spiritual blessings That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot nor wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakedness yea I sware unto thee and entred into a covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine then washed I thee with water yea I throughly washed away thy blood from thee and I anointed thee with Oyl I clothed thee also with broidered work and shod thee with badgers skin and I girded thee about with fine linnen and I covered thee with silk I decked thee also with ornaments and I put bracelets upon thine hands and a chain on thy neck And I put a Jewel on thy forehead and ear-rings in thine ears and a beautiful Crown on thy head Thus wast thou decked with Gold and Silver and thy rayment was of fine Linnen and Silk and broidered work thou didst eat fine Flour and Honey and Oyl and thou wast exceeding beautiful and thou didst prosper into a Kingdom and thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comeliness which I had put upon thee saith the Lord God Ezek. 16.8 to 14. 3. The security of this Church the decrees the covenant the word Oath Writings Seals of the Omnipotent and Wise God that cannot Lie that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to Lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Heb. 6.18 the Church of God is sometimes as a besieged City Isa 1.8 the Devil and the World besiege it round and the Enemies Joyn together to devour Gods Israel with open mouth There are three ways that an Enemy usually makes use of to take a City that is besieg'd 1. By starving of them that they may have no supplies 2. By undermining them and blowing them up 3. By scaling their Walls that they may come at them to kill them But this City the Church of God the Enemies cannot destroy it by any of these ways 1. They cannot starve the Church He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of Rocks bread shall be given him his water shall be sure Isa 33.16 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Phil. 4.19 God hath set before his people an open door which no man can shut and this door is continually open night and day Rev. 3.8 all the Devils in Hell and wicked Men on Earth cannot shut it and at this door come in the supplies of Gods Spirit to every Child of God here comes in that Joy that is unspeakable and full of glory Phil. 1.19 that peace which passeth all understanding that love that many waters cannot quench nor floods drown it that light and knowledg that Gold cannot purchase that spiritual strength that makes them conquerers at this door comes in that Kingdom of God which is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and Joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Isa 55.1 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take of the water of Life freely Rev. 22.17 By this you may see the Church of God cannot be starv'd so as to be destroyed that way 2. The Enemies cannot destroy the Church of God by undermining it and blowing it up by all their Plots for there have been Plots upon Plots and Conspiracies one after another against the Church of Christ but all in vain because the Church of God is builded upon a Rock And I say also unto thee That thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Matth. 16.18 It s defence shall be the Munitions of Rocks Isa 33.16 If the Church had not been built upon a Rock Pharaoh had destroyed it long ago And he said Come on let us deal wisely with them and they did set over them Task-masters to afflict them with burthens and made them to serve with rigour and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage in Mortar and in Brick and in all manner of service in the field all the service wherein they made them serve was with rigour and the King of Egypt spake to the Hebrew women which were Midwives of which the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah And he said When ye do the office of a Midwife to the Hebrew women and see them upon the stools if it be a Son then ye shall kill him but if it be a Daughter then she shall live Exod. 1. See another like unto this in the New Testament And when ye have found him bring me word again that I may come and worship him also And he sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the Coasts thereof from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men Matth. 2.8 16. Notwithstanding Pharaoh was so long before Herod yet they were both of one mind and in one spirit and served one Master the Devil against God and his People but what became of them both God's wrath and vengeance took hold on them they perish'd but God's Church was preserv'd because it was built upon a Rock and the Gates of Hell could not prevail against it This Kingdom shall never be destroyed by undermining and blowing it up When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Isa 43.2 God invades his Enemies on every side and passeth through them and causeth his Arrows to pass through their hearts and they stick so fast that their Physicians will not be able to pluck them out but that Arm and Bow that shoots at the People of God the Lord God will break that Arm and Bow. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in Judgment thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord Isa 54.17 3. The Enemies of God's Church and People shall never be able to destroy it by getting over the Wall that is about it Every wicked man is a fighter against God an Enemy of Christ Jesus and on the Dragon's side that makes war against the Church but God hath given
because of the Bridegroom's voice this my Joy therefore is fulfilled John 3.29 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 And there came unto me one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues and talked with me saying Come hither I will shew thee the Bride the Lamb's wife Rev. 21.9 This glorious Bride is the Church and this Church is the Kingdom that shall not be left to another people 6. The Church of Christ is a purchased Possession In whom also after that ye believ'd ye were seal'd with that holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our Inheritance until the redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his glory Eph. 1.13 14. Remember thy Congregation which thou hast purchased of old the Rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed this Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Psal 74.2 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20.28 Will men cast away that which they have dearly bought Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit â—hich are Gods 1 Cor. 6 20. You are not your own you were bought by Christ Jesus And the price he gave for you was not Gold Silver which men take out of the Earth For as much as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Gold and silver from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Will men leave that which they have purchas'd to their worst and greatest Enemies Hath not Christ Jesus purchased his Church with his own blood For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation Rev. 5.9 Now if this be so who can believe who can think that the Church of God shall be left to another People Thirdly The holy Spirit will not leave them the spirit of truth that dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leave you comfortless John 14.17 18. know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye hâ—ve of God and ye are not your own 1 Cor. 6.19 Howbeit when the spirit of truth is come he shall guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you things to come John 16.13 This holy Spirit of God is given it is given to them that ask it If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Luk. 11.13 Every true believer hath this spirit of Christ in him But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8.11 This Spirit of God is to be found no where but in the Church of God and in every member of that body Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his v. 9. As a tree is known by the fruit it bears so is the spirit known to be in a man by the fruits he brings forth The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Gal 5.22 23. First then the Spirit of God convinceth Secondly it quickeneth Thirdly it leadeth Fourthly it strengtheneth Fifthly it comforteth Sixthly it maketh intercession Seventhly it witnesseth Eighthly it sealeth Ninthly it revealeth Tenthly it resteth on you That good work that is begun in any man or woman and carried on from first to last is attributed to the Spirit of God. The father he ordains calleth and chuseth and hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 1.3 The Son he hath redeemed us and delivered us from wrath from sin and from the world and from the curse of the law Luke 1.68 The Spirit he applies all that to us that God hath given and Christ purchas'd and from hence it ariseth that there is so much contention and disagreement amongst men this is that which brings a Sword that brings a War and makes divisions and one man to hate and persecute another namely from the seed that is in them and from the Spirit that is in them For he that is born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now Gal. 4.29 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Gal. 5.17 It is so contrary that you may find this in the nearest relations as husband and wife parents and children brothers and sisters if any of them be in the Spirit of God and enlightened and renewed in their minds and the others be not but are in the spirit of the evil one in the spirit of the world under darkness and blindness there can be then no agreement but discord and division and they are contrary one to the other as to spiritual things For the world knows not the Spirit of God neither can it receive it Take two men that were great strangers one to the other the one living in the East Indies and the other in the West and after some time they both return home to this land and by a special providencae they here meet together and after a little discourse one with the other they so well agree being knit together in love that they could even live and the together because they were of one spirit the Spirit of God being in them both and that unites them and makes them to be one in hope and faith in love and affection The members of Christs body are many but one spirit in them all endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace There is one body and one spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. This blessed Spirit did never leave the Church of God nor never will so long as God hath a Church here on Earth this Spirit of God leads every true believer into all truth and from strength to strength and from glory to glory from one degree of grace to another till they are taken up into the heavenly glory and to be
gates that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in Isa 26.2 But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9 The Church of God is a righteous Nation that keeps the truth a holy Nation that shews forth the praises of God This is a nation out of every nation and a people out of every people and are redeemed from the earth and from amongst men and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth Rev. 5.9 10. O what Nation so wise and great as this Nation What so excellent and blessed as this Nation Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus Every Believer is a living Stone of the holy City a living Son of the Free-woman a true Member of the heavenly Jerusalem the Mother of all the Saints the Womb that brings them all forth these are called and chosen out of all Nations Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Acts 10.34 35. Thirdly The Church of Christ is called a Common-wealth That at that time â—e were without Christ being aliens from the â—ommon-wealth of Israel and strangers from â—he covenants of promise having no hope and â—ithout God in the world Eph. 2.12 O â—hat a blessed Common-wealth is this â—hey are all Free-men there are no Aliens nor Strangers nor Forreigners â—mongst them God is the Father of this Countrey the Master of this Family the Walls and Bulwarks of this Land For I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire â—ound about and will be the glory in the midst of her Zech. 2.5 Christ Jesus is the Head of this Body the Law-giver to this people the Captain of their Salvation â—he Spirit of God leads them into all truth â—nd fills them with joy in believing and with an increase of Grace and the supplies of the Spirit this Spirit comforts them when they are sad and helps and assists â—hem when they are at the throne of Grace this holy Spirit applies all that to â—hem which Christ hath purchased for â—hem it carries up their desires to God â—nd brings that peace from God that â—asseth all understanding Every Memâ—er of this Common-wealth is a trader â—or Heaven and he drives that Trade which is sure and certain he lays up treasures in Heaven But lay up for your selveâ— treasures in Heaven where neither moth noâ— rust doth corrupt and where thieves do noâ— break through nor steal Mat. 6.20 Richeâ— and honour are with me yea durable richeâ— and righteousness Prov. 8.18 Every Child of God hath a treasure and thaâ— treasure is in a secure place thieves cannot come nigh it nor rust cannot hurt it nor moth cannot destroy it This treasurâ— is in Heaven but while Believers are on Earth they have this treasure in hope anâ— in Faith in Expectation and in the Promise and in Reversion and a full Assurance of all this having the Earnest oâ— the Spirit and of the Inheritance Whâ— hath also sealed us and given the earnest oâ— the Spirit in our hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 Whicâ— is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto thâ— praise of his glory Eph 1.14 Thus yoâ— see the Church is a Kingdom a Nation and a Common-wealth Secondly I shall shew you who it waâ— that should set up this Kingdom thâ— God of Heaven the ever living anâ— blessed God. He hath made the Eartâ— by his Power he hath established thâ— World by his Wisdom and hath stretcâ—ed out the Heavens by his Discretioâ— He founded Zion and the poor of his people shall trust in it Isa 14.32 And now breâ—hren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all â—hem which are sanctified Acts 20.32 And upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16.18 This is the Pillar of Truth that God hath set up 1 Tim. 3.15 This is the house that God hath built a spiritual house of lively stones This is that Church which God hath purchased with his own blood Hands did not set it up and hands cannot pull it down That the Reader may know this God of Heaven let him consider and see his Power and Wisdom in his Works His Mercy and Goodness in his Provâ—dences His Love and Grace in his Word First See his Power and Wisdom in his Works God hath laid his Works before us that in them we may see his Eternal Power and Godhead For the â—nvisible things of him from the Creation of â—he World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and Godhead So that they are withâ—ut excuse Rom. 1.20 This Text shews us plainly four things 1. There are some things of God that are invisible 2. These invisible things of God are clearly seen from the Creation of the World. 3. These invisible things of God are manifest and understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and Godhead 4. This leaves men without excuse O how great and glorious is the Power and Wisdom of God! by his power he cleav'd the Earth with Rivers and by his Power he placed the Sands for the bounds of the Sea by a perpetual decree that the Waters cannot pass over by his Power Birds fly and by his Power Fishes swim by his Power Grass and other things of the Earth grow and by his Power the Stars of Heaven move and the Sun runs its race The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge Psalm 19.1 2 that glory which is above all expressions and beyond all apprehensions God speaks to the Inhabitants of the Earth by heavenly bodies Day unto day they utter speech and night unto night they shew knowledge Though Nations understand not one anothers Language yet all Nations understand this Language that God speaks to them by the works of his hands these all shine out gloriously they move orderly and continue to all generations they are as glorious now as they were the first moment that they were made and came out of the hand of God this is that which the Lord hath divided unto all Nations under the whole Heaven Deut. 4.19 namely the Sun Moon and Stars not that men should worship them but admire and praise that God that made them and if the Pavement of Heaven be so glorious O what then is that glory which is within Of all ingredients Light is the most excellent this is that makes one Star differ from another in glory O
Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.11 Keep therefore in the way of truth Reader and truth will keep thee in the hour of temptation and in the day of tryal Let no man take the Crown of truth from thee Thirdly They that seek in hypocrisie And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee as my people and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their mouths they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness Ezek. 33.31 Here were a people that might have past very well for Saints if God had known no more of them than man for they came together and sat before thee as my people for they heard thy word 〈◊〉 and shewed much love with their mouths and yet for all this they were a company of hypocrites for their hearts were not sinâ—ere nor upright with God but their hearts mâ—nâ— after their covetousness The five foolish Virgins were also Seekers and great Professors but they wanted that one thing which is needful that good part true and saving grace which no hypocrite hath and because they wanted this they were all shut out and were not able to enter in Then came also these Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us but he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not Mat. 25.11 12. And what shall a man say of the Professors in this our day they do indeed pass for Saints with men but will God accept of them and own them for his Sons and Daughters hereafter Do they look like a people redeemed from the earth and from amongst men being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb Rev. 14.3 4. Having their Fathers name written in their foreheads Do they look like a people that walk with God and have sweet communion with him and have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Christ Jesus 1 John 1.3 and are past from death to life Do they look like a people that have set their affections on things that are above and have laid up for themselves treasures in Heaven and do labour for that bread which perisheth not that they may be rich towards God in faith in hope in experience in knowledge and in assurance and in all grace Do they adorn the Gospel and their Profession by their good examples and heavenly conversations Is there to be found in them an excellent spirit a spirit of meekness and patience a spirit of faith and prayer a spirit of love and charity a spirit of wisdom and understanding a spirit of holiness and purity And are they filled with the fruits of the spirit which is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Gal. 5.22 23. Are these the Marks and Characters of the Professors now-a-day No no it is not thus with them their sins testifie against them multitudes of them are Christians without a Cross and Saints without Sanctification they are Virgins without Oyl in their Lamps they are guests at the Table of the Lord without wedding garments they are Church-members without fellowship with the Father and his Son Christ Jesus they are Professors of godliness but without the power they have separated from things but not from sin Ah! the World saith this of Professors they are as proud and as vain as others they are as covetous and as earthly-minded as others they are as hard-hearted and as unmerciful to one another as others they are as false and as deceitful as others they are as loose and lukewarm as others let it be then considered whether the World hath not just cause to reproach Professors and if the World condemn them and their own hearts too will not God condemn them after they have lain under the Rack of their own Consciences here and to all those miseries hereafter which will be the portion of hypocrites For many I say unto you will seek to enter in but shall not be able O Reader strive thou to enter in at the strait gate and into the narrow way which leadeth unto life If thou seekest her as for silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2.4 5. Men will dig deep for hidden treasures men will go far to seek for silver they will break their peace and their rest too to gain riches they will labour day and night to lay up goods for a few years if they can treasure up wealth they will do it though they treasure up wrath with it if they can make themselves great in this World they will do it though they make themselves miserable for it in the next World for ever if they can climb up high they will though they fall into the bottomless Pit if they can gain the World they will though they lose their own souls As they strive to be great do thou strive to be good and as they strive to be rich in worldly wealth do thou strive to be rich towards God in all heavenly graces and if thou hast taken many steps towards hell and damnation let me now prevail with thee to take a few steps towards heaven The first is Consideration Consider well what thou hast been doing and whither thou art going whose thou art and to whom thou dost belong and what will become of thee to all eternity O Reader no Cross no Crown no grace no glory no holiness no happiness no regeneration no salvation and without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 The second step is Examination Examine thy self turn into thy self that thou maist throughly understand thy own state and when thou hast examined matters carefully if thou findest thy state to be bad then flie unto the Lord God by prayer and supplication by faith and repentance and thou wilt find that the arms of his mercy are open to receive thee The Lord invites thee to come to him in the softest and most melting language that can be imagined Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll Isa 1.18 And if thou findest thy state to be good that thou art a new creature and born again and hast tasted how good the Lord is that he hath given thee a new heart and a new understanding and a new will and a new nature and that this hath changed thy life Now I say upon examination of thy self if thou findest that Christ Jesus is in thee then thou hast cause to rejoyce and if Christ Jesus be in thee then these four things will be in thee 1. Light. 2. Life 3. Holiness 4. The Spirit of Truth Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5
my labour Read it consideringly and carefully regard not so much the dress and stile as the weight and savour of what thou readest Remember thou art at the door of Eternity and it will not be long before thou must shoot the gulf of Eternity thy soul lies at stake O work therefore while it is called to day the night cometh wherein no man can work John 1.4 That thy heart may be won to God and kept with God. Now or never Now for ever O Reader I have prayed and shall pray for thee that the God of all Grace may open unto thee his Breasts and Arms of Mercy and the Treasures of his Grace and that he may opeâ— thy heart to him as he did the heart of Lydia Acts 16.14 and open thy understanding that thou mayest understand the Scriptures Luke 24.45 And fill thee with the knowledge of his Will and with the graces of his Spirit and witâ— all the blessings of the Gospel That thou mayest be made meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 is the hearty desire of thy faithful 〈◊〉 assured Friend William Dyer Mount Sion Or A Draught of the CHURCH Daniel 2.44 And in the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed And the Kingdom shall not be left to another people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever GOD leaves not himself without witness nor his Church without the knowledge of good and great things to come great things because they are good and good things because they are glorious things to come Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God! Psalm 87.3 God spake to Abraham on this wise For because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy Son thine only Son that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the Stars of the Heaven and as the Sand which is upon the Sea shore and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies Gen. 22.16 17. When Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied he then spake of this Oath and of the glorious things contained in it As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us to perform the mercy promised to our Fathers and to remember his holy Covenant The Oath which he sware to our Father Abraham that he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life Luk. 1.70 to 75. Three things were here spoken of by Zacharias when he opened this Oath First Of the deliverance of the people of God out of the hands of their Enemies when their Enemies think to hold them fastest then God takes them out of their hands Secondly Of the serving of God without fear To serve God without fear that will be your joy but to serve God in holiness and righteousness that will be your glory Thirdly Of the time here spoken of that will be all the days of their lives First being delivered out of the hands of their Enemies then comes the serving of God without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives The Jews and their Rulers heard the words of the Prophets that were read to them every Sabbath day yet they knew not the voice of the Prophets Acts 13.27 They were under an excellent Ministry Moses and the Prophets but they did not understand them So there be many now that do read these words and say these words devoutly of Zacharias but they know not the voice of God in them All the calamities and miseries that the people of God have past through in this World were but as so many fore-runners of this great deliverance O let no improbabilities hinder the exercising of your Faith in God God will perform the merâ—ies promised and fulfil the Oath which â—e hath sworn to Abraham His Seed shall â—ossess the gates of their Enemies Moses said to the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Acts 3.22 Deut. 18.15 This Prophet was our Lord Jesus In the fulness of time he came into the World and in the acceptable time he wrought the works of him that sent him while he was in the World. To the Gentiles he was revealed by a Star Mat. 2.2 To the Jews he was revealed by an Angel Luke 2.10 To the Saints of God he was revealed by the Holy Spirit Luke 2.26 O what a blessed time will that be when the blessed Jesus shall be heard in all things then every knee shall bow to his Authority and every tongue will confess to the glory of God the Father and to the joy of all his Saints that Jesus is both Lord and King. I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the Earth Acts 13.47 David being a Prophet spake in Spirit The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool Psal 110.1 Men that are Enemies to goodness for goodness sake Enemies to holiness for holiness sake and Enemies to truth for truth's sake are of all men the worst of men and though there be nothing more cursed than this yet there is nothing more common than this They are Enemies to God in their minds Rom. 8.7 They are Enemies of the Cross of Christ Phil. 3.18 They are Enemies to the Saints of God by cruel and wicked works 2 Thes 2.14 15. Now wheresoever God opens a door of Gospel-light grace and liberty there the Devil stirs up many adversaries and enemies and fills them with wrath and rage against the Gospel and the Professors of it This he did in the Apostles days For a great door and effectual is opened unto me and there are many adversaries 1 Cor. 16.9 And thus he hath done in these days but alas How can such men be friends to others that are such enemies to themselves How can they be kind to others that are so cruel to their own souls that treasure up wrath against the day of wrath But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2.5 Their sins bring down God's wrath upon them here that makes them â—s miserable as they have made themâ—elves sinful Eph. 5.6 O! pity such that pity themselves no more that God may pity them but all enemies must come down God the Father hath declared this Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Psal
The Name of the Lord And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an Hundred forty and four thousand having his Fathers name written in their foreheads Rev. 14.1 Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City which is New Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven from my God and I will write upon him a new name Rev. 3.12 The Name of God is upon his People and this shews to whom they do belong and whose they are 3. The comliness and glory of the Lord And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comliness which I had put upon thee saith the Lord Ezek. 16.14 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you 1 Pet. 4.14 These are the things that are upon the righteous And there are three things that God hath given to his People 1. Himself But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People Jer. 31.33 They shall call on my Name and I will hear them I will say It is my People and they shall say The Lord is my God Zech. 13.9 For what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People 2 Cor. 6.16 2. A Kingdom Fear not little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me Luke 22.29 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5.3 3. Grace and Glory For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 O Christian how canst thou say thou hast nothing or that thou hast but little Here is thy Inventory see here what thy heavenly Father hath given thee count it and cast it up Thou hast all things God hath given thee himself and a Kingdom grace and glory things present and things to come the world life and death are all thine how great is thy happiness O! wait but a little and thou wilt be in the possession of all There be three things that God will never take from his people whiles they are in this life 1. His love and loving kindness I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee Jer. 31.3 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him John 14.21 Having loved his own which were in the World he loved them unto the end John 13.1 This the righteous are crown'd with in this life He crowneth them with loving kindness and tender mercies Psalm 103.4 2. His Spirit And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the spirit of truth John 14.16 17. but the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness saith meekness temperance Gal. 5.22 23. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 3.16 God will not leave his Children comfortless he will not leave them orphans the Spirit of God dwells in them and abides with them and resteth upon them and leads them into all truth it convinceth sinners and it comforteth Saints For the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered 3. His Presence which is the glory of his People and the glory in the midst of them God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and â—hat right early Psalm 46.5 Take counsel â—ogether and it shall come to nought speak â—he word and it shall not stand for God is with us Isa 8.10 Jesus answered and â—aid unto him If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and â—e will come unto him and make our abode with him John 14.23 The presence of God is the Saints Heaven on Earth They do sometimes in a duty enjoy so much of God's presence that it fills their eyes with tears and their hearts with joy they â—eel that they cannot express and enâ—oy that which cannot be fully uttered and tast that which they cannot declare to others I did know a young man in the City of Exon about thirty five years ago who lay under many temptations and fears because he wanted God's comforting presence but in a certain night when all the people in the family were in their beds and as he thought fast asleep except himself he rose up from his bed and went up into the Garret and there wrestl'd with God by prayer with fervency and many tears but was then so terrified by temptations and fears that he thought the Devil waâ— present with him in the room sometimeâ— before him and sometimes behind him which did so distract and interrupt him that he was forc'd often to break off foâ— a little time and this he continued to do for three nights together but on the third night as he was pouring out hiâ— Soul before the Lord in prayer his voicâ— was taken from him that he could noâ— utter a word but his understanding remained with him for about the space oâ— a quarter of an hour and in that time he thought himself to be in Heaven or the Joys of Heaven to be in him he then tasted and enjoyed so much of God that it was not possible for a man to utter nor to declare to others but when his speech returned to him that he could speak he then found that this extraordinary presence of God withdrew it selâ— from him then he blest and prais'd the God of Heaven that had seal'd his Love to him and given him the earnest of his Spirit and victory over the Devil God knows that what I have here
numbers of dead Corps lie upon the Earth this would not be desireable to us the sight would offend us and the smell would offend us and the thoughts of it would trouble us O! what is it then to behold and see a dead world a world that lies in wickedness a world that is spiritually dead this is the sad fate and condition of every man and woman of the World they live and yet they are dead they are without spiri ual life But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth 1 Tim. 5.6 They live in the pleasures of sin but the Spirit of Truth liveth not in them they live but without God in the World. At that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no bope and without God in the World Eph. 2.12 Oh! how can they expect to live with God in another World that live without God in this this is next to living in Hell with Devils and Damned Spirits wicked men are but as so many walking Ghosts And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience among whom also we had all our conversations in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of our flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath Eph. 2.1 2 3. You see here these Gentiles walked though they were dead dead in trespasses and sins yet they walked but how did they walk they walked as the most of men and women walk now 1. They did walk according to the course of this World. 2. According to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in them 3. The Children of disobedience 4. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind 5. They were by nature the Children of wrath For this my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is â—ound Luk. 15.24 How loud need a man to speak that the dead may hear their bodies are but as so many living Coffins to carry about their dead Souls in the Worlds faith is a dead faith the worlds worship is a dead worship the worlds ministry is a dead ministry how can a dead world have a living faith how can a dead ministry speak forth the words of spirit and life how can a dead worship be profitable to men and acceptable to the living God There was a great cry in Egypt for there was not a house where there was not one dead Exod. 12.30 There was then a great cry in Egypt and the cause of this cry was because the Lord had passed through his Enemies to smite them for there was not a house where there was not one dead where is that family to be found amongst us that there is not one or more dead in it dead in their sins dead Godward and Christward and Heaven-ward Are there not in most houses all dead Parents dead and Children dead Masters dead and Servants dead and yet no crying heard for this The fear of God is not in their houses nor his name is not there call'd upon the Peace of God is not there nor the love of God they live but Christ Jesus liveth not in them they are without all spiritual life and grace and the wrath of God abideth on them Joh. 3.36 Men will believe the words of a Prince they will believe the words of a Man but they will not believe the word that God hath spoken â—o them God hath said If ye live after the flesh ye shall die Rom. 8.13 but who believes it God hath said Ye shall die in your sins if ye believe not John 8.24 but who minds it They will be venturers and run the risque and hazzard of losing all this is a dead world that will not hear Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Joh. 5.25 Secondly It is a dark world it lies in darkness under thick darkness and how great is that darkness But if thine Eye be evil thy whole body shall be full of darkness if therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness Mat. 6.33 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shaddow of death Luk. 1.79 Then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life Joh. 8.12 I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness Joh. 12.46 The night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light Rom. 13.12 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Eph 5.11 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places Eph. 6.12 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded their eyes 1 John 2.11 There be three things that have darkened the world 1. The Devil 2. Sin. 3. The inventions of Men. First the Devil He is the ruler of the darkness of this world He is a ruler but it is of darkness and this darkness is of this world The Devil is Darkness His nature is Darkness Jude 6. His prison is Darkness 1 Pet. 3.19 His power is Darkness Col. 1 13. His Kingdom is Darkness Rev. 16.10 His work is Darkness Mat. 12.26 1 Joh. 3.8 If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that â—e lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine in them 1 Cor. 4.3 4. The Devil as he is the god of this world so he blinds the minds of men and puts out their eyes the eyes of their understandings that the light of the glorious Gospel may not shine into them 2 Cor. 4.4 As he is the Prince of the Air he worketh in the Children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 But what doth he work in them No good be sure The Devil works in them his own â—ature his will and property he works in them darkness blindness and ignorance that they may be like him and do his works Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth becâ—use there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie