fruit oâ— the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. 6. Forget not the exemplary instances of Believers who though great offendors yet have received and apply'd Christ by Faith and have been graciously accepted and entertained by him and all this for the encouragement of thee and of all that afterwards should believe As The Jaylor Act. 16. 30 c. Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. to 17. Act. 26. 9. 10 11. The penitent Woman Luk. 7. 37. to the end The Thief on the Cross Luk. 23. 42 43. The 3000 Hearers of Peter Act. 2. 36 37. c. 7. Ask seek knock importunately at the Throne of Grace for this soul-saving Grace The Spirit is promised to them that ask Luk. 11. 13. Fly unto Christ the Author and finisher of Faith Heb. 12. 2. And cry Lord increase my Faith Luk. 17. 5. Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief Mar. 9. 24. XVI Direction QUestion and examine the self often impartially touching the truth of thy Faith in Christ for thy Recovery and Salvation 2 Cor. 13. 5. For There is a counterfeit and fained Faith Luk. 8. 13. Act. 8. 13. Iam. 2. 14 17 20 26. And there is a Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 5. 'T is the Faith unfained that accepts and applies Christ Ioh. 1. 12 13. Act. 8. 37. and will afford thee solid comfort Now Faith in Christ unfained may be discovered by these and the like Characters which if thou canst really find in thy self doubtless thou art a true Believer True saving Faith in Jesus Christ is 1. A Christ-applying Faith If Faith be sincere and salviâ—ical it never rests till it bring the soul to Christ till it possess the soul of Christ. It is the soul's eye that beholds Christ lifted up Ioâ— 3. 15. It 's the soul's feet whereby it comes to Christ Mat. 11. 28. Ioh. 6. 35 37. It 's the soul's hand whereby it receives Christ and arms wherewith it embraceth Christ Ioh. 1. 12. Heâ— 11. 13. It 's the soul's mouth wherewith it eats Christs flesh that bread of life and drinks Christs blood that water of life Ioh. 6. 47 53 54 55. By all which acts of Faith the soul comes to have Christ to possess and enjoy him and life in him 1 Joh. 5. 12. True Faith in Christ contents not it self only to know Christ or only to assent to the truth of Gods Record touching Christ that life is in him but it further proceeds to receive and apply Christ to the soul to appropriate him and enjoy him actually to the particular Believer 2. A Christ-retaining Faith True saving Faith in Christ not only entertains Christ but also retains him in the best room of the soul the heart That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith Eph. 3. 17. The Believer's heart is Christ's home And Faith gives Christ the acceptable entertainment 1. As it cleanseth the heart of every thing that might be offensive to him Act. 15. 9. 2. As it ascribes all salvation and sufficiency for it only unto Christ counting all self-excellencies loss and dung Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. So then if Christ be dwelling in thine heart Faith is there also 3. A Christ esteeming Faith Faith most highly esteems Christ accounts him most precious Unto them which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. So precious That he sells all that he hath for him Mat. 13. 44 45 46. That he denies all that he hath yea all that he is for him Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. Luk. 9. 23. and 19. 43. That he disesteems and as it were hates all dearest Relations in comparison of Christ Mat. 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26 c. Yea so precious That it sets more store by Christ at his lowest then by all worldly treasures at their highest Heb. 11. 26 27. If Christ be truly precious to thy soul Faith is planted in thine heart 4. An heart purifying Grace According to that Purifying their hearts by Faith Act. 15. 9. 1 Joh. 3. 3. Faith makes the inside clean hypocrisie only the outside Mat. 23. 25 26. Faith purifies the heart 1. Formaliter formally as it is an holy inherent principle of Grace and Purity resisting sin and temptation Gal. 5. 17. 1 Ioh. 3. 3. Eph. 6 16. To this effect it 's stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most holy faith Jude verse 20. 2. Instrumentaliter Instrumentally it purisieth the heart by applying thereunto Christs imputed purity Phil. 3. 9. Christ's blood which purgeth the conscience from the guilt and power of dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. with Rom. 3. 25. By applying Christ's imputed purity and righteousness 5. A soul-purifying and heart-comforting Grace It affords peace with God which produceth two excellent effects 1. Ioy in hope of the glory of God 2. Glorying even in tribulation Rom. 5. 1 2 3. joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Now the peace of God passeth all understanding and keeps as in a Garrison the heart and mind in Christ Jesus viz. safe and secure Phil. 4. 7. 6. Most dutiful and obediential towards God and this against all interposing difficulties against Reason against Natural Affection c. As in Noah Heb 11. 7. In Abraham when he obey'd God to forsake his kindred and follow God he knew not whither Heb. 11. 8. And when he in a sort offered up Isaac for a Burnt-offering Heb. 11. 17. 7. Most abundant and fruitful in all good works Jam. 2. 14. to the end And this God expects Tit. 3. 8. Faith is a most working Grace it is the root of all good works of piety righteousness and sobriety 1 Tim. 1. 5. Hence that phrase The work of Faith 1 Thes. 1. 3. A workless Faith is as Iames intimates to us a worthless Faith Iam. 2. 17 26. 8. A Grace that acts and works by love Gal. 5. 6. How by love More generally Not by love as fire works by heat the formal property of fire as if love were the form of Faith as Papists say contrary to that in 1 Tim 1. 5. But by love as an external instrument external or outward as to the proper nature of Faith joyned or annexed unto Faith for the exerting of its acts as the soul works by the brain eye ear hand c. More particularly Faith works by love 1. As it tends to principle and store the heart with the love of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 7 8. Faith is as the Captain-Grace that leads on all the rest 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 2 As it actuates and incites love with a more ardent flame towards God Christ and all goodness Faith spreads open before the soul Gods love and Christs loveliness how transcendent how infinite So that the soul cannot choose but love them again Ioh. 3. 16 17. Rom. 5. 5 6 7 c. Ioh. 15. 13. 1 Ioh. 3. 16 19. 3. As it exerciseth it self in all duties and acts of obedience to God Christ c. not in a way of servile
sinner For humiliation usually precedes and procures reformation As in Manasses 2 Chron. 33. 12. to 17. In the Prodigal Luk. 15. 17. to 22. In the penitent woman Luk. 7. 37 38 c. In Saul Act. 9. 6 c. In Peter's Hearers Act. 2. 37 c. And in most Bruising prepares for healing wounding for binding up Luk 4. 18. Burdening makes way for easing Mat. 11. 28. Godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. â— 10. 2. Yea an un-convinced sinner â—or humiliation as it makes way for reformation so it presupposeth a previous conviction So then conviction works humiliation humiliation inclines to reformation O do not thou still continue an un-cured sinner yea an un-convinced sinner by remaining an un-humbled sinner 3. Thine humiliation before the LORD for thy sinful and wretched condition will prove A grateful sacrifice to God A gainful exercise to thee 1. A grateful sacrifice to God The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal. 51. 17. See 2 Chron. 33. 12 13. and 15. 6 7. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. Bruised and broken hearts are fit cures for Christ Luk 4. 18. Isa. 61. 1 2. Yea when sinners lament and grieve for their sins Heaven is filled with joy Luk. 15. 7 10. Fletus peccatorum triumphus Angelorum Sinners tears are the very triumph of Angels 2. A gainful exercise to thee Humiliation for thy sinful state 1. Will help thee to a deeper sense of thy sinfulness and wretchedness As blots run abroad and appear far larger in wet paper 2. Will somewhat comfort thee in that thou beginnest to mourn for that wherein thou didst formerly rejoyce and to hate what thou didst formerly love c. 3. Will notably prepare thee to true repentance and recovery 2 Cor. 7. 10. II. But when thou humblest thy self before God for thy sinful and wretched Natural state humble thy self rightly viz. 1. Humble thy self secretly seriously and sincerely without hypocrisie Not as once Ahab of old did 1 King 21. 27 29. Nor as usually the hypocritical Pharisees were wont to do and after them the Papists in their fastings Mat. 6. 16. Only formally But as penitent Manasseh did 2. Chron. 33. 11 12. As the praying Publican did Luk 18. As the repenting Prodigal did Luk. 15. As the relenting Woman did Luk. 7. Cordially and really 2. Humble thy self unto deepest self-loathing and self abhorrency Consider the infinite holiness of God Isa. 6. 3. Hab. 1. 13. The wonderful purity and perfection of his Word Psal. 119. 140 96. And thine own extream sinfulness utterly repugnant unto both Rom. 5. 12. Psal. 51. 5. Ioh. 3. 6. Rom. 3. 9. to 19. Eph. 2. 1 2 3. And then loath thy self and even abhor thy self as in dust and ashes Ezek. 36. 31. Iob 42. 6. accounting thy self with humbled Paul chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. 3. Humble thy self so for thy sins as to labour and be heavy laden with them and quite weary of them Mat. 11. 28. Be so pricked and wounded in heart for them as to cry out to Gods messengers Men and brethren what shall I do Act. 2. 36 37. Sirs what must I do to be saved Act. 16. 30. True humiliation for sin will make thee earnestly long and desire to be rid of sin 4. Humble thy self reformingly So as to repent and turn from thine iniquities unto God As did Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. 12 c. As did Saul Act. 9. 6 11 20. That 's right humiliation that works reformation That 's true godly-sorrow indeed that works repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 5. Humble thyself Continually till thy God exalt thee and lift thee up with Comfort and restore thee from thy Sinful and wretched state of Nature into an holy and happy state of Grace The Sinful woman never ceased hmbling herself at Christs feet and washing his feet with tears till Christ comforted her and told her that her Sins which were many were forgiven her Luk. 7. 47 48. The Prodigal ceased not confessing his sin and humbling himself for it to his Father as no more worthy to be called his Son till the father called for the best robe to be put upon him and expressed many other most affectionate acts of a most tender paternal love unto him Luk. 15. 21. to 25. VIII Direction HOwever thou art by Nature O Natural man in a most Sinful and wretched state and hast remained therein from thy very Birth unto this day for which thou hast cause to be abased to the very dust yet know thou for thy Comfort thy Case is not Desperate there is Hope in Israel concerning this God hath in this valley of Achor in this valley of trouble opened a door of Hope for thee and of his meeâ— love and mercy hath Revealed in his Covenant of Faith in Christ a way how thou mayst be recovered out of this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature into an Holy and Happy state of Grace and how all Gods Elect though lapsed in the first Adam may be restored in a second Adam Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Gal. 3. 21 22. Rom. 3. 20 21 22. 26 27. I shall Illustrate this further to thy singular encouragement and comfort O Natural man in certain distinct Positions viz. 1. The LORD God of the meer good pleasure of his will according to his eternal Purpose which he purposed in himself elected a certain number out of mankind unto himself to the Adoption of children that they should be holy and without blame before him in love to the praise of the Glory of his Grace Ephes. 1. 4 5 6. 2 Though the only wise and righteous God who can bring good out of cvil Else he could not suffer it to be permitted Adam the common Root of Mankind and in him as in his loins all mankind and among them all his elect to fall into Sin and misery for the greater manifestation of the surpassing glory of his Freedom Mercy and Justice towards mankind yet hath he not cast away his people whom he foreknew nor left his Elect to perish in that lapsed state but hath most graciously and wisely contrived a way how all his Elect shall be recovered out of this state of Sin and misery into a state of Holiness and Happiness for evermore Compare Mat. 10. 29. 30. Act. 2. 23. and 4. 27. with Gen. 3. 1. c. Rom. 5 12 13 14. Rom. 11. 2. Ephes. 1. 4. to 12. Col. 1. 19 20. 3. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us was pleased to contrive lapsed man's Recovery out of the exceeding riches of his meer Grace and mercy Eph. 1. 3. to 12. and 2. 4 to 10. Nothing at all foreseen in lapsed man could move or encline God at all to Contrive his Restitution Eph. 2. 8 9. Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. 4.
the Houshold of Faith Restrain not Prayer but pray continually with groans that cannot be uttered by the assistance of the Spirit Have no fellowship at all with Sin and Satan nor any needless fellowship with any workers of iniquity Eph. 5. 11. Psal. 1. 1. and 26. 4 5. Psal. 119. 115. Walk not disconsolately and dejectedly but in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost Acts 9. 31. Be abundantly contented in all conditions allotted thee by God Fully expect good by the worst of afflictions that may befall thee and be ever carefull to keep thy Hopes and Evidences for Heaven firm and clear that when thou comest to die thou maist lift up thine head and triumph that thy Redemption and celestial Coronation with Christ draweth nigh XXI Direction WRastle also most vlgorously O thou that wast Natural but art spiritualized wast dead but art alive again against all thy sins spiritual enemies and their temptations Heb. 12. 4. Col. 3. 5. to 12. Eph. 6. 11. to 19. for all time to come that they may none of them in the least measure eclipse any of these thy spiritual Priviledges or embitter any other thy sweet enjoyments Holy David by his lapses brought many deep wounds and scarrs upon his Conscience Psal. 51. 3 8. some of which he probably carried to his Grave Loving and confident Peter by his triple denial of his Lord and Master Christ purchased to himself a torrent of bitter tears Mat. 26. 75. The Ephesian Angel by leaving his first love and first works was so offensive thereby to Christ that he threatned the removal of his Candlestick Revel 2. 4 5. The Church her self by her carnal sluggishness and security lost her sweet Communion with Christ for a season and was involved in deep spiritual distress Cant. 5. 2. to 9. Be thou warned by their examples which are written for thine admonition lest through thy spiritual oscitancy and sluggishness thou bring upon thy self like spiritual calamities and so far wound thy Conscience as to go bleeding to thy Grave XXII Direction EXpress upon all good occasions all possible tenderness of heart and bowels of compassion towards those that yet remain in the first Adam in their sinful state of Nature unregeâ—erate especially towards thy kindred according to the flesh using all good endeavours to convince convert and gain them to Christ that they as well as thy self may be eternally saved Luke 22. 32. Rom. 10. 1. and 9. 1 2 3. Acts 9. 20 with 1 Cor. 9. 19. to 23. For 1. Even thou thy self wast sometimes foolish disobedient serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating others Tit. 3. 3. An enemy to God by wicked works Col. 1. 21. Yea dead in sins and trespasses c. and a child of wrath as well as they or any of them Eph. 2. 1 2 3. But God who is rich in mercy hath saved thee by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Hast thou then experimentally felt the Wormwood and the Gall of thy Natural state of sin and misery And dost thou not commiserate such poor souls as are still in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Acts 8. 23. Hast thou had the sweet experience of the riches of Gods free-Grace and Love in restoring thee from death to life from thy Natural state of sin and misery into a supernatural state of sanctity and felicity And do not thy bowels yearn within thee after other lost souls especially those of thy kindred that they also may be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26. 18. 2. Are not their souls as well as thine own very precious O Consider 1. Their immortal Constitution which no Creature can kill or destroy Matth. 10. 28. 2. The invaluable price paid for their Restitution even the most precious blood and death of Jesus Christ the only Son of God 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. 3. The incomparable and transcendent value which the wisdome of God himself puts upon the soul as being of far more worth then the whole world Matth. 16. 26. And then think with thy self Shall not I endeavour to hinder the eternal loss and to promote the eternal salvation of such precious souls 3. What advantage will redound in sundry respects if God bless thine endeavours to the convincing and converting of their souls to Christ For Hereby 1. Thou shalt save a soul from death Jam. 5. 19 20. And what a great what a glorious work is it to have an hand in saving a soul from deathâ— 2. Thou shalt hide a multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Even an heap a sink a dunghil of hundreds and thousands of sins thou shalt hide from the revenging eye of God by Christs righteousness 2 Cor. 5. 20 21. 3. Thou shalt occasion great joy in Heaven among the blessed Angels of God who exceedingly rejoyce at the Conversion of sinners Luke 15. 7 10 22 23. 4. Finally Thou shalt hereby not a little further thine own eternal felicity Deut. 12. 3. Thou therefore commiserate thy Brethren in their sinful and wretched state of Nature as thy God hath in thy like condition had compassion on thee Canst thou lend an hand to pluck a Beast out of the mire or a Sheep out of a pit and wilt thou not lend an hand to help poor lost souls out of the mire of sin snares of Satan and pit of eternal destruction O warn them convince them counsel them exhort them rebuke them lament them pray for them weep over them do any good for them that thou maist by any means gain and save their souls XXIII Direction YIeld with all enlarged thankfulness all possible Praise Love and Obedience unto God and unto the Lamb who hath loved thee of the riches of his free-Grace before the world began who in fulness of time hath ransomed thee by the invaluable price of his death and in due time hath washed thâ—e from thy sins in his own blood aâ—d in the Laver of Regeneration by the renewing of the Holy Ghost Eph. 1. 3 4 5 6. 1 Iohn 4. 19. Gal. 4. 4 5. 1 Tim. 1. 15. and 2. 5 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20 Rev. 1. 5. Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. For 1. Thou oughtest to be thankful for all Gods blessings of all sorts the least of them being beyond yea contrary to thy deserts Eph. 5. 20. Col. 3. 17. 1 Thes. 5. 18. with Gen. 32. 10. but especially for those choicest spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Eph. 1. 3. Psal. 103 1 2 3. 2. The reality and sincerity of thy thankfulness will inwardly best approve it self in thy cordial affection and unâ—eigned love towards thy gracious God and Jesus Christ for all his love and all the fruits of his love in Christ. Kindness begets thankfulness and love breeds love as fire begets fire 1 Iob. 4. 19. Thus when
slavish fear but in a sweet way of love because a man loves God and Christ loves the wayes of vertue loves his Commandements and counts them not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. Faith makes all obedience and duty come off lovingly sweetly chearfully 1 Tim. 1. 5. 9. A growing Grace It encreaseth more and more Your Faith groweth exceedingly 2 Thes. 1. 3. See also Rev. 2 19. Counterfeit Faith dead Faith is like a painted Tree or painted Flower upon a Wall seem it never so fair it grows not at all 10. Vigorous in resisting and victorious in conquering all sorts of Temptations viz. Of the World frowning or smiling 1 Ioh. 5. 4. Ioh. 16. 33. Of the Flesh Act. 15. 9. 1 Joh. 3. 3. Of the Devil â— Pet. 5. 9. Eph. 6. 16. 11. Fervent and continuing instant in prayer even against discouragements though prayer seem to be neglected repulsed denied As in the Canaanitish woman Mat. 15. 22. to 29. In Elijah who prayed seven times 1 King 18. 41. to 46. Iam. 5. 17 18. 12. Valiant in confessing Christ in professing and owning of his Gospel Truth and Cause in dayes of greatest danger and persecution 2 Tim. 1. 12. Saul converted to the Faith straightway preached Christ in the Synagogues that he was the Son of God though to the hazard of his life Act. 9. 20 23. The Angel of Pergamos held fast Christ's Name deni'd not his Faith even there where Satan's seat was and even then when Antipas was his faithful Martyr Rev. 2. 12 13. Rev. 13. 10. The Faith and patience of the Saints is most active and illustrious in midst of Antichristian cruelties and persecutions 13. Finally True Faith is constant and persevering False Faith believes but for a time in time of persecution falls away Luk. 8. 13. True Faith holds on unto the end Draws not back unto perdition but believes unto the saving of the soul Heb. 10. 39. The true Believer holds on believing till he attain the scope and end of his Faith the salvation of his soul 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. XVII Direction REpentance from head works not to be repented of Heb. 6. 1. 2 Cor. 7. 10. is an inseparable companion of true faith The Scripture usually coupling them together Mar. 1. 14. 15. Act. 20. 21. and 2. 37 38. and 26. 18. Heb. 6. 1. and therefore every one that would approve himself to believe in Christ sincerely must repent of all his sins unfeinedly as he expects to have his sins remitted freely and his soul saved eternally Luk. 24. 47. Act. 2. 38. and 5. 31. and 3. 19. Act. 11. 18. Ezek. 18. 30 31 32. Luk. 13. 3 5. To Repent is set forth by two Greek words very significant in the New Testament 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metanoein which properly signifies To have an after-wit wisdom or consideration a return to ones wits and wisdom again As did the Prodigal Luk. 15. 17. This word is used often Mat. 3. 8 11. and 9. 13. To sin is our folly to repent of sin is our after-wisdom 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metamelesthai To have an after-care to be heedful afterwards It 's through want of care and heed that men transgress 'T is Repentance that makes the offendor more careful to withstand and prevent sin for the future 2 Cor. 7. 8 11. This word is used in Mat. 21. 29 32. Repentance is two-fold 1. Initial fundamental and universal when a sinner at his first coversion repents of all his sins original and actual at once turning from them unto God Mat. 3. 2 8. Mar. 1. 14 15. Act. 11. 18. and 20 21. and 26. 18 20. Heb. 6. 1 2. 2. Secondary and particular when a penitent after his conversion lapseth into any sin or sins and renews Repentance for them particularly As David Psal. 51. tit c. Peter Mat. 26. 75. Here the former is â—hiefly intended but the latter not excluded Godly sorrow works Repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. But properly godly sorrow is not Repentance but an excellent Preparative Inlet and Harbinger to Repentance The proper Nature of Repentance stands in 1. Aversion from Sin and Satan 2. Conversion unto God and all goodness Act. 26. 18. Now there are very many cogent Motives that may incline a sinner to this initial fundamental and universal Repentance For 1. God himself greatly desires the sinners initial fundamental and universal Repentance Ezek. 18. 23. and 33. 11. and 18. 31 32. See how 1. He commands it Act. 17. 30. Mar. 1. 14 15. 2. He invites to it Isa. 1. 16 c. and 55. 7. Mat. 3. 2. Ezek. 18. 23 31 32. Ier. 3. 1. 3. He promiseth great things to the penitent Isa. 55. 7. Zech. 1. 3. Act. 2. 38. Hos. 14. 1 2 3 4. Ezek. 18. 21 22. Act. 26. 18. 4. He professeth yea sweareth he hath no pleasure in the death of the sinner but that he should repent and live Ezek. 18. 23. and 33. 11. 5. He receives penitents readily compassionately gladsomly Luk. 15. 3. to the end 2. Jesus Christ exceedingly endeavours the Sinners universal Repentance and Conversion Mat. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 14 15. Luk. 24. 47. Act. 26. 17 18. For 1. He sent Iohn Baptist his Harbinger preaching-Repentance Mat. 3. 1 2 3 8. Luk. 3. 3. to 15. 2. His first Sermon was of Repentance Mat. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 1â— 15. 3. He directs his Apostles first to preach Repentance to the Gentiles Luk. 24. 47. 4. He shows the Necessity of Repenting and Converting Luk. 13. 3 5. Mat. 18. 3. 5. He upbraids and laments the impenitent Mat. 11. 20. to 25. and 23. 37 38 39. 6. He accepteth penitents most compassionately Luk. 7. 37. to the end and 19. 8 9 10. and 23. 4 〈…〉 Act. 9. 6 c. 3. The Holy Ghost most frequently incites unto Repentance in Holy Scriptures Isa. 1. 16 17 c. and 55. 6 7. Ezek. 18. 23 31 32. and 33. 11. Hos. 6. 1 c. and 14. 1 c. Ioel 2 12 c. Act. 2. 37 c. and 3. 19. and 17. 30. Heb. 3. 7 c. Rev. 2. 4 5. 4. The time of the Messias coming in the flesh foretold is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God the Messiah's New Testament-Kingdom is at hand yea as to us is already come therefore all should repent and believe Mark 1. 15. Why That thus they may be fitted and qualified for reception of Christ and of his Kingdom to their Salvation 5. There 's mention made in Holy Scripture of an whole cloud of Sinners initially repenting of their â—ins and turning from them unto God encouraging thee to imitate them in this narrow way of Life and Salvation 〈◊〉 Manasses â— Chron. 33. 12. to 18. Iohn Baptist's Hearers Mat. 3. 2 5 6 7 8. with Mat. 21. 32. The sinful Woman Luke 7. 37 c. Zacheus the Publican Luke 19. 7 8 9 10. The Prodigal Son Luke 15. 15. to the end Saul the Persecutor Act. 9. 3. to