whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light to the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in Darkness out of the Prison-house Isa 42. 1 6 7. He is the blessed Seed in whom the blessing is to whom the Promise is That he shall bruise the Serpents Head who brought in the Curse and Reprobation He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. he is ordained of the Father to put an end to Sin to finish Transgression and bring in everlasting Righteouâ—ness He is the Lamb of God who takâ—th away the Sin of the World he is â—the Author of eternal Saltation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Mark here obedience unto Christ is required in order to Salvation this is a Gospel-truth The Apostle Peter said unto the Jews God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Mark those who are blessed by Jesus Christ and Elect in him they are turned away from their Iniquities by him and in vain do they profess him and to be his Elect who continue in their sins and plead for their continuance therein for term of Life God said by the Mouth of his holy Prophet Isaiah Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else Isa 45. 22. read the Chapter through God doth largely therein express by plain words his Universal Love to Man-kind Observe Reader he calls to the Heathen even to all the Ends of the Earth to look to him for Salvation Mark that for which one man is called to look to him for the same all Man-kind is called to look to him every one in the Day of their Visitation viz. for Salvation Christ is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World according to John 1 9. he is the Light of the World as he said John 8 12. 12. 46 He said Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light So all being onlightned by Chr st in the Light they may look unto God and be saved if they believe in it but if they believe not in the Light but hate it they cannot have Salvation Joh. 3. 19 20. 1 Joh. 1 5. and such Perish whose Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear for the Unbelief and the Disobedience of those who Perish is not of God but of the wicked One. God said by the Mouth of David â—y People would not hearken to my Voice and Israel would none of me So I gave them up unto their own Hearts Lusts and they walked in their own wayes O that my People had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes Psal 81. 11 12 13. God spake by the Mouth of Hosea unto Israel saying O Israel thou destroyest thy self but in me is thy help Hosea 13. 9. God said by the Mouth of the Apostle Peter That the Wicked bring Destruction upon themselves 2 Pet. 2. 1. Read the Chapter through Christ Jesus said O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them who are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Matth. 23. 37. Luk. 13. â—4 Reader when Christ would have garnered the Inhabitants of Jerusalem unto their Immortal Souls Rest they rejected him And he did not tell them that they could not come to him for they might have come to him or else it had been vain Words for him to tell them that he would have gathered them But he told them they WOULD NOT come to him So it was their own Self-will which did hinder them from coming to Christ and not Gods holy Will for his will is that all might be saved God said by the Mouth of Solomon That the Wicked would have none of his Counsel And he said they dispised all his Reproof Therefore said God they shall eat the Fruit of their own way c. Prov. 1. 30 31. Christ is the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World as I have shewed before and he hath tasted Death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. The Apostle John said Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World 1 John 2. 2. And he further said We have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 John 4. 14. The Apostle Paul said There is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for ALL mark for all And he said God's will is that ALL MEN might be saved mark that 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. Reader by what I have cited and writ in the holy Scripture words and according to them it doth plainly appear that God hath not Created nor Fore-ordained any Man or Woman on purpose that they should be Wicked so to be Damned or Destroyed or cast into Hell but he doth give to all People a Day or Time of Visitation by his Grace Light and Spirit by the same to lead them out of the broad way that leads to Destruction all those that continue therein till the Lord cease to strive with them for their Salvation such perishing their Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear I have no pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 32. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the Death of the WICKED but that the Wicked turn from his evil way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil Wayes for why will ye die O House of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. The Apostle Peter Exhorted those who had believed in Christ saying Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure giving all diligence add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly-kindness and to Brotherly-kindness Charity For if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that lacketh these things is Blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old Sins For if you do these things YE SHALL NEVER FALL for so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Reader here thou mayst see that the Apostle took great care of those who had believed in Christ that they might make their Calling and Election sure So it appears that
all as saith the Apostle see Rom. 3. 24 25. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. Again the Apostle Peter said He commanded us to Preach unto the People and to Testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead to him all the Prophets gave witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive Remission of Sins see Acts 10. 42 43. Acts 2. 28. Note Reader The Command which the Apostles received from Christ concerning Remission of sins it was that they should preach the Remission or Forgivness of the sins that were PAST they did NOT receive Command from Christ to preach unto people that they must continue in sin all their Dayes NEITHER did he Command them to preach that he had paid the DEBT for all sins past PRESENT and to COME NO he nor his Apostles never preached this Doctrine this Doctrine proceeds from him whose Kingdom stands in Sin who is the Father of Lyes who first LEADS people into sin then tells them that they can NEVER come out of it while they are on this side the Grave and to encourage and embolden them to continue in sin all their dayes HE tells them Christ has paid the DEBT for it ALL and he tells them that God sees no sin in them the Debt being paid for all c. So tells them that they are the Elect and therefore cannot totally fall c. It s greatly to be Lamented that many do GIVE UP themselves to believe these his Lyes to their own Ruin and Destruction We do say that NOT only the sins which Man and Woman doth commit in their Dark Unbelieving State is forgiven when they come to believe repent but ALSO those who through unwatchfulness negligence fall into some sin after they have believed and Repented if THEY find a place of Repentance so Forgivness this forgiveness also is in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ but we do utterly DENY that God or Christ doth WILL or Ordain that any Man or Woman should live in sin ALL their DAYES upon Earth And those who do continue in sin all their dayes who Repent not who Forsake not this their sin will sink them into the Pit of Everlasting Destruction where there is Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth and when they are THERE they will see how the Devil hath deceived and cheated them and then they will know that Christ hath NOT paid the Debt for all their sins past present and to come but they shall know he hath not paid the Debt for their sins which they do never Repent of for which they must suffer Vengeance of Eternal Fire as a just Reward from the Hand of the Lord God who said Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Concerning Eternal Life JEsus Christ said unto the Unbelieving Jews Search the Scriptures or ye search the Scriptures for in them you think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and YE will NOT come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 39 40. Note Reader Christ told them not that they COULD NOT come unto him but told them that they WOULD NOT come unto him so their NOT coming unto him Christ doth not place upon the fore-ordination or appointment of God but he placeth it upon their CORRUPT SELF-WILL for as it is before expressed in this Book God's will is that all Men might come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be SAVED This is a Gospel Truth spoken by the holy Apostle as he was moved by the holy Ghost Well said the Apostle Peter the Scripture came not in Old Time by the Will of Man but holy men of God gave them forth as they were moved by the holy Ghost or Spirit the holy Scriptures are things of God The Apostle saith What man knoweth the things of a man SAVE the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God know no man but the Spirit of God but that Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. There is two weighty things to be considered and understood from the afore-said Words of Christ the one I have said something to Namely that it was NOT the Fore-appointment or Decree of God which HINDRED those Jews from coming to Christ but their own Corrupt WILL c. for Christ saith That men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him John 5. 23. Christ the Son of God saith I am the Light of the World Mark that he is not the Light of the Saints and true Believers ONLY for he said unto the Saints Ye are not of the World c. but he is the Light of the World that lieth in Wickedness by his Light in their Consciences he doth convince them of their sins and wickedness Now all that honour the Son according to the Will of the Father they do believe this is Doctrine and â—o do believe in the Light where-with he has enlightned them who is the true Light that enlighteneth every one that cometh into the World according to John 1. 9. he said Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light He tasted Death for every man as saith the holy Scripture He is a Propitiation not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole World as saith the Apostle John as the Will of God is that all men should believe in the Father so his Will is that all men should believe in the Son and so in believing and obeying both honour the Father and the Son The second thing which I may speak something to upon the foresaid words of Christ concerning the grand Mistake of those Jews who would not come to Christ their Mistake was that they thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures for though the Scripture testifies of him as he saith yet the Scripture doth NO where say that Eternal Life is IN THEM but they do testifie that Life is in HIM Therefore GREAT was their Error who thought to have Eternal Life where it was not to be had and the same Error some are fallen into in our day and their Error in this weighty matter is greatly to be LAMENTED and my Soul with many more do greatly desire that out of this great Mistake they may be delivered There are two great EXTREAMS which many run into concerning the holy Scriptures in this our day the one is that which I have spoken to already which IS in those who think to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures where it is not to be FOUND but IN Christ as I said before the other Extream is run into by Prophane persons who do not value them and esteem them as they are truly worthy but in their Pride and Presumption greatly slight them yet make EVIL use of them many times in wresting of them to uphold
of God and have counted the Blood of the Covenant WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED AN UNHOLY THING and hath done Despite unto the Spirit of GRACE Heb. 10. 28 29. Reader here take notice that the holy Man of God who writ this Epistle speaks of some who was Sanctified by the Blood of the Covenant who afterwards did tread under Foot the Son of God and counted the Blood of the Covenant by which he was Sanctified an Unholy thing and did Despite unto the Spirit of Grace Now he that did so did fall from the Grace as the holy Man said to the Galatians To the same purpose the said author speaks in Heb. 6. 4 5 6. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned have tasted of the heavenly Gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto Repentance seeing they crucifie unto themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame Heb. 6. 4 5 6. Heb. 10. 26 27. These mentioned by the Apostle are Apostates grown old in Iniquity grown ripe for Vengeance grown past feeling their Consciences seared with a hot Iron 1 Tim. 4. 2. But note Reader there may be some sliping and sliding in the Spiritual Journey after Man or Woman is come to know the Truth and a place in it this I say may come through want of watchfulness on the Creatures part and yet through the tender Mercy of the Lord snch may be renewed into savour with God again through his righteous Judgments and the Creatures unfeigned Repentance And this Repentance renewing into favour with God is wrought by the vertue of the Mediator and Advocate Christ Jesus At this the Apostle points saying Mylittle Children these things write I unto you that ye Sin not and if any man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 John 2. 1. But let all who knows the Truth and hath a Place or a Habitation in it keep in the holy fear of the Lord God stedfast and lowly in mind and let none by what is here said take liberty to Sin that Grace or Favour may abound no God for-bid as saith the holy Apostle Rom. 6. 1. The Apostle Peter saith For if after they have escaped the Polutions of the World through the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again Entangled therein and OVERCOME the latter end with them is worse than the beginning for it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment DELIVERED UNTO THEM But it is happened or come to pass unto them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. Here the Apostle plainly sheweth that some had escaped the Polutions of the World through the Knowledge of Christ Jesus they had the holy Commandment delivered to them and they turned from it and they turned like the Dog to his own Vomit or like the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire God did not will that they should turn from the holy Commandment which he had delivered unto them nor that they should turn into the Polutions of the World again out of which they had escaped through the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for God who is unchangeable hath said If any man draw back my Soul shall have no Pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. The Apostle Paul said We then â—â— Workers together beseech you also that ye receive not the Grace of God IN VAIN 2 Cor. 1. 6. Note Reader here the Apostle sheweth his Godly Jealousie over these Corinthians though they had received the Grace of God lest their receiving of it should be in Vain unto them this shews that the Apostle saw that men might receive the Grace of God and through their own Neglect Sloth and Unwatchfulness might fall from it and Perish and certainly some did so as Jude doth shew in his Epistle and Paul in his Epistle unto the Galatians he said unto them O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you and he said unto them Whosoever of you are Justified by the Law ye are fallen from Grace Gal. 5. 4. and 3. 1. Note Reader their falling from Grace was not because the Grace was not sufficient to uphold them but because of their Sloth Negligence and Unwatchfullness the Apostle Peter Exhorted those he writ to To be good Stewards of the manifold GRACE of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. those who were good Stewards did grow in Grace and were saved by it as the holy Apostle saith By Grace ye are saved through Faith and he saith It is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace It hath appeared to all men as he saith Titus 12. 11. Ephesians 2. 5 and 8. Hebrews 13. 9. and its appearance unto all men is for one and the same Cause Purpose or End even to bring Salvation unto all the good Stewards of the Grace have Salvation by it But the Evil and Unjust Stewards do despite unto the Spirit of Grace read Heb. 10. 26 27 28 29 30. and such are the Idle Stewards wh o are spoken of by Christ in his Parables saying Take that Vnjust and Idle Servant who hath hid his Lord's Money in the Earth and Bind him Hand and Foot and cast him into utter Darkness where there is Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth By this it doth appear that the holy Apostles did believe and know that the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation which hath appeared unto all men is sufficient to bring and give Salvation unto all men And those who have not Salvation by it the Fault is not in God or Christ or the Grace but in themselves The Sluggard is cloathed with Rags and the Rebellious shall dwell in a dry Land the Backslider God hath no pleasure in he shall be filled with his own Evil Wayes and Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft but the diligent hand maketh Rich and he that is faithfull in a little shall be made Ruler over much God rejects the Proud but he teacheth the Humble he gives encrease of Grace and of Faith unto them The holy Apostles great Labour and Care was to bring people to the Grace of God and to keep them to it they knew the sufficiency of it yet also knew that the Serpent who drew Adam and Eve from God to sin against him would labour to keep people in Rebellion against the Grace of God and also would labour to draw those into Rebellion against it who were come into Obedience to it and they knew the Serpent might readily prevail if a diligent Watch were not kept and this our Lord Jesus well knew and therefore said unto his
Disciples What I say unto one I say unto all Watch WATCH and Pray lest ye enter into Temptation The holy Prophet said I will hear what the Lord will say for he will speak Peace to his Saints but let them not turn again to Folly In pag. 17. J. B. quotes the words which God spake to Moses saying I will have Mercy on whom I will have Mercy these words Paul repeated in Rom. 9. and he added these words viz. whom he will he heardneth To the first I Answer Paul speaking to the Geutiles or Heathens concerning the Jews said God hath concluded them All in Vnbelief that he might have MERCY UPON ALL. Mark that upon ALL Rom. 11. 32. And Vers 26. he saith All Israel shall be saved Vers 27. This is my Covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins To the second I Answer God's Grace hath appeared and is a free Gift of God given unto all men to teach all men to deny Ungodliness and to live Godly in this present World he gives all a time also in which they may turn unto him from their Evil Wayes and if they turn not to him in the Day of their Visitation the Lord doth cease to strive with them for their Salvation who regard not the Day of their Visitation Luke 19. 44. As he did with the People of Jerusalem of old who WEPT over them and said O that thou hadst known in this Day the things which belong to thy Peace But now they are hid from thy Eyes now your House is left unto you desolate c. Mat. 23. 28 29. Luk. 13. 34 35. Thus it plainly appears that there was a time in which they might have known the things which did belong to their Peace but they neglecting that time God ceased to strive with them and shut the Door of Mercy against them So when God ceased to strive with them then they hardned SWIFTLY for then the Devil had them at his pleasure Soit was and is he that doth hearden peoples Hearts against God by leading them into sin and this the Apostle well knew and therefore Exhorted the Saints To Watchfullness and Faithfullness lost said he any of you be hardened through the Deceitfullness of Sin Heb. 3. 13. And though it s said God hardened Pharaoh 's Heart yet I say as the Apostle saith God's Will is that All Men may know the Truth and be saved and I say there was a time when God would have softned his Heart and have made him a good man but he withstanding the Day of God's tender Visitation which was in order to have made him a Tender hearted good Man God ceased to strive with him for his Salvation and th en the Devil That great Hardier of Hearts had his Will of him And though God said to Pharaoh I have raised thee up to make my Power known in thee yet God did not say to him I Created thee on purpose that thou shouldst be a Wicked Cruel and Hard hearted Man NO it were great Blasphemy to say or think so though after he was hardened God suffered him for a time to oppress his People yea to rise higher and higher in his Oppression yet afterwards God's Power was known in his Destruction and in the deliverance of his own People Pharaoh said unto Moses and Aaron I have sinned the Lord is Righteous and I and my People are wicked Exod. 9. 27. Again he said I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you forgive I pray thee my Sin Chap. 10. ver 26 27. Again When Pharaoh saw there was Respite he hardned his Heart Chap. 8. ver 15. Again Pharaoh hardned his Heart this time also ver 32. Thus it plainly appears that Pharaoh justifieth the Lord God in his Righteous Judgments which he brought upon him and his People for their Sins and condemneth himself and his People saying I and my People are wicked It is certain that it was the Devil NOT GOD who led Pharaoh and his People into Sin by which their Hearts were hardned against God and his People The holy Apostle John saith He that committeth Sin is of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with Evil neither tempteth he any man But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lusts and enticed then when Lust hath conceived it bringeth forth Sin and Sin when it is finished bringeth forth Death Jam. 1. 13 14 15. And God's command is unto man kind that they should not harden their Hearts and it s written That he was grieved with those who did harden their Hearts Psalm 95. 8 10. Heb. 3. 10. and God hath promised That he will take away the Stony or hard Heart which the Devil hath made hard and that he will give them a Heart of Flesh or a soft heart c. Ezek. 11. 19. And David saith Psal 51. 17. The Sacrifice of God is a broken Heart And God said by the Prophet to the People Joel 2. 13. Rent your Hearts c. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart and saveth such as are of a contrite Spirit Psalm 34. 18. Christ Jesus said The Men of Nineveh shall rise up in Judgment with this Generation and shall condemn it because they Repented at the preaching of Jonas And behold a greater then Jonas is here Matth. 12. 41. Jesus upbraided yea condemned the Cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they Repented not see Matth. 11. 20. to the end God commandeth all men to Repent every where Act. 17. 30. Jesus said Suppose ye that those Galileans mentioned Luk. 13. 1 2 3. and those eighteen men on whom the Tower of Siloam fell ver 4. were sinners above all the Gallileans and above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell ye nay but except ye Repent ye shall ALL likewise PERISH And Christ told his Disciples after he was risen from the Dead That Repentance Remission of Sins should be preached in his Name unto all Nations or in all Nations mark that Luk. 24. 47. Many times did Jesus call unto the Rebellious amongst the seven Churches of Asia to Repent as may be seen in the second third Chapters of the Revelations at large Christs Parables concerning the stray Sheep and the prodigal Son in Luk. 15. 7. doth much hold forth the Universal Love of God to man-kind he said I say unto you that Joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that Repenteth more than over ninety nine just Persons which need no Repentance Again There is Joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that Repenteth Luke 15. 10. John the Baptist called the Pharisees and the Sadduces who came unto his Baptism A Generation of Vipers yet these he called to bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance Matth. 3. 7. 12. 23. Luk. 3. 7. In Rom. 9. 32. Paul saith
those who had not that SALVATION but perished Eternally their Destruction was of themselves as God said unto Israel O Israel thou destroyest thy self but in me is thy help The Angels which fell had a State of Rest and Peace with God this was their first state which Jude here speaks of but they kept not this First STATE and Habitation but LEFT IT yea Lost it through Presumption Irreverence and Neglect of their Duty whom God in his Righteous Judgments hath reserved in Everlasting CHAINS under Darkness unto the Judgment of the great day Jude 6. the keeping and preservation of Angels and Men from falling is in their Humble Lowly Constant depending upon God in the diligent improvement of all that God hath given them for his Glory and their Preservation Moreover Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to Fornication and going after STRANGE FLESH are set forth for Example suffering the Vengance of ETERNAL FIRE c. Jude 7. The holy Apostle Peter also sheweth that God did not spare the Angels that SINNED but cast them down to HELL and delivered them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto Judgment neither did he spare the old World nor Sodom nor Gomorah but by Fire and Water did he overthrow them making them an Ensample unto those that after should LIVE UNGODLY 2 Pet. 2. 4 5 6. Note Reader Here these holy Men shew that God spared not the Angels which sinned but cast them down to Hell It would be horrible Blasphemy to say that God ordained willed and purposed that they should sin against him that so he might cast them down to Hell this is not only Unscriptural and Unreasonable but it s wholly contrary to the nature of the holy glorious Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is LOVE as the Apostle saith yea a pure Fountain of Divine Love who made all things good yea VERY GOOD in the beginning who is of purer eyes then to behold Iniquity either in Men or Angels with approbation thereof delight therein or love thereto He said Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy for he made all things good and he CERTAINLY WILLED that ALL Angels and Men should be Good Holy and Clean according as he made Man and Angels in the beginning but for want of DUE REVERENCE DILIGENT WATCHFULNESS AND A TRUE AND FULL IMPROVEMENT of all that God gave them for his own Glory and their own PRESERVATION both Angels and Men have SINNED and the holy pure God NOT DELIGHTING IN THEIR SIN but on the contrary being DISPLEASED AT IT yea grieved WITH IT therefore doth God bring his Righteous Judgments upon the Angels who FELL and upon Ungodly Wicked Impenitent Men and Women who do not turn unto him by Unfeigned Repentance while the day or time of their Visitation lasteth As it s written God is Angry with the Wicked every day Psal 7. 11. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Psal 9. 17. God tryeth the Righteous but the wicked and him that loveth VIOLENCE HIS SOUL HATETH Vpon the Wicked he shall rain Snares Fire and Brimstone and an herrible Tempest For the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness his countenance doth behold the Vpright Psalm 11. 5 6 7. He that justifieth the Wicked and he that condemneth the Just even they both are ABOMINATION to the Lord Prov. 17. 15. To the Wicked God saith what hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant inthy Mouth SEEING THOU HATEST INSTRUCTION AND CASTEST MY WORDS BEHIND THEE when thou sawest a THIEF thou consentedst with him and hast been partaker with the Adulterer thou givest thy Mouth to Evil and thy Tongue frameth Deceit Now consider this ye that FORGET GOD lest I TEAR YOU IN PIECES c. whoso offereth Praises glorifieth me and to him that ordereth HIS CONVERSATION ARIGHT will I shew the Salvation OF GOD The holy just equal merciful Lord God doth not WILLINGLY AFFLICT NOR GRIEVE the Children of men Out of the Mouth of the most high proceedeth NOT EVIL and Good as saith the holy Prophet Lamen 3. 33. 38. Reader thus it doth clearly appear that the Damnation of the Angels that fell and the Damnation and Destruction of all Impenitent men and women IS OF THEMSELVES and the Lord God is clear who saith As I live I have no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but that the wicked turn from his evil way and live Ezek. 33. 11. 18. 32. The Apostle Paul said unto the Galatians who had erred from the Truth O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth c. are ye so foolish having BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT are ye now made perfect BY THE FLESH ye did run well who did hinder you that you should not obey the Truth This perswasion COMETH NOT of him that CALLETH you a little Leaven leaveneth a whole Lump Gal 3. 1. 3. Chap. 5. vers 7 8 9. Reader by these Scriptures it doth clearly and abundantly appear that God did not predestinate or fore-ordain that Angels or Men should Sin against him and so be damned Oh nay he loves and delights in Holiness but all Sin is abominable unto him yea Sin is of the Devil as the holy Ghost or Spirit hath spoken by the Mouth of the holy Apostle John And because it is of the Devil as it is signified by the holy Ghost through the holy Man Righteousness exalts a Nation but Sin is a Reproach unto any People Prov. 14. 34. And therefore the cry of the holy Ghost WAS AND IS unto the fallen Sons and Daughters of Adam Cleanse your Hands ye sinners and purifie your Hearts ye double-minded c. James 4. 8. Let the Wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his Thoughts Let him turn nnto the Lord and he will have mercy on him unto our God and he will abundantly PARDON Isa 55. 7. God said unto the Prophet Son of man when the Land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously then will I stretch forth mine Hand upon it and will break their Staff of Bread c. and ye shall know that I have not done WITHOVT CAVSE all that I have done in it saith the Lord God Ezek. 14. 13 23. Note Reader in as much as the JUST EQUAL Lord God of Heaven and Earth will not bring a temporal Judgment upon a Nation or Person untill they have given him JUST CAUSE by their great Sin Rebellion and Impenitency much less will HE Condemn or Damn or cast any Nation or Person into Hell or endless Misery untill they have given him Just Cause by their Sins and hardned Impenitency which Sin Hardness and Impenitency the Devil not God is the author of and Sin and the Impenitency of all such who Perish is according to the ordination will pleasure of the Devil the old Deceiver Destroyer and so is ABSOLUTELY
contrary to the will decree and pleasure of the holy pure God whose will is that all men may know the Truth be saved as the holy Ghost saith by the Mouth of the holy Apostle Paul Again God saw the Wickedness of man was great in the Earth and the VERY IMAGINATIONS of the THOUGHTS of his Heart was ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY and it REPENTED the Lord that he had made man on the Earth and it GRIEVED him at his HEART Gen. 6. 5 6. Note this Reader here is a clear and undeniable proof that God never did NO nor never will Ordain Predestinate Fore-appoint or WILL that any Man or Woman should be Evil Sinful Wicked or that any Man or Woman should imploy their Hearts and Minds at ANY TIME in that which is EVIL muchless that the Imaginations of the THOUGHTS of men and womens Hearts should be ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY This Testimony of the holy Ghost or Spirit in Moses gives a FATAL stroke upon those who do imagin and speak so WRONG of God as to place it as the Decree Fore-ordination and Appointment of God that Some if not many men and women should yea must be Wicked upon MEER necessity they must have NO help from God to enable them to be Holy Godly c. Neither are they able of themselves to be Holy yet must as is Ungodlily imagined be damned cast into Hell for Sin Unholiness Ungodliness c. When they COULD by NO MEANS be Godly Holy c. God having NOT willed that they should be so and therefore would not give them Grace to enable them to be SO yet damneth them and casteth them into Hell because they are not SO. Oh this is gross Darkness that may be felt These Ungodly Opinions and Words RENDER God who hath given Life and a Being unto all Mankind MORE CRUEL and Unnatural unto Man and Woman the Workmanship of his own holy Hands than the most bruitish of his Creatures are unto their own young yea more cruel than they are one unto another yea the Lyon and the Bear in their kind do witness against these their ungodly Notions Imaginations and Words WELL may it be said of these vain and ungodly OPINIONISTS that they do not SPEAK RIGHT things of God c. Oh the evil Effect that this abominable Doctrine hath had and hath at this Day it is greatly to be lamented But glory to the Lord God the pure Light of the Morning of his glorious Day hath chased away the Smoke of the Pit of Darkness from the Eyes of a Remnant which hath thus greatly clouded and darkned the understandings of Mankind and the Lord is daily blowing away this cursed Smoke more and more out of this cursed Pit streams out the cursed dark Breath of the old Dragon the Devil who hath corrupted both Earth and Air with this his cursed Breath who hath made the Nations like the raging Sea which casts up Mire and Dirt yea like Beasts of Prey to Devour one another But God is risen in his great strength who will shut the Pits Mouth and will seal him down that he may deceive the Nations no more to God be all glory honour dominion and praise for evermore for he is worthy Moreover the great God Hath shewed thee O man what is GOOD and what doth the Lord REQUIRE OF THEE BUT TO DO JUSTLY AND TO LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD Micah 6. 8. Again the great Lord God of Heaven and Earth said unto the Children of Israel that great People I have set before thee this day LIFE AND GOOD AND DEATH AND EVIL in that I command thee this Day to love the Lord thy God to WALK IN HIS WAYES and keep his Commandments c. I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you saith the Lord that I have SET before you Life and Death Blessing and Cursing therefore CHVSE LIFE that both thou and thy Seed may live that thou mayest love the Lord thy God and that thou mayest obey his VOICE and that thou mayest CLEAVE unto him FOR HE IS THY LIFE AND THE LENGTH OF THY DAYES But if thine HEART TURN AWAY SO that thou wilt NOT HEAR c. I denounce unto you this day that ye shall SURELY PERISH c. Deut. 30. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Again They have CORRUPTED THEMSELVES A Perverse and Crooked Generation of the Rock that BEGAT THEE thou art UNMINDFULL and hast FORGOTTEN GOD THAT FORMED THEE Jesurun waxed fat kicked he forsook God who made him and lightly esteemed the ROCK of his Salvation the Lord saw it and he abhorred them and he said I will hide my face from them they have MOVED ME to jealousie with that which is NOT GOOD Fire is kindled in mine Anger and it shall burn unto the LOWEST HELL Chap. 32. 5 15 18 19 20 22. The Lord God said concerning the Rebellious Jews They have chosen their own wayes and their SOVL delighteth in THEIR Abomination I also will chuse their Delusions and will bring their Fears upon them BECAUSE when I called none did answer when I spake none did hear but they did evil before mine eyes and CHOSE that in which I delighted NOT Isa 66. 3 4. 2 Thes 2. 10 11. The holy Prophet said Justice and Judgment are the Habitations of thy Throne c. Psalm 89. 14. Reader by what is above written it doth clearly and abundantly appear that the duty of all mankind is to love God to hearken unto him to obey his Voice to do justly to be lovers of Mercy and all true Christians must obey the Command of Christ who saith be merciful c. and must walk Humbly with the living God who giveth Life and a Being unto all Mankind by whose pure power they have their being continu'd upon Earth who of his free bounty gives them Food and Rayment Health and all necessary things which they do enjoy and without love to God doing Justly loving Mercy and walking Humbly with God as aforesaid Man and Woman cannot be accepted of God The just equal Lord God who requires this of all mankind doth put all into a capacity so to do And mens doing contrary unto this proceeds not of or from God but of and from the wicked one the false Teacher who led Adam and Eve to Sin against God Therefore let none who do WICKEDLY say It is Gods Will that they should DO SO. For God who is Holy who made man holy just and good his WILL is that all should be holy who said Be ye holy I the Lord your God am holy He commands them to chuse the Good and refuse the Evil and they have Power tender'd unto them by him so to DO it becomes their Sin who do not SO such do not improve that which God hath afforded them to enable and lead them to chuse the good and such are the idle unjust Servants who hide their Lords Money in the Earth as Christ said in his Parables Such
Unfaithfull is called to Repentance yea the Back-sliders is called to Repentance to do their first works to be watchfull to strengthen the things that remain that are ready to dye c. Now they who do take this heavenly Counsel they do the will of God and in so doing they stand approved in his sight The diligent Watchers who have and do put on and keep on the whole Armour of God as aforesaid they do NOT FALL but do grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ more and more of such the Psalmist speaketh saying Blessed is the man that walketh not in the Way of the Vngodly he shall be like a Tree that is planted by the Rivers of Water c. but upon the Wicked who repent not who forsake not their Wickedness God will rain Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest as the holy Ghost hath said and there is no Peace to the Wicked saith my God but the Righteous hath said in Truth thou Lord wilt ordain Peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works IN US And the holy Apostle said We are Gods workmanship CREATED IN Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS which God before ORDAINED that we should walk IN THEM Isa 26. 12. Ephes 2. 10. The Apostle Peter opened his Mouth and said Of a Turth I perceive that God is NO Respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth HIM and worketh Righteousness is ACCEPTED with HIM the Word that God sent unto the Children of Israel Preaching PEACE by Jesus Christ he is Lord of ALL c. Acts 10. 34 35. Note Reader He by whom all were and are Created and he who according to the flesh DYED for all who enlighteneth the EYES of the UNDERSTANDINGS of ALL in some degree whose will is that all men may be saved he is Lord of all as saith the Apostle he is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation ALL those who fear him work Righteousness they are accepted with HIM Here God shews that he loves and delights in Righteousness but HATES the contrary and therefore he calls ALL Men to Repent EVERY WHERE as saith the holy Apostle God's condiditions of ELECTION and Salvation is Faith in him and unfeigned Repentance and he doth freely tender yea GIVE the true and real CAUSE of Faith and Repentance unto all the Ungodly and Impenitent to wit Visitations by the Spirit Word of Truth which doth convince the World of sin in which the Grace Love or Favour of God is held forth to all mankind in enlightening their Understandings giving them thereby to know Good FROM Evil by which he also MOVES upon the Soul to CHUSE the Good and REFUSE the Evil which spirit or word is of ABILITY to beget faith to work unfeigned Repentance doth IT in all where the stubborn will of man doth not withstand the Day of Gods tender Visitation given thereby but IT IS possible man in his STUBBORN SELF-WILL may so long resist that God will strive NO LONGER with him for his salvation for he hath said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man God said to the Wicked with whom he had long striven to gather them out of their wickedness UNTO himself WO unto them when I DEÌ„PART FROM THEM Hos 9. 12. I HATED them for the WICKEDNESS of their doings saith God V. 15. The Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy Heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But WHAT saith it The WORD is NIGH thee even in thy MOUTH and in thy HEART that is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. But I say have they not heard Yes verily their Sound went into all the Earth and their Words to the ends of the World but they have not all obeyed the Gospel But to Israel he saith All day long have I stretched forth my Hands unto a Disobedient and Gain-saying People Ver. 18 16 21. Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14. Moreover God set Adam in a glorious state in Paradise and he willed that he should obey him as he commanded him and he put him in a condition that he might have continued in obedience unto him so it was possible that he might have continued in obedience unto him and so have stood and it was NOT impossible that he should FALL as the event hath proved and his Fall is NOT to be charged or placed upon God but upon himself for want of a due and full improvement of all that God gave him to keep him from falling God is able to keep his Creatures Man and Woman from falling his Name his pure holy Power is a strong Tower and in it IS Everlasting Safety Man and Womans being kept from falling consists in their constant diligent dependence upon him who made them he ONLY is able to keep them from falling Jude 24. God is mercifull slow to Anger and abundant in compassion towards mankind as he hath signified by the holy Ghost in his holy Prophets and Apostles he is full of compassion and tender pity he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. Christ Jesus hath commanded his Disciples to be mercifull saying Be ye merciful as your Father is merciful he is KIND unto the UNTHANKFUL to the EVIL and he causeth his Light to shine upon the EVIL upon the Good and sendeth his Rain upon the Just and the UNJUST Luke 36. 37. Mat. 5. 45. The Prophet David saith The Lord is good to ALL and his tender Mercies are over all his WORKS c. Psal 145. ver 8 9 And he said to his Son Solomon If thou seek him he will be FOUND of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off forever take heed c. 1 Chron. 28. 9 10. Moreover the holy Ghost saith Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near Isa 55. 6. Again Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without MONEY and without Price wherefore do you SPEND Money for that which is NOT Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth NOT hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness Encline your Ear and come unto me HEAR and your Soul shall live c. Isa 55. 1 2 3. Moreover the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever WILL let him take the Water of Life freely Rev. 22. 17 c. Note Reader Here is a general comortable Proclamation of the favour good will of God to all people every one hath a T me or
righteous in the sight of men For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against ALL Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men c. Because that which may be known of God IS manifest IN them for God hath SHEWED it unto them For the Invisible things OF HIM from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and GODHEAD so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE Rom. 1. 18 19 20. Mark the WRATH of God is against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men for one and the same cause namely because that which may be known of God is manifest IN THEM here the holy just merciful God shews that he is not PARTIAL Reader it is certain that the Spirit of Truth which doth Convince the World of Sin and leaves those without Excuse justly to be punished who do not believe Repent and Forsake their Sins and turn to God the same IS sufficient to GIVE Faith unto ALL men and Women But God said Israel would have none of ME. And Christ said to the Jews Ye will NOT come to ME that ye might have Life And Christ in pity and tender compassion WEPT over the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and said I would have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would NOT. He did NOT say Ye could not for he KNEW that it was possible that they might have come unto him while the day of their Visitation lasted but after that time was ended they could not he said O that thou hadst known or experienced and enjoyed in this thy day the things which belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Now your House is left unto you Desolate Now those that would not and will not have God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Grace and Truth which God hath given to lead out of the Sin of Unbelief c. these WILL NOT have Faith For they in their stubborn corrupt Self-will refuse God and Christ the Author of it and the holy Spirit which is given to lead into the true Faith which purifieth the Heart the Mystery of which is held in a pure Conscience as saith the holy Apostle Those who are so hardened by the Devil that great hardener of Hearts that they will not have God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Grace and Truth nor Faith this their refusing of God and Christ the Spirit Faith c. is NOT according to the WILL and mind of God nor Christ nor the Spirit of Truth but according to the cursed Will and Mind of the old Deceiver who led Adam and Eve to Sin against God and against their own Souls and according to their own cursed will and mind which he the old Deceiver and Destroyer hath begotten in them against God Christ the Spirit of Truth c. And such hardened ONES Perish whose Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth is clear which hath Convinced them of their Sin and Reproved them for the same in secret and hath waited and long striven to lead them out of the same into Faith INTO love and pure obedience to the pure holy God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Christ pronounced Wo against the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for OMITTING Faith see Matth. 23. 23. Note Reader here he pronounceth Wo against them because they had not Faith or were not in the true Faith here the just God shews that he did not with-hold the true and real means and cause of Faith from them but they in their corrupt wicked WILL did resist the working of the same till God ceased to strive with them for their Salvation So their being without Faith and perishing for want of it was of themselves and the Lord God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth was and is clear of them and all such It would be blasphemous to say that it was God's will that they should have no Faith though he cryed Wo against them because they omitted it and condemned them for not being found in it But it is no very strange thing that all men have not Faith seeing many in former Ages and divers in this have made SHIPWRACK of the true Faith which they ONCE HAD The Apostle Paul charged Timothy to Hold FAITH and a GOOD CONSCIENCE which some having put AWAY concerning Faith have made Shipwrack 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. Moreover Paul said to Timothy The Spirit speaks expresly that in the latter Times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared with a hot iron forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Moreover Paul told Timothy that Hymaeneus and Philetus had erred c. who had overthrown the Faith of some see 1 Tim. 2. 18. Again Paul said to Timothy Hold fast the form of sound Words which thou hast heard of me in FAITH and Love this thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me 2 Tim. 1. 13. 15. Again O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy TRUST avoiding prophane and vain Bablings and oppositions of Science falsly so called which some professing have enred concerning the Faith 1 Tim. 6. 20 21. Reader thus it doth plainly appear that those who once had the true Faith did depart from it and fell into Apostacy and so made Shipwrack of that Faith which the Spirit of Truth had begotten in them and such became as Trees twice Dead plucked up by the Roots c. and as wandring Stars or wandring restless Spirits for whom is reserved the mist of Darkness forever as it s written in the holy Scriptures the Hearts and Consciences of such were grown very hard benumed and greatly insensible eyen answering in a Spiritual sense that saying viz. Having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron such are forward and bold to commit Sin with pleasure and greediness and to make a mock at true Tenderness holy Fear and true Watchfulness and at the godly Sorrow and unfeigned Repentance of those whose Hearts God hath broken by his Righteous Judgments through the effectual operation of the Word of FAITH which is to be known nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth which Word is as a Hammer to break the hard Heart and as an Ax or Sword to cut down the Lust and Wickedness thereof and as a Fire to burn up the same and as a strong Wind to drive away the Ashes thereof Wo wo to the Ranters and Atheists who have sold themselves to work Wickedness with greediness who make a Mock at God at his Works in Judgment and in Mercy unto the Children of men who sport themselves in their Devilish prophane Conversations wo to them it had been better for them that they had not been Born And wo to all Apostates who are departed from the true
Faith which they once had who have sinned out the Day of Gods tender Visitation to them who are the Trees twice dead pluckt up by the Roots whose end is to be burned it had been better for them that they had not had Faith then after they had it to depart from it Therefore let all People who have not sinned out the day of God's tender Visitation HEAR and Fear the mighty God who is a consuming Fire unto the Wicked as it s written and let all such bow their Hearts and Minds unto God's searching Spirit and Word nigh in their Hearts and that will work true Faith and encrease the same and will preserve them from making Shipwrack of Faith and it will beget a good tender Conscience and it will continue and uphold the same in all those who continue to HEAR and Fear the living God who as the Apostle saith Is the Saviour of all men but especially of those that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. His Sun shines upon the Evil and the Good and his Rain falls upon the Just and the Unjust he is good unto the Unthankful and to the Evil as is shewed before So God sends and gives his Mercies unto the Wicked and Rebellious in some degree not only in things Temporal but also in things Spiritual as is largely shewed in this Book so that in the day of Gods Visitation unto them he is a Saviour unto them and saves and preserves them from Destruction and he doth suffer long to lead the Wicked to Repentance who saith As I live I have no pleasure in the Death or Damnation or Destruction of the Wicked but that the Wicked should turn and live But when they will not turn unto him in the day of his Long-suffering and tender Visitation he casts them out of his favour forever as Christ hath said unto the Goats set on the Left Hand Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil his Angels The Counsel of the holy Ghost is Seek ye the Lord while he MAY be found call upon him while he is NEAR Isa 55. 6. Again They hated Knowledge and did NOT CHUSE the fear of the Lord they would NONE of my Counsel they despised all my Reproof therefore shall they eat of the Fruit of their own wayes and be filled with their own Devices For the turning AWAY of the Simple shall SLAY them and the Prophecying of Fools shall DESTROY them But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell SAFELY and shall be QUIET from FEAR of Evil Prov. 1. 29 30 31 32 33. In Romans the first Chapter the Apostle Paul speaks largely concerning some who When they knew God they did NOT glorisie him AS God neither were THANKFUL but became vain in their Imaginations and their foolish Hearts were darkened they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God into an IMAGE made like to corruptible Man and to Birds and Fore-footed Beasts and Creeping things wherefore God gave them up to Vncleaness Who changed the Truth of God into a Lye or rather for a Lye and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed forever Amen And they became HATERS of God and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them up to a Reprobate mind c. Such become like the deaf Adder that stopeth his Ear which will not hearken to the Voice of Charmers Charming never so wisely see Psalm 58. 4 5. The Apostle Paul saith Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of man that doth Evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile for there is NO respect of PERSONS with God Rom. 2. 9 11. but Glory Honour and Peace to every man that WORKETH Good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile ver 10. Christ said concerning the Wicked This Peoples Heart is waxed gross and their Ears are dull of hearing and their Eyes THEY have closed c. Note Reader by what is above written it doth plainly appear that there is a time when man may seek after God and find him and have eternal Salvation given by him yea there is a time when HE is near and then he being call'd upon will hear and answer But if man IN his SELF-WILL carelesness and negligence REFUSE this seasonable time then he may seek and NOT find call and NOT be answered Therefore blessed are all they who prize and imbrace the time and day of Gods tender Visitation who said TO day if ye will hear my Voice HARDEN NOT your Hearts c. Again They that hated Knowledge who did NOT CHUSE his fear these did harden their Hearts contrary to the will and mind of God they set at naught ALL his Counsel and would have NONE of his Reproof Therefore saith God they shall eat the Fruit of their own wayes c. For the turning away of the Simple shall slay or destroy them c. But saith God whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil O blessed happy are all they who INCLINE their Ears diligently hearken unto his Voice and obey the same with such he will make an everlasting Covenant and will give unto them the sure Mercies of David he will give them unfeigned Repentance as he gave unto him and forgiveness of their Sins as he did unto him yea he will remove their Sins as far from them as the East is from the West Psal 103. 12. Isa 55. 3. Object It s written some are sensual not having the Spirit and they who have not the Spirit cannot have Faith for faith is the fruit of the Spirit and those who have not the Spirit they have not faith and those who have not faith cannot be saved Therefore all such God did ordain or fore-appoint to be damned before they were Born Answ I have before largely and clearly proved that Gods will is that all men might be saved he calls to all the ends of the Earth to look unto him saying Look unto me and be ye saved He giveth all a Day and Time of Visitation wherein they may all seek him and find him call upon him and be heard and answered by him and receive in his tender Mercy everlasting Salvation It is true that the holy Man of God hath said that some of Old did I say many now do separate themselves Sensual not having the Spirit but this doth NOT at all prove that such never had the Spirit in any measure but the Scriptures of Truth do clearly prove the contrary For the Lord gave his Spirit unto Saul but because of his Disobedience and Rebellion against the Lord the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil Spirit troubled him c. see 1 Chron. 16. 14. And Saul said The Lord is departed from me Chap. 28. 15. When David had sinned against God in the case of Vriah he greatly lamented and unfeignedly Repented of his Sin and prayed unto the Lord saying Cast me not
is the Devil as Christ said these are the REPROBATES this Birth of the Serpents Seed is the Prophane Esau which God Hates this Birth is Cursed in its first Conception in its Youth and in its Old Age. Jesus said unto the Rebellious Jews The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruit thereof see Mat. 21. 45. And to such Unbelieving Rebellious ones he said Ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and ye your selves thrust out see Luke 13. 28. Again Christ said Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in see Matth. 23. â—3 read the Chapter through See Luke 11. 52. Take notice of this all ye Loose and Prophane Livers who call your selves Christians your Un-God-like and Un-Christ-like Conversations bring a Scandal and Reproach upon the Name of Christianity you cause the honourable Name of Christ and Christianity to be Blasphemed against by Jews Turks and Indian Heathens O that the deep Sence of this your great Sin might fall upon you and that your Hearts might be truly broke in the Sence thereof O that you would yet Unfeignedly seek Repentance before the Door of Mercy be forever shut against you there is yet Mercy with God for multitudes therefore his holy Will is that they should seek after him Unfeignedly Repent and Turn unto him from all their Abominations but those who will not but go on stubbornly in Rebellion against him he will cut down suddainly in his Righteous Judgments SWIFTLY even as a Mower cuts down Grass therefore Fear Tremble and Bow before him all ye Workers of Iniquity And more particularly consider of these things O all ye several sorts of TEACHERS whose EVIL WORK it hath been and is to draw out and keep out Peoples Minds from the Spirit of God and Christ by which alone their Hearts are SEARCHED and their EVIL Thoughts Words and Actions shewed unto them this is the swift Witness by which the Living God doth Reprove them and Condemn them for the same This is the Faithfull and True Witness which neither BRIBES nor FLATTERY nor THREATNINGS can Corrupt Destroy nor Stop ITS inward Convictions Rebukes or Reproofs from those who Rebel against it and as it is faithfull in witnessing against all the Rebellious so is it faithfull in bearing witness to and with the Spirits of all the Obedient that they are the Children of God And of this the holy Apostles were Living True Witnesses who said Whatsoever is Reproved is made manifest by the Light and also said The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God And also said He that believeth in the Son of God hath a witness within himself and hath set to his seal that God is True As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are Sons of God and if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his as saith the holy Apostle Those who believe not in the Spirit of God and Christ they are not governed by it they are NOT the real Possessors and Enjoyers of it and such have it not to save and deliver them out of sin because they believe not in it yet this Spirit of Truth doth convince the whole World which lieth in Wickedness of their sins and doth in secret condemn them for the same every one in the Day of Gods Visitation unto them So the Spirit of Truth which is the Saints Comforter which leads them into all Truth the same is the Reprover Condemner Judger and Tormentor of the Unbelieving Wicked Rebellious World see John 16. 8 9 10 11 12 13. Ephes 5. 13. Jer. 17. 10. Psal 7. 9. Mal. 3. 5. 1 John 5. 10. Isa 55. 4. John 3. 33. Rom. 8. 14 16. Psal 50. 21 22. Amos 4. 13. John 1. 9. and 8. 12. and 3. 19 20. Acts 13. 47. and 26. 17 18. 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. The Apostle saith What man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth NO man but the Spirit of God the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God see 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. This was and is the KEY of all heavenly saving knowledge by this is mans Heart opened to understand and know those things which belongs to his Immortal Souls Rest and Peace and he that believeth therein is enabled thereby to do those things which are well-pleasing to the Lord God and keep out of those things which are displeasing to him And of this the holy Apostle was a Living true Witness who prayed for the Believers saying I pray God strengthen you by his Spirit in the INNER MAN see Ephes 3. 16. Col. 1. 11. Christ said unto the Rebellious Jews who made their boast of the Law yet wrested the Sayings thereof and brake it Wo unto ye Lawyers for ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge ye entered NOT in your selves and them that were entering in ye hindered see Luke 11. 52. Nehemiah said Lord thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them c. Nevertheless they were Disobedient and Rebelled against thee and cast thy Law behind their Backs and SLEW thy Prophets which testified against them to turn them unto thee see Nehem. 9. 20. 26. Remember this all YE that hate and Persecute those who Worship God who is a Spirit in the Spirit and in the Truth and Repent and cease from your Ungodly Works if you will not God will cut you off and vex you in his sore displeasure in rewarding you justly according to the Wickedness of your doings We to the Rebellious Children saith the Lord that take Counsel but not of me and that cover with a Covering but NOT OF MY SPIRIT that they may add Sin unto Sin see Isa 30. 1. This Spirit was and is the Covering UNDER which man and woman is blessed is in safety out of the reach of that evil hurtful Spirit which worketh in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience who also goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour as saith the Apostle whom the true Believers did and do resist in the living Faith and by the virtue of the good Spirit of God with which they were ARE covered and in it had have Victory over him such did do experience to their great Comfort the saying of the holy man fulfilled who said Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the WORLD see 1 John 4. 4. O that the Haters of and Mockers at this holy pure Spirit would seriously consider what they are doing O that they would consider their latter end and the account that they must give to God for these things O that it were in their Hearts unfeignedly to
and justifie themselves in their Ranterism and Debauched Wicked Conversations the State also of the latter is greatly to be Lamented and it is the earnest desire of my Soul with many more that those might come to Unfeigned Repentance for this their great EVIL that so they might come to a true and godly use Esteem of the holy Scriptures and so to have profit by them and comfort in them as the true Believers had in Primitive Times and such now have Glory to the Lord God for the same it is the Spirit or Light of Truth which leads the true Believers into all Truth and convinceth the World of sin that giveth a right Understanding and leadeth to a right use of the Scripâ—â—â—es this Spirit was mans Guide before the Scriptures were written by it men were made holy before they gave forth the holy Scriptures this is the Key which openeth them and leadeth to a right use and application of them but they whose Minds are gone ASTRAY from this Spirit who have not do not LEARN of it those do WREST the Scriptures to their own Destruction as some did in the Apostle Peter's Dayes against whom he testified Christ told some amongst the earthy Wise Jews Ye neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God yet those were great Talkers of them and even as they knew them not not owning the Key that openeth them so many in our day knoweth them NOT because they believe not in the Spirit of Truth which ONLY openeth them Concerning Good Example CHrist suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who did not Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth 1 Pet. â— 21 22. Here the holy Apostle shews that it is the Duty and Practice of all true Christians to follow the Example and the holy clean Steps of the holy man Christ Jesus who did not Sin But those who do continue in Sin and plead for a continuance in the same all their dayes upon Earth who Sin as they say in their most Holy Duties these are very far from the holy Faith and holy Conversation of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ and all true Christians and very far from following his pure Examples and his holy clean Steps The Apostle John saith concerning Christ Hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar But whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 John 2. 3 4 5 6. Reader see how these holy men of God agree in their Testimony in this weighty matter these holy men did abide in Christ and Christ in them they by virtue of his divine spiritual dwelling in them were strengthned and enabled in their Lives and Conversations to follow that holy Example which he gave them in the dayes of his Flesh who went about doing Good who never did Evil and though they had sinned he redeemed them from it and from the Devil the Author or Original of it And so many came to behold their good Conversation in Christ COUPLED WITH FEAR as the Apostle exhorteth 1 Pet. 3. 2. John saith We know that whosoever is Born of God sinneth NOT And we know that we are of God and the whole World lieth IN WICKEDNESS And we know that the Son of God is come and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and Life eternal Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen 1 John 5. 18 19 20 21. Here the Apostle shews plainly who are true Christians and who are not the true Christians are in Christ who hath redeemed them out of the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God and such have the Spirit of Christ bearing witness with or unto their Spirits that they are the Children of God according to the promise of God Rom. 8. 16 21. And they are NOT TRUE Christians who Lye or continue all their dayes in Sin and Wickedness these are the World as John saith Certain it is those who go on in Sin who plead a necessity to continue in it all their days they live or abide upon Earth these are NOT the Bride the Lambs Wife the true Church whom HE presents to the Father a glorious Church WITHOUT spot or wrinkle or any such thing Holy and without Blemish as in Ephes 5. 27. But those pleaders for and continuers in Sin all their dayes these are the Harlot these are the World that lieth in Wickedness whom the cursed One is the God of who hath BLINDED THEIR MINDS these are in the broad way that leads to Destruction IN VAIN DO these call Jesus Lord who do not believe his Commands who are not governed by him who do not that which he saith he said Learn of me I AM MEEK AND LOWLY and ye shall find rest to your Souls A Remnant hath learned of him in this Age and hath found his Promise true Glory to the Lord God for the same they have found Rest and Peace to their Souls in him THEIR PRINCE of PEACE though they have Trouble Oppression in the World for his SAKE yet these can truly say as the holy Apostles said of the faithful followers of Christ of Old GREATER IS HE that is in you then he that is in them to wit the World by whom we overcome them they are of the World therefore speak they of the World the World heareth them We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth NOT US hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Error 1 John 4. 4 5 6. The Apostle Paul said unto the the Philippians Brethren be followers together of me and mark them who walk so as ye have VS for an ENSAMPLE for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even WEEPING that they are Enemies of the Cross of Christ Phil. 3. 17 18. to the end of the Chapter The same Apostle said to the Corinthians Be ye followers of ME even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor 11. 1. The Apostle Peter writ unto the Elders of the Church of Christ saying Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof NOT by constraint but willingly NOT for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind NEITHER as being LORDS over Gods Heritage but as ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Reader there are several things worthy of thy serious and weighty Consideration in these words of the holy Apostle Peter the first is that the Elders of the Church of God and Christ did and do as Instruments in â—od's Hand Ministring that is Serving
in his own Spirit and Power feed the Flock of God and Christ Secondly That they did and do take the over-sight of the Flock not by Constraint but willingly God makes them willing by his heavenly power they are NOT made willing by Gold or Silver Corn or Cattel or any earthly thing neither do they AFFECT Titles of Eldership in Pride or Vain Glory but the False Teachers and Elders are made willing to Preach for Gold and Slver Corn and Cattel and Earthly things how such affect Titles Earthly things more then the true Elders WORK is known to God and it is discerned by many in this Morning of his heavenly Day which is dawned in this our Age glory to the Lord God for the same Such who feed with the Fat and cloath with the Wooll and make a PREY upon the People are in Balaams Way and Error who covet the Wages of Unrighteousness yea many in Cains way in Envy Persecuting about these things some even to Death and for these things they strive one against another the strife is who shall have the fattest Benefice The TRUE Elders and Ministers did not nor do not take the oversight of the flock of God for FILTHY LUCRE but of a ready mind which God begetteth in them by his good Spirit FILTHY Lucre is Earthly gain ILL GOTTEN Christ Jesus commanded his Disciples whom he made Elders to watch over his Church saying Freely ye have received freely give Those who esteem themselves Christs Ministers yet take the over-sight of their Flocks and watch over them and teach them for Gold Silver Corn Hay c. this their Gain is ungodly it is Ill gotten because in the getting of it they break Christs Command whose Servants they pretend to be and in so doing they greatly dishonour him Yet still the Ministers of Christ have power to eat such as is set before them freely but not to force or compel by Persecution those who did or do receive Spiritual things from them the Spirit of God makes such willing there is no use for outward Force and Persecution in this concern so then to be sure they had not power by outward Force to compel those who did not believe nor receive their Testimony or to pay them for preaching though the true Apostles and Elders had power to eat c. and where they did sow Spiritual things to reap Carnal yet they laboured with their own hands that they might make the Gospel without charge so far were they from desiring or receiving any outward thing for preaching from Unbelievers that they laboured with their own hands that they might not be chargeable to the Believers No the Ministers and Elders who were and are made by Christ were and are men of nobbler Spirits then to do so The true Elders and Ministers were not nor are not Lords over God's Heritage but were and are good Ensamples and true Servants to the Flock And their Exhortation was and is to walk as they had and have them for Ensamples Glory to the Lord for the same The faithful Elder and Apostle Paul by the holy Ghost exhorted Timothy saying Be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Neglect not the Gift that is in thee c. take heed unto thy self and unto the Doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt save both thy self and them that hear thee see 1 Tim. 4. 12. to the end Again Chap. 5. 22. Lay Hand suddenly on NO man neither be partaker of other mens Sins KEEP thy self PURE c. They are blessed who follow the blessed Example of the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles and the Elders made by him who abide in his Doctrine and in the Faith which he is the Author and Finisher of and in the love which reacheth to all People both Friends and Enemies which Love thinketh no Evil neither doth any Wrong or Evil which Love is stronger than Death it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly This Love is the fulfilling of the holy Law of God as saith the holy Apostle All who keep therein are PLEASANT to the Lord and honoured by him with a truly tendred Heart and lowly mind and with the pure Patience in and through all Tribulation Trials and Affliction which cometh upon them for Christ's sake in which they possess their Souls in peace and quietness being kept by the mighty Power of God through the precious Faith and Love which is shed abroad in them BY and in Christ Jesus He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked see 1 John 2. 6. Concerning Original Sin IN page 10. J. B. takes upon him to say something concerning Original Sin he saith to his Neighbour I understand by you that its contrary to the Doctrine you teach c. Answ The Original or first cause of Sin is the Devil who abode not in the Truth as Christ said The Apostle saith He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might Destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. Jesus said Whosoever committeth sin is the Servant of sin Joh. 8. 34. J. B. saith to his Neighbour in the aforesaid page You told me you questioned not at all but all those Infants that dyed without actual Sin were received into Heaven having nothing to be laid to their Condemnation Answ J. B's Neighbour hath spoken very Soberly and Charitably and Scripturally and Soundly in this matter though J. B. doth ignorantly Cavil against him for it the Dark Rebellious Apostized Jews were like unto this J. B. they said The Fathers have eaten sowr Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are s t on edge c. These Dark sayings displeased the Lord and he Rebuked them for them by the Mouth of his Servant Ezekiel saying The Soul that sinneth it shall dye the Son shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father neither shall the Father bear the Iniquity of the Son see Ezek. 18. 2 20. read the Chapter through Moreover the Lord said by the Mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah They shall say no more the Fathers have eat a sowr Grape and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but every one shall dye for his own Iniquity every man that eateth the sowr Grape his Teeth shall be set on edge Jer. 31. 29 30. Thus it plainly appears that little Infants who never acted or committed Sin must not be cast into Hell for their Fathers Sins but dying without actual Sin must inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus called a little Child unto him and set it in the midst of them and said Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. 2 3. Mark 10. 15. Luke 18. 17. Jesus said Suffer little Children and forbid them
concerning Christs putting an End to the Work of the Law we do NOT believe that Christ has put an end to the Command of God who said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not Steal nor Covet any thing that is thy Neighbours Thou shalt not bear False Witness nor remove the Antient Land-mark c. But we believe that Christ fulfills these Commands in all them that through Faith and Obedience grow up in him who is the true Vine by leading them to do those before-mentioned things which God Commands so the true Christians cease from the Shadows and in Christ by his Vertue and Power do Love God with all their Hearts and their Neighbour as themselves on which Commands as Christ saith hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 40. Concerning Perfection IN page 24. J. B. saith speaking to the People called Quakers You hold that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life Answ We do own the command of God who said unto Abraham I am God all-sufficient walk thou before me and be thou Perfect We say God was sufficient to enable him to keep his command and we believe he did so And we do believe the Command of Christ who said Be ye therefore perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect And we do believe it is possible to keep this command of Christ by and through the Virtuous spiritual Presence of Christ in and with the believing DILIGENT SOUL And we do believe that the Gifts which were and are given for the PERFECTING of the Saints did and do accomplish that for which they were and are GIVEN The Apostle said We Labour that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus And we do believe that many were perfected in Christ Jesus though some Crucified Christ unto themselves afresh and put him to open shame as the Apostle saith We do believe the holy Apostle who said Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is Born of God Now as to J. B's Charge That we hold forth and own that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life I Answer The Word Degree concerning Perfection is neither our Word nor did I ever read it in the Scriptures of Truth as used by him concerning Perfection But this word Degree he hath thrust into his Charge against us thinking no doubt thereby to make it the more strong but all his labour is in vain He doth not declare what he meaneth by the word DEGREE but if by Degree he mean a freedom from acting or committing Sin such a Perfection we do believe is attainable in this Life by and through the mighty working of God and Christ in men and women and this is according to the command of God Christ the Doctrine and Experience of the holy Apostles But if by the word Degree J. B. mean a Perfection of Glory in the HIGHEST attainment of Glory that can EVER be enjoyed then we DEEM that such a Perfection is attainable in this Life or while we dwell here upon Earth For WE are of the same Faith the holy Apostle was of who when he was near to depart out of this World said I have fought a good fight I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judge shall give unto me at that day and not to me only but to all those that love his appearance J. B. hath taken upon him to interpret the Apostle John's words who saith Whosoever is Born of God doth not commit Sin he cannot Sin c. J. B. saith The meaning of these Words can be but this Whosoever is Born of God doth not make it his practice to Sin Answ What Confusion Falsness and Nonsence is this to say that he who commits Sin doth not practise Sin this is horrible abuse and wresting the holy Scriptures which God will bring him to Judgment for and if he do not Repent and cease from such Ungodly silly work as this he will bring Destruction upon himself As I do understand this J. B. is one of that sort of men who do in their Confessions tell the Lord God that they do Sin in their most holy Duties Now if their most holy Duties have Sin in them then there is Sin in all those other things which they call Duties and consequently in their Actions which they do not account Holy Duties and so they make it their Practice to Sin and so according to his own Argument Such who make it their Practice to Sin are not born of God But to speak his mind more fully I do apprehend his meaning is that the Children of God do not commit so much Sin as the Children of the Devil do Answ When the Apostle saith He that is Born of God doth not commit Sin he also saith He that commits Sin is of the Devil In the next verse he saith In this is the Children of God manifest and the Children of the Devil c. 1 John 3. 10. J. B. I ask thee dost not thou believe that God is GREATER then the Devil why then must Sin needs be in those who are Born of God as thou wouldst have it Oh that thou saw thy Blasphemy herein it would surely make thee ashamed and bring Sorrow upon thee But if in thy judgment those whom God BEGETS who are BORN of him must commit Sin and live in it all their dayes and Sin in their most Holy Duties I ask what DIFFERENCE dost thou put between God's Children and the Devil's Children whom he begets and who are Born of him for the Devil hath a Generation of whom he is the Father as Christ said see John 8. 44. For we believe that he that is Born of God is REGENERATED that is washed and cleansed through the virtue of the holy Spirit of Christ which is shed abroad abundantly in the Hearts Souls of the true Believers by virtue of this growing up in it as the Branches in the living Vine are they redeemed out of the ACT of Sin and have dominion given them in and by Christ over IT and the Devil who is the Author of it and such can say as the Apostle said Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World to wit the Wicked BY WHOM we overcome them and such can say as the Apostle said Of my self I can do nothing but I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me and such can say as the Apostle said We are CONQUERORS and more than Conquerors through him that hath loved us and such do know Satan BRUISED under their Feet BY CHRIST the blessed Seed whom God promised should bruise his HEAD and the Apostle told the Believers in Christ That God whom they waited for should suddainly come and
bruise Satan under their FEET And the Apostle said I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the Life that I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH it is by the Faith of the Son of God Mark this Life was not a Life in Sin for Faith in the Son of God gives Victory over Sin and the Devil that is the author of it Rom. 6. 2 7. and the same Apostle saith How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein and he said He that is dead is freed from Sin And he also speaks in one of his Epistles of dying daily and in the aforesaid Chapter sayes I am dead with Christ c. So he knew a time of diyng unto Sin after his understanding was opened to see the sinfulness of it so dying gradually to it he came to be dead to it and so he said as before I live yet not I but Christ lives in me The Apostle Peter said to the Jews Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Mark J. B. thus God sent his Son to bless People in turning them from their Iniquities all Iniquity is Sin all Sin is of the Devil so THEY who are turned from Sin which is the Devil's work are under the Blessing but they that continue in Sin to the end of their dayes who Repent not who forsake not they are under the Curse Christ saith Whosoever committeth Sin is the Servant of Sin John 8. 34. And the Apostle exhorted saying Resist the Devil and he will flee from you James 4. 7. The Apostle John wrote to the Young-men saying Ye are strong the word of God abides in you ye have overcome the wicked One. Now mark J. B. these Young men were strong the Word or Seed of God did abide in them and by his virtue and strength they had overcome the wicked One as he saith and he wrote unto the Fathers saying You have known him that is from the beginning He doth charge NEITHER of these with the act of Sin or committing of Sin at that TIME though they had all sinned for saith he If we say we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his Word is not in us But these had CEASED from Sin according to the command of the Lord who said Cleanse your Hands ye Sinners and purifie your Hearts ye double-minded c. But to the Little Children he said I write unto you Little Children because your Sins are forgiven you for his Name-sake but also said Little Children these things I write unto you that ye Sin not Shewing hereby that though then all Sin was not vanquish't or overcome in them yet they were to wait to grow up into Christ and in him to Reign over it as the Fathers and Young-men did J. B. here take notice John writes to three states the weakest of which he named his little Children who though they had a love to him and the Testimony born by him yet were they not established in Christ over all Sin and the Devil the author of it as the Aged and strong in Christ were And as for John's saying If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves I say and affirm that his so saying doth no more prove him an actual sinner at that TIME then the Apostle James his saying With the Tongue we curse men proves James a Curser of men at that time which is just no proof at all For Iames writes to the twelve Tribes scattered many of whom were wicked and unruly Tongued and Cursers as he said and he being a natural Jew who sprung from the Loins of Abraham as did all the Jews in that sence he called them Brethren but he was then no Curser but abode in the Doctrine of his Master who said Bless them that Curse you And Iames said That mans Religion is Vain that hath not a Bridle to his Tongue And if James had been a Curser at that time his own Religion had been VAIN and he himself condemned by Christ by the Apostle Paul also for a Hypocrite for judging that in them which HE ACTED HIMSELF but he was a holy Man of God and lived in the Possession of the Good he exhorted them unto and out of the bad he reproved them for So John in the same way and manner speaking in condescention he allowing those his little Children to have some relation to him he being a faithful Labourer and traveller for their conversion saith with respect to them If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves c. John saith that which we have heard and seen declare we unto you that you also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship IS with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This then is the Message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we Lye and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1. J. B. Here take notice John had fellowship with the Father and Son and he wrote to the little Children and others That they might have fellowship with him c. which none can have when and while they are committing sin which is the Devils work but may when they have repented and forsaken it Christ said to his Disciples Ye CANNOT serve God and Mammon ye must forsake the one cleave unto the other This Mammon signifies Earthly Riches and if man cannot serve God and them at one and the same time that is set them up as Idols in his Heart then to be SURE Man cannot serve God and the Devil both at one time for Light has no Communion with Darkness nor Christ with Belial nor the Temple of God with Idols Now the words of the Apostle John are as follow He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might Destroy the Works of the Devil These words we truly own as we do the other which are He that is born of God doth not commit sin That is we do as absolutely believe that he that committeth sin is of the Devil when and while he committeth sin which is the Service of the Devil as we believe he that is born of God doth not commit sin In the same Chapter the same John saith Let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous And further saith In this the Children of God are manifest and the CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL whosoever doth NOT Righteousness is NOT of God c. 1 John 3. 7 8 9 10. The Apostle Paul
saith Rom. 6. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness And further saith Gal. 6. 7. If you live after the Flesh you shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live he that sows to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting Now who reads what is here written with a spiritual Understanding may see that John's Saying if we say we have no sin c. doth not prove that he was THEN AN ACTUAL SINNER though it doth shew that the little Children who stood in some relation to him as aforesaid had not yet over grown all sin as we have EXPERIENCE in this Day of Gods mighty Power wherein he is making his People WILLING and also ABLE to forsake Sin and the Devil who is the author of it and we do say there is a TIME which is given by the Lord God to Mankind to see their sins and a time to be made truly Sorrowful for them and UNFEIGNEDLY TO REPENT and to be forgiven in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who tasted Death for EVERY MAN and a TIME to grow up IN Christ into Dominion over Sin and the Devil who is the Author of it so that we say this Work is wrought GRADUALLY in men women people are not so soon converted washed and cleansed from all their sins as they come to the sight of them but there is a STRONG Spiritual Combat or Warfare to be known after man is convinced of his sin before he be WHOLLY dead to it and redeemed from it and the Devil who is the Author of it and all who believe in the Spiritual and Divine Light of Christ which sheweth them their sins and PATIENTLY wait THEREIN they will see this Work wrought in order to their Salvation though they first sow in Tears they shall certainly afterwards reap in Joy and though their Temptations Troubles and Sorrows may be many God will certainly deliver them out of them all J. B. As for thy interpretation of John's Words that is He that is born of God doth not commit Sin It is Unscriptural Unreasonable and Ungodly it is not the holy Scriptures nor the Greek Copies which thou callest the Original that is thy Rule for this thy Ungodly Writing and Perverting of John's Words but thy own Wicked Dark and Sinfull Imaginations I desire thou may find a place of Repentance and so forgiveness at Gods hand and cease from such Ungodly Work as this for if thou do not God will reward thee according to thy Ungodly Deeds and the Cup which thou must drink as the reward of thy Work will be Bitter John saith In this is the Children of God made manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God But thou arguest That the born of God do commit sin which is Blasphemy but seeing this is thy Ungodly Opinion that the born of God doth commit sin I say the born of the Devil doth no more but commit sin so here thou put'st not a right difference betwixt the Righteous and the Wicked and so thou art not God's Minister or Mouth to the People but in these thy Ungodly Interpretations of the holy Scriptures thou art the Minister and Mouth of the Father of Lyes who hath led people into sin who tellest them they must never come out of it on this side the Grave Thus thou and many others have made agreement with Death and a Covenant with Hell for Term of Life and if you do not know this Covenant broken by Christ Jesus and by him be led out of sin your Reward will be Miserable in the World to come but we greatly desire your Unseigned Repentance and Salvation What a Wild Distracted Interpreter of the holy Scriptures is this J. B If he go on to interpret the rest of the Commands of God and Christ as he hath done these Commands to be Perfect Holy c. what Mad Work will he make it appears it is not the Scriptures of Truth nor the Spirit of God that must be his Rule but rather the Temptations of the Wicked One which hath large room in his Unbelieving Heart as this Ungodly Plea doth largely manifest Gods Command is Thou shalt do no Murder Now according to J. B's Wild Interpretation of the before-mentioned Commands he may say Those who are born of God may or must Murder But they may not Murther with that allowance that some other Murderers do or they must not do so much Murder as some others do Again God saith Thou shalt not Steal But J. B. may say by his Mad Rule of arguing they may or must Steal but they who are born of God may not or must not Steal with that allowance that others who are not born of God do or they must not stteal so much as such do And after this his Ungodly way of arguing he may deal thus with the rest of the Commands of God and Christ J. B. to strengthen thy Plea for the Devil and Sin which is his Work thou mentionest Paul's Words who said That which I would not do that do I. Answ Paul and all the Saints who did and do wait diligently upon God did and do grow from one degree of Grace unto another and Paul did grow up in Christ unto a better and stronger State He said I am Crucified with Christ c. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the Life that I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God And he said I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me And he said I have fought a good fight I have kept the Faith c. And he said The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath set me Free from the Law of Sin and Death Thus it doth appear that he did out-grow those Weaknesses which he doth mention in the 7th Chapter to â—he Romans see Chap. 8. J. B. saith David brake the sixth and seventh Commandment Answ I say David repented bore the Righteous Judgments of God for so doing and did so no more and was forgiven he did not say that he must continue breaking the commands of God all his dayes as many of the Priests and Professors of England and other Nations do he prayed to God to cleanse him from his secret Sins and from Blood guiltiness and God heard his Prayer and did so and it is written that David turned not aside from any thing that God commanded him all the dayes of his Life save only in the matter of Vriah the Hittite 1 Kings 15. 5. David is said to be a man after God's own Heart 1 Sam. 13. 14. So he was before he committed that great Sin in the case of Vriah and his
Wife and so he was after God had sanctified him through his Righteous Judgments and Mercy he prayed to God to Wash him and he said I shall be whiter than Snow make me to hear joy and gladness that the Bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Create in me a new Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal 51. 7 to the 15th J. B. in pag. 26. thou chargest the Apostles That they all at one clap forsook or denyed Christ To prove this thy Charge thou bringest Mark 14. 50. 66. which doth not prove thy Charge against them ALL Peter did deny him but when the Cock crew he turned about and Wept bitterly Here was timely and unfeigned Repentance he did not say he must continue denying his Master all his Dayes but he soon became a valiant follower of Christ and a sufferer with him and for him Mark saith the others fled but doth not say they all at once denyed their Master but it appears by their leaving of him at that time that they did not so boldly confess him before his Enemies as afterwards they did But let J. B. consider that this weakness which appeared in them was before the Holy Ghost was come upon them in that FULNESS which after the Death and Resurrection of their Master they received The Holy Ghost was NOT yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified John 7. 39. But after theywere endewed with Power from on high they confessed him with great boldness suffered with him for him Boldly J. B. here thou makest Ungodly shifts to plead for Sin term of Life which plea of thine is to uphold the Devil's Kingdom which stands in Sin and thy plea is against the Kingdom of Christ which doth stand in Holiness and Righteousness God will reward thee according to thy Deeds if thou do not come to unseigned Repentance but it is thy Repentance and Salvation that we desire In the aforesaid page J. B. quotes David's words who said in Psalms 14. 1. 53. 1 3. There is none that doth good c. Which Paul repeats in Rom. 3. 11 12. to the 20. where he doth plainly open the Words of David thus Now saith he we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every Mouth may be stopped and all the WORLD may become guilty before God The same Apostle saith Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes Rom. 10. 4. The same Apostle said to the Saints Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. The same Apostle saith Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the Body of Sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin Rom. 6. 6. And he saith How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Rom. 6. 2. And the same Apostle saith to the Galatians If ye be led by the Spirit ye are not under the Law Gal. 5. 18. None are true Christians but those who are led by the Spirit of Christ as the Apostle saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God saith the holy man of God and such are not under the Law being come out of the Transgression upon which or because of which the Law was added Besides in the 14. 53. Psalms and in Rom. 3. David and Paul shew that God had a People in those Dayes which he distinguished from those workers of Iniquity he said Have the workers of Iniquity no Knowledge who eat up my People as they eat Bread and call not upon the Lord and he said The Wicked were in great fear for God is in the Congregations of the Righteous Mark God had a Righteous Congregation then though they might be few in Number Psalms 14. 4 5. 53. 4. J. B. quotes Jer. 17. 9. The Heart is desperately wicked who can know it The Prophet doth answer the Question in the Name of the Lord saying I the Lord search the Heart I try Reins to give unto every man according to his wayes and according to the Fruit of his doings God hath promised by the Mouth of his holy Prophet that he will take away the Stony Heart out of the Flesh and that he will give a Heart of Flesh that People may walk in his Statutes Ezek. 11. 19. And the Spirit of Truth which doth lead the Saints into all Truth the same doth Convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and Judgment and whatsoever is reproved and condemned by God in Men and Women the same is made known to be Evil by the spiritual Light of Christ Jesus Every one that doth Evil hates the Light and will not bring his Deeds to it But he that doth Truth bringeth his Deeds to the Light that they may be made manifest that they are wrought in God as saith the Apostle J. B. God saith Wo unto the Rebellious Children who take counsel but not of me that cover with a covering but not of my Spirit that they may add Sin unto Sin Isa 30. 1. Thou hast given large Proof in this thy Pamphlet that thou art not covered with the Spirit of God for if thou wert thou wouldst not thus wickedly wrest the holy Scriptures to cover thy self in thy Sins neither wouldst thou rake up the weakness and failings of such amongst God's People who at sometimes did Evil but Repented and forsook their Evils and were forgiven by the Lord as in the cases of David and Peter God made Man perfect and the Devil hath brought man into Imperfection by leading him into Sin and Rebellion against God So thy Plea for Sin and Imperfection term of Life is a plea for the Devil and his Kingdom whose Kingdom stands in Sin and thou art in this thy plea against Christ Jesus and his Kingdom which stands in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost So be ashamed of thy Ungodly Work and Repent Concerning God's dwelling in his People In page 23. J. B. saith If there be that in us which if obeyed leads to Heaven then sure we bear a part in our Justification our selves which giveth the Apostle to the Ephesians the Lye who tells us we are saved by Grace through Faith c. Answ God who cannot Lye hath promised that he will walk and dwell in his People and teach them himself And the Apostle said to the Saints There is one God over all through all and in you all Mark God was in them all and the Apostle said I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and he said to some who questioned whether Christ did speak in him or no Try your selves know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And the Apostle John
who believe in and faithfully follow him the Lamb of God he taketh away their Sins he being made Perfect is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto ALL them that OBEY him Heb. 5. 9. Daniel the Prophet who prophesied of the coming of the Messiah which is Christ Jesus and of his Sufferings he declared the End or Effects thereof Namely To make an END of SIN to finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness see Dan. 9. 24. to the end Jesus Christ said To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth every one that is of the Truth heareth MY VOICE John 18. 37. And Jesus said I came to call sinners to Repentance He that COVERETH his Sins shall NOT prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have Mercy Prov. 28. 13. These are faithful Sayings of God spoken through his Son and his Prophets and Apostles here is a Cloud of witnesses who in a sweet Unity and Harmony and Clearness speaks forth the Universal Love of God to Mankind in Christ Jesus in sending him to make an end of Sin the Devils Work The Wages of Sin is Death as saith the Apostle which NOT being Repented of and forsaken brings into the Pit of endless Torment a BARE confessing of Sin without repenting and forsaking will NOT bring Men Women to lay down their Heads in PEACE with God Therefore Wo unto those who go on in their sins unto the end of their Dayes upon Earth Raking up and down in the Scriptures of Truth to gather up the Failings MISCARRIAGES of some among God's People who for want of diligent Watchfulness were overcome by their Souls Enemy but Unfeignedly Repented and Ceased from the Evil did learn to do well and so were forgiven as in the cases of David and Peter w hose Miscarriages at a time or some few times is now made as TEXTS on them to preach up IMPERFECTION and SIN for Term of Life Wo to those sort of Preachers if they do not Repent of this Unchristian and Ungodly Preaching and cease there from they will not only Destroy themselves but also those who give up themselves to believe and love their sinful Doctrine who by this Wicked preaching do take courage and GREAT boldness to continue in sin and to love it and to commit it with greediness yea to drink it up abundantly even as an Ox drinks up Water and to pull it and draw it upon them as with Cords and Cart tropes as it s written This sort of Teachers God is against his Soul is grieved by them from day to day Oh! that they would consider it and lay it to Heart and Repent before it be too late The Woes were of Old and now are unto all those Preachers and Hearers who are covered and NOT with the holy pure Spirit of the Lord God in which spirit God is worshipped as Christ saith Wo to the Rebellious Children who take Counsel but not of me saith the Lord God who cover with a Covering but NOT of my SPIRIT that they may ADD Sin unto Sin Isa 30. 1. Wo unto them that call Evil Good and Good Evil c. Wo unto them who justifie the Wicked FOR a Reward c. Therefore as the Fire devoureth the Stubble and the Flame consumeth the Chaff so their ROOT shall be Rottenness and their BLOSSOM shall go up as Dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the Word of the holy One of Israel Wo to them that are Wise in their own eyes c. Isa 5. 18 to the 25th read the Chapter through Wo to the Wicked it shall be Ill with him for the Reward of his Hands shall be given him What mean ye that ye beat my People c. and grind the Faces of the Poor saith the Lord God of Hosts Moreover the Lord saith Because the Daughters of Zion are Haughty and walk with stretched-out Necks and wanton EYES c. Therefore the Lord will Smite with a SCAB the Crown or Top of the Heed of the Daughter of Zion Jerusalem is Ruined and Judah is Fallen because their TONGUE and their Doings are against the Lord to provoke the Eyes of his Glory They declare their Sin as Sodom Wo unto their SOULS for they have Rewarded EVIL unto THEMSELVES Isa 3. 8 to the 18th read the Chapter through In this Chapter the Proud and Wonton Women of our Age may read their pattern and see whose Ungodly Example they follow and also they may see what Ruin Destruction and Misery they brought upon themselves as the just Reward of their Ungodly Lives and seeing God did thus punish the Proud and Wanton Women under the Profession of the Law certainly he will not justifie such Persons or Practices under the Profession of Christ and his Gospel for though the Law could not make the Comers thereunto Perfect as pertaining unto the Conscience yet then God did not leave himself without a Witness in them he gave them his good Spirit to instruct them as Nehemiah saith but they rebelled against it but Christ and his Gospel can make them that come to him Perfect even as pertaining to the Conscience and that which makes the Conscience good and brings it into a perfect cleanness the same keeps Man and Woman clean in their Conversations outwardly and such who do believe in and obey Christ Jesus he teaches them to be truly Meek and Lowly and Humble according to the blessed Command and Example which he gave in the Dayes of his flesh who said Learn of me I am Meek and LOWLY in Heart and ye shall find REST TO YOUR SOULS The Apostle Peter in the holy Ghost exhorted the Women to be subject unto their own Husbands And said whose Adorning let it not be the outward Adorning of Plating the Hair NOR of WEARING of GOLD c. But let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is NOT Corruptible the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit which IS in the sight of God of great PRICE For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God Adorned themselves c. 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. Again the Apostle Paul saith I will in like manner also that Women Adorn themselves in MODEST Apparel with SHAMEFACEDNESS and SOBRIETY NOT w th Broidred HAIR or GOLD or PEARLS or Costly Aray But which becometh Women professing Godliness with GOOD WORKS 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. So all Women both Old and Young ought to obey the Command of Christ who commands to be Meek and Lowly and ought to follow the good Example of these holy Christian-Women who were cloathed and beautified with a Meek and Humble Quiet Spirit and with good Works as the holy Apostle Exhorts Depart from Evil and do good and dwell or live for evermore I have seen the Wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay-Tree
yet he passed away and lo he was not I sought him but he could not be sound Mark the PERFECT MAN and behold the Vpright for the end of that man is PEACE see Psal 37. 27 35 36 37. Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which WAR against the SOUL Having your Conversation Honest among the Gentiles whereas they speak against you as Evil-doers they may by your GOOD WORKS which they shall behold glorifie God in the Day of Visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Reader Take notice here David owns Perfection he saith Mark the Perfect Man behold the Vpright for the end of that Man is Peace Thus it plainly appears that God and Christ and the true Prophets and Apostles and holy Men and Women were and are for Perfection Holiness and Uprightness but the Devil Anti-christ False Prophets False Apostles and all Wicked Men and Women are for Imperfection Ungodliness Unholiness Sin and Wickedness who plead for a continuance in Sin until Men and Women go to the Grave This Plea for Sin and Wickedness is not a Plea for God and Christ but for the Devil who is the author of Sin In the Grave there is no Repentance neither is there any Purgatory as some do falsly teach to purge people from their sins after they are dead and put in their Graves No Unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven therefore blessed are they who come to Christ Jesus and follow him who came to take away Sin and bring in Everlasting Righteousness to wash and cleanse from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and to strengthen his to perfect Holiness in the fear of the Lord God unto which the holy Apostle exhorted as is shewed before These things have I written in Testimony to God's Universal Love to all People and of his delight in Holiness and Purity and of his Hatred to all Sin and Wickedness I am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness and a real Lover NOT of only my Friends but also of mine Enemies according to the Command and Example of Christ Jesus my Lord William Gibson THe Author of this Book desires that it may be diligently spread among those People who think that Christ did not dye for all men who think that God would NOT have all People to be saved but vainly imagin that he hath ordained some to be Damned before they were Born that by the Spirit and Light of Truth shining in their Hearts and the plain Scripture Testimony they may be convicted of this their great and destructive Mistake ERRATA PAge 1. Line 2. for 157. read 15. p. 3. l. 5. f. himself r. him p. 5. l. 26. f. 38. r. 3. 36. p. 11. l. 13. put in not p. 12. l. 21. put out Heb. 6. p. 21. l. 26. put in of p. 37. l. 18. put in renew next before purifie p. 43. l. 8. f. profecy r. prosperity l. 17. f. forefooted r. fourfooted p. 60. l. 29. put out the Parentheses p. 171. l. 21. f. Judger r. Judge p. 74. l. 20. put in him p. 78. l. 4. f. is r. his p. 89. l. 31. f. deem r. deny Reader this is a great Error and it wholly alters the sense of the matter it renders me as though I did affirm that which in reality I do deny P. 94 l. 14. r. Gal. 6. 7 8. p 98 l 36 r the Reins p 104 l 9 f Commandment r Commandments THE END Mal. 1 2 3 4. Gal. 3. 16. Gen. 3 15. Heb. 3. 12 13. Gen. 3. 1. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 14 16. Note here the Darkness is within in the Heart of man in the Fall and the Light shines to expell the Darkness within the Day is to dawn and the Day-star is to arise in the darkened fallen mans Heart Some who believed not in Christ said unto him What shall we do that we might work the works of God he said unto them This is the work of God to believe in him whom God hath sent see John 6. 28 29. It is said in the holy Scriptures The Curse causless or without cause shall NOT COME But a Rod is for the fools Back see Prov. 26. 2 3. They are cursed Children or the Children of the curse who have forsaken the right way see 2 Pet. 2. 14 15. Christ preached unto his Disciples saying Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your GOOD WORKS and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 14. The Apostle who preached down the shadowy works of the Law said We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS which God before ordained that we should walk IN THEM Ephes 2. 10. The Apostle James saith Faith without Works IS DEAD being alone as the Body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without Works is dead also Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by Faith only Abraham believed and it was counted to him for Righteousness and he was called the Friend of God These are not the shadowy Works of the Law by which no Flesh can be justified in the sight of God but these are the substantial Works of the Gospel wrought in through Christ in all his true and real Disciples see Ja. 2. 17. to the end The Apostle prayed for the Hebrews or Jews saying The God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant make you PERFECT in every good Work TO DO HIS WILL working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory forever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. O all ye several sorts of Teachers Writers and Disputers who have been are striving to draw keep people from this swift faithful and true witness which searcheth the Hearts and shews People their Evil Thoughts Words and Actions and Reproves and Condemns them for the same Repent and cease from this your Vngodly Work or else God will take you away from this Cursed Work in his fierce Anger See Gen. 17. Gen. 6. 0. Deut. 18. 13. Psalm 37. 37. Matth. 5. 48. Luke 6. 40. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Ephes 4. 11 12. 13. Heb. 5. 14. Col. 1. 28. 4 12. 2 Tim. 3. 17. Heb. 12. 22 23 13 21 6. 1. James 1. 4. 1 Pet. 5. 10. 2 Cor. 13. 9. 1 John 3. 9. ☞
in their EVIL SELF-WILL chuse the Evil THE SIN the Wages of which is Death as saith the holy Apostle Now for any person to say that though God commands People to chuse the good to chuse Life yet he doth NOT WILL or Intend that they should obey this his command in chusing Life this is horrible Blas phemy or to say that he knows they cannot chuse the good by his help they cannot chuse Life this is also Blasphemy For this would render the pure just holy equal Lord God a Mocker in this great and weighty concern the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath said unto HIM Thy Throne O God is forever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a righteous Scepter thou lovest Righteousness and HATEST WICKEDNESS therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows Psal 45. 6 7. Heb. 1. 8. Thus it plainly appears that God and Christ loves Righteousness and HATES all Sin and Wickedness Therefore the Call of the Lord God WAS AND IS Let the wicked forsake his way and the UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS let him turn unto the Lord and he will have mercy on him unto our God and he will abundantly pardon God said by the Mouth of the holy Apostle Draw near unto God and he will draw near unto you Cleanse your Hands ye sinners purifie your HEARTS ye DOUBLE minded be afflicted and mourn and WEEP let your LAUGHTER be turned into MOURNING and your JOY into HEAVINESS humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up James 4. 8 9 10. Again Thou art NOT a God that hath pleasure in WICKEDNESS neither shall EVIL dwell with thee Psal 5. 4. But know that God hath set APART him that is GODLY for HIMSELF Psal 4. 3. The Apostle Paul said unto the Saints My Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might put on the whole Armour of God that ye may be ABLE to STAND against the wiles of the Devil For WE wrestle NOT against Flesh and Blood but against Principalites of the DARKNESS of this World against spiritual Wickedness in high places Wherefore take unto you the WHOLE Armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil Day and having DONE ALL to stand stand therefore having your Loins girt about with Truth and having on the Breast-plate of Righteousness and your Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of PEACE above all taking the SHIELD of Faith wherewith you shall be able to quench ALL the fiery Darts of the wicked c Praying alwayes with all Prayer and Supplication IN THE SPIRIT and WATCH thereunto with all perseverance c. Ephes 6. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. Again The NIGHT is far spent the DAY is at hand let us therefore cast off the WORKS of Darkness and let us put on the ARMOUR of LIGHT Let us walk honestly as in the day NOT in Rioting Drunkenness NOT in Chambering Wantonness NOT in Strife and Envy but put ye ON the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the Flesh to fulfill the LUST thereof Rom. 13. 12 13 14. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith We ought to give more earnest HEED to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them SLIP In the Greek in the Margin it s rendered thus or let them run out like leeking Vessels Heb. 2 1. Christ Jesus saith to the Believers Take HEED to your selves lâ—st at ANY time your Hearts be over charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness and the CARES of THIS LIFE Luke 21. 3. Again The Apostle saith WATCH ye STAND FAST in the Faith quit you like men be strong Ephes 6. 10 to 18. Again the Apostle said unto the Saints Ye are all the Children of the Light and the Children of the DAY we are NOT of the NIGHT nor of Darkness Therefore let us not SLEEP as do others but let us watch and be sober For they which SLEEP sleep in the Night and they that be drunken are drunken in the NIGHT But let us who are of the Day be SOBER puting on the Breast plate of Faith and LOVE and for an Helmet the hope of Salvation 1 Thes 5. 5 6 7. Ephes 5. 8. John 3. 36. Again the Apostle Peter saith For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead that they might be JUDGED according to men in the Flesh but LIVE according to God IN the Spirit Be ye therefore sober and watch unto Prayer 1 Pet. 4. 6 7. Again Christ said by John unto the Angel of the Church in Sardes I know thy works that thou hast a Name that thou LIVEST art DEAD Be watchful strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die For I have not found thy works perfect before God Remember therefore how thou hast RECEIVED and HEARD and hold FAST and Repent If therefore thou shalt NOT watch I will come on thee as a Thief and thoâ— shalt NOT know what Hour I will come upon thee Thou hast a few Names even in Sardes which have not defiled their Garments and they shall walk with me in White for they are worthy Rev. 3. 1 2 3 4. Note Reader Here is sweet harmonious wholsom heavenly Counsel given by many faithfull Witnesses to put on the whole Armour of God and so to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might to put on the Shield of Faith and the Armour of Light and by this Power Light and spiritual Armour to withstand all the wiles of the Devil to quench all the fiery Darts of that Wicked one who goes about like a roaring Lyon ever seeking whom he may devour to stand having our Loyns girt about with Truth that is indeed a blessed Girdle having on the Breast-plate of Righteousness having our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace the WAR NOT being against flesh and blood but against spiritual Wickedness and against the Prince of Darkness c. praying alwayes in the SPIRIT and watching thereunto with all perseverance not letting those things slip which we have heard and Received of God not to be like Leekey Vessels which lets that run out which is put into them not to be like the old unsound Bottles which burst c. but to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof to keep out of surfeiting and over-charging our Hearts and Spirits with the cares of this Life not to sleep or slumber away our precious time in the Evil thoughts words and works of the Night which the Devil not God is the Author of and hath PLEASURE IN God's will is that all men should know the Truth and be SAVED so he is willing that they should all put on keep on the Breastplate of faith LOVE for an Helmet the hope of Salvation Here the