as much exceed the other's who is a Creature and by him made as the whole Ocean doth a single Drop of Water In the 1st and 2d Chapter of Job in the 3d. of Zechariah and in Rev. 12. 10. we see and understand God's superlative and over-ruling Goodness and Equity how he doth moderate the matter and affirm it by the way of Favour and Mercy on the side of Mankind And this is but as talking a little before the Day of Assize an Emblem and Forerunner how he will determine it eternally on their side at the last and great Day of Judgment notwithstanding all the Informations Accusations and Aggravations of Satan And now if there should be any of his Ministers transformed into Ministers of Righteousness alike unto Satan in this who draw up more heavy and false Indictments than the true and very nature of the thing doth require and will bear Or if the Conscience it self which is yet more pressed with Sin and Guilt should fore-cast too grievous things all this will not do one joâ— of harm in the Day of the Lord for he who hath prepared his Throne for Judgment knows all things in the World He shall judge the World in righteousness he shall minister Judgment to the People in uprightness Psal 9. 8. In the new Translation it is said He shall minister true Judgment to the People Who weighs the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance He will make things to hang even exact and equal Judgment will I lay to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet Isai 28. 17. He shall judge the World with Righteousness and the People with his Truth Psal 96. 13. With Righteousness shall he judge the World and the People with equity Psal 98. 9. Now Equity is a mild thing which doth state moderate and adjust a matter And then after all God doth reserve Mercy even after Judgment and Condemnation for that is its proper place At the last Day Mercy shall rejoice against Judgment in such a signal eminent great and universal a manner even as to swallow up all Judgment in Victory When I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord God Ezek. 16. 63. When this Song shall be sung Thou hast taken away all thy Wrath thou hast turn'd thy self from the fierceness of thine Anger Psal 85. 3. God is more merciful than ever it entred into the Heart to conceive or the Ear hath heard that as it is written at the first Creation The Morning-Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy Job 38. 7. Now compare this with Isai 14. â—2 Lucifer is there called Son of the Morning so that if ever he sang for joy it was before he fell from Heaven And it is both possible and probable that for joy when he was first brought forth into being he might sing a Song of Praise and Acknowledgment unto the great Creator of all Things And so if we look back to Gen. 6. 2 4. There we find the wicked and ungodly of the World styled The Sons of God for so they are by Creation and Workmanship This was fresh and soon after the Creation for we never as I know of find them so called again throughout all Scripture So that by what may be gathered from Psal 104. 30 31. Thou renewest the face of the Earth The Lord shall rejoice in his Works So at the very last upshot and end of all things Goodness Equity and Mercy will display and manifest that that if so be the Morning Stars may not again sing together and all the Sons of God observe that Particle all including both the Sons by Creation as well as those by Grace and Adoption may not shout together for joy yet at least it may be somewhat more tolerable than that certain fearful looking for of Judgment and the fiery Indignation Heb. 10. 27. or when they did believe and tremble Jam. 2. 19. They must indeed undergo the devouring Fire for all Scripture must be fulfilled and they must see and suffer also which in probability will be throughout a much longer duration than the time was in which the Mosaical Institutions did last which were said to be a Statute for ever or as it is written That the Ordinances of Day and Night shall not cease while the Earth remaineth Gen. 8. 23. Which Earth in the Book of Psalms is said to be established for ever Psal 78. 69. Again it is written If those Ordinances depart from before me saith the Lord then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a Nation before me for ever Jer. 31. 36. And yet the Seed of Israel doth at this day seem to cease to be a Nation as it is yet more certain that this Earth at last shall pass away and the Ordinances of Day and Night shall then also cease and come to an utter end But God only knows what may succeed after all this when those miserable Creatures have lain under condemnation and punishment a much longer space of duration than six or seven thousand Years now within which time all this lower Creation and the Works thereof in probability will be determined and finished God will look down from the height of his Sanctuary when the Psalmist spoke thus by the Spirit it was then to come from Heaven will the Lord behold the Earth yea and who knows whether he will behold yet lower If I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there To hear the groaning of the Prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death Psal 102. 19 20. In the Margin there it is Children of Death This one portion of Scripture is of more worth than ten thousand Worlds If any thing of good or mitigation is intended to them it will come in upon this account That they are the Creatures of God and his Workmanship The Lord shall rejoice in his Works and they shall reciprocally rejoice in the Lord their God If those very Creatures who seem rejected Heb. 12. 17. and hated Rom. 9. 13. by him can but then call upon him by the Name of the Lord and lay hold on him as Esau did with his Father Isaac compare Gen. 27. 34 38. with Heb. 12. 16 17. And when Esau heard the Words of his Father he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry and said unto his Father Bless me even me O my Father Here he continues and keeps up and puts in mind of the Relation After his Excuse and Answer had still he doth continue and repeat and again double the Words of his Relation Hast thou but one Blessing Bless me even me also O my Father and Esau lift up his voice and wept So it may be conceived of those condemned forlorn and miserable Creatures that after they have been long in wailing and gnashing of Teeth with howling and great crying if they can but then call upon Him by the Name of Creator and remember and lay it before
And the like Zeal should be indefinitely shewed forth for all the Commandments of God and for all the positive Duties of the Gospel without confining or limiting of it to one thing more than another But now if any thing is done against any of the Commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done see Levit. 4. 22 27. there is an indifferency and unconcernedness Some could wish but it will never be done with wishing that things were right and according to the Law of God Ezra 10. 3. there is the utmost pitch of their Zeal Tho' God hath given them knowledge and ability for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness they would have God excuse them now and pardon them hereafter if they neglect this gift in them If present interest or any doctrine or opinion which is espoused and peculiar it perhaps giving denomination to such a Sect or Party is any wise concerned here they will exert their Zeal Knowledge and Industry But they will not in like manner contend earnestly for the weightier matters of the Law as Judgment Mercy Faith and Obedience to all the Commandments of God every one of which is to be observed towards and by every Creature without exception or respect of Persons They say These things are sufficiently known already But are they practised and done accordingly Herein they speak after a like unworthy manner as those who said Will a Man plead for Baal let Baal plead for himself and it is almost the same what they speak in reference to the God of Israel For if they may not so properly be styled Scoffers of these last and worst days yet they are ignorant slothful walking after their own Lusts and saying What need one do any thing for God he will do his work for himself This they are willingly ignorant of that there is such a Duty That people should help the Lord against the mighty Judg. 5. 23. which signifies the Sons of Violence and Transgression who will do things of their own strength because it is in the power of their hand Mic. 2. 1. and they are not nor yet will they be kept within the bounds of God's Commandments But these People do err which they utter forth against the Lord Isai 32. 5. not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God nor yet the way of the present dispensation of his Kingdom For tho' the help which God doth upon Earth he doth it himself yet it is always done by the Means and Instruments of his Servants as they do act and exert forth those Principles of Goodness and Truth which he hath implanted in them As the Apostle argues from this Word Yet once more Heb. 12. 27. so every Sentence yea the least Word and Particle in Scripture is observable Where we read of some People that their Spirits were stirred there is a motion or making known or a Command of God to the Heart which yet the Creature doth not obey But where it is written God stirred up the Spirit of such an one as Gideon David Nehemiah Zerubabel there the Person doth actually obey and goes forth and is doing according to the Work God calls and employs him about Be instructed all ye slothful and faint-hearted Christians God hath put nothing in vain in any Man or Woman That Goodness which he first ingrassed and doth afterwards infuse should increase and grow up and it ought to appear forth through the Person in whom it is Agreeable hereunto is what our Lord saith and commands Ye are the Light of the World a City that is set on an hill cannot be hid neither do Men light a Candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the house Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Matth. 5. 14 15 16. That which is of God in any Person is either Goodness or Truth and as Goodness ought to appear forth so the Truth in him ought to be spoken out For tho' the common Saying of the World is agreeable to the Wisdom of the Flesh which is for sloth ease and present safety Thaâ— all Truth is not to be spoken yet we have learned another way to Heaven Lord who shall abide in thâ— Tabernacle Who shall rest in thy holy Hill He thaâ— walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness anâ— speaketh the truth in his heart Psal 15. 1 2. So thaâ— as sure as the Spirit of God doth here teach thâ— way to Heaven and lay down the foregoing Qualifications and Conditions which we musâ— have and do before we come there whateveâ— Truth is in our heart provided it be the Truth oâ— God as coming from Him and arising out of hiâ— Word we must and ought to speak it come whatever will hereof if we do not mean to be disappointed of Heaven at last And if this doing should bring trouble upon our Loins for this Objection the worldly-wise Man hath against thiâ— Duty and therefore he will refrain to utter it wâ— must do it for all that this being that kind of manifold Tribulation which we must go throughâ— before we enter into the Kingdom of God All People will not be saved who constantly go to Church or Meeting for of the four sorts of Hearers of the Word in Mat. 13. there is but one who beareth and bringeth forth fruit unto everlasting life But there is another sort which comes exactly to the present case But he that receiveth seed into stony places the same is he that heareth the word and anoâ—â— with joy receiveth it yet hath he not root within himself but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is â—ffended Mat. 13. 20 21. There is no Person but who would willingly be saved and doth perceive â—ome lightsomness and satisfaction to arise from â—he Ordinance of Preaching because he thinks â—hat this doth somewhat further him towards this happy and blessed End But when such a Duty is presented before him or such a thing seems to be commanded and required of him in the same Word which hath a shew or perhaps a real consequent of worldly loss trouble or inconvenience This is such a Stumbling-block in his way to Heaven that he cannot or rather will not get over So that here if he doth not the thing he cries out or secretly ejaculates with Naaman The Lord pardon thy Servant in this thing considering that he doth so much towards God besides Or when God requires and calls them forth to such a particular Duty they answer like those invited to the Wedding-Dinner I pray thee have me excused for if I should do so I should suffer damage in such worldly matters Nay if he should do the Duty but yet he is offended that tribulation and persecution is come upon him for it This indeed is another step further
and be assured of by the quickness of Thought and by Sight the principal Sense and Operation thereof For our Thoughts will run to and fro from East to West from North to South faster than the Sparks among the Stubble even in a moment of Time For so our Eyes reach up unto Heaven at the first opening the Lid thereof so the Spirit of a Man will in the twinkling of an eye waft it self throughout the whole Universe Besides the quickness of its motion it is eminent for its tenuity whereby it will pass through the most firm Bodies Now the Soul is wrapt up in a small Body and seems to be little more than nothing but then it will be exceeding subtle and small and then it will be gathered up unto the Father of Spirits As aforesaid People will then perceive and remember that it would be infinitely better for them to have done exactly according to the Will of God than to have acted at that confusion and uncertainty with which the World goes on now after their own Ways and in their own Wisdom and Will It is a frequent form of speech in Ezekiel and in the other Prophets That when God doth bring his Judgment and Punishment on the Inhabitants of the Earth then they shall know that the Lord hath not said thus in vain So when the Reward is to be given and some are made up among the Lord's Jewels then shall they return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Mal. 3. 17 18. So when this Generation of Men and Women is carried off from the Earth as the former already are and as we go off day by day in our several Persons then we shall return that is to the proper Understanding of Men and discern that it would be better to have lived otherwise The consideration whereof will raise indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish in the Soul for having done evil because there comes of it punishment and also loss of an exceeding and eternal Happiness To what is doubt now and dull apprehension then will be the greatest certainty and most lively sense that so it would have been Let the Heathen be awakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat c. Joel 3. 12. By which phrase of awakened we learn that the knowledg of God and the Christian spiritual Life is as much beyond that of Heathens and natural Men as waking is to sleep And even in serving of God there are proportionable degrees which do exceed the service of God according to the common standard and size of the World as real Action is beyond Dreaming But then according to Truth and as it is common to all This Life with all its activities is as much less and comes short of the future Life as sleeping now is to waking or as the absolute death of the Body is to the breathing thereof in sleep or as fire it self doth exceed the remote and distant heat thereof or as the light of the Sun shining in its brightness is much more than the dim light of a Candle And so the business and employment with all the other things pertaining to it do proportionably as much exceed the other And so the Happiness and Good which God hath prepared for his Creatures and which he will invest them withal doth yet seven times exceed the utmost apprehension and thoughts any one hath concerning it As we have heard so have we seen Psal 48. 8. and yet much more abundantly in the City of the Lord of Hosts in the City of our God God will establish it for ever Selah Whereby is denoted a contrariety and diversity to the things here which are but perishing and do pass away We have thought of thy loving kindness O Lord in the midst of thy Temple vers 9. Now this Temple is the World and accordingly the Jews fashioned their outward Temple made with hands according to the similitude thereof and the Earth is observed to be placed in the exact midst of the World So that it is no forced construction but the very natural meaning thereof That in this short time we did live and inhabit here on this Earth we thought of the loving kindness of God not so much what we were sensible of then but chiefly what he did intend to do further for his Creatures It is elsewhere written Men's Hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth Luke 21. 16. So it will be with them who have been ungodly and wicked but to the good and obedient it is joyful Hope and comfortable Expectation either to look after what things are coming on the Earth or what shall be shortly manifested before them Day unto Day uttereth Speech and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledge As every day bringeth forth something that is remarkable of what is done here throughout the World There is somewhat more or new if not in its self yet in its person or in the manner and place of acting So the Servant of God who is endued with Faith and Knowledge as every day he makes nearer approaches to the things unseen so he is in expectation of further knowledge and discovery of them As the Traveller upon every five or six miles advance hath a new and fresh Horizon opened unto him so in the succession of Days and Weeks and Months and Years we know more spiritually concerning God and also more clearly and distinctly concerning the other Life Sometimes we are upon the Mountains and then in the Valleys our Mind is now pure lifted up and dwelling in Heaven again it is cast down and become altogether earthly and sensual Sometimes we have clearness and brightness of light then a cloudy day see Zech. 14. 6. now there is a glimmering of morning and evening and then again we are fallen into the darkness of night It is thus differently with us throughout the several times of our Life as to our apprehension of things spiritual and eternal Sometimes we are clear and then again cloudy We are sometimes in the twilight yea we become more dark and at some times are in utter darkness concerning them And this doth not so much depend upon set times and seasons but it happens thus diversly with us as we commit sin which makes God forsake and withdraw his Communications from us Again when we walk before him in all sobriety obedience and duty as is well-pleasing in his sight then he doth afford the Communications and Manifestations of himself to us Lord how wilt thou manifest thy self to us and not to the World But there is certainly a different and another Manifestation whereby God appears and discovers himself to his elect Servants than as he is apprehended by the generality of the World Tho' to them it is somewhat hard to discern as much and trust in him God doth commonly more shew and manifest himself in time of trouble both
him That they are the work of his hands Thy Mercy O Lord endureth for ever it reaches and extends beyond the Day of Judgment even throughout all Eternity Forsake not the work of thine own hands Psal 138. 8. Do not leave them for ever in utter despair and misery God hath more than one Blessing to Angels and Saints he may make Devils and condemned Sinners Hewers of Stone and Drawers of Water John 9. 2. That is somewhat ease and exempt them from the worst pain and thraldom For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek For there is no difference between the Flesh of a Saint and the Flesh of a Sinner and I suppose there is not much more as to the outward original frame and composure of Spirits of the same kind For the same Lord over all that is Creatures is rich unto all that call upon him For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. 12 13. This is cited from Joel 2. 32. and there it is delivered So that by the comprehensiveness of the Word Whosoever which takes in all without exception and from the Apostle's arguing That the Lord is rich unto all that call upon him That is he hath Goodness abundant and to spare for he doth ten thousand times exceed even that of Isaac or of the best and most tender Father for 't is he who created the Bowels and put Compassion in them By the Riches of his Goodness he is obliged to do somewhat for every one that calls upon him So that if these Creatures can and do but call upon the Name of the Lord though it will not be after the same manner and nothing to an equal degree of that Salvation the elect Servants of God are possessed of yet they will at length be somewhat saved and delivered from that depth and grievousness of pain and misery which they have long groaned under For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the Spirit should fail before me and the Souls that I have made Isai 57. 16. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Rom. 11. 32. As the Wisdom of God is manifold so the Truths arising out of his Word are of more universal latitude and of longer extent even throughout the succeeding Eternity than that particular occasion upon which they were at first cited For these two great Scriptures have a further meaning and signification than to troubled and afflicted Consciences or to the temporal casting off of the Jews The same may be yet further understood from the very Nature of God who is infinitely eternally and essentially good and from the Analogy and Reason of things that he will not contend for ever in the punishment and misery of his Creatures but he hath shut them all under deserved and the greater part under actual condemnation that he might have mercy upon all O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out was the Conclusion which the Apostle made when himself had before according to the measure of the Knowledge given him searched and found out some of them But thus he pronounceth concerning what yet remained behind and which himself understood not any further If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities O Lord who shall stand Psal 130. 3. And Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143. 2. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3. 23. The best Servant of God that was ever or is now upon the Earth doth come short of that Holiness as He is holy and of performing that Duty in all things and at all times which God did command or require of him Such Truths are to be made known which shew how these are so let whatever imputation will be fastned upon it To come with Ropes about our Necks and acknowledge our selves worthy of Death eternal to donfess our Sin in the most aggravating Circumstances to arraign our selves and make no other Plea than acknowledgment of our own Guilt that we have transgressed against the Lord and to cry our mightily and earnestly unto him for pardon and mercy All this is the best and soonest way to make our peace with God So did David and the Prophets Saith one We lie down in our shame and our confusion covereth us for we have sinned against the Lord our God from our youth even unto this day and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God Jer. 3. 15. But we are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are as filthy Rags Isai 64. 6. Some may be apt to surmise What need the Prophet mention this for peradventure God might accept this Righteousness as it is whereas by vilifying and depretiating it as he doth he may put God in mind or move him not to accept it What an absurd and wrong imagination is here For it was the Spirit of God which did first acquaint and make this known unto Isaiah and he speaks it forth unto the People in order to humble them and make them have a low Conceit of their best Performances To be as nothing in our own sight to acknowledge our own Guilt and Unworthiness to bear iniquity and loath our selves for our Sins This is the way to get the Favour and Mercy of God for so did the holy Men and Women of old who served him and were accepted by him And so when God would tell People of their Sins and Transgressions when they have done amiss and erred from his Commandments he doth not now speak unto the Inhabitants of the Earth out of the cloudy Pillar or from the Battlements of Heaven but now he speaks in the still Voice of his Word and Spirit unto their Hearts and Consciences Which Word is yet more clearly and distinctly revealed unto some of his peculiar and elect Servants whom again he prompts by his Spirit to speak out and publish the same Word unto others And so they do not tell and inform God but God doth tell and inform them Agreeable hereunto is that kind of speaking unto Ezekiel Go and shew the House of Israel their Doings and cause them to know the Abominations of their Fathers Ezek. 20. 4. God sees it and is displeased Isa 59. 15. He knows it and is grieved Forty years long was I grieved with this Generation Psal 95. 10. His own Spirit is pressed until it is actually stirred up which same Spirit he doth infuse it into some Pipe here on Earth either Man or Woman who again doth receive convey and vent it forth by publishing and making it known unto other Men and Women I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed with sheaves He doth here speak after the manner of Men for our Infirmities And hereby we may apprehend how the
Character is given unto him who is greater than Moses with a transversal of the same Words Jesus of Nazareth a Prophet mighty in deed and in word before God and before all the People Luke 24. 19. The Holy Ghost hereby signifying that he did actually more good than himself talked of and herein he did exceed Moses and all the Children of God For with them their Thoughts and Words do rise higher than their Actions For none ever did nor yet can obey and do more for God than he doth think or speak of But their Performances and Doings come short of their Words as both Words and Actions do come short of their Thoughts for many good excellent high great and glorious Things are thought of which are never spoken out But this is Man's fault and infirmity for every thing that is good and true ought to be spoken out and if possible the same is to be put into practice But where power is wanting or opportunity is not to be had there it should come forth into will and real endeavour so that in good and duty we should still go as far as we can If we seek out of the Book of the Lord and read we shall there find that the whole of Mankind is distinguished not into such Names as we give one another of Papist Protestant Church-of-England-man Presbyterian Independent Anabaptist Quaker Sabbatarian Socinian Dissenter or such-like but into Righteous and Wicked they that serve God and they that serve him not Mal. 3. 18. This serving of God is not calling him their God nor yet styling themselves the Children of Abraham nor yet the ranking themselves among the Members of a pure Church at this Day nor yet paying unto God Acts of Worship every morning and evening for whosoever keeps all the parts and times of Worship and yet will not obey one point of the Law of God when he doth all the rest he is guilty of all and an ungodly Man for all that But this is the Service of God to do all his Will and Pleasure for as to our matters according to the Flesh it is not the bare calling him Master or living in his Family or paying unto him outward Respect all this will not make them to be Servants indeed But it is the constant doing of their Business according to what they are bid and commanded from time to time The Spirit of God doth foresee there is a sort of People who goon in that Deceit of calling themselves of the Holy City and staying upon the God of Israel of worshipping God and speaking honourably of his Name These would take it ill if any one should say they did not serve God As indeed they do not tho' they serve with an Offering and weary themselves with Incense Isai 43. 23. Tho' they spend never so much time in outward Worship and take all the Opportunities and Seasons for it yet in the meaning and requiring of the Holy Ghost they do not properly and truly serve God unless they do confirm all the Words of his Law to do them The same Spirit doth caution us hereof and give us to understand as much by what is written Ye Ministers of his that do his pleasure Psal 103. 21. Hereby intimating that there are such who think themselves and are called by the World Ministers and Servants of God who yet do not his Pleasure Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say Luke 6. 46. And yet more plainly this is signified by what the Spirit saith His Servants shall serve him Rev. 22. 3 This is brought in upon describing the manner of the New Jerusalem above which herein is opposite and different from that on Earth for many here are called Servants of God who do not in deed and in truth serve him Whereas such only who do in deed and in truth serve him shall be admitted there Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works and I will profess unto them I never knew ye depart from me ye that work Iniquity Mat. 7. 21 22 23. These things I have written not that I had ought as of my self to accuse my Nation of but to manifest from the Word which flatters none but declares unto all Men what his thoughts and ways are that though a form of Godliness is spread and diffused throughout the several Congregations and Places of this Island yet they all come short of the Power and substance thereof And as we do all look for the appearance of the Great GOD who shall render to every Man according to his Work both ye and my self are to be diligent that we may be found of Him without spot and blameless I speak not these things as a Man but they do proceed forth from the Word and Spirit of the Lord and from Him that gives Man Knowledge who sees all this and much more and is displeased As Wounds and Bruises and putrifying Sores are launced in order to a cure so these things are laid open before all the Churches which they may at least come to the sight hearing or rumour of that they may know such things have been written that according to the Commandment of the God of Israel they amend their Ways and their Doings Jer. 7. 3. if they intend to have the Favour of God now be accepted of Him at last and if they would dwell with him in the highest Heavens for evermore Amen saith my Soul come Lord Jesus come quickly FINIS
intercourse is between God and his Creatures that whatever good is done here on Earth it is if I may express it the Actings of God through his Creatures Hence are those Sayings in Scripture I will dwell in them and walk in them 2 Cor. 10. 6. God dwelleth in you 2 Cor. 10. 16. It is not you that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you Mat. 10. 20. God is in you of a truth 2 Cor. 14. 25. And where it is so he is a continued Principle of right action and well-doing Hereby we may perceive the superlative and infinite and exceeding Goodness of God who is the Root and Foundation of all Beings He doth as much exceed all the Inhabitants of the Earth take them all in their Generations and Places when and where they were on this Earth as the whole Earth doth exceed an handful of Dust or Sand. We see how much one good Man doth how he reaches forth and extends his Goodness far and near and he is always seeking Opportunities for exerting of it If he is a Man of Knowledge and Wisdom the Lips of the Wise disperse Knowledge and it is unexpressible how much good his Words may do when the sound thereof goes out far and near and yet much more good will they do when they are written for the Generations to come Psal 102. 18. and for after-Ages I have often thought when I see a just Man who is perfect in his Generations and walketh with God Gen. 6. 9. who is right towards God in all things and withal zealous diligent and active in his Service as God hath all along in the foregoing Generations and in the several Countries raised up such single Instruments what a blessed World would there be if hundreds and thousands did the like Each Man would bring over his thousand and ten would put ten thousand to flight to the utter and thorough subduing of the whole World of the Sinners and Ungodly Whereas they appearing singular in their Generations it comes to pass through the great and continued opposition of Satan the name of whose Instruments is Legion for they are many that such could not effect any great matter or if they did somewhat for what is of God will stand in spight of Men o Devils yet it was not in that degree to which they did aim and intend it They were like light shining in a dark place which others at a distance could just see the glimpse and appearance of but they had no benefit thereof And then this burning light in his Generation was either blown out for the Devil hath sometimes power to kill the Witnesses or wasted sooner or if none of these did happen it must at length be naturally spent out In this also they were like the Captain of their Salvation I have trodden the Wine-press alone and of the People there was none with me Isa 63. 3. For when once they begin to be bruised or the sparkles of Blood do fly then the People will be sure to keep far enough off Now God did act all along in those single Creatures but why he did not stir up more or others also or if he did press upon them with the secret motions of his Spirit which they did not obey Whereas he could have been upon them even upon them with a strong hand also and with such an over-ruling pressure of their Spirits that they should have been likewise actually stirred up But it was not so the reasons hereof how it was then for the great Ends of his own Glory and Man's Trial himself will rehearse when he writeth up the People But this is certain that in those Times of universal Reformation which are now drawing on in these latter Days he will raise up a proportionable number of Instruments even thousands and ten thousands who shall certainly and actually effect the very thing Until the Spirit be poured down upon us from on high Isai 32. 15. The word Pour doth denote in a much more large and Plentiful manner than that dropping and distilling of the Spirit heretofore only in such peculiar and chosen Vessels And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh Acts 1. 17. Thus it will be in the very last Days at the conclusion and shutting up of all But if we look back unto the foregoing Generations as to the state and progress of pure and undefiled Religion or as to the Knowledge of God in this or other Countries that of Jeremiah is here true and applicable They have gone backward and not forward Since the day that your Fathers came forth of the Land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my Servants the Prophets daily rising up early and sending them yet they hearkned not unto me nor enclined their ear but hardned their neck they did worse than their Fathers Jer. 7. 25 26. When God did make an appearance and shew himself by Miracles and Signs then People were for the time in some measure as they should be But when they were over and the remembrance of them did go off and vanish by degrees then they did return to their former Sin Corruption Ignorance customary and formal Worship So it hath been since the days of Christ and his Apostles when we were redeem'd from spiritual Egypt from the Bondage and Hurt of Sin Satan and Death then indeed there was a peculiar People but ever since they have gone backward and not forward And so when the People of this Nation about an hundred and fifty Years since came out of the Egyptian Darkness of Popish Ignorance and from out of the Wilderness of Superstition into a fuller and clearer light of the Gospel which they worked through and brought out from the very fire then indeed were the Churches cleansed and bright But almost ever since it may be said They have gone backward and not forward When the Storm of Persecution is over them then it doth rouze up their Zeal their greater Fear of God and their greater Concern for the Truth and Spirituality of his Worship This Fan doth also purge the Floor as to blow away the Chaff of Hypocrites and gather the Wheat of real firm sincere Christians more close together But when that is over the others come in again and they are mingled together and they do lie promiscuously one with another At this day the Churches have rest and free liberty of Worship according to their several Opinions and Persuasions yet they have gone backward and not forward For is there not a Laodicean lukewarmness and indifferency spread throughout them all Are not the Ordinances of Prayer and Preaching become cold flat dull and low Do they mount up as Eagles Isai 40. 31. Or rather do they not still lie among the Pots Psal 68. 13. Instead of publishing the Name of the Lord ascribe ye Greatness unto our God Deut. 32. 3. and speaking of the
wonderful Works of God Acts 2. 11. they are taken up with mans Notions Sayings and Phrases and they are bewildered in the little things of this lower World for they do not understand even them throughly and clearly Where seems to be a little pure and primitive Christianity is not there much Ignorance and coming short of the Knowledge of the Things of God as they ought to be known There are either some affected Phrases of their own which they harp and insist altogether on or there is a preference of some select parts and portions thereof before the whole Word of God all which ought to be brought in equally upon occasion without preferring one thing before another or at least not to make the one a pretence to shut out the other Are there not dark Speeches used if it be not sometimes unintelligible and mystical nonsence whereas the time now is that they should speak no more to us in Proverbs but they should shew us plainly of the Father John 16. 25. And in these larer times the Spirit speaketh expresly 1 Tim. 4. 1. yea and clearly viz. such things as may be understood not in Words which Man's Wisdom teacheth not in humane affected Phrases but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual with spiritual And compare Scripture with Scripture we shall find that such whether they be Men or Women who say when the Lord hath not spoken or who speak a Vision of their own heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord Jer. 23. 16. Which prophecy out of their own heart Ezek. 13. 17. Or who say that it shall so come to pass when the Lord hath not commanded them and it will not come to pass and the thing doth not follow such are presumptuous Deut. 18. 22. They take God's Name in vain and a Woe is now pronounced against them which at last will fall down upon them to their own misery and condemnation Is it not in some measure fulfilled at this day We see not our Signs there is no more any Prophet neither is there any among us that knoweth how long Psal 74. 9. That knoweth any thing certainly from God as in times past he did reveal his Secret unto his Servants the Prophets or how long this Judgment of the Sword will be upon the Nations nor after what manner and when God will work Salvation and establish Peace in the midst of the Earth For God is my King of old working Salvation in the midst of the Earth Psal 74. 12. I will be thy King Where is any other that may save thee in all thy Cities and thy Judges of whom thou saidst Give me a King and Princes Hos 13. 12. These things will so be when God doth reign immediately over the Hearts of all Men and they yield that Obedience unto him as now they do to their Kings and Governours after the Flesh But at this day it is fulfilled Therefore night shall be upon you that ye shall not divine and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets and it shall be dark over them then shall the Seers be ashamed and the Diviners confounded yea they shall all cover their Lips for there is no answer of God Mic. 3. 6 7. Consider throughly of this all ye Preachers in the several Churches and Congregations and do ye not sensibly perceive the Truth of this last There is no answer of God There is at this day and accordingly he that is most spiritual and knows most of God doth most sensibly perceive it the face of the Covering and the Veil that is spread over all Nations Isa 25. 7. There is a Veil and Covering over the Hearts and Understandings of Men I feel it upon mine own that they have not that constant lively Faith and clear Knowledge of the future and invisible things of God as was in the days of Moses or of Christ or as themselves had in former times when they were illuminated Heb. 10. 32. Or as themselves shall have when God shall be pleased according to his gracious Promise here to destroy that Covering and Veil and to break it that we may see through But even unto this day when Moses is read the Vail is upon their Hearts nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the Veil shall be taken away 2 Cor. 3. 15 16. Religion is now at a low ebb I do not mean as to outward Worship the Profession Appearance and Shew thereof for that was retained all along throughout the foregoing Generations But so it is as to the walking in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless in all Righteousness and true Holiness To shew the exceeding stress that the People lay upon this thing of their going constantly to the place and their performing the outward act of Worship the Holy Ghost doth repeat it three times in his Caution concerning it Trust ye not in lying Words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these Jer. 7. 4. That is as much as to say it is a lying and false Word let People repeat it over and over and insist upon it never so much It is not the bare going to Church or to such a Congregation is all that God doth require of Men and Women nor is this sufficient to bring them to Heaven To say or affirm that this is all which God doth require or that this with no more ado will bring them to Heaven is a lying Word For the Lord hath shewed in the foregoing Verse what he doth require of Men namely Amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place This is the way to be fixed and for ever to abide in the high and blessed place of Heaven Again he finds fault Will ye steal murder and commit adultery and swear falsly and burn incense to Baal and walk after other Gods whom ye know not here the Prophet enumerates the breach of Six Commandments and in like manner it may be applied to the other Four viz. Sabbath-breaking Dishonouring of Parents Falshood and Covetousness and come and stand before me in this House which is called by my Name and say We are delivered to do all these Abominations Is this House which is called by my Name become a Den of Robbers in your eyes behold even I have seen it saith the Lord Jer. 7. 9 10 11. So that the Inference is natural and necessary That it is not the going to Church or to any other Place of his Worship upon the Lord's Day or upon every Week-Day will serve to make an atonement or blind and deceive God for the breach and transgressions of his Laws and Commandments for he doth here say I have seen it even through this Veil of Hypocrisie let them think or say what they will that their Trade or Business or Necessity of Affairs do require them so to do To the same purpose is the first Chapter of Isaiah throughout I hate