can discern else what meaneth this courting of the great ones while the poor of the Flock stand by disregarded and when a poor man comes to speak with you I am busie come another time when at the same time if a great one comes then make all ready to give them entertainment and all possible respect shewed them Sirs what doth this come short of that charge Jude 16. Having mens persons in admiration because of advantage If it be not really so I appeal to you whether or no you do not give others just occasion to judge so Oh Sirs precious in the sight of the Lord are all his Saints and so should they be to you excuse me that by the by I return to the Apostles evidence they were also of that Spirit to love the Saints 1 John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us Ah but how shall we know that we love him Verse 20. He that saith he loves God and hates his Brother is a lyer How shall we know who loved God Verse 21. He who loves God loves his Brother also and Chap 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat that is God loveth him also that is begotten of him Soul dost thou love him that is begotten of God then thou dost love God love God may many a man say why I never saw him how then should I love him Chap. 4.12 No man hath seen God at any time Exod. 33.20 No man can see God and live but in John before quoted If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us Note his love is perfected or compleated in us Ah soul dost thou love thy Brother Saint indeed 't is a good sign thou art a child of God it may be thou thinkest thou hast but little grace it may be but as a Mustard Seed 't is but as a spark of fire in a great heap of ashes a spark of grace in the midst of a great heap of corruption or it may be thou dost not shine in the sight of others so eminently it may be thou canst not discourse nor pray so excellently to appearance as some can I but dost thou love the brethren then I 'le assure thee 't is very well with thee who these brethren are Christ tells us they are they that do the will of the Father Mark 3.35 not thy natural brother if he hath not grace he is not thy brother in Christ 'T is well with thee if thou lovest the Saints so saith the same Apostle 1 Epist John 3.14 And with that I 'le wind up all as to these things We know that we are passed from Death to Life Why how dost thou know John we know by this Because we love the Brethren dost thou love the Brethren of Christ above and beyond all other men and as they are the brethren of Christ meerly upon no false account but only as they are the Brethren of Christ and the Family of God and as they are the Citizens of Heaven 't is a sure sign thou art a child of God and to use the Phrase in the Text One for whom Christ is sacrificed Thus now I have gone over those Carracters that have been found upon some one of the Saints or other that are found in the Word and though it may easily be discerned that they might have been contracted yet let such remember I design if the Lord will the relief of some poor soul that is ready to give up all hope and not what will be spoken either in praise or dispraise For he that will adventure in this sort must not mind mens good or bad report examine thy self therefore soul by what is before thee and if thou canst not find all these things in thee yet if thou findst but here and there one if God set in by his Spirit thou may'st find a little relief to thy poor trembling soul and if thou art found sincere before the Lord thou art a righteous one one that Christ the Righteous is slain for and so comfort is to be ministred to thee and that leads me to a use of consolation Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him Isa 3.10 So in Eccl. 8.12 Surely it shall go well with him that fears God Here is comfort soul for thee if in Christ who eyer thou art if thou art born of God though but a day old yet surely it shall be well with thee art thou in doubt touching thy condition as in Dent. 28.66 Doth thy life hang in doubt before and thou fearest day and night and hast no assurance of thy life of thy pardon of thy Salvation why behold God hath bid me tell thee to which he hath added this word of assurance surely it shall go well with them that fear God thou saist surely there 's no pardon for me no peace to me and surely it shall go ill with me at last Ah poor soul doth thy life thy pardon haug in doubt and hast thou no assurance of thy life why yet surely it shall go well with them for whom Christ dyed but what consolation is there to be ministred to such truly abundance more then I can tell thee of 1 Cor. 3.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can the heart of man conceive what is prepared for them that love him but saith the Apostle in the next words 'T is revealed to us by the Spirit 't is the Spirit of God oh soul that revealeth the consolation of God to thee 't is the Spirit that sheweth things and so comfort that is to come and though I cannot tell thee all thy comfort yet I 'le tell thee some of thy comfort for 't is God that comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort you which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God but in a few particulars I 'le shew thee some of the consolation that pertatineth to thee First I will shew thee a little what thou shalt be delivered from Secondly What thou shalt partake of and be priviledged too very briefly First Thou shalt be delivered from the vengeance threatned against the wicked Ah soul let me tell thee it shall be ill with the wicked Isa 3.11 'T is true the Godly man may be afflicted for his sin for God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of Men Lam. 3.33 No 't is for some sin he will visit you sometimes the Godly Man shall not go altogether unpunished Jer. 30.11 But here is their comfort I will not make a full end of you no many at time hath he turned away his anger and did not stir up all his wrath Psal 78.38 It may be he let out a little of his anger like the leakings of a Floodgate but yet he did not let open the Flood-gates of his wrath that the full stream might sweep all away before it but now he opens the Flood-gate upon the wicked he reserves
see it 't is a sign thy grace is true XVIII Canst thou in any measure commit thy concernments to God Psal 37.5 Commit thy way to the Lord dost thou throw thy concerns on him or roll thy self on him so the word signifies Ah poor soul hast thou a burden of care and trouble on thy back cast it on him for he hath bid thee do so and such a place you shall find 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care on him for he careth for you Put thy trouble off to him for he will bear it soul dost thou find thy heart taken off from a carking distrustful care 't is well for thee but I hasten to the next XIX Dost thou long for the accomplishing the glorious promises of God to the World the world is now much out of order so much that the whole Creation groaneth but dost thou long to have it set to rites there are promises of Christ's Kingdom set up not in word only but in power my friends whoever you are I must tell you there is a King to Reign in Righteousness Isa 32.1 Yea his dominion shall be from Sea to Sea all Kings shall fall down before him and all Nations shall serve him Psal 72.8.11 Let them be never so Potent Princes and never so stout and populous Nations yet they shall all fall down before him and in that day there shall be a root of Jesse which shall be for an Ensign of the people Isa 11.10 In that day what day why this doth refer to Gospel-times the latter days And my Servant David shall be their Prince for ever As you may read at large Ezek. from Verse 22. to the end of that Chapter who that David is I shall not now stand to discourse onely I would desire you to compare Jeremiah from Verse 15. to 22. together with first of Luke 32.33 Vers and besides this promise he hath promised great things to his Church and People Psal 72.7 In his days shall the righteous flourish They shall not be under the hatches then Then she shall have Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Isa 1.26 Then the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the Mountain and many things more Isa 2.4 first Verses then there shall be that that good Hezekiah longed for in his days Truth and Peace 2 Kings 20.19 Yea and then shall the great light break forth that they shall not need to teach every man his Neighbour this will be a day that they shall know from the greatest to the least that their sins are forgiven them Jer. 31.34 What will those do then that say that Teaching is a Trade when all shall know they shall not need too Teach every man his Neighbour there be many in our day would hide all the knowledge in their own Studies and would not have the ordinary people to know so much certainly these do not long for this promise to be made good let them take heed least they be found none of the number that Christ was slain for for Light is promised the light of Christ shall shine The Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea That is an universal light shall break forth Hab. 2.14 And there is Holiness to the Lord promised to be written on every Pot and Cup in the Lords House and on the Bells or Bridles of the Horses Holiness not only in Worship but in Mens civil imployments the very Carmen and Drawmen as a Holy Man saith shall speak of his Kingdom and talk of his Power there shall be a Spirit of Holiness poured out universally Zach. 14.20 Then shall iniquity be put too an end and then transgression shall be finished that 's the day the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and shall not be found Jer. 50.20 And there is promised an Union among the Saints they shall serve the Lord with one consent Eph. 32.9 There shall be no more heart burnings and divisions among them but the children of Israel and Judah shall go together weeping and seeking the Lord Jer. 50.4 5. Are not these glorious promises soul these and many more are made which I shall not stand to multiply here are glorious and precious promises that the Saints shall enjoy in this world and if not we a succeeding Generation may we will not limit the Holy one of Israel but live in the Faith of it that he will make good every word in his time Ah that it may be said of us in an after age if we see it not as of them Heb. 11.13 These all dyed in the Faith Now if thou longest for this glorious day and promises 't is a great sign thou art one of his 't is a good sign he was slain for thee in his humiliation if thou dost long for his exaltation it is not likely his enemies should desire his coming and his glory therefore comfort thy self if thou art one of them that pray and believe and hope and long for this glorious day but I proceed to the next which will require great grace strong Faith XX. Art thou willing to suffer for Christ nay joy in tribulations I put them together though they might have been divided for 't is a higher degree required to joy in suffering then barely to suffer Paul when the Holy Ghost restified in every City saying bonds and affliction wait for me yet saith Paul none of these things move me they do not trouble me I do not lay them to heart So that I may finish my course with Joy Acts 20.24 And saith he in Acts 21.13 I am ready not to be bound only but also to dye at Jerusalem for the name of our Lord Jesus When his friends came and hang'd about him and cryed pray you Paul pray you Paul go not in danger Oh saith Paul what mean you to weep and to break my heart I am ready not only to be bound but to dye at Jerusalem And so Phil. 1.29 It is given to believers not only to believe but also to suffer Matth. 5.12 Blessed are they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake and 1 Pet. 3.14 If ye suffer for righteousness sake happy are ye nay if ye be but reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye Pet. 4.14 And if you hold fast till the Death I 'le give you a Crown of Life Revel 2.10 And in Revel 12.11 They loved not their lives to the Death no they did not value their lives for Christ so in Acts 5.41 42. They went from the presence of the Counsel how rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Oh soul art thou willing to suffer shame for the name of Christ not that it is shame indeed to suffer for Christ but it is an honour and so it may be understood art thou willing to suffer for Christ then happy art thou For the Spirit of God and of Glory resteth upon
name of profession on you and yet live so like sensuallists under your profession But I leave you to the Lord and according to my promise speak a word to Sinners to poor Sinners and what have I to say to you but the Lord pitty you I may say to you now we have been speaking of the sins of true believers being passed over and aquitted by the Sacrifice of Jesus poor sinners I may say to you what is this to you you have neither part nor lot in this matter yet would I perswade you to do these three things First Pray to the Lord seek to him but you will say thou saidst before God heareth not sinners I answer 't is true not with an ear of acceptation thou whose person is not accepted canst not have thy Sacrifice accepted yet 't is not the less thy duty to pray because thou findst not acceptance if thou lyest in the hands of an inraged Enemy thou wilt not say 't is in vain to intreat him before thou hast intreated him before thou hast tryed him no but thou wilt beg the more and the harder by how much the more thou thinkest he is enraged and wilt thou not much more cry to God who is more ready to hear then thou art to ask Jonah 3.8.9 Cry mightily to God Why will he hear us why who can tell if thou canst not pray in Faith as one saith pray that thou maist pray in Faith in Jerem 65.1 He hath been found sometimes of them that sought him not and now canst thou tell but he may hear thee that pray'st to him as well as thou canst pray perhaps thou shalt have an answer of Grace and a return of Peace and Pardon this was the very counsel that was given by the Apostle to that wretch Simon Magus Acts 8.22 Else why should I give it thee if it had not foundation on the Scriptures of Truth but I hasten to a close Secondly Break of thy sins by repentance when thou hast got a sight of thy state then break of thy old Companions and Sins Sinner let me put one Text before thee that after all that can be said to prevail with thee yet wilt be merry in thy sins and with thy old jovial companions if the joyful news of a Saviour will not allure thee yet oh that the vengeance of God might amaze thee oh hear it with trembling Mallac 4.1 Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of Hosts that it shall leave them neither Root nor Branch Oh hearked to this Sinner behold it look well and consider it the day cometh and apace too and that day that cometh is a burning day a more dreadful burning then that of Jerusalem or of London and who can abide this burning who will this burning be upon this burning as of an Oven that hath Walls to keep Men in that there will be no escape why in general all ye wicked of the Earth but especially and particularly all the Proud ones Oh hearken you proud ones will your pride endure the fire will your Gay-gaws your Bracelets and your Necklaces and your Round-lies like the Moon and your Crispin-pins abide the fire I doubt your rushing Silks will not abide the burning nay more it will burn you Root and Branch and least thou shouldst put me of and say thou tellest us so but we will not believe thee I tell thee sinner I call not on thee to believe me believe the Lord 't is the Lord that saith all this therefore 't is added in the end saith the Lord of Host Oh sinner 't is not I a poor perishing Creature like thy self but 't is the Lord of Host Oh hearken now sinner God standeth and saith it even now in the close of the Old Testament therefore be advised taked notice of his words why what doth he say why he saith all the wicked of the Earth or all Earthly wicked ones shall be burned up with the Earth and all proud ones shall be burned surely God always speaks with amazing words to the proud which made a learned and Holy Man cry out God loaths and hates all manner of wickedness but 't is never said he resists any sin but pride pride is so odious in Gods sight that he not only hates it but resists it and this I say note Sinner the Lord saith it but if thou art in thy wits and art come to thy self I would hope thou art not past all hope of recovery and with that I 'le conclude Thirdly And lastly Do not give up all for lost hearken to him sinner he calls thee he tells thee He hath no delight in the death of a Sinner he doth not delight to destroy thee Ezek. 33.11 'T is true thou hast no delight in our death but art thou willing we should live yea he bids thee come come whoever will come for the Water of Life he stands if I may so say even as one in the latter end of a Market and saith come Chapman come now and buy of me be sure you do not forget the onely Commodity that you should buy do not think it to dear for as we say the best is best cheap and to urge them to buy he uses this argument 't is the later end of the day the evening draws on come buy now for I am just going to pack up my Wares and there are none other such now come then and buy or else thou art undone excuse me in borrowing the Shop-keepers Rhetorick thus in the closing up of the Book our Lord seems to stand and say come buy Life nay rather then carry it away with him again he saith come take I 'le give it you if you will but take it oh wonderful shall the Pearl of Price be offered thee Gratis for thanks as we say and shall we not take it Oh wonderful that the best Commodity Life Righteousness Pardon Peace should be at such a low price nay at no price and yet not received and which is more that any man should have it too that would but take it whosoever a word of a large extent he forbids none but bids any whosoever will not only the Prince in his Robes but the Beggar in his Rags shall he welcome not onely the Rich but the Poor not only the Noble but the Base not only the Beautiful but the Deformed not only the Free but the Band-man not only my Lord but his Man is here invited not the Strong man only but the Weak not onely the Learned but the Unlearned and Ignorant not only the Wise but the Simple and them that want understanding are bid to turn in hither Oh how free and how full is the invitation even beyond expression and yet how sad is it that Sinners should put our Lord nay force him to make complaint and say ye would not come to me that ye might have Life nay you were so far from coming to me that you would not take Life of me when I brought it to you oh that ever sinners should be thus besotted and bewitched let me say to you as Paul to the Gallatians Oh foolish Sinners who hath bewitched jou and to testifie his willingness that it is real and not a complement he doth declare in divers Scriptures that he is not willing any should perish that are willing to receive him take one insteed of many 2 Pet. 3.9 He is long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish no what then but that all should come to repentance oh sinner whoever or whatever thou art as ever thou wouldst look God in the Face that made thee or Christ that hath offered Salvation to thee or as thou lovest thy soul do not refuse nor slight but accept and receive the Salvation that is offered And remember I 'le tell thee I have written this in love to thee to perswade thee and I tell thee if I am found a slighter or neglecter of this offer this will be a swift witness against me and if thou art found a Despirer and neglecter of this Christ that is Sacrificed both I and it shall be forced one day and that day may be very neer to witness against thee remember if thou hast read all of these Lines hitherto and wilt now at last despise all and cast all off and wilt resolve to keep thy sins and wilt have none of Christ thou wilt one day rue that ever thou readst thus far Oh remember thou hast had warning therefore seek the Lord while he may be found he may be found yet Grace is offered the Door is not shut therefore to day Now or Never Man the Night cometh when no man can work take the present time 't is a sad day of calamity in the World God and Mans Sword is drawn against us and thou carriest thy life in thy hand and now my heart even akes to think whether I shall loose my labour and thou thy God and thy Soul but be not oh for the Lords sake be not so cruel to thy self nor so unkind to Christ but receive him that offers himself to thee and if thou entertainest him thou mayst assure thy self he is a Sacrifice for thee as well as for Believers whom I have been endeavouring to comfort here and they shall be sure to sing Hallellaiah for ever saying Glory and Blessing and Honour and Praise to Jesus our Pass-over who is Sacrificed for us Consider of what I have Written to thee and the Lord by his Power perswade thy soul to close with him FINIS