving kindness of God speaking of those things which God hath spoken to our Souls they that despise these things we would be glad that they might be saved If they were partakers of these things they would be glad as well as we and they would be more really happy in respect of this World for the Time that they are to live here they would live a happier Life even in this World and they would have everlasting life in the world to come The love of Christ constrains men thus to judge that every one that hath received like precious faith ought to answer that Grace and Faith which God hath ministred to them in a holy Life and Conversation and every one who is a stranger to this thing ought to be of an enquiring Mind and an open Heart to wait for the Day when God will visit them with the same Grace when you give up your selves to a daily Cross as Christ's Disciples you will not be running after any one to teach you to know the Lord for you will all know the Lord from the least to the greatest I that have been but a little convinc'd shall I know the Lord Thou shalt know the Lord thou that art dead in thy sins and trespasses thou that hast not known the Blood of cleansing thou shalt know the Lord to be thy Judge and thy Law-giver to teach thee how thou must live walk and act and is not that a good knowledg This is the way they reckoned upon in old Time it is a notable Expression The Lord is our Judge there is the beginning he began there Judgment began at the house of God those he brings into his House he brings them under the Discipline of his House The Lord is our judge he is our king and law-giver and he will save us this same Exercise of Discipline under Judgment brought to them the Faith and Experience of his being their Law-giver and this brought them to a Faith of the last Sentence we shall be saved and the Lord answers such a People That he will bring salvation to them Salvation shall be for walls and bulwarks Did the People of this Nation but know Salvation was brought near to them and that it was their Bulwark there would not be a crying up this and the other rotten thing for a Bulwark We talk of a Bulwark as well as others we have a Bulwark blessed be the God of Heaven made of better Stuff than theirs for it is the Salvation of God which hath kept us from the Pollution of Sin and from a running into all excess and riot that others have run into it hath kept us from the Evil it hath kept Evils out of us and we have found that certainly true That all things work together for good to them that love God and fear God that all the Providences of God together they have all wrought for our good and this is the Bulwork that we have trusted in and it hath served hitherto and it will serve us and our Posterity to the end of the World This is a Bulwark that will never be stormed that will never be thrown down nor laid waste Though all the Powers on Earth and all the Potentates in this World should agree together they shall not prevail against it we have salvation for walls and bulwarks if I be within these Walls Salvation is round about me If I am got into this eternal Bulwark I am safe from the Devil and his Instruments here is a Bulwark to be relied upon Many wonder we differ with them in some Opinions we have that Confidence in this Bulwark that we desire not another God will last and abide for ever so will this Bulwark all the care that I take and all the care that you should take is to keep within these Walls Do not sally out if you go out the the Devil is watching and seeking continually whom he may devour he will catch Straglers if that People will go out for Profit or for Pleasure or Interest the Devil will catch them What such People talk of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks the Devil hath got them in his Snare and they are caught in Drunkenness Uncleanness and other Sins the reason is they have gone out of their Bulwark they have sallyed out of their Walls for the Devil could never have fetched them out O take heed says the Apostle lest there spring up in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God as if he had said You are Christians now you are a People come to a good estate in Christ but consider you have no strength to stand but in him no Power to keep your selves but in him Take heed at all times that there spring not up in you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God take heed lest there spring up in you such a Thought as this I may take this Pleasure and the other Profit Consider that thou diest and witherest if thou depart from the living God take heed of taking Liberty above the fear of God It is not our talk of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks that will do us good but our keeping within these Walls I remember a notable Saying of the Apostle which hath a great Emphasis in it and a great deal of Doctrin he writeth to the Church after they were become a People of professing Christians Take heed lest you come to be beguiled by the serpent as he beguiled Eve he did not speak of Jezabel a wicked Woman but he spoke of Eve a good Woman created after the image of God in righteousness and holiness They were come to a Life of Sanctification to a Life that was hidden from ages and generations You must look to your selves and look upon your selves as in the state of your Mother Eve a Woman brought forth in Righteousness and Holiness that might have stood in that Primitive state notwithstanding all the Subtilty of all the Serpents
an end of Baptism A Man is hungry and when his Time comes to eat he hath no Victuals yet he sits him down as if he did eat will this feed and nourish him So men now a days they have a Baptism wherewith they are baptized but Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire is the right Baptism therefore do not baptize until you find the Holy Ghost this will be far better this is the Baptism that they which come to know it are sure of Salvation by it for by this Baptism they are born up and tinctured in their Souls with the Divine Spirit of Christ Jesus proceeding from the Father and the Son till they receive his Likeness and so die unto Sin As many as were baptized were baptized into Christ's death He openeth it himself in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God so that they that were baptized were baptized into Christ's Death and you that are dead unto sin how should you live any longer therein These that were baptized lived without Sin can that be true never any lived without Sin but Christ only Yes saith the Apostle you that were free from sin are alive to righteousness their Life stood before in Sin and now that Life is taken away by Baptism and they are alive to Christ and he that liveth he liveth to God â—e that comes to be partaker of the first Resurrection if he live Ten Twenty Forty or an Hundred Years he liveth to God he liveth no more in the Pomps and Vanities of the Woâ—ld and the sinful Lusts of the Flesh but he liveth unto God This Baptism whosoever comes to be baptized with it shall be saved so that we do not deny Baptism But we hear say That you deny the Lord's Supper We had never such a Thought God knows there is nothing that our Souls long after more but people have been making a kind of Work of their own they have lost a Reality and make Shadows as Children do who when they see things made in the House for Service they will make the like in Sand and Clay People do not see what a great thing it is to attain to the Supper of the Lord as things came into an Evangelical Opening they spake then more lively and freshly of things Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open to me I will come in and sup with him and he with me For the understanding of this Text If you go and examine and search all the Commentators you can find see what the learned Men say of it see if they do not apply this to the Inward Call of the Spirit and Grace of Christ to let him into our Hearts and would one think that those that wrote these things should be against the Spiritual Dispensation of things They say that this knocking at the Door of the Heart signifies the Call of God's Spirit at the Door of the Heart There are two sorts of Sinners that God knocketh at the Door of their Hearts one is a Man that is weary of his Sin for his part he wisheth that he might never sin more As soon as he perceives the Knock and is called upon to let in the Grace of God to help him against Temptation he freely opens his Heart to receive it and saith With all my Heart I will entertain and welcome the Grace of God glad I am that God hath had so much Patience towards me and since God offers his Grace I will embrace this Grace of God above all Pleasures and I will take it into my Heart the Grace of Christ is the greatest Jewel that I know Honest Paul he took this Course and prayeth Lord take away this Tempter here is a Temptation that troubleth me and I am not willing to yield for all the Devil follows me with it He cried unto the Lord and besought him three times earnestly to take away the Temptation And the Lord answers him My grace is sufficient for thee What matter if the Tempter buffet thee and the Temptation trouble thee hast thou not received my Grace into thy Heart thou art a Believer and thy Trust is in me and my Grace is sufficient for thee Let the Tempter do his worst keep thou to the Grace of God and thou wilt withstand and overcome the Temptation when it comes If a Man openeth his Heart and receiveth Christ when he comes then you shall find such an Alteration in that Man that go and carry him the same Temptation which prevailed over him the last Week it will not do with him now tho' he be as weak as Water and as prone to Corruption and Iniquity as before yet now having a Faith begotten in him that the grace of God will defend him he keeps out of the Devils Snares Now this Man trusting in this grace till his Sin and Iniquity be purged out now is the time to spread the Table there is a clean Heart and the Heavenly Guests are now come and the Dainties of the Kingdom are brought to him for his Nourishment Now saith Christ I I will come in and sup with him and my Father also will come and we will sup with him and he with us This never happens to any Body so long as the Table and Heart is foul for the Table must be clean and the Devil and Sin thrown out and then will the Lord confirm and ratify and seal the Covenant so that here is a Seal with a Witness When a Man hath this Testimony of the Love of God that God is reconciled to him in Christ then Christ will come in and he will bring his Father and they will sup with him and this is that which will give compleat satisfaction to such a Soul All the Tongues of Men and Angels are too short to speak of these things as they are in themselves but they are all manifested by the Spirit All the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are manifested by the Spirit of God now to say there is no Spirit to be regarded now adays that is as much as to say we must never regard the Kingdom of God for no Man can discern the things of God but the Spirit of God no Man can tell what they be As no Man can know the things of a Man buâ— the Spirit of God But I must look to this and the other Form and Mark and Method about them for we can know nothing of the things of God themselves I hope you are all of another Judgment and believe that this is a Trick and Cheat of the wicked one People do find the Spirit and will feel it if they will wait upon the Motions of it I do not only mean when you are here together but when you are separated one from another when you feel the Motions of thiâ— good Spirit embrace them and make them yours This Spirit is a Gift that is given so may a Shilling or a piece of
is a plâ—ce appointed for the Woman in 〈◊〉 Wilderness where she is preserved by the â—â—mighty Power where she is nourished for a Time and Times and half a Time from the Face of the Serpent but she must come out again after some Time in spite of the Devil and all his Instruments of all his Dragons and Serpents The woman must come out of the Wilderness and the Man-Child must come down with great Power to rule the Nations This hath been accomplished say some above fourteen hundred Years ago and if you will take their Word the Church hath been come so long out of the Wilderness But the Church that they speak of hath it not wanted Holiness and Righteousness Hath it given glory to God on high with peace on earth and good will to men No their Church hath lived in Tyranny and barbarous Cruelty and shedding of Blood They say the Churcâ— was in the Wilderness in Dioclesian's Time and when Constantine came to the Empire theâ— she came out of the Wilderness If it had been a Holy Church we should have seen the Man-Child come down from God and Holiness and Righteousness would have run down like a mighty stream and Truth would have filled the whole Earth All these things have not yet been fulfilled for we have seen the Professors of Truth fallen in the Streets they have been persecuted and troubled and thrown into Prisons and … on s but there is a better Church some … to be found I read of the Holy Church the Lamâ—â— Wife the Spouse of Christ that hath been hid somewhere a great while in some Corner or other in the Wilderness but she will come forth again out of the wilderness leaning upon her well-beloved She doth not come leaning on this Prince and the other Potentate She comes not out of the Wilderness leaning on Captains Generals and Armies but leaning on Christ her well-beloved the Immortal Invisible Power of the Son of God she trusteth in it All the other Churches I have read of they have leaned upon one Prince or Potentate or one Emperour or another and they have relyed on these great Men as on their Bulwark but this Church that comes out of the Wilderness will come leaning only upon her well-beloved the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of her Faith she will put her Trust in him for he will deliver his Church from all her Enemies And though the Serpent cast out of his Mouth Water as a Flood after the Woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the Flood 〈◊〉 the Lord will cause the Earth to help â—he â—oman and thâ— Earth shall open her Mouth and swallow up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth Let the Dragon do what he can to destroy the Woman and her Seed she knows what her beloved can do he will command the Earth to open and swallow up the Flood and she shall go dry through it How happy are they that lean upon Christ their well-beloved The Church of Christ in all Ages hath leaned upon him and he hath founded his Church upon a Rock so that the Devil and all his Instruments and the very gates of hell shall not prevail against her The Members of this Church have their Teacher Christ Jesus and they receive Counsel and Direction from him He is their Priest and Teacher and he teacheth them by his Spirit and his Word which he hath placed in their Hearts and given them an Understanding to know him that is true Christ's Word you must keep to 〈◊〉 if you will be true Schâ—lars This 〈◊〉 true Divinity if you will have the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God communicated and opened to you give heed to 〈◊〉 word and that Truth that is in your 〈◊〉 parts Attend to that Light and that 〈◊〉 that is manifested in your Hearts and 〈◊〉 Lord will shew you more of the Power 〈◊〉 Efficacy thereof and if you be faithful 〈◊〉 little he will make you ruler over much 〈◊〉 answerable to the Understanding and Knowledge that God hath given you and if you be faithful in a little he will communicate more and more of his Mind and Will to you and if you be led by the Spirit of Truth you will trust in it and hearken to it and understand the Language of it in your own Hearts and if you be a willing people in the day of God's power God will work all things in you and for you and work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure SERMON IX The wonderful love of God to Mankind Preached at S. Martin's-le-Grand November 9th 16â—0 IT is our great concern while we are in this World to promote the Glory of God and 〈◊〉 work out our own salvation to endeavour â—hat in us lies to be sensible and to help one another to be sensible of the Love of God to 〈◊〉 This is the only thing that can give us 〈◊〉 comfort to have a Sense of the Love of God to us in Christ Jesus There is 〈◊〉 more certain â—haâ—â—hat all of us are Partakâ—â—â— of the Love of 〈◊〉 which is imparted to us daily and we live noâ— a Day without it but we may if we have not a care live maâ—â— Days without it and without the comfortaâ—â—â— Sense of it and that is the reason that 〈◊〉 great many of â—he Sâ—â—â— and Daughters of Men do 〈◊〉 in their Liâ—â—â— so little Love to God becaâ—â—e they have so â—â—â—tle Sense of his Love to them for the Apostle â—ohn that had attained 〈◊〉 great Knowledge and Experience in Christianity plainly declareth that â—he â—â—â—son of that Love â—â—at we have to 〈◊〉 is â—â—â—ause he first loved us and I do not believe that any Man can have any true Love to Gâ—d that is not sensible of the Love of God to hâ—m And 〈◊〉 those temporal Blessings that we enjoy 〈◊〉 thâ—â—â—â—fe as Health and Strength and our very â—â—eath 〈◊〉 â—â—ing and well-being that every Day and Hour are continued they are from 〈◊〉 Love of God to us and the lengthning 〈◊〉 of our Lives and vouchsafing us Oppâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—es for the good of our Souls are evident Tokens of God's Love and Good-will to us Where these things are not coâ—sidered and regarded men live like the 〈◊〉 that perish and regard not him that mâ—dâ— them but go on in Disobedience to him 〈◊〉 Dishonouring of his great Name and hoâ—â—â—ing up Wrath upon their own Souls Aâ—◠〈◊〉 doth every Man while he remaâ—â—â— in 〈◊〉 natural state and conditionâ— foâ— there is in every Man by nature the Sâ—â—d aâ—d Root of all Sin and Rebellion against 〈◊〉 which makes him return evil to God fâ—â— the good he doth to us And I believe we are â—ll of us sensible in some measure of the depravedness that is fallen upon all Maâ—â—â—d and of tâ—â—t â—â—mity to God and that aveâ—â—â—â—ss that â—s 〈…〉 the doing the will of God and that impotency and inability