things is God And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a Servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after but Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Heb. 3. 1. to the 8. And make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fail for so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 9 10. Thus saith the Scriptures I say where there is no calling and what that calling is I have signified it is unto Holiness there is no justification and where there is no justification there is no glorification and this is in Christ Jesus And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore brethren we are debters not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together Rom. 8. 10. to the 18. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you who by him do believe in God who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Seeing that you have purified your souls in the obeying of the Truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently being borne again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever For all flesh is grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever And this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you 1 Pet. 1. 17. to the end So this is the calling and this is the word and this is the hope and this is the Predestination and this is the fore-knowledge and this is the Justification and this is the Glorification viz. Christ Jesus and as men are for him and are found in him not having their own Righteousness which is through the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by faith Phil. 3. 9. And where men are not here they are mistaken to talk of these things or to think them theirs They appertain to another state then Transgression which delivers out of it and maketh men indeed the Sons of God and so are Heirs of the Blessing that came on Abraham who believed and it was counted to him for Righteousness of whom God saith I know him that he will command his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Gen. 18. 19. And who raised up the Righteous man from the East called him to his foot gave the Nations before him and made him rule over Kings He gave them as dust to his sword and as driven stubble to his bow Isa 41. 2. And art not thou our God who didst drive out the Inhabitants of this Land before thy People Israel and gavest it to the Seed of Abraham thy friend for ever 2 Chron. 20. 7. And if ye were Abrahams Children ye would do the Works of Abraham but now ye seek to kill me a man that hath told ye the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham you do the deeds of your Father Then said they to him we be not born of Fornication we have one Father even God Jesus said unto them if God were your Father you would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of my self but he sent me Why do ye not understand my speech Even because ye cannot hear my Word Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own for he is a lyar and the father of it John 8. 39. to the 45. v. So here 's an end to all this matter Those that the Father hath chosen unto himself it is unto good works which he hath before ordained that they should walk in them We are his work manship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them saith the Apostle Ephes 2. 10. And shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works Faith without works is dead Jam. 2. 18. 20. And the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2. 11. to the end And those that are not redeemed from all Iniquity he hath not given himself to save And those that are not zealous of good Works he hath not purified unto himself a peculiar people And those that deny not Vngodliness and Worldly lusts and live not soberly and righteously and godly in this present World are not such as look for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And those that have not works their faith is dead and they that walk not
him in the wrong way and shewed him the right and with gladness of heart walks on with his Friend who so shew'd him who so judged him and his heart is now easie and his fears are over and he cares not at what pains he is or what it costs him or what he looses or parts with to walk along with his friend and to keep to his foot step by step with him because he will-bring him to his journeys end Friends and People all who are not yet come hither who yet are not turned at the voice of your friend at that which calls on you which reproves which judges the way you are in Resist no longer but be gathered unto it that so into the sence of your state you may come and be led along and keep company with that which followed after you and called upon you for many years as you were travelling to destruction that you might turn and live which now will go before you as you turn to it and keep with it and lead you to rest O who would not be here who is in any sence of the Eternal state which he must pass through to and which he must abide for ever who would reject the tender love of so dear a friend Who would not be at ease at hearts ease as we use to say when any ones burthen is taken off in a matter of this weight as to that which is Eternal that it is well with one as to that which is Eternal here the heart is at rest and all that is within a man is at peace and his thoughts of his going to his long home is secure when he is in the certainty of this and who would not be in the certainty of this that his heart might be at ease and his soul at rest at hearts ease at true rest which never is at true ease nor rest till it come hither till it be at this and that it may come hither is the end of the Lord in that which gathers which opens which seeks which would not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn and live So people all the Bowels of the Lords love are to you in this in that which gathers in that which seeks in that which calls in that which witnesses in that which follows after you in that which judges you in that which reproves your goings astray in that which shews you are out of the way the Rod and the Staff this comforts this is a comfort Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word Psal 119. 67. And blessed is the man whom thou chastnests O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Psal 94. 12. And I know O Lord that thy Judgements are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Psal 119. 75. And it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes the law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of Gold and Silver ver 71. 72. And if you are without chastisement of which all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons Heb. 12. 12. If ye endure chasming God dealeth with you as with sons for what son is he whom the Father chastneth not ver 7. Furthermore we have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live For they verily for a few dayes chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holinesse vers 8 9. So that which chastens that which corrects that which reproves that which judges that which seeks that which gathers that which calls that which woes that which intreats that which follows the voice behind which saith This is the right way walk in it when you turn to the right hand or to the left the Promise which the Lord made of old in the time of the Law which was without to lead to that which was within which was blotted out by reason of Transgression for which cause the Law was added some thing that was not before by reason of Transgression to lead to that within which Transgression was got over the Word nigh even in thy mouth and in thy heart this Word of Faith which we preach said the Apostle the righteousness of Faith which saith on this wise saith he Rom. 10. 6. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying this is the Way walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn unto the left Isa 20. 21. This comforts this is of a comforting nature this shews the Lords regard this seeks to gather this seeks to save be ye gathered unto it to that which reproves to that which judges to that which calls to that which follows to that which speaks behind to that which witnesses the Word behind ye when ye are turned to the right hand or to the left which calls on you which judges your being out of the way which you are before when you are turned to the right hand or to the left which goes not before you to evil which shews you evil the evil which leads you out of the way which follows after you when you are led away to evil which saith this is the way that which shews ye are gone to the right hand or to the left walk ye in it this is the Promise this the Lord hath fulfiled this your ears have heard this you know walk ye in it be gathered to it There 's no cloak now left you know now it is so the times of this ignorance God winked at now he commands men every where to repent because they know this and that they should be guided by this and not go against this but turn at the voice of this the Word behind that when they turn to the right hand or the left saing This is the way walk in it because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the World in Righteousness by this by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given asurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead That that lives that shews men evil this shall judge the world in Righteousness by this he will judge the world in Righteousness This he hath raised from the dead to that it witnesses that he may judge the world in Righteousness and this is the asurance that he will so judge the World in Righteousness in that he hath raised this up from the dead in that this witnesses and as certainly as it witnesses shall it judge will he Judge the world in Righteousness So People all take heed what you do in running against this in opposing this in not being gathered unto this it is the way to God it is the way to Life and there is no other It is that which shall judge you it is that which must save you if ever ye
be saved it is the Word of the Lord. Now in the Son there is Life He hath life in himself and he quickeneth whom he will For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to Life Verily verily I say unto you The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live for as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself and hath given him authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of man John 5. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. And he is the wel-spring of Life Vnderstanding is a wel-spring of Life to him that hath it but the instruction of fools is folly saith the wise man Prov. 26. 22. And whence then cometh wisdom and where is the place of understanding seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living and kept from the fouls of the Air Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil that is understanding Job 28. 20 21. And I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty Inventions The fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Pride and Arrogancy and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate Counsel is mine and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice Be me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me Riches and Honour are with me yea dureable Riches and Righteousness My fruit is better then gold yea then fine gold and my revenue then choice silver I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Judgement that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasures The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth when there was no fountain abounding with water before the Mountains were stetled before the Hills was I brought forth whils't as yet he had not made the Earth nor the Fields nor the highest part of the dust of the World when he prepared the Heavens I was there when he set a compass on the face of the depth when he established the Clouds above when he strengthened the Fountains of the deep when he gave to the Sea his degree that the Waters should not pass his commdements When he appointed the foundation of the earth then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing allwayes before him Rejoycing in the habitable part of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Now therefore hearken unto me O ye Children for blessed are they that keep my wayes Hear inâ—truction and be wise and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my door For who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul all they that hate me love death Prov. 8. 13. to the end And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandements his praise endureth for ever Psal 111. 10. And the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Holy is understanding Proverbs 9. 10. And this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8 10 11 12. And this shall be the Covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their Inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every one his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquities and I will remember their sins no more Jer. 31. 33 34. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them and I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good and I will plant them in this Land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Jer. 32. 40 41. And I saw another Angel flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People crying with a loud voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgements is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters Rev. 14. 6 7. And except the God of my Fathers the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaack had been with me thou hadst sent me away now empty God hath seen my affliction and the labour of my hand and rebuked thee yester-night Gen. 31. 42. And Laban said to Jacob behold this heap and behold this Pillar which I cast up between me and the this Heap and this Pillar be witnesse that I not pass over this Heap to thee and thou shalt not pass over this Heap and this Pillar unto me for harm the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor and their Father Judge between us and Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaack v. 51 52 53. Thus saith the Scripture and the Scripture cannot be broken John 10. 35. And in him was life and the life was the light of men that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 3. 9. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather then light