the mire his Riches will stand him in no stead in the day of Wrath Prov. 11.4 when God shall pass the dreadful Sentence of Death upon him Oh! how should this be as an Alarm before the judgment Day unto us all it may serve for the beating up of the Quarters of the Carnal Men of this World Oh! that it may be a means for to drive us out of our Carnal Security to make sure of a right grounded Evidence for heaven for no Evidence will pass in the day of the Lord but that which is sent by the hand of Christ and sealed by the Spirit What Christ said unto Jerusalem Luke 19.42 I shall say unto the Carnal Men of this World Oh! that you would consider in this your Day the things that tend unto your Peace before they be hid from your Eyes Oh! when will it once be that thou mayest shake hands wiâ—h all thy Carnal Wealth and bid adew unto it all yea with a cheâ—â—ful Heart say unto it farewel and say I have found out a better Friend that will stand me in more stead Oh! a Pearl of great worth that will make me rich for ever and oh that thou wert once forced for to say I would not be without Christ for a thousand Worlds Oh! that this might be the Language of a Carnal Man when he finds his Heart Running out to Carnallity giving of himself an heavenly check What is thy meaning Soul what undo thy Soul for a triffle what for a little Honour and Worldly Estimation when thou hast done all wearied out thy Body and hazzared thy Soul to all Eternity and when thou hast got all thou canst get of the World why thou hast got that which will melt away like Snow yea let me tell thee also upon the best of worldly Injoyments God hath writ Woe thereon Oh! What good will our outward Honour do us Jam. 5.1 when we must look the Judge in the Face and be accountable unto him how we came by it with our Consciences flying in our Faces as a swift witness against us in the Day of Christ I leave it unto the Right Honourable that are so titled in this World to consider This may inform all Carnal men that take pleasure in all Worldly Delights and Pleasure that God hath writ wo upon that also Oh Soul What a miserable man wilt thou be when thou shalt swim in thy Pleasures to Hell It is not thy Wealth Honour nor thy good Friends that thou hast boasted in in the Day of the Lord will stand thee in any stead Oh! if thou dost not make Christ thy Friend here thou art undone man for ever when God shall accuse thee thy Conscience Condemn thee and thou lying under the sentence of a Severe Judge Oh! of what use will any thing that the World can afford be unto thee Oh! let a word of Counsel be acceptable unto thee then and make hast after dear Jesus and cleave and cling about him for a better Heart and better Pleasures or else Soul thou must go into the Pit where there will be no ransom found for thee Psal 9.17 whilst thou remains in the Carnal Mind thou art going thither a pace in a full career to Hell Oh man thou art near the end of that uncomfortable journey and not sensible whither thou art a going The Lord awaken such with the powerful Raps of his Spirit and give them the Portion of an awakened Conscience with the gift of a better Heart and then it is that thou shalt attain unto a better Mind Alas man upon all thy ill-gotten goods and unlawful gain that thou hast got with a defiled Conscience God writes Death yea upon the Posts of thy Doors Isa 33.15 Gen. 3.8 Rev. 6.16 Numb 32.23 And where art thou then man What will become of all thy Gain of Oppression then when God shall enter into judgement with thee when thou shalt go about to hide thy self with thy Father Adam God will find thee out There is no Mountain will hide thee from the presence of the Lord then nor when thou betakes thy self unto the Rocks shalt thou find them a sufficient shelter to thee for go where thou wilt thy sin will find thee out Poor man thou hast got a very bad bargain of it for thy rising up early and going to bed late and eating the bread of carefulness when at last thou must by Gods everlasting decree turn down to Hell for ever Truly that man is but a miserable poor man that is outwardly rich but inwardly poor that hath for many years took care to feed his Body and live deliciously and in the mean time hath starved his Soul Oh! that the Lord would awaken such persons that they might not sleep the sleep of death but consider the Day that will overtake them as a Thief in the night Rev. 16 15. before it be too late Oh! that such would go to Christ and intreat his favour to reconcile them unto the Father and as a token of his love be very earnest with him for to bestow upon them the earnest of the Spirit as a Pledge and Token of his Favour which will prove an excellent help unto them to conquer and overcome the Carnal Mind a Rock upon which thousands have split themselves in the world a Sand that hath sunk many into perdition Oh! it doth much concern all persons that live in the Carnal Mind to make no stay but run with all speed with the blind man of the Gospel to Christ as he brought his blind eyes to Christ so do thou bring thy blind Mind and intreat the Lord Jesus to enlighten thee and help thee to a true sight of himself Jer. 29.13 to the end thou mayest have thy mind stayed upon him without doubt if thou seekest aright thou mayest obtain thy desire yea wo and misery to the Carnal Man for let him injoy what he will it is sent him with a curse as you have already heard Oh! this should teach us for to be careful how we come nigh the dwellings of such who are Carnal and to have no more to do with them then necessity requires Learn to love their Persons but to hate their sins pitty them pray for them and do them any good to help them forward to Christ if thou canst but let thy Soul abhor their wayes come not near their secrets and learn to Honour that God that sent his Son to die for thy good Oh! Learn to be out of love with thy Carnal Mind thy Carnal Heart thy Carnal Wealth thy Carnal Honour thy Carnal Pleasure thy Carnal Gain in a word all thy Carnal Injoyments yea every thing that hath the Stamp of Carnality upon iâ— Rom. 6.23 Oh! let us seriously take the words of Paul into consideration and I shall conclude The wages of sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. A DECLARATION Of the EXCELLENCY
The AFFLICTED and RETIRED Mans Meditations Concerning the EXCELLENCY of the SPIRIT With a Discovery of the Twofold-Mind the Danger of the one the Comfort and safety of the other First Here is observed what it is for to be Carnally minded Secondly Means to suppress a Carnal frame of Spirit Thirdly The dreadful state of a Carnal minded Man Fourthly How the Spirit is a Christians Help Fifthly Means to obtain the Spirit Sixthly The Characters of a Spiritualized Christian Seventhly The glorious Priviledges of a Spiritual minded Man And a few Meditations by way of Observation With a Dialogue between Christ and a Sinner Christ and a Christian Christ and the Afflicted Person As also a Word to the Remnant of the Womans Seed With a Loud Call to all Saints to Love one another upon the account of Son-ship and not onely upon the account of Fellowship Written by SAMUEL BRADLEY who hath Love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity who prayes for Zions Unity Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye Love one another Printed for the Author in the year 1663. TO THE Impartial Reader READER FOr the satisfaction of many or any who desire to follow the Lord Jesus in sincerity I am here engaged to write a small Epistle to the furtherance propagating and owning of this following Treatise wherein is contained and couched many glorious Truths which did concern all persons to look after in former Ages of the World but now more especially we that live in this last Age wherein Errors do abound and great Mistakes do arise in many whom I desire the Lord would be pleased to help to understand between Truth and Error by his own Spirit Mat. 22.29 which is the best Teacher in the world though at this day it is much slighted and little looked after by the sons of men Christian Reader my desire is that thou wouldest be pleased carefully to read and seriously consider this following Treatise with a single heart and eye 1 Chron. 12.33 Acts 2.46 and impartial affections then doubtless in the conclusion thou wilt not think thy time ill spent I do further desire that thou mayest daily search the Scripture and bring the things contained in the ensuing Treatise to the Touchstone of God's Word to the end thou mayest with the noble Bereans of old Acts 17 11. be enabled to discern between Truth and Error between Life and Death to know wherein thy Life lieth yea wherein it doth consist 1 Thes 5.21 and labour to be obedient unto that command Try all things and hold fast that which is good And also remember my dear Friend that the Bereans were counted more noble than them of Thessalonica they hearing the words of Paul which were cried up for strange Doctrine yea Heresie at that day they searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things Paul asserted and preached were truth or not Even so although many things herein contained may be counted rediculous or erroneous Yet courteous Reader let me desire thee to prove thy self a Berean in this matter Search the Scripture and see whether it be so or not Further my desire is that the Message may not be slighted by reason of the meanness of the Messenger but rather look upon him that sends this Message into the World observe when the great Men of the world have a Token to send unto a Friend they do not alwayes make use of rich great or noble Men to conveigh it but many times employ the meanest Servant of the family in that service to give out the token though it be never so rich a gift or pretious a jewel Rev. 17 14. 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 19 16. Heb. 12 25. So many times it is with the great God of Heaven and Earth who is the King of kings and Lord of lords he hath in this little Cabinet a token of his choice love for to present to you his friends nay further it is presented to you that are yet Enemies if you will but imbrace it the imbracing of it tends to Life the rejecting of it tends unto Death though sent by a mean servant and think it not strange if it be refused slighted or counted erroneous And you my Friend the Messenger be not discouraged in your labour for consider the best Doctrine the truest Doctrine the gloriest Tidings and rarest Sermon that ever was preached by the mouth of our dear Lord Jesus himself was by the Scribes and Pharisees rejected and also questioned where he had his Doctrine and said He had a Devil and was Mad. The blessed Apostle Paul was also counted and called a Pestilent fellow a teacher of strange Doctrines a Ringleader of Sectaries a Turner of the World upside down Acts 17 6. vers 18 Acts 24 14. and what not yet after that way which they called Heresy did this blessed Apostle worship the God of his Fathers believing all that was written Reader if in this little Treatise you meet with any thing doth not agree with the Word of God and the doctrine according to godliness after diligent search and due enquiry into the Scripture the pretious word of God renounce it as not worthy the owning or imbracing I shall speak by way of allusion to the noble Apostle in another case I do judge the Author hath the Spirit of God by which this ensuing Discource was penned I speak the truth of God I lie not Though true it is the dearest of Gods children are subject to miscarry yea many failings and temptations doth attend them and the Lord did formerly suffer the Author hereof in measure to fall yet through mercy not totally nor finally but he is recovered out of the horrible pit and out of the miry clay and the Lord hath set him upon a rock Psal 40 2 3. and established his goings and put a new song into his mouth in making of him since instrumental in turning many souls to righteousness notwithstanding those foul Jer. 20.10 false and scandalous reports are gone forth concerning him yea many hard speeches thoughts have arisen not only from the world but from many who I hope Job 19.2 vers 3. vers 4. are the pretious Sons of Sion This one thing as one who doth tender the Cause of Christ and much honour the pretious Sons and Daughters of Sion do I beg of you Let no hard thoughts or evil reports any more take place in your affections without good enquiry of the same This I urge the more for that tender love I bear unto Christ and his Truths Cause Kingdom and People and I dare not speak or write more then I do know or can affirm concerning the Author Mark since
at this Day First The Voice of God at this day bespeaks you Oh ye Saints to Act Faith 2 Chron. 20.20 And hear O ye Saints pray as the Disciples Luke 17.5 Lord increase our Faith for if we believe all things shall be possible Mark 9.23 Hard things shall be made easie Heb. 11. from the 33. to the 38. Yea the crooked wayes shall be made streight rough wayes smooth and whilest we are going in this Wilderness to comfort us Faith will give us a view of the Good Land Heb. 11.1 Yea it will lead us up to the top of Mount Nebo yea let me say as David Psal 145.11 12. Consider Faith is that which Honours God that God hath engaged himself to honour them who honour him 1 Sam. 2.30 Faith will tell us He will never leave us nor forsake us Faith will prevent despair in our Souls Psalm 27.13 We should faint if we did not believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Faith will teach us that all things shall work for good Rom. 8.28 Faith will help us to know that our Redeemer lives John 19.25 and to say with Thomas My Lord and my God John 20.28 What should I say more it is pretious 2 Pet. 1. yea it is very necessary Heb. 11.6 Secondly The Voice of God speaks us to be patient and therefore O ye Saints beg patience let it have its perfect work in your Souls James 1.4 Patience will gain thee a look from God when frowardnesse will make him stand a-loofe off it is that will make a long way short James 5.7 8. The Spirit of patience is opposite to a murmuring frame of Spirit Mark Israel got nothing by a murmuring Spirit Psal 106.23 29. Patience will prevent from tempting God and limitting of God it will help thee to submit to the Lord and it will teach thee to know that the Lord is just in afflicting Mich. 7.9 Remember the Counsel of your Lord Luke 21.19 In your patience possess ye your Souls Thirdly The Voice of God speaks us to love And O ye Saints How ought you to love one another Oh! that this Grace of love might abound in your Souls John saith Love is of God 1 John 4.8 Yea he that loves not his Brother hath not the love of God in him Consider O ye Saints it become the Servant to be obedient to his Master hark Christians it is the command of your Lord to love one another John 15.12 Would you be accounted the Friends of Christ then love one another Saints there lies the greatest engagement in the World upon you to love 1. The Father hath loved you he chose you out of love Ephes 1.5 Hos 14.4 John 3.16 2. The Son hath loved you Oh! height of love Christ's love to us was self-abasing love Phil. 2.7 compared with Prov. 8. from 22. to 31. it was wrath-appeasing love Ephes 2.14 it was a Justice-satisfying Love Mat. 27.46 It was bleeding Love Luke 22.44 Heb. 9.12 It was dying Love Rom. 5.6 8. 3. The Spirit Loves you 1 Cor. 3.16 What shall I say more they all wrought equally in the Work of our Redemption and Salvation and this was Love again Oh ye Saints consider The World hates you John 15.18 19 20. Oh! therefore love one another it is enough Saints the Lord whips you but that is love too Heb. 12.6 But consider the Enemy hates therefore do you love let not Saints he smiting one another that is the work of the unprofitable Servant Oh! let not Saints come under this reproof to afflict the afflicted Zach. 1.15 Sion is now in the Furnace and Saints it is the great design of God to burn up this dross the want of love Zeph. 3.8 9. What shall I say more O love the Lord all ye his Saints and ye who love the Lord love one another Fourthly The Voice of God at this day speaks Saints to be Humble Dost thou hope to be exalted Saint then be Humble Psal 113.7 8. Numb 12.3 Wouldst thou have the Commendation of God then lie low humility will help thee to say less then the least of all Saints Ephes 3.8 Would you O ye Saints be taught of God be Humble Would you have God to dwell with you be Humble he takes care to revive the Humble I shall have done onely beging that God would imprint that word upon all our Souls Phil. 2.3 4. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem others better then themselves A Word to the Faithful Unbyassed Reader as to the ensuing Treatise Friend Thou wilt find those things contained in this Treatise very soundly and sollidly handled thou wilt find but little of the inticing words of mans Wisdom but doubtless thou mayest find much of the Teachings of God in plainness of Speech As to the Author of it I have this to say That he hath been in the Furnace wherein I hope he hath lost much dross and so is become a Vessel more fit for his Masters use Reader What thou readest weigh in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and thou wilt find God speaks much by it If thou gettest nothing blame thine own heart for the Heart of man is deceitful If thou art a gainer give God the Glory and let the Author have thy Prayers The Treatise discovers the Carnal Mind what it is and to what it leads If thy Heart be Carnal tremble and be timely warned if by it thou findest thy self in a Spiritual Frame beg of the Lord to keep thee so To conclude be like the Noble Bereans which were more Noble than they of Thessalonica why because they searcht the Scriptures to see if those things which were spoken by Paul were so Now the God of Grace fill you with streams from that full Fountain the Lord Jesus Christ So prayes he who is the least of all Saints begging as he stands in need of a great part of your Prayers Benjamin Minzes The 16th day of the 11th Moneth 1662. The AFFLICTED and RETIRED Mans Meditations Concerning the EXCELLENCY of the SPIRIT c. A Discovery of the Carnal Mind ROMANS 8.5 To be Carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace I Shall omit what might be spoken unto the Verses going before my Text and immediately come unto the Words here mentioned to be spoken unto From whence two Things may be observed for the opening of the Words First The blessed Apostle makes mention of a twofold Mind and the Events thereof First he speaks of the Carnal Mind and tells us that tends to Death Secondly And when he comes to speak or make mention of the Mind truly Spiritual he tells us that tends unto Life yea such a kind of Life which is attended with Peace From the first Branch of the Text this general Position I shall lay down to be soberly and seriously weighed and considered Doct. 1. That such Persons who live in or feed upon the Carnal
Mind are under the Sentence of Death For the clearing of this Truth we shall endeavour to prove three Things First What it is to be Carnally Minded Secondly Lay down Helps to prevent our Carnal Mindedness Thirdly We shall also endeavour to lay down the Danger â—hat those Persons are in that are Carnally Minded The first Discription of the Carnal Mind First To be Carnally Minded is to have our Affections or our Heart setled on things that are below Such a Carnal Minded man was the rich man we read of in the Gospel Luk. 12 18 19 20. who said This will I do I will pull down my Barns and build greater and there will I bestow all my goods and will say unto my soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years Take thy ease eat drink and be merry But carnal minded persons may do well for to hearken a little to what God shall say in the midst of their Cups and carnal Jollatry Oh! shall not such a word as this from God strike thee into astonishment when he shall say unto thee in the midst of all thy carnal pleasure thou must be gone and leave all Luk. 12 20. Thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee What wilt thou do then when in the midst of thy merriment thou shalt hear of Imprisonment and in the midst of thy present joy thou must have thy joy turned into perpetual sorrow Mat. 8.12 where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth for evermore when God shall say unto thee for thy Carnallity Thou shalt perish to all Eternity This may teach us for to beware of a carnal frame of heart The second Discription of the Carnal Mind Secondly To be Carnally Minded is to have our Minds running out unto that which tends unto the Dishonour of God Of such the noble Apostle speaks of with great sorrow of heart Phil. 3.18 19. yea with bitter tears For many walk of whom I have told you often and now must tell you weeping that they are enemies unto the Cross of Christ whose end is Destruction whose God is their Belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things So that which may be gathered from hence is That a carnal frame of Heart is not only a God-dishonouring but a Soul-destroying frame and it doth not only tend unto the great dishonour of God Jer. 5.25 but it is that which is also prejudicial unto a Christians good The carnal Mind is a means for to enlarge our love to the creature and so thereby weakens our love to the Creator it is that which weakens our Affections to the things above and strengthens our Affections to the carnal things that are below Objection But if it be Objected That it may be proved that the best of Saints have been and still are guilty of the Carnal Mind Answer To this I Answer It is not that which is commended but rather condemned yea though it be found in a dear child of God Something to the purpose you may observe in David though without doubt he was a good man yet interrupted by a bad mind which did not onely prove destructive unto David's Communion but also dishonourable unto David's God namely Psal 51 9. ver 10. ver 11. Psa 51.7 8 9. in the matter of Uriah But note a word by the way When once the man comes to have a true sence of the evil he witnesses a heart truly broken with bitter sighs and tears for the same that so his mind is altered and the man is changed The third Discovery of the Carnal Mind Thirdly To the Carnal Minded is to have our eyes fixed upon Carnal Objects which doth wholly take off the Mind from God The Carnal Object is that which satisfieth the lust of the eyes or that by which the Carnal Mind is fed and kept alive and for to fulfil the lust of the flesh is for to fulfil the Carnal Mind which mind is of the world and while persons are in such a state let them profess what they will of Christ they are wholly ignorant of him and witness not his Power but do still live in the Carnal Mind in the lust of the flesh and are of the World Of this the Blessed Apostle treats very plainly saying All that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes 1 John 2.16 and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world Therefore in truth if we would not be counted those that are of the world though in the world we must then learn to get above the world and no longer live in the Carnal Mind but fix our eye upon Objects far beyond what the world can afford and the more we get into a Spiritual Frame of Heart the more we shall be out of love with the Carnal Mind and by experience shall feelingly say with the Apostle Rom. 7.28 That in my mind I serve the Law of God Oh then and not till then will Carnal Objects prove thy burden and not thy delight The fourth Discovery of a Carnal Mind Fourthly To be Carnally minded is for to have the Mind exercised upon sinful concernments so the Life thereby proves vain and Carnal That so if you take the Carnal man into examination you shall find that he has not so much as a thought for God What David speaks of the Wicked Psal 10 4 may in this case be applyed The Wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God and the best character he can give of him is this God is not in all his thoughts We may conclude upon it that man may be truly counted Carnal that hath not a thought for God in all his wayes Therefore miserably Carnal may we conclude that soul to be that doth at no time or season set his Mind on the things of God The Apostle doth further speak in this case Tit. 1.15 saying That unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing Pure but even the Mind and Conscience is defiled and being left in the Carnal Nature it comes to pass that they reject the Truth and become opposers of it to this day Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8 so do these also reject the Truth men of corrupt minds reprobate or may be read of no judgement concerning the Faith That you see it is clear and evident that the Carnal man doth place his thoughts upon Carnal concernments The fifth Discovery of a Carnal Mind Fifthly In a word to be Carnally minded is to walk in that Path which is attended with sin which leads to the Chambers of Death James 1 15. For when lust is conceived in the Mind it brings forth sin in the life and when sin is finished it brings forth Death That let the Carnal minded man go where he will he cannot take one step but in much danger and the farther he goes in
consider what is our duty by no means fret but with patience wait for God will soon put an end unto their Carnal Honour and Glory and though they seem to flourish like the grass the Lord will cut them down Psal 37 2. and they shall wither like the green hearb so that the Carnal Mans Honour is here to day but gone to morrow grudge them not their Portion for alas it is their all and that all which is soon blasted and gone It is true the Carnal Man is in Honour but he understanding not the Honour of God Psa 49.20 he is like the beast that perisheth so take the Carnal Honourable man at the best he is but like a beast and though he hath that which the world calleth Honour in the little time of his Life he must have that which is in the account of God called dishonour in the hour of his death namely his Portion will be perishing take then the man whose Honour is Carnal at the best it must perish and the man shall go away like a blast and the best account the Prophet can give of Worldly Honour is this Psa 62.9 Surely men of low degree are vanity and when he comes for to speak of men of high degree the best he can say of them or their Honour is They are a lie and when he had gone the best way for to find them out putting of them in the Ballance there he finds them altogether lighter than vanity that so make the best of that Honour that some men will have though they lose their Souls with the gain thereof it is but a vain thing for God himself writes death upon it and then I pray tell me what is the state of that man but misery The third Dreadful State of the Carnal Minded man Thirdly As God doth send a blast upon the Carnal Mans Honour God will likewise write Death upon the Carnal Mans Pleasure A pleasurable or delicate Life so called by some is a dangerous kind of living apprehended by others that which by some is counted outward pleasure by others is witnessed to produce inward danger for to speak best or the most we can of such as make pleasure their Life are but dead while they live for so saith the Apostle She that liveth in pleasure 1 Tim. 5.6 or may be read delicate is dead while she liveth worldly pleasure is that which tends unto sorrow ye have lived in pleasure on the earth â—nd been wanton Oh but man mind the end of such a kâ—nd of Life and then tell me what men get by their pleasure when they have nourished their hearts as in the day of slaughter Jam. 5.5 if such who swim in worldly pleasure while others are oppressed and their Conciences burdened would consider James 5 8. the coming of the Lord draws nigh sure it may induce them to some serious and sober consideration of what will become of them in this Day of the Lord when they shall be Arreigned at the Bar of his Judgment Seat and there be charged by the Judge himself as one that is a lover of pleasures more then a lover of God 2 Tim. 3.4 wilt not thou be forced to cry Guilty my Lord and so pass under the Dreadful Sentence of Eternal Death without remedy as being one that is Convicted Judged and Condemned whose portion will be misery to all Eternity Oh! should not the consideration of these things that will certainly come to pass sooner or later disingage our hearts from Worldly Pleasure to be seeking after the Heavenly Treasure I shall close this Particular with the seasonable words of the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah which is pertinent to this Case the Lord grant it may he cordially imbraced and entertained by us Isaiah 47.8 Therefore hear now this thou that art given to pleasure that dwelest carelesly that sayest in thy heart I am and none else besides me I shall not sit as a Widow neither shall I know the loss of Children Oh! that we may candedly consider the Answer of God in this Matter to such created Comforts that we heap up unto our selves But these two things shall come unto thee in a moment in one day the loss of Children and Widow-hood vers 9. they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries and for the great abundance of thy enchantments ver 10. For thou hast trusted in thy Wickedness thou hast said None eye seeth me Thy Wisdom and thy Knowledge it hath perverted thee and thou hast said in thy heart I am and none else besides me ver 11. Therefore evil shall come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it riseth And mischief shall fall upon thee thou shalt not be able for to put it off And desolation shall come upon thee which thou shalt not know All these things considered it must needs be concluded the câ—â—dition of such whose state is Carnal to be sad and Dreadful â—he fourth Dreadful State of the Carnal Minded man Fourthly As the Lord doth write the Sentence of Death upon the Carnal mans pleasure so he doth likewise write death upon all the Carnal Mans gain The Carnal Rich Man begins to settle his abode in what he hath and begins to lay down his Resolution what he is intended for to do his Riches flowes in upon him and the mans Intentions are for to build up but Gods Design is for to pull down the Carnal Man concludes to settle his Heart upon what he hath got or incroached unto himself Lu. 12.16 ver 17. ver 18. ver 19. ver 20. but God is resolved in the midst of all his Jollatry to summons in his Soul by the messenger of death and then the poor man must be gone and leave all his Wealth behind him and the man is like to be at a dreadful loss Soul Body and Carnal Gain all at one clap and God's approbation in this matter is He that layeth up Treasure for himself is not Rich towards God And he that will be rich who ever is poor ☜ and make no conscience how he gets his Riches shall be Poor when others are Rich that with a good Conscience have got their Riches That Person that gets outward gain with the loss of a good Conscience will find when he comes to cast up his accounts ☜ that he is a great looser by the bargain and his losse will not prove small but very great namely the losse of the best Commodity he hath namely his pretious Soul our dear Lord doth reason out the matter with us For what is a man profited Matt. 16.28 if he gain the whole World and lose his own Soul That man that gains the whole world with the loss of his Soul the man will prove an emenent loser in the end a broken Merchant who will never be able to trade more for if the Soul be lost the man 's quite undone
Psal 51 4. and our uneven walking before him and this spirit of God will present objects sufficient enough to us for the true humbling of us Fifthly As the Spirit of God is a Soul-Humbling so it is a sin-destroying Spirit Where the Spirit hath took up its abode in a Soul to rule every thing must be brought into subjection to it the Spirit of God must and will have the preheminence 1 Cor 1.30 God wiâ—l make all our corruptions bow and bend when once he hath given commission unto his Spirit to take dominion of the Soul for as Conscience is Gods Vicegerent on Earth Ps 119 59. v. 113. and speak it will for God So the Spirit will bear Rule and Sway for God and will never leave working in the Soul where it is until it hath brought the thought as well as the heart of man into subjection to our Lord Jesus The Spirit of God makes thorow work when it comes it is that which purifies the heart The Spirit begins at the root of the matter and if the root be good it is like the fruit will not be bad Acts 15.9 Rom. 6.12 Jam. 4.8 when the Spirit purifies the heart it proves death to our Sins and Life unto our Graces The Spirit of God will admit by no means sin to Rule in that Heart that God doth Reign in The old Man must be turned out and the new man must be received in the least sin must not have entertainment by the consent of the Spirit upon any terms for as much as sin is an enemy to Christ and a Christan Oh! Jer. 5.25 it is that which robs Christ of his Honour and a Christian of his Crown yea sin is that which keeps Christ and a Christian at a distance also and makes Christ and a Christian strange one to another Rom. 8.16 2 Cor. 3 17. As it is sin that breaks a Christians communion it is the Spirit that Reconsiles Christ to the Soul and makes up the breach again and produces peace unto the Soul where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty no Liberty is or can be allowed unto sin but Liberty in the Spirit for to serve Christ By this we see the Spirit of God is a Sin-destoying Spirit Sixthly As the Spirit of God is a Sin-destoying Spirit so it is a Grace-inlarging Spirit in the Soul too When the Soul lives in the injoyment of the Spirit oh then it is Graces bud forth and blossom in the Soul and bear lovely Fruit John 6.63 2 Cor. 3.6 Luk. 7.30 Rom. 5.3 Joh. 16.33 1 Cor. 3.21 Rev. 2.10 for the Spirit is that which gives life and being unto all Graces where the Spirit is wanting Graces are dying Oh! it is the Spirit of God that supplies the Soul with good things and inriches the Soul with the Glorious Treasures of Heaven with pretious Faith in the Day of straits with patience in the hour of Tryal and Temptation with Spiritual joy in the midst of worldly sorrow In a word the Spirit will furnish the Soul with the injoyments of all things in the midst of wants What shall I say of this excellent Spirit may not I say it is Gods Messenger and a Christians Friend Oh! when ever the Spirit comes into a Soul it comes with a Message from God sometimes it hath a Commission from God to comfort and encourage us and then its Language is Be faithful to Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life At another time it is like the Message of the Spirit is for to instruct and Counsel the Soul that is when it shall hint such a thing as this to us secretly to inform us to be careful that we do not grieve it least we displease it Mark Grieve not the Holy Spirit Ephes 5 30. by which we are sealed unto the Day of Redemption Oh! let the Message the Spirit comes with be royally entertained and bid it welcome sometimes the Spirit comes with a glorious promise of Grace and Love from God and then it comes with such like language as this to the Soul Jer. 33.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love and with my loving kindness have I drawn thee A Blessed Message and a Blessed Messenger See the work of the Spirit a Christians Help Secondly How the Spirit is a Christians Excellent Help The Spirit is an excellent Help unto a Christian at all times and in all places a true Christian knows not how to live without the Spirit he knows not how to love without it nor how to walk without it If we live in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 we shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh therefore we must conclude the Spirit is a Christians Help For the proof hereof observe these following observations First It is the work of the Spirit to help the Soul unto a true sight and sence of sin It was by the help of the Spirit the Noble Apostle of the Gentiles namely Paul came to a sight of sin Sin sayes he Rom. 7.13 14. that it might appear sin worketh death in me by that which is good meaning the Spirit of God is that thing that is good and thereby sin becomes exceeding sinful unto him it makes him cry out when he was sensible of his present state The Law is Spiritual but I am Carnal sold under sin Mark The Spirit of God doth declare the Rice and Race of sin James 1 15. for when lust is conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished it brings forth Death so we see it is the Spirits work to make a clear discovery of sin unto the Soul and when once the Soul comes by the help of the Spirit unto this pitch of attainment to see sin as it is in its own appearance the Soul will not onely confess sin but bewale himself for it as David did crying out in the bitterness of his Spirit when he had a true sence upon him of it Psa 51.4 Against thee and thee onely have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight In a feeling sence doth he speak it When he is awakened by the Spirit he points at the very sin the like presidence we have in the Prodigal son when the Spirit of God gave him a sight with the sence oâ— sin the man cries out now of going unto his Father and he is resolved to say Father I have sinned against Heaven Luk. 15 18. he falls upon sin immediately and before thee though we are prodigal yet the Spirit of God it will make such fall down upon the knee of confession of sin and help them to witness sorrow for the same Luk. 15 19. And though I am not worthy to be called thy Son let me be a Servant a Token of Humility By this you may see what Blessed Work the Spirit of God makes when it comes into a Soul that it doth not give a bare sight of sin but a
pitch of attainment he is inabled to see a vanity in the love of the World a vanity in Worldly Riches Worldly Pleasures in a word the man who is annointed with the Eye-salve of Christ's love Rev. 3.18 sees all things short of Christ to be but vanity that give him what you will you give him nothing to his content except you give him Christ Character 3. To be Spiritually Minded is for to have an inlarged Heart for God and Godliness The very bent and intent of such a soul runs after the Lord and whatever things are True Phil. 4.8 whatsoever things are Honest whatsoever things are Just whatsoever things are Pure whatsoever things are Lovely whatsoever things are of good Report you shall have the spiritual man thinking of them and walking in them and that is the Path in which he doth delight to walk in Luke 1.6 if he can promote the Honour and Glory of God in what he doth it will be his great joy if not his great trouble Let him be in any Company whatsoever he will be giving out something that will tend unto the promoting of a Godly Life and if it cannot be digested the man is gone and if you would demâ—nd a Reason for the mans absenting he will tell you He hath but a little time for to Trade in and he must Trade for God The man truly Spiritual will tell you That the time past is enough and too much Gal. 5.16 that he hath spent in the lusts of the flesh and the pride of Life and if the Commodities of Heaven cannot go off with you and be digested by you he will of a suddain bid you adieu he will acquaint you what those Commodities are and will not leave you in the dark in the matter but you shall have very fair dealing from his hands the Commodities of Heaven are these Love Joy Peace Gal. 5.22 Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance and the like What say you man Will you trade in these things time is pretious I must be gone Mat. 25 15. ver 16. ver 17. for I must be careful how I spend my golden opportunities he will tell us The Lord hath intrusted him with a Talent the which if he doth not improve God will deprive him of it therefore you must give in your result without delay What say you Soul Are you for Heaven if not farewel I must be gone here is no staying for me for all talking is a burthen to me that doth not tend to the promoting of God and Godliness Character 4. To be Spiritually Minded is for to have our Hearts much carried forth in the Meditation of the Law of God In this the Prophet David was an excellent and choice president when he speaks of the Law of God he tells us Psa 1.2 It was his Meditation Day and Night Oh! here is a man of Renown of a singular Spirit so much swallowed up with Heaven or the Heavenly Law that the Night as well as the Day Ps 119 97. must be taken up with the Meditations thereof When this good man had digested this Spiritual Art of Heavenly Meditations on the Holy Law of God Ps 119 72. Ps 119 127. he comes to give us a taste of the Excellency of it to the end that he might get the like affection in our Souls to God's Law as was in his own when he comes to give us an account of God's Law he tells us That it was more choice then Gold nay as if he had come short to set forth the worth of Gods Law he farther sayes of it It is more choice then fine gold Nay David doth acquaint us further of the time when he came to have such a choice tast and experience in God's Law Oh! in the hour of affliction it was for this account he gives us of his affliction Ps 119 67. Ps 119 71. saying It was good for me that I was afflicted or else I had gone a stray but now have I learned for to keep thy Law as if the onely time for to come unto a right understanding of Gods Law was in the hour of affliction This may teach us then not at any time to be afraid of affliction or Gods afflicting Hand for many times affliction doth prove an excellent help unto Christians for the inlarging of their Hearts for Heaven and that Soul who doth much Meditate upon the Law of God making it his daily delight is one that may be truly called a Spiritual Minded man who feeds on and dwells upon the things of the Spirit Fifthly Wherein is discovered the profit and Spiritual advantage that doth redound unto a Spiritual Minded man which is two-fold namely Life and Peace The first Priviledge of a Christian First To be Spiritually Minded is for to have a Knowledge of Christ and such as have a true Knowledge of Christ have life Eternal Joh. 17.3 This is Life Eternal that they may know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent The Knowledge of Christ being ours will prove profitable and comfortable in the Day of Christ Phil. 1.7 Luk. 1.47 Psal 23 1. Psal 28 7. Psal 84 11. Pro. 30.5 yea to know him for to be our Lord and the Son of God that dyed for us for we may know him and confess him to be the Son of God and yet go to Hell for all that for the Devils went so far but to have a true Knowledge of Christ is for to know him as Paul and the rest of the Worthies of Christ knew him that is to know him our Lord our Saviour our Shepherd our Rock our Shield our Buckler our strong Tower Oh! this knowledge doth Administer Comfort and Divine Consolation unto the Soul it makes Trouble sweet Prisons sweet nay Death it self sweet unto the Soul Oh! when it considers I am now going unto Christ my Saviour to reign with him for ever where I shall never grieve the Spirit more where I shall never offend my God more where I shall never have my Communion with Christ eclipsed more where I shall never witness the loss of Grace more where I shall never tast of Death more Psal 16 11. where I shall never witness Christs absence more Oh! this is a blessed knowledge that conducts the Soul into Life Eternal The second Priviledge of a Christian Secondly To be Spiritually Minded is to be free from sin and such are the Servants of God who brings forth the fruit of Holiness whose end tends to Life Such may be termed Christ's Free-men John 8.36 Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.22 who trade in the rich Commodities of the things above such are in a great measure freed from sin finding of it such a drug that they will have no dealings with it upon any terms it being a Commodity that redounds unto them no profit but will lie upon their hands to their great prejudice and disadvantage it lying dead upon
they shall have this Honour to be a Son a Son unto a noble Prince namely Christ the Prince of Peace a Son like the Father a Peace-maker who maketh it their great Work for to reconcile Differences and not make Breaches amongst Christians Oh! such will labour in all their Proceedings after things that tend to Peace Ro. 14.19 and things whereby one may edifie another some there be that are very forward to break the Peace but very backward to make Peace amongst Christians though they profess themselves to be acquainted with God yet upon such God writes the name of Peace-breakers and thereby none of his Children Ephes 4 2 3. for God's People are glad when they can maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and if there be any Divisions at any time in Gods House or amongst his it will be a burden unto them it will make them cry out as Abraham did to Lot Gen. 13 8. Are we not Brethren why then should we fall out though Abraham was Richer than Lot yet he first seeks to make up the Breach an excellent Pattern of humility Oh worthy of your Observation Christians in this day wherein there is so much want of Peace-makers The sixth Priviledge of a Christian Sixthly Such as are Spiritually Minded are called of God and such whom God doth call are called to Peace That Peace that comes in by the Help of Christ proves both sure and sound that Peace I mean that is of Christs own begiting Jer. 6.14 Isa 48.22 and not that which is of our own creating Some cry Peace peace when indeed they do but deceive themselves when they have no Peace For how can there be Peace in that Soul in whom Christ doth not dwell but where sin hath took up its aboad Though the Conscience of those persons for the present may lie still as if it were a sleep that at last it will speak with a witness and there will none be found able for to quiet it but the Lord Jesus the Prince of Peace who hath the command of Conscience who with the word of his mouth can command it for to be still and such as are truly Spiritual they can say 1 Cor. 7 15. That God hath called them unto Peace as a Christian is called unto Holiness so Holiness ends in true Peace yea the Peace of Conscience that passeth all understanding Oh! if Conscience that Bird which lies in the Breast doth sing the pleasant Note of Peace within it matters not who proclaims open War without for the Harmonious Ditty and Lovely pleasant Songs of the Peace of Conscience 1 Pet. 3 16. is that which will bear up a Christian in his hard Tryals through the Wilderness of this troublesome World till he enters into the Possession of the Land of Canaan Oh! the thoughts of that good Land to which he is Travelling in the Spiritual Mind doth Administer Peace and Comfort to him in abundance and is an excellent help to bear him up under all kind of difficulties whatsoever for the man is maintained and preserved by Christ the Prince of Peace The seventh Priviledge of a Christian Seventhly Such as have their Minds Spiritual their Minds are stayed on God and such he will keep in perfect Peace The government of the mind is a rare and excellent thing to have the Mind setled and stayed upon God an Object of incomparable worth Ephes 4 17. the mind is that which tends much to the Honour or dishonour of God and it is much our concernment as we are Christians to set a strong guard over the Mind and be much calling of our Minds to an account that we may rightly understand upon what Objects they run out upon if upon God all is well but if not our case is dangerous and if not speedily prevented by sudden Reformation it is like to go hard with us though we are seeming Christians Rom. 7.23 for iâ— Satan can but captivate the Mind it will not be long ere he will captivate the Heart also and we at last become his Prisoners but such whose mind is stayed upon God upon such Satan cannot prevail for their Minds being already bestowed it is not in the power of their own hand for to give it unto another and to such the Promises is made and doth belong whose minds are so well bestoâ—ed as upon God Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep them in perfect Peace whose Minds are stayed on thee Mark God hath made such a Soul one of his Royal Family for he hath bound himself by promise for to take care of them and those are very well kept indeed who have such a special Friend as God to be their Keeper and we may take it for granted their Peace is safe and sound for it is the Peace of God for Gods Peace is perfect The eighth Priviledge of a Christian Eighthly Such as are Spiritually Minded are justified by Faith and such have Peace with God True Faith in Jesus Christ doth quiet the Soul and it is an excellent means for to remove all its doubts and slavish fears that made the Apostle for to triumph in that eminent challenge that he makes Rom. 8.33 34. Who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect for it is God that justifies Who is it that Condemns it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who sits at the right hand of God ver 38. making intercession for us And such is his Faith in this Christ that he is perswaded That neither Death nor Life nor Angels ver 39. nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Here is a man whose Peace is made with God though all this Host doth incamp about him namely Grim Death 1 Cor. 15.55 Dreadful Hell the Grave the Law or Conscience yet for all this he will not fear as long as he knows God speaks Peace and hath justified him in his dear Son those whom Christ hath justified ver 56. the Law cannot condemn those who Christ died for shall not partake of the second Death those who Christ hath set at liberty Satan cannot bring into Bondage those whom Christ hath comforted tribulation shall not discourage those whom Christ hath refreshed with his presence distresses shall not come nigh Rom. 8.35 those whom Christ undertakes to preserve Persecution shall not hurt those whom Christ feeds famine shall not destroy those whom Christ hath cloathed with the lovely Robes of his own Righteousness shall not be naked those whom the Father Son and Holy Spirit guards shall not meet with peril or sword in a word those that God makes conquerors shall not be overcome but shall have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ The ninth Priviledge of a Christian Ninthly Such as are
which they shall injoy by Christ is Life Eternal Oh! it is an endless Life and though they die before they live they die in order unto a better life such a life as none can deprive them of Secondly Is Christ a Christians Prince and is this Prince a Prince of Peace This may add unto a Christians comfort also They serve a most Noble Prince 1 Tim. 6 15. Rev. 17 14. one that will not onely make their Life comfortable but Honourable also who will not onely invest them with Peace but also will furnish them with Grace and such as attend on Christ the Prince of Peace shall wear the Livery of the Spotless Robes of the Righteousness of our dear Lord Jesus and their Wages will be Phil. 3.10 Eternal Life and Glory and they shall have choice varieties to feed upon yea fare delicately every day the best Provision in their Fathers House the Prince of Peace they shall be welcome unto and their drink shall be on the Fountain of Living Waters the Living Streams that makes glad the City of God we shall find our dear Lord our Protection as well as our Consolation Oh! such shall drink their fill at the Fountain and be very high in his estimation for he will not suffer any to do them harm such shall find this Prince and his Court attended with Holiness 2 Chron. 16. ver 20 21 22. Holiness is in his Borders yea round about his Dominions Oh! this is our King who is called Salem the Prince of Peace The consideration of all these things may afford us Divine comfort and choice consolation in abundance Thirdly Hath God called thee and blessed thee with Peace who is a God of Peace Rom. 15 33. 1 Cor. 7.15 come let us then follow our calling and Spiritual Vocation and much rejoyce that we are called to Peace Oh! let us endeavour for to promote Peace in all we set our hand unto to do and do nothing that may not tend to Peace Oh! then shall we have much cause for to rejoyce when our Peace with God is maintained Job 22.21 when our dear Lord and we are one when we find it our joy for to be with God then it will be evident God is with us Oh! it is matter of great joy Psal 29 11. for to come under the Fathers Blessing who doth use to bless his children with Peace therefore let us much rejoyce in our Portion namely our Fathers Blessing and that we are acquainted with the God of Peace and know him to be our Peace-maker who was graciously pleased for to make himself one with us Ro. 5.8 who was enemy to him Oh! this is matter of great consolation indeed Fourthly Hath God made with us a Covenant of Peace and therein hath ingaged himself for to lead us in the Path of Peace Oh! bless the Lord who hath in his Râ—â—â— Love provided food for thy Faith for here is much communicated to us by God for to strengthen our Faith in God for God is ingaged in the Covenant of Grace to be our God Jer. 31.33 Ps 144 15. and hath entred into a League of Peace with us Oh! Happy is that People whose God is the Lord yea happy is that People that is in such a case Soul thou hast no cause to mourn let what times will come though never so bad or never so sad Man God is thine and he is much concerned to own thee to protect thee to feed thee Ps 121 15. Joh. 21 15. Rev. 3.18 Psal 34 15. Isa 59.1 Psal 23 2. to cloath thee and for to have an Eye and Heart of love to thee at all Times and Seasons Oh! here is matter of joy and comfort to such indeed he will lead thee into no condition but his Eye of Love shall be upon thee our dear Lord will walk with thee and he will not venture thee alone in the World he will not onely cast an eye of love upon thee but will also stretch forth his hand of love to thee for thy relief yea he it is that will guide thee with his Eye and with his Hand and will bring thee into the green Pastures and lead thee besides the still Waters where thy Soul shall meet with the feedings and fillings of Divine consolation where no beast of prey shall ever have their will upon thee any more but our dear Lord in rich Love will be a wall of defence unto thee Psal 59 9 10 16. and none shall come at thee to do thee harm and then he will make the Paths of Peace very pleasant Paths unto thee wherein thy Soul shall walk with much delight for there it is that Christ thee must walk live together yea there it is where thee and thy Love must imbrace each other Oh! it is in the Pleasant Path of Peace Prov. 3.17 that thee and thy Love shall converse together upon the high and choice and mighty things of his Royal Law Oh! this Path of Peace will prove a Path of Grace All these things cast up and put together it will easily be made appear there is ground sufficient for a true Christian for to be rejoycing in as much as Christ is his Portion his Crown his All and in all Lam. 3.24 for Christ and a true Christian never meets but he meets with a Blessing although a Christians communion with Christ is oftentimes attended with a cloud Exo. 40 36 37. yet our dear Lord will vouchsafe for to speak choicely unto him yea though it be through a cloud as he was pleased for to speak unto his Servant Moses in the Mount and for as much as God is a God in Covenant with us Heb. 13 5. Psal 73.24 he will never leave us nor forsake us but will be a choice good to us in all our straits and difficulties and will guide us by his Counsel and afterwards receive us into his Glory MEDITATIONS By Way of OBSERVATION Observation I. Mat. 15.36 Mat. 26.39 COme immitate the Lord of Life this Day In Holy fear let 's walk and talk alway Mat. 3.13 vers 17. Oh! follow Christ's Example choice and rare In God's appointment walk and do not fear Hosea 2.14 vers 15. Though in the Wilderness our Lord doth go Let us attend him there and we shall know The Canaan Fruit his Manna and choice dew Rev. 2.27 Injoy we shall and feed thereon a new God's poor let 's love and to them now be kind James 2.5 For such he 'l own his presence they shall find Unto the Cross come bend and bow also Mat. 10.38 Then have the Crown at last we shall I know Psal 110.3 Isaiah 1.19 And willingly let us obey his Voice Come serve our Lord our King our onely choice Rom. 12.8 2 Cor. 9.7 And chearfully in his choice works let 's go His streams of Love to us shall overflow Luk. 19.48 Rev.
on Earth he will bestow A Token of his Love his chosen shall it know 1 John 16. Yea as an earnest of Glory to come True saving Grace shall flow from Christ the Son Heb. 4.16 1 Cor. 15.55 Grace he 'l afford to help us in our Life And comfort us therewith in time of Death Rev. 21.4 The promise of his Grace will us revive And in the hour of death make us alive Joh. 14.18 2 King 2.9 His Spirit choice will us uphold in trouble If faithful we shall be on us he will it double While we do live a comfort it shall be Rom. 8.37 And take away the sting of Death you 'l see Mat. 25.34 The faithful shall the Presence of Christ find And after death to such he will be kind 1 Pet. 5.4 If faithful we do keep unto the Death Christ will bestow on us a Crown of Life Observation IV. Gen. 3.6 Gal. 5.1 Though Transgressors the Law doth say we be Dear Jesus will from Bondage set us free Gal. 3.13 2 Cor. 5.19 Yea from the curse redeem'd we are by him And from the Father's Wrath that 's due for sin Though Enemies we were unto the Lord of Life Ephes 2.1 Hos 2.19 By Faith united are and his espoused Wife Though to the Bond-Woman we did relate Gal. 4.22 By the Free-woman the promise we partake Now from the Pow'r of sin our Christ has set us free Rom. 6.14 Job 1.7 That by the power of Satan we cannot harmed be The World shall not then such insnare 2 Cor. 4.3 1 Cor. 7.29 That are Christ's Free-men do not fear The promises most sweet insured are to them 2 Pet. 1.4 Ephes 4â— That are made free by Christ the Son of man For Heaven such shall trade without control Pr. 3.13 And traffect in the rarest things more choice then Gold All rareties in Earth are not for to compare Prov. 8.28 Pro. 1â— 16 Unto the Merchandize of Heaven that is rare Those that are free to trade for Pearls indeed Are sealed ones of Christ and of the Royal Seed Prov. 4.5 Whose Freedom is confirm'd and that by him Ephes 1.14 Mat. 25.34 Who is indeed our Lord and eke our King Such as do trade for Christ now day by day Their needs to him they 'l tell yea every way Heb. 4.16 We may be free to tell our minds to him A promise of relief to us he 'l bring John 6.37 Your persons he 'l present without a spot To his Father our sins out he will blot Ephes 5.27 That full Communion sweet we may injoy Joh. 12.26 1 John 1.3 With Father Son and none shall us anoy The promise of the Spirit it shall flow in Acts 2.17 2 Cor. 3.6 Then our choice sweet communion will begin From Bondage yoaks our Lord will us Redeem Gal. 5.18 â—al 2.16 Unto the Law of Works let us not lean For the end of the Law Christ is to those That in him do believe and with him close Roâ— 10.4 From the Bondage of sin he 'l set such free 〈◊〉 6. â—4 Isa 43.25 And will produce to them their Liberty 1 Cor. 15.54 Rev. 21.4 Our Jesus dear from death will us deliver From that Bondage he will us free for ever Isa 26.19 Hos 13.14 Yea from the Grave he will also discharge His tender Lambs and set then then at large Job 6.4 The terror of the Lord it shall not come Near to afright all such that Christ doth own Cant. 1.13 But in Christ's bosom such indeed shall lie Their God their Guide Oh! they shall Magnifie Heb. 12.22 Gal. 4.26 In his Sweet Glorious Blessed Scituation The New Jerusalem the New Creation Ephes 2.19 1 Thes 4.17 Christ's Citizens Oh! then shall sing for ever The high praises of God and part shall never A DIALOGUE BETWEEN Christ and a Sinner Christ OH welcome Sinner thou may'st be to me and of my Fountain drink John 6.37 Rev. 22.17 Isa 55.1 2. Come take thy fill it nothing shall cost thee what ever thou dost think Sinner But Lord I am a Sinner great indeed not worthy for to come For I am one that made thee Bleed who art the holy One Christ What though thy Sins are of a Scarlet dye Isa 1.18 Luk. 22.44 Rev. 1.5 Heb. 9.12 or like the Crimson too My Blood upon the Cross it â—â—â—keth high a Pardon that will do Sinner It 's true dear Lord if La Pardon have I chearfully shall come A Pardon sealed therefore I do crave of thee the mighty One Chr. Come wait on me and on me now depend Isa 43.25 Isa 57.16 Mar. 11.24 your Sins I will blot out And from the Fathers Wrath I 'l thee defend If that thou dost not doubt Sin But Doubts and Fears dear Lord do me surprise I little Peace can have Corruptions greatly doth in me arise Thy help dear Lord I crave Chr. Eph. 2.8 Psa 86.11 Act. 15.8 9 Rom. 6.14 True Faith on thee poor Sinner I 'l bestow it shall dispel thy fear Faith as my gift shall come I 'l have thee know thy Sins shall not appear Sin How shall I know whether my Faith be true and of a Divine stamp That deceived I may not be anew for often I am damp Chr. Faith is the substance of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 Isa 26.3 1 Pet. 1.9 it makes forth things not seen Faith stills the Soul it makes no stir it feeds upon Gods Being Rom. 5.9 Psa 9.18 Psa 27.4 Psa 34.6 If Faith be true on Christ thou wilt depend for all things thou dost need And on this Christ alone thou wilt attend till he supply thy need Jam. 2.17 vers 21. Cant. 2.14 Psa 84.10 True Faith attended is with Works most choice according to God's Will It leads the Soul to hearken to Christ's Voice and in his Presence dwell Sin Christ doth indeed me now invite But Lord how must I come To come in truth the way aright to thee the pretious Son Chr. John 14.6 John 10.7 Luk. 12.32 Heb. 11.6 The way to come for to obtain the Fathers Love indeed And also the Kingdom to gain for Faith it must you lead Sin But in the Way we meet with that which doth us much dismay The thoughts of Sin doth lay us flat our Sins yea day dy day Chr. Isa 53.5 Luk. 22.43 It was my Father's Pleasure to bruise me for Sinners fault He caus'd my Blood forth for to Run 1 Pet. 2.22 though I did never halt Isa 53.11 Heb. 8.12 Upon my back he laid thy Sins and there condemn'd they be The Debt I paid and that to him Heb. 9.26 Mat. 27.27 which Jew and Gentile see Sin How shall I know Christ di'd for me and blotted out my Sins That his choyce Love I might now see when his Kingdom begins Chr. If