keep his Commandments and keep his Words and Sayings how do's it behove us to come to a strict and thorough search Are we keeping his Commandments his Words and Sayings You know the tendency of all the Words Sayings and Commandments of our Lord was to bring Man to the Knowledge of his Power and the Work of it in them that they might come to be Sanctified by his Word (n) Joh. 17. 17. which is Truth and Born again (o) John 3. 3 8. of the Spirit for without it no Man can enter the Kingdom of God and also to rectifie Man both in Life and Manners that as Man was gone away from his Primitive State of Holiness into the Dark World he by observing his Word of Life and keeping of his Commandments might come up again in that Brightness and Glory from which he was fallen to Love and Fear God who hath given him Life and Being And where this Love is thus seated in the Heart and lived in it will naturally lead to forsake all things that offends him and hurts and hinders the spreading of the Truth and the Glory of his Name For it is not a shew or bare pretence of Loving him that will Intitle us to the Blessed Promise of He and his Fathers Loving them and coming to make their Abode with them For as it is said by the Apostle John If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2. 15. And it is said by our Lord He that Loveth (p) Mat. 10. 37. Father Mother Wife or Children c. better than me is not worthy of me Now if we must not Love things that are both good and lawful in themselves and justifiable for us to have enjoy and love in their places better than the Lord but he must have the Mind and Affections above and beyond the Love of them then our Love to these things must be subordinate to the Love we must have to him nor must we let our Minds Love or Affections be at all after unlawful things as the (q) James 4. 4. Friendship and Favour of this World for that is at Enmity with God nor after Covetousness and Pride the Lust Pleasure and Wantonness of this World for they are Evil and expresly forbidden and therefore as the Apostle said (r) Col. 2. 21. Touch not tast not handle not for they Defile and make unfit to draw nigh to God or to have fellowship with him and his Beloved Son who came to Redeem us from such things Now they that know the Truth well know that the Truth calls out of such things to abandon forsake and withstand them in every of their Appearances and to War against every hurtful Lust that Wars against the Soul and does not only call for this Resisting of them but will enable every one that submits to it in themselves to overcome these Snares and Temptations and so not to be Slaves and brought into Bondage by Evil but to be Victors over it And yet notwithstanding God has given this knowledge and invested man with a Divine Power if he will yet give way to these things and gratifie his vain and unbridled Mind and will harbour them in his Heart and live in them though he offends by so doing and becomes an ill Example to others such will unavoidably bring themselves under the Character the Apostle gives of some (s) 2 Tim. 3. 4. Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God and must Reap the Reward of their so doing and therefore will not be found worthy of him who is come out of the Bosom of the Father to Restore poor lost Man to God again nor of that Eternal Life and Peace which he brings all those who receive him in that Love in which the Father sent him And therefore my Dear Friends as we Profess the Blessed Truth let us Love and Live in it and give up in Obedience to it that it may Purge (t) 1 Cor. 5. 7. out that old Leaven of Sin and Corruption and may slay and bring under that Evil Nature and Birth which loves and is ready to lay hold of Temptation when presented in our view by the Adversary of our Souls and so to Purifie and Mould us a new that we may be a new Lump Leavened into the Heavenly Divine Nature and become New Creatures Grafted into Christ Jesus the True and Heavenly Vine and become (v) Rom. 11. 17. Branches in him and receive Divine and Heavenly Sap and Virtue from him who is the Holy and Heavenly Root from whom all True Nourishment comes and being thus Grafted into Christ and Abiding in him we shall grow in him and bring forth Fruits of Righteousness through him to God's Glory and our Everlasting Joy and Peace which that all may do who have been Reached to by the Blessed Truth are the Hearty Prayers and Supplications of my Soul to the Lord. Therefore let all be Careful that none who have in any measure partook of the Life and Virtue which is in him who is the Living Vine lose the Sweetness thereof and consequently its Nature and so suck Nourishment from another Root though the Name and Profession may be retain'd and whil'st Professing to be Branches in Christ the True Vine are found to be in the old Root of Bitterness bringing forth the Fruits of it which are those of the Flesh as the Apostle doth fully and plainly describe them which are Strife Emulation (w) Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Wrath Contention Envying Drunkenness Whoredom c. and they that commit such things cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God but the Fruits of the Spirit which are brought forth by all that abide in Christ the True Vine are Love Joy x Peace Long-Suffering Gentleness Verses 22 23 24. Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is is no Law for they that are Christ's have Crucified the Flesh with the Affections and the Lusts So there is no room or indulgence to be given to the Fruits of the Flesh but we are to shew forth in all things that we are his Children and are Crucified (y) Gal. 6. 14. to the World and the World to us that as the Apostle saith If we Live in the Spirit it is not our saying We Live in the Spirit if we do not manifest he Fruits thereof let us also (z) Gal. 5. 25 26. walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain Glory Provoking one another Envying one another for these are not the Fruits of a Branch in Christ nor of one that has Crnuified the Flesh but the contrary and is the Product of a Corrupt and Darkened Heart that notwithstanding may Profess the Truth and Talk of great things for a Name and Applause among Men yet is not subject to the Spirit of Truth which would Leaven into the Fruits of its own Nature but this Fleshly Exalted Vain Glorious Mind and Spirit that is Puff'd up in the
Fruits in due Season their Leaf withereth not and whatsoever such do Prospereth for the Lord is the Rock and Defence of such and will preserve such from the Storm and Horrible (i) Psal 11. 6. Tempest which will come upon the Hypocrite the Rebellious and the Wicked And Dear Friends seeing God in his Infinite Love hath gathered us and redeemed us out of the World to be a People to him let not the World nor the things in it entangle us again nor let not the Enjoyment of any outward Substance which God has been pleased as Blessings to bestow upon us alienate our Minds and Affections from him for that would be Ingratitude in a high degree and a Sin which shall not go unpunished What! shall we forget the Hand that has Fed us and dealt Bountifully with us Nay shall we spurn against him that hath given us Food and Raiment and by his Providence hath preserved us from the Dangers that have often attended and given us Health and length of Days and hath been as an open Fountain to us God forbid that ever we should requite the Lord Evil for his Good Remember Israel's Sin and God's Complaint by the Prophet against them for it he calls Heaven and Earth to witness against them for they had received Blessings both from Heaven above and the Earth beneath therefore he calls both to witness against them Hear (k) Isa 1. 2 3. O Heavens and give Ear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished and brought up Children and they have Rebelled against me The Ox knoweth his Owner and the Ass his Master Cribb but Israel my People doth not know my People doth not consider Oh! That every one may be stirred up to a diligent Search and Examination of themselves what is my Heart upon am I setting my Affections on things that are above or on things that are below For our Lord exhorted by his Apostle That (l) Col. 3. 2. we should set our Affections on things that are above for the things that are below fade away but the things that are above they are Heavenly and endure for ever and these are the things that ought to be the Objects of our Minds about these we ought to be taken up and employed before and above any earthly thing For Christ Jesus our Lord whom we ought to hear and obey in all things requires of us First seek the (m) Mat. 6. 33. Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added unto us It was his care that we might not be over-thoughtful about things that perish for he that knows what is good for us better than we our selves know has promised All these things shall be added unto us and as we diligently observe his Counsel and Direction we shall find he will not be wanting to fulfil his Promises for we certainly know by good and comfortable Experience that they that Love and Fear the Lord shall want no good thing and therefore how ought we to abandon the World and Worldly-mindedness with all the inducements that would draw thereto to neglect our inward Exercise in the Gift of God towards him and from being Faithful Stewards of what God in Mercy hath bestowed upon us Therefore let all keep their Minds within the bounds of Truth and not launch out without the bounds of it in an eager pursuit after the Riches of the VVorld and thereby forget that Tender Frame of Spirit and Breathing which we ought to be in towards the Lord for if this Tender Breathing Frame of Spirit be lost then Coldness will come in our VVatch will be neglected the Fear and Awe that ought to be upon our Minds towards God will slide off and Forgetfulness of God and his dealings with us will by degrees come in its place Seeing therefore that yet a little while and these outward things will come to an end and that they may be taken from us and that we must certainly be taken from them O! The Care that ought to be upon our Minds that we may have Treasure in Heaven when all these things will come to an end And although this ought to be the Care of all yet this is not to encourage any whose Circumstances in the VVorld calls for Diligence Care and Industry to be Slothful in their Business nor to neglect an honest Endeavour to provide what is convenient for their Pilgrimage in this VVorld and also for their Families if they have any for when the Apostle Exhorts the Believers To be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord he at the same time Exhorts them not to be (n) Rom. 12. 11. slothful in Business and he himself as well as Exhorted shewed us an Example of Industry (o) Acts 20. 34. For his own hands ministred to his necessities and them that were with him So that where occasion requires Care and Diligence People are not to throw them aside on pretence that we must not let in the Cares of the VVorld nor busie our selves about the things of it This Extreme is a Stratagem of the Wicked One who worketh all the ways he can to Ensnare and Captivate Man For People may be Industrious and Careful in their Lawful Imployments and yet Meditate on Heavenly things and be a Spiritual-minded People waiting upon the Lord to enjoy his Living Presence and feel his Spirit and Power to be with them whereby they will be Strengthened and Comforted and their States and Conditions Sanctified to them and hereby truly learn in all States to be Contented then no Murmuring nor Repining at the Providences of the Almighty but he over all who is God of all our Mercies will be Blessed and Praised for all his Blessings and Mercies who alone is worthy for Evermore And Friends this is upon my Spirit also to entreat of you That all be careful to keep up your Testimony in every part of it for certain it is God hath called us to be Witnesses to him and for him in all things that we are concerned in in this World and first in our Trade and Dealing among Men that we be careful to answer that Just and Holy Principle in all which we Profess to be given of God to all Men to lead and guide them I say that we answer it in all by our Justice and Truth in Dealings doing to all as we would have others to (p) Mat. 7. 12. do to us watching against that Mind and Spirit that will wait for an Opportunity to take advantage to over-reach or defraud another though it may be done secretly and not be discovered by others yet God who is Judge of all sees it and such knows in themselves they would not be so done by And take not a liberty to speak of things by way of commending them above what they are in their Nature to induce the Unskilful Buyer either to buy or give more than the thing is really worth for this is not
the Lord which is a (v) Prov. 14. 27. Fountain of Life to depart from these and all the Snares of Death and to take heed to the divine Instruction of the Grace of God in their own Hearts which teacheth to deny all these things and not only to deny Evil but to (w) Tit. 2. 12. live a Holy Sober and Godly Life in this present evil World and consider in seriousness when a temptation presents to the jollity and liberty of this World either from an Inclination in our selves or by others to draw us into it will this be pleasiing to God ought I to take this liberty will it not gender to bondage or shall I hereby answer the great love of God towards me shall I be an Instrument to civilize those among whom I am or shall I not rather be an evil Instrument to strengthen them in that liberty which will keep them in bondage to Sin and Satan I entreat in the Love of God every one consider these things and also that we are not our own we are bought (x) 1 Cor. 6. 20. and 7. 23. 1 Pet 1. 19. with a Price and this Price with which we are bought is no less than the Precious Blood of the Son of God and being thus bought we ought not to live to our selves or gratify our own Hearts lusts and minds but to live to him that hath bought us And as the Apostle saith to Glorify God in our Bodies and Spirits which are the Lord 's And as to the general we are a Body and Society whom God in some measure has brought into a good and wholsom discipline that we watch over one another in Love not with an evil Eye nor in Sowerness and Prejudice and in that go about to reprove for that will never do good but in a Holy concern for God and the good of Souls first knowing our own consciences clear in God's sight to Counsel Admonish Reprove and Rebuke not sparing any things that are reproveable in any nor overlooking through Favour or Afection for that weakens our discipline gives advantage to the Enemy of the Blessed Truth and is hurtful to those to whom Reproof and Rebuke is due therefore that that which is wrong may be kept down by the authority of the Truth and we kept in Wisdom and Councel of the Lord and Holy Zeal for his Name and Truth whereby Truth will grow our adversary the Devil who lies in wait to beguile and defile those whom God has Visited and begun his work in will be disappointed and with those that are ensnared we shall labour in a Spirit of (y) Gal. 6. 1. Meekness and in Bowels of Compassion to bring them to a sence of their out-goings and to recover them to the Fold from whence they have strayed so will Truth prosper and spread and its Reputation increase and many gathered to the Name of the Lord whereby the borders of Gods Sanctuary being enlarged Righteousness will Flourish in the Earth And Friends as by the Arm and Power of the Almighty we were gathered to be a People and by Vertue of the Life of Jesus Christ our Lord are united and knit together to be a Society and Body of which the Lord Jesus is the Head as such a Body we have affairs to manage and to look after for the Glory of the Name of the Lord and for the preservation of our Peace this I entreat of all that all things may be managed in Love and Brotherly kindness in a Meek and Quiet Spirit none striving for Mastery for there is to be no (z) 1 Pet. 5. 3. Lording over one another amongst us for we are Brethren having one Lord and Master Christ Jesus And as there is an abiding here one Brother or Member cannot say to another I have no need of thee if they are really Members but it is to be observed that none can be Members of this Body nor have any Service there acceptable to God but as they are in that life which makes them so and that Life is Meek Gentle not Stuborn Wilful Heady and High-minded for that where-ever it appears has another Head than Christ Jesus viz. He that would lay waste our Society is their Head and as it is unnatural for the Members of our outward Bodies to tear hurt and abuse one another so much more for the Members in this Spiritual Fellowship and Body whereof Christ is Head But on the contrary Oh the Care Tenderness and Sympathy that is there one with and towards another whether in Suffering or in Joy and here all being kept in our proper Places and Stations we shall all be Subject to our Head and the Life of our Head Christ Jesus will flow through all its Members and preserve a due Subjection And Dear Friends in all matters that we are Concerned in to Manage for the good of this Body let Strife and Contention be avoided the way to prevent the occasion whereof is by every ones keeping close to the Truth and to seek to promote that only for where Truth only is Promoted there is no occasion of Strife but when Men through Favour or Affection will Espouse that which is wrong and by Craft and Parts not Subject to the Truth will Uphold and Vindicate it and force things upon others which they ought not this lays a Foundation for Strife and Contention and this may be opposed in a wrong Mind and Spirit for where the Mans Part gets up to Contend though against a wrong thing this never does good for the more it is given way to the higher the Flame of Contention will rise and though this may and does too often happen yet they that in a Cool and Meek Spirit and in a Concern for God without any particular End to themselves or others do oppose what is wrong are not the Cause of Contention for there is a Distinction to be made between them that in Meekness Contend against what is wrong and those that would bring in that which should not be brought in and thereby cause Contention For I observe the Apostle adviseth to Mark them that Cause Division so that the Cause is to be watched against and that being removed the Effects will cease My Earnest Desire is therefore in the Love of God That nothing be Encouraged or taken hold of that would Cause Strife and Contention but that we may be all of one (a) Rom. 12. 16. 15. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 10. Mind and may speak the same thing by keeping to the Truth and shutting out all that is contrary to it so shall we be more and more United in One and kept in the Unity of the Spirit which is the Bond of our Peace and hereby Satan's designs and the designs of his Agents will be Disappointed and the Peace of the Church kept Inviolable and we shall Shine forth in that Comliness which God ever did and will put upon his Chosen Ones this is the Beautiful Garment that