SOME Legible Characters OF FAITH LOVE Towards the Blessed CAUSE KINGDOM OF CHRIST Worthy to be known and read of all men Being Some of the last Meditations of that Faithfull Servant of the Lord Mr. Thomas Higgenson lately deceased a very firm friend both living and dying unto the Interest and Work of the Lord Jesus in these last days Isaiah 42.9 Behold the former things are come to passe and new things do I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them sing unto the Lord a new song Isaiah 43.21 This People have I formed for myself London Printed by G. D. for Tho. Brewster and are to be sould at his Shop at the Sign of the three Bibles in Pauls Church-Yard 1659. THE EPISTLE To the READER THE Breathings of the Spirit of Christ in the Author of the ensuing little Treatise will certainly be very comfortable and refreshing to all those who find any fresh Affections stirring in them to that Glorious Cause which hath been so unworthily and so shamefully entreated of late years by an Apostatizing Generation The mysticall Harmony of their Spirits which the King of Saints is now secretly putting in tune in order to that harping and singing mentioned Revel 14.2 3. and 15.3 will be so melodious in some competent space of time that many will be very desirous to learn to sing and play upon those instruments which David our King the sweet singer of Israel hath invented for his Victorious and Tryumphing Followers and Friends But it was revealed to the Apostle that no man could learn that Song but the hundred fourty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth That this Servant of Christ lately deceased was much Redeemed from the earth and indeed from among men and so the more capable of singing that new song before mentioned is well known to many in this City and else where A true estimate of the Elevation of this Spirit above the base things of the earth may be easily taken by such Artists as are well skilled in the Celestial or Evangelical Mathematticks If they do diligently peruse a former Treatise of his called Sighs for Righteousnesse penned not long after the Cromwelian Apostacy and usurpation They will find the Spirit that appeareth in those Queries to be a very serious a very savoury a very penetrating * At also in those oother Treatises of his called A Lamenting Word Glory asar off now stepping in The Indwellings of the Spirit A Testimony to the True Jesus Spirit And I could wish for mine owne part that the substance and series of that Discourse were deeply imprinted in my mind and in the minds of all those who do fixedly expect those most marvelous Productions and Mutations which are about to break forth from the deep Counsels of his will who is recapitulating or bringing all things to a Head in his Son both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth even in him I was desired by some of the Authors Friends to perfix a Title and a few words to the Reader for his own good But who or what am I that I should hope to promote any thing of this nature my very Name being offensive to multitudes But the day will declare That the cause wherein I have by a most blessed Conduct imbarked my Name my Liberty my Estate my Life my All will make a mends for all those scandalous slanderous Reproaches wherein it was hoped I might have been buried alive long before this time of the day But I know I am with all I have in the same ship with the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore I can Despise their Despisings who after all their Insolent Language have cause to be ashamed of the mistakes and other pittifull products of their own shallow fluid judgments They must take their aim better the next time if they can As for me I blesse the Lord that I do sometimes meet mine own Spirit touched with the Magnetick vertue of the Spirit of Christ in the Discourses and Writings of others whose Spirits were found faithful in the day of Rebuke and Blasphemy which hath passed over us in the number of whom I reckon this dear disceased Friend to be one And could have wished that the Following Papers might have been perfected and published by himself before his departure In regard that severall advantages and elegancies will be found by judicions Readers to be very much wanting through many mispointings mistakes and errataes which were past cure before they came to my hand Neverthelesse I shall do the best office I can to serve in love both his living Readers and my deceased Friend by rectifying some things which are amisse as in the Errataes following All is commended to the Blessing of him who worketh all things after the Counsell of his own will no more at the present Reader from Thy Friend and Servant for the Lords sake CHR. FEAKE London this 6th of the 4th moneth 1659. Errata PAge 10. line 36. read one of the lorns pag. 11. l. ult r. against Babilon p. 12. l. 19. r. whereof p. 9. l 1. dele as p. 20. l. 14. for as r. and. l. ult for off r. of p. 21. l. 11 dele how p. 22. l. 12. r. with clay l. 21. make a at law l. 33. r. unsuitable p. 23. 2. r. near l. 32. r. when p. 25. l. 32. r. alone p. 32. l. 25. r. losse l. ult dele of SOME LEGIBLE CHARACTERS OF FAITH and LOVE towards The Blessed CAUSE KINGDOM OF CHRIST Worthy to be known and read of all men AS God has in every Age had some special work upon the wheel and as the same has ever been attended with much opposition difficulty and offence so he has alwayes given to some of his Servants an eye to see and be affected with it and to put their helping hand unto it Although the things which have been of late the Travel of many and yet are of some amongst us being of such weight and worth of such blessed and glorious consequence would require men of a more excellent spirit and skilful hand to set them forth in their proper beauty and lustre yet such service as I had love constrained me to offer especially at this time wherein the Exigencies of Truth call for somewhat at our hands If unbelief security and revolt had not choaked that Faith Light and Love unto the Lord and his present Works in the World whereby many among us were led out to undertake and effect great things in pursuance thereof that Truth would by this time have been witness of it self in reall effects to the face of the world and would not have needed a vindication of this nature by word or argument to wit That God is doing new and extraordinary things in this day in the earth To obtain clearness and certainty in which point is of high concernment unto all such as would not be left in the dark concerning the great designations of Providence and
When a deep sleep of security in present things has taken hold upon many then to have the eyes open and heart awake pressing forward towards things before is a sign of a people of another spirit 4. A people that follow the Lord fully which way soever he goes that whilst others are taken off by fear of difficulty worldly advantage or some cunning pretences will not be prevailed with to decline or cast off the Lord and the Work he is about such are a people of another spirit whilst Rulers Army and Churches were all as one for the Work of the Lord Jesus among us and many outward successes and incouragements were cast in and the owning thereof was the way to advancement in the World an ordinary and common spirit might follow the Lord in such a day but when all these props and foundations are shaken and the streams of interests affairs is turned into another channel against the Work and Promise of God then to be lovers and followers of the Lord Jesus his glorious Cause and Interest when it lies under such contempt and death as this is the work of a very choice and excellent spirit when the Spies returned Numb 13.27 They told Moses and said we came unto the Land whither thou sentest us and surely it floweth with Milk and Honey and this is the fruit of it neverthelesse the people be strong that dwell in the Land and the Cities are walled and very great and moreover we saw the children of Anak there and all Israel cryed and wept that night and said let us make a Captain and let us return into Egypt but Caleb and Joshua were of another spirit By the tastes we have had of Gospel light and Reformation of the Government of Christ Kingdom of late very many are ready to say that the Land is good and pleasant for Gods People to be under a Government of Gods making under Rulers of Gods annointing is blessed as it is but a reasonable thing but this Kingdom say they being not of this World will not be received nor subjected to by the World nor can it be set up but by a shaking and pulling to pieces the Kingdomes of the World as to the foundation they now stand upon wherefore it being a business of so great trouble difficulty and danger before it can be attained let us make say many among us a Captain and let us return into Egypt or let us sit down on this side Iordan with the enjoyment of our ease and quiet rather then seek or make out after such a Kingdom with the losse of all This is a low unworthy Spirit having little love to the Glory and Excellency of Christ and his Kingdom the Lord will prepare a People of another Spirit that will strengthen one another to go on until all the Enemies of Christ and his People be put under our feet 2. As the Lord will choose among his People such as are of another Spirit so he will have a People of more refined and excellent Principles then are commonly found among us Principles are the springs of Actions no man can act above his Principles a man of gracious noble and refined Principles is appointed for some excellent service and finer work then other men now the excellency of a mans Principles lies in their spirituality in how much they have of Christ and Grace above other men A man that has more communion with God with free-grace in Christ then others is a man of more excellent Principles Mens Principles cannot alwayes be judged by their Profession but their Profession may be judged off by their Principles a man of low and servile Principles may make a great shew and high profession before the World as Israel when brought out of Egypt having received the Oracles having seen great Wonders no Nation like to Israel yet had in them a strong sence and savour of Egypt still in their hearts they went back to Egypt so we of this Nation have been a People of great deliverances under astonishing Dispensations so that it was said of us what Nation like to ours what Mercies like to Englands Mercies Yet we are generally of low servile slavish and fearful Principles savouring much of that state whereunto we were first in Bondage how and who in our Principles are below the Dispensations that have been upon us and the work of God has further to do in the World may appear by considering what Principles they are that do prevail most at this day among us 1. They may be known what they are by our sitting down in an outward state of peace quiet and safety well contented and at ease therein while a full and thorow Reformation and the Mercies promised to the Church in the latter dayes are not sought after David was of far other Principles of a choicer Spirit 2 Sam 7.1 2. And it came to passe when the King sat in his house and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies yet the King said unto Nathan the Prophet See now I dwell in an house of Cedar but the Ark of God dwelleth within Curtains This Principle is wanting where an outward deliverance and peace is so used and sat down in as yet the Work of the Lord is not carried on Though thou hast lain among the pets I will make thee as the wings of a Dove I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean Great goodness is promised to the Church in the latter dayes the Spirit of grace deliverance enlargement dominion and exaltation these things were sought after by the People of God among us of late and in pursuance thereof they went some dayes journeys following the Lord through dark and dangerous paths but are now sat down by the way in a low wearied unbelieving and slavish Spirit having little or no spirit to the things formerly pressed after Gen. 49.14 15. Issachar is a strong Asse couching down between two burthens and he saw that rest was good and the Land that it was pleasant and bowed his shoulder to bear and he became a seavant unto tribute But Dan shall judge his people as one of the Tribes of Israel In like manner after a little breathing space has been given us from our former troubles finding that rest was good and a condition of quiet and peace was sought so that we might enjoy our ceiled houses lands offices merchandizing c. how are many among us willing to put their necks again under the yoaks and to deliver up and let go the opportunity and power that was in their hands to have redeemed themselves and to have raised up that Work and Building the foundation whereof was laid with the price of so much precious bloud But you will say What is that Work that is to be carried on It is said the Iron was mixt without Clay it should signifie the heathenish worldly Civil
courage through all oppositions difficulties and temptations in that day to the contrary Third Rule Consider which way the Works of Providence looked that were formerly done amongst us and whither they tended though Providence when it is alone is not any certain Rule to go by yet when the Works of God and his Word and Spirit go altogether when a People have his Word and Spirit stirring them up unto a Work and Providences coming in one upon another to carry them out in it then are Providences to be heeded as signs of the times and of the Work God is about Psalm 105.26 He sent Moses his Servant and Aaron whom he had chosen they shewed his signs among them and wonders in the Land of Ham. The Works God wrought for Israel in Egypt and the Wildernesse was as Gods manifestation to the Nations who were his People and what he was about when a People are engaged in a cause upon holy and righteous Principles the Promises Prophecies and Truths of the latter dayes and God is seen going forth before them working glorious Deliverances for them this is a lowd Testimony What is the Work God is determined to do in such a day Psalm 105.14 15. He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying touch not mine Annointed and do my Prophets no harm How like to this the dealing of God with England of late have been may appear whosoever shall remember what an eye of peculiar respect and favour the Lord had upon a People among us what a choice and blessed Spirit a despised People had whereby many wise and honourable among us were confounded What power to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron How no weapon that was formed against them could prosper Moreover how the Lord stretched the line of confusion and the stones of emptinesse over all such constitutions and interests as had been props and pillars for the upholding the old Antichristian and worldly pomp pride and greatnesse if the aim and tendencie of these Providences be considered it is easie to ghesse what the Work of God is at this day Fourth Rule Take notice what things have fallen out upon a People among us since they left the Work of the Lord they were first about to build their own houses since they left their first love and labour and patience and zeal in that Work and are joyned to another Interest As soon as Saul failed in the Work of the Lord 1 Sam. 16.14 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him That Spirit he had for the Lord and the work of Reformation left him and he was turned to hate the same Spirit when it came upon David It is a true observation where the Spirit of God is seen in the most gracious lively and warmest workings of it there are the choicest Servants of God and there is his Work carrying on What a blessed Spirit was there upon a People among us What zeal did it work what indignation what godly sorrow for miscarriages what purging of themselves from the old leaven what pressing on towards a thorow Reformation and the good things of the latter dayes how is this Spirit I would I could not say it departed from them Object But wherein does it appear that that Spirit has left them Answ It appears by their principles and designs the Spirit of God acts upon holy and gracious Principles and unto holy and noble ends a People led by the Spirit of God do act upon such Principles as are spiritual the Word of God Faith in the Promises Love to Christ to his Saints to the breathings of the Spirit in them to Righteousness and Holiness now where you see these Principles left and slighted and others took up worldly power and pollicy and conjunction with them that either left the Work formerly or were enemies to it and practises tending to pour contempt upon the blessed Cause and Interest of Christ among us and upon all those that would still be faithful to it untill the Kingdomes of this World become the Kingdome of our Lord this is not the Spirit of God you may be assured that does such things The spirits of any thing are known by the breath or savour it yeilds Thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of man where we find a strong scent and savour in our own hearts or others of the flesh-pots and onyons an hankering after the treasures of Egypt the pomp preferments titles and honors the constitutions and interests of those that the Lord cast out before us to be like the Nations in Government State Designs and Manners there we may fear the Spirit of the Lord as to any further work is departed Moreover since many left off following the Lord fully we see not our signs and tokens of Gods wonder working Providence as formerly Exod. 33.16 Wherein shall it be known here that I and thy People have found grace in thy sight is it not in that thou goest with us so shall we be separated I and thy People from all the People that are upon the face of the earth Whilst there was a People among us that were faithful with the Lord and his Saints and had a heart to the glorious things God hath for his Church the Lord Jesus went forth before them as General and put the feir of them upon all that were about them but since then what frowns from Heaven what tokens of displeasure have been upon us both at Sea and Land whereby all things drive heavily at home fears and confusion abroad wasting and consuming upon their Armies now observe in what walk and way we had the Lord present among us and how since then he has withdrawn himself from us and thence we may gather where his Work lies at this day Now then if you judge these Rules to be such as may give any certain light to resolve us in the question The Work the Lord our God is about at this day is a choice Work and a great Work and beyond the ordinary wayes and Dispensations of God in times past First The Lord is forming a People for himself purifying and fitting a People to follow Christ in those special Services wherein his Glory is more eminently concerned if the Works that God has done in the midst of us be in order to some greater things he has yet to do then will he sanctifie and prepare a People that shall understand the Work of the Lord and serve him therein Psal 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies thy People shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness They that shall be of the most ready and willing spirit to serve Christ in the Work of his Kingdom shall be a People of more grace and holiness then others a People that shall have Faith and Love to Christ and Zeal for
themselves from Ezra 9.2 The holy 〈◊〉 have mingled themselves with the people of those Lands yea the hand of the Princes and Rulers hath been chief in this trespasse and when I heard this thing I rent my garment And this was the great sin of that time and contrary to the Work of God in that day 2. After that a publick and solemn Testimony has been born among us through much bloud and difficulties and the same as eminently owned of God by a series of deliverances against the great oppressive interests that were upon us to wit the Law in the present constitution and administration of it Monarchy as a thing unnecessary burthensome and dangerous a Court as the spring head of oppression pride and filthiness with many other things that might be named to lay these heavy yoaks again upon the necks of our Brethren under which we our selves groaned not long ago and thereby to sell the Lords People with their dear bought power and freedom the people of the Land with their just rights and liberties and the Cause it self so much contended for into the hands of the new Lords standing upon the old foundation and acting in most points after the old corrupt fashion of things as formerly this is a great sin of the times for which the Lord cals upon his People to mourn and be humbled and by withdrawing themselves as much as may be from such things to bear a seasonable and faithful Testimony against them The Nobles and Rulers of Judah after they were delivered out of bondage in Babylon oppressed their Brethren and laid heavy yoaks upon them this was a special sin of that time and the Lord stirred up the spirit of Nehemiah against them Neh. 5.8 And I said unto them we after our abilitie have redeemed our Brethren the Iews which were sold unto the Heathens and will you even sell your brethren or shall they be sold unto us Also I said it is not good that ye do ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies When God is breaking the yoaks of his People to be then laying yoaks upon them is a special sin of the time 3. Many among us have sinned in taking the accursed thing the meaning whereof both in the Old and New Testament imports a thing that is ordained of God to destruction a People or things of Gods Curse shut out of God protection and the prayers of his People Now observe what things they were among us that Gods People did formerly cast out of their heares and prayers that God did cast out from under his visible Dispensations of Mercy that lay under his frowns and terrible dints of his displeasure as things opposite to his Glory the work of Reformation and the prosperity and peace of his People the mingling again with these things is a taking the accursed thing and one of the sins of the times Ier. 7 16. Pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them We may remember what the Lords choice and faithful Servants among us did formerly leave out as things they could not pray for what constitutions and interests in the State what pomp covetousness and excess among men in eminent place What mixtures and formalitie in worship and what Idols and humane Statues in Gods House and are not these things and that old Spirit that acted them revived again whereby the Lord has been provoked to bring a cloud upon us and upon that day of Mercies and wonderful appearances whereby his Work was carried on among us So then observe what things they are that the Lords more peculiar and praying People formerly or at this day under their more enlightened holy and zealous frame could not or do not pray for but leave out and separate themselves from and they are that cursed thing which we ought to come out of and avoid 4. The putting back of that blessed Work that was in such a hopeful way to be carried on among us is a great sin of the times when I consider what an edge was upon the Spirits of good men how quick and powerful were proceedings what a spirit for high and great Work a reforming spirit for Reforming work a spirit of Judgment for the work of Justice a spirit of Prayer for the breaking of all yoaks and deliverance of Sion the whole Church of God and what a seal Providence it self put upon all this in a series of wonderful successes and further that these things were come to that height that the People of God begun to meditate and expect great things men of low and common spirits were laid aside the old spotted and wrinkled face of things unholiness and formality in Religion in the State Monarchy its Friends and Paramouts with all its limbs and branches and paintings begun to blush and hide it self I say when I look back at these things and consider how all this Work is desorted and laid aside covered under reproach and buried out of sight and mind and only a few left to keep it upon the heart I cannot but sadly reflect upon that word Hosea 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other people for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God thou hast loved a reward upon every corn floor There is a nick of time a special season wherein God cals and employes and spirits people for his Work if this time be not observed both the Work and opportunity for it is lost and things will go backward When Saul slipped in the Work God had called him unto he lost the Spirit of the Lord and the work of his day also So when Israels faith failed in the matter of the Spies and in their hearts gave back from following the Lord the Work was put back for forty years in like manner let it be considered what a door was opened by the mighty Works of God among us to have let in a season of Mercies to have proceeded to a full and thorow Reformation to have removed all lets and obstructions and to have set the highest and most publick Interests and greatest Affairs upon another a better bast and foundation then they had stood upon before whereon the Interest of Christ his Saints his Word as the Law and Rule might have been eminently owned and exercised among us the Promises that the Saints shall take the Kingdom and the Kingdom shall not be left to another People calling upon all Gods People to have respect unto this as the great Interest to be above all other contended after but they who had this price formerly in their hand and an heare unto it have let their opportunity slip and that Spirit they had for this Work is departed the work is gone many degrees back and because of their and our sins the good things that were in the birth are kept from us When Israel desired a King one might have pleaded for them and said they think no evil they do but desire another form of Government as more expedient for them then that of Judges Nay but sayes the Lord They have rejected me that I should nor reign over them 1 Sam 8.7 They rejected the Dispensation it self they were under as too holy and divine this was their sin they said Now make us a King to judge us like all the Nations they would not be a separate people they would look like the Nations Wise men do not look upon the change of persons and names and form of Government that has been among us so much as that the Dispensation we were under in the very nature of it as it was more holy and spiritual and refined is rejected not the formality only of the Work among us is altered but the matter of it is gone and another thing set up in its place this is a sin of the times we ought to mourn over and avoid 5. To name no more the heart of the people of that part of the People that were forward and active in the Work is withered and sunk into a low and unsensible frame an impotent low and unworthy spirit is fallen upon many willing to fit at ease though in a low and slavish state that can look upon the despised deserted Cause and Interest of Christ without any trouble of heart or a cry or a prayer for it there are but a few who have in them at this day those workings and yearnings of heart in looking upon a crucified Cause as Mary and the Disciples had over their crucified Friend the Lord Jesus When any eminent work was to be done in Israel the Lord first set it upon the hearts of some and stirred up the spirit of the people unto it Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth The deliverance of the Church in the Revelations chap. 14.2 begins with a voice from the waters the spirits of the people are stirred up to stand up with the Lamb on Mount Sion When there was a raising and stirring in the spirits of many in our dayes unto the work of Justice and Reformation how great things were brought forth in that day But now that pressing and stirring work in the hearts of most and the good things it tended to is cast off and gone the lesse thereof is so farre from working any due resentment among us as that where any remainders of that good old Spirit are yet breathing in any they are laid aside and cast into corners as the fire-brands and troublers of the times though it is only against the corruptions of the times that they do appear and that from their love to Christ and holiness These are some of the sins of the times from which we are to come out of and be separate FINIS