admission into Heaven And by what follows in the next verse Except your Righteousness shall exceed the Rightâ—ousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven From hence there is real grounds of fear for it may be truly understood and gathered that such who break one of the least Commaâ—dments of Christ and teach Men so shall not only be called lâ—ast in the Kingdom of Heaven but they shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven because that the Righteousness of this kind of People doth not exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees inasmuch as these also do exactly the very same as the Scribes and Pharisees did viz. break some of the Commandments of God and teach Men so Only with this somewhat better diversity for the Pharisees did Tythe Anise Mint and Cummin but neglected the weighter matters of the Law Mercy Judgment Faith and the Love of God these ought they to have done and not to leave the other undone But several of the better sort of those called Christians may perhaps observe the weightier matters of the Law and neglect some of the lesser Commandments whereas indeed and in truth from the like Reasoning of Christ it may be understood that these ought to be done and observed also as weâ—â— as the others I take God to Record this day who is greater than our Hearts and knoweth all things that all along throughout my Preaching and Writing in all my Books and Sermons as himself will witness herein for me at the last day of Judgment I have taught and affirmed constantly and so I do again repeat and confirm it this day That all the Commandments of God and of Christ ought to obeyed and observed and not one â—ay not the least of them ought in any wise to be broken Far be it from me to teach Men so nor yet to intimate or allow or give the least way unto it See Mark 7. 9 10 11 12 13. Though for this very things sake because I have declared and testified the Will and Commandment of God to be on that wise as he saith by his Prophâ—t I will be a swift Witness against false Swearers and against them that turn aside the Stranger from his Right Mal. 3. 8. For this cause my Books and Ministry hath been rejected by the Corrupt and Igâ—orant Multitude of this World As it is written He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still Rev. 22. 11. So if they go on still in their refusal to hear or receive that part of God's Word which is committed to my Ministration and in their other Stubbornness and Reproaches for their Lips have spoken lies their Tongue hath muttered Perversness Isa 59. 13. I shall sooner convince them out of the Law take it in the whole together and not by piece-meal only to be Sinners and Transgressors herein then they can convince me of having dealt falfly in God's Covenant neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant neither have our steps declined from thy way Psal 44. 17. The very nature of a Covenant stands on this wise to observe all the several sorts thereof Suppose we enter into a Bond to perform Covenants and there are for instance six Covenants mentioned in an Indenture If one of them is broken and not performed and the Bond is put in suit thereupon it will be in no wise a good Plâ—a in Law for the Covenanter to say and alledge that â—e hath observed the oâ—her five And so when God comes to enter into Judgment and to call People to an Account when he shall call to the Heavens above and to the Earth that he may judge his People Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice Psal 5. 6. How they have kept his Ten Commandments from their Youth up or all the days and years they were on this Eâ—rth for so far his Judgment will examine and reach back as his â—oregoing Statutes Laws and Judgments did enjoyn Deut. 12. 1. Luke 1. 74 75. Then God will not accept of it as sufficient if some should say Lord I have kept nine of them others eight others six others perhaps obeyed none at all from the Heart And so it is of all the other Commandments of God which are written any where else in the Bible whether of the Old oâ— New Testament they ought to be observed all one iâ— being God's Sâ—atute Book whereby he governs over the Nations of the Earth all one as the Acts of Parliament of this Nation are kept and done accordingly Now as when one is Arraign'd for Murder Felony or any other Capital Crime it will not avail and save him if he should plead and say for himself that he had obeyed and kept all the Laws of England besides The same holds true as to the present Account and future Judgment of God For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all For he that said do not not commit Aduâ—tery said also do not Kill now if thou commit no Adultery yet if thou Kill thou art become a Transgressor against the Law So he that sâ—id do not worship Idols nor graven Images said also do not swear vainly or falsly He said also do not Covet and do no Wrong So that if a Man swears vainly or falsly or if he Covets and doth Wrong although he doth not worship Idols nor graven Images he is become a Transgressor of the Law So it may be reasoned concerning the keeping of some and neglecting or transgressing of others run them changeably throughout all the Ten Commandments The Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews especially in the eight and ninth Chapters Reasons very much from the nature of Covenants and Testaments Which as himself Pâ—raseth it serveth â—nto the example and shadow of Heavenly things and it is else where expresly said as pertaining to this That though it be another Man's Covenant yet no Man addeth nor diminisheth from it Even so it is as to God's Covenant unto Man If we would indeed have the Benefit and precious Promises belonging to the Covenant we must not in the performing and fulfilling the same on our parts we are to add nothing to it nor yet should we diminish or take any thing from it The Covenant of God is the Word and Law of God for so it is called in sundry places of Scripture and the Word and Law of God is God himself and Christ himself â—o that herein the saying is true Take all or take none Is Christ divided 1 Cor. 3 13. Or can God be divided It is impossible as to both Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Although many foolish deceived People and outward Worshippers who serve divers Lusts and Pleasures would vainly imagine and think to divide their service one half for God and another half for the World or
things that are wanting even so the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the Earth for this Cause leaves us a little longer here on the Earth that we should set in Order the things that are wanting Consider then throughly and bethink your selves well what things are now wanting to your Salvation there be sure to supply and fill them up before you die and what things are left undone there be sure to do and perform the same And still if ye can apprehend any thing more there also go and do likewise I am greatly afraid that Mene Tekel is not the Writing which was against Belshazzar of old time but also it lies against every one of us at this day I am sure and sensible that it lies against my self and so it will appear that it lies against all the Sons and Daughters of Men When God shall enter into Judgment with them for in his sight shall no Man living be justified This is the Interpretation of these two words Mene Tekel See Dan. 5. 26. 27 when it is applicable to common Persons Mene God haâ—h numbered the days of thy life and finished them This is certainly true and will be found true Tekel Thou art weighed in the Ballance and art found wanting This last comes directly to our Subject matter and will be found true also when the Actions of the best Saints and Servants that were ever on this Earth I will not except the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles who yet are all in the Kingdom of God but only excepted Jesus Christ the Righteous are weighed in the Ballance of his strict and just Judgments Their Actions are not so good as they might have been For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3. 23. For the Lord is a God of Knowledge and by him Actions are weighed 1 Sam. 2. 3. And so he knows where and in what point such and such Actions are wanting Though we his Ministers and Creatures by reason of our half imperfect and outward Knowledge cannot presently assign it The Actions of all the Children of Men will be found wanting in the Knowledge Sight and Judgment of the Lord yet they should not be found wanting in our own Knowledge Sight and Endeavour But we should still press and labour to come up to that State whereof Paul speaketh as to himself I know nothing by my self yet I am not hereby justified That is he knew no sin or fault which he allowed himself in and no Duty which he left undone And such a State may any Christian now-a days by that common Grace which God usually gives arrive unto if he will Though Paul was thus Innocent Upright and Obedient yet he going on to add that hereby he was not justified that is before God This confirms the truth of what was aforesaid that though we do to the very best that ever we can endeavouring and labouring to the very utmost that our Actions be not found wanting until they seem to us as if they were not wanting yet still in the future Judgment of God they will be found wanting The reason whereof is For the Lord seeth not as Man seeth for Man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart So the Lord knoweth not as Man knoweth for Man knoweth the outward appearance only by halves and imperfectly But the Lord knoweth the inside and throughout even all that is to be known in any thing For the Lord is a God of Knowledge and by him Actions are weighed Nevertheless the Lord doth require of and command us to do our very best though when we have done all that is commanded us we are but unprofitable Servants and we are to use our utmost and continued diligence that we be not found wanting though after all and at the last we shall be found wanting This seems to be the turning and deciding point why some will be saved and others will be condemned at the last day The Souls of those that shall be saved did whilst they were here in the Body and in the days of the Flesh labour and endeavour with all their strength and with all their might as Jacob served Laban with all his might that they should not be found wanting That nothing should be wanting in them towards obtaining their own Salvation They did run strive and fight as the Scripture Phrases are in doing whatever they could if by any means they might obtain unto the Resurrection of the dead And so God who doth not lay upon Man more than is right doth accept of this their good mind and good will towards him He will not expect from a Creature more than he is able so such are received by him they are admitted and do enter into their Master's Joy But contrariwise the Souls of them that shall be condemned possibly they might seek to enter in at the strait Gate that is use a little careless idle and customary endeavour but they did not strive Luke 13. 24. for then they would have entred in Neither did they use their continued labour and utmost diligence that they should not be found wanting It was a thing which they did a little but not much mind for now it is evidently seen and known in the World that though all do pretend to serve God and they say that they hope to go to Heaven yet some do more towards it than others Whereas the Kingdom of Heaven will never be obtained by a parcel of lazy and outward customary Worshippers For from the days of John until this time the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Heaven and Immortality are for those who strive who are stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord the labour of such is not vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. who seek diligently Heb. 11. 6. who make it their constant business throughout their life As in Acts 28. 24. Some believed the things that were spoken and some believed not Some obey the Word and some do not So it is here some will use their utmost diligence and labour that they be not found wanting and these will be accepted by God and saved Others again will not use their utmost diligence and labour that they be not found wanting and these will not be accepted by God for they will be Condemned by him and perish They are weighed in the Ballance and are found wanâ—ing And that Lott and Portion they might have had in the Heavenly Inheritance is divided and given unto others SERMON III. Isaiah 38. 1. Set thine House in Order for thou shalt die and not live IT hath been already said That to set our Souls in Order before we die or before our Souls go out of our Bodies is to take care and provide that nothing be wanting in them But I find and gather from out of the Scriptures of Truth That another main Principal and Essential thing wanting in the Souls of Men
Being as the Logicians and Metaphysicians say But only a Dissolution of a Thing and a Privation of a Being And that is only as to the Body which is as the breaking of a Shell towards the hatching or bringing forth of a Chicking or as a Woman when she is in Travel hath Pain and Anguish till the bringing forth of her Child But after that is born she remembers no more the Pain or Anguish for joy that a Child is born into the World Even so through the Pain and Languishing of Death the Soul is born and comes forth into the invisible World and she remembers no more the Pangs and Throws and Anguish she felt by the Body dropping from her as she came through the Gate of Death and now she is in an Happy and Blessed State But this is only the favour God bears unto his own People and the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord No Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper Isa 54. 17. For though the Devil thought to make an end of them and destroy them utterly by Sin and Death yet they are escaped whole and safe through them both It is only to such who have this Blessing and Mark of Favour from God as to see the Lord's Christ before they see Death It is these that dâ—part in Peace The People of that Generation did see Christ in the days of his Flesh We of this present Generation may see Christ in his Grace and Revelation which is full of Mercy Goodness and Truth Simeon took up the Child Jesus in his Arms and Blessed God Even so we may go yet nearer and farther and take up Christ and receive him into our Hearts This is seeing the Lord 's Christ in our days when we see him within us with the Eyes of Faith or with the Eyes of our Understanding being enlightened When what we have heard we have seen with our eyes we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of Life for the Life was manifest and we have seen it and bear witness and shew uâ—to you Eternal Life which was manifest unto us or rather within us And so Paul saith by the Spirit unto those to whom he writes Little Children of whom I travail in birth until Christ be formed in ye The same is the end of all our Preaching to beget Christ formed in you which is a work of time and by degrees And if this be done ye will never see Death Eternal Though ye will for all see the first Death for Moses is dead and the Prophets are dead yet ye will never be hurt by the second Death SERMON V Isaiah 38. 1. Set thine House in Order for thoâ— shalt Die and not live TO see the Lord 's Christ before we see Death is to be a Partaker of the Divine Nature to have the Christian or Christ-like Nature formed and fashioned within us And that not in part or in some things only bâ—â— in the whole and throughout And the very God 〈◊〉 Peace Sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lorâ— Jesus Christ This word wholly and whole being repeated twice here in the same verse doth shew that thâ— Holy Ghost doâ—h lay exceeding much stress and necessitâ— thereon As the Soul doth actâ—ate the whole Body eveâ— so Christ should actuate the Soul throughout and wholly But here is the fault and failure of the generalitâ— of People of those who call themselves Christian whether they be of the straiter Sect of the Christiaâ— Religion whatever it be or whatever they are called for they would pretend unto others and seem to themselves to be more Holy Real and Sincere in their Christian Profession and the Service of God than others I profess truly I do not love to name the distinguishing Names for I would that the time were once come as it is drawing on in these latter days When the Lord shall be one and his Name one and then all those Nick-names of the several Sorts and Sects of Christianity will be laid aside and be used no more in our Tongue But it hath been my Observation a long time and I seldom knew it fail that when I have came near and beheld the Lives and Manner of Conversation of the Dissenters who seem to be more Religious than ordinary who talk so much of Christ I find that they are for taking up Christ in some yea perhaps in most but not in all things And whereas he that keeps Christ's Sayings shall never see Death John 8. 51. Yet they do not keep and obey that last Commandment which Christ Jesus is Recorded to have given as consequently comprehensive and of greatest concernment of all the rest Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded us Matth. 28. 20. But contrariwise several of them do break some or more of these least Commandments and teach Men so Matth. 5. 19. Do not some break or rather neglect those his lesser Commandments concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper which he commanded to do in Remembrance of him These are lesser Commandments which are only the possitive outward Duties or Ordinances of Religion in comparison to the greater things of the Law which concern intrinsick Good or Evil Right or Wrong Again doth another sort observe strictly the weightier matters of the Law Judgment Justice and Mercy For it hath been observed of those who are called Rigid Strict Presbyterians â—hat they have been given unto Oppression Injurious Dealing all for their own ends an Heart they have exercised with covetous practices cursed Children 2. Pet. 2. 14. And they have been noted to be Stubborn Perverse Blood-thirsty and Cruel Which is as contrary to Mercy one of the weightier matters of the Law as Darkness is to Light And so that together with their Pervereness is as diametrically opposite to Long-Suffering the Gentleness and Mâ—ekness of Christ as any thing in the World can be Now if you charge any of them closely and talk with them of these things they have a parcel of Sayings and Excuses as indeed all Sin and Transgression hath its excuse There being nothing so bad in the World but somewhat may be said for it Distinctions and Traditions of their own whereby they would make the Commandments of God of none effect So it is evident they break one of his least Commandments and teach Men so Which Disobedience and Prevarication of theirs shews that Christ the Wisdom of the Father who knew was in Man had not supposed against a vain and unlikely thing such as would never happen for these do contrary and different unto it every day But what is the consequence or harm of breaking of one of the least of those his Commandments and teaching Men so He shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven which there signifies the Ministration or Profession of the Gospel This Gospel being to prepare us for and get us
Here also the Law of God is perfect converting the Soul Psal 19. 7. And as it reaches to the very bottom so it extends unto and gives its several Orders and Rules for the Government of and Fashioning and Framing aright all his Thoughts Words and Actions As indeed it would be useful to shew it particularly If any Man among you seemeth to be Religious and bridlâ—th not his Tongue buâ— deceiveth his own Heart that Man's Râ—ligion is vain And so if People use a multitude of words in which there wanteth not sin if their Lips speak lyes and their Tongue muttereth perveâ—seness If they utter Error against the Lord or lying words Isa 32. 7. And so it is of Reproaches Slanders Back-bitings and Whisperings if they do not make a Conscience to refrain from every idle and vain and much more from every false word For of every idle Word that Men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment In a word unless they do take heed to their ways that they offend not with their Tongue Alas How very few do all this even among the Professors and Religious also Let them make what pretences appearances and shew they will by going constantly to the Exercises and Ordinances of Religion and by observing all the Acts Times and Seasons of outward Worship both in the Congregation Family Closet or Chamber yet all their Religion is vain Truly there is more that goes to the making up of Good Perfect and thorough Christian than we do at first think and are aware of and so to constitute the Pure and Undefiled the Sincere Real Inward and Universal Religion Which last Epithet Universal is fitly added as comprehensive of all the rest as also to distinguish and know it from the Partial Religion of the Multitude for theirs is a Religion in some things and not in all things There is a great deal more requisite to be indeed a meet Partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light than is to make one only a Member of the Visible Church here on Earth for to that is required no more than their coming to tâ—e place of Worship and bringing their Bodies with them And People will find I do hereby warn and testifie that they do not discern it then only when it is too late and when the door is shut that there is more to be done and that it is an harder and longer work to get admission and entrance into Heaven than barely to go to Church or to such a Congregation every Sabbath nay though it should be every week day throughout their Life or then to say their accustomary Prayers which too many count it dull tedious and wearisome enough For most true it is that at the day of Judgment it will be seen of many who shall not then only at that moment cry Lord Lord but they also did say Lord throughout all their foregoing life in an accustomary manner of outward Worship and Prayer to whom God shall Answer I never knew ye Depart from me ye that work Iniquity Matth 7. 21. 23. Now the working iniquity signifies the doing those things which are not Equal And so it will be depart from me ye that have lived in the continued Breach of any of my least Commandments Even at that day of general and final Judgment notwithstanding the present heart-burnings and self-justifyings of the Religious The Lord will shew who are his and who is Holy and will cause him to come near unto him even whom he hath chosen he will cause to come near unto him Numb 16. 5. I do really believe and am verily persuaded for I gather as mâ—ch from the Scriptures and particularly from that saying of Christ That which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. 15. That many People will be damned and go to Hell who are now accounted and have the Character of very Religious Civil and Honest People Fair Conditioned and Good Neighbours As again several will be saved whom the World doth revile and cast out their Name as Evil in like manner as their Fore-fathers did to the Prophets Impoverish and Oppress yea it may be Imprison and put them to Death As it was said of Paul Away with this turbulent fellow it is not fit he should live But how must such be ashamed to see those very same Souls had in Honour and Rewarded by the Infinite and Glorious God whom they made and used as the filth and offâ—scouring of the World had in Derision and a Proverb of Repro ch and esteemed as the contemptible ones of the Earth The Scene will change and there will then appear another face of things I do the more willingly here put in mind of these things for two Reasons 1 st That you may know what to answer when your Opinion is asked concerning such an one of whom perhaps the Multitude is divided and some say He is a good Man and others say he deceiveth the People Some say of him that he is a Rogue Hypocrite or deceived in his Religion Others are apt to think that he is Sincere Understanding and Consciencious in his Religion And so when you hear a more favourable Report of another sort that they are Good Religious People because they always go to Church or Meeting and they do several good Deeds Here it is well for them if their Goodness and Religion is Universal They will not be ashamed neither in this World nor yet in the World to come If they have respect unto all God's Statutes Psal 119. 6. But in both these and so in like cases we ought to think as near as we can according to the Law and the Testimoy and according to the Light that is in them but let alone all pronouncing of Judgment for all Judgment is the Lord's We are to suspend our Verdict and Judge nothing before the time For the day cometh when the Lord will manifest the Counsels of the Heart and then shall every one have Praise of God 2dly I do the more willingly put in mind of these things to quicken stir up and provoke all that shall hear or read these Lines to give all diligence to use their utmost Earnestness Strength Labour and Endeavour and that not only for a fit or spurt But continually throughout all their remaining Life and to be sorry that they had begun to do so no sooner to arise up and be saved For truly there is more absolutely necessary unto it then People are aware of It is observable what follows immediately after Luke 16 15. The Law and the Prophets were until John since that Time the Kingdom of Heaven is preached and every Man presseth into it So it is at this very day and hath been all along the Kingdom of God is preached and the Word of God is preached for to bring People to that his Kingdom or to bring People to Heaven And if you ask every Man or Woman that ever
heard a a Sermon in their Life as there is hardly any one in this Nation who hath not heard a Sermon unless some ignorant Papists who are next door to Atheists Whither they do Hope to go to Heaven Every one will say that they do But the Scripture here saith Every Man presseth into it To explain the very sence and meaning of that Word it will be necessary to use this instance and similitude suppose that we did see or word was brought unto us that all such an House wherein was a great Assembly of People were on Fire what running and scampering would there be to the doors And each one would press upon another who could get out first The Parallel place in Mat. 11. 12. especially the Marginal Reading thereof confirms this very same Acceptation and Signification of the Word for there it is on this wise And from the Days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by foâ—ce In the Margent there it is gotten by force and they that thrust Mâ—n Which last is as much as to say that People are for all by Nature luggish so that they would not run and press enough of themselves in such a Case of Necessity and Danger But we Ministers and Preachers of the Word must also thrust them on For so it is the door of the Kingdom of Heaven stands and is held open by the Preaching and Ministry of the Word But in as much as the Fathers where are they and do the Prophets live for ever Both Preachers and Hearers must dye the Death So that the door is not always open to them And as to this again the rule iâ— certain that if any one doth not in this Life which is the time oâ— Probation and Trial on this account do things worthy to stand before the Son of Man or to which Heaven is promised unless He doth the Commandments of God that He may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City unless People bring forth fruits meet for Repentance and so except People do things meet for Heaven before they die they will never go to Heaven after that they die As to that important Question What we must do to be saved or how much we must do to be saved Or to get into Heaven In these two foregoing Texts it is said The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by force Every Man presseth into it Strive to enter into the streight Gate Luke 13. 24. It hath been observed by the learned in that Language that the Word strive in the Original Greek doth require to put forth the utmost Strength even until we break a Vein and the Blood gusheth forth which none of the Lazy Formalists meer outward Worshippers and nominal Christians can pretend unto and so again we read That the Righteous shall scarcely be saved And indeed throughout the Scriptures and the Gospel especially there are scattered up and down so many true sayings of God concerning the exceeding difficulty danger and fear of disappointment herein that they who have enquired and searched diligently therein of the very Terms and Condiâ—ions of this Salvation do truly make this return upon their whole search and enquiry of this matter That the Kingdom of God is a Pearl of great Price which if a Man would buy and obtain he must sell all that he hath and give for it Who knows this better than our Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Author of this Salvation and understands upon what Terms it is to be had So we must sell all that we have all Sin Evil and Wickedness which is properly our own We must part with all the Guilt and Corruption that is in our Nature all that savours of Sin or of our selves and so all that savours of the World or of the Devil is to be renounced utterly and we are to dispossess our selves thereof in order to have that Pearl of great Price For less than this cannot be to make room for Christ to be formed in us Forasmuch as he will not dwell with any Evil or with a Body that is leavened or tainted with Sin Now if People will not bid up to the Price which the Lord hath put upon it they must go away without it they have neither Part nor Lot in this matter for their Heart is not right and whole in the sight of God Behold I have told you before and I do hereby warn People of as much before hand against the Time they shall see it fulfilled and found true in the valley of Derision that all People will not go to Heaven who now seek to go to Heaven For many now-a-days talk of Heaven who will never go there For there will be rejected at the last day those who have Prophesied in Christ's Name and in his Name have cast out Devils and in his Name have done many wonderful Works One may Preach throughout all his Life unto others and be a cast-a-way for all that For it is equally possible for a Preacher or Minister for a Priest or Clergy-Man to be damned as for any other Person I am to look to this and to take heed to my self least the Devil deceive me also O the exceeding subtlety of the old Serpent even whiâ—â—â— I am laying down Rules out of the Scriptures of Truth to prevent his deceiving of others See ye well to it therefore all that shall hear or read this that now the Kingdom and Word of God is a Preaching unto you that every one of ye do press in thereat and now in these days the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by force Looking diligently least any Man fail of the Grace of God left there be any Fornicator or Profane Person as Esau and so it is applicable in like manner if there be any Sinner in any kind who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birthright for ye know how that afterward when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected for he found no place for Repentanâ—e though he sought it carefully with Tears And so when your Souls are shut under Hatches by Death then if ye would labour for Hâ—aven and strive for Heaven and ye would then do the Will of God yet ye would be rejected and not accepted Ye will find no place for Repentance no room for seeking nor yet striving to enter in at the strait Gate though ye should seek it carefully with Tears Ye may cry out and howl to all Eternity Lord Lord open to us when the door is shut for ye should have pressed and strove and run yea we Ministers of the Gospel do push and thrust ye on dull Beasts as ye are with the Prick and Goad of the Word which is committed to our Ministration to enter in thereat whilst the door was open I have read of one who was converted and brought over to a