harm to bring him down from his excellency But he still stands on ground and fights with instruments that are invisible and invincible such Births the Red Dragon watcheth to devour casts his floods after raiseth war against upon this foot of account They keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Upon this foundation also he exasperates all his crew acted by the spirit of this world who are enforced to gnaw their tongues for pain that in all their on-sets from generation to generation they could never come at nor quell that spring and root of action and suffering whereby they have been so perpetually baffled and all their costly and promising attempts been brought to nought Hence all their consultations and endeavours resolve themselves into this issue To rid the world of them who by a constant steady testimony of their drawing vertue as Olive-trees from the God of the whole earth being here in torments to them that dwell upon the earth 2. We may consider Faith in its Profession or the Profession of our Faith that is to say not only as it inwardly unites a soul to Christ whereby he draws forth consolations and aids to do so wonderfully on Gods behalf But also as it engages a believer to stand forth in the face of the World to testifie against it that its deeds are evil bearing witness to the Holiness and Faithfulness of God in opposition to the stream of the lusts of men Thus it contracts rage to the utmost Joh. 7.7 Me it hateth because I testifie of it that the works thereof are evil When the whole demeanour of a Christian both in point of Worship and Conversation is kept on so as not to be tempted to fall down before the Idolatry on one hand or fall in with the debauchery on the other which is proposed under Countenance or imposed by Law The world cannot bear the words of such a people Amos 7.10 c. Can the abomination of a people be offered up before their eyes and will not that Nation stone them Exod. 8.26 In this matter the Disciple is not priviledged above his Lord Joh. 15.18 19. The world will hate such a people as it hated him for witnessing against their ignorance and superstition Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship Joh. 4.22 Ye are too superstitious whom ye ignorantly worship him we declare to you Acts 17.22 23. This is enough to get the world in an uproar This is said above Rev. 11.10 to torment them that dwell on the earth these two Prophets that have no other weapons but the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their Testimony the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy and in this Message and under this Anointing witnessing though in sack-cloth against the evils that are in the world through lust lighting them as Gods Candlesticks the way to heaven this torments men of earth No wonder then that they torment you why your conversations testimony profession of your Faith torments them Christ came not to send peace in the earth but a sword Mat. 10.34 but a fire and what if it be already kindled Luke 12.49 Is Christ delighted with such contention nothing less But these are the consequences of the lusts of men irritated occasionally by the faithful rebukes of the Gospel of Christ and a practical profession of the Faith thereof in such as embrace and obey it A word or two of Practical Improvement and I shall leave this Point Use 1. If Faith both in the Possession and Profession of it be apt to draw the rage of the world in the extremity of it upon you this speaks the reasonableness of this Exhortation that you give diligence to it that the Faith any of you profess be Faith unfeigned 2 Tim. 1.5 Since I say Oh ye professed Believers your Faith in God and faithfulness to God is that which you must expect will enrage the world against you I beseech you satisfie not your selves with any Faith short of such as will carry all the world in a way of victory before it I have thought that at this day there is no man so miserable as a professor of Faith which is not right and real he will contract the worlds rage anger and displeasure because he professeth some Faith and he incurrs the Lords anger and displeasure because he but professeth because he hath not true Faith Faith unfeigned Interest in former dayes led some to profess at an high rate and their credit engageth them now not to fetch their turns too short upon it but the worlds rage chargeth them so hot in the rear that they cannot hold it but are forced in by open Apostacy to dash themselves against the thick Bosses of his Buckler Use 2. As it concerns you that your Faith be unfeigned so the like reason and necessity ariseth from the Promises that your Faith be unmixed in your present contest with the world that is that they may have nothing to charge you with but your single Faith and such things as are the proper off-spring of it and of faithfulness to God upon it It was the admirable advantage Daniel had against the greatest Council that day in the world Dan. 6.4 5. They could find no occasion against him forasmuch as he was faithful unless they could find it against him in the Law of his God The like had David against the envious and evil eye of Saul that God was with him and helped him in all his affairs wisely and faithfully 1 Sam. 18.12 14 15 28 29 30. There was no occasion administred to them that sought occasion The contrary whereunto is very detrimental to you when they that pursue you have ground for that charge Jer. 50.7 We offend not because they have sinned against the Lord the habitation of Justice even God the hope of their Fathers See the Spirits strict caution against this 1 Pet. 2.20 What Glory is it if when ye are buffeted for your faults you take it patiently see ch 4.15 Oh it will be your blessedness that they who pursue you though they will not do it perhaps without a colour yet they may do it without a cause may have nought to charge you with than that which when their vizor of Rhetorical eloquence and invective malice is stript from it resolves its self in a sober gracious eye into this it is for their being true to Jesus Christ their Faith in him their subjection to him their adhering to his Cause Name Works Institutions Such a bottom will render you at length more than a Conqueror Use 3. Take heed how you admit a Parley with those Reasonings which tend to prejudice you against believing to make you think hardly at least to think slightly of Faith in that it involveth you in so many dangers and perplexities Satan lies at a Bay to possess you with offence especially in such dayes as this Christ tells you These things have I spoken that you
to it Psal 74.22 Arise O God plead thy own Cause This also will beget a dread on the soul how it gives way to any temptation to betray it This Truth this Profession however men call it little however it may â—eem I may be saved without it it s no point of Salvation yet it being Christ's more than mine though committed to my trust to deny it is to deny Christ and to betray it is to betray Christ â—nd though as the common cry is none ever sufâ—ered upon such a point none in the past generation ran the adventure of tortures on such an assertion yet the soul by believing being brought to see Christs interest in it and relation to it and that perhaps this is the day designed to bring forth a proof to the goodness and worth of it a soul becomes not only engaged but inseperably united and impregnably set for the defence of it 3. Faith hath a further work to do in point of evidence and thereby administers abundance of strength to a weak Christian to endure any tortures for the Lords sake and that is gives evidence of the real nothingness that there is in whatsoever the adversary is able to do in point of torment if the matter be indeed laid upon a right ballance and held with an impartial and steady hand and that in these Three respects 1. Faith is called into Counsel in the exclusion of the reasonings of flesh and blood it manifests abundance of winde and emptiness in all the threatnings of the sons of men what they say of this kind are but great swelling words of vanity an empty sound of little affrighting signification Knowest thou not saith Pilate that I have power to crucifie thee and power to release thee He would willingly have had his majesty and threatnings very terrible but what is Christ's answer Thou couldest have no power except it were given thee from above The power the Devil himself hath though he be the Prince of the Air cannot get over an hedge without special Commission Thou hasâ— saith he concerning Job made an hedge about him Hence it is that when their threatnings and preparations have been to heat the Furnace seven times hotter they feared not the wrath of the King as seeing him that is invisible Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us able to divert that fiery threatning and if he will not do so yet able to bring us out again These threatnings encrease the cry for boldness 2. Faith helps the soul to see that all their profers and tenders of deliverance of honour of preferment or whatever else such poor worms can mention is as meer a vapour as the other When Satan made the tender to Christ All this will I give thee all this power saith he will I give thee and the glory of them for that is delivered unto me and to whomsoever I will give it if therefore thou wilt fall down before me all shall be thine Luke 4.6 7. Our reason would have accepted it Christ hath the promise of the World only Satan hath the possession of it and must be expulsed by main force now at this juncture one bow will do it and were it not better vail once than from generation to generation be in a continual contest for it and his seed exposed to such tortures to obtain and maintain the ground that is thus gradually gotten No Jesus will not value all the supremacy the Devil could surrender in the World worth one bow to obtain it Get thee behind â—e Satan vers 8. 3. Faith in like manner makes evident that all â—he terms articles and proposals of adversaries â—hat seem very little and innocent upon which â—heir tortures are to be escaped and their favours â—btained are very dangerous things a bow or cringe â—t a distance may seem a small matter for the â—btaining such advantage but Christ sees it too great to give to Satan for the gaining the glory of earth or heaven either A bow to the golden Image from the three Worthies seems a small thing to reason but it s too hard to the reasoning of Faith A bow to Haman from Mordecai in the gate is a small matter in an eye of wisdom and prudence but to Faith it may not be yielded Daniels retirement to mental devotions seems but rational but if that be the only terms of deliverance in the omission of positive instituted Worship Faith sayes the articles are too hard to be accepted of But of this more hereafter 2. But as Faith yields succour by such a way of evidencing to the understanding and judgement things that are obscure the clearing up of which have such a direct tendency to beget courage So in thâ— Second place doth Faith greatly aid by ministring Influence and thereby bringing power and vertue with it in furthering divers blessed properties and qualities in the soul wherewith it receives ability to do and to bear wonderful and insupportable things when the Lord calls thereunto As for instance in a few Particulars 1. Faith contributes toward this support by way of influence in that Faith brings with it as its first born fruit Peace passing all understanding Rom. 5.1 It draws all the tumultuating thoughts of a poor creature into such a calm and composure thaâ— though the outward man decay yet the inner man is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 Though the bones be broken pain and tortures come on yet the inner man retains its sweetness quietness serenity and undisturbedness and when thus the mind is quiet the man is invincible Of the office of Faith as it works Peace I do not now intend to treat the Scripture is full of it Rom. 5.1 Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on thee because he trusteth in thee Through this mind-surpassing peace the heart and thoughts are kept in Christ Jesus Where this glorious work is done it is not the extending the external parts of a poor man that can intermedle with his joy This joy of the Lord is his strength he can glorifie the Lord in the fires exercise all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness giving thanks to the Father There is indeed in the world sometimes to be seen among carnal men a certain greatness of spirit whereby they do pass through tortures to the shame of many who profess better principles but alas this is little better than a meer stupifaction of their senses it besots them is as the vinegar and gall they were wont to give to men on the Cross to deaden their senses to their pain The spirit of this world doth so wrap up their thoughts that they are as if they had took that sleeping drink mentioned Prov. 31.7 Drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more This is rather an imprisoning than a calming of their spirits they have nor â—heir senses exercised to discern betwixt good and â—vil but rather benummed Whereas this Peace of â—hich I
Drum which you know by cords and other means is braced at times to the utmost extremity Thus have the precious limbs and members not only of our Lord himself but of his dearest children been violently distorted till part hath been plucked from part on Racks or other Engins and that complaint litterally verified Psal 22.14 I am poured out like water all my bones are out of joynt Or else it answers to the beating of a drum which is performed with both hands with multiplicity of stroaks not to be numbred and then it referreth to those cruel beatings stripes and blows that have been beyond measure laid upon their backs such as of which the Apostle speaks Some had tryal of cruel mockings and scourgings Paul records the number and measure of his beatings by the Jews 2 Cor. 11.24 as though they would keep stroke as on a Drum such pretended order is sometimes spoken of by such Revolters as are profound to make slaughter Hos 5.2 but at other times they were stripes without measure vers 23 25. beating with rods beating with stones hence he was in deaths oft in this path must we expect to follow our Lord 2 Cor. 6.4 5. in stripes in imprisonment c. This sets forth the liberal and unlimitted cruelty in point of act that wicked men have still abounded in Or otherwise the metaphor directs us to the consideration of the end and design of the Persecutors in the extention of their cruelty and this also under this similitude may refer one of these two wayes First to set out the design of the Tormentors as is the Souldiers in beating their Drum thereby to animate encourage and hearten those that are engaged with themselves that look as that warlike-sound is intended to quicken chear-up and delight the spirits of such Warriors so are the extorted groans and cryes of the Lords poor sufferers levelled to the heightning the pride scorn and derision of a bloudy generation So â—hey did by the green-tree our Lord himself see Matt. 27.39 to 49. where you have the People Priest Theeves making pastime of his groans under the torments of men without and the bruisings of his God within Isa 53.10 this was prophetically declared of him and verified in his members Psal 69.10 11 12. Nevertheless the over-ruling hand of the Lord is in this frequently to be seen and magnified in turning the devices of the wicked herein upon their own head and rather working conviction and astonishment on many who perhaps have come with intentions to scorn at the misery of the poor Lambs of Christ yet in beholding the inhumane cruelty of the one and the divine Power displayed in upholding the other have gone away convinced God is with them of a truth as its manifest in the seqâ—el of that derision on our Lord above mentioned Luk. 23.47 48. The Centurion seeing the issue of it glorified God justified Christ and all the people smote their breasts and returned so shall he make their own tongues to fall upon themselves all that see them shall flee away and all men shall fear and shall declare the work of God when they shal wisely consider of his doings Psal 64.8 9. 2 Another end and design of men by such torments is to strike â— greater terror in the hearts of their opposits to break the spirits of such as are related to and interested in the cause of those tortured ones being Companions of them that are so used and thereby to drive them from their station and profession smiting the shepherd in expectation that then the sheep must be scattered but herein as in the former infinite Wisdom shines forth in bringing meat out of the Eater and sweetness out of the Strong bringing to nought the devices of the wicked it frequently coming to pass as in the case of Paul Phil. 1.12 13 14. The things the cruel things which happened to him fell out rather for the furtherance of the Gospel so that his bonds for Christ were manifect in all Cesars Court and all other places and many Brethren in the Lord waxing confident by his bonds grew much more bold to speak the Word without fear O Lord behold their Threatnings and grant to thy Servants Boldness was the Prayer of their Faith Acts 4.29 The more shamefully the Apostles were intreated they were the more bold in their God to Preach the Gospel of their God with much contention 1 Thes 2.2 Men think it for evil but God hath wonderfully brought it about for good These Tortures upon the harmless Lambs of Christ have been exercised in several Ages of the world with much variety according to the fruitful womb of lust of the sons of violence who from generation to generation derive and suck the spirit of Persecution from him that was of the wicked-one and slew his Brother and hath more or less exerted its self according to the opportunities they have had for so doing which have been frequently either more relaxed or restrained as hath seemed best to infinite Wisdom to bring about his ends and designs of Glory in the earth But though these great and sore tryals are the common lot of Saints in all ages yet there are some eminent and peculiar Periods some remarkable points of time which the Scripture doth refer unto that may be called in an especial manner the times of such torment with which we have need be well acquainted and our concernment respecting them The First time that I note such tortures were in date and fashion as I may express it is that as I understand the Text points at namely toward the latter end of the Grecian Monarchy not but that divers fair Sons and Daughters of God had their share deeply in Sufferings before sundry times But now it grew to be the common expectation of all those that would hold up any Profession of the true God a time was come over them which carried this in the very front of it it was a torturing time especially under Antiochus Epiphanes of whom we have such an exact description under the notion of a little Horn the very point and venom of which is levelled against the people of the Saints of the most High reade him pourtrayed Dan. 8 vers 9.10 11 12. compared with and opened v. 21 23 24 25. This dreadful opposition and persecution was made to the Name of God against such as retained the Profession of it according to the Laws and Ordinances given by the hand of Moses There is a Second Period or special point of time wherein the tortures of the Lords people are remarked and that is under the reign and rage of the Dragon exercising his power in the Roman Monarchy considered as Pagan this is described by that fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 8. dreadful and terrible and vers 19 20. exceeding dreadful this principally respects those incredible tortures that were inflicted throughout the whole Roman Territories which were wide and large upon any who professed the Name of Christ
complains So is there betwixt his heart and hand or as Christ tenderly excuseth it in his Disciples betwixt a Spirit that is willing and the Flesh that is weak Mat. 26.41 This is that the Apostle in the person of a poor Child of God complains Gal. 5.17 We cannot do the things we would And Rom. 7.15 to the 21. he finds a Law that when he would do good evil is present Here now is a Christians case and the comfort concerning his act when in all his apprehended shortness he finds a true gracious principle that delights in the Law of God and presseth after a perfect union with and a similitude to it groaning under and conflicting to his utmost with the contradictions of his infirm self where this is indeed and in truth obvious to the searching eye of Christ he puts that blessed construction on it as to his Disciples the Spirit indeed is willing c. and the Spirit testifieth 2 Cor. 8.12 That if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not We serve not an hard Master that requires impossibilities or expects beyond what he hath inabled for He was judged a wicked and slothful Servant who had formed up that dreadful apprehension of a severe and cruel Master that reaped where he did not sow and gathered where he did not straw Mat. 25.24 26. We have a very choice character of the disposition of the Lord toward the off-spring of a willing mind Mark 12.42 to the end a Widow cast into the treasury two mites that make a farthing a very small and inconsiderable thing for the bulk of it but being the product of a noble mind and being extended to all that ever she had she had done all what she could and this hath more acceptable entertainment and high commendation than the many rich who cast in much of their abundance they might have comparatively to her narrow spirits though they had larger Pursses Hence was the commendation of the Churches of Macedonia 2 Cor. 8.2 3. The deep poverty was matched with abounding riches of liberality and then to their power and beyond their power they were willing of their own selevs and that was on this principle vers 5. First they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us by the will of God Souls yielded up to the Lord are the only generous spirits The greatness of Davids joy 1 Chron. 29.14 17 18. was not so much for the greatness of the gift but the willingness and uprightness of the heart his own and others that drew them out to do what they could for the House of God But a little more particularly to attempt the resolution of this enquiry When a soul may be said to do what he can for Christ 1. First We only then do what we can when our spirits are bending and pressing toward an abundance and increase of act according as we find the concernments of Christ about which we are conversant requires or needs it when as we see the distress of it increase there grows upon us daily the care of these concerns as we see the dayes are evil wicked men worse and worse and good men faint and weary we then lay about us What excellent thing do we can we do what do we more than others It s the guise of many Professors when they see Christs things go to the Wall as we say then to study Prudence and Wisdom things good in themselves and in their place but what do they signifie here but a meer politick contrivance how to preserve themselves by an abatement of their zeal a temperament and qualification of the height and strickness of their Profession the disposition of such tends this way they will do as little as they can for Christ They hope they may be saved if they meet not so often nor so publick nor so many as formerly until at length their prudence will be to leave Christ alone and repair to and care for their own things Nay it will be well if it turn not them aside to their crooked wayes where God hath threatned to lead them forth with the workers of iniquity Oh! where are those stirrings of spirit when we see a City a Nation wholly given to Idolatry ingageing the more publick frequent and fervent appearing on Gods behalf Acts 17.16 That would have entred into the Theatre had he been suffered Acts 19.13 31. That when the Decree is signed of death without mercy yet will keep on not only Moral but Instituted Worship to the utmost as aforetime Dan. 6.10 Rashness is not here pleaded for but a zeal of God according to knowledge and an holy fervency of spirit serving the Lord rejoycing in Hope patient in Tribulation continuing instant in Prayer not forsaking the assembling our selves though the manner of some be so but exhort one another daily while it is day provoking to Love and good Works and that so much the more as we see the dayes be evil and that day approacheth 2. Secondly We then do what we can when we make it our care and business to get our spirits and frames in all we do raised on more noble principles than formerly Gospel-principles are not revealed to us or improved by us to their height at first The Righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1.17 Who walk by it from strength to strength Psal 84.7 And are changed from glory to Glory 2 Cor. 3.18 They that rest in and trust to former Attainments and Experiences will find them short of furnishing for new services of Sufferings We have need in these thorny and rocky paths to have our shoos of iron and brass and as the day is so should our strength be Deut. 33.25 We have need not only to prefer that request Lord help our unbelief but also Lord increase our Faith 3. Thirdly We do what we can then when we improve our utmost interest in others Saints and Sinners do ingage them to do what they can for Christ when the distress is publick and extended to others generally it should not satisfie our spirits to narrow up our care and endeavour within the compass of our own things It was a sad complaint All seek their own Phil. 2.21 Ye shall be scattered every one to his own Joh. 16.32 This good Woman in the Text doth not satisfie her self to make preparation for the embalming her dear Lord but she is still found accompanying and ingaging others with her Luke 23.55 56. chap. 24.10 Our forwardness and zeal as was theirs of Macedonia which provoked very many 2 Cor. 9.2 Alas we are debtors to others both Saints and Sinners Rom. 1.14 15. And we should do as much as lies in us to get them engaged to Christ as debtors to him chap. 8.12 Oh! did the worth and need of souls press more upon us we should not be so private spirited as we seem to be in
Jabesh-Gilead for the Funeral-love they had shewed to one who had been the Lords Anointed 2 Sam. 2.5 6. Blessed be ye of the Lord that you have shewed this kindness to your Lord even unto Saul and have buried him and now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you and I also will requite your kindness because ye have done this thing The blessing he gives them shews his acceptance to the uttermost the occasion thus There was a day when the men of Jabesh-Gilead were in unspeakable distress by means of the hard terms offered them by Nahash the Ammonite 1 Sam. 11. 1 2. they could have their peace upon no other terms than by espousing an irreparable mark of reproach and infamy on themselves and all Israel and in this nick of extremity Saul puts his life in his hand and rescues them seasonably and wrought a very great deliverance This kindness of Saul to them they were never in a capacity to requite till the day that the body of their Lord and instrumental Saviour was hanged on the Wall of a Garison of the Philistines as a mark of like reproach and ignominy on the whole Interest of God In such a day of death and danger when the body of their Lord and his dear Children is hung a stinking in the face of the Sun now is a time to prove and improve the kindness and ingenuity of their spirits toward their Lord and Israel by putting their lives in their hands and doing what they could to fetch him off from and give a check to that reproach of the enemies of the Lord on his Name and Interest They attempt it they succeed and bring off these dead bodies and mark it they came to Jabesh and burnt them there and took their bones and buried them and fasted seven dayes 1 Sam. 31.11 12 13. They not only buried but burnt them there which was the manner of Royal Funerals compare it with 2 Chron. 16.14 They laid Asa in a bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kind of spices prepared by the Apothecaries art and they made a very great burning for him See Jer. 34.5 With the burnings of thy Fathers the former Kings which were before thee so shall they burn odours for thee This perfumed Royal Funeral you see hath acceptance and recompence with David And shall Jesus Christ who laid down his life to take away the curse and reproach from us and hath set us free from wrath to come which we can never requite now call for a proof of our kindness and thankfulness by doing what we can to rescue the honour of his Name and Interest that is now exposed to contempt and to bestow a more perfuming funeral on it and lamentation over it than without danger we durst do and shall we stand upon the hazard and cost of it and in so doing shall not we lose the blessing of David The Lord shew kindness and truth unto you Nay shall not the men of Jabesh-Gilead rise up in judgement who did what they could to cover the shame and recover the honour of a wicked Prince who fell for his iniquity as if he had never been anointed and shall we refuse or come short of perfuming this service to the King of Glory who is put to an open shame in his Name and People God forbid This honourable act will find acceptable resentment and recompence from Christ as that did from David and as kindness to the dead hath alwayes done on ingenious spirits Ruth 1.8 2.20 Blessed be he of the Lord who hath not left off his kindness to the living and the dead But let us see how Christ doth manifest this his acceptance of such attempts 1. Christ is ready to shew forth his acceptance of this kindness by his being so willingly ingaged to plead the cause and vindicate the innocency and integrity of such a People as do what they can for him many are the ill instructions at home and the ignominies abroad that will be raised upon such an account But of this we may have assurance he stands ingaged to make good that word 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed As Christ stood not upon his own vindication when his Father's honour was in his eye but he committed his cause to him who effectually hath brought it about So should not we stand upon our own vindication when the Name of Christ lies at the stake See Psal 35.5 6. Commit thy way to the Lord c. And he shall bring forth thy Righteousness as the light and thy Judgement as the noon-day We see how effectual he doth it in the Text concerning this poor Woman in all her ignominies and hard speeches that she met withal and no less will he shew it at this day to be the high title of his honour Thus saith thy Lord the Lord and thy God who pleadeth the cause of his people Isa 51.22 He will thorowly plead their cause Jer. 50.34 and execute Judgement for them bring them forth to the light and their eyes shall behold thy Righteousness Micah 7.9 Marvellous have been the Lord's wayes and methods of asserting the integrity of his people from the midst of the clouds of ignominy 2. Christ sheweth his acceptance by ordering the issues of all the provision that a people makes for his Name and Glory that it proves the directest provision they can possible make for themselves and their best interest The liberal man deviseth liberal things and by liberal things shall he stand Isa 32.8 That course which the generality of people conclude according to rules of Providence is the way to ruine them proves the most effectual means to establish them of this Psal 112. gives a full testimony The good man is there brought in gracious full of compassion shewing favour and lending dispersing giving to the Poor and yet in all respects making the fullest provision for his own best blessedness in so doing That of Christ is the Paradox to prudent Professors in perilous times which they can by no means resolve He that will save his life shall lose it and he that will lose his life shall save it How evidently is this made good in the good Name of persons Men have generally reasoned that to cleave to such a Profession or Testimony or People hath been the high-way to be disgraced for ever whereas the Lord hath manifestly built up the Houses of such as it s said of the Midwives Houses in Egypt We reade in the first and last verses save one of Heb. 11. concerning the Worthies That by Faith they obtained a good report though they received not the Promise It was matter of reproach to them that they should imbrace and cleave to certain Promises from generation to generation owning them as their Interest which yet brought not forth in their day the great things they testified of and professed that as Pilgrimes and Strangers they
gives Power to the faint and our strength is in the Name of the Lord that made Heaven and Earth who doth and will do much by Babes wherefore say not I am a Babe a Child c. but rather say Here am I send me that God who was Jacob's God who fed and led him all his life long he hath been and is the God of the Seed of Jacob to this day that hath led us thus far also through a vast howling Wilderness and sustained us and not suffered us to deny his Name Oh this God is our God let him be our guide even unto death The Fathers that were before us alas what were they and the Prophets do they live for ever no they were weak as we and died as must we but when the Lord had work for them to do he gave Anointing for it and then they could say they were full of Might and Power by the Spirit of the Lord to shew Israel their transgression and the House of Jacob their sin So we through Christ can do all things he strengthning us Look then to the Lord that gave the former rain and will give the latter also in its season according to his Power And my dear Brother Be not discouraged your work seems cutting short also day by day by many things though what you may live to see or suffer I know not neither do I know how meet it may be to mind you of a motion I made to you about two years since on the like occasion about remembring the poor Flock I have travelled and laboured amongst if God cast your lot in these parts but hoping you will mind what may be your Duty in this matter I shall say no more but the Will of the Lord be done be of good courage and God shall strengthen your hearts His Sister was troubled seeing him so weak which occasioned him to say Oh! be ashamed Sister of such a demeanor cannot you let a poor Believer go to Heaven Oh! did you but stand on the threshold and see what preparations God hath made for such a poor worm as I am you would never be afraid of Death more Oh! honour Christ much I think he is coming near to honour me though I know not yet that my Sentence is come out from him yet I speak not as if I had hankering thoughts to stay Oh! when shall I see the day We shall sing at parting and not mourn as now blessed be God for ever that he hath not let the Righteous to be ashamed nor Wicked men to triumph over them for my sake Ah! did they know what God hath pardoned in me they might be apt to triumph more than now they can If there seems any importunity from any Friends for any thing to be mentioned of me when I am gone speak moderately of me I beseech you but if any thing hath been seen in me worth learning let it be offered with much humility or rather I think let my Works praise me in the Gate but I limit not His Sister asked Will you drink Yea Sister saith he Have you any of the best spiced Wine He then grew faint and could speak no more at that time Afterwards being asked how he did He said All his bones were as it were out of joynt And added God hath reserved this Proof of my Ministry viz. in much painfulness until these few years last past having been little acquainted with Sickness before He then asked If it were day A Friend answered The night was far spent the day was at hand even a morning without clouds to which you seem hastening To which he replied Yes as a very clear shining after rain Being asked a while after How he did He with his eyes lifted up answered Nevertheless I am still with him he holds my soul in life will guide me by his Counsel and afterward receive me up to Glory A Friend that dwelt upon the place coming to him and speaking Religiously He replied There was much talk of Religion in the World but few had attained to acquaintance with the powerful inward part of it and then minded that much of the power of Religion indeed was comprehended in that word Phil. 1.21 For me to live is Christ not only to live on or to Christ but to live Christ in all we speak or act is a high work Lord let my soul saith he into the sight and joy of it yet more and more The same person enquiring of him How it was with him in this hour He said Blessed be God he hath washed away my sins and spoke peace to my soul and thereby obliged me to follow him while I live and much more to go to him when I die Then said O Father shall I not now go hence but return into a world of so many snares and dangers again And further tells the Person aforesaid That he was very sensible of great respects received from her and her Relation And said For a full recompence to you all I desire when ever you come to such an hour as I am now approaching to you may meet with the same Comforts that through Grace I now find A Brother coming from far a day or two after to visit him being brought in suddenly upon him seemed a little displeased saying His Spirit was not now able to bear any sudden thing without over-setting That Brother asking him how he did He answered Never better in my life But adds Think it not to be passion or words of distraction for though I am very weak in body yet God is very near to me He also then said to a Friend sitting by on the occasion of turning in his bed by reason of weariness Ah! this is not our rest it is polluted but there remains a rest to the People of the Lord and his rest shall be glorious After this he had a day or two that seemed to be hopeful to his Recovery in which season little was said to him or by him being desirous to let his spirits rest from exercise in order thereunto if so were the Will of the Lord. But his Pains returning and a Friend asking how he did He answered It had been a night of exercise to him inward and outward To which it was answered That exercises were appointed by the Lord both for body and spirit but how are you sustained under them To which he answered I am graciously born up still and kept in peace under all Being asked if he had yet any hint how the Lord might do with him as to this dispensation he was now under as to life or death He replied He had nothing in that matter he could call divine teaching but by laying all circumstances within his view in the present case together he thought he must go hence at which poor flesh was ready to shrink and murmur It was answered That must and would do so while in its present being it naturally seeking self-preservation and avoyding and shrinking at
You took our Brother by the heel in the womb but hope we shall â—â—ke one another by the hand in Heaven and that both 〈◊〉 you intending the Friend that came to visit him â—ill live love as Brethren or words to this purpose 〈◊〉 near as could be gathered for now speech failed Then speaking of the pressures that were upon him he was advised to look to the Lord who in depths of Wisdom administred them managing all Circumstances about them as also to eye Christ the Captain of our Salvation who endured sore travel yea bruising from his Father also as knowing he ought to suffer such things and so to enter into glory and the Spirit spake of the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow He replyed Oh! that Glory that Glory on the other side Calling for drink and the Maid bringing it him he desired a Friend present might give it who coming to him said You appear now as one that is shortly to drink new Wine in the Kingdom of the Father He answered Though many have greater marks of Faith than I have yet I am assured I shall be received into fellowship with the Father Son Spirit and all Saints And looking earnestly on the Friend said If it please God to renew strength he should give good evidence that he loved that Friend dearly and all Saints A little after the same Friend acquainted him of two dear Friends of his in London that desired particularly to be remembred to him and were much exercised in fellowship with his present tryal He being very weak replyed I can say little but I pray God they may be strengthned with all might and power in the inward man to hold out to the end according to his glorious power Being asked by another How he did He said My heart begins to fail I now feel But after said Blessed be God for Christ's Grace and eternal Glory Soon after he broke out into fervent earnest Prayer 1st Deeply lamenting Israel's dealing falsely with Goâ— in his Covenant 2dly Speaks forth with great clearness his faith that God would make the decision between real and pretended Saints and that God would abide with those that abode with him greatly encouraging such as found grace to stand in this hour of temptation Concluded committing himself Soul and Body to the Lord for keeping and carrying to the end At another time in like manner in great zeal and fervency implored the Lord to make the decision between the true Seed of Israel and pretenders who had dealt falsely with the Lord under shew of much love Then beggs If God had any thing for him to speak he would communicate and enable to it and that if Abraham's work were done that he would say to him with that clearness and evidence as he might understand it Thou hast fought a good fight hast kept the Faith henceforth is laid up for thee a Crown which God the Judge of all shall give thee A while after and but three hours before his dissolution a Friend perceiving him under great pressures spake softly to him They looked unto the Lord and were lightned A right look will bring down relief under all difficulties Yea replyed he with strength and earnestness And their faces were not ashamed Thence forward he spoke not but in a few hours after it being the 5th day of the first Month 1668. yielded up his Spirit falling asleep without pang or considerable groan FINIS Copies and Extracts OF LETTERS Written on several occasions BY That Deceased Servant of CHRIST The Author of the fore-going Discourses Printed in the Year 1668. A Book that he approved being the work of an other containing Instructions for Children he sent several of them to some of his Acquaintance accompanied with this Letter to their Parents Vnto my dearly beloved Brethren Sisters and Friends whom the Lord hath intrusted with the oversight of Families Children and Servants abundance of the Spirit of Glory and of God is desired Endeared in the Lord UNder the strong obligations of bounden duty which my Father hath been pleased to lay upon me of serving the Interest of your Souls and theirs whom God hath given you to my uttermost it hath been not the least part of my study in this School of Instruction unto which he hath sent me how I might at this distance most effectually attend and be found therein as one â—hat must give an account not only of the Law of my Relations but also of these fruits thereof on your hands which have extended and abounded to me-ward in un-interrupted tender love and sympathy as well in this my chain â—s in the many years of my weak endeâ—vours to serve Christ among you in liberty in requital whereunto as I can do little at most so am I often inwardly checked and rebuked for my sinful shortness toward you both in general and particular from soul to soul and very lately it hath been with more than ordinary weight on me to exercise pitty and compassionate thoughtfulness on those Families of yours both Children and Servants many of which the Lord hath multiplied like a Flock whose particular affections as far as they have been capable to express them I have been at a loss how to recompence or improve to their advantage but having been advising with some of my Companions here as well as laying the matter before him who is able to give seed to the sower and multiply with blessing the seed sown I have herewithal attempted to make an Essay for enterance with them in presenting to them this upright plain Address prepared to my hand by some one of the Lord's Prisoners full of bowels toward such young subjects consisting of such proper matter and brought forth in such a condescending Spirit and Language as I trust by the blessing of the Lord will find good acceptance and success among such souls My present Writing therefore with it is not so much to crave its acceptance in good part by them for of that I have much assurance buâ— to lay hold of this opportunity to desire your faithful following the design of it by stirring up your selves and zealously and unweariedly doing your endeavour with all your wisdom interest and might behaving your selves among them as Men and Women of knowledge that your account of their souls as mine account of yours may be given up with joy and not with grief Here am I and the Children and Servants which thou hast graciously given me unto which faithfulness of yours besides many other weighty Arguments that might be urged the very remembrance of the dayes being so very evil may afford you as it hath me many forcible motives 1. These are dayes wherein you know not how suddenly you may be hurried pluck'd and separated from them not only by death which climbeth up at the windows in most Families this sickly season but by the violenee of the Sons of Men through the wise ordering of God who are permitted to make
to keep you in perfect peace Now to him that after you have suffered a while is of all power to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen 7th 3d month 60. Upon the death of some whom he honoured to two of his Acquaintance then fellow-Prisoners The Lord send you help from his Sanctuary and strengthen you out of Sion Greatly Beloved I Salute you both as is meet in the Lord. These two last Posts I have not written any Letter to you partly for that I have been out of Town some little journies but principally having been much under the surprize that those were Job 2. ult The voice indeed is loud and as if seven Thunders had at once uttered their voices the terribleness of it makes many shrink as Eliah into his den When Oh when shall we hear the still soft Voice and as men of understanding see his Name We may well cry out he hath shewn us hard things and given us to drink the Wine of astonishment which falls the heavier in that such who have obtained favour to lay nearest to heart the concernments of Sion and to be therein aided with greatest boldness and sweetest intimacy near to the heart of Christ and have had their Affections enflamed most with what they have sought and seemed to themselves and others to have been of those bosom intimates that know all that their Friend doth and have hereupon spoken openly and without clouds or reservations their confidence of things that have appeared in the issue to be mistakes how some of them bear it I do not well know but sure I am the hand is very sorely turned upon the little ones that believe in Christ great is their astonishment like that Isa 51.17 to the end I have often thought of them Acts 21.4 Who said to Paul by the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem How like the language of our spirits heightned by fervent affection and attended with providential bringing to remembrance of sutable Scriptures and all this on a soul enjoying clear access to the Lord is to the voice of the spirit in truth as he fulfils that Promise He shall take of mine and shew it unto you and shall shew you things to come And if it may please the Father after he hath graciously allayed the storminess of these perplexing waves that at present doubtless discompose for any thing to lead his holy ones into a more perfect discerning of things which in this kind do differ and in mean time instruct to think more soberly of themselves and judge more tenderly of others I shall yet hope this sharp dispensation may bring out meat and sweetness that we thought not of As for the poor Martyrs themselves when I review what was of late said of their particular perswasions and how when their departure was hid from them they enjoyed such un-interrupted joyful communion with the Lord I cannot but admire the wisdom and goodness of the Father that took that course with them to anoint them for their burial but alas they had no burial But much more grace to admiration appears to me in it that when their perswasions and expectations from the Lord in that point gave way to his determinations yet that at that very time the Tempter should be bound up who doubtless desired to have them that he might have winnowed them as Wheat and would have made a great market of the least discouragement upon them over the whole Antichristian World Oh! how unsearchable are his wayes and his works past finding out The deadly Treacle that you speak of will doubtless swiftly become a Cup of trembling to this wretched generation and entayl the guilt of all down along from Abel c. A very strange efficacy that it hath to cry and to prevail at length though it tarry long first That Abels was not answered and expiated in the Flood that destroyed the World of the ungodly nor that of Zacharias if it was his who said The Lord look upon it and require it 2 Chron. 24.22 But they both must cry against that generation that put to death the Lord of Life and neither of these cryes expire at the ruines of them and their devastation to this day but shall be found as fresh in out-cry against that great City where also our Lord is crucified Rev. 18.24 And though it 's hard to discern yet great is the pravalency of those cryes of Saints that night and day follow the Lord herein though he not only tarry long but even seem to be angry with the Prayers of his People that word hath sweetly stayed me in this hour of temptation Thou tellest my wandrings put my tears in thy bottle are they not written in a Book by thee If their wanderings staggerings be tenderly numbered and their tears bottled and their grouns booked and all this by thee a Book of remembrance before the Lord We need not be so sollicitous what becomes of them though they are above out of our sight doubtless when it comes to much Incense in the Angels hand the Censor will be cast into the Earth Rev. 8.3 4 5. Rests Yours in tears 24. 8. month 60. Unto one who had acquainted him with the departing of some from their holy Professions The early visits of the bright and morning Star be a light in your dark place till the day dawn and the shadows flee away Beloved in and of the Lord SInce my last I have received yours wherein you were pleased to remember and send such a rich Token to your poor Friend whom you are pleased to describe by that merry title of your Father who blesseth God for grace and support ministred by tracking the footsteps of the Father of Spirits in those paths of peace and pleasantness wherein he pleaseth to lead you and others of his suffering ones so contrary to the methods and expectation of men whose breath are in their nostrils Job 22.29 Psal 41.8 12 13. unto which I account it no diversion that he is pleased as your last intimates to keep you in an humble sense of the shortness of self-sufficiency for bearing you up against the hour of temptation the very fear whereof hath already cast down so many stars from their excellency on whom this inscription is manifestly engraven as a caution to us though a by-word to scorners Lo this is the man that made not God his confidence Over whom as I have little ground to glory 1 Cor. 10.12 Rom. 11.18 20. so neither is there just occasion to be greatly offended Isa 2.22 2 Tim. 4.16 17 18. Joh. 6.66 67. chap. 16.13 32. Although I find it somewhat difficult to draw the memorial of their slips into a gracious perpetual remembrance without some mixtures either of wrath or doubting I confess it makes me many times tremble to think
when they saw his anguish was exceeding great and their own was not very small The Interest of words meerly such can be of little signification while the things themselves spoken of are manifestly absent Perhaps we have spoken enough if not too much for our part now God is come to speak his part which requires much quiet attention the rather for that though it be very loud yet very mysterious and deep as are many of the Oracles of God those especially wherein he designs to manifest himself to his and not to the World I could for my own part also lay hold on the like exemption and silent retirement as most befitting my present state and frame altogether entangled and perplexed and presuming that you have at hand to help not only the presence of the great promised Comforter who can supply all your wants but also the secondary supplement of many worthy Ones who have received the Anointing and thereby the Tongue of the Learned to speak words in season From you we have hitherto received the accounts given of the gradual stâ—ps of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own Will in the several gradations wherein we have not been wanting as enabled to pour out our hearts before him who was able to help and are now enquiring why he hath appeared as being angry with the Prayers of his People covering himself with a Cloud that they could not get through If any distinct answer be given you may expect to hear of it In mean time that Isa 57.1 is before us as verified not only in the loose generation of Professors who seem greatly hardened and estranged from the Interest of their chiefest mercies but to true even among those who seem to be most tenderly touched with affectionate sense of present privations and pressures of all kinds right laying to heart and due considerations of such stupendous works of God both in their present weight and future warning is very rare and require extraordinary teaching and conduct that neither on one hand we despise or on the other faint when thus chastised by him Your cry for help hence must be returned with the same importunity ye also helping by Prayer to God for us who though at some personal distance are yet in some sort of Sympathy pressed if not above measure and beyond strength yet to the utmost degrees of what is hitherto received yet wisdom and strength are with him with whom we have to do who hath graciously put himself under promise that as the day is the strength shall be The Lord prepare us for learning harping singing the new song which is the peculiar melody of them redeemed from the Earth which admits of no interruption from Thundrings Earthquakes Tempests Voices though they proceed out of the Throne and are subservient to the Ends of it Yours heartily 4th of the 4th mon. 67. Another on the same occasion Garments of Gladness for the Spirit of Heaviness My dear Sister WHile there is a Spirit in Heaven influencing spiritual Believers upon Earth in their frail capacities that Word will have its verity among them though absent from one another in the body how great soever their distance and how dark soever their circumstances may be yet are they present in the Spirit joyning not only in rejoycing while order and stedfastness in the Faith are manifest but also in affliction and mourning where knowledge is imparted or though but supposed of the hand of the Lord touching and bruising especially in the most tender part and on spiritual occasions such hath been the fellowship of the Spirit through Grace I trust in my soul with you under the very heavy rebuke of the Almighty wherewith you have been exercised especially of late dayes on divers accounts both personal domestick in the Church of Christ where you walk in the whole Sion of God and as in the Nation it self having a right and relation to its welfare or desolations as I also am fully satisfied you have had with me in divers proofs that have been put upon my Faith and Patience as far as they have come to your cognizance and I hope the same Grace will not only teach us to be tender but mutually helpful each to other toward the understanding and complyance more fully with our Father's mind in these stupendous dispensations so as his ends upon us may be actually furthered in the promotion of the power and beauties of Holiness Unto which issues though godly sorrow working Repentance never to be repented of hath a very direct tendency and humbling our selves greatly under the mighty hand of God is the straitest step towards the best exaltation in due time Yet when I read the present temper and its tendency of my own heart and also observe in yours and others late lines upon this heart-breaking occasion to what excess of sadness fear discouragement and even dispondency we are apt to yield the Tempter advantage to triumph over us and hardly recover our selves to a jealous thought that there is any considerable danger in the excess on that hand but that it is a kind of vertue to refuse to be comforted I say in such observations my heart hath bin smitten with reproof and somewhat awakned to stand upon its watch against incursions on that quarter lest Satan should get an advantage on us who should not be ignorant of his enterprizes It 's true we have lost a Prince and great man in Israel this day But who was his Father 1 Sam. 10.12 was it not the Father of Spirits with whom the residue of the Spirit is and who can at his pleasure set a man over the Congregation Know we not where is the Lord God of Elijah is he not in Heaven and can do whatever he pleaseth Is not his Spirit in Promise Are not all the Promises of Christ Yea and Amen Doth not the time of the Promise draw nigh of that grand effusion of the Spirit of Elijah that shall raise the Witnesses revive the Works lift up the Standard break the Yoke have not some sprinklings of the Spirit been found up and down in our dayes and should it not be owned as a token for good and turned to us for a Testimony that the Harvest is not far off Are not these discouraging complainings of ours much of the same kind and go upon the same mistakes and may righteously issue in the same dismissions to us from further service as it was with Elijah in his fainting fit after he had acted in so full a gale of the Spirit just before that now he complains They have killed the Prophets c. and I even I am left alone and my life is sought also What am I better than my Fathers We know the Answer of God to him which I trust is true at this day There is yet a remnant according to the Election of Grace and Seed that shall serve him and shall be accounted with him for a Generation
especially in the Reigns of those Ten bloody Emperors known commonly by the name of the Ten Persecutions As the former was against profession of the Name of God under the Old-Testament so this was against the profession of the Name of Christ under the New A Third time to which by way of eminency the Tortures of the Lords people is appropriated is the time of the Reign and especially towards the Ruine of Antichrist described in Rev. 13. in its distinct Powers under the first and second Beast beginning short upon the Empires professing the Name of Christ carrying threatnings and slaughters against the true Witnesses of the Spirit Life of Christ though pretending to the Name of him and this not only during the 1260 dayes or years assigned him but principally at the end thereof when for a short space Power must be given him to slay those Witnesses with such a slaughter as carrieth its manifest distinction from the Sufferings to which they are lyable during their prophesying in Sackcloth and his bloody Reign not far from which finishing Rage which is but a short time the general Consent of most that search into the times and what Israel ought to do agreeth that we are by the wise hand of our Father cast the Word and Works Prophecies and Providences of God helping much to make up such a Judgment though in several particulars about it there is variety in the understandings of the most serious enquirers My apprehension and expectation hereupon is that we are near upon the borders of if we have not already made some entrance on an hour of sore temptation which will try all them that professing an interest in heaven do dwell upon earth in which it will be found of great moment that we stand girt about with the whole Armour of Righteousness upon the right hand on the left especially holding fast this shield of Faith whereby though in the Ages past some were tortured yet they were more then Conquerors they over-come by the blood of the Lamb c. Our Second Enquiry in opening the Observation was Whence comes it to pass that such a people as the Lords people are at least wise ought to be are nevertheless exposed to such torments they who are the blessing to the whole Creation simple concerning evil willing to live honestly following peace with all men as much as it is possible sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves blameless and harmless as the sons of God without rebuke professing and striving to answer this principle yet are hated cast out persecuted as the filth of the World the troublers of Israel them that turn the world up-side down whence cometh this to pass That no torture can be heavy enough no death hard enough for them 1. That which gives life and fierceness to all these Enmities and Tortures which spring from them is the beastly Nature and Lust of poor fallen man that bears the Image of the Devil herein having this Character Hateful and hating one another living in malice and envy Tit. 3.3 serving divers lusts and pleasures Hence wicked men and they that have no Faith are called unreasonable men 2 Thess 3.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men that cannot be reduced to any proper place Beasts after the manner of men 1 Cor. 15.32 Bruits hurried with humour or sense contrary to reason as natural wilde Beasts made to be taken and destroyed 2 Pet. 2.12 How frequently are they likened by the Spirit to Lions Psal 57.4 Wolves of the evening Zeph. 3.3 and other Beasts of prey signifying the miserable plight sin hath cast poor man into If Jacobs own sons having partook of his education deserved this Character Cursed be their Wroth for it was fierce and their Rage for it was cruel How much less is to be expected from others that have no bridle on them if their lust be crossed if their wickedness be witnessed against as it is by the holy Conversation of testifying Saints Who can stand before envy the Ambition of one Haman will run down a whole Nation the fear and anger of one Herod will devour all the Children in Bethelem 2. There is a set and stated Enmity put and placed between these two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 upon which a War is founded in a way that can admit of no reconciliation for what agreement can there be betwixt Light and Darkness 1 Cor. 6.14 15 16. Hence the Lord takes notice that the bottom of that perpetual discord by which the Philistines dealt with Israel by revenge and took vengeance with a dispightful heart to destroy it was the old hatred Ezek. 23.15 an hatred that was as old as the old Serpent the Devil who was a murderer from the beginuing Hence 1 Joh. 3.12 Cain is said to slay his Brother he was of that wicked-one and the occasion of the quarrel was his own Works were evil and the others righteous This Root Christ reduceth that wrath unto that was exercised against him John 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the works of your Father ye will do he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth And as it was in Abrahams Family He that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit So it was in Paul's dayes Gal. 4.29 So it is now and so it will be till the God of Peace tread Satan under our feet which will be shortly Rom. 16.20 till that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan be bound and cast into the bottomless pit Rev. 20. beginning 3. There is an exasperation and aggravation added to this old hatred frequently when there is added a blind Superstitious Devotion and Zeal When this old hatred can get the covert and pretext of a Zeal for God it growes hereby exceeding fierce when Paul was acted on a principle of self-righteousness out of zeal he persecuted the Church Phil. 3.7 and you see to what height it grew he thought he ought to do any thing contrary to the Name of Christ shut them up in prison voted their death punished them compelled them to blaspheme and being exceeding mad against them persecuted them even to strange Cities Acts 26.9 10 11. breathed out threatnings and slaughters against them chap. 9.1 Of this time Christ foretells and forwarns his Disciples The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service Joh. 16.2 They who think it promotes divine service to persecute Saints being zealous of a traditional Worship of their Fathers will be very cruel in their undertakings Hence is the Spirit so express that in the latter dayes perilous or fierce times shall come for men shall have among other ingredients to their maglignity a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.1 to 4. This when it comes to be the guise of Persecutors will make of it fierce times When Simeon and Levi had
is only in bestowing mercies which are distributed variously even as the Spirit will 1 Cor. 12.11 yet still a proportion of tryal is measured out sutable to their strength 1 Cor. 10.13 for he knows our frames and in measure doth debate with us and as the day is so our strength shall be Deut. 33.25 and even as there are children young men and Fathers in Christ 1 John 2.13 so have these their tryals as they can and that they may be able to bear them 3. All are not tortured because all are not called to be tortured the Lord hath other imployments for some that shall as sufficiently prove their faithfulness and improve their strength as if they had been tortured Some of the Saints may as really honour God in a Meeting as others of them may on a Gibbet every member hath not the same office Rom. 12.4 1 Cor. 12. throughout not the same imployment shall not by the same manner of doing or dying glorifie God John 21.19 God seeks for a man to stand in the gap and make up the hedge Ezek. 22.30 Every man is not looked for in that place of danger it 's good to be where God looks for a man 4. All are not tortured because the Lord will be magnified in distributing the tryals of the body of Christ otherwayes than he did the tryals of their Head its true the tortures that were laid on him were to meet on him alone he was to tread the Wine-press alone and of all the people there was none to help him they that thought they could drink the Cup he was to drink or be baptized with his Baptisme did not understand themselves He looked and there was none to help he wondered there was none to uphold therefore his own Arm brought him help c. But now in the fellowship and similitude of Christs sufferings assigned to the body although there be a compleatness of suffering appointed to the whole of which the Apostle speaks Col. 1.24 and though there be a common spirit of fellowship and simpathy of bearing one anothers burdens through which they are all baptized into one body yet is there distribution made of them into the various parts each member having that assigned him which infinite wisdom sees proper for him so that none may boast against others as if he had no need of them though Paul had laboured and suffered more than all yet he had not suffered all and could not say to the weakest I have no need of thee 5. Lastly All are not tortured because the Lord will roll away the reproach and remove the usual stumbling-block which Satan raiseth up to the turning the weak out of the way of the Lord namely That the enquiring after and profession of Jesus Christ doth indispensibly necessitate and bind over unto all manner of hardships such can never be in reasonable expectation of good day more but must bid adieu to all creature comforts and espouse the quite contrary extremities its true A dying to a denying nay a hating of all our lower comforts is required to be learned in the beginning of their way who will be his Disciples But whether they shall be actually put upon that tryal and really deprived of them is left to be disposed of in the brest and good pleasure of him who knows what part of the wrath of men and suffering of Saints will praise him and the remainder he will restrain the absolute conclusion therefore of stumbling Sinners and discouraging Saints as if their bread would fail and as a Lion he would break all their bones are hence to be expelled as having no just ground to be insisted on as real obstructions to our following the Lord. Tempted Souls are apt to get their spirit quite worn out with a fearful expectation of the most fiery tryals when as it may be the Lord hath appointed no such thing at all for them and in their following on in this way they have met with little or nothing of what they feared A few Practical Inferences here shall close up the Point Vse 1. Is it so that God hath appointed but some to be Tortured not all it then yields some stay against those surprizing amazements that are apt especially in such dayes as these to seize upon the spirits of people who are looking toward Zion with their faces thither-ward most good people are looking upon Penal Laws and Statutes made and making against them if they hold on in such a profession as they have made hitherto of Christ Jesus all must be banished all must be sold as slaves all must be impoverished imprisoned or the like Why then saith a poor creature what shal I do I can never lie in a nasty prison being used to a soft bed fresh air good diet Saith another I shall never endure another clymate to have lash and labour that have been bred up in a Land and State of fulness I can never live if I am forced to such hunger and poverty as the Laws do threaten me Why Soul do not reason thus thou knowest not what supplies of strength the Lord may furnish thee withal if he call thee to such a condition Out of weakness many have been made strong But besides thou shouldst not fret thy self with such an expectation thou knowest not that any part of this shall be thy portion Yes yes will such object I am sure if any man in the town or countrey it will be me such and such have particular enmities to me c. Why yet thou knowest not but the Lord may preserve thee in his way from such rage of men and strife of tongues thou mayst be of them whom God reserves Baruch cryed out Wo is me now for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow c. Jer. 45.3 perhaps of the heavy and dangerous service he was called upon to go where Jeremiah could not ch 36.5 6. he feared ruine and tortures inevitably yet God had wayes to hide him v. 26. and to give and secure him his life for a prey ch 45.5 Moses had many dreadful objections and discouragements against going upon that thankless difficult hazardous message God sent him on Exod. 3.10 What am I vers 11. they will say what is his Name vers 13. They will not believe me nor hearken to my voice ch 4.1 I am not eloquent of a slow speech and of a slow tongue vers 10. Send by whom thou shouldest send v. 13. All springing from fear of the issues of the undertaking and of the miscarriage in it which when it came to be put in practice there was not one of the feared things occurred in his path though some other tryals did Unbelieving fear of these dreadful consequences of following God is very fruitful in forming Lions in the way as if there were no avoiding of them or no restraint designed by that Arm which setteth bounds to the Sea Hitherto shalt thou go and no further there shall thy proud waves be
am treating as Christ saith in patience â—ossesseth the soul A man is said to possess his soul when he hath the command and disposal of all his â—houghts and faculties according to the best reason This in the case in hand is only the off-spring of â—xed Faith and admirably advantagious in sustainâ—ng torments 2. Faith contributes influentially not only as it begets peace but also as it brings the soul up to a certain resignedness unto God to a willingness to be â—t Gods dispose here am I let him do with me what seemeth good in his sight That which makes torments to be tortures indeed is when the members draw one way and the mind another but when the soul comes to be fully yielded up to divine pleasure this makes tortures become no tortures or at least to become less tortures You see this eminently set forth in the Captain of our Salvation himself while he was crucifying in weakness and tempted as are we while the humane nature would have made choise of that request Father save me from this hour Joh. 12.27 then was his Soul troubled all was dark and intollerable But when he fixeth in that resignedness For this cause came I to this hour Father glorifie thy Name then are there not only Oracles of approbation giving aid from the most excellent Glory but the Baptism he hath before him how is he pained ere it be accomplished And so in the very offering its self we see how his resignation expedited his tortures he was dead sooner than the rest for when the Souldiers came to break the bones of the thieves they brake not his bones why because he was dead already How so Why he said It was finished bowed his head gave up the Ghost and said Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit Luke 23.46 Whereas the others abode in a contest till the last gasp 'twixt spirit and members loth to part much work left undone had no certainty one at least of rest for his soul This makes sore conflicts in times of torment whereas on the contrary how sweet is that yielding up all to God mentioned Isa 50.5 6. I was not rebellious neither turned away back but gave my back to the smiters c. So chap. 53.7 He opened not his mouth but is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter c. This subduedness to the will of God by the dominion of Faith then is of exceeding moment to strengthen us to the induring these torments 3. Faith doth influence the soul to bear torments notably by bringing and encreasing a certain greatness and nobility a largness and publickness of spirit on it more than formerly Shall such a man as I flee Neh. 6.11 It begets a largeness of heart in some degree answering that of Solomon 1 Kings 4.24 unto which a base shrinking is exceeding contrary and loathsome especially considering by and for whom and to the interest of whose Name it is engaged It s marvelous to consider what many have endured to gratifie the lust of a great man 2 Sam. 2.14 15 16. to provide for their families to assert the liberties of their Country and the like and is not the will pleasure honour of Jesus Christ of far greater moment to be witnessed unto to the highest It was a gallant spirit in Joab which encouraged the people 2 Sam. 10.12 Be of good courage let us play the men for our people and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth him good The like reasonings will Faith suggest to beget resolutions I have now an opportunity which I may never have again to play the man the Christian the Believer for my God my Christ for his Gospel his Institutions his Cause and Interest What can be too hot or heavy to be done or suffered upon this accompt 4. Faith influenceth notably in this matter by giving the soul a prospect into and a fore-taste of that better Resurrection realizing and rendring substantial the promised Glory thereof unto it It 's remarked of our Lord that for the joy that was set before him he indured the Cross and despised the shame Heb. 12.2 Moses when he was threatned indured as seeing him that is invisible and having his eye to the recompence of reward chap. 11.26 27. They took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods who know in themselves they have in Heaven a better and more induring substance chap. 10.34 Stephen looking stedfastly into Heaven was not dismayed at the frowns threats tortures of his fierce adversaries Acts 7.55 56. I shall only draw this into an Applicatory Improvement briefly and pass along upon the whole of what hath been said to this Head Use You are with a very loud voice men and Brethren exhorted and beseeched to give all diligence to the Concernments of your Faith Above all your gettings covet a true lively Gospel-faith above all your keepings strive to hold fast and contend earnestly for this Faith If ever there were dayes that called loud for the Life of the Faith of the Son of God these dayes call for it I had fainted saith the Psalmist unless I bad believed And truly you will be apt to faint in the day of adversity as if your strength were small where your Faith is not good Take heed therefore of all things that may either adulterate it from its simplicity or stop and obstruct it from its growth God hath begun to exercise your souls and to prove your profession in a way of tryals its true you have not yet resisted unto blood unto tortures as others have and you at least some of you may The grand Question your souls should pursue to a full and satisfactory resolution is What stock have you proportionable to such an expectation Here I shall propound these Two Exhortations 1. Prove your Faith 2. Improve your Faith 1. Prove your Faith or take it in the Exhortation 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you are in the Faith prove your own selves Do not take up principles upon trust perswasions of a good condition upon trust in a day when you are at the point of being put upon fiery tryals Every mans work must be tryed the time is come that judgument must begin at the House of God Every one must bear his own burden Here you would be directed particularly to see 1 That your Faith be true 2 That your Faith be strong 1 That it be true feigned Faith will beget but fading Comforts nay as was said It will do greater mischief in such a day than no Faith at all Here Evidences would be needful for discovery and Arguments with Directions for exhortation that souls who upon the tryal find themselves short would not strike off through discouragements but rather strike up with so much the more diligence to make their Calling and Election sure for helps in order whereunto they must at present be referred to what hath been offered in other exercises The like might be offered to press you to
hitherto saith David 2 Sam. 7.18 It traceth out and owneth the footsteps of divine good-will in every little thing and much more when it sees such salutations Life is a mercy Liberty a mercy exemption from Tortures a great mercy Deliverance out of them a greater mercy Hence the Soul is compassed and compasseth his God about with songs of Deliverance 2. None knows how to improve a Deliverance how to use it when he hath it as a Believer If he have Life on this side Death Liberty on this side Bonds Ease on this side Torment he is taught to acknowledge and reckon he is not his own in it 1 Cor. 6.19 20. but must use it to the glorifying God in soul and body which are his None is under such obligations none hath such objects and opportunities to make an high improvement of them as he hath who by believing looks into them others bestow them on their lusts 3. None as he knows what account he must give to God for such Deliverances as he must reckon for every idle word and all the deeds done in the body so he must yield an account of all his receipts whatever they be and therefore must so receive and improve as one that must be judged by the Law of Liberty and hence durst not say of any Mercy as they Our tongues are our own who is Lord over them Psa 12.4 On these accompts and others that might be mentioned the Believer hath reason to know deliverance the worth that is in it and his duty about it more than any other Now as none can deal with deliverance as they so is it a very high duty incumbent on such to receive deliverance at the hand of God then to accept deliverance is his duty and to give it such acceptance and entertainment in Truth as he expressed in Complement and in a strain of Oratory Rhetorick Acts 24.2 3. the terms only changed the Believer may thus express himself to the Lord Seeing I enjoy great quietness great deliverance great preservation and that very worthy deeds are done to such a worm as I by thy Providence I accept it alwayes and in all places my dear Father with all thankfulness None do and can give it such acceptable entertainment as the Believer of whom we treat The matter therefore thus stated and considered he doth not he durst not refuse such deliverance For if he should not thus receive it 1. He were in this refusal a meer destroyer of himself a thing abhorrent to godliness he were I say accessary of the violence done upon himself Saul is as guilty of his own death if his Armour-bearer thrust him through as when he falls upon his own Sword If Life Liberty or any Mercy may be had in God's way the refusal of it is the destroying our selves so far as that Mercy extends Though we are required to hate Father and Mother and our own Lives in a sence yet it is far from the intendment of the Spirit we should carelesly run them upon hazard no such know their bodies are the Temples of the Holy Spirit and they ought to use them well for his sake who dwells in them He that abuseth the Temple of God him will God destroy 2. Such a refusal of Deliverance when it may be had in the Lord's way is a manifestation and an act of the highest ingratitude and unthankfulness to the Lord that can be thought on To scorn or set at nought his favours is very much beneath the ingenuity of a Believer who ought to imbrace all occasions to shew forth the high praises of the Lord which are due unto his Name Blessed are such as dwell in the Lord's House they have frequent such occasion to be praising him and it is comely for the upright 3. Should he not accept Deliverance when it may be had in the Lord's way it would be found an act of high violence and injustice towards others who may be involved and concerned equally with themselves Some have Wives and Children or other Relations in the flesh now as if he provide not for his own and especially for them of his own houshold he were worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 So if he draw them into sufferings from whence he might have deliverence in a way honourable and acceptable to the Lord he is accessary of their misery their wrong will be upon him More of this kind might be spoken but I fear too much of it is ready to be alledged on the common principle which is fruitful in such kind of reasonings Save thy self spare thy self this harm shall not come unto thee as Mat. 17.22 I shall only draw this Consideration into sutable Improvement in a few Inferences 1. If this be so then may we take up this Instruction That Godliness and the profession of it doth not inevitably run and necessitate a Christian upon the hazard and loss of every thing he hath or induce him to cast away all Though it doth indeed require him to prepare his stuff for removing to stand crucified in his affections unto them and ready to make surrender of them whenever the Lord needs them as was said of the Colt or is pleased to call for them yet it also directs to an excellent way of receiving enjoying and using them buying as if he bought not having and using all these as not abusing them 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31. Do not therefore take up hard thoughts of Godliness because of the Doctrine of Self-denyal the Cross at entrance or the Tryals and Tribulations that are appointed to attend the Professors of it 2. Hence it will also follow That false and wrong Principles are not to be accompted good because persons do upon them run all they have upon ruine As there is a kind of respect and pity kindled in tender and ingenious hearts toward a people who suffer under the profession of principles that have an appearance of Holiness in them So doth a kind of stedfastness to those principles and resolution to run all things to ruine on them very much tend to raise admiration and applause to such a people and their profession whereas on the contrary I desire you to take this as a standing Rule ☞ That the goodness of a Principle is not to be tryed and determined by the resolution of the Sufferer but the resolution of the Sufferer by the goodness of his Principle Good-men may be very weak under good Principles and Bad-men may be very heady and resolute under bad principles and this well considered would lead off our eyes from gazing on and having mens persons in admiration upon one hand when we see them stand or being apt to judge them and their cause if we see them insident in hours of temptation to shake and totter I confess its very beautiful and desireable to see stedfastness of Soul as the off-spring of Truth fixed there in Gospel-evidence and the contrary hereunto hath given not a little advantage and
and People considered in their capacity of conflicting with many deaths and dangers wherein they need and depend upon him for aid and influence as their Head 1 Cor. 12.27 Colos 1.18 24. Eph. 1.23 The Body of Christ may also be applied to signifie sometimes the whole Oeconomy or administrations of the concerns of Christ in the World for the peculiar good of his Church especially with respect to the Institutions of the Gospel according as the Legal Institutions Ordinances and Administrations of Moses are called the body of Moses Jude vers 9. compared with Zech. 3.2 where the contest was about the restitution of the Ordinances of the Lord according to the Mosaical Institution after the captivity I say as the administrations of the Law are called the body of Moses about which Satan had a contest then so may by just analogy the Institutions of the Gospel be called the body of Christ against which Satan hath not only many conflicts with them that are anointed and honoured to be a Royal Priesthood but in the infinite Wisdom of God and for the bringing about and perfecting of his designs with greater glory he hath designed manifest deaths and burials thereunto that his Resurrection-Power may be the more fully manifested Hos 6.12 Isa 26.19 Rev. 11 9 10 11. Unto this his Body mystically and figuratively considered there being such promises of a Resurrection there is also a spiritual embalming to be performed to it compleat to the capacities of the Lords dear Children all essayes and offers hereunto in such â—argeness of heart and preventing forwardness as was found in this Handmaid have a very singular resentment and acceptance with the Lord as shall hereafter be shewed the which I hope may be treated of and applied to our case without stretching the Metaphor beyond the bounds of Scripture allowance or digressing from the Spirits intendment concerning us in this place The words thus opened afford us this Observation Doct. That the Lord highly prizeth all vigorous attempts of his weakest Children to preserve a sweet savour on the concerns of Jesus Christ when they are exposed to death and burial All Nations where the Gospel comes must expresly take notice for a pattern to all that shall believe what a value and estemation Christ had of and an apology for a censured act of a glorious soul laid out early and nobly upon what concerned him when under a sentence of death and burial by the wise appointment of God though to be executed by the hands of wicked men so that if it might not be preserved from rage and scorn yet should from stench and an evil savour as much as lay in her till its hoped-for Resurrection should set it above either what she could do for it or the enemies against it may we therefore in our capacities learn that lesson Go and do likewise Luke 10.37 In handling this Point I shall not confine my self to any other method than will offer it self in considering this lively instance and pattern to Believers in the Text what was the peculiar excellency of her act indiscernable to good men that were standers by and wherein the acceptableness lay and thence by way of proportion where the cogent reason and influence of it lyes respecting us at this day First Then we may consider the inward springs and motives of her action that lay hid from ordinary observation upon which her spirit was raised and her endeavours extended to this degree mentioned in the Text. Secondly We may consider the effect of these lively and ennobling principles manifesting its self in the dimentions of her activity or how it was said of her She did what she could Thirdly The business or affair it self about which she was conversant a very thankless office in the thoughts of those that were lookers on though they were the Disciples of Christ and men honourable in many other respects above her Fourthly The estimation and acceptance that it finds with Christ notwithstanding the hard measure and severe censures at the hands of men I shall only speak of all these in her so as is immediately applicable to our own case as we go along First As for the first of these namely The hidden principles and springs of motion that were open to the Eyes of Christ with whom she had to do though mistaken and miss-judged by those spectators Not to enlarge in that variety as the matter will bear there are these two that offer themselves by Christs discovery to our view and learning as being needful indeed to all generous and noble actions that are wrought 1. There lay at the bottom of her act a lively faith strong and operative in this very matter not only in receiving the discoveries of the death and burial of her Lord whereunto the Disciples were so generally unacquainted but also the assurance of his speedy Resurrection not only in the hints that himself had given of it but also from the testimony that the Spirit had long since born Psa 16.10 that he should not see corruption in the grave his early witness whereunto we have John 2.19 speaking of the Temple of his body vers 20. he saith Destroy this Temple and in three dayes I will raise it up again Till he was risen from the dead this was not understood or at least not regarded and remembred vers 22. by the Disciples only such and so great apprehensive and active was the Faith of this good Woman that she receives the Doctrine of the Death and Burial and quick Resurrection from the Grave of her dear Lord and accordingly put her self to this great Cost to signifie her complyance with the Promise that he should be buried but not subjected to that corruption and putrefaction that attends that state and condition of all others We reade of the same Mary Joh. 11.2 in conjunction with her Sister Martha that when they were concerned in the burial of their Brother Lazarus though there was no want but rather a superabundance of love to him living and dying Christ loved him Joh. 11.35 36. The Disciples loved him for they could be content to go and die with him vers 16. His Sisters loved him to some excess vers 31. and yet because they had no expectation of his Resurrection till the general Resurrection vers 24. they yielded him up to corruption Joh. 17.13 14. so that when he had been dead four dayes they concluded by this time he stinketh vers 39. plainly shewing that having not any faith or fore-sight of his return to life again so speedily they were at no cost to embalm or perfume him against the stench of the Grave but touching him whom God would raise up from the Grave not to see corruption wherein he transcended David who wrote that Psalm who having served his generation by the Will of God fell asleep was laid to his Fathers and saw corruption Acts 13.34 to the 37. Acts 2.24 to the 32. So true and strong was her Faith
waited for they made this their business to raise a good report and preserve a sweet savour upon the Promises which yet brought not forth as they expected they should but yet this they got by it the Promises left a good report on them Their Names by means thereof were as precious Oyntment Eccles 7.1 for that their conversation were as precious Oyntment to the Name of God Christ shews his acceptance of such by making known to such the most early discoveries of his further breaking forth of Glory beyond any other So it was in the case of the Text they that were at this early costly provision of Imbalm had the first Knowledg Evidence and Joy of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead and must be the first messengers of the blessed Tydings thereof John 20.1 14. to 18. Luke 24.10 Mark 16.9 10. They had not the first manifestation of it who were men of the greatest parts imployment or esteem Nothing is more obvious to frequent experience then the preventing Grace of Christ at least in keeping the spirits of such sweet quick lively and if any fore-tastes of approaching Glory be going such overcommers shall have the morning-star Rev. 2.28 Christ's acceptance is frequently signified this way They who do what they can to raise a sweet savour on the concerns of Christ shall be rendred the most useful blessed and a blessing of any others in their generations The blessings of the souls and bodies of them that were ready to perish shall come upon such Job 29.13 They shall be as dew frow the Lord and as the showers upon the grass that tarrieth not for man nor waiteth for the sons of men Micah 5.7 Their love to Christ laying out its self for him thus is likened to the Oyntment on the head of Aaron and the dew of Hermon and Sion for there the Lord commanded the blessing Psal 133. The Families Neighbours Fellow-members of such shall rise and call such blessed Prov. 31.28 Ezek. 34.26 The distinguishing mark of acceptation is reserved by Christ till the day of recompence which hastneth greatly in the which not the value of a cup of cold water hath been given on this sweetning design but shall have its eminent reward Upon that enquiry of the poor Disciples Mat. 19.27 Behold we have forsaken All and have followed thee what shall we have therefore It was a great All a few Fishing-Nets and Boats and the like poor things Yea but it was their All they had done and were undone as far as they could for Christ and what remaineth to them Truly they having followed Christ in the Regeneration or as Luke 22.28 continued with him in his Temptations he appoints to them a Kingdom as the Father appointed him They must eat and drink with him in his Kingdom sitting on Thrones and judging the Tribes of Israel and every one that hath forsaken Brothers or Houses or Fathers c. shall receive an hundred fold c. From the words a few things more tending to a closer Application of the whole shall serve for a close Vse 1. This might be improved by way of Information thus If Christ do put such a real high value upon all attempts that are levelled toward this design to preserve a sweet savour on his concerns when they are by the world exposed to stinking Then 1. May we gather how the heart of Christ stands aspecting such as do what they can to render him and the things of his Name and Glory odious by laying contempt and reproach upon it what in them lyeth surely it will be a bad day for such when he shall plead with them and vindicate the quarrel of his abused Name and Interest If they that honour him shall be thus honoured then they who despise him shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.20 It 's worth consideration what requitals in kind Chtist hath in store for such indignities done to him what funerals he hath reserved for such enemies See Isa 14.9 11 18 19 20. Hell from beneath is moved at thy coming Thy pompe is brought down to the grave and the noise of thy viols the worm is spread under thee and the worms cover thee They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee c. All the Kings of the Nations all of them lie in glory every one in their own house but thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch as the rayment of those that are slain thrust thorow with a sword As a carkass troden under foot thou shalt not be joyned with them in burial because thou hast destroyed thy Land and slain thy people the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned An Instance like unto this of the Lord's severity to such as have provoked him and abused his Glory we have Jer. 16.4 They shall die of a grievous death they shall not be lamented neither shall they be buried but they shall be as dung upon the face of the Earth These are some of the Lord's wayes that he can take and many times doth with such as are not tender of his Glory Consiâ—er this ye that forget God c. The funerals of Jezâ—bel that dreadful enemy to the Lord's Prophets and People may be a warning to such Persecuters 2dly It also lets us understand with what little savour he doâ—h and will regard those who have been pretenders to him in the dayes of Prosperity but in Adversity and under the passions and reproaches that â—ttend the Gospel they hide their faces as it were from him nay are ready to deal with him as the Pharisâ—es are condemned for doing Mat. 23.29 to the end Who built the Tombs of the Prophets and garnisht the Sepulchres of the Righteous and yet espouse and walk in the very spirit of thos that slew them see their doom and downfal in the same place 3dly It also shews how little thank-worthy they will be in the day of Christ and how much 't is to their loss of their comfort now and will be of their reward then who think every thing too much that they either actually lay out or put in hazard for the Name-sake of Christ. If a good wish indeed will do it or the blessing mentioned James 2.15 16. would be accepted that possibly might be spared but as for any thing that is costly or dangerous that cannot be adventured It 's an hard saying who can bear it Of such will not Christ say They that are ashamed of me and my Word before this evil and adulterous generation of them shall the Son of man be ashamed when he appears in his Glory and in the Glory of his Father and of all his Holy Angels Use 2. But I rather proceed to offer a few things that may tend to direct and ingage in this matter And here first some Cautions to prevent mistakes and miscarriages in the Preparation and Application of this Imbalm and then a few Directions and I shall conclude Caution 1. Take heed that you
coming in a time of such weakness and when by the working of my Spleen which sent up dark and disturbing vapours clouding my imagination and made sore work within but the Lord made me see much of my own fleshly gloryings as also others in me and in my flesh which God would take down in this day of tryal when every ones work must he tryed of what sort it is even by fire and truly I was made to see to my shame much hypocrisie and formality in my converse with the Lord in one respect or other and that the Practical part of Religion I had yet arrived to little acquaintance with to what I had in dayes past but this brought me in the issue to see that I was what I was that was good only by grace and no room for flesh to glory but was brought through grace to experience this Truth that when I am weak then am I strong and that however it be yet the Lord forgetteth not his poor nor despiseth not his prisoners this is a brief account of the Way God led me in in this matter and hath so issued it that I trust through grace I shall yet come to lay down my weary head and heart in the peace of Gods speaking that will keep and carry me to the end His Friend told him here somewhat of the danger of attempting such great works under such disadvantages as these seasons and circumstances he had in these dayes past been under for such works as these minding to him That every season was not a fit season for judgement especially to be calling in question things so long and often under more clear light and leadings confirmed formerly and however that be a great Truth that every day will yet more demonstrate that we are but yet Children in Christianity far short of that manly state of things to which the present dispensation of God both publick and personal have a proper and true tendency towards which more excellent way 't is our duty to be pressing yet so to be pressing towards it as to remember both how we have heard and received and hold fast the beginning of our confidences firm unto the end that so the Tempter get not advantage against us as he doth or may do against persons ignorant of his devices But he being still weak either to speak or hear more was not said but that he his Friend was glad to see the Lord had issued the matter so well to the Preventing the Tempters design and giving his poor Servants to see how great that mercy is of all the Saints and their concerns being in Gods hand when the strength of our own hands heads and hearts fails so frequently as they do yet he remains the same for ever and in such seasons secretly succours and supports and at last brings out into a wealthy place to his own praise and encouragement of the poor and needy to trust in him at all times In the morning supposing him drawing near his end a Friend was called to him who finding him discomposed again in his head and convulsive motions renewed with shortness of breath yet soon after asking how he did He said He was a wonder unto many by reason of the rebukes of God upon him but the Lord was and he hoped would be his strong refuge to the end His Friend told him He had made know himself to him as a strong hold in this day of trouble hitherto else he had sunk under his afflictions but to â—e kept up and carried on under such great long exâ—rcises justifying God still and blessing him in giâ—ing as well as taking spake much of divine support â—iven in Yea sayes he I would not only justifie but 〈◊〉 have great reason to glorifie God as the God of my â—alvation It was answered His present posture of submission and subjection to him as the Father of Spirits was a notable way of glorifying God in the fire and giving praise to him in the Isle of the Sea And after a little pause He added He had now but a few steps more to go which he desired the Lord would also so order as he might not be left to sin against him and blessed the Lord that he had given him and yet maintained such good hope through Grace in him that he was not and hoped he should not fear to follow him through the valley of the shadow of death to which he now seemed hastning A Friend coming to him and asking him How doth this honest Watch-man Honest Watch-man saith he hath much in it to be a Watchman indeed looking out for the morn as the Watchman of Ephraim that was with his God when other watchmen are as the Prophet is said to be Hosea 9.8 A snare of a Fowler in all their wayes and hatred in the house of their God as is too evident of the Watchmen of our day by reason of deep defilements found amongst them wherefore the day of the Watchman cometh yea maketh haste now shall be their perplexity and thâ— dayes of their visitations are come the dayes of recompences are come Israel shall know it for the Lord dispensations are now very swift Being asked How he had done to Night Hâ— said I laid me down to sleep and waked again 〈◊〉 the Lord sustained me and hath not made this night night of terror by affrightning dreams and imagâ— nations as sometimes but I seem to be going on as weary traveller his way Sometimes after being asked How he did Hâ— said A poor weak creature It was answered But trust in the Lord you have strength Yea said he blessed be God everlasting strength and they that indeed trust in him shall be as Mount Zion that cannot be moved but abideth for ever for as the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so is the Lord about his People for ever A Friend telling him There was an acquaintance of his come to see him who was going to Preach amongst the poor Saints abroad He wished him prosperity in that good work saying He never found cause to repent of any of his working dayes for Christ in his life-time At the same time one coming from far to visit him and telling him He had dear Remembrances from many Friends of his who in a way of supplication with humble submission were looking to the Lord the God of all Consolation concerning him and his case He replyed He is indeed the God of all Consolation of strong Consolations which were sealed up to his soul And then added I am very much affected with this surprising visit of yours And soon after said to â—he same Friend He had in the two Nights past been graciously led and let into the understanding of that Word Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold â—he upright the end of that man is peace So as he â—as never let into it in like manner before A Friend saying How doth my Brother He â—eplyed I cannot say of you as he of old
that fear before him With what a different power is a soul acted then in such a request Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done from what it is when only in an usual formal way it breatheth it out Such transfigurations may well constrain an out-cry It 's good to be here though many times one knowes not what he sayes But alas why speak I think I long I so much for such sights and tastes which indeed though precious yet are transient mean while not valuing as I should that substantial feeding and living upon Sions lasting foundations such as remain unshaken though he bring us into the place of Dragons and cover us with the shadow of death though there be no fruit in the Vine and the labour of the Olive cease yet then to live above hope under hope c. have the Lord's joy remain in us and our joy be full Methinks all the Lord's footsteps point to us that as our proper lesson To be securing all that which concerneth us upon such Foundations as cannot be shaken when Heaven and Earth is moved Foundations are destroyed the Earth and all its Inhabitants dissolved before the Lord when he cometh for he cometh to judge the Earth with Righteousness and his People with Equity Yours in special Relation and Affection To two of his Acquaintance Imprisoned Direct leadings to living Fountains of Water and wiping all tears from your eyes is desired Much Beloved I Salute you both in the same bowels and with the same respect although I have not much that I know of to communicate that can add any thing to either of you trusting and in a measure tasting that you are as on Eagles wings carried beyond what my poor dark confused heart or hand can contribute to you in the force and fellowship of that blessed Word 1 Pet. 4.13 14. And as I trust you in a good measure are so I am by Grace helped with many others in every Prayer of ours to desire you further may be advantaged with those walks with God in the perfect liberty of Grace and Peace that may make up abundantly your blessedness not only in equality with but in a way of surpassing and transcendency to their present priviledge that have as yet opportunity allowed them to walk up and down about their Father's business It is not a little or low ground of Consolation for you and I pray that the power of it may still remain with you which one was mentioning that you are as really in the Cause and Business of the King though you can do nothing but make Prayers for him and bewail the dishonour done to his Majesty as if you were in Field or Council for him It is to one of you a state not unusual I hope it s to neither of you strange or unexpected it cannot be but a little while at the longest run ere that Word will be made good on you in a most blessed sense Eccles 4.14 and ere that be I am by Grace perswaded that as you share in many more Prayers and direct personal remembrances than formerly so also that experience of Pauls will redound to your real Consolation Phil. 1.12 13 14. as verified and is in part upon you The dreadful and unexpected issue to which all things in appearance are reverting beyond what we were willing to suppose the former Apostacy should or indeed could extend unto nay beyond the hopâ—s of those poor worms that are everywhere wallowing in the vomit of their own druâ—â—â—nness and belch out blasphemy I trust will have with many as I hope the consideration of it hath begun to have with me its effects to lead the Lord's people into a deeper search after and greater sense of the Idols of Jealousie that have provoked to this exceeding Jealousie in which the Lord seemeth not pleased to spare the giving his own Name together with the memorial of all his Wonderful Works to be reproached and as a by-word to the vilest of men and no one left that can say Restore Surely though the personal iniquities be great and manifold that have been found in the skirts of the Lord's People under their Profession that they are Saints yet do I believe there lies more combined united provoking guilt upon them unpurged unrepented of vindicated and pleaded for considered as they are Sionists and in their publick Relations Ah! these other man's sins are such eating evils to such as are in a sort related to them and yet in a seeming tolerable and excusable sense free from them as for which I am perswaded not only the Land mourneth but even Sion languisheth and her Children faint in the streets and yet few consider where is the malignity of the disease or declare the causes of banishment True it is some that I think honourably of have profest the discovery and a means for recovery of it but truly I think with such an hard and uneven hand have been the application that I fear though their good-will may be accepted of the Lord yet in the issue they will prove Physitians not of that value as may be expected from their Profession in that respect I am also in some hopes that the Lord is more effectually weaning his little Children from every Idol to which one after another they are so apt to apply themselves though guilt and unholiness be in the bottom of it how many a pitiful piece hath the Lord made manifest to be as Coniah Jer. 22.28 a dispised broken Idol a vessel wherein is no pleasure and yet such hath been the carnality of many that they have been concluding as they of this Coniah Lam. 4.20 When I have remembred all along that holy escape that the Lord helped you unto when many other good men were entangled and came not off till their bones were broken I have been made to rejoyce in that love and favour to you that hath preserved and I hope reserved you in a waiting Spirit till he should bring you forth among the sons that shall comfort Jerusalem when she sees their wayes and doings concerning all the evil that hath been brought upon her Ezek. 14.22 23. a passage that I read this morning which it may be I understood not that desired Prayers might be made to the Lord in that behalf encreased with holy jealousie my cry lest any influence of that Word Isa 51.14 which God forbid should light upon any of the dear Children of God that are this day in bonds I trust the grace of Jesus Christ will keep guide bless and sanctifie you both and all that are as you and when ever he lifts up your heads it will be to see his reserve of Wonders that shall glorifie his Holy Name I am cut short of enlargeing unless my opportunity of Conveyance were a little better known to me for a most plentious supply of this defect I shall return again to my travel in your behalf that the Shepherd and Stone of Israel may undertake for you
of the relation wherein the Lord hath placed me in his House wherein you and others look on me and expect much from me as yours intimates who am so unsutable to a door-keeper there lest while much weight depends on such a worm that Word be fully and justly verified Isa 22.25 and so of being reared up a Monument for a living end as was his Pillar 2 Sam. 18.18 I prove but an heap of Infamy vers 17. But over against these faintings when they have ran in as a flood I have hitherto found the Spirit of the Lord lifting up a Standard and displaying a Banner in his Fear by which a seasonable rescue hath been offered in a time of need And that by keeping me upon and now and than succeeding me in some measure in this Three-fold work which I doubt not but you have arrived to a good degree and great boldness in the Faith of First That I do not satisfie my self in any ordinary and slight Evidences of an Interest in eternal Love but press toward that full Assurance of Faith founded on the New-Covenant and universally influential on the New-Creature I speak not as if I had attained much but this is with me by the Grace of Christ my soul is so much the more engaged to press after the riches of full assurance of understanding a fellowship in the mystery of God the Father and of Christ as I see the dayes are evil the glimmerings whereof in that degree the Father sees good to intrust me withal have been an unspeakable stay to me against the fears of what man can do unto me and through your Prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus I hope will continue so to be unto the end the powers whereof both to peace against the fears of this day Rom. 8.31 to the end and to purging against the filth of it 2 Tim. 2.19 1 Joh. 3.3 I need not insist to shew you who your selves are taught it of God Job 36.22 2dly Another main work which I find of great necessity and advantage is the setting up in my soul the dominion of the Cross of Christ in a daily mortification through spiritual aid and arguments of the affections and lusts of the Flesh to every thing that may or must suffer loss in the expected fiery tryal whether it be either corruptible things as Silver and Gold any under-Christ enjoyments or corrupted corrupting things as is all the filthiness both of the Flesh and of the Spirit The entanglements of one or other of these is the snare which so easily besets most of those who in this day are contriving how much Truth they may possibly sell or at least expel for peace who seldome treat upon these terms but Satan makes his market on them we are not ignorant of his devices To be therefore mortified by time to thâ—se things is a very great part of our best Interest not only that in this sense our sins go aforehand to judgement that we may not be judged in them and for them with the World when the Lord comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the Earth and ariseth terribly to shake it but also that our pleasant pictures costly coverings and all our detectable things may be so crucified to us and we to them in the love of them that it may be no hard thing when the Lord calls for them to glorifie him to say to them Get ye hence What profit is there in my Blood If the Lord his Name Cause Testimony hath need of it what is that between us and him 3dly I also am brought into an experimental observation how much of moment is the spirit of a sound mind to have real substantial and digested principles and to be in union with them concerning that Cause for which we are at the point to be throughly tryed Whether that part of it that concerneth Worship or otherwise to have our Faith in such a day as this to be only founded in the wisdom of man our own or others short of the power of God to build another man's foundation or boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand at a time when every man's work must be tryed and every man must bear his own burden and give such an accompt as this is of himself to God though the structure seem never so stately and to be founded on the highest resolution yet will that doom and out-cry sooner or latter attend it as did his Ax 2 Kings 6. And indeed as you observe backslidings at this time of day are very rarely and hardly repaired though I trust some will ere the door be shut Mat. 25.8 9 10. To have therefore our rejoycings in our selves and not in another Prov. 5.17 Gal. 6.4 is our great Interest That it may be your sweet portion is the prayer of him who being unexpectedly interrupted having nothing of moment to impart as tydings Rests Yours as ever To a Friend long kept close Prisoner under hard Circumstances and greater threatnings Everlasting joy upon your head while sorrow and sighing flee away Beloved and honoured by and for the Lord THis morning having obtained that mercy from the Lord of reading a Character of your heart drawn by your own hand wherewithal I and others were not a little refreshed and a safe hand presenting for the conveyance of this to you which I hope may reach you I thought my self providentially called and concerned to give you a testimony of my joy in the Grace of Christ which is engaged hitherto to uphold you with everlasting arms that neiâ—her the strength nor length of your Suffering is such to you as is accompted otherwise by you than â—ight and but for a moment being laid on the ballance with the Glory that is ready to be revealed in us In this way of reckoning while our eye is kept on invisible and eternal weights of Glory realizing and impropriating them Crowns of thorns are more easie and less dishonourable than at a distance they seem to be or than we sense and apprehend them while we are reasoning after the flesh Weights indeed they have and are and such as make the oppressed many times to groan earnestly none for the present being joyous but grievous and are tenderly thought upon by him who in all their afflictions is afflicted the Angel of whose presence also is with them but we know the End of the Lord and his Rest shall be glorious when his indignation ceaseth in their destruction but he rests in his Love and there also shall make the weary to rest I judge my self some-way rebuked from above and untaught what and how to pray as I ought if in any prayer of mine I forget the Sons of your noble Order and especially in seeking what you desire namely that you through the greatness of Faith may enter into rest and at this time of day while he hath taken business out of your hand he may the more abundantly
hearts for the inscriptions of the Spirit of the Living God and that the beauty of this Ornament be set in Majesty but doth frequently commend to me that observation which your last ere this some time since was hinting to me of the need we have who design such services to wait for power by the Spirit from on high to be his Witnesses and to expect according to his Promise That showers of the latter rain shall come down to furnish a people to bear his glory in the administrations of his House answering the Institutions of the New Testament although I am no way taken with that dilatory inference wherein some seem to stick as if upon the observation that Bryars and Thorns are come upon God's Houses in the joyous City and are likely to abide there till the Spirit be poured out from on high therefore it were best and our Interest till the manifest taking place of that promised dispensation not to put our hands to such Acts and Ordinances the beautious Majesty of which must needs be acknowledged to be very much wrapt up and concerned in the hoped issues of such a Glory stepping in There being blessed ends to be by us promoted in our present state by our dutiful obedience to every Institution of our King and through infinite Grace and Mercy are there such Gifts and Graces of the Spirit to be found on some as may yield help to sober humble enquirers to get over such stumbling-blocks and contribute toward their preparing in Body and Spirit as an adorned Bride to meet the Bridegroom who loves to find his keeping all his Commandements unrebukable and without spot to his appearing In which attire I earnestly desire your whole man Body and Soul and Spirit may be found ministring a practical convincing Argument by your standing compleatly perfect in the whole Will of God that there is as there indeed is a hidden excellency in fellowship with Jesus Christ in those wayes and appointments of his upon their souls who in Faith and Faithfulness are yielded up to him therein which hath admirable Vertue in it though at present not attended with those mighty Signs and Wonders by Gifts of the Holy Spirit the which were rather for the sakes of them who believed not than for such as through Faith are directed to judge of and close with such things answerable to their tendency by good pleasure to lead into the Mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ The Reason and Efficacy whereof lies not in any just proportion betwixt the thing commanded and the Mystery proposed to enjoyment no more than there did between washing in Jordan and Naamans clensing the cause of the scornful storming of his proud spirit but in the meer soveraignty of divine good pleasure who gives us a word of Faith to guide and prove our obedience and engage our humble expectation of his own presence who is Lord of Influences to conduct the Heirs of Promise into those secrets of his Pavilion by doors at the threshold of which the Children of this Worlds wisdom stumble either by sensual Formality sticking in the letter of things or by aiery Speculations rejecting the weakness and foolishness of Christ in his Institutions but Wisdom is justified of her Children All here are well love honour and salute you Yours in Soul-service To a Friend who after some Retirement was returning to pursue his Calling in Affairs of this World The Lord be your shade on your Right-Hand My very dear Brother I Perceive you are applying your self to something men call Business in the World and I have comfortable hopes that you have studied ere this hour that lesson Finally Brethren the time is short it remaineth c. For the fashion of this World passeth away Oh my dear Brother my soul is afflicted to observe the over-greedy Engagement of many whom I love and honour for their former eminency plunging themselves into business and there even drowning themselves in ruine and perdition losing the savour of their spirits the intimacy of their Communion with Christ in the Spirit and so grow dry careless prudent fearful omissive what not till there is hardly left so much as the uniform appearance of a soul that hath been the seat of such glorious discoveries and enjoyments as men have readily spoke of formerly It may well be asked of many now as the Apostle Where is the Blessedness ye spoke of Men discourse of their primitive applications of Truth and to it speak much and frequently of blessedness in the things of the Gospel it was blessed Praying and blessed Hearing and blessed Meeting and blessed Meditating because in all these they sought after and partook of blessedness But where is that now There is somewhat of Praying and Preaching c. but where is the blessedness of all these Is it not very much departed and what may be the cause is it not much from hence Men are gone deep into the spirit of the World and are grown carnal of the Earth earthy and savouring of the Earth and thereby losing their Love Zeal Faithfulness Insensibly but very dangerously I hope better things of you and that you both do and will watch your own Spirit and stir up others to take great heed to their spirits that they deal not treacherously Yours 7th 3d month 64. To an ancient Friend giving his Apprehensions concerning the multitude of Professors with some of his Experiences both in Bonds and Sickness Kind and very much respected THe posture of the Lord 's own People even of such who in dayes past with greatest intimacy and endearment went to the House of God in company hath of late years under these stupendous dispensations presented it self to me much after the similitude of a great Fleet of Ships outward-bound who set out of their Port beautifully equipped laden trimmed in consortship and under a very prosperous promising gale all spreading their very Top-gallant sayls to shew their celerity and make the best of their way A very beautiful and pleasant prospect to an eye delighted in such expeditions But having stood but a little way in this course out of sight of the Countrey from whence they set forth a dark night and dismal storm overtaking them they are dispersed all Sea-over a great number being mindful of the Port whence they came think they have a fair opportunity and plausible excuse to return again and draw up with design to adventure such storms no more Others and they not a few being confident and conceited of their own understanding do shape their course to and fro as the wind shifteth are cast upon Rocks and Shoals to the making shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience Many others fearing that course think yet by casting their Wheat and Tackling into the Sea they shall somewhat lighten their Ship and be the better able to weather it out and so dropping Anchors at the wrong end wish for day Few very few prefering the Interest of the
such as neither Saints nor Sinners methinks durst adventure much upon yet many go on in the simplicity of their hearts to try if perhaps they may do the least service to help the desired work forward to its just issues I am apt to think you see enough of Lamentation in the divisions of Reuben that make such searchings of heart the same Cloud as I was saying last extends hither and the Effects are the same I suppose here and there They that have gone hand in hand in their mourning hitherto seem necessitated to part and yet neither sing nor weep mutually at parting but a spirit seems to sunder them that is not likely to carry them far without miscarriage But it 's no wonder to see a sinful Nation a People laden with iniquity fuller of passions than of compassions divided and lose one another in a season when it seems neither day nor night and about a work that is so fitted to set out thâ— manifold wisdom of God as if the Maker of Heaven and Earth had reserved his work his strange work his act his strange act till last and left this inscription on every footstep he takes Yet he will shew him greater works than these that ye may marvel Joh. 5.20 They of all have the crowning mercy who are thought worthy to have that Righteous man's portion to be called to the foot of God Isa 41.2 Deut. 33.3 A very holy Evangelical large Spirit is only fitted to comply with what our God is doing Blessed are all they that wait on him These Parts afford no Intelligence only Evil-men and Seducers wax worse and worse mens hearts are failing for fear and for looking for the things that are coming on upon the Earth while the Powers of Heaven and the Pillars of the Earth are shaking I find few seriously enquiring in any other than a superficial Spirit What must the Righteous do Our very Character seems to be a People void of counsel I am Yours in spiritual affection knit to you waiting to obtain relation to you in all the will of our King A. C. To a Friend with Arguments for Patient waiting The Lord be your shade upon your Right-Hand My Dear I Have sometimes had Instruction and conceived engagement from that word 2 Kings 3.16 17 to dig pits till the rain fill the pools Ye shall not seâ— wind neither shall ye see rain yet the valley shall bâ— filled with water that ye may drink c. The latteâ— dayes work hath Promises prepared and proportioned to a design of magnifying the Naked Arm oâ— God in the spoyling the Glory sealing up the hand and hiding pride of every man And this advantagâ— have we beyond our Predecessors that the Lord hath made eminent evident advances upon this Work iâ— our view and remembrance having given us as in a little Map a lively description and testimony of what he both can and will do for his Names sake and he having been at work in a way of Wonders nay proceeding to do very terrible things still he expecteth we should be following him in a Faith and expectation of great things Joel 2.21 That was a very good advice Job 5.8 c. I would seek unto God and unto God would I commit my cause which doth great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number who giveth rain upon the Earth and sendeth waters upon the Fields to set up on high those that be low that those which mourn may â—e exalted to safety vers 16. So that the poor hath Hope and Iniquity stoppeth her mouth This is a day wherein the Lord 's great Contests seem to be drawing towards a determination and period all Interests and Preparations seem hastning their march â—oward the Valley of Decision Thither bring down â—hy Mighty ones O God! Ah! how should we be wakening up our selves and others to look about us that we be not found naked unclothed unwarnâ—d unarmed and the day over-take us as it may â—nd will do others at unawares How may we see â—n every quarter Idolatrous and Prophane persons â—trengthning and stretching one another to the utmost â—xtent of Abomimation and should not this yield â—n enforcing Argument to quicken us up for Christ â—o look and lay about us to engage as many as is â—ossible to be on the Lord's side lively valiant viâ—ilant with the Arm and Armour of God on the â—ight hand and on the left as those who are in an â—xpectation of following the Lamb on the Mount â—ion under those Virgin qualifications as bespeaks them Called Chosen and Faithful And that to this end we admit not impressions to be made on our Spirits to the abatements either of our Light or Life in following on to know the Lord from either our fear at the swellings of Jordan without or offence vexation or inordinate grief and dispondency at the discords and inconsistencies of the Saints within I must confess this Prison hath produced a fresh tryal of Spirit to me of late beyond what hitherto I have ordinarily observed and experienced it to see the abounding encreasing filthiness of this prophane Family the Governors and Governed in it being set upon the impudence of Abomination not only slighting and hating Reproof but daring us and Heaven with their Oaths Curses Singing Roaring Rageing c. insomuch as were not the goodness of God and of his Cause a relieving support the place would become a Prison indeed but this I take to be buâ— as a little Scheme of a great World of Wickedness How great is that Grace that gives ground to say We know we are of God while the poor World lieâ— thus in wickedness Ah poor England Oh thaâ— my head were waters Yours c. To a Friend encouraging to stedfastness Light arising out of obscurity and darkness My honoured Friend THe principal intendment of this is to let you know that through Grace I am preserved alive in the midst of many cooling and killing dispensations of Providence yet hath not the length nor strength of the pressures been hitherto admitted to draw my Soul into any dislike of the hand that layes them on or of the Cause for which at mens hand I endure this hard usage but the more I am led either to behold the true principles of this Cause or the gracious engagements and endearments of the heart of Christ in and to it and to those who in a spirit of Faith and faithfulness adhere to it and are the Confessors of it or to call over the gracious experiences that my self and fellow-sufferers in other places have had and testified the dearer hath it and every part and point of it been made unto me and the more confidently am I satisfied that the Lord will appear to the shame of those Prophane or Professors who are either the open enemies or secret betrayers of it and weakners of the Friends and Favourites thereof And truly I wish your soul may stand at due distance from any defilements and