profession and outwardly but inwardly too converted to the Faith of Christ for upon this Conversion their former hatred and enmity to others is laid aside and they are all for Peace and Concord though I say these Prophecies are actually accomplisht in despight of all the Sects that profess Christ's Religion yet the Jews a dull hard inconsiderate sort of People and who are guided much by their Senses seeing the everlasting quarrels that are among Christians and how one party persecutes and abuses the other and upon what slight occasions they quarrel and fall out and break Peace and Communion one with another I wonder not to see them offended at these doings and harden'd in their Unbelief for not to mention the Divisions Heresies and Schisms in the ancient Church at this day the Eastern Churches stand divided against the Western the Western is broke into several Parties the Church of Rome against the Protestants and the Protestants against the Church of Rome and the Protestants are divided among themselves In these Divisions the Church of Rome erects her Head and pretends she is the only True and Catholick Church because they are united among themselves But to shew the weakness of this boasting 1. At this rate every particular Church must be the Catholick Church because the Members of every particular Church are united among themselves So in the Church of England her Members and Pastours all subscribing to the Articles of her Communion and professing the same Doctrine Ceremonies and Worship whether they be in Europe or Africa or Asia or America and there is no particular Church that 's constituted by any publick Authority but may boast of this Unity 2. It is not a bare Union of Men that makes a Church a true Church but that Union must have Truth for its Foundation else you know Thieves and Robbers and High-way-men and Pyrates and Buccaneers because they agree among themselves might lay claim to this Title and the most perverse Hereticks because they agree in certain Points might say they are the true Church and Heathens and Pagans because they agree in Superstition and in believing a Multitude of Gods might bid fair for this Character However 3. The Unity the Church of Rome boasts of is only a pretence for all the World knows the mighty differences that are within her own Bosom of the Scotists and Thomists of the Franciscans and Dominicans of the Jansenists and Jesuits who stick not to call one another Hereticks not to mention the late Divisions betwixt the Disciples of Molinos and their Opponents and were it not for fear of Fire and Prisons and the Inquisition some of these would break out into open War against their Adversaries and Competitours Nay 4. There is no Christian Church that hath been more guilty of breaking the Peace of Christendom than the Church of Rome and because several Churches would not satisfie or gratifie her Ambition would not put their Necks under her Yoke nor believe the falsest and idlest thing in the World her Supremacy and Infallibility she hath boldly separated her self from their Communion this was the reason why she separated from the Eastern Churches and by this insolence she hath forced the Protestant Churches from her Communion and not he that is forced away but he that forces is the Schismatick And indeed that which justifies the Protestant Churches separation from her or breaking Peace and Communion with her is 1. Because she would impose that upon the Consciences of Men which Christ and his Apostles never imposed 2. Because she hath turned the Spiritual Worship of the Gospel into carnal and mechanical Devotion and introduced innumerable Superstitions which have no foundation in the Word of God and would have them believ'd as firmly as the Gospel it self 3. Because she hath brought in a Worship which with all the favourable Interpretations imaginable cannot be excused from Idolatry even the Worship of dead Men and Women of the Bread in the Eucharist of Images and Pictures and Reliques c. contrary to the Design of the Gospel 4. Because though she hath been often entreated admonish'd and exhorted to reform these Abuses for some hundred Years together yet she is obstinate and instead of reforming hath harden'd her self in them and thinks to hectour Men by her Power and Authority into a Belief of that which cannot be defended with solid Arguments 5. Because rejecting the Supreme Authority of the Scriptures which are the sole Rule of Faith she hath made her pretended Head and such Councils as he shall call or approve of the sole Dictatours and Expositours of the Doctrine of Christ requiring blind Obedience to their Decisions contrary not only to the Word of God but to the Sense of all true Antiquity So that there can be no peace I mean no Peace of Communion with Rome for though we are commanded to live peaceably with all Men yet we are withall to have a due regard to Truth Eph. IV. 15. Nor must Peace be bought at so dear a Rate as to comply with Men in their Sins and Errours which is the Reason why Peace and Holiness are join'd together in that known Exhortation of the Apostle Follow peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. XII 14. Indeed an external Peace we are to maintain with all Mankind but this differs much from Peace of Communion in Divine Worship and Sacraments The Divisions among Protestant Churches are to be deplored so much the more because the Points they differ in are inconsiderable and might easily be composed if Men had but peaceable Tempers and were resolved to lay aside Interest and carnal Respects and Punctilio's of Honour and Credit c. for they all agree in fundamentals all are satisfied that the Church of Rome hath notoriously deviated from the simplicity of the Gospel and the matters in difference are things in which Salvation is not concerned And upon that account their labours deserve great Commendations who heretofore and very lately have endeavour'd to reconcile the Protestant Churches into a perfect Union A blessed Work Blessed are the Peace-makers that endeavour to make Peace among the jarring Members of Christ's Body and though they may fail of Success yet they shall not lose their Reward In the mean while those who widen or heighten these differences and incite the respective Parties to hatred and wrath and animosities one against another to be sure are no Children of the God of Peace and had need at least before they die make publick Satisfaction for the dreadfull Effects their Heats and Passions do produce But as this Peace among Protestant Churches is very much to be wish'd and pray'd for so I despair to see so glorious a Work take effect except the differing Parties would resolve to stand to the Rules following 1. That the respective Parties which agree in the chief Points of Religion do not make any of those Points they differ in fundamental as if
burning Lake that will be his Portion As Christ taught his Hearers nothing but what was grave and solid and weighty so the Ministers of the Word must feed their Auditours with solid Food not with Trifles or Legends or dry insipid Stuff but with things that may make them wise unto Salvation This Phrase opening the mouth is sometimes used in Scripture for speaking with boldness and courage in the Name of the Lord as Ephes. VI. 19. Pray for me that I may open my mouth boldly So the Ministers of the Word must not be meally-mouth'd but Cry aloud and spare not lift up their Voices like Trumpets and shew the People of God their Transgressions and the House of Jacob their Sins Isa. LVIII 1. There is no dallying with the sins of Men no complementing their Souls with flattering and enticing Words Their Sores must be rubb'd and Salt and Vinegar thrown into their Wounds where it is so that gentler means will do no good Nor must we fear the anger or displeasure of Men for we have a greater Master to please who will bring forth our Righteousness as the light and our Judgment as the Noon-day nay and make our very Enemies to be at peace with us however if he doth not there is huge comfort in the discharge of a good Conscience to which purpose Christ bids his Messengers or Ministers rejoyce when they are reviled and despightfully used and accordingly of the Apostles we read That they departed from the Council rejoycing because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of the Lord Jesus Acts V. 41. 3. As it is our Office to teach you so it is your Duty to be taught I say to be taught not to quarrel with our Admonitions to shew your selves tractable to suffer the Word of exhortation and to admit the good Seed we sow into a good and honest Heart It 's true you are not to be believe every Spirit but to try the Spirits whether they be of God 1 John V. 1. But then when you have try'd our Doctrines and find them agreeable to the Word of the living God there is no Tergiversation to be used but our words must be receiv'd as if God himself spoke to you for we press no other things upon you than God hath commanded you in the Scriptures These Scriptures you have in your Hands and with the Beraeans you are exhorted to search whether things are so as we represent them What a sad thing is it in Popery not one of the common People not a Lay-man dares bring a Bible to Church with him if he doth he is no good Catholick nay in some Countries in danger of being burnt for a Heretick A good Catholick must have no Bible must not read it must not meddle with it it 's a dangerous Book he must not look into it for fear he should learn Heresie there or rather for fear he should discover how he hath been deluded by the Priests and taught for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. See here the mighty advantages the Reformation hath brought to you You can come to Church with your Bibles under your Arms and have not only leave but are entreated to compare what we say with the Oracles of God to satisfie your selves of the Truth of what we deliver and to believe your own Eyes But then as I said having found that our Exhortations and Doctrines are according to the Law and to the Testimony let it not be said of you as it was of Ezekiel's Hearers Ezek. XXXIII 31. They came and sat before the Prophet they heard his words but they would not do them with their Mouths they shew'd much love but their hearts went after Covetousness What a happiness doth that Minister enjoy that can say of his Disciples as St. Paul of the Thessalonians 2 Thess. 1. 3. We are bound to give thanks to God always for you as it is meet because your Faith grows exceedingly and the Charity of you all toward each other abounds I conclude with St. Paul's Admonition Heb. XIII 17. Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with Joy and not with Grief for that is unprofitable for you SERMON III. St. Matth. Ch. V. Ver. 3. Blessed are the Poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven HAving done with the Historical and Circumstantial Part of this Sermon contain'd in the First and Second Verses we go on to the Doctrinal And here a very glorious Scene opens a Scene of admirable Truths of Truths which are Paradoxes to persons who rise no higher than the Animal life perfect Mysteries which the Princes of this World know not which the Great understand not and which the sensual part of Mankind are ready to laugh at and which none but a thinking or thoughtfull Person can admire As the inspired David or whoever was the Collectour of the Psalms begins that Volume with the way to Bliss so our Saviour begins his Sermon with the same Subject Indeed this was his peculiar Province and of the weighty and momentous Errands he was sent upon this was one to teach Men the true way to Bliss endless and eternal Moses had done it before the Prophets had attempted the like Philosophers had made some Essays of that kind but their Notions were imperfect and they had no distinct notices of all the materials necessary and convenient for that excellent Structure and there was a Providence in it because the fuller Revelation of God's Will was reserv'd to the coming of the Messiah or the Son of God And it is remarkable that Christ in his Directions how to attain to solid Bliss runs counter to the World and such as are commonly counted the most wretched and miserable are here pronounc'd blessed It 's like some that were by when Christ deliver'd this Sermon expected he should have begun in another strain such as Blessed are the Rich and the Men whose Barns are large and who have much Goods laid up for many Years who have Money at command can eat what they list and drink what they please whose Lands bring forth plentifully and whose Presses run over who are courted and respected by all that know them whether great or low and are in a capacity of denying themselves in nothing that their fond Appetite craves But my thoughts are not as your thoughts saith God He takes other Measures and therefore Blessedness is here ascribed to Persons where a Man would least imagine or expect to find it even to the poor in Spirit Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Three things do here very naturally offer themselves to our Consideration I. Who the poor in Spirit are or what poverty in Spirit is II. In what sense the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs and belongs to them And III. How their Title to this Kingdom makes them blessed I.
righteousness sake when God calls him to it and flinches and shrinks and like the Children of Ephraim turns back in the day of battle is so far from conquering that he falls basely loses ground cowardly kisses the Temptation and is enthralled by the worst of Enemies and therefore must necessarily fall a Prey to that Enemy by whom he suffers himself to be conquered and judge you whether such a Man can be blessed And now that I am talking of the Kingdom of Heaven I speak of the very blessedness which attends those that are persecuted for righteousness sake and consequentâ—y this calls me to explain the third and last Point III. How the Kingdom of Heaven shall be theirs This reward you see is the same with what was promised to poverty of Spirit or deep Humility v. 3. Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven And the reason why Christ promises the same recompence to the persecuted for righteousness sake he doth to the humble is because there is a very great affinity betwixt humility and suffering for righteousness sake Suffering for righteousness sake is the deepest Act of Humiliation especially if that suffering be accompanied with death Humility can go no lower a Man in suffering and dying for righteousness sake pulls down all his lofty thoughts makes all stoop to the Cross of Christ submits his Faith to the Gospel and for things invisible denies himself in all the visible comforts of this life and that 's Humility in its Glory Therefore the reward is express'd in the same language but then as suffering for righteousness sake is the deepest Act of Humiliation so we must suppose that the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs in a peculiar manner and how that is the following particulars will declare And here to keep to the rule I have so often mention'd in the preceding Beatitudes that these rewards respect both this present and the next life 1. The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs on this side Heaven because even here they feel Heaven in their Souls and the Kingdom of Heaven is within them There is hardly any History of Martyrs and Confessours hardly any Martyrology but gives an account of the wonderfull joy that poor persecuted Christians have felt in the heighth of their Persecutions and what is this but a Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth what is it but a Heaven in their Souls The three young Men Dan. III. sang in a fiery Furnace St. Paul and Silas in a Dungeon lifted up their Voices in Hallelujah's The Apostles when beaten and whipt and scourged departed from the Council rejoycing because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Christ and St. Paul 2 Cor. VII 4. I am filled with comfort yea I exceedingly rejoice in all our Tribulation But not to mention any more passages of this nature out of ancient Histories our own Book of Martyrs shall serve to furnish us with instances I mean of the Protestant Martyrs that suffer'd in Queen Marys Days One Rogers coming to the Stake where he was to be burned fetcht a great leap for joy One Dr. Taylour approaching the Fire in which he was to be sacrificed danced and skipt to the Wonder and Admiration of the Sheriff I thank God for this Prison said one Bradford more than for the richest Parlour more than for any pleasure I ever found for here I find God my sweet God always After I came into this Prison said one Glover in a Letter to his Wife and had repos'd my self there awhile I wept for joy and gladness my belly full and said to my self Lord what am I that I should be counted worthy to be numbred among those that suffer for the Gospel's sake I am now in the Coal-house said one Philpott as dark and ugly a Prison as any is about London but I have six other faithfull Companions who merrily rouz upon the Straw and in our darkness do cheerfully sing Hymns and Praises to God I was never merrier in Cbrist than I am now in Prison said one Tims One Pierson with a cheerfull Countenance embraced the Stake at which he was to be burnt and kissing it said Now welcome my sweet Wife for this day thou and I shall be married together O how my heart leaps and skips for joy said another One Bainham when his Arms and Legs were half consumed by the Fire cry'd out in the Midst of the Flames Behold ye Papists ye are much for Miracles Here you may see a Miracle for in this Fire I feel no more pain than if I lay on a Bed of Down it is to me as a Bed of Roses Abundance more I could name to this purpose and what was all this but a Kingdom of Heaven in their Souls 2. In the next World the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs in a peculiar manner too because of the high degree of Glory they arrive to in the next life This hath been the belief of the Church in all Ages that for the Martyrs the higher and loftier Mansions of Heaven are reserv'd the ruines of this truth are preserv'd among Mahometans and Heathens The Mahometans fancy that those who die in the War against Christians are Martyrs and they assign them a higher place in Paradise and Geographers tell us of a People in the West Indies who believing the Immortality of the Soul fancy that those who die in defence of their Country are advanced after death to a very high degree of felicity These are nothing but reliques and remains of the Chriâ—â—ian Doctrine which Tradition hath left among them that those who are persecuted for righteousness sake are and shall be made partakers of higher degrees of Glory It 's certain their Bodies shall rise before the Bodies of other Men for so we read Revel XX. 4 5. And I saw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his image neither had received his mark in their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand Years But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand Years were ended This is the first Resurrection And in the Kingdom of Heaven they will out-shine other Saints in brightness and splendour All those that by patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory Honour and Immortality shall inherit Eternal life but those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake their sufferings work for them a far more exceeding Eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. IV. 17. a reward enough to make a Man fond of dying in love with suffering enamour'd with a Prison and desirous of Chains and Fetters for righteousness sake Wonder at this Blessing O my Soul For Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Inferences I. As one place of Scripture gives light to another so by this we are upon we may judge of
death with Shells some were burnt with their Entrails torn out some broyl'd upon Grid-irons some roasted alive against the Fire some Women had their Breasts some Men their Legs and Thighs sear'd with hot Irons some were tost to death upon Bulls-horns some hang'd by the Neck and Heels some were burnt in a Furnace some fry'd in an Iron Chair some had their Bones broken with Batts some were beaten with Cudgels some had sharp points thrust in under their Nails some were put in Vessels of boyling Oyl some dragg'd through the Streets and Kennels some had their Tongues cut out some had their Eyes bor'd out some were sawn asunder some flead alive some torn in pieces with wild Horses some kill'd with Famine some suffer'd to perish in Frost and Snow Where was God where was the Lord Jesus all the while will some say why he was there he was with them in all their Torments gave them Courage to endure all this Strength to bear up under all their Miseries Here the Power of God appear'd more than it would have done in their greatest Prosperity This made the World to gaze and stare and think they must be more than Men that suffer'd with so much Patience This gave Reputation to Religion By this means the Name of the Lord Jesus came to be glorified This converted Heathens wrought upon Infidels pull'd down Idolatry chased the Devil from his Throne This made Men come in to Christ in multitudes This made them forsake the Devil and the World this made them part with their Sins and Lusts and lay force upon the Kingdom of Heaven And thus the World was overcome and Scepters and Crowns were made to stoop to the Cross of Christ and it 's hard to say whether more were converted by Miracles or by these patient and heroick Sufferings of Christians their Sufferings forc'd people into a belief of a future Reward and the Torments they endur'd made God amiable that thousands did embrace him And yet III. As in other things so even in matter of Persecution great mistakes may be committed and therefore in judging of Persecution we must ever attend and look to the cause for which men are said to be persecuted This caution is very necessary that we may not wrongfully accuse men whose office it is to punish Offenders nor flatter our selves with the satisfaction of a good work when we have done nothing less Persecuting for righteousness sake is a very great sin a sin that cries for Vengeance which is the reason why God even in this present life hath poured out his Wrath upon persons guilty of this crime Nero was thrown down from the Imperial Throne proscrib'd by the Senate as an Enemy of mankind and at last forc'd to kill himself Domitian was slain in his Chamber not without the consent of his Wife and all his Images and Statues thrown down by order of the Senate Decius was kill'd in Battle and depriv'd of the common Honour of Burial Valerianus was taken by the Persians and put in a Cage and at last flead and his Skin hung up for a Trophy in one of the Persian Temples Aurelianus in the very beginning of his Persecution dies miserably and wallows in his own blood Galerius a prodigious and unusual Sickness seizes him a sore rising in the nether part of his Belly which bred such a swarm of Worms as made him stink above Ground Maxentius was vanquish'd by Constantine the Great and his body thrown into the River Tiber not to mention any more Instances of this nature And I wish that this trade of persecuting had been confined to Heathens but here it stay'd not After that the World turn'd Christian it was not long before one Party began to persecute another The Arrians were the first that began it and the Church of Rome soon learn'd this art beginning with the Novatians but practised it afterwards with greater cruelty upon the Waldenses and Albigenses and all those whom she is please to style Hereticks The Greek Church when she had Power and Princes that favour'd her Interest hath run too often upon the same Rock And I know this very Church we are Members of hath been often charged by our dissenting Brethren with a persecuting Spirit I shall not now enquire into the truth or falshood of this charge being willing to forget what is past even the shadow of it the rather because the Point will require examining various circumstances which either heighten or very much qualify the pretended sin but whatever Errors Rudenesses or Insolencies have been committed by officers of Justice in executing the Law upon Dissenters which must not be presently charg'd upon the Doctrine and Temper of the Church Blessed be God there is at this time in our Church a general Inclination to Tenderness Compassion and Mildness to the moderate sort of those who differ from the Sentiments of the Church and to hearken to a reasonable Accommodation of Matters to the satisfaction of those who look upon themselves as Sufferers That which I chiefly aim at in this Discourse is that we must not rashly charge every thing that looks like Punishment with the odious name of Persecution for Righteousness sake neither in the persons that inflict Punishment nor in those that suffer it And indeed a person that suffers or is like to suffer for an Opinion or Practice of his own had need consider well before he suffers what he is going to suffer for and whether the thing he is ready to suffer for is worth it To suffer for any Catholick Doctrine receiv'd in all Ages by all Churches or for a known Article of Faith or for a thing expresly commanded or forbid by the Gospel is great and noble and Christian-like but to suffer for an Invention of our own or for things which have no solid Foundation in Scripture hath nothing of Glory or Christian Magnanimity in it nor will God give us any thanks for it and in this case a Christian had a thousand times better endeavour to rectify his Judgment especially when no substantial Doctrine or Duty is prejudiced by it and comply with the Will and Desire of the Magistrate than suffer for a thing for which he hath no good Authority from the word of God I might apply this to some particular differences but I forbear and though I do believe that many who have suffer'd for such things which are not plainly deliver'd in Scripture may have found very great comfort in their Sufferings yet whether that comfort was a sign that they were persecuted for Righteousness sake I very much question However if such persons do suffer wrongfully they shall lose nothing by their sufferings for God is not unrighteous to forget our Work and labour of love and the time will come when God will bring forth our Righteousness as the Light and our Judgment as the Noon-day The truth is Men's understandings being of various capacities and sizes and apt to be by ass'd by various
you who pretend to be enlighten'd by the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in this adulterous and sinful generation Whatever ill examples you behold whatever vain Company you light into whatever viciousness you see abroad that must be nothing to you your Souls must not he defiled nor your Minds darken'd by such Spectacles Your business is to keep your selves pure as Lot in Sodom A multitude that does Evil is no President for you to follow for you have heard that the way which leads to perdition is broad and many there be that walk in it Numbers in sin must be no Motive to do after their ungodly Deeds Among these you are to shine as Lights in the World While you preserve your goodness your Light is preserved and your Candle continues burning when that decays your Light decays and should a Cry be made at midnight Behold the Bridegroom comes in what Condition will you be when your Lamps are gone out The Light that is soon extinguish'd by the circumambient Darkness which surrounds you is a counterfeit Light It comes not from the Father of Lights nor is it a genuine Beam of the Sun of Righteousness for whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin i. e. so as to make a trade of it or to yield to a habit of it for his seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 Joh. III. 9. Ill Examples must make your Light burn the brighter and the greater Wickedness you are incompass'd with the higher must your Zeal rise and by this the World must be taught that there is something in you which is greater than the World and that in despight of all the Miseries which befall good Men in this World Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous IV. Ye are the Light of the World When you behold the Light of the World what should you do but remember your Duty which is to walk as Children of Light Can you complain of want of Remembrancers and Monitors when the Light of every Day puts you in mind what manner of persons you ought to be When you see the Sun shining upon you is not this an Item how you are to warm others by your blameless Conversation When the Light breaks in and displays its Glory in your Chambers in a Morning is not this a silent admonition how you are to deport your selves that day Even like the Children of God without rebuke and to walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envy for they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night but let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breast-plate of Faith and Love and for a helmet the hope of Salvation 1 Thes. V. 7 8. This is the Wisdom of God to express our Duty by things which incur into our Senses are familiar and obvious and which we daily behold that looking upon those Objects we might remember what we are called to what we are design'd for and what our Master requires at our hands Light must make us reflect upon the Light of Grace and Holiness and put us upon examination what Footsteps of the Grace of God appear in us and upon Resolutions to walk worthy of the Name which is given us and so to guide our Thoughts and Words and Actions that by what we do in the World our Neighbours and those who behold our Conversation may be edified and encouraged to lay hold on Eternal Life V. Ye are the Light of the World And God hath given you a Light to walk by which is his Holy Word for thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Paths saith David Psal. CXIX 105. By this Light you are to try the Spirits whether they be of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the World There are Men abroad that teach for Doctrines the Commandments and Traditions of Men Men that will tell you that except you are in Communion with a certain Prelate who exalts himself above all that is called God even above Kings and Princes you cannot be saved Men that will tell you that you must Pray to Saints and implore the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin and hear Mass and believe against Sense and Reason that Bread is Flesh that you must hear Mass and Prayers you understand not and be content to be deprived of the comfortable Cup in the Holy Sacrament There are others that talk much of Religion and yet are great Strangers to the Christian Virtues of Meekness and Charity and not only confine the Favour of God to a certain Party but would straiten yours too and place Religion more in talking against Ceremonies than in the greater and weightier matters of the Law And abundance of other false Teachers and Doctrines you may meet withall abroad for le ts do what we can the Enemy will sow Tares among the Wheat but the way not to be deceived by such false Fires is to examin them by the clear Light of the Word of God To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word there is no Light in them By this Light you may find out not only erroneous Opinions but sinful Works and Practices too not only in others but in your selves also Take but a serious view of your Actions Designs Aims Principles Behaviour and Discourses by this noble Light and those spots and blemishes of your Souls which before you took no notice of will stare in your Faces This will soon tell you what Rocks what Shelves what Sands you are to shun for we have a sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well to take heed as unto a Light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the morning star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. I. 19. VI. Ye are the Light of the World But what is no good Christian in darkness Do we not see many excellent Persons who dread Sin as Hell it self yet see nothing of the Light of God's Countenance It s very true There are such Persons and yet for all this they are Light in the Lord. They have the Light of Holiness in them though they have not the Light of Joy and Gladness They are made partakers of the Divine Nature and therefore must have Light in them and such Light as will at last light them to Heaven But through strong Temptations or some fatal Distempers it comes to pass that the Light they possess is clouded and hindred from going on to a perfect day and they carry it as it were in a dark Lanthorn But all I shall say to such at this time is what God bids the Prophet proclaim in the Ears of Persons under such Circumstances Isa. L. 10. Who is among you that fears the Lord that obeys the Voice of his Servant that walks in darkness and sees no light Let him trust