Minds but when a Command comes to be obeyed and a Cross to bâ— taken up and Self-denial to be shewn 〈◊〉 some Increase of Trade lies in the way let Truth go where it will you must follow your Interest there wants somewhâ—â— to fix you in the Principle of Truth which is able to sanctifie you and perfect you that you may be reconciled to God through Christ They that are resigned and given up to Truth it is possible for them that they may be satisfied they have an Infallible Testimony of the Spirit of Truth witnessing with their Spirits that such a thing is bad and if they might get the whole World to do it they will not What is Profit and Pleasure to me My Pleasure is at Gods right Hand and my Profit is to get Grace and to have an abundant entrance into Gods Everlasting Kingdom Those that have the true knowledge of Christ they have Profit and Advantage Pleasure and Delight enough which is hid from the World and ever will be They are for Profit and Pleasure which they may have with a good Conscience Those Things which God affords them as Blessings in this World they despise them not but take them with Thanksgiving and use them for his Glory But if they cannot have Profit and Pleasure without sinning against the Lord and their own Consciences take Profit and Pleasure that will They that come thus to close with Truth they have an infallible Evidence within them they do not conceive it is thus and thus because such a Man saith it is so but they have an infallible Evidence in themselves This is the Mind of the Lord God hath signified it by his Spiâ—â—t and sealed it upon my Spirit and I cannot but know it What do you profess Infallibility Else I would hold my Tongue if I did not know what I assert infallibly I would never Preach more Truth may be many times concealed A Man may have wronged and cheated his Neighbour and he not know it this Man goes away and his Neighbour doth not reproach him but when he comes to lie down in his Bed he hath a sting and a reproach in his Conscience I know I have donâ— him harm Whether is not this Infallible Let me consult some learned Men that I may know wâ—â—ther it was a Lie I told I need not go to learned Men and Logicians to know whether it was a Lie I am infallible in this I know certainly it was a Lie I have a certain Evidence and if a thousand Men tell me to the contrary I will not believe them If there be Infallibility here is there not then Infallibility in the word of Truth Shall I question it or doubt it if I have an infallible Testimony of it Tho' Men have never so little proficiency if they have it upon sure Terms and lasting Foundations let a thousand Men come with all their Logical Skill and Sophism yet they can never remove a Man from the Witness â—n himself The Remnant that God hath â—rought to this Foundation they have a certainty and Infallibility in their Obedience they pay to the Will of God aâ—â— in the comfort they have in their Obedience to the Law of God which he hath written in their Hearts Let what will come they can never be removed for this exceeds all the Precepts and Doctrin of Men it is the Precept and Doctrin of Christ and his Apostles Let People read them and endeavour to practise them but here comes the Testimony the Divine Power by which the Precept was given forth to them and is now given forth again to thee and me with as much Liveliness and Power Let us perform them as did the Primitive Christians Here now Comfort comes to flow forth from a settled Foundation that shall never be moved The Winds have come and blown upon Religion let what Wind will blow and can blow God hath built his Church upon a Rock and it will remain unmoveable against all opposition blessed are they that are founded thereupon Hath God fixed and established us in our Society with one another and with our Lord Jesus Christ This is the Foundation that God hath placed it upon We desire that all Men may come to the same stability and settlement and never more to be tosseâ— with the Winds of Doctrin but be built upon Christ Jesus the Rock of Ages the Rock of our Ages the Rock of us and our Children That God will carry us â—n in this Society is the desire of our Souls for our Selves and all our Friends and Country-men The way for you to be blessed and to have 〈◊〉 Advantage for your Immortal Souls by the Testimony that hath been raised up is to have regard to the working of the same Power that you may come to partake of the Benefit of those Gifts and Graces which God hath bestowed upon his Church His Prayer after Sermon MOST blessed and glorious God and Father of Life how wonderful art thou in thy Appearances to thy People in the Day of thy Power in which thou has stretched forth thine Arm and hast gathered a Remnant of those that were scattered and art yet gathering them and bringing them to thy self those that have been driven away and thou hast made known thy power and goodness in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men that they might love thee That thou mightest beget love to thy self thou hast made known thy love to their Hearts if thou hadst not loved us first we had never loved thee But thou hast been shedding abroad thy love in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost to constrain us to love thee Thy love is manifested to all that are breathing after thee and none do breath after thee but through the Life that thou givest to them and those that were dead in Sins aâ—â— Tâ—esâ—asses hast thou quickned and we wâ—â—◠〈…〉 forth thy Praises and Thanksgivings for the great things that thou hast done for us in Jesus Christ All thy Works praise thee and thy Saints bless thee Holy Father of Life increase and multiply those Graces and holy Desires which thou hast begun to work in us and pluck up every Plant that thy right Hand hath not planted Let spiritual Sodom be burnt up and all that are Corrupt let those things that thou hast planted spring up to the Praise of thy Name and the Salvation of the Souls which thou hast gathered O powerful God of Life let thy blessed Presence and living Fear be among us that all thy Children may offer Praises and the Sacrifices of humble Thanksgivings upon thy Holy Altar Arise O Lord more and more in the greatness of thy Power and dispel the Clouds of Darkness that have been upon the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men and raise up in every one of us more and more holy Desires and Breathings after that Life that is Eternal Those that have been scattered let them be now gathered and let those that have been
cometh when no man can work Let every one of us that are now met together labour to be sensible of the Love of God to us and love him above all and express our Love by a willing and persevering Obedience that we may have the love of God shed abroad upon our hearts by the Holy Ghost and offer up living Praises to him through Jesus Christ â—ho hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made to kings and priests unto God and his father To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and â—ver Amen SERMON X. Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ Preached at Devonshire-House August the 9th 1691. IT is a general Doctrine in the World That no man by any means in the World can ever be set free from Sin in this Life This is universally received almost among all Christians in all Churches one and another tho' they differ never so much in other things yet they agree in this so that this Doctrine hath â—ot a Sway in the World and it is accounted a great Delusion and a Heresie and a grand Error for any to question the Truth of it Now while a Man is of that Belief That there is an impossibility of living without Sin and of breaking down the Kingdom of Satan in any one Soul in the World How can Men hope or believe that Righteousness should prevail in the Heart of one Man Therâ— neither King nor Beggar if he be a Bishop 〈◊〉 a Gospel Minister the Devil must have a Rulâ— and Goverâ—â—ent in him so long 〈…〉 this World As long as this is believe 〈◊〉 not possible that the other Belief should tâ— place It is madness to think that I must bâ— under the Rule and Government of Satan if I am under the Government of the Son of God And it is still greater madness to say That Christ and the Devil are both my Governours and Rulers It is prodigious Folly and Madness to speak after this manner This Belief prevails over all Men over the Wise and Mighty and Noble and Learned that they can never be freed from the Power of Sin in this World but that the Devil will lead them into Sin every Day leâ— Men be never so sober never so abstemious in their Lives let them spend never so many Hours in Prayer every Day let them come to Meetings and hear Sermons and write them and repeat them and do what they will here is a Bar of Unbelief that lies in the way that makes Men depart from the living God and his Power and lose the Benefit they should receive from Christ And therefore they go to fetch it another way that is to have the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them and they shall be holy and pure in the sight of God when they are polluted in their own Eyes and when they see their daily Failings Infirmities and Corruptions yet God may not see them but that he sees them Holy Just and Righteous in his Son What strange kind of Doctrine is this I must prâ—sume that God will see me in his Son Jesus Christ when I never was in Christ How can this be He that is in Christ 〈◊〉 new creature old things are done away and 〈◊〉 things are become new But if there be Oâ— things remaining still and I be not becomâ— New shall I presume that I am in Christ and that God will see me in his Son When People come to use the Understanding that God hath given them the will look upon themselvâ—â— as barred out by their Unbelief that the Nations have drunk in and it is as sweet to them as the Honey and the Honey-Comb But blessed be God many have vomited it up already If they would have placed this Doctrine upon Man's Natural Ability I would have said Amen to it I know there is none of us all have a natural Ability anâ— Power to deliver his own Soul from Sin and Satan but when they come to place it upon God that though the Lord make bare his arm and reveal his power though they come to have the Grace of God that still they could not be delivered from Sin this hath Blasphemy at the bottom of it The other reflected upon man's Power this reflects upon the Power of God Almighty That the Devil hath got such a Power over us that God hath noâ— Power over us nor cannot have Power aâ— Dominion over us so that of a whole Nâ—tion he cannot have one Man to serve him Much might be said in answer to this When Men are once willing to serve Goâ— they will be willing to leave the Seâ—vice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devil There is no way to answer that good Wish but by waiting upon God for the revealing of his Power I pray God that when you come to a Meeting you may say Lord let thy Power go forth upon my Heart Let thy Arm be made bare and deliver me from the Power and Dominion of Sin Some will say they feel God's Power in a Meeting I feel the Power of God workinâ— upon my Heart in order to the taking away Sin and Transgression and giving me Victory over it through the Lord Jesus Christ If they feel this Power of God upon them it is their Duty to believe it and depend upon it If I believe it I must wait for the Dictates of it and believe that I shall be able to do all things â—hrough Christ that strengthens me Then Faith will come forth into Works and appear to be a living Faith You may remember what the Apostle James saith As the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also As soon as a Man comes to joyn with the mighty Power of God he will be able to withstand Temptation If he comes into evil Company he will deny them and not comply with them 〈◊〉 will find then something of a Power 〈◊〉 Ability to serve God though he is â—ot come to Perfection yet he is walking 〈◊〉 the way of Holiness and pressing forward towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus He will say I am got a little â—â—arer than I was towards the place where I would be towards that Life which I wâ— live and die then let Death come wheâ— pleaseth God it shall be welcome This is the wickedness of many in thâ— World they will not live such a Life as they would be willing to die in They cannot come at it unless it be given them to believâ— for it is the Gift of God they must come to thâ—â— Governour and Leader which goes beâ— to the Gift of God which is eternal lâ—fe then let Death come when it will if I have the Gift of eternal Life It is a miserable thing to think that there arâ— divers that have not laid hold of eternal Life It is manifested that we may lay hold of it there is a Hand of Faith joyning with it When a Man comes to lay hold of
that is in every Man to the reforming of his ways and the changing of his Heart and leaving of his corrupt and vitious â—ncliâ—ations without the divine â—elp and assistance 〈◊〉 the Grace and Spirit of God Now they that are thus far sensible of their alienation by nature from the Lord and 〈◊〉 also sensible that the time they have here 〈◊〉 the only time they have for their â—â—â—â—â—ing and being fitted for that Everlaâ—â—â—â—â— Kingdom which we all woâ—â—â— enjoy Hâ—w ought this to affect the mind of every â—ne that while they have time they might â—â—rize it and improve in and come to an 〈◊〉 sense of the love of God that for they 〈◊〉 have a love raised in their Hearts again to God for People will never be obedient unto God till they love him nor never love him till they are sensible of his love to them Therefore that which is the means and way of Gods making known himself to the Sons and Daughters of Men that meanâ— and that way ought every one to embrace every one ought to be 〈◊〉 â—â—ted with â—t and have 〈◊〉 exercise of thâ—â— minds in it that so we might come to the knowledge of God and might know by an experimental and sensible feeling the kindness of God to us And truly Friends they that are 〈…〉 to spend their time and exercise themselves in thâ— consideration of the mercy and kindness of God thâ—â— have worâ— enough for their whole life-time â—â—e consider and contemplate the manifold Mercies of God bestowed upon them for we have our Life and Breath from him whom the whole World obeys and serves God that made all living Creatures hath created us preserved us he hath had long suffering and patience towards us until now 〈◊〉 he is yet minded to do us good which â—â—eâ—â— dâ—â—ltly manifest by the invitations and promisâ— he hath mâ—â—e us and the workings of his Hâ—ly Spirit that he hath made us acquainteâ— withal For who is there in this Assembly that God hath not made sensible of the tenders of hiâ— grace and invâ—â—â—â—ions to Repentance and Reformation that they that live loose 〈…〉 vainly in the World might turn to the Lorâ— with all their Hearts and consider their waâ— and doings God hath waited to be gracioâ—â— the Sons and Daughters of Men and his â—â—â—cy and patience hath been beyond all huâ—â—â— patience beyond the patience that 〈◊〉 did bestow upon any this the Lord 〈◊〉 shewed upon you therefore I intreat 〈◊〉 hooâ— the love of God let this â—â—â—â—deration sink deeply into your spirits thaâ— you may be affected with the kindness of God and his patience towards you and his long-suffering while you have been sinning against him But some will say How shall I know this After what manner may I experience this love of God to me How may I be sure that the Lord hath a love for me My Friends it is not only temporal kindness that we enjoy from God it is not only the lengthening out of our Days that is an evident token of the love of God to us but there is a demonstration and manifestation of iâ— that is universally extended to the Sons and Daughters of Men in that he hath sown his Word in them and hath sown his Truth and his Grace in their Hearts that every Man tho' never so wicked neâ—er so â—oolish and vain yet hath many times checks and reproofs in his own Heart I know it and I doubt not but you do Pray whence comes it that which doth stop you in a course of sin and châ—â—k and reprove you for sinning against the Lord If you come to mind this and consider of it you will find it comes from God it comes from him from him comes our life and Breath then People â—â—ould be incited to receive the Grace of God â—â—e favour and mercy of God which he hath â—estowed upon them in order to their salvatiâ—â— The Scripture tells us that Grace and â—â—â—th came by Jesus Christ I◠〈◊〉 hast any good it came by Jesus Christ and if thou hast any Truth it came by Jesus Christ who is the Fountain of Truth and the Fountain of the 〈◊〉 of God it is he by whom God hath mâ—de known himself to the Sons and Daughters of Men it is Christ alone that God hath ordained to be a Mediator between God and Man that so he might be the Minister of an everlasting covenant which we are brought into with God so that now People should comâ— to the consideration of the way and means that God hath ordained for their redemption namely that he hath given Jesus that great and unspeakable gift of his love and kindness to the Sons and Daughters of Men here iâ— Grace and Truth that came by Jesus Christ How is it conâ—â— It is come into my Heart Tho' Sins and Lusts and Corruptions perhaps have a placâ— in many yet Christ hath a place too He haâ—â— made his grave with the wicked and was numbred with the Transgressors he was like that Seed that lies under the Clods anâ— iâ— the least of all Seeds yet when it comes out of the Ground it riseth high and spreads abroad its Branches and brings forth Fruit this love of God this unchangeable Holy Truth is in every one why then should not every Man bâ— ruled and governed by it But some Men will say is Truth bâ— than Falsehood and Grace better than 〈◊〉 and Corruption You may see that by the Light that is d◠〈◊〉 in the inward parts Let every Man 〈◊〉 inward to the Grace of God turn to that Light that shews it self in the Creature and see what it will do for us This is the Doctrine that the Apostle was sent withal he waâ—â—â—nt with a Commission to turn Men from Daâ—â—â—â—ss to Light and from the power of Satan to God Why did he do it It was for this end that Men might have remission of Sins and that they might come to an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord so that this Gospel is the same that it ever was though Men have divers ways of preaching and several methods and ways of declaring the Truths of the Gospel blessed be God the Apostolical Doctrine is pâ—â—ached again and the blessed Gospel hath the same power attending it that was in former Days and 〈◊〉 have the same effect and that this may be the Portion of every one of you this iâ— the end of our Labour And we have i◠〈◊〉 Eye but two things I. First to discharge a good Conscience in the sight of God who hath given us his Word to Preach and to turn Men from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God that we might keep our selves free from the Blood of all Men. II. Secondly another end is the desire that God â—â—th placed in our Hearts that all Men every â—here might be Saved this is Gods Will if aâ— be Damned it is their own will and the
know it they are not ignorant of one another's Names that are written in this Book they have a Fellowship that no body can declare their Communion is in that Bread and that Cup This is a Cup of Blessing indeed and this hath blessed us and will bless us God will preserve a People in this Fellowship You that are at a distance now you must come nearer to him God will chuse a People by whom his Name shall be magnified Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts we cannot but desire this for all especially for the houshold of faith we cannot but desire their Perfection their growing up in the Grace of God that they might come to be partakers of Heaven And in the next Place our Love is to all People every where we would be glad that all were saved they that despise us when we are speaking of Heavenly things speaking like a Child like a stammering Child speaking of the glorious Excellencies of God of the loving kindness of God speaking of those things which God hath spoken to our Souls they that despise these things we would be glad that they might be saved If they were partakers of these things they would be glad as well as we and they would be more really happy in respect of this World for the Time that they are to live here they would live a happier Life even in this World and they would have everlasting life in the world to come The love of Christ constrains men thus to judge that every one that hath received like precious faith ought to answer that Grace and Faith which God hath ministred to them in a holy Life and Conversation and every one who is a stranger to this thing ought to be of an enquiring Mind and an open Heart to wait for the Day when God will visit them with the same Grace when you give up your selves to a daily Cross as Christ's Disciples you will not be running after any one to teach you to know the Lord for you will all know the Lord from the least to the greatest I that have been but a little convinc'd shall I know the Lord Thou shalt know the Lord thou that art dead in thy sins and trespasses thou that hast not known the Blood of cleansing thou shalt know the Lord to be thy Judge and thy Law-giver to teach thee how thou must live walk and act and is not that a good knowledg This is the way they reckoned upon in old Time it is a notable Expression The Lord is our Judge there is the beginning he began there Judgment began at the house of God those he brings into his House he brings them under the Discipline of his House The Lord is our judge he is our king and law-giver and he will save us this same Exercise of Discipline under Judgment brought to them the Faith and Experience of his being their Law-giver and this brought them to a Faith of the last Sentence we shall be saved and the Lord answers such a People That he will bring salvation to them Salvation shall be for walls and bulwarks Did the People of this Nation but know Salvation was brought near to them and that it was their Bulwark there would not be a crying up this and the other rotten thing for a Bulwark We talk of a Bulwark as well as others we have a Bulwark blessed be the God of Heaven made of better Stuff than theirs for it is the Salvation of God which hath kept us from the Pollution of Sin and from a running into all excess and riot that others have run into it hath kept us from the Evil it hath kept Evils out of us and we have found that certainly true That all things work together for good to them that love God and fear God that all the Providences of God together they have all wrought for our good and this is the Bulwork that we have trusted in and it hath served hitherto and it will serve us and our Posterity to the end of the World This is a Bulwark that will never be stormed that will never be thrown down nor laid waste Though all the Powers on Earth and all the Potentates in this World should agree together they shall not prevail against it we have salvation for walls and bulwarks if I be within these Walls Salvation is round about me If I am got into this eternal Bulwark I am safe from the Devil and his Instruments here is a Bulwark to be relied upon Many wonder we differ with them in some Opinions we have that Confidence in this Bulwark that we desire not another God will last and abide for ever so will this Bulwark all the care that I take and all the care that you should take is to keep within these Walls Do not sally out if you go out the the Devil is watching and seeking continually whom he may devour he will catch Straglers if that People will go out for Profit or for Pleasure or Interest the Devil will catch them What such People talk of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks the Devil hath got them in his Snare and they are caught in Drunkenness Uncleanness and other Sins the reason is they have gone out of their Bulwark they have sallyed out of their Walls for the Devil could never have fetched them out O take heed says the Apostle lest there spring up in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God as if he had said You are Christians now you are a People come to a good estate in Christ but consider you have no strength to stand but in him no Power to keep your selves but in him Take heed at all times that there spring not up in you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God take heed lest there spring up in you such a Thought as this I may take this Pleasure and the other Profit Consider that thou diest and witherest if thou depart from the living God take heed of taking Liberty above the fear of God It is not our talk of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks that will do us good but our keeping within these Walls I remember a notable Saying of the Apostle which hath a great Emphasis in it and a great deal of Doctrin he writeth to the Church after they were become a People of professing Christians Take heed lest you come to be beguiled by the serpent as he beguiled Eve he did not speak of Jezabel a wicked Woman but he spoke of Eve a good Woman created after the image of God in righteousness and holiness They were come to a Life of Sanctification to a Life that was hidden from ages and generations You must look to your selves and look upon your selves as in the state of your Mother Eve a Woman brought forth in Righteousness and Holiness that might have stood in that Primitive state notwithstanding all the Subtilty of all the Serpents
Spirit of errour then I may boldly say it 〈◊〉 our duty to joyn with the Spirit of Truth and not with the Spirit of errour if there be a desire in us to be saved from the wrath to come then the way to be saved from Gods wrath is to be saved from the cause of it take away the cause and the effect ceaseth The cause of Gods wrath being kindled against Man is Sin for God had no wrath against Man when he first made him for he made him after his own â—â—â—ge and gave him Power to conâ—inue in 〈◊〉 Holyness and Righteousness wherein he created him but he fell and was cast out of Paradise and an Angel was sent with a Flaming Sword 〈◊〉 turned every way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life Thus Man fell under the wrath of God by his sin but how shall I have the wrath of God allayed By breaking off from sin and returning to God again This looks like a covenant of Works say some do you say I must break of from Sin and so escape the wrath of God Yes I do but no mortal Man 〈…〉 off from Sin but by joyning with the 〈…〉 He is the Author of Eternal Salvation h◠〈…〉 in us to will and to do and enableth us to 〈◊〉 out our own Salvation it was Sin that dr◠〈◊〉 Man our of Paradise and brought upon him the wrath of God Sin is the Devils work now that Christ might be a Saviour to us 〈◊〉 will destroy the Devils work for this purâ—â—â—â— saith the Apostle the Son of God was manifested that he might Destroy the works of the Devil Now the Devil was not the destruction of Man simply in himself but by tempting him to Sin which is the Devils work now Christ was manifested to destroy the Devils work that Propensity to Sin that is in the Nature of Man which makes him rebel against the Mind and Will of God Christ the Eternal Son of God he became Man he took the Nature of Man that he might bring Man again to his primitive state wherein he was Created after the Image of God Now how doth the Devil work his works doth he do his works coercively No he useth no irresistible force But doth Christ the Mediator work coercively with an irresistible power and force to bring a Man again to God No no more than the Devil did to bring a Man from God Man might have stood and continued in his state of Innocency if he would he might joyn with evil and yield to the Temptation of the Devil if he had a Mind he knew if he gave over his Mind t◠〈…〉 â—e should be ruin'd and it proved so 〈…〉 â—as resolved to try what it was to yield 〈◊〉 Devil and obey him He told them that 〈◊〉 they did eat of the forbidden Fruit they should be as Gods but they became more like the Devil this they got by being obedient unto him not that the Devil laid an irresistible force upon them you shall eat of the Fruit of this Tree but there was only a presentation of it to them and with that he prevailed and so came the destruction of Mankind So Christ the Mediator that he may present us to God he comes and presents himself to us in his commands and his command is that we must break off from that servitude and subjection that the Devil had brought Man into and there must be a yielding of subjection unto Christ we must believe in Christ and harken to the word of God and break off from Sin But where is the Power If God would have me Holy let him make me Holy if he would have me Pure let him make me so and give me ability to do that which of my self I cannot do when it pleaseth God to give me Grace and captivate my Will I shall become a good Christian Now here is a great mistake that People should think they must wait for an irresistible power to bring them back to God there is a presentation of love and mercy and earnest invitations and the long-suffering and patience and goodness of God's long waiting upon Sinners 2 Cor. 4.6 God who Commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined into our Hearts to give the Light 〈◊〉 knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face oâ—â—â—sus Christ What shall I do with the Liâ— that shines into my Heart I will shut miâ— Eyes against it I love Darkness rather thaâ— Light and evil more than good this Light will lead me to Holyness and Righteousness I will quarrel with it it comes to bereave me of my Comforts in this World of my merry Companions and of all my Bravery I will not harken to it Who can help it This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather then Light because their deeds are evil saith our Saviour If I had not come and spoken to them they had not had Sin but now they have no Cloak for their Sin Here is the Gospel Preached by Christ himself here is the presentation of an opportunity for every Man and Woman to return again but I must be in the way of returning that is by joyning with that which presents it self with Holyness with Righteousness with Chastity and Humility that presents and offers to the Soul all the Vertues and Graces that are in Christ and shews it the Light and Grace that comes from Christ Now this Light and Grace shewing it self to my Soul I have a view of it Hast thou a view of it Hast thou seen Purity Humility Sobriety Meekness and Self-denyal and an Heavenly frame of Spirit in thy self or some body else How dost thou like it I like it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I love to have Honour and Dignity â—ower and Dominion and my Elbow-Room in the World I love not this Meekness Humility and strictness of Life that a man must have a Care what he speaks and set a Watch upon his Lips and upon his Heart and Tongue and Hands I do not like this kind of Life If thou dost not like a good Life some body will like it and live in it and for all your Vapouring and Hating and Despising it when People come to live this kind of Life they will out-live thee thy topping Life thy reigning Life and thy having Elbow-Room in the world will at last come to be limited the Hand of God is against it and it will bring down the Pride of Man When thou comest to life upon thy Dying Pillow expecting every moment to expire and breath thy last then thou wilt wish O that I had been more serious and lived more like a Christian lived a godly Life and given up my Heart to God and been more watchful over my Thoughts and Words and Actions There is such a Friend of mine that hath lived better than I if I had lived such a Life as he hath lived I should have had more Comfort And they that are despisers of