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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96538	A word in season, for a warning to England: or a prophecy of perillous times open'd and apply'd. Wherein the signes of bad times, and the means of making the times good, are represented as the great concernment of all good Christians in this present age. First exhibited in a sermon preached in the Abby at Westminster, July 5. 1659. and since enlarged and published. / By Thomas VVilles, M.A. minister of the Gospel, in the city of London.	Willis, Thomas, 1619 or 20-1692.	1659 (1659)	Wing W2308; Thomason E1734_1; ESTC R7862	218,037	465

the Blood of souls at the Judgement Day Be this then my warrant for what I shall speak in the following Discourse upon this Subject For this Text Beloved Christians gives me warrant to tell you that it much concerns you all to know that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come And if the Apostle John could say in that Age † 1 John 2.18 Little Children It is the last Time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last Time much more may we of this Age upon whom as the Apostle spake of his Time * 1 Cor. 10.11 the Ends of the World are come say these are the last Dayes this is the last Time For if we consider the evils enumerated in the Context and cast our eyes upon this Generation shall we not say that this Prophecy in the Text looks full upon the present Age May we not with Hyperius apply this Prophetick Description of the Churches calamity to our present times Instruit amplissimam Malorum Congeriem quoddam Vitiorum Mare Quae omnia fi de ullis Temporibus à Christo nato dici potuerunt certè de nostro seculo multo aptissimè verissiméque dici posse velimus nolimus fateri debemus Imò vereor nè omnia feculi nostri Mala ab Apostolo hic non sint satis enumerata Adeo ferrea haec aetas nostra omnes aetates malitiâ videtur superare † Andreas Hyperius in 2 Tim. 3 1 2 c. The Apostle sayes he presents us with a mighty Mass of Evils and sets before us as it were a Sea of Vices All which if they might be said of any Times since the Birth of Christ we must needs confesse whether we will or no may with much more truth and fitnesse be spoken of this our Age. Nay I fear that all the Evils of our Age are not here fully enumerated by the Apostle so far doth this Iron Age wherein we live seem to exceed in Wickednesse all other Ages And therefore it must needs very nearly concern us to take notice of and to prepare our selves for the perillous Times which are prophecy'd of in the New Testament and particularly in this present Text of Scripture This know also that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come It will be well worth our Time and Pains therefore to make a serious enquiry into these two things viz. 1. What the Perillous Times are pointed at in this Prediction 2. How Pious Persons ought to demeane themselves in these perillous Times In the former of these we shall fitly exhibit what may be further requisite for the Explication and in the latter present you with the Application of this Text as to that which is the main Scope and principal Import of it The First Enquiry What the Perillous Times are pointed at in this Prediction FOr the further clearing up of this Prophecy that it may become more useful to the People of God it is necessary that we should make a serious enquiry into these Perillous Times here spoken of And for the clearing of this we shall branch this General Enquiry into three Parts by a more Particular Enquiry into three things sc 1. How these Times may be known 2. Why these Times are so Perillous 3. What is the peril of these Times The first Question Quest. 1. How may these Times be known Answ It is indeed very necessary and useful for us to know when these perillous Times are come upon us that we may be both more watchful against the Danger and careful of the Duty at such Times in a special manner incumbent on us No dangers are so great as theirs that neither see nor perceive their Dangers Great is the danger of the Seaman when his ship hath sprung an unperceived Leak Great is the Danger of that Souldier who walks securely in that path on either side whereof his Enemies lie in Ambush Great is the Danger of that man who is fast-asleep while the House is all on Fire over his Head Great is the danger of those who live in Perillous Times without suspition of Danger Woe be to them who shall be surpriz'd by the Judgements of God arising as it were out of Ambush against them It s very necessary therefore for all Christians to consider whether the Dayes wherein they live are the Perillous Times whereof they are fore-warn'd in the Prophecies of the holy Scriptures or not Now we may know when these perillous Times are come by considering the Chara●ters of men and the State of things as represented by the holy Ghost in the Word of God where such perillous Times are either described or predicted For the Times are denom●nated from the men that live in them and the State of things as manag'd by such men Pernicious men make perill us Times When the Times abound with men of pernicious Properties Principles and Practises and these have Power to order the State of things according to their own pleasure the Times must needs be perillous Thus the Apostle here foretelling perillous Times gives us the Characters of those Persons who by their pernicious Practises should make the times thus perillous And therefore for as much as this cannot but contribute very much to the clearing up of the matter in question before we proceed any further we shall make a particular survey of the several Characters of these dangerous Persons describ'd in the Context The CHARACTERS of the Persons that make the Times Perillous THese Pernicious Persons that should make the Times so perillous are describ'd by these twenty Marks Properties or Characters following viz. The first Character They are such as are 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est autem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inordinatus Amor sui 1. Lovers of their own selves Now self-love is a sinful Excesse in a mans Love of himself A man both by the Law of God and Nature is not onely allow'd but bound to love himself Neither is that Proverbial saying justly lyable to Exception 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every man is a friend to himselfe Insomuch as in the Divine Law a mans Love of himselfe is made the Rule of his Love to another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self * Mat. 22.39 But this self-Self-love which is sinful is such an Excessive Love to ones self as swallows up with Pharaohs leane kine both Love to ones Neighbour and that Divine Love which is the summe of the first and great Commandment † Mat. 22.37 the Love of God And therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 talis est qui se ita amat ut reliquos prae se contemnat in omnibus sui laudem quaerit Sic hypocritae in Religione seipsos quaerunt h. e. Dignitatem Laudem Pompam similia quae nocens est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Aretius in loc A self-lover is such

a one as so loves himself as that he despises others in comparison of himselfe and seeks his owne Praise in all things Thus do hypocrites under the cloke of Religion seek themselves their own Honour Praise Pompe and the like and this is a sinful self-self-love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 igitur sunt isti qui sibi vehementer placent suisque Commodis impensè student † Jodoc Vilich in loc Addo ex Bullingero * In locum aliorum rebus vel neglectis vel afflictis etiam Lovers of themselves therefore are such as extreamly please themselves and mainly study and pursue their own Interests yea not only with the neglect but to the Prejudice of others This is that sinful self-self-love which as a drop of Poyson extinguishes both Life and Heat banishes both Piety and Charity from the Heart Such men are their own Idols and their own Idolizers They set Self above God they set Self in the Throne and God at the Footstoole This Self-love is the Root of all Vitiousnesse It 's here set in the Van of a Troop of Vices Self-denial is the Foundation of all Christian Vertues But Self-love is the Groundwork of a Babel of sinne and Vice Vanity and Confusion Self-love occasions the souls losse and so becomes the ground of Self-destruction The second Character 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui nummos admirantur Tales sunt qui Religionem in Questum convertant † Aret. in loc 2. Covetous Silver-Lovers as the Word impo t s Such as are over-in-love with Money Such are they that take up Religion for Advantage * 1 Tim. 6.5 supposing that Gain is godlinesse These men are no better then Idolaters and † Mat. 6.24 Mammon is their God Sure we are * Col. 3.5 Covetousnesse is Idolatry And Idolatry cannot be consistent with true Piety Silver-Lovers what ever their pretences be cannot well be Saints The third Character 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veritati opponitur est ejus Excessus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quaedam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hi praeterea fingunt honestas Causas ubi nullae sunt Tales in Religione perniciosi sunt Ad hos pertinent qui ob Flagitia pulsi Nomine Evangelii exulare se fingunt de Persecutionibus suis ac constantia gloriantur sine Ratione † Aret. in loc 3. Boasters Now Boasting according to the Import of the Word here used is a Vice whereby men speak of them selves and to their own Praise more then the Truth It 's a feigned shew as are the Colours of the Rainbowe without substance a flourishing Ostentation of some Excellency which is not in them These in Matters of Religion are very Pernicious Such are they who coine good Causes for the credit of bad Actions Such are they also who when banisht for their Wickedness pretend they suffer for the Gospel and so without any Cause at all glory of their Persecutions and Constancy in their sufferings They are * Elati Ver. lifted up with a high Conceit of their own Excellencies wherein they † Gloriosi Bez. Syr. glory Such are they Qui plura sibi arrogant quàm revera possident * Keck Ethic Vel Plura promittunt quàm praestare possunt † Ulpianus Who arrogate more to themselves then they do indeed possesse and promise more to others then they can performe The word here used * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the proper Epithete of a Peacock Such have a glorious traine but foule feet Their Lives proclaim their Pollutions while their Lips boast of their Perfections Boasting is ever a signe of Emptynesse Empty vessels give the greatest sound The fourth Character 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isti enim se in omnibus quaerunt arrogantes sunt animo elati † Aret. in loc 4. Proud This Pride is the Daughter of Self-love the Sister of Covetousnesse and Mother of Boasting 'T is near akin to the former Vices and the Venome of them runnes in the Veines of this For such men seek themselves in all things arrogate to themselves more then they ought and are lifted up with high conceits of themselves Pride is the Companion of every Vice and the Ring-leader in every Faction Proud Persons gild themselves with an outward glory while they are utterly empty of real worth They spread a great Saile upon an empty Bark They are painted Bubbles shining Meteors gilded Nothings lying Vanities The fifth Character 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maledici * Bez. Syr. 5. Blasphemers Evil-speakers † Died. Slanderers and Defamers This is a Vice of the Tongue as the former were Vices of the Heart The Tongue is a Conduit-pipe by which the evil of the Heart flows out and this is that which defiles a man * Mat. 15.18 Herewith they blaspheme God and defame men the word here used imports both reviling both Magistrates and Ministers Obtrectantes fidelibus Doctoribus Deum ipsum traducunt † Pareus in loc They are such who not onely defame their faithful Ministers but presume to traduce the Name of God himself Whither will not desperate Atheisme and unbridled Impiety carry men Thus is the Word used in the Scripture as when it s said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Rev. 16.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 † Jude 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Rom. 3.8 They blasphemed God They spake evil of Dignities As we are slanderously reported The Hebrew word † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used to blaspheme or curse * Num. 23.13 signifies also to strike or pierce thorough † Hab. 3.14 Blasphemies are impoyson'd Arrows which wicked men shoot at God Almighty's Face slanders are venemous Darts wherewith they transfix the Names of his children The sixth Character 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui hominibus suis i. e. iis qui presunt sibi non obtemperant * Syr. Interp Trem. 6. Disobedient to Parents Who are not subject to them that according to Gods order are set over them By Parents according to the Hebrew Idiome † Exod. 20.12 we are to understand all Superiours Rulers Governours whether Domestical Civil or Ecclesiastical There are Natural Spiritual Political Parents The first are properly called Father and Mother the two last are Ministers and Magistrates the word then in the latitude of its signification denotes such persons as being children are refractory towards their Parents such People as are regardlesse of their Pastor such Subjects as are rebellious against their Prince It imports that sin which stands in the Violation of the fifth Commandment Such are the persons here describ'd as cast off the Golden Yoke of Government and break the silken bands of wholesome Laws whether founded in a Natural Moral or Civil Interest The seventh Character 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ingrati * Beza Negantes Beneficium † Syr. Interp Trem.

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A WORD in SEASON FOR A Warning to England OR A Prophecy of Perillous Times Open'd and Apply'd Wherein the Signes of Bad Times and the Means of making the Times Good are represented as the great Concernment of all good Christians in this present Age. First exhibited in a SERMON preached in the Abby at Westminster July 5. 1659. and since enlarged and Published By THOMAS VVILLES M. A. Minister of the Gospel in the City of London Seal not the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book For the Time is at hand Rev. 22.10 How do ye say We are Wise and the Law of the LORD is with us Lo They have rejected the Word of the LORD and what Wisdom is in them Jer. 8.8 9. Tempora mutantur nos mutamur in illis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sIC transIt gLorIa MVnDI LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliff for Tho. Underhill at the Blew Anchor in Pauls Church-yard 1659. TO THE SENATORS SOULDIERS CITIZENS STRANGERS To whom This SERMON was As to its main SUBSTANCE EXHIBITED FROM THE PULPIT IT 'S NOW WITH MUCH ENLARGEMENT PRESENTED FROM THE PRESSE FOR THEIR SERIOUS PERUSAL By A MESSENGER from CHRIST A MINISTER of the GOSPEL THOMAS WILLES Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Luk. 11.28 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13.17 From the KING of SAINTS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST To his Faithful and Well-beloved Servants and Subjects that shall live in the latter Dayes TAke heed that no man deceive you For many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many And ye shall hear of Warres and Rumours of Wars See that ye be not troubled For all these things must come to passe but the End is not yet For Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome and there shall be Famines and Pestilences and Earthquakes in divers Places All these are the Beginning of Sorrows Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and ye shall be hated of all Nations for my Names sake And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another And many false Prophets shall rise and shall deceive many And because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure to the End the same shall be saved By the Hand of his Trusty Servant and Secretary * Chap. 24. v. 4 -13 MATTHEW Publicano-Christianus To the SACRED MAJESTY OF HEAVEN THE KING of KINGS AND LORD of LORDS The Supream Governour of the whole World The Humble Address and Representation of the Gratitude Requests of many Thousands of the Well-affected People of the Land who desire to approve themselves Faithful to the Cause of Christ and to be found walking in the Good Old way Most Mighty LORD WHereas it hath pleased thy glorious Majesty out of the exceeding riches of thy Free Grace and thy tender compassions in Jesus Christ to call us thy poore unworthy Servants out of the World to the Profession of thy truth and Gosspel and the Participation of thy saving Grace when out of thy infinite Sovereignty and Justice thou hast past by Millions of men and left them to perish everlastingly in their sinnes we humbly desire in a deep sense of our own utter Unworthiness to express our free and hearty Acknowledgement of that infinite Obligation which thou hast hereby laid upon our soules to perpetual Gratitude Love Honour and Obedience to thy Glorious Majesty for so invaluable a Mercy And we cannot but with sorrow of Heart confesse that we have by our unsuitable Walkings shew'd our selves very Unworthy of such rich Discoveries of thy Love unto us But we humbly implore thy Mercy in the forgiveness of our many Miscarriages and beseech thee to give us Leave with all Humility to present thy Majesty with these few Petitions to which we earnestly beg a Gracious Answer That it will please thee to grant preserve and establish a Righteous and Religious Magistracy a Faithful and painful Ministry in the Land with that Blessed GOVERNMENT which is most agreeable to thy holy Word and Will both in Church and State That it will please thee who hast the Hearts of all men in thy Hands to put it into the Hearts of our Counsellors and Governors to study and endeavour the Advancement of thy Glory and thy Churches Good by the suppression of Errour and Profanenesse and the Promotion of Truth and Holinesse in the Land That where thou seest those Persons in Places of Power and Trust who by their pernicious Principles and Practises make the Times Perillous thou wilt Graciously be pleased by thy Hand of Power to remove them and to set in their room men truly fearing Thee and hating Covetousness who may cordially seek and endeavour the Peace and Welfare of thine English Zion That thou wilt pour down on thy Servants a Spirit of Humiliation for the sins of the Land that thou wilt graciously pardon the Transgressions of thy People and purge the Land from its Abominations that thou mayest dwell amongst us That thou wilt break the wicked Designes and dissolve the cursed Conspiracies of those that under Pretences of thy Name Cause and Glory violently prosecute their Pernicious Purposes for the satisfaction of their Ambition and Covetousness and the Introduction of Errours Heresies and all manner of Licentiousness into the Land to the Hazard of many thousand souls and the dishonour of thy Glorious Name That it will please Thee to heal the Breaches of thy own People and to establish these three Nations England Scotland and Ireland in Peace and Love upon the sure Foundations of Religion and Righteousness and crown them all with thy Loving-kindnesse and tender Mercies And to this End that thou wilt awaken the spirits of thy Saints from their security in an unsettled and distracted condition to a serious minding of the great Concernments of thy Church and People their own Souls and this sinful Nation That thou wilt be graciously pleased speedily to change the Perillous Times that are or may come upon thy people according to the Predictions of thy holy Prophets into those Glorious Times which thou hast raised the hearts of many of thy Saints in Expectations of by thy Precious Promises However be pleased to preserve thy People in times of Peril and Persecution and to carry them as on Eagles Wings by thy Spirit of Grace through all Difficulties and Dangers till thou shalt receive them up into thy Kingdome of Glory So shall we thy poore unworthy Subjects and Suppliants as in Duty bound celebrate thy Glorious Name with everlasting Praises The Names of the Petitioners are written in Heaven A PROPHECY OF PERILLOUS TIMES Open'd and Apply'd 2 TIM 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This know also that in the last dayes perillous times shall come The Introduction THe knowledge of the Times and Seasons is very useful for all men Without

Ardour and Forwardness to promote this or that way of Government or Worship in opposition to all the rest which yet may be found in a man that hath never experimented the Power of Religion or Work of Sanctification upon his own soul Thus some are Zealous for the Episcopal others for the Presbyterial and others for the Congregational and not a few for the Anabaptistical way and herein lies the Main of their Religion Whereas the Life of Religion the soul of true Godliness lies in the Spiritual Worship of God † Joh. 4.24 It 's good indeed to be zealously affected alwayes in a good matter * Gal. 4.18 but it s neither good nor safe to rest in a superficial Form a meer empty out-side of Religion though never so splendid and glorious But alas what do these men do that so earnestly contend for that way of Worship which is most agreeable to their own Fancies and censure all others as no Christians no Saints that are not moulded after the same Model what do they but promote the Distractions encrease the Divisions and widen the Differences of the Church of God which every good Christian should studiously endeavour to compose and heal Surely the setting up of and the Adhering to this and the other Party is not the way to promote the Interests of the Kingdom of Christ He is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 † MELCHIZEDECK King of SALEM Rex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justitiae He is King of Righteousness and King of Peace † Heb. 7.1 2 And his Kingdom stands not in meat and drink but Righteousnesse and Peace and which results from them both Joy in the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rex Pacis When such Religious Factions prevail they sadly portend the Ruine of the Church Rom. 14.17 And ●hen are not such perillous times In the Primitive Ti●es which were Times of P●rsecution how zealous were Christians in the things of God and how fervently did they love one another Those Times were surely less perillous then these wherein the H●a● of Persecution is not more abated then Zeal for God and Love to one another amongst Christians But when P ofessors are generally Formall in the performance of the Duties of Religion very Perfunctory and Superficial in the service of God it s a sad Symptom of perillous Times When a man having tipt his Tongue with the Silver of the Sanctuary and so is able to speak well of the things of God to discourse well of the Matters of Religion shall for this only Reason be esteemed very Religious Whereas as the Apostle speaks † 1 Cor. 4.20 The Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power When there is indeed much Preaching much Hearing frequent Receiving of Sacraments but alas little Life in Preaching less in Hearing little or no Affectionateness in Receiving and least of all of Conformity to these Gospel-Ordinances in the Life and Conversation Time was when Ministers preached with Plainness Life and Power so that their earnest * Rom. 10.1 desire of saving souls was apparent in their Preaching and Christians that feared God † Acts 17.11 Received the Word with all readiness of Mind entertained the * 2 Thes 2.10 Truth in the Love of it and had their Hearts much stirred and moved by every Sermon They not only heard the Preacher with their Ears but felt him in their Hearts and Consciences and were very much affected with all the Discoveries of the Will of God to them They took pains to work the Word upon their own Hearts They met together to whet it upon one another to exhort encourage and comfort one another in the wayes of God Oh! The Word of the Lord was precious in those days † 1 Sam. 3.1 How beautifull in those dayes were the Feet of them that preached the Gospel of Peace and brought glad Tidings of good Things * Rom. 10.15 The Ministers of the Gospel now so generally slighted and despised were then received by all good Christians as Angels of God yea even as Christ ●esus † Gal. 4.14 And then did Religion flourish in the Church and Christians manifested their experimental acquaintance with the Power of Godlinesse But when Preaching is become for the most part Notional and accommodated rather to the pleasing of the Fancy then informing the judgement convincing the conscience and affecting the Heart when Sermons are stuft with affected phrases and exquisitely embroyder'd with Artificial Ornaments and so deliver'd by the Preacher without one spark of Life or Zeale with such a singular care to observe the Emphasis and Elegancy of his study'd Expressions such a wary fear of rumpling his fine smooth forms of speech as if he was come thither to play the part of an idle Orator rather then to do the duty of a Gospel-Preacher who is to treate with men in the Name of Christ about the great affaires of their precious soules for their eternal Salvation this is a sad change seriously to be laid to heart and sadly to be lamented When People forsake and regard not sound solid Preachers of the Gospel but follow and flock after those that suit with their Humours and with such like quaint and curious notions please and delight their Fancies it argues a great Decay in Religion and speaks men to be great strangers to the Power of Godlinesse Nay when those that are indeed good Christians and sound in the Maine shall become very Formal Overly Superficial in the discharge of Religious Duties in their attendance upon Gospel-Ordinances When they shall take no paines to prepare themselves for Sabbaths and Sacraments when they shall be little or nothing at all affected with the Preaching of the Gospel when they seldome or never stirre up themselves to the Exercise of the Graces of the Spirit in the duties of Religion when they take no Paines to work upon their Hearts by Meditation and Prayer the truths which are delivered unto them nor study to expresse in their lives a rest●onsiblenesse to the Doctrines of the Gospel when they thus rest in the Forme and presse not after the Power of Godlinesse it s a Symptome of an Evill Age a Presage of Peri●lous Times We finde God nothing regarded the outward Performances of the People of Israel when they were utterly deficient in those Duties wherein consisted the Life of Religion * Isa 1 11-15 To what Purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the LORD I am full of the Burnt-offerings of Rams and the Fat of fed Beasts and I delight not in the Blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of He-goats And when ye come to appear before me who hath required this at your hand to tread my Courts Bring no more vain oblations Incense is an abomination unto me the New Moons and Sabbaths the Calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even the solemn

am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth and with my song will I praise him Quest But how may I clear my Interest in God Answer By these Evidences 1. Faith in Him 2. Love to Him 3. Conformity to his Wil revealed in his Word Faith unites the soul to God Union is the very Foundation of Interest and so a sufficient Evidence thereof Faith interests the soul in the Covenant of Grace and the † Mar. 16.16 Salvation therein promist Now 't is by vertue of the Covenant of Grace the soul comes to have an Interest in God The discovery therefore of the Grace of Faith is a sufficient Evidence of the souls Covenant-Interest in God Faith unites the soul to Christ Who dwels in the heart by Faith † Eph. 3.17 Now it is in and through Christ that Believers have an Interest in God Hence is the life of a Believer said to be hid with Christ in God * Col. 3.3 He then that is by Faith united to Christ is thereby interessed in God And as Faith is the Band of our Mystical so is Love the Band of our Moral Union with God and so it likewise evidences the souls Interest in Him Our Love to God springs from Gods Love to us For we love Him because he first loved us † Joh. 4.19 Now who are they that have an Interest in God but they that are beloved by him Now it s the Nature of both these Graces Faith and Love to work the soul wherein they are seated to a Conformity to the person upon which they are acted The Eye of Faith beholding the Beauty of Holiness in the Face of God transforms the soul into the same Image So the Apostle speaking of the Glory and Efficacy of the Evangelical Administration thus expresses himself † 2 Cor. 3.18 For we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. So likewise Love assimilates the person loving to the person beloved When Mettal is melted it bears the figure of the Mould into which it is cast Indeed in God the immutable Pattern of all Perfections Love is of a more transcendent Nature and Efficacy in all its operations God by loving us assimilates us to himself but we by loving God are assimilated to him For this Assimilating motion of Love springs from the Quickering Motive thereof which gives Life Vigour and Activity to Love Now the Motive of our Love to God is in him but the Motive of Gods Love to us is not in us but in himself 'T is a Flower that springs from the Root of free Grace But now this Conformity to God in the Beauty of Holiness being produc'd by the Efficacy of these excellent Graces Faith and Love must needs evidence the souls Interest in God 'T is Grace flowing from God to the soul which raises the soul up to a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Holy Word And Communication of Grace speaks the souls Interest in God If the Branch flourish by Virtue of sap derived from the Stock it is certainly ingraffed thereinto Now doth your soul rest upon God in a way of Believing Doth your Heart go out after God in a way of loving Do you express a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Word in a way of Holy Living Doth your Faith work by Love Doth your Love produce Likeness Doth this Likeness nourish your Love Doth this Love strengthen your Faith Do yon find your soul to move towards God by Faith and Love and to press after Conformity to God in Holiness of Heart and Life Then have you good and sure Evidences of your Interest in God The second Work ACT all the Powers of your soul upon God Let your Understanding eye him in his glorious Excellencies and All-sufficiency as infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness and Truth Let your Will choose him as the chiefest good and your highest Happiness and rest in him as your only Satisfaction and Security Let your Affections with full tide carry your soul to him as your only Rock and Refuge Let your Love be to him your Desires after him and your Delight in Him above all things in the world Stir up your self also to the lively Exercise of your most excellent Graces whereby your soul may be lifted up above Difficulties and dangers in the world and much advanc't and advantag'd in its nearest Approaches and Approximations to God Set your Faith Hope Trust on work Act your Faith on his Promise your Hope in his Mercy your Trust in his Power So shall you be ever near unto God as a Child under his Fathers Arm a Favorite in his Princes Bosom There is a sort of * Echini Fishes called by Cassiodore for their delicate Temper and curious Colour Croceae Deliciae divitis Maris The Saffron-colour'd Delights of the rich Sea These when a Storm arises gather to themselves little stones the same thing have some observed of the Bees to poise themselves in swimming thorough the boysterous waves as the Bees in flying thorough the blustering Win●s and so they make to some Rock as the Bees to their H●ve as their Refuge from the tempestuous Fury of the sea So Believers who are Mundi Divitiae Deliciae Christi The Riches of the World and the Delights of Christ when any Storm or Tempest arises in the Church or State gathering to themselves the Pearls of Gospel-Promises to keep them in an even Poize in Perillous Times that they may not be driven away with every † Eph. 4.14 Wind of Doctrine nor discomposed by every Wave * Luk. 6.48 of Temptation should speedily make to Christ as a Hive of sweetness and a Rock of Strength for their Security and Peace Now this Application to him is made by the Believing souls Acting of Faith upon him in time of Trouble And thus must the Saints act the Powers of their souls upon God if they would be interessed in that Protection which pertains to the Saints by Divine Promise Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts Himself saith the Prophet † Isa 8.13 14 and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary Now what is it to sanctifie the Lord in our Hearts as the Apostle expresses it * 1 Pet. 3.15 but to present his glorious Excellencies and Perfections his infinite Power and Greatness before the view of our souls and to stir up our selves to those Actings which carry in them a suitableness and correspondency to such manifestations of God to us And what is this but to act all the powers of our souls upon him as a God who for his greatness is worthy to be feared and adored for his goodness is to be loved and desired for his Wisedome Mercy Power and Truth is to be trusted in and submitted to in all Things Now he