who believe in and faithfully follow him the Lamb of God he taketh away their Sins he being made Perfect is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto ALL them that OBEY him Heb. 5. 9. Daniel the Prophet who prophesied of the coming of the Messiah which is Christ Jesus and of his Sufferings he declared the End or Effects thereof Namely To make an END of SIN to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness see Dan. 9. 24. to the end Jesus Christ said To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth every one that is of the Truth heareth MY VOICE John 18. 37. And Jesus said I came to call sinners to Repentance He that COVERETH his Sins shall NOT prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have Mercy Prov. 28. 13. These are faithful Sayings of God spoken through his Son and his Prophets and Apostles here is a Cloud of witnesses who in a sweet Unity and Harmony and Clearness speaks forth the Universal Love of God to Mankind in Christ Jesus in sending him to make an end of Sin the Devils Work The Wages of Sin is Death as saith the Apostle which NOT being Repented of and forsaken brings into the Pit of endless Torment a BARE confessing of Sin without repenting and forsaking will NOT bring Men Women to lay down their Heads in PEACE with God Therefore Wo unto those who go on in their sins unto the end of their Dayes upon Earth Raking up and down in the Scriptures of Truth to gather up the Failings MISCARRIAGES of some among God's People who for want of diligent Watchfulness were overcome by their Souls Enemy but Unfeignedly Repented and Ceased from the Evil did learn to do well and so were forgiven as in the cases of David and Peter w hose Miscarriages at a time or some few times is now made as TEXTS on them to preach up IMPERFECTION and SIN for Term of Life Wo to those sort of Preachers if they do not Repent of this Unchristian and Ungodly Preaching and cease there from they will not only Destroy themselves but also those who give up themselves to believe and love their sinful Doctrine who by this Wicked preaching do take courage and GREAT boldness to continue in sin and to love it and to commit it with greediness yea to drink it up abundantly even as an Ox drinks up Water and to pull it and draw it upon them as with Cords and Cart tropes as it s written This sort of Teachers God is against his Soul is grieved by them from day to day Oh! that they would consider it and lay it to Heart and Repent before it be too late The Woes were of Old and now are unto all those Preachers and Hearers who are covered and NOT with the holy pure Spirit of the Lord God in which spirit God is worshipped as Christ saith Wo to the Rebellious Children who take Counsel but not of me saith the Lord God who cover with a Covering but NOT of my SPIRIT that they may ADD Sin unto Sin Isa 30. 1. Wo unto them that call Evil Good and Good Evil c. Wo unto them who justifie the Wicked FOR a Reward c. Therefore as the Fire devoureth the Stubble and the Flame consumeth the Chaff so their ROOT shall be Rottenness and their BLOSSOM shall go up as Dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the Word of the holy One of Israel Wo to them that are Wise in their own eyes c. Isa 5. 18 to the 25th read the Chapter through Wo to the Wicked it shall be Ill with him for the Reward of his Hands shall be given him What mean ye that ye beat my People c. and grind the Faces of the Poor saith the Lord God of Hosts Moreover the Lord saith Because the Daughters of Zion are Haughty and walk with stretched-out Necks and wanton EYES c. Therefore the Lord will Smite with a SCAB the Crown or Top of the Heed of the Daughter of Zion Jerusalem is Ruined and Judah is Fallen because their TONGUE and their Doings are against the Lord to provoke the Eyes of his Glory They declare their Sin as Sodom Wo unto their SOULS for they have Rewarded EVIL unto THEMSELVES Isa 3. 8 to the 18th read the Chapter through In this Chapter the Proud and Wonton Women of our Age may read their pattern and see whose Ungodly Example they follow and also they may see what Ruin Destruction and Misery they brought upon themselves as the just Reward of their Ungodly Lives and seeing God did thus punish the Proud and Wanton Women under the Profession of the Law certainly he will not justifie such Persons or Practices under the Profession of Christ and his Gospel for though the Law could not make the Comers thereunto Perfect as pertaining unto the Conscience yet then God did not leave himself without a Witness in them he gave them his good Spirit to instruct them as Nehemiah saith but they rebelled against it but Christ and his Gospel can make them that come to him Perfect even as pertaining to the Conscience and that which makes the Conscience good and brings it into a perfect cleanness the same keeps Man and Woman clean in their Conversations outwardly and such who do believe in and obey Christ Jesus he teaches them to be truly Meek and Lowly and Humble according to the blessed Command and Example which he gave in the Dayes of his flesh who said Learn of me I am Meek and LOWLY in Heart and ye shall find REST TO YOUR SOULS The Apostle Peter in the holy Ghost exhorted the Women to be subject unto their own Husbands And said whose Adorning let it not be the outward Adorning of Plating the Hair NOR of WEARING of GOLD c. But let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is NOT Corruptible the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit which IS in the sight of God of great PRICE For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God Adorned themselves c. 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. Again the Apostle Paul saith I will in like manner also that Women Adorn themselves in MODEST Apparel with SHAMEFACEDNESS and SOBRIETY NOT w th Broidred HAIR or GOLD or PEARLS or Costly Aray But which becometh Women professing Godliness with GOOD WORKS 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. So all Women both Old and Young ought to obey the Command of Christ who commands to be Meek and Lowly and ought to follow the good Example of these holy Christian-Women who were cloathed and beautified with a Meek and Humble Quiet Spirit and with good Works as the holy Apostle Exhorts Depart from Evil and do good and dwell or live for evermore I have seen the Wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay-Tree
Unfaithfull is called to Repentance yea the Back-sliders is called to Repentance to do their first works to be watchfull to strengthen the things that remain that are ready to dye c. Now they who do take this heavenly Counsel they do the will of God and in so doing they stand approved in his sight The diligent Watchers who have and do put on and keep on the whole Armour of God as aforesaid they do NOT FALL but do grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ more and more of such the Psalmist speaketh saying Blessed is the man that walketh not in the Way of the Vngodly he shall be like a Tree that is planted by the Rivers of Water c. but upon the Wicked who repent not who forsake not their Wickedness God will rain Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest as the holy Ghost hath said and there is no Peace to the Wicked saith my God but the Righteous hath said in Truth thou Lord wilt ordain Peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works IN US And the holy Apostle said We are Gods workmanship CREATED IN Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS which God before ORDAINED that we should walk IN THEM Isa 26. 12. Ephes 2. 10. The Apostle Peter opened his Mouth and said Of a Turth I perceive that God is NO Respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth HIM and worketh Righteousness is ACCEPTED with HIM the Word that God sent unto the Children of Israel Preaching PEACE by Jesus Christ he is Lord of ALL c. Acts 10. 34 35. Note Reader He by whom all were and are Created and he who according to the flesh DYED for all who enlighteneth the EYES of the UNDERSTANDINGS of ALL in some degree whose will is that all men may be saved he is Lord of all as saith the Apostle he is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation ALL those who fear him work Righteousness they are accepted with HIM Here God shews that he loves and delights in Righteousness but HATES the contrary and therefore he calls ALL Men to Repent EVERY WHERE as saith the holy Apostle God's condiditions of ELECTION and Salvation is Faith in him and unfeigned Repentance and he doth freely tender yea GIVE the true and real CAUSE of Faith and Repentance unto all the Ungodly and Impenitent to wit Visitations by the Spirit Word of Truth which doth convince the World of sin in which the Grace Love or Favour of God is held forth to all mankind in enlightening their Understandings giving them thereby to know Good FROM Evil by which he also MOVES upon the Soul to CHUSE the Good and REFUSE the Evil which spirit or word is of ABILITY to beget faith to work unfeigned Repentance doth IT in all where the stubborn will of man doth not withstand the Day of Gods tender Visitation given thereby but IT IS possible man in his STUBBORN SELF-WILL may so long resist that God will strive NO LONGER with him for his salvation for he hath said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man God said to the Wicked with whom he had long striven to gather them out of their wickedness UNTO himself WO unto them when I DEÌ„PART FROM THEM Hos 9. 12. I HATED them for the WICKEDNESS of their doings saith God V. 15. The Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy Heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But WHAT saith it The WORD is NIGH thee even in thy MOUTH and in thy HEART that is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. But I say have they not heard Yes verily their Sound went into all the Earth and their Words to the ends of the World but they have not all obeyed the Gospel But to Israel he saith All day long have I stretched forth my Hands unto a Disobedient and Gain-saying People Ver. 18 16 21. Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14. Moreover God set Adam in a glorious state in Paradise and he willed that he should obey him as he commanded him and he put him in a condition that he might have continued in obedience unto him so it was possible that he might have continued in obedience unto him and so have stood and it was NOT impossible that he should FALL as the event hath proved and his Fall is NOT to be charged or placed upon God but upon himself for want of a due and full improvement of all that God gave him to keep him from falling God is able to keep his Creatures Man and Woman from falling his Name his pure holy Power is a strong Tower and in it IS Everlasting Safety Man and Womans being kept from falling consists in their constant diligent dependence upon him who made them he ONLY is able to keep them from falling Jude 24. God is mercifull slow to Anger and abundant in compassion towards mankind as he hath signified by the holy Ghost in his holy Prophets and Apostles he is full of compassion and tender pity he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. Christ Jesus hath commanded his Disciples to be mercifull saying Be ye merciful as your Father is merciful he is KIND unto the UNTHANKFUL to the EVIL and he causeth his Light to shine upon the EVIL upon the Good and sendeth his Rain upon the Just and the UNJUST Luke 36. 37. Mat. 5. 45. The Prophet David saith The Lord is good to ALL and his tender Mercies are over all his WORKS c. Psal 145. ver 8 9 And he said to his Son Solomon If thou seek him he will be FOUND of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off forever take heed c. 1 Chron. 28. 9 10. Moreover the holy Ghost saith Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near Isa 55. 6. Again 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 wherefore do you SPEND Money for that which is NOT Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth NOT hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness Encline your Ear and come unto me HEAR and your Soul shall live c. Isa 55. 1 2 3. Moreover the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever WILL let him take the Water of Life freely Rev. 22. 17 c. Note Reader Here is a general comortable Proclamation of the favour good will of God to all people every one hath a T me or
Day of Visitation given unto them by their mercifull Creator to turn unto him from their sin to eat that which is good he saith Whosoever WILL let him come and take of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely So it plainly appeareth by this that God would have all people eat of his Bread and drink of his Milk and Wine which he hath mingled and if they do not eat and drink thereof and so live to God by the vertue of the same it is not because God fore-appointed that they should NOT do so but it is because they have given up their Minds and Ears to the Whisperings and Lyes of that old Deceiver which first led Man and Woman from God and so he hath corrupted their Wills so hath led them to love sin and to chuse to abide in it all their Dayes so the Selfish-corrupt-will which the Devil hath begotten in fallen Man this WILL doth not chuse Christ nor the Cross which his true Disciples bear nor the Bread of Life or Water of Life nor Wine nor Milk which they eat and drink of abundantly to their immortal Souls strength joy and comfort and the Glory of the Lord. So it is true which Christ said Ye will not come to me that you may have Life Moreover he wept over the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and said I would have gathered thy Children as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would NOT. Mark He did NOT say that they could not but that they would not and this his Testimony is true Gods Spirit which convinceth the World of sin MOVETH upon the hearts of sinners to purifie their Wills that so they may chuse the good and refuse the evil and his Spirit doth EFFECT this in all that do not withstand his tender Visitation therein and thereby till the day of their Visitation be over or ended when God moveth by his Spirit upon the Soul of man in Transgression to lead him out of his Transgression he requireth a YIELDING on the Creatures part according to the saying of the holy Ghost through the holy Apostle who said As ye have yielded your Members Servants to Vncleanness and to Iniquity even so now yield your Members Servants unto Righteousness unto Holiness Rom. 6. 19. Note Reader the merciful God hath made the Creature able so to yield and therefore he doth not require Imposibilities of him who requireth him SO to yield and if man prove so hard and desperate as not to yield to serve God as aforesaid this his Hardy boldness and Self-willfulness and desperate Uugodliness is the cause of his Ruin and Destruction and so man destroyeth himself as God hath said O Israel thou destroyeth thy self but in me is thy help Note Reader the fallen corrupt will of man cannot chuse the good and refuse the evil but the Spirit of Truth doth visit man in this estate to PURIFIE his WILL and so to enable andlead him to chuse the Good and refuse the Evil But Man in this fallen corrupt ungodly bold WILL may yea many do with-stand the tender Visitation of God's Spirit yea grieve and vex it and do despight unto it and so cause God to be their Enemy and to fight against them as saith the Prophet God complained and said Israel would have none of me He did not say I would have none of them but he sent his Prophets to turn them unto him and they evil-intreated them yea slew them for which his Wrath was kindled against them who commanded them saying Touch not mine anointed do my Prophets no harm And he said WO unto the rebellious Children who take Counsel but not of me that COVER with a Covering but NOT of my Spirit that they may add Sin unto Sin Isa 30. 1. And he said concerning such rebellious Ones They have set at naught all my Counsel and would have none of my Reproof c. Such Rebels as these said unto God Depart from us we desire not the Knowledge of thy ways Such did not take the Counsel of the holy Ghost which saith Seek the Lord while he MAY be found call upon him while he is NEAR Isa 55. 6. So as the Apostle Peter said God is NO Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that fears God and works Righteousness is accepted of him God doth NOT Partially or IN dis-respect to SOME Persons foreordain that they shall be wicked and so to be damned and cast into the Lake of everlasting Misery NO that is contrary to his tender love who gave his only begotten Son for the Redemption of the World which lieth in Wickedness We have all sinned as saith the Apostle and God hath Mercy upon all as HE saith and wills that all may be saved He sent his Son to seek and save that which was lost and to bring back again to himself that which hath been driven away God saith concerning him Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles A BRUISED Reed shall he NOT break the smoking Flax shall he not QUENCH he shall bring forth Judgment unto Truth he shall not fail c. And the Isles shall wait for his Law Isa 42. 1 3 4. Matth. 12. 18 20. Objection It s written that without Faith it is impossible to please God and that the Just shall live by Faith But it s also written that all men have not Faith therefore those who have not Faith or never have or NEVER had Faith God did ordain to be damned before they were Born Answ This is a great Mistake for God who cannot LYE saith Look unto me and BE YE SAVED ALL the ends of the Earth Isa 45. 22. Gods Will is that all men might be saved 1 Tim. 2. 4. Again As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live c. Ezek. 33. 11. and 18. 31 32 33. The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men the Spirit of Truth which doth lead the Saints into all Truth the same doth Convince the World of Sin By this Visitation and CONVICTION they are brought into a condition that they may believe that which convinteth them of sin leaves them without Excuse justly to be punished for their Sin IN the SAME is the true and effectual means cause and ground of Faith freely tendered to them that thereby they might be led out of the Sin of Unbelief by the Lord God yea it is his free gift unto them given to beget and work Faith in them and if they STILL continue in Unbelief this gift will condemn them and God justly will punish them for their Rebellion Hard-heartedness Unbelief c. and it convinceth them of Righteousness in some degree that thereby they might be led to do that which is just and righteous in the sight of God who is
righteous in the sight of men For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against ALL Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men c. Because that which may be known of God IS manifest IN them for God hath SHEWED it unto them For the Invisible things OF HIM from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and GODHEAD so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE Rom. 1. 18 19 20. Mark the WRATH of God is against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men for one and the same cause namely because that which may be known of God is manifest IN THEM here the holy just merciful God shews that he is not PARTIAL Reader it is certain that the Spirit of Truth which doth Convince the World of Sin and leaves those without Excuse justly to be punished who do not believe Repent and Forsake their Sins and turn to God the same IS sufficient to GIVE Faith unto ALL men and Women But God said Israel would have none of ME. And Christ said to the Jews Ye will NOT come to ME that ye might have Life And Christ in pity and tender compassion WEPT over the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and said I would have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would NOT. He did NOT say Ye could not for he KNEW that it was possible that they might have come unto him while the day of their Visitation lasted but after that time was ended they could not he said O that thou hadst known or experienced and enjoyed in this thy day the things which belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Now your House is left unto you Desolate Now those that would not and will not have God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Grace and Truth which God hath given to lead out of the Sin of Unbelief c. these WILL NOT have Faith For they in their stubborn corrupt Self-will refuse God and Christ the Author of it and the holy Spirit which is given to lead into the true Faith which purifieth the Heart the Mystery of which is held in a pure Conscience as saith the holy Apostle Those who are so hardened by the Devil that great hardener of Hearts that they will not have God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Grace and Truth nor Faith this their refusing of God and Christ the Spirit Faith c. is NOT according to the WILL and mind of God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Truth but according to the cursed Will and Mind of the old Deceiver who led Adam and Eve to Sin against God and against their own Souls and according to their own cursed will and mind which he the old Deceiver and Destroyer hath begotten in them against God Christ the Spirit of Truth c. And such hardened ONES Perish whose Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth is clear which hath Convinced them of their Sin and Reproved them for the same in secret and hath waited and long striven to lead them out of the same into Faith INTO love and pure obedience to the pure holy God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Christ pronounced Wo against the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for OMITTING Faith see Matth. 23. 23. Note Reader here he pronounceth Wo against them because they had not Faith or were not in the true Faith here the just God shews that he did not with-hold the true and real means and cause of Faith from them but they in their corrupt wicked WILL did resist the working of the same till God ceased to strive with them for their Salvation So their being without Faith and perishing for want of it was of themselves and the Lord God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth was and is clear of them and all such It would be blasphemous to say that it was God's will that they should have no Faith though he cryed Wo against them because they omitted it and condemned them for not being found in it But it is no very strange thing that all men have not Faith seeing many in former Ages and divers in this have made SHIPWRACK of the true Faith which they ONCE HAD The Apostle Paul charged Timothy to Hold FAITH and a GOOD CONSCIENCE which some having put AWAY concerning Faith have made Shipwrack 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. Moreover Paul said to Timothy The Spirit speaks expresly that in the latter Times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared with a hot iron forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Moreover Paul told Timothy that Hymaeneus and Philetus had erred c. who had overthrown the Faith of some see 1 Tim. 2. 18. Again Paul said to Timothy Hold fast the form of sound Words which thou hast heard of me in FAITH and Love this thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me 2 Tim. 1. 13. 15. Again O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy TRUST avoiding prophane and vain Bablings and oppositions of Science falsly so called which some professing have enred concerning the Faith 1 Tim. 6. 20 21. Reader thus it doth plainly appear that those who once had the true Faith did depart from it and fell into Apostacy and so made Shipwrack of that Faith which the Spirit of Truth had begotten in them and such became as Trees twice Dead plucked up by the Roots c. and as wandring Stars or wandring restless Spirits for whom is reserved the mist of Darkness forever as it s written in the holy Scriptures the Hearts and Consciences of such were grown very hard benumed and greatly insensible eyen answering in a Spiritual sense that saying viz. Having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron such are forward and bold to commit Sin with pleasure and greediness and to make a mock at true Tenderness holy Fear and true Watchfulness and at the godly Sorrow and unfeigned Repentance of those whose Hearts God hath broken by his Righteous Judgments through the effectual operation of the Word of FAITH which is to be known nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which Word is as a Hammer to break the hard Heart and as an Ax or Sword to cut down the Lust and Wickedness thereof and as a Fire to burn up the same and as a strong Wind to drive away the Ashes thereof Wo wo to the Ranters and Atheists who have sold themselves to work Wickedness with greediness who make a Mock at God at his Works in Judgment and in Mercy unto the Children of men who sport themselves in their Devilish prophane Conversations wo to them it had been better for them that they had not been Born And wo to all Apostates who are departed from the true
Repent and turn to the Lord from these abominable things that so they might not be forever shut out of the Kingdom of God! O that the Inhabitants of England and all Nations would believe in God that made them who is spiritual Light who is a holy pure Spirit who is Omnipresent or present every where who said Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Foot-stool c. see Isa 66. 1. read the Chapter through 1 King 8. 27. his pure Spirit lighteth every one that cometh into the World O that the great multitudes in England and all Nations who are in Strife and Contention Hatred and Envying Murthering and Killing one another about Religion and about Earthly things WOULD BELIEVE in this Heavenly Spirit that enlightneth them which giveth them to understand in some measure or degree what is Good and also what is Evil O that they would bow down unto it and become subject unto the leadings and teachings of it then would it teach them to love one another NOT to be like Cain who slew his Brother because his own works were evil and his Brothers righteous but it would teach them to do to all men as they would be done unto as God hath commanded yea it would teach them as it did good Joseph who was kind unto his Brethren who was cruel to him who sold him to the Ishmalites yea it would teach them to overcome the evil with the good as Joseph did and as God commandeth But because Multitudes and Nations believe not in this holy pure peaceable loving and long-suffering Spirit therefore it is that they are as the raging Sea that casts up Mire and Dirt and many are as the cruel merciless Beasts of Prey destroying one another yea many oppressing and seeking to destroy Gods tender People who have true love to all and desire the temporal and eternal good of all who Worship him in his holy Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth the faithful followers of it and because that Vengeance is not executed speedily or suddenly for these crying Abominations therefore are the Hearts of the Sons of men fully set in them to do Evil as it was of Old see Eccles 8. 11. and because it is thus that many have given up themselves to Unbelief and hardness of Heart who have closed their Eyes and stopped their Ears against the Convictions and Reproofs of this pure meek merciful and compassionate Spirit of God and Christ whom he hath sent and have given up themselves to work Wickedness with greediness therefore there is great cause to take up a dolefull Lamentation and Mourning and those whom God hath made skilfull in Mourning who greatly desire the Salvation of the Multitudes Tongues Languages and People these have Mourned and do Mourn to see Multitudes running on swiftly toward the Pit of everlasting Destruction suddenly to be sunk into it Thus as of Old many say in their Hearts unto the Almighty God Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Thus they hate the knowledge of God they do not chuse his holy fear which is the beginning of the pure peaceable Wisdom which cometh from above as saith the holy Scriptures see Job 21. 14. read the Chapter through see Prov. 1. 4 7 22 29. read the Chapter through Well said the Apostle Peter Our beloved Brother Paul in all his Epistles writes things which are hard to be understood which they who are Vnlearned Vnstable wrest as they do the other Scriptures unto their own DESTRUCTION Peter was an Illiterate man and so an Unlearned man in Natural or Artificial Learning of Tongues and Languages but he was a man of great Learning in the Heavenly Spiritual School of Christ all who come to learn of Christ Paul and Peters heavenly Master they are taught by to understand their Words and to have unity with them and such are of one mind concerning them But they who are not yet come to learn of Christ as he is the Light of the World they are not come to a right understanding of the holy mens Words which are Recorded in the holy Scriptures and this is the cause that they are not of one mind concerning them but in very many contrary minds and in tumultuous Controversies about the meanings of them Paul doth say as is shewed before that God's Will is that ALL men should know the Truth and be SAVED This have I written in the love of God concerning Election and Reprobation for the Comfort and Encouragement of all those who are weary of and heavy laden with their Sins who hunger and thirst after Righteousness that they may come to Christ Jesus who dyed for them and rose again and ascended as it is written of him in the Scriptures of Truth who hath promised that he will give them Rest see Matth. 11. 28 29 30. This is also written as a Warning unto those who are at ease in their Sins flattering themselves speaking Peace unto themselves in their Unchristian Conversations and pleading for a necessity of continuing in the act of Sin unto the end of their dayes upon Earth and yet vainly imagin that they are the Elect and Chosen of God Jesus said I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life The Pharisees therefore said unto him Thou bearest Record of thy self and thy Record is NOT true But Jesus said unto these Unbelieving Jews If ye believe NOT that I am he ye shall die in your Sins whither I go ye CANNOT come see John 8. 12 24. Note Reader These great professing Pharisees Opposed Christ Jesus and denyed him to be the Light of the World Too like these Pharisees are many Teachers high Professors of Christ in Words in our Age who though they will talk much of Christ as he was born and dyed and rose again according to the Flesh yet can they not endure to hear him preached as he preached himself and as the holy Apostles preached him to wit the Light of the World the true Light which lighteth every one that cometh into the World This is the Stone which all the Builders do reject and set at nought who build up their VAIN Religions Faiths and Worships in the Serpentine Earthly Devilish Wisdom in Murther Cruelty Oppression and Idolatry but when this Stone falls on them in Judgment it will grind them all to Powder see Luke 20. 17. Psal 118. 22. Mat. 21. 24. O Blessed will all they be who come unto and believe in this Living Stone their hard Hearts shall be broken by it and made soft and tender and thereby be made fit to enter into the Kingdom of God into which nothing that is Unclean can enter and their sins that are past though they be many God will freely Pardon Remit and Forgive them in his tender Mercy and forbearance in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself a Ransom for
in his own Spirit and Power feed the Flock of God and Christ Secondly That they did and do take the over-sight of the Flock not by Constraint but willingly God makes them willing by his heavenly power they are NOT made willing by Gold or Silver Corn or Cattel or any earthly thing neither do they AFFECT Titles of Eldership in Pride or Vain Glory but the False Teachers and Elders are made willing to Preach for Gold and Slver Corn and Cattel and Earthly things how such affect Titles Earthly things more then the true Elders WORK is known to God and it is discerned by many in this Morning of his heavenly Day which is dawned in this our Age glory to the Lord God for the same Such who feed with the Fat and cloath with the Wooll and make a PREY upon the People are in Balaams Way and Error who covet the Wages of Unrighteousness yea many in Cains way in Envy Persecuting about these things some even to Death and for these things they strive one against another the strife is who shall have the fattest Benefice The TRUE Elders and Ministers did not nor do not take the oversight of the flock of God for FILTHY LUCRE but of a ready mind which God begetteth in them by his good Spirit FILTHY Lucre is Earthly gain ILL GOTTEN Christ Jesus commanded his Disciples whom he made Elders to watch over his Church saying Freely ye have received freely give Those who esteem themselves Christs Ministers yet take the over-sight of their Flocks and watch over them and teach them for Gold Silver Corn Hay c. this their Gain is ungodly it is Ill gotten because in the getting of it they break Christs Command whose Servants they pretend to be and in so doing they greatly dishonour him Yet still the Ministers of Christ have power to eat such as is set before them freely but not to force or compel by Persecution those who did or do receive Spiritual things from them the Spirit of God makes such willing there is no use for outward Force and Persecution in this concern so then to be sure they had not power by outward Force to compel those who did not believe nor receive their Testimony or to pay them for preaching though the true Apostles and Elders had power to eat c. and where they did sow Spiritual things to reap Carnal yet they laboured with their own hands that they might make the Gospel without charge so far were they from desiring or receiving any outward thing for preaching from Unbelievers that they laboured with their own hands that they might not be chargeable to the Believers No the Ministers and Elders who were and are made by Christ were and are men of nobbler Spirits then to do so The true Elders and Ministers were not nor are not Lords over God's Heritage but were and are good Ensamples and true Servants to the Flock And their Exhortation was and is to walk as they had and have them for Ensamples Glory to the Lord for the same The faithful Elder and Apostle Paul by the holy Ghost exhorted Timothy saying Be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Neglect not the Gift that is in thee c. take heed unto thy self and unto the Doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt save both thy self and them that hear thee see 1 Tim. 4. 12. to the end Again Chap. 5. 22. Lay Hand suddenly on NO man neither be partaker of other mens Sins KEEP thy self PURE c. They are blessed who follow the blessed Example of the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles and the Elders made by him who abide in his Doctrine and in the Faith which he is the Author and Finisher of and in the love which reacheth to all People both Friends and Enemies which Love thinketh no Evil neither doth any Wrong or Evil which Love is stronger than Death it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly This Love is the fulfilling of the holy Law of God as saith the holy Apostle All who keep therein are PLEASANT to the Lord and honoured by him with a truly tendred Heart and lowly mind and with the pure Patience in and through all Tribulation Trials and Affliction which cometh upon them for Christ's sake in which they possess their Souls in peace and quietness being kept by the mighty Power of God through the precious Faith and Love which is shed abroad in them BY and in Christ Jesus He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked see 1 John 2. 6. Concerning Original Sin IN page 10. J. B. takes upon him to say something concerning Original Sin he saith to his Neighbour I understand by you that its contrary to the Doctrine you teach c. Answ The Original or first cause of Sin is the Devil who abode not in the Truth as Christ said The Apostle saith He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might Destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. Jesus said Whosoever committeth sin is the Servant of sin Joh. 8. 34. J. B. saith to his Neighbour in the aforesaid page You told me you questioned not at all but all those Infants that dyed without actual Sin were received into Heaven having nothing to be laid to their Condemnation Answ J. B's Neighbour hath spoken very Soberly and Charitably and Scripturally and Soundly in this matter though J. B. doth ignorantly Cavil against him for it the Dark Rebellious Apostized Jews were like unto this J. B. they said The Fathers have eaten sowr Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are s t on edge c. These Dark sayings displeased the Lord and he Rebuked them for them by the Mouth of his Servant Ezekiel saying The Soul that sinneth it shall dye the Son shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father neither shall the Father bear the Iniquity of the Son see Ezek. 18. 2 20. read the Chapter through Moreover the Lord said by the Mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah They shall say no more the Fathers have eat a sowr Grape and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but every one shall dye for his own Iniquity every man that eateth the sowr Grape his Teeth shall be set on edge Jer. 31. 29 30. Thus it plainly appears that little Infants who never acted or committed Sin must not be cast into Hell for their Fathers Sins but dying without actual Sin must inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus called a little Child unto him and set it in the midst of them and said Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. 2 3. Mark 10. 15. Luke 18. 17. Jesus said Suffer little Children and forbid them