Where there is a Vaile cast before the eyes of knowledge there is a Barre set before the hands of practise An ignorant person neither knows what he is a doing nor doth he know whether he is a going he doth nothing but undoe himself by doing Carnal men see no preciousness and loveliness in Christ Oh what is thy beloved more then another beloved Cant. 5,9 If thou knowest the gift of God and who it is that asketh thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water John 4.10 Christ goes undesired in the world because he goes undiscerned by the world But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 But now believers being enlightned by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God they see themselves what they were before faith and what they are by faith and what they shall be at the end of faith they see Christ to be all precious precious in his Ordinances precious in his Discoveries precious in his Graces precious in his Gifts precious in his Promises precious in his Members precious in his Ministers and precious in himself 1 Pet. 2.7 Therefore believers cannot but love him and follow him Fifthly They follow the Lamb because they love the Lamb. Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Ephes 6.24 They love him with a superlative love Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 The Spouse of Christ looks upon what she is as not great enough for his remembrance and what she does as not good enough for his acceptance Look not upon me because I am black because the Sun hath looked upon me My Mothers Children were angry with me they made me the keeper of their Vineyard but mine one Vineyard have I not kept Cant. 1.6 The Church is never more fair than when she judgeth her self to be most deformed never more happy than when she accounts her self most miserable never more holy than when she reckons her self most polluted she is never richer than when she seeth her self to be poorest of all The soul that loves much is a soul that works much the Commands of the Gospel are not grievous to him but precious to him Tell me oh thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest Cant. 1.7 A soul that loves Christ hath hath his eye upon Christ and his desire is after Christ The desire of our souls is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desired thee in the Night yea with my Spirit will I seek thee early Isa 26.8 9. True believers love Christ more then they love themselves They loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 13 11. Christ is dearer to them than their lives they slighted contemned yea despised their very lives when they stood in competition with Christ and his Glory and chose rather to suffer the greatest misery than he should lose the least dram of his honour The love of Christ hath made his Saints and VVitnesses yield all the parts and members of their bodies to the cruel and mercilesse instruments of bloody persecutors their backs to be whipt their eyes to be boared and their tongues to be cut out of their mouths Heb. 11.37 Oh how strongly did these love the measure of loving Christ is to love him without measure Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Tribulation shall not Persecution shall not Famine and Nakednesse shall not Peril and Sword shall not for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.35 38 39. Sixthly They follow the Lamb because they are married to the Lamb Jer. 3.14 I am married unto you Rev. 21.9 I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs Wife Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his Here I will shew you two things First How Christs comes to be ours 2ly How we come to be Christs First Christ is ours by the free donation and gift of the Father God so loved the word that he gave his only begotten Son John 3.16 Secondly Christ freely gave himself unto us so that Christ is ours by his own consent he hath as it were passed over himself unto us Christ loved me and gave himself for me said the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Thirdly Christ hath passed himself over unto his Church by marriage and therefore she is called his Queen his Spouse his Bride and his VVife Psal 45.9 Although we had nothing to bring to him but poverty shame forrow and misery yet he took us and loved us and married us Fourthly Christ is ours by communicating his own Spirit to us 2. The Saints are Christs four ways First By the Donation of the Father God hath made him both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things in the Church Ephes 1.22 And now saith Christ Behold I and the Children whom thou gavest me thine they were and thou gavest them me John Seventeen Six God the Father gave us to God the Son that he might redeem us and God the Son gave us to God the Father that he might sanctifie us and keep us from the evill of the World verse 17. Secondly We are Christs by choice I have chosen you out of the World And the Saints are said to be Chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 And they are called A chosen Generation 1 Pet. 2.9 And chosen and faithful Rev. 17.14 Thirdly The Saints are Christs by purchase We were in our Enemies hands and under their power and could not free our selves from the bondage of the Law Sin Satan Death and Hell therefore saith the Apostle We are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 For in respect of Gods Justice we are bought by Christ Fourthly We are Christs by combination and Covenant I entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16.8 That is I did make a Solemn Covenant or Stipulation with thee that I would take thee to be my people So that it is no wonder Pelievers follow the Lamb whethersoever he goeth they are married to him he is their Head and Husband Seventhly They follow the Lamb because they have the Spirit of the Lamb We have not the spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are of God And we have the mind of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 2.11 12 16. And we know that he abides in us by the Spirit which he hath given us Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his This Spirit that the Lord
Truth obey the Truth and hold fast the Truth Now Beloved Let me beseech you for Gods sake and for Christs sake and for your Soules sake keep your selves from false Teachers from false Doctrine from false worship from false Opinions If you will be tasting and siping at Babylons cup you must resolve to receive more or lesse of Babylons plagues XVIII Eighteenthly Be one with every one that is one with Christ Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your Calling One Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him By this we know that we love the Children of God when we love God and keep his Commandments 1 Joh. 5.1 2. He that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 John 4.26 Oh Consider what a dishonour it is to the Gospel that those that professe themselves Sonnes of the same God Members of the same Christ Temples of the same Spirit Heirs of the same Glory should be at a jarring one with another It is strange and unnaturall that Lillies should prove thorns to one another that those who are Saints in profession should be Devils in practise to one another that Gods Diamonds should cut one another For Wolves to devour the Lambs is no wonder but for one Lamb to devour another is a wonder and monstrous Oh that Christians instead of loving one another should hate one another Oh how unlike are we to that God whom we professe to be our God! He is full of love full of goodness and full of mercy and patience Oh but Christians cannot beare and forbear one with another Oh do not wicked men warm themselves at the sparks of our divisions and say it is as we would have it Oh Beloved hath not God made his wrath to smoke against us for the divisions and heart-burnings that have been amongst us Oh that you would lay this to heart and throw away all discord and divisions and heart burnings and labour for a onenesse in love and affection with every one that is one with Christ Oh labour for a healing spirit You cannot love God if you do not love the people of God If any man saith he loveth God and hateth his brother he is a lyer Let brotherly love continue Heb. 13.1 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another Mal. 3.16 Christs Doves should flock together There be many that cannot love a man unlesse he be of their Opinion or a Member of their Church though he be a Member of Christ Every man hath a good opinion of his own opinion But alas Beloved it is not this opinion or that opinion this way or that way will bring a man to Heaven without faith in Christ and he that hath faith in Christ hath a right to all the Ordinances of Christ and Promises of Christ and Priviledges of Christ therefore let me beseech you to love every man that is a godly man let him be of what way and form he will And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul Acts 4.38 XIX Nineteenthly Love Christ with a Love stronger then life who loved us with a love stronger than death Therefore doth my father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again no man taketh it from me but I lay it down my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again John 10.17 18. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Christs love to us was stronger then death he dyed for love he laid down his life to save our lives he loves us as the Father loves him John 15.9 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love Oh the Scripture hath exceeding high expressions of his affection to us Now Beloved if he died for us and suffered for us and set his heart upon us to love us and delight in us how ought we then to love him again Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind Math. 22.37 38. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 Vnto you therefore which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 Oh let our hearts be full of love and affections to Christ Love will breed courage and cast out fear slavish fear before God and carnal fear before men God can keep us from the torments of men but men cannot keep us from the torments of God Whilest we stand by God God hath promised to stand by us Therefore be not afraid of any Authority that stands in opposition to the Authority of Christ None can promise us better than Christ can none can threaten us worse than Christ can Can any man promise us with better then Heaven Can any man threaten us with worse than Hell Heaven is promised to those that love him and Hell is to be the portion of those that hate him Oh my dear Brethren Let us Love Christ with a love stronger then death so did Paul and the rest of the Apostles Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Rom. 8.35 Love is stronger than Death many waters cannot quench it neither can the floods drown it Cant. â— 6 7. XX. Twentiethly Be every day as serious in your preparation for death as if it were your last day All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come Job 14.14 This night thy soule shall be required of thee Luke 12.20 For what is your life it is even a vapour that appeareth a little time and then vanisheth away Jam. 4.14 Behold thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 As no Saint knows when that time and hour shall be so no wicked man knows when it shall not be To live without fear of death is to dye living To labour not to dye is labour in vain Men are afraid to dye in such and such sins but not afraid to live in such and such sins Oh the Hell of horrors and terrors that attend those soules that have their greatest work to do when they come to dye therefore as you would be happy in death and everlastingly blessed after death prepare and fit your selves for death Did Christ dye for us that we might live with him and shall not we desire to dye and be
Sodom and Egypt Chap. 11.8 That is in Antichrists Kingdoms and Dominions The Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Chap. 17.18 She is called Sodom for her filthiness and wickedness and Egypt for her cruelty and oppression Chap. 17.4 The true Servants of God and Members of Jesus Christ that bear witnesse for him against the evils of the Beast and against the evils of the world are here called two witnesses 1. Because of the fewnesse of them 2. Because two is a number sufficient to bear a witness John 8.17 3. Because Antichrists Beasts are called two Chap. 13. 4. They are called witnesses for Six Reasons First Because their work is to bear witness for Christ and his truth against the world the Flesh and the Devill A true believer is to bear a threefold testimony to and for Christ a word-testimony to and for Christ a word-testimony a life-testimony and a blood testimony Heb. 12. John 5.33 Secondly Christs Members are called witnesses because they stand up for Christ to maintaine his name his honour his cause his truth his worship his Glory in the world Dan. 3.16 17 18 and Chap. 6. And ye killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses Act. 3.15 Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole Acts 4.10 11 12. Thirdly The Lambs followers are called witnesses because they keep the testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12.17 Chap. 6.9 a testimony to all the Offices works and Kingdom of Jesus Christ as King of Saints and King of Nations Fourthly Gods chosen and precious ones are called witnesses because they doe appear boldly and openly for his truth they own it they love it they love it they publish it they hold it fast and suffer for it who through the teachings of the Spirit in the word and by the power of the same spirit are found in the practise of Christs Appointments they cannot deny the truth which is a Testimony to it Acts 24.14 Fifthly The true VVorshippers of God are called witnesses because they do bear witness against the beast and all the whole mistery of iniquity against the whore of Babylon who hath committed fornication with the Kings of the earth and made her self drunk with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17.6 Christs faithful witnesses bear an eminent Testimony against all her abominations and filthiness and wickedness against the Pope his Government his clergy his Doctrine his worship his Religion and all his abominable proceedings Rev. 19.7 Sixthly Christs redeemed ones are called witnesses because in dying they bear witnesse for him for to dye for the truth is a living standing testimony to it He who for Christs sake loves not his life unto the death dyes a most glorious witnesse of Christ Chap. 12.11 And they loved not their lives unto the death And the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pit made war against him and overcame them and killed them Chap. 11.7.9 Antichrist riseth in a double beast In his civil power and his Ecclesiastical power First In his civil power so he makes up one beast with the ten Kings Chap. 17.12 And this is that Beast that rise up out of the Sea which hath seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his heads the name of blasphemy And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leaper and his feet was as the feet of a Bear and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon and the Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority Chap. 13.1 2. Secondly In his Ecclesiasticall power so he makes up another beast with the Clergy and this is that beast that rise up out of the Earth He hath two horns like a Lamb and he speaks like a Dragon vers 11. Now these two monstrous beasts Antichrists Magistrates and Ministers slay the faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ and rejoyce over their dead bodies and make merry and send gifts one to another Chap. 11.10 Oh how do graceless faithless Christless men rejoyce at the afflictions and calamities of Gods people saying where is now your God and Christ your King Psal 42.10 As touching the nature of the VVitnesses death we are not to conceive thereof as though the same were to be a corporeall killing or slaying but a civill killing or slaying not so much their bodies as their testimonies deprive and strip them of their Liberty Worship Ordinances Religion and the free exercise of their Gifts suffering not a Servant of Jesus Christs to bear an open testimony against the abominations of the beast nor against their National wickedness but make Laws against them and lye in wait for them stoping their mouths and imprisoning their bodies hating and hunting them up and down afflicting and tormenting them and taking possession of their possessions Killing and slaying them all the day long and account them as sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.33 This is to be broken in the place of Dragons and covered with the shadow of death Psal 44.19 This is to be killed all the day long And upon this account the witnesses are said to be slain And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them Chap. 11.11 A spirit of boldnesse and courage zeale and undauntednesse and resolution to appear for Christ and his cause against Antichrist and the whole brood Therefore rejoyce all ye Saints and be glad all ye of upright heart though the witnesses be dead they will not alwayes be dead but rise again 3. After the slaying time the true Church is with the Lamb on Mount Sion Chap. 14.1 And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on Mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads which notes a fixed state Those which trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be moved Psal 12.5 before the slaying time the Church is very low but under the slaying time lower but after the slaying time the Church is very high she is rejoycing shining and triumphing on Mount Sion And they sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and the Elders and no man could learn that song but the hundred forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth The true Church having gotten the glorious presence of the Lamb in the midst of her and having gotten some victory over the beast they do rejoyce mightily And I heard a voice of Harpers harping with their Harps but this is not till after the resurrection of the witnesses are risen the Church is exceeding joyful This chapter out of which my Text
is taken containeth six principal things First A Lovely Description of Jesus Christ and he is described by the similitude of a Lamb Lo a Lamb stood upon Mount Sion vers 1. And behold the Lamb of God Joh. 1.19 He is called a Lamb in a double respect First In respect of his innocency 1 Pet. 1.19 Secondly In respect of his meekness and patience Acts 8.32 Secondly A Lively Description of the Church the Lambs wife and that from vers 1. to vers 5. Thirdly A glorious Description of the Churches Ministers As the Church is in this book called Heaven so her Ministers are called Angels And I saw another Angel flying in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel ver 6. And there followed another Angel saying Babylon is fallen vers 8. And the third Angell followed him saying with a loud voyce c. Vers 9. Fourthly Here is set down the Doctrine which these Angels preach and publish The first Angell published the free Grace of God in Jesus Christ openly against all the inventions of men Saying with a loud voice fear God and give Glory to him and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of waters vers 7. Namely That men should once fear God and worship him and give all glory to him none to Creatures none to Images none to Antichrist he that worshipeth the Beast worshipeth the Dragon and the Divel Chap. 13. The second Angell proclaimed the utter ruine of Babylon and the destruction thereof over the world saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that great City because she hath made all Nations drink of the wive of the wrath of her fornication vers 8. The third Angel doth seriously and solemnly give warning to all those who shall yet adhere to the Beast shewing the danger and misery of it If any man worship the heast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb vers 19.20 Fifthly A sweet word of heavenly consolation to the Saints and People of God And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth they rest from their labours and their works do follow them vers 13. Sixthly The Judgments and vengeance which shall be executed upon the false Church the Spirit doth set it forth by a double similitude the one by rending the other by gathering and that from vers 15. to the end God will as it were rain Hell out of Heaven upon Babylon he hath fire and brimstone for this spirituall Sodome judgement without mercy and fury without compassion I shall now come to the words of my Text These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth This text is one of the Golden Characters of the hundred forty and four thousand which stood with the Lamb upon Mount Sion In these words are three things First the Subjects these Secondly the Act follow Thirdly the Object The Lamb whithersoever he goeth I shall gather this Observation from the words That it is the sweet temper and frame of soules truly gracious to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth In the handling of this point I shall shew you five things First What it is to follow the Lamb Secondly Why they follow the Lamb. Thirdly The Excellency of following the Lamb. Fourthly The Misery of them that follow not the Lamb. Fifthly How the Lambs followers may be known from the beasts followers First To follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth is to follow him in four things First In his Commandements If you love me keep my Commandements John 14.15 Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you Chap. 15.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life Rev. 22.4 Oh Beloved we cannot follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes unless we follow him in his commands Then shall I not be ashamed saith David when I have respect to all thy Commandments Psal 119.6 Christians should take as much delight in those precepts that enjoyne holinesse as in those promises that assure happiness Secondly In his teachings My Sheep hear my Voyce and I know them and they follow me John 10.27 A stranger they will not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voyce of strangers Vers 5. Thirdly In his Providences through all afflictions all straits all discouragements and sorrows whatsoever though it be a way of blood We must forsake all to follow a crucified Christ a condemned in bloody paths of sufferings if he call us to it Ye though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Psal 23.4 For saith Paul I am ready not to be bound only but also to dye at Jerusalam for the name of the Lord Jesus We must be willing to venture the loss of all for him Liberty Estate Relations and Life it self We have forsaken all and followed thee Math. 19.27 Fourthly In his Example For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you Joh. 13.5 that Because Christ hath suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 22. So that to follow Christs steps is to take him for an example We must walk in the same spirit in the same steps and in the same obedience VVe must not follow wicked mens Examples who walk in the broad way that leads to death and are of their father the Devil and his work they do John 8.11 But we must follow our Head Christ who went up and down doing good Acts 10.38 Now this is to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth In his Commands In his Teachings In his Providence In his Example Secondly To follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth is to follow him truly without hypocrisie and constantly without apostacy First Truly without hypocrisie Many follow the Lord as Beggars follow a man onely for an Almes they prize the wages of Religion above the work of Religion You seek me not because of the miracles but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled John 6.26 Oh Beloved God abhors an Hypocrite more then a Sodomite and Hell is provided on purpose for Hypocrites Mat. 24.51 My Beloved following the Lamb fully is to have the heart sixed and resolved for God My soul followes hard after thee said David Psalm 63.8 And as the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God All the faculties of his soule are working after God My soul and all that is within me praise the Lord saith holy David Secondly Constantly without Apostacy A
true Believer after he begins to follow the Lamb he never leaves following him but followeth him whithersoever he goeth Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall Tribulation or Distresse or Persecution or Famine or Nakednesse or Perill or Sword For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Oh beloved he doth not follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth that follows the Lord earnestly for a while but afterward forsaketh him when a storme riseth Yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended Math. 13.21 Nor he that followes the Lamb in some things and the Beast in other things They feared the Lord and served their own gods after the manner of the Nations Nor he that followeth the Lord in a dull heavy manner and a luke-warm temper I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot Chap. 3.15 Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the fountaine of living waters and hewed them out Gisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water Jer. 2.12 13. Oh this is not a following the Lamb They that follow the Lord fully abide in the Lord and cleave to the Lord and continue constantly in Gods ways to the end of their dayes The righteous holds on his way Job 17.9 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. Hosea 6.3 The righteous man holds on his way he followes the Lamb whithersoever he goeth First Speedily Secondly Truly Thirdly Undividedly Fourthly Zealously Fifthly Humbly Sixthly Chearfully Seaventhly Diligently Eightly Constantly Ninthly Faithfully Tenthly Transcendently Now this is following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Now I shall shew you why Believers follow the Lamb. First Because they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. He paid a price for our redemption that so he might discharge the debt of our sins And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Rev. 5.9 There are three things called precious in the Scriptures First Faith is called precious 2 Pet. 1.1 Secondly The promises are called precious vers 4. Thirdly The blood of Christ is called precious 1 Pet. 1.19 O his blood hath redeemed us from six Enemies First From the World Galathians 1.4 Rev. 14.4 Secondly From the Curse Galathians 3.13 Thirdly From Sin Rom. 6 18 22. Fourthly From the Devil Heb. 2.18 Acts 26.17 18. Fifthly From the sting of Death 1 Cor. 15.55 56. Sixthly From Hell 1 Thes 1.10 Rev. 2.12 O his blood is precious blood his blood hath slaine our Enemies he hath purchased by his blood Reconciliation with the Father Union with the Son and Communion with the Holy Ghost Ye that were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 16. Secondly They follow the Lamb because they are washed in the blood of the Lamb. He hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood Rev. 1.5 These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sinne 1 John 1.7 Christs blood washeth away our bloody sins I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live Ezek. 16. For as soon as we are united with Christ our sins are upon him and his righteousness upon us It is Christ that gives us life and puts excellent Ornaments upon us to cover our nakednesse and decketh us with Jewels and Gems of Gold So we become beautiful in his sight Isa 6â— 10 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle nor any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Thirdly Believers follow the Lamb because they are risen with the Lamb. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ siteth on the right hand of God Coloss 3.1 Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should wark in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Every man besides a Believer is a dead man Dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 Therefore they are exhorted to rise from the dead Eph. 5.4 They must rise from evil to good from Earthly-mindednesse to Heavenly-mindedness but now Believers by faith are risen from darkness to light For ye were sometimes darkness but new are ye light in the Lord Walk as Children of light Eph. 5.8 Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Isa 60.1 When the Lord shined forth upon his people in glorious discoveries of himself he calls them away from their former condition When the Lord discovered himself in a Gospel dispensation his people were no longer to sit under dark clouds of legal Ceremonies but to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Fourthly They follow the Lamb because they are enlightned by the Lamb. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 Yea doubtlesse and I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ Phil. 3.8 Divine and Heavenly knowledge brings a man near to God it gives a man the clearest and the fullest sight of God and the nearer any man comes to God the clearer vision he hath of God and the more communion with God The reason why others doe not follow the Lamb is because they see not the worth and want of the Lamb Having the understanding darkned being alienated from the living God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts Ephes 4.18
I not forget thee Isa 49.15 Who can harm a man if God be with him and for him He that hath the love of God need not care for the anger of men A true Believer hath the love of God the love of Christ the love of good Angels the love of good men and the love of all whose love is worth the having God protects men in his way but not out of his way When men appear for God God appears for men he is good to them in affliction and he doth them good by affliction The seventh Excellency is They that follow the Lamb shall not feel the wrath of the Lamb. Rev. 2.11 He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death 1 Thes 1.10 And to wait for his Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8.1 Oh how sad is the condition of those who live and dye without Christ they are sent to Hell Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes 2.9 They shall feel and suffer the wrath of the Lamb because they despised the truth of the Lamb. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirl-wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Pro. 1.24 25 26 27 28. Do you hear this sinners if God will shew you no mercy if you live in your sins and dye in your sins be sure Hell will shew you no mercy Now the Believer shall feel and suffer none of this he is in a happy state and condition The eighth Excellency is They that follow the Lamb shall reign with the Lamb and this is another Excellency of following the Lamb. True Believers do reign now over the Creatures over the pomp and pride of the world over all spirits over sin over the consciences of wicked men and over sufferings but besides all this they shall reign with Christ and over those that now reign over them Rev 5.10 And we shall reign on the Earth Chap. 20.4 And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years And as the wicked tread down the Saints under their feet so shall the saints tread down the wicked under their feet Mal. 4.3 The Lord hath promised that the meek shall inherit the Earth Doth not the Scripture say that In the last dayes the mountain of the Lords house shall be lifted up above the hills and shall be established in the top of the Mountains Isa 2.2 And that the Kingdoms of this world must become the Kingdomes of our Lord Jesus Rev. 11.15 And he that loves to see the face of his Church beautiful will ere long wipe away those bloody tears it is not long before you will triumph and say Cant. 2.11.12 Lo the winter is past the rain is over and gone the flowers appear on the Earth the time of the singing of Birds is come The ninth Excellency is They that follow the Lamb shall sit upon the Throne with the Lamb Rev. 3.20 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to fit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne Ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 Oh what an honour is this what a glory is this to sit upon the Throne with Christ Is it not honour and glory enough for us to be in heaven with God and Christ and Angels but must we sit upon a Throne there Oh what an honour is this and yet this honour shall all the Lambs followers have The tenth Excellency of following the Lamb is They that follow the Lamb shall judge the world with the Lamb. If you consult sacred Record you shall find that both God Christ and the Saints are said to judge the world The Ordination is Gods the Execution is Christs the Approbation is the Saints When the Apostle would stop the sinful suits among the Corinthian brethren that did not want men of Eminency to put a period unto Controversies saith Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world and if the world shall be judged by you are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters 1 Cor. 6.2 Enoch the seventh from Adam Prophesied saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Judgement upon all Jude 14.15 When the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Matth. 19.28 Now the world judge the Saints but then the Saints shall judge the world now they judge and condemn Christ in his Members but then they shall be judged and condemned by Christ and his Members For as the World cannot endure God himself so neither can they endure God in the Saints and the more God dwells in the Saints the more the world afflicts the Saints but they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth shall sit upon those that now sit upon them Thus have I shewed you the Excellencies of following the Lamb. Fourthly The misery of those that follow not the Lamb but the Beast O their misery is great in this life but it will be greater in the other The first misery of them that follow the Beast is They that follow him shall share with him in all his plagues And the third Angel followed them saying with a loud voice if any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his fore-head or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Lemb Rev. 14.9 10. Oh the plagues the terrible plagues that shall fall upon the Beast Death and mourning and famine and fire Chap. 18.8 The judgements shall come upon all parties and upon all degrees and conditions of men that joyn with the Beast All those that do partake of his sins shall share of his plagues There is First a Vial poured out upon the Earth that is upon the common people Chap. 16. vers 2. Secondly Another Viall upon the Sea that is the Jurisdiction of Rome Verse 3. Thirdly Another Vial upon the Rivers that is their Ministers Vers 4. Fourthly
righteousnesse lodened with the fruits of righteousnesse He beareth greater respect to our hearts than he doth to our works I beseech you therefore Brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God Rom. 12.1 The Formalist he is all for outward action and for nothing of inward sincerity he is for a body without a soul and a shew without a substance but it is not a shew of outward piety that will excuse inward hypocrisie For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.28 29. I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Rev. 2.9 They are better in their outsides than they are in their insides but Believers are better in their insides than they are in their outsides The Kings daughter is all glorious within her cloathing is of wrought Gold Psalm 45.13 The one bowes his knee at the name of Jesus the other bowes his heart to the truth of Jesus the one signes with the Cross the other carryes the Cross Oh what would not superstitious men do for Heaven if they might have Heaven for their doing But they that sail in this rotten Bottom will surely sink in the Ocean Who hath required this at your hands to tread my Courts To what purpose is your sacrifices unto me saith the Lord I am ful of the burnt offerings of Rams and the fat of fed beasts and I delight not in the blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of He-goates Isa 1 11. It was not the Clay Spittle that cured the blind man but Christs anointing his eyes It was not the troubling of the Waters in the Pool of Bethesda that made them whole but the comeing down of the Angel Alas the dish without the meat will not feed us Man may spread the Net of Duty but its God must take the Draught of Mercy Now by this Beloved you may know the Lambs followers from the Beasts followers And thus I have briefly and clearly shewed you these five things First What following the Lamb is Secondly Why gracious Souls follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Thirdly The Excellency of following the Lamb. Fourthly The Misery of following the Beast Fifthly How the Lambs followers may be known from the Beasts followers I shall make some Use of this First For Examination and Selfe-tryal Oh friends for the Lords sake and for your souls sake examine your selves and try your selves by this that you may know whose you are and to whom you do belong Know you not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness Rom. 6. O who do you follow if men verily you have your reward if sin you shall have sins wages which is eternal death woe and misery in this life and Hell and destruction in the other life but if God then you shall have eternal life Therefore be not deceived mistake not your selves God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sowes that he shall reap O beloved Examine your selves and try your selves what is it you mind what is it you seek what is it you do do you follow the Lamb in his Commands in his teachings in his appointments and in his Examples through sufferings and reproaches have you forsaken all and followed him Matth. 10.29 Have you taken up his Crosse and denyed your selves Mat. 16.24 Have you learned of him to be meek and lowly Mat. 11.29 Have you visited and cloathed his Members Mat. 25.35 Have you kissed the Sun and made your peace with him O beloved are you new Creatures are you in Christ are you in faith Know ye not if Christ be not in you ye are reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 The second Vse is for Exhortation O Beloved Let me beseech you for your precious and immortal souls sake to come out of Babylon from the Beasts Image and from his Worship and from his Mark that you may not be defiled O come away to Jesus Christ Arise my Love and come away Cant. 2.10 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 Oh sinners he calls you to come to him will you not go we must forsake sin and embrace vertue put off the Old man and put on the New man we must have Repentance and Mortification a dying unto sin and a living unto righteousness from the love of earthly things to the desire of heavenly things Our bodies and souls must come away unto Christ our souls because they are the Spouse of Christ our bodies because they are the Temples of the Holy Ghost We must come away from the Eenticements of the flesh the allurements of the world and suggestions of the Divel and from the Whore of Babylon and from all the inventions and traditions of men Rev. 18.4 That ye may walk with God before God after God in the Name of God and in the Spirit of God And that we may live in Christ as Christ lives in the Father O what more happy then to live for ever and so to live for ever as Christ himself liveth Surely that is a blessed and glorious life This is a Believers life Secondly Labour more and more to be like those that follow the Lamb fully they are very holy and pure they are called Virgins First For their Chastity That I may present you as chast Virgins unto Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 These love Christ with a chast but not with an adulterous love Secondly For their purity They are Virgin-Saints they are not defiled with the Whore of Babylon but have kept themselves from her Idolatry and Superstition and from her sin and wickedness And in their mouth was found no guile Believers are stiled and titled Heaven Christs Members are glorious Members they are called Heaven for two Reasons First Because there is much of Heaven in them Secondly Because there is much of them in Heaven First There is much of Heaven in Believers much of God much of Christ and much of the Spirit Of his fulness have all we received grace for grac Joh. 1.16 The glory of God the knowledge of God the presence of God the love of God the holiness of God the joyes of God these are the things that make Heaven to be Heaven Now there is much of these in Believers therefore they are called Heaven We are taken into Communion with Angels and our Communion with the Angels in a great measure doth consist in bearing a part with them in praising God it is the action of Heaven Believers are holy Ones and they have glorious Titles First The Lords Portion Deut. 32.9 Secondly