us to do it we should be at a great loss and disadvantage But God is so full of Grace and Bounty blessed be his Name that he giveth us both Wisdom to know his Will and Power to fulfil it Therefore the Spirit of God which was promised to rest upon Christ the Root and Stem of Jesse God promised that the Spirit should rest upon him and that a measure of it should be given to all the Members of that Body whereof he is the Noble and Holy Head he giveth it in one measure to one in another measure to another and in a suitable measure to all according to every ones Capacity to some more and some less as in the â—istribution of Talents he giveth to every â—ne according to their ability The state and â—ondition of Men with respect to Spiritual â—nd Divine gifts they are like the Capacity â—f Vessels some of a lesser and some of a greater quantity There are Cups and Flaggons and Barrels and other Vessels that contain greater and lesser quantities So for Vessels of the Sanctuary Vessels of the Lords House there are Cups and Flaggons and other Vessels A Cup is not capable of holding so much as a Flaggon nor will a Flaggon contain so much as a Barrel or Firkin herein appears the Wisdom of God in that he gives to every one according to their Capacity so that none have reason to repine and murmure and say Lord thou hast not given enough to me Grudge not at the gifts of God to others but consider that though God hath given thee but a little he hath given thee what is fit for thee to receive if he had given thee more there might have been more danger to thy Soul if thy Cup run over there is more than it is capable to receive and therefore God gives that measure to thee that is fittest for thee God gives to every Man and Woman a measure of his Grace which was purchased for them by the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ by what he hath done and suffered even by his Obedience to the Death The Spirit of God which rests upon his dear Son Christ Jesus is said to be the Spirit of Might Isa 11.1 2. And there shall come forth a roâ— out of the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots And the Spirit of the Lorâ— shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom anâ— understanding the Spirit of councel and might the Spirit of knowledg and of the seat of the Lord Here is a Spirit of might as well as a Spirit of VVisdom and Understanding here is I say a Spirit of might and of the fear of the Lord. The Holy Scripture saith perfect love casteth out fear what fear is it that it casteth out Slavish fear but Filial fear Evangelical fear perfect Love casteth not out for this Love and fear are Twins they are Inseparable they are of one kind of one nature our Lord Jesus Christ himself was filled with this Holy Spirit of fear it is said Hebr. 5.7 Who in the Days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Isa 11.3 The Spirit of the Lord saith the Prophet shall rest upon him c. The Spirit of knowledg and of the fear of the Lord. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord and he shall not judge after the sight of his Eyes neither reprove after the hearing of his Ears but with righteousness shall he judge the Poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the Earth If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ sincerely and truly by this belief we shall receive VVisdom and Power sufficiency of it plenty of it one measure and degree after another we shall have the Spirit of God to teach â—s and counsel us what we ought to do what â—s our Duty to God to our Neighbour and â—o our selves and all that is required of us in order to our Eternal Happiness and Salvation which is given by Christ Jesus and also Power to do what we ought to do and also Power to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ There are some have made such an Objection as this and I have sometimes made it my self in my own Thoughts O! say some we want a Power to believe we find it very difficult to believe It is good to be thus sensible of thy own Inability and it is good to be perswaded that it is not so easie a thing to believe as many hold it to be The generality of Christians here in Christendom they think it to be an easie thing to believe It is impossible for any Man or Woman rightly and truly and sincerely to believe in God or in Christ with the least Measure of true saving Faith unless the mighty Power of God work this Faith in us And this Faith begins in a very small beginning it is first sown in the Heart of Man or Woman as a grain of Mustard-seed he that soweth it will make it to grow he is not like an unskilful Husbandman that begins to plant or build and is not able to go through with it the Lord is wise and Powerful he will go through with his Work if thou dost not by the Obstinacy Subbornness and Carelesness of thine own Heart hinder it the Lord will carry on this Work of Faith by his mighty Power And if you have Faith but as Grain of Mustard-Seed you shall say to thâ— Mountain Be removed and it shall be removed This Faith is witnessed by a Blessed Remnant that know the removing of Mountains not earthly Mountains but all those inward Letts Impediments and Hindrances that thâ— poor Soul feels within it self even Mountainâ— of Sin and of the Powers of Darkness thaâ— stand between God and their Souls which intercept the Light of his Countenance from shining on them they would get near to the Lord they follow hard after him The Lord lifts up the Light of his Countenance in some lesser degree upon them which is like a little Beam of Light coming through a Cranny they have not that full and satisfactory Enjoyment of the Lord that they desire Act Faith upon the Lord 's Almighty Power that hath given thee a little Grain of Faith a small measure of it and in due Time thy Faith shall be strengthned and be able to remove all those Mountains of Sin and of the Powers of Darkness that are in thy Heart I say it hath often been an Objection to me O! I would fain believe I want Power to believe and I bless the Lord that let me see that I was not able of my self to believe that I had no might or Ability of my self to act Faith the Lord was pleased by the shining of his blessed Light into my Heart to enable me to act Faith and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
Chiâ—dren So that God's People that are undâ—â— this New Covenant they have access to Goâ— as Children to a Father they come with a hoâ— Boldness and Freedom into his Presence Master of a Family hath in his House both Seâ—vants and Sons and Daughters and yoâ— know there is a greater Nearness and Affectâ—on between a Man and his Sons and Daugâ—ters than between him and his Servants Master of a Family loves his Children bettâ— than he loves his Servants so on the othâ—â— hand Children if they be dutiful love theâ— Parents with a purer Affection with a moâ— free kind generous and noble Affection thaâ— they that are Servants love their Masters The Love of a Servant towards God is meâ—cenary and for the Reward but the Love oâ— God's Children is a free and filial Affection they say unto God Lord I love thee for thâ— self because thou art good and the most exceâ—lent Being and there is none like or equal â—nto thee in Heaven or on Earth I love thee â—ecause thou hast given me a Heart to love â—ee thou hast made me partake of a Child's Nature thou hast given me the Heart of a Child that I might love thee My Friends the Love of those that are â—ervants is a mercenary Love and their Fear 〈◊〉 a servile Fear a Fear of Punishment The â—ove of God's Children is a filial Love a â—ee and generous Affection a Love whereby â—he Soul is changed and brought under the New Covenant a Love to God for his own â—ake not only for his Blessings and for his Gifts but chiefly and principally for himself â—ot only because they believe that when they â—lie they shall go to Heaven and that because Heaven is a blessed Place and that therefore â—hey are glad they have such a Place to go to but they love God above Heaven who is betâ—er to them than Heaven it self and they can â—ay with David Psalm 73.25 Lord whom â—ave I in Heaven but thee and there is none â—pon Earth that I desire besides thee Thirdly Another difference between that common Illumination which is common to all Mankind and that which is special and pecuâ—iar to those under the New Covenant may â—ppear in his Teaching them God teacheth Sinners saith the Psalmist Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach Sinners in the way God by his universal Illumination teacheth Men many things concerning himself and their Duâ—y to him in a general way but God teacheth his People under the New Covenant by râ—vealing and making known to them clearâ— and distinctly Christ Jesus the Mediator 〈◊〉 the New Covenant God giveth them tâ—â— Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God 〈◊〉 the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Goâ— maketh known to his People this great Mâ—stery of Christ as he is the Mediator betweâ—â— God and them So we read in the Epistle 〈◊〉 the Hebrews Heb. 12.22 But ye are comâ— unto Mount Zion and to the City of the liâ—ing God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an iâ—numerable Company of Angels to the generâ—â— Assembly and Church of the First-born whicâ—â— are written in Heaven and to God the Judgâ— of all and the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Câ—venant and to the Blood of Sprinkling thâ— speaketh better things than that of Abel Theâ— is no approaching to God but through thâ— Man Christ Jesus But you may say How shall they comâ— unto God by the Man Christ Jesus the Mediator that never saw him with their bodilâ— Eyes nor never heard him with their Bodilâ— Ears How then can they come unto Jesâ—â— the Mediator of the New Covenant who they have neither thus heard nor seen Blessed be God that hath given thousand and ten thousands and hundreds of thousand to understand this great Mystery of cominâ— to God by the Man Christ Jesus whom the never saw with their Bodily Eyes nor hearâ— with their Bodily Ears The like Objectioâ— may be made against coming to God who â—annot be seen with bodily Eyes for he is a â—pirit and invisible yet there is a coming to God Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must â—elieve that he is We have now no Opporâ—unity nor occasion of seeing Christ with bodily Eyes or hearing him with our bodily Ears yet we may come to him by Faith Who worketh this Faith God's blessed Spirit When is it wrought and where and how is it wrought It is wrought in God's ordinary way by Preaching when Christ is preached by those that he hath qualified and fitted by his blessed Spirit when he is thus preached by the Power of his own Holy Spirit Faith is wrought in the Hearts of those that hear not of all for some believe the Gospel and â—ome believe not Thus it hath been all-a-long where-ever the Gospel hath been preached some believe and others do not believe I say the Word of the Gospel as it is preached and complied with it is like Rain and Snow that falls upon the Earth it returneth not in vain but hath a Service though it make not all the Parts of the Earth fruitful all Places are not alike fruitful some remain barren still Thus saith the Lord by the Prophet Isa 55.10 11. For as the Rain cometh down and the Snow from Heaven and returneth not thither but waterâ—eth the Earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give Seed to the Sower and Bread to the Eater so shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my Mouth it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplishâ— that which I please and it shall prosper in thâ— thing whereto I sent it When the Gospel is preached in any Congregation in any City Town Country or Nation it cannot be expected that all should be converted it cannot be expected that the good seed should fall every where in good Ground No it may be one part is good Ground but where the seed is sown according to Christs Parable of the sower Mat. 13.3 4 5. Some seeds fell by the way side and the Fowls came and devoured them up some fell upon stony places where they had not much Earth c. And when the Sun was up they were scorched and because they had not root they withered away and some fell among Thorns and the Thorns sprung up and choked them but others fell into good Ground and brought forth Fruit. Blessed be God that hath taught us this great Mystery of coming unto God by Christ Jesus the Mediatour whom we have not seen with Bodily Eyes nor heard with Bodily Ears VVe have access to God by him and we have access to the Mediatour by his precious Blood and by his Blessed Spirit And Faith is a great mystery it well deserves to be called the mystery of Faith and the mystery of it is this it joyns Believing Souls to God through the Man Christ and to the Man Christ whom they have not seen with Bodily Eyes according to those words
heavenly Seed that as tâ— Corn that grows in a good Soil it must tenderly cherished So thou must cherish Goâ— Plant in thine own Heart that there may an increase and growth God hath set an hâ—â—venly Seed and Plant in thy Heart it is â—â—ry precious and worthy of thy care and mâ— tender Love and dearest affections in orâ— to its growth and springing up that it may sâ—fe and secured from what soever may be â—â—rtful and pernicious to it I would have you to consider a Diâ—â—nction concerning this Seed as it is formâ—â—g and as it is formed as Corn that â—ows while it is but young and tender in the â—ade it is but forming when it is in the Blosâ—â—m and in the green Ear it is yet but â—â—rming but when it comes to its substance 〈◊〉 be solid Corn and Grain then it is formed â—ow when a Seed or Plant is forming as it is generally known to such as underâ—â—and any thing of Husbandry as VVheat â—hen it is Green in the Field is in danger â—f Blasting but after it comes to be formed â—nd is well ripened in the Ear it 's past the â—anger of Blasting or Mildew or spoilâ—ng Now to apply this Spiritually and inwardâ—y There is a season and a time when this â—eavenly Seed or Plant of God's own planâ—ng is in danger so to speak of Blasting as â—o us and there is a time when it is grown â—trong and vigorous when the danger of Blasting is over I hope there are some here â—rrived at that blessed state and condition that God's Corn and Heavenly Seed in them is â—ome to ripeness and maturity yet there are â—egrees of ripeness to be further attained that we may overcome all Hinderances and Enemies of our growth and increasing with the â—ncrease of God that we may have that sweet â—nd blessed promise fulfilled to us Rev. 3.12 Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar the Temple of my God O Friends Let us all wait for it and lâ—â— us be strong in the Lord and in the Poweâ— of his might while we are warring and fighâ—ing with our Souls Enemy VVe have â— holy war and we have VVeapons but theâ— are spiritual Weapons not Carnal Lâ—â— us make War against our Spiritual Enemie that we may overcome and be made Pillars iâ— the House of God and go no more out Heâ—â— is security we shall go no more out but be a God's ripe Corn gathered into the Barn nâ— danger then when any are arrived at this happy state there is no doubt that any sucâ— will indulge themselves in Lazinefs and takâ— any sinful liberty or Latitude to themselves but have a holy and awful fear and dread and a holy care and concern upon them to serve the Lord with all readiness and chearfâ—lness do the will of God The more that any come to a holy and safe and secure state and condition the more will their Hearts be filled with diligence and fear and love and temperance and humility Now as concerning the state of the Galatians I told you That Paul had laboured among rhem with success but other Teachers came among them by whom they received hurt and suffered loss and detriment so that they needed a New Visitation and building up that all might not be destroyed thaâ— Paul had been building up in them they had suffered that loss and damage that they needed Paul's Ministry to bring them to an Establishment in the truth that they might stand in searching and shaking times Sometimes in Harvest there may arise such tempestuous Winds as may shake the Corn So such shaking and searching times may come as to try and terrify God's People and shake God's Corn before it be gathered into the Lord's Barn It is good to be preparing for such things and making ready and to be earnest with the Lord to prepare us that if shaking Winds shall come we may be preserved stedfast and unmovable and abounding in the Work of the Lord that our labour may not be in vain in the Lord. If it shall be so that many shall be shaken such times may come let us prepare and make ready that we may not be surprized but preserved in shaking times and those that shall be preserved unshaken when the Winds of Mens Doctrins shall blow upon them let them bless and praise the Lord. The Apostle tells us Eph. 4.10 11 12. That our Lord Jesus Christ ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ That we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every Wind of Doctrin by the slight of Men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive There is nothing but the Lord's Power is able to preserve us if we trust in the Lord and depend upon him he will preserve us and be unto us as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land We shall be preserved if we keep in the living exercise of Faith if we do not live in the daily exercise of Faith we shall be as Corn on the House top shaken and bring forth no good Fruit in season Let us live in the Exercise of faith and depend on God for the assistance of his Spirit and them we shall be preserved in shaking times Now to speak a little further concerning this great and weighty Matter it is commonly said that in Regeneration there is an infusing of certain Habits of Faith Repentance and Love into the Soul but this is not the manner of their Doctrin who are called Quakers nor of my Doctrin nor agreeable to the holy Scriptures to say That Habits of Grace are infused into the Soul The Scripture calls it The Life of God which is better and more than Habits There is a Principle of divine Life communicated to the Soul in Regeneration a measure of the divine Nature which is indeed fitly called The Life of God that actuates and enlivens the Soul and is united to it as the Soul doth animate and act in the Body to which it is united the which union of the divine Life with the Soul is by the Souls Faith and Love to God and Christ This is that which I have had experience of and I have not lost it whatsoever some have said I feel a Principle of divine Life acting in my Soul as my Soul acts in my Body this is Christ formed within us How doth the Soul put forth such noble and vigorous Actings and rule and actuate the Body The Body must be organized have its due Organs prepared that the Soul may act in us and exert its