was imputed that all believers may be reputed before God by vertue of Christs righteousnesse holy and perfect as righteousnesse it selfe Thus you see how souls may be said to be sinners take them as in themselves and in the flesh so sinners take them as reconcil'd to God as having Christs righteousnesse imputed to them and beheld of God in that so without sin without guile no sinners but holy pure undefiled beloved of God blessed Saints 3. They are precious souls precious in this filthy ungodly sinful wicked world that from grace coming in act in wayes of grace and holines without that let the inhabitants of the world be wicked follow their Prince the Devil yet they wil walke in holines following the Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of peace and King of righteousnesse God in all ages hath some to witnesse to his glorious truths so in this age some that are taught of the Spirit led of the Spirit that minde the things of the Spirit that have the Spirit of God dwelling in them and by the power of that Spirit in dwelling doe mortifie the deeds of the body and are raised up and quickned by the Spirit of God within to walke in righteousness true holines to serve God and own his cause though the world with them that dwel therein oppose they are excellent souls that appear for God in bad times in the worst of times yea when 't is not alone a hazarding their names to disgrace and shame but their bodies to be torne in pieces to be burnt to ashes You that are acquainted with scripture and history may see every age every yeare bring forth some such gallant spirits that were ready to lay down their lives to undergoe any cruel vile shameful death for the name of Christ and the testimony of Jesus 4. They are precious for they that are faithful and chosen that are such as Christ is continue good let all the world be bad A precious soule is an excellent Theophilus and wil appeare so let others be never so bad let them be enemies to God fighters against God Times are bad now and like for a while to be worse yet there are pretious Christans so some there wil be as long as the world continues that shal shine out as lights in the world Phil. 2.15 that wil be without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverss nation that wil run right on towards glory let whose wil run crosse that wil keep their garments white though others be soyl'd I commend such to you souls for precious Christians for precious Saints that abstaine from all appearance of evil that in heart and soul and life clear to and follow after what is good Vse 3 Love those precious souls that Christ esteemes precious nay that Christ hath made precious that are before God precious that are the dearely belov'd of his soul that are honourable ones that are borne of the wil of God that are attended on by Angels that are for a short time plac'd in the world and shal ere long be received into glory let your delight be plac'd on those excellent ones let your eyes be on them that Gods eyes are on your heart towards those that Gods heart is towards good children are apt to respect those they see their parents love if you be true children rightly descended of the Royal line of heaven you wil eye the outgoings of your fathers love and as Bees settle where the Queen settles so wil you where God upon what family or soul the Lord hangs his love you wil hang yours where God delights to be you wil delight to be all so Consider I pray who you love what sort of people it is you most affect whether it be carnal worldly unregenerate men or holy heavenly regenerate Saints Do you now desire to know Gods jewels Vse 4 to be able to discern of these precious ones to say such are Gods children such are the friends of Christ like Christ you must have the life spirit wisdome knowledge of Christ you must be taught of God to know who are Gods like God Paul persecuted the precious Saints of Christ and was a deadly foe and enemy to them til such time as he was endued with wisdome from on high til God shone upon him yea into him and then knowing Saints he associated himself with them and was no longer hurtful but helpful Many a soul is a sore and grievous enemy to the people of God I am perswaded much of their enmity ariseth from this because they know not Saints they are ignorant what glorious ones they are in what a high esteem they are with God how God wil punish them that wrong them Ignorance of Saints makes them slighted reviled defam'd accounted as the filth of the world and the off scouring of all things T is want of knowing the worth of a Jewel that makes it not prized so of a Saint that is a member of Christ a child of God The God of wisdome give you wisdome to know such that are holy that are Princes of the bloud-Royal of heaven and to give them such respect that is due and reverence as belongs to them This none can do but such as have the spirit this you wil do if the Lord give out the spirit of truth to guide you in all truth if heavenly light shine into you that light shining in wil discover and manifest to you the children of light and whosoever you can find walking heaven-ward you wil be glad of their company Ignorance had a hand in killing Christ and it hath some hand in all the wrong is done to Saints the Lord free you all from it least ye should through ignorance harme the darlings of God and bring swift damnation on your selves God hath grievous threatnings in Scripture against Saint-wrongers and there are recorded some heavy punishments that have been inflicted on them that harme the righteous God keep you from the sin and so from the suffering I might ad how beneficial 't is for you to know who are Saints and how much for your souls advantage to be acquainted with them but I omit it Happy are you that are of the number of these jewels of God of these preciout Vse 5 ones I do not know what your condition is in respect of outward things and creature-enjoyments but I can safely say you are a happy people if precious if such as Christ you shal all be laid up in glory shortly God wil not lose one of his jewels for a world Heaven and earth shal perish but no Saint never a precious soul not a jewel that belongs to the crown Royal of glory These rare souls these souls to whom Angels do service that are carried in the armes in the bosome in the heart of God that are singular souls chosen out from among thousands by royal favour sâ—ch in whom the eye of God can see nothing amisse no defect no excesse no presence of sinne no
12.15 Act. 7.57 Summa mundi ingratitudo the more a Saints spirit in pitty is for their good the more are their spirits in rage against Saints to their hurt 3. They have yearnings of soule after such that deviate from truth that goe astray in the wildernes of sin striving to reclaime them and to bring them into the way of the Lord to walke towards holynes Act. 17.23 Paul was employ'd in such a busines as this at Athens amonst a people that were wandering after an unknowne God that went they knew not whither Luk. 15.4 that worshipped they knew not what As a man lookes after a wandering beast to bring it home so doth Christ a wandering soul and this is part of the employment of such that can say As he is so are we in this world Ezech. 34.6 7 8 9. Christ is highly displeased with such that should looke after scattered soules and are negligent they walke contrary to him but such please him that are painfull in preserving those are his that undertake any employment for the recovery of soules from error to truth from out of the Devils common to Christs sold They are deare friends to Christ that to their utmost are helpful to the purchased possession of Christ you that are good servants to Christ you shall find him a good Master to you be like him in action and he will make you like himselfe in the reward he that works in his vineyard shall have faire wages Blessed are you that now serve not your selves but the Lord Jesus Christ this busines will make Christ honour you your striving to reclaime such that wander from the commandements of the Lord Dan. 12.3 They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever God will honour them that strive to save others Jam. 5.20 How like Christ are they that strive to convert a sinner from the error of his way and to save a soul from death Is not such work Christs worke do not they follow him that works thus When Christ works in us for making us like him we will worke abroad to bring soules unto him 3. They loath sinne they that are like Christ they detest and abominate what Christ detests Sin is a devil and who can abid him unlesse wretches that are like him Sin will eat up a soul can any unlesse a mad-man love that which will utterly undoe him Sinne brings plagues upon a mans selfe and all he hath entertain not a guest that hath such ill attendants thou canst not embrace sin but thou must wound Christ wilt thou shew so much hard-heartednes as to wound him that hath suffered so much already Isa 52.14 yea such sufferings as never any suffered besides him besides you cannot sinne against Christ but you must hurt your selves yea your best part Pro. 8.36 your souls but to cast such weeds aside and to speak of men and practises fiting the place and time and that is Saints their behaviour in this particular towards sin they abhorre sin upon the same reasons and grounds that Jesus Christ abhorres it 't is indeed Christ in them that makes them dislike it if their dislike be such as it should be there are soules that may have some dislike of sin yet they may not with a Saints spirit loath it 1. Some there are that stand aloofe from sin when it allures because should they yeeld it may cause some disgrace to them it may make some cast them off that now they have favour withall and whose favour it may be is more beneficial for present then their sin can be they are sollicited unto These deserve no thankes from God for love to God makes them not dislike sin 't is the upholding of some reputation and credit amongst men that for present restrains them They say not I have receiv'd mercy from Christ how can I sin against him that hath been so good to me but I have a reason of mine own saith the carnal soule and therefore I may doe this or that not but that he loves the sin but it stands not with his end for present to meddle with it 2. Some are kept off from sin as the dog from the bone with the cudgel the feare of the Law deters them faine they would be doing but then they feare suffering they thinke it might be beneficiall to steale but they like not hanging the money might help them but the halter would hurt them Christ is not beholding to these nor to any such for love to him prevailes not with them Mat. 14.5 these are kept from evil as Herod at first from killing John for feare of the people Luk. 22.2 as the Chief Priests Scribes from killing Jesus or the Captain and Officers from offering violence to the Apostles Act. 5.26 That many are not more vile wee may thanke their feare of the Law not their love nor likenesse to Christ 3. Some are kept from some sins for fear of hell Hell is not seen and therefore not much feard men think strangly of hell take heed you never know it this place of Torments is not much considered of now or if it be men think they are far enough from it and may escape If love to Christ keepe not from sin fear of hell will not 't is the mercies of Christ that Paul presents as a bait to allure to holinesse and drawe men off from the world Rom. 12.1 Significans cogitionem miserecordiae Dei debere nobis esse stimulum ad vitam Deo placentem transigendam mercies are very invitive especially the mercies of Christ that are such sweet precious mercies mercies that had never any like them the world had never such another in it for mercy as Christ Mercies drawe Saints to abhorre evill and as God shall call you to be Saints you will do likewise Sin is offence to Christ and goodnesse is pleasing to him Saints are acquainted with him and know it and strive it should be so to them Christ and inside Christians have but one object of their love but one of their hatred viz good and all good and that they effect together evill and all evill and that they reject a like you may conceive of such to be Saints that go so right with Christ 4. Saints indeed soules like Christ they are such that aime at the glory of God in all their undertakings it was Christs meat and drinke to do the will of his father so 't is theirs that are Christs if men will be pleas'd seeing them in Gods businesse they rejoyce but if they will not they neverthelesse continue doing There was a Gallant courage in Christ to glorify his Father so is there in Saints they will honour God if they die in the action Act. 5.19 they if oppos'd durst bidt heir opposers judge whether it be better to obey
God or man he acts right that bids his enemy be judge of his doings if any spy faults enemies will Saints are for pleasing God that 's their aime they are company for such whose journey is heaven-ward Christ is gone before they follow after He goes fastest to heaven that goes on most speedily in Gods worke that as it tends to Gods glory so to the actors glory A soul will soone be glorified it selfe that glorifies God they that are for God shall be with God heavenly work is recompens'd with good wayes Christ did his work is entred into his joy doe yours and enter also like doers shall have like pay 5. Christ is for fellowship and communion with his people Mat. 18.20 where two or three are gathered together in his name there he is in the midst of them so Saints the friends of Christ desire fellowship with those that are Christs christians this Lesson hath not been well learn'd of late outward appearances like our selves t is feard have drawne us many times more then Christ in Spirit dwelling in souls That part of Arethmeticke division hath beene in use too much at least Numeration too little we should be more like Christ were we more for society I meane with Saints Davids Spirit was gratious and was much affected with such company if like Christ sociable but 't is with Saints 6. Christ delights to see men holy embracing truth in this Saints are like Christ Saint John rejoyced greatly that he found the children of the Elect Lady walking in truth Epist Ioh. 2.4 so this exercise was pleasing to Paul Col. 1.3 4. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ praying alwayes for you since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus of the love which ye have to all the Saints As he rejoyced to see this amongst the Colossians for it pleased him to see others followers of the Lord 1 Thes 1.6 and embracing that truth which the churches of God embraced 1 Thes 1.14 to the exceeding growth of faith and the abounding of charity each towards others 2 Thes 1.3 They that were holy amongst the Jews rejoyced at the Gentiles conversion And at this day there is no greater joy to Saints then to hear of others turning to the truth and living holily That which makes carnal men displeas'd which is newnesse of life pleaseth those that have received of the same life Ezech. 33 7. Jesus Christ hates sin in every one yet no mans person he pitties their persons Why will you die O house of Israel He loath'd Jerusalems sin yet he wept over the city as pittying the people sorrowing through foreseeing of the misery that was coming towards them ' and did afterwards befal them They that are like Christ are thus qualified they hate sin in all men yet hate not the persons of any no not of their deadly enemies but with Stephen they can desire eternal life for those that will not let them enjoy a temporal life a crown for their enemies that hale them to the crosse There 's much of the image of Christ in those that to the utmost do good to the men whose sins they hate And though they seek the death of their sin yet desire life the life of Christ for their souls Christ shewed man most mercy when he shewed sinne none he kill'd sin and quickn'd man A man may be merciful to his neighbour yet strive to be a slaughter-man to his sin They must needs be like Christ that from a gratious pitty are helpful to others and omit no meanes to do them any kindnesse furthering the salvation of their souls and good of their bodies helping them in any thing or way but what is sinful 'T is the calling of Saints to do good yea to all you have none of a more free spirit then they they go up and down on this imployment 't is the errand that Christ sends them on Like Master like Servants all good and their actions like themselves The master cannot erre the servants may but they shall be set right again These are no cheats that do good to all as much as possible they may harm none no not enemies render to none evill for evil but contrariwise blessing 8. Saints are very much like Christ in that they are couragious souls couragious in what is good not bad some men have too much courage in an evil way but to what is good they have no heart 'T is not so with the children of God they die rather then yield to any basenesse shall such a one as I flie a gallant speech of a noble soul Neh. 6.11 of one that believed God had given commandment to save him Psa 71.3 Salvum me facias ab inimicis meis Daniel would not omit his duty though he knew the Lions den was to be his punishment God should have his honour whatsoever he suffered The three children feared not the wrath of the King nor the fiery Furnace God should not be dishonoured by them they would die rather Tyrants may kill Saints but not conquer them Christ was slaine but not overcome so it may be with those are Christs That 's good mettal will endure the fire a good Ship that holds sound and firm in all storms good cloth that shrinks not in wetting wel-grounded colours that fade not brave souls that nothing can daunt discourage or turn from the truth one of these is better then a thousand that have great words but when hardship comes to be undergone prove low and weake he 's a friend that owns a man in need and in a strait he 's a Saint that from inward grace is made so couragious that nothing shall separate him as from the love of Christ 2 Tim. 1.7 so from the worke of Christ The Mettall of a souldier is tried in the Battel the spirit of a Christian in times of opposition 9. Christ is all for drawing souls to himself Joh. 12.32 if he be lifted up from the earth he will draw men to him he is not a scatterer but a gatherer I mean of souls His businesse is to seeke and to save to find and preserve he woes and willing he is to marry soules that they might be his for ever christians in this are spirited like Christ they endeavour to drive a trade for Christs gain they are for their masters profit they love Christ find exceeding benefit by him and they think others should love him also Pretious Christ is pretious to them and faine would they have him so to others They have an enlarg'd heart and an open mouth crying to souls oh love the Lord all ye people turne in hither souls come buy wine and milke without noney and without price we have found Excellent entertainment from Christ come he will shew you kindnesse good soules will not conceale the bountifull mercy of the Lord 2 Chro. 7.9 if they neglect to publish
God speaks good to souls now and gives in somewhat of love but 't is here a little and there a little now and then a drop to keep their hearts open but in heaven God comunicates all at once here he gives out what he gives in degrees according to Saints capacity to receive but in heaven the whole shall be posses'd that God hath in store for them that love him they shall have perfect holines compleat happines and pure spirituality Animorum summa puritas stupenda corporum charita c. There natures shall be spotless and there actions blamelesse an orient splendour and matchlesse brightness of resplendent light shall cover the whole man as a garment Oh what an infinite unconceiveable and unparallel'd gladnes throughout the soul spirit whloe man wil this occasion Saints here desire much and have somewhat of heavens excellency but their desires are not fully satisfied Quicquid desiderare poterunt electi illic invenient quia coram a facie ad faciem intuentur eum qui est omnia and in heaven they shal have their ful insomuch that desires shal cease not longing after more for God shal communicate himselfe fully and at once to Saints there Saints have now some beauty some comlines they are in part sanctified but in heaven they shal be fully sanctified all glorious this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality and then conceptions of evil shall not be in souls there shal be no unsoundnes of judgment nor taints of error no impuritie nor imbecillity of affections in glory Saints love to Christ shal not be cold weak and feeble but it shall be hot strong perfect they shal be without any imperfection Nothing in them or what is done by them shal be blame-worthy Similes erimus ipsi Deo benedicto in seculum they shal be like the blessed God for ever Is not this a word of comfort now wil it not be much more a precious soul-rejoycing to enjoy this purity this samctity this holinesse of being made a excellent beautiful like Angels Angelis sibi ipsi nos similes reddit yea like God himself There shal be nothing amisse in the soul it shal be all glorious no blindnesse lamenesse deafnesse nor crookednesse nor infirmity shal be on the body the bodies of Saints in glory that be handsome faire comely beautiful yea like unto the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 yea and which is more they shal in the whole body be like unto his glorious body Eadem corpora quae hic cum Christo crucifixa sunt una cum Christo in caelesti beatitudine glorificantur These very bodies of Saints that suffer now with and for Christ shal with Christ in heavenly blisse be glorified with him yea they shal have such glory as he hath This Souls I shal leave to you to admire I cannot sufficiently and to the ful in words discover it to you 'T is a wonder to thinke that they that are gracious and so like Christ here should be in heaven as handsome bodied as Christ is Gloria nulla lingua satis explicari potest and have as comely a person and feature as he himself has whom the Father loves dearly that their bodies shal be in all places like to Christs body Beloved may not this incourage us in trouble to venture life and limb for God rather then that God should lose his glory seeing that he can make up all again and supply all wants and wil make every one perfect at last and also not to be troubled as concerning Death with any discomfortable thoughts of worms eating and destroying the flesh with rottennesse seising upon the body and the like knowing that Christ at last wil restore all perfect 2. Saints you have now some wisdome and knowledge you shal have more abundant you shal have more wisdome Isa Dei sapientia seipsam eis ostendet c. you shal have clearer knowledge in the things of God and Christ and of heaven surely knowledge is an exellent thing especially Divine and Heavenly knowledge knowledge in the mystery of salvation What is it that some would not give for knowledge now in Arts and Tongues and in Scripture-truths yea to know God rightly In heaven Saints you shall have an exquisite and perfect knowledge of God ye shal see him not only mentally and contemplatively but also with the bodies eyes corporally so Job Job 19.25 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Whome I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another This Christians I conceive may make your longings to be eager after heaven and exceedingly rejoyce to thinke you shal see God to see God as he is in himself and as he Is in you And all this in a spiritual manner for all knowledge in heaven shal be spiritual I might enlarge my self more on this but I forbear according to what of God is given in to you such is your knowledge already and as God shal be reveal'd knowledge shal encrease and at last you shal in glory know as you are known 3. Saints shal in heaven have a ful fruition of Christ a ful sight of their sweet Saviour Chridum videre superabit omniagaudia Superabit omnia cordis nostoi desideria such a sight that shal give in unspeakable joy such enjoyment that shal bring more joy then heart can wish no tongue can express no heart can conceive what consolation they have that shal enjoy Christ and dwel with him for ever To see Christ to dwel and be with Christ brings to soules wounderful happines This makes souls cry out how long Lord Jesus is it ere thou wilt bring us to glory where we may have beauty presented to our sight sweetnes to our taste amongst men Pulchritudo erit visui mel gustui cithara auditui balsanum olfactui flos actui musick to our eare what is odoriferous to our smelling and delightful to be touch'd and handled the soul also fil'd with light and comfort every faculty having what is pleasant to it given out freely and fully O blessed condition O sweet life O happy being to be brought into the Court of the glorious God to the society of Saints Jesu Christe sponse animaemeae suavissime into the bosome of sweet and blessed Jesus the loving and ever-glorious husband to blessed souls Love is abundantly shown on earth by Christ to those that are Christs in their affaires to direct them in their troubles to help them in their dangers to deliver them in bestowing divers and excellent benefits both of grace and nature and of creature-things likewise in disappointing the dangerous devices of enemies in frustrating the subtile and crafty plottings of Satan in beating downe the power of
encouragment enough to him that truth defendeth favours him Christ hath all his affection and he hath from Christ all power to do what Christ cals him to through Christ that strengthens him he can do all things By the power and strengh of Christ he is carried up on high above sense above reason above the world he is raised above feares above frownes his soul like Jehosaphats is lifted up in the wayes of God 2 Chro. 17.6 Christ puts in a holy magnanimity insomuch that in Christs cause it feares neither fire nor sword cross nor loss breaking of bones tearing of members men or Devils so it may be one with Christ In a word a soul that is truly Christs borne of him living to him is one whom neither poverty nor death nor bonds nor any outward Evils can terrifie Oh! souls you that this day heare me what wil you do in bad daies what in persecuting daies in the daies that fiery trials come wil you then owne truth wil love to Christ make you cleave to Christ suffer for Christ die for Christ if it doth then may it be said that you are Christs and that you are no changelings but true bred spirits children of God in bad places and times like Christ The Lord grant that though friends faile riches faile times alter peace should be remov'd yet your faith may not faile but that you may be baptiz'd with the baptisme wherewith Christ was baptiz'd though a bloudy baptisme and so being like Christ in life and death you may be like him in glory Vse 3 Were I in a more publique place I might speak a word to the Parliament the great counsel of the Kingdom exhorting them praying them to have a care of such that are godly of such that are like Christ to deal wel with them to preserve them make provision for them for they shal be sure of the help of them whilst they stick to Christ the Saints wil stick to them We have seen a miserable defection by abundance of men I will not say all but doubtlesse most have fallen off because they were not like Christ and did not cleave to Christ I shal forbear speaking in this place what I might were the auditory sutable Good men are too much slighted many times and bad men over much favoured Equidem Jehova contempum effudit in Principes God hath in a great measure cast them out with shame that were not friends to his precious Saints but rather to the adversaries I trust God wil give the Parliament a heart to cast their eies upon and have respect of such that are the called the faithful and chosen of Christ Whosoever deserts ths Parliament the Saints will never unlesse they forsake Christ which God forbid If the Parliament should be in straits Saints wil go in with them if they should be oppos'd Saints wil help them with body soul estate their purse prayers strength shall help If they should meet with bad times the Saints would stand with them in the storme I fear if the Parliament should have the need of any hereafter they wil finde few closing faithfully with them but what are the faithfully of Christ Methinks I hear a secret muttering amongst many that are ready to say if troubles come the Parliament wil have but few to take their parts few that wil joyn with them to such whisperings I shal give a loud answer if the Parliament follow Christ and take his part as I trust they wil they shal be sure of the Saints all Christs friends and have they these I beleeve they need not care who is against them or what opposition they meet withal no though all the people of the earth be gathered together against them Zach 12.3 Let the Parliament set up Christ and favour those are Christs and then if all the Nations of the world were gathered together against them they need not fear for Christ would help them and take part with them and if he be of their side they need not fear what man can do unto them for Christ wil make their enemies fall before them God wil make our Parliament-worthies such to all their enemies Isti incredibili ardore atque successu gentes omes de bell aâ—unt subjicient vel potius stirpitus cacindeut Zach. 12.6 as is spoken of the Governor of Judah they shal be like a hearth of fire among the wood and like a torch of fire in a sheaf And they shall devour al the people round about on the right hand and on the left All that oppose them shall be but as a little wood laid on fire or straw put upon fire coales which would soon be consumed God grant the Saints may be favoured they that are truly godly be respected and car'd for by the Parliament then I doubt not of their flourishing and having friends to side with them for they shal have all the faithful and they are through Gods blessing many If this come to any of those worthies sights I pray God it may be a means to advise them to have a care of Christs people and then let them be sure those people of Christ wil have a care of them And though they must venture all nay die they wil stand with them God grant our Parliament-worthies may consid er that though they have not the most with them yet they have the best though the Saints be least for numebr yet they are the strongest for might and such that can though but a few subdue many five shall chase an hundred Lev. 26.8 and an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight Great hath been the experience that this Kingdome hath had of the Saints victories of those that went against their enemies 1 Sam 17.45 as David against Goliah in the name of the Lord of hoasts Keep close together Saints keep with the Parliament Deus favet justis piis consiliis and then I doubt not but all wil be wel for God wil blesse the proceedings of good-men in a good cause and what better cause can be taken in hand then what is now in hand in England the bringing Christ to his Throne Let me conclude all with a word of consolation to such that fear bad times and that have spirits troubled with the various tossings in the world and defections of men from truth and other molestations that are all ready in the world and that they fear wil come on to the further grief and suffering of Saints Indeed there are troubles the dayes are evil times bad and 't is likely may be worse yet be sure of this they that are Christs people wil continue his people they that are gracious there will be some good still in sad times in the worst times some that in assured hope and confidence of Gods mercy in all necessities and tribulations cleave to the truth knowing that Gods power is Allmighty his promises most true his mercies infinite and that 't is for their souls everlasting happinesse to follow Christ let what sufferings soever come yea though they loose their lives There are a remnant that are enlightened and from that enlightening they know what is best to be embraced they know that whatsoever of troubles come now yet to al that are in Christ that are like Christ that love his appearing there will berest there will be peace there wil be blessednesse there wil be glory Those that are engrafted really into Christ wil by vertue receiv'd from Christ flourish Bad times make not them bad they will be good in any times in any company in any place If exalted good if abased good if rich good if poor good if in distresse good if in prosperity good Christ was a precious Christ in every condition and they precious Saints in every condition I know not what the times may be but I know what they that are Christs will be they wil be like Christ As some trees continue green in every season of the year in winter and summer in heat and cold so some men good in all times they are no changelings they are stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord. Immobiles sunt super solido fundamento Christo Dominum in ipsum sincera fide perfecta recumbertes Let others totter they stand others shake they are unmoveable others fal they rise others be idle they Labour others be against God they are for him Consider of this I pray and let it cheer up your spirits I know you are apt to say times are so bad you know not whom to trust al ready men are so deceitful wicked and if they should be worse you know not what to do nor what wil become of you Christ comfort you and encourage you and let what wil happen in the world and let whose wil desert you if he never leave you nor forsake you you wil do well enough you wil be brought at the last to glory You may receive comfort in hopes of meeting with some friendly souls some Saints in the most naughty times but suppose you be left alone and there be none to be found yet in this be glad in this rejoyce in this be comforted that you shall find Christ and he will be to you insteed of friends and helpers and companions he wil be all to you The Lord grant that none of you be disheartned nor fal backe nor asham'd of the Gospel of the Lord but that you may beare witnesse to the testimony of Jesus and of this be confident your labour wil not be in vaine nor any suffering unrewarded that is undergone for Christ and his truth Christian friends whatsoever may make for your comfort I pray God give it you let it be peace within good company without the benefit of ordinances any mercy that so you may be Christs and continue like Christ let places times men the world with what is therein be never so bad FINIS