Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	able_a	comfort_v	zion_n	46	3	9.7238	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91475	Good tydings for sinners, great ioy for saints; or, A word to the world, and two to those that are chosen out of the world. Wherein is held forth, first, the sweet tenders of grace from the father through the son to all dejected sinners; he invites them, he woes them, he intreats them, nay, he beseecheth them to accept of mercy. In the second part of this book, called, Two words to those chosen out of the world, is spoken to the saints under their severall forms, taking notice first of the things commendable in them: and in the second place reproving them for things amisse among them. With a short prophesie of the downfall of presbyterie, independencie, anabaptismie, vaine notions, free-will. With a brief description of a true church-state, against which the gates of Hell shall not prevaile; it being founded upon a rock, it will stand against all waves and storms, that either men or devils can raise against it. I will give you all one heart, and one way. Then the Lord shall be one, and his name one. / Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.; Parnell, Robert, attributed name.	1649 (1649)	Wing P542; Wing P4234; Thomason E557_12; ESTC R27528	60,728	77

and seest it too hard a thing for thee yet consider that nothing is too hard for God who hath undertaken to work it Ob. It I could see a promise wherein God had promised to work it that were something Quest What art thou A Jew or a Gentile Scythian or Barbarian Ans I am a Gentile a sinner Chr. Thou these are promises for thee see Matt. 12.21 Rom. 15.12 In him shall the Gentiles trust in him shall the Gentiles trust Sin But all Gentiles doe not neither shall they believe therefore if I could see my name written in Scripture and a promise made to me in reference to that name then there were hope indeed Chr. Thou art just like Thomas Joh. 20.25 Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nailes and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe Well saith Christ thou shalt see the print of the nailes reach hither thine hand c. Wilt thou see thy name inscripture indeed Sin Yea with all my heart But I fear it is not there Chr. Why dost thou doubt all things are possible to him that believes wilt thou see thy name Then what is thy state How is it with thee Sin My state is miserable I am full of blindenes and ignorance and can understand nothing in a spirituall way Chr. Here is thy name then recorded Isa 50.10 Who so walketh in darknes and seeth no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon God Sin But I am dead almost my heart and my flesh do faile me Chr. Why canst thou read the beginning of the verse with David and not the latter end of it and God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 7● 26 Sin But I am weak faith another poore soule where is my name Chr. The weak shall be as David there is thy name Sin But saith another distressed soule I am quite dead where is my name Chr. Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light There is thy name Sin But I have not ears to hear Christ voice nor strength to arise if I could hear Chr. But Christ can give strength with his voice as to Lazarus come forth and he came forth Sin Here is comfort for these indeed But oh that you could shew me my name in scripture and God speaking to me by name Then I should believe and rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Chr. Well What is thy name Sin Rebell That is my name for I have rebelled against the Lord ever since I was born I have lived in a continuall breach of every command Chr. Yet behold thy name Psal 68.18 Christ hath received gifts for men yea for the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Read thy name in every promise endeavour to see thy name enrolled in the book of Life where all the Devils in Hell and all the wicked men in the world can never blot it out Sin Oh! saith another poore distressed soule I have no minde nor heart to seek after God Where is my name Chr. Isa 65.1 I am found of them that sought me not There is thy name though thou wilt not seek for him yet he will seek and finde thee Sin But I cannot believe Where is my name saith another Chr. 2 Tim. 2 13. If we believe not yet he abideth faithfull he cannot deny himself Sin But I have called and cryed for mercy and that often yet God would not answer me Where is my name 2. Saith another others have prayed for me and the Lord gave them an answer he was not sent to save me Where is my name 3. A third poore soul steps in and saith I spake with the Lord as it were and he told me I was a Dog and that Dogs have nothing to doe with Childrens bread oh where is my name Chr. Will you see all your three names together Sin Oh that it might be so faith the troubled soule Chr. Then read and well consider that 15. Matt. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cryed unto him saying have mercy on me O Lord thou son of David But he answered her not a word There was the first step of his deniall Secondly His Disciples came and besought him saying send her away for she cryeth after us But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house Israel There is the second branch of his deniall Thirdly Then came shee and worshipped him saying Lord help me But he answered and said it is not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it to dogs There is the third branch of his deniall And she said truth Lord yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their Masters table Then Jesus answered and said unto her ô woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Oh the unsearchable love of a tender father to a prodigall Son To summe up all in a word Search diligently in what state thou standest examine well thy present condition what it is and when thou hast found out the true temper of thy soul that thou canst truly say thus and thus it is with me Then search the Scriptures for they were written for thy learning and thou shalt finde upon serious consideration that some one or other of the Saints gone before the hath been in the same condition and yet hath found mercy Then thou wilt break forth with Paul and say There is no tentation hath befaln me but such as is common to all men and the Lord will deliver mee 1 Cor. 10 13. c. Are thy sins so many that thou canst not look up so it was with that pretious saint David Psal 40.12 Psal 38.4 Deare friend who ever thou art that readest these words let me tell thee I speak by experience I have been in so sad a condition even as it were in despaire And when I have read or heard these words that such and such of the Lords own children were in the same condition my heart hath begun to revive and say well The Lord hath dealt no otherwise with me than he hath with such a Saint left upon record now I see I am not alone in this heavines I cannot now say Was ever sorrow like unto my sorrow Lam. 1.12 But I can now say with Ieremiah Lam. 3 32. Though he cause griefe yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies I remember that sweet place of Scripture 2 Cor. 1 3 4. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulations that saith he we may be able to comfort them that be in trouble by the comfort wherewith wee our selves are comforted of God Here by the way wee may take notice that it is

a duty well becoming the Saints to endeavour as instruments in Gods hands to comfort others with the same comforts wherewith the Lord hath comforted them Come saith David I will tell thee what the Lord hath done for my soule Againe Oh thou drooping sinner listen a little unto the voyce of Christ and thou shalt heare him calling to thee and saying Come come unto mee all yee that bee weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Hee cals thee hee invites thee hee entreates thee hee beseecheth thee to come in and to bee reconciled unto the Lord thy God See and consider well that Scripture 2. Cor. 5 20. Now then wee are ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us wee pray you in Christ stead bee you reconciled unto God you see hee is willing to have sinners reconciled to him and that hee doth manifest by many demonstrations or evidences First His patience towards thee all this while he is long suffering not willing that any should perish 2 Pet. 3 9. Rom. 2.4 The goodnesse of God or the patience of God doth or should lead thee to repentance Secondly Hee doth manifest his willingnesse in that hee hath made this the master-piece of all his works to provide a Saviour for us in sending his Son and making him a curse for us in this great worke the Lord doth proclaime to all the world Oh all you people of the world if I had not beene willing to bee reconciled to you or rather to have you reconciled to mee as I have for ever beene I would never have sent my dearest Sonne from the bosome of my love to die for you So that this is the greatest worke all my other workes are subordinate to this In this was the love of God manifested to us that he sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world that we should live through him 1 Joh. 4.9 Thirdly The Lord doth professe this to the people That there is no one thing wherein hee doth more glory than to shew mercy to poore sinners yea to his enemies Micah 7.18 Hee delighteh in mercy Exod. 34. The Lords glory passed by and what was that The Lord the Lord most mercifull and gratious long suffering c. Pardoning iniquity transgressions and sinne Here is my glory Hence it is exprest Isa 30.18 Therefore will the Lord waite that hee may bee gratious and therefore will hee bee exalted that hee may have mercy upon you So then the Lord doth accompt himselfe an exalted God when hee hath brought in a sinner to accept of mercy Fourthly The Lord doth expresse his willingnesse even with a sigh as it were which doth much denote his willingnesse Deut. 5.29 Oh that there were such an heart in them that they would feare my Name and keepe my Commands and that for one good too for so the words follow that it might be well with them and with their children for ever Now these people had said before whatsoever the Lord hath spoken wee will doe Oh that there were such an heart in them saith the Lord. Fifthly The Lord doth expresse his willingnesse with an oath too and that the greatest that ever hee tooke That sinners shall not dye Ezek. 33.10 11. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and live Turne yee turne yee from your evill wayes for why will you die oh house of Israell c. Sixthly God doth manifest his willingnesse in this that above all other workes this worke of beleeving on him is most pleasing to him and our not beleeving is the greatest offence that wee can give to God Joh. 6.29 This is the worke of God that you beleeve on him whom he hath sent as if the Lord had said This doth please mee better than any other worke Let a poore soule come in and rowle himselfe upon the love of God in Christ for reconciliation This is a more glorious worke than the conquering of a whole world If you give all your goods to the poore and your bodies to be burnt all is nothing if this be wanting Joh. 3.19 This is condemnation that light is come unto the world and men love darknesse more then light In a word binde all your sinnes together in a bundle except this sin of unbeliefe and put them in a ballance together And put this sin of unbeliefe in the other ballance you shall finde that unbeliefe will weigh downe all the rest and from this unbeliefe as the roote springs all other evils as the branches Seventhly Consider further God doth seeke to sinners first Therefore it is said The Lord Christ came to seeke and to save them that were lost Isa 45.22 Looke unto me and be you saved all yee ends of the earth the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that is a thirst come and take of the waters of life freely Eightly Consider the Lord sends forth his grace to allure thee and to entice thee a sinner to come to him Hee doth with cords of love draw the heart to come Hee sends forth his mercy to stand before the soule and tender its service as it were to the sinfull soule Hosea 2.14 Therefore will I allure them saith the Lord. There was a great breach betweene this people and God as you may see at large in this chapter And yet saith the Lord I will allure them Hosea 11.4 I will draw them with the cords of men with the bands of love Ninthly The Lord is so yeelding unto his creatures th●t to keepe his owne honour and glory he cannot yeeld further At first wee are all going astray the Lord cals us backe 2. Wee were going to prison The Lord steps in saying I will provide a surety The Covenant of workes requires satisfaction saith the Lord I am contented to take this in a surety Wee are like a Beggar begging an almes of one that passeth by to whom it is answered I will give thee oh Beggar that which thou desirest but thou must come and fetch it I cannot come saith the Beggar I want legs I will give thee legs saith the giver that thou mayest come But saith the Beggar when I am come I have no hands to receive that which you will give me I will give thee hands also Oh! But I want wisedome to make use of that gift I will give thee wisedome saith the Lord. Oh that ever so glorious a God should so farre stoope and yeeld to his poore creatures as to answer all questions cleare all doubts and take away all scruples Tenthly He yet comes nearer to a sinner as it were and doth professe that the greatest sins that ever they have committed against him shall not hinder them from comming to him nor him from pardoning them Isa 1.18 Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord. though your sins be as Scarlet they shal be as white as Snow Oh here the Lord

that will not serve the Lords turn if a sinner will but go towards the Lord mercy will not go a foot-pace but runs to meet him yea mercy draws him and puts him upon comming at first-step The sonnes pace is he arose and came he came walking towards his father this is the fathers pace he ran the sonne most needed to have run his belly was pinched with hunger yet hee onely walkes but his father runs bowels full of mercy out-pace bowels pinched with hunger 5. I see him falling upon his necke that is he hugg'd and embraced him How fall on his necke Who would not have beene loath to have touched him yea to come neare him Is he not in his loathsome stinking rags Smels he not of the Swine hee kept Could a man come neare him without stopping his Nose Would not a man bee ready to cast up his Stomach upon such an embracement Mercy is not nice and dainty will God thus embrace a Prodigall in his loathsome rags Oh sinner be encouraged to draw neare to God for the worst of all wickednesse and basenesse in the world cannot make him rejct thee Ezekiel 16.4 5 6. 6. But yet behold a greater wonder than all the rest I see him kissing his Sorne who could have brooked to have imbraced a person in so futhy a pickle Much lesse would any one kisse such a one what kisse those lips that had beene so lately lapping in the Hogs-Trough Those lips that had so often kiss'd those base and beggerly Harlots Kisse him A man would rather have thought he would have kick'd him and yet his Father kisseth him There is a passage somewhat like this Gen. 33.4 And Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his Neck and kissed him A strang and wonderfull thing that hee that had threatned to kill him and came now upon that errand to kill him and all his That his heart should bee so strangely altered by God that killing should bee turned into kissing It was very strange that Esau should kisse Jacoh but it is more strange here that this Father should kisse this Prodigall Read and consider well these Scriptures Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the World Luke 2.10.11 Behold I bring you good tydings of great joy that shall bee to all people That is That unto you is borne this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son to this end that all that beleeve in him should not perish but have life everlasting John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a true saying that Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe Heb. 13.12 Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the Gate 1 John 2.1 2. If any man sinne wee have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and hee is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also the sinnes of the whole world Rev. 5.8 Thou wast killed and hast redeemed us to God out of every kindred tongue and people Psalm 145.19 Hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare him Zach. 13.1 The Lord hath opened a Fountaine for sinne and for uncleannesse He every one that thirsteth come then Isaiah 55.1 Blessed are they that bunger and thirst for they shall be filled Math. 5.6 If any man thirst let him come unto mee and drinke John 7. ver 37 38. And hee that commeth to me I will in no wise cast off oh marke I will in no wise cast him off John 6.37 that is there is no corruption in thee nor all thy enemies without thee that shall so farre prevaile with mee as that I shall forsake thee Oh then come unto mee come unto mee all you that are heavy laden and I will undoubtedly give you rest 1. Consider Hee that hath made these promises is able to make them good 2. Hee is not onely able to doe it but hee is willing to doe it hee delights in it 3. Hee is not only able and willing but he is faithfull too in keeping promise In so much that not one title shall faile of all that he hath promised He never saith Seeke yee me in vaine 1. Take notice the Lord keepes open house Rev. 22.17 Let him that will come and take of the water of life freely 2. Because of our backwardnesse to come he invites Isa 55.1 He every one that thirsteth come 3. Hee answereth objections and taketh away all excuses in these words come without money and without price though thou hast not righteousnesse to commend thee to mee yet come without money and without price 4. He assures thee thou shalt be welcome John 6.37 Him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast off 5. Hee tels thee that if thou come thou shalt not loose thy labour He will give thee rest Mat. 11.28 Hee will give thee rest from thine owne righteousnesse that thou shalt see thy acceptance in the righteousnesse of another and so cease from thine owne Hee will give thee rest that is hee will still those troubles that arise in thine heart and take off those veiles from thine eyes and the bondage that lay upon thy heart and shew thee that he hath set the free from hell death law sinne past present and to come and so gives thee faith which is the evidence of things not seene which will evidence this to thy soule Thy soule no sooner apprehends this but presently it wil be ready to break forth in these words of Mary Luke 1.46 47 48. My Soule doth magnifie the Lord my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid c. And now to draw to a conclusion for as I said in the beginning I have but a Word to the World 1 He gives free liberty to come 2. Hee invites thee 3. He will bid thee welcome 4. He will case thee of all thy troubles Object But thou wilt say Heare are indeed sweet rules and blessed promises amongst these things that you have layd downe But I have no abillity to walke in the one nor heart to embrace or beleeve the other and I finde it written Jer. 10.23 The way of man is not in himselfe It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Answ But consider hee requires nothing of thee but what he hath promised hee will inable thee to doe For instance Isa 1.16 He requires thee and saith wash thee and make thee cleane put away the evill of thy doings cease to doe evill Learne to doe well Here is his precept and thy duty Now turne from this precept to that promise Jer. 3● 8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against mee Now

it shall melt with fervent heat then if the rocks and mountains might fall on thee thou wouldest think it a favour to hide thee from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall abide it Rev. 6.16 17 c. Then shalt thou hear that dreadfull sentence passe on thee Matth. 25.41 Depart from me yee Cursed into Everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Consider a little this dolefull sentence 1. Thou must depart from the presence of the Lord. 2. Thou departest not blessed but a cursed wretch Depart from me yee cursed 3. Not onely into fire but into everlasting fire no hope of returning 4. The companions that thou shalt have there are the Devill and his Angels Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels And this dreadfull day will come as a thiefe in the night 2 Pet. 3.10 In which the heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the element shall melt with fervent heat and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up c. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved 2 Pet. 3.11 What manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse Oh! then take heed Watch and pray for you know not how near the time is Mark 13.33 The day of the Lord commeth as a thiefe in the night 1 Thess 5.2 Wherefore beloved seeing that you look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 2. Pet. 3.14 Thirdly consider if it should be a few moneths or years before this great and terrible day come yet it may not for ought that thou knowest be many dayes no not so much as many houres or minutes before thy particular end come in which thou shalt be gasping for life and breathing out thy last breath If then thou look up God will appear as an angry Judge if thou look down the bottomlesse Pit will strike terrour into thee on thy right hand thy sins stand accusing thee on thy left hand the Devill is ready to execute Gods eternall sentence upon thee within thee thy conscience gnawing without thee thy friends bewailing So that look which way thou wilt above thee beneath thee within thee without thee every object will adde to thy miserie Therefore Oh remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before these evill daies come Eccles 12.1 Intreat the Lord as David did Psal 39.4 Lord make mee to know mine end and the measure of my daies what it is That I may know how fraile I am And wilt thou know how fraile thou art oh vaine man then consider One scripture saith of thy dayes it is as water spilt upon the ground 2 Sam. 14.14 Another scripture saith Our dayes are like a shaddow Psal 102.11 And as if that were too long Job saith Job 7.7 My life is but a winde Psal 102.3 Our daies consume like smoak Wee all doe fade as a leafe Isa 64 6. All flesh is grasse and all the glory of man as the flower of the grasse the grasse withereth and the flower thereof falleth away 1 Pet. 1.24 And as if all these resemblances signified too much length to hold forth the shortnes of our life the holy Ghost doth contract it shorter Psal 39 5. Thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth And as if that resemblance also were too long he saith in the same verse Mine age is as nothing Well then doth the scripture in many places say We are like a buble of the brooke a tale that is told or a dream Oh how should the serious consideration hereof teach thee so to number thy dayes that thou mightest apply thine heart to true and perfect wisdome Or as the wise man saith Eccles 12.6 Remember thy creator before the silver cord be loosed or the golden bowle be broken for as death leaves thee so Judgement will finde thee c. In a word it is a point of high wisdome to be often thinking and meditating of out latter end for the Lord himself faith Deut. 32.29 That they were wise that they understood this to consider their latter end So he that made thee teach and perfect thee Two Words to those chosen out of the World NOw I shall come to speak two words to those that are chosen out of the World First Generally to all the Saints Secondly More particularly to the Saints under those titles or forms by which they are most commonly known 1 The word in generall To all that are truly godly for now to you I speak even to you my fellow members and brethren in Christ Awake awake Put on t●y strength O Sion put on thy beautifull garments O Ierusalem thou holy City Isa 52.1 Arise my beloved and come away 2 Can. 10.13 For the day is dawning and the day-star arising in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 Oh Saints Consider a little upon what ground you stand upon what foundation you are built doest thou believe there was such a Christ as the scriptures mention Doest thou believe that this Christ took thy nature and also thy sins Doest thou believe that in this thy nature he fulfilled the law took it away nailed it to the Crosse and so is become the end of the law to all that believe also freed thee from sin past present and to come and so from death the wages thereof doest thou conceive that God will make good his gracious promises in particular these Isa 25.7 8 c. He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people and the vaile that is spread over all nations He will swallow up death in victory And the Lord God will wipe away tears from of all faces And the rebuke of his people shall bee taken away from off all the earth Doest thou believe that the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters the Sea and that We shall all know him from the greatest to the least Jer. 31.34 Doest thou believe those words which the Lord spake to Daniel chap. 7.27 And the kingdome and the dominion and the greatnes of the kingdome under the whole heavens mark this word under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints for their kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey them Doest thou believe those words Isa 30.26 Moreover the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold Doest thou believe that the Lord will wipe away all tears from off all faces and that there shall be no more sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain Revel 21.4 Doest thou believe what the Lord saith in Isa 35.10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Sion with songs and everlasting

joy upon their heads They shall obtain joy and gladnes and sorrows and sighing shall flie away Doest thou believe the Lord will heal all our backslidings all our distractions and compose all our differences and give all his people one heart and one way Jer. 32.39 Read understandingly that 11. Isa 6.7 8 9 The Woolfe also shaell dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the fatling together and the Cow and the Beare shall feed their young and lie down together And the Lion shall eate straw like the Oxe and the sucking childe shall play on the hole of the Aspe and the weaned childe shall put his hand on the Cockatrice den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all mine holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Light is sown for the righteous and gladnes for the upright in heart Isa 79 11.12 Therefore rejoyce in the Lord yee righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holines These and many scriptures more which for brevity I omit doe shew thee ô most noble overcomming Saint that glorious times are comming wherefore gird up the loins of thy minde be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto thee at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 And when he is revealed amongst many mercies which thou shalt receive I will onely mention two First he shall appear without sin and thou shalt appear so in him Hebr. 9 the last Secondly Thou shalt be like him for thou shalt see him as he is 1 John 3.2 c. Then when thy soule apprehends this it will even break forth into praises and songs of deliverance as once David God let in a light whereby he saw his sins pardoned Psal 103. 1 2 3 4. Blesse the Lord O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy name Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases Who redeemeth thy life from death who crowneth thee with loving kindnes and tender mercies If thou ask why I doe ci●e so many scriptures and not explain them I answer Remember to whom I speak that is to the chosen generation to the Saints enlightened and they have the sum of them opened to them already or at reast they have the spirit of God in them which is the truest Key to unfold or unlock the mysterie of them unto them Object 2. But I suppose that many of these forementioned promises were made unto particular Saints as to the Jews or the like And so have been fulfilled to them And if so Then what matter of comfort can they administer unto me Answer Suppose it were so That they bee fulfilled already which I know most doe say yet in some measure through Gods goodnes I doe know the contrary they are wholly or for the greatest part yet to be fulfilled as I could prove by scripture but I forbear because I would not be tedious But suppose they were made to some particular Saints and fulfilled to them yet they are in whole or in part appliable to thee as to instance in one scripture for all Josh 1.5 The Lord promised Joshua that he would never leave him nor forsake him And the Apostle in Heb. 13.5 presseth the Saints to make use of and to lay hold on that promise as made to them though it was made to Joshua many hundred yeares before Object 3. If they be yet to bee fulfilled it is a great question whether I shall live to see any of them fulfilled and then what comfort doe they hold forth to mee Answ If thou doest not live to see them fulfilled with thy bodily eyes yet with the eye of Faith which is the evidence of things not seen with naturall eyes Heb. 11.1 Thou mayest see them fulfilled to thee as the Saints Hebr. 11.13 They all dyed in the Faith not having received the promises but having seen them a farre off and were perswaded of them and embraced them that is They lived in the enjoyment of them in the Spirit Again 1 Thess 4.16.17 There are promises made one That the dead in Christ shall rise first and another That we shall ever be with the Lord. And in the 18. vers He commands the Saints that they should comfort one another with these words Then in one word this is the summe to be learned from hence that we should not onely rejoyce in the present enjoyments but live in a full expectation of and comfort in what wee shall shortly enjoy and comfort one another with these words Is not that time drawing neare which is prophesied of Rev. 11.15 And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in Heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Sonne Christ and hee shall reigne for evermore Wherefore most noble over-comming Saints Servants of the most high and mighty God looke for great alterations and mighty changes See what desolations God will make in the earth when he hath accomplished his worke upon mount Sion then hee will Judge the Mountaine of Esau that is when God hath fully brought up his people to enjoy nothing but himselfe then he will declare himselfe to be a God taking vengeance on his and our enemies Wherefore rejoyce O you Saints for the time of your singing is come The day of our redemption is appearing Howle oh Babylon Mourne oh thou proud opposer of Christ thy pride is falling thy end is comming Who will mourne for thee Then shall all thy lovers stand a farre off for feare of thy torments they stand farre off they will not come neare to comfort thee Bee silent then oh all flesh for the Lord is risen out of his holy habitation Then wilt thou break forth as in Isa 25.9 And it shall be said in that day This is our God wee have waited for him This is our Lord wee have waited for him we will bee glad and rejoyce in his salvation Then by this glorious appearing hee will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people and the vaile that is spread over all nations and hee will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away teares from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it Isa 25.7 8. Oh Saints lift up your heads your redemption draws nigh and now will our God make good to us that which is written Zephe 3.9 I will turne to the people of pure Language and they shall serve me with one consent This pure Language is the Language of the Spirit Is appointed by God to put an end to these divisions not till then shall the envy of Ephraim depart and the enemies of Judah be cut off Ephraim not

worldly honour and power earthly riches will they preach if their profit invite them not Doe they reckon themselves rewarded if they receive not money Is not their cry great and their labour extream for Mammon judge you But these Ministers are made such in a way of imitation They say they follow the pattern of the Apostles But is it so The Apostles had a glorious Spirit of light and power poured out upon them mightily manifested in them so that they were in a holy extasie seeming as men drunk filled not with Wine but the Spirit that they plainly saw the promises and prophesies fulfilled in them and the world also might see and say that God was in them because of the works that were done by them They professed and declared that they had not their doctrine of man nor by man but by God they were not instructed through or by means of the fleshly Organs or faculties of their bodies or any fleshly or outward forme But say they the Gospel of God is revealed in us from Faith to Faith the Spirit of God doth reveale it to us we have tasted and seen and felt of the Word of Life The things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God but we have the Spirit c. And now are the pourings out of the Spirit upon all flesh heretofore prophesied and promised c. By all which and other expressions of scripture which are many and abundant it is apparent that the Apostles had a ministration of light life power and efficacie in them which went forth by them in marveilous operations Now they could with great boldnes and clearnes declare and Preach the mysteries of the Gospel because they had a clearnesse of sight of them by a proper demonstration and immediate manifestation the Spirit of God dwelt in them taught them plainly and they certainly knew that he taught them they had sure experience as wee by our bodily sight have experience or knowledge that the Sun shineth But amongst all these pretenders to the ministry and that appropriate to themselves that function so distinct as being the true and singular Apostle-imatators or as if they were thereunto anointed and sanctified above the rest of Christians their brethren where is he that God hath made so distinct by any guifts or endowments which either are comparable to those of the primitive Christians or doe competently inable him to declare the mystery of the Gospel which as spirituall so deepe and mysterious Or wherein is he a Minister more than an ordinary Christian Nay I will be bold to say that if they that are called the Ministers had but so much true light of the Gospell revealed in them as many private weake Children of God it would cause them absolutely to be ashamed to be termed Ministers so unlike are they to and untruly counted such Can their humane wisedome their schoole-learning and arts which are flesh and of the world unfold unto them the mystery of Godlinesse so great If so then the Apostle said not truly That God hath hid the things of his Spirit from the wise and prudent of the world and revealed them to babes And then also may the naturall man perceive the things of God though Paul saith he cannot And now if all your worldly and fleshly wisedome be no more to be accompted of what then is your ministry What is your complaint and murmuring against the Authority of the Nation What are they pulling down Apostles of Christ or imposters of Antichrist Shepherds that feed the Sheep or Wolves that devoure them do they pull downe their feeders or else their fleecers Are they pulling downe leaders or seducers May I not say to you in this case as our blessed Lord said to Nicodemus in another case John 3.10 Are you Masters in Israel and know not these things Indeed they are pulling downe such a ministry as is spoken of by the Prophet Micah Micah 3.5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my people erre that bite with their teeth and yet cry peace and he that putteth not into their mouths they even prepare warre against him And in the next verse you may reade their judgement at large Well then will you be offended with Parliament and Army for pulling downe such a magistracie and ministry as this let me beseech you Give over with speed least you fall with them Againe My friends I doe admire that you complaine of the badnesse of these times surely you doe but dreame for if you doe awake you shall plainly see that they are the best times with us in England that ever we had to live by faith what Hath the Lord with the Besome of destruction swept away the head of the enemies of truth And yet sad times What Doth hee take Princes and Lords which were so high and bring their Heads so low as the Blocke And yet sad times What Have the Saints in obedience to the command of their Father given them to drink of the bitter that they have given you so long And yet sad times What Is the Lord making inquisition for blood and meeting the same measure to his enemies as they have meeted to his people And yet sad times What Is the Lord magnifying the attribute of his Justice upon his and our implacable enemies And yet sad times What Is the Lord pulling downe the powers of the world and the Kingdomes of men and setting up or at least making way to set up the Kingdome of his owne deare Son And yet sad times Hath the Lord prospered our Armies and given us so many Victories over them that would have devoured us And yet sad times My Brethren I am afraid you did not mourne with Jerusalem because you doe not now r●joce with her It is true unto some the times are sad but to whom Answ To the deceivers of our nation for these times doe discover them and plainly it is a bad time for false Prophets and corrupt Judges for God hath threatned their ruine it is bad times for Babylon and all her brats for the day of her destruction is dawning and the houre of her plagues is comming when Kings and Princes Nobles and Merchants shall all lye howling weeping and wailing crying alas alas And all the Saints shall stand before the presence of their tender Father singing rejoycing and praising the Lord for his judgements upon their enemies Againe You Ministers of the Presbiterian Congregations methinks you have lost your beauty I doe not see you in the affections of the Heires of promise the Sonnes of Sion as formerly the cause of this must be in the people or in your selves and I have spent a little time and made diligent search for to finde where the cause lyes and have with an impartiall heart weighed the Saints in one ballance and you in another And I finde you not them to light I meane I finde the cause of your being sleighted to be in your selves wherefore let me