THE Kingdom OF GOD Opened and Proved To be a Kingdom of Grace and Glory the one Thing necessary for all and the Saints everlasting Happiness A Discovery of the Subjects of it by their Qualification and Conversation Scriptural Evidences for every one to try his Eternal state by with Motives and Means for getting and keeping a comfortable assurance of this heavenly Kingdom By Tobias Ellys Minister of the Gospel Imprimatur Gulielmus Sill Aug. 11. 1677. Printed by T. N. for H. Mortlock at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard and at the White Hart in Westminster-Hall 1678. To His Most Excellent and Sacred Majesty Charles II. BY THE Gracious Providence of GOD King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Grace and Glory Great Sir THE Kingdom of God the Subject of these ensuing Meditations I humbly crave leave to present to Your Majesties Acceptance Perusal and Consideration as containing matter of the greatest weight and worth to Your Self and to Your Three Kingdoms my unfeigned hearty desire confidence and comfort concerning You is that You will pursue to Your utmost Power this great Command Counsel and Proclamation of Your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness And that by Your Example Command Counsel and Proclamation 〈…〉 also endeavor that all under Your Care and Charge may do in like manner it being the great end of our coming into the World living in it and dying out of it next to the Glory of God to enjoy a better namely this Kingdom of God For which end and purpose our Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks are made to Almighty God for You and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the Truth which if You and those in eminent place under You may be instrumental of how greatly will it add to Your Crown and Joy For what is Your Hope or Joy or Crown of Glorying and Rejoycing are not even we Your Subjects in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe because that Your Command Counsel Proclamation Example and Charge to every one of us as a Father to his Children to walk worthy of God who hath called us to this Kingdom and Glory was believed obeyed and followed in that day Wherefore also we pray alwayes for You and for all that are in Authority both Ecclesiastical and Civil that God would count and vouchsafe both You and us worthy of this Calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his Goodness and the work of Faith with power that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in You and we in Him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ in whom I am and ever shall be Your most Humble and Loyal Subject and Servant In all Faithfulness TOBIAS ELLYS Kensinton Nov. 21. 1677. S. Matth. vj. xxxiij But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you SO fearful and fatal was the first sin of our first Parents to themselves and their Posterity who sinned in them that we are all come short thereby of the glory of God and our estate is now both sinful and miserable the knowledge and consideration whereof should incite every one to the most serious and vigorous desires care and endeavors how he may speedily extricate himself out of so deplorable a condition By our wilful sin we are fallen from God grace and glory unto the Creature under sin and Satan's power and being the children of disobedience we are also the children of the devil and the children of wrath But God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life He hath also raised up his Son Jesus and sent him to bless us in turning away ever one of us from our iniquities by giving himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world He also himself took flesh and bloud that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil Even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Because he would have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth And therefore in pursuance of his gracious design of saving Mankind he hath here in my Text issued out his Royal Counsel Command and Proclamation But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you In which words there are two general Parts 1 A Precept in these words But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness 2 A Promise in those and all these things shall be added unto you In the Precept consider the word of Opposition But the Act seek the Persons ye the Objects with their emphaticâ—l Adjuncts and Particles the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness In the Promise we have the Copulative and the matter of the Promise all things the manner of Conveyance with its certainty shall be added the Persons to whom the Promise is made to you For Explication seek i. e. with desire accordinâ—ly do with your might This word implies necessiâ—y misery mercy duty dignity diligence delight difficulty possiblity probability care fear fidelity fervency constancy which were easie to demonstrate had I time Ye not onely of little faith ver 30. especially but this great multitude c. and who ever else will c. First above before all other things chiefly early earnesty The Kingdom a word of large extent and signification which here at large I may not open By Kingdom is meant both Grace Rom. 14.17 the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost And glory 1 Thess 2 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and glory Of God as the Author Giver Conserver and Confirmer of it And his Righteousness By Righteousness is meant Christ himself This is his name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness Righteousness especially for our Justification Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Righteousness So he is by virtue of the personal perfect and perpetual holiness of his Nature together with his active and passive Obedience the matter and merit of our Justification through faith reckoned and imputed And Sanctification passive and active Whereby by the Divine power we are made partakers of the Divine Nature and thereby enabled to die unto sin and
live unto God in holiness to him in justice commutative and distributive to and with others Whatsoever we would that men should do to us do we even so to them In sobriety towards our â—elves in body soul and spirit Gird up the loins of your â—inds be sober Present your bodies a living sacrifice â—y acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service â—mperate in all things And all these things namely that concern the welfare of the â—ody which are temporal as Health Peace Honours Pleasures Riches Protection Provision Food Raiment c. Shall be added cast in upon the by without carking care in God's ordinary providence as in wisdom he thinks meet Casting our care upon him committing our selves and ways to him walking with him in our general and particular Callings painfully and faithfully Vnto you who in faith seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness This Verse is part of that famous Sermon that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preached to the Multitude in the Mount and therefore should command the greatest reverence The occasion of the words is first Christs observation of the worldliness of the World especially the Gentile world for after all these things namely the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life do the Gentiles seek 2. The fears and thereupon the cares which possessed the hearts of the weak in faith that if they became the hearers and followers of Christ indeed and in truth then what should they do for food and raiment Why Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you There is not one word in this Verse but is pregnant with matter of infinite unspâ—akable worth and weight and contains variety of Doctrines and Duties which for brevities sake I must pass over with bare naming them Oh that all the Kings and Kingdoms of the world did but know and well weigh the mind heart affections and bowels of Jesus Christ in this very Scripture the Kingdoms then of the world would certainly and suddenly become the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ which is the King of Kings desire Should not Kings and Kingdoms then desire it for each other Oh that the desires and endeavours of us all were as great as good as fervent and as faithful as here they should be in so momentous a matter as seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness But as it looks backward and forward contains these Doctrines 1. All men naturally are carnally minded 2. Weak Believers are even carnal too thoughtful and careful about temporal things 3. It is the will of Christ Jesus that they of little fâ—ith would not trouble their heads and hearts with fears and cares about things pertaining to the body 4. The best way to cure a carnal mind is first to seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Seek 1. Every one by sin hath lost his right to spiritual and heavenly things 2. It is the duty of every one especially Believers to seek after grace and glory Ye The weakest true Believers may and must above all other persons and before other things seek God's Kingdom and his Righteousness First principally or chiefly 1. God's Kingdom and his Righteousness are the most substantial and principal things 2. These things are practically to be preferred before all other First early The best time of seeking God's Kingdom and his Righteousness is betimes in our age and betimes in the morning First earnestly We are to stir up our selves and others to seek spiritual things with greatest fervency and faithfulness The Kingdom of God 1. God hath a Kingdom of his own 2. He is the onely Author and Founder of it 3. He gives it to whom he will 4. This Kingdom is both grace and glory 5. This Kingdom hath an everlasting foundation And his Righteousness And. 1 Grace and glory are inseparable His. 2. The righteousness of Christ is God's Righteousness 3 The Lord Jesus Christ and his righteousness is the onely way to glory 4. Christs righteousness is our Justification and Sanctification And all these things shall be added unto you And. 1. Temporal and Spiritual things are also inseparable 2. Believers have a right to all things 3. Heavenly and earthly things differ exceedingly All these things shall be added 1. True Believers may for a time want temporal mercies Having nothing yet possessing all things 2. God will in his good time relieve all their wants 3 God will give Believers convenient mercies without carking thoughts fears or cares Vnto you Of little faith The least degree of true faith entitles Christians to things Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Doct. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of Grace and Glory which is to be sought by all above and before all other things till it be obtained with all possible care and diâ—igence The God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the mysteries of his Kingdom the eyes of my understanding being enlightned I may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints that I may make it manifest as I ought That there is a Kingdom of grace and glory the whole Word of God the Twelve Articles in our Christian Apostolical Creed the Decalogue or Ten Commandments our Lords Prayer the Summaries of our Faith Desires and Practise the unanimous constant consent of the Universal Church the different state disposition and conversation of the Godly and Ungodly and God's various dispensations towards them do admirably abundantly and undeniably prove For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Giving all diligence add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity For if ye do these things an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ So run that ye may obtain There is a Kingdom of grace within us Luke 17.21 Behold the kingdom of God is within you There is a Kingdom of glory without us 1 Thess 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory Not differing in nature but degree for grace is glory begun and glory is grace perfected Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord we are changed into the same image from glory to glory that is from one degree of grace unto another until grace commence glory Every Kingdom presupposeth a King Laws and Subjects that are to be governed guided and protected Accordingly the Kingdom of God hath a King Laws and Subjects The Lord Jesus Christ is King himself the eternal Câ—uncels of God in his
Christ Jesus as also Moses faithful in all his house and Abraham they are Stewards of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful to God himself and others for as every Man hath received the Gift even so Minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God In seeking the Kingdom of God before it can be attained there is much doing and suffering-work to be performed which requires much faithfulness he only is the wise and faithful Servant whom his Lord when he cometh to take an account of his Stewardship is found so doing as the Servant of Christ doing the Will of God from the heart not following that which is evil but that which is good He that doth good is of God but he that doth evil hath not seen God Hypocrites say but do not but a doer of the Work this Man shall be blessed in his deed or doing What St. John said of his Gaius beloved thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers ought to be verifyed of every one who seeks the Kingdom of God Seek faithfully do all that is to be done for the obtaining it by patient continuance in well-doing and faithful also in suffering for righteousness sake we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of Heaven think it not strange therefore concerning the fiery Trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you but rejoyce yea count it all joy when ye fall into divers Temptations inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding Joy for great is your reward in Heaven being heirs of God and joynt-heirs with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God in seeking the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator since God Father Son and Holy Ghost are faithful his Word faithful Ministers faithful for so we are to account them being the Ministers of Christ Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful Since it is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that there is a Kingdom of Grace and Glory whatever we do or suffer in order to the enjoying of it let it be done in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart So also diligently those things which are excellent are difficult and hard to come by such are Spiritual and Heavenly things namely Grace and Glory which are most excellent and therefore not so easily attained The great and difficult Work that lies upon our hands is the making our calling and election sure for this end every one hath or should have a particular and general calling to work in both to keep him from Idleness and to put him upon duty and diligence Each calling requires much labor and diligence It is the will of God that none should stand idle This is his Command That if any would not work neither should he eat It is not only the Character of a good Huswife but of a good Christian that she eateth not the bread of idleness It is not for Men and Women who have Souls to save or lose a Heaven or Hell to live in for ever to live a moment idle Time which is for Eternity is too precious a thing to be Idled away to be spent in any thing but diligent seeking the Kingdom of God What is the Proclamation of Jesus Christ but Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good There is Meat for them to eat even hidden Manna Angels food which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give unto them who labor for it with this Meat the Soul of the diligent shall be made fat there is nothing to be had but poverty without diligence He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand but the hand of the diligent with the blessing of the Lord maketh the godly so rich as he addeth no sorrow with it while the wicked who will be rich pierce themselves through with many sorrows The unsearchable riches of grace and Treasures of glory are gotten in a way of holy diligence they who have escaped the corruption that is in the World through lust and are made partakers of the Divine Nature besides this are to give all diligence to add to their Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly kindness Charity till they abound in them for so an entrance shall be Ministred unto them abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ If so much diligence be required to grow in grace What diligence is requisite to the getting of it If Ministring to the Saints be a Work and labor of love which none can attain to the full assurance of hope without shewing diligence therein unto the end What Work and labor and diligence will every grace cost before it be attained and perfected This should by no means discourage but quicken us our labor will not be in vain in the Lord. Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not If we are at the pains to sow holiness in the Seed-time of this life we shall reap happiness in the harvest of Eternity they who labor for rest shall rest from their Labor and their Works shall follow them a Man that is diligent in this Heavenly business of seeking the kingdom of God he shall not stand before mean Men he shall stand before the King of Kings in all his Glory This Kingdom is to be sought fervently both in Speech and Spirit open thy mouth wide saith God and I will fill it we must cry mightily to God in Prayer for it the effectual fervent Prayer of a Righteous man availeth much not slothful in business of the greatest concernment fervent in spirit seeking the Lord labouring or striving fervently in Prayers that we may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God It is good to be zealously affected alwayes in so good a thing as seeking the kingdom of God which must be sought also violently the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Violence in other cases is irregular and dangerous and especially in a way of sin when Men do evil with both hands earnestly the times are then evil with a witness but their mischief will return upon their own heads and their violent dealing will come down upon their own pates especially upon them that lie in wait for Blood that hunt every Man his brother with a Net and upon her that lieth in the Bosom to
thereunto with all perseverance for he only is blessed that watcheth and keepeth himself and his garments unspotted from the flesh and the World This Kingdom of God must be sought early that is betimes in our age early or betime in the morning which is the meaning of this Word first seek first the kingdom of God that is early Indeed all our life-time how-long-soever is to be employed in seeking the glory of God and glory with God but the flower of our age and time is to be spent in a more special manner in looking after Spiritual and Heavenly things and making sure of them we have Precepts Promises and Presidents to quicken our endeavors Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth they that seek me early shall find me Christ Jesus was our pattern herein when the Child Jesus was Twelve years old he was found in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions that all that heard him were astonished at his Understanding and Answers and when they saw him they were amazed His custom was to rise up a great while before day to Prayer and after to Preach this kingdom of God by Prayer he sought it for us in his Preaching he offered it to us to this very day in the Ministery he is seeking first the kingdom of God in a way of Prayer and Preaching for us David a Man after Christs own heart was at his Devotion early in the morning O God thou art my God early will I seek thee My voice shalt thou hear in the Morning O Lord in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up There is a kingdom of Grace and Glory and few there be that find it What is the Reason They do not first seek it They do not begin when God would have them begin early young Children under the Old and New Testament were early dedicated to God and were under his command of seeking and serving him betimes and commended for so doing Oh that young ones that have no Worldly fears and cares in their heads and hearts to trouble and hinder them would know the time of their Visitation their best time to acquaint themselves with God and to seek the things of their everlasting Peace How many more might go to Heaven if they would first seek the kingdom of God if they would be every way early at this work hold on and hold out to the end seeking Behold now is the accepted time even the time of youth Behold now is the day of Salvation Oh the infinite advantages that children have for good and godly education If children now while children especially those who are under godly education be not the children of God it may be when they are not children they shall never be the children of God but the children of his wrath for ever I am sure it is the will of God that children while they are children should be his children Christ would have very young ones to enter into the kingdom of God insomuch that when the Disciples rebuked those that brought young children to him that he should touch them he was much displeased and said Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God but then the kingdom of God must be sought primarily and chiefly first before other things first above other things we are alwayes to begin and end with God in our seeking and seeing him and in seeking for our selves Spiritual and Heavenly things are first to be desired and laboured after for we have no command in Scripture to seek other things but a Promise that they shall be added or given in on the by if we first seek the kingdom of God before other things and above other things as the principal and chief matters of our lives There is but one thing necessary which is to get well to Heaven There is but one thing to be desired and sought after the beholding the beauty of the Loâ—d in his kingdom of grace and glory This is the principal thing and principally to be regarded What greater things wholly to swallow up our minds thoughts cares desires and labors than God Christ Grace and Glory which are also to be sought with delight and complacency as the highest object of our delight delight thy self in the Lord is his Command and our sweetest Duty It is not enough to do holy duties except we delight in them not for themselves but for God and the things of God Spiritual and Eternal Here our delight is to be placed as sutable to and worthy of it and all our other delights in other things are but to raise our delight in God What poor things are transitory honors pleasures and riches to delight in that are but for a season in comparison of those true and indurable riches honors and pleasures which are at Gods right hand for evermore We may either want those to delight in or want delight for them however so much as to satisfie they are not Commensurate and Adequate objects of delight as being uncertain and insufficient but these which are Spiritual and Eternal through Gods All-sufficiency are both sure and sufficient which breed satisfaction and delight they that acquaint themselves with God are at peace with him have good from him receive the Law from his mouth and delight in it in the inward Man and lay up his words in their heart that return to the Almighty and put away iniquity from their Tabernacles that have the Almighty for their defence shall also have their delight in the Almighty and the Almighty who delights in Mercy to delight in them What is it to seek the kingdom of God but to seek the greatest delight and Should we not delight in seeking delights especially when our seeking or praying is Gods delight The Prayer of the upright is his delight The kingdom of God and his Righteousness are things full of delight With what delight should we think of them speak of them and seek them till we find them enjoy them experience and tast them Oh tast and see that the Lord is good There is more delight and sweetness in tasting and eating of Honey than in hearing a discourse of its sweetness and seeing it If there be so much sweetness and delight in the word of God What sweetness then in the Word that is God in the multitude of my troublous ragged thoughts within me saith David thy comforts or promises delight my Soul unless thy Law had been my delight I should then have perished in mine affliction The delights that are to be found in God and in his Law are enough to sweeten the bitterest condition There is much trouble and sorrow in seeking the Kingdom of God and tribulation to be indured before it be enjoyed but the delights in the right seeking it and the infinite delights there are to be had in the everlasting
fear of evil but then we are to seek it first that is early and principally or chiefly in the morning of our Age and in the morning in respect of time we must not dare to put off a Work of this weight worth and moment to the last moment as too many do with a Lord have Mercy upon us our first and best time the opportunity of time all our dayes is little enough to be spent in asking that we may have in seeking that we may find in knocking till an abundant entrance be ministred and opened unto us into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Seek we first the Kingdom of God above and before other things as that which is most necessary for us so to do That which is of the most and greatest consequence and necessity should be first done above and before other things which are less necessary things indifferent when they come in competition must give place to things Necessary and Indispensable It is not so necessary to our everlasting happiness whether we be rich or poor high or low as that we be holy which must be before we can be happy and there is an absolute and indispensible necessity of our being both holy and happy Grace and Glory are so far from things indifferent that they are the one thing needful and therefore first to be sought as not only necessary but most excellent wisdom which is Grace and Glory and much more even Christ himself is the principal thing happy is the Man that findeth Wisdom for the Merchandise of it is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the Gain thereof than fine Gold more precious than Rubies and all the things that can be desired are not to be compared to it length of dayes riches and honor peace plenty and pleasantness accompany wisdom which is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold thereof and happy is every one that retaineth Wisdom God and Godliness only is profitable to all persons and things having promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come and are not things which are Spiritual and Eternal and so absolutely necessary yea infinitely necessary and profitable not only for this but the better life to be preferred and sought before things Temporal and the rather because we have a promise of Christ to assure us that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousnes all these things shall be added unto us If my Soul followeth hard after God his Kingdom Holiness Righteousness Faith Charity Peace with them that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart surely then Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my Life yea so sure as when I walk in the Sun my shadow followeth me The Lord God is my Sun the Lord hath given me Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from me while I walk uprightly with him Thus much by way of Exhortation and Excitation to Sinners A Word to Saints especially such as are Ministers by one that am the least that am not meet to be called a Minister or Saint be we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of us that we walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing who hath called us unto his Kingdom and Glory and called us also with an holy Calling according to his own purpose and Grace into so high and honorable and holy Calling as the Ministery which is both our General and Particular Calling as having no other Work to do save to make first our own calling and election sure least that by any means when we have Preached unto others we our selves should be Cast-awayes and then to help others herein Who is sufficient for these things We are or should be the Lights of the World sent by Christ the true Light to turn Men from darkness to light we are a Royal Priesthood called out of darkness into his marvellous Light God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ if we be Ministers indeed for no Man taketh this honor to himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron for we are not to Preach our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves the Servants of all for Jesus sake handling the Word of God by Manifestation of the truth Commending our selves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God which can never be so effectually done until it please God who separates us to the Work also to call us by his Grace to reveal his Son in us How needful is it that Christ be formed in them who are to travel in birth until Christ be formed in others It is the Gift of the Grace of God given unto us by the effectual working of his Power which makes us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Preaching among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ and to make all Men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same Body and partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gosâ—el Moreover it is required in Stewards of the Mysteries of God who are to be accounted the Ministers of Christ that a Man be found faithful The faithful word is to be committed to faithful Men who shall be able and apt to Teach others also as they have been Taught of God that they may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers The Glorious Gospel of the blessed God is committed to every Ministers trust who should be able to say with St. Paul I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the Ministery that the Ministery be not blamed no offence is to be given in any thing but in all things are we to approve our selves as the Ministers of God skilful in the Word of Righteousness having by reason of use our Senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil that we may be sound in the Faith in the Doctrine of it shewing uncorruptness not as many which corrupt or deal deceitfully with the Word of God carried about with divers and with strange Doctrines with every wind of Doctrine but as of sincerity consenting only to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness and sound also in the Grace of Faith Ministers by whom others believe ought themselves to be sound Believers fervent and faithful Lovers one of another perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment Let us not therefore Judge one another any more but judge this rather that no Man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his Brothers way Let as many as be perfect be thus minded whereto they have already
up Treasure for himself not caring to be rich towards God O take heed and beware of Covetousness for a Mans Life consisteth not in the abundance of the Things which he possesseth And let our Conversation be without Covetousness content with such Things as we have seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these Things shall be added unto us for the Lord hath said I will never leave you nor forsake you Covetousness is but for Carnality it caters for the flesh making provision for it satisfying it in the Lust thereof The carnal mind is enmity against God not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be The Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes are great Eye-sores to Religion and great Impediments to our seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness If we would be spiritually minded in seeking those Things that are above we must not be carnally minded in seeking great Things for our selves here below We can never fight the good Fight of Faith or take the Kingdom of Heaven by violence without abstaining and flying from fleshly Lusts which War against the Soul Fleshly persons who live after the Flesh in the Lust of Uncleanness can never be valiant Volunteers to fight under the Banner of Christ for the conquering of Sin Satan and the World which must first be done before the Kingdom of Heaven be taken The Flesh doth lust against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are so contrary the one to the other that we cannot do the Things we should while we walk in the Flesh Let us not therefore walk according to the Flesh or War after the Flesh for the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal Let not us be carnal but spiritual putting on the whole Armor of God which will be mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds and mortifying the deeds of the Body namely fleshly Lusts which War against the Soul that in all Things we may be more than Conquerors through him who loves us even our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified unto us and we unto the World as also the Flesh for they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections Passions and Lusts by whom also we resist and overcome the Devil for he was made Partaker of Flesh and Blood that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil the Works of the Flesh which are manifest to be Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Pride Covetousness Hatred Variance Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings Now they which follow such Things can neither seek or ever hope to inherit the Kingdom of God Lying is another sin which in a special manner is to be hated and avoided by us if indeed we will set our selves heartily to seek the Kingdom of God which is the uttering of an untruth with an intent and purpose to deceive a sin that transforms men into Devils They who are given to Lying are of their Father the Devil who abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him when he speaketh a Lye he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it A lying Tongue is one of the seven Things the Lord hates and is an abomination to him Lying Lips are an abomination to the Lord and therefore a righteous man hateth Lying but they that deal truly are Gods delight and God is their delight they that delight in the Lord he will give them the desire of their hearts for the prayers of the upright are his delight But they who delight in Lyes who bless with their mouth but curse inwardly without Repentance are to be cursed eternally The fearful and unbelieving and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second death Let none who seek this Kingdom of God be like the Devil a Lyar but like God who cannot lye Let us fear to lye to the Holy Ghost or to lye of or to lye to one another by the example of Ananias and Saphira who were struck dead with a Lye in their mouth Wherefore with David Let us hate and abhor Lying and putting away Lying speak every man Truth with his Neighbour for he only that speaketh the Truth in his heart is of the Generation of them that first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness that seek and shall see the face of the God of Jacob. Take we heed also and beware of the Leaven of Hypocrisie professing what we mean not to practise pleasing our selves with a form of knowledge and godliness denying the power of it Hypocrites they say but do not they pray but practise not believe but live not as they believe they are Covenant makers but not Covenant keepers drawing near the Lord with their Mouths and honouring him with their Lips but removing their Heart far from him with fl ttering Lips and with a double Heart do they speak to God and man there can be no faithfulness in their Mouth for their inward part is very Wickedness the Prayers and other Duties of such wicked men are an abomination to the Lord. Whatsoever is done in the great business of Salvation is to be done heartily as to the Lord and not unto men If any man speak he is to speak as the Oracles of God not as pleasing men but God which tryeth the Hearts that God in all Things may be glorified through Jesus Christ able with the Holy Apostle to call God to Witness that neâ—ther at any time useth he flattering Words for a Cloak of Pride or Covetousness nor of men seeketh he Glory but whether he eats or drinks or whatsoever else he doth the Glory of God is sure to be at the end of it his own Salvation the pleasing of all men in all Things not seeking his own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved which no worldly fleshly Hypocrites can say who receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God onely so desirous are they of Vain-glory For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus but their own Belly and by good Words and fair Speeches deceive the hearts of the simple but themselves most and worst of all while in opposition to the Glory of God which should be their highest and chiefest end and their onely aim the honouring pleasing and enriching themselves by unlawful wayes and means is their end and business These double-minded double-tongued and double-dealing Hypocrites are far from the Kingdom of God lay aside first Hypocrisie and desire Truth in your inward parts then first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness with desirous expectation to find it Be sure none of these forementioned Evils be your
in well doing or doing as they would be done by seek it But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the Truth but obey unrighteousness that do not as they would be done by Indignation and Wrath Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul that doth evil that worketh not Righteousness speaketh not the Truth in his heart that backbiteth his Neighbor with his Tongue that receiveth endureth or taketh up a reproach against his Neighbor in whose eyes a vile person is not contemned and honoreth them not that fear the Lord that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth that putteth out his Money to Usury and taketh reward against the Innocent he that doth these things shall surely perish Are we good indeed and in truth though not very good Are our hearts and lives good make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit. God is good essentially and personally it is his Nature and Property to be good to make good to do good so there is none good but one Thou art good and doest good saith David of God the Father Christ saith of himself I am the good Shepherd thy Spirit saith David is good These three Persons namely the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost had every one a hand in making Man very good at first Let us make Man so also in re-creating or renewing us after the Image of his goodness are we also filled with goodness The Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are over all his Works God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness Are we good in all Estates in all Places in all Times in all Companies As we have opportunity do we good unto all Men especially unto them who are of the Houshold of Faith Doth our goodness extend it self to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom we delight Do we also good to them that hate us and Pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us then are we the children of our Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evil and on the good and Servants to our Lord and Master Jesus Christ who when he cometh and reckoneth with them will say to every one Well done thou good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful over a few things enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord And How great is that goodness which God hath laid up for all them that are good and do good and trust in him before the Sons of Men Since the beginning of the World Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for them that wait for the hour which is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear the voice of the Lord Jesus and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation I have been the longer upon this use of Examination as being a matter of the greatest moment not to be deceived in That which is our greatest concern in this World next to the glory of God is to have an assured interest in the Kingdom of Grace and also a true Title to the Kingdom of Glory Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness is the word of Exhortation which high and low rich and poor young and old are to attend unto with all possible sincerity seriousness and diligence It is the duty and the dignity from the King upon the Throne to the Beggar upon the Dunghill to seek this Kingdom of Grace and Glory The greatest hath as great need to seek it as the meanest all are come short of the glory of this Kingdom because all have sinned Our greatest fear should be least any of us should seem to fall short for ever of so glorious a Kingdom and our greatest care desire and endeavor should be next to the glory of God to enjoy him in the way of his Grace here till we arrive at the full vision and fruition of him in Heavenly Glory This Kingdom of God is lost because we are lost it is lost to us and we lost to it but not so far lost but the true seekers of it may find it and themselves be found in the right way of seeking it It must be found otherwise the seekers of it lose themselves and this Kingdom for ever Many will seek to enter into the Kingdom of Grace and Glory but shall not be able There be many that say Who will shew us any good but few there be that strive to enter in at the strait Gate and walk in the narrow way which leadeth unto life and therefore few there be that find it There is no rational Creature upon the face of the Earth that is exempted from this duty of seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Sinners as well as Saints are to hearken unto and obey the Counsel Command and Proclamation of Jesus Christ herein The chiefest sinner hath a Call and Command to seek it which is his Warrant and a Promise for his incouragement Ask and it shall be given you Seek and ye shall find Knock and it shall be opened unto you The chiefest Saint hath no dispensation against this Duty Counsel and Command but looking diligently lest any Man fail of or fall from the Grace of God least any root of bitterness spring up seeing he looks for such great things is to be diligent that he may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless at his coming that when Christ who is our life shall appear he also may appear with him in glory Sinners such I mean as are unconverted and are strangers and enemies to God his Christ Grace and Glory and their own greatest enemies have most need to be exhorted excited and perswaded to seek first these things namely the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness which can never happily be done till they be first disswaded and prevailed with from self-seeking self-pleasing flesh-pleasing for the satisfying whereof earthly things are minded and sought after inordinately and therefore it is the Wisdom of our Lord Jesus before he persuades to the seeking of Spiritual and Heavenly things by Reasons Arguments Motives and Disswasions to free the Minds and Hearts and Affections of his hearers from their anxious and troublesome thoughts fears and cares concerning carnal and earthly things pertaining to the Body namely what they should eat what they should drink and what they should put on Take no thought for your life Is not the life more than meat and The body than raiment Your heavenly Father feedeth the Fowls of the air Are not you much better than they Why take ye thought for Raiment consider the Lilies of the field if God
so cloath the Grass of the Field Shall he not much more cloath you therefore take no thought saying What shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewithal shall we be clothed for after all these things do the Heathens seek but let Christians seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness even those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God and set their minds and affections on things above and not on things on the earth It is much below every Christian by profession only so to love the World as to seek the things that are in the World for all that is in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the World and therefore if any Man love the world the love of the Father is not in him What Jâ—remiah said to Baruch I say to thee O Christian Seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not seekest thou the Pleasures of the World to satisfie the lust of thy Flesh seek them not the pleasures of sin are but for a season the displeasures of God against thee for thy sin are endless easeless merciless and remediless A lover of and a liver in pleasure can never be a lover of God nor God a lover of him nor can he ever be a liver with him while such She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth and damned when she dieth Becâ—use she lived in Pleasure on the Earth and waxed wanton and nourished her heart as in a day of slaughter receiving the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time How much she lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow will God give unto her Seekest thou the honors of the World Art thou ambitious to be some body in the World in Name or high Place of Preferment seek them not if thou be godly it is thy honor as truly as thy end to honor the Lord and them that honor me saith God I will honor If thou be'st wicked or a fool which is all one the Wise Solomon will tell thee Honor is not seemly for a fool To receive honor one of another and not to seek the honor that cometh from God only is the sin and dishonor which every unbeliever is guilty of and a great let and impediment in the duty of seeking first the Kingdom of God Seekest thou to be rich in this World labor not to be rich yet if Riches increase set not thine heart upon them Wilt thou set thine eyes and heart upon that which is not for Riches certainly make themselves wings they flie away as an Eagle toward Heaven But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts especially the lust of the pride of Life in putting on of Apparel whose adorning is that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of Gold in erecting and furnishing stately Buildings and pampering and pâ—easing the flesh which drown Men in destruction and perdition for the love of these things is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle than for such a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God What is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World with all its honors pleasures and riches and lose his own Soul and his portion of grace and glory or What shall a Man give or take in exchange for his Soul Is not the Redemption of the Soul precious It was not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious blood of Christ who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World God never intended the whole World to be the portion of every Man God only is Mans Portion and Man is Gods portion Why should any Man then wrong that noble part within him his Soul as to seek pursue and follow after such beggarly things as Riches and Honors and Pleasures and take up with them as his only hope and happiness which every wicked worldling doth the mean while neglecting and making light of the one thing necessary seeking to enjoy God and Christ and Grace and Glory in whom and from whom alone they may infallibly have the true durable unsearchable satisfying everlasting riches honors and pleasures Oh! did but the great ones of this World consider and know what deceitful baits snares and temptations these worldly dignities pleasures and treasures through Gods permissive Providence and Satans Subtilties prove to their lustful and deceitful hearts Would they so eagerly hunt after them and undo their Bodies and Souls in the pursuit of them True there is no evil in them but through an evil unbelieving heart there is much evil by them Search the Scriptures and see how many rich and honorable and pleasurable persons are gone or will go to Heaven not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called God that hath chosen the poor of this World rich in faith hath not chosen the rich in this World to be poor in faith There is a sore evil under the Sun namely Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Did the Rich in this World in Scripture called the Men of the World which have their portion in this life well consider how little their Riches will profit them in the day of wrath they would not be so high-minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the living God who giveth them richly all things to enjoy they would do good be rich in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate that they may lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal Life which is the worst I wish them and the best use they can put their uncertain riches unto Oh! How many are and will be undone for ever by a deceitful World a deceitful Devil and a deceitful heart from which I beseech the Lord to deliver our most Gracious Soveraign the King and his Kingdom that we may all as one Man with oneness and trueness of heart set our selves according to our Solemn Engagement in our Christian Covenant unfeignedly to renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil which must first be done before we can obey this Heavenly Counsel Command and Proclamation of our Lord Jesus Christ in seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness which let every one of us account it our greatest duty choicest work chiefest interest and highest dignity to be exercised therein let us as we have opportunity exhort one another daily while it is called to day least any of us be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin Satan and the World to make light
of our Lord and Saviour his Counsel Command and Proclamation but let it rather be a principal motive to us to make the Exhortation the more effectual since it is the Counsel of Christ the Wonderful Counsellor who saith Counsel is mine let us with all readiness and thankfulness accept and embrace it as being worthy of all acceptation for it is the Counsel of the most worthy Person most Wise and able to give the best Counsel a Person on purpose sent from God the Father his only begotten Son the second Person in the glorious Trinity made Man and now God-Man for ever in one Person named Jesus Christ he it is that hath given this excellent Counsel to the World namely to seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness which is not only his Counsel but Command for all Power is given unto him in Heaven and in Earth to Counsel and Command God the Father hath annointed him to be a Prophet a Priest and King so he was here on Earth and remains such in Heaven for ever A Prophet to give Counsel a King to Command that it be received and a Priest on our behalf to God the Father to make continual intercession for us that his Counsels and Commands may be effectual to us for our salvation and he is actually and effectually the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him in this Command that seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness A Command that can no wayes be thought grievous a gracious command indeed to seek a Kingdom not an Earthly but an Heavenly Kingdom the Kingdom of God Gods Kingdom a Kingdom all of Gâ—â—ce and Glory where he dwells in all his glory Whâ—t Prince that hâ—th many Kingdoms will Counsel and Command a Subject especially a Rebellious one to seek one of his Dominions but our gâ—â—cious Prince and Saviour doth Counsel and Command every one every where to seek the Kingdom of God by way of Proclamation Ho every one that haâ—h no Money come buy Grace and Glory without price Wherefore do you spend Money and Labour for that which satisfieth not Incline your ear and come unto me hear obey and your Soul shall live inviting all â—oâ—â—â—ly by Counsel Command and Poclamation but by Promise for their incouragement Ask and it shall be given you Seek and ye shall find Knock and it shall be opened unto you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened The experience of all that are in a state of Grace on Earth and in a state of Glory in Heaven that have not lost their labor in seeking should be a powerful motive to every one that is to seek and is at a loss for Grace and Glory to seek that he also may find for he that seeketh findeth even Eternal Life in the Promise which God that cannot lie hath promised before the World began and will be righteous in performing to all them who by Faith lay hold thereof for all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ are Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God The General Assembly in Heaven will give in this testimony There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord hath spoken unto us all came to pass whoever turns Gods Promises into Prayer God will for certain turn his Promises into Performances unto them Oh do not lose Grace and Glory for want of asking seeking and knocking Is the Lord God a Sun and Shield Will the Lord give Grace and Glory Will he withhold no good thing from them that seek him â—â—th he â—aâ—â— A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you I will take away the Stony heart out of youâ— flesh and I will give you an heart of Flesh I will put 〈◊〉 spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Staâ—â— and ye shall keâ—p my Judgment and do them yet wi◠〈◊〉 be enquired of you to do all this for you Is this all 〈◊〉 requires to be enquired of Is seeking the way to â—â—â—ing seek the Lord while he may be found Call upoâ— him while he is near the Lord is nigh mâ—â— all them tâ—â—t call upon him to all that call upon him in truth tâ—â— hand of God is upon all them for good that â—â—ek him God never said and never will say to any of the house of Jacob Seek my Face Favour Kingdom and Righteousness in vain But then we must seek this Kingdom of God and his Righteousness right It is not every seeking that will serve turn nor every seeker that findeth true it is that every wicked Man may and must seek first Gods Kingdom and Righteousness It is a Wicked Principle in them who affirm That a Wicked Man may not Pray Because he cannot Pray he may I hope Pray That he may Pray May he not desire Grace I am sure the desire of Grace is Grace in every one common grace at least which is to be Excited Exerted and Improved for special Grace the blessing of God can turn common grace into special to him that hath and improves it it shall be given the right seeking is with the whole heart then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and Pray unto me and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart God is for the whole heart My Son give me thine heart they only are blessed that seek him with the whole heart I entreated thy favour with my whole heart saith David The only way to get Mercy Grace and Glory from God is to entreat the Favour of God with the whole heart with the mind will and affections even all the powers of the Soul must be vigorously at work in this spiritual duty in seeking first the Kingdom of God The Members of the Body must be also Instruments herein the strength of the inward and outward Man is to be put forth our Natural strength our Spiritual strength all the power we have and can get from God We had need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and to Pray That he would grant us according to the Riches of his Glory even his glorious Power to be strengthened with all might by his Spirit in the inner-man since we wrestle not against flesh and blood only but against principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high places We have three potent enemies to out-wrestle the Flesh the World and the Devil all combined against us we have God to wrestle with by Prayer and all other holy means for the obtaining of Grace and Glory if we be not Conquerors through Christ strengthening us we lose not only the prize of an incorruptible Crown but by our unfaithfulness and cowardize bring upon our selves an infinite weight of Judgment It is he that
Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost which passeth all understanding will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus that our conversation wiâ—l be without Pride in minding high things seeking great things for our selves or covetousness being content with such things as we have because God hath said He will never leave us nor forsake us and we are therefore to take heed and beware of covetousness for a Mans Life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth having food and raiment we are therewith to be content for we brought nothing into this World and it is certain we can carry nothing out God his Kingdom of Grace and Glory with content is great gain What will it profit a Man to gain the whole World and lose God his Kingdom and his Soul Men of corrupt Minds and destitute of the truth suppose that Gain is Godliness but the God of this World hath blinded the minds of these Men which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them yet if God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness would shine into their hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and the Excellencies of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus and the Righteousness which is of God by Faith those things which were gain to them they would count loss for Christ yea doubtless they would count all things but loss for the excellencies they see in God Christ Grace and Glory â—nd would willingly suffer the loss of all things and count them buâ— dâ—ng if by any means they might attain unto the Resurrection of the dead for the price of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus who hath called them out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light of Grace which hath made them meet to be Partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in the light of Glory against they be translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son where they shall be ever with him to behold his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person for we shall see him as he is not through a Glass darkly but then face to face with open face beholding the Glory of the Lord we shall be changed into the same Image of Glory the Lord Jesus Christ shall change our vile Bodie that it may be fashioned like unto his Glorious Body now we are the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in Glory and we shall be like him in our Souls for if we hâ—ve been planted together in the likeness of his death we shâ—ll be also in the likeness of his Resurrection which God the Father according to the working of his mighty Power wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own righ hâ—nd in the Heavenly places and hath raised us up together and mâ—de us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus and according to his abundant Mercy begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to an Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them who are kept by the Power of God to rejoyce indeed with Christ in joy unspeakable and full of Glory which all they who first seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness may assure themselves of But such as invert the Order of Christ that first seek the things of the World and the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness on the by that take Earthly things for their Home Heaven Portion and the Heavenly Glory for a Reserve they forfeit and will come short of this Glory which will be their greatest misery remaining the Children of the Devil they shall be like him in Deformity and Damnation Christ shall say to them on the left hand at the Great Day Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels they who refused to be as happy as God would have had them shall be as miserable as he can make them the pain of loss and the pain of sense both which the Godly escape the Ungodly shall feell in Hell Eternally Who can imagine what a loss God and the Kingdom of Glory will be and Who can endure almost to hear of dwelling in Everlasting burnings they that are Enemies to the Cross of Christ whereby the World should he Crucified to them and they to the World whose God is their belly whose Glory is their shame who mind Earthly things their end is to be punished with everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power for the suffering the Vengeance of Eternal Fire How much better is it for every one of us in the fear of God to be obedient to this Heavenly Call Counsel Command and Proclamation of our dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man in his Glory otherwise How shall we escape the Damnation of Hell if we neglect so great Salvation See that we refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Christ speaketh yet in his Word and by his Ministers who are his spokesmen he that heareth them heareth him and he that despiseth them despiseth him that sent them and they that despise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be lightly esteemed Be it far from us to put Christ upon complaining of us as against his Israel of old All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gain-saying People least we hear him say because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no Mâ—n regarded but ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Commands I also will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a Whirlwind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall ye call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me my Kingdom of Grace and Glory but they shall not find me nor it they shall ask but they shall not have they shall knock but it shall not be opened unto them for that they would none of my Counsel they shall have none of me or my Kingdom but whoso hearkneth diligently unto this Word of Christ Seek ye first the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of Grace shall dwell in them and they shall dwell in the Kingdom of Glory where they shall be for ever quiet from
one then that hath understanding sing praises to God sing praises sing praises to our King sing praises for God is the King of all the earth and the King of glory sing we praises with understanding Our Tongue in Scripture is called our glory therewith bless we God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ which is the best use we can put it to If we be strangers to this heavenly duty of singing praises to God in our hearts and houses with our glory it is much to be feared that as our chief end is not the glory of God by our not glorifying God so our last end will not be glory with God without controversie it is the duty that is most pleasing to God as it is most commanded by him and practised instantly by the perfectest Saints The holier any man is the more in prayer and the most in praise evening and morning and at noon David prayes unto God seven times aday doth he praise him Hypocrites can pray Saints only do bless and praise the Lord. The good and old way of speaking to God our selves and one another in Psalms and spiritual Songs is much given over in these Kingdoms The good Lord give us Repentance that this sin be not laid to our charge We have lost very much of the special presence and providence of God by our neglect herein our Prayers are not heard and answer'd for want of our solemn Praises We obtain mercy by our Prayers and keep them by our Praises It were well if one in ten with a loud voice glorified God for those daily mercies they receive from God There are not found that return to give glory to God after mercies received from God save some few strangers What are our hearts and lips and lives good for else but to warble out in spiritual Songs the praises of him who hath called us out of marvellous darkness into his marvellous light The glad tydings of a Kingdom of grace and glory should open our hearts to pray to God to open our lips that our mouths may shew forth his praises which that all may do let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord and whatsoever we do in Word or Deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving Thanks to God and the Father by him and above all for himself and the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness For Counsel and Consolation and I conclude Our honourable Magistrates and reverend Ministers who are taught of God that are Counsellors themselves of Peace and seek the Peace and Prosperity of Church and State I neither need nor dare give them one Word of Advice in this matter only taking the liberty and boldness by way of Petition most humbly to desire them who have obtained so great mercy to be the heirs of grace and glory that they would according to the Power and Prudence Wisdom and Goodness which God hath graciously and liberally given them improve it to the very utmost that if it were possible our most gracious and excellent Majesties Three Kingdoms may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ not by Profession only but in very Deed and in Truth For the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power since God our Saviour would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth and because he can swear by no greater doth swear by himself As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his Way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil Wayes for why will ye dye and now commandeth all men everywhere to repent Why should not first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty which is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour and I also heartily believe wi l be well-pleasing to our most Gracious King and all in Authority having laid so lâ—rge and sure a foundation of Peace to build as large a Kingdom of godliness and honesty upon It is in your power to compel every capable Subject in these Kingdoms to seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and to thrust Labourers into this Harvest for the Harvest is great and the Labourers are few for the turning of every one unto Righteousness the unlimited Love of God who hath so loved Mankind the general Redemption of the whole World bâ— the precious blood of Jesus Christ the promise of the universal Spirit of Christ the freeness and fulness of the Covenant of Grace which if the Lord please I shall have occasion fully to handle in my Book of Scriâ—tural Oracles and the express Command of Christ Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature the promise of his presence and assistance his own practice and the practice of the primitive Preachers in publishing through the World the glad Tydings of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God are motives and encouragements great enough to put Magistrates and Ministers upon endeavouring an universal Conversion Reformation and Salvation among all their People O could our King and Governors be instrumental to bring these Kingdoms so to seek till they find a Kingdom of grace and glory what an exceeding eternal weight of glory would the King of glory crown them withall for their labour of Love at the last and great day Hearken to a King speaking from the King of Kings Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord herein with fear and rejoyce with trembling Let the Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take counsel together for the Lord and for his Anointed saying Let us break the bands of Wickedness and cast away the cords of our Iniquities from us Let us exalt the King of Kings upon his holy hill of Zion that the Heathen may be his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth may be his possession and all Nations whom he hath made may come and worship before thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name Let our most excellent King Solomon be first herein who is a King of Peace that came into his Kingdom in Peace rules in Peace will dye in Peace and enter into that Peace which passeth all understanding If he follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. His establishing a great Peace amongst us constrains me to believe he will be a means of raising a holy War through his Kingdoms and Dominions against Sin Satan and the World for the glory of
God and the everlasting good of many a poor yet precious Soul so that all our contentions and mutual devourings shall end in a holy amicable contending earnestly for the Faith of the Gospel that we may stand fast in one Spirit with one mind and one mouth glorifying God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ receiving one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God than which what can be more pleasing to God honourable to our selves creditable to Religion profitable and comfortable to His Majesties Three Kingdoms If there be joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one Sinner that repenteth what joy will there be in Heaven over all the Sinners in these Kingdoms that repent The Lord our God in the midst of us will be mighty to save us he will rejoyce over us with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over us with singing if as Brethren being called unto liberty we use not our liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love serve one another for all the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self but if we bite and devour one another let us take heed that we be not consumed one of another And it shall come to pass that as the Lord rejoyced over us to do us good so the Lord will rejoyce over us to destroy us and bring us to nought which will assuredly come to pass if we bless our selves in our hearts saying We shall have peace though we walk in the imagination or stubbornness of our hearts to add Iniquity to Iniquity the Lord will not spare but his anger and jealousie shall smoke against us and all the Curses written in his Book shall lie upon us and he will blot out our names from under Heaven Cursed also is every one that doth the Work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully But I am persuaded better Things of you and Things which accompany Salvation and that we are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of our Souls Let us take heed lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God but exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of us be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin looking also diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble us and thereby many be defiled for we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end and also of his Kingdom of glory for the securing whereof these plain Directions are absolutely necessary to be put in practice I. That all Sins be avoided and hated especially Unbelief Pride Covetousness Carnality Lying and Hypocrisie II. That all the Duties of Holiness be rightly zealously and constantly performed both publick and private III. That all the Graces of the Holy Spirit be had and exercised They who would set themselves in earnest to seek the Kingdom of God must heartily set themselves against all sins stand in awe and sin not while you are seeking if you would find this Kingdom Seek the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near but then it follows Let the Wicked forsake his Way and the Unrighteous who is a man of Iniquity his Thoughts and let him return unto the Lord who will have mercy upon him but then he must have nothing to do with Sin who will have any thing to do with God and his kingdom otherwise God will have nothing to do with him the wages of Sin is not Heaven but hell every final impenitent unbelieving Sinner is to be shut out of Heaven and shut up in Hell to all eternity Sinners you must quit your state and course and way of sin before you can enter the state of Grace or walk in the way of Life Grace and Glory are inseparable so are Sin and Hell O have nothing to do with any the least yea the very appearance of evil as near as you can except to hate abhor leave and loath it and your selves for it as ever you hope to speed in this most important duty of seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness more especially let Unbelief Pride Carnality Covetousness Lying and Hypocrisie be abandoned and abhorred as the root and source and spawn of all other abominations These are the Master evils that hinder men from being and doing good We must be negatively before we can be positively holy Wash ye make â—e clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes first cease to do evil then learn to do well c. If we would cease from evil we must take heed of the evil of Unbelief in the heart which is a sin that giveth every Truth of God the Lye Every one that believeth not goes about to make God a Lyar. The very Word of the Scripture is He that believeth not God hath made him a lyar because he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son as Faith is a coming to God by Jesus Christ so Unbelief is a departing from the living God O take heed of it as also of the sin of Pride which is a lifting and setting up our Wisdom and Will against the Wisdom Will Word Way and Work of God preferring our own Honor before Gods Glory Priâ—e was the first and worst sin that could be committed virtually and interpretatively it is all iniquity as all sinners were in one and came from one so all sins are summed up in this one namely Pride which is the Parent of all other abominations The onely sin that is so sinful This was the sin that made good Angels Devils and our first Parents and us evil like unto them yea only evil and that continually by it we have lost God our selves our knowledge of him all our righteousness and true holiness and all the happiness of Heaven it is so desperate a sin that it will not suffer any one to seek after God his Grace and Glory The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God he will be happy without God In seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness O seek first to be delivered from the pride of heart and life otherwise you may ask and not have seek and not find knock and it shall not be opened unto you Covetousness which is Adultery and Idolatry a loving and desiring after the World and the things of the World so inordinately and overcarefully as both to neglect and make light of the things of God which are above The Covetous whom the Lord abhorreth his prayer and practice is Lord Who will shew us any good his Labour is only for his mouth and therefore his laying up much Goods for many years is to take his ease eat drink and be merry he is one that layeth
being poor in Spirit that you may be rich in Faith and Heirs of a Kingdom the comfort and content of a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth The Kingdom of God is not meat and driâ—k but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Let your Conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have that your Conversation may be in Heaven Heavenly-mindedness is your duty let it be your delight to seek those thingâ— which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore for all thosâ— and onely those that have and exercise the Graces of the Spirit in truth and uprightness Labour therefore in the last place for the Grace of Sincerity which is not so much a Grace as that which makes Grace to be â—race If I may sâ—y so what is Faith but Fancy if it be not unfeigned Or Love but Lust except it be without dissimulation What is Obedience good for if it be not universal and constant Our hearts and lives are not sound if we have not respect unto all Gods Commandments to perform them alwayes unto the end Suppose our Gracious Majesty the King command nothing but what is holy just and good for His own Honour and Interest and the good of His Subjects will he judge those persons sincere to him that lives in open disobedience to any of his righteous Laws God and man would and should be served in sincerity and truth God is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth he is rich in mercy but to whom to them that call upon him in Truth The good and the right way is only fear the Lord and serve him in Truth with all your heart God is for the heart and the whole heart man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart the heart and the sincerity of it is all in all with God Grace and Mercy is with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity with incorruption Sincerity is the Salt thâ—t keeps our Love and other Graces from corrupting and perishing it is the root of the matter which makes the hâ—art good and honest in bringing forth the fruit of rightâ—â—usness with patience unto perfection Whereas the seed sown in the heart where there is no root â—iâ—hers away the Word of the Truth of the Gospel bringeth forth fruit in them that hear it who knâ—w the Grace of God in Truth Do not my words saith God do good to him that walketh upright God is good to those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts which David intimates in his Prayer None are good indeed but the upright and sincere their hearts are good their lives are good they are like Saul and Jonathan lovely and pleasant in their lives and their death is precious in the sight of the Lord. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is Peace He shall enter into Peace that walketh before God in Truth and with a perfect heart doing that which is good in his sight uprightness integrity and sincerity in heart speech and behaviour is very pleasing to God Behold thou delightest in or desirest Truth in the inward parts They onely are the Sons of God who are blameless harmless or sincere speaking the Truth in love as being sincere which is all one speaking the Truth from the heart is a character of a Citizen of Zion and the property and duty of the true Ministers of the Gospel who are not as many which deal deceitfully with or corrupt the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak they in Christ his Doctrine shewing uncorruptness sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned ordering also their Conversations in the World by the grace of God in simplicity and godly sincerity that they may approve things that are excellent that they may be sincere and without offence toward God and toward man till the day of Christ They who are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel are even so to speak and live not as pleasing men but God which tryeth their hearts not at any time using flattering words for a cloak of covetousness whom St. Paul would have the Brethren to mark And I most humbly beseech His most peaceable Majesty for His own and His Kingdoms sake and safety He would also mark them who cause Divisions and Offences upon what pretences soever either in the State or Church or Families contrary to the Doctrine of Christ for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple walking in craftiness doing the work of the Lord deceitfully But such as would first seek the Kingdom of God with comfort must labour to be Israelites indeed in whom is no guile that they may grow in grace in every grace going from grace to grace from strength to strength for the pure in heart and he that hath clean hands and is sincere perfect and undefiled in the way shall be stronger and stronger till he be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus being strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner man to exercise himself in all holy conversation and godliness in every condition in every relation for the truth and strength of grace lies much in relative religiousness None are really holy that are not relatively holy they who are not good loyal and sincere loving Subjects to His most Excellent Majesty the King are far from the true power of godliness and so in all other Relations which I leave to a fitter opportunity to handle What more plain in all the Word of God than that every Soul is to be subject unto the higher Powers How apt are men to forget it Put them in mind therefore saith St. Paul to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates What follows To be ready to every good Work Why for Rulers are not a Terror to good Works but to the evil He is a Minister of God to every one for good both to the good and to the evil to make evil men good and good men better The Supreme Power which is the Ordinance of God is not to be resisted upon pain of damnation but all Dues Duties Tribute Custom Fear Honour the rather to be rendered with all chearfulness and humble thankfulness for Magistrates are Gods Ministers attending continually on this very thing wherefore let every one of us as it is our bounden duty shew the truth and power of our godliness herein for we must needs be Subjects not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake to our Superiours in the Lord And that they may rule for God and for good let Supplications Prayers Intercessions and
in Gods everlasting decree purposed prepared purchased promised and preserved to be the heirs of this Kingdom for ever But all the difficulty is how every one may arrive to a comfortable assurance of his Interest in and right and title to so glorious a Kingdom as God and his Christ in infinite Wisdom and Mercy from all Eternity hath purposed prepared purchased promised and preserved and that he is one purposed prepared purchased promised and reserved unto this Heavenly Kingdom This may be known by those and only those that give all diligence to know it such are they that with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord the things they purpose they purpose not according to the Flesh that with them there should be yea yea and my nay thou hast fully known saith St. Paul my purpose If we can know the purposes of our hearts if the purposes of our hearts be only to the glâ—ry of God and glory with God for the way and means conducive to this end â—s truly as to the end it selâ— then we may surely know thaâ—â—his Kingdom is purposed for us and we purposed to it Are the purposes of your hearts set within you against sin all sin the wayes the occasions the temptations to sin against Satan and the World the honors the riches and the pleasures thereof as they stand in oppositiâ—n unto and competition with God Christ Grace Glory and your immortal Souls Are you fully purposed for God-Glorifying and God-Enjoying in time and for eternity This is one great evidence that you shâ—ll be glorified with him and enjoy him in this purposed Kingdom of glory if you hold on and hold out unto the end The Kingdom prepared is theirs who are serious and sincere in preparing themselves for it Indeed the preparations of the heart in Man are from the Lord but the Lord gives to every Man a heart to make Conscience to prepare himself in the use of all good means for that eternal weight of Glory which God hath prepared for him a Vessel of Mercy according to the riches of his Glory which he had afore prepared unto glory for we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained or prepared that we should walk in them The whole Church of God is prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband a Vessel unto honor sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work Ministers are Gods Instruments herein to turn the disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just to make ready a People prepared for the Lord for which end their feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace How beautiful are the feet of them that Preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad tidings of good things Under Christ God hath trusted every one with the care of his own Soul and given him a Talent to employ and improve for its Sanctification and Salvation for this is the will of God even our Sanctification who will have all Men saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth and it is his Will that every one should be a faithful and wise Steward to give his Soul its portion of meat in due season and that â—ervant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes and he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes for if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How can any think to escape who neglect so great Salvation Search therefore and try what preparations are you making for Death Judgment and Eternity in good earnest the Kingdom prepared and the People prepared for it are preparing with all their might for an enterance to be ministred unto them abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and it is for certain that this Kingdom is prepared that every one should prepare till they be prepared for it And we may further know our Title to this Kingdom if we are willing to go if I may so say to the price of it though it be purchased for us and we purchased to it for we are bought with a price The Kingdom and the Subjects of it were bought at no lower a rate than the precious Blood of Jesus Christ yet in a way of duty though not of merit must we make account to lay down a certain price before we can actually possess this Kingdom It cost Christ dear of his Father for our sakes he laid down his life for it but considering the worth and the weight of this glory we may have it at a cheap rate Something Christ expects we should part with and something we are to do and suffer before he give us the Kingdom We are to buy the Truth but not to sell it We must come to the knowledge of the Truth before we can be saved and before we can come to the sâ—ving knowledge of the Truth it will cost us the daily diligent use of all the means of grace as long as we live Grace and Glory differ only in degree It is Christs Counsel to buy of him Gold which is Grace that we may be rich white Raiment that we may be clothed Eye-salve that we may See He that hath no Money may and must buy Grace and Glory without Money and without Price or go wiâ—hout them The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Treasure hid in a Field the which when a Man hath found he hideth and for Joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that Field The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant-Man seeking goodly Pearls who when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it a sure sign he valued it above all he had Christ is the Pearl of great price grace and glory is the Kingdom This Pearl of great price is to be bought without price a thankful acceptance of it is all that is required to the enjoying of it He that hath by selling all he hath bought this Pearl of great price hath the whole Kingdom of grace and glory into the bargain he that hath the Son hath life Spiritual and Eternal Try we therefore our selves how willing and ready we are to part with our all all our sins our beloved lusts our right eye our right hand our right foot all our honors pleasures and riches yea and our lives if they stand in our way to Christ and Heaven If we be truly willing to be any thing to do any thing to suffer any thing according to the will of God blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing The Kingdom of â—od is a promised Kingdom and the heirs of it are the children of Promise and children that are under a Solemn Covenant and Promise
overcometh that shall not be hurt of the second Death and he that is faithful unto death who will wear the Crown of Life to him that overcometh God will give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and Murderers and Whore-mongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Liars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second Death If the first Death the Separation only of Body and Soul be the King of Terrors What a King of Terrors and Horrors will the Second Death be which is an Eternal Separation both of the Body and the Soul from the Presence of God and his Glory and the enduring the Wrath of God in Body and Soul in Hell-fire through all Eternity Wherefore let us gird up the Loyns of our Minds and be sober and hope to the end for the Grace and Glory that is brought unto us at the Revelation of Jesus Christ Life and Death Eternal are set before us let us choose Life and cleave to him in our Wills who is our Life Let our Affections be set on things above Let our Conversation be in Heaven that our Commoration and Everlasting abode may be there also This is to seek the Kingdom of God with all our heart and with all our might It must be sought also with understanding the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Grace and of the Kingdom of Glory must be known It is our Heavenly Fathers good pleasure to give a Kingdom unto them and them only unto whom it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but to others in Parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand The Kingdom of God which is a Kingdom of Grace and Glory is such a Mystery that none can heartily desire and endeavor after it but such as are acquainted with it Oh! were the Eternal worth and weight of Grace and Glory known to us would the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory give unto us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation for the enlightening the eyes of our understanding that we might know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints we could not chuse but be stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as we know that our labor in seeking first the Kingdom of God would not be in vain in the Lord. Verily this Kingdom is not sought as it ought to be because 't is not known as it should be seek therefore to understand it that you may seek it with understanding Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in the Mysteries of his Kingdom which must be sought also in a way of believing I Believe in God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and the Life everlasting is the sum of our Christian Creed or Belief which whosoever confesseth with his mouth and believeth in his heart shall be saved for with the heart Man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation for the Scripture saith whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus shall not be ashamed or confounded Now Faith is the substance ground or confidence of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the Word of God through Fâ—ith we understand or believe an unseen World where such things are prepared for them that love God that a Natural and Carnal eye hath not seen or can see nor ear heard or perceived neither ever entered into the heart of Man but God hath revealed them to and for Believers by his Spirit who look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal this is the victory that overcometh the World even our Faith it overcometh the good things of the World and the evil things of the World through Faith the reproach of or for Christ is esteemed greater riches than the Treasures of the World and the Honors thereof by Faith Moses refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter for it hath respect unto the recompence of the reward by Faith it is that true Christians chose rather to suffer affliction with the People of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season as knowing their light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for them a far more exceâ—ding and eternal weight of glory Through Faith we resâ—st our adversary the Devil who as a roaring Lioâ— walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resisâ— stedfast in the Faith and he will flee from you for the Captain of your Salvation the Lord Jesus was made partaker of Flesh and Blood that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage for this purpose also the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy not only the Devil but the works of the Devil in us purifying our hearts from all sin by Faith Without this Faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of all them that diligently seek him his Kingdom and his Righteousness take we heed therefore lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God to provoke him to swear in his wrath we shall not enter into his rest for To whom swear he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not for they could not enter in because of unbelief This is the Sin that shutteth so many out of Heaven and shutteth up as many into Hell he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God True believers are the only true seekers of the Kingdom of God and will be the only enjoyers of it Oh were our Faith as reall as this Kingdom is substantial What manner of seekers would all of us be It is not heartily believed and therefore not heartily sought after were it sought believingly it would be sought faithfully Faith breeds faithfulness they are neer a kin What is Faithfulness but a fullness of Faith a stirring up the work of Faith with power to receive out of the fullness which is in Christ grace for grace grace to exercise grace so to walk even as he walked in faithfulness both to God and Man especially in transacting and negotiating the great Work of his Mediatory-Office in our Redemption and Reconciliation Jesus Christ the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession was faithful unto him that appointed him Such are all true Christians or Saints called faithful in
deceive and destroy the Violent Man or Man of Violence is called the Proud or Evil Man It is the Violent Man that purposeth to overthrow the goings of the Upright by hiding Snares and Cords spreading Nets setting Gins for him while evil shall hunt the Violent Man to overthrow him God hath purposed to preserve the upright Man from this Man of violence though a Brother for a Brother offended especially without cause is harder to be won then a strong City and their Contentions are like the Bars of a Castle There is no going to Heaven or Hell without violence evil Men are more violent in serving Sin and Satan than good Men in serving God which is an aggravation of their Sin and a very great shame it is for such as are bound for such a place as Heaven is and going to God should be so slow and slothful in their pace thither while the ungodly are making such hast to Hell Is a corruptible triple Crown of Earthly Honors Pleasures and Riches in the way to Hell worth so much striving and running for and Is the Incorruptible Incomparable Crown of Life in the way to Heaven not worth much more Every one hath a Race to run a Prize to get the way to run in is Gods Commandments the Prize Eternal Life if thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments The great duty is so to run as to obtain In the Olympick Games the fighters and the Runners which were violent painful Exercises were to put forth all their strength they had therefore their honorable Encouragements to animate them The Apostle alludes to these to put Christians upon the like activity because they have many Duties to exercise which cannot be performed without painfulness and violence but one moments being in Heaven will more then recompence all their labor Let us get our hearts enlarged that with holy violence we may run the wayes of Gods Commandments unto the end that our reward may be great in the Kingdom of Glory which we must also seek valiantly We have violent valiant and potent enemies that stand in our way to this Kingdom to withstand and conquer before we can enter into it the Devil and all his Angels a flattering and a frowning World and worse than all these namely in-dwelling sin a home-born enemy that is more deceitful and dreadful than all our other adversaries which must be mortified before we can be saved We have all Gods holy just and good Laws to obey in every thought word and work in the greatest strictness and spirituality which requires much resolution and courage in us to perform alwayes even unto the end It is therefore very remarkable that when God enjoyns every one to observe to do according to all the Law turn not from it to the right hand or to the left he subjoyns this and repeats it three times be strong and very courageous be strong and of a good courage be strong and of a good courage to observe to do according to all the Law without erring on either hand It is the narrow way of life that leads to the strait Gate which whosoever walks therein shall enter in thereat This can never be done without constant courage and fixed resolution against sins of Omission and Commission and the lively performance of all holy Duties the means of getting Grace and growing therein which is our power to resist mortifie and overcome what God hath forbiden us and to do whatsoever he hath commanded us necessary hereunto is the putting on the keeping on the daily fighting in the whole Armor of God which that it may be done valiantly and successfully must be done in the name and strength of the Captain of our Salvation the Lord Jesus this way David vanquisht all his Enemies that compassed him about like Bees the Name of the Lord was the strong Tower he ran into for safety he made the Lord his strength and he became his Salvation our strength valour and prowess is from Christ which teacheth our hands to War and our fingers to fight that we wax valiant in fight turning to flight the Armies of the Aliens What is it that a Christian cannot do through Christ strengthening him with all might by his Spirit in the inner Man True Believers are the only valiant Men in the World none have so many and great enemies to contest with as they What wonderful exploits did those Worthies in the Hebrews do through the power of their Faith they turned not their back upon the World the Flesh or the Devil in all these things they were more than Conquerors Tribulation distress persecution famine nakedness peril sword death life Angels principalities powers things present things to come height depth nor any other creature can separate true Believers from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus through God they do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down our enemies that we may pass in season and safety through a Kingdom of Grace to a Kingdom of Glory which we must seek vigilantly be vig lant saith St. Peter because your Adversary the Devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour if we be not vigilant as well as valiant we may easily be devoured by Satan he stands Sentinel night and day watching that he may recover them who by Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth through the Mercy and Grace of God have recovered themselves out of his snares to take them captive or alive at his will When we have such a wakeful wrathful watchful and powerful Tempter so nigh us we had need to watch that we enter not into Temptation Saints have sinners their Tempters and their Enemies every way O how infinitely necessary is it that every Saint stand day and night upon his watch that he watch and keep his heart with all diligence that he Pray with David Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips that I sin not with my Tongue that I may keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me for the Tongue is such an untameable evil that if any Man offend not in word the same is a perfect Man such ought all Saints to be even perfect having so many that watch for Iniquity that make a Man an offender for a Word and lay a Snare for him that reproveth in the Gate and turn aside the just for a thing of nought and because in wrath they hate them Cast Iniquity upon their Names their Calling c. Defaming their Persons by giving out or taking up evil Reports against them I heard the Defaming of many fear on every side Report say they and we will report it All my familiars everyone of my peace watched for my halting saying peradventure he will be enticed and we shall prevail against him and we shall take our revenge on him with such Men have many a poor persecuted Christian to deal with Should we not then watch unto Prayer yea watching
possessing it will more than recompence for all the pains and sufferings the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us and therefore this Kingdom of Grace and Glory is to be sought constantly that is without ceasing day and night or very frequently constantly that is perseveringly for God will render to every Man according to his deeds to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory and Honor and Immortality Eternal Life Be thou faithful herein O Christian unto Death and Christ will give unto thee in the Kingdom of God a Crown of Life for only he that shall thus endure seeking unto the end the same shall be saved Even he that doth seek this kingdom of God which is a kingdom of Grace and Glory with his whole heart understandingly believingly faithfully diligently fervently violently valiantly vigilantly early delightfully and constantly which is no more than God requires and the unconceivable excellencies of this kingdom deserves Is not the kingdom of Grace it self nay one Grace of this kingdom more worth than all the Glory of all the kingdoms of this World The very trial of our faith and so of every other Grace is more precious than Gold that perisheth How precious is Faith it self Who that hath the Faith of Gods elect in the least degree in his heart would part with it at any rate nothing in this World better than life skin for skin and all that a Man hath will he give for his life But How many have lost their lives to save their faith that they might believe to the saving of their Souls they have died for the Faith that they might die in Faith And as for Hope which is a patient waiting and looking for that blessed Hope and the Glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus when we shall appear with him in Glory at death but more Gloriously at the day of Judgment when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels to be Glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe who hath this good hope through Grace that would part with it for more than all this World were it Ten thousand times ten thousand better than it is Alass if in this life only we have hope we are of all Men most miserâ—ble but since we can and do rejoycâ— in hope of the G orâ— of God we are happy enough in our hope which 〈◊〉 laid up for us in Heaven Now abideth Faith Hopâ— Charity these three but the greatest of these is Charity Faith and Hope we shall leave behind us having no need of them in Heaven When we are at the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls there is an end of our Faith but Charity which is the bond of our perfection in Heaven never ceaseth What is our Eternal Life in Heaven but an Eternal Life of Love our dwelling in and with God will be a dwelling in Love and God who is Love dwelling in us There will be fervent Charity indeed between God Angels and Men here because Iniquity doth abound the love of many doth wax cold there will be neither Sin Satan or Sinners to quench the flames of Mutual Love and Charity if Charity have so many Gracious and wonderful effects and fruits here What glorious effects will it produce in Glory Thou hast ravished my heart thou hast ravished my heart sâ—ith Christ with one of thine eyes with one Chain of thy Neck a Chain of Mercy and Truth Doth Mercy and Truth and other Graces in his Spouse ravish the heart of Christ What ravishing Joy will there be when Mercy and Truth meet together in Heaven and Righteousness and Peace kiss each other when Grace shall be turned into Glory when Charity a Grace a Duty now shall be Charity a Duty also but our Glory and Reward Will not Christ say of his Spouse then How fair and how pleasant art thou O Love for delights If the Created Glory of a Christian be so Glorious in the eyes of Christ How Glorious will the Increated Glory of God in Christ be to the beholders of it to all Eternity Let us therefore stick at no care and pains to make sure of a kingdom which God hath made so sure to us in his Everlasting purpose and preparation and is purchased for us at so dear a rate as the precious Blood of Christ and promised and preserved to us in his Everlasting Covenant Here have we no continuing City let us seek one to come with the heirs of Promise who look for a City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God It is the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem where God himself an Innumerable company of Angels the General Assembly and Church of the First-born and Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament and God the Holy Ghost the Comforter dwell all together Glorifying one another in an unspeakable manner for ever and Should not the Glory of this Kingdom of Glory and the Heavenly Society therein invite and constrain us all in these Kingdoms to look after such a state and place Is not every one infinitely obliged to seek this Kingdom not only for himself but for the Community if it were possible every moment Is there a Kingdom of Grace which may be had here in this World and a Kingdom of Glory hereafter in another World Is this a faithful saying and Is it not worth every ones acceptation Is not the Grace of God in truth and power the one thing needful here and Is not Glory in the Kingdom of God the one thing needful there Why are we then careful and troubled about many things when one thing is needful Why do we not all as one Man choose that good part which shall not be taken away from us There is nothing else in this World but either it will be taken from us or we from it Should we not labor to know in our selves that we have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us where we should lay up for our selves Treasures Honors and Pleasures that Moth and Rust do not corrupt and where Pride and Covetousness two notorious Theeves do not dare not cannot break through and steal that where our Treasure is there our hearts and hopes may be also But let us lay up for our selves Treasures upon Earth never so safely the Moth and Rust do and will corrupt them and these two Theeves will break through and steal the care of getting and keeping these Earthly Treasures and the fear of losing them put too many besides themselves and their duty in seeking those things which are above The only way is to be careful for nothing but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving to make our request known unto God and the Kingdom of God which is not meat and drink but
peculiar bosome beloved sins search out your own sin keep your self from your iniquity if you would have good success in seeking first the Kingdom of God II. Let us put off and put away far from us these and all other sins in the fear of God or all our seeking the Kingdom of God will be but labour in vain Sinners God calls Heaven and Earth to record against you this day that he sets before you Life and Good Death and Evil Blessing and Cursing and desires you to choose Life even eternal Life O choose not Sin and Death before it Let my counsel be acceptable unto you break off your sins by righteousness and the iniquity of your covetousness by shewing mercy to the Poor lest God be wroth smite you and hide himself from you but rather seek good and not evil that ye may live be not faithless but believe God upon his Word Seek ye me saith God and ye shall live Their heart shall live that seek God his Kingdom and Righteousness in the use of all his holy means which I need but almost to name they are so often insisted upon but too seldom duely practised as namely 1. Hearing the Word preached in season and out of season instantly as Ministers are to preach it with solemn Preparation Intention Retention and a loving Affection in the hearing of it turning every Truth and Duty you hear into practice without delay for not the hearers of the Law but the doers are justified and blessed in their doing 2. Frequent Fasting frequent Praying and Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all men that they may be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth which is our striving to enter in at the strait Gate Strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way which leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it even of them who seek to enter in and are not able because not willing to be at the pains and patience which is necessary to the finding the narrow Way and walking in it till they be meet and worthy to enter in at the strait Gate there is no pulling down of strong Holds casting down Imaginations or Reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God or bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ and the Laws of his Kingdom but by this good old way of Fasting Praying and watching to purpose every man that striveth for the mastery especially of spiritual enemies is to be temperate in all things some do it to obtain a corruptible Crown we an incorruptible If we would so run as to obtain so fight as to overcome we must keep under our body and bring it into subjection that our Old Man being crucified the body of sin may be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin lest that by any means when we have done all save this which is the main we our selves should be everlasting Cast-awayes better the body of the flesh and the body of sin be destroyed in the severest way of duty than the soul be for ever lost in a way of sin how pleasing soever to the flesh Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee cut them off and cast them from thee it is better for thee to enter into Life halt or maimed rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire by Fasting Praying and watching Heaven suffereth violence and onely the violent take it by force Holy Fasting especially alone and by our selves Prayer without ceasing keeping our Hearts Lips and Lives with all diligence by circumspect watchfulness from sin and all occasion and temptations thereunto are Gods gracious means appointed us for the obtaining of Grace and Glory 3. Reading searching and meditating of the Holy Scriptures day and night that the Word of Christ may dwell richly in us in all Wisdom with fervent and faithful Prayer before and after the duty for the Spirit of Truth to sanctifie us through the Truth duties much neglected both in Families and in our private communion with the Lord and I fear by too many of us slightly indifferently and indiligently done Were the Word of God read searched and meditated daily by us as it ought to be it would make us wiser for our selves in all respects than we are it is able to make even Children that exercise themselves therein wise unto salvation It is very great pity and a very great sin it is that every one that cannot doth not learn to read and every one that can doth not walk in Wisdom redeeming his time to search these Sacred Records day and night in which he thinks he hath eternal life I make no doubt but our most Gracious Sovereign the King and Governors will out of their Christian Wisdom Care Zeal and Charity which in many things they have manifested take order also that all who are capable both young and old in these Kingdoms may be diligently taught to read the Holy Scriptures that they perish not for want of knowledge that so the good Word of God may be daily read publickly in all Faimilies with Prayer and Praise to the Praise and Glory of God the Increase and Advancement of the Kingdom of Christ and their own immortal Honour Which I daily pray may come to pass and am in a longing expectation of as knowing there is Wisdom Wealth and Willingness Power and Prudence every way Ability and Opportunity in you our Governors and Counsellors for the accomplishing and effecting so great and good and necessary and pious a Work besides the many Thousands that wait for your Call Command Counsel Countenance and Encouragement to assist herein which labour of Love to so many perishing Souls will never be forgotten by the Lord and the administration of this Service will not only supply the want of Saints but will be abundant also by many Thanksgivings unto God Now the Lord make all Publick Persons in Church and State Publick spirited herein that the fruit of Righteousness may be sown in Peace by them that make Peace to the Glory of God and the Publick Good Were the Law and Gospel which is not to depart out of our mouth read and meditated therein day and night by us all high and low rich and poor c. that we might observe to do according to all that is written therein this would make our way prosperous then we should do wisely and have good success especially in seeking the Kingdom of Grace and Glory which is our best Wisdom to do every one for himself and each for other till we find it and attain it Whosoever delights in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth meditate day and night shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper the universal faithful practice of these duties would through the blessing of
God do Wonders among us 4. Examining our selves frequently and seriously by the Law and Gospel what effect they have had upon us as to the change of our state from sin to grace from death to life and whether our hearts and lives are so sound in Gods Statutes that we have respect to all his Commandments that we may never be ashamed Without this constant practice we cannot know our selves Know ye not your own selves saith the Apostle how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates How shall we know our selves to be elect or reprobate why examine your selves prove your own selves If we wholly neglect or negligently perform this duty we may then certainly conclude our selves to be Reprobates What are all the marks and signs for tryal of our everlasting state laid down in Scripture for but that we might know our selves by them whether we belong to God or the Devil and whether we are going to Heaven or Hell Without this careful constant examination trying and proving a man may think himself to be something when he is nothing and so deceive himself and others Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into Heaven Many will say to Christ on that great day of examination Lord Lord have not we prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils And in thy Name done many wonderful Works To whom he will profess I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Let every man therefore examine himself and prove his own Work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another then shall he not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought in him to the Law and to the Testimony if he speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in him If every one that doth evil and he that doth truth would come to the light it would make manifest whether their deeds were wrought in God or no All things that are reproved or discovered are made manifest by this light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light were this duty well managed more would go to Heaven and fewer to Hell 5. Conferring talking communing and reasoning together in love concerning the things of the Kingdom of God would be a happy means to help one another in seeking to find it Too often our words in Preaching praying and praising to them that hear us seem but idle Tales and are not believed till this Christian duty of Communication be frequently exercised Here we have liberty to speak to one anothers capacities and necessities we could not hear one another reasoning of Righteousness Temperance Death Judgment Heaven and Hell to come but our hearts would burn within us for Christ himself would be one amongst us as with his Disciples at Emmaus talking with us and opening to us the Scriptures so that our coming and communing together would certainly be for the better and not for the worse for this end to revive the duty of Christian Conference I do fully purpose by the Grace of God as I have begun to bring the Holy Scriptures under such Heads that the Word of Christ may dwell richly in all wisdom in young and old that will exercise themselves herein with delight and meditation day and night for the accomplishing whereof the Prayers of all fearing God are again humbly and earnestly desired and expected 6. Teaching Children early to read and know the Holy Scripture Training them up or Catechising them in the first Principles of the Oracles of God and all others who have the like need that are but Children in knowledge is another excellent means to increase the Kingdom of Christ How many unprofitable dull Hearers are there in these Kingdoms which for their time ought to be Teachers have need that one teach them again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God that to their shame be it spoken have not the knowledge of God nay that say to God and their Teachers whose lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at their mouth for they are the messengers of the Lord of Hosts depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes These have double necessity of counsel care and compassionate compulsion both from Civil and Ecclesiastical Authority to learn to know their duty danger and necessity if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken alive as captive by him at his will The Harvest truly is plenteous but the Labourers are few pray we therefore the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth Labourers into his Harvest such as will preach not themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and themselves the servants of all for Jesus sâ—ke servants that will not strive but be gentle unto alâ— men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves till their eyes be opened and turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ The work of Conversion and Reformation will never happily go on till the counsel of that most Reverend Learned and Godly Bishop Vsher be universâ—lly diligently zealously and constaâ—tly puâ— in practice both in Churches and Families which being apposite to my purpose I have here Transcribed Your Majesties care can never be sufficiently commended in taking order that the chief Heads of the Catechism should in the ordinary Ministery be diligently propâ—unded and explâ—ined unto the People throughout the Land which I wish were as duly executed everywhere as it was piously by you intended Great Scholars possibly may think that it standeth not so well with their credit to stoop thus low and to spend so much of their time in teaching these Rudiments and first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ but they should consider that the laying of the foundation skilfully as it is a matter of the greatest importance in the whole Building so it is the very Master-piece of the whole Building 1 Cor. 3 10. According to the Grace of God which is given unto me as a wise Master Builder I have laid the foundation saith the great Apostle And let the Learnedst of us all try it whenever we please we shall find that to lay this Ground work rightly that is to apply our selves to the câ—pacities of the common Auditory and to make an â—gâ—orâ—nt man understand these mysteries in some good measure will put us to the tryal of our skill and trouble us a great deal more than if we were to discuss a Controversie or handle a subtle point of Learning in the Schools yet Christ did give as well his Apostles and Prophets and Evangelists as his ordinary Pastors and Teachers to bring us all both Learned and Unlearned unto
his Goodness is another Grace to be desired and laboured after towards the attainment of the Kingdom of God Reverential filial fear of God is the first beginning of true Wisdom which is the principal thing to be looked after The fear of the Lord is the instruction of Wisdom What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose None are wise but fearers of God Behold the fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil is Understanding The fear of the Lord is to hate Evil and the evil way yea every false way which every prudent man is careful to do that he may walk in the way of Life which is above to the wise that he may depart from Hell beneath I know no greater or better wisdom than departing from Sin and Hell for fear of God to walk in wayes of holiness out of love to God for the obtaining a Kingdom of Glory whosoever would receive a Kingdom which cannot be moved let him have Grace whereby he may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear passing the time of his sojourning here in fear working out his own salvation with fear and trembling Above all put on Charity no Grace brings us more into favor with God and all good men yea even the worst of men sometimes than Charity A man that is truly charitable both to Body and Soul is a man almost by himself and that hath that Charity which suffereth long and is kind that envieth not that behaveth not it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh not evil with all the other properties is in a more excellent way to the Kingdom of Glory than any other and therefore my advice is that every one would strive to excel in this most excellent Gift Duty and Grace of Charity that he would follow after Charity till he be found in Charity an example in Charity fervent in Charity in that Charity that covereth a multitude of sins that the Charity of every one of us all towards each other abounding all our things may be done in Charity that so we may be in Charity one with another which is the end of the Commandments and the bond of our perfection O the unspeakable excellencies of Faith and Hope and other Graces but the greatest of them all is Charity Charity makes a man so good that when one will scarcely dye for a righteous or just man peradventure for a good or charitable man some would even dare to dye if not he dare dye for himself or for the Brethren which he ought to do when lawfully called thereunto None in so sure and safe a way to the Kingdom of Glory as a man of Charity Put on therefore as the Elect of God bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another as Christ forgave you but above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfâ—ction and besides being partakers of the Divine Nature and giving all diligence to add to faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness add Charity for so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 5. To Charity add also Chastity which is a virtue not only necessary and preparatory but essential to the Kingdom of God for there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye Having therefore promises for this end let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God that we who according to promise look for new Heâ—vens wherein dwelleth righteousness may be dâ—lâ—gent to be found of him in peace without spot and blâ—meless that we may then be presented as a chaste Virgin to Christ 6. Get Self-denial Live in the daily practice of it if you would not have God deny you himself his Kingdom Grace and Glory if any man will come after Christ let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow him He must go the same way that Christ went that means to come to Heaven he hath led us the way for he is our way he himself went every step to Heaven in a way of Self-denial his wisdom will way and work was wholly subjected to the wisdom will and pleasure of his heavenly Father I seek not saith he mine own Will but the Will of the Father which hath sent me and I do alwayes those things that please him every one of us is to please his Neighbour for his good to edification and the reason is for even Christ pleased not himself leaving us an example that we should follow his steps Our own wisdom will and way standing either in competition with or opposition unto the wisdom of God which seems foolishness to us is to be denied the world by wisdom knows neither God nor his Son Jesus Christ The hidden wisdom which God ordained before the World unto our Glory is such a mystery that none of the Princes of this World knew and therefore they crucified the Lord of Glory Nor can any natural man receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Let no man therefore deceive himself if any man seem to be wise in this World let him deny himself become a Fool that he may be wise to deny his own Will as well as his own Wisdom that he may be willing in the day of Gods power to be what God would have him to be and to say not my Will but thine be done on Earth as it is in Heaven which is the highest Wisdom Self-love must also be denied Naturally men though they will not own it are Lovers of their own selves which makes them covetous and proud to be Lovers of Pleasure more than Lovers of God The love of God for himself and love to our Neighbours without dissimulation is the cure of Self-love which is false love and therefore true hatred Self-love is Self-hatred The Times are perilous when men are Lovers of their own selves covetous proud Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof Hold fast the form of sound words with a sound mind by the Spirit of Faith and of Power and of Love that instead of denying the power of Godliness you may exercise your selves unto all Godliness in denying Ungodliness and worldly Lusts that you may live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil World Learn in what state soever you are in therewith to be content Learn both how to be abased and know how to abound Be content to be poor in this World which is the true meaning of