Scriptures to turn to God finding them to restifie of his goodness and mercy there is but little hopes of their Salvation For they will not mark they will not be perswaded though one should rise from the Dead This Truth is confirmed by Jesus Christ himself If you read Joh. 5. where the Lord is speaking of himself that he is the very Christ he brings in four or five Witnesses to back what he said First John Baptist. 2. The Works that his Father gave him to do 3. His Father speaking from Heaven 4. The Testimony of the Scriptures when all this was done seeing yet they would not believe he layes the fault upon one of these two Things 1. Their regarding an esteem among Men. 2. Their not believing of the Prophets Writings even Moses and the rest For had ye believed Moses saith he ye would have believed me For he wrote of me But if ye believe not his Writings how can ye believe my Words Now I say he that shall slight the Scriptures and the Testimony of the Prophets in them concerning Jesus Christ must needs be in great danger of losing his Soul if he abide in this condition because he that slights the Testimony doth also slight the Thing testified of let him say the contrary never so often For as Jesus Christ hath here laid down the Reason of Mens not receiving him so the Apostle in another place lays down the Reason again with an high and mighty aggravation 1 Joh. 5. 10. saying He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself he that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the Record Mark the Record that God gave of his Sâ—n. The Record you will say what is that Why even the Testimony that God gave of him by the Mouth of all the Holy Prophets since the World began Act. 3. 20. That is God sending his Holy Spirit into the hearts of his Servants the Prophets and Apostles He by his Spirit in them did bear Witness or Record to the Truth of Salvation by his Sonne Jesus both before and after his coming And thus is that place also to be understood which saith There are three that bear Record in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Bloud That is the Spirit in the Apostleâ— which preached him to the World as is clear if you read seriously 1 Thes. 4. 8. The Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ and obedience to God through him saith thus Now he that despiseth despiseth not us but God But it is you that speak True but it is by and through the Spirit He therefore that despiseth despiseth not Man but God who also hath given us of his Holy Spirit This is therefore a mighty confirmation of this Truth that he that slights the Record or Testimony that God by his Spirit in his Prophets and Apostles hath testified unto us slights the Testimony of the Spirit who moved them to speak these Things and if so then I would fain know how any man can be saved by Jesus Christ that slights the Testimony concerning Christ yea the Testimony of his own Spirit concerning his own Self 'T is true men may pretend to have the Testimony of the Spirit and from that Conceit set a low Esteem on the Holy Scriptures But that Spirit that dwelleth in them and reacheth them so to do it is no better than the Spirit of Satan though it calls it self by the Name of the Spirit of Christ. To the Law therefore and to the Testimony Try them by that If they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them The Apostle Peter when he speaks of the glorious Voice that he had from the Excellent Majesty saying of Christ This is my beloved Son hear him saith thus to him whom he wrote unto You have also a more sure Word of Prophecie or of the Prophets for so you may read it unto which you do well that you take heed That is Though we tell you that we had his excellent Testimony from his own Mouth evidently yet you have the Prophets We tell you this and you need not doubt of the Truth of it but if you should yet you may not must not ought not to question them Search therefore unto them until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts That is until by the same Spirit that gave forth the Scripture you find the Truth confirmed to your Souls which you have recorded in the Scriptures That this Word of Prophecy or of the Prophets is the Scriptures read on For saith he knowing this first that no Prophecy of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation c. 2 Pet. 1. 18 19 20. But you will say What needs all this ado and why is all this time and pains spent in speaking to this that is surely believed already This is a Thing received by all that they believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God that sure Word of Prophecy and therefore you need not spend your time in proving these Things and the Truth of them seeing we grant and confess the Truth of it before you begin to speak your judgment of them Answ. The Truths of God cannot be born witness unto too often you may as well say You need not preach Jesus Christ so much seeing he hath been and is received for the True Messias already 2. Though many may suppose that they do believe the Scriptures yet if they were but well examined you would find them either by word of mouth or else by conversation to deny reject and slight the Holy Scriptures 'T is true there is a notional and historical Assent in the Head I say In the Head of many or most to the Truth contain'd in Scripture But try them I say and you shall find but a little if any of the Faith of the operation of God in the hearts of poor men to believe the Scriptures and Things contained in them Many yea most men believe the Scriptures as they believe a Fable a Story a Tale of which there is no certainty but alas there are but few do in Deed and in Truth believe the Scriptures to be the very Word of God Obj. But you will say This seems strange to me Answ. And it seems as true to me and I doubt not but to make it manifest that there are but few yea very few that do effectually for that I aim at believe the Scriptures and the Truths contained in and spoken of by them But to make this appear and that to purpose if God will I shall lay you down the several Operations that the Scriptures have on them who do effectually believe the Things contained in them 1. He that doth effectually believe the Scriptures hath in the first place been kill'd I say kill'd by the Authority of the Holy Scriptures struck stark dead in a Spiritual sense by the Holy Scripture being set home by that Spirit which
is said of some These things are spoken to them that are without in Parables that seeing they might not see and that hearing they might not understand Luke 8. 10. I say take heed of being a quarreller against Christ's Parables lest Christ also objecteth against the salvation of thy Soul at the Judgment Day Friend I have no more to say to thee now if thou dost love me pray for me that my God would not forsake me nor take his holy Spirit from me and that God would fit me to do and suffer what shall be from the World or Devil inflicted upon me I must tell thee the World rages they stamp and shake their heads and fain they would be doing the Lord help me to take all they shall do with patience and when they smite the one cheek to turn the other to them that I may do as Christ hath bidden me for then the Spirit of God and of glory shall rest upon me Farewell I am thine to serve in the Lord Jesus John Bunyan Sighs from Hell OR The Groans of a damned Soul Luke the 16th Verse 19. c. verse 19 THere was a certain rich man which was cloathed in Purple and fine linnen and fared sumptuously every day verse 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazirus which was laid at his gate full of sores verse 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans Table moreover the Dogs came and licked his sores verse 22 And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams Bosome the rich man also dyed and was buried verse 23 And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosome verse 24 And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame verse 25 But Abraham said Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evill things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented verse 26 And besides all this between us and you there is a great Gulf fixed so that they which would passe from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence verse 27 Then he said I pray thee therefore Father that thou wouldest send him to my Fathers House verse 28 For I have five Brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment verse 29 Abraham saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets lâ—t them hear them verse 30 And he said Nay Father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent verse 31 And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Verse 19. THis Scripture was not spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ to shew you the state of two single persons onely as some through their ignorance of the drift of Christ in his Parables do dream but to shew you the state of the godly and ungodly to the Worlds end as is clear to him that is of an understanding heart For he spake them to the end that after Generations should take notice thereof and fear lest they also fell into the same condition Now in my discourse upon these words I shall not be tedious but as briefly as I may I shall pass through the several Verses and lay you down some of the several truths contained therein and the Lord grant that they may be profitable and of great advantage to those that read them or hear them read The 19 and 20 Verse also I shall not spend much time upon onelâ— give you three or four short hints and so pass to the next Verses for they are the words I do intend most especially to insist upon The 19 20 and 2â— Verses â—un thus There was a 〈◊〉 rich man which was cloathed in Purple and sâ—â—e 〈◊〉 and fared deliciâ—â—sly 〈◊〉 sumptuously everyday And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his Gate full of force c. 1. If these Verses had been spoken by Jesus Christ and no more all the World would have gone 〈◊〉 to have cast a wrong interpretation on 〈…〉 if Jesus had said onely thus much There was a certain rich man that fared sumptuously daily and a certain beggar laid at his Gate full of sores The World would have made this conclusion of them the rich man was the happy man For at the first view it doth represent such a thing But take all together that is read the whole Parable and you shall find that there is no man in a worse condition then he as I shall clearly hold forth afterward 2. Again if a man would judge of men according to outward appearance he shall oftâ—â—â—â—â— take his mark â—miss Here is a man to outward appearance appears the only blessed man betâ—eâ— by half then the beggar in as much as he is rich the beggar poor he is well cloathed but peradventure the beggar is naked he hath good food but the beggar would be glad of Dogs meat And he desired to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich mans Table the rich man fares well every day but the beggar must be glad of a bit when he can get it Oh! who would not be in the rich mans state A wealthy man sorts of new Suits and dainty dishes every day enough to make one who minds nothing but his belly and his back and his lusts to say Oh that I were in that mans condition Oh that I had about me as that man had Then I should live a life indeed then should I have hearts ease good store then I should live pleasantly and might say to my soul Soul be of good chear eat drink and be merry Luke 12. 19. thou hast every thing plenty and art in a most blessed condition I say this might be I and is the conclusion with them that judge according to outward appearance But if the whole Parable be well considered you will see Luke 16. 15. That that which is had in high estimation with men is an abomination in the sight of God And again Joh. 16. 20 21 22. that condition that is the saddest condition according to outward appearance is oft times the most excellent for the beggar had ten thousand degrees the best of it though to outward appearance his state was the saddest from whence we shall observe thus much 1. That those who judge according to outward appearance do for the most part judge amiss Joh. 7. 24. 2. That they who look upon their outward enjoyments to be tokens of Gods special grace unto them are also deceived Rev. 3. 17. For as it is here in the Parable a man of wealth and a child of the Devil may make but one
24. Who bare our sins in his own body on the tree Wouldest thou know whether he did rise again after he was crucified with the very same body then read Luke 24. at ver 38 39. 40 41. Wouldest thou know whether he did eat or drink with his Disciples after he arose out of the Grave then read Luke 24. 42. and Acts 10. 41. If thou wouldest be perswaded of the truth of this that that very body is now above the Clouds and Stars read Acts 1. 9 10 11 and Luke 24. toward the end If thou wouldest know that the Quakers hold an errour that say the body of Christ is within them consider the same Scripture Wouldest thou know what that Christ that died for sinners is doing in that place whether he is gone then read Heb. 7. 24. Wouldest thou know who shall have life by him read 1 Tim. 1. 14. 15. and Rom. 5. 6 7 8. which say Christ died for sinners for the ungodly Wouldest thou know whether they that live and die in their sins shall go to Heaven or not then read 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Rev. 21. 8 27. which saith They shall have their part in the like that burns with fire and Brimstone Wouldest thou know whether mans obedience will obtain that Christ should die for them or save them then read Mark 2. 17. Rom. 5. 7. Wouldst thou know whether Righteousness Justification and Sanctification doth come through the vertue of Christs blood compare Rom. 5. 9. with Heb. 12. 12. Wouldest thou know whether natural man can abstain from the outward act of sin against the Law meerly by a principal of nature then compare well Rom. 2. 14. with Phil. 3. 6. Wouldest thou know whether a man by nature may know something of the invisible things of God compare seriously Rom. 1. 20. 21. with Rom. 2. 14. 5. Wouldest thou know how far a man may go on in a profession of the Gospel and yet fall away then read Heb. 6. 4 5 6. They may taste the good word of God and the powers of the world to come They may taste the Heavenly gift and be partakers of the Holy Ghost and yet so fall as never to be recovered or renewed again unto repentance see also Luke 13. Wouldest thou know how hard it is to go to Heaven read Mat. 7. 13 14. Luke 13. 24. Wouldest thou know whether a man by nature be a friend to God or an enemy then read Rom. 5. 11. Col. 1. 21. Wouldest thou know what or who they are that shall go to Heaven then read John 3. 3. 5. 7. and 2 Cor. 5. 17. Also wouldest thou know what a sad thing it is for any to turn their backs upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ then read Heb. 10. 28 29. and Mark 16 16. Wouldest thou know what is the wages of sin then read Rom. 6. 23. Wouldest thou know whither those do go that die unconverted to the faith of Christ then read Psal. 9. 17. and Isa. 14. 9. Reader here might I spend many sheets of paper yea I might upon this subject write a very great Book but I shall now forhear desiring thee to be very conversant in the Scriptures for they are they that will testifie of Jesus Christ Joh. 5. 39. The Bereans were counted noble upon this account These were more noble then those of Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily c. Acts 17. 11. But here let me give thee one caution that is have a care that thou do not satisfie thy self with a bare search of them without a real application of him whom they testifie of to thy soul lest instead of faring the better for thy doing this work thou dost fare a great deal the worse thy condemnation be very much heightned in that though thou didst read so often the sad state of those that die in sin and the glorious estate of them that close in with Christ yet thou thy self shouldst be such a fool as to lose Jesus Christ notwithstanding thy hearing and reading so plentifully of him They have Moses and the Prophets let them 〈◊〉 them As if he should say What need have they that one should be sent to them from the dead Have they not Moses and the Prophets hath not Moses told them the danger of living in sin Deut. 27. from ver 15. to ver 26. And chap. 28. 15. 16 17 18 19. 20. c. to the end of the Chapter also chap. 29. 18 19 20 21. hath he not there told them what a sad state these persons are in that deceive themselves with the deceit of their hearts saying They shall have peace though they follow their sins in these words And when he heareth the words of this curse he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I go on or walk in the imagination of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not spare that man but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against him and all the curses that are written in this Book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under Heaven Again did not Moses write of the Saviour that was to come afterwards into the World Deut. 18. 18. Nay have not all the Prophets from Samuel with all those that follow after prophesied and foretold these things therefore what need have they that I should work such a miracle as to send one from the dead unto them They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them From whence observe again That God doth honour the writings of Moses and the Prophets as much nay more than if one should rise from the dead Should not a People seek unto their God what seek for the living among the dead To the Law and to the Testimonies saith God if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 19 20. And let me tell you plainly I do believe that the Devil knows this full well which makes him labour to beget in the hearts of his Disciples and followers light thoughts of them and doth perswade them that even a motion from their own beguiled conscience or from his own wicked Spirit is to be observed and obeyed before them when the very Apostle of Jesus Christ though he heard a voice from the excellent glory saying This is my beloved Son c. Yet writing to the Churches he commends the writings of the Prophets before it saying We have also a more sure word of the Prophets unto which ye do well to take heed c. 2 Pet. 1. 17 18 19. Now if thou doubtest whether that place be meant the Scriptures the words of the Prophets or no read but the next Verse where he addeth for a certain confirmation there of these words Knowing this first that there is no Prophecy of the Scriptures of any private interpretation for Prophecy
came not in old timeâ—y the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And therefore what a sad thing is it with those that go about to disown the Scriptures I tell you however they may slight them nâ—w yet when they come into hâ—ll they will see their folly They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them Further who are they that are so tossed to and fro with the several winds of doctrine that have been broâ—ched in these dayes but such for the most part as have had a light esteem of the Scriptures for the ground of errour as Christ saith is because they know not them Mark 12. 24. And indeed it is just with God to give them over to follow their own dark blinded consciences to be led into errours that they might be damned into hell who did not believe that the things contained in the Scripture were the truth that they might be saved and go to Heaven It cannot well tell how to have done speaking for and on the Scriptures side only this I consider A word is enough to the wise and therefore I shall commit these things into the hands of them that are of God and as for the rest I shall say to them rather than God will save them from hâ—ll with the breach of his holy word if they had a thousand souls a piece God would destroy them all for the Scriptures cannot be broken John 10 35. Verse 30. And he said nay Father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they would repent THe Verse before you know as I told you it was part of an answer to such as lose their souls so it is a vindication of the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them Now this Verse is an answer to what was said in the former and such an one as hath in it a rejection of the former answer Nay Father Abraham Nay saith he do not say so do not put them off with this send one from the dead and then there will be some hopes 'T is true thou speakest of the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets and sayest let them hear them but these things are not so well as I could wish I had rather thou woulest send one from the dead In these words therefore Nay Father Abraham there is a repulse given Nay let it not be so Nay I do not like of that answer Hear Moses and the Prophets nay The same expression is used by Christ Luke 13. 2 3. Think you that they upon whom the â—â—ower of Siloe fell were sinnâ—rs above others I tell you nay for except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish So here Nay Father Abraham c. By this word Nay therefore is signified a rejecting the first answer Now observe I pray you the reason why he sayes nay is because God doth put over all those that will be saved to observe and receive the truth contained in Scripture and believe that To have a high esteem of them and to love and search them as Christ saith Search the Scriptures for they are they which testify of me Joh. 5. 39. But the damned say Nay as if he had said This is the thing to be short my brethren are unbelievers and do not regard the Word of God I know it by my self for when I was in the World it was so with me Many a good Sermon did I hear many a time was I admonished desired intreated beseeched threatned forewarned of what I now suffer But alas I was ignorant self-conceited surly obstinate and rebellious Many a time the Preacher told me hell would be my portion the devil would wreck his malice on me God would pour on me his sore displeasure but he had as good have preached to the stock to the post to the stones I trod on his words rang in mine ears but I kept them from my heart I remember he alledged many a Scripture but those I valued not the Scriptures thought I what are they a deâ—d letter a little Ink and Paper of three or four shillings price Alas what is the Scripture give me a Ballad a News-book George on Horsback or Bevis of Southampâ—on give me some book that teaches curious Arts that tells of old Fables but for the Holy Scriptures I cared not And as it was with me then so it is with my brethren now we were all of one spirit loved all the same sins slighted all the same counsels promises incouragements and threatnings of the Scriptures and they are still as I left them still in unbelief still provoking God and rejecting good counsel so hardned in their wayes so bent to follow sin that let the Scriptures be shewed to them daily let the Messengers of Christ preach till their hearts ake till they fall down dead with preaching they will rather trample it under-foot and swine-like rent them than close in with those gentle and blessed proffers of the Gospel Nay Father Abraham but if one should rise from the dead they would repent Though they have Moses and the Prophets the Scriptures they will not repent and close in with Jesus Christ though the Scriptures do witness against them If therefore there be any good done to them they must have it another way I think saith he it would work much on them if one should rise from the dead And this truth indeed is so evident that ungodly ones have a light esteem of the Scriptures that it needs not many strong Arguments to prove it being so evidently manifested by their every dayes practice both in words and actions almost in all things they say and do Yet for the satisfaction to he Reader I shall shew you by a Scripture oâ— two though I might shew many that this was and is true with the generality of the world See the words of Nehemiah in his 9th Chapter concerning the Children of Israel who though the Lord afforded them mercy upon mercy as it is from ver 19 to ver 25. yet ver 26. saith he Nevertheless they were disobedient for all thy goodness towards them and rebelled against thee but how and cast thy Law behind their back Slew the Prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee and they wrought great provocations Observe 1. They sinned against mercy And then 2. They slighted the Law or Word of God 3. They slew the Prophets that declared it unto them 4. The Lord counâ—s it a great provocation See Heb. 3. from ver 10. ver 19. And see Zach. 7. 11 12. But they refused to hearken saith he there of the Wicked and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear the Law Yea they made their hearts hard as an adamant stone lest they should hear the Law and the words which the Lord of Hosts sent unto them by his Spirit in the former Prophets c. Mark I pray you her is
so freely profered to thee a little ground a few Oxen a Farm a Wife a two penny matter a Play nay the fear of a mock a scoff or a jeer is of greater weight to draw thee back than the Salvation of thy Soul to draw thee forward 7. And thou hast heard that Whosoever will be a friend of the World is the enemy of God Jam. 4. 4. But thou regardest not these things but contrariwise rather then thou wilt be out of the friendship and favour of this world thou wilt sin against thine own Conscience and get thy self inâ—o favour by fawning and flattering of the world Yea rather then thou wilt go without it thou wilt dissemble lye backbite thy Neighbour and an hundred other tricks thou wilt have 8. You have heard that the day of Judgement is near in which you and I all of us must appear before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ and there be made to give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead even of all that ever we did yea of all our sins in thought word and deed and shall certainly be damned for them too if we close not in with our Lord Jesus Christ and what he hath done and suffered for eternal life and that not notionally or traditionally but really and savingly in the power and by the operation of the spirit through faith Eccles. 11. 9. 12. 14. Heb. 9. 27. Acts 10. 42 Acts 17. 30 31. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rev. 20. 12. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the Books There is the Book of the Creatures the Book of Conscience the Book of the Lords Remembrance the Book of the Law the Book of the Gospel Rom. 1. 20. compared with Rom. 2. 12. 15. Rev. 6. ver 19. Joh. 12. 48. Then shall he separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep on his right hand and the Goats on his left Mat. 25. 30 31 32. And shall say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed vers 34. But to the other go or depart ye cursed ver 41. Yet notwithstanding the Scriptures do so plainly plentifully speak of these things alas who is there that is weaned from the world and from their siâ—s and pleasures to fly from the wrath to come Mat. 3. 7. notwithstanding the Scripture saith also That Heaven and Earth shall pass away rather than one jot or one tittle of the word shall shall fail till all be fulfilled they are so certain Luke 21. 37. But leaving the threatnings let us come to the promises and speak somewhat of them and you may see how light men make of them and how little they set by them notwithstanding the mouth of the Lord hath spoken them As first Turn ye fools ye scorners ye simple ones at my reproof and behâ—ld I will pour out my spirit unto you Prov. 1. 24. And yet persons had rather be in their foolishness and scorning still and had rather imbrace some filthy lust then the holy undesiled and blessed Spirit of Christ thorow the promise though by it as many as receive it are sealed unto the day of redemption Eph. 4. 30. And although he that lives and dies without it is none of Christs Rom. 8. 9. 2. God hath said If thou do but come to him in Christ though your sins be as red as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow and he will by no meanes cast thee away compare Isa. 1. 18. with Joh. 6. â—7 yet poor souls will not come to Christ that they might have life Joh. 5. 41. but rather after their hardness and impenitent heart treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God Rom. 2. 4 5 6. 3. Christ Jesus hath said in the word of truth That if any man will serve and follow him Where he is there shall also his servant be Joh. 12. 26. but yet poor souls choose rather to follow sin Satan and the world though their companions be the devils and damned souls for ever Mat. 25. 41. 4. He hath also said Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added But let who so will seek after the Kingdom of Heaven first for them For they will take the first time while time serves to get the things of this life And if it be so that they must needs seek after Heaven or else be damned they will stay till they have more leisure or till they can better attend to it or till they have other things handsome about them or till they are older when they have little else to do or when they come to be sick and to die Then Lord have mercy upon them though it be ten thousand to one but they perish for ever For commonly the Lord hath this way to deal with such sinners who put him off when he is striâ—â—â—â— with them either to laugh at their calamity and mâ—â—k when their fear cometh Prov. 1. 26. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 send them to the gods they have served which are the devils Judg. 10. 13. 14. Go to the gods you have served and let them deliver you saith he compare this with Joh. 8. 44. 5. He hath said There is no man that forsaketh Father or Mother Wife or Children or Lands for his sake and the Gospels but shall have an hundred fâ—lâ— in this world with persecution and in the world to come life everlasting Mark 10. 29 30. But men for the most part are so far off from believing the certainty of this that they will scarce lose the earning of a penny to hear the word of God the Gospel of salvation Nay they will neither go themselves nor suffer others to go if they can help it without threatning to do them a mischief if it lie in their way Nay further many are so far from parting from any worldly gun for Christs sake and the Gospels that they are still striving by hook and by crook as we say by swearing lying cousening stealing covetousness extortion oppression forgery bribery flâ—ttery or any other way to get more though they get together with these death wrath damnation hell the devil and all the plagues that God can pour upon them And if any do not run with them to the same excess of riot but rather for all their threats will be so bold and careless as they call it as to follow the wayes of God if they can do no more yet they will whet their tongues like a Sword to wound them and do them the greatest mischief they can both in speaking against them to neighbours to Wives to Husbands to Landlords and raising false Reports of them But let such take heed lost they be in such a state and woful condition as he was in who said
gave them forth upon the Soul The Letter killeth the Letter strikes men dead 2 Cor. 3. 6. and this Paul witnessed and found before he could say I believe all that the Prophets have spoken Where he saith I was alive without the Law once That is in my natural state before the Law was set on my heart with power But when the Commandement came sinne revived and I died Rom. 7. 9. And that Law that was ordained to life I found to be unto death For sinne taking occasion by the Commandment deceived me and thereby slew me ver 10. Now that which is called the Letter in Cor. is called the Law in Rom. 7. which by its power and operation as it is wielded by the Spirit of God doth in the first place kill and slay all those that are inabled to believe the Scriptures I kill saith God That is with my Law I pierce I wound I prick men into the very heart by shewing them their sins against my Law Deut. 32. 39. Act. 2. 36 37. And he that is ignorant of this is also ignorant of and doth not really and effectually believe the Scripture But you will say How doth the Law kill and strike dead the poor Creature Answ. First The Letter or Law do kill thus It is set home upon the Soul and discovers to the Soul its Transgressions against the Law and shews the Soul also that it cannot compleatly satisfie the Justice of GOD for the breach of his Law therefore it is condemned Joh. 3. 19. Mark He that believes not is condemned already To wit by the Law that is the Law doth condemn him yea it hath condemned him already for his sins against it as it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. Now all men as they come into the World are in this condition that is condemned by the Law Yet not believing their Condemnation by the Law really they do not also believe really and effectually the Law that doth condemn them For as men have but a notion of the one that is their condemnation because of sins against the Law so they have but a notion of the condemning killing and destroying power of the Law for as the one is so in these Things always is the other There is no man that doth really believe the Law or Gospel further than they do feel the power and authority of them in their hearts Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Now this Letter or Law is not to be taken in the largest sense but is strictly to be tyed to the Ten Commandments whose proper Work is onely by shewing the Soul its sins against this Law to kill and there leaves him stark dead not giving him the least life or support or comfort but leaves the Soul in an helpless and hopeless condition as from it self or any other meeâ— Creature 'T is true the Law hath laid all men for dead as they come into the World but all men do not see themselves dead until they see that Law that struck them dead sticking in their Souls and having struck them that fatal blow As a man that is fast asleep in an house and that on fire about his Ears and he not knowing of it because he is asleep even so because poor Souls are asleep in sinne though the Wrath of God the Curse of his Law and the flames of Hell have beset them round about yet they do not believe it because they are asleep in sin Now as he that is awakened and sees this sees that through this he is a dead man Even so they that do see their state by nature being such a sad condition do also see themselves by that Law to be dead men naturally But now when didst thou feel the power of this first part of the Scripture the Law so mighty as to strike thee dead If not thou dost not so much as verily believe that part of Scripture that doth contain the Law in it to be the truth of God Yet if thou shouldest have felt something I say something of the killing power of the Law of God in thine heart this is not an Argument to prove that thou believest all the Things contained in Scripture for there is Gospel as well as Law and therefore I shall speak to that also that is whether thou hast felt the power of the Gospel as well as something of the power of the Law 2. Then thou hast found the power of the Gospel and so believed it thou hast found it thus with thy soul. 1. Thou hast been shewed by the word or truth of the Gospel in the light of the Spirit of Christ that by nature thou were without the true faith of the Son of God in thy soul For when He the Spirit is come he shall shew men that they believe not in me saith Christ. Joh. 16. 9. Mark though thou hast as I said before felt somewhat of the power of the Law Letter or ten Commandments yet if thou hast not been brought to this to see by the spirit in the Gospel that thou art without faith by nature thou hast not yet tasted much less believed any part of the Gospel For the Gospel and the Law are two distinct Covenants And they that are under the Law may be convinced by it and so believe the Law or first Covenant and yet in the mean time to be a stranger to the Covenant of promise that is the Gospel and so have no hope in them Ephes. 2. 12. There is not any promise that can be savingly believed until the soul be by the Gospel converted to Jesus Christ. For though men do think never so much that they believe the things or the word of the Gospel of our salvation yet unless they have the work of grace in their souls they do noâ— cannot rightly believe the things contained in the Scriptures Again as the Law killeth those that believe it even so the promises contained in the Gospel do through faith administer comfort to those that believe iâ— aâ—igâ—t My words saith Christ my words they are spirit and they are life Joh. 6. 63. As if he had said the words contained in the law as a Covenant of works they wound they kill they strike dead those that are under them But as for me the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life That is whosoever doth receive them believingly shall find them full of operation to comfort quicken and revive their soul. For as I did not come into the world to destroy mens lives so the words that I speak as I am sent to preach the Gospel they have no such tendency unto those that believe them The promises that are in the Gospel Oh how do they comfort them such a promise and such a promise O how sweet is it how comfortable to those that believe them Alas there
are many poor souls that think they believe the Scriptures to be the word of God and yet they never enjoyed any thing of the life and promises they come in upon the heart to quicken to revive thee to raise thâ—e from the sentence of death that is passed 〈◊〉 thee by the Law And through the faith that is wrought in thy soul by the operation of Gods holy Spirit though once killed by the Law or Letter thou art made alive in the Lord Jesus Christ who is presented to thy soul in the promises 3. Dost thou indeed and in truth believe the Scriptures to be the word of God then â—he things contained in them especially the things of the Gospel are very excellent to thy soul as the birth of Christ the death resurrection intercession and second coming O! how precious and excellent are they to thy soul insomuch that thou regardest nothing in comparison of them O! it is Christs birth death blood resurrection c. according to the Scriptures that thou dost rejoyce in exceedingly and abundantly desire after whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing the mercy with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Cor. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6. compare with Phil. 3. 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 1. 8. 4. Dost thou believe the Scriptures to be the word of God Then thou standest in awâ—of and dost much reverence them Why they are the word of God the true sayings of God they are the counsel of God they are his promises and his threatnings Poor souls are apt to think If I could hear God speak to me from Heaven with an audible voice then sure I should be serious and believe it But truly if God should speak to thee from Heaven except thou wert converted thou wouldest not regard not really believe him But if thou dost believe the Scriptures thou seest that they are the truth as really believe him But if thou dost believe the Scriptures thou seest that they are the truth as really as if God should speak to thee from Heaven through the Clouds and therefore never flatter thy self foolishly thinking that if it were so and so then thou couldest believe I tell thee saith Christ If they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe though one should rise from the dead But 5. Doest thou believe the Scripture to be the word of God Then through faith in Christ thou endeavourest to have thy life squared according to the Scriptures both in word and practice Nay this I say thou mayst have though thou do not believe them all My meaning is that if thou believe none but the ten Commandements thy life may be according to them a legal holy life and if thou do believe the Gospel too then thy life will be the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ that is either thou wilt live in the blessed and holy enjoyment of what is testified in the Scripture concerning the glorious things of the Lord Jesus Christ or else thou wilt be exceedingly panting after them For the Scriptures carry such a blessed beauty in them to that soul that hath faith in the things contained in them that they do take the heart and captivate the soul of him that believeth them into the love and liking of them believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust and herein do I exercise my self to have always a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards man Acts 24. 14 15 16. 6. He that believes the Scriptures to be the word of God if he do but suppose that any one place of Scripture doth exclude him and shut him out of and from a share in the promises contained in them O it will trouble him grieve him perplex him yea he will not be satisfied untill he be resolved and the contrary sealed to his soul for he knows that the Scriptures are the word of God all truth and therefore he knows that if any one sentence doth exclude or bar out him for want of this or the other qualification he knows also that not the word alone shuts him out but he that speaks it even God himself and â—â—herefore he cannot will not dare not be conented until he find his soul and Scripture together with the things contained therein to embrace each other and a sweet correspondency and agreement between them For you must know that to him that believes the Scriptures aright the promises or threatnings are of more power to comfort or cast down then all the promises or threatnings of all the men in the world And this was the cause why the Marryrs of Jesus did so slight both the promises of their adversaries when they would have overcome them with prâ—fering the great things of this world unto them and also their 〈…〉 them they would rack them haâ—g them 〈…〉 Acts 20. 24. Noâ—â— of these things câ—â—lâ— prâ—vail upon them or against them because they did most really believe the Scriptures and the things contained in them as is clearly found and to be seen in Heb. 11. and also in Mr. Fox's Records of their Brethren 7. He that believeth the Scriptures to be the word of God believeth that men must be born again and also be partakers of that faith which is of the operation of God according as he hath read and believes he must and shall be damned And he that believeth this aright will not be contented until according as it is written he do partake of and enjoy the nâ—w birth and until he do find through grace that faith that is wrought by the operation of God in his soul. For this is the cause why men do satisfâ—â— themselves with so slender a conceited hope that their state is good when it is nothing so namely because they do not credit the Scripture for did they they would look into their own hearts and examine seriously whether that faith that hope that grace which they think they have be of that nature and wrought by that spirit and power that the Scripture speaketh of I speak this of an effectual believing without which all other is nothing unto salvation Now then because I would not be too tedious I shall at this time lay down no more discoveries of such an one as doth savingly believe the Scriptures and the things contained in them but shall speak a few words of examination containing the things already mentioned As 1. Thou sayest thou dost indeed and in truth effectually believe the Scriptures I ask therefore wast thou ever killed stark dead by the Law of works contained in the Scriptures killed by the Law or letter and made to see thy sins against it and left in an helpless condition by that Law For as I said the proper work of the Law is to slay the Soul and to leave it dead in a
helpless state For it doth neither give the Soul any comfort it self when it comes nor doth it shew the soul where comfort is to be had and therefore it is called the ministration of condemnation as in 2 Cor. 3. 9. the ministration of death 2 Cor. 3. 7. For though men may have a notion of the blessed Word of God as the children had yet before they be converted it may truly be said of to them Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Mark 12. 24. 2. You say you do believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God I say again examine wast thou ever quickened from a dead state by the power of the Spirit of Christ through the other part of the Scripture That is to say by the power of God in his Son Jesus Christ through the Covenant of Promise I tell thee from the Lord If thou hast thou hast fâ—lt such a quickning power in the words of Christ Joh. 6. that thou hast been lifted out of that dead condition that thou before wast in and that when thou wast under the guilt of sin the curse of the Law and the power of the devil and the justice of the great God thou hast been inabled by the power of God in Christ revealed to thee by the Spirit through and by the Scripture to look sin death hell the devil and the Law and all things that are aâ— enmiâ—y with thee with boldness and comfort in the face through the bloud death righteousness resurrection and intercession of Christ made mention of in the Scriptures And thirdly on this account O how excellent are the Scriptures to thy soul O how much vertue dost thou â—ee in such a Promise in such an invitation they are so large as to say Christ will in no wise cast me â—ut My crimson sins shall be white as Snow I â—ell thee friend there are some Promises that the Lord hath helped me to lay hold of Jesus Christ thâ—â—ugh and by that I would not have out of the Bible for as much Gold and Silver as can lye between York and London piled up to the stars because through them Christ is pleased by his Spirit to convey comfort to my soul I say when the Law curses when the devil tempes when hell-fire flames in my Conscience my sins with the guilt of them tearing of me then is Christ revealed so sweâ—â—ly to my poor soul through the Promises that all is forced to fly and leave off to accuse my soul. So also when the World frowns when the Enemies rage and threaâ—en to kill me then also the pretious the exceeding great and pretious Promises do weight down all and comfort the soul against all This is the effect of believing the Scriptures savingly for they that do so have by and through the Scriptures good comfort and also ground of hope Rom. 15. 4. believing those things to be its own which the Scriptures hold forth 4. Examine dost thou stand in awe of sinning against God because he hath in the Scriptures commanded thee to abstain from it Dost thou give diligence to make thy Calling and Election sure because God commandeth it in Scripture Dost thou examine thy self whether thou be in the Faith or no having a command in Scripture so to do Or dost thou notwithstanding what thou readest in the Scripture follow the world delight in sin neglect coming to Jesus Christ speak evil of the Saints slight and make a mock at the Ordinances of God delight in wicked company and the like Then know that it is because thou dost not indeed and in truth believe the Scriptures effectually For as I said before if a man do believe them and that savingly then he stands in â—w he looks to his steps he turns his feet from evil and endeavors to follow that which is good which God hath commanded in the Scriptures of truth yet not from a legal or natural principle that is to seek for life by doing that good thing but knowing that Salvation is already obtained for him by the bloud of that man Christ Jesus on the Cross because he believes the Scriptures therefore mark I pray therefore I say he labours to walk with his God in all well pleasing and godliness because he sweet power of the loves of Christ which he feels in his soul by the Spirit according to the Scriptures constrain him so to do 2 Cor. 5. 14. 5. Examine again Dost thou labour after those qualifications that the Scriptures do describe a child of God by that is saith yea the right faith the most holy faith the faith of the operation of God And also dost thou examine whether there is a real growth of Grace in thy soul as love zeal self-denial and a seeking by all means to attain if possible to the Resurrection of the dead that is not to satisfy thy self until thou be dissolved and rid of this body of death and be transformed into that glory that the Saints shall be in after the Resurrection day and in the mean time dost labour and take all opportunities to walk as near as may be to the pitch though thou know thou canst not attain it perfectly yet I say thou dost aim at it seek after it press towards it and to hold on in thy race thou â—hunnest that which may any way hinder thee and also close in with what may any way further the same knowing that that must be or desiring that it should be thine eternal frame and therefore out of love and liking to it thou dost desire and long after it as being the thing that doth most please thy soul. Or how is it with thy soul Art thou such an one as regards not these things but rather busy thy thoughts about the things here below following those things that have no scent of divine glory upon them If so look to thy self thou art an unbeliever and so under the wrath of God and wilt for certain fall into the same place of torment that thy fellows have fallen into before thee to the grief of thy own soul and thy everlasting destruction Consider and regard these things and lay them to thy heart before it be too late to recover thy self by repenâ—ing of the one and desiring to close in with the other O I say regard regard for hell is hot Gods hand is up the Law is resolved to discharge against thy soul the Judgment day is at hand the graves are ready to fly open the 〈◊〉 is nea◠〈◊〉 â—ounding the sentence will â—re long be pâ—st and then you and I cannot call â—imâ— again But again seeing they are so certain so sure so irreâ—â—â—â—ble and firm and seeing the saving faith of the thingâ— contained therein is to reform the soul and bring iâ— over into the things of God really conforming to the things contained therein both to the point of Justification and also an impractical walking and giving up the soul and body to a conformity to all