condition it s an easie thing to be circumvented by him such high expressions such glorious speeches such enticing and swelling words though full of vanity to a spiritual discerning because they have not the bread of Life the foundation of our hope in them with whom are they not taking The consideration of which having pressed me forward to the writing and publishing of this small Treatise in which though I be but weak I have endeavoured according as by Covenant I am bound for the rooting out of Error and heresie in my place and calling though not primely upon that consideration to prevent the spreading of this grand infection that though I have little hopes of reducing those that are corrupted yet I might be a means to stablish some that are wavering and prevent their falling I have chosen as to the Saints in general so to you in particular to Dedicate and present it out of that respect I bear to you and the good that 's in you and sense of obligation upon me toward you Desirng God ever to guide and preserve you And you yet to account me Ladies Your Servant in the Gospel JOHN HORN Lin Novemb. 2. 1650. To the Congregation of the first born yet warring on earth whose names are written in heaven and particularly to those of them that I minister unto at Lin c. grace mercy and peace from God our Father and from Jesus Christ our Lord. Brethren YOu cannot but know that the Church of God is in Scripture resembled to a natural body wherein are many members united to each other and to one head and by one Spirit growing up in exact unity now as in the natural body there may be many infirmities and many things are liable to offend and hurt it so also is it in this mystical sometimes it may be subject to distempers by nauseous crude undigested humours the want of thorow closing with and drinking in divine truths or the drinking in untruths may occasion a surfeit and aversation from truth sometimes flatuous and windy humours of pride high-mindedness and lying spirits getting into some of its members may distemper it sometimes feavourish heats of violent headiness instead of wel-tempered zeal for God and godliness may inflame it and sometimes the cold aguish or palsie humours of deadness in benummedness to Spiritual motions in its tendency to its spiritual and supream end may so seize upon it as much to impair its strength and to appearance bring it nigh to death But God whose Temple it is hath provided for it against such distempers and dangers both meat and medicine to feed and cure it As Christ himself is the prime and great tree of life in whom the word is so united to the humanity that the humanity was ever in all times of Winter blasts and Sommer droughts refreshed and upheld thereby and made glorious fruitful and his fruits are good and prosperous fit to feed and his Leaves full of vertue to heal the Nations So is every one that through grace is brought to believe in Christ and gathered up into unity with Christ and lives upon the word of Christ Psal 1.3 as a tree planted by the waters side Jer. 17.7,8 Even one of those trees of life that grow upon the banks of that great river of the knowledge of God in Christ that proceeds from out his sanctuary and runs from beside the Altar or sacrifice of Christ and under the threshold the Gospel and its Ordinances holding forth Christ Ezek. 47.1.2.12 whose fruit is for meat and its leaf for medicine The lips of the righteous feed many and their fruit is as a tree of life Prov. 10,21 and 11.30 the doctrine they receive from Christ is a wholsome doctrine 1 Tim. 6 3.4 and full of healing by which they are more and more rooted into and united with Christ till they all grow up into such a close and full union with him that the many trees on the banks of that river Rev. 22.2 be made perfectly but one on both sides of that river Eph. 4.13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith and acknowledgement of the Son of God unto a perfect man Now I knowing that in this body there are at present as at other times not only many inward weaknesses but also many things from without indangering it yea that many parts of it are sorely laid open to infections from divers that seem to be of it or converse with it though I be less then the least of all Saints yet according to the measure of the gift of Christ given me I have endeavoured to administer that that I have from the head which may make for its strength and nourishment yea and to hold forth such of his Leaves supplied to me by his good hand as may either prevent or cure the infections feared desiring that we may all so press after further knowledge of and growth in Christ as that yet we may be kept from imbracing false Christs and from being snared by the poison of those false Prophets who instead of hastening mens growth up into Christ which they pretend do secretly and subtilely corrupt men from the simplicity that is in Christ as if a man by stretching of a twig to make it grow longer should pull and sever it from the body of the tree upon which it groweth As for the mind to be without knowledge is not good so he that hasteth with his feet sinneth Prov 19.2 I desire that what I present to you in love and for your good may be taken in good part and soberly considered by you and that what you see to suit with and proceed from that good spirit of God that is but one and the same in all ages and gives unity to the body in all its memberly differences may be received and held fast by you and if in any thing you see either further or better then I impart of your measure also to me that we may grow up together by that which every joynt supplieth all holding fast and not letting go the head from whence we receive the right and true spirit that will give us to increase So shall our feet abide within the gates of Jerusalem and the Lord himself shall dwell amongst us shall judge rule and teach us and in his teaching we shall not be vainly puft up with a carnal mind like those bodies that are puft up with unwholsome humours but grow solidly fat and well-liking and shew that he is gratious and that there is no deceit or unrighteousness in him To him and the word of his grace which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance I commit you with my self being The meanest of your Brethren and companions in the way of Salvation J. HORN The Contents Chap. 1. A Description of real Saints Pag. 1 Sect. 1. Who are not such ibid. 2. Who are p. 7 Chap. 2. Of the estate of Saints p. 11 Sect. 1. More generally their
might willingly be exhorted to this â—s not to bear with them that are evil and would pervert souls from Christ so neither to fall out â—nd make rents from those that are built upon â—nd sincerely and peaceably seek the glory of Christ Sect. 4. How to walk towards Seducers and the Secuced 3. BUt now for those that have not Christ for their foundation but are bottom'd upon their own works yea and would bottom Christ â—pon them too hindring souls from coming â—…ghtly to Christ and that bring another Gospel then that of Christ tending to deny and overthrow the Gospel of Christ but chiefly those that have apostatized from him the case is otherwise They that divide from Christ the elder Brother are not to be owned as brethren but divided from yea and looked upon in their endeavors to draw others to themselves as enemies to our souls Wolves that come to devour deceitful workers and so we are to avoid them The Apostles looked not upon the zealous Jews and Pharises opposers of the grace of Christ as their brethren in Christ nor upon the false Apostles that perverted the Gospel of Christ mixing it with the Law and withdrawing men from the sincerity of the Gospel of Christ much less those Apostates and Blasphemers Hymeneus and Alexander and Philetus men that denied the Resurrection and affirmed it to be now made or past denying the Lord that bought them and subverting the faith of divers 2 Tim. 2.16,17 If such as these plead for a brothers portion of love from the Saints in those their wayes they are much mistaken brotherly love with them would be as bad as Jehosophats familiarity and correspondency with Ahab which the Lord reproved and punished in him 2 Chron. 19 2. And as the Churches tolerating the Baalamites and Nicolaitans which he hated Rev. 2.14 20. Men are much out in thinking that those that are evidently and upon due trial false Apostles and of the Synagogue of Satan ought not to be so reputed but walked towards and loved as dissenting Brethren How shall the members of the body hold unity with the head that are at one with members separated from the head and disclaim all influence of spirits from it Who ever come unto us we are to try them yea though they come as Angels of Light and Messengers of Righteousness and finding them deceitful workers to beware of them 1 Thes 5.21 Phil. 3.2 So the Wisdom of God speaking of â—he spirit of error under the notion of a foolish and whoorish woman opposed to the Spirit of Truth under the notion of Wisdom or the wise â—oman bids us beware of her and come not neer â—he corner of her house Prov. 5.8.3 nor give ear â—o her sweet and specious inchantments not to â—ut our selves â—…shly into her way and company 〈◊〉 presuming on our own strength to preâ—…rve us much less entertaining her as a friend â—nd companion meet for us and our Saviour while on earth in the flesh left it as a Caâ—…at to us to beware of false Prophets who though â—hey come in Sheeps clothing to us yet inwardly are â—…vening Wolves and seek to devour us Matth. â— 15 He would not have us out of charity to â—…dge all sheep and correspond with them that â—ome to us in the appearance of sheep but wariâ—… try them and discerning Wolves in that haâ—it to flee from them as we are not rashly to account and walk towards all as Wolves that men account so so neither to imbrace all that profess themselves sheep I know the VVolves will plead for charity towards them but what foolish Shepherd would out of charity listen to the VVolves so pleading or what silliness would it be in real sheep to joyn themselves with â—hem because they pretend as sheep a desire to graze with them that 's bad charity to another that layes me open to destruction my self The Jews of old regarded not such a pretended charity in Sanballat and Tobiah desirous to build with them the Temple of the Lord because they discerned them to be no friends to their work but sought by subtilty to hinder it and destroy them Ezra 4.1 It s indeed the common plea of such and of some weak sheep of Christ who are in danger that way to be worried by them what ever a mans principles be yet we ought to permit them and not speak harshly or at all against them but let every man injoy his own minde which is a notorious gross and false position Indeed as we have said where men build and are built upon the same foundation even Jesus Christ there we may and are to tolerate difference in doubtful disputations where the matters of difference are not evident and plain in Scripture and but matters of meer indifferency and lesser moment But that all should be tolerated in the Church of God of what ever opinion and doctrine though destructive to the fundamentals of the faith and no sharpe reproof may be given them is as bad a principle as to tolerate the Devil in his possession of men oâ— to tolerate all vice and wickedness without 〈◊〉 punishment of them yea in â—oâ—…e casâ—s 〈…〉 worse for there are some pâ—…nciples 〈…〉 doctrine as bad or worse then any evil of practise amongst men because some doctrines may naturally lead to all evil practises As that there is no difference to be put between good and evil sin and righteousness that all actions are alike approveable to God the opinion of good and evil is to be destroyed out of men that sin is nothing but an imagination that this or that is sin that all men live or believe how they will shall have eternal salvation that there shall be no resurrection c. Beside that evil doctrines may poyson more secretly and are less dreaded oftentimes then gross actions because they have â—ot so horrid an appearance many times to the eye of men We find Christ commending some Churches for their patience when yet he presently subjoyns by way of praise too that they â—ould not bear evil persons Rev. 2.2 such as seduced the people from him faulting them that bare with and permitted them Revel 3.15,16 yea that were but lukewarm for him and against them as those that mattered not what men hold or teach how destructive to Christ and Christianity so they would think well of them and let them alone such Christ threatens to spue out of his mouth so far is he from allowing and approving them Yea he tels us he hates such wayes himself Rev. 2.6 and sure he leads his people to be like him How canst thou say Christ is in thee when what he declares himself to hate is patiently tolerated and not reproved by thee The Apostles not onely bid us hold them as execrable and account them accursed that preach beside what they have preached or that introduce another Gospel though they come like Angels but they have also themselves given them over to Satan 1 Tim 1.20 and
they are all one in him according to the Spirit however different according to the flesh yea aâ—cording to the Spirit they are Sion the belove City the Kingdom and Temple of God and bâ— and his glory appertaineth to them and is theâ—… portion O Israel happy thou a people saved 〈◊〉 the Lord Glorious things are spoken of thee thâ— City of God the most high in the midst of thee 〈◊〉 shall exalt and establish thee and delight in thâ— for ever for this is Sion whom no man regardeth the place and habitation that God hath chosen in which he will dwell and rest for ever because he hath loved and desired it Consider this O ye Saints and let your hearts rejoyce in his that made you in him that called you and made you in Christ Jesus and blessed you in him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things according as in him he chose you before the worlds foundations and be joyful in your King in Jesus the King of Saints that dwels and rules amongst you and in whom ye are exalted to all this high condition This state of glory and perfection in Christ Jesus given you should be minded by you to out ballance and chear you up against the state of frailty and imperfection experimented in your selves for this like the stone cut out of the Mountains without hands shall dash in pieces and swallow up the other into victory When that state of weakness and mortality shall have overcome you in the flesh yet shall it again be overcome and abolished by this state of glory and shall never more return upon you Surely friends did we more minde this high state to which we are called and in which in Christ Jesus we are interessed it would make us bear chearfully the present sufferings of this life and love him heartily that hath hitherto advanced us It would lead us to contemn things seen and sensible neither to run out in affecting the good or fearing the evil that in the outwward state is met with by us So have the Saints in other times walked trampling upon Death through the hope of Life and the like of hope in them contemning the pleasures of sin for a season for the enjoyment of this eten happy condition and for the love they bear him that thereto called them But I fear weâ—… often so taken up with the view of what we 〈◊〉 according to the flesh that we forget what 〈◊〉 are in and according to Christ Jesus whiâ—… springs from what we come to view in the nâ—… Consideration Sect. 4. Of the state of Saints in a joynt consideration as sons of Adam in Christ FOr though such is the Christians state as Christ and as a Saint yet in a complex joynt consideration as he is a man in Christ theâ— appears yet a double imperfection beside what named 1. An imperfection of his Union with Chriâ—… or in the manner and measure of his being him in his rootedness into Christ in whom 〈◊〉 high estate is A branch of a wilde Olive thenâ— taken out and graffed into a true is by verâ— of that insition interessed in the juice sap aâ—… vertue of the true Olive yet the manner of Union with it may for some time be imperfecâ—… It is not at first so fast rooted and so firmly unâ—ted with it as afterward it may be Thence thâ— Apostle prayed for more rootedness of believâ—… into Christ and Christ himself for further Union of believers in him Ephes 3.17,18 Joh. 17.21 Saints perfect in Christ may not be perfectly in Christ their condition admits of growth in this matter they may come to see further into Christ and to attain to greater riches of assurance of understanding and so grow stronger in faith and love and have their roots deeplier struck into him cleave to him with fuller purpose and resolution The more they know his Name the more they trust in him and their calling to him and election in him made firmer and they further out of danger of falling from him 2 Pet. 1.5.10 Yea as they grow more one with him so they have a more wide and abundant entrance administred into his Kingdom his fulness flows more out into them and they become more comprehensive of him In this regard is that difference amongst Saints that was â—oted in the beginning Some babes in understanding and weak in faith easilier shaken and perverted from the simplicity in him more unstable being less united with the root and so not so much receiving in its sap and these as they are more tenderly to be dealt with and nursed up so they are also to be exhorted to diligence in attending to the Word of Grace and to let go such evil humors brought with and yet retained by them as might clog them and hinder their further growing in and faster uniting unto Jesus such as those things named 1 Pet 2.1 Malice Envy Guile Hypocrisie c. that so coveting after the sincere milk of the Word they may grow up thereby be more rooted and built up in Christ abound in his Work and be kept from falling Others are more firme grown more empty of themselves and fuller of faith and confidence in him and singleness of heart toward him for whom there is greater cause of rejoycing as being in the less danger of mâ—ssing the full injoyment of their spiritual estate to which they are called yet even they also may and are still to be growing up into Christ and to faster union with him for which cause also the Saints are compacted into a body that they by what every joynt supplies from the head may grow up more into the head they being not as yet so perfect as that they can grow no more In this regard it was partly that Paul judged himself not perfect nor to have attained but pressed on counting all things loss and dung that he might win Christ and be found in him Phil. 3 8,9,13,14 He had him not enough yet nor was yet so fast in him that nothing in that regard could be added to him as also â—n another sense which follows he with other Saints acknowledged their imperfection viz. 2. In regard of attainment to an injoyment of the fulness of Christ and their estate in Christ through union with him in regard of the possession or comprehension of it and the effects and fruits of it And there are two Branches in that 1. Their injoyment of the fulness into which they are estated their possession of it they have not yet all that joy and happiness that sight of God that vast possession of life in themselves to which they are called they have not yet attained the resurrection of the dead as it is to be injoyed the greatest part of the possession of this estate is reserved till their race be run their fight accomplished the prize obtained 2 Tim. 4.8 Here we have a time of suffering with Christ the glory is for the main of it reserved as to
withdrawn from Christ so he and his Death and Mediation be but as a dead thing to them he greatly cares not how speciously they walk and talk they are the fitâ—… instruments for him I would to God there wâ—… not too many yea and Teachers of others toâ— to whom he hath made Christ come in the fleâ—… as worth nothing to whom a piece of Plaâ—… Philosophy or some dream of their own is 〈◊〉 more worth and use then the Apostles Dâ—ctrine Sect. 5. Of the Messengers of Satan NOw though I have hitherto spoken of Satan and his subtilty yet think not that I conceive that he alwayes cometh alone or in his own person immediatly to tempt but know this that as Gods Spirit hath built himself an House in man even his people Christ and his members by whom he speaks and works to the drawing in others to God and edifying themselves in whom he dwels imploying them to be his mouth in the opening of his counsel and truths to those purposes So also Satan insinuating himself into men hath his dwelling in them and becomes a lying evil spirit in them that he prevails over and makes use of them to be his mouth to deceive one another and to draw in others into unity with them making them his messengers and these imitate him in transforming themselvs into Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.13.15 These are the Dragons Tail with which he draws down the stars of heaven having seduced these out of the way he makes them instruments to seduce others after him as having seduced Eve he used her as an instrument to lead Adam also into the transgression So some of the Spies of Canaan bringing an evil report upon that good Land caused many to mutiny and so in Numb 16. Corah Dathan and Abiram men of renown and famous in the Congregation falling off from the Word of God and rebelling against Moses and Aaron the types of Jesus Christ the Son of God the Prince and high Priest of the Congregation occasioned many to rebel for company with them Concerning such its needfull as the Apostle Jude saith to warn you and wish you to contend earnestly against them foâ— the faith once delivered to the Saints for theâ—… are now as was then foretold false Teachers ungodly men forewritten to this judgment to be for exercise unto the Saints of God men thâ—… have departed from Christ denying the Lorâ— that bought them even the only Lord God anâ— our Saviour Jesus Christ and turning his Graâ—… into wantonness who by their pernicious doctrines and practises draw many souls into perdition And though there be others too that 〈◊〉 from the faith and do great disservice to Chrâ—… in limiting the tenor of the Gospel and puttinâ— in their Buts and Onelies like the believers 〈◊〉 the Sect of the Pharisees that would not havâ— the Gospel preached but to Proselytes and mâ—… of the Circumcision that they had some ground to think were of the Elect people yet my puâ—pose is now rather to warn you of that otheâ— sort of people because you that are Saints iâ— Christ and live upon his grace are in more danger as I conceive of these then of those Of these I say that have forsaken the pathes of uprightness to walk in the wayes of darkness men that have let go the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles to walk in their own speculations making the Apostles to have been devisers of Apologues and fables in which there was no truth or verity but only a shadow and parable of another thing people that indeed deny the Lord Jesus Christ some that there was never such a one others that he was no more then a bare man a patern an example not the Saviour of the world indeed but only a type and figure of the true Saviour so evacuating him and denying him to be their Lord Ruler and Commander or Mediator between God and men turning all into an Allegory or vain fancy undermining and subverting the faith of Christ as if he were but a fleshly Christ and the faith in him though begotten by Gods Spirit but a carnall faith which must die and be crucified in us before we come indeed to that that saves us and so they teach men to cast away their confidence in him and trample upon him and count his blood and sacrifice a common carnall fleshly thing though it hath formerly sanctified them and to say of him whom God hath sanctified and sent into the world yea in whom it hath pleased him that all fulness should dwell as the sons of Belial sometimes of Saul how can this man save us crâ—cifying the Son of God to themselves blotting out as much as in them lieth his remembrance from amongst men putting in the place of him some frame or fancy that they conceive they have in themselves and investing themselves or it with his name these are indeed the Antichrists thâ—… deny directly that Jesus is the Christ for who 〈◊〉 a lyar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ 〈◊〉 that say of themselves I am Christ we are the holy one of God and Christ is nothing else with them but themselves and who ever are of their temper in union as they conceive with Godâ— deriding the man Jesus Christ the Lord and heaâ— of all and so making the faith of Christ a very scorn and derision with all that beleeve it these are of those very persons in whom while they slight the Scriptures the Scriptures are verified the mockers that should say in the last dayes where is the promise of his coming for what was is and there is no new thing under the Sun all things continue in like state ever since the Fathers fell asleep as He came then so now and so shall do but no other coming is to be expected yea these are of them that say the Resurrection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is now done or is already past they have it or expect to have in this life even on this side their bodily Death all they shall have denying the Resurrection of the personal body of Christ the same that was crucified such of them as confess there was such a man or at least that it was taken up into heaven and glorified or shall ever come again to be made manifest in glory with them that have beleeved on him and suffered for him the resurrection of whose bodies is denied by them also These are the Antitypes to those Rebels in the wilderness that pleading that all the Lords people were holy denyed the superiority of Moses and Aaron for these also being seduced from the head and not holding it fast plead that all that are of them are holy and anointed and so the Christ and deny superiority over them to the Lord Christ and refuse to have him exalted above them yea though they have been baptized into him both in the doctrine of him and otherwise and have tasted of his sweetness yet they rebell
though they have despised the simplicity of Gods Wayes appointed for their salvation But ye beloved beware of such conceits as such are led with and keep ye close to God in making known your requests dayly and as the Apostle exhorts in every season watching thereunto that ye may find the leadings of the Spirit and Grace of God with you therein and know what to ask of him and that ye may hear what answers God will again return to you not giving over your requests because ye are not presently supplied or helped in the things ye ask but herein exercise Faith and Patience and be strong and persevere till God hath blessed you Remember Jacob who wrestled with God weeping and making supplications unto him and prevailed Remember also that Christ our Lord hath left us many instructions to importunity in prayer with many incouragements thereunto that we might not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 18.1 be out-evilled made to faint by his seeming delays and denials of us though he may try us yet calling upon him in his way according to his Will he will not deceive us Indeed if we regard iniquity in our hearts if we set up an Idol in his Temple and pollute his Name he will not hear our prayers he will have us lift up â— uâ—e hands and clean single true hearts and then he will be found of us It s true in many things we sin all and he is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity and we are in our selves too unworthy to have audience by him and too unable to do any thing fit to be presented to him but in that he hath also provided incouragement too for us we have an Advocate and a high Priest with him who hath prevented us with his Love in offering up himself for us an offering of a sweet smelling savour unto God and it s his work to intercede to God for us for us I say in special that come to God by him to take away our sins and perfume our prayers with the odours of his Sacrifice and so make them acceptable unto God yea he mediateth the New Covenant for the called Ones that the holy Spirit may be given to them to work their works in them and that they may receive the inheritance promised them Having then such invitations faithful promises and every way great incouragements let us not put off this business to some pretended illuminate Elders but let us go with boldness true hearts and full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled with the blond of Jesus from an evil conscience and bodies or whole conversations washed with pure water the pure water of his Word and the grace held forth to us therein and call upon God in and by Christ for our selves and one another that he may help and save us Had we an al sufficiency in our selves we should not need to go for help to God but we are not God nor hath God put the disposal of himself and fulness into our hand but reserves it with himself in Christ ready to give it forth to us in submission and supplication to him for it so that we have need also as well as incouragement to call upon him Pray then for help for your selves and pray for one another and for all the Saints and in special that they may be enabled to stand and for me also the meanest of all Saints that I may so declare and walk on in the Mysteries of the Gospel as I ought God will not onely hear you for your selves but for one another and without his hearing and helping the other parts of his spiritual Armor will be too heavy for you you will be as unable to buckle them all on and go forth in them as David was to go forth in Sauls armor but call upon him and he will help you yea and be armor of proof to you Sect. 8. Of Brotherly Communion YEa yet further my brethren that we might yet be better enabled to resist Satan and his temptations and to go on with patience and chearfulness in the race set before us let us go on together in love and unity not forsaking the assembling of our selves as the manner of some yea of too many is God hath called us together unto Christ as to a head and in him hath compacted us together as a body giving us a common interest in the priviledges of Christ and useful gifts differing according to his goodness that we might both have need of and be useful one to another each supplying to other out of that measure given to it from the Head in the faithful loving exercise of themselves in which God giveth forth his blessing even as the body natural thrives while the members compacted together do minister to each other nourishment and spirits without stop or interruption but when the blood and spirits have not free access and recess to the several parts and members it decays grows diseased and ill-affected and often falleth into sickness and death so is it here while the unity of the Spirit is held fast in the bond of peace and brotherly love abides and each in love seeks the love and profit of other all grow up together to a perfect man yea and all together become as a City compacted and at unity within it self and so more strong and able for offence and defence against all that would annoy but being disunited either through Factions and Divisions or through a willing careless neglect of each other and the administrations of the Lord to all by every each one they become weak and feeble and Satan gets great advantage against them to infect them one by one and to devour them for in loose sitting one from another â—or divisions each member contents it self with that measure given to it self or to a few and deprives it self of that strength life nourishment and spirits that might be administred by many Now though God be al sufficient to preserve and strengthen one alone where he by his Providence necessitates it to be so or in a hidden day such as that of Elias when the Saints appear not to or know not one another yet where he hath given opportunities of communion and mutual edification and that through pride negligence envy or arrogance is despised and slighted there souls receive not that measure of his fulness and sufficiency that otherwise they might for he that so sleights and despises sleights and despises the way that God hath appointed and ordained for us to waite upon him in and he that despiseth his Way despiseth him that appointed it and out of his way in a mans own way will he will not meete with blessing nay out of Gods way and in their own seem it never so right to men in their own eyes they may and usually do meet with delusion it being a just judgement of God upon the pride and folly of men that seeing they refuse the simplicity of his they should