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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A81042 An epistle to Friends, for union and edification of the Church of God in Christ Jesus. By his servant, John Crook. Crook, John, 1617-1699 1698 (1698) Wing C7209; ESTC R171614 7,559 17

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that was Sown for the Righteous to bring forth a plentiful Crop of Holiness to the Lord from whence also sprang pure Living Praises to the Almighty for bequeathing such a Legacy and Gift through Christ Jesus unto such poor Orphans as we were at the day when as to Religion we could call no Man Father on Earth nay we scarcely durst call God Father in that state we were then in at our first Convincement Yet I can say with many more at that day viz. In God the Fatherless found Mercy through Jesus Christ Let all be careful how any meddle by way of Prophecy of Times and Seasons so as to fix Destructions and Desolations to be on or within such a certain time c. But keep to the form of sound Words and Gospel Doctrine used in holy Scripture and Examples of Gospel Ministers and not to be too positive about Persons Places and Things which if imaginary presumptuous or mistaken proves to the great dishonour of Truth and stumbling of many if not to the Ministring an occasion of Atheism to such as watch for opportunities thereunto and also to cause many not to regard true Prophets The first Preachers among us as all true Preachers do minded more the Goodness and Sincerity of those that came among us than they did the number of the People their Business and Message was to gather the poor lost Sheep of the House of Israel and to call Sinners not only to change their Opinions but to change their Hearts Lives and Conversations that such might be added to the Church as should be saved and in all things they shewed themselves workmen that need not be ashamed they were experienced in the Word and Doctrine and knew that a bare Convincement in the Judgment and Understanding was not sufficient to make Disciples of Christ and that unhewen Stones as they came out of the Quarry were not fit to build God an House to dwell in but would rather prove a disgrace to the Workman that useth them and a dishonour to the whole Building if made use of for such unskilful Builders indeed may well be ashamed of their Work and give it over till they are better experienced Therefore such ought to be remembred as have spoken unto us the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Christ Jesus the same yesterday to day and for ever as Heb. 13.7 8 9. and that you be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace and not with Meats as saith the Apostle Therefore Dear Friends and Brethren let us all abide with God in the Calling whereunto he hath called us and none to strive for Mastery nor to be many Masters and to set up as 't were for themselves but all to serve the full time of Silence in order to be Well-experienced in the Word and Doctrine and when you are throughly of God taught your selves you will understand and learn of him how to instruct others But let all in the first place learn well the Doctrine of Self-denial submitting our selves to God in Christ Jesus So will every one know their Place and Service in the House or Church of the Living God where none that are really Members of it but will submit to the Laws thereof which are All Holiness round about and God in the midst judging out all Stubbornness Self-willedness and all that Wickedness of Jealousies Evil Surmisings Whisperings and Backbitings c. which produce Discord and Divisions And all as little Children and serving one another in Love and the Younger receiving the Counsel and Advice of the Elder imbracing it thankfully for God's Glory and their own Benefit and Comfort So will all from the highest to the lowest submit one to the other in true Love and godly Simplicity for Edification and Preservation of the whole And then forgiving and forgetting all former distances that in the Unity of the Spirit you may all knit together by the Bond of Peace and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against you but you shall remain a People to God's Glory and your own Comfort And so you will abide in the pure Religion unspotted from the World manifesting plainly that you have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken by all that Noise and Clamour that is made against you c. Which Kingdom as it came not by outward Observation so it stands not in Word or Opinion nor yet in Meat and Drink but in Righteousness and Peace and in Joy in the Holy Ghost and he that is in these things saith the Apostle Rom. 14.17 18. serveth Christ such a Man or Woman is accepted of God and approved of Men having this Evidence fixed to this pure Religion viz. of Father Son and Spirit and all good Men as being that only pure merciful Religion before God and the Father that the Apostle James hath given as it were a short Definition or Description of James 1.27 So that whoever Professeth this pure Religion and abides and continues in the same bringing forth in his whole Life and Conversation the pure and holy Fruits thereof need not be ashamed of it for to such an one it is not only given to believe it but also to suffer for the same which hath been and is a great Confirmation to many by that sweet Power and Presence of God that hath assisted them in all their Afflictions and Exercises both from within and without and joyfully in that needful time of great and sharp Trials born up their Spirits to their great Satisfaction and Comfort and to the Eternal Praise of God's most Holy and Blessed Name for ever Amen Hertford the 26th of the 3d Month 1698. John Crook A Postscript Dear Friends LET not your outward Concerns prevent your Religious Meetings and Service on the Week Days lest the Earthly Spirit get up again and bury you before your time but meet in the Faith that you shall meet with God whether you hear Words spoken outwardly or not so by retiring into the inward and spiritual Grace you will avoid the extreams of dead Formality and false Liberty and witness that pure Silence wherein was felt the Breast that inwardly Nourished and those Paps that gave us Suck when we were Young When Christ ascended he commanded his Disciples to wait for Power from on high the Promise of the Holy Spirit which according to his Promise fell upon them when they were met together with one accord and the Apostle in 2 Thes 2.2 exhorts them by their gathering together in Christ c. Seeming to use their Meeting together as an argument to keep down that Wicked One and them from that falling away he speaks of c. Therefore Dear Friends and Brethren be diligent in your Meetings together in God's Fear and Service and that will procure his Blessing upon your diligence in your particular Callings therefore I beseech you stir up and exhort one another thereunto by the Elder giving good Examples to the Younger sort who are apt to content themselves with going to Meetings on the First Days only and then too many instead of waiting and exercising Faith to meet with the teachings of the Spirit of God in their inward parts only exercise their outward Ears in hearing what may be spoken outwardly which in tender Love and good will to the Souls of all I desire may be prevented for the future Farewell Iohn Crook LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sowle near the Meeting-House in White-Hart-Court in Grace-Church-Street and at the Bible in Leaden-hall-street near the Market 1698.