them that go backward rather then forward Revel 2.4,5 Nevertheless I have something against thee because thou hast left thy first love Remember therefore from whence thou art faln and do thy first works or I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Fourthly They are here condemned who expect the blessings of Gods Promises and Covenants and yet are so far from perfecting their Obedience and Sanctification that they never as yet did set one foot forward in that way to those the Lord speaketh Psal 50.16 What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behinde thee These although they haply call Christ their Lord and Saviour and plead that they have eaten and drank at his Table and that he hath taught in their streets yea that they have prophesied in his Name will have this answer returned by him Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I know or own you not Matth. 7.24,25 Luke 13.26,27 For unto â—hose that are contentious and do not obey the â—ruth and obey unrighteousness shall be indignation and wrath Tribulation and anguish upon overy soul that doth evil upon the Jew first and also upon the Gentile Rom. 2.8,9 Lastly This sharply smites all those of Michals spirit who was a mocker at Perfection as the name fignifieth viz. Who is perfect For she not onely despised David in her heart for wearing the embleme of Righteousness but for dancing and rejoycing before the Ark wherefore she is punished with barrenness as all they shall be with sterility of Grace who remain such scoffers of goodness and mockers of perfection see 2 Sam. 6.20,21,22,23 In the fourth place this Doctrine may serve for Exhortation First To those who have made some beginnings of progress towards Perfection that they be careful to proceed on in that way even unto Perfection Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection Moses witnesseth that the work of the Lord is perfect Deut. 32.4 And we are commanded to be perfect as he is perfect Matth. 5.48 The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 Wherefore let all that have obtained like precious Faith with the Apostle and Saints of God giving 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 Love for if these things be in you and abound they shall make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ See Revel 22.11 He that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy holy still Phil. 2.12 Wherefore my Beloved as ye have always obeyed not as in my presence onely but now much more in my absence work out your salvation with fear and trembling Heb. 6.11,12 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of Hope unto the end That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Secondly To excite those who never yet begun any advance towards holiness to consider these things First Whether the Jewels held forth in the precedent Promises be not rich and precious merchandise and secondly at what price they must be purchased and had if we will have them for the Lord will speak here unto us as he did unto the Jews Zach. 11.12 If ye think good give me my price if not forbear And as the Lord did speak to some Matth. 20.6 Why stand ye here idle all the day So will he say to those Awake to righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Confider I pray you what a deal of business you have to do ere you can enjoy the Promises and how little time some of you may have to do it in And therefore pray with David Psal 39.13 O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more And with Moses Psal 90.12 So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Is it a time to receive money and to receive Garments and Olive-yards and Vineyards and Sheep and Oxen and Men-servants and Maid-servants 2 King 5.16 Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5.14,15,16,17 Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19 Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor devise nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Eccles 9.10 Little children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous as he is righteous he that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinned from the beginning For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the work of the Devil 1 John 3.7,8 This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minde having their understanding darkned being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance that is in them through the hardness of their hearts who being past feeling have given over themselves unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Christ That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old-man which is corrupt or destroying according to the deceitful lusts and be ye renewed in the spirit of your minde and that ye put on the new man which is created after the Image of God in righteousness and holiness of truth Ephes 4.17,18,19,20,21,22 In the last place This may serve for the comfort and encouragement of those that desire to obtain the Promises and apply themselves with all diligence to fulfil the Conditions of the same For first it is certain That the Conditions are feasible otherwise the Promises were made void Secondly Christ hath promised two things unto us of the greatest consequence and encouragemenâ—… First That if we finde our selves weary with striving against sin and heavy laden therewith that he will ease us by helping us to shake it off and remove it Secondly That we shall finde his yoke easie and his burden light onely he requireth of us That we should learn of him that he is lowly and meek and then we