stain the pride of all glory and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the Earth Isai 23.9 But every true Child of God may glory in this that they know the Lord experimentally and savingly His power that is so glorious his ways that are so just his word that is so true his name that is so excellent his wisdom that is so great his grace that is so full his promises that are so precious his people that are so happy his mercies that endure for ever his works that are so wonderful his Spirit that leads into all truth his loving kindness that he never takes from them and that glorious inheritance which is laid up in Heaven for them now this every poor Saint may glory in therefore let no man glory in men for all things are yours 1 Cor. 3.21 Thus I have shewed you God in his works and in his providences and here I am shewing you God in his Word that you may know the God of Heaven There are amongst men several Ranks Degrees and Qualities some are mighty some are wise some are rich and some are poor men now amongst all these whom hath God chosen to be his peculiar people the Apostle James tells us Hearken my Beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the Poor of this World Rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2.5 Outwardly Poor but inwardly Rich little in hand but much in hope and in the promise poor in Spirit but theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven they that have the least of the Earth have most of Heaven they have thaâ— faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 Every true believer hath in Faith and in Hope all that God hath promised and all that Christ hath puâ—chased and all that the Spirit can apply God hath begun that good work in them and they have chosen that good part which they will not part with for all the Silver in America nor for all the Gold in Africa O! ye holy and blessed Angels that shine in heavenly glory brighter than the Sun on Earth admire the depth of the riches both of the love and grace of God in that he hath chosen the Poor of this World Rich in Faith heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven to be your Companions to be as the Angels of God in Heaven Mat. 22.30 O! what a blessed Choice is this O! ye inhabitants of the Earth fear and tremble before the God of the Spirits of all Flesh And Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2.12 Rejoyce and be glad O! all ye his Saints and bless and praise the God of Heaven that sets up his Church and hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification to be the Companions of Angels and Heirs and joynt Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Rom. 8.17 But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem an innumerable company of Angels to the general assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the Bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Heb. 12.22 23 24. by this you may learn to know God which is life eternal to know Joh. 17.3 Thirdly I am to shew you the time when this Kingdom was to be set up In the Days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom let him that hath understanding mind well these three things The Days The Kings The Way First Of the days here spoken of they are here called the latter days But there is a God in Heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known to the King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days Daniel 2.28 the mystery of God that was revealed and made known to Daniel what should be in the latter days in the Kingdoms of men and in the Church of God these latter days were to be the days of the Gospel for so are the Gospel days called both in the Old Testament and in the New by the Prophets and by the Apostles Gospel days are called latter days and some times last days And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lords House shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills all Nations shall flow unto it Isa 2.2 The anger of the Lord shall not return until he have executed and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly Jer. 23.20 And thou shalt come up against my People of Israel as a Cloud to cover the Land it shall be in the latter days and I will bring thee against my Land that the Heathen may know me when I shall be sanctified in thee O Gog before their eyes Ezek. 38.16 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy People in the latter days for yet the vision is for many days Daniel 10.14 Afterward shall the Children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days Hos 3.5 But in the last days it shall come to pass that the Mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the Mountains and it shall be exalted above the hills and people shall flow unto it Mic. 4.1 And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your daughters shall prophecy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams Acts 2.17 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 This know also that in the last days perillous times shall come 2 Tim. 3.1 He hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds Heb. 1.2 knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts 2 Pet. 3.3 Little Children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antiâ—hrists wâ—â—reby we know that it is the â—â—st time 1 John 2.18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last â—â—â—â—e who should walk after their own lust Jude 18. Here you see is a cloud of witnesses the Prophets and the Apostles they have all testified and spoken of
my labour Read it consideringly and carefully regard not so much the dress and stile as the weight and savour of what thou readest Remember thou art at the door of Eternity and it will not be long before thou must shoot the gulf of Eternity thy soul lies at stake O work therefore while it is called to day the night cometh wherein no man can work John 1.4 That thy heart may be won to God and kept with God. Now or never Now for ever O Reader I have prayed and shall pray for thee that the God of all Grace may open unto thee his Breasts and Arms of Mercy and the Treasures of his Grace and that he may opeâ— thy heart to him as he did the heart of Lydia Acts 16.14 and open thy understanding that thou mayest understand the Scriptures Luke 24.45 And fill thee with the knowledge of his Will and with the graces of his Spirit and witâ— all the blessings of the Gospel That thou mayest be made meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 is the hearty desire of thy faithful 〈◊〉 assured Friend William Dyer Mount Sion Or A Draught of the CHURCH Daniel 2.44 And in the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed And the Kingdom shall not be left to another people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever GOD leaves not himself without witness nor his Church without the knowledge of good and great things to come great things because they are good and good things because they are glorious things to come Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God! Psalm 87.3 God spake to Abraham on this wise For because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy Son thine only Son that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the Stars of the Heaven and as the Sand which is upon the Sea shore and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies Gen. 22.16 17. When Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied he then spake of this Oath and of the glorious things contained in it As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us to perform the mercy promised to our Fathers and to remember his holy Covenant The Oath which he sware to our Father Abraham that he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life Luk. 1.70 to 75. Three things were here spoken of by Zacharias when he opened this Oath First Of the deliverance of the people of God out of the hands of their Enemies when their Enemies think to hold them fastest then God takes them out of their hands Secondly Of the serving of God without fear To serve God without fear that will be your joy but to serve God in holiness and righteousness that will be your glory Thirdly Of the time here spoken of that will be all the days of their lives First being delivered out of the hands of their Enemies then comes the serving of God without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives The Jews and their Rulers heard the words of the Prophets that were read to them every Sabbath day yet they knew not the voice of the Prophets Acts 13.27 They were under an excellent Ministry Moses and the Prophets but they did not understand them So there be many now that do read these words and say these words devoutly of Zacharias but they know not the voice of God in them All the calamities and miseries that the people of God have past through in this World were but as so many fore-runners of this great deliverance O let no improbabilities hinder the exercising of your Faith in God God will perform the merâ—ies promised and fulfil the Oath which â—e hath sworn to Abraham His Seed shall â—ossess the gates of their Enemies Moses said to the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Acts 3.22 Deut. 18.15 This Prophet was our Lord Jesus In the fulness of time he came into the World and in the acceptable time he wrought the works of him that sent him while he was in the World. To the Gentiles he was revealed by a Star Mat. 2.2 To the Jews he was revealed by an Angel Luke 2.10 To the Saints of God he was revealed by the Holy Spirit Luke 2.26 O what a blessed time will that be when the blessed Jesus shall be heard in all things then every knee shall bow to his Authority and every tongue will confess to the glory of God the Father and to the joy of all his Saints that Jesus is both Lord and King. I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the Earth Acts 13.47 David being a Prophet spake in Spirit The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool Psal 110.1 Men that are Enemies to goodness for goodness sake Enemies to holiness for holiness sake and Enemies to truth for truth's sake are of all men the worst of men and though there be nothing more cursed than this yet there is nothing more common than this They are Enemies to God in their minds Rom. 8.7 They are Enemies of the Cross of Christ Phil. 3.18 They are Enemies to the Saints of God by cruel and wicked works 2 Thes 2.14 15. Now wheresoever God opens a door of Gospel-light grace and liberty there the Devil stirs up many adversaries and enemies and fills them with wrath and rage against the Gospel and the Professors of it This he did in the Apostles days For a great door and effectual is opened unto me and there are many adversaries 1 Cor. 16.9 And thus he hath done in these days but alas How can such men be friends to others that are such enemies to themselves How can they be kind to others that are so cruel to their own souls that treasure up wrath against the day of wrath But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2.5 Their sins bring down God's wrath upon them here that makes them â—s miserable as they have made themâ—elves sinful Eph. 5.6 O! pity such that pity themselves no more that God may pity them but all enemies must come down God the Father hath declared this Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Psal
heirs of Salvation and the Church of God here on Earth hath received from God many benefits and great blessings by the hands of these blessed Angels They hinder evil from us and further good to us They execute God's wrath and vengeance and judgments on wicked men and they do comfort and strengthen and relieve Gods own People This is very plain in Scripture that they have done it and we do all believe they do it still Two Angels were sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah For we will destroy this place because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it Gen. 19.13 And it came to pass that night that the Angel of the Lord went out and smote in the Camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand and when they arose early in the morning behold they were all dead Corps 2 Kings 19.35 And upon a set day Herod arayed in royal apparel sat uppon his throne and made an oration unto them And the people gave a shout saying It is the voice of a God and not of a man and immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of Worms and gave up the Ghost Acts 12.21 22 23. Angels by a special command from God do execute his wrath and vengeance on wicked men Persecutors have been cut off but no man saw the hand that smote them Gods Arrows have stuck fast in them though no man saw the Arm that drew the Bow they have been suddenly removed out of this world into another O! how many persecuters have tumbled fallen and perished Surely thou didst set them in slippery places thou castedst them down into destruction how are they brought into desolation as in a moment They are utterly consumed with terrors as a dream when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest thou shalt despise their image Psalm 73.18 19 20. O! how hath God made his Judgments manifest and been a swift witness against persecutors Those who were one day breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the Servants of the Lord the next day have been dead have we not heard and read this the Angels that stand before God Almighty wait but for a commission and a command but a look to cut down such wicked wretches Now as Angels do execute Gods wrath and vengeance on wicked persecuters so they do also strengthen and comfort Gods People under their sorest tryals and greatest afflictions when the Prophet Elisha was besieg'd in Dothan by the Assyrian Army the Angels of Heaven were sent down to relieve him And when the Servant of the man of God was risen early and gone forth behold an Host compassed the City both with Horses and Chariots and his servant said unto him Alas my master how shall we do and he answered Fear not for they that be with us are more than they that be with them and Elisha prayed and said Lord I pray thee open his eyes that he may see and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw and behold the mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of fire round about Elisha 2 King. 6.15 16 17. After Daniel had been mourning three full weeks and humbled himself before the Lord an Angel was sent from Heaven to strengthen and comfort him And he said unto me O! Daniel a man greatly beloved understand the Words that I shall speak unto thee and stand upright for unto thee am I now sent and when he had spoken this word unto me I stood trembling then said he unto me Fear not Daniel for from the first day that thou didst set thine Heart to understand and to chasten thy self before thy God thy words were heard and I am come for thy words but the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days but lo Michael one of the chief Princes came to help me and I remained there with the Kings of Persia Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days for yet the vision is for many days and when he had spoken such words unto me I set my face toward the ground and I became dumb and behold one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips then I opened my mouth and spake and said unto him that stood before me O my Lord by the vision my sorrows are returned upon me and I have retained no strength for how can the servant of this my Lord talk with this my Lord for as for me straight-way there remaineth no strength in me neither is there breath left in me Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man and strengthened me And he said O man greatly beloved fâ—ar not peace be unto thee be strong yea be strong and when he haâ— spoken unto me I was strengthened and said Let my Lord speak for thou hast strengthened me Then said he Knowest thou wherefore come unto thee and now will I return to fight with the Prince of Persia and when I aâ— gone forth lo the Prince of Grâ—â—a shaâ—â— come but I will shew thee that which is notes in the scripture of Truth and there is mâ—râ— that holdeth with me in thâ—se things but Michael your Prince Dan. 10.11 to 21. When our Saviour was in an Agony there appeared unto him an Angel from Heaven strengthening him Luke 22.43 Herod that was a man of blood stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church and he killed James the Brother of John with the Sword and because he saw it pleased the Jews he proceeded farther to take Peter also And when he had apprehended him he put him in Prison and delivered him to four Quaternions of Souldiers to keep him intending after Easter to bring him forth to the People Peter therefore was kept in Prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him And when Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two Souldiers bound with two Chains and the Keepers before the door kept the Prison and behold the Angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the Prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up saying Arise up quickly and his Chains fell off from his Hands and the Angel said unto him Gird thy self and bind on thy sandals and so he did and he saith unto him Casâ— thy garment about thee and follow me and he went out and followed him and wisâ— not that it was true which was done by the Angel but thought he saw a vision Acts 12.1 to 9. By this you may understand the Ministry of Angels and the great benefits the Church of God receives by these blessed Angels Thirdly The blessed Saints of Heaven But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem
and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Heb. 12.22 23 24. And after this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hands and cried with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne and unto the lamb And all the Angels stood round about the throne And one of the elders answered saying unto me What are these which are arayed in white robes and whence came they and I said unto him Sir thou knowest and he said unto me These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell amongst them they shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat for the lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 7.9 10 13. to the end I have here shew'd you what the Inhabitants of Heaven are that part of the Church that is triumphant and surely that can never be destroyed this will be easily granted by all men And now I am to shew you that part of Christs Church that is militant on the Earth and this is that Kingdom which shall never be destroyed The Church is called a Kingdom because Christ Jesus is the King of it Revel 15.3 he rules in it and over it he is the head of this body Ephesians 4.15 the husband of this wife Rev. 19.7 the shepherd and pastor of this flock John 10.11 he is the law-giver to this righteous nation James 4.12 He is the chief corner stone of this building And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone iâ— whom all the building fitly framed togetheâ— groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for â—n habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2.20 21 22. Here is a building a building fitly fram'd together and a holy Temple in the Lord an habitation of God through the Spirit Behold and see a draught of the true Church here on Earth in these following things The Materials The Glory The Security 1. The Materials The Church of God is made up of People but what People are they The Apostle Peter will tell you But ye are a chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2.9 10. Hear the Apostle Paul also Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all inâ—quity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Titus 2.14 The Church of God is made up of men and women but what men and women are they See Acts 5.14 And Believers were the more added unto the Lord multitudes both of mâ—n and women They were all Believers The Church of Christ is made up of Children Young men and Fathers but what Children Fathers and Young men are they the Apostle John will tell you I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his Names sake I write unto you fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I write unto you young men because you have overcome the wicked one I write unto you little children because ye have known the father I have written unto you fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the Word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one 1 John 2.12 13 14. Do but see here what these children were their sins were forgiven and they had known the Father See also what these young men were they had overcome the wicked one and they were strong and the Word of God did abide in them See also what these Fathers were they had known him from the beginning The true Church is the House of God a house not made with hands neither can hands destroy it a house not made of stones and mortar of brick timber and such materials but of lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 By this you may see of what materials God's House is built 2. The glory of this Church which is both within and without the glory of truth the glory of holiness the glory of purity the glory of spiritual worship the glory of saving knowledge the glory of the power of godliness the glory of Gospel innocency and the glory of heavenly walking the glory of fellowship and communion with God this excellent glory is to be found and seen no where on Earth but in the Church of God. The King's Daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought gold Psal 45.13 The Church hath God's glorious presence with her and in that glory she shines For I saith the Lord will be the glory in the midst of her Zech. 2.5 This is the woman that is clothed with the Sun. And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven a woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars Rev. 12.1 This glory can no man stain nor destroy the glory of this World passeth away let a man but shut his eyes and the glory of this World will be darkned every Saint in Heaven shines forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 and every Saint now on the Earth is more excellent than his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 Men have bestowed great charge and cost on their high places that they might set them off and make them appear glorious to the beholders and the poor and ignorant people have been greatly deceived by them as if there were more holiness in these places than in others Now this is not their glory but their shame The Spouse of Christ Jesus is glorious the Lamb's wife but what is it that makes her so glorious Christ's righteousness that covers her and his graces that enrich her and fill her with all
The Name of the Lord And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an Hundred forty and four thousand having his Fathers name written in their foreheads Rev. 14.1 Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City which is New Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven from my God and I will write upon him a new name Rev. 3.12 The Name of God is upon his People and this shews to whom they do belong and whose they are 3. The comliness and glory of the Lord And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comliness which I had put upon thee saith the Lord Ezek. 16.14 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you 1 Pet. 4.14 These are the things that are upon the righteous And there are three things that God hath given to his People 1. Himself But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days 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 Jer. 31.33 They shall call on my Name and I will hear them I will say It is my People and they shall say The Lord is my God Zech. 13.9 For what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People 2 Cor. 6.16 2. A Kingdom Fear not little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me Luke 22.29 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5.3 3. Grace and Glory For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 O Christian how canst thou say thou hast nothing or that thou hast but little Here is thy Inventory see here what thy heavenly Father hath given thee count it and cast it up Thou hast all things God hath given thee himself and a Kingdom grace and glory things present and things to come the world life and death are all thine how great is thy happiness O! wait but a little and thou wilt be in the possession of all There be three things that God will never take from his people whiles they are in this life 1. His love and loving kindness I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee Jer. 31.3 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him John 14.21 Having loved his own which were in the World he loved them unto the end John 13.1 This the righteous are crown'd with in this life He crowneth them with loving kindness and tender mercies Psalm 103.4 2. His Spirit And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the spirit of truth John 14.16 17. but the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness saith meekness temperance Gal. 5.22 23. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 3.16 God will not leave his Children comfortless he will not leave them orphans the Spirit of God dwells in them and abides with them and resteth upon them and leads them into all truth it convinceth sinners and it comforteth Saints For the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered 3. His Presence which is the glory of his People and the glory in the midst of them God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and â—hat right early Psalm 46.5 Take counsel â—ogether and it shall come to nought speak â—he word and it shall not stand for God is with us Isa 8.10 Jesus answered and â—aid unto him If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and â—e will come unto him and make our abode with him John 14.23 The presence of God is the Saints Heaven on Earth They do sometimes in a duty enjoy so much of God's presence that it fills their eyes with tears and their hearts with joy they â—eel that they cannot express and enâ—oy that which cannot be fully uttered and tast that which they cannot declare to others I did know a young man in the City of Exon about thirty five years ago who lay under many temptations and fears because he wanted God's comforting presence but in a certain night when all the people in the family were in their beds and as he thought fast asleep except himself he rose up from his bed and went up into the Garret and there wrestl'd with God by prayer with fervency and many tears but was then so terrified by temptations and fears that he thought the Devil waâ— present with him in the room sometimeâ— before him and sometimes behind him which did so distract and interrupt him that he was forc'd often to break off foâ— a little time and this he continued to do for three nights together but on the third night as he was pouring out hiâ— Soul before the Lord in prayer his voicâ— was taken from him that he could noâ— utter a word but his understanding remained with him for about the space oâ— a quarter of an hour and in that time he thought himself to be in Heaven or the Joys of Heaven to be in him he then tasted and enjoyed so much of God that it was not possible for a man to utter nor to declare to others but when his speech returned to him that he could speak he then found that this extraordinary presence of God withdrew it selâ— from him then he blest and prais'd the God of Heaven that had seal'd his Love to him and given him the earnest of his Spirit and victory over the Devil God knows that what I have here
because of the Bridegroom's voice this my Joy therefore is fulfilled John 3.29 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 And there came unto me one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues and talked with me saying Come hither I will shew thee the Bride the Lamb's wife Rev. 21.9 This glorious Bride is the Church and this Church is the Kingdom that shall not be left to another people 6. The Church of Christ is a purchased Possession In whom also after that ye believ'd ye were seal'd with that holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our Inheritance until the redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his glory Eph. 1.13 14. Remember thy Congregation which thou hast purchased of old the Rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed this Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Psal 74.2 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20.28 Will men cast away that which they have dearly bought Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit â—hich are Gods 1 Cor. 6 20. You are not your own you were bought by Christ Jesus And the price he gave for you was not Gold Silver which men take out of the Earth For as much as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Gold and silver from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Will men leave that which they have purchas'd to their worst and greatest Enemies Hath not Christ Jesus purchased his Church with his own blood For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation Rev. 5.9 Now if this be so who can believe who can think that the Church of God shall be left to another People Thirdly The holy Spirit will not leave them the spirit of truth that dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leave you comfortless John 14.17 18. know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye hâ—ve of God and ye are not your own 1 Cor. 6.19 Howbeit when the spirit of truth is come he shall guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you things to come John 16.13 This holy Spirit of God is given it is given to them that ask it If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Luk. 11.13 Every true believer hath this spirit of Christ in him But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8.11 This Spirit of God is to be found no where but in the Church of God and in every member of that body Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his v. 9. As a tree is known by the fruit it bears so is the spirit known to be in a man by the fruits he brings forth The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Gal 5.22 23. First then the Spirit of God convinceth Secondly it quickeneth Thirdly it leadeth Fourthly it strengtheneth Fifthly it comforteth Sixthly it maketh intercession Seventhly it witnesseth Eighthly it sealeth Ninthly it revealeth Tenthly it resteth on you That good work that is begun in any man or woman and carried on from first to last is attributed to the Spirit of God. The father he ordains calleth and chuseth and hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 1.3 The Son he hath redeemed us and delivered us from wrath from sin and from the world and from the curse of the law Luke 1.68 The Spirit he applies all that to us that God hath given and Christ purchas'd and from hence it ariseth that there is so much contention and disagreement amongst men this is that which brings a Sword that brings a War and makes divisions and one man to hate and persecute another namely from the seed that is in them and from the Spirit that is in them For he that is born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now Gal. 4.29 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Gal. 5.17 It is so contrary that you may find this in the nearest relations as husband and wife parents and children brothers and sisters if any of them be in the Spirit of God and enlightened and renewed in their minds and the others be not but are in the spirit of the evil one in the spirit of the world under darkness and blindness there can be then no agreement but discord and division and they are contrary one to the other as to spiritual things For the world knows not the Spirit of God neither can it receive it Take two men that were great strangers one to the other the one living in the East Indies and the other in the West and after some time they both return home to this land and by a special providencae they here meet together and after a little discourse one with the other they so well agree being knit together in love that they could even live and the together because they were of one spirit the Spirit of God being in them both and that unites them and makes them to be one in hope and faith in love and affection The members of Christs body are many but one spirit in them all endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace There is one body and one spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. This blessed Spirit did never leave the Church of God nor never will so long as God hath a Church here on Earth this Spirit of God leads every true believer into all truth and from strength to strength and from glory to glory from one degree of grace to another till they are taken up into the heavenly glory and to be
under Christ Jesus the Captain of our Salvation fighting under him against the Devil and the World against Sin and Lust against Principalities and Powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this World Eph. 6.12 Every Saint is a petitioner and a wrestler with God by prayer and supplication for the peace and happiness of the Church Every Saint is a labourer and a worker together with God that Gods glory may be advanced and his holy name lifted up in the Earth that his ways may be made known to all Nations and his saving health to all people that the work of God may go on and prosper in these Nations which the Lord hath begun and hath been carrying on these many years that Babylon may become a desolation and the hissing and loathing of all Nations and the Zion of God may become the joy and praise of the whole Earth and this is the Faith and Hope and Desires of all Gods people Fourthly From the Enemies of God Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel what hath God wrought Numb 23.23 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him John 12.19 And now I say unto you Refrain from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found even to fight against God Acts 5.38 39. We have here a Cloud of Witnesses the Testimonies of good men that the True Church shall stand for ever and here are also the sayings of bad men and it is agreed on all hands That the Church of Christ cannot be destroyed but it shall stand for ever Can men pull out the Rocks that are in the Sea with their Teeth Can men blow away the Mountains of the Earth with their Breath Can men reach up to Heaven with their Hands Can men dry up the great and wide Sea where Ships go from Nation to Nation Can men draw a Curtain before the Sun that it shall not shine on the Earth Can men Seal up the Wind that it shall not blow where it listeth Alas this will be soon granted by all that men the greatest of men cannot do any of these things surely then men cannot â—estroy the Church of God for the Lord God is a Wall of Fire round about it For I sâ—ith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about anâ— will be the glory in the midst of her Zech. 2.5 One of the seven Angels shewed St John two things which made him wonder with great admiration And he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wildernâ—ss And I saw a Woman sit uâ—on a Scâ—rlet coloured Beast full of Names and Blasphemy having sâ—ven Heads and ten Horns And the Woman was arayed in Purple and Scarlet colour and decked with Gold and precious Stones and Pearls having a Golden Cup in her Hand full of Abominations and filtâ—iness of her Fornication And upon her Forehead was a Name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth And I saw the Woman drunken with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus And when I saw her I wondered with great admiration Rev. 17.3 to 6. But where did John see this sight In the Wilderness And have not many Thousands of Gods faithful Servants seen the same sight in the Wilderness which John saw since that time and are still liâ—e to see until the Mystery of God be finished and the Mystery of Iniquity be removed In the Second place There came one of the sâ—vâ—n Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues and talked with me saying Come hither I will shâ—w thee the Bride the Lambs Wife And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain and shewed me that great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heavâ—n from God having the glory of God And her light was like unto a Stone most precious even like a Jasper Stone clear as Crystal and had a Wall great and high and had twelve Gates and at the Gates twelve Angels and names writtâ—n thereon which are the Names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South thrâ—e Gates on the West three Gates And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And he that talkeâ— with me had a Golden Reed to mâ—asure the Ci y and the Gates thereof and the Walls thereof And the City lyeth four-square and tâ—e length is as large as the br dth And he measured the City with the Reed twelve Thousand Furlongs The length the br dâ—h and the heighth of it are equal And he measured the Wâ—ll thereof an hundred and forty and four Cubits accordiâ—g to the measure of a man that is of the Angel. And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper and the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass And the Foundations of the Wall of the City were garnished with all manner of precious Stones The first Foundation was Jasper the second Saphir the third a Chalcedony the fourth an Emâ—rald the fifth a Sardonix the sixth Sardius the seventh Chrysolite the eighth Beryl the ninth a Topaz the tenth a Chrisoprasus the eleventh a Jacâ—nct the twelfth an Amethyst And the twelve Gates were twelve Pearls every several Gate was of one Pearl and the Street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparent Glass And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it Rev. 21.9 to 22. As the first sight which St. Joâ—n saw here was dreadful and terrible that made him wonder with great admiration to see a Woman drunk with Blood the Blood of Saints and Martyrs of Jesus And after this he saw another sight the Bride the Lambs Wife that great City the Hâ—l Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God! having the glory of God! and the City lyeth four square Now 〈◊〉 was a glorious and a delightful thing to behold â—â—ere is want of words and want in words to express the glory of it There is a vast difference between good and evil light and darkness the works of the Flesh and the fruits of the Spirit the table of the Lord and the table of Devils the Temple of the Holy Ghost and the Synagogue of Satan between the Mystery of God and the Mystery of Iniquity Babylon and Zion the True Church and the Mother of Harlots The True Church may be known by its Purity by its Poverty by its Sufferings by it s not Conforming to this World by its Patience under sore and great Tryals by its keeping the Commandments of God and having the Testimony of Jesus Christ and his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads by the Victory it obtaineth over all Enemies And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12.11 And upon this Rock I will build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16.18 Every Son and Daughter of this Church is a living Member and a fruitful Member and a holy Member and an enlightned Member a growing Member a sympathizing Member a praying Membâ—r a useful Member and a sanctified Member But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 2 Thes 2.13 There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your Calling One Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.4 5 6 7. Now he that hath an Ear let him hear FINIS