an end of Baptism A Man is hungry and when his Time comes to eat he hath no Victuals yet he sits him down as if he did eat will this feed and nourish him So men now a days they have a Baptism wherewith they are baptized but Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire is the right Baptism therefore do not baptize until you find the Holy Ghost this will be far better this is the Baptism that they which come to know it are sure of Salvation by it for by this Baptism they are born up and tinctured in their Souls with the Divine Spirit of Christ Jesus proceeding from the Father and the Son till they receive his Likeness and so die unto Sin As many as were baptized were baptized into Christ's death He openeth it himself in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God so that they that were baptized were baptized into Christ's Death and you that are dead unto sin how should you live any longer therein These that were baptized lived without Sin can that be true never any lived without Sin but Christ only Yes saith the Apostle you that were free from sin are alive to righteousness their Life stood before in Sin and now that Life is taken away by Baptism and they are alive to Christ and he that liveth he liveth to God â—e that comes to be partaker of the first Resurrection if he live Ten Twenty Forty or an Hundred Years he liveth to God he liveth no more in the Pomps and Vanities of the Woâ—ld and the sinful Lusts of the Flesh but he liveth unto God This Baptism whosoever comes to be baptized with it shall be saved so that we do not deny Baptism But we hear say That you deny the Lord's Supper We had never such a Thought God knows there is nothing that our Souls long after more but people have been making a kind of Work of their own they have lost a Reality and make Shadows as Children do who when they see things made in the House for Service they will make the like in Sand and Clay People do not see what a great thing it is to attain to the Supper of the Lord as things came into an Evangelical Opening they spake then more lively and freshly of things Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open to me I will come in and sup with him and he with me For the understanding of this Text If you go and examine and search all the Commentators you can find see what the learned Men say of it see if they do not apply this to the Inward Call of the Spirit and Grace of Christ to let him into our Hearts and would one think that those that wrote these things should be against the Spiritual Dispensation of things They say that this knocking at the Door of the Heart signifies the Call of God's Spirit at the Door of the Heart There are two sorts of Sinners that God knocketh at the Door of their Hearts one is a Man that is weary of his Sin for his part he wisheth that he might never sin more As soon as he perceives the Knock and is called upon to let in the Grace of God to help him against Temptation he freely opens his Heart to receive it and saith With all my Heart I will entertain and welcome the Grace of God glad I am that God hath had so much Patience towards me and since God offers his Grace I will embrace this Grace of God above all Pleasures and I will take it into my Heart the Grace of Christ is the greatest Jewel that I know Honest Paul he took this Course and prayeth Lord take away this Tempter here is a Temptation that troubleth me and I am not willing to yield for all the Devil follows me with it He cried unto the Lord and besought him three times earnestly to take away the Temptation And the Lord answers him My grace is sufficient for thee What matter if the Tempter buffet thee and the Temptation trouble thee hast thou not received my Grace into thy Heart thou art a Believer and thy Trust is in me and my Grace is sufficient for thee Let the Tempter do his worst keep thou to the Grace of God and thou wilt withstand and overcome the Temptation when it comes If a Man openeth his Heart and receiveth Christ when he comes then you shall find such an Alteration in that Man that go and carry him the same Temptation which prevailed over him the last Week it will not do with him now tho' he be as weak as Water and as prone to Corruption and Iniquity as before yet now having a Faith begotten in him that the grace of God will defend him he keeps out of the Devils Snares Now this Man trusting in this grace till his Sin and Iniquity be purged out now is the time to spread the Table there is a clean Heart and the Heavenly Guests are now come and the Dainties of the Kingdom are brought to him for his Nourishment Now saith Christ I I will come in and sup with him and my Father also will come and we will sup with him and he with us This never happens to any Body so long as the Table and Heart is foul for the Table must be clean and the Devil and Sin thrown out and then will the Lord confirm and ratify and seal the Covenant so that here is a Seal with a Witness When a Man hath this Testimony of the Love of God that God is reconciled to him in Christ then Christ will come in and he will bring his Father and they will sup with him and this is that which will give compleat satisfaction to such a Soul All the Tongues of Men and Angels are too short to speak of these things as they are in themselves but they are all manifested by the Spirit All the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are manifested by the Spirit of God now to say there is no Spirit to be regarded now adays that is as much as to say we must never regard the Kingdom of God for no Man can discern the things of God but the Spirit of God no Man can tell what they be As no Man can know the things of a Man buâ— the Spirit of God But I must look to this and the other Form and Mark and Method about them for we can know nothing of the things of God themselves I hope you are all of another Judgment and believe that this is a Trick and Cheat of the wicked one People do find the Spirit and will feel it if they will wait upon the Motions of it I do not only mean when you are here together but when you are separated one from another when you feel the Motions of thiâ— good Spirit embrace them and make them yours This Spirit is a Gift that is given so may a Shilling or a piece of
his Power or I will submit to him Which of these is the best way the safest way Are there not a great many in this Age that are as sensible of the Workings of God's Grace for their Conversion as ever you and I were that are as sensible that God hath call'd them to Holiness and Righteousness as any of us can be and yet they have resisted the Grace of God They have said in their Hearts We will not submit to this Power that will make us so holy and so watchful and so careful diligent and obedient for this very reason because it will cross my Interest it will cross my Pleasure it will hinder my Preferment in the World and my Reputation among men and for this reason I will not bear this Yoke I would be glad to hope there are none such here that have made such a Covenant with Death and Hell and yielded themselves up to the Devil to serve him all their Dayes Let us who are at this Time and at this Meeting under the Operation of God's Grace and do feel the Lord calling us by his Grace and working upon us by his Spirit let us enter together into a holy solemn Resolution That we will obey this good Spirit and take him for our Leader and submit though it should be to a Cross Thus People will think they will come to this Resolution when the Work of Redemption is begun in their Souls and when they are convinced of their Sin and their Eyes are opened to see the way of Holiness and though they never take a Resolution to walk in it yet every one shall be convinced and see there was a better waâ— than their own and be convinced by the Grace of God one time or other that in respect of God's working of it it is a beginning but in respect of Man that should join with the operation of God it is not beginning for he haâ—â— no desire to those things which he doth not know he still depends upon himself but when the Soul comes to be satisfied that it is the Visitation of God and joins himself to him in a holy Resignation of his own will and saith This is the Lord he is come to work upon me he is come to change and alter the Frame of my Mind It is the Lord let him do what he will here is a Mind brought to submit to the Grace of God God is able to do that for him which he cannot do for himself When People come to the right Object of their Faith and act their Faith upon that Object they every Day find a Progress a going forward in the Work of Grace according to the Work of Faith in their Souls and there is a Power that inclines them to believe it is not for such to cry If they had Power they would do more he that hath the Spirit of Grace the Spirit of Christ that had all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him to put it forth on purpose for the bringing back of Men and Women home to God he that hath this Object of Faith before him he will not look for Power in his own Will and Affections to redeem him he expects a Power to be daily ministred and dispensed to him as he hath need of it through the Lord Jesus Christ who is present with him in all his Tryals and Temptations He cries Here is a Temptation that will carry me away O Lord help me Put forth the Arm of thy Power and save me plant thy Fear in my heart and deliver me Their Eyes shall see their Saviour saith the Prophet Thus when a Man comes to be joined to the right Object of Faith and doth exercise and put forth lively Acts of Faith upon Christ hi Eyes shall see his Saviour the light that shines into his Heart discovers to him the Temptation and it also shews him a Redeemer at hand his Saviour is nigh him and he trusteth in him and relies upon him and says This Word of God is in my Heart and I do really believe that although the Temptation that assaults me be strong yet it shall not prevail whether it be the Profits the Pleasures or the Honours of the World if I put my Trust in this Power I cannot go near the Evil I am a Christian I am entred into a Covenant in Christianity that I will joyn with nothing but what God approves of now when I have represented to my Mind the Temptation of the Devil and that evil which he sets before me and I know it is contrary to the Mind of God How can I go into that evil and break my Covenant with God after I am entred into Covenant with him to love him serve him and obey him the Power of Grace upon such Souls the Operation of Grace is so powerful that the Temptation comes and goes and they are saved and delivered out of it because God helpeth them but if they comply with the Temptation then Tribulation Wrath and Anguish pursues all such as are rebellious and disobedient to the Will of God Now this Redemption is carried on gradually from day to day the Truth that thou believest it operates by degrees thou art delivered first from one evil Practice and then from another evil Work but there is a great deal more thou rejoicest and art glad that thou art delivered from one sin but thou wouldest be more glad to be delivered from them all I speak to those that are serious for their immortal Souls when they see themselves delivered out of one Evil that they were ready to run into they would be glad that they were redeemed out of every evil that their crosness and perversness their frowardness and Wantonness were removed they should be glad to be delivered from all their Sins What do you think say some that a Man while he liveth here may come to see all Sin all Evil and Corruption brought under and nothing but Holiness and Righteousness and Truth remain in him and that there shall be nothing but Simplicity and Innocence Do you think that such a thing can be Why should not I think so You will grant me That the Power of Grace is able to get such Power and Victory over Sin and Corruption that you may come to hate it as much as ever you have loved it if you grant me that the Consequence will follow he that gave me Victory over Sin can give me Power over all Sin All Christians believe That God's Power is infinite the Scripture testifies All things to be possible to God with whom we have to do If all things be possible to God sure this is possible there is nothing so contrary to God as Sin is and God will not suffer the Devil always to rule his Masterpiece Man Mankind is God's Masterpiece the most eminent Creature in this lower World made after God's likeness and though the Devil hath brought Men into his own likeness now yet nothing can be more
Nations of Europe now inhabited with such a People that are calling upon the Name of the Lord but every one worshipping their own Gods one makes Gold and Silver his God another makes his Pleasure his God another his Honour another this that and the other Lust and they bow down to them that is they yield themselves to their Lusts concupisence and corruptions that they stand in unity with but they call upon the Name of the Lord too they do apply themselves to some kind of form of worship which they say is unto the immortal and invisible God but alas they come not to the Knowledge of God by this All that the Priests could do that the King of Assyria sent back they brought not the Samaritans to the Knowledge of the God of Israel they only brought them to a Report of such a God that had set up such a Law They had the Report of it and for fear that the Lions should tear them in pieces they would enter into that Form but they worshipped their own Gods still So it is now People do not come to the Knowledge of the true God the living God by entring into any Form of Religion for instance Prayer Hearing or any Ordinance or Church-Fellowship these give give not Men the Knowledge of God there is but one way to come to that but only one Men have found a great many it is past your Skill and mine to reckon up the many ways that Men have found out upon the Face of the Earth how they might come to the Knowledg of God and to Peace and Reconciliation with him but they have only play'd the Fools and spent their Time in vain especially they that own the Scriptures of Truth to be a true and faithful Record of the Mind and Will of God they play the Fool abominably for the Scripture that they give so much Reputation to in their Profession doth testifie the way is but one and there is no other way for People to be reconciled to God than by coming in to Christ to be found in him to be regenerated and born into his Nature and have his Qualities put upon them That as he was pure they may be pure that 〈◊〉 that sanctifieth and they being sanctified 〈◊〉 him may become both one and so be recâ—â—ciled to the father through him This you know is the common Profession of Christendom or at least of our Nation And in other Nations the common Profession is There is no Mediator but one no Reconciler but one Indeed some others hold there may be other Mediators and that there are others that may contribute to them by their Mediation and by their Prayers and Merits but the generality of the Nation are otherwise Now for People to fall out and say my way is best and thy way is not best and to fall into Contests about many ways when the Scripture concludes but one Way is not well We were better all agree about this Doctrin That there is no possibility of Reconciliation with God since we are fallen out with him and since Sin hath made a separation there is no way of being reconciled again to God but by and through our Lord Jesus Christ nor by him neither unless we receive of his Spirit to quicken us nothing can quicken us enliven us or recommend us to God but the Spirit of Christ operating and working in our Hearts that he may prepare us for the Father's Kingdom If People would agree upon this there would be an end of all Labour and Toyl and Jangling about the right way for the Consequence and Conclusion would be thus That Man that doth not know in himself the â—anctifying Power of the Spirit of Christ Jesus he is out of the way to Reconciliation with God let his Form and Profession be what it will If therefore he be reconciled to God it must be by and through the Mediator and he will never recommend him to the Father till he hath made him a Temple to let in the Spirit of Christ to work in his Heart to fit him for the Kingdom of God And Men have no other way to come to it for though they be zealous in every Prayer and Form it signifies nothing to any great purpose their Hope will be frustrated There is no other way saith Christ of coming to the father but by me I am the way the truth and the life If I am out of the Truth I am out of the way and if I am out of the way then I cannot come to the end of the Way This is plain reasoning among Men If I tell a Lie that is out of the Truth If I have vain Communication or deceive or wrong my Neighbour that is out of Truth what is manifest in my Conscience to be contrary to the Truth if I am in it I am out of the way though I be strict in the way as to Profession yet I am out of the Way to God I am out of the Truth there is no way to God but by Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life whoever is out of him is out of the Way which made the Apostle say That his labour endeavour and desire was that he might be found in Christ not having his own righteousness but having on the righteousness of Christ Jesus Many Men think to recommend themselves to God by their righteous just and honest Dealings and doing Wrong to no Body This is good in it self but doth not recommend us to God unless it be done by the righteous and holy Spirit of Christ Jesus unless it be of his Working he must have the working of Righteousness and Truth in us he must plant it and it must grow by his working if it be acceptable to the Father for without me saith Christ you can do nothing A Man out of Christ a Stranger to his Spirit may do something but nothing available to the well-being of his Soul till he have Reconciliation by Christ Jesus If he be reconciled to God this Mediator must be the Reconciler and he must fit and prepare him for Reconciliation with the Father All the Divisions Sorts and Sects of Religion they all come to an end if this Measuring Line be laid to them they all appear too short and there is nothing will do a Man good but that Religion that obligeth and tyes him to the good Pleasure of God through the Spirit of the Mediator which he feels working in him by which he is raised from Death to some degree of Life When he is sensible what a Burthen sin is to his Life and that godly Life which he hath is burthened with every Sin and oppressed with every vain Thought and every vain Word If he be not in some measure quickned 〈◊〉 â—ot sensible of this Burthen but being quickned he is sensible of the Burthen that lies upon his Life by reason of his Sin and then being under the Weight of his Sin he calls to God
for his Assistance he cries to God to help him he now knows that he hath striven and laboured in vain O God of all Grace if thou vouchsafe not Help to my Soul if thou dosâ— not interpose by the Assistance of thy Grace I cannot overcome this Sin There is a continual Cry to God for Divine Assistance and as they cry to God for Assistance he ministers Assistance to them by which they are able to overcome the Enemy of their Souls and all Temptations when they come And when a Man finds such Divine Assistance his Faith is strengthned and confirmed and so he fights the good fight of faith and at last gets the Victory Victory over his Sin and his own Lusts and Concupiscence and Victory over the Assaults and Temptations of the Adversary and at last he comes through the Grace of God to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live righteously soberly and godlily in this present world Now when People do thus it is by the Grace of God This Life of Righteousness Sobriety and Godliness is not the effect of their Labour and Exercise and of their Endeavours herein but it is the effect of the Holy Spirit that hath been the Teacher When you see a Man is grown a good Scholar eminent in al◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ning you will conclude he di◠〈…〉 to all this of himself he could not leâ—â—n this and the other Language this â—nd the other Art and Science of himself No he had some judicious and able Master and â—eacher who communicated of his Leaâ—ning and Knowledge to his Disciple and Scholar This is the efficient cause of his Improvement Now if a Man by the Grace and the Spirit of God and the Teachings of it live a holy godly Life this is the effect of something he did not always live such a Life How comes he to live such a Life now Is it by his own Industry Labour and Exercise No it is by being exercised taught and led by the Spirit of God so that it is the effect of the Grace of God that he should live such a holy Life though it is not the meritorious cause of it as he is a Creature but acceptable to God in Christ the Mediator Thus a Man comes to be justified and accepted not because he is a godly Man but is made so by the Spirit of God You are not under the law saith the Apostle but under grace You are under the Teachings of it under the Directions of it Grace can reprove People for that Grace and that Truth that comes by Christ and manifests it self as a Light in the Hearts of Transgressors reproves their Sin and calls them out of it it reproves them for it and exhorts them to leave it both at one Time so that we must acknowledge all our Righteousness Holiness and Obedience to be o◠〈…〉 â—â—ll that we do in order thereunto a◠〈◊〉 done by the Teaching by the Influence and Operation of the Grace of God given us in Christ Jesus it is the effect of him who is our Mediator he worketh it in us and for us of his good pleasure If we be justified we are not justified for a righteous holy Life and for our Obedience but we are justified through Christ who worketh a godly Life in them that believe so that a Man is not justified by any other way or means and all other ways a Man takes of being reconciled to God are vain and fruitless and have been spoken against by all that were moved by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament Saith the Prophet What shall I come before the Lord with all I am fallen under Death and Sin and in a separation from God I would fain be reconciled to him what shall I do to be reconciled to God He goes about to reckon without Christ and without Faith and Holiness Shall I take a thousand Rams and ten thousand Rivers of Oil Shall I come nearer still Shall I make an Offering of the Fruit of my Body for the sin of my Soul Shall I offer my first-born to God that I may not be rejected and brought to a separation from him Thus Men when they come to be sensible do feel in themselves that all this is to no purpose The Answer comes Thou maist live but all thy Contrivances about making an Offering are vain 〈…〉 â—â—ewed thee O Man 〈◊〉 â—o do It is noâ— thy findinâ— this way and tâ—â—â— way viz. thy â—â—â—â—s and thy Oil and 〈◊〉 first-born it is no way of thy devising and imagining that can reconcile thee to me I have shewed thee O Man what is good What is this that is shewed It is comprised in a short compass It is to love Mercy to do Justice and to walk humbly with thy God Will this serve without offering Rams and Oil and offering my first born This will do if thou canst but love Mercy when it s shewn thee that is embrace Mercy and love it He hath shewed Mercy to all Men then love it and receive it do justly leave every thing that is unrighteous and do that which is just in the sight of God but do not boast of thy Justice and Righteousness but walk humbly with thy God here is the whole Duty of Man This looks as if I should go to Works and forbear something in order to my Justification Indeed the consideration of these kind of Lessons do corrupt some Men and put them upon doing this or that and upon forbearing this or that and hath brought many to Confession and great Abstinence and put them upon great doings thinking this would answer the Justice of God I have loved Mercy and given all I had to the Poor If I do justly and abstain from this and the other Liberty if I walk humbly that is if I humble my self by this and the other manner of Pennance and Contrition then I do what God requires and then I have pleased God Now all that havâ— gone this waâ— of working to do justly and love mâ—â—cy and to make themselves humble and humbled themselves low in such a manner they have missed the Mark. He hath shewed thee O Man what is good that it is impossible for fallen Man to answer this himself he may be convinced of his Duty to do Justice but by his own Power and Strength he cannot do it there are so many Temptations from without and so many from within such a proâ—â—nsity in Nature that will prevail against all â—â—e â—onds of Charity that he can make Therefore is Help laid upon one thâ—t is mighty without the Grace 〈◊〉 God that comes by Christ Jesus a Man can never do it tho' Convinced Tho' the Lord hath shewed him what is good he shews us that we are unable of our selves he hath taken care to send his Son God hath so loved the World that he hath sent his Son into the World that he might help those that have need of help that every one that is in Distress might
believe that such a way leads to God's Kingdom that that way will lead men to God that will not lead them to Holiness The Scripture saith If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me though a Man keeps close to Meetings and Ordinances and Duties and Performances iniquity it seems must remain still there is no rooting it out in this World This continuing and remaining with a Man makes all his Performances and Duties and Prayers unacceptable to God they are all turned back again upon him and cast as Dung upon his Face and true enough too so that here is no coming unto God in this way the comers thereunto know well enough they are not reconciled to God if they are Men that are Conscientious There are a sort of People so stupid and sordid in their Judgments that if a Man tells them they are reconciled to God they will believe him though Conscience reâ—â—oves them an hundred times a day If the 〈…〉 the Parish say That he hath made this Câ—â—â—â— an heir of the kinâ—â—â—â— of God and an inherit oâ— of eternal life I know some have believed it forty Years after and have born themselves up upon this Man's Word all their Life Do you think there is any Danger of me that in Baptism was made an Inheritor of Eternal Life and an Heir of the Kingdom of God God hath not appointed Ordinances in his Church for nothing I speak not of such sordid hard-hearted People that never entred into themselves to know how it was with them whether they are â—onverted but I speak of sober conscientious People that will not be cheated in a Point of Salvation though they have been deceived a great while they may be undeceived Then they must take this for certain Doctrin that nothing can reconcile them to their Maker but that which takes away Sin God hears not sinners he will never be reconciled to a Man in this World as a sinner but there are many thousands blessed be God in this Ageâ— as well as in other Ages that were Sinners and reconciled to God through Christ and had Remission of Sin but never any Man in his Sin was reconciled to God though he did believe the Truth if he did not come to thâ— Sanctification of the Spirit he could never 〈◊〉 reconciled to God So that there hath been in all Ages a way of the working of the Spirit of God in the Hearts of them that believe to prepare them for the sinless Kingdom for that glorious Kingdom into which nothing that hurteth and defileth and corrupteth can enter And because we cannot enter with Corruption and Defilement he hath appointed the Ministration of his Spirit to work out that which might hinder to cleanse us from Sin that we might have an abundant entrance into his glorious Kingdom so that whilst they say there is an impossibility of living without Sin I had as leave they had said there is an Impossibility of entring into the Kingdom of God for never any shall come into the Kingdom of God but those that are without Siâ—â— for there is no Purgatory after Death The Papists have a better conceit than the Protestants in that respect The Protestanâ—â— conceive Sin to be expelled at the point of Death and they say all the Sins of Believers all the guilt of Sin after we are Believers is pardoned forgiven and done away by the Death of Christ upon the Cross we will have it if we can get it If Men can imagin to find a way into the Kingdom of God they will have one They believe that a Man may sin and contract no Guilt and that he may sin till his dying Day and then all Sin shall pass away and he shall enter into God's Kingdom The Papists say none can come to Heaven till they be purged from Sin and they say God hath appointed a place for that purpose and Persons must go into Purgatory and they must lie there till they are putted and purified and fitted for Heaven Now say the Protestants truly There is nâ— such thing we find no such thing mentioned in the Scripture therefore such a thing as this cannot be for the Aâ—â—â—tle said We have declared to you the whole Counsel of God and he speaks not a Word of Purgatory in all the New Testament The Protestants they have got a way to help themselves and the Papists to help themselves and both lie under Danger As for the Papists if their Priests mistake and there be no such Place as Purgaâ—â—â—â— then they mâ—â—â— be brought back to the Doctrin of the Sâ—â—â—â—â—â—res which declares That as death leaves us so judgment shall find us and as we sow so we must reap if we sow to the â—â—â—sh then of the flesh we shall reap Corruption Then the Protestants likewise if they mistake in saying A Man may act Sin and yet contract no Guilt then they must be brought back to the Doctrin of the Scriptures that tell us The soul that sinneth must die If a righteous man forsake his righteousness and doth that which is evil his righteousness shall be remembred no more but in the sin that he hath committed he shall die This is sound Doctrin I had rather trust the Doctrin of the Prophets and Apostles than the Doctrin of them all either Protestants or Papists and had rather depend upon their Doctrin for Salvation that were inspired by the Holy Ghost than upon those Doctors that say There is no Inspiration now-a-days Some conceive this Scripture may be interpreted thus and thus and others conceive it means so and so but we must say they submit to better Judgment I am a fallible Man I submit it to better Judgments Now when People are concerned for Immortality and Eternity to have such things dished out in such a manner what Souls are so dull but they would bestir themselves and consider and look about them before they go hence how it shall go with them when they are gone We are now to work out our own Sâ—â—vation that is on our part None eveâ— have earned out this Salvation it is wrought out on God's part already and it is to be made ours he that is our Saviour he hath suffered for our sins and rose again for our justification He was made to us of God wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption Now Wisdom signifies the opening of the Counsel of God Righteousness signifies the Subjection of our Wills to the Will of God Sanctification signifies Obedience to the Spirit of Christ Sanctification signifies Obedience to something to what what shall we be obedient to what is our Rule He that is led by the spirit of Christ he is his but he that is not led by the spirit of Christ is none of his so that it is plain Sanctification signifies Obedience to the Spirit of Christ and Redemption signifies buying again or setting free from Bondage We know when our Friends are in Captivity as in Turkey or
elswhere we pay down our Mony for their Redemption but we will not pay our Mony if they be kept in their Fetters still Would not any one think himself cheated to pay so much Mony for their Redemption and the Bargain be made so that he shall be said to be redeemed and be â—â—lled a redeemed Captive but he must wear his Fetters still How long as long as he hath a day to live This is for Bodies but now I am speaking of Souls Christ must be made to me Redemption and rescue me from Captivity Am I a Prisoner any where Yes Verily verily he that committeth sin saith Christ he is a servant of sin he is a Slave to Sin If thou hast sinned thou art a Slave A Captive that must be redeemed out of Captivity who will pay a price for me I am poor I have nothing I cannot redeem my self who will pay a Price for me There is one come that hath paid a Price for me That is well that is good News then I hope I shall come out of my Captivity What is his Name is he called a Redeemer So then I do expect the Benefit of my Redemption and that I shall go out of my Captivity No say they you must abide in Sin as long as you live What benefit then have I by my Redemption I could have been in Captivity no longer if I had not been redeemed I must wear my Shackles and Fetters still and be subject to my old Master and Patron and when he will have me be drunk I must be drunk and when he will have me be unclean I must be unclean Thus many profest Christians there be you see it with your Eyes that will tell you they believe all the Articles of the Creed and they have been baptized into the Christian Faith and can rehearse all the Principles of the Christian Religion and perform the Duty of Christians in going to Church saying their Prayers and in giving Alms too it may be they are such as would be called Christians they would be called so yet they are not Redeemed from their vain Conversations for what makes their Shackles and Fetters about them When their old Master bids them be Drunk they will be Drunk and when he bids them commit Whoredom or Lie or Cheat their Neighbour they will do it You do believe the Devil leads you to this you will not say the Spirit of God led you to it If one demand How did you do it You say the Devil prevailed upon me What hath the Devil Power over Men after they are Redeemed What sort of Redemption is this Then comes in the old Shift again we are Redeemed from the Punishment of our Sin but not from the Act of it Now if those that are called Ranters had told me this Tale it had been like them but when Doctors of Divinity tell us this Tale it is so unlike Divinity that it is Carnal Sensual and Devilish To tell Believers they are redeemed from the Punishment of Sin but not from the Act of Sin that this is the benefit which we receive from Christ's Sufferings that we may sin on free Cost that there is no Guilt contracted by it will any Man or Woman that understands they have a Soul venture their Immortal Souls on this Divinity I hope not They will not venture their Soul on this Foundation-Doctrin I hope God will awaken the Consciences of People that they will not hazard their Souls upon such a carnal devillish Foundation that if the Devil should preach he could not preach a worse Doctrin than this to persuade Christians they may live in Sin and Sin will not hurt them nor impair or break their Peace with God and Reconciliation with him I will tell you how it hath been with me in my Childhood if I had spoken a vain Word or a false Word I had contracted such a Guilt thereby that I was ashamed to draw near to God to pray to him I knew he would not hear Liars I knew there was no way to be accepted without Repentance and Amendment of Life I believe others have met with the same dealing from God by the secret Strokes of Conviction that have come upon their Hearts when they have sinned against God So that I am still of the Mind that the Persons that depend upon this kind of Doctrin do at some times especially when Sickness comes and Death looks them in the Face or in times of common Contagion or Pestilence at such a time they have a weight of Guilt upon their Consciences for this Doctrin will not support them at Death but that then they believe they have contracted Guilt or committed Sin I have wished many times that the Lord would open the Eyes and Hearts of the People of this City and of this Nation to see how miserably they have ventured their Souls Will Merchants in this City ever venture their Goods at such a Rate as Men commonly venture their Souls What will they venture their Goods in a Ship without a bottom before she goes to Sea Now this Doctrin hath not a Foundation shall I believe a Person that tells me I do not contract Guilt when I feel it upon my Heart when I commit Whoredom and Drunkenness and Cheat my Neighbours shall any one persuade me that I do not contract Guilt O Friends we are speaking of great Matters it is about Eternity that we are speaking it is about the hazard of Eternal Happiness therefore I pray let every one be serious and consider what I say for I speak â—n Gods Name and on your behalf Men are â—o come to a true search in themselves what a Life it is that they live Many support themselves by the Doctrins and Precepts of Men and they buoy themselves into Conceits of Salvation let them examin whethâ—â— it be a Life that hath its supportation by tâ—â— Spirit of God this is material for every oâ—â— to consider There are none can live tâ—â—â—d buâ— by the Life they receive from God The grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men Now here is an universal Doctrin There are a sort of Men in this City and Nation that tell us That saving Grace is given only to the Elect. Saving Grace is given to all Men but you must construe those Words all the Elect where they are somewhat injurious and would cast off the condition of the Text if they make a distinction in the latter part of the Sentence for it will not be good Sense The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all the Elect teaching us to deny all Vngodliness c. Here is Vs taken out of the All. The same Grace that is our Teacher appears to be the Teacher of others tho' they turn it into Lasciviousness The Grace is the same tho' they make many School-distinctions between common and saving Grace The Apostle explains it by telling what Grace he means The grace of God which
〈…〉 Works is the Devil's Child then â—â—ey wiâ—â—â—â—nfess this is of the Devil and â—he other 〈◊〉 the Devil This is an evil Wâ—â—k an◠〈◊〉 that I had need be brought into another condition When People come to an Acknowledgment of the Truth and of their own Condemnation then they are one Step towards Redemption and Salvation No one ever took one step towards their Salvation till they â—cknowledged their own Condemnation He that sanctifies and they that are sanctified are all of one and they that are joyneâ— to the Lord are one spirit An evil tree saith Christ cannot bring forth good fruit When Christ spake this he spake it to Men and Women â—nd he spake it of Men and Women and not of Trees And when he said No man can gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles he speaks of a Generation of Men as if he had said 〈◊〉 this Thorn must be translâ—â—â— changed into another nature before 〈◊〉 bring forth Grapes and this Thistle 〈◊〉 changed into another nature before 〈◊〉 forth Figs. There must be a Change in the naâ—â— Man before there can be a Change 〈◊〉 Fruit and Effect of his Doings Whaâ— he sows thâ—â— he shall also reap whatsoâ—â— man doth in the body he must give an 〈◊〉 thereof at the day of judgment for th◠〈◊〉 will be opened and men judged according to 〈◊〉 thinâ—â— written in those books If there be 〈◊〉 Booâ—â—or thee and me I le warrant thee thâ—â— is a great deal in it there is a Recorder anâ— a Clerk for the Book which God hath opened in every Man's Conscience and there 〈◊〉 set down every Manâ— Transgressions and hiâ— Sins Saith one Thâ—â— hast written my Transgressions as with the point of a diamond thou hast ingraven it so deep that it seems impossible that it should ever be blotted out again Some have had their Sins so deeply ingraven in their Consciences that they have thought they would never be blotted out they were written as with the Pen of a Diamond When People see and consider that they have ventured their Souls upon such 〈◊〉 Grounds I hope they will be awaked to 〈◊〉 after Righteousness when they see the 〈◊〉 nothing good in them Where there is 〈◊〉 thing good it is God that hath given it 〈◊〉 them Some will say If I be pervers◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 wicked I cannot hâ—lp it therefore 〈◊〉 be beholdenn to my Maker to help 〈◊〉 â—lse I must never be helped Now beâ—â—â—â— God knows that we are helpless he 〈◊〉 â—id help upon one that is mighty that is 〈◊〉 Lord Jesus Christ and Christ hath sent 〈◊〉 his spirit into the world to convince the 〈◊〉 of sin and to lead his people into all 〈◊〉 And this Grace that comes by Jesus â—â—â—ist hath been so universally shewed and 〈◊〉 universally extended to all Men that I never met with a Man yet that had none of it But let them be as bad and as dark as they could yet the Light of Christ shined â—o that Darkness into the darkest Heart that ever I met with in all my Life He sheweth Men That his light shineth in darkness and the darkness cannot comprehend Therefore the Worâ— that God hath set us about and the Service which he requires at the Hands of many of us is to turn Men from their own Darkness unto the Light of Christ their Saviour and from the Devil's Power that hath enslaved them to the Power of God that can redeem them and yet we are far enough from that which they call Free Will we are far enough from this We say a man can never be saved till he learn to deny his own Will it is God's Will that every one â—â—ould be saved But some will not be saved they will keep their Wills and not resign them up to God they have a Free-will to go to Destruction As for Salvation if they will obtain it they must part with 〈…〉 and they must take a Yoâ—◠〈…〉 on them before they can b◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ple can have theiâ— Wills they will 〈…〉 Christ's Yoke upon them He that 〈◊〉 Christ's Disciple must deny his own Wâ—â—â— take up his daily Cross These are â—he 〈◊〉 of the Gospel But you will say No Man by 〈◊〉 Power he hath can redeem himself 〈◊〉 Man can live without Sin We will say Amen to it But if Men teâ—â— us That when God's Power comes to help uâ— and to redeem us out of Sin that it canno◠〈◊〉 â—ffected then this Doctrin we cannot awaâ— with nor I hope you neither Would yoâ— like it well if I should tell you That God puts 〈◊〉 his Power to do such a thing buâ— the Devil hinders him That it is impossible for God to do it because the Devil doth not like it That it is impossible that any one should be free from sin because the Devil hath got such a Power in them that God cannot cast it out This is lamentable Doctrin hath not this been preached this Doctrin of Impossibility of living without Sin It doth in plain Terms say Though God doth interpose hiâ— Power it is impossible because the Devil hath so rooted Sin in the Nature of Man Is 〈◊〉 Man God's Creature and cannot he nevâ—â— make him and cast Sin out of him If 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rooted deeply in Man I say 〈◊〉 〈…〉 deeply rooted but Christ Jesus is enâ—â—◠〈…〉 the Root of the Nature of 〈◊〉 that he hath received Power to destroy 〈◊〉 evil and his Works â—nd to recover and 〈◊〉 Man into his Primitive Nature of â—â—â—hteousness and Holiness or else that is 〈◊〉 That he is able to save to the utmost â—â—at come unto God by him We must throw 〈◊〉 the Bible if we say that it is impossible 〈◊〉 God to deliver Man out of Sin Is not â—â—â—ist entred into the root of our Nature And hath he not taken upon him the Seed of Abraham after the Flesh Is he not entred into the Root of all Men's Natures and tasted death for every man that he might quicken every one that is dead in sins and trespasses All these things speak the Love of God to Mankind in order to â—â—â—ir Salvation Much might be said to these things these Clouds of Error and Darkness that have overspread the Nation yet this I say if one were to speak of it never so long it must be by the Eye that God gives you that you must see it it is he that opens the Hearts of Men as he did Lydia's If there had not been the Power of God that reached her Heart Paul could not have opened it When all is said that can be said the Counsel of God which hath sounded in your Ears is recommended to you that every one may retire in quietness and stillness of Mind to 〈◊〉 for the feeling of that quickning Pâ—â—â—â—r of the Spirit of Christ that is sent inâ—◠〈◊〉 Hearts of Men that that may open 〈◊〉 Eyes to see your present state then you 〈◊〉 see a better state 〈◊〉 further
and yet knows in his own Conscience that he is condâ—mned he believeth a Lie he is seduced and deceived A Man cannot be justified â—y Christ when the Spirit of Christ condemneth him Such 〈◊〉 whâ—â—â—e comes to lay down his Head upâ—â— his Dying Pillow all his Faith will fly away I 〈…〉 with some Instances lamentable I◠〈…〉 those thaâ— were called Christians 〈…〉 made a Profession of Religion an◠〈…〉 have laid down their Heads in So◠〈…〉 this be your Mistake consider while y◠〈…〉 Time â—â—at you may die in Peacâ— Now 〈◊〉 Proposition and Tâ—â—der o◠〈…〉 Loâ—â— of God 〈◊〉 Mankind hath alâ—â—ried that Limitâ—â—â—on with it that is 〈◊〉 in the World ought to observe If a Man hope to be saved by Christ he must be ruled by him Iâ— is contrary to all manner of Reason thâ—â—â—he Devil should rule a Man and Christ be his Saviour The whole tenour of the New Testament is against it pray read it as oft as you pâ—â—â—se for it is a good Exercise you will find the true Christian's Faith to be this That he that hath Faith in Christ hath an Operation upon him for the Cleansing his Heart and purifying and purging his conscience from dead works that he may serve the living God though he hath been a Servant of the Devil it will make hâ—â—r leave his former Servitude and bring him under the Influence of another Law the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which will make him free from 〈◊〉 law of sin and death The Apostle sets down â—he several Conditions he had â—â—ssed through I was alivâ— without the law once he thought himself a Man a brave Man a Man of Understanding thâ—â— had profited among the Jews I was alive having respect to that Law which should have been my Goverour but when the commâ—ndment came sin revived and I died He hâ—d â—ead the Law the Commandment many 〈…〉 and had been at the reading of it in the 〈…〉 â—gue but there was a coming of the Comâ—â—ndment which he had not been acquainted â—ith there was a Writing of thâ— Law of God in his Heart when he 〈◊〉 to this inward World upon him â—â—â—re was thâ—â— the 〈◊〉 he lived When the 〈◊〉 came Sin revived and I died There was a professing Life he formerly liâ—â—d but he was slain by the Power of thâ—â—â—â—manâ—ment it laid him in the Dust as a â—â—ain Man when he was in a 〈◊〉 condition he found out that Law in him that was the Law of Sin and Death and this caused a Combat and a War in him I find a law saith he that whâ—â— I would do good evil is present with with me for I delight in the law of God in the inner mâ— but I see another law in my membe◠〈…〉 against the law of my mind and b◠〈…〉 into captivity to the law of 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 members Now this brâ—â—ghâ— him 〈◊〉 a Poverty of Spirit into a Sense of his miâ—â—â—â—ble Condition and then he cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Now some People in this Day they are like the Apostle they have a law in their mâ—mbers warning against thâ— lâ—w of their minds the good that they would dâ—â—â—ey do not and they can go no further But the Apostle Paul did reach further though he did not in that state know Deliverance yet 〈…〉 that he should be delivered and that he 〈…〉 be miserable all his Days Thus haâ—ing 〈…〉 Romans into the several Staâ—â—s through whâ—â—â— he passed he brings them to a furtheâ— Sâ— The law of the spirit of life in Christ 〈◊〉 hâ—th made â—e free from the law of sin 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â— And now there is no condemn◠〈…〉 â—â—em that are in Christ Jesus How sh◠〈…〉 know this They walk not after the flesh 〈◊〉 after the spirit Nâ— Pâ—ul was come to that sanctified state tha◠〈◊〉 of Freedom and Liberty which Christ â—esus will bring all those unto that believe â—n him Holy Men in former Days did experience and find a greaâ— Strife and Warfare in their own Hearts they would do all well and exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man but there is a Law of Sin that wars in their Members if we yield to it it leadâ— to Sin and Death but if we yield our selves to the law â—f the spirit of life there is a Power tha◠〈…〉 â—ved from the Mediator that will â—â—anslate the Soul out of the kingdom of darkness and Sin which the Devil is the Prince of and bring it into the kingdom of God's dear Son There must be a real Change wrought in us before we can come tâ— God and to Fellowship and Commâ—â—ion wiâ—h God which â—lone can make th◠〈◊〉 happy Let this be tâ—e Exercise of eâ— one of us to adore and magnifie and 〈◊〉 Mercy and the kindness of God â—hat 〈…〉 not withdrawn his Spirit from yo◠〈…〉 hath placed a Mâ—n for in your 〈…〉 â—s upon you to cease to do evil 〈…〉 and to consider that the 〈…〉 sin is death Here is a Sin I may â—mit it there is a Temptation beofre me 〈◊〉 I know there is a Bait and a Hook 〈…〉 swalloâ— it if I will but if I do iâ— will 〈…〉 â—y Râ—th Would I come to eternâ—l Death and have my Portion with Lyars and wicked Persons in the Kingdom of Darkness Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched or would I have my Portion with Saints and Angels If I would have my Portion with the blessed in the Kingdom of God when I die I must walk in the way that leads to it but the Gate is strait and the way narrow and few there be that find it Labour then to be one of those few But what signifies our Labour some may say if we can do nothing that is good not so much as think a good thoâ—ht What signifies our Labour all the Labours and Endeavours in the whole World cannot â—â—â—ke a Man happy I now speak to a People to whom God doth vouchsafe the Help and Assistance of his Gracâ— and Spirit and the Visitations of his Love and Power you mu◠〈…〉 â—ndeavour to do somethâ—â—g if a Man enâ—â—avour with the help of 〈…〉 â—ie may doâ— great deal of good and 〈◊〉 a great deal of Evil Though all our Endeavours in our own Power and Strength can signifie nothing yet they are required by God and â—y joyning them with his Grâ— and layinâ—â—old of Opportunities by 〈◊〉 Assistance we may do whâ— God will aâ— But if a Man do 〈◊〉 thing in his own Poâ— and Strength whether Prayer Hearing Râ—â—ing Meditation or any other Duty he ha◠〈◊〉 good let it â—â—one I would consider you as those that God hath followed with his Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit this is given to every Man to profit withal and every Man hath Opportunity to work with it but he must work while it is day for the night