Pharoah's House and out of Egypt's Land and took us by the hand and led us peaceably to walk by the Rivers of Gods Pleasures I say see to it this day that you may answer the great Love of God that the Lord doth vouchsafe his Heavenly Presence in the midst of you and lift up the Light of his Countenance upon you that ye may be found answering his Love in his renewed Blessings that as he reneweth his Mercies you may renew your Obedience and as he renews his Loving kindness you may renew your Thankfulness that your Souls may be filled with high Praises for it is a Day of Praises for the Lord they who have obtained a Deliverance by Gods mighty Arm and Power that brought his People out of Egypt's Land into the Wilderness and through the Red-Sea and over Jordan's River unto the Banks of Salvation they who have received a marvellous Deliverance from their Spiritual Enemies they do not hang their Harps upon the Willows but Rejoice and Praise the Living God they resolve with the Prophet Although the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall Fruit be in the Vine the Labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no Meat the Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stalls and altho ' there be Plague Sword Fire Desolation and Destruction Yet we will rejoice in the Lord we will joy in the God of our Salvation Is it so with you this Day Are you come into this Divine Fellowship into this Intimacy with the Lord have you this Holy Frame of Soul O ye Sons and Daughters of the Morning the Everlasting Day of God hath dawned upon you that you may look into your Hearts and see how it is with you and see your experiences see the things that your Eyes have seen and your hands have handled You have tasted the good Word of God and known the Operation of his Power these are things that they have that are Children not empty Notions but Experiences If we travel on we shall be enabled to overcome and if we take unto us the whole Armour of God we shall be enabled to stand in the Evil Day and having done all to stand and what is the reward of them that overcome they shall eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Life that grows in the Paradise of God as many as are fed from this Tree they are not to be standing Idle but Work the Works of God and are brought into the Paradise of God and enjoy the Delights of God in the Presence of God and the Lord will fill and satisfie them with his Divine Goodness and they shall grow and encrease in the Divine Life more and more Consider how doth the Work go on Consider the Lord Jesus he came in our Natures before he cometh into our Hearts Now Christ Jesus within us is the Hope of Glory and the Mystery that was hid from Ages and Generations is now Revealed in us Christ is now come not only into our Natures buâ— into our Hearts into our Inward man and all those at the Door of whose Hearts he hath knocked If they have opened to him and received him He hath come to Sup with them and he hath given them the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation and they have come into Divine Fellowship with him and so they have eaten his Flesh and drunk his Blood and fed upon that Bread that comes down from Heaven and all that open the Door and let him in they come to eat of this Bread and they come to see him that is the Desire of all Nations and the Light of the World and they walk in his Light This is an Ancient Testimony when you were first turned to the Light of Christ it was not a Natural but a Divine Light that you were turned to the Light of Jesus manifesting himself in us in this Light you received him and I desire to know what you have tasted what surther Joy is there What more excellent object what more excellent mark than this then the Light of the Nations that we are come to walk in Here is Divinity here is that which was before the World began here is made known the Divine Nature It is testified here that you might be partakers of it that you might be a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People that you should shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvellous Light see how this Work advanceth in every one of you that you may be faithful and improve your Tallents that you may be able to give up your account to the Lord with Joy and not with Grief When you shall hear a Voice saying Come come away There is no more Time the Glass is Run then how joyfully wilt thou hear that Voice if thou hast not been Idle but Working out thy Salvation and answering the Call of God and adoring him for his Love to thy Immortal Soul thou art not like Martha cumbred about many things but mindest the one thing needful that good part that shall not be taken away from thee If you thus Work out your Salvation it will be said unto you Well Done not Well Taught not well Disputed but Well Done good and faithful Servants enter you into the Joy of your Lord My Friends Time goes apace and we are wearing off and in a little while we shall be here no more Time will be gone and the Day of your Visitation quickly over the Thought and Consideration of this hath affected me many a time Look Friends that you be all travelling on in your Heavenly Journey as a faithful people and that the Work of your Salvation is carrying on and that is Christ is a Redeemer to you and that he doth deliver you from the Dominion of Sin and the Bondage of Corruption Art thou free who hath made thee free If the Truth hath made thee free If the Son of God hath made thee free then art thou free indeed If thou art made free thy Knowledge will be accompanied with experience and not notions only you want not notions but Possession of Inward freedom and liberty Doth your knowledge of Truth make you free from Sin Oh the tumblings and tossings that thy Soul was in Oh the Covenant making and the Covenant breaking there was no Peace no Rest because you were fallen and because you did not know Dominion and Victory over Sin which is only by the Life and Spirit of Christ Jesus which will lead you into the Path of obedience then you will know that in Christ there is Life and this Life is the Light of Men and the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not you have Life only in Christ and you have it in him as in the Fountain this you must know that you may be delivered from sin By this saving knowledge of Christ and
he hath given us a Measure of his Spirit to profit withal The Son of God is come to wash and purge Men from their Sins and to destroy the Works of the Devil and to waste and consume that Nature that hath separated Man from God and the Root and Ground of it that hath hindered our approaching near to God Christ is come to finish transgression and to make an end of sin to take it away and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness I would intreat you all in the Love and Tender Compassions of God to open to this coming of the Lord Jesus Christ He is come near to you he knocks at the Door of your Hearts by his secret Reproofs and Heavenly smilings in the Soul and shews People their evil Ways and Courses Now if you in Faith open to Christ when he knocks at the Door of your Hearts He will Work the Work of God in you He will work that in you and for you that no man can work for himself nor for another now the Lord Jesus Christ he is come to Work that Work which his Father hath given him to do which is to take away that which hath separated thee from God and made thee a Child of Wrath and an Object of Gods displeasure he will remove it and wash it away in his Blood it is the Blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all Sin O the wonderful Love of the Son of God that he manifested to us in that Body which was prepared for him to do the Will of God in submitting to the Death and being a Sacrifice once for all If thou wilt hearken to his Reproofs and Instructions he will Work the Work of God in thee and he will wash thee and cleanse thee from Sin in his own Blood and thou must be acquainted with this washing cleansing Work or thou hast no part in Jesus the Mediatour for he said to Peter If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me He doth purge and wash and purifie all that have a part in him who is the Fountain that God hath set open for the House of Judah and Jerusalem for Sin and for Uncleanness that you may wash in it and be clean Seeing the Fountain of Gods Love is opened to thee in the Lord Jesus Christ turn to him and feel the operation of his Blood it will take away thy Sin and Uncleanness yea the very Root of Evil. And every Plant as Christ said that the Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up Mat. 15. 13. When thou comest to know the plucking up of these Plants and art willing to be purged by Christ and washed in his Blood in that Fountain that is opened for Sin and Uncleanness and comest to be made a Vessel meet for thy Masters Use and comest to be a Vessel in Gods House and fit toper form the Worship of God that stands in the Spirit thou wilt then find acceptance with God through Jesus Christ But this Reformation must not be outward only but a Reformation of the Mind and Soul and the Inward Man and a being truly rectified there and this is to make clean the Inside as Christ said Then thou wilt come to have a Discovery of and to be acquainted with the Mind and Will of God and thou wilt then feel a cry in thy Soul on this wise O Lord enable me to perform my Duty to thee and thou wilt find the Promise made good to thee and here thy waiting will be upon God They that wait upon the Lord shal renew their strength they shall mount up with Wings like Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Thus when thou art waiting upon God and doing his Will thou wilt perform thy Duty without weariness or fainting and Serve God and Gloriâ—â— him in Thoughts Words and Actions and thâ—â— thou wilt answer the end for which thou wast made and wilt Worship and Serve God in that ability of Grace which he hath given thee and thou wilt experience what it is to be under the conduct and guidance of the Spirit of God and wilt Worship God in Spirit and in Truth The Father seeketh such to Worship him for the Worship of God doth not stand in outward Observation nor in any thing barely that a Man can do outwardly but in Spirit and Truth They that are thus exercised they Live to God and in daily feeling of his Redeeming Arm and the Ransoming power of the Lord which hath broken the Chains of Darkness in which they were held and how the Lord hath brought them near to himself and filled them with a living sense of that Power that hath redeemed them and they cannot but fall into an holy admiration of God and admire his Love and bounty and Wisdom Power and Goodness Here is a Man that Worships God aright that truly performs the Worship and Service of God when the mind is truly humble and dwells in lowlyness such find life to spring from God the fountain of it and thereby their Souls are kept in a lively frame before him for it is the living that worship God it is the Living that praise him the Dead cannot praise his Name The Grave saith Hezekiah cannot praise thee O God Death cannot Celebrate thee The Living the living he shall praise thee as I do this Day Those that truly Worship God in Spirit they have Holiness to the Lord written upon them stampt on their outside And as they have born the Image of the Earthly so now they bear the Image of the Heavenly Adam These perform Duty to God aright and they are made meet to serve him and Worship him and they have a deep sense of the Love and mercy of God to them and in that Sense give Glory to God to whom it does belong for ever more Secondly As there is a duty we owe unto God so there is a Duty which we owe to our Neighbour and this Duty cannot be performed but as we are preserved in a sense of that power which hath quickned us to God Therein we are made Instruments in his hands to call upon others to turn to God and do good to them by our Exemplary Lives and that as we make a Profession of Godliness so we ought to walk in Love and have bowells of Compassion and Love to our Neighbours that they may be saved and brought near to God And therefore let us shew forth all Meekness Goodness Lowlyness Justice Truth Equity and all manner of Holy Conversation and Godliness and Love God with all our Heart with all our Mind and with all our Soul and our Neighbour as our selves These are the two great Lessons which we ought to learn and I am sensible many are short in not loving their Neighbours as themselves but are seeking rather to Circumvent and to defraud one another letting up bitterness and malice one against another Too many Instances may be given of these things but
whereby they may be supported through all Tryals and Adversities and through all Oppositions and Temptations that they may meet withal for the tryal of their Faith and for the exercise of their Patience that all their Afflictions and Exercises may be sanctified to them for the bringing them nearer and nearer to thy self and into a more lively inward and single Dependance on thee and thy Divine Grace and Truth which thou hast made known by Christ Jesus our only Mediatour by whom alone we have access to thee and whereby we are made capable of beholding the light of thy Countenance and partake of thy Divine goodness and blessing and of those pretious promises which thou hast left upon Record and Impressed upon our Minds and Hearts Thou hast poured into us a living and inward sense of that pure Life of thy Dear Son whereby we may be enabled to live to thy Praise and O Blessed Powerful Lord God those that are not convinced and persuaded of thy Way and blessed Truth that are not come into it and to partake of the Life of it that are not yet come to live to thee and to live in Obedience to thy Blessed Son the Lord Jesus Christ who are not come under the Power of his Cross that they may be Crucified to the World and have the World Crucified to them Lord awaken them utter thy Voice that shakes the Mountains rend the Vail and draw in their Hearts and Minds and Affections from earthly and fading Objects that they may come to breathe after thee and feel that Spirit in them wherewith thou dost Inspire thy People whereby they may supplicate thee for relief for strength and Victory over the Spirit of the World and over the Temptations of the Devil and the Flesh which do easily beset Men and whereby many are led Captive who cannot yet make mention of thy Name and walk in thy Truth Lord awaken them by thy Powerful Voice and incline their Hearts to seek thee while thou art to be found and call upon thee while thou art near that thou mayst be known in thy glorious Visitation The Cords of thy Love thou hast extended that they may lay hold thereon that they may be drawn out of the Pollutions of the World and of Sin and Sathan that have brought Death over them let the fear of God take place that they may be affraid to offend thee as knowing that thou art a Jealous God and thine Eyes are upon all the ways of the Sons of Men thou art the Heart searching God there is no secret can be hid from thine All seeing Eyes Vnder that Consideration O Lord let many come unto thee and reverence thy Great Name and not provoke thee to Displeasure against them And O blessed God thou hast been graciously pleased to begin a good Word a glorious Work of Righteousness in our days and timâ—s Blessed God and Father we humbly pray thee carry it on and make it prosper Prosper the Souls of thy People in it that they may be a growing thriving and increasing People in thy Holy ways and in thy blessed Work and as thou hast sown a precious seed and Planted a Noble Vine by thine own Almighty hand and given us a Root of Life the Foundation of our Faith Love and Obedience which Foundation thou hast laid in Zion Lord keep thy People sensible of it that they may mind it and wait upon thee and be preserved in that Root of Life wberein thy Blessing is that thy People may partake of thy Blessing and grâ—w up into the Nature of that Life to bring forth Fruit to â—hee to encrease in Faith and Love in Obedience and Humility and Meekness that the Life of true Christianity may be Promoâ—ed and Incâ—eased among thine Heritage that they may live in it and shine forth in it as thy Workmanship which thou hast Created in Christ Jesus unto fruitfulness unto all good Works that they may walk in them That so Powerful God and living Creator they may live unto thee and Act intirely to thy Praise Hâ—nâ—ur and Glory in their Day Age and Generation and that their bright shining forth in the Light if Truth and Righteou'ness may appear more and more as an Invitation to thâ—se that are afar off That in this thy Day wherein thou art setting up â—be Tabernacle of David the Kingdom of thy Belâ—ved Son and Repairing the Ruins and wast Places thereof Lord God Eternal grant that the Residue of Men may seek after thee and be sensible that thou art at Work and raising an Hâ—use for thine Honour and promoting the Kingdom of thy Son which is a Kingdom of Righteousness that of his Government there may be no end that all those that desire after Peace and after Happiness in the Kingdom of thy Dear Son may wait to see him Rule and Govern to see him Reign whose Right it is That Sin may not Reign in their Mortal Bodies that Sinful Lusts and Vile Affectiâ—ns and an Earthly mind may not have Power over them and prevail against them that so their Souls may be lifted up to thee That Blessed Eternal God they may wait upon thee and Renew their Strength and Renew their Thankfulness for the Renewing of thy Mercies and the Incomes of thy Love which are fresh and New every Morning That they may fear thee and wait upon thee and Diligently seek after thee and have sweet Communion with thee in the Enjoyment of thy Presence And Blessed be thou O Lord God Eternal for all thy Mercies Preservations and Encouragements so frequently Afforded to thy People whose Eyes and Hearts are towards thee Our Souls are deeply engaged to thee and we have cause to Bless and Praise and Honor thy Great and Excellent Name and through tâ—y Dear Son to offer up praise and Thanks giving to thy Great and Excellent Majesty for thou alone O God art worthy to Receive the Honour and Praise of all thy Mercies Benefits and Blessings by all the â—iving here and elsewhere who art God only over all Heaven and the whole Earth Blessed and Praised for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM DEWSBERY At Grace-Church-Street May 6. 1688. My Friends Except you be Regenerated and Born again ye cannot inherit the Kingdom of God THis is the Word of the Lord God to all People this day this lies not in airy Profession and in vain Imagination and whatsoever else it is that you deck your selves with all you must every particular Man and Woman be born again else you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven This was the Doctrine of Christ in that prepared body wherein he appeared in the World and Preached to Nicodemus That standing Doctrine to this moment of time and will be so while any man breaths upon the Earth there is no other way no other gate to enter into Life by but this great work of Regeneration Now to enforce People to come to this great Work and to set forward
from Earth to Heaven all being driven out of Paradice by the Cherubim set with a Flaming Sword there is no returning to that Blessed Life but by the loss of that Life that did grieve the Spirit of God and which did cause Man to be driven out there is no other way of return again but by this New Birth As you are all driven and forced out of Paradise and the Flaming Sword and the Cherubims are set to keep the way of the Tree of Life so you must return into the favour of God again by the Light of Christ and you have Line upon Line Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little to direct your minds to the Light of Christ Jesus As the first Adam was made a living Soul so the second Adam is a quickning Spirit This know for certain no Man or Woman can be quickned and raised up into the life of the second Adam till the life of the first Adam be taken away from them So now let every one of you deal plainly with your own hearts how you came to be a slain People to the life of the first Adam in which life there was a working of the Mystery of Iniquity in every part of Man One cries lo here is Christ another lo there is Christ and every one is following his own imagination about the Letter of the Scripture this is still but the vain Spirit of Man running and striving to recover himself and this is the cause there is so much profession of God and so little of his Nature appearing among the Sons and Daughters of Men. Now all of you that come to be regenerated you must come to the light of Christ there is no other way to it He will search your hearts and try your reins and set your sins in order before you and trace out the iniquities that compass you about therefore you must see your selves a lost People a sinful People and so come to feel the weight of your Sins upon your Consciences there is no other way to come to life you will never complain of Sin till you be burthened with it 'till you have a Trumpet sounding in your ears to awaken you that you may arise from the Dead that Christ may give you light there is no other way Dear People you must bring your deeds to the light of Christ and abide the sentence of Condemnation if you save your lives you lose them if you will lose your lives for Christs sake there is no danger of your Eternal Life John the Baptist Christ's fore-runner declared I indeed Baptize you with water unto Repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier than I the Latchet of whose Shooes I am not worthy to unlose he shall Baptize you with the Holy-Ghost and with Fire whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and will gather his Wheat into his Garner but the Chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire What is it the better for you to read the Scripture if you know not this fiery Baptism which all must know that are regenerated deceive not your selves Christ will appear in flaming fire and take vengeance on all them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ I stand here as a Witness of the Lord of Life this day there is no way for people to come to Salvation but they must know Christ revealed in all their hearts What is he doing but rendring Vengeance upon the carnal mind self-pleasing and all inordinate Affections he comes with Vengeance to take away thy Life he will Baptize thee with the Holy Ghost and with Fire If thou knowest not this thou art not a true Christian Thou wilt never look Death in the face with joy nor go down to the Grave with Triumph If thou livest at home in the body and flyest for thy life and wilt not be willing to lose thy life for Christ if thou art called to it and if thou wilt not have Christ to wash thee some for shiness and some for self-love will refuse this if Christ doth not wash thee thou hast no part in him you must come to Christ to purifie you in the fiery furnace the Day of the Lord shall burn as an Oven as the Prophet speaks this is a dreadful day a day of Vengeance the day of the Lord Jesus Christ who Redeemeth his People from their Sins Zion is Redeemed with Judgment and Established with Righteousness Do not make the way to Heaven easier in your minds and imaginations than indeed it is and think it not sufficient to live in an outward observance of the ways of God If your own wills be alive and your corruptions remain unmortified the Judgment of God will be your Portion therefore in the Lord's name come along with me I am come to declare what I have heard and seen of the Father Come and examine thy Conscience hast thou brought thy deeds to the light then thou hast received Condemnation upon thy self and thy haughtiness is bowed down and laid low and thou seest thy self a poor miserable wretch before the Eternal God Whatsoever thou knowest of the mind of God hast thou reformed thy ways come along with me and tell me what is the ground of thy Faith and thy considence is it thy obedience and qualifications because thy obedience is right and thy qualifications right what use dost thou make of tnem read the Book of Conscience hast thou no ground for thy Faith thou hast put on the Reformed Faith and livest an unreformed Life search and try thy self Man or Woman Dost thou watch over thy self and keep in a sense of thy dissolution notwithstanding all thy qualifications and partial Reformation Dost thou strive to enter in at the strait Gate and the narrow way here is the lost Sheep thou seekest the life of thy will the life of the first Adam the justice of God will not suffer thee to make a Saviour of thy Duties and Qualifications and to take God's Jewels and to deck thy self with them thou canst not be saved without the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus What saith thy Conscience art thou brought to this change of thy Mind and of thy Conversation Are you all willing to part with your Sins with your Pride and Haughtiness Are you willing to part with your vile Affections this is the work of Gods grace upon you dost thou place thy confidence in thy Duties and Qualifications and takest God's Jewels and Oraments and deckest thy self with them Thou tookest my Jewels saith the Lord and didst play the Harlot if thou return to the Lord and humble thy self and get through this difficulty thou wilt be happy for ever This Judgment of God this Flaming-Sword that turns every way will keep thee from returning to Sin and bring thee to Christ and cut thee off from all hope of Salvation but by him and make thee to see the absolute need of
Marrying my Soul to himself seized upon me and did work effectually in me There is the Testimony of Christ in me he hath Sealed up my Soul to the Day of my Redemption here is a certain passage and a certain way which never any miss of that lose their Lives for Christ If you be not ready and willing to lose your Lives for Christ you shall never come here The Gate is strait and the way is narrow none come hither but those that die into an Heavenly Oneness with Christ O Friends let us empty our selves that Christ may fill us let us be nothing in our own Eyes that we may be all in him and receive of his fulness Now I commend you to God's Witness that you may remember what hath been spoken among you but consider if you do not harken to it it will follow you and be a plague to you to all Eternity if you will not yield up your selves to Christ this day that burns like an Oven this Fire you must dwell with when out of the Body there will be no quenching of this Fire for ever but if you be so wise for your Souls as to resign your selves up to Christ and come to him as little Children this will not hinder your Earthly concerns though the World may account thee a Fool yet thou hast that part of Heavenly Wisdom to do what thou dost as unto God thou carriest to thy Wife as in the sight of God that she may be Sanctified to thee and thou to her and thou carriest becomingly to thy children and Servants and thou wilt abound in Grace and in every good work which will be for thine Eternal wellfare O I beseech you People for the Lord's sake wait for the light of Christ to guide you learn of him to be meek and lowly then happy are you for he dwelleth with the humble but he beholdeth the Proud afar off This New Birth which is a true work a sincere and heavenly work it will make you for ever O make room for Christ in your Hearts or else he is never like to dwell with you he loveth to dwell with the poor and humble and contrite Spirit he abhors the Proud he will empty your Souls that he may fill them And so I commend you to God I have been long held in durance under great weakness and I was restless till I could come up to this Great City of London to Preach the Everlasting Gospel among you and you see I am among you here pray every one of you turn Inward let not these Words passing through a mean Vessel be as a bare empty Discourse of Truth to you which you only hear and take no further care of your Salvation Take heed of despising the light that shines in the midst of you and be pressing forward to the Heavenly work that is laid in the Power of Christ Jesus even through Judgment into Death and then he will give Eternal Life the Lord confirm this that it may rest upon your Hearts that you may be dead to the things of World We are not come to Mount Sinai that genâ—ers to bondage but we are come to Mount Sion the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumeâ—able company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first born which are wrâ—tten in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just Men made Perfect and to Jesus â—be Mediatour of the New Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel This is the Inheritance of the Redeemed of the most High blessed be the name of the Lord let us rest in hope till he bring us to Humility and Lowlyness of mind that he may cloth us with Heavenly Glory according to his Promise I will Beautifie my House with Glory saith the Lord. This is the Portion of a Poor People that cast down themselves before the Lord that he may lift them up and be all in all to them In whose blessed Presence they shall have of Joy and Rivers of Pleasures at his right hand for ever more The Prayer after Sermon BLessed and Glorious God thy presence and power is with thy People every where and thou art stretching forth thy Almighty Arm for the Salvation of thy chosen ones and thou art Influencing their Souls with thy Grace and Spirit in all their solemn meetings and Assemblies we desire to extoll and magnifie thy great and excellent Nause for all thy Mâ—rcies and blessings we pray thee bow down thy Heavenly Ear and 〈◊〉 ken to the Cries and supplications of thy People that are breathing forth the desire of their Sâ—uls to thee that art a God hearing Prayers supply their wants and establish their Spirits and uphold them with thy free Spirit Crown all thy chosen ones with thy loving-kindness and tender mercy rend the Cloud of darkness that hangs over us and take away the Vail and bow the Heavens amongst us and visit us with thy Salvation and reveal the mysteries of thy Truth unto us and in all our ways let us acknowledge thee and do thou lead us in the way everlasting Righteous God of Love while we live on Earth let our Conversaâ—ion be in Heaven where Christ our Mediatour sits aâ— thy Right-hand let us follow his Example who was Holy Harmless and undefiled that we may sit in Heavenly places with him Be thou a Sun and Shield to us in our earthly Pilgrimage whom have we in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that we desire besides thee let us walk before thee in sincerity and truth and do thou conduct us in the way of truth and righteousness by thy blessed Spirit Blessed be thy Name for the light of thy saving truth that hath shined in our minds and the light of thy Countenance that hath been lifted up upon us in our meetings thou hast furnished a Table for thy People as in the days of old we cannot but Admire thy great love and condescention towards us and extol and bless thy Holy name for thy abounding mercies and the Riches of thy Goodness to us we desire to give thee honour and renown and praise and Thanks giving for thy renewed mercies and Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus for whom we bless thee and in whom we desire to be found not having our own Righteousness to him with thy self and thy Holy Eternal Spirit be Glory for Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. GEORGE WHITEHEAD At Grace-Church-Street Octob. 4. 1693. THE Great God who made Heaven and Earth the God of our Salvation he hath prepared a Sacrifice for himself in the hearts of a Remuant whom he hath gathered by the Arm of his Mighty Power and he hath kindled that Sacrifice that is of his own preparing and this to a Remnant is a manifest Token of the Love of God and of his Divine and special Providence for their safety and preservation that trust
in him and that are sincerely devoted to his service and fear and that walk in humility before him and this my Friends is matter of weighty and tender concernment upon my Spirit to mind all of you that come to our Meetings and hear the Truth declared from time to time that you seriously consider the great work that the Lord is about to bring to pass that every one should wait for that they may feel his Mighty Power preparing their hearts for himself and raising up Breathings and Supplications to him that is a God hearing Prayers that are offered in uprightness and sincerity from a broken heart and a contrite Spirit which are Sacrifices that the Lord hath regard to And as it was said of Old when Manoah took a Kid asith a Meat Offering and offerâ—d it upou a Rock unto the Lord and the Angel did wondrously and Manoah and his Wife looked on for it came to pass when the flame went up toward Heaven from off the Altar that the Angel os the Lâ—rd ascended in the Flame of the Altar and Manoah and his Wife looked on and fell on their faces to the ground and Manoah said to his Wife we shall surely die because we have seen God But his Wife said unto him if the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a Burnt-Offering and a Meat-Offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things He would not have manifested so great Love to us surely a Remnant may say at this day from a sense of the great things that the Lord hath shewn us and of his blessed Power working in their hearts and inward parts a tenderdess and subjection to him that we owe obedience to the Lord and we believe that the Lord intends good to his People in that he will exalt his Name in us and prosper his own work of Righteousness that Righteousness may be exalted that many may come to behold the great things and the worthy things which the Lord our God will bring to pass in our Day These things have been foretold for the encouragement and for the strengthning of the Faith of those whose Faces are Sion-ward whose eyes are turned towards the Lord their Maker who have tasted in some measure of the Power and of the Goodness of the Lord our God that they may continue in the Faith whereby their hearts may be drawn after the Lord that those who have been made partakers of the true and living Faith of the Son of God in his Name and Power may keep the Faith and not let go the Faith that they may hold fast the Profession of their Faith without wavering that the Enemy may not be suffered upon any account either to weaken or destroy the Faith of any who have known some degree of Faith in the work of God and concerning his Goodness and special care and Providence for the safety and for the preservation of them that fear him who are the called of the Lord who are chosen out of the World and out of the corruptions of it that they may be a living and a peculiar People and a chosen Generation to shew forth the praise of him that hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light He hath called us and chosen us for that very end that in our Lives and Conversations we might answer his Call of Grace and the truth that we are made partakers of and thereby shew forth his praise and such now have cause to bless the Lord and praise his Holy Name for all his Mercies for preserving of them and helping them in their Way and in their Spiritual Journey and Progress that they are brought into Therefore dear Friends be ye concerned and be inward with the Lord and attend upon him without distraction that nothing may hurry discompose nor distract your minds or turn them about from the Faith trust and Confidence you have in the Lord which he hath gathered his People into that every one may be exercised in a Watchful state and in Lowlyness and Humility and look unto and depend upon the Lord for strength for help and Power to enable us to stand against all the Wiles of Satan that none may be led into any extream from the sense of Truth and from a feeling of that Power that doth prepare the Heart for God and fix it upon him That none may be drawn out either into carelesness negligence slothfulness or presumption on the one hand or into diffidence distrustfulness or despair on the other but that all may look unto Jesus who is the Author and finisher of their Faith that they may be sensible of the benefits of his Death on Earth and of his Intercession in Heaven of the Effect and benefit of his Prayer unto the Father that their Faith when they shall be tryed and tempted may not fail that all may witness and partake of this that he told unto Peter I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Satan hath desired to Winnow thee to toss thee and blow thee about but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith may not fail So my Friends and Friendly People let your Faith stand in that Power that hath gathered you in that Arm of the Lord that he hath made bare and stretched forth to bring a People to himself that every one may live by Faith and have their dependance upon the Lord for strength and for relief that they may partake of the immediate influence of his Spirit which he he is ready to Minister and Communicate to those that are given up to serve the Lord that your Prayers and Supplications may be in the Spirit to that God that poureth out a Spirit of Grace and Supplication upon his People and he is daily pouring out his Holy Spirit upon his People that their Prayers and supplications may reach to him who is a God hearing Prayers That they may be prevalent with God for the Preservation of themselves and others and for the good of all Nations that they may awaken many to repent and seek the Lord whil he may be found and call upon him while he is near that they may be turned from the evil of their ways and from the many Provocations whereby the Inhabitants of the Earth have greatly incurred the Displeasure of God and that they may be sensible how ready the Lord is to turn away his wrath from them This is the desire of the Hearts and Souls of a Remnant on the behalf of many whom the Lord will yet visit and reach unto and call out of the dark ways and by Paths of Sin and Corruption that they may be brought into a Capacity to know the way of Truth and Righteousness and Peace And my Friends while People are sensible that there are true breathings and desires after God and that there is a particular Travel of Soul for the good of a Nation and for the converting of Sinners from the Evil
of their ways this is a sign that God is waiting to be gracious He may visit a People and Nation with Chastisements and Judgments yet I am sensible it is for his Peoples sake even a Remnant that he hath gathered out of the empty Professions and Forms that are in the World that the Lord is still waiting to be Gracious and extending his Patience and Long-suffering that he may convince them humble them and overcome them with his Love and when he corrects and punisheth yet he hath Reserves of Mercy for them if they will repent and turn from Sin and humble themselves under the mighty hands of God that he may in due time exalt them and bring them from under the weight of their Iniquities and the guilt of their transgressions that they may receive mercy for his Name 's sake and for his dear Son's sake This is the Breathing and the Travel of the Souls of a Remnant and we may truly say the Lord hath left a Seed a small Remnant that look to him and trust in him though a People and Nation have sinned against the Lord who otherwise had been as Sodom and Gommorrah if God had not left us a Seed yet for the sake of a little Seed even for the sake of the Worm Jacob that wrestled with him by Prayer and Supplication the Lord hath spared many and waited to be Gracious to them they are truly a People that are a Praying People that have the Advantage of all others yet I do not condemn all forms of Profession there are some that have a secret sincerity and a fear of God and a desire after the Lord that are as Sheep scattered upon the barren Mountains that yet the Lord will gather there are those that have a secret longing and thirsting after the living God that desire to know the things that belong to their Peace There are other Sheep of Christ which are not of this Fold them also will he bring home that they may know where the Green Pastures are and be led by the still waters and find relief and refreshment from the Lord. Therefore all those that the Lord hath gathered and preserved and kept to this moment and helped them and supplied them and continued his mercy to them should be thankful and sensible of his loving kindness that by an Invisible Power hath given them comfort and refreshment while they have been waiting on him let their minds and hearts be still fixed upon the Lord and staid on him and he will preserve them in quientness and peace and they shall know he will shew his Providence with them that their Bread may be sure and their Waters may not fail the Lord will preserve them to the end of their Days in humility and lowlyness wherein they may be capable of Instruction and by his Holy Spirit he will lead them in the way they should walk those that come unto the Lord with weeping and supplication the Lord he will lead them by the Rivers of Water in a plain way where they shall not stumble The Lord our God hath prepared a Sacrifice and he will accept that Sacrifice which is of his own preparing and this I say to a Remnant is a manifest token of his Love God Almighty Preserve you and bless the labours of his Servants among you who labour in the Word and Doctrine and in the Gospel of your Salvation whilst they are among you that you may know the Goodness of the Lord that waiteth to be gracious and have renewed experiences of his Love and observe for your encouragement the tender care he is pleased to manifest towards his Heritage both in this and other places We have great cause humbly to be thankful to our God for what favours we enjoy and to be diligent to make the best Improvement we can of all the Seasons of Grace and opportunities for Working out our own Salvation which the Lord is pleased in his abundant mercy to afford unto us His Prayer after Sermon GLorious and Blessed God who art the God of all Grace and Mercy and of all our helps and Preservations unto this moment thou hast been with us unto this Day we have had thy Gracious presence with us even in the needful time Thou hast gathered us to be a peculiar People unto thee thy presence is the very Life of our meetings and the Beauty and Glory of our Assemblies wherewith from time to time thou hast succoured and relieved and revived thy People whose Eyes have been towards thee and whose expectations have been from thee to be supplied and saved by thy bountiful band those Living Divine and Heavenly supplies wherewith thou hast from time to time Relieved thy People the poor and needy those whose Souls are bowed down in deep Humility in thy sight and presence so that Powerful Father of Life we have great cause to remember thee in thy ways We have cause to fear thee O Lord and to think upon thy Name We desire to wait upon thee and cry to thee and breath after thee and trust in thee We bless thee for the continuance of thy Love and Goodness for thy renewed blessings and multiplied favours we have abundant cause to bless and praise and honour thee O Lord to magnifie thy great and excellent name for thy Love and great Goodness for making bare thy mighty Arm and stretching it forth to help the helpless and to relieve and support the poor and needy whose trust is in thee whose confidence thou hast raised up by thy Power to stand in thy Presence O Righteous Powerful Father of Life Gather thy People more and more into an inward sense and feeling and experience of thy Power and Goodness that their Hearts may be engaged to thy self to walk before thee in an Holy Awe and reverence and with such Sincerity Humility Lowlyness and tenderness of Heart as becomes those that have the enjoyment of thy Presence and as becomes our solemn meeting and appearing before thee from time to time that all thy People who are called by thy Grace who are convinced and persuaded of thy blessed truth may be truly and livingly awakened and stirred up into a sense of thy Glorious Power that they may know what it is to appear before thee and how they ought to come before thee the most glorious and most high and holy God who inhabitest Eternity who dwellest in the highest Heavens and yet hast a place in the lowest Hearts in the Hearts of those that with a true Reverence and holy fear desire to worship thee with such a frame of Spirit and temper of mind and heart as thou requirest in all them that approach thy Presence We beg the influence of thy Grace and Divine Spirit that we may be thereby comforted and refreshed and uouchsafe unto us O Lord such sweet incomes of thy Love and such renewings of thy blessing as may settle and establish our minds and hearts in a sense of thy Goodness and
of thy power and presence that we may not be shaken in our minds nor weakned in Faith and Confidence in thee by any Temptation what soever That Lord God Eternal the Hearts of thy People may be fixed trusting in thee and in thy blessed Name and Power and find safety and preservation That all thy people every where may be sensible that thou art their dwelling place as thou hast been in all Generations And so Lord God Eternal let them dwell in thee and do thou dwell in them and say this is my habitation for I have desired it That Blessed Father of Life they may be sensible of thy Love in it that no Calamities or disiresses nor Sword nor Famine nor Necessities nor Afflictions nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come may be able to seperate them from thy love in Christ Jesus O Lord thy People may say to thee as Israel said of old if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us then they had swallowed us up Quick when their wrath was kindled against us then the Waters had overwhelmed us and the siream had gone over our Soul Our help is in the Name of thee O Lord that made Heaven and Earth Thy Name and thy Power and thy mighty Arm hath appeared for us and compassed us about Thou hast surrounded thy people with thy favour as with a shield and hast preserved them for the praise and the honour of thy Name and the exaltation of thy Holy Truth And the Confidence and trust of a little Remnant is that thou wilt still be with them for their Confidence is in thy Name which is a strong Tower and their dependance upon thee Thou wilt not cut off a people which thon hast Appointed for thy praise thou wilt not not destroy them but surround them with thy Mercy and Salvation as with Walls and Bullwarks about them This is the Belief and Confidence that thou hast raised in the Hearts of a Remnant Therefore O Lord we have cause to wait upon thee and continually to trust in thee and breath and cry unto thee for thy whole Heritage for all them whom thou hast gathered by the Arm of thy Power that they may may be preserved faithful to the end of their Days that they may be saved from the Evils and Pollutions and Corruptions of the World that they may be Obedient to thy Call and to thy Heavenly Counsel that they may come to wait upon thee and harken to thy Voice as those that are willing to obey and not to touch any Unclean thing but being sensible of thy goodness thou wilt turn away thy wrath from them that turn from their Provocations For this end thou hast raised desires and breathings and begotten a Travel in the Souls of a Remnant of the Sons and Daughters of Men particularly for the Land of our Nativity We pray both for High and Low Rich and Poor Rulers and People that by thy Powerful Visitation they may be excited to seek the Lord and to wait upon thee and walk in thy humility in thy sight and presence that they may desire none in Heaven but thee and none upon Earth in Comparison of thee Work an effectual deliverance and Salvation for us both inward and ontward that our Confidence may not be in â—ny thing below thy self Let every one of us have an Understanding and an Eye opened for the light of truth that we may look unto thee and expect Salvation from thee by Jesus Christ our Mediatour and Redeemer Remember all thy People here and elsewhere that are recommended to thee keep them in a sense of thy ower and in humility before thee that they may receive Comfort and Wisdom and Instruction from thee and do thou graciously establish their goings and keep them in the way wherein they are to walk the way of Truth and Righteousness Life and Peace Be thou known in the Assemblies of all thy People and revive and strengthen them And be with all thy People in their respective Families that they may be engaged to serve thee and fear thee in sincerity and humility and call upon thy Name that thou Lord God Everlasting mayst take care of them and thy special Providence may watch over them and let the Angels of thy presence pitch their Tents about all them that fear thy Name Blessed and Everlasting Father of Mercies dwell among us hide and secure us under the shaddow of thy Wings that we may enjoy Communion with thee through Jesus Christ thy Dearly Beloved Son and our alone Saviour and offer up living Sacrifices of praise and Thanks giving unto thee the God of all our Mercies Blessings and Deliverances for thou alone art worthy who art God over all Blessed for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. FRANCIS CAMFIELD At Grace-Church street May the 14. 1693. MY Friends You have often heard by the Servants of the Lord that have given Testimony to Jesus the only and alone Saviour you have often heard the Report and the Report is true That there is no Name under Heaven by which any man can be saved but the Name of Jesus And you have oftentimes read also in the Holy Scripture of this Jesus the only and alone Saviour all the Holy Prophets gave Testimony that he should come and when he was come all the Holy Apostles and Ministers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they gave Testimony that he was come and they were made able Ministers of the New Testament and their great business was as Instruments in the hands of the Great God to turn men from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God that they might receive forgiveness of sins and an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified you know the Scripture speaks plentifully after this manner I hope there are none here but have believed the Testimonies that have been given but the great thing is for every one to come to a Consideration of this Since you have believed the Report that which is every ones concern now is to examine themselves whether or no they are really turned from Darkness to the Heavenly Light None come to be turned from Darkness to Light but they come to know Repentance from Dead Works and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ And as every one comes to know this they come to know what it is to lay a good Foundation This was the Foundation the Primitive Christians laid as you may Remember the Exhortation of the Apostle in the Sixth Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews Therefore leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto Perfection not laying again the Foundation of Repentance from dead Works and of Faith towards God Thus you see he presseth them to go on to Perfection that is the business of every one of you that believe in the Name of Jesus that you keep walking
on in the Holy way We that are come to know this Holy way through the Riches of the Love and Grace of the Great God to us it is our main business to walk in this Holy way they that know any thing of true Christianity know this to be their great concern to walk in this Holy way that leads to Everlasting Life Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and every one that comes into this way and walketh in it they are going on towards Perfection And they are putting off the Old Man They feel in themselves a Power at work that Crucifies the Old man with his Deeds then they go on in the Name of the Lord. This Power doth work till every one in their own particular comes to be Crucified with Christ It was the Primitive Christians experience what the Apostle saith of himself 2 Gal. 20. I am Crucified with Christ neverthless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Great is the Mystery of Godliness You that are engaged in the Christian Warfare and that live the Christian Life and are making War in righteousness against the Devil the Enemy of your Souls you know that Great is this Mystery of Godliness this Mystery is opened among the Disciples of Jesus among the Holy Off-spring of God who are begotten again through the Word of Eternal Life who as the Holy Apostle saith are begotten of his own Will through the Word of Truth that they should be a kind of First fruits of his Creatures We to whom God hath Graciously manifested himself in the Blessed Son of his Love our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus how ought we to walk as becomes the Gospel O that the serious and weighty Consideration of this might rest upon every one of us that we ought to have our Conversation as becomes the Gospel of Christ and be going on to Perfection you know what the Apostle speaks 3. Phil. 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprechend that for which also I am apprehended of Jesus Christ This I am sure every true Christian Man and Woman will do as the same Apostle did who saith I press towards the mark for the Price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And as every one comes to grow up in the Life of Righteousness they will come to know an increase of Faith they will grow up in Faith and in that Hope which hath been as an Anchor to their Souls in the day of their deep Exercise and they will remain steadfast and unmoveable as they walk in the holy way And so every one as they keep humble and bowed before the God Heaven they will know his Teachings more and more and have a sensible feeling of it in themselves every one in their own particular And certainly it is all our business to be waiting for the fulfilling of those many great and precious promises which are recorded in the Holy Scripture which were enjoyed by the Primitive Christians in the Ages that are past and gone and in succeeding times shall be likewise enjoyed by all true Christian People as they come to be Followers of Jesus as we have begun well let us go on towards Perfection nâ—t laying again as I said before the Foundation of Repentame from dead Works and Faith towards God and the Lord Jesus Christ for who ever expects Salvation by Christ the only Saviour must be going on to Perfection they must begin at the work of Regeneration and Experience in themselves a New Birth for if we be not born again we shall die in our Sins you know our Saviour hath left this upon Record and it remains the same truth to this day And therefore how ought every one that makes mention of the name of Great God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ How ought every such a one to be weighty and considerate and Examine themselves whether they are come to know Repentance from Dead Works Whether they have turned from the evil of their doings Some are ready to say I would gladly turn from the evil of my doings but I find I am beset with the Devil the Enemy of my Soul Well if thou believest in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened thee then Cry to him and he will give thee Power to withstand the Enemy of thy Soul Praised and Blessed be the Name of our God that a Remnant can say as soon as we did really Believe in the Name of Jesus we received power in some measure as the Primitive Believers did that received Christ we received Power to become the Sons of God you that have received this Power let your Eye be to the Lord and cry to him for Divine Assistance for of our selves we are not sufficient we have not power of our selves to think a good thought or do a good Action but we depend upon the Power of God to enable us to Work out our own Salvation For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Therefore Repentance and Remission of Sins are Preached in Christs Name and without the Knowledge and Christian experience of this and believing in the Name of Jesus we cannot be saved from the wrath to come Let us wait upon God who by our Lord Jesus Christ saveth all his People from their Sins Not by Works of Righteousness that we have done but as the Apostle saith According to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Those that have experience of the work of Regeneration and of being renewed in their Inward parts where Christ bears Rule when they meet together in the Solemn Assemblies of the Lords People he will be in the midst of them and they that come to hear the word of the Lord and wait upon him know it to be so you that are real Christian People you know this by your own experience therefore wait upon the Lord your God that the work of Regeneration may go on and you will find strength more and more ministred to you and you will feel the pouring forth of the Spirit abundantly upon you the same Spirit that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead and quickned him shall quicken you that you may live to him here and with him for ever hereafter The Prayer after Sermon Most Glorious Powerful and Infinite Lord God of Life thou hast sought out a People to serve thee and thou hast made choice of many from among the Sons and Daughters of Men to honour thy Name in the Land of the Living that we might be capable so to do thou hast opened an everlasting Fountain and the streams of Life have
reached to us Thy Divine Comforts O Lord have been our portion from one day to another and we have tasted thy goodness and our hearts have been deeply affected with it blessed God and Fathe when we consider how thou hast nourished us thy Children and brought us up in troublous times and made a way for us in the Wilderness and a path in the Desart and brought us through the deep waters When we were ready to be overwhelmed when our Souls cried to thee Lord to be present with us then thou hast been near unto us when we have been seeking thy face and thy glory thou hast refreshed us with the light of thy Countenance when we have been walking in thy way thy Banner over us hath been love and Lord out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast brought forth praise and glory to thy self O that all that partake of thy Divine goodness may magnifie and praise thee This hath been our Supplication O Lord from year to year Lord reach to the Nations gather a People under the shadow of thy wings secure them from all dangers and let them have great delight in thy ways and let thy word be sweet to their tast Most tender and everlasting Father of life and God of all grace we humbly intreat thee to gather the Inhabitants of this Island and bring down all haughtiness and pride to the dust and bring all thy people to humility and self abasement before thee the God of glory that the knowledge of the Lord may cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea that thy great Name may be exalted Lord we entreat thee gather together those that are broken and contrite and are as dead and dry bones can these dry bones live Thou knowest O Lord. Shall I ever be capable of praising the Lord saith one by a sense of thy favour to my Soul Lord thou caâ—st reach these and gather to thy self a numberless number that no man can number that everlasting God of Power shall stand before thee without spot and blemish in whose mouths there is no guile Lord encrease the number of those that seek after thee the living Fountain of all goodness with tears flowing from their eyes and sorrow in their hearts Everlasting God of life let the day of our Tranquility be lengthned out and preserve the Land of our Nativity and let no desolation be among us Father of Mercies many have been visited with dreadful Judgments from thy hand in other Nations O preserve this sinful Land and let thy continued mercies and blessings and thy long suffering prevail upon us that we may be turned to thee with all our hearts and cry mightily to thee from one day to another that we may be as so many Jacobs wrestling with thee to the break of the day that thou wouldest bless us and that thy blessing may never depart from this Island O Lord hear the cries of thy People that are seeking thy glory and the good of their own Souls let thy mercy prevail for us and let thy blessing be with all thy Servants that cry to thee we beseech thee for the sake of Jesus Christ let not thine anger be kindled against us least we perish and O Lord let thy judgments which are impendent be diverted and stir up thy People to wrestle with thee with all their Souls that thou wouldest save this Nation that England may live in thy sight cover us under the shadow of thy wings and let the hearts of all thy People be turned to thee and turned from Sin to Righteousness that they may be preserved in thy fear and love and partake of ihe Fountain of life and may be delivered from the snares of death Father of life preserve all thine that have waited on thee thou art a God that changest not therefore we are not consumed Glory Honour and Praise be rendred to thee for all thy love and favour blessings and benefits vouchsafed to us and for all the opportunities which we have had for our Souls break and soften the hearts of all thy Children and kindle in their Souls a Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving that we may say it is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes that we may rejoyce and Triumph in thy great Salvation through Jesus Christ who alone is worthy and God over all blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JOHN BOWATER At St. John's-Street March 18. 1693. To as many as have received Christ Jesus the Lord to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Now my Friends they that have believed are to wait to receive his power according to the Exhortation of our Lord Jesus Christ to his Disciples wait until you be endued with a Power from on high Luke 24. 49. Many People make a profession of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ but do not come to know this mighty power to work Sanctification Redemption and Salvation Let all and every one of you be concerned in waiting upon God and attending upon him that you may receive strength and power and ability from him whereby you may be enabled to perform your bounden duty which God requireth of you he hath shewn unto Man what is good and what the Lord requires of him which is to do justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with God Every one of us that have believed let us wait for power to perform that which may answer the requirings of God that we may receive ability from him to enable us to perform our duty that we may not only be Professors of the blessed truth of God but possessors of it that we may not only be Professors but Possessors of life whereby we may live to God through Jesus Christ and perform our duty acceptably to God It is a blessed to be found in that which gives acacceptance with God now there is no acceptance with God but as we are found in Christ Jesus in him that was the promised Seed whom God promised should break the Serpents head the Serpent beguiled Eve through subtilty Now God promised that the Seed of the Woman that is Christ Jesus should break the Serpents head It is through him that Redemption and Salvation is known It is through Christ Jesus the Mediator between God and Man that Man becomes reconciled to God and no otherwise He tasted Death for every man and he died that he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil It is through Christ the Mediator that we are reconciled to God and for this saith the Apostle was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Sin in all Ages hath been the work of the Devil and the Devil is the Author of Sin but the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator he is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him So that whatsoever your Profession may be
you I will make known my Words unto you I have called and ye Refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought my Counsel and would none of my Reproof 1. Prov. 23 24. Though God poureth out his Spirit abundantly and maketh known his mind and will yet many hearken not to the Reproof of the Spirit of the Lord but they harden their Hearts and Rebel against the Light against Gods Spirit that striveth with them As Gods Spirit did strive with the Old World so God will now be striving with the Children of Men by his good Spirit If they will hearken to his Reproofs and turn at his Reproofs he will manifest himself more abundantly to them if People will harken to his Counsel and obey his Voice and turn at his Reproofs he will make known his will to them Wo to the Râ—bellious Children saith the Lord that take Counsel but not of â—e saith the Lord and that cover with a covering but not of my Spirit Those that walk in the Spirit shall be covered with it as with a Garment and be led into all truth As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Try your selves what Spirit you are of there is a Spirit in Man but it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding God hath opened the understanding of many by his grace and given them understanding to know him that is true they that are led by the Spirit of God shall not only know his way but have their Hearts enlarged in his way Here is our happiness to travel on in the ways of Gods Commandments with enlarged Hearts God hath sent forth his Light and his truth and hath prepared a certain guide for Man that he might not mistake his way as he gave to Israel a Pillar of a Cloud by Day and a Pillar of Fire by Night to guide and direct them in their Travelling and Journeys in the Wilderness Take heed least the mystery of Inquity work in your minds and Spirits work to a fleshly liberty to liberty to Sin The Spirit of God works liberty and freedom from Sin and from the bondage of Corruption not to give way to it If Christ hath made you free then ye shall be free indeed where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty a freedom from Sin The Lust of the flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life they are not of the Father but of the World many People Indulge the Lusts of their own mind and embrace Pride Vanity and Arrogance those things that are Evil and so corrupt themselves and go out of the way of God reaching after the pleasures of the World and the Lusts of it Here People go astray but by keeping to the Spirit when a Temptation com es to us to gratifie our flesh the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a Standard against it we have tryed our selves and our own Spirits and in our own strength we could never get forward in the ways of God we have been convinced of it that tho' our understandings have been clear to know the way of Truth Yet by our own striving we can never get forward by striving in our own Wills Take heed that in your striving you do not set up self but humble your selves to the Dust and sit at the Feet of Jesus learn of him to be meek and lowly He that is the chief among you let him be the Servant of all do not strive for high places and for Honor and Dignity and to be accounted of among Men If we may have the favour of God we should be content to dwell in a low place to be a Door keeper in the House of God we shall think it sufficient I doubt not will a Gracious Soul say but God hath a sufficiency in store for me when so ever he calls me out of the World Christ Jesus my Lord is gone before to prepare a place for me and he hath also promised I will come again and receive you to my self and where I am there shall my Servants be If Christ be gone to prepare a place for us we need not question our Reward if the Spirit of God beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God And if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Christ Seek Peace with the Lord seek Reconciliation with God in the right way there are two ways the way that leads to Life and the way that leads to Destruction the Narrow Way and the Broad Way be you in that way which God hath cast up if you are in Christ he is the way the Truth and the Life if you are in Christ you are New Creatures consider what you know of a Change of Dying unto Sin and living unto Righteousness Put off the Old man with his Deeds and put on the New man which after God is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness Consider how it is with you whether you live in Sin or in Holiness and Righteousness All Sin is of the Devil He is the Author of Sin What fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is Death ye were the Servants of Sin but being made free from Sin ye became the Servants of Righteousness and now being made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye have your fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life Here is a good change from being Servants of Sin to be made free from Sin through the Mediatour Christ Jesus Consider of it I do not design to enlarge you have had Testimonies upon Testimonies you have been put in mind of these things you that make a profession of the truth there is a necessity and a constraint upon me to Remind you of former things of things that you have been told of and been stirred up by the Servants of the Lord to remember I see a necessity of reminding you of them there are many that are in a Profession of the truth that do not dwell in the life of it they are sunk down into the form of Godliness but they do not mind the power of it they do part of the Work they do not go through with it they are for sparing some Sins that they will not mortifie them they are like Saul they make profession of doing the Will of God Saul said to Samuel blessed be thou of the Lord I have performed the Commandment of the Lord 1 Sam. 15. 14. And Samuel said what meaneth then this bleating of the Sheep in mine Ears and the Lowing of the Oxen which I hear And Saul said they have brought them from the Amalekites for the People spared the best of the Sheep and of the Oxen to Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God and the rest we have destroyed Now my Friends there are many People which are willing to give themselves up to an outward Profession of
the Outward Man but in the Inner Man there is a putting off that which is Fading Mortal and perishing and a being Clothed upon with Immortality and Glory Blessed are they which come to receive that Word of God which hath been the Life of God in our Souls This is a Day of Life to us Blessed are they that shall be placed in that Eternal Kingdom and Region where all Time shall be swallowed up and all Tears wiped from their Eyes and sighing and sorrow shall be no more O Friends lift up your Heads for the Day of your Redemption draws nigh That you may not be shaken with every Wind of Doctrine know that the Foundation of God standeth sure that is his Word that was in the beginning with God that Word that was God in this Eternal Word which is God know you dwelling and Habitation and wait upon God in it it was Davids Buckler his Shield and strong Tower it was his Rock God set his Feet uyon a Rock that is higher than Man's Power and all Mans Wisdom and Strength In this the Righteous begin in this they Travel on Blessed are they that walk by Faith that Live to the Lord and Dye in the Lord and shall be for ever with the Lord. They are blessed that wait upon the Lord for a sense of this They are above all the Changes of time and Mortality It is this that was a Reviving Cordial to our Deceased Friend who received the Truth in early Days the Days of the Dawning of Gods Power in this Land and in this City the Remembrance of it was sweet to her Soul let us Remember the Love of God and the Power and Glory of the Name of the Everlasting God that shined then that we may be encouraged to keep together as a peculiar People to the praise of him that hath called us out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light That God over all may be Glorified for ever that we may live to the Honour of his blessed Name That Christs Kingdom may be set up among us and that Gods great Name and Power and Majesty may be exalted and all flesh abased before him We are Travellers here in this Vale of Tears in this Earthly Pilgrimage into the Land of Rest the Heavenly Canaan Let us follow our Blessed Joshua that is leading us into that Land of Promise and he will give to every one his Lot and they shall stand in that Lot at the last day O Blessed are they that are waiting for their Lot and Portion in that Heavenly Countrey to which Abraham had his Eye that City the New Jerusalem the Mother of us all and that House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens whose Builder and Maker is God This Word which I have been speaking of is that by which we are humbled and bowed before the Lord and Instructed in Judgment and Righteousness To this Word which is God I Commit and Commend you and all the Flock of God that you may be preserved to the end of your Days that you may then lay down your Heads in Peace that your Testimony may not end before your Lives end that the Lord may be with us to shelter and overshaddow us in the midst of all our Tryals and Exercises while we are following Christ in Patience Humility and self denyal and bearing his Cross for no Cross no Crown That which is pleasing to God is walking by Faith What is this Faith A pure resolution of Living to God in a Holy dependance on him and a committing our selves intirely to him that so we may know and enjoy the purifying Vertue of his Word that we may not offend God for without Faith faith the Apostle it is impossible to please him By what means saith the Royal Psalmist shall a young man cleanse his Way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word This is the Blessed Word that hath been a Root of Life in all Ages let us abide in this Word to the end of our days and we shall then be blessed with that Life which shall never end but shall remain when time shall be no more The Lord preserve you by his Mighty power in his Favour and Divine Presence that you may live to his Glory and Praise and Die in Peace and be gathered into that blessed and Heavenly Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judg of all and the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel That you may Eternally Magnifie and Celebrate the praises of the Eternal God to whom be Glory for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM PENN At Wheeler-Street April 13. 1694. IT is the Great Cause and Work of God in which you are all concerned this day Now that all of you may see how you quit your selves before the Living Eternal God your Maker and Answer the Visitations of his Love in the discharge of your Duty that you may feel an Answer of Peace in your own Bosoms and find your selves nigh who were afar off that you may all know your selves nerer then when ye first believed nearer to the Lord nearer to his Love and more in his Favour that you may perceive your Interest to grow and increase your Divine your Eternal Interest that which will out-last the World for it Centers in that which shall never have an end O Friends see to it this Day it is the Redemption of your Immortal Souls that the Lord God hath visited you for it is in order to this And all the Religions in the World Articles Creeds Confessions and Professions that leave out this they are all Imperfect and insignificant and will not avail Men in the Great Day of Account Therefore see to it how the Work goes on the Work of your Redemption and Salvation Do you feel your selves near to the Lord Do you find your selves to have more Power over your Souls Do you know your selves advanced in the Work of God Are ye come to dye daily to that which is contrary to the Lord For as you dye daily you live that Life you Live in the Flesh by the Faith of the Eternal Son of God Christ Jesus who hath Redeemed you from all Iniquity and called you to Glory and Vertue Now that you may all be Faithful Stewards of the Grace and Mercy and Heavenly Talents which God hath bestowed upon you and be all found working not Idle in the Market Place Christ Jesus the Lord hath not been wanting to you He hath Piped to you have you Danced He hath mourned have you wept He hath called have you Answered his Call See to it this Day for the glorious Power and Presence of that God that visited you in the beginning is here this Day It is his Heart-reaching Power his Heart-melting Power his Divine sweet Presence which brought us out of
on Eternal Life And Blessed and Heavenly Father for all thy abounding Mercies and Blessings vouchsafed to us and all thy People and for the refreshing we have had from thy Presence in our present Meeting we desire to render Praise Honour Renown and Thanksgiving to thy Great and Excellent Name for thou alone art worthy who art God over all blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. CHARLES MARSHAL At the Close of a Meeting in Grace-Church-street March 11. 1693. With his Prayer after Sermon My Friends THE Testimony which lives in my Soul at this time is unto the excellency of the Love of God in Christ Jesus which Love is indeed â—ncomprehensible and unspeakable the Love of the Everlasting God through his Beloved Son Christ Jesus which because of the hardness of the Hearts of Men and for want of understanding and of a feeling Heart and of a perceiving mind many of the Children of Men have not the Knowledge of Herein was the greatness and extensiveness of the Love of God unto mankind in sending his Son into the World who came from the Bosom of the Father that he that knew no Sin might be made Sin foâ—us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him O the Wonderful Mystery of the Incarnation of Christ Jesus Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh The Professors of this Age have been strangely â—gnorant of it and have been ready to reflect on those that Admire it and have an high esteem of it But blessed be the Lord our God that we can say in Truth that we have an esteem of that one offering of the Eternal Son of God that we can say as the Apostle did in his Day By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified This is that which hath opened upon my Soul this Morning The Lord God of Glory in this Age and Generation hath laid a necessity upon us to Preach Christ under the Denomination of a glorious Light for he is the Light of the World and the only Saviour and so we are to have Faith in him The Apostles made it their Work to persuade the People from Morning to Evening that Jesus was the Christ the true Mesiah that made a good Confession before Pontius Pilate and that he was Crucified Died and Rose again and ascended up into Heaven and sitteth at the Right hand of God and lives for ever to make Intercession for us This was the Labour Travel and Exercise of the Apostles to Preach Christ Crucified and Risen from the Dead But the Jews Assembled with the Chief Priests and Elders to take Counsel together and gave large Money to the Souldiers saying say ye his Disciples came by Night and stole him away while we slept This was the Labour of the Apostles and Servants of the Lord to persuade the People in their Day that Jesus was the Christ and that after he was Crucified and Died he was risen from the Dead but the Jews the Scribes and Pharises they did oppose this and said he was not the Promised Messiah But in process of time through the powerful Preaching of the Gospel the Children of Men did Receive and believe this Testimony that Jesus was the Christ the Eternal Son of God and only Saviour and when the Enemy could no longer withstand that Belief when it came over the Nations then the People were turned about and then there was an Admission of that Belief that Jesus was the Christ and many contented themselves with the bare Name of Christ and with a Profession of the Word without the Power But the Lord of Glory hath raised a People in this Age and Generation as Instruments that might shew forth the Power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Spiritually not thereby denying or not in the least opposing his manifestation bodily which died without the Gates of Jerusalem for this was the end of his manifestation For this purpose saith the Apostle was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil So that now Friends That which opens and lives in my Soul and that which I have to say and demonstrate to you at this time is this That the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath raised up a People in our Day to Preach Christ under that Denomination that the Servants of the Lord Preached Christ in former Days Ages and Generations They gave testimony on this wise In the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and that Life was the Light of Men and the Light shined in Darkness and the Darkness comprehended it not There was a man sent from God whose Name was John the same came for a Witness to bear Witness of that Light that all men through him might believe He was not that Light but was sent to bear Witness of that Light that was the true light that Lighteth every man that cometh into the World he was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not He came to his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God to them that believe on his Name Did the Apostle John that gave Testimony of Christ as the Light of the World oppose his Appearance in that Body that was prepared for him of the Father to do his Will in No no more then the Apostle Paul who Preached his Spiritual Appearance and manifestation opposed his bodily Appearance and being manifest in Flesh when he saith The Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that Denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and Godly in this present World No more do we deny or oppose Christ's bodily appearance who Died without the Gates of Jerusalem Though we are misunderstood and misrepresented by many in this Generation The Lord in mercy by his Heavenly power remove this misunderstanding and take away this Vail from the Hearts of the Children of Men and so bring them to a sense and knowledge of the Spiritual Appearance of Christ Jesus and the blessed end of his coming in that blessed body wherein he suffered and tasted Death for every man not that any man might live in Sin because he dyed a Sacrifice for Sin He did not dye for Sin that men should live in Sin but that they might dye to Sin and live to God so likewise we do not Preach any thing opposite to Christs appearance in that blessed Body who was God manifest in the Flesh for therein he wrought Salvation for us He is the Captain of our Salvation and was made Perfect through sufferings He is the First begotten of the Dead the Prince of the Kings
of the Earth that hath loved us and cleanseth us from our Sins â—n his own blood The Lord open the understandings of the Children of men that they may come to know the Excellency of his Life and love When the Lord comes to open and manifest to the Children of Men his great Love in sending his Son out of his Bosom in the fulness of time to dye for us for Christ had a being before the World began when Mens Eyes and Hearts I say are wonderfully opened to see this Love of God then their Hearts will be melted and broken and their prejudices removed and they will be brought to the Obedience and Service of God We own the Doctrine of the Life and Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession of Christ Jesus And for any to say we denâ— this how inconsistent is it with what we have Preached and declared and how shameless is it for any to misrepresent or falsely Charge us with the contrary since we have gâ—â—e through many Exercises and suffered many Persecutions Buffetings and Imprisonments for Declaring the Truth as it is in Jesus so that if in this Life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable And if Christ be not risen from the Dead our Preaching is vain and your Faith is also vain We have spoken the Truth according to the Scriptures of Truth yet how have the Children of Men been prejudiced against us How many have been bewildred and led into Errour and into misapprehension concerning what we have plainly declared among you And now to give a little ease to my Spirit I would speak something briefly to you let the Love of God in Christ Jesus extended to you affect your Hearts if you are in the living sense of this love it will engage you to live in Obedience and subjection to this Heavenly Light by which you were brought out of Darkness and Redeemed from Iniquity to be a peculiar People Zealous of good Works It will engage you to live to Christ that died for you and as you know a Translation from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son you will Reap the Fruits and benefits of his Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession at God's Right hand The Lord God of Heaven and Earth open all your Hearts that while you have a little time and are on this side the Grave and on this side Eternity you may serve the Lord in your Generation and fulfil his blessed Will and finish the Work which he hath given you to do that you may Glorifie the Name of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is worthy of all Praise Glory and Renown Worshipâ— Love Service and Obedience who is God over all Blessed for Ever and Ever Amen His Prayer after Sermon MOst Glorious Heavenly and Divine Fountain of Love and Life who hast let us see the beginings of thy Excellent Day and participiate of thy Love in making bare thine Arm of Salvation which thou hast Revealed and made bare in our Age. O God of Glory and Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth it is in the Power of thy hand to open the Hearts of thy People as thou didst open the Heart of Lydia that the things that belong to the Peace of every Soul may be seen known and experienced Lord God of Glory our Eyes are unto thee and our Souls are bowed before thee for the shewing of mercy and the handing forth of the blessings which thou promised'st to the Children of Israel by the mouth of thy Holy Prophets That thou living Father of Life wilt bless them in turning every one from their Iniquities and the Evil of thtir ways for Lord God of Life this is greatly wanting both in this City and throughout the whole Nation Thy mercies and Favours have been received by many and thy loving kindness hath extended it self wonderfully O Glorious Fountain of Heavenly Love and Life be pleased to remove that Insensibility that is ready to come over the minds of men that the nearer thy Wrath and Judgments do approach to us by reason of that Inundation of Sin and Wickedness that overflows the Land the less Sense and Apprehension there is of it Lord open the Peoples Eyes and Hearts that they may see and consider the danger of their State and Condition and be humbled for their Sin and seek thy Face and turn to thee with all their Hearts that Glorious God of Life the Souls of thy Children may be affected with thy Goodness Patience and Long-suffering that this may be the blessed effect of thy Goodness that it may lead all to Repentance never to Repented of that we may mourn before thee for the manifold Sins and Transgressions of the Land against thy Divine Majesty That Glorious God of Love and Life we may not again provoke thee to anger O Rend the Vail of Darkness that is spread over this Land that it may not hinder the bright beams of Gospel Light from shining nor the Children of Men from seeing their Spiritual State and Condition Lord God of Life let trembling and astonishment take hold of the wicked that they may have a deep sense of the Sins and Provocations this ungrateful Land is guilty of that they may lament and mourn before thee O Lord O Tender God of Love and Life thy mercy and loving kindness was extended to the Inhabitants of Niniveh that great City wherein were more then Six score thousand persons that could not discern between their Right-hand and their Left Didst thou not enlighten their minds and melt their Hearts when thou hadst a Controversie with them and denounced'st Judgment by thy Prophet against them Did not the Mighty come down from their Seats and the King from his Throne and lay his Robe from him and the Nobles and all the People of the Land did they not all put on Sackcloth and sit in Ashes and mourn before thee and Cry mightily to thee and turned from their evil ways and thou didst turn away thy Wrath and Repent of the Evil which thou saidst thou wouldst do unto them and didst it not but extended'st thy mercy and favour to them and saved'st them with a great Salvation Blessed Lord thou art our God O save us for we have none in Heaven but thee and none upon Earth that we can desire in Comparison of thee we have none to make our moan to but thy self our Eyes and Hearts are towards thee Let us hearken to thy Counsel and turn at thy Reproof and let sorrow take hold of their Hearts thaâ— have rejected thy Favours and Mercies O give Repentance unto Life that thy wrath may not wax hoâ— against the Nation and the Inhabitants thereof and that thy Fury and Jealousie may not Consume and burn them up O make them sensible of the Sins that have been committed and of the misery they have deserved that they may come to thee for Pardon and Reconciliation with thee through the Lord Jesus
and thou hast made thine to grow up as the Lilly of the Vallies and as the Rose in Sharon and watered us as with the streams from Lebanon Lord God of Glory We do thankfully acknowledge thy wonderful Care over us and Love towards us and to all the Children of Men And we desire to offer to thee Praise and Glory through Christ Jesus the Son of thy Love who art worthy of all Honor Glory and Renown Power Blessings and Praise who art God over all Blessed for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. RICHARD ASHBY At St. Martins Le Grand Feb. 16. 1693. THE Testimonies and Declarations which are given forth in obedience to the Lords requirings are to bring every one of you to a sense and feeling of the Inward Testimony of Truth in your own Bosoms to the feeling of the Work and Operation of the Lords Spirit upon your Hearts to give to every one a clear sight and understanding of those things that tend to their Souls profit and to their Spiritual advantage and a Divine growth in Grace If any of us are satisfying our selves in sitting down in an outward Gathering and only exercising our natural faculties to hear and to understand and come not to know and be acquainted in our selves with the Inspiration of the Almighty the Word of Truth we are Strangers to it and the good and excellency of it is hid from our Eyes So that it is matter of great concernment for every one to know what it is to be inwardly retired and to know the Operation of Gods Gift upon their Souls and to be acquainted with the Work of Gods Spirit in their inward parts else we shall be deficient in learning what we ought to know and fall short of certainty in our knowledg and we shall be among the number of those that are always Learning and never come to any stability and come not to the power and to know the Substance of all such are in the Dark they are groping for the Wall they are at uncertainty and tossed too and fro and have not a stability of Mind and Spirit attending them and they come not to know a true Exercise though there may be some inward desires yet for want of keeping to that Power by which they are begotten their desires seem to fail O my Friends that every one of you may be ponderous and weighty that in your minds you may feel the operation of that Power and the inward Work of Truth that is begun in the Soul as the Foundation of Eternal Happiness that is laid that we may know the Instruction and feel the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Heavenly Gospel in which he is carrying on the Work of our Salvation that we have an Eye unto Jesus and our expectations from him and be waiting truly upon him for Experience to come to know him that is the Author and Beginner of the Work of Faith in our Souls and lays the Foundation of Eternal Felicity These are such as walk on gradually and persevere to the end they look unto Jesus the Author and Fâ—â—â—sher of their Faith the great searcher of their Hearts and manifester of the Thoughts and Intents thereof They come to know him in his Offices as he discovers and makes known to man and sheweth unto him what it is that doth obstruct and prevent his enjoyment of Peace They that come to be sensible of this come to know an Inward Travel of Soul and are brought to a Spiritual exercise that hath a profitable tendency so that now they discover those things that are pleasing to the sight of their Minds not those things that please the carnal desire and bring reproof unto the Soul Here is the proper effect of Faith when there is Impressed upon the Soul a sense of Sin and of the Works of Unrighteousness and here is a Foundation laid for true Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for saith the Apostle Him hath God exalted with his own Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance and Remission of Sins He gives Repentance to those that come to feel their Need of a Phisician to heal them he makes such a discovery to their Souls such a sense he gives of their Sin and Transgression as makes it appear exceeding sinful These are such as come to reflect upon themselves and see their woful state this will lay low their Minds and bow down their Spirits these are they that come to Self-abhorrence and to have a Travel in their Spirits and they come down into a lowly state according to what the Prophet Jeremy speaks Lam. 2. 29. He fitteth alone and keepeth silence He putteth his Mouth in the Dust If so be there may be hope Wherefore doth a Living Man Complain a Man for the Punishment of his Sins It is of the Lords Mercies that we are not consumed because his Compassions fail not They that come to be acquainted with the Lord as a Judge and as a Reprover here is a Decision made in the Soul and a Separation from Sin after it is discovered and the Judgment of God takes hold of the Sin and Trangression and a man comes under Reproof Here is a time of suffering and here is sorrow taking hold of him here is that which affects the Soul with grief and brings it into a state of Mourning and he is brought under a sense of Gods dealings with him and he comes to know that sorrow that hath an Inward effect upon the Soul to take away Iniquity and make the Heart better He submits to the discovery of that Deceitfulness that is lodged in the Heart For saith the Prophet The Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it I the Lord search the Heart I try the Reins even to give to every man according to his ways and according to the Fruit of bis doings The Apostle speaking to some of the Heart being turned unto the Lord said then the Vail shall be taken away As God inwardly appears to a man there must be an humble submission to his searching of the Heart therefore faith the Psalmist Psalm 19. 12. Who can understand his Errors cleanse thou me from secret faults and he knew a cleansing Work in his own Heart Psalm 51. 10. Create in me a Clean Heart O God and Renew a right Spirit in me Cast me not away from thy Presence take not thy Holy Spirit from me restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit The Psalmist was in a Spiritual Travel and came to an experience of this Work upon his Soul and he prays the Lord to uphold him that what he had done might not be marr'd again therefore he begs of God to uphold him with his free Spirit You should all labour to go on in this Inward Travel that will bring you to a Repentance not to be Repented of and to have
a profitable Evidence that there is fruit brought forth not the Fruit of Sin What fruit have you of those things whereof you â—e now ashamed for the end of those things is Death They that are sensible of this know that the wrath of the Lord is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the Truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. The Work of Repentance stands in this not only in denying all Ungodliness but in abstaining from all appearance of evil Therefore stand upon thy guard against thine Enemy that he may not prevail against thee by his Assaults If sinners intice thee consent not to them go not in the way of evil men turn aside from it and pass away Learn Self denial which our Lord Jesus Christ doth declare to be of necessity Except a many Deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me he cannot be my Disciple Thou may'st appear to take up a Cross and deny thy Self but there must be a daily Cross a denying thy self continually not giving way to our Carnal Wills to our own Carnal Minds for to be Carnally minded is Death and to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace Here is a Work that produceth profitable Fruit that will not bring Reproach and Shame and Confusion upon us the Work of the Spirit of the Lord hath not that tendency but will bring the Soul to possess Vertue to inherit Glory Righteousness that exalts a Nation but Sin is the Reproach of any People Sin brings a man to shame and confusion of Face because there is a sense comes upon a man that God will bring every Work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil Eccles 12. 14. We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ saith the Apostle that every one may receive the reward of the Deeds done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad O this brings shame and confusion of Face over a man many times the Lord appears in his displeasure and the weight of his Anger is let forth sometimes so that it appears intollerable Sometimes men are brought under great terror and affliction of Soul and Spirit because of it God afflicts men sorely sometimes and this is in Mercy that we may fear to offend him and be brought to the doing of our Duty and come up in Obedience to what the Lord requireth of us and hath made known to us He bath shewed thee O Man what is good Micah 6. 6. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God shall I come before him with burnt offerings with Calves of a year old will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams or with ten thousands of Rivers of Oil shall I give my first born for my transgression the fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul He 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 This the Prophet tells us is more effectual and efficacious than Sacrifices under the Law Be faithful my Friends to what God makes known and give up in Obedience to the Works of Righteousness and live to the Glory of God and in Obedience to the Truth This tendeth to establish the Soul in a Divine Hope and Confidence which made Solomon to say the Righteous is as bold us a Lion why so Because the Lord is his strength He is strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might Friends see to this every one in your own particular that you put off concerning your former Conversation the Old Man with his Deeds which are corrupt and put on the New Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness then you shall find the happy effects of this the constraining effect and efficacy of the Love of Christ as the Apostle did 2 Cor. 5. 14. The Love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which Died for them and Rose again And therefore the Apostle comes to declare of those to this effect He that is in Christ is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become New How is he a New Creature He is the Workmanship of God Created in Christ Jesus Oh the Work of the new Creation How precious is it to be Witnessed to All things are of God who hath reconciled us himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation And saith the Apostle to the Ephesians Eph. 2. 14. For he is our peace having made both one and hath broken down the Wall of Partition between us having aboâ—ished in his Flesh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances for to make in himself of twain One new man so making Peace here is Peace upon a sure Foundation upon a certain Bottom This is the Peace that Christ leaves as a Legacy to his Disciples Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the Woald giveth give I unto you What is the difference The Worlds Peace is uncertain and attended with pain and trouble but the Peace of Christ maintains it self in those Souls that are gathered into the sense of his Power and under his Banner Isa 9. 6. saith the Prophet For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of his Government and Peace there shall be no end And saith the Prophet Jeremiah 23. 5 6. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous branch and a King shall Reign and Prosper and execute Judgment and Justice in the Earth in his days Judah shall be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness Friends It is the desire of my Soul that you may come to know the precious effects hereof to your Souls that you may know Christ Jesus to be your Lord and submit to him and take his Yoke upon you for they that come to Christ must know what it is to be under his Dominion for he is a King and shall Reign and Prosper and execute Judgment The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Lawgiver The Lord is our King and he will save us Therefore my Friends Be every one of you resigned in your Minds and Spirits and live in a dependance upon him that you may feel his Power overshaddowing you from Day to Day then you will say as it is in the Revelations Chap. 19. 1. Halleluja Salvation and Glory and
into a weighty consideration the end for which the Everlasting God hath given us a Being and a day of Visitation and doth vouchsafe to us the continuance of our Lives without all controversie the Great God hath a great end in it I would to God the consideration of this end did take impression upon your minds Certainly it is for this in the first place that Man should Serve and Glorify the Great God that gave Life and Breath and Being to him for this is an indispensible duty and in the next place there is a Duty towards man so that there is our Duty to God and our Duty towards our Neighbour Now that we may be capable of Answering these things that we may be rightly fitted and qualified that this great end of God may be answered that is our Duty to God which every one ought to perform and I doubt not is acknowledged generally by all to be due to him It is therefore to be considered under what Qualifications those must be that can perform it acceptably Now God who hath required the strict performance of this Duty is a Holy Eternal Being Pure and Righteous whatsoever then is offered to him must be a pure Offering and the Heart and Mind of the Offerer must be pure and Holy if it find acceptance with him Now if it be so as without all controversie it is In the first place you know as God created Man for this end and purpose to glorifie him so he created him in a meet state and capacity to perform it for he made Man Upright Holy and Righteous and whilst he stood thus he had both free access and acceptance with God his Maker But alass Mankind through the Workings of Satan and through the craftiness and subtilty of the Enemy of all Righteousness lost this Innocent state of Holiness fell from it and became a Plant of a degenerate Vine yet many are not so far fallen but that they have a sense sometimes and believe there is a Duty and Service owing to God and have gone about to perform it though they have not been rightly qualified for we find that Israel they went about to perform this great duty in their unregenerate state what acceptance did they find none at all why there Hearts were corrupt we have divers Instances thereof in Scripture concerning Israel the Lord complains of them by his Prophets He doth not complain that they were short in not going about to do something that had the shew of Region or in appearing in an outward shew of Offering something to God No but it was not pleasing for the Lord saith Bring no more vain Oblations Isa 1. 13. Incense is an Abomination to me tâ—â— New Moons and Sabbaths and calling of Assembliâ— I cannot away with It is iniquity even the solem meeting what was the reason they were not acceptable was it that the Lord had not required those things No What was the reason then Their Hearts were full of Corruption their Hearts were defiled they were not right in the sight of God it sprung from a wrong Heart it was not a Vessel made meet It was not prepared and fit for such holy Service and Oblation And again in the same place there they seemed to draw nigh to God and would presume to tread his Courts but what was the return When you come to appear before me who hath required this thing at your hands to tread my Courts seeing you hate to be Reformed these People drew near to God with their Lips but their Hearts were far from him And it is evident the Lord did not accept of them in those performances because they were in a corrupt unclean state but the Lord by his Prophet corrected them on this wise Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do well seek Judgment relieve the oppressed Judge the Fatherless plead for the Widdow Come now and let us Reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be white as Snow though they be Red like Crimson they shall be as Wool Nothing but this change could give them acceptance with God Now my Friends this is a great Work the Work of the Day that every Man and Woman is concerned in and ought to be concerned about to be made meet to approach before the Lord to come before him and perform their duty that is due from them to God acceptably but if any should enquire of me by what means may we be made meet for this Service and great Undertaking I will tell you It must be by Experience and sensible feeling of that which was the cause and real ground of mans losing his access to and acceptance with God at the beginning that which shut the Door and became a Bar and Partition Wall between God and Man and that was the Sin and Transgression that he fell into this must be removed and taken away the root of it must be done away by Faith in him whom God has sent to Restore lost man Jesus Christ and by a sensible feeling the effectual working of his Power in the Soul to cleanse from Sin or else there can be no acceptance with God How and by what means must it be done away God Everlasting in his Infinite Love hath ordained a way because he would not have man to perish and remain in a state uncapable of answering the end which God ordained him to and what is that Way The Lord Jesus Christ God hath sent him into the World in a twofold manner First He sent him into the World in a Holy Body which he had prepared for him as it is written Lo it is written in the Volume of the Book I come what for To do thy Will O God What is Gods Will And what is the reason of Christs coming into the World That he might Die for every man and be a Sacrifice for Sin and Redeem Man to God this was the Work that God gave him to do in that appearance Secondly There is another coming of Christ a coming in the Spirit for the first opened a Door for lost Man that shut himself out and by his Sin put a Bar to his drawing near to God the first coming of Christ I say opened a Door for he became a Sacrifice and an Offering and Attonement for Mankind and thereby opened a new and living Way for Mans coming to God And â—â— second coming is without Sin to Salvation and to bring all Mankind that believe and obey him into this Way or Door and to have an entrance into this New and Living Way which he has opened and thereby to have the benefit of that one Offering and Sacrifice which he hath made for sinners and God hath revealed and made this known to the Sons and Daughters of Men Blessed be the Name of God that Christ is come in the Spirit that he hath sent his Spirit into our Hearts that
that they may see thy Power in tnrning their minds and Hearts to thee and in renewing and clâ—â—nging them that they may be made the objects of thy Love and brought into a nearness to thee and that they may be made acquainted with the feeling of thy Vertue and power upon their Souls Blessed God of Life do thou fill our Cup with thy Blessings and refresh us with the Incomes of thy Love Thou causest thy People to drink of the streams of those Rivers of Pleasure that are at thy Right hand and thou causest the Rain to Descend and drop upon thy tender Plants that they may grow and be fruitful in every good Word and Work and live to thy Praise and that they may exalt thy Gteat Name and magnifie thy Power manifested to them Lord remember thine every where those especially which are under Affliction and Exercise of body and mind open thy hand and send help to then according to their needs and necessities that they may be kept and supported under all their tryals that they may not be discouraged nor despond in their minds nor despair of thy love and goodness to them O Lord be thou known in thy Love and shed it abroad upon us by thy Spirit that we may all be brought nearer to thee and be more acquainted with thee who art the Fountain and Well-spring of all our Mercies and Comforts and have cause to bless and praise thee that hast made us Heirs of that Life and Blessedness that shall never have an end We desire to return living praises to thy Name for this days mercies for the Incomes of thy Love and thy presence in the midst of us Lord our Hearts are engaged to return thanks and praise to thee and to give Glory to thy Holy Name Lord keep us when we are gone and parted from one another and keep us that we may live to thee and not to our selves and that we may be Instrumental in turning many from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to thee the living God that they may receive Remission of Sins and an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith in Christ Jesus And that they may shew forth the Vertues of Christ in their Lives and Conversations and bring Honor and Praise to thy Name who art worthy of all praise To whom we desire to give Honor and Glory and Thanks giving and Praise not only at this time but for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD At Devonshire House March 11. 1693. THERE is a Day of Visitation which the Lord hath extended unto the Children of Men that we might every one of us observe our Season and time that so we might be Exercised in those things that relate to our Everlasting Peace and welfare in the World to come For we are like to be accountable to the Great God for the Deeds done in the Body Therefore every one had need to weigh and measure their ways and doings that they may stand Justified in the sight of God through Jesus Christ by whom we are Visited who hath been given of the Father not only to be a Light but a Leader to us and blessed will all they be that come to be led by the Lord Jesus Christ For that is a very precious state to know this One way for he is the alone way to the Kingdom of God and all those that make a Profession of him and reject his Leadings and his Counsel they will fall short they will meet with many things in the way that will turn them from the right Way to the Kingdom of God But all those that follow the Lord Jesus Christ it is they that shall receive the Crown of Immortal and Everlasting Life and Glory For this following of Christ is a Crucifying the Old Nature of Man it is a regenerating of Man in his Inward parts without which none of us can come to see the Kingdom of God This is not an outward Birth nor an outward Generation nor a growing into any outward comprehension of things but it is an Inward mortifying of the Deeds of the Flesh and that you know no Man can do but by and through the Spirit If Men walk after the flesh they must dye but if through the Spirit saith the Apostle ye mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall Live I do not speak of outward living in this World only but of living to God Eternally People in this World should live to the Lord then it will be well with them whom they come to Dye When this outward Earthly Tabernacle and House of Clay shall be dissolved all such as live to the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God they shall have an Habitation and a Dwelling with him in his Fathers Kingdom they will be made Vessels of Honor to glorifie the Lord Therefore the greatest matter and thing that we can press after in this Life the most profitable the most advantagious of all things is to press after an Inward walking with God through Jesus Christ for saith Christ to his Disciples You that have followed me through the Work of Regeneration it shall be given to you to sit with me in my Fathers Kingdom Now most People believe that these things are true most that are called Christians believe that they are profitable but to pursue and press after them a great many are short in it Some it may be are hindred by the delights and pleasures and vanities of this World others it may be are hindred by some great Excercise that they meet withal and some and some sore Affliction not knowing that Power that carries through and gives Victory and that is the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ so that the Knowledge of Christ is a very profitable thing I look upon it to be as necessary to be Preached to many that call themselves Christians as to a great many that are Heathens for if a Man or Woman profess to be a Christian and be not of a Christian Spirit and Conversation What will it signifie The Instance that the Apostle Paul gives concerning the Heathen will be more prevalent in the Day of the Lord and that is this Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the Work of the Law written in their Hearts No doubt but they were accepted of the Lord according to their Integrity and Sincerity The Apostle Paul was an experienced Man and understood the Nature Quality and greatness of the Law of God which was dispenced to the Jews and given them for peculiar Instruction and for a School-Master to bring them to Christ for it was never given to compleat Salvation to any Man without Christ the Apostle tells you it was a School-master till Christ come And if you observe that in the time of the Law the Jews time Christ
is a King that shall Reign in Righteousness and the Isles shall wait for his Law the Law shall go forth from Mount Sitn and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem so that Christ is spoken of as a King that shall Reign and Rule and his Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom As Christ is a King to Reign and Rule so he is also a Priest for ever not after the Order of Aaron but after the Order of Melchizedeek He is a Priest what for To finish Transgression to make an end of Sin and purge it away Now the Priests under the Law after the order of Aaron they could not do this they made use of Blood they Sprinkled the Sacrifice with Blood but they could not cleanse the Souls from Sin but Christ he comes he is a Priest and he offers a Sacrifice for all and he offers up himself and by that one Offering he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified he doth it effectually so Daniel Prophecied he shall make an end of Sin and bring in an everlasting Righteousness O say some People we will allow all this to Christ when he comes to Reign with his Church then shall his Reign be one and his Government one but you should let him be a King now and a a Priest now consider the reason of it why it should be now their is Sin and Iniquity in this World but there is no Iniquity in the Kingdom of Heaven nothing that worketh Abomination nor maketh a Lye can come there if Christ will purge us from Sin he must come down from Heaven among us and so he doth blessed be his Name for ever he is the High Priest of our Profession and he hath made us partakers of the Blessing of Cleansing from Sin by the purifying vertue of his own precious blood and the Sanctification of his Spirit Then consider in the next place Christ is a Prophet to teach and instruct his People in the things that belong to their Everlasting Peace If there was an Inspired Prophet in this Land we should be willing to hear what that Prophet did say if he had good things to tell and would warn us what evils we should escape Friends you have a Prophet now but you do not hear him this is according to the Testimony of Moses of old A Prophet saith Moses shall the Lord God raise up like unto me and him shall you hear in all things Do you hear this Prophet Who is it It is the Lord Jesus Christ hear this great Prophet what if we do not hear him He that heareth him not shall be cut off from among the People the Apostle when he writes to the Hebrews he asserts the Divinity of Christ and his Priestly Office and we do own and assert the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ also Now to make the Application of this to your Souls Let Christ be your High-Priest Prophet and King your Law-giver Counsellor and Leader that he may bring you to Glory to a blessed state of Salvation and Eternal Life and so to the Lord Jesus Christ I do recommend you and leave you you may find much of this fulfilled in you as you give up your selves to the Teaching of the Spirit of God and of the grace of God for if People will not be thus taught they will never learn Christianity so that People must come to Christ the great Prophet to learn of him and be taught by him else they can never be good Christians Do not you read this Prophecy concerning God's People They shall be all taught of God and the Apostle Paul tells us the Grace of God the favour of God through Jesus Christ hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying ungodliness and Worldly Lust we should live soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might Redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of all good works So that my Friends this is an excellent State and Condition the Lord bring you all into it and bring you to a certain and saving knowledge of Christ this is my desire this day that you may be Christians indeed and be Followers of Christ and obedient unto him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him His Prayer after Sermon Everlasting God and Fountain of Life from whom all Comforts and Blessings flow unto thy People through thy dear Son our Saviour Jesus Christ before thee O thou Great and Almighty God we are gathered and assembled this day if thou Lord be not with us to open our hearts we cannot be edified or comforted aright Therefore the cry of thy Servants is that thou wouldest this day open the hearts of thy People and Children that infinite God of Life we may have access to thee in and through the Spirit of thy dear Son that thou mayst help us on in the way that we should go and blessed Father of Life our eyes are unto thee and our expectation is from thee for thou alone art the Comforter of thy People and Children Lord thy People of old did look dnto thee their hearts were only to thee from whence all their Beings came thou Infinite God and Fountain of all fulness let our Souls have respect to thee this day that so in our solemn Meeting and gathering together before thee we may be refreshed we may be opened we may be comforted and sustained by thee Lord God of Life we have need of thy Power and of thy strength to sustain us in our Pilgrimage and Journey thraugh this World Holy Farher we beseech thee to remember us and lead us and guide us in thy ways and preserve us by thy out-stretched arm thou didst make it bare for thy People of old make it bare we pray thee this day for the sake of thy People that so infinite God we may be conducted through the whole course of our Lives in this World that when our days and time come to an end our Portion may be with thee and thou be the Lot of our Inheritance that so we may live with thee in thy Kingdom for ever Glorious God of Life thou that didst hear the cry of thy People of old and didst open thine ear to their Prayer and Supplicatsons hear thy Children this day that cry to thee for thou hast regard to the cry of the Poor and to the sighing of the Needy In all their exercises in this World in their many afflictions and distresses be thou near to them and be thou near to us here and comfort and refresh us we pray thee that so we may persevere to the end of our days in thy fear and die in thy favour O Lord God thou Holy one of Israel this is the cry of thy Children to thee for whom have we in Heaven but thee and there is none
all Sin from all unrighteousness and from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit That so the end of the Labour Travel and Testimonies of all the Faithful Messengers and Servants whom the Lord hath raised up in this our Day and sent to turn Men from Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan to the power of God that their Labour and Travel I say may not be in Vain that we may all come to believe in the Light that we may be Children of the Light and of the Day that so we may come to walk in the Light And then my Friends we shall all come to be brought into an Heavenly Fellowship If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ the Dear Son of God cleanseth us from all Sins And this is a Work that will be profitable for all to know seeing no unclean thing shall ever enter into the Kingdom of God Friends Our Justification that is indeed in and through and by the Lord Jesus Christ for his sake not our own Any thing that we have done or can do will not have a tendency to make our Peace with God seeing that we can do nothing our selves that is aceeptable and well pleasing to God Therefore we cannot in the least as hath been unjustly charged upon us diseteem or put a light esteem on what the Lord Jesus Christ hath done for us in his own Person without us nor upon what by his own Power and Spirit he hath wrought in our Hearts But we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ both as to his outward Appearance as he was God manifest in the Flesh and also in his Inward and Spiritual Appearance in our Souls We believe in him that hath appeared by his Light and Grace and Truth in our Hearts and we know the Effectual Working and Operation of his Divine Power to Sanctifie and Cleanse and Purifie our Souls And thereby we come to have a real sense of the benefit and Advantage that the Souls of the Children of Men have in and by Death and Sufferings Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Till People come to believe in his Spiritual Appearance by his Light and Grace and truth in their Hearts and to receive him and entertain him and let him have a place in their Souls that he by his Power may purge away Sin and Transgression While Men remain Rebellious and stubborn and will not let him in when he stands and knocks at the Door of their Hearts that he may come in and sup with them and they with him When Men Rebel against his Heavenly light within them and turn away from his Divine Grace and Holy Spirit and turn the Grace of God into Wantoness Lasciviousness and run into Uncleaness Drunkenness Pride Envy Malice and bitterness and into those things that are abominable and Evil in the sight of the Lord These men have no real Advantage or beneby the Death and Sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Satisfaction and Attonement he hath made for our Sins by that one Offering and Sacrifice of himself and they do not truly know the blessed end and design of his Appearance and coming into the World For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that be might destroy the Works of the Devil that he might finish Transgression and make an end of Sin and bring in Everlasting Righteousness My Friends the end of the Working of the Invisible Power and Spirit of Christ is that he may have a place in all your Hearts and that you may entertain him For the Lord will draw a Line of Judgment upon all that go under a Profession of Christianity and own what the Lord Jesus Christ did without them but will not receive him entertain him and believe in him as he doth spiritually Appear and shine in into their Hearts by hiâ— Divine Light Grace and Spirit My Friends Remember the sore Judgments Miseries Calamities and distress that came upon the Jews because of their rejecting Christ in his outward Appearance in that prepared Body in which he came to do his Fathers will They would not own him in his Bodily Appearance but rejected him and set him at nought they Crowned him with Thorns and Crucified the Lord of Life and Glory He said unto them except ye believe that I am he â—â— shall dye in your Sins And if ye dye in your Sins whether I go you cannot come And thus he spake to Jerusalem O Jerusalem Jerusalem Thou that killest the Prophets and Stonest them which 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 Behold your House is left unto yoâ— Desolate for I say unto you ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. He tells them of the Calamity and distress that should come upon them and overtake them and so it came pass because they rejected the Love of God which in Christ Jesus was extended to them when he would have gathered them and brought them into a state of Reconciliation and peace with the Living God but they would not So now my Friends In this day of Christs Inward and Spiritual Appearance you have had the Testimonies of those that have been sent to you in the Name and Power and Spirit of the Living God and yet many will not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ nor receive him Inwardly and Spiritually appearing in their Hearts nor give way to him nor wait and attend upon him to do that work in them and for them which they cannot do for themselves What work is that The Work of Sanctification For none come to be Justified freely by the Grace of God through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ as the Apostle speaks Rom. 3. 24. but they are also Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ and made partakers of the Divine Nature So that is absolutely necessary for us to know Christs Power and Spirit to renew and sanctifie our Souls and purifie and cleanse us When we come to believe in the Inward and Spiritual Appearance of Christ and to know the Work of Sanctification we cannot have a slight esteem of nor dis-believe or undervalue what the Lord Jesus Christ hath done with us in his Person For we shall come to find the Benefit Gain Advantage and profit of it redounding to our Souls through that one offering when he offered himself through the Eternal Spirit as a Lamb without spot He offered himfelf once for all and we have the benefit of it when we come to receive him live in Obedience to him and Answer his requirings and walk in the Spirit And then as the Apostle saith If we walk in the Spirit we shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh for all that is in the World the Lust
King and Peaceable Saviour let us come unto him and learn of him that is meek and lowly and we shall find rest to our Souls Come unto him that hath a good Will to all desiring that all may be saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth and this is Life Eternal to know him that is the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent The Children of God desire the saving knowledge of the true God above all the Idols of the World and to be made partakers of that Life which is Eternal which never shall have an end They will always fear the Lord and think upon his Name I beseech you in the tender love of God consider this It is our great Duty to fear the Lord and think upon his Name wherever we are that is good they that fear God always they are blessed of God they receive Divine Wisdom from God how to order their Conversation aright and so more and more daily partake of Gods Salvation For the Arm of the Lord is stretched forth and made bare to save those that trust in him and neglect not that great Salvation which the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God hath purchased and procured for us not with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with his own Precious Blood as a Lamb without blemish and without spot for he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief his Visage was marr'd more than any man whom the Jews slew and banged on a Tree had they known it they would not Crucified the Lord of Glory he was the Lords Anointed whom they slew the Lord of Heaven and Earth who had all Power committed to him and he gave Commission to his Apostles and Ministers to go and teach all Nations and observe all things whatsoever he commanded saying to them Lo I am with you alway even unto the end of World And saith our Lord Jesus Christ to them Behold I send the Promise of my Father upon you but tarry you in the City of Jerusalem until ye be endued with Power from on high and they had Power given them to work Miracles and to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and nothing should be able to hurt them a mighty blessed and glorious Power did pâ—eserve them and fit and prepare them to Preach the Everlasting Gospel So now my Friends my Counsel from the Lord to you is that you will be faithful to what the Lord our God in his Dear Son Jesus Christ hath manifested and made known to you be it more or less you that have received much of you will more be required and they that are faithful in a little shall be made Rulers over much they shall enter into their Masters Joy that Joy that the Stranger doth not intermeddle with this Spiritual Joy this Heavenly Joy of the Lord it hath been our strength it hath been comfortable to the Children of God from time to time and from Day to Day How joyful will it be to hear that sentence from Christ hereafter Well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee Ruâ—er over much Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord then shall the Redeemed of Lord sing the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy Works Lord God Almighty Just and True are thy Ways thou King of Saints Now my Friends hearken and incline your Ears from time to time unto what the Lord shall say He will speake peace unto his People and to his Saints but let them not return again to folly Who ever you are that are true real Chriâ—â—ians you have Peace with God through Christ Jesus the peaceable Saviour We are accepted of God in the Beloved and have Peace with God in and through Christ Jesus who is the great Peace-maker and Prince of Peace It is by his meritorious Death and Sufferings and Satisfaction made to Divine Justice that we are reconciled unto God I never did desire to hear any thing or speak any thing that had the least tendency to undervalue the Death Sufferings Satisfaction Mediation and Intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ but have always owned believed and preached these great Truths So my Friends I beseech you all to have an Eye to the Lord if you draw nigh to him he will draw nigh to you If we keep to the Lord and Joy in the Lord we shall find the Lord near to us answering our desires he will keep us in the hollow of his hand and in the secret Pavillion then will your Bread Your Heavenly Living Bread be sure and you will know the breaking of it and the eating of it that Bread which Christ gives is that whereby we are comforted and refreshed So my Friends the Lord God Almighty be with you it is not in my mind to say much at this time though many things were upon me to speak to you in the Light of the Lord and the Love of the Lord I shall at present commit you to the Lord Jesus Christ to cast your care upon him at all times in all your Afflictions distresses Trials and Troubles whatsoever keep your Eye stedfast and your Hearts fixed upon the Lord and you need not then be afraid of evil tidings Trust in the Lord at all times not for a Day or a Week or a Year but for ever Cast your care upon the Lord for he careth for you If thy Faith be tryed murmur not but Rejoice for the trial of your Faith is much more precious than of Gold that perisheth though it be tryed with Fire that it may be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory If trials and sufferings and tribulations come do not boggle at them Think it not strange concerning the Fiery Trial which is to try you as though some strang happened to you but rejoice in as much as ye are made Partakers of Christs Sufferings that when his Glory shall be Revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding Joy Friends Happy are you if the Lord shall be pleased to try your Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to try your Love and your Patience Verily I say unto you in the name of the Lord we have all need of it in our Spiritual Travel and Progress and Heavenly Journey Ye have need of Patience that after ye have done the Will of God ye may receive the Promise The Patient and the Meek shall Inherit the Earth and have an Inheritance reserved in Heaven Seek the Lord my Friends that you may be hid in the Day of his Wrath that you may be among his hidden ones when his Indignation shall break out against Sin and Wickedness would not you be hidden then and preserved then would not you have the Lord to spare you then â—us a