Aug. 7 1670. A most useful SERMON Preached in London By a most worthy and faithful Minister and Servant of Jesus Christs most learnedly pressed from Amos 8.11 Behold the day cometh saith the Lord God that I will send a famine in the Land not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord and they shall wander from Sea to Sea From which Text of Scripture he learnedly shews the dreadful and deplorable condition of that Kingdom which a famine of the word of the Lord seizes upon and further shews That they are the greatest Felons who would rob us of the word of God and that there is more justice in Hell then is here upon Earth for in Hell they do not punnish the Innocent Printed in the Year 1671. Amos 8.11 Behold the day cometh saith the Lord God that I will send a Famine in the land not a famine of Bread nor a thirst for Water but of hearing the Word of the Lord And they shall wander from Sea to Sea A Sad Text and Sad Times too well agree In the beginning of this Chapter there is a Vision in the first verse The Lord hath shewed me and behold a Basket of summer fruits it was a Type or Embleme to signifie the suddainness of Israels misery you know summer fruit doth soon perish winter fruit may be preserved long but summer fruit doth soon fade so the glory of Israel like to summer fruit it shall soon fade away there is the Vision 2. In this Chapter there is a Prophesie in the 32 d verse The Songs of the Temple shall be turned into howling a sad Prophesie God grant it may not be our Portion songs of the Temple to become howling where God formerly was served in a pure manner where there was sweet singing and melody unto the Lord now there would be mournful Songs that joy of the Temple it shall be quite ceased A sad Prophesie 3. In this Chapter is set down the cause why the Lord did write such bitter things against Israel his own People the cause was very apparent it was their sin sin drew Plagues at the heels of it Israel grew now weary of God in the 5 th verse of the Chapter When will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn they had rather a great deal be trading in their shops then worshiping in Gods house when will the New Moon be gone when people grow weary of Ordinances then God grows weary of a People And 4. There are set down the punishments for those sins of Israel in the 9 th verse of this Chapter I will cause the Sun to go down at Noon day Beloved this is not meant the natural Ecline of the Sun but the meaning is God would now darken Israels outward glory and splendor The Sun in Scripture is a Metaphor for joy now the going down of the Sun at noon it is to express great afflictions coming upon this People when they thought all things should be well every thing should be well flourishing peace and prosperity kissing each other why now there should be a suddain change God would Eclipse their outward Comforts saith he the Sun shall go down at Noon day and this was not all there is a greater punishment yet behind and that is in the Text I have read God threatens for their sins that there should be a Famine in the Land not a Famine of Bread nor a Thirst for Water but of hearing the Word of the Lord as if God should say it was a mercy if onely a Famine upon your Bodies that may pine your Bodies Oh but it is a worse a Spiritual Famine a Famine of hearing the Word of the Lord. In which Text you have these four parts 1. Here is a note of admiration in these words Behold it seems to be a wonder that Israel God's People in Covenant to whom the Oracles of God were commited that these should want the word of the Lord Oh what a wonder that such a full breast should be drawn dry that they that had such plenty of Ordinances should now be cut short and forced to cry out We see not our signs there is no more any Prophet among us that 's the first Behold there is admiration 2. Here is the judgment threatned in the Text a soul Famine 3. The extention and universality of this Famine why saith God it shall be a Famine in the Land not in a House or Parish but there shall be this soul Famine it shall be universal in the Land 4. Who it is that gives the Famine a Commission and that is God I will send a Famine not of Bread or Water but of hearing of the Word of the Lord. The words thus opened into these several parts they yeild us these four Propositions or Doctrines 1. It doth shew That the word of God is to the soul as food to the body for strengthning and refreshing of it and that 's imply'd in Job 23.12 I esteemed the words of thy mouth as my necessary food they are my food that my soul feeds upon 2. The second Doctrine is this When the word of God is despised or opposed it is just with the Lord to take it away from a People 3. The third Doctrine is this The taking away of the word is the beginning of a Spiritual famine and 4. That a famine of the word is far worse then a famine of Bread A famine I will send saith God not of Bread nor of Thirst for Water but which is worse the hearing of the word of the Lord. The famine of the word is worse then a famine of bread next to damning of a soul what can be worse then starving of it bodily famine is very sad much more spiritual famine I shall speak a little of bodily famine that will set off the other the more Famine is that with-drawing of an necessary recruit of Nature Famine is the with-holding of that Oyle which should be poured into the Lamp of Man's Life Famine and Death is such as you see a picture they both bring the Body into an Anatomy See a description of a famine in Jer. 14.3 Their Nobles have sent their little ones to the water they came to the pit and found no water they were ashamed and confounded and covered their heads It is a very unusual sight to see Noble Mens Children Tanckard-bearers the Nobles sent their Children but found no water Famine of the Body is worse than the Sword is and that in these three respects 1. The Sword cuts off suddainly it makes a quick dispatch now Famine makes you dye a lingring death Lam. 4.9 Those pine away strucken through for want of the fruit of the field they pine away Famine will neither let a man live nor yet suffer him to dye He that is in famine may say as St. Paul In death oft how many deaths doth he dye before he dyes 2. Famine is universal it reaches more then the
Sword the Sword skips over many they may be hid from the edge of the Sword as we read of Obadiah he hid a Thousand Prophets in a Cave and so escaped the edge of the Sword now a Famine reaches all 3. Famine makes a man cruel to himself and it is like a Wolfe in his breast it makes a man feed upon himself he eats the flesh of his own arms it makes a Person unnatural Lam. 4.10 Thus the famine of the Body is worse than the Sword and now Beloved a Famine of the Word is worse than a Famine of Bread in these two respects 1. A Famine of Bread is onely a pineing and starving of the body Oh but the other is starving of the soul by how much more pretious the soul is then the body so much the sadder the famine of the soul must needs be the soul is the most spiritual and reserved part of man it 's like spirits of wine the soul is a divine spark that flees upwards towards God Now if the soul be more noble than the body then the famine of the soul must needs be more deadly and pernitious than that of the Body c. 2. The Famine of the body is but temporal but for a time and it will quickly have an end sorrow and sighing shall flee away Ezek. 35. Oh but the Famine of the soul is eternal The worm will be ever gnawing the man the man will be ever dying but never dead he will never tast of one drop of the water of life it is an eternal famine he shall not have one drop of water to cool his tongue and thus you see the Famine of the word is far more grievous than the Famine of bread Now the sadness of the souls famine will further appear in these three or four particulars And I beseech you observe 1. To have the Famine of the Word of God it is a dreadful Judgement because now the very means of Salvation is taken away The very Bridge is plucked up that should lead us over to Heaven Prov. 29.18 Where there is no Vision the people perish The Hebrew word for perish hath two significations either it signifies to be made naked they strip off their Ornaments and glory or else the word perish signifies to reject God rejects such a people when he takes awy the Vision from them Where there is no Vision the people perish But now here is a Question may be asked Quest You will say unto me but may we not be saved without the Word Preached Ans I will not dispute what God can do in an extraordinary way when people are debarr'd from Ordinances by sickness or the like or captivity the Lord hath promised to be a little Sanctuary unto them Ezek. 11.16 As the people of Israel in the Wilderness when they could not have the ordinary means of tilling plowing and sowing in this case God gave them bread from Heaven John 6.31 Let me assure you ordinarily God doth not distil the Golden Oyle of Salvation but through the pipes of Ordinances and therefore you shall observe in Scripture that Ministers of the Gospel are called Ministers of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 because the spirit of God ordinarily makes use of the Word to work grace and therefore 't is called the Ministry of the spirit why this makes the Famine of the Word so dismal because now the very means of salvation is taken away from a people they lie in their blood 2. I beseech you observe A Famine of the Word it is very sad wherever it comes because now the Lord turns away his face from a people or a nation Ordinances are the face of God they are his smiles face in the Gospel it 's called the face of Christ 2 Cor 4.6 Now beloved when a spiritual Famine comes God turns away his face from us The Child had rather have his Fathers frowns upon him than that he should turn away his face to be so incensed against him that he will not look upon his Child and this is sad to have God turn away his face from a people better have a frowning face from God than noe face The Lord may have love under a wrinckled brow as the sun may be under a Clowd but for God to turn away his face from us is a signe he intends to disinherit us as David prayed Lord hide not thy face from me in Anger Psal 120.2 It is sad when God hides his face for a time but worse when he quite turns away his face that he will not look upon a people Oh this makes a soul-famine very sad and dreadful 3. The Famine of the Word must needs be very sad and dismal because if the Word be gone God has now done speaking to us he hath no more to say Pray observe It is called in the Text a famine of hearing of hearing of the Word we shall hear no more from God God hath something to say to a people as long as his Ordinances are amongst them he speaks to them by his Ministers they are his mouth they deliver his Council Now as it is a sad judgement for God to have done smiting a people Ezek. 1.5 why should you be smitten any more and so for God to leave speaking to a people this is a rebellious people it is to no purpose to use any more words I will speak no more to them it is better for God to speak as if he were angry than not to speak at all the prisoner cryes to his Judge for mercy mercy and the Judge will not speak a word noe way but he must dye if God hath done speaking to us in Word we shall hear him speaking in another Language in his Wrath In Psal 2.5 then shall he speak to them in his Wrath and fiery Language If a man will not speak to another it is a sign either that he slights him or he doth not think him worth speaking to or it is sign he intends some evil against him It was sad with Saul when the Lord had done speaking to him 1 Sam. 28.6 the Lord answered him neither by rain nor his Prophets God had done speaking to him a sign some evil was intended to him the next be heard speak it was the Devil and the news which he brought was sad to morrow thou shalt be with me 1 Sam. 28.19 beloved if God hath once done speaking to a people why then he hath done heaâ—ing to when he shuts his mouth he alwayes stops his ears though you pray unto him he will not hear they cryed to me and I would not hear when the Lord will not speak no more to a people when he shuts his mouth he presently stops his ears Now is not a spiritual famine sad God hath now done speaking to a people 4. The people and the dispensers of the Gospel they are promised by the Lord as great blessings to a place why then to be deprived of such blessings and have a famine of
therefore you may imagine what a spiritual famine is and to have these blessings removed well may England weep her eyes out when these are gone that should bring the Vision to her Now my Beloved if a famine of Gods word be so deplorable and dreadful as it is to have the Bread of life taken away from us as you may read Amos 8.11 It is called there A famine of the word of the Lord and in Sam. 1.4 it is called there The glory departed and in Matth. 26.47 The Kingdome of Heaven taken away The Salvation of God sent away Acts 28. and can there be any thing worse befall a people than a soul famine and an Eclipse of their spiritual glory the shuting up of the Kingdome of heaven the carrying away of the Salvation of God what worse thing can come upon a people It is a great wonder there should be no deeper a sence of this most dreadful of evils than is mostly found among Men. Men little understand what they do who either in a way of Merit or Instrumentally procure and bring on these Plagues and few understand or are sensible what they herein suffer to be an instrument in this hellish work it 's an Office for a Devil and the suffering of such a Plague to them as understand it is an hell above ground this Darkness is the very same for kind with the darkness of Hell as the light of the Gospel is the same in kind with the everlasting light as glory under age so is this thick darknesse in specei in simile the darknesse of the pit Oh what a hell of wickednesse doth this world then become the Devil is then in his Region is let loose and rules the world at pleasure deceives devours destroys souls without Contradiction takes them Captive at his will carries them down by whole-sale to distruction These dark and dismal seasons are the Devils Marker where he may vent his hellish Wares his Snares and Temptations his Deceipts and Delusions and every abominable thing by whole-sale there is nothing so false so vile and abominable but he can put it off at pleasure Adultery Drunkennesse Witchcraft Sodomy Buggery Blasphemy Idolatry Atheisme any thing that Sathan hath to offer he will find Customers enough to receive and the truth is the Devil may spare his pains Men then need not a Devil to damne them they shall do it fast enough of their own Accords Oh it were happy if the Saints were so busie in improving their light to haste them Heaven-ward as sinners do their larknesse to hurry them to Hell Oh the sad truths that the world affords of this dreadful truth look into all the dark Corners of the Earth especially there where there hath been light and see if you find not all this proved to your hand Can he then be accounted a Christian whose heart doth not tremble at the thoughts and the fears of such a sore judgment he is both dark and dead indeed to whom such a Mist is not as the first born of death or the King of Terrours Christians If ever this should be your Case make not light of it and take heed how sad soever it may seem in its first approach that no track of time do wear off the sence of it I have now done and come to improve this Proposition and proceed to the Application Vse 1. Now my friends If a famine of the word be so dreadful as you have heard next to damning of souls I know not what worse then starving of a soul if it be so dismal then what are we to think of those that endeavour by their Counsel and by their Interest what in them lies to be instrumental to bring a famine of the word upon Gods People For my part I account those and always shall do the greatest Felons in the Land who would rob us of the word of God these are the Devils Agents they are his Factors let me assure you they will be found fighters against God They are like the Philistians that stops the Wells those that would stop the Wells of the Water of Life Oh how would this inhaunce their sin What to be instrumental to starve souls I will say but this the Ministers of Jesus Christ they are to warn people of their Sins they are to tell them if there be any danger any wrath of God hanging over a Land they are Watchmen Ezek. 33.6.2 If Watch-men see the Sword come and blow not the Trumpet and the People be not warned their blood I will require at the Watch-mens hands Now Bretheren I appeal to you We Watch-men must warn the people Oh how will they be able to answer to God at the great day that shall take Ministers off from his Spiritual Watch that shall hinder him from warning the People Surely the blood of souls must needs lie at those mens doors that is the First Vse 2. It is of Exhortation if a Gospel Famine be so dreadful as you have heard as good almost be in hell why then let me exhort you this day to some duty 1. Let us labour with all laboriousness to prevent the removal of the Gospel from us as we would endeavour to remove the Sword the Fire the Plague so let us labour to prevent the removal of the Gospel from us Oh a Gospel famine is the most dismal and the more let my words prevail with you because there is so much fear if God prevent not of the Gospel departing from us I might shew you that there is a soul famine in many parts of this Land alreadie and there are many sad signs the Lord is about to bring this spiritual famine upon this Land I shall shew you the sad simptoms of the Gospel going from England there are 4. gray haires 4. sad signes of the Gospel departing which the Lord prevent 1. First of all that great contempt which is thrown upon the Gospel and professors of it do we think that God is tied to England more than to another Nation do we think the Lord will continue his mercie to a people that dispise his mercie is he bound to do that is nor the Gospel of our Lord Jesus this day slighted and persecuted the Gergesens they were more mannerly they beseeched Christ to depart out of their Coasts Matt. 8.3 But we have many among us they do not beseech Christ they would drive him out by force though nothing but hony dropps from the Lipps of the Gospel it brings salvation to a people yet how is it opposed at this day pray observe I confess the Gospel of Christ it is not suited to mens carnal interest or appetite the Gospel doth not tell them of Fields and Vineyeards it hath to bestow upon them the Gospel of Christ doth not prophesie of Wine and strong Drink then the Drunkard would gladly receive the Gospel but it is a holy Gospel it bears down mens lusts it proclaimes peace to them upon no other tearms but their
prevent the spiritual Famine and a loss of the gospel because there is such a fear of the gospel departing from your you have seen it evidently proved before your eyes But here is a question now you will say unto me we cannot denie but there is a fear of the removal of the gospel and of a famine of the Word but how shall we do to prevent this soul Famine now to this I answer do these three or four things to prevent the gospel going away First Take heed of those sins which will surely bring a Famine of Gods Word there are some sinnes which we must endeavour to prevent that will bring a famine of the word there are several of these sinnes set down in this Chapter Amos 8. Pray observe them I will mention some of them The first sinne the Prophet does set down is Oppression Amos 8.11 Hear this Oh you that swallow up the needy Those Jews they were like the Fishes of the Sea the greater devour the lesser For this sin of Oppression God threatens a Famine of the Word and is not this sinne to be found among us Oppression I appeal to any one that hath his Reason left Does not one Man now become a Woolfe to another does not he tear from him the Golden Fleece I dare be bold to say there is more Justice to be found in Hell then among men upon Earth for in Hell no Innocent Person is opprest that is one sinne Secondly Another sinne the Prophet sets down that is the cause of this Spiritual Famine it was wearinesse of Gods Ordinances Amos the 5 th and 8 th Verse When will your New Moons be gone that we may sell Corne and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat Verse 6. For this sinne I will bring a Famine of the Word are you weary of me They were more for Trading then they were for worshiping The Lord hath fed us of this City with the finest of the Wheat the Bread of life he hath given us the very Creame of his Ordinances but when we have been fed to the full have not we begun to surfeit have we not said when will the Sabbath be gone what a wearinesse is it Truely when we have lost our Stomach it is most just with God to take away our Food If a Mans Commodities bares a better price in one place then in another he will remove his Marker the Gospel is grown a cheap Commodity it bears but a loe price now Men are weary of it and may not we fear God will remove his Market he will transplant his Word into Foreign parts Surely if we begin to say what a weariness is it if our mercies be our burthens God can soon ease us of this burthen this is a sinne brings a Famine of the Word when we are weary of the Ordinances and hath not this sinne caused a Famine of the Word already in many parts of this Land There is none knows how to speak to their Spiritual Case that can feed them with the Bread of life that can divide the Word aright in many parts of the Land it is so they have Husks given to them instead of Food and Musick instead of Manna Thirdly Another sinne that brings a soul Famine is this cozening in mens Dealings Verse 5. Making the Ephar small the Ephar it was the Kings Measure Verse 7. In selling they made the Ephar small the meaning is they gave but scanty Measure they made the Ephar small and saith God you sell the refuge of the Wheat that is mear Cheating they pick out of the best Grain for themselves and the Husks and Refuge they sell to the poor here is mear Cheating saith God I will bring a Famine of the Word upon you for this let none hold in their hands false Ballances I would there did not Fourthly Another sinne that brings a Famine in this Chapter is Idolatry Verse 4. They that swear by the sinne of Samaria and say Thy God Oh Dan liveth here was plain Idolatry but let us understand this sinne of Samaria what was that that was the Calf that was set up at Bethel near to Samaria and to swear to this Calf here was plain Idolatry for this God threatned a Famine of the Word and are we free from this sinne I would we were is there no Idol worship among us are there not some so impotent as to say in Print It will never be well with us till we are reconciled to the Mother Church of Rome Idolatry it inrageth God it breaks the Marriage Knot it makes God give a Bill of Disvorce to a People Idolatry it does so provoke the Lord that he takes away the visible Tokens of his presence from a Nation 2 King 17.12.18 they served Idols What follows Verse 18. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel removed them quite out of his sight he unpeopled them he unchurched them he removed them out of his sight I say this to you when once you see darke shaddows of Popery stretched out then fear the Sunne of the Gospel is going down Fifthly Another sinne that brings a Gospel Famine it is opposition to Reformation when God calls to a Land to returne to him by Repentance Turn ye turn ye why will you die but they will go on in sinne when God cries to them by his Judgments to break of sinne but they will not hear the voice of Gods Rodd Jer. 5. verse 3. they refuse to receive Correction when once it is thus with a people God will pack up and be gon from them 7. Jer. 13.14 ver Therefore will I doe to this House which is called b my Name as I did to Shilo why what did God do to Shilo when he left the tokens of his wrath there at Shilo the Priest was slain the Arke taken Prisoner all the signs of Gods presence were removed and we never read that the Arke retuned to Shilo any more Oh dreadful hath not the Lord blown the Trumpet in our ears hath not be called to us to repent but we hate to be reformed we turn a deaf ear to God let England let London take heed it be not with it as once with Shilo that God does not make the Vision cease and bring a Famine of the word in these our days Levit. 26. verse 23. pray observe 24.30 saith God verse 23. I will punish you yet seven times more for your sinnes I will make you lie waste and I will bring your Sanctuary into desolation that is the first thing if you would prevent a Gospel Famine I beseech you beloved take heede of those sinnes which you have seen have brought a Famine of Gods Word upon a Land Secondly If you would prevent a Famine of the Gospel let us besiege the Throne of Grace by earnest prayer Oh pray to God you that can pray pray that the Lord would not depart from you that he would not make the Vision cease that he would not turne the Songs of
our Temple into Howleing Oh lay hold upon Christ by importunitie you read of those in the Gospel when Christ made as if he was going away the Text saith they did constrain his to stay with them Luke 24. Verse 29. Is not the Lord upon the Thrashal of his Temple as if he was ready to take his wings and flye from us Oh let us by humble prayer lye at his Feet and if it be possible constraine him yet to stay with England stay Lord rather any Judgement than this rather lay a stroake upon my body or Estate but doe not bring a Famine of the Word of God and if we would prevaile with the Lord use Arguments in prayer when we come to God for the poor Gospel of England Lord hast thou never a Remnant left among us a People that love thee and fears thee that hangs about thee that will not let thee goe Oh destroy not the cluster is not there a blessing in it Oh wilt thou be gone from us art not thou our Father will the Father take away Bread from his Children Lord will not the Enemie insult to see thee leaving thy Temple where thou hast put thy Name wilt thou make the hearts of thy people sadde and wilt thou rejoyce thine Enemies Oh Lord hast thou not given Bond and is there better Security hast thou not promised under thy Hand and Seale thou wilt give us Pastors after thine own heart to feed us with Knowledge Lord thou wilt never Forfeit thy Bond. It is true we are an unworthy Nation not worthy to be Beloved Oh but canst not thou make us fit for Mercie canst not thou give us Repentance as well as Deliverance Nay Lord let us farther press thee is not thy Honour concerned in all this we are called by thy Name leave us not thus should we use Arguments and follow God by prayer and surely the Lord will not depart from us Prayer it makes a sweet sound in Gods Ear and he will not goe away where he hears this Musick Againe Thirdly Would we prevent a Gospel Famine which we have cause to fear let us this day turne to God and break off our sinnes by righteousness Jer. 7. Verse 3. Amend your wayes and your doings it is a vain thing to pray unless you reform amend your wayes and your doings What should God continue his Gospel for to an impenitent sinnefull Land that are resolved they will sinne who will lay out cost upon ground that brings forth nothing but Briars who will power Rose-water upon a Dunghill Would we prevent a Gospel Famine let us breake up the Follow ground of our hearts by Repentance I will say but this if we Reforme not we can expect to see no good dayes more God will un-People us he will un-Church us ere he hath done Oh better loose the Sunne in the Firmament than that the Gospel Sunne should be Eclipsed in our Horison who would desire to live when the Arke of God is gone what good Christian can forbeare weeping at the Funeral of the Gospel that is the first exhortation let us labour to prevent the coming of Gods Famine upon us as we would prevent Fire and Plague so labour to prevent this Soul Famine Seccond Vse of Exhortation is this if a Famine of the Word be so sad as you have heard let us doe what we can to keep God still amongst us and his Gospel You will say how shall we keep the Gospel it is a blessed designe to keep the Gospel I will name three or four things and I have done First Entertain the Gospel into your houses that is one way to keep it Obadiah he entertained the Ark and his house was blessed for the Ark sake if you cannot have the Gospel in poblick as you use to have with purity and freedome get it into your houses I am sure of this you can never put your houses to better use then to entertain Christ and his Gospel I beseech you let it not be said that the Gospel is put to seek its lodging does not this Gospel bring Salvation Oh how glad should you be to have Salvation come to your House Secondly Would you keep the Gospel among you Improve it the best way I know still to enjoy the Gospel is to improve it lay up a stock of knowledge let the word of Christ dwell richly in you coll 3. Verse 16. Receive the Word not only into your heads but into your hearts get good by the word Preached while the Manna falls gather Manna the best way to enjoye the Gospel is to improve it God will not take away the Brest so long as Faith draws the brest And then Thirdly Prise the Gospel and that is the way to keep it the Ordinances of God are the most signal blessings they are better then Gold Silver they are the food of your souls they strengthen faith they increase joy these are the Conduits that holds the Water of Life that soul that before was dry like Aarons Rod being planted near these waters of the Ordinances have flourished have brought forth Buds and Almonds and therefore prise the Ordinances Beloved here we converse with the Lord Jesus Christ if ever we enjoy Christ upon earth it is here if ever we see his face it is through this Lattice Gods Ordinances are like the place of the Mercy Seat where the Lord did speak from heaven to his People oh then prise these Gospel blessings and that is the way yet to keep them among you And lastly If you would keep the Gospel with you adorne the Gospel you that are here present you do all profess the Gospel that is not enough unlesse you adorn the Gospel Phil. 1.27 Let your Conversation be as becomes the Gospel but when do we adorn the Gospel I answer when we live according to the rule of the Gospel in sobriety and sanctity Oh that is to adorn it when we walk according to the rule of it in sobriety and sanctity we adorn the Gospel when we walk as the Members of Christ and as those that are acted by his Spirit we adorn the Gospel when we shine forth in a kind of Angelical brightnesse and live so holy as if we had seen the Lord this is to adorne the Gospel and this is the best way I know to have the Gospel intailed upon us and upon our posterity after us