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
for there is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for All Mark that for All 1 Tim. 3. 4 5 6. In the Prophecy of Obediah there is much said concerning Esau and his Generation of the just Judgments of God against them for their Wickedness Verse 6. its said thus How are the things of Esau searched out how are his hidden things sought up Verse 9 10. God threatned to cut off every one of the Mount of Esau for said God For thy Violence against thy Brother Jacob shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off forever Vers 18. And the House of Jacob shall be a Fire and the House of Joseph a Flame and the House of Esau for Stubble c. Reader here observe God by his holy Prophet shews the Cause why his hatred was kindled against Esau and his Generation House Family or Off-spring and why he would cut off or destroy them even because of their Wickedness and Rebellion The Apostle Paul saith The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteonsness because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them and because when they knew God they glorified him not as God and even as they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge God gave them up to a Reprobate Mind c. Rom. 1. 18 19 21 28. And again he speaks against those who did not know the Long-suffering and Goodness of God to lead them to Repentance and he saith God will render to every man according to their deeds and he also saith There is no respect of Persons with God c. Rom. 2. 4 6 11. And the same Paul puts the Question saying What if God willing to shew his Wrath and to make his power known endured with much Long-suffering on the Vessel of Wrath fitted to Destruction Rom. 9. 22. Thus it appears that God waited long upon the Evil-doers to lead them to Repentance But when they knew God they did not Glorifie him as God neither did they like to retain God in their Knowledge and after God had suffered and waited long to lead them to Repentance and they did not turn at his Call and Reproof then he gave them up to a Reprobate Mind They had a time in which they might have been made of an Heavenly Spiritual Mind in which they might have had Life and Peace The Prophet Jeremiah saith of the Apostatized Jews who were the Children of Jacob according to the Flesh Reprobate Silver shall men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Jer. 6. 30. Reader the People of God called Quakers do own Election and Reprobation but do utterly deny That God hath ordained that some men should be Wicked or that he WITH-HOLDS his Light Grace or Spirit from them and so puts them UPON A FORCE to be Wicked for want of the gift of his Spirit Grace and Light and afterwards casts them into Hell for not obeying him when they had no power offered or given to them by him to enable them to obey No God's Way is Equal as his Servants of old have testified Where he gives much he requires of man accordingly and where he gives less he requires accordingly and he that is faithfull in a little he will make Ruler over much The Apostle Peter said The Saints were Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience c. 1 Pet. 1. 2. And we do deny that any Man or Woman is Elect of God that is Chosen of God without the Sanctification of or by the Spirit of Truth and Obedience unto it The Apostle Paul saith unto the Saints at Rome Those whom God did fore-know them he did predestinate that is fore-ordain to be conformed to the Image of his Son that is to the Likeness of his Son Rom. 8. 29. But it is certain that none can be made Conformable to the Likeness of his Son without he be Sanctified by the Spirit of Truth and none can be so Sanctified by the Spirit of Truth but those who believein and obey the same Spirit for that is it which Christ promised should lead the Saints into all Truth The Apostle Paul writ to the Church of Christ at Ephesus saying Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in heavenly Places in Christ according as he hath chosen us that is Elected us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy without blame before him in Love c. Ephes 1. 3 4. We do believe that God doth fore-know those who become his while they are ignorant of him And we do believe that he hath chosen them in his Son before the Foundation of the World Christ the Son of God is the Light of the World he lighteth every one that cometh into World for one the same Cause Purpose or End even that all might believe in him obey him through Faith and Obedience might be Chosen or Elect in him and so have Eternal Life in him He that believes in the Son of God hath Everlasting Life he that doth not believe in the Son of God shall not see Life John 38. Again the first Epistle of John 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life and such are not Elect in him but are under condemnation because of their Unbelief which Unbelief the Devil not God iâ— the Author of Reader thus we own Election and Reprobation as did the holy Men of old but we deny that those who continue in sin and plead for it term of Life are in that state chosen of God we do deny an UNCONDITIONAL Election Reprobation as held forth by many of the Professors in our time for the condition of Election is Faith in God and Christ and Obedience unto the Spirit of Truth which is given to lead the Saints into all Truth and to conviuce the World of sin And the condition of Reprobation and Damnation is Unbelief in God and Christ and Disobedience unto and Rebellion against the Spirit of Truth The Apostle Paul saith to the Saints at Rome If ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 13 14. And further the same Apostle saith His Servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6. 16. So here the holy Apostle declares the GOSPEL conditions of Election and Reprobation or chusing to Eternal Life and casting off unto Eternal Damnation Christ is the Elect the Chosen of God Behold saith God my Servant
What if God willing to shew his Wrath and to make his Power known endured with much Long-suffering on the Vessels of Wrath fitted to Destruction Now mark God suffered them long and his Long-suffering was to lead them to Repentance as the Apostle saith in another place Dispisest thou the Riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance but after the hardness and Impenitency of thy Heart treasure stup unto thy self wrath against the Day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgments of God who will render to every man according to his Deeds Rom. 2. 4 5 6. Now they not Repenting but in the hardness of their Hearts going on till they grew ripe in Wickedness their ripe Age in Wickedness fitted them for Destruction which Wickedness not God but the Devil led them into In Proverbs God called to Fools and Scorners to turn at his Reproof but they did not return and God said Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my Hand and no man regardeth but ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would have none of my Reproof I also will Laugh at your Calamity c. when your Destruction cometh as a Whirl-wind then shall you call upon me but I will not answer and they shall seek me but they shall not find me for that they hated Knowledge and did not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 22. to the end of the Chapter Here its clear that God calls Fools and Scorners to Repent he wills that they should Repent and he puts them into a condition that they may Repent he puts them into a condition that they may Turn at his Reproof from the Evil which he doth Reprove them for he puts them into a condition that they may take his Counsel and chuse the Fear of the Lord. It were horrible Blasphemy to say That though God called them to turn at his Reproof yet he did not Will or Intend that they should turn at his Reproof chuse his Fear or take his Counsel or to say he knew they could not do it is likewise Blasphemy And it is Blasphemy to say or think that God who commands people to be Holy FORCETH CONSTRAINETH them to be wicked and ungodly by WITH-HOLDING his Spirit of Grace and Truth from them which should enable them to turn at his Reproof to receive his Counsel chuse his Fear without the Spirit of Grace and Truth which comes by Jesus Christ who is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the world NO Man or Woman can turn from sin take Gods Counsel nor chuse his Fear but that all the Wicked might Repent and Turn from their Evil Wayes while the Day of their Visitation lasteth The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to All Men as the holy Apostle saith Teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live godly in this present World The Grace of God appears unto all people for one and the same Cause Purpose or End even to teach all to deny Ungodliness and to live godly in this present World but as Jude the Servant of Christ saith The Wicked not being Obedient unto it turn into Wantonness and as it s else-where writ The Wicked do despite unto the Spirit of Grace Isaiah saith That the Jews Rebelled and Vexed Gods holy spirit therefore he was turned to be their Enemy and Faught against them Isa 63. 10. Now for any person to say or think That it was the Will of God that they should Rebell against him and Vex his holy Spirit this is horrible Blasphemy Mark these had the Spirit and did Rebell against it and thereby did grieve or vex it for which cause he became their Enemy and Fought against them Mark he did not become their Enemy nor Fight against them until by their Rebellion they vexed his holy Spirit so these Rebells being Reprobated from Rest and Peace with God their Destruction was of themselves and the Lord God is clear Nehemiah in his 9th Chapter saith concerning the Children of Israel Lord thou gavest thy good Spirit to Instruct them but they Rebelled against thee Now for any person to say or think that it was Gods Will that they should Rebell against him this is horrible Blasphemy as I said before or for any person to say or think that God gives his good Spirit to some persons on purpose that they may Rebell against it and thereby cause him to become their Enemy and to Fight against them this is no less then Blasphemy The Apostle saith With whom was God grieved forty Years was it not with them that had sinned whose Carkases fell in the Wilderness to whom sware he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believed not So we see they could not enter in because of Vnbelief let us labour to enter into that Rest lest any man FALL after the same example of Vnbelief Heb. 3. 17 18 19 4. 11 1. Note here Reader the Apostle doth not place the Fall of these rebellious Jews who came out of Egypt with Moses upon the decree or will or fore-appointment of God BUT upon their Unbelief Rebellion and Apostacy which the Devil NOT GOD was the author of for they might have entred if they had improved that help and ability which God gave them Nehemiah said God gave them his good Spirit to instruct them but they rebelled against it they were disobedient and rebelled against thee saith he and cast thy Law behind their Backs and slew thy Prophets WHICH TESTIFIED AGAINST THEM TO TURN THEM UNTO THEE and they wrought great provocation c. And Nehemiah said unto the Lord God of Heaven and Earth Thou art JUST in all that thou hast brought upon us for thou hast done RIGHT but we have done wickedly Nehem. 9. 20 26 33. read the Chapter through Reader by this it appears plainly that God had not reprobated these Rebels from all Eternity or ordained them before they were Born to slay his Prophets For saith Nehemiah Thou sent thy Prophets whom they slew to turn them unto thee It were horrible Blasphemy to say that Gods will and purpose and fore-determination was that they should slay his Prophets which he sent unto them to turn them unto him And it were horrible Blasphemy to say that God did not will or intend that they should be turned unto him but only told them so and it would be no less Blasphemy to say that God both sent the Prophets to turn them to him and also sent them to slay the Prophets this would render God to be the author of Confusion which cannot be for he is the God of good and holy order not of Confusion as saith the holy Apostle nay it would render him the author of Murder and so make him contradict his own holy Law which he hath given unto the Sons and Daughters of
men whose command is expresly Thou shalt do no Murder yea it would render him as contradicting his own Charge and Commands unto the Sons and Daughters of men who saith Touch not mine Anointed DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM 1 Chrou 16. 22. Psal 105. 15. It s plain that both Nehemiah and the Author to the Hebrews did understand and believe that the Fall Rebellion Apostacy and Destruction of those whose Carkases fell in the Wilderness and those who afterwards slew â—â—e Lords Prophets were Effects of their sloth negligence want of watchfulness yea want of keeping in the holy fear and dread of the Lord God and so their Destruction Ruin and Misery which came upon them was the effect and reward of their own EVIL DOING so their Destruction was of themselves and the Lord God did right as Nehemiah hath said but those Rebels of whom he spake did wickedly The Author to the Hebrews being sensible of the goodness FIRST and afterwards the SEVERITY of God on them that FELL said unto the primitive Believers in Christ Let us labour to enter into THAT REST lest any man FALL after the same example Vnbelief By this it appears he saw that it was possible these Believers might Fall if they did not diligently attend upon the Lord God in whom is everlasting strength who is the Keeper of Israel of Worm Jacob he never Slumbers nor Sleeps blessed are all they who cast their care upon him who put their whole trust in him he is will forever be unto them a sun that is a light a shield that is a defence or armour unto them all such will witness him to be a hiding place unto them out of the reach of their immortal Souls Enemy who as the holy Apostle said unto the Saints Goeth about like a roaring Lyon ever seeking whom he may DEVOUR The Apostle said unto them Cast your care upon him he eareth for you humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time be sober be vigilent because your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour WHOMRESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH 1 Peter 5. 6 7 8 9. The Apostle Paul writ to his Brethren the believing Corinthians saying I would not that you should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the Cloud and passed through the Sea and were all Baptized unto Moses c. and did all eat the same spiritual Meat and did all drink the same spiritual Drink For they eat and drank of the SPIRITUAL ROCK that followed them and that Rock was Christ But with many of them God was not well PLEASED for they were overthrown in the Wilderness Now these things were OUR EXAMPLES to the intent we should not Lust after EVIL THINGS as they also lusted Neither be ye IDOLATERS as were some of them as it s written the People sat down to eat and drink and rose up to PLAY Neither let us COMMIT FORNICATION as some of them committed and fell in one day three and twenty thousand Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted and were destroyed of Serpents Neither Murmur ye as some of them MURMURED and were destroyed of the Destroyer Now all these things came upon them for ENSAMPLES and they are written for our ADMONITION wherefore let HIM that thinketh he STANDETH take heed lest he FALL There is no Temptation taken you but such as is common to man But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will WITH THE TEMPTATION also make a way to ESCAPE that ye may be ABLE TO BEAR IT wherefore my dearly beloved flee from Idolatry c. 1 Cor. 10. 1 to 15. Reader by what the holy Apostle here saith it is plainly manifest that the Fall and Destruction of these people was their own Wickedness for they all eat the same spiritual Meat and Drank the same spiritual Drink which spiritual Meat and Drink was Christ so its plain that those that FELL did eat of the same Meat and Drink which those did eat of who did not FALL the one was as the Earth which drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed and receiveth blessing from God as it s written Heb. 6. 7. the other is as the Ground which is often rained upon and notwithstanding bringeth forth Bryars and Thorns and therefore is REJECTED and is nigh unto Cursing whose end is to be burned as it s written Verse 8. It would be horrible Blasphemy to say that it was God's will that these people who fell should be Fornicators and Idolaters Murmurers c. that so God might damn them to all Eternity and cast them into the Lake of Endless Misery And it were also great Blasphemy to say that Christ who was the heavenly spiritual Meat and Drink of whom they eat and drink COULD NOT or WOULD NOT keep them from Falling or to say that it was the Will of God the Father that he should not keep them from falling For it was their own corrupt Self-will which was the cause of their Destruction in which they with-stood the tender Mercies of the Lord God and revolted and went a whoring from him and this the holy Apostle well knew and therefore said God was not WELL-PLEASED with them for they were overthrown c. Now saith he these things were our EXAMPLES to the intent that we should not Lust after evil things as they lusted Neither be IDOLATERS FORNICATORS MURMURERS as they were neither tempt Christ as they did who FELL in one day three end twenty thousand as aforesaid Now saith the Apostle all these things came upon them for Ensamples and they are written for our ADMONISHION or Warning wherefore let him that THINKETH he standeth take heed lest he fall he knew their standing depended upon God in their diligent and full improvement of that Gift and Ability which he had given them And that which was the CAUSE of their fall was their Slothfulness Negligence WANT of holy Fear and true Watchfulness departing from the holy Fear of the Living God Jude the Servant of Jesus Christ was truly sensible of these things and therefore said unto the Saints I will put you in remembrance though you once knew this how that the Lord having saved the people out of the Land of Egypt afterwards destroyed them that believed not and the Angels which kept not their FIRST STATE but left their own HABITATION he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the great DAY Note Reader The Jews whom God brought out of the Land of Aegypt at that time was in a state so near unto God that they were not ONLY made partakers of an outward Deliverance but in that day they were in a condition in which they might have had an Eternal or Everlasting Salvation to their immortal Souls and
Revellings and Dancings Whisperings and Back-biteings Lying and Slandring evil Imaginations and Thoughts and abominable Idolatries The BARE Name of Christian will not profit you any thing while you are out of the true Christian Faith and Obedience in Rebellion against Christ O that you would consider your latter end O that you would seek after God! O that you would unfeignedly seek Repentance there is Mercy with God that he may be feared and sought after BY YOU while the Day of your Visitation lasteth before the Door of Mercy be FOREVER shut against you but if you will STILL go on in your Wickedness you will in a very little TIME grow RIPE for Vengeance and the Lord will CERTAINLY be TOO strong for you and will cut you down as in a moment and will bring you into everlasting Punishment as the just reward of your wicked ungodly Works Words Imaginations and Thoughts For the holy Ghost saith by the Mouth of the holy Apostle Paul Be NOT deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap he that soweth to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting If you live after the Flesh you shall DYE but if you through the Spirit mortifie the Deeds of the Body then shall you LIVE His Servants you are to whom you yield your selves Servants to OBEY whether it be of SIN unto Death or of OBEDIENCE unto Righteousness Gal. 6. 7 8. Rom. 6. 16. and 8. 13. Moreover mortifie your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry for which THINGS SAKE the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of Disobedience in the which ye also walked SOME TIME when ye lived IN them but now ye also put off ALL these Anger Wrath MALICE BLASPHEMY filthy Communication out of your Mouth Lye NOT one to another c. Put on CHARITY which is the bond of PERFECTNESS and let the PEACE of God rule in your Hearts to the which YOU are also called in one Body and be ye thankful c. Col. 3. 5 6 7 8 9 14 15. Read the Chapter through Again Be ye therefore Followers of God as dear Children and walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an Offering and Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour but Fornication and ALL Uncleanness or Covetousness let it NOT ONCE be named among ye c. neither Filthiness nor foolish TALKING nor JESTING which are not convenient but rather giving of Thanks For this you KNOW THAT NO Whoremonger NOR Unclean Persons NOR Covetous man which is an Idolater hath ANY Inheritance IN the Kingdom of Christ and of God Let no Man deceive you with VAIN Words for because of these things cometh the Wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience be NOT ye therefore partakers with them for ye were SOMETIMES DARKNESS but NOW ARE YE LIGHT IN THE LORD walk as CHILDREN of the LIGHT for the FRUIT of the Spirit IS IN ALL GOODNESS and Righteousness and Truth and have NO fellowship with the unfruitful WORKS of Darkness BUT rather reprove them For it is a SHAME even to SPEAK of those things which are done of them IN SECRET but ALL things that are reproved are made manifest BY the LIGHT for WHATSOEVER DOTH make manifest IS LIGHT Wherefore he saith AWAKE thou that SLEEPEST and arise from the DEAD and Christ shall give thee LIGHT Ephes 5. to the 14. Read the Chapter through Moreover the Author to the Hebrews saith by the holy Ghost or Spirit Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God or FALL from IT As in the Margin before Lest any Root of bitterness spiringing up trouble you and THEREBY many be defiled lest there be any Fornicator or PROPHANE Person as Esau WHO for one morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right Heb. 12. 14 â—5 16. Note Reader this is WORTHY of thy observation that Esau SOLD his Birth-right and the following words of the Apostle are these viz. You know saith he that afterward WHEN he would have inherited the BLESSING he was REJECTED c. ver 17. Note here the holy Ghost renders Esau a Prophane Person and rendereth the SELLING and despising of his Birth-right as a proof of his Prophaneness for which he was rejected of God and could not inherit the Blessing though he Afterwards sought it c. The holy Ghost or Spirit said by Moses Thus Esau despised his Birth-right Gen. 25. 34. God did not fore-appoint Esau to be a prophane or wicked man he did not fore-appoint him to serve and obey the Devil the Original and first cause of all Prophaneness and Wickedness It is written that Ahab SOLD HIMSELF to work Wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Kings 21. 25 20. So Wickedness and Prophaneness alwayes proceeded from the Devil and CORRUPT SELF but all Purity and Holiness proceeds from God who is everlasting Holy his command unto all People is Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord as saith the holy Ghost and also saith Holiness becomes the Lords House forever God DID NOT SELL Esau to work Wickedness but he sold himself or gave up himself to the Original of wickedness the Devil for after he was corrupted by him who is the Original of all Prophaneness and Wickedness he despised his Birth-right and sold it for a Mess of Pottage and after he had done this God rejected him but before this he had a day or time of Visitation in which he might have entred into Rest and Peace with God In the Prophecy of Obediah there is much said concerning Esau and his House Family or Off-spring the Edomites as I have shewed before in this Book God said to Esau IN HIS Generation The Pride of thine Heart hath deceived thee how are the things of Esau searched out how are his hidden things sought up c. For the Violence against thy Brother Jacob shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off forever Thou shouldst NOT have rejoyced over the Children of Judah in the day of their Destruction NEITHER shouldst thou have spoken proudly in the day of Distress thou shouldst NOT have entred into the Gate of my People in the day of their Calamity c. NOR have laid hand on their SUBSTANCE in the day of their Calamity NEITHER shouldst thou have STOOD in the cross way to CUT OFF those of him that did escape NEITHER shouldst thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of Distress AS thou hast done it shall be done unto thee thy REWARD shall turn upon thy own Head c. And the House of Jacob shall be a Fire and the House of Joseph a Flame and the House
their Lamps went out which shews they were once in and they could not enter with the Bride-groom for the Door was shut So will it be with the hardned Apostates who tasted of the heavenly Gift and have been made pertakers of the Power of the World to come who turned from the heavenly Gift delivered to them who made Shipwrack of that Faith which God gave them and put away a good Conscience which they once had who have trampled the Blood of the Covenant under Foot whereby they were sanctified who are grown past feeling whose Conscience is seared with a hot Iron such having sinned out the day of Gods tender Visitation unto them they are as Trees twice dead plucked up by the Roots whose end is to be burned Wells without Water Clouds without Rain carried about of Tempests wandring Stars for whom is reserved the mist or blackness of Darkness forever Enoch the seventh from Adam Prophesied of these c. the Apostle Peter and Paul and Jude write of these in their several Epistles as may be read at large Though these like Balaam the Enemy of God and of his People should desire to dye the death of the Righteous and have their latter end like his which is to enter into the Kingdom of God and sit down in Peace and Rest in it yet can they not enter therein seeing they have refused rejected done despite unto and what they can trampled upon that blessed Gift which God hath given to lead thereinto Again the Disciples of Jesus said unto him Declare unto us the Parable of the Tares of the Field he answered and said unto them He that soweth the good Seed is the Son of man the Field is the World the good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares are the Children of the Wicked the Enemy that sowed them is the Devil the Harvest is the end of the World the Reapers are the Angels Again Christ spake a Parable and said Behold a Sower went forth to Sow and when he sowed some Seeds fell by the High-way side and the Fowls came and devoured them up some fell upon Stony places where they had not much Earth and forth-with they sprang up but because they had not deepness of Earth when the Sun was up they were scorched and because they had not Root they withered away and some fell among Thorns and they sprung up and choaked them but others fell in good Ground and brought forth Fruit some an hundred Fold some sixty Fold some thirty Fold And Jesus said Hear ye therefore the Parable of the Sower when any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his Heart this is he which received Seed by the way side but he that received the Seed into Stony places the same is he that heareth the Word and anon with Joy receiveth it yet hath he not Root in himself but dureth for a while for when Tribulation or Persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended he also that received Seed among the Thorns is he that heareth the Word and the cares of this World and the deceitfulness of Riches choak the Word and he becometh Vnfruitful But he that received the Seed into the good Ground is he that in an honest and good Heart having heard the Word keeps it and brings forth Fruit with patience see Matth. 1. Luke 8. 15. Again The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net that was cast into the Sea which when it was full they drew to Shore and gathered the good into Vessels but cast the bad away so shall it be at the end of the World the Angels shall come forth and sever the Wicked from among the Just and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire there shall be Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth Again Jesus spake a Parable and said A certain man made a great Supper c. and sent his Servant at Supper-time to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now ready and they all with one consent began to make excuse the first said unto him I have bought a piece of Ground I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused and another said I have bought five Yoke of Oxen I go to prove them I pray thee have me excused and another said I have married a Wife and therefore I cannot come c. And he said that none of those which were bidden shall taste of my Supper see Luke 14. 16. to the 24. verse And Jesus said Whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple Again Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple verse 27. 33. Note Reader the Seed that is sown in ALL these several sorts of Ground is of ONE and the SAME Nature to wit good as it is written The Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend up to Heaven that is to fetch Christ from above or who shall descend into the deep to bring Christ up again from the Dead or who shall go beyond the Sea to fetch the Word unto us that we may hear it and do it but what saith it The word is NIGH THEE even in thy Heart and in thy Mouth that thou mayst do it see Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14 15. Rom. 10. 6 7 8. This good Seed is sown on all these several sorts of Grounds for ONE and the same cause or end even that it might take deep Root in all and bring forth Fruit in all and the Lord God in mercy to all Men and Women doth put them in a condition give them a time in which it is possible for this Word the good Seed to take deep Root in their Hearts and to bring forth Fruit INALL some thirty some sixty some an hundred Fold He can as he hath promised take away the Stony Heart and renew a right Spirit and Mind God makes none of these Grounds evil or bad but the Devil doth it but God can change them from evil or bad into the good he can cut them out of the wild Olive and plant them in Christ the true Vine But it is not wholly impossible that men and women through their Self-willfulness Sloathfulness Negligence Presumption and Carelesness may turn away their Hearts and Minds from the Voice of the living powerful Word of God and so give up their Hearts Minds and Ears to the Devil who led Adam and Eve into Sin against God they were placed in the Paradise of God in the likeness of God which is Holiness and Purity it was possible that they might have stood in that glorious state wherein God set them but it was NOT impossible that they could fall from that state God cannot fall or change in God and Christ ONLY is infallibility that which is
yet he passed away and lo he was not I sought him but he could not be sound Mark the PERFECT MAN and behold the Vpright for the end of that man is PEACE see Psal 37. 27 35 36 37. Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which WAR against the SOUL Having your Conversation Honest among the Gentiles whereas they speak against you as Evil-doers they may by your GOOD WORKS which they shall behold glorifie God in the Day of Visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Reader Take notice here David owns Perfection he saith Mark the Perfect Man behold the Vpright for the end of that Man is Peace Thus it plainly appears that God and Christ and the true Prophets and Apostles and holy Men and Women were and are for Perfection Holiness and Uprightness but the Devil Anti-christ False Prophets False Apostles and all Wicked Men and Women are for Imperfection Ungodliness Unholiness Sin and Wickedness who plead for a continuance in Sin until Men and Women go to the Grave This Plea for Sin and Wickedness is not a Plea for God and Christ but for the Devil who is the author of Sin In the Grave there is no Repentance neither is there any Purgatory as some do falsly teach to purge people from their sins after they are dead and put in their Graves No Unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven therefore blessed are they who come to Christ Jesus and follow him who came to take away Sin and bring in Everlasting Righteousness to wash and cleanse from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and to strengthen his to perfect Holiness in the fear of the Lord God unto which the holy Apostle exhorted as is shewed before These things have I written in Testimony to God's Universal Love to all People and of his delight in Holiness and Purity and of his Hatred to all Sin and Wickedness I am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness and a real Lover NOT of only my Friends but also of mine Enemies according to the Command and Example of Christ Jesus my Lord William Gibson THe Author of this Book desires that it may be diligently spread among those People who think that Christ did not dye for all men who think that God would NOT have all People to be saved but vainly imagin that he hath ordained some to be Damned before they were Born that by the Spirit and Light of Truth shining in their Hearts and the plain Scripture Testimony they may be convicted of this their great and destructive Mistake ERRATA PAge 1. Line 2. for 157. read 15. p. 3. l. 5. f. himself r. him p. 5. l. 26. f. 38. r. 3. 36. p. 11. l. 13. put in not p. 12. l. 21. put out Heb. 6. p. 21. l. 26. put in of p. 37. l. 18. put in renew next before purifie p. 43. l. 8. f. profecy r. prosperity l. 17. f. forefooted r. fourfooted p. 60. l. 29. put out the Parentheses p. 171. l. 21. f. Judger r. Judge p. 74. l. 20. put in him p. 78. l. 4. f. is r. his p. 89. l. 31. f. deem r. deny Reader this is a great Error and it wholly alters the sense of the matter it renders me as though I did affirm that which in reality I do deny P. 94 l. 14. r. Gal. 6. 7 8. p 98 l 36 r the Reins p 104 l 9 f Commandment r Commandments THE END Mal. 1 2 3 4. Gal. 3. 16. Gen. 3 15. Heb. 3. 12 13. Gen. 3. 1. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 14 16. Note here the Darkness is within in the Heart of man in the Fall and the Light shines to expell the Darkness within the Day is to dawn and the Day-star is to arise in the darkened fallen mans Heart Some who believed not in Christ said unto him What shall we do that we might work the works of God he said unto them This is the work of God to believe in him whom God hath sent see John 6. 28 29. It is said in the holy Scriptures The Curse causless or without cause shall NOT COME But a Rod is for the fools Back see Prov. 26. 2 3. They are cursed Children or the Children of the curse who have forsaken the right way see 2 Pet. 2. 14 15. Christ preached unto his Disciples saying Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your GOOD WORKS and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 14. The Apostle who preached down the shadowy works of the Law said We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS which God before ordained that we should walk IN THEM Ephes 2. 10. The Apostle James saith Faith without Works IS DEAD being alone as the Body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without Works is dead also Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by Faith only Abraham believed and it was counted to him for Righteousness and he was called the Friend of God These are not the shadowy Works of the Law by which no Flesh can be justified in the sight of God but these are the substantial Works of the Gospel wrought in through Christ in all his true and real Disciples see Ja. 2. 17. to the end The Apostle prayed for the Hebrews or Jews saying The God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant make you PERFECT in every good Work TO DO HIS WILL working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory forever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. O all ye several sorts of Teachers Writers and Disputers who have been are striving to draw keep people from this swift faithful and true witness which searcheth the Hearts and shews People their Evil Thoughts Words and Actions and Reproves and Condemns them for the same Repent and cease from this your Vngodly Work or else God will take you away from this Cursed Work in his fierce Anger See Gen. 17. Gen. 6. 0. Deut. 18. 13. Psalm 37. 37. Matth. 5. 48. Luke 6. 40. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Ephes 4. 11 12. 13. Heb. 5. 14. Col. 1. 28. 4 12. 2 Tim. 3. 17. Heb. 12. 22 23 13 21 6. 1. James 1. 4. 1 Pet. 5. 10. 2 Cor. 13. 9. 1 John 3. 9. ☞