the Light of the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes to bring the Prisoner out of the Prison house as it s written in the Scriptures of Truth he is the Eternal Word who was in the beginning by whom God made all things as it s written Joh. 1. God created all things by Jesus Christ as saith the holy Apostle Paul he is the Rock that followed Israel of which Rock they drank and of which they did eat they all eat the same spiritual meat and drank the same spiritual drink they eat and drank of the Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ By Faith in this Rock Abel offered a more acceptable Sacrifice than Cain by Faith in this Rock Abraham offered up his Isaac believed God and it was accounted to him for Righteousness by Faith in him all the Just lives to God through all Ages he is the Rock on which the true Church is builded against which the Gates of Hell can never prevail let them open as wide as they can It is as true in all man-kind as it was in the holy Apostle he said of my self I can do nothing but he also said I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me he is the blessed Seed who bruiseth the Serpents head in all who believe in and follow him in him the Election stands Gods will is that all men may know him and believe in him and be saved as the holy Apostle saith and God who cannot Lye said by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isaiah Look unto me O all ye ends of the Earth and be ye saved the Apostle John saith that we have seen and do testifie that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World and the Apostle Paul saith Christ gave himself a Ransom for All mark that here is none Reprobated by him from this Ransom The holy Ghost spake by the mouth of the holy Prophet God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the Children of men Lament 3. 33. read the Chapter through and the will of God is the Sanctification of man-kind as saith the holy Apostle holiness becomes man-kind through all Generations but sin is a Reproach unto any people as it s written but more especially to the Professors of Christianity The holy fear of the Lord God is the beginning of true pure heavenly Wisdom and the secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him as saith the holy man of God let this holy fear have place in thy heart and then the pure peaceable wisdom of God will over-shadow thee So unto the Grace of God which doth appear to thee to teach thee to deny all Vngodliness I do commend thee W. G. London the 8th day of the 10th Moneth ELECTION AND REPROBATION Scripturally Experimentally Witnessed unto c. Concerning Election and Reprobation IOhn Blaneh Hath taken upon him to speak concerning Jacob and Esau pag. 157. of his Manuscript he saith Before the Children knew good or evil Jacob have I Loved and Esau have I hated Answ Reader J. B. no doubt would have us take these words as words of the holy Scriptures but the Scriptures do not say that God said he Hated Esau before he knew Good or Evil but when the Woman felt the Children strugling in her Womb she did enquire of the Lord saying How is it that it is thus with me and the Lord said unto her Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Bowels and the Elder should serve the Younger But he did not say when the Children were in the Womb that he hated Esau though many Professors in England Scotland and else-where have so taken it but their mistake herein hath been great and greatly Hurtfull and destructive unto many Reader take notice that after the Apostle in the 9th Chapter to the Romans hath repeated what God said to the Woman while the Children were in her Womb he brings the following words As it is written Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated out of the first Chapter of Malachi where the Lord said to Israel by Malachi Was not Esau Jacob 's Brother yet I loved Jacob and I hated Esau and I laid his Mountains waste for the Dragons of the Wilderness These words were spoken by the Lord through the Prophet Malachi unto the Off-spring of Jacob long after Jacob and Esau had finished their Dayes upon Earth Jacob was a plain faithfull Man made so and kept so by the Spirit of the Lord whom he loved Esau was a prophane Man who relected the Counsel of God in Disobeying his good Spirit which he gave him to Instruct him by which he was lighted to know Good from Evil and therein Power was freely tendred to him and Time to believe and obey so it was possible that he might believe and obey so that his Unbelief and Disobedience was not of God but of the Devil not according to the Will of God who would have all Men and Women saved but according to the Will of the Devil who would have all Men and Women destroyed whom that prophane Spirit the Prince of the power of the Air did Defile Corrupt and brought into Prophaneness so he that was the False Teacher to Adam and Eve who led them to break the holy Law of God and sin against him the same led Esau into his Prophaneness because of which he was hated of God and the same Evil teacher led Cain to Kill his Righteous Brother Abel whose Sacrifice was accepted of the pure God because it was offered up with a Clean Right and Harmless Mind into which Mind he was brought and in the same kept by God his Maker out of the Evil Spirit which corrupted his Brother Cain and his God who never slumbers nor sleeps kept him yea he gave him Dominion over the Evil Hurtfull Spirit and he is Eternally blessed though he was slain by his Ungodly Brother And God said unto Cain before he killed his Brother Why art thou Wroth And why is thy Countenance fallen If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted And if thou dost not well sin lieth at thy Door Gen. 4. 6 7. God who said unto Cain If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted did not Limit or hinder him from doing well nor did God fore-appoint him to do Evil neither did he limit nor hinder Esau from doing well neither did he fore-appoint himself to do Evil. Edom the Generation of Esau said We are impoverished we will return and build the Desolate places The Lord said They shall build but I will throw down and they shall call them the border of Wickedness against whom the Lord hath Indignation c. This Generation of Esau were rejected of God because of their Wickedness which not God but the Devil was the Author of and so their Destruction was of themselves who rejected the Counsel of God who as the holy Apostle saith Would have all men to be saved
Disciples What I say unto one I say unto all Watch WATCH and Pray lest ye enter into Temptation The holy Prophet said I will hear what the Lord will say for he will speak Peace to his Saints but let them not turn again to Folly In pag. 17. J. B. quotes the words which God spake to Moses saying I will have Mercy on whom I will have Mercy these words Paul repeated in Rom. 9. and he added these words viz. whom he will he heardneth To the first I Answer Paul speaking to the Geutiles or Heathens concerning the Jews said God hath concluded them All in Vnbelief that he might have MERCY UPON ALL. Mark that upon ALL Rom. 11. 32. And Vers 26. he saith All Israel shall be saved Vers 27. This is my Covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins To the second I Answer God's Grace hath appeared and is a free Gift of God given unto all men to teach all men to deny Ungodliness and to live Godly in this present World he gives all a time also in which they may turn unto him from their Evil Wayes and if they turn not to him in the Day of their Visitation the Lord doth cease to strive with them for their Salvation who regard not the Day of their Visitation Luke 19. 44. As he did with the People of Jerusalem of old who WEPT over them and said O that thou hadst known in this Day the things which belong to thy Peace But now they are hid from thy Eyes now your House is left unto you desolate c. Mat. 23. 28 29. Luk. 13. 34 35. Thus it plainly appears that there was a time in which they might have known the things which did belong to their Peace but they neglecting that time God ceased to strive with them and shut the Door of Mercy against them So when God ceased to strive with them then they hardned SWIFTLY for then the Devil had them at his pleasure Soit was and is he that doth hearden peoples Hearts against God by leading them into sin and this the Apostle well knew and therefore Exhorted the Saints To Watchfullness and Faithfullness lost said he any of you be hardened through the Deceitfullness of Sin Heb. 3. 13. And though it s said God hardened Pharaoh 's Heart yet I say as the Apostle saith God's Will is that All Men may know the Truth and be saved and I say there was a time when God would have softned his Heart and have made him a good man but he withstanding the Day of God's tender Visitation which was in order to have made him a Tender hearted good Man God ceased to strive with him for his Salvation and th en the Devil That great Hardier of Hearts had his Will of him And though God said to Pharaoh I have raised thee up to make my Power known in thee yet God did not say to him I Created thee on purpose that thou shouldst be a Wicked Cruel and Hard hearted Man NO it were great Blasphemy to say or think so though after he was hardened God suffered him for a time to oppress his People yea to rise higher and higher in his Oppression yet afterwards God's Power was known in his Destruction and in the deliverance of his own People Pharaoh said unto Moses and Aaron I have sinned the Lord is Righteous and I and my People are wicked Exod. 9. 27. Again he said I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you forgive I pray thee my Sin Chap. 10. ver 26 27. Again When Pharaoh saw there was Respite he hardned his Heart Chap. 8. ver 15. Again Pharaoh hardned his Heart this time also ver 32. Thus it plainly appears that Pharaoh justifieth the Lord God in his Righteous Judgments which he brought upon him and his People for their Sins and condemneth himself and his People saying I and my People are wicked It is certain that it was the Devil NOT GOD who led Pharaoh and his People into Sin by which their Hearts were hardned against God and his People The holy Apostle John saith He that committeth Sin is of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with Evil neither tempteth he any man But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lusts and enticed then when Lust hath conceived it bringeth forth Sin and Sin when it is finished bringeth forth Death Jam. 1. 13 14 15. And God's command is unto man kind that they should not harden their Hearts and it s written That he was grieved with those who did harden their Hearts Psalm 95. 8 10. Heb. 3. 10. and God hath promised That he will take away the Stony or hard Heart which the Devil hath made hard and that he will give them a Heart of Flesh or a soft heart c. Ezek. 11. 19. And David saith Psal 51. 17. The Sacrifice of God is a broken Heart And God said by the Prophet to the People Joel 2. 13. Rent your Hearts c. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart and saveth such as are of a contrite Spirit Psalm 34. 18. Christ Jesus said The Men of Nineveh shall rise up in Judgment with this Generation and shall condemn it because they Repented at the preaching of Jonas And behold a greater then Jonas is here Matth. 12. 41. Jesus upbraided yea condemned the Cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they Repented not see Matth. 11. 20. to the end God commandeth all men to Repent every where Act. 17. 30. Jesus said Suppose ye that those Galileans mentioned Luk. 13. 1 2 3. and those eighteen men on whom the Tower of Siloam fell ver 4. were sinners above all the Gallileans and above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell ye nay but except ye Repent ye shall ALL likewise PERISH And Christ told his Disciples after he was risen from the Dead That Repentance Remission of Sins should be preached in his Name unto all Nations or in all Nations mark that Luk. 24. 47. Many times did Jesus call unto the Rebellious amongst the seven Churches of Asia to Repent as may be seen in the second third Chapters of the Revelations at large Christs Parables concerning the stray Sheep and the prodigal Son in Luk. 15. 7. doth much hold forth the Universal Love of God to man-kind he said I say unto you that Joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that Repenteth more than over ninety nine just Persons which need no Repentance Again There is Joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that Repenteth Luke 15. 10. John the Baptist called the Pharisees and the Sadduces who came unto his Baptism A Generation of Vipers yet these he called to bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance Matth. 3. 7. 12. 23. Luk. 3. 7. In Rom. 9. 32. Paul saith
in their EVIL SELF-WILL chuse the Evil THE SIN the Wages of which is Death as saith the holy Apostle Now for any person to say that though God commands People to chuse the good to chuse Life yet he doth NOT WILL or Intend that they should obey this his command in chusing Life this is horrible Blas phemy or to say that he knows they cannot chuse the good by his help they cannot chuse Life this is also Blasphemy For this would render the pure just holy equal Lord God a Mocker in this great and weighty concern the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath said unto HIM Thy Throne O God is forever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a righteous Scepter thou lovest Righteousness and HATEST WICKEDNESS therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows Psal 45. 6 7. Heb. 1. 8. Thus it plainly appears that God and Christ loves Righteousness and HATES all Sin and Wickedness Therefore the Call of the Lord God WAS AND IS Let the wicked forsake his way and the UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS let him turn unto the Lord and he will have mercy on him unto our God and he will abundantly pardon God said by the Mouth of the holy Apostle Draw near unto God and he will draw near unto you Cleanse your Hands ye sinners purifie your HEARTS ye DOUBLE minded be afflicted and mourn and WEEP let your LAUGHTER be turned into MOURNING and your JOY into HEAVINESS humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up James 4. 8 9 10. Again Thou art NOT a God that hath pleasure in WICKEDNESS neither shall EVIL dwell with thee Psal 5. 4. But know that God hath set APART him that is GODLY for HIMSELF Psal 4. 3. The Apostle Paul said unto the Saints My Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might put on the whole Armour of God that ye may be ABLE to STAND against the wiles of the Devil For WE wrestle NOT against Flesh and Blood but against Principalites of the DARKNESS of this World against spiritual Wickedness in high places Wherefore take unto you the WHOLE Armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil Day and having DONE ALL to stand stand therefore having your Loins girt about with Truth and having on the Breast-plate of Righteousness and your Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of PEACE above all taking the SHIELD of Faith wherewith you shall be able to quench ALL the fiery Darts of the wicked c Praying alwayes with all Prayer and Supplication IN THE SPIRIT and WATCH thereunto with all perseverance c. Ephes 6. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. Again The NIGHT is far spent the DAY is at hand let us therefore cast off the WORKS of Darkness and let us put on the ARMOUR of LIGHT Let us walk honestly as in the day NOT in Rioting Drunkenness NOT in Chambering Wantonness NOT in Strife and Envy but put ye ON the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the Flesh to fulfill the LUST thereof Rom. 13. 12 13 14. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith We ought to give more earnest HEED to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them SLIP In the Greek in the Margin it s rendered thus or let them run out like leeking Vessels Heb. 2 1. Christ Jesus saith to the Believers Take HEED to your selves lâ—st at ANY time your Hearts be over charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness and the CARES of THIS LIFE Luke 21. 3. Again The Apostle saith WATCH ye STAND FAST in the Faith quit you like men be strong Ephes 6. 10 to 18. Again the Apostle said unto the Saints Ye are all the Children of the Light and the Children of the DAY we are NOT of the NIGHT nor of Darkness Therefore let us not SLEEP as do others but let us watch and be sober For they which 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 puting on the Breast plate of Faith and LOVE and for an Helmet the hope of Salvation 1 Thes 5. 5 6 7. Ephes 5. 8. John 3. 36. Again the Apostle Peter saith For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead that they might be JUDGED according to men in the Flesh but LIVE according to God IN the Spirit Be ye therefore sober and watch unto Prayer 1 Pet. 4. 6 7. Again Christ said by John unto the Angel of the Church in Sardes I know thy works that thou hast a Name that thou LIVEST art DEAD Be watchful strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die For I have not found thy works perfect before God Remember therefore how thou hast RECEIVED and HEARD and hold FAST and Repent If therefore thou shalt NOT watch I will come on thee as a Thief and thoâ— shalt NOT know what Hour I will come upon thee Thou hast a few Names even in Sardes which have not defiled their Garments and they shall walk with me in White for they are worthy Rev. 3. 1 2 3 4. Note Reader Here is sweet harmonious wholsom heavenly Counsel given by many faithfull Witnesses to put on the whole Armour of God and so to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might to put on the Shield of Faith and the Armour of Light and by this Power Light and spiritual Armour to withstand all the wiles of the Devil to quench all the fiery Darts of that Wicked one who goes about like a roaring Lyon ever seeking whom he may devour to stand having our Loyns girt about with Truth that is indeed a blessed Girdle having on the Breast-plate of Righteousness having our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace the WAR NOT being against flesh and blood but against spiritual Wickedness and against the Prince of Darkness c. praying alwayes in the SPIRIT and watching thereunto with all perseverance not letting those things slip which we have heard and Received of God not to be like Leekey Vessels which lets that run out which is put into them not to be like the old unsound Bottles which burst c. but to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof to keep out of surfeiting and over-charging our Hearts and Spirits with the cares of this Life not to sleep or slumber away our precious time in the Evil thoughts words and works of the Night which the Devil not God is the Author of and hath PLEASURE IN God's will is that all men should know the Truth and be SAVED so he is willing that they should all put on keep on the Breastplate of faith LOVE for an Helmet the hope of Salvation Here the
Faith which they once had who have sinned out the Day of Gods tender Visitation to them who are the Trees twice dead pluckt up by the Roots whose end is to be burned it had been better for them that they had not had Faith then after they had it to depart from it Therefore let all People who have not sinned out the day of God's tender Visitation HEAR and Fear the mighty God who is a consuming Fire unto the Wicked as it s written and let all such bow their Hearts and Minds unto God's searching Spirit and Word nigh in their Hearts and that will work true Faith and encrease the same and will preserve them from making Shipwrack of Faith and it will beget a good tender Conscience and it will continue and uphold the same in all those who continue to HEAR and Fear the living God who as the Apostle saith Is the Saviour of all men but especially of those that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. His Sun shines upon the Evil and the Good and his Rain falls upon the Just and the Unjust he is good unto the Unthankful and to the Evil as is shewed before So God sends and gives his Mercies unto the Wicked and Rebellious in some degree not only in things Temporal but also in things Spiritual as is largely shewed in this Book so that in the day of Gods Visitation unto them he is a Saviour unto them and saves and preserves them from Destruction and he doth suffer long to lead the Wicked to Repentance who saith As I live I have no pleasure in the Death or Damnation or Destruction of the Wicked but that the Wicked should turn and live But when they will not turn unto him in the day of his Long-suffering and tender Visitation he casts them out of his favour forever as Christ hath said unto the Goats set on the Left Hand Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil his Angels The Counsel of the holy Ghost is Seek ye the Lord while he MAY be found call upon him while he is NEAR Isa 55. 6. Again They hated Knowledge and did NOT CHUSE the fear of the Lord they would NONE of my Counsel they despised all my Reproof therefore shall they eat of the Fruit of their own wayes and be filled with their own Devices For the turning AWAY of the Simple shall SLAY them and the Prophecying of Fools shall DESTROY them But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell SAFELY and shall be QUIET from FEAR of Evil Prov. 1. 29 30 31 32 33. In Romans the first Chapter the Apostle Paul speaks largely concerning some who When they knew God they did NOT glorisie him AS God neither were THANKFUL but became vain in their Imaginations and their foolish Hearts were darkened they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God into an IMAGE made like to corruptible Man and to Birds and Fore-footed Beasts and Creeping things wherefore God gave them up to Vncleaness Who changed the Truth of God into a Lye or rather for a Lye and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed forever Amen And they became HATERS of God and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them up to a Reprobate mind c. Such become like the deaf Adder that stopeth his Ear which will not hearken to the Voice of Charmers Charming never so wisely see Psalm 58. 4 5. The Apostle Paul saith Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of man that doth Evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile for there is NO respect of PERSONS with God Rom. 2. 9 11. but Glory Honour and Peace to every man that WORKETH Good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile ver 10. Christ said concerning the Wicked This Peoples Heart is waxed gross and their Ears are dull of hearing and their Eyes THEY have closed c. Note Reader by what is above written it doth plainly appear that there is a time when man may seek after God and find him and have eternal Salvation given by him yea there is a time when HE is near and then he being call'd upon will hear and answer But if man IN his SELF-WILL carelesness and negligence REFUSE this seasonable time then he may seek and NOT find call and NOT be answered Therefore blessed are all they who prize and imbrace the time and day of Gods tender Visitation who said TO day if ye will hear my Voice HARDEN NOT your Hearts c. Again They that hated Knowledge who did NOT CHUSE his fear these did harden their Hearts contrary to the will and mind of God they set at naught ALL his Counsel and would have NONE of his Reproof Therefore saith God they shall eat the Fruit of their own wayes c. For the turning away of the Simple shall slay or destroy them c. But saith God whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil O blessed happy are all they who INCLINE their Ears diligently hearken unto his Voice and obey the same with such he will make an everlasting Covenant and will give unto them the sure Mercies of David he will give them unfeigned Repentance as he gave unto him and forgiveness of their Sins as he did unto him yea he will remove their Sins as far from them as the East is from the West Psal 103. 12. Isa 55. 3. Object It s written some are sensual not having the Spirit and they who have not the Spirit cannot have Faith for faith is the fruit of the Spirit and those who have not the Spirit they have not faith and those who have not faith cannot be saved Therefore all such God did ordain or fore-appoint to be damned before they were Born Answ I have before largely and clearly proved that Gods will is that all men might be saved he calls to all the ends of the Earth to look unto him saying Look unto me and be ye saved He giveth all a Day and Time of Visitation wherein they may all seek him and find him call upon him and be heard and answered by him and receive in his tender Mercy everlasting Salvation It is true that the holy Man of God hath said that some of Old did I say many now do separate themselves Sensual not having the Spirit but this doth NOT at all prove that such never had the Spirit in any measure but the Scriptures of Truth do clearly prove the contrary For the Lord gave his Spirit unto Saul but because of his Disobedience and Rebellion against the Lord the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil Spirit troubled him c. see 1 Chron. 16. 14. And Saul said The Lord is departed from me Chap. 28. 15. When David had sinned against God in the case of Vriah he greatly lamented and unfeignedly Repented of his Sin and prayed unto the Lord saying Cast me not
Revellings and Dancings Whisperings and Back-biteings Lying and Slandring evil Imaginations and Thoughts and abominable Idolatries The BARE Name of Christian will not profit you any thing while you are out of the true Christian Faith and Obedience in Rebellion against Christ O that you would consider your latter end O that you would seek after God! O that you would unfeignedly seek Repentance there is Mercy with God that he may be feared and sought after BY YOU while the Day of your Visitation lasteth before the Door of Mercy be FOREVER shut against you but if you will STILL go on in your Wickedness you will in a very little TIME grow RIPE for Vengeance and the Lord will CERTAINLY be TOO strong for you and will cut you down as in a moment and will bring you into everlasting Punishment as the just reward of your wicked ungodly Works Words Imaginations and Thoughts For the holy Ghost saith by the Mouth of the holy Apostle Paul Be NOT deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap he that soweth to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting If you live after the Flesh you shall DYE but if you through the Spirit mortifie the Deeds of the Body then shall you LIVE His Servants you are to whom you yield your selves Servants to OBEY whether it be of SIN unto Death or of OBEDIENCE unto Righteousness Gal. 6. 7 8. Rom. 6. 16. and 8. 13. Moreover mortifie your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry for which THINGS SAKE the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of Disobedience in the which ye also walked SOME TIME when ye lived IN them but now ye also put off ALL these Anger Wrath MALICE BLASPHEMY filthy Communication out of your Mouth Lye NOT one to another c. Put on CHARITY which is the bond of PERFECTNESS and let the PEACE of God rule in your Hearts to the which YOU are also called in one Body and be ye thankful c. Col. 3. 5 6 7 8 9 14 15. Read the Chapter through Again Be ye therefore Followers of God as dear Children and walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an Offering and Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour but Fornication and ALL Uncleanness or Covetousness let it NOT ONCE be named among ye c. neither Filthiness nor foolish TALKING nor JESTING which are not convenient but rather giving of Thanks For this you KNOW THAT NO Whoremonger NOR Unclean Persons NOR Covetous man which is an Idolater hath ANY Inheritance IN the Kingdom of Christ and of God Let no Man deceive you with VAIN Words for because of these things cometh the Wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience be NOT ye therefore partakers with them for ye were SOMETIMES DARKNESS but NOW ARE YE LIGHT IN THE LORD walk as CHILDREN of the LIGHT for the FRUIT of the Spirit IS IN ALL GOODNESS and Righteousness and Truth and have NO fellowship with the unfruitful WORKS of Darkness BUT rather reprove them For it is a SHAME even to SPEAK of those things which are done of them IN SECRET but ALL things that are reproved are made manifest BY the LIGHT for WHATSOEVER DOTH make manifest IS LIGHT Wherefore he saith AWAKE thou that SLEEPEST and arise from the DEAD and Christ shall give thee LIGHT Ephes 5. to the 14. Read the Chapter through Moreover the Author to the Hebrews saith by the holy Ghost or Spirit Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God or FALL from IT As in the Margin before Lest any Root of bitterness spiringing up trouble you and THEREBY many be defiled lest there be any Fornicator or PROPHANE Person as Esau WHO for one morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right Heb. 12. 14 â—5 16. Note Reader this is WORTHY of thy observation that Esau SOLD his Birth-right and the following words of the Apostle are these viz. You know saith he that afterward WHEN he would have inherited the BLESSING he was REJECTED c. ver 17. Note here the holy Ghost renders Esau a Prophane Person and rendereth the SELLING and despising of his Birth-right as a proof of his Prophaneness for which he was rejected of God and could not inherit the Blessing though he Afterwards sought it c. The holy Ghost or Spirit said by Moses Thus Esau despised his Birth-right Gen. 25. 34. God did not fore-appoint Esau to be a prophane or wicked man he did not fore-appoint him to serve and obey the Devil the Original and first cause of all Prophaneness and Wickedness It is written that Ahab SOLD HIMSELF to work Wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Kings 21. 25 20. So Wickedness and Prophaneness alwayes proceeded from the Devil and CORRUPT SELF but all Purity and Holiness proceeds from God who is everlasting Holy his command unto all People is Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Without Holiness no man shall see the Lord as saith the holy Ghost and also saith Holiness becomes the Lords House forever God DID NOT SELL Esau to work Wickedness but he sold himself or gave up himself to the Original of wickedness the Devil for after he was corrupted by him who is the Original of all Prophaneness and Wickedness he despised his Birth-right and sold it for a Mess of Pottage and after he had done this God rejected him but before this he had a day or time of Visitation in which he might have entred into Rest and Peace with God In the Prophecy of Obediah there is much said concerning Esau and his House Family or Off-spring the Edomites as I have shewed before in this Book God said to Esau IN HIS Generation The Pride of thine Heart hath deceived thee how are the things of Esau searched out how are his hidden things sought up c. For the Violence against thy Brother Jacob shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off forever Thou shouldst NOT have rejoyced over the Children of Judah in the day of their Destruction NEITHER shouldst thou have spoken proudly in the day of Distress thou shouldst NOT have entred into the Gate of my People in the day of their Calamity c. NOR have laid hand on their SUBSTANCE in the day of their Calamity NEITHER shouldst thou have STOOD in the cross way to CUT OFF those of him that did escape NEITHER shouldst thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of Distress AS thou hast done it shall be done unto thee thy REWARD shall turn upon thy own Head c. And the House of Jacob shall be a Fire and the House of Joseph a Flame and the House
divine Life and Spirit he enlightneth all He is the Propitiation saith the Apostle John not for our Sins only but for the Sins of the whole World Reader this is the COMMON Salvation that Jude speaketh of in the beginning of his Epistle to believe in the Light as aforesaid is true Belief or true Faith which the Apostle Paul speaketh of to Titus saying Titus My own Son after the COMMON Faith Grace Mercy Peace from God the Father c. Titus 1. 4. Of this Faith Jude speaketh in his Epistle this was and is the common Faith For this Faith the true Christians stood or contended against all the false Faiths among the Jews and Heathens and Apostate Christians for this Faith do the true Christians now stand against them all and in this Faith is the Victory over all false Faiths and evil things see 1 John 5. 4. This is the true and living Faith which is attended with Works of Righteousness a Godly Holy Conversation c. according to the Testimony of the Apostle James This is the Faith which worketh by Love which purisieth the Heart the Mystery of which is held in a pure Conscience see 1 Tim. 3. 9. In this Faith is the command of God kept who saith Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy In this is the Doctrine of the holy Apostle fulfilled who exhorted saying As he who hath called you is Holy so be ye Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. The Apostle Paul saith by the holy Ghost God hath made of one Blood all Nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the buonds of their Habitation that they should seek the Lord c. because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead It is rendred in the Margin He hath offered faith unto all men see Acts 27. 26 31. Again Paul saith to Timothy Now the end of the Commandment is Charity or Love out of a PURE HEART and of a GOOD Conscience and of Faith UNFEIGNED from which some having swarved have turned aside unto vain Jangling 1 Tim 1. 5 6. Again Paul saith to the Galatians For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but FAITH which worketh by LOVE see Gal. 5. 6. The Apostle Peter by the holy Ghost saith That God put NO difference between the Jews and Gentiles but PURIFIED both their Hearts by Faith see Acts 15. 6. Again Paul said to the believing Thessalonians Your Faith GROWETH exceedingly see 2 Thes 1. 3. Again to the Galatians The FRUIT of the Spirit IS Faith c. see Gal. 5. 22. The Apostle James signified by the holy Ghost unto the twelve Tribes of the Jews the UNIVERSAL LOVE of God saying If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to ALL MEN LIBERALLY and obraideth NOT and it shall be given him let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a Wave of the Sea driven with the Wind and tossed c. A double-minded man is unstable in all his wayes James 1. 5 6 8. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. Heb. 10. 22. Again the same Author saith Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for the evidence of things NOT seen for by IT the Elders obtained a good report through Faith WE UNDERSTAND that the World was framed by the WORD of God So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear by Faith Abel offered unto God a more acceptable Sacrifice than Cain c. by Faith Noah being warned of God of things NOT seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his House by the which he condemned the World and became HEIR of Righteousness which is by Faith by Faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which after he should receive for an Inheritance obeyed c. for he looked for a City which hath a Foundation whose Builder and MAKER is God through Faith also Sarah received strength to conceive Seed and was delivered of a Child when she was past Age BECAUSE she judged him faithful who had promised therefore sprang there even of one and him as good as dead so many as the Stars of the Skey in multitude c. These ALL dyed IN the FAITH c. by Faith Abraham when he was TRYED offered up Isaac and he that had received the Promises offered up his only begotten Son of whom it was said In Isaac shall the Seed be called accounting that God was ABLE to raise him up even from the DEAD from whence also he in a Figure received him by Faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come by Faith Jacob when he was dying blessed both the Sons of Joseph by Faith Moses when he was Born was hid c. by Faith Moses when he was come to YEARS refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter CHUSING rather to SUFFER Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the PLEASURES of Sin for a SEASON esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater RICHES than the TREASURES in Aegypt for he had a RESPECT unto the Recompence of REWARD by Faith he forsook Aegypt NOT fearing the Wrath of the King for he endured as SEEING him who is INVISIBLE by Faith Israel passed through the Sea as by dry Land c. by Faith the Walls of Jericho fell down c. by Faith the People of God LIVED unto HIM through ALL Ages in all Afflictions Persecution Tortures and Punishments whatsoever see Heb. 11. read it through Abraham believed in God and it was counted unto him for Righteousness know ye therefore saith the Apostle that they which are of Faith the same are the Children of Abraham Note Reader God fore-determining to justifie the Heathen through Faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all Nations be blessed So that they which be of Faith are blessed with faithful Abraham see Gal. 3. 6 7 8 9. Gen. 12. 3. Again Now to Abraham and his Seed was the Promises made He saith not and to Seeds as of many but as of one and to thy Seed which is Christ see Gal. 3. 16. Which Christ who was of the Seed of David and Abraham according to the Flesh as he is the eternal word he is the true spiritual and divine Light who lighteth every one that cometh into the World according to John 1. 9. 8. 12. 12. 46. as is shewed before The Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15. 26. and 16. 8 9 10 11 13. which doth Convince the World of
who believe in and faithfully follow him the Lamb of God he taketh away their Sins he being made Perfect is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto ALL them that OBEY him Heb. 5. 9. Daniel the Prophet who prophesied of the coming of the Messiah which is Christ Jesus and of his Sufferings he declared the End or Effects thereof Namely To make an END of SIN to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness see Dan. 9. 24. to the end Jesus Christ said To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth every one that is of the Truth heareth MY VOICE John 18. 37. And Jesus said I came to call sinners to Repentance He that COVERETH his Sins shall NOT prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have Mercy Prov. 28. 13. These are faithful Sayings of God spoken through his Son and his Prophets and Apostles here is a Cloud of witnesses who in a sweet Unity and Harmony and Clearness speaks forth the Universal Love of God to Mankind in Christ Jesus in sending him to make an end of Sin the Devils Work The Wages of Sin is Death as saith the Apostle which NOT being Repented of and forsaken brings into the Pit of endless Torment a BARE confessing of Sin without repenting and forsaking will NOT bring Men Women to lay down their Heads in PEACE with God Therefore Wo unto those who go on in their sins unto the end of their Dayes upon Earth Raking up and down in the Scriptures of Truth to gather up the Failings MISCARRIAGES of some among God's People who for want of diligent Watchfulness were overcome by their Souls Enemy but Unfeignedly Repented and Ceased from the Evil did learn to do well and so were forgiven as in the cases of David and Peter w hose Miscarriages at a time or some few times is now made as TEXTS on them to preach up IMPERFECTION and SIN for Term of Life Wo to those sort of Preachers if they do not Repent of this Unchristian and Ungodly Preaching and cease there from they will not only Destroy themselves but also those who give up themselves to believe and love their sinful Doctrine who by this Wicked preaching do take courage and GREAT boldness to continue in sin and to love it and to commit it with greediness yea to drink it up abundantly even as an Ox drinks up Water and to pull it and draw it upon them as with Cords and Cart tropes as it s written This sort of Teachers God is against his Soul is grieved by them from day to day Oh! that they would consider it and lay it to Heart and Repent before it be too late The Woes were of Old and now are unto all those Preachers and Hearers who are covered and NOT with the holy pure Spirit of the Lord God in which spirit God is worshipped as Christ saith Wo to the Rebellious Children who take Counsel but not of me saith the Lord God who cover with a Covering but NOT of my SPIRIT that they may ADD Sin unto Sin Isa 30. 1. Wo unto them that call Evil Good and Good Evil c. Wo unto them who justifie the Wicked FOR a Reward c. Therefore as the Fire devoureth the Stubble and the Flame consumeth the Chaff so their ROOT shall be Rottenness and their BLOSSOM shall go up as Dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the Word of the holy One of Israel Wo to them that are Wise in their own eyes c. Isa 5. 18 to the 25th read the Chapter through Wo to the Wicked it shall be Ill with him for the Reward of his Hands shall be given him What mean ye that ye beat my People c. and grind the Faces of the Poor saith the Lord God of Hosts Moreover the Lord saith Because the Daughters of Zion are Haughty and walk with stretched-out Necks and wanton EYES c. Therefore the Lord will Smite with a SCAB the Crown or Top of the Heed of the Daughter of Zion Jerusalem is Ruined and Judah is Fallen because their TONGUE and their Doings are against the Lord to provoke the Eyes of his Glory They declare their Sin as Sodom Wo unto their SOULS for they have Rewarded EVIL unto THEMSELVES Isa 3. 8 to the 18th read the Chapter through In this Chapter the Proud and Wonton Women of our Age may read their pattern and see whose Ungodly Example they follow and also they may see what Ruin Destruction and Misery they brought upon themselves as the just Reward of their Ungodly Lives and seeing God did thus punish the Proud and Wanton Women under the Profession of the Law certainly he will not justifie such Persons or Practices under the Profession of Christ and his Gospel for though the Law could not make the Comers thereunto Perfect as pertaining unto the Conscience yet then God did not leave himself without a Witness in them he gave them his good Spirit to instruct them as Nehemiah saith but they rebelled against it but Christ and his Gospel can make them that come to him Perfect even as pertaining to the Conscience and that which makes the Conscience good and brings it into a perfect cleanness the same keeps Man and Woman clean in their Conversations outwardly and such who do believe in and obey Christ Jesus he teaches them to be truly Meek and Lowly and Humble according to the blessed Command and Example which he gave in the Dayes of his flesh who said Learn of me I am Meek and LOWLY in Heart and ye shall find REST TO YOUR SOULS The Apostle Peter in the holy Ghost exhorted the Women to be subject unto their own Husbands And said whose Adorning let it not be the outward Adorning of Plating the Hair NOR of WEARING of GOLD c. But let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is NOT Corruptible the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit which IS in the sight of God of great PRICE For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God Adorned themselves c. 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. Again the Apostle Paul saith I will in like manner also that Women Adorn themselves in MODEST Apparel with SHAMEFACEDNESS and SOBRIETY NOT w th Broidred HAIR or GOLD or PEARLS or Costly Aray But which becometh Women professing Godliness with GOOD WORKS 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. So all Women both Old and Young ought to obey the Command of Christ who commands to be Meek and Lowly and ought to follow the good Example of these holy Christian-Women who were cloathed and beautified with a Meek and Humble Quiet Spirit and with good Works as the holy Apostle Exhorts Depart from Evil and do good and dwell or live for evermore I have seen the Wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay-Tree