thorowly effectual to that blessed desired and longed-for end Now from the whole Premises these following Positions may be clearly laid down First That those Professors of the fear of the Lord that have been so polluted Position I as is declared and that do continue in those Evils whether of Commission or Omission are very unworthy and very unmeet to be accounted Members of his House and though they may be at present Members of several Congregations yet they are such as shall be cut off from the City of the Lord if they repent not when he shall come thorowly to puâ—ge his Mat. 3. 11. Floor and gather his Wheat into his Garner Secondly That is the great duty of those that are gifted and gracious spirited Position II men and men that have obtained mercy to be faithfull that are in the several Congregations and Societies of them that profess the fear of the Lord whether they are Officers among them or †For some Officers may be â—â— guilty of these Evils as some others any others that are so qual fied to do these three things First To promote and press with all earnesâ—ness and â—ervency of Spirit the work of unseigned Humiliation before the Lord and of true Repentance for all or any of these Evils that are found among any of them all yea to be lying at the Feet of the Lord continually and to give him no resâ— until he pour our such a poâ—tion of his Spirit upon them as may truly â—nable them to be ashamed of all the Evils they have done and to loath themselves in Truth for all their abominations I say To give the Lord no rest until Duty I he do these things for them and not to content themselves with keeping a day of Fasting and to think when that is done all is well but to be impoâ—tunate seckers of the Lord for such a truly broken and penitenâ— Spiâ—it as God will not despise that they may be truly as it is â—aiâ— Ezek. 7. 16. of them that shall escape from the Sword without and thâ—â—â—estilence and Famine within like Doves of the Valâ—eys 〈◊〉 of them 〈◊〉 every one for his Iniquity even for his and her partâ—cular Inâ—quiâ—y most especially and also for all the abomiâ—ations of others also that they may have that special Mark chap. 9. 4. And Secondly It is the Duty also of such faithful Serâ—ants of the Lord Duty II in the several Congregations to declare unto the Members of each Society that are guilty of such Evils and live in them That they ought not to be admitted to be paâ—takeâ—s of the great Ordinance of the Lords Supper unless they repent so as to reform and thorowly amend their wayes it being a very dangerous thing to approach to the Table of the Lord in these pollutions and deformities and not having on their beautiful Garments viz. The Royal Robes of Righâ—eousness the Blessed Ornament of a meek and Isa 51. 10 1 Pet. 3. 4 1 Pet. 5. 5 Rev. 15. Psal 45. quiet Spirit and the precious cloathing of Humility even all those white Robes and Golden Girdles and Cloathings of Wrought Gold that do signifie all the Fruits and gracious Operations of the Holy Spirit And that it is dangerous appears 1 Cor. 11. 26 27 to 30. For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords Death until he come Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eâ—teth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many are fallen asleep Where it is clear that it is a very dangerous thing for a man to draw near to the Table of the Lord without examination of himself whether there be any iniquity that he lives in whether he be a Vestâ—â— on whom holiness to the Lord is visibly written or not It is very dangerous to rush unto the Table of the Lord without any fear or dread of coming unworthily not considering that such as have so done are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and that such as have so done have for this cause been sick and weak and have fallen asleep And it is most certain That It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table without the Spirit of Love that ingages the Soul to true and uâ—feigned love to all Saints as Members of the same Body so as to communicate freely and liberally as God hath blessed as to Members of our own Body not like a Churâ— It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table with hearts full of Adultery Mystical Adultery hearts given up unto other Lovers and not to the Lord. It is dangerous coming to that Table with froward hearts contentious spirits having any heart rising against any person or persons Or which is somwhat less It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table with slightings of any others that are members of Christ as truly as we for the Corinthians coming together and some having a fulness of outward things did eat and drink when others that were poor in this world had not and were hungry The Apostle calls these Actions in them that were full a despising of the Church of God the poor Members aâ— truly making up the Church of God as those that were rich and a shaming of them that have not The poorer sort it may be seeing their fulness having their Bottles of Wine and costly Cakes and dainty Viands being made ashamed that had it not Now their thus â—lighting the poor which Evil James also reproves as hath been shewed and shaming of them in that particular is the sin the Apostle here reproves and advises them rather to eat and drink in their own Houses then They it may be would tarry for the rich to grieve and shame the Poor and not to slight the Poor but to tarry one for another for sayes he verses 20 21. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper for in eating every one taketh before another his own Supper and one is hunâ—ry and another is drunken that is Hath drunk sufficiently and fed sufficiently And vers 33 34. Wherefore my Brethren when ye come together to eat tarry one for another and if any man hunger let him eat at Home that ye come not together unto condemnation It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table with a proud Heart Psal 101. 5. Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer Such shall not be welcome to his Table In a word He that is guilty of and continueth in any Evil whether of Omission or Commission whether of the Evils that have been declared
that are Professors at large and profess to be his Servants though far off from him do by their sinful wayes dishonour him more then others but they that seem to be Servants that are nearer to him being very sinful dishonour him more but they that pretend to be in a higher state and call themselves his Children and call him Father These by their iniquities dishonour him much more But that those are yet nearer and are accounted Gospel-Churches which the Scriptuâ—e stiles and which if truly constituted are indeed the very Spouse the very Bride of the Lord Jesus for these to play the Haâ—lot and imbrace other Lovers for these to be drunken with the cares of this Life for these to be drunk with passion and frowardness of Spirit for these to be proud and haughty which vice he haâ—es for these to be wretched perfidious Covenant-breakers which God and man abhors for these to be hard-hearted stony-hearted Creatures and to be regardless of holy Duties which they should be more diligent in then any for these to be regardless of his Counsels and Love-Letters and not to meditate on his Word as if it were not worthy to be regarded is the highest reproach and dishonour and the greatest grief and wounding to him that can be imagined O what cuts and gashes to speak after the manner of men do these make in the very heart of Christ O what a dishonour are these to him What a blot and reproach do they bring upon his most Glorious and most Holy Name Therefore saith the Lord by Ezekiel I will sanctifie my great Name which Ezek. 36. â—3 was prophaned among the Heathen which ye the House of Israel prophaned in the midst of them And on the other hand when the Lords People do walk in all his Laws and Ordinances blamelesly when they cannot be blamed for Covetousness nor Pride nor any other Evil but they do in all things observe the blessed Commandments of the Lord Jesus Then saith our Lord Jesus Men may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 16. And â—erein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit So John 15. 8. that it is undeniable that the good Works the Holy and Heavenly Conversations of his People do glorifie the Lord are to his Praise and to his Honour and that the sinfulnesses of their Conversations are a great dishonour reproach and blot unâ—o his great Name And therefore Naâ—han tells David That he by his sinfulness in the matter of Vriah had caused the Enemies of the Lord to blasphâ—me And the Apostle James speaking of some that were rich that did despise the poor having the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with respect of Persons respecting the Man in rich Array more then a man in mean Apparel sayes thus Do not they Blaspheme that worthy Name by which ye are called Jam. 2. 7 And that the unrighteousness of Saints do greatly prophane and dishonour that worthy Name by which they are called appears thus To instance but in one particular Evil of theirs viz. That sin of Covetousness When they that are the Lords People who profess that he is their Portion are as 〈◊〉 sâ—eking for themselves and theirs the things of this World though they therein break many of his blessed Precepts and Instructions and neglect many Duties as any others as if they would give the World thereby to understand that there is no such satisfaction in the Lord for their Souls as is declared as if there were more sweetness in the World then in Him as if that were an untrue Character of him that the Spouse gives Cant. 5. from 9. to 18. verse As if Habakkuk had not reason to say Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall Fruit be in the Vines The labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yeeld no Meat The Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and the Herd shall be cut off from the Stalls Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation As if that were not fit to be said that David sayes Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that I desire beside thee I say when they that are the Lords People do this How horribly do they herein reproach their Lord and wound and prophane his most holy Name The like may be said of all or of any of the other Evils that any of them are guilty of And such as continue in these or any of those Evils will not 1 Pet. 1. â— be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ But happy are they that so walk as that God in all things may be glorified by them through Jesus Christ our Lord. Happy are they that so use the World so labour foâ— things convenient for their Families so eat and drink and injoy all outward Comforts as onely to fit them for the Service of their Lord and King and are not Servants to the World or any thing that they injoy but the Servants of their God only that Whether they eat or drink or whatsoever they do do all to the Glory of God and do not dishonour him in their seeking after earthly things nor in eating or drinking or injoying 1 Cor. â—â— 31. any Creature-Comfort but have their moderation so to all those things as it shall appear to all men that God is the great delight and joy of their Souls and none of these things do steal their hearts from or weaken their affections to him Happy are they that are so overcome by the Mercies of God as they present their Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is their reasonable service And happy are those that so Rom. â—â— â— walk in all things that God may have glory in them and they may indeed be the glory of Christ But O how few are of this Stamp and what great reason have we to pray and say Our Father which art in Heaven sanctified be thy great Name And oh that the consideration of this how greaâ—ly the Lords People have prophaned and do prophane his holy Name might be so deeply fixed on all their hearts as that they might be greatly drawn to look on his precious Name which they have prophaned dishonoured wounded and reproached and mourn and be in great bitterness as one mourneth and is in bitterness for his only Son or for his First-born Zach. â—â— 10. There might be several other Considerations added to these as inducements to the Lords People to induce and provoke them to that thorow-amending their wayes and turning to the Lord from all their Evils with their whole heart and cleaving to him with full purpose of heart but these four are of so great weight and force as if these prevail not twenty more may not But through the Lords Blessing these may be
to be the Sins of the House of Jacob or whether of any other Evil whatsoever that he is convinced of if he be not truly penitent and have not truly forsaken those Evils It is a very dangerous thing for such a one to approach to the Table of the Lord such do eat that Bread and drink that Cup of the Lord unworthily and do come together unto condemnation And the Lord will condemn them for it unless they speedily repent and judge themselves and condemn themselves that they may not be judged But O how unpreparedly and unworthily have many without examination or consideration of the greatness of the undertaking rushed unto the Table of the Lord without the Wedding Garment and how seldome have some Administrators of that Oâ—dinance given warning unto their Heareâ—s of the danger of it and Preached preparation Sermons or Words which they ought to have done as they tendered the safety or welfare of their Souls The Lord hath been greatly provoked to anger for the Sins of the House of Jacob and shall such sinners still be permitted to come to the Table of the Lord without repentance Thirdly It is also the Duty of every such faithful Servants of the Lord Duty III in the several Congregations to declare distinctly and particularly to every person that desires to be joyned to any Church of Christ hereafter that they may not be admiâ—â—ed into that Holy Fellowship if they be guilty of or do live in any of these Evils or any other known Sin and that hereafter if any of them be â—ound in any Evil they must expect to be cast out from among them For one great Reason why Sin hath so abounded among the Professors of the fear of the Lord is the unfaithfulness of the generality of the Churches unto the Lord in not exercising his Ordinances and Appointments faithfully but suffering sins one upon another and not shewing that true love and true friendship one towards another to reprove one another faithfully and graciously and meekly according to the Gospel-Rule and the Rule of the Law also for restoring such as are overtaken in faults But their suffering sinners to go on in sin in those Sins declared to be their â—ins and to grow old in Sin and hardened in Sin So that now it is a hard work for them to break off their Sins by Righteousness and their hardheaâ—ted iniquities by shewing mercy to the Poor Dan. 4. 27. Who whereas had the Ordinances of Christ been faithfully and frequently and duly practised whensoever there was occasion Sin might have been nipt in the Bâ—d and never have risen up to such a Rod of Wickedness as it hath Ezek. 7. â—1 done If Covetousness had been curbed betimes it would not have grown up to that monstrousness that now it is in many Church-Members And if hardness of heart and close-fistedness had been faithfully reproved it would have been more a shame to be so Iâ— the odiousness of Pride and self-conceitedness had been faithfully laid open in the Spirit of meekness and love to those in whom at any time it appeared it might have greatly prevented the continuance of it If â—â—owardness of Spirit had been faithfully declared against as an Evil very unbecoming Saints and an Evil wherein they are most unlike their Lord who was meek and lowly in heart and as a Lamb dumb before the Sheaâ—ers he opened not his mouth and therefore not to be tollerated in any that is a Member in a Church of Christ it might greatly restrain and mortifie that detestable Evil. So also if neglects of holy Duties had been declared against as not fit to be suffered in any Member of a Church of Christ it would have been both a shame and a grief of heart to any person to neglect Duties that ought to be duly and constantly performed whereas now Duties are neglected without shame or blushing or true grief of heart So also if Covenant-breaking had been reproved in any onâ— Church-Member and declared against as an Evil abhor'd oâ— God and of his People and that it was not fit that any such person should remain a Member of a Church of Christ without true repentance I say if this Rule had been put in â—re in the Churches of Christ when first any Member of any Church appeared to be guilty of it as many were fifteen years ago and more it might have prevented many others and have caused them that were so dealt with viz. ordeâ—ly reproved for that Evil and if impenitent cast out as grievous sinners and not worthy to remain in the House of the Lord to have considered their wayes and to have been truly humbled and penitent long ago But they being suffered to remain in a Church of Christ impenitent under the first Evil of that kind they were left to hardness of heart and searedness of Conscience in that and many other Evils making no bones of breaking Oaths and solemn Ingagements in every particular 1 Tim. 4â— 2. part of them and left to such other Evils as they would have abhor'd the very thoughts of them if they had been told but three years before that within a few years they should be very grievous sinners against the Lord in such and such sorts of Sin and to such and such high degrees And they would have said as Hazael said to Elisha Is thy Servant a Dog that he should do this great thing But being suffered to remaâ—n in Churches impenitent in the first breach of Covenant they were so hardened as they justified themselves in that and other grievous iniquities and saw no Evil in them neither weâ—e penitent in the sence of them until the judgements of God came in like a deluge upon them and though the judgements of God are come they do not at all repent nor give him glory nor sanctifie his Name in saying Righteous art thou O Lord and just are thy Judgements Ps 119. 137. Though his judgements are come upon us for this very end that he may sanctifie his great Name which hath been polluted by his People among the Heathen among the unbelieving Nations about us and among the unbelievers in these three Nations I say they do not repent of nor turn from their Evil nor glorifie and sanctifie the Name of the Lord in declaring that he is just when he speaketh and clear when he judgeth It is true they will confess in general that they are sinners and so will the worst of men But where is the acknowledging Psal 5â—â— 4. of particular Evils in the Publick Congregations and taking shame for them before all in the great Assemblies that God may be glorified and the declaring a detestation of them and the publick manifestation of the turning from them that the Name of the Lord may be Hallowed Sanctified Psal 5. 4. 11. 7. and Glorified for he is not a God that hath pleasure in Wickedness â—either shall Evil dwell with him And The Righteous Lord
out one of another and by taking up Evil * Witness Mr. Edward 's Gangranâ— Reports one of another and manifesting no Brotherly Love one to another but caâ—rying it one to another as if they were not Children of one Father I say in that the Lordâ— People have done thus they have provoked the Lord to scourge them all and to spare none of them And they must know that as far as they remain thus disposed he is greatly offended with them Not that the Lords People ought not at all to judge one another for there are many things that we may judge and censure one another for as when persons are overtaken in faults or evils that are against plain Rules such Rules as are acknowledged by all that acknowledge and believe in the true God and Jesus Chrâ—st whom he hath sent as to be a Lyar to steal to cheat to deceive to swear falsly to commit adultery to be malicious or envious or proud or covetous or impatient or froward or to be scornful are evils acknowledged by all that truly believe in the true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent to be against plain Rules received and acknowledged by them all and when we see a Brother overtaken in any of these or the like â—â—â—lts we are to judge and condemn them as the Works of Darkness and the Fruits of the Flesh and to endeavour to restore them that are guilty of them and to have no fellowship with them in such unfruitful Works of Darkness And accordingly the Independants the Baptised the Quakers and the Presbyterians do all bear witness and that justly against these and such-like Eâ—ils whether they are in any of their own Understandings or in any others And this kind of judging one another the Lord both commands and commends He commands it in these Scriptures Lev. 19. 17. Psal 94. 16. Mat. 18. 15 16 17. Ephes 5. 11. And the Lord commends it in the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 2. I know thy woâ—ks c and how thou canst not bear them which are evil That spirit of zeal that was in them against evil in any in that they would not bear noâ— suffer sin in any was very acceptable to him And therefore in such cases we may and ought to judge of the Ways and Spirits of men and to condemn the carnal minde and sinful disposition of spirit and the sinful ways of men for if a man be disobedient to that which he knoweth to be the Will of his Lord we ought to judge and condemn him therein But that which we are forbidden to judge one another for is the things in which we cannot be of one mind but do differ in our Understandings For though we may be perswaded that the Way wherein we walk is the very Way which the Word of God directs us to walk in yet we ought not to say that therein we are infallible And though we are all to walk in those things wherein we differ every one as we are perswaded in our own minds and should erre therein yet we may not be judged to be none of the Lords Servants or People For they onely may be said to be none of his that wilfully rebell against his known Will and continue in so doing without Repentance But there being this testimony in the Conscience of a man that with his whole Soul he desires and endeavours to do the will of God from the heart and that he doth not knowingly erre in one tittle from the Law of our Lord Jesus Christ but it grieves and troubles him for to censure or judge such a one to â—e none of the Lords is that which the Lord forbids But it may be said That some Quakers do not acknowledge the true God nor Jesus Christ our Lord whom he hath sent To that the answer is easie If they be such to our own knowledge as do deny the true God and Jesus Christ our Lord whom he hath sent as do not own him nor his Law nor profess an unfeigned subjeâ—ion to him in all things so far as they know his Will Then they are not to be owned as the Lords Servants but to be accounted as Heathens and Inâ—idels Buâ— if they do profess Faith in God and in Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and if the true Fear of the Lord be in them and they do manifest a subjection unto the Laws and Rules of the Lord Christ in all things so far as they know his Wâ—ll although they are very differing from us â—n many other things not so generally received by all the Lords People yet he thaâ— censures or judges them as Enemies of the Lord or condemns them as none of his may offend the Lord Christ Now as far as the Lords People have been censoriouâ— one of another and condemned one another as none of hiâ— so far they have greatly grieved hâ— holy Spirit in walking contraâ—y unto the blessed Rules of his Word in which he sweetly instructs his People thus Hereby shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another And Joh. 13. 35 1 Cor. 13. 5 Rom. 12. 10. Heb. 13. 1. Rom. 14. 2 3 4 5 9 10 12 13 23. Love thinketh no Evil. And Be kindly affectioned one towards another with Brotherly Love in honour preferring one another And Let Brotherly Love continue And in another place thus For one believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth Herbs Let not him that eatetâ— dâ—spise him that eateth not and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath received him Who art thou that judgest another mans Servant To his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall he holden up for God is able to make him stand One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind To this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living But why dost thou judge thy Brother Or why dost thou set at nought thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgement-seat of Christ So that every â—ne of us shall give an account of himself to God Let us noâ— therefore judge one another any more And Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin And Judge not that ye be not judged And Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy Brothers Mat. 7. 1 3 4. Eye and considerest not the Beam that is in thine own Eye But very many of the Lords People have greatly sinned against him in not observing these blessed Instructions but they have cast them all behind their back as if they were of no concernment to them to observe But they have rebelled against the Lord and rejected the Word and Wisdom of the Lord herein And though he say Judge not that ye be not judged And Let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath received him And
ponder this great Consideration and fear and dread the continuing in any known sin and be faâ— from deluding themselves with the vain thoughts of finding acceptance with God in spending a whole day or dayes in a week in the most solemn Church Assemblies or in any other duty which the Lord requires while they continue in sin as remembring what the Lord here speaks in these Scriptures and what is said Psal 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer And let them observe the gracious Exhortation of the Apostle Heb. 12. 28 29. Let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear for our God is not like the vanities of the Heathens to be pleased with many Lip-Services without Reformation but a consuming fire II. Another great Consideration that may be of use to provoke the Consideration II Lords People to a thorow amending their wayes is this viz. That no persons that are not washed from the Pollutions and Iniquities mentioned in the preceding Discourse shall be admitted to be of the number of them that shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth or that â—hall be accounted worthy to serve him in the great work he hath to do in the latter day for it is evident that those that are his Followers are described to be such as have none of these Iniquities found in them as appears in the Description Rev. 14. 1 2 c. in these words And I looked and â—o a Lamb stood upon Mount Sion and with him a hundred forty and four thousand having his Fathers Name written in their Foreâ—eads and they were redeemed from the Earth These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth These were redeemed from among men being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God And Chap. 17. 14. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they that are with him are Called and Chosen and Faithful In which great Characters of the Lambs Followers it is apparent That they are not defiled with any of those Pollutions which the greatest number of the Lords People are now defiled with For First It is said They have his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads Characters of the Lambs Followers Which is an evident Demonstration that they shall be of such Holy and Heavenly Conversationâ— as shall evidently manifest whose Children they are for it shall be as appaâ—ently manifest as any thing is manifest that is fixed in a mans Forehead Secondly In that they are said to be redeemed from the Earth it clearly manifests that they shall not be men of an earthly mind but be altogether disingaged in their affections from sublunary things as having their affections wholly set on things above and having their very heaâ—ts there and having their conversations there also For our conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3. 20 contemning and despising any thing in the Earth when it comes in competition with the Service of their Lord and King for they shall not love the World nor the things that are in the World but shall trample upon them all having all things in the World under their Feet No fear of loss of earthly things nor hope of gain of worldly things shall either deâ—er them from the serâ—ice of their Lord or induce them unto any unworthy complyance And in the service of their Lord they shall not expect great Earthly Rewaâ—ds nor desiâ—e any more thereof then Abraham did in his service in subduing the five Kings that desire nothing but what the young men had eaten as he said to the King of Sodom I will not take any more lest thou shouldst say I have made Abraham rich So shall the Followers of the Lamb say to the World to whom they may do good offices by the appointment of their Lord We will not take of you any reward for this Service but what we have eaten even what is enough to supply us and ours while we are about this Work And when our Work of this kind is done we would not have any thing left of what we take for our Service for we would not be one penny richer in estate then we were before but what we have more we shall account as a Canker and as a Moth to the rest of our Estates or to what the Lord may after give us in the lawful and moderate following our particular Callings but therewith we desire to be content whether it be little or much desiâ—ing to come off from publick Service rather with less then more then we had before And we desire to manifest to the World That we seek their Weal and not their Wealth their increase of Wealth Exteâ—nal and Internal and not the DIMINISHING OF ANY PART OF THEIR ESTATES It shall be manifest that they are â—edeemed from the Earth by their being every way loose from the things that are on the Earth and wholly set on the things that are above and rejoycing in that their Names are written in Heaven and in that they are sure of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not awaâ— reserved in Heaven for them Thirdly It being said That they shall not be defiled with Women for they are Virgins It doth manifest that they shall not onely be pure from Foâ—nications or Aduâ—teries in the Letter but also in a Mystical and Spiritual sence they shall not set up any other Lover in their hearts but â—emain chaste Virgins to Christ They shall be as pure as Virgins from having their hearts insnaâ—ed with the Woâ—ld or any other thing that defileth They shall not be defiled with the alluâ—ements of the Scarlet Whoâ—e but shall hate to have any thing to do with the Cup of her Fornications Her Trumpery they shall not meddle with But as soon as it is discovered to them they shall detest it and shall give themselves up wholly to the Lord Christ to be guided by him alone cleaving to him as a faithful and loyal Spouse that abhors the thoughts of any but her onely Beloved but shall give themselves up wholly to the Lord Christ to be guâ—ded by him alone and to follow him alone which is the next Character that 's given of them Fourthly They shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth He being their Leader they shall follow their Blessed Leader They shall not receive the Precepts of men in the Worship of God but the Rules of Christ alone and shall receive the Law from his mouth alone and not admit of mens inventions and mens interpretations further then they are perswaded it is according to his mind He alone shall be observed by them and whatsoever he reveals to them they shall do and into whatsoever Path he guides them they shall go and shall not be tyed and stinted by