done the Work and Will and Business of his Creatour according as it was expected from him and consequently the Creature can then return with more Comfortable Expectation unto him And now come I to thee We cannot better and more willingly surrender back our Spirits to the God who gave them then when they have faithfully performed that very same thing for which God sent these Spirits into these Bodies for to do And now O thou invisible Creator the invisible part of us which was by thee Created comes to thee From what hath been afore written it appears that there are three things especially which upon good and true grounds can make any one contented willing and desirous to Dye First When one hath seen the Salvation of God Secondly When the Lord God of truth hath Redeemed us Thirdly When one hath Glorified God on Earth and finisbed the Work which he gave us to do It was Revealed unto Simeon by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death until he had seen the Lord's Christ And he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when his Parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for him after the Custom of the Law then took he him in his Arms and Blessed God and said mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation So that Simeon his seeing the Salvation of God was seeing Jesus Christ in the Flesh But since the fullness of time is over and past we cannot now see him in the Flesh here on Earth yet we may see him in his Grace and Revelation But chiefly to see Christ the Salvation of God the Power of God and the Wisdom of God is with the Eyes of our Understanding being enlightened and turned inwards to see Christ within us Little Children of whom I travail in Birth till Christ be formed in ye And so to have Christ formed in us this is to see the Salvation of God Now this is a work of time and succession as it is of forming the Infant in the Womb. To have or see Christ formed within us is the Business and Work of our whole Life here on Earth which the Preaching and Ministry of the word doth help unto And when once Christ is throughly formed within us and we see the Salvation of God then we may be well contented willing and Desirous to dye for this Reason For as when the Chick sees the Kite or Hawk which would devour it if she can run under the Hens wings then she is safe For as the Hen was at first Instrumental to give it Life and Being so it will still preserve it Even so by seeing the Lord 's Christ who is the Prince of Life and the Salvation of God the faithful Soul who is in Covenant with him runs and makes unto Christ who promises and performs it also He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust Psal 91. 3. and gathereth his Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings Here let Death and the Devil come and destroy that Soul if they can Christ is greater in power and might Forsamuch then as the Children were partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same that he through Death might Destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil And destroy them who through fear of Death were all their life time Subject to Bondage If we are first saved from Sin and Guilt then wâ— are also saved from the wrath to come And then wâ— may be contented and willing to dye for therefore People are afraid to dye Because they are afraid to fall under the wrath of God Now if they are sure and safe from that then Death is without any sting at all which is Sin And then also we shall be safe saved and preserved from all the Evils Plagues and Punishmentâ— of the World to come So that after all the Miseries and Irksomness of this present Life for as there is a satiety of all things so at length there is a satiety even of Life it self after all the toyl and wearisomness and labour thereof God our Creator will comfort us for this same toil and the times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Blessed be his Name for it He doth here in this valley of Tears and place of Weeping afford us some good and Comfortable things yet seeing that he hath appointed our time on Earth as the days of an Hireling we may willingly and contentedly give up our Breath and commit our Spirits into his hand saying with old Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Because we shall have yet better and more Satisfactory things when we depart hence To be patient to Live and willing to Dye is the temper and disposition of Soul which I desire and would endeavour at And this my willingness to dye should not proceed out of a Melancholy temper Like Jonah in an Angry Mood who would have the Lord to take his Life from him For it was better for him to Dye than to Live only forsooth because he was displeased at the time that the Lord did not destroy Nineveh according to the word which he had Preached But this was only a pettish humour of his And so others at this day upon a sudden Affliction and Vexation are forthwith weary of the world and call to Death to come and ease them of the present Burthen Trouble Grief or Uneasiness But give me the mind that is willing to dye upon the same Reason as the Apostle was Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Phil. 1. 23. Then the best condition here on Earth when also it can truly be said To me to dye is gain For by Death I shall gain or get more Good more Satisfaction more Comfort more Happiness and Blessedness then ever I had on this Earth Then only Death is gain when to live is Christ when we lay out our selves and live only for Christ that is in his service and to get Christ formed within us then truly Death is gain But if on the other hand People live to themselves or for themselves as in the service of Mam mon and for Pleasure and they are wanton on the Earth the consequence thereof is they have nourished their heart as in the day of Slaughter or against the day of Slaughteâ— to such to dye is not Gain but Loss for thereby they losâ— their Pleasure they lose their Mammon and they receive nâ—… good instead thereof but only Punishment and wrath Blessed are the Dead which dye in the Lord. But 't is only those who live unto the Lord that is in his service and Obedience that Dye in the Lord. If we mean to gain by ouâ— Death that is to get and obtain more good thereby thaâ— we had here we must do somewhat for it whilst we are in Life
God the Lord belong the Issues from Death In saving us from Sin God doth save us from Death also inasmuch as Death is by reason of Sin And therefore Jesus Christ in whom was no sin he being the Holy one of God Therefore he should not see corruption and it was not possible that he should not be holden of Death as Peter doth truly averr it So that as God and Christ do save us from sin unto God do belong the Issues from Death for there is a flowing and rising and deliverance from that again As health is an holding together of Temporal Life so Holiness or freedom from sin is the Principle and beginning of Eternal Life It is an act of Salvation or saving to subdue And as to this also we have God speaking on this wise He will turn again he will have compression upon us he wiâ—… subdue our iniquities Micah 7. 19. which indeed is the greatest instance of compassion that can be shewed unto us Men for unless God did subdue our Iniquities we must die perish and be miserable for ever Now to Subdue our Iniquities is to conquer and subdue the reigning Nature and Power of them so that they shall not involve us into the Death of Sin here nor yet into the Damnation of Hell hereafter Having thus Explained what Salvation is in order that we may the better understand those true and assured grounds of a willingness to dye when we have seen the Salvation of God wrought and accomplished upon and within our Souls Proceed we to speak 〈◊〉 the Nature of Redemption which is also another trâ—… and assured Ground of committing our Spirit into thâ— hand of God because thou hast Redeemed us O Lorâ— God of Truth The signification of which Redemption may be Understood from what is written Forasmuâ—… as ye know that ye were not Redeemed with Corruptibâ—… things as Silver and Gold from your vain Conversation receivâ—… by tradition from your Fathers And as the same Apostâ—… doth elsewhere phrase it By these you might be partâ—kers of the Divine Nature which none can be unâ—… be is first Redeemed from the corrupt Nature aâ— from the Body of Sin which we carry about us having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through lust So that to be Redeemed from Corruption and from Lust both which are very much in the World this â—s Redemption Upon my Discoursing these things Examine your selves whoso shall hear or Read these Lines can ye thus find and witness Redemption in your own Souls That is do ye feel and Experience inwardly a Redemption in ye from that vain Conversation which is so much used and practised by other People and also a Redemption from Corruption and from Lust If it is so Indeed and in Truth then ye have purchased a good degree in the Faith and ye have made a considerable Advancement and Proficiency in the Christian-Life So that ye are in a readiness and willingness to Commit your Spirits into the hand of God because he hath Redeemed them And then in Psal 31. 5. He is called the Lord God of Truth Intimating thereby that he doth Redeem and Sanctifie them by his Truth There is another Scripture which doth clearly open the Nature of Redemption These were they which were â—…ot defiled with Women these were Redeemed observe that â—…rom among Men being the first Fruits unto God and to â—he Lamb. And in their Mouth was found no Guile for they were without fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 4. 5. â—t is here to be taken notice of how the Scripture in â—his and many other places doth in a wonderful manner Instruct People in these things of Holiness perâ—ection and Innocency It is the Point or End which â—…ll Scripture doth drive at and lead unto But in this â—lace to be Redeemed doth import to be Redeemed â—…om among Men and not to be defiled with Women That is not to be Tainted or Touched with the Temptation of either to be freed from Lust Concupicence and from the motions of Sins in our Members and to have in our Mouth no Guile found and to be without fault before the Throne of God Such are his Redeemed and Sanctified ones And the Ransomed of the Lord elsewhere called the Redeemed of the Lord Isa 51. 11. shall return and comâ— to Zion with Songs and Everlasting joy upon their Headâ— They shall obtain joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighâ—ing shall flee away Isa 35. 10. In truth none havâ— such Reason to be joyful as these Redeemed of the Lord for nothing can possibly hurt them Not Meâ— nor Devils nor yet Death it self which is the moâ—… Melancholy thing and of doubtful Expectation as tâ— other People for by Death they are received into God hand the place of Everlasting joy There is yet another Scripture which Explains thâ— Nature of Redemption Who gave himself for us that 〈◊〉 might Redeem us from all Iniquity and Purifie unto him self a peculiar People zealous of good Works Titus 2. 1 The Scripture is all along consonant and agreeable to 〈◊〉 self for this Redeeming from all Iniquity and Purifyiâ—… answers exactly to that place aforementioned of beinâ— without Guile and to have no fault A state of Innocenâ—… is a state of Redemption for it is a state of Redeâ—ption from Sin Guilt and whatever may hurt or maâ—… the Soul miserable It is a Redeeming from Captivitâ— Bondage and Thraldom from the Vassalage of Sâ—…tan and the Imprisonment of Hell which as we 〈◊〉 come Obnoxious unto only by reason of Sin Iniquiâ—… and Transgression So as we are Redeemed from theâ—… we are consequently Redeemed and saved from tâ—… other also Besides these two Grounds of having seen the Salvâ—tion of God and his having Redeemed us there is anothâ—… for our willingness and contentment to dye from whâ—… is written I have Glorified thee on the Earth I haâ—… finished the Work which thou gavest me to do And nâ—… come I to thee John 17. 4. 13. Now seeing that whoâ—… God did foreknow He did also Predestinate to be confâ—…med unto the Image of his Son that he might be tâ—… first Born amongst many Brethren So that we mâ—… assuredly Reason that every Servant of God may upâ—… true grounds be willing to dye and to come unto Gâ—… when he hath before Glorified him on the Earth aâ—… finished the Work which God gave him to do Aâ—… now come I to thee Words full of consolation and rejoycing Like as when a Servant is sent out to such a place about his Masters Business when he hath done it he returns to his Master with rejoycing and complacency of mind Even so God our Creator sent us Reasonable Creatures to do his Work and Business Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers Business Luke 2. 49. Said Jesus Christ his beloved Son who herein left us an Example that we should follow his steps Now certainly it must be a Satisfaction to the Creature when he hath
THE Great Useful and Blessed DUTY OF A Contentment Willingness and Desire TO DIE Set forth upon true and assured Grounds in several Discourses on these following Scriptures Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy word For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luke 2. 29 30. Into thine hand I commit my Spirit Thou hast Redeemed me O Lord God of truth Psal 31. 5. I have glorified thee on the Earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do John 17. 4. By RICHARD STAFFORD A Servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ Recommended as more proper and Beneficial to be given at Funerals than Gloves or Rings LONDON Printed and are to be sold by the Book-sellers of London and Westminster 1700. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luke 2. 29 30. FRom these Words I shall treat through God's Assistance and according to the Knowledge given me O continue thy loving kindness to them that know thee and thy Righteousness to the upright in heart of our contentment and willingness to Die or depart from off this Earth Why Is there any need to perswade or exhort People to a Willingness and Desire to surrender back their Spirits unto the God who gave them This seems to be but what is Natural and Reasonable Yet still there is a reluctancy and backwardness in our Spirits to do this because the Spirit is conscious of having offended God and is afraid to meet with him Angry or as a God that â—aketh Vengeance And therefore until this same God is perfectly Reconciled unto and at Peace with her and he is sensible and assured thereof the Soul must needs be affraid and backward to come and appear before him A diversity is to be observed when it is written Into thine hand I commit my Spirit Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth The Psalmist doth not here say Thou hast Created me O Lord God of Truth Though indeed this is true yet that is not altogether so satisfying 〈◊〉 Reason for him to willingly commit his Spirit into God's Hand as the consideration of his having Redeemed him is Because that by Nature we are the Children of Wrath as well as others and we are shapen in Iniquity and in Sin doth our Mother conceive us So that until this same Sin and Iniquity which is the Object of God's Hatred Displeasure and Punishment be done away and we are Redeemed from it for by his Redeeming us we are in a state of Reconcilation again as this is God's Act also as well as of Creating us we are not meet and consequently there cannot be a Willingness upon good and true Grounds to give up our Spirits unto God or to say with old Simeon in the Text Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace Even this old Simeon though he had already lived long on this Earth yet he would not have been so contented and desirous to have departed out of it unless he was to depart in Peace Not to depart generally as most People do in doubt fear and trouble but to depart in Peace If we could have our choice and it were so in our power as to be Immortal here and never to Die as for my part I should desire and pray unto God either to depart in Peace or not to depart at all Foâ—… as it is said of the Son of Perdition It would have been good for him if he had never been Born so it may be here affirmed of those who do not depart in Peace It would be good for them not to depart or not to dye at all Not but that some may go off disturbedly and yet go off safely The Soul may be sometimes in a state of Peace and yet not be sensible thereof Who feareth thâ— Lord and obeyeth the voice of his Servant and yet walketh in darkness and have no light Isa 50. 10. But when one hath true and assured Grounds of Departing in Peace as Simeon here had there one may pray and appeal to God for him to let our Soul depart from the Body What were those true and assured Grounds which Simeon had of departing in Peace They are contained in the following Verse For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation From hence it appears that the true and assured Groundâ— for which any one is willing and contented to Dye is Because he hath seen the Salvation of God or for the committing our Spirit into the Hand of God is Because he hath Redeemed us Now to see the Salvation of God or for God to Redeem us do amount to near one and the same thing As it is written The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation in the Margent there it is with outward shew Neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for beâ—old the Kingdom of God is within you So here it may be reasoned and supposed The Salvation of God is not outward nor yet cometh with Observation but the Salvation of God is within us It is wrought and accomplished within us And thou shalt call his Name Jeâ—us for he shall save his People from their Sins Mat. 1. 21. Who is a Prince and a Saviour and the Author of Eâ—ernal Salvation to all that obey him and the Salvation of God As to all this Christ is no otherwise a Saviour â—r doth save us or is the Salvation of God than as he â—oth save us from our Sins and turn us from our â—aiquities For this is laying the Ax to the Root of â—…e Tree and digging to the very Ground-work and â—oundation because that only by reason of Sin we beâ—…me liable and obnoxious to Death Misery and Punishment So that by certain and necessary Consequence 〈◊〉 we are saved from Sin then also we are saved from â—eath Misery and Punishment Hence again appears that this is the Salvation of God to save us from our Sins â—nd to save us from the Guilt and Corruption of our â—ature from whence these same Sins do proceed forth and so in those many places of Scripture where Salvation belongeth unto our God and is ascribed unto him 〈◊〉 he is called the God of Salvation there it is meant of â—…ving us from our Sins Where he saves from our Eâ—…mies Sin is the greatest Enemy for 't is Sin in such a â—…an or Woman which only makes him or her to be our â—nemy Thou hast led captivity captive Psal 68. 18. that 〈◊〉 God hath led Sin and Corruption which doth inâ—lve the Children of Men in Captivity Captive by 〈◊〉 having received gifts for Men. And then it follows â—lessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with Benefits and â—…imating thereby that to be saved from our Sins or to â—…d that Captive which before held us in Captivity is 〈◊〉 greatest Benefit And then it follows Even the God of our Salvation Selah He that is our God is the God of Salvation and unto
deserâ—… Herein also the Plowman Artificer and day Labourâ—… will give up unto God a better account of spending thâ—… time and the days of their life then idle Gentry aâ—… Rich People Who have lived in pleasure on the Earth aâ—… have been wanton and have nourished their hearts as in 〈◊〉 day of slaughter Who sit down to eat and to drink and rise up to play Here again it is to be desired that peopâ—… would willingly as out of duty and obedience to thâ—… primitive Commandment and ordinance of God su 〈…〉 mit themselves to labour and pains and not do it so muâ—… out of necessity to get a livelihood and that they wou 〈…〉 submit themselves to the same labour and pains in t 〈…〉 immediate service of God and in doing good and 〈…〉 all this purely for God's sake and not as an hireling 〈◊〉 hire or reward For God more approves of such se 〈…〉 vice and obedience as we may gather from what written The Kings came and fought then fought the Kin 〈…〉 of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo they 〈◊〉 no gain of mony Judges 5. 19. And from the example Nehemiah who saith Moreover from the time I was appoinâ—… to be their Governour in the land of Judah that is twe 〈…〉 years I and my Brethren have not eaten the bread of 〈◊〉 Governour but the former Governours that had been befoâ—… me were chargeable unto the people and had taken of them Bre 〈…〉 and Wine beside forty shekels of Silver yea even their servaâ—… bare Rule over the People But so did not I because of 〈◊〉 fear of God Neh. 5. 14 15. These things are recorded to for ensamples and they are written for our admon 〈…〉 tion yea and imitation also upon whom the ends 〈◊〉 the world are come The God of Israel said He thâ—… Ruleth over Men must be just Ruling in the fear of G 〈…〉 2 Sam. 23. 3. Such should not be chargeable unto the peop 〈…〉 For whereas the former Governours had been chargeabâ—… unto the people Nehemiah would not because of the fear God But to return again from whence I have seemed to digâ—… eâ—… As bodily labour doth by use and exercise become mo 〈…〉 Habitual and easy so in the service of and obedience to God it would be work and labour well bestowed to somewhat remove and take off that Irksomness and Wearisomness that is in the same which is done by beginning and then continuing in this good kind of life Hereby it comes to pass that when people in their unregenerate state say of the Worship and service of God Behold what a weariness is it Mal 1. 13. Saying when will the new Moon be gone that we may sell Corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat Amos 8. 5. They come â—o be so changed and renewed and altered in their mind that they call the Sabbath a delight not doing their own ways nor find their own pleasure nor speak their own words but they delight themselves in the Lord and take delight in approaching unto God Which heretofore was unpleasant â—o them and they were backward and hard to be brought unto it this is a change indeed Formerly they grudged at every hour of time which was not spent in pleasure and now they grudge at every hour which is not spent in the service of God and doing good to their immortal Souls All other things perish and nothing else remains â—n a Man or avails any thing The Grass withereth the Flower fadeth but the word of our God shall stand for ever There must be work and labour and succession of time before the Soul comes to be thus Born again and renewed in the Spirit of her mind after that she hath been depraved by the Body and by our corrupt sinful and sinning Nature There must be a great deal of hard work and labour before we can put off and be delivered from this Body of Sin and Death which we carry continually about us O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Intimating thereby that no Mortal Creature could do it yet the grace of Jesus Christ could and also would do it for this purges out the old leaven and sinful and corrupt Nature until it becomes whole and healthful and than it will grow up to Blessed immortality There must be work and labour to lay aside every weight for can any weight be laid aside without some labour in no wise And the sin which doth so easily beset us and to resist unto Blood striving against sin T 〈…〉 last requires the utmost labour and hardship To go 〈…〉 farther and lay the Ax to the Root of the Tree thâ—… must be work and labour to get rid off and free fr 〈…〉 the motions of Sin and the inclinations to Evil wh 〈…〉 are in our members For when we were in the flesh 〈…〉 motions of sin which were by the law did work in our me 〈…〉 ers to bring forth fruit unto Death This is the mis 〈…〉 evous effect of those motions of sins in our members 〈…〉 bring forth fruit unto Death It may be of edificati 〈…〉 and benefit to narrowly consider the Nature of thâ— which also will not be altogether going aside from 〈…〉 intended matter for to get clear from those motions sins is one part of finishing that work which God ga 〈…〉 us to do They are called the motions of sins So that they a 〈…〉 not properly actual sins but the motions of sins that 〈…〉 a motion or inclination unto sin like to the first sprin 〈…〉 ing forth of a Bud or as in the breaking forth into a S 〈…〉 or Sore The matter and root and cause thereof from within So here the Law of God is perfect convert 〈…〉 the Soul and in order to that it would prevent the ve 〈…〉 first rise and beginnings of sin or the motions of sins in 〈◊〉 members For it doth not only provide against the outwa 〈…〉 breaking forth of actual transgression but also it wou 〈…〉 suppress and stifle and hinder the motions of sins in o 〈…〉 members If these little ones that is the motions 〈◊〉 sins in our members are dashed against the stones as hap 〈…〉 py is he that doth so Then they can never grow inâ—… Presumptuous sins or into the great transgression And 〈◊〉 if these motions of sins are suppressed and stifled whi 〈…〉 they are but yet working in our members than it 〈◊〉 impossible that ever they should come forth into actuaâ—… sins Truly this to do is very hard work and labouâ— yet still there should be a pressing and endeavour afteâ—… it This is the difference between the sins of the regenerate and unregenerate between the spot of thy Children and which is indeed Corrupting of themselves Deut 32. 5 Such as are the Children of God have only some little motions and inclinations to the same sins
which they suffer to go and proceed no farther not to bring forth fruit unto Death as they would if they were not hindred and restrained and if care was not taken against them For when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth Death But in unregenerate people these motions of sins do break forth into outward act and Lust in them goes forward and conceives and brings forth sin and sin in them is finished and bringeth forth Death and involves them into ruin of Body and destruction of Soul As for instance in the Regenerate it is concupiscence or a little inward Lust which they are sure to let go no farther but in the Unregenerate the same concupiscence issues forth into Lasciviousness Uncleanness Fornication and Adultery Even in the Regenerate concupiscence is sin this being one kind of those motions of sins the Apostle speaks of 〈◊〉 Rom. 7. And it is one on those secret faults which David Psal 19. 12. Prayes to be cleansed from and also one of â—ose Secret sins which God doth set in the light of his countenaâ—e and which he will bring into Judgement Do ye think â—…at the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in 〈◊〉 lusteth to envy the Apostle speaks in behalf of himself and of the other Regenerate for in truth there are â—…en in them Lustings and tendencies to envy and hatred â—hich in Unconverted people do break forth into actual â—…nvy and Hatred And so there is likewise in the Reâ—nerate motions and inclinations lustings and tendâ—…cies to almost all manner of sin and evil to gluttoâ—… and drunkenness a longing after the Fleshpots of Aegyâ—… and a secret inward liking of them by the fleshly corâ—…pt Nature and by the old Man but still and along â—…ey prevent that they do not come forth into the seveâ—…l acts of Sin to which again way is given by sinners â—…d the Children of disobedience Nevertheless it is the will of God and accordingly â—s word which is very pure doth direct it so That his â—hildren and Servants should strive and sincerely enâ—eavour what they can Cursed is he that doth the work of â—…e Lord deceitfully Against all these motions of sins that are in our members and against these inclinations evil and against the inward lusting and tendency transgression The Commandment of God is not only this wise Cease to evil but extends farther Abstain frâ—… all appearance of evil Which takes in all the occasioâ— beginnings enticements and tendencies to evil 〈◊〉 as he which hath called you is Holy so be ye Holy all manner of conversation Now there being in God motions to sin nor inclinations to evil it being Im 〈…〉 sible for God to lye or to commit sin or evil it follows certain consequence that we can never obey and 〈◊〉 fil this his Commandment of being Holy as he is Holy 〈◊〉 we get utterly rid off and clear from these motions sins and inclinations to evil and yet we should whatever we can that we may partake of his Holinesâ— we would partake of his blessedness for without Holiâ—… no Man shall see the Lord. Again it is Commanded Stand in aw and sin not 〈◊〉 the word of God doth not rest there as only to proâ—… against the outward act of sin but it goes yet farâ—… Mortifie therefore your members that are upon the Earth 〈◊〉 if the members are mortified upon the Earth then there no motions of sins in these members according to 〈◊〉 other Scriptures witness If Christ be in you than i 〈…〉 Body dead because of sin or as to sin Now again 〈◊〉 certain that in a dead Body there are no motions of 〈◊〉 at all and it being the will of God that Christ 〈◊〉 be formed in us Little Children of whom I travail in 〈◊〉 till Christ be formed in you And except Christ be in yâ—… are reprobates it follows therefore that we should be 〈◊〉 as to sin and then also we should have no motions sins in us in which sence also it is that the Apostle 〈◊〉 I dye daily That is he did dye daily unto sin He not only cease from the outward act of sin but also had less and less motion and inclination to sin unt 〈…〉 length he had no motion nor inclination to it at which is like dying continually untill one is actu 〈…〉 dead For as than life goes away and lessens by liâ—… and little so in such not only the acts but the ha 〈…〉 bit also yea the Life and Power of Sin goeth and â—isheth away until it becomes none at all This is be diligent that is by still labouring and endeavour 〈…〉 after it until we attain it That we may be found â—…m in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. 14. God 〈◊〉 his people in Hosea 8. 5. How long will it be ere they â—…in to innocency Which though it be long and he exâ—…s much before they arrive unto it yet at length â—…e of his Peculiar people Redeemed from all iniquity after much labour and endeavour first had and used â—…rds it attain to that measure and degree of inâ—…ncy till they become Israelites indeed in whom is no 〈◊〉 and they arrive unto that state in this life for â—…ven must be begun here though it be perfected and â—ummated hereafter to which God shall add and annex â—he highest Heavens that in their mouth was found no 〈◊〉 for they are without fault before the Throne of God 〈◊〉 die unto sin and to be alive again unto God to â—ur after till we actually attain unto Holiness and â—…cency of Life is one main part of doing and fini 〈…〉 that work which God sent us on this Earth to do subdue the Power and Acts yea the very motions inclinations to sin and to root out utterly as far possible the corrupt Nature For flesh and blood shall not â—it the Kingdom of God neither shall in any wise enter â—in any thing that defileth As aforesaid Heaven must â—egun here in us if we will enter into Heaven here 〈…〉 And in order to that this is our business and 〈◊〉 which God sent us on this Earth for to do By â—ing together with his grace to labour and endeavour â—ever we can that we may become meet to be par 〈…〉 of the inheritance of the Saints in light His word therefore given to Build us up and give us an inheri 〈…〉 amongst all them which are sanctified and to make 〈◊〉 a people prepared for the Lord. This work we are â—o and finish By the help of the same word our â—s are to become ready a people prepared for â—ord And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came they that were ready Observe that went in with him 〈◊〉 marriage and the door was shut We are to be ready and prepared against what time God shall call a summon us to appear before himself Like as the s 〈…〉 of the Earth grow on till they become ripe and
Spirit anointing which we have received of him abideth you and ye need not that any Man teach you But as same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him â—nd now little Children abide in him that when he shall apâ—…r we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him 〈◊〉 his coming As the Apostle said I am determined know nothing among ye but Jesus Christ and him cruciâ—… So for my part I am determined and purposed 〈◊〉 pray God to enable me that herein I may turn my â—…poses into performances and to pay my vows to the most â—hest To turn ouer a new leaf and during the few 〈◊〉 evil days remaining of my Pilgrimage to serve God 〈◊〉 more diligently and earnestly and constantly in the â—…nistry than I have heretofore and to finish that part of 〈◊〉 Ministry which I have received and to testifie the â—…spel of the grace of God to the people of this Geneâ—…ion For I assuredly know that a dying hour will come â—…d I sensibly feeling within my self a fear of Death â—…ich doth hence arise either because I live in some reâ—ved or known sin or I leave some duty undone which â—ought to do So that the way to take off and remove â—s same fear and bitterness of Death in me is not to â—e in any manner of sin or appearance of evil as far â—…d as often as I apprehend such a thing to be the â—…mmand and will of God that I should do The same applicable to other people also to live in no sin of â—…ission or commission which if we observe accordâ—…gly and finish severally the work which God gave us 〈◊〉 do than at length we shall be ever with the Lord 〈◊〉 receive the reward of so doing Wherefore comfort â—…e marginal reading is exhort one another with these â—ords 1 Thes 4. 18. 〈◊〉 Christ did finish the work which God the Father gave â—…n to do as he took upon himself to be the Saviour and â—edeemer of Mankind and as he was the mediatour beâ—…een God and Man and as he executed that threefold â—…ffice of King Priest and Prophet Yet have I set my â—ing upon the Holy Hill of Zion Psal 2. 6. The Lord hath â—…orn and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech Psal 110. 4. For Moses truly saâ— unto the Fathers a Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unâ—… you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all thinâ—… whatsoever he shall say unto you Acts 3. 22. This Peter did a 〈…〉 ply unto Christ and as Christ did perform and finiâ—… these three several Offices he did finish the work thâ—… God gave him to do Wherefore himself said on the Croâ—… It is finished That is so much and that part of the woâ—… which God had given him on this Earth for to do anâ— finish he did finish accordingly But as to his deliveâ—… ing up the Kingdom to the Father and as to his sitting 〈◊〉 the right hand of God making intercession for us thâ—… is not finished as yet nor will be finished until the enâ— of the world when time shall be no longer What kind of work it was which Christ did finish we maâ—… gather and understand from what himself aftervvards dâ—… clares I have manifested thy name unto the Men which thâ—… gavest me out of the world For I have given unto them 〈◊〉 words which thou gavest unto me and they have received theâ— John 17. 6 8. This Christ did as he was a Prophet 〈◊〉 Preacher From whence we may gather and observâ— that to manifest the name of God to people out of thâ— World and to make known the words which Goâ— first gave unto us is the best and most excellent woâ—… that one can be imployed in And however other peopâ—… are busied Martha Martha thou art careful and troublâ— about many things but one thing is needful Yet that 〈◊〉 the best employment and the best business which haâ— relation immediately to God himself and is about thâ— things partaining to endless Life And this is life eternâ—… that they might know thee the only true God and Jâ—… sus Christ whom thou hast sent From hence again it aâ—… pears that to manifest or make God known or to Puâ—… lish those words which contain the knowledge of Goâ— is the best of Works and Employments Verily thâ—… art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Savioâ—… And many times we lose the sence of him Noâ— what brings to the sight or rather apprehension of him or what reneweth the knowledge of him this is thâ— one thing needful for the Children of Men for in thâ— â—nowledge of God all their well being doth consist at â—resent and their Life eternal in the world to come â—ow much God himself doth require and is delighted herewith may be understood from what is written For 〈◊〉 desired mercy and not Sacrifice and the knowledge of God â—ore than burnt offerings The world make their Estimate accordingly and think â—hem happy whose Silver and Gold is multiplied or who â—ave fine and plentiful Estates But as the Psalmist â—ith Thou hast put gladness into my heart more than in â—…e Time that their Corn and their Wine increased So I â—ad rather than all those good things to have most of â—…e knowledge of God and the things pertaining to his â—ingdom to have the manifestations of himself otherâ—ise then he manifests himself unto the World to have â—ore of his Heavenly truths Communicated and revealed â—nto me I will praise thee with the Psaltery even thy truth 〈◊〉 my God The Law of thy mouth is better unto me than â—ousands of Gold and Silver I rejoyce at thy word as one â—at findeth great spoil And seeing that the secret of the â—ord is with them that fear him and he revealeth his secret â—nto his Prophets I had therefore rather that his will â—nd secret be revealed unto me than all the mony or â—states of the Earth For these and such like are eâ—…dences of his favour and loving kindness which is â—…tter then life it self in that it reaches and extends Yet â—rther Those who know and apprehend God by Faith â—o as much desire and labour to have the favour of God â—s others do to get Riches and the favour of great Men. â—or the favour of God in this life is a seal and earnest â—f his Salvation in the World to come Who hath also â—aled us and given the Earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Cor. 1. 21. To get retain or recover when lost the favour of God 〈◊〉 a doing and finishing that work which God gave us â—o do For the work we have to do in this life is to â—erve and obey God and to do the things that are pleaâ—…ng in his sight and thus to become reconciled unto â—…im Though God doth hide himself here on Earth from