thereof though then lawful yet I say is not now lawful for the posterity of Adam because God hath now commanded as in very reason 't was meet that mankind having lost by sin the glory of present enjoyments once enjoyable in Paradise and Christ having freely purchased a more excellent even a Heavenly and Eternal glory I say God hath now commanded that mankind should deny themselves and take up a Cross that is to say that men should not now follow their own natural lusts which so greatly inclines to this present world but should deny and cross them and settle their affections and delights upon the more excellent estate of glory purchased by the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 5.15 Col. 3.2 And therefore the sons of men now following the natural lusts of the flesh become by nature the children of wrath led by the Prince of the power of the Air who also stirs up them to follow their own lusts and hearts desires with endeavours by deceit to enlarge the same and thus all men go out of the way there is none Righteous no not one But such and so great was the Fathers love to the world considered thus miserable lying under the burthen of their own personal transgressions as that he willed and accordingly commanded by the Lord Jesus that the Gospel should be preached to every Creature thereof Mark 16.15 that is The Glad-tydings of the Pardon and Remission of their sins so as that whosoever of the world thus miserable by reason of sin now repenteth of the same believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Ver. 16. But this purpose of God concerning Election that is in English choosing out all such as believe to life Everlasting was not in the least arising from or begotten in God by or because of any fore-seen Faith in or works of Righteousness done by the Creature but meerly and alone from the purpose of his own gracious Will nothing in man first or last moving him thereunto for the purpose of God according to Election is not of works but of him that calleth I with the Apostle bear Witness Rom. 9.11 And whereas the glory and excellency of Gods presence is such as cannot admit of any unholy or unclean thing for that Cause his Decree of Election or Predestination reaches the holy Ones or the number of Believers onely and not because God saw any worth or excellency in mens Faith or Holiness whereby to provoke him thus graciously to decree but according to the good pleasure of his Will saith the Apostle hath he Predestinated us that is in English fore-appointed us unto the Adoption of Children Ephes 1.5 Now whosoever of you that bear the name of Saints hearing this so gracious Gospel of Jesus Christ did in your hearts acknowledge the truth thereof verily believing that there was remission of sins to be had in Christ And that Christ therefore being the Justifier and so the most amiablest Object in the World was most worthy your affections and Soul-desires and thereupon resolved with godly sorrow for the sins past for the time to come to serve him with all affections and faithfulness and no longer your selves and so committed your selves to his grace confidently depending upon him for that which you verily believed was to be had in him even the remission of your sins and eternal life whosoever of you have So believed in Christ publickly professing the same by being Baptized that is in English Dipped in his Name by Faith you were justified from all your sins past and being thus reconciled the gift of eternal life freely purchased by Christ Jesus for you without any respect of Faith fore-seen in you or any condition required of you in order thereunto I say the gift of eternal life remained your portion This Faith being professed by you next thereunto O Friends you may remember that you with others and others with you and for you made application to the gracious God by Prayer and Supplication with the Laying on their Hands according to the Scriptures speaking in that case Heb. 6.12 Acts 8.15,17 That you might receive the holy Spirit by the gracious supplies of which you might be both furnished to continue the Faith professed and also to bear much fruit therein to the honour of him who had called you out of darkness into his marvellous light But since 't is the receiving of the holy Spirit and not the bare asking of him nor the much talk of him that makes men thus happy and the more and more receiving of him that makes men men indeed even strong in the Faith it remains a work none of the least for all such who have so believed and so practised well to consider what they have received from God and how they may come to receive more from him for it were a lamentable weakness even greatly tending to the provoking of God for men practising as aforesaid to rest and lye still secure as if all were well barely because they have called upon the Lord for his holy Spirit when for a long time they know him not received nothing of this work upon their own heatts whereby they can declare to others what the Lord hath done for their Souls David that heavenly pattern being in the profession of the Law of God rested not in that but followed hard after the Lord therein Psal 63.8 to whom having diligently sought and Prayed often he abode waiting upon him till the Lord gave him ground to say to his Soul Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psal 116.7 and as elsewhere he saith Psal 63.8 Thy right hand upholdeth me How good a thing were it for Professors in this day to take pattern hereby so as henceforth not to content themselves in that formerly they have prayed with subjection to the Laying on of Hands for the gift of Gods Spirit nor in that they continue sometimes yet to pray for the same for most surely 't is the known hand of God upon the Soul that onely can give real cause of satisfaction the certain experience of Gods bountifulness renders poor Souls otherwise restless to be at rest and true peace And then how boldly may such speak of Gods goodness to others having themselves sweet experience of his goodness to their own Souls And how boldly may such stand up and exhort others to keep under and mortifie the deeds of the body they in the mean while knowing the deeds of the Body mortified in themselves through the operation of Gods Spirit upon their Souls Yea and how boldly also may such reprove them that shall notwithstanding live after the flesh whereas otherwise the reproof of the reprover reflects and sticks fast on himself and not onely so but there is this mischief also attending even that thereby the fleshly part in the reproved hath occasion given it to follow its lusts and so how great are the retortings and reflections of such upon the reprover Sure I am
of God who being almost if not altogether silent concerning mens following after Faith have thereby I greatly fear been a means to freeze up the desires of men and wholly to stop their endeavours after Faith which if so I could wish that henceforth they would hearken unto the Apostle who puts men upon following after Faith equally observe it as he puts them to follow after Meekness or Patience c. Which considered may be a means to thaw them out of that benummed and frozen estate even unto due considerations and serious stirrings on their parts in order unto the growth and encrease of Faith And withal be sure that your Prayers and Supplications be not wanting to the Lord that he would be pleased to encrease your Faith and so shall you in due time come to experience the being of Faith in you after special degrees wrought there by the operation of Gods Spirit according to Pauls words to the Galatians Chap. 6.22 while you diligently sought and carefully followed after Faith according to his words to Timothy Chap. 6.11 Together with these things let it not be thought a needless work or besides the business in hand to consider whether Saints are not now in these latter dayes wherein 't is evil as appears by the Apostle to depart from the Faith professed in former Apostolical dayes 1 Tim. 4.1 whether Saints I say are not now to seek for and in Faith to wait whereby to receive the Spirit with the same particular gifts and operations which Saints formerly enjoyed in order to their carrying on the great Work of the Gospel both among themselves and others Since God in his making Promise of pouring out the Spirit upon his People which Promise we in these latter dayes flye unto as the ground of our Faith makes mention also of several gifts of the same Spirit John 2.28,29 And withal considering that the Apostles exhorted the Churches earnestly to covet and follow after the several gifts of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.28,29,30,31 14.1,39 Which exhortations if they reach us and speak to us 〈◊〉 much as any other Scripture-exhortations which for any to deny is hard then Oh then great need have all to pray Lord 〈…〉 Faith But in reference to the fore-mentioned drawing nigh unto God by Faith I suppose that which is a very general hinderance thereof is the great unworthiness that persons find in themselves by reason of sin by means whereof they are as it were afraid to draw near unto God or however if they do 't is very coldly having little or no hopes of acceptance with the Lord and so being not in a justified estate from sin are without Faith in reference to the special Graces of Gods Spirit but among these there are some much more worthy than others who by reason of the strength and subtilty of temptations sometimes as well as others transgress the Laws of God but not as such who overtake sin but rather are overtaken with sin Gal. 6.1 Not allowing themselves therein as their great trouble and Soul-heaviness with daily complaints because thereof plainly declares and yet these for want of a right understanding Gods Way to justifie sinners and his readiness to justifie them alas even these go mourning all the day long rather decaying than flourishing in the Way of God You even you in particular the beloved of my Soul do I hereby exhort First That ye alwayes abide watchful and abundantly careful that ye sin not But Secondly If any man sin that you remember there is an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is a propitiation for our sins by whom way is made for you boldly to come to the Throne of Grace that you may find mercy that is to say for all you that having sinned feels the stroke of sin and forgets it not as Sluggards do and so in the sence and godly sorrow for sin in particular attended with holy Resolutions with humble and hearty Confession of the same with fervent desires leading unto earnest Prayer to God for the Remission of the same you forgiving them that have trespassed against you and not onely this for one thing is yet lacking even that you in Faith also commit your selves to his Grace Believing that as he hath in mercy promised so in faithfulness he will perform what he hath promised even the Remission of sins for what things soever ye desire when ye pray saith Christ believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Mark 11.24 And who then can lay any thing to your charge It is God that justifieth such Who or what is there then that condemneth It is Christ that hath died yea rather that he is risen again who also maketh intercession for you through Faith in his blood Rom 3.25 Thus you being very serious and diligent in your Applications to God laying hold on his Promises of Pardon and Remission of sin by Faith and so standing alwayes justified by Faith quitted and freed from all your sins through Grace have so considered no ground or plea because of your unworthiness being now made worthy in the Beloved the Lord Jesus any longer to mistrust or question the good Will and Pleasure of God in reference to your receiving from him the more special Discoveries and Operations of his Spirit but may now boldly go to the Throne of Grace for the same being such whom God waiteth to be gracious unto you having that Faith which his pleasure is to account unto you for Righteousness This being considered how speedily should every Soul not as a thing by the by but as their greatest work when at any time overtaken with sin to draw nigh unto God and that in the sence of every known sin with godly sorrow for the same not daring to delay heaping up sin like the wantons there being every way as much cause of Repentance and Faith for the latter sins as there was for the many former sins committed in ignorance which though persons are ready to acknowledge yet are I fear too apt to neglect the same upon the account that they have renounced their former wayes and their now being in the Way of God and that Christ is now a Mediator for them and the like not considering that the Soul-satisfying benefit of Christs Media orship is enjoyed according to mens Applications unto the Father by him But O what comfort can a Soul have in any thing or with what boldness shall he walk talk or commit himself to his Bed that having sinned against his God hath not as yee been with him and so by Faith received a Pardon from him True it is that such while they neglect the great Soul-searching work and are tossed up and down with the cumbrances of this life may have an imagined Peace and supposed Comfort and so may go on somewhat cheerfully in their thoughts and thinkings as if all were theirs but alas these though they may talk of Gods Love and Mercy are not able to
say upon sure experience with the Prophet that the Lord hath crowned them with loving kindness and tender mercies Psal 103.4 O let him then that readeth understand that every Soul that comes by Faith to be justified from their old sins have a great work to do requiring much watchfulness care and circumspection in order to their maintaining and keeping themselves in a justified estate But moreover let men consider whether they do not while wanting in their Applications to God for the Pardon of sin ignorantly go on in a way very dangerous while the true Fountain of Grace is neglected 't is greatly to be feared that they have hewed to themselves broken Cisterns that will not yea cannot answer their expectations that is to say persons being made sensible that they have sinned against God have thereupon resolved for the time to come to be more watchful and to walk more wisely before God and then having a little while in measure reformed themselves have thereby spoken peace to themselves thinking all is well And why Because they are reformed And thus do they as it were make their own works of Reformation the ground of their peace and satisfaction True it is that works of Reformation in such that have sinned is good for the Lord calls for it yet sure I am and I pray you to consider it that 't is not that no nor any work of Righteousness that they can do yea though they should for ever afterwards so exactly walk both in words thoughts and actions as not again to sin yet I say and confidently conclude that 't is not in the least that which can justifie or cleanse them from the sin already committed And therefore it remains a work none of the least for persons that have sinned against God speedily to draw nigh unto him that by humiliation attended with holy resolutions and Faith they may reach his promised Grace and Mercy the onely sure ground of peace and satisfaction which whosoever attains may understandingly with the Prophet say Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And so then as persons justified and quitted from sin are to endeavour with calling upon God for his Grace to help them some real and thorow Reformation answering to their former resolutions far exceeding what is or can be in such who neglect the true means of Justification in which Reformation of theirs they may rejoyce but not as imagining peace from thence but rather upon the account that God is thereby more honoured even God who hath justified them from all their sins Now forasmuch as 't is Saints great work to keep themselves in the way of Gods Grace and Mercy that they may alwayes stand quitted and justified from sin without which they cannot go to the Throne of Grace with confidence to receive the special presence of Gods Spirit I would pray all such who are in the godly sorrow because of their sin to weigh these following considerations that henceforth there may be a more apt and ready closing in with Gods Promises in reference to Pardon and Forgiveness of sins Namely that the Lord the Lord God against whom ye have sinned is a gracious God abundant in goodness keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin plenteous in mercy rich in mercy abundant in mercy that will abundantly pardon all which the Scriptures witnesseth Consider also That God delighteth in mercy Mic. 7.18 and taketh pleasure in such as hope in his mercy Psal 147.11 and is full of compassion ready to forgive Nehem. 7.19 but slow to anger Psal 145.8 Consider also That Gods mercies endureth for ever and is from Everlasting to Everlasting to such as keep his Covenant reaching over all his Works as the Heaven is high above the Earth so great is his mercy even also as a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal 103.11,13,17 Psal 145.9 Consider also That God who spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all will with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more shall we be saved and justified from sin by his being alive for evermore making intercession for us Rom. 5.10 Consider also That notwithstanding the great backslidings of Israel even playing the harlot with many lovers upon every high Mountain and under every green Tree and that after God had drawn near unto them in much mercy and love yet even to them after they had done all these abominations saith the Lord the gracious God turn thou unto me Jerem. 3.1,6,7 And that in a day when they called not for mercy even then said the Lord return O backsliding Israel for I will be merciful and not keep anger for ever v. 12. Much more therefore will God extend his mercies unto such who mourn in the sence of their sins and call upon him for mercy whereby to be healed Consider also That to believe the Record of God touching the forgiveness of sins is a setting to our seals that God is true John 3.33 But contrariwise not to believe is as much as in us lyes a making God a lyar 1 John 5.10,11 Consider also That if we confess our sins God is just and faithful to forgive us our sins 1 John 1.9 Shewing that we may as well question the justness and faithfulness of God as question his readiness to forgive the sins of such as confess the same but let none question the necessity of Faith in order to the forgiveness of sins because the Apostle here assures it to such as confess their sins without the least word concerning Faith let none I say question it upon that account for by the same reason they may question the necessity of Prayer for that neither is mentioned in this place To this therefore I say as in many other cases must be concluded that it is such that shall find mercy that are qualified not only as saith one Scripture but as saith the Scriptures compared together Consider also That we have an High Priest passed into the Heavens sitting at the right hand of God for that very end to shew mercy even to save to the uttermost by making intercession with his blood Heb. 7.25 That speaketh far better things than that of Abel not for vengeance but for mercy for all such as have Faith in his blood and therefore saith the Apostle Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy Consider also That we have not such an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like we Heb. 4.15 and being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted for he is a merciful High Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the People Heb. 2.17,18 God knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust Psal 103.14 Consider also That in thy
multitude are as Grashoppers and their Camels as the sand by the Sea-shore shall be put to flight when the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it notwithstanding all the strong reasonings of flesh and blood that is for walking by sight because there is no more than three hundred men allowed by God to do it Judg. 7. Are we not to believe that the Meal in the Barrel and the Oyl in the Cruse shall not waste nor fail when the faithful God hath spoken it though never so much contradicted by the nature of flesh and blood because that at present it is but a handful of Meal in a Barrel and but a little Oyl in a Cruse 1 Kings 17. Are we not to believe that the great Walls of Jericho shall fall down flat there being a Promise of God that they shall without giving any heed to the many fleshly gain-sayings because of their height or great strength or because of the low means as blowing in Rams-horns appointed of God in order thereunto Josh 6. The sum of all which is whether such as have attained to a state of Justification from their old sins by Faith in Christ are not in Faith and full assurance to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit whereby to carry on and work through the work begun which otherwise will never be finished there being a plain and most certain promise of God to pour out the same John 2.28,29 Act. 2.38 Without the least hearkning to fleshly gain-sayings or yielding to fleshly dulness or any mistrust because of the low means as Imposition of Hands Heb. 6.1.2 Act. 8.12,15,17 appointed of God in order thereunto or whatsoever else shall attempt the making his word of Promise of no effect Yea and not onely a Promise of God but also very strong provocations whereby to believe the same being assured from the Lord Jesus that he doth not onely as readily as Fathers that are evil give to their Children but how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 That is the Scriptures compared the Lords good pleasure and great freeness is to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him with lifting up of Holy hands unto him in Faith that they shall receive from him Mal. 21.22 And so waiting with opportunity till they do receive him Luke 11.8,9 so as to know his Power and enjoy his Comfort and Light in their Souls that as uncleanness wrath strife with many other such manifest fruits of the flesh heretofore reigned in them now love joy peace gentleness goodness with many other such like Vertues the manifest fruits of the Spirit may appear in them Gal. 6. for where such things are designed by the Soul so as that all other enjoyments of the world gives no satisfaction to it while this spiritual frame is wanting which it desires of any thing yea above all things that the world can afford and thereupon have diligently sought the Lord for it and now setting to its seal that God is True by believing that he is a Rewarder of them that so seek him where I say spiritual things are thus designed Gods ears are open to hear their Prayers he will be nigh unto them in all conditions Moreover for the growing and flourishing of Faith consider that the Lord sought after you when you sought not after him and said to you when you were in your blood turn turn for why will ye dye Turn at my reproof and I will pour out my Spirit unto you Pro. 1.23 And all this before you saw any beauty or excellency in the Holy Spirit and so had no desire after him and therefore sought not God for him and yet even then God thus magnified the riches of his Grace in the kind tenders thereof to you while such And will he not now much more take care for you and possess you with that which he before tendered unto you even the comfortable presence of his Holy Spirit Since you are now turned unto him and become his servants not seeking the honour of the world as before but his Holy Spirit whereby to do him service for the honour of his Name Will he not much more I say tender such Will he with-hold his good Spirit from such He the Lord the Righteous God that hath said He will with-hold no good thing from such as walk uprightly Psal 84.11 Surely no Hath God begot by his Word of Truth brought to the birth caused the Man-child the New-creature to be born into the world to whom he saith Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81.10 and may you judge and not desperately sin through unbelief that God will now starve this New-creature of his own begetting and bringing forth that he will with-hold the spiritual Bread which onely will satisfie it and so famish his own adopted Children as starve they must and starve they will if God give not his Holy Spirit unto them No surely no carnal men will not starve but nourish and cherish their Children And will not God who is rich in mercy and delighteth in mercy nourish his Yea how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him as abovesaid Moreover consider that God having promised his Holy Spirit to such as seek him with Faith to receive the same both his Faithfulness and Righteousness is engaged for them that so seek him which the holy and believing man fears not to make mention before the Lord saying with David Hear me O Lord in thy Faithfulness and in thy Righteousness Psal 143.1 Moreover for men highly to esteem Gods Promises and so to magnifie them in their hearts as that all pleading of Flesh World or Devil because of the deadness of body or barrenness of the womb shall be utterly rejected as not worthy to be considered when God hath spoken I say for men thus to esteem Gods Promises there being every whit as much reason for them so to do as to esteem and keep his Commandments is not onely the way leading to their Happiness but also that which mightily gives glory to God Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving glory to God Rom. 4.20 These things write I unto you O Friends that henceforth your sences might be much exercised and your minds more and more busied in the consideration of these and such like things that the knowledge which you have of Gods Promises may be a word so planted in your understandings by Faith as that all fleshly staggerings and carnal oppositions may fall down before it and by such endeavours on your part you shal appear to be such who are obedient to the wholsom Counsel of the Apostle who exhorted Timothy to follow after Godliness Righteousness Charity Faith Meekness Patience 1 Tim. 6.11 Who questionless knew how Faith was to be obtained as well as any of those that speak so much of Faith's being the gift
as that he therewith may be able both to pay his debts and to live comfortably on the rest 2 Kings 4.2,7 Wherefore he makes it his great work to seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof being that which is required on his part in the doing of which he believingly waits for the fulfilling of that promised on Gods part namely that he will add all such things being also encouraged in this his confidence with those weighty considerations published by the Lord Jesus for that very end to beget Faith in his Disciples namely that God doth feed the Sparrows and richly cloath the Lillies of the Field and therefore surely will much more take care for those that are his adopted children for whom he spared not his own Son to do them good and therefore as the Apostle reasoneth most surely will with him the mercy of mercies freely give all other good things Also this believing man considers that if he should care and carp doing what possibly can be done yet cannot add one cubit to his stature as Christ witnesseth as his own former experiences witnesseth and as the apparent event and issues of mens carping cares and intemperate thoughts witnesseth therefore he with all seriousness and readiness of mind commits his condition to the gracious God who hath promised never to leave nor forsake his People so that he boldly prayes to God for his daily bread and as confidently expects it of him yea and as certainly receives from him which he receives with thanksgiving being one of them that believes and knows the truth And thus while others depend upon visible things and so have them to wit Lands Livings Tradings Relations Powers often in their minds affections and consequently under many piercing cares and Soul-vexations while depending thereupon while others I say are thus the believing man whose dependance is not upon things that are seen but upon the Lord contrariwise hath the Lord often and much in his mind for men are apt to mind that which is their constant help and so this man having the Lord much in his mind is thereby wrought into his fear kept tender of his glory and greatly affected with and much desirous of the much-wanted presence of his good Spirit and thus his mind and the Meditations of his heart is much in Heaven with God in Faith praying unto him for the same and much there expecting what in Faith he hath prayed for and having received much there also in praysing his Name therefore by all which he is become much heavenly-minded spiritually framed able to say as they of old My conversation is in Heaven when others onely reads of it and talks of it but knows it not in themselves O therefore how much more blessed is it to live by Faith than by sight it being both a God exalting and a Creature-comforting state and condition But why do I speak these things Not because I think that any will say in words that 't is better to live by sight than by Faith But alas What is it for men to acknowledge what is best and yet still abide in what is worst For I would pray you to consider whether or no it be not some visible thing in present being that gives you your hopes of daily bread rather than the sure Promises of God Is it not both your words and in your inward thoughts that you hope to live comfortably and to bring the year well about in that you have either Lands in possession as your own or a good Farm or good Trading or good Friends or the like If not so I would know what means then the usual complaints discontents great fears and vexations of spirit when at any time these outward things fail or begin to fail If your hopes did arise from the onely pure fountain to wit Gods gracious Promises Why then should you be so disquieted For the decaying or failing in measure of these outward things doth not make Gods Promises to be no Promises he abideth faithful and all his Promises are Yea and Amen in Christ You indeed may sometimes in the time of need and in the day of trouble pray unto God that he would give you daily bread and that he would deliver you out of trouble it being generally known that Saints should do so and from hence conclude that your dependance is upon God and possibly you may be a telling others that you desire and Oh! how good a thing it is to trust in God and rely upon him in all conditions c. When alas and for the Lords sake consider it you all that while may be far from trusting in God indeed and even such who draw nigh to God with your mouths when your hearts may be far from God even depending upon and trusting in things visible instead of a heatty believing in God whom you pray unto with a serious and constant waiting upon him for to receive that which you have asked of him Contrariwise as the Faith of the Faithful renders them happy and in all conditions comfortable so the Unbelief of the Unbeliever renders him miserable and in all conditions comfortless it being a most bitter root from whence springs many yea a very great multitude of corrupt branches the fruit whereof hath so mightily corrupted the earth for the purging of which there is but little hopes till such time the bitter root to wit Unbelief be plucked up out of the hearts of the Sons and Daughters of men which remaining in the hearts of the Children of Israel kept them out of the promised Land for although their sins were many bearing divers names yet by the Apostle Heb. 3.19 't is said They entred not 〈◊〉 because of their unbelief as if that were the root or cause of all or most of the rest And again those that did enter in in after-times were broken off because of unbelief Rom. 11.20 In some certain places Christ did not do many mighty works because of their unbelief Mark 6.5 Mat. 13.58 He that believeth not is condemned already because he believeth not in the onely begotten Son of God John 3.18 For what consider I pray you is the cause of mens so dishonouring God by transgression Hath not Israel heard doth not Israel know Yes verily they have both heard and known but the Word preached doth not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that hear it Heb. 4.2 They well know that they should improve their time to the best advantage sometimes in the Closet in serious and sober Meditations sometimes in solemn Prayer and Supplications to â—od and sometimes in Praying with Fasting but alas Unbelief riseth up and too much keeps under the Light of Truth in their Souls filling them with distrustful thoughts even how then they shall live and maintain their Families Wherewith to eat and wherewith to put on if thus they should spend their time And so it comes to pass that men too too much are found dwelling
with as its constant companion a serious and constant waiting to receive from God what is prayed for alas there may be by you words uttered proceeding from a meer notion which may be exercised as upon narrow search may be seen to find out words and expressions and to utter them in such a way manner as may to the eyes and ears of men render you fervent and zealously affected after the things prayed for rather than from any real and internal sence begotten in you of God leading you up nearer to God your words may be importing more longings after Grace than really is in you and greater desires and larger affections after the Wisdom and Power of God than indeed and in truth is in you your words may be importing also more detestation of sin and transgression than may be true from your hearts and if so What shall I say of this Is it an acceptable service in the sight of God Nay it is in truth a speaking lyes before the Throne of Grace a dead work timely to be repented of Moreover when you for some time neglect Prayer probably are somewhat troubled but then coming to a more frequent practice thereof you thereupon put the trouble from you and seem to be satisfied though for a long time you experience no answer to your Prayers which proves that your satisfaction is not in that which is bread indeed Yea doth it not prove that either yet you have not attained unto the New Birth or if you have that it is now even languishing and almost senceless for that if in health will not be satisfied with asking for the bread which is from above unless it also receive it no more than the birth which is after the flesh will be satisfied with asking for outward bread unless it be also received and enjoyed within Moreover when you joyn with others Praying in publick it may be a small occasion as a persons coming in or going out or the like trifles presently causes the ear to listen and the eyes to gaze up and down which if so account not that an acceptable approaching to God What no more reverence in speaking to the Almighty No more sence of your conditions and of the necessity of receiving from God to keep your minds more close to God In the true fear of God consider these things Neither think to say within your selves because you sometimes praise God and give thanks unto his Name that therefore you have ground to believe the Promises of God reaches you for this may you do as Israel did and yet far from that kind of praising God which God accepts of and which glorifies his Name which proceeds from a true knowledge and sence of mercies received and so hearty desires thereupon to set forth his praise you being it may be onely led forth to speak words of praise possibly the very same which the sensible man doth from a naked apprehension that such a thing is spoken of in the Scriptures and that others do so and therefore you cannot quiet Conscience unless you do so too and it may be herein also utter expressions importing a greater and larger receiving from God than indeed and in truth you have received which to do is hypocrisie and iniquity Neither think to say within your selves because you sometimes read the Holy Scriptures that therefore with what is above said you have ground to believe the Promises reaches you for so did the sinful Jews do yea thought that they had in the Scriptures Eternal Life who nevertheless were such to whom Christ said How can ye believe that receive honour one of another John 5.39,44 And may I not say to you touching this your practice as touching the rest of your performances That is to say when you read not then are you disquieted but when you sometimes read then the trouble is removed and you at quiet though little or no experience of profit reaped thereby which is the proper end thereof should you not even as your principal care when you read Commandements have an eye open within to see whether you have obeyed them and kept close to them yea or nay And when you read Promises to consider whether you have or still do believe them with all the heart yea or nay Most surely this becometh such as wait for the real substance of things Neither think to say within your selves Because when you at any time sin against God you can remember that there was something within you that testified against the sin and opposed it and so judge your selves in Pauls condition Who did that which he would not that therefore you have ground to believe the Promises of God reaches you as well as they did Paul for alas how great may be your mistake herein the ground of your confidence of being in Pauls condition it may be no more than what the Drunkard may have to say that he is in Pauls condition who purposing to go to a merry meeting is warned by his Friend not to go who nevertheless with full purpose of heart goes and is drunk with the drunken yet may he say and truly too that he was warned not to go and that his friend opposed it which may be is all you can say even that the Word of God in your hearts testified against the sin which you were tempted unto who nevertheless with full purpose of heart committed the sin without the drawings back and contradictions of any regenerate part in you but onely the knowledge you have that such and such things are sin and evil contradicted it which even the wicked and abominable in some measure have Which if so you are not able to say with Paul from sure experience that your inward man delighted in the Law of God Rom 7.22 And that you were carried captive to the evil by the Law in the members ver 23. And that you were overtaken with sin Gal. 6.1 And not that you overtook sin though possibly you may have these words in your mouths but alas if they are not true as to your condition you do but deceive your selves thereby thinking your selves to be what you are not Neither think to say within your selves Because you do nothing but that you are able to shew some seeming ground and reason for your so doing that therefore you have ground to believe Gods Promises reaches you for that you may be able to do as could Saul and the people with him for their sparing the best of the Sheep and Oxen and yet nevertheless live after the flesh the which whosoever doth shall die eternally My meaning in many cases of this nature more clearly you shall understand by this one instance namely A certain carnal man beholding a very new and curious fashion in matter of Apparel presently falls in love with it enters into Bed and commits Adultery therewith but having received some Light from the Word that Saints should not fashion themselves according to their former
lusts and also living possibly among a people that are ready to reprove such fashions Hereupon is led forth by the hand of the old corrupt man to search for some reasonable account that may be given both to himself a little troubled through the Word bearing testimony against it and also unto others and while searching with this corrupt mind Satan being not wanting he findes that in some respect this new fashion may be profitable whereat he is glad and so hastily casts out all former questions and so procures it though it cost him a great deal more than at any time he is willing to bestow on the poor and then with a loud voice and much carnal disputings he stands to plead for it for saith he 't is thus and thus profitable which possibly may be true in some small sense But alas he considers not how the lust first conceived in him by his assent with love and delight thereunto He considers not that though there be some small profit therein that 't was not that which lead him to get it for 't was the love and heart-delight which he had to it as being a fashion pleasing the eye of flesh and whereby he might seem to others to be thus and thus that first moved him thereunto The worldly man will say that he must spend much time and take a great deal of care to get this Worlds goods that he may have somewhat considerably to give to the poor but he lies in his heart before God and men Neither think to say within your selves Because you sometimes distribute something to the poor Saints that therefore Gods Promises reaches you for alas sometimes that may be onely a matter of constraint and not willingly and so not rewardable I mean by constraint so as that you may rather than you will publickly oppose such and such works of Charity whereby you may think that people will speak hardly of you and you thereby come to have an ill name rather than this you may be constrained to give something though little or no heart to it otherwise and sometimes upon the account that conscience with such a loud voyce calls for works of Charity you may be perswaded to part with something to quiet conscience having all that while but little real and hearty love and compassion on the poor Saints as appears among some First by their being quieted and altogether satisfied in that they have distributed something never considering whether they have done what is their duties to do whether the poor Saints have food and raiment sufficient yea or nay Secondly As appears by their much more diligent eye over such as are poor than over others whereby to find some kind of flaw or other in their walkings that so they may quiet conscience thereby while they administer not to them this savours of much carnality where ever it is for should you not be merciful even as your Heavenly Father is merciful Neither think to say within your selves some of you Because you are more kind milde and more meek than others that therefore the Promises of God reaches you For although these things be good qualifications yet may be no certain testimony to you of your striving and labouring in the grace of God whereby these qualifications in you may be truly said to be the fruits of the Spirit though they being found in others may be so yet I say not in you because it is but the same which was alwayes in you naturally and you in the mean while may be far from it and a great stranger unto any experiences of Conquest and victory through Divine help over those other Passions that have reigned in you to the great dishonour of God Oh that you would remember Christs words as thus Every Branch in me that beareth not fruit God taketh away Neither think to say within your selves some of you Because you are able to preach and to dispute for Truth that therefore you have ground to believe the Promises of God reaches you for all this may you do as some of the Jews that were become Teachers of others but were not taught themselves and yet at last may be inexcusable as they were while the life of Godliness preached to others is not lived up to by your selves For alas what availeth it men to Preach unto others that they must be new Creatures if in the mean while they themselves have not put off the old Man with his Deeds And with what comfort or boldness can men Preach to others that they should Repent Believe and be Baptized for the Remission of sins and so shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit if in the mean while they know not their own sins remitted nor the gift of the holy Spirit received Or with what comfort can any Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ to others if they in the mean while know not themselves out of the Kingdom of Darkness and so have themselves by faith interest in the Kingdom of Christ What men talk talk of life and eternal glory and in the mean while do the works that leads unavoidably to eternal death Oh horrible blindness Oh what a lamentable condition is this How great is the disproportion betwixt it and the condition of the Gospel-Preachers in dayes of old who perswaded others to have fellowship with them saying Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ 1 John 1.3 And so were such as were able to tell others what the Lord had done for their souls how God had comforted them in all their tribulations and so were made able to comfort them which were in any trouble by the comfort wherewith themselves were comforted of God 2 Cor. 1.4 These things write I unto you not because I slight you under what name or Title soever you are on whom these words may take hold neither for your destruction do I thus speak but rather desire you and with the holy Spirit speaking to the Churches do I hereby exhort you O Laodiceans timely to repent and be zealous that so Gods Promises may reach you as well as any other for the Lord is not willing that any of you should perish and that so his people may with all freeness have fellowship with you The great Errour and mistake of the Quakers concerning the true Christ and how he is said to be in his People And concerning the Rule of Man-kind MOreover Since 't is not the Talker nor ready Disputer nor the Busie Preacher of this World but the single-hearted doer of what is Preached Disputed or Talked of that shall enter into the Kingdom It remains a work very great for every Professing Soul to abide very circumspect and watchful together with a constant trusting in and dependance upon the Lord who waits to be gracious that thereby they may be more and more wrought up unto a well-pleasing the Lord in all things But lest any soul should be deceived by the
them to see what Testimony is there now the Devil being a Spirit and so working within being also an Enemy to Christ and his Ordinances he even he bears testimony within them that what they have heard is true even that the Ordinances are ceased c. whenas those that search the Scriptures according to the commandment of Christ quickly see that 't is the Ordinances of the Old Testament and not of the New that Christ nailed to his Cross Now if you observe these men being first deceived concerning the Rule thereby are greatly disinabled to descern the Evil spirit speaking within them for by what should he be tryed if the Scriptures be not a Rule and so these alas poor creatures finding such and such perswasions within them greatly fear to contradict or gain-say it it being no lesse to them then to contradict or gain-say the mind of the Lord Jesus they believing that it is Christ the Light that speaketh within them yea although their inward perswasions never so much contradict the Scriptures yet they adhere to them not daring to question the Light as they call it within them but presently concludes that they have understood the Scriptures and so perverts the plain meaning thereof into some kind of imagined Mystery that so they may one way or other cause the Scriptures without to speak agreeable to that they call Light within them And that I wrong not these men hereby consider one thing of many that might be instanced namely touching Women who in all plainness are forbidden by the Scriptures to teach in the Church but since the Spirit in these men sayes that women may teach they adhere thereunto and perverts the plain Scripture into a Mystery and so declares that the woman which is forbidden to teach 1 Tim. 2.12,13 is the wisdom of the flesh either in man or woman and not the Female kind as you may read in Farnworths Book intituled A Woman forbidden to speak in the Church page 3. But that there is no such Light in every man as aforesaid appears in that Christ gave commandment to his Apostles to go into all the world and teach all Nations to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them Marke 16.15 Mat. 28.19,20 And Paul witnesseth that he had declared all the Counsel of God Acts. 20.27 whereupon 't is required that men incline their ear and hear that their Souls may live Isai 55.3 and such as turn away their eares from the truth are reproved 2 Tim 4.4 All which were empty and useless things both Christs Command That all things whatsoever should be taught the Nations the Apostles obedience to that Command in Preaching all things and also the Nations lending their ears to hear what is preached to them if it were true that there were such a Light in every man of the Nations as were sufficient to guide in all the wayes of God and were placed in the Nations for that very purpose and that no other Rule or Means could lead to God which Humphery Smith affirmeth 'T is indeed said by the Prophet that Christ should be given a Light to the Gentiles from whence these men plead That Christ is a Light in every one of the Gentiles without any other outward means But Paul and Barnabas well understanding the Scriptures pleaded another thing from thence directly contrary namely thus Lo we turn to the Gentiles for so hath the Lord commanded us saying I have set thee to be a Light of the Gentiles c. Acts 13.46,47 because 't was said Christ was set to be a Light of the Gentiles therefore they would go and preach to the Gentiles And what were they to preach to them not that one thing of turning to a Light their Teacher within but ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER Mat. 28.19,20 all the Counsel of God Act. 20.27 I then with the Apostle conclude thus How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent How beautifull therefore are the feet of them that preach the Gospel So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. Among many things contradicting this Opinion That every mans Rule is within him and that there is no other Rule Means or Wayes that leads to God this is none of the least namely Because when there was asfair occasions given as well can be conceived for the Doctrine of turning to a Light within to be preached as fair occasions I say as well can be conceived through the many enquiries of men even what they should do that then 't was not preached neither by God Christ Angel nor men as to instance In the dayes of the Prophet Zechariah Sherezer and Regem-melech were sent by the Children of Israel to enquire of the Priests and Propets which were in the House of God whether they should weep in the fifth Month separating themselves as they had done many years before Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But God speaks by the Prophet saying Should you not hear the Words which the Lord hath cryed by the former Prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity Zech. 7.2,3,7 Also John the Baptist who is declared to be a burning and a shining Light sent two of his Disciples unto Jesus saying by them Art thou he that should come or do we look for another Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith the man Christ Go and tell John what things you have heard and seen how that the blinde see the lame walk the Lepers are clensed c. such outward means was returned by Christ the true Light for Johns satisfaction Luke 7.19,20,21,22 In the Dayes of John came the people unto him saying What shall we do also the Publicans saying Master what shall we do also the Souldiers demanded of him saying What shall we do Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith John having another Spirit He that hath two coats let him impart to him that hath none exact no more then that which is appointed you do violence to no man neither accuse falsly but be content with your wages Luke 3.10,11,12,13,14 Also a certain Young man came to Christ saying What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ Keep the Commandements and sell that which thou hast and give to the poor c. Matth. 19.16,17,21 Again the Jews demanded of Christ saying What shall we do that we might work the works of God Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent that was Christ himself that talked with them and was not in them that afterwards dyed for the sins of the World John 6.28,29 Lord What wilt thou have me to do saith Saul Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith the Lord
Christ and this after his Ascension Arise and go into Damascus and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do and that not by a Light within him for when he was come to Damascus Ananias a certain Disciple told him many things as you may read and said Why tarryest thou Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins calling upon the name of the Lord Act. 22.10,11,12,13,14,15,16 Moreover when Peter had preached many things to the People at Ierusalem 't is said when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles What shall we do and saith the Jalour What must I do to be saved Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Peter Paul and Silas being led with the Spirit of Light indeed Repent Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be baptized every one of you in his Name for the Remission of Sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Act. 2.37,38 Act. 16.30,31 In like manner when the Angel of God appeared in a vision unto Cornelius he said What is it Lord Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith the Angel of Light Send men to Joppa and call for one Simon who is surnamed Peter he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do and when Peter was come he preached unto him Christ whom the Jews slew and hanged on a tree with whom they had eat and drank c. and at length said Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized and he commanded them to be baptized c. Act. 10.4,5,6,38,39,41,47,48 Object John saith That the anointing which ye have received abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you c. Answ Consider The Churches unto whom the Apostles wrote their Epistles were gifted with the Holy Spirit the anointing as themselves acknowledge in their Writings yet nevertheless they saw need for them to write but it appears that this Church or Churches to whom John speaks these words were so enriched with spiritual gifts so many gifted Brethren among themselves in whom the anointing so mightily wrought as that Iohn doth as it were say that these things I have written indeed unto you concerning them that seduce you but I look upon you so furnished with the gifts of Wisdom and spiritual Understanding as that there was no absolute necessity for any man either I Iohn Peter or Paul in remote places to write unto you whereby to instruct and teach you Furthermore the anointing abode indeed in them Iohn saith but that every particular person had the anointing so in them as that not any of them needed to be taught Iohn saith not the anointing Spirit abode in them in the Body the Church so as that there was it seems several able through the anointing to teach and instruct the rest which is the Will and Mind of the Lord even for spiritual men so to do Col. 3.16 1 Thes 5.11 Object 'T is said That ye shall not teach every man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest Heb. 8. Answ 'T is to be observed that those whom the Lord sayes shall not teach every man his Neighbour are such onely as have their sins forgiven them by Faith in Christ and not all men in the world whatsoever which is the fence of these men I say onely such because in that very place 't is said as from the Lord even that all shall know me from the least to the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8.12 And this pardon I am sure and I think none opposes reaches not every particular man in the world Therefore all those that have so repented of their sins believed and obeyed the Lord Jesus as to know this gracious pardon reaching them they indeed need not teach one another saying know the Lord as the Children of the old Covenant had need to do they being Children thereof by generation These I say that are Children of the new Covenant by regeneration have no need so to teach one another saying know the Lord as if they knew not the Lord to be their Lord and Saviour for 't is most certain that he is the Lord and Saviour of all such whose sins and iniquities he remembreth no more but though these have no need to say to one another know the Lord upon the account aforesaid yet even these have need to be builded up in the knowledge of the Lord and that by outward means for Timothy knew the Lord as his Saviour and so needed not to be taught to know the Lord in that sence yet Paul sends Scripture unto him That he might know how to behave himself in the Church of God 1 Tim. 3.14,15 And Peter saith to them that knew the Lord 2 Pet. 1.3 Grow in Grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Chap. 3.18 Therefore you that serve the Lord in simplicity of heart and fear to offend him receive the Word of Exhortation even That you stand fast and hold the Traditions which you have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle heed it well 2 Thes 2. 15. And as for such who will not hear Moses and the Prophets you may be sure will not be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luke 16.31 But withal let each Soul take good heed that while they be careful to avoid this extream concerning the Light within the Quakers sence they do not run out into another extream also dangerous even little to mind or wholly to neglect walking up to the Light they have received within their Souls according to the Scripture sence or Gospel way of enlightning men for alas 't is not enough for men to know and talk of what is good what are spiritual things but to do good and to be spiritual Oh how much more excellent is that there is the peace known that others onely hear of even the Peace of God which passeth understanding Above all things take the shield of Faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan and to open the Windows in your service to God as afore-time Dan. 6.10 For should such a man as I flee I will not go in saith Nehemiah Chap. 6.10,11,13 MATTHEW CAFFYN THE END