of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever Therefore see to it you that make a profession of it see that as you have received the Lord Jesus Christ you walk as he walked that you live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit and not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh that you live not in malice envy or bitterness and so grieve the good Spirit of God and bring a burthen upon the Souls of the Righteous We that are come to the sight and vision of Heavenly things and have the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God opened to us we are come to be Partakers of the gift of Charity which is a more excellent way if this be wanting all is wanting what doth the Apostle say though I speak with the Tongue of Men and of Angels and have not Charity I am become as sounding-Brass or a Tinkling Cymbal and though I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have alâ— Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing and though I bestow all my Goods to the Poor and though I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profits me nothing These things have been often said and declared to you Friends and I have now this General Testimony to give in the dread and fear of the Lord God They that love God above all will Love their Neighbour as themselves they will love those that are the Friends of God and of his People nay it is a duty incumbent on them A New Commandment saith our Saviour I give unto you that ye love one another as I have lovtd you that ye also love one another By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another And we are not only to love one another but to love our Enemies this our Lord Jesus Christ commandeth us Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he causeth his Sun to shine on the evil and on the good and sendeth Rain on the just and on the unjust Now my Friends that you may keep in this love of God and love to one another it is the desire and breathing of my Soul That so your Faith may stand not in the wisdom of Mens words but in the power of God this power will bring down every high thought and imagination into subjection and obedience to Christ that we may walk before bim to all well pleasing that when we come to die we may lay down our heads in peace and be found of him in peace without spot and blameless and at the end of our days we may receive the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Immortal Souls Friends to the Grace of God I commend you the Lord God of life preserve and keep you that you may be safe in the hands of God and abide under the shadow of his wing and be surrounded with his Almighty Arm which hath hitherto preserved us in all our Solemn Meetings and Assemblies when the Enemies of Gods truth have risen up against us The remembrance of it should be sweet and pleasant to us When the floods of the Vngodly were mustred up against us and sometimes halled us out of our Meetings to Goals and Prisons for bearing Testimony to the Truth of God in our day O the sweet and comfortable presence of the Lord that then attended us and blessed be his Name he waited to be gracious to us and did work manifold Deliverances for us and Praise and Glory be given to the Eternal and Almighty God whose Divine Power and Providence hath brought a calm over the Nation so that now we enjoy our Meetings without Trouble and Molestation O that we may be sensible of the wonderful Love and Mercy of God to us And Friends it greatly concerns us to be careful in the whole course of our Lives that we may not give any occasion for the obstructing or hazarding of the present Peace and Liberty we enjoy O there should be a serious care and tender regard to Gods Glory and the Honour of his Great and Excellent Name and also a care and concern for the Reputation of our Religion and Religious Societies that none may have any occasion or just ground to bespatter and reproach us and render us odious to the Government under which we live Blessed be the Name of the Lord for the freedom and quiet Seasons we enjoy and that are continued by the Mighty Arm and Power of the Lord let all our Souls bow before him and let us walk and live in a continual subjection to his Divine Wisdom and Will that our Souls may be all bound up in the bundle of Life that we may serve the Lord with sincerity and perrserverance to the end of our days that then an abundant entrance may be Ministred to us into the everlasting Kindom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ His Prayer after Sermon GLorious God of Life the Visitations of thy Love in thy Day of Grace and Salvation are very sweet and precious to the Souls of thy Children O Lord we have cause to bless thy Name that thou hast extended a Day of Mercy to us a Day wherein thou art visiting the Sons and Daughters of Men a Day wherein thou hast caused the Heavenly Divine Light of thy Son Christ Jesus to shine into our Hearts Thou hast given a Remnant to believe in it the Eyes of our Vnderstandings have been opened by it and wehave come to see and partake of the Visitations of thy tender Love to our Immortal Souls O the shining of this Divine Light hath made us see our way out of Darkness and the Day of thy Glorious Power hath Dawned upon us when many have been in the Region and Shaddow of Death And thou hast manifested thy Loving kindness to the Souls of men in and through our Lord Jesus Christ O Lord be thou graciously pleased to be nigh to thy People Preserve them and Guide them in thy Way the Way of Holiness and Righteousness which thou hast led them into O that they may Perservere therein and obtain Salvation to their Immortal Souls O Eternal God of Life and Glory we humbly pray thee send forth thy Light and thy Truth and open the Eyes of the Vnderstandings of the Sons and Daughters of Men and make them willing in this thy Day to embrace the Appearance of the Dear Son of thy Love in the shinings of his Light and Grace and Truth in their Hearts that they may be Sanctified and Purified and made
on in the Holy way We that are come to know this Holy way through the Riches of the Love and Grace of the Great God to us it is our main business to walk in this Holy way they that know any thing of true Christianity know this to be their great concern to walk in this Holy way that leads to Everlasting Life Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and every one that comes into this way and walketh in it they are going on towards Perfection And they are putting off the Old Man They feel in themselves a Power at work that Crucifies the Old man with his Deeds then they go on in the Name of the Lord. This Power doth work till every one in their own particular comes to be Crucified with Christ It was the Primitive Christians experience what the Apostle saith of himself 2 Gal. 20. I am Crucified with Christ neverthless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Great is the Mystery of Godliness You that are engaged in the Christian Warfare and that live the Christian Life and are making War in righteousness against the Devil the Enemy of your Souls you know that Great is this Mystery of Godliness this Mystery is opened among the Disciples of Jesus among the Holy Off-spring of God who are begotten again through the Word of Eternal Life who as the Holy Apostle saith are begotten of his own Will through the Word of Truth that they should be a kind of First fruits of his Creatures We to whom God hath Graciously manifested himself in the Blessed Son of his Love our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus how ought we to walk as becomes the Gospel O that the serious and weighty Consideration of this might rest upon every one of us that we ought to have our Conversation as becomes the Gospel of Christ and be going on to Perfection you know what the Apostle speaks 3. Phil. 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprechend that for which also I am apprehended of Jesus Christ This I am sure every true Christian Man and Woman will do as the same Apostle did who saith I press towards the mark for the Price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And as every one comes to grow up in the Life of Righteousness they will come to know an increase of Faith they will grow up in Faith and in that Hope which hath been as an Anchor to their Souls in the day of their deep Exercise and they will remain steadfast and unmoveable as they walk in the holy way And so every one as they keep humble and bowed before the God Heaven they will know his Teachings more and more and have a sensible feeling of it in themselves every one in their own particular And certainly it is all our business to be waiting for the fulfilling of those many great and precious promises which are recorded in the Holy Scripture which were enjoyed by the Primitive Christians in the Ages that are past and gone and in succeeding times shall be likewise enjoyed by all true Christian People as they come to be Followers of Jesus as we have begun well let us go on towards Perfection nâ—t laying again as I said before the Foundation of Repentame from dead Works and Faith towards God and the Lord Jesus Christ for who ever expects Salvation by Christ the only Saviour must be going on to Perfection they must begin at the work of Regeneration and Experience in themselves a New Birth for if we be not born again we shall die in our Sins you know our Saviour hath left this upon Record and it remains the same truth to this day And therefore how ought every one that makes mention of the name of Great God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ How ought every such a one to be weighty and considerate and Examine themselves whether they are come to know Repentance from Dead Works Whether they have turned from the evil of their doings Some are ready to say I would gladly turn from the evil of my doings but I find I am beset with the Devil the Enemy of my Soul Well if thou believest in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened thee then Cry to him and he will give thee Power to withstand the Enemy of thy Soul Praised and Blessed be the Name of our God that a Remnant can say as soon as we did really Believe in the Name of Jesus we received power in some measure as the Primitive Believers did that received Christ we received Power to become the Sons of God you that have received this Power let your Eye be to the Lord and cry to him for Divine Assistance for of our selves we are not sufficient we have not power of our selves to think a good thought or do a good Action but we depend upon the Power of God to enable us to Work out our own Salvation For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Therefore Repentance and Remission of Sins are Preached in Christs Name and without the Knowledge and Christian experience of this and believing in the Name of Jesus we cannot be saved from the wrath to come Let us wait upon God who by our Lord Jesus Christ saveth all his People from their Sins Not by Works of Righteousness that we have done but as the Apostle saith According to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Those that have experience of the work of Regeneration and of being renewed in their Inward parts where Christ bears Rule when they meet together in the Solemn Assemblies of the Lords People he will be in the midst of them and they that come to hear the word of the Lord and wait upon him know it to be so you that are real Christian People you know this by your own experience therefore wait upon the Lord your God that the work of Regeneration may go on and you will find strength more and more ministred to you and you will feel the pouring forth of the Spirit abundantly upon you the same Spirit that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead and quickned him shall quicken you that you may live to him here and with him for ever hereafter The Prayer after Sermon Most Glorious Powerful and Infinite Lord God of Life thou hast sought out a People to serve thee and thou hast made choice of many from among the Sons and Daughters of Men to honour thy Name in the Land of the Living that we might be capable so to do thou hast opened an everlasting Fountain and the streams of Life have
reached to us Thy Divine Comforts O Lord have been our portion from one day to another and we have tasted thy goodness and our hearts have been deeply affected with it blessed God and Fathe when we consider how thou hast nourished us thy Children and brought us up in troublous times and made a way for us in the Wilderness and a path in the Desart and brought us through the deep waters When we were ready to be overwhelmed when our Souls cried to thee Lord to be present with us then thou hast been near unto us when we have been seeking thy face and thy glory thou hast refreshed us with the light of thy Countenance when we have been walking in thy way thy Banner over us hath been love and Lord out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast brought forth praise and glory to thy self O that all that partake of thy Divine goodness may magnifie and praise thee This hath been our Supplication O Lord from year to year Lord reach to the Nations gather a People under the shadow of thy wings secure them from all dangers and let them have great delight in thy ways and let thy word be sweet to their tast Most tender and everlasting Father of life and God of all grace we humbly intreat thee to gather the Inhabitants of this Island and bring down all haughtiness and pride to the dust and bring all thy people to humility and self abasement before thee the God of glory that the knowledge of the Lord may cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea that thy great Name may be exalted Lord we entreat thee gather together those that are broken and contrite and are as dead and dry bones can these dry bones live Thou knowest O Lord. Shall I ever be capable of praising the Lord saith one by a sense of thy favour to my Soul Lord thou caâ—st reach these and gather to thy self a numberless number that no man can number that everlasting God of Power shall stand before thee without spot and blemish in whose mouths there is no guile Lord encrease the number of those that seek after thee the living Fountain of all goodness with tears flowing from their eyes and sorrow in their hearts Everlasting God of life let the day of our Tranquility be lengthned out and preserve the Land of our Nativity and let no desolation be among us Father of Mercies many have been visited with dreadful Judgments from thy hand in other Nations O preserve this sinful Land and let thy continued mercies and blessings and thy long suffering prevail upon us that we may be turned to thee with all our hearts and cry mightily to thee from one day to another that we may be as so many Jacobs wrestling with thee to the break of the day that thou wouldest bless us and that thy blessing may never depart from this Island O Lord hear the cries of thy People that are seeking thy glory and the good of their own Souls let thy mercy prevail for us and let thy blessing be with all thy Servants that cry to thee we beseech thee for the sake of Jesus Christ let not thine anger be kindled against us least we perish and O Lord let thy judgments which are impendent be diverted and stir up thy People to wrestle with thee with all their Souls that thou wouldest save this Nation that England may live in thy sight cover us under the shadow of thy wings and let the hearts of all thy People be turned to thee and turned from Sin to Righteousness that they may be preserved in thy fear and love and partake of ihe Fountain of life and may be delivered from the snares of death Father of life preserve all thine that have waited on thee thou art a God that changest not therefore we are not consumed Glory Honour and Praise be rendred to thee for all thy love and favour blessings and benefits vouchsafed to us and for all the opportunities which we have had for our Souls break and soften the hearts of all thy Children and kindle in their Souls a Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving that we may say it is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes that we may rejoyce and Triumph in thy great Salvation through Jesus Christ who alone is worthy and God over all blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JOHN BOWATER At St. John's-Street March 18. 1693. To as many as have received Christ Jesus the Lord to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Now my Friends they that have believed are to wait to receive his power according to the Exhortation of our Lord Jesus Christ to his Disciples wait until you be endued with a Power from on high Luke 24. 49. Many People make a profession of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ but do not come to know this mighty power to work Sanctification Redemption and Salvation Let all and every one of you be concerned in waiting upon God and attending upon him that you may receive strength and power and ability from him whereby you may be enabled to perform your bounden duty which God requireth of you he hath shewn unto Man what is good and what the Lord requires of him which is to do justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with God Every one of us that have believed let us wait for power to perform that which may answer the requirings of God that we may receive ability from him to enable us to perform our duty that we may not only be Professors of the blessed truth of God but possessors of it that we may not only be Professors but Possessors of life whereby we may live to God through Jesus Christ and perform our duty acceptably to God It is a blessed to be found in that which gives acacceptance with God now there is no acceptance with God but as we are found in Christ Jesus in him that was the promised Seed whom God promised should break the Serpents head the Serpent beguiled Eve through subtilty Now God promised that the Seed of the Woman that is Christ Jesus should break the Serpents head It is through him that Redemption and Salvation is known It is through Christ Jesus the Mediator between God and Man that Man becomes reconciled to God and no otherwise He tasted Death for every man and he died that he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil It is through Christ the Mediator that we are reconciled to God and for this saith the Apostle was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Sin in all Ages hath been the work of the Devil and the Devil is the Author of Sin but the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator he is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him So that whatsoever your Profession may be
the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh Friends you see the Foolish Virgins came when it was too late therefore prize your Day and keep your Watch I cannot but Admire the Mercy of God that hath extended a Day of Grace and favour to us God hath not only striven for a little time but hath continued striving Take heed that you harden nor your Hearts in this Day of your Visitation least it be said to to thee The Harvest is past and the Summer is ended and thou not saved Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure While it is the good pleasure of God to work upon thy Heart give up thy self in Holy Obedience to him even while the good Spirit of God moveth upon the face of the Waters The Day of your Visitation is not yet over yield up your selves to the striving of Gods Spirit that you may be found a willing People in the Day of his Power There is Balm in Gilead there is a Physician of Value there Prize the Love and Mercy and forbearance and long suffering of God and bless God that hath not cut thee off in thy Sin and in the midst of thy Iniquites and that thou hast not thy Portion with Hypocrites where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth His Prayer after Sermon Most Blessed and Holy Lord God thou art full of Grace thou art the same yesterday thou art the same to day and thou remainest the same unchangeable God for ever unchangeable in thy Nature and unchangeable in thy Love Thou hast not said to the Seed of Jacob seek ye my Face in vain Where thy People have been gathered there thy Presence hath been Where two or three have met together in thy Name thou hast been in the midst of them thou hast not been wanting to us when we have called upon thee but hast been a present help unto us in the needful time when we have been under Tryals and Exercises and when Troubles and Temptations have come upon us like a Flood thou hast been with us in all our Conflicts and covered our Heads in the Day of Battle and stood by us and preserved us by thy Almighty Arm. Thou art a Gracious and Merciful God and hast regard to the Work of thy hands We commit our Souls to thee as into the hands of a Faithful Creatour We pray thee watch over us and go a long with us and when we are â— parated from one another Let us not be separed from thee Everlasting God of Glory let thy presence be with us and accompany us and lead us into the way wherein thou wouldest have us to walk and enlarge every one of our â—eaâ—â—s â—o follow hard after thee O Infinite Everlasting God of Glory Prosper thy Servants in tâ—â—r Labours and Travel to whom thou hast given any abilities to speak in thy Name that they may declare thy truth as it is in Jesus and deliver the whole Counsel of God to thy People O Sanctifie those Mercies thou hast vouchsafed to us at this time and the blessed priviledge we have had in meeting together to be partakers of thy Grace and Favour We thank thee for thy unspeakable Love in giving thy Beloved Son to die for us and to Redeem us from all Iniquity We desire to Magnifie and bless thy Name that thou hast drawn near to us when we have drawn near to thee and that thou hast beautified our Assemblies with thy Living Presence We desire in all Humility to Walk before thee with a single Heart and an upright Mind and that we may give thee for all thy Mercies and Blessings through the Son of thy Love the Lord Jesus Christ Praise Honour and Glory and Thanks giving not only at this time but so Ever and Ever for thou alone O Lord art Worthy who art God over all Blessed for ever more Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM PENN Upon occasion of the Death of Mrs. Rebecca Travers an Aged Servant of God June 19 1688. TIMES and Seasons pass away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever And it is that which hath been the Root of Life to the Heritage of God in all Ages and Generations that from whence their Joy and Hope always sprung that in which their Faith was finished It was their Alpha and it was their Omega In this the Righteous begun and set forth and by this they were preserved in their Heavenly Race till they came to their great end the prize of their High Calling the Heaven of Everlasting Rest after all the Storms and Tempests of time It was this they had their Eye to in the beginning and it was their Joy that opened in the Eternal Word by which they were Quickned and Revived and that caused them to endure to the end without fainting and you shall likewise by patient continuance in well doing in due time Reap if you faint not It was the Word of God to the Children of God of Old and it is his Word in this Day to us you shall Reap if you faint not Blessed are you that are called into the Vineyard you shall have an Everlasting Harvest If you faint not now you shall Reap then What shall you Reap Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and disappointment No you shall Reap Glory Honor Immortality and Eternal Life So Friends though every Day we have Renewed occasions of remembring our latter end yet there is that which never shall have end hath dawned unto us which hath been presented to our View in this glorious day of our Visitation if we lift up our Eyes to it and have regard to it in our rising up and lying down in our going out and coming in and in all we put our hands unto and if we place our Interests and Portion therein then our minds will be established and we shall not be ashamed now nor blush before the Lord hereafter If our Hearts condemn us not we shall have boldness before God So shall all Travellers that have regard to the Word of Truth while they are in their Heavenly Pilgrimage They set their Faces Sion ward and go on not Fainting not Doubting not desponding they have an Eye to the Lord Jesus Christ and have their Hearts kept by that Word that abides for ever Their Belief and Hope is beyond Time fixed upon that which God hath owned to be his Word before the World was and shall be when Time and this World shall be no more The outward Garment which shall be worn while it last shall then be put off Blessed are they that know the White Linnen that which is whole and all of a piece that God giveth to his Children that Love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity who is the Resurrection and the Life He that comes to know and experience this The Second Dâ—ath shall have no Power over him Now this change is not only in
the Outward Man but in the Inner Man there is a putting off that which is Fading Mortal and perishing and a being Clothed upon with Immortality and Glory Blessed are they which come to receive that Word of God which hath been the Life of God in our Souls This is a Day of Life to us Blessed are they that shall be placed in that Eternal Kingdom and Region where all Time shall be swallowed up and all Tears wiped from their Eyes and sighing and sorrow shall be no more O Friends lift up your Heads for the Day of your Redemption draws nigh That you may not be shaken with every Wind of Doctrine know that the Foundation of God standeth sure that is his Word that was in the beginning with God that Word that was God in this Eternal Word which is God know you dwelling and Habitation and wait upon God in it it was Davids Buckler his Shield and strong Tower it was his Rock God set his Feet uyon a Rock that is higher than Man's Power and all Mans Wisdom and Strength In this the Righteous begin in this they Travel on Blessed are they that walk by Faith that Live to the Lord and Dye in the Lord and shall be for ever with the Lord. They are blessed that wait upon the Lord for a sense of this They are above all the Changes of time and Mortality It is this that was a Reviving Cordial to our Deceased Friend who received the Truth in early Days the Days of the Dawning of Gods Power in this Land and in this City the Remembrance of it was sweet to her Soul let us Remember the Love of God and the Power and Glory of the Name of the Everlasting God that shined then that we may be encouraged to keep together as a peculiar People to the praise of him that hath called us out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light That God over all may be Glorified for ever that we may live to the Honour of his blessed Name That Christs Kingdom may be set up among us and that Gods great Name and Power and Majesty may be exalted and all flesh abased before him We are Travellers here in this Vale of Tears in this Earthly Pilgrimage into the Land of Rest the Heavenly Canaan Let us follow our Blessed Joshua that is leading us into that Land of Promise and he will give to every one his Lot and they shall stand in that Lot at the last day O Blessed are they that are waiting for their Lot and Portion in that Heavenly Countrey to which Abraham had his Eye that City the New Jerusalem the Mother of us all and that House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens whose Builder and Maker is God This Word which I have been speaking of is that by which we are humbled and bowed before the Lord and Instructed in Judgment and Righteousness To this Word which is God I Commit and Commend you and all the Flock of God that you may be preserved to the end of your Days that you may then lay down your Heads in Peace that your Testimony may not end before your Lives end that the Lord may be with us to shelter and overshaddow us in the midst of all our Tryals and Exercises while we are following Christ in Patience Humility and self denyal and bearing his Cross for no Cross no Crown That which is pleasing to God is walking by Faith What is this Faith A pure resolution of Living to God in a Holy dependance on him and a committing our selves intirely to him that so we may know and enjoy the purifying Vertue of his Word that we may not offend God for without Faith faith the Apostle it is impossible to please him By what means saith the Royal Psalmist shall a young man cleanse his Way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word This is the Blessed Word that hath been a Root of Life in all Ages let us abide in this Word to the end of our days and we shall then be blessed with that Life which shall never end but shall remain when time shall be no more The Lord preserve you by his Mighty power in his Favour and Divine Presence that you may live to his Glory and Praise and Die in Peace and be gathered into that blessed and Heavenly Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judg of all and the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel That you may Eternally Magnifie and Celebrate the praises of the Eternal God to whom be Glory for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM PENN At Wheeler-Street April 13. 1694. IT is the Great Cause and Work of God in which you are all concerned this day Now that all of you may see how you quit your selves before the Living Eternal God your Maker and Answer the Visitations of his Love in the discharge of your Duty that you may feel an Answer of Peace in your own Bosoms and find your selves nigh who were afar off that you may all know your selves nerer then when ye first believed nearer to the Lord nearer to his Love and more in his Favour that you may perceive your Interest to grow and increase your Divine your Eternal Interest that which will out-last the World for it Centers in that which shall never have an end O Friends see to it this Day it is the Redemption of your Immortal Souls that the Lord God hath visited you for it is in order to this And all the Religions in the World Articles Creeds Confessions and Professions that leave out this they are all Imperfect and insignificant and will not avail Men in the Great Day of Account Therefore see to it how the Work goes on the Work of your Redemption and Salvation Do you feel your selves near to the Lord Do you find your selves to have more Power over your Souls Do you know your selves advanced in the Work of God Are ye come to dye daily to that which is contrary to the Lord For as you dye daily you live that Life you Live in the Flesh by the Faith of the Eternal Son of God Christ Jesus who hath Redeemed you from all Iniquity and called you to Glory and Vertue Now that you may all be Faithful Stewards of the Grace and Mercy and Heavenly Talents which God hath bestowed upon you and be all found working not Idle in the Market Place Christ Jesus the Lord hath not been wanting to you He hath Piped to you have you Danced He hath mourned have you wept He hath called have you Answered his Call See to it this Day for the glorious Power and Presence of that God that visited you in the beginning is here this Day It is his Heart-reaching Power his Heart-melting Power his Divine sweet Presence which brought us out of
Honour and Power unto the Lord our God The Power of his Christ is Revealed to us O Friends that you may feel that you are gathered under his Power into his Pavillion that he may be a safe hiding place to you and that you may experience and witness his Power from Day to Day then your Peace shall be as a River O that you may every one find this in your own particular and not rest satisfied in outward Forms and in an outward Profession that you may feel the substance feel the Life and possession and have Heavenly Treasure in your Earthen Vessels then will you be witnesses of Immortal Life that is brought to Light by the Gospel then you shall be of the Number of those that have fought a good Fight of Faith and laid hold on Eternal Life and you shall be sensible of the Visitation of the Lord Giving Spiritual Life unto the Soul Thus the Psalmist experienced and declared All my Fresh Springs are in thee Here is an Evidence and Testimony of this Life O Labour to have a Testimony of this Life that ye may have fresh Springs from the Lord and Draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation These are renewed in the Soul from time to time It may be said that the Stream is but small to some Oh keep to the Streams and partake of them though but in the lowest degree that thou may'st feel the risings of them The Prophet Ezekiel was led into the Temple saith he The Hand of the Lord was upon me and he brought me thither and behold there was a Man whose appearance was like the appearance of Brass with a Line of Flax in his hand and a measuring Reed and he measured a thousand Cubits and he brought me through the Waters and the Waters were to the Anckles Again he measured a thousand and brought me through the Waters and the Waters were to the Knees and afterward the the Waters were to the Loyns And afterward saith He measured another Thousand and it was a River that I could not pass over for the Waters were risen Waters to Swim in a River that could not be passed over My Friends here are Divine openings upon the Soul in feeling fresh springs of Love and Life and you may come to know and witness Refreshings from the Presence of the Lord you are not strangers to the Fruits of the Heavenly Canaan and the fruits of the Tree of Life When you come to pertake of them you will say His fruit was sweet unto my tast you will find that the Lord will abundantly open his bountiful hand and satisfy his poor with Bread Let your waiting be continually upon the Lord and Bread will be given to you and your Waters will be sure then you will see the King in his Beauty the King of Glory discovering himself Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord. Here is a precious Object indeed O the Beauty of Holiness how affecting is it to the Soul The Soul is overcome with God When the Soul comes to the acting of its Faith and Trusting in the Lord and Depending upon him continually to beholding the Glory of the Lord which is of an affecting nature this raiseth desires in the Soul according to the Testimony of the Psalmist Psal 17. 14. As for me I will behold thy Face in Righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness The Apostle speaks of beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and being changed into the same from Glory to Glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. You that know the Revelation of God in you you will find this change from Glory to Glory and a coming up to the Beauty of Holiness Then my Friends here is a pure Communion a Communion with the Saints the Lord Reveals himself and makes his Spiritual abode in the Soul these are those that come to know Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ They that come to know this know God to be with them and do know Gods Power and Presence in the midst of them Then though man may frown the Light of Gods Countenance shall be lifted up upon us And If God be for us saith the Apostle who can be against us He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all How shall he not with him also freely give us all good things The Lord will bless us with all Spiritual blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ Wait upon the Lord and he will bless thee and encourage thee that thou mayst know additional blessings in thy Soul This is the intent design and import of these Declarations that are found among you that you may all know a being gathered unto the Lord and may feel his Power and know the Lot of your Souls Inheritance and know that the Lord will continue his mercies to you and will make good his Promise that if you cast your care upon him he will take care of you they that do this may know the Lord to be their Portion and the Lot of their Inheritance to be in him In times of distress and tribulation the Lord will be with them Israel of Old tho' they did all partake of an outward Canaan yet all had not their Lot in Shilo They that come to sit with Christ in Heavenly places they have their Lot in Shilo in a Peaceable Saviour the Prince of Peace Take a view of your inward state and condition see is the Lord Jesus your Lot and Portion then you shall not want but if you are Strangers to this and live in the state of carnal security sorrow will overtake you The Prophet saw some to do so It is as when a Hungry Man Dreams of Refreshment but when he awakes his Soul is empty and faint If you have not the feeling of the Power of Gods Spirit and are at ease a terrible Day will overtake you Therefore Friends while you have time give all diligence while the Manna falls about your Tents and are humbled in the sence thereof know that the Lord will preserve you from day to day then your Bread will be sweet and your Water sure O Friends The Great Prophet hath been sent to you Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me Friends He will bless you and you shall know your Provisions which are made for you the Lord Christ will bless your store for the Treasures of Heaven fail not where Moth and Rust doth not corrupt nor Theives break through nor Steal and therefore Friends have respect to the manifestation and Spiritual Appearance of the Lord Jesus that you may feel his Power overshaddowing you from day to day that you may be kept by the Mighty Power of God We must wait upon the
Name of the Lord is a strong Tower The Righteous shall fly unto it and be safe and when they are assaulted with the Enemy the Spirit of the Lord shall be with them and when the Enemy comes upon them as a Flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard for them against the Adversary and they shall stand still and see the Salvation of God And they shall find the Power of Gods Spirit come upon them for Sanctification and they shall be as the purest Wheat gathered into the Garner of God Therefore My Friends let the Testimonies of Truth which the Lord is pleased by his Servants and Messengers to send to you take hold of you and go along with you and have a place in your secret thoughts It is an Exhortation of the Word of Truth which God gives by his Spirit to you therefore let it be retained While you are in the Light walk as Children of Light and have no Fellowship with the Vnfruitful Works of Darkness and you shall dwell safely and be set upon a Rock that is higher than you you shall be as Stars shining in a Dark World and though there be darkness upon the Earth yet here is Light here is Beauty Those that are in Zion and in Goshen the Songs of the Night shall be given to them When others are in distress these are they that have their Habitation in the Lord and find a Spiritual repose and enter into Rest and enjoy that peace which God through Jesus Christ his Beloved Son doth give unto the Souls of his People that Peace that Passeth Vnderstanding Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom Teaching and Admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts unto the Lord. Salvation and Praise be ascribed unto our God continually for all his Mercies and Favours for to him Honour and Glory and Thanks giving belongs And as you render Praise to the Lord in the Name of his Beloved Son you shall find acceptance with him and an answer of Peace returned into your Bosoms when you pray as the Psalmist Psal 141. 1 2. Lord I cry unto thee make bast unto me give ear to my Voice when I cry unto thee let my Prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up my hands as the Evening Sacrifice Hereby you shall enjoy Divine Rest and Repose and Refreshment from the presence of the Lord and that Joy that is unspeakable and full of Glory This is my Desire and Souls Travel and the end of my Labour among you that this may be your Lot and Portion with the Lord. The Prayer after Sermon BLessed Lord God who hast in this day of thy Power made manifest thy Self unto thy Children and People who are this day waiting upon thee O Lord God we pray thee let thy Infinite Mercy more and more be extended to us and we humbly pray thee do thou preserve us a sensible People that as thou hast afforded the Visitation of thy Love unto us we may delight in it Lord reveal thy Love more and more to us that we may obey thee and delight to do thy Will Lord thou hast an Eye of Pity and Compassion upon the Sons and Daughters of Men whom thou seest in a lost and perishing condition and thou wilt remember them in their low estate because thy Mercy endureth for ever extend the Riches of thy Goodness to such as are strangers to thee that they may come to the knowledge of thee through the Son of thy Love for this is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent O Lord manifest thy Love to us more and more and appear is thy excellent Glory for the bringing down of every thing contrary to thee Blessed Father and Fountain of Life set up thy Throne and Reign in the Hearts of the Children of Men that they may own thy rightful Government and submit to thy Wisdom and become a willing People in the Day of thy Power and be reconciled to thee in the blood of thy Son Be with us in all the Dispensations of thy Grace and Love and manifest the operation of thy Power upon us in our attendances on thee from Day to Day and from one season to another Lord thou that hast revealed thy Glorious Arm and Power to thy People in their many Travels Exercises and Afflictions that have come upon them for the tryal of their Faith and the exercise of their Patience and Humility and other Graces let our Patience have its Perfect Work and let the trial of our Faith be found unto Praise Honour and Glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ and let our humility lay us low before thee that being humbled under thy mighty band we may be exalted in due time for the sake of Jesus Christ whom thou hast hast exalted at thine own Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to us and Remission of Sins Lord our desires are to thee and our expectations are from thee do thou supply us with all things needful for our Souls and Bodies as thou hast mercifully sustained us hitherto O Lord do thou Bless all the Manifestations of thy Love and Power unto us that we may be sanctified and made meet to serve and glorifie thee that we may give up our account with Joy at thy Tribunal that we may then be found in Christ not having our own Righteonsness but being Justified freely by thy Grace through the Redemption that is in him we may enter into Glory and be for ever with the Lord. Blessed Father of Life Remember all those that are scattered up and down upon the Hills and Barren Mountains and are wandring up and down as Sheep without a Shepherd Remember them in this Day of thy Love and mighty Power and bring them home to the Sheep-fold of Christ who is the true Sbepherd and Redeemer and Saviour of Souls Lord go along with us from this place to our several Habitations and Imployments Let the Angel of thy presence attend us Let the Word that hath been preached dwell richly in us in all Wisdom Dearest God of Love and Life one Plants and another Waters but thou alone dost give the encrease we pray thee go along with us and be near unto us when we are separated one from another Now Lord for all thy Mercies and Benefits and Blessings renewed to us from day to day and from one season to another we desire to offer up to thee a pure and living Sacrifice of Praise and Love and Thanks giving for thou alone art worthy who art God over all who with thy Blessed Son and Eternal Spirit Livest and Reignest for ever and ever One God World without end Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM BINGLEY At Grace-Church street March 4. 1693. Friends IT is weighty upon my Spirit this Day to call upon you all to take
a peculiar People to thy self Zealous of good Works O Eternal God of Power let the Souls of the Children of men come to enjoy thy Presence that their Bodies may become Living Temples for thee to dwell in O Eternal God of Life exalt thy own Name and Truth and make thy self known more and more to the Nations of the Earth that they may come to believe in thy Dear Son Christ Jesus and that they may come to know Redemption and Salvation and the things that belong to the Everlasting Peace of their Souls O Lord we pray thee be with the Families of thy Children and People in all their Exercises in all their Afflictions and in all their Temptations be thou near to them to preserve them and keep them and uphold them by thy free Spirit that thou may'st guide them by thy Consel and afterward receive them into Glory O Eternal God of Life be with the Young Generation of the Children of thy Servans that they may serve thee in their Day and keep their Hearts O Lord by thy mighty Power and let them receive the Word of thy Truth in the Love of it and seal them by thy good Spirit to the Day of Redemption And O Blessed God of Life let thy Work prosper in the midst of the Earth and subdue all that is contrary to thy pure Mind and Heavenly Will and exalt the Kingdom of thy Dear Son and let his name be known and trusted in among all the Nations of the World that they may believe in him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to al them that obey him that so Glory and Honour and Everlasting Renown and Pure praises and Living Thanksgivings may Ascend to thee and let all thy sensible Ones offer them up to thee through Christ the Dear Son of thy Love in whom thou art well pleased for thou alone art worthy to receive all Glory and Praise who art God over all Blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JAMES PARK At Ratcliff April 19. 1694. THEY that come to wait upon the Lord and draw nigh to him and diligently attend upon him they shall receive Wisdom and strength from him and Power to enable them to do the Will of God to fear the Lord and call upon his Name to love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and to Work Righteousness in their Time Day and Generation knowing him in whom thay have believed and whom a Remnant are come to and are Baptized into him and walk in him as they have received him and by whom they have been taught All are to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and to Walk in him who is the Lords Anointed the Judge of Quick and Dead all are to have a certain knowledge of him by receiving and embracing him Did we ever know God aright and the Lord Jesus Christ his only begotten Son till we received him and knew him to be in us the Hope of Glory Many of us have received the Lord Jesus Christ and walked in him as we have received him and then we came to know the witness of him in our selves such as know him experimentally can set to their Seals that God is true We have known God the Father at Work in us and his Son Christ Jesus Working mightily by his Almighty Power in and through whom we come to Work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling This causeth a great fear of God to come upon Man I have known in my time a great Trial to come upon Man and then he came to serve the Lord with Fear and that is good service and that undoubtedly will manifest a good servant when a man comes to serve the Lord with Fear and to rejoice with trembling not with an exalted Mind not with a puft up Mind keep out of that beware of that Friends I beseech you all in the Name of the Lord and in the Fear of God wait all in Gods fear and then you will be capable of drawing nigh to God It is Written in the Epistle of James Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you then will you feel the Lord to work in you mightily and to wash you and make you clean and then by the help of the Spirit of Lord you will put away the Evil of your Doings cease to do Evil and learn to do well and endeavour to please God in all things The Children of God are all taught of him and their Peace is great and they are established in Righteousness and they have a living Experience of that Promise of the Lord by the Prophet They shall be all taught of God their Heavenly Teacher and you that are taught of him shall find him near you that Teacher cannot be removed into Corners There shall be an Invisible Eyeâ— an Heavenly and Spiritual Eye opened to you that you may see the Lord near you Draw near to him in Faith and with a true Heart and with fuil Assurance and you will certainly know and you will see clearly that God is no Respecter of Persons but that in every Nation he that feareth God and Worketh Righteousness is accepted of him God is no Respecter of Persons his Love is of large extent with respect to the Sons and Daughters of Men Those thou gave sâ— me saith our Saviour I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled The Mercy of God through Christ Jesus the Son of his Love reacheth all there is Good Will towards Men Luke 2. 9 10. The Angel of the Lord came upon the Shepherds abiding in the Field and watching over their Flock by Night and said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great Joy which shall be to all People for unto you is born this Day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host Praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace Good Will towards men And the Prophet Isaiah tells us For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace You shall have Christ Jesus for your Lord and King and Counsellor and Instructer Christ Jesus the Son of the Highest he will instruct you and Counsel you safely and then great will be your Peace who can disturb the Peace of such a one or bereave him of it Such a one is also established in Righteousness and Christ is made to them of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption that they may be all endued with that Wisdom that is from above which is pure and peaceable and gentle and easie to be intreated Let the same mind be in you saith the Apostle which was in Christ Jesus that great Lord and
man spareth bis Son that serveth him The Lord will bave mercy upon Sion and spare his People in the Day of his fierce Anger until his Indignatioa be over-past The Walls of Sion are the Walls of Salvation and they are a Bul wark to Gods People when did these Walls and Bulwarks fail you Have you not been preserved in your Day and Generation if these Walls of Salvation had failed we had not been preserved in Christ Jesus we had not now been a Peâ—ple we have stood the Brunts we have been kept safe in the strong City where Salvation is for Walls and Bulwarks And so I shall commit you to the Lord Jesus Christ the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World I desire you all to look to him and fix your Hearts upon him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that believe in him and obey him to him be Glory Praise and Dominion who is God over all Blessed forever Amen His Prayer after Sermon MOST Blessed Lord God thou art Lord of Heaven and Earth Infinite in Love and Life and Glory the God of the Spirits of all flesh in whom we live and move and have our Being who art neaâ— to every one that draweth near to thee and call upon thee in Truth Thou openest thy bountâ—ful hand and refreshest our Hearts with thy Mercy and Blessing O Lord God of Power thy Mercies are manifold and they are over all thy Works and the Works of thine own hands do all praise thee and thy Saints bless thee and magnifie thy excellent Name thou art pleased to magnifie thy Law â—nd to send forth thy Light and Truth and to make it honour able in the Hearts of many in the Day of thy Love in the Day of thy Power Thou art Redeeming thy People from Iniquity and purging away all their dross and taking away all their Tin O Lord God of Life and Power Let all that believe in thy Son Jesus Christ be purged and purified more and more let them be washed and sanctified that all that may be done away and removed out of their Hearts that is contrary to thy self that the Glory of thy Truth may arise and shine in their Souls and let all feel the Power of thy Truth and be sensible of it and believe it and obey it that they may follow the Lâ—adings of thy Holy Spirit and answer thy requirings and glorifie thy name and do thy Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven Let us all receive our daily Bread from thee and have the Light of thy Countenance to shine upon us Comfort the Hearts of all thine every where be thou their strength and stay and a presâ—nt help in trouble and solace their Souls with the sense of thy Lâ—ve which is better than Wine and with thy favour and loving kindness which is better than Life Strengthen the weak hands that hang down and coâ—firm the feeble knees and succour those that aâ—e tempted and comâ—ort them and relieve them O Righteous Lord of Heaven and Earth make known thy Mighty Power in working upon the Hearts of thy People here and every where make known by Name and Glory thrâ—ughout the Whâ—le Earth Let thy glorious everlasting Gospel be sounded forth and Preached in all Naâ—ions of the World And let thy renown go forth and thy fame be spread abroad in all Nations let all the enemies of thy Peâ—ple be scattered and all that make opposition against thy Truth be conquered and overcome by the Power of it and submit themselves least â—hey perish in their opposition And let thy People receive thy Truth in the Love of it and become willing in the Day of thy Power to serve thee in the Beauties of Holiness and gird up the Loyns of their Minds and be kept sober and vigilant and hope to the end and live in love and unity with one another and keep themselves in the love of God and by Patient continuance in well doing seek for Honour Glory Immortality and Eternal Life Let us delight our selves in thee that thou mayst give us the desire of our Hearts whom have we in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that we can desire besides thee Thou hast many times refreshed us with the sense of thy Love in Christ Jesus and thou hast brought us into thy Banquetting House and thy Banner hath been spread over us we have been satisfied with the Fatness of thy House and drunk abundantly of the Rivers of thy Pleasures we have sat under thy shaddow with great delight and thy fruit hath been sweet to our tast Bless us and all thine every where and mind us of our latter end that all the Days of our Appointed time we may wait till our change come and be so prepared for our great account that we may give it up with Joy and not with grief Now Blessed God of Heaven and Earth for all thy Mercies and Favours that we have received and the Blessings and Benefits which thou hast bestowed upon us and continued to us and for preserving us from time to time by the Arm of thy Power and for opening our Hearts at this time to receive the Word of thy Truth and the Influences of thy Spirit take thou the Honour and Glory Thanksgiving and Praise which we humbly and sincerely offer up to thee for to thee it doth belong and thou alone art worthy who art God over all blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. FRANCIS STAMPER At Devonshire-House May 3. 1694. God hath laid help upon one that is Mighty to seve to the uttermost all that come unto God by him THis Mighty One that the Almighty Lord Jehovah hath laid help upon for Man it is the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of his Love and they are blessed of God that come to partake of the help that is in him who said to his Disciples and Followers in the days past without me ye can do nothing Friends This is a deep and a very near word and it stands us all upon to consider whether we have him or no for we all owe Service a Duty and a Worship to the Everlasting God and of our selves we cannot perform it without the help and assistance of his Beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ and the comfort of all that believe in him and love him is this that he is not only able to help but willing to help Blessed be the Lord God for ever may all you say that have been made partakers of his Vertue and of his Power and Life that have found a willingness in him to assist you in all your troubles in all your exercises in all your afflictions in all the bowings of your Souls and Spirits before the Lord who have said in your Prayers and Supplications Lord lend me thy help let me have thy gracious aid and assistance Without this help of the Lord Jesus Christ we cannot do that good that sometimes
Pharoah's House and out of Egypt's Land and took us by the hand and led us peaceably to walk by the Rivers of Gods Pleasures I say see to it this day that you may answer the great Love of God that the Lord doth vouchsafe his Heavenly Presence in the midst of you and lift up the Light of his Countenance upon you that ye may be found answering his Love in his renewed Blessings that as he reneweth his Mercies you may renew your Obedience and as he renews his Loving kindness you may renew your Thankfulness that your Souls may be filled with high Praises for it is a Day of Praises for the Lord they who have obtained a Deliverance by Gods mighty Arm and Power that brought his People out of Egypt's Land into the Wilderness and through the Red-Sea and over Jordan's River unto the Banks of Salvation they who have received a marvellous Deliverance from their Spiritual Enemies they do not hang their Harps upon the Willows but Rejoice and Praise the Living God they resolve with the Prophet Although the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall Fruit be in the Vine the Labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no Meat the Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stalls and altho ' there be Plague Sword Fire Desolation and Destruction Yet we will rejoice in the Lord we will joy in the God of our Salvation Is it so with you this Day Are you come into this Divine Fellowship into this Intimacy with the Lord have you this Holy Frame of Soul O ye Sons and Daughters of the Morning the Everlasting Day of God hath dawned upon you that you may look into your Hearts and see how it is with you and see your experiences see the things that your Eyes have seen and your hands have handled You have tasted the good Word of God and known the Operation of his Power these are things that they have that are Children not empty Notions but Experiences If we travel on we shall be enabled to overcome and if we take unto us the whole Armour of God we shall be enabled to stand in the Evil Day and having done all to stand and what is the reward of them that overcome they shall eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Life that grows in the Paradise of God as many as are fed from this Tree they are not to be standing Idle but Work the Works of God and are brought into the Paradise of God and enjoy the Delights of God in the Presence of God and the Lord will fill and satisfie them with his Divine Goodness and they shall grow and encrease in the Divine Life more and more Consider how doth the Work go on Consider the Lord Jesus he came in our Natures before he cometh into our Hearts Now Christ Jesus within us is the Hope of Glory and the Mystery that was hid from Ages and Generations is now Revealed in us Christ is now come not only into our Natures buâ— into our Hearts into our Inward man and all those at the Door of whose Hearts he hath knocked If they have opened to him and received him He hath come to Sup with them and he hath given them the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation and they have come into Divine Fellowship with him and so they have eaten his Flesh and drunk his Blood and fed upon that Bread that comes down from Heaven and all that open the Door and let him in they come to eat of this Bread and they come to see him that is the Desire of all Nations and the Light of the World and they walk in his Light This is an Ancient Testimony when you were first turned to the Light of Christ it was not a Natural but a Divine Light that you were turned to the Light of Jesus manifesting himself in us in this Light you received him and I desire to know what you have tasted what surther Joy is there What more excellent object what more excellent mark than this then the Light of the Nations that we are come to walk in Here is Divinity here is that which was before the World began here is made known the Divine Nature It is testified here that you might be partakers of it that you might be a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People that you should shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvellous Light see how this Work advanceth in every one of you that you may be faithful and improve your Tallents that you may be able to give up your account to the Lord with Joy and not with Grief When you shall hear a Voice saying Come come away There is no more Time the Glass is Run then how joyfully wilt thou hear that Voice if thou hast not been Idle but Working out thy Salvation and answering the Call of God and adoring him for his Love to thy Immortal Soul thou art not like Martha cumbred about many things but mindest the one thing needful that good part that shall not be taken away from thee If you thus Work out your Salvation it will be said unto you Well Done not Well Taught not well Disputed but Well Done good and faithful Servants enter you into the Joy of your Lord My Friends Time goes apace and we are wearing off and in a little while we shall be here no more Time will be gone and the Day of your Visitation quickly over the Thought and Consideration of this hath affected me many a time Look Friends that you be all travelling on in your Heavenly Journey as a faithful people and that the Work of your Salvation is carrying on and that is Christ is a Redeemer to you and that he doth deliver you from the Dominion of Sin and the Bondage of Corruption Art thou free who hath made thee free If the Truth hath made thee free If the Son of God hath made thee free then art thou free indeed If thou art made free thy Knowledge will be accompanied with experience and not notions only you want not notions but Possession of Inward freedom and liberty Doth your knowledge of Truth make you free from Sin Oh the tumblings and tossings that thy Soul was in Oh the Covenant making and the Covenant breaking there was no Peace no Rest because you were fallen and because you did not know Dominion and Victory over Sin which is only by the Life and Spirit of Christ Jesus which will lead you into the Path of obedience then you will know that in Christ there is Life and this Life is the Light of Men and the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not you have Life only in Christ and you have it in him as in the Fountain this you must know that you may be delivered from sin By this saving knowledge of Christ and
that which will destroy my own Soul The Lord Christ he is come to turn me from Sin and save my Soul Why should I not close with him He hath stood knocking at the Door of my Heart till his Head is filled with Dew and his Locks with the Drops of the Night Many Souls have known these Wooings and Intreaties of Christ knocking at the Door of their Hearts and have let him In and closed with his appearance by his Light grace and good Spirit and found the benefit and comfort of it Why should not I do so Why should not I esteem him as the chief of Ten Thousand as the Beloved of my Soul He will be the chiefest of all to that Soul that hath chosen him for the chiefest Good Though there may be some comfort in the enjoyment of the things of this World yet though they be useful and necessary for my present supply If I lose them all and find Christ and be found in him and hold him fast I shall count them as nothing but despise them in comparison of him who is the Beloved of my Soul You that are come to the Knowledge of Christ and have embraced the Light of Truth in your own Hearts do know the benefit you have by it in walking in the Light as the Children of Light and of the Day and in Obedience to Christ who is the Light and shines in your Hearts Friends I would not be mistaken I do not Preach Christ as the Light of the World in opposition to his outward appearance and being manifested in the Flesh in that preapared Body wherein he did his Fathers will when he was on Earth All true Christians do esteem and reverence Christs appearance in the Body wherein he suffered death and became a Sacrifice for our Sins as the Apostle saith Eph. 5. 2. Christ hath loved us and hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour If I esteem the Appearance of Christ in my own Heart I shall be so far from having a light esteem of his Bodily Appearance and his being manifest in the Flesh that I shall admire and reverence that Great Mystery of Godliness and bless God for the record given thereof in the Holy Scriptures which the light of Christ is a Key to open Even the Great Mysteries of the Kingdom which men by their parts and acquirements cannot attain to For God hath not made known these great things to the Wise and Prudent as we may gather from Christs own Prayer Mat. 11. 25. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight My Friends walk in the Light more and more that by the Spirit of the Lord you may be acquainted with the divine operation of the Power of Christ which will bring you from under the bondage of Sin and Corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God wait to know this Power in your own Hearts that you may be sanctified throughout in Spirit Soul and Body and Justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 24. Walk in the Light and in Meekness and Humility and in the Truth 1 John 6. 7. If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we Lie and do not the Truth But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Many of you have known the beginning go forward and continue to walk in the Truth that you may know the Blood of Cleansing that as the Apostle saith Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye may have your Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life His Prayer after Sermon Most Powerful Everlasting God of Life who art Almighty in thy Power and canst do whatsoever pleaseth thee we have cause to bless thy Great Name for thy Goodness and Mercy which thou hast extended to thy People in this Day of thy Power Thou hast extended a Blessed Day of Visitation to many that were strangers unto thee and unacquainted with the way of Life and Salvation Powerful God we have great cause to bless thy Name for thy Goodness and that great Love which in and through thy Dear Son Jesus Christ thou hast extended to us Thou first lovedst us before we loved thee Thou it was that through the Visitation of thy Love didst beget and raise desires and breathings in the Souls of many after thee and the knowledge of thy living way And blessed Father of Life not only so but thou hast answered the desires and breathings that thou hast raised in the Souls of many and brought them to the knowledge of the way of Life and Salvation And Powerful God thou hast been near to all thine unto this day that have been truly given up in faithfulness to thy Will and to answer thy Holy and blessed Requirings Living God they that have waited and depended upon thee to be made partakers of that help and strength that comes from thee have been thereby enabled to do thy Will and this is that we wait for and from time to time draw nigh to thee for we wait upon thee that we may come not only to know but to do thy Will and Answer thy requirings Blessed God of Life we have great encouragement from time to time to draw nigh to thee for that comfortable presence of thine which we have enjoyed in the midst of our Assemblies many a time the Hungry have been satisfied with Bread And the Fountain of living water hath been opened and the Thirsty have been Drinking of it Praised by thy Name for ever that thou hast appeared with us and hast given us some sensible injoyment of thy living Presence O Lord go a long with thy People let thy blessing be with us that we may hold on through the whole course of our lives in this World and live to the praise of thy blessed Name thou hast given us to see our own weakness and inability and that we had need depend on thee every day for fresh supplies of strength that we may able to hold on in thy holy way and lay hold on the hope that thou hast set before us There are many Tryals Tribulations and Afflictions that thy Children and People meet with and the grand Adversary the Devil like a Roaring Lyon is going about continually seeking whom he may devour Thy People have nothing but thy self to depend upon and there is a secret help and power that thou givest thine whereby they are enabled to withstand the Enemy in all his Wiles and in all his Temptations Living God What we are it is by thee it is by the Assistance of thy Grace and good Spirit that
we know a perserving and holding on in thy way Living Father we pray thee let us feel every day the Conduct of thy Grace and good Spirit that we may admire thy love and praise and glorifie thy great and excellent Name O Powerful God thou blessest the Assemblies of thy People that meet together in the Name of thy Dear Son Jesus Christ for the enjoyment of thy Comfortable Presence Lord blessand Prosper all the Meetings of thy People every where and the labours of those whose mouths thou hast opened to refresh the sorrowful and to bring glad tidings to the poor distressed Needy and weary Souls that would be glad of Rest and deliverance and those in whom thou raisest desires and breathings after the knowledge of thee and thy blessed ways Lord bear up the Hearts of those and strengthen all those good desires and breathings which thou hast begotten in any that they may come to the know ledge of that blessed Rest where thou makest thy Flock to lie down at Noon and feedest them with living Bread and openest a living Fountain to refesh and satisfie their thirsty Souls that they may praise thy great an excellent Name which is pure and precious above every Name Thou hast brought many to the knowledge of it Let thy Truth be exalted and thy Everlasting Gospel be still Preached in the Land of our Nativity and in other Nations for the Day of Grace the time of love is now come and the Day of thy Power is broken out in the midst of us Arise O Lord in thy Power more and more and send forth thy Light and thy Truth that many may be Called and Converted and brought from far from the utmost ends of the Earth to the knowledge of thy self and thy Son Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Eternal and let many arise and praise thy excellent and Glorious Name from the Rising of the Sun to the going down thereof Blessed Father of Life make thy Dear Son Christ more and more known to the World that they may be no longer Enemies but be reconciled to thee by Jesus the Great Mediatour of the New Covenant Lord the way is thine and the work is thine Let truth and Righteousness be brought in more and more and bring down the Kingdom and Man of Sin and the Power of Darkness and make thy Jerusalem the Praise of the Earth We have seen the beginnings of thy glorious Work and the light of thy glorious Heavenly Day thou hast raised and brought in many to walk in the Light and to love thy Holy ways blessed Father of Life our Eyes are unto thee and our dependance is upon thee Whom have we in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that we can desire in comparison of thee Therefore our cry is What shall we do in this World without the enjoyment of thy self In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right Hand are pleasures for evermore Lord thou hast afforded us thy refreshing presence in this our Solemn Meeting Glory and Honor and Living Praises ascend to thy Name which is as a precious Ointment poured forth therefore our Souls do love thee O thou that didst open the Heart of Lydea open the Hearts of all thy People before thee that they may go away with a sense of thy love and kindness towards them Blessed Father of Mercies bless this opportunity to us all that are here before thee and extend thy blessing to the Meetings and Assemblies of all thy People where ever they are one may Plant and another Water but the increase is from thee Our Eyes are towards thee we wait upon thee whether can we go but unto thee who hast the Words of Eternal Life Lord God of Life go a long with us when we are separated one from another and let the sense of thy mercy remain upon our Spirits and be an obligation upon us to walk in Faithfulness Meekness and Humility before thee that being led by by Spirit we may when we have finished our Pilgrimage lay down our Heads in Peace and know an abundant entrance into that Everlasting Kingdom which thou hast prepared for them that love and fear thee And for thy Mercies and Favours Benefits and Blessings which thou hast made us partakers of in and through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Dear Son and our alone Mediatour all living Praises and Glory be rendered to thee for thou alone art worthy who art God over all Blessed for Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JOHN VAUGHTON At Grace-Church street April 1st 1694. IT is a great mercy and kindness that God hath been pleased to open the way of Life and Salvation unto the Souls of many People that in this our Day and generation were in great distress for want of the knowledge of it and this knowledge is given unto us through the blessed appearance and Revelation of the Power and Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to which my Friends Blessed be the Name of the Lord we have been turned in our Day and Generation For the Message and Testimony that God raised up his Servants to bear among us in our Day and time who came in the Spirit and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ having been made the Monuments of Gods mercy through Faith in him that died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification That Blessed message and Testimony which they bare among us was in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit and Power of the Lord Jesus For they came indeed to Preach the Gospel of Life and Salvation and the way they took to Preach the Gospel to us in our Day was the same way that the Holy Apostle Paul in his Day was sent to Preach the Gospel who said we are sent of God To turn People from Darkness unto Light and from the power of Satan unto God The Holy Apostle he proposed the end for which they were sent to turn the Sons and Daughters of Men from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God that they might receive remission of Sins and an Inheritance among them which are Sanctified through Faith which is in Christ Jesus O Friends This Faith in Christ it is a living Faith it is a Faith of the operation of God God worketh it in us by his own Spirit and Power there are many that pretend to have Faith in Christ that are strangers to the operation of the Power and Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and so do not know nor are made partakers of that Faith which worketh by Love that giveth them Victory over the World and preserveth them and keepeth them out of the Evil of the World Now Friends it is my desire that you may turn from Darkness unto Lighâ— That you may all believe in Christ and walk in him that you may be sensible that the Blood of Jesus Christ the Dear and Blessed Son of God cleanseth from
Lord from day to day to be kept and preserved by him and be retired from the Vanities of the World and live that Life we live in the flesh by the Faith of the Son of God that we may come to say with the Apostle Paul Not I live but Christ liveth in me that we may be united to him He that hath the Son hath Life and he hath Power to as many as received him to them he gave Power Here is a Divine Ability I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me My Friends If every one of you do feel this in your own particular you will come to a Heavenly place to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken and dwell in a sure dwelling and have the Candle of the Lord to shine upon your Tabernacles light is sown for the Righteous and gladness for the upright in Heart they shall have Peace through him that is the Prince of Peace It is the desire of my Soul that you may feel this inwardly in your selves Therefore Dear Friends retire to that strength that is Treasured up for you in Christ Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might and let all self Confidence be laid aside and trust in the Lord for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength and he changeth not therefore the Sons of Jacob are not consumed He is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever Let us take comfort in the unchangeable Love of God who hath given us this Promise I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 13. Heb. 5. 6. So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me Therefore wait to receive strength from Christ from day to day they that build not upon this Power are upon a Sandy foundation they make an outward profession of Religion and have a form of Godliness but that will not avail Obedience is better then Sacrifice and to hearken then the Fat of Rams And our Saviour saith Mat. 7. 22. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened to a foolish man that built his House upon the Sand and the Rain descended and the Floods came and the Winds blew and beat upon that House and it fell and great was the fall of it Wait upon the Lord his strength hath been Revealed and his power made known and his Arm made bare Therefore fix your Confidence in him that so your minds may be established Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might and take unto you the whole Armour of God Eph. 6. 13 14. This is the Armour that God hath made known for his Christian Souldiers that are making War against sin and unrighteousness who are fighting the good fight of Faith It was the experience of the Primitive Believers We are more then Conquerours through him that loved us therefore feel your strength fixed upon the Lord retire and wait upon him and be in a watchful frame The Prophet Habbakuk when he saw distress was coming upon the Church says Hab. 3. 16. When I heard my belly trembled and my Lips quivered at the Voice and Rottenness entred into my bones and I trembled in my self that I might rest in the Day of trouble then saith he in the 2 Chap. 1. I will stand upon my Watch and set me upon the Tower and I will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I shall Answer when I am Reproved In this Spiritual Warfare let us be attentive unto Christ the great Captain of our Salvation that maketh War in Righteousness let us hearken one day after another and then there will be a Holy skill and expertness given to us you will be expert in the Spiritual War and you will find strength and power given you from the Lord and he will be a hiding place and a Sanctuary to you you shall come to the Mountain of the Lord where there shall be no distress and the Voice of the oppressor shall no more be heard nor destruction within your Walls Thy Walls shall be called Salvation and thy Gates praise And you that know that Spiritual dwelling where the Spiritual Jews are you are come to sing the Songs of Zion which shall be Sung in the strong City where Salvation is appointed for Walls and Bulwarks where the wicked cease from troubling and where the Flocks lye down at Noon where there is a Shaddow of a great Rock in a weary Land and Rivers in dry places Here is the plenty of all good things which in Gods House is opened to us Now my Friends If you are sitting down in outward forms without feeling the operation of Gods Power and Spirit upon your Souls and be not brought to an inward Conformity the dreadful day will come that the Lord will search Jerusalem with Candles that God before whom all things are naked and bare he is taking a view of the Imperfections of his People he is the searcher of the Heart and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of it whether you fall short of that power and Spirit of true Religion or if there be only an outward Conformity and not inward Obedience The Trumpet of the Lord hath been blown in Sion Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet and tell the House of Judah of her transgression and the House of Israel of her Sins Where there is only an outward Conformity and not an Inward subjection there distress will overtake you which I have seen in the Vision of the Lord which hath been upon me as a warning to the Remiss and careless ones and it was delivered with a voice full of Power in these words All foundations shall be manifested of what sort they are A watcher from the Holy one with severity shall overtake the unwatchful Therefore let this be a warning to you all that you may not fall under the stroke of Gods severity The Apostle Paul saith Rom. 11. 17. to the believing Romans speaking of the goodness and severity of God And if some of he Branches be broken off and thou being a Wild Olive Tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the Root and fatness of the Olive Tree Boast not against the branches but if thou boast thou bearest not the Root but the Root thee Thou wilt say then the Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in Well because of Vnbelief they were broken off and thou standest by Faith be not bigh minded but fear For if God spared not the natural branches take heed least be also spare not thee Behold therefore the Goodness and Severity of God on them which fell to them severity but towards thee Goodness if thou continue in his Goodness otherwise thou shalt be Cut off O my Friends what need is there of a Watchful frame think how necessary it is in your own particular every one of you to be keeping in your Watch Tower the