reason whose Rule is the law of nature as explained in the scriptures whose use and end is acceptation with God and justification before him which is pure impure Pelagianisme propagat now in Brittan where it had its unhallowed birth a tremenduous signification of the high displeasure of God against these huffeing arrogants of this age who because they have not received the truth in love are left to soul-murthering delusions and for their dispiseing the unsearchable riches of Christ held forth in the gospel are left in stead of embraceing Christ Jesus into their soul as altogither lovely whom God hath made unto us wisdom righteousnesse sanctification and redemption to embrace in their bosome and hug between their brests this hell-borne and after all the cost they have bestowed upon it wherein they are at the expence of their precious soul if repentance prevent it not hell-blake brate morality in opposition to that gospel holinesse wherein conformity to God consists It concernes thee Christian Reader whoso ever thou art carefully to observe that the great designe the Devil this day drives in the world i◅ how to introduce a Religion amongst these called Christians which for the soul and substance of it is an Antichristian masse and medly substitute and obtruded in place of the marrow of the gospel mysteries of salvation And though Christ be named amongst these perverters of the gospel yet he is really exautorat and robbed of his offices and while false ends are assigned the great end of his comeing in the world is denied and the blessed intendment and designe of the gospel of the grace of God is defeat Now because Satan finds no mids so propper for his purpose nor mean so certain to accomplish his end as to corrupt the minds of men with perverse principles for they are more then halfe way to hell when their principles state them in an opposition to thē Prince of life he perverts them into a nauseating of the plain path way of salvation by a slain Saviour for the preaching of the crosse what ever they pretend is really to them foolishnesse and seduceth them into a satisfaction with and pleading for this pagan piety as preferable to pure Religion and undefiled before God And then under this maske of morality and disguise of vertue doth Abaddon muster all his several legions and mannage his opposition against the Mediator in the comeing of his kingdome in the world and conquering the souls of men It is true there may be some small differences betwixt his forces when gathered in the field in their manner or method and marke some attacqueing the gospel in the very substance of it with a flouting and fierce insolency others with a subtile and snarkeing fullenness but all of them concenter in the designe and bewray such a keenness and diligence in driveing it as showes both under whose banner they fight and how true they are to their collours and Captain herein Papists Pelagians Socinians Arminians and the compound of all abominations Quakers are unite And r◅uely if I might be heard I would beseech also our pepper corne men to consider how far the Adversary of mans salvation hath improved their assertions and concessions and how much advantage the common enemies of the truth have got thereby Take notice therefore I say Christians of this being Satans main designe and how and by whom it is mannaged lest yee be seduced into the same conspiracie for many who seemed to be of understanding have fallen and fallen because the did not feare to fall O beware lest yee also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness but study to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour for there is none other name given und◅ heaven whereby men may be saved Jesus Christ I know that every Reader and serious Christian in order to his own establishment is not able to purchase nor is at leisure to peruse what Godly men have written for this end and whose praise because of their pains is in the Church of Christ such as that large discourse of learned and truely religious Doctor Owen upon the Holy Spirit◅ wherein that worthy Author as he hath given proof to the world of Christs being formed in him and that his working and walking and witnessing to the truth proceeds from the same noble principle Christ dwelling in him and walking in him so he hath with a profound perspicuity and convinceing plainnesse discovered the nature pedegree discent and tendency of this monster and then haveing discovered whence it came and for what end he hath given it a mortal blow whereby he hath laid it all alongs and left it sprawling and gnawing its tongue and gnashing its teeth for which learned elaborat and judicious discourse as all the lovers of that truth which is according to godlinesse are obliged to blesse the Lord so are they under the obligation of thankfulnesse to him and by this I returne him my poor insignificant thanks And I have the allowance of the Author to do the same in his name But I would recommend to you who can neither purchase nor peruse what is more voluminous how worthy soever the serious perusal as of the whole of that savoury grace-breathing peece The fulfilling of the Scriptures so therein that short but sweet digression against blake-mouthed Parker wherein the gracious Author takes out his own soul and sets before thine eye the image of God impressed thereon for while he deals with that Desperado by clear and convinceing reason flowing natively from the pure fountain of divine revelation he hath the advantage of most men and writers too in silencing that blasphemer of the good wayes of God with arguments taken from what he hath found acted upon his own soul. And likewise I would recommend as a soveraigne antidot against this poison the diligent peruseing and pondering of what is shortly hinted against the hellish belchings of the same unhallowed Author in the preface to that piece of great Mr. Durham upon the Commands by a disciple who besids his natural acuteness and subactness of judgement in the deepth of gospel mysteries is known by all who know him and for my self I know none now alive his equal to have most frequent accesse to lean his head on his Masters bosome and so in best case to tell his fellow disciples and brethren what is breathed into his own soul while he lives in these embraces and under the shedings abroad of that love of God in his soul which drew and did dictat these lines against that flouter at all such fruitions Nor can I here omit to observe how when the devil raised up Parker that Monster to barke and blaspheme the Lord raised up a Merveil to fight him at his own weapon who did so cudgel and quell that boasting Bravo as I know not if he be dead of his wound but for any thing I know he hath laid his speech
and the basis of mans blessednesse advanceing him both to a conformity to God and qualifying him for the fruition of Him by the generality of those called to be saints that they may be haved is not onely upon deliberation and choice laid aside as having nothing in it to recommend and endeare it to the souls of men but hated floured fled from and forsaken as if it came on purpose to marre mens tranquillity and torment them before the time While I say it is thus some faithful Servants who make conscience to carry on His work who came to destroy the works of the Devil and went about while in the world healing all that were oppressed of him set themselves to pray preach and perswad the things concerning the Kingdome of God yea to write and warne and weep men into a compliance with their own happipinesse they endeavour solicitously to informe mens minds that they may reforme their manners and rescue them with feare who are runing upon their own ruine but alas with so little successe that they doe the work of the Lord with grief and have much sorrow of those of whom they ought to have joy and after all their beseechings obtestings requestings and cryings this is the way walke yee in it turne you turne oh why will you dye have this as the last returne to all their importunities Nay there is no hope speake no more to us of that matter do not offer to perswade us to relinquish the old road or disswade us from following our lovers for when ye have done all after these we will go we resolve to abide what we have been children of imperswasion But if his Servants in following their work closly seem to have gained a little ground upon men and almost perswaded them to be Christians Satan to the end he may make all miscarry and counter worke these workers together with God and poison poor souls by a perversion of the Gospel beyond the power of an antidot hath raised up instigat and set on work a race of proud Rationalists for they are wiser then to classe themselves amongst those poor fools those base things those nothings to whom Christ is made all things to whom Christ is made wisdome that he may be righteousnesse sanctification and redemption to them nay they must be wise men after the flesh wise above what is written a crucified Christ is really unto them foolishnesse and weaknesse though the power of God and the wisdome of God they will needs go to work another way they will needs glory in his presence and have a heaven of their own hand-wind O my soul enter not into their secrets and O sweet Jesus let thy name be to me the Lord my righteousness thou hast wone it weare it and gather not my soul with such who make mention of any other righteousness but of thine onely to bring-in another Gospel amongst men then the Gospel of the grace of God as they determine to know some other thing then Christ and him crucified so with the inticeing words of mans wisdom they bewitch men into a disobedience to the truth setting somewhat else before them then a crucified Christ And this they do that they may remove men from those who call them into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel A Christ it is true they speake of but it is not the Christ of God for all they drive at O cursed and truely Antichristian designe is that he may profite them nothing while they model all Religion according to this novel project of their magnified morality This is that which gives both life and lustre to that image they adore to the Dagon after whom they would have the world wonder and Worship That there is such a moralizeing or muddizeing if I may be for once admitted to coine a new word to give these men their due of Christianity now introduced and comeing in fashion many of the late pieces in request do evince Now that Christianity should moralize men above all things I both give and grante for he who is partaker of the divine nature and hath obtained precious faith must adde vertue to his faith But that it should be only conceived and conceited as an elevation of nature to a more cleare light in the matter of morality wherein our Lord is onely respected as an heavenly teacher and perfect paterne proposed for imitation is but a proud pleasing fansie of self conceited darkened and deluded dreamers robing God of the glory of his mercy and goodnesse our Lord Jesus Christ of the glory of his grace and merit The Spirit of the efficacy of his glorious and mighty operations and themselves and their pilgrimes who give them the hand as guids of the comfort and frute of all This is the pilgrimage we are perswaded to undertake to the holy Land this is that reasonablenesse of Christianitie which with great swelling words of vanitie is ventilat to the allureing and ensnareing of such who had almost escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust and the pollutions of the flesh through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ This is the way which they who undertake to publish to the world the true causes of the decay of pietie take to revive and introduce that pietie which they complain is wanting O impious invention not only encroaching upon the unsearchable mysterie of the Gospel but subversive of the whole method and blessed and beautiful contrivance of salvation and rendering salvation impossible to the greatest proficients in this studie and the grand patrons and practitioners in this new art the greatest opposers of that grace of God which bâ—…ingeth salvation unto all men It is true they will not plainly plead for profanitie Nay they may and do make a great noise about the practise of pietie as if they were the only patrons thereof that with lesse observation and greater facility they may beguile themselves and their followers of the reward they may possibly perswade even to a pinching of the body that they may puffe up and pamper their fleshly minde and while they overdrive men to the practise of will worship and performance of those things which have a shew of wisdome it is that they may withdraw them from holding that blessed head from which all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God yet the grace of God that onely liveing principle of all true pietie which they dispute out of the souls of men that they may debauch them into a contempt of the Spirits working in men to will and to do takes frequent vengance on this their invention by leaving them not onely to play the Devil in disguise that they may be known by their fruits but also to lay aside that garbe of external godlinesse for the Devil nor his Domesticks cannot long weare a strait doublet that it may appeare how it is verified in them from
after more of righteousness in the secrete engagements of the heart to God in Christ in these burstings of heart and bleedings of soul to which God alone is witnesse because of shortcomeing in holinesse because of a body of death within and because of that law in the members warring against the law of the mind and bringing often into captivity to the law of sin as it growes upward in a profession and this is that pure Religion and undefiled before God which is both most pleasant to him and profitable to the soul. But to make the difference betwixt dead morality in its best dress and true godlinesse more cleare and obvious that the loveliness of the one may engage men into a loathing of the other this dead caâ—…ion and stinking carcaâ—…e of rotten morality which still stinks in the nostrills of God even when embalmed with the most costly ointments of its miserably misled patrons we say that true godlinesse which in quality and kinde differs from this much pleaded for and applauded morality a blake heathen by a â—…el kinde of Christians baptized of late with the namâ—… of Christianity and brought into the temple of the Lord concerning which he hath commanded hat it should never in that shape and for that end it is introduced enter into his congregation and the bringers for their pains are like to seclude themselves for ever from his presence It respects Jesus Christ. 1. As its Principle 2. As its Paterne 3. As its Altar and. 4. As its end First I say true holinesse in its being and operation respects Jesus Christ as its principle I live said that shineing saint yet not I but Christ liveth in me as that which gives religion its first being is the religation of the soul to God so that which gives it motion and drawes forth that life into action is the same God's working all their works in them and for them so that in all they do they are workers together with God every act of holinesse is an act of the soul made alive unto God through Jesus Christ and quickened to each action by the supervenience of new life and influence therefore says Christ without me you can do nothing it is not being out of me you can do nothing for he spoke it to those who were in him but if ye leave me out in doing all ye do will be nothing It s Jesus Christ who gives life and leggs so that our runings are according to his drawings my soul followeth hard after thee said that holy man but whence is all this life and vigour Thy right hand upholdeth me O it is the upholdings and helpings of this right hand enlargeing the mans heart that makes a runing in the way of his commandâ—…ents it is he who while the saints worke-out the work of their own salvation workâ—…th in them â—…th to will and to do It is he who giveth power to the faint and who to them that have no might encreaseth stâ—…ength so that the poor lifelesse languishing ly by is made to mount-up with Eagles wings and suâ—…mount all these difficulties with a holy facility which were simply insuperable and pure impossibilities now the man runs and doth not weary because Christ drawes and he walks and doth not faint because Christ in whom dwels the fulnesse of the God-head bodily dwels in him and walks in him and dwels in him for that very end that he may have a compleatnesse and competency of strength for duety all grace is made to abound unto him that he alwayes having all sufficiency in all things may abound unto every good work he is able of himself to do nothing no not to think any thing as he ought but he hath a sufficiency of God whereby he is thorowly furnished unto every good work so that he may say I am able for all things it is more then I am able to do all things as we read it its just import is I am able to do all things and to endure all things and that which keeps it from vain boasting is what is ad led through Christ which strengtheneth me or putting power in me or rather impowering me which is by a supervenient act drawing forth life into a livelinesse of excercise according to the present exigent There is a power in a saint because Christ is in him that over powers all the powers of darknesse with out and all the power of indwelling corruption within so that when the poor weak creature is ready to despond within sight of his duty and say because of difficulty what is my strength that I should hope Christ saith despond not my grace is sufficient forthee and my power shall rest upon thee to a reviveing thee and raising thee up and putting thee in case to say when I am weake then am I strong his strength who impowers me is made perfect in my weakenesse so that I will glory in my infirmities and be glade in being graces debtor But what power is that which raiseth the dead finner and carries the soul in its actings so far without the line and above the sphere of all natural activity when stretched to its utmost O it is an exceading great power which is to them ward who beleive that must make all things how difficult so ever easie when he works in them to will and to do according to the working of his mighty power or as it is upon the margent more emphatick of the might of his power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand c. he that raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead raiseth up beleevers also by Jesus and being raised and revived by him to walk in new nesse of life the life of Jesus in its communications of strength is manifest in their mortal flesh according to that of the same Apostle the life that I live in the flesh sais he I live by the faith of the Son of God faith brings in Christ in my soul and Christ being my life carries out my soul in all the acts of obedience wherein though I be the formal agent yet the efficiency and the power by which I operat is from him so that I can give no better account of it then this I not I. But who then if not you The grace of God sais he which was with me But this mystery to our bold because blind moralists of an indwelling Christ working mightily in the soul is plain madnesse and melancholy however we understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ who said the life I live in the flesh c. and from what we understand of his knowledge in that mystery which he had by revelation we understand our moralists to be men of corrupt minds who concerning the faith have made shipwrack but what is that the life I live in the flesh c The â—…port of it seems to be this if not more while I have
that many are so busied about is such as Pelagians Arminians Papists Socinians Quakers yea Turks and moral Hâ—…athens Yea and all who are enemies to and not reconcileable with the true grace of God held forth in the Gospel will willingly admit of and harmoniously agree in A way which complyeth so well with proud self and with the Corrupt Nature of Man that it is little wonder if it have many abettors and admirers I shall say no more of this seing my beloved Brother hath said so much to it already to very good purpose in the foregoing Epistle but only inferre That sure the consideration of this should move all in whom is any thing of the zeal of God and love to souls their owne and others to appear in the defence of the Gospel of our Salvation by all meanes incumbent to them and possible for them for if this Citadel strong hold wherein our All and the all of pure and true Religion lyeth be blown up we are gone and indeed no less is intended by this Antichristian and antievangelick enemy than the utter subversion of True Christian Religion VVho would not then be hereby alarmed and upon their guaird when matters are at this passe Should not all vvho have any love to their ovvn souls any zeal for the glory of Christ anointed of the Father to be our Prophet Priest King any desire to see the crown flourishing upon his Head and to have the Gospel preserved pure and uncorrupted be pleading vvith God by prayer in the behalfe of His Son's Kingdom Crown and Glory and vvrestling vvith Him till He vvere pleased to dispel these clouds prevent this blake day Especially should they not be labouring to be acquanted in truth and reality vvith the Gospel of Iesus Christ that having the mysterious truths thereof imprinted on their souls and their hearts casl into its mould they may be preserved from the hurt of this deadly poison for this vvith a constant dependence upon and use making of Christ in all His offices vvill prove the best preservative against this infection The persvvasion vvhereof did induce me to publish the follovving heads of some sermons after they had been translated into dutch and published here knovving that they might be of no lesse use to the people of God in Britane and Ireland I knovv not a more effectual mean to keep unstable souls from sideing with and imbraceing every new notion from being carryed about with every winde of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in waite to deceive than to put them upon the real exercise of Gospel godliness and to the dayly practice of the maine and fundamental gospel work of living by faith in Jesus Christ and of growing up into Him in all things who is the Head from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Such I am sure as have thus learned the Truth as it is in Iesus and are practiseing the same accordingly will have an Antidot within them against the strongest poison of these Seducers and a real answere to and confutation of all their subtile sophismes The soul exerciseing it self unto Gospel godliness will finde work enough to take it wholly up and finde such a solide ground to stand upon and see such a satisfying fulness answering all its necessities and wants such a sure heart-quieting ground of Peace Hope and Consolation in Iesus Christ as that it will have no leasure and small temptation to listen to Seduceing perverters and no inclination to seek after empty Cisterns I know much may be desiderated in this following Treatise and many may have exceptions not without ground against it Some may think it arrogancy and too great confidence in me to attempt the handling of such a mysterious necessary part of Christian practice wherein few if any so far as I know have gone before in direct handling of this matter at least in this methode order I meane that part which is about Sanctification others may be displeased with the meane low stile with my multiplying of particulars vvhich might have been better more handsomly couched under fevver heads and vvith my uncessary contracting of the vvhole into such narrovv bounds and other things of that kinde for vvhich many other failings of the like nature import vvhich may vvithout any diligent search be found in it even by ordinary unprejudiced Readers I shall not industriously laboure to apologize knovving that my very apology in this case vvill need an apology Only I shall say this That considering hovv the snare vvhich the vigilant active enemie of our Salvation the Devil vvas laying by an unholy morality did nearly concearne all especially the meanest for parts experience and less fixed Christians I thought a discourse on such a subject as I judged most necessary at all times especially in such a day of hazard should be framed to the capacity of one as well as another the most understanding can receive benefite by that which is calculat to the capacity of children when these can reap little edification by what is suited to the palate of those the less experienced or such as are of lower understanding will be less able to draw a General to a Particular or to improve so fully to comprehend one particular touched as to be able thereby to understand take in a like particular not mentioned than such as have their senses more exercised and are thereby in case to make a better improvement of what is but compendiously declared when those must have the bread brocken to their hand or they shall receive but small edification thereby and yet I suppose the judicious will observe some variety smaller or greater even where Particulars seem to be at the first view most unnecessarily multiplied I know and willingly grant for it is obvious enough that a discourse of this Subject and matter might have required a faâ—… larger volume But then how should such have profited thereby whom Poverty might possibly have scarred from bâ—…ying or the necessary affaires of their ordinary callings would have keeped from a diligent perusal of it And I thought that neither of these should have been overlooked in this special or general designe which I had before mine eyes One thing as my answere to all I shall but add If hereby Others whom the Lord hath more enabled with all necessaries for such a work shall be hereby either instigated or encouraged to write upon this Subject I meane mainly the last part thereof touching the usemaking of Christ in Sanctification for blessed be the Lord many have been employed of the Lord to speak soundly and edifyingly unto the usemaking of Christ as to Righteousness and Justification and give a Full Plaine
of which the Prophet complaineth Esai 64 7. when he sayeth there is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee 4. There is a giving way to spiritual drouzinesse upsitting in duties in the wayes of God I sleep said the Spouse Cant. 5 2 3. I have put off my coat c. She knew she was not right but was drousie yet she did not shake it off but composed herself for it tooke off her coat washed her feet so lay downe to sleep 5. There is a satisfaction and contentment with his condition as thinking we are pretty well at least for that time and thus was the spouse in that forementioned place led away she was so far from being dissatisfied with her condition that she rather expresseth her contentment therewith 6. There may be such a love to such a condition such a satisfaction in it as that they may shift every thing that hath a tendency to rouze them up out of that sluggish lazinesse as not loving to be awakened out of their sleep So we see the Bride shiftâ—… putteth off Christ's call invitation to her to arise open to Him 7. Yea there is a defending of that condition as at least tollerable none of the worste a justifying of it or at least a pleading for themselves excuseing the matter covering over their neglect of duty with faire pretexts as the Spouse did when she answered Christ's call with this that she had washed her feet might not defile them agine 8. Yea further there is a pleading for this case by alledging an impossibility to get it helped 〈◊〉 matters now stand or at least they will muster up insuperable-like difficulties in their own way of doing duty as the sluggard will say that there is a lyon in the way the Spouse alledged she could not put on her coat againe 9. Yea it way come yet higher even to a peremptour refuseing to set about the duty for what else can be read out of the Brides carriage than that she would not rise and open to her beloved 10. There is also a desperate laying the duty aside as supposeing it impossible to be gote done and so a resolute laying of it by as hopelesse and as a businesse they need not trouble themselves with â—…l because they will not get it throughed 11. And hence floweth an utter indisposition unfitnesse for duty 12. Yea and in some it may came to this hieght that the thoughts of going about any commanded duty especially of worshipe either in publick or Private or their minting and attempting to set about it shall fill them with terrour and affrightment that they shall be constrained to forbeare yea to lay aside all thoughts of going about any such duty This is a very dead like condition what can be the causes or occasions thereof I answere And this is the Second particular Some or all of those things may be considered as â—…ving a hand in this 1. No care to keep up a tender frame of heart but growing slack loose and carelesse in going â—…bout christian duties may bring on such a disâ—…emper 2. Slighting of challenges for omission of duties or leaving duties over the belly of conscience may make way for such an evil 3. Giving way to carnality and formality in duties is a ready meane to usher in this evil for â—…hen the soul turns carnal oâ—… formal in the discharge of duties duties have not that spiritual luster which they had the soul becometh the sooner wearyed of them as seeing no such desireablnesse in them â—…or advantage by them 4. When people drown themselves in the cares of the world they occasion this deadnesse to themselves for then duties not onely are not gone about heartily but they are looked on as a burden and the man becometh weary of them and from that he cometh to neglect them and by continueing in the neglect of them he contracteth an aversation of heart from them then an utter unfitnesse and indisposition for dischargeing of them followeth 5. Satan hath an active hand here driveing-on with his crafts and wiles from one steppe to another 6. The hand also of a Soveraigne God is to be observed here giving way to this yea and ordering matters in his justice and wisdome so as such persons shall come under such an indisposition and that for wise and holy ends as 1. That by such a dispensation he may humble them who possibly were puft up before as thinking themselves fit enough to go about any duty how difficult or hazardous soever as Peter who boasted so of his own strength as he thought nothing to lay down his life for Christ and to die with him and yet at length came to that that he could not or durst not speak the truth before a damsel 2. That He may punish one spiritual sin with another 3. To give warning to all to watch and pray and to worke out their salvation with fear and trembling and not to be high minded but feare 4. That thereby in his just and righteous judgment He may lay a stumbling block before some to the breaking of their neck when they shall for â—…his cause reject and mock at all religion 5. That He may give proof at length of his admirable skill recovering from such a distemper that no flesh might have ground to despare in the most dead condition they can fall into 6. And to show sometimes what a Soveraigne dispensator of life He is and how free He is in all his favours As to the third particular How Christ is Life in this case We answere 1. By keeping possession of the believer even when he seemeth to be most dead â—…nd keeping life at the root when there is neither frute appearing nor flourishes and hardly many grean leaves to evidence life 2. By blowing at the coal of grace in the soul in his own time and way and putting an end to the winter and sending the time of the singing of the birds a spring time of life 3. By looseing the bands with which he was held fast formerly enlargeing the heart with desires to go about the duty so that now he willingly risâ—… up out of his bed of security and cheerfully â—…aketh off his drousinesse and sluggishnesse and former unwillingnesse and now with willingnesse and cheerfulnesse he setteth about the duty 4. By sending influences of life and strength into the soul whereby the wheels of the soul are made to run with ease being oyled with those divine influences 5. And this he doth by touching the heart and â—…akening it by his Spirit as He raised thâ—… Spouse out of her bed of security and leazinesse by putting in his hand by the hole of the door then were her bowels moved for Him ant 5 vers 4. and thus He setteth faith on work againe having the key of David to open the heart Revel 3 vers 7. 6. By giving a discovery of