the unity of this faith and knowledge and the neglecting of this is the frustrating of the whole work of the Ministery for let us preach never so many Sermons to the People our labour is but lost as long as the foundation is uâ—laid and the first principles untaught upon which all other Doctrine must be builded Thus far the worthy Bishop in his Sermon before King James at Wansted 7. Often remembring and real renewing our Covenant with God whenever the Holy Sacraments are administred Baptism is but to be administred once but we are solemnly and frequently to remember and make use of our Baptismal Covenant upon all occasions especially in avoiding all occasions and temptations and motions to sin within or without in time of tribulation and desertion and at the point of death we are buried with Christ in Baptism wherein also we are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God that so many of us as are bâ—ptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into his death therefore are we buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life By Baptism we are planted together in the likeness of his Death and also in the likeness of his Resurrection that our old man might be crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Covenant making and Covenant keeping is the sum of our Religion We are sworn in our Baptism to believe all the Articles of our Christian Creed and to live by faith to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless to pray according to the Lords Prayer without ceasing for Grace that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we may live soberly righteously and godly in this present World that so with comfort we may look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and as we have sworn so we are to perform it even in keeping all the righteous Judgments of the Lord so also the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper which if there be opportunity should often be received by us wherein we shew forth the death of Christ till he come is another excellent means appointed by God both to convey and assure to us the Kingdom of God as also to strengthen and confirm us in the Grace we have received that we draw not back to perdition but going from faith to faith from one degree of Grace unto another we may receive the end of our faith the salvation of our Souls Let us shew the Lords death till he come by often eating this Bread and drinking this Cup but let us examine our selves lest eating and drinking unworthily we be found guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and so eat and drink damnation to our selves III. All the Graces of the Holy Spirit must be had and exercised we must go to the God of all Grace for every Grace he will give Grace and Glory first Grace then Glory It is through Grace we have good hope the Grace of Regeneration according to his mercy he saveth us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he sheds on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour that being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life there is no hope of eternal life without Grace It cannot be expected I should discourse of all the Graces these may suffice 1. The first Grace we are to labour for is Humility by which we come to know our vileness and unworthiness that we are no better than wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked and have need of every thing and yet deserve nothing that we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God The way to be rich in Grace is to be poor in Spirit God will give Grace to the humble the more humble the more holy Saint Paul the chiefest of sinners less than the least of all Saints in his own account yet not a whit behind the very chiefest of the Apostles in Grace and Gifts labouring more abundantly than they all yet not I saith he but the Grace of God which was with me Be cloathed with humility walk humbly with God humble your selves under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time God will save the humble person 2. Acquaint your selves with God know the God of your Fathers This is life eternal to know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent the principal part of the image of God is the knowledge of him If you would have his mercy and his favor you must have understanding for to a people of no understanding he that made them will not save them and he that formed them will shew them no favor they who like not to retain God in their knowledge are not like to go to Heaven that the Soul be without knowledge it is not good the Soul cannot be good without knowledge it is the image of God which makes the Soul good The new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness is renewed in knowledge we escape the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Grace also and Peace are multiplied unto us through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord yea all things that pertain unto life and godliness are given unto us through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue Therefore if you determine to go to Heaven determine not to know any thing so much as Jesus Christ and him Crucified Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get Wisdom and with all thy getting get Understanding get Wisdom get Understanding â—orget it not embrace her and she shall bring thee to Honour and Heaven She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every one that retaineth her 3. Repent and believe the Gospel I put them together for brevity sake as I find them Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus are our very entrance into the Kingdom of God True Repentance which elsewhere I have described at large le ts the Kingdom of Sin and Satan out of the heart that Faith unfeigned may receive Christ and his Kingdom into it Repentance is a turning from Sin and Satan and the World and Faith is a coming to God by Christ a choosing and closing with him as our Lord and Saviour a receiving of his Fulness and Grace for Grace that we may glorifie God and be glorified with him in our Bodies Souls and Spirits which are Gods Seek first the Kingdom of God in a way of repenting and believing and you are sure to find it 4. The fear of God especially for
whom thou hast sent And though the ungodly like not to retain God in their knowledge and are so far besides themselves as to say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Notwithstanding that he hath said to a people of no understanding that he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour while they walk in the vanity of their minds having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ which is the image of God should shine unto them And therefore this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be discerned or reproved Yet to them who were sometimes darkness but now are light in the Lord and walk as children of the light they determine to know nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified Yea doubtless they count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus for whom they suffer the loss of all things and do count them but dung that they may win Christ and be found in him not having their own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith that they may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death if by any means they may attain unto the resurrection of the dead not as though they had already attained either were already perfect but humbly taking God at his word that then shall they know If they follow on to know the Lord follow after if that they may apprehend that for which also they are apprehended of Christ Jesus For the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory hath given unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of their understanding being enlightned they know what is the hope of his calling and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to them who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places And though there be some that have onely the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law and Gospel and so have but a form of godliness such are they who profess that they know God yet glorifie him not as God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate or void of judgment who resist the truth Men of corrupt minds reprobate of no judgment concerning the doctrine or grace of faith Of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth because they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts they heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears and turn away their ears from hearing the truth and are turned unto fables not consenting to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness being proud knowing nothing doting fools or sick about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strife railings and surmising perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain of honour by their doubtful disputations is godliness From such let the humble and weak in faith turn away I say though there be some who for the time ought to be Teachers yet have need that one teach them again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat For every one that useth milk is unskilful and hath no experience in the word of righteousness for he is a babe Yet for those who are truly enlightned and have both tasted of and relished the heavenly gift and the good word of God and have been made partakers of the Spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of councel and the spirit of knowledge making them of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord even those that by reason of use or habit or perfection have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil They abhor the evil and cleave to that which is good being transformed by the renewing of their minds they prove and try what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God for a good understanding have all they that do thereafter And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments Hereby know we also that we are in him and he in us For if a man keep my words saith Christ we will come unto him and make our abode with him But he that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him Christ will profess to such a one Depart from me thou worker of iniquity I never knew thee But he who loves God not in word or in tongue but in deed and in truth is known of him and knoweth God and approves things that are excellent even whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report Growing also in grace abounding in love more and more and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and in all judgment or sense minding savouring favouring the things of the Spirit as they that are after the Spirit For as many as are led by the Spirit of God being spiritually minded serve him in newness of spirit mind not high things but content themselves with mean things Take not thought for their life what they shall eat or what they shall drink nor yet for the body what they shall put on knowing the life to be more worth than meat and the body than raiment and that meats are but for the belly and the belly for meats but God shall destroy both it and them And the body is for the Lord and the Lord for the body And though there are many whose God is their belly whose glory is in their shame men of the world which have their portion in this life and whose belly God filleth with his hid treasures who say Who will shew us any good trusting in uncertain riches that will be rich and therefore minding
therefore your members purifying our hearts by Faith a Faith that worketh by love and worketh love in their souls who obey the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love not only of Brethren but Enemies so that they can love them with pure hearts fervently That we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil we wrestle not only against flesh and blood but against Principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high plâ—ces we must take unto our selves the whole armour of God having our loynes girt about with truth and having on the brest-plate of righteousness and our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace above all taking the shield of Faith wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and Hope the Helmet of Salvation the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching â—hereunto with all perseverance whereby we shall be more than Conquerors through him that loved us nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ not Tribulation though we must through much Tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers â—or things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord So that in this warfare though the way be not Peace yet the end of it is Peace it yieldeth the Peaceable Fruit of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby even that Peace which passeth all understanding and Joy which is unspeakable and full of glory The Kingdom of God whether the Kingdom of Satan will or no will be the kingdom of Righteousness of Peace and of Joy in the Holy Ghost to the seekers of it the fighters for it the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force By Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ we enter into the kingdom of God and this Kingdom of God enters into us by Repentance towards God we are delivered from the power of darkness by Faith we are traâ—slâ—ted into the kingdom of his dear Son Repentance turns Sin Satan and the World out â—f the heart that Faith may let Christ into it the voice of Faith is Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors that the King of Glory may come in Who is this King of Glory Christ who dwelleth in the heart by Faith and where Christ is he hath his kingdom of Grace As many as receive him or that believe on his Name of his fulness receive Grace for Grace Christ and his Grace are inseparable he that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life our life is hid with Christ in God Christ is Gods first and greatest Gift himself tells us he is the Gift of God given to the World of Mankind before the foundation of the World in Gods everlasting Decree and with in and through him hath given all things pertaining to Life and Godliness even from the first Grace of Election to the last Gift of Eternal Life Election According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World Acceptation of our persons according to the good pleasure of his will he hath made us accepted in the Beloved Creation To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Redemption In him we have Redemption through his Blood according to the riches of his Grace A General Redemption we thus judge That if one died for all then were all dead dead in sins and trespasses dead in Law and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them by the Grace of God he tasted death for every man Regeneration The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature all things are past away behold all things are become new Justification By the offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life in whom we have the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of his Grace that they may receive forgiveness of sins by Faith that is in me saith Christ Reconciliation Being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ the Peace of Reconciliation God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself and Christ in his Ministers beseeching us to be reconciled unto God We who sometimes were far off are in Christ Jesus made nigh by his Blood for he is our Peace that he might Reconcile us unto God in one Body by the Cross having slâ—in the enmity thereby and made both one having broken down the Middle-Wall of Partition between us abolishing in his flâ—sh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinancâ—s for to make in himself of twain one New Man so making Peace Having thus made Peace by the Blood of his Cross God by him Reconciles all things unto himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven and we that were sometime alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death The Favour of God In whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace of Favour wherein we stand an unconceivable unspeakable mercy Jesus was in favour with God to bring us into favour with God whoso findeth Christ findeth Life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. In this Favour is our Life this Loving kindness is better thâ—n our Life next to the Glory of God I know nothing in comparison or competition to be minded regâ—rded sought made sure of and prized but having keeping and increasing in the favour of God It was the happiness of Christ as Man here on Earth to increase in favour with God David entreated this favour with his whole heart I know no chief good besides God and his favour the whole Benefits and Comforts of our Election Creation Redemption Regeneration Justification Reconciliation Adoption Sanctification and Glorification are summed up in Gods Face Countenance and Favour towards us in Christ Adoption The Son of God was made the Son of Man that we who are the Sons of Men might be made the Sons of God by Adoption when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth
Work and Labour of Love which God will not be unrighteous to forget shewed unto his name in Ministring unto the Saints which every one is to do and shew with the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end But whoso hath this Worlds Good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him How dwelleth the love of God in him The love of God dwelleth not in him at all for this is the Commandment that he who loveth God love his Brother also and he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen How can he love God whom he hath not seen What is the reason and cause of Wars and rumors of Wars Nation rising against Nation and Kingdom agâ—inst Kingdom Of Mens delivering up one another to be afflicted of hating betraying biting devouring and killing one another and of the abounding of Iniquity but because the love of many shall wax cold Iniquity with the effects would soon be at an end were all our heads and hearts at work in promoting this duty and grace of Charity I verily hope still to see His Majesties Kingdoms flourish and abound in this grace of graces namely Charity I have Charity for all that they will be in Charity each with other save the proud and covetous The proud which are cursed will err from Gods Commandments especiaâ—ly from things of Châ—rity while proud I have no hope of such pride is for contention and division only by pride cometh contention Charity is for peace and unity against both The covetous whom the Lord abhorreth count their gain to be Godliness an heart they have exercised with covetous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and go astray because they love the wayes of unrighteousness these are for Use upon Use to swallow up the poor alive From these Persons and Practises the Good Lord deliver the King and his Kingdoms O my Soul come not thou into their secret unto the Assembly of Men proud and covetous mine honour be not thou united But Charity is humble and the humble are Charitable Charity is not puffed up with pride or knowledge not cruel but liberal and deviseth liberal things and by liberal things it shall stand It is manifest that these two cruel evils had a great hand in our late mutual devourings and except God by his wonderful Power and Providence interpose we are still in Eminent and Imminent danger of them The fear of God is another principal part of this Kingdom of God Indeed if we take it in the comprehensive sense it is the sum of Religion but take it as a Grace and the fear of God is to hate evil and depart from it the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death it is the way of life and this way of life is above to the Wise that he may depart from Hell beneath which can never be but by first departing from sin upon Earth Unto Man God saith Behold the fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from evil is Understanding This fear of God is bred in the heart by the love of God Ye that love the Lord hate evil perfect love casteth out the fear of bondage and lets in the fear of reverence for this we have Gods Promise The Children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter dayes they honour the King best who fear God most Nothing like goodness to beget the fear of God and due and true honor to the King Love the Brotherhod fear God honor the King are linked together The fear of God is a fear to sin out of love and reverence to the Majesty of God he who truly fears God fears nothing but sin and none but G d and for God How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God saith he who is tempted to sin while he doth good he is not afraid of the Power because he is the Minister of God for good to him but when he doth evil he is afraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a Revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil otherwise he is not afraid of him that can kill the Body and after that hath no more that he can do because he fears him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into Hell This God he fears to sin against and therefore fears not to be cast by him into Hell While it is his care to cleanse himself from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and to perfect holiness in his fear and to work out his salvation with fear and trembling This fear is Filial and Reverential a Child-like fear afraid to dishonor God If I be a Father saith God Where is my honor An earthly Father expects and deserves honor from his child so doth our heavenly Father from his children The honor of reverence in carefulness to please him and fearfulness to offend him This is the fear of the Lord which tendeth to life and he that hath it shall abide satisfied he shall not be visited with evil in this fear of the Lord is strong confidence The love and fear of God together breeds the best obedience which is the best Sacrifice the fear of God restrains from siâ— which is a transgression of the Law of God and the love of God constrains yea helps to the fulfilling of it Who so despiseth the Word shall be destroyed but he that feareth the Commandment to break it shall be rewarded shall be in peace in keeping of them there is great reward Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them but unto them that are Contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every Soul of Man that doth evil buâ— gâ—ory honour and Peace to every Man that worketh good even to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for Glory and Honor and Immortality Eternal Life This is the Love of God thâ—t we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous This is love that we walk after his Commandments The obedience which is of and pertains unto the Kingdom of God is universal and constant Then shall I not be ashamed when I shall have respect unto all thy Commandments I have inclined mine heart to perform thy Statutes alway even unto the end The Principles of new and true obedience are Faith and Love or Faith working by Love called in Scripture the obedience of Faith neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by love The love of Christ constraineth us to live not unto our selves but unto him who for us died and rose again The obedience we owe to God in this Kingdom of Grace is Active and Passive Active not doing what
is our portion for ever All true believers must enter into the Joy of their Lord whâ—ch is so great and glorious that it cannot enter into them Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of Man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit here but will reveale them in us hereafter Which made S. Paul to reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us And therefore though now for a season if need be the people of God are in heaviness through manifold temptations yet they greatly rejoyce and Joy in the God of their Salvation This is their time to weep lament and be sorrowful while the men of the World rejoyce but their sorrow shall be turned into Joy and Worldings Joy into weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever The weeping of the godly may endure for a night but Joy cometh in the morning for a short night of sorrow they shall have an everlasting day of Joy as a Woman when she is in travel hath sorrow because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of the Child she remembreth no more the anguish for Joy that a Man is born into the World In like manner those little children of whom the faithful Ministers of Christ travel in birth with until Christ be formed in them What is their hope or Joy or Crown of Rejoycing but their New-born Babes through their Ministery come unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature or age of the fulness of Christ these are their glory and joy in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming when they shall be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding Joy for when Christ who is their life shall appear then shâ—ll they also appear with him in glory and though in these last dayes there are Scoffers walking after their own lusts saying Where is the promise of Christs coming yet such as are born from above believe and wait for the promise of his coming because he hath said I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you The end of all things spoken by Christ in his Word is that his joy might remain in them and that their joy may be full The end of their fellowship and communion with Christ and one another is that their Joy may be full even here upon Earth Whatsoever you shall ask the Father saith he in my name he will give it you hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name ask and ye shall receive that your Joy may be full That eternal life namely Jesus Christ which was with the Father and was manifested from the beginning which the Primitive Christians heard and saw with their eyes which they looked upon and their hands handled for this Life was manifested and they declared it that they might have fellowship one with another and truly their fellowship was with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ came into the World and lived in it to the end their Joy might be full If there be such a fulness of Joy in the Kingdom of grace What a fullness of Joy will there be in the Kingdom of glory But the triumphing of the Wicked is short and the Joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment at the longest his hopes and his joyes at death will give up their Ghost together while the righteous have hope in their death that will not leave them ashamed and the upright shall dwell in the presence of God where they shall shout aloud for joy he shall guide them with his eye and counsel unto death and afterwards receive them to glory and so shall they ever be with the Lord in whose presence there is fullness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore unto which happy state and place the good Lord bring the King and his Kingdoms Amen The Kingdom of God as it is a Kingdom of grace so also a Kingdom of glory A glorious Kingdom is the Kingdom of God infinitely transcending all the glory of all the Kingdoms of this World The tongues of Angels and the tongues of Men cannot sufficiently express or their understandings conceive the glory of this Kingdom of glory Since the beginning of the World Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him O how great is that goodness which he hath laid up for them that fear him which he hath wrought for them that trust in him before the Sons of Men O could we see and hear and taste as the Queen of Sheba did Solomon's the Wisdom of God the House namely the third heaven he hath built the Meat of his Table and the sitting of his Servants and the attendance of his Ministers and their Apparel their Words Works and Wages their Acclamations and shoutings with Joy there would be no more spirit in us than was in her The one half of the greatness of his Wisdom and of the greatness of this goodness cannot be told us it infinitely exceedeth all the fame of report happy are those Men happy are those Servants which stand continually before this God to hear and see and enjoy this his Wisdom and Goodness happy are the People in the account of the World that enjoy the honors and pleasures and riches of this World but in reality happy are they who have God for their God If St. Paul who was caught up into Pâ—radise heard unspeakable words which was not lawful or possible for a Man to utter Who am I that darkneth this Kingdom of Glory by words without knowledge who is able to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of it which passeth knowledge This Kingdom is made up all of glory the three glorious persons namely God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are the glory in it and of it there dwells the God of glory the Lord of glory the Spirit of glory This Kingdom of glory is not Gods glory God is the glory of this kingdom of glory There is one glory of the Sun and another glory of the Moon and another glory of the Stars these derive their glory from the Sun there is one glory of the Sun of righteousness another glory of the Angels another glory of the Saints these also receive their glory from the glorious Sun of Righteousness there are Angels of glory Saints Vessels of glory Thrones of glory Crowns of glory no persons no manner of things to render this Kingdom of God inglorious God hath no pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with him the foolish shall not stand in his sight he hateth all workers of iniquity There shall in no wise enter into it any thing
up one Mystical Christ a Mystery great beyond the capacity of Angels to conceive which things they desire to prye or look into and is the subject of their continual and just admiration The full Vision and Fruition whereof will administer also to every glorified Saint matter of the highest Adoration and everlasting Consolation Were this one Promise of one heart and one way in the fear and worship of God accomplished in the midst of us that we might be his People and he our God to rejoyce over us to do us all the good he hath promised us What greater or better thing could we desire on this side Heaven why in the Kingdom of God there will be one heart and one way and one work for ever There will be no need of beseeching Brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus to speak the same thing that there be no divisions among them that they be perfectly joyned together in the same Mind and in the same Judgment God and all the Godly will there be so well known to each other through the Light of the Sun of Righteousness that there will not be the least shadow of division or fear of any separation This happy perfect and perpetual Union is the foundation of that Communion and Fellowship between God Angels and Just Men made perfect which is unspeakable and full of glory What Fellowship there is between the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost is a Secret to us if not to Angels and Secret things belong unto the Lord our God but a mutual glorifying each other there was is and will be from everlasting to everlasting and how far the glorified Saints and Servants of the Lord shall be made happy in the Enjoyment and Knowledge hereof in heavenly Glory is so much above the reach of our meditation that it ought to be pâ—ssed over with silent Adoration but verily and â—ruly our Fellowship will be with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ through the Spirit and with all the blessed Angels in such a manner and measure as no Tongue can utter or Mind conceive For Saints to draw nigh to God and for God to draw nigh to them in Mercy even here How good is it It is good for me to draw near to God Draw me we will run after thee is the Language and Prayer of every one that is Godly but when by drawing near to God we are come to God and are not only nigh him but with him How comfortable will that Communion be It will be a Communion in the highest honors the sweetest pleasures and the truest riches Them that honor me saith the Lord I will honor It will be our heavenly happiness to receive honor from God and to give honor to God this honor have all his Saints Honor is such an excellency that is naturally desired of every one sinners and unbelievers who seek not the honor that cometh from God only which is the only true honor rather than live without it will receive honor one of another though thereby they are hindred from the honor of believing in God and in his Son Jesus Christ which is to give all hon r to him to whom honor belongs and to receive all honor from him who is the only Author of every good and perfect gift The making Man a little while inferior to or lower than the Angels and crowning him with glory and honor in a state of innocency made David fall into admiration Lord What is Man that thou art mindful or takest knowledge of him or the Son of Man that thou visitest or makest account of him What admiration will it occasion to the glorified to be made like to or equal with the Angels in Heaven and then and there to wear Crowns of Glory Honour Righteousness and Life which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give unto all them that are faithful unto death and love and long for his appearing When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory not only like unto Angels but unto Jesus Christ the Lord of glory It doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him in our bodies We look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who will change our vile Bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body which is uncorruptible and immortal This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality Our Bodies were fearfully and wonderfully made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth The works of God are all wonderful sought out of all them that have pleasure therein This curious Piece of Mans Body is so full of wonderful mysterious works in every part and member thereof that all the Anatomists in the World could never find out or describe perfectly its excellency It is quite beyond the reach of the understandings of all Souls to comprehend the height length depth and breadth of those excellencies that are contained in the Body of Man Indeed sin hath depraved it and deprived it of much of its glory yet remains there that majesty upon it that commands reverence from all other capable creatures There are Bodies Terrestrial and Celestial each of which have their glory the one before the other after the Resurrection But some Men will say How are the Dead raised up and With what Body do they come God giveth it a Body as it pleaseth him It is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body it is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory a glorious Body Like unto the Body of Christ perfectly free from all sin from Natural and Moral infirmities no more pains or sickness for ever Perfect and perpetual health and holiness will diffuse it self into every member The united understandings of Men from the beginning to the end of the World cannot conceive nor tongues express or set forth the Glory whâ—rewith the Body of the meanest Saint and Servant of the Lord shall be clothed in the Kingdom of God and Glory the Body hath many Members and those Members of the Body which we think to be less honorable upon these we bestow or put on more abundant honor and our uncomely parts have more abundant comliness for our comely parts have no need but God hath tempered the Body together having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked so that when one member is honored all the members rejoyce with it If such abundant honor and more abundant comeliness be put upon the Body in the state of imperfection and corruption What honor and comeliness will God bestow upon the Body in the state of glorious perfection when this corruptible must put on uncorruption and this mortal must put on immortality then will the head wear a Crown of an eternal weight of Glory The eyes will be fully satisfied
in Gods everlasting decree purposed prepared purchased promised and preserved to be the heirs of this Kingdom for ever But all the difficulty is how every one may arrive to a comfortable assurance of his Interest in and right and title to so glorious a Kingdom as God and his Christ in infinite Wisdom and Mercy from all Eternity hath purposed prepared purchased promised and preserved and that he is one purposed prepared purchased promised and reserved unto this Heavenly Kingdom This may be known by those and only those that give all diligence to know it such are they that with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord the things they purpose they purpose not according to the Flesh that with them there should be yea yea and my nay thou hast fully known saith St. Paul my purpose If we can know the purposes of our hearts if the purposes of our hearts be only to the glâ—ry of God and glory with God for the way and means conducive to this end â—s truly as to the end it selâ— then we may surely know thaâ—â—his Kingdom is purposed for us and we purposed to it Are the purposes of your hearts set within you against sin all sin the wayes the occasions the temptations to sin against Satan and the World the honors the riches and the pleasures thereof as they stand in oppositiâ—n unto and competition with God Christ Grace Glory and your immortal Souls Are you fully purposed for God-Glorifying and God-Enjoying in time and for eternity This is one great evidence that you shâ—ll be glorified with him and enjoy him in this purposed Kingdom of glory if you hold on and hold out unto the end The Kingdom prepared is theirs who are serious and sincere in preparing themselves for it Indeed the preparations of the heart in Man are from the Lord but the Lord gives to every Man a heart to make Conscience to prepare himself in the use of all good means for that eternal weight of Glory which God hath prepared for him a Vessel of Mercy according to the riches of his Glory which he had afore prepared unto glory for we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained or prepared that we should walk in them The whole Church of God is prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband a Vessel unto honor sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work Ministers are Gods Instruments herein to turn the disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just to make ready a People prepared for the Lord for which end their feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace How beautiful are the feet of them that Preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad tidings of good things Under Christ God hath trusted every one with the care of his own Soul and given him a Talent to employ and improve for its Sanctification and Salvation for this is the will of God even our Sanctification who will have all Men saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth and it is his Will that every one should be a faithful and wise Steward to give his Soul its portion of meat in due season and that â—ervant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes and he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes for if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How can any think to escape who neglect so great Salvation Search therefore and try what preparations are you making for Death Judgment and Eternity in good earnest the Kingdom prepared and the People prepared for it are preparing with all their might for an enterance to be ministred unto them abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and it is for certain that this Kingdom is prepared that every one should prepare till they be prepared for it And we may further know our Title to this Kingdom if we are willing to go if I may so say to the price of it though it be purchased for us and we purchased to it for we are bought with a price The Kingdom and the Subjects of it were bought at no lower a rate than the precious Blood of Jesus Christ yet in a way of duty though not of merit must we make account to lay down a certain price before we can actually possess this Kingdom It cost Christ dear of his Father for our sakes he laid down his life for it but considering the worth and the weight of this glory we may have it at a cheap rate Something Christ expects we should part with and something we are to do and suffer before he give us the Kingdom We are to buy the Truth but not to sell it We must come to the knowledge of the Truth before we can be saved and before we can come to the sâ—ving knowledge of the Truth it will cost us the daily diligent use of all the means of grace as long as we live Grace and Glory differ only in degree It is Christs Counsel to buy of him Gold which is Grace that we may be rich white Raiment that we may be clothed Eye-salve that we may See He that hath no Money may and must buy Grace and Glory without Money and without Price or go wiâ—hout them The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Treasure hid in a Field the which when a Man hath found he hideth and for Joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that Field The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant-Man seeking goodly Pearls who when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it a sure sign he valued it above all he had Christ is the Pearl of great price grace and glory is the Kingdom This Pearl of great price is to be bought without price a thankful acceptance of it is all that is required to the enjoying of it He that hath by selling all he hath bought this Pearl of great price hath the whole Kingdom of grace and glory into the bargain he that hath the Son hath life Spiritual and Eternal Try we therefore our selves how willing and ready we are to part with our all all our sins our beloved lusts our right eye our right hand our right foot all our honors pleasures and riches yea and our lives if they stand in our way to Christ and Heaven If we be truly willing to be any thing to do any thing to suffer any thing according to the will of God blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing The Kingdom of â—od is a promised Kingdom and the heirs of it are the children of Promise and children that are under a Solemn Covenant and Promise
being poor in Spirit that you may be rich in Faith and Heirs of a Kingdom the comfort and content of a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth The Kingdom of God is not meat and driâ—k but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Let your Conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have that your Conversation may be in Heaven Heavenly-mindedness is your duty let it be your delight to seek those thingâ— which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore for all thosâ— and onely those that have and exercise the Graces of the Spirit in truth and uprightness Labour therefore in the last place for the Grace of Sincerity which is not so much a Grace as that which makes Grace to be â—race If I may sâ—y so what is Faith but Fancy if it be not unfeigned Or Love but Lust except it be without dissimulation What is Obedience good for if it be not universal and constant Our hearts and lives are not sound if we have not respect unto all Gods Commandments to perform them alwayes unto the end Suppose our Gracious Majesty the King command nothing but what is holy just and good for His own Honour and Interest and the good of His Subjects will he judge those persons sincere to him that lives in open disobedience to any of his righteous Laws God and man would and should be served in sincerity and truth God is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth he is rich in mercy but to whom to them that call upon him in Truth The good and the right way is only fear the Lord and serve him in Truth with all your heart God is for the heart and the whole heart man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart the heart and the sincerity of it is all in all with God Grace and Mercy is with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity with incorruption Sincerity is the Salt thâ—t keeps our Love and other Graces from corrupting and perishing it is the root of the matter which makes the hâ—art good and honest in bringing forth the fruit of rightâ—â—usness with patience unto perfection Whereas the seed sown in the heart where there is no root â—iâ—hers away the Word of the Truth of the Gospel bringeth forth fruit in them that hear it who knâ—w the Grace of God in Truth Do not my words saith God do good to him that walketh upright God is good to those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts which David intimates in his Prayer None are good indeed but the upright and sincere their hearts are good their lives are good they are like Saul and Jonathan lovely and pleasant in their lives and their death is precious in the sight of the Lord. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is Peace He shall enter into Peace that walketh before God in Truth and with a perfect heart doing that which is good in his sight uprightness integrity and sincerity in heart speech and behaviour is very pleasing to God Behold thou delightest in or desirest Truth in the inward parts They onely are the Sons of God who are blameless harmless or sincere speaking the Truth in love as being sincere which is all one speaking the Truth from the heart is a character of a Citizen of Zion and the property and duty of the true Ministers of the Gospel who are not as many which deal deceitfully with or corrupt the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak they in Christ his Doctrine shewing uncorruptness sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned ordering also their Conversations in the World by the grace of God in simplicity and godly sincerity that they may approve things that are excellent that they may be sincere and without offence toward God and toward man till the day of Christ They who are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel are even so to speak and live not as pleasing men but God which tryeth their hearts not at any time using flattering words for a cloak of covetousness whom St. Paul would have the Brethren to mark And I most humbly beseech His most peaceable Majesty for His own and His Kingdoms sake and safety He would also mark them who cause Divisions and Offences upon what pretences soever either in the State or Church or Families contrary to the Doctrine of Christ for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple walking in craftiness doing the work of the Lord deceitfully But such as would first seek the Kingdom of God with comfort must labour to be Israelites indeed in whom is no guile that they may grow in grace in every grace going from grace to grace from strength to strength for the pure in heart and he that hath clean hands and is sincere perfect and undefiled in the way shall be stronger and stronger till he be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus being strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner man to exercise himself in all holy conversation and godliness in every condition in every relation for the truth and strength of grace lies much in relative religiousness None are really holy that are not relatively holy they who are not good loyal and sincere loving Subjects to His most Excellent Majesty the King are far from the true power of godliness and so in all other Relations which I leave to a fitter opportunity to handle What more plain in all the Word of God than that every Soul is to be subject unto the higher Powers How apt are men to forget it Put them in mind therefore saith St. Paul to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates What follows To be ready to every good Work Why for Rulers are not a Terror to good Works but to the evil He is a Minister of God to every one for good both to the good and to the evil to make evil men good and good men better The Supreme Power which is the Ordinance of God is not to be resisted upon pain of damnation but all Dues Duties Tribute Custom Fear Honour the rather to be rendered with all chearfulness and humble thankfulness for Magistrates are Gods Ministers attending continually on this very thing wherefore let every one of us as it is our bounden duty shew the truth and power of our godliness herein for we must needs be Subjects not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake to our Superiours in the Lord And that they may rule for God and for good let Supplications Prayers Intercessions and