wherein they all hold as one Communion of Saints under diversities of gifts administrations and operations 1 Cor. 12. 4 5. and Eph. 4. 14. CHRIST gave Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers and all for this Worke for the IN-JOYNTING OF THE SAINTS the work of the Ministry and the Edifying of the WHOLE BODY So that this IN JOYNTING-WORK must needs be the VOTE and NOTE of them All 4. Consider also That the Last Time is Christs GATHERING-TIME the gathering and making up his Jewells Mal. 3. 17. Psal. 50. 5. Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a COVENANT with me by Sacrifice Christs harvest-time too Mat. 13. 30 39. is his gathering-time and so John 12. 52. But that ye also should gather together INTO ONE the children of God which are scattered abroad This is the work of Christ Now not to fall in with this Work of Christ when it is a foot is most dangerous and lamentable as our Saviour sayes Luke 13. 34. O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered you together as a HEN doth GATHER her Chickens i. e. into one brood and ye would not And then follows ver. 35. Behold your house is left unto you desolate or forsaken after this so Mat. 12. 30. He that GATHERETH NOT with mescattereth i. e. doth mischiefe and keeps up Divisions and is against me 5. Besides it is Christs VISITING time too The day-spring from on high hath visited us Luke 1. 7 8. 1. 28. Psalm 65 9. Cant. 6. 11. then when VNITED vers. 9. followes vers. 11. I went down into the Garden of Nuts to see the fruits of the valleyes and to see whether the vines flourished and the Pomegranates budded So that when Christ comes to visit he expects young and old the tender Grapes and Greene Figs Cant. 2 13. as well the grown ones the budding ones as well as others ALTOGETHER Fathers young men and children I John 2. So Zach. 8 3 4. Old men with their staves boyes and girls in the streets All inhabitants together this Visiting time Which is after a long Absence of this spirit and power from on high and according to his solemne promise and engagements knocking at every ones doore inquiring into every ones state examining proving and trying every ones principle profession and Forme at this day As if he should say Abraham where art thou Isaack where art thou ah Lord say they not in the Presbyterian Forme nor in the Independant nor of the Baptized c. but in the VNITY OF THE SPIRIT in the Communion of all SAINTS in the assembly of the First borne in the VNITY Psal. 133. 1. 2. Wherein it is so good to see Brethren dwell together and from whence indeed springs the pure anoynting whereof Aarons was a type that will reach to the very out skirt and where the Lords blessing rests and the dewes fall in the greatest drowth upon poore hearts scattered into their severall formes and waies there are WEE there are the SPIRITS of all the righteous and holy men of old in that COMMVNION may the Saints on earth find us the Saints in Heaven also but if their Communion be in this or that forme only then we who were not of this or that FORME with them are shut out and kept out from their Communion and this is not the COMMVNION OF SAINTS which Christ hath promised to appeare most with at his visiting time which is now upon us and therefore most dangerous to omit this DVTY as Luke 19 44. They shall not leave thee one stone upon another because thou knewest not the time of thy VISITATION 1 Peter 2. 12. Glorifie God in the day of VISITATION 6. By this meanes the SAINTS will live and Lanch into the DEEPS that have hitherto been trifling in the Shallowes and empty things In the deeps of grace in the Deeps of love Faith hope Ephes. 3. 18. in the deeps of knowledge and heavenly-wisdome Rom. 11. 33. When the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Hab. 2. 14. now this is by a CONJVNCTION Collection and an inflowing of all waters into ONE as Gen. 1. 9. this makes the OCEAN whereas hitherto we have been but in little Rivelets and Shallowes like the Disciples Luke 5. 2. mending their nets but when Christ came he said vers 4. Lanch out into the DEEPS Simon and then let down your nets which when they did they caught a Multitude at once whereas before they were toyling and moyling night and day and caught nothing Now our Saviour told Peter he would make him a Fisher of men and signified by this that he must get out of the Little waters and Lanch into the DEEPS which when he did at Jerusalem in this Vniting-worke Acts 1. we find Acts 2. 41. he let down the Net of the Gospel and caught 3000 at one draught now so long as he was upon the Shallowes he caught nothing for untill they were in this way we read not of many Converts nor shall we find it in the Shallowes of our Formes or diversities kept up but in the DEEPS where all run into ONE one Faith one Hope one Life one Light c. For there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad Rivers and deepe streames Isa. 33. 21. In this way we shall have of any other the upper springs and the nether springs Joshua 15. 19. Psal. 87. 7. As the springs of water to a thirsty Land Isa. 35. 7. and 49. 10. and the DEEPE THINGS of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. 7. Hereby we come like the Primitive Saints and Churches to be All called by ONE NAME and not by many names as of Lollards Hugonites Brownists Separates Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists and such like nick-names which the Primitive-times never heard of Nor by the Names of their Teachers or formes or persons as they are now called but all by the NAME OF CHRIST and him ONLY Acts 11. 26. Isa. 4. 1 In that day seaven woemen shall take hold of ONE MAN saying we will eat our OWN bread and wear our OWN apparell onely let us be called by THY NAME to take away our REPROACH Then In that DAY shall the BRANCH be GLORIOVS This will take away the Reproach that is upon us of Formality Pride Barrennesse rigidity Selfe-seeking and indeed divers wayes So Zech. 8. 23. Ten men of all Languages shall take hold of the skirts of him that is a JEW Rom. 2. 21. Saying wee will goe with you for wee have heard that God is with you 8. Besides it is the WAY wherein there is a NECESSARY USE and PLACE of all sorts of Saints to exercise their genuine Gifts in their proper joynts 1 Cor. 12. 6 7 8 9 10 11. as in Hosea 10. 11. Ephraim shall ride Judah shall plow and Jacob shall breake the clods Every one hath his severall Imployment and his severall Place of what Judgement so ever
A REVIVING WORD FROM THE Quick and the Dead to the Scatter'd Dust of SION OR A Breathing of the Spirit of Life in a Few Dry Bones that begin to Rise and Rattle In and about this City of LONDON BY A Solemn DECLARATION FOR An IMMEDIATE UNITING of ALL SAINTS into ONE BODY upon the Growing Principles of Grace and Kingdome of our Lord Jesus in every Administration thereof SHEWING The Grounds of it Progresse in it Proposalls for it Motives to it And our yearning Invitation throughout the three Nations about this Pacificatory Primitive-like Enterprise To put us ALL as one Man into a Posture meet to Meet our Lord Jesus at his second coming in All the DEGREES and SERVICES thereof Hosea 6. 2 3. After two Dayes he will revive us in the third Day he will raise us up and We shall live in his sight Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as Morning and he shall come to us as the rain as the latter and as the former Raine 2 Chron. 30. 12. Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them One Heart 2 Chron. 11. 16. And after them out of All the Tribes such as set their hearts to seek the Lord came to Jerusalem LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle near the West end of Pauls 1657. A DECLARATION FOR UNITING-WORK OR Severall Judgements of the People of God that are agreed with one heart and as one man in the KINGDOME-WORK and Witnesse of our Lord Jesus patiently and piously waiting for the full Redemption of Sion and coming of Christ in the Exercise of his KINGLY GOVERNMENT AFTER divers years Patience and Expectation with continued cries to the MOST HIGH for help and light we are made deeply and to our very soules sensible of the great Reproach upon Religion the Dispersion and scattering of Saints of all Formes as well as out up and down in their holes and corners in these Nations and of the great disorder thereby amongst them as well as of the great Advantage which the Enemies of Christ and of his Kingdome have had by the weaknesses distances diversity of tongues and divisions of the People of God at this day who notwithstanding are of one heart faith and spirit in the maine And this chiefly in an undue lifting up of persons principles or judgements in a magnifying of Formes and Apprehensions one against another and not in a consistency together and in a management of the things of Christ partially or by parties and Factions and not joyntly to the great offence of good men prejudice and reproach of the Principles Cause and Name of Christ and his Kingdome Wherefore after Solemn seeking of the face of God crying and inquiring into his mind by Christ to know what Israel hath to doe lamenting and resenting the sad estate of Sion with the present condition of hundreds in and about this City of of the dust of Sion hurried and huffed about with divers winds of doctrines judgements and temptations to their great endangering and decaying of the power of Godlinesse and Brotherly love We have been we hope by a sweet and Fatherly hand of grace or clear Sanctuary-light at last and as a Return of the word of God and prayers lead into this knowledge and practice now incumbing and lead up into some serious Resolution or full purpose of heart for an Uniting together who are scattered ones in and about this City of London in a Religious or Christian body in imitation of the primitive spirit Act. 1. 14. to cleave unto the Lord and one to another these dividing and back sliding times Acts 11. 23. in the matters of our Faith worship of our God Kingdome and Cause of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Nor are we as we think without weighty moving Arguments or pressing grounds as in our own soules arising from the Crosse of Christ who in his own flesh hath abolished the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances Ephes. 2. 14 15 16. that he might reconcile all Jew and Gentile in one body having slaine the enmity so in the sight of all other sound Christians indulging us in and inducing them and all of us to this Primitive Gospel-practice or blessed work of Vniting and Consolidating throughout these Nations Some of which are as follow 1. The paralell of our present Condition these last three years with the dispersed Disciples in the three dayes of Christs sufferings Mark 14. 50. John 20. 10 Now what they did for the preservation of the Gospel and Religion in the Power purity and Spirituality thereof are we to doe But they Vnited or gathered together into one body out of their divers places and homes which the persecution had scattered them into for the preservation of the Gospell Luke 24. 33. John 20. 19. Acts 1. 4. that they did so is evident to all at the third day or time of the end That we must doe so is as clear a consequent whether it be the time of the end or no for this is a RULE to us in ordinary cases that which Saints have before done and the holy Spirit hath commended are we to doe that follow after in the like case besides Psal. 102 13 14. the Favouring of Sion begins by the gathering up of her Scattered and despised stones a poor scattered peeled people Isa. 51. 3. Saying This is ZION whom no man seeketh after Jer. 30. 17. 2. The GREAT PROMISE of the Father Luke 24. 49. Acts 1. 4. John 15. 26. Or The pouring out of the Spirit Joel 2. 28. which we waite for Now look in what Posture Christ put his Disciples for the pouring out of the holy Ghost in the first fruits are we his Disciples to wait in for the holy Ghost the latter fruits or the latter raine But in this way of Vniting Gathering and imbodying did he bid them waite for the First-fruits Mat. 28. 10 16. Luke 24. 49. Acts 1. 4. which accordingly they did Acts 1. 14 15. 2. 1 2. and so doe we Besides Ezek. 37. 7 8. the word of prophesie must FIRST gather and unite the dry bones bone to bone before they rise and this with substance sinews and nourishment then to them in that posture comes the great Promise of the Spirit Ezek. 37. 9. and life to set them on their feet v. 10. so v. 14. 17. and not before For should the Great Promise come before every one would desire it for himselfe and for the magnifying of his own FORME particular body Judgement or Division more then for the Publick work of Christ and of all sorts or then for maintaining the power of godlinesse and Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace amongst all men 3. The Great and constant expectations which we have of the opening of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony Rev. 15. 5. which hath been so long shut up in the purity
one cannot understand another at this day but wherein every one may be edified and understood in his owne language Acts 2. 6. whether Jews or Gentiles Elamites Medes Parthians c. vers. 9. 10. 11. to his astonishment vers. 8. 12. every one in his own tongue so every one in his own way Judgement and Administration wherein one can well understand another in this Vnity besides at Babell Gen. 11. the confusion of tongues hindred the Building but at Jerusalem Acts 2. the Diversity of tongues helpt it like Joshuahs entrance into many Nations at once Josh. 10. 11. 20. 23. in dispersing the Gospel of the Kingdome at once into all Nations in their owne languages and so now by this UNITING into all Saints or sorts of the people of God in their owne Formes and Judgements at once this body consisting of all sorts of members in their owne joynts and places So that though there be Diversities yet but one spirit and differences of Administration yet the same Lord 1 Cor. 12. 4. 5. to the 15. and every one in his gifts places and opperation to profit withall This is the Ministry that we waite for which will speake to every one in his own language and understanding by the power of the holy Ghost Acts. 15. 36. Let us goe againe and visit our brethren in every City where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they doe 18. For the exercise of Justice and Righteousnesse Lawes and Government amongst our selves in outward matters according to the word spirit and teaching of God and the power and lawes left by Christ to his Church and people 1 Cor. 6. 1. 2. Dare any of you having a matter against another goe to law before the unjust and not before the Saints Doe yee not know the Saints shall judge the world c. Now seeing we find so little Conscience or Justice from men of the world it concerns us to be the more carefull For Psal. 122. 3 4 5. In Jerusalem are the THRONES and thither the Tribes goe up 19. That we may be in a better way of Sympathizing and participating with one another in distresses and persecutions to comfort and communicate one to another freely 1 Cor. 12. 26. Rom. 12. 15. Heb. 13. 3. Joh. 3. 17 18. Heb. 13. 16. and that there be no lacke to any one member or Fellow Citizen of this Zion and that this be more like to the first patterne in the like cases then yet appeares amongst professours Acts 4. 34. Neither was there any amongst them that lacked for as many as were possessours of Lands sould them and brought the prices of the things that were sould 20. For that the Great increase Growing and Flowing in of the latter dayes is into such a WAY and state of Zion wherein all Saints are united Jer. 50. 4. 5. Come let us JOYNE our selves Isa. 2. 2. 54. 2. Enlarge the place of thy tents 49. 17. Make hast lift up thine eyes round about and behold how All GATHER together or unite or come to thee vers. 20 21. The place is too strait for me give me place that I may dwell who hath begotten me all these Isa. 60. 7. The flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee then vers. 8. Who are these that fly as a cloud and as doves to the windowes Thus was it at the first patterne Acts 2. 41. 47. 4. 4. 5. 14 15. And beleevers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and woemen But so long as Religion is rent into such parties Factions and confusion we can expect but little conversion to the Faith incouragement or coming in either of Jews or Gentiles to these disorders and Divisions on judging censuring excommunicating another for their different Measures of faith At which Abomination both Jewes Turkes and Gentiles have been amazed and astonished for they have been far more serious unanimous and devout in their superstitions and Idolatry yea lesse injurious and more charitable one to another 21. That there may be found amongst us more sincerity simplicity and singlenesse of heart one to another about the things of Christ Whereas now in these Divisions and breaches one Brother betraies another denyes and delivers up another and as the Prophet sayes Micah 7. 5. Trust ye not in a friend put ye not confidence in a guide but in this VNITING As Acts 2. 46. They dedicate their bread with gladnesse and SINGLENES OF HEART 22. That our motions sufferings actings and contendings for Christ may be joynt and with one consent Our joynt-groanings for the name of God making as it were but one sound Our conjunct tears but one stream conjunct desires but one prayer conjunct complaints but one Theam conjunct praising but one Melody conjunct gifts but one Ministry And thus we hope to have more joynt-prayers amongst the Saints whereas now one is praying up and Another down Joynt praising Joynt witnessing and joynt-feeling or bearing the lot of the whole Hebr. 10. 23 32 33 34. Jude 3. whereas now as some take off others lay on load upon the suffering ones Joynt holding up and maintaining the truth Joynt-refusing of Subjection with all Gospell opposition to persons and things under what names soever that are against the Lord Jesus and his Kingdome Yea a Joynt-standing up for and justifying of the Name Interest and Cause of Christ and his People from Calumnies and injuries with Joynt-acting and engaging as the Lord shall call us to it for the Truth Liberty and Priviledges purchased for us by the blood of Christ Gal. 5. 1. Zeph. 3. 9. That they may all call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent keeping up the most PUBLICK SPIRIT for Christ and his Kingdome in ONE and ALL Canticles 7. 1. The JOYNTS of thy thyghes are like JEWELLS the worke of the hands of a cunning workeman 23. Till then we neither understand one another at home nor are we understood abroad nor indeed doe we well understand our selves Now it is necessary as it was the Primitive practice for a Right understanding to be made and maintained in the WHOLE BODY and throughout the Nation amongst the Saints of the same Faith Hope Sufferings and Expectations with us And therefore in order to such a clear intelligence and correspondence with all the Saints and People of God in these Nations by Messengers Letters and such like wayes allowed in the word of God unto which we doe hereby Solemnly invite our Friends and Brethren from all parts for mutuall good we are in this Way Being very sensible of the great inconveniences and injuries which arise to the people of God and publick Cause of Christ the manifest stumblings offences and prejudices in the hearts of many precious ones the various subtleties and wayes of Sathan and of his Instruments to keep us unknown to and un-owned by each other and the Great
advantages which he hath to increase Divisions and foment Jealousies with the Reports which are made and Reproaches which are cast upon us and the Principles of Christs Kingdome the temptations and faintnesse of some of our dear Friends the backwardnesse of persons and yet forwardnesse of Parties ready to spring up and cause a farther suffering to the Name of God and Christ and all these in the absence and much through the Defect of this Primitive Practise of Loving INTELLIGENCE mutuall quickning and unanimous understanding undertaking and moving as ONE MAN in the matters of Christ and his Kingdome that concerne all alike And for want of a due knowledge of and faithfull inquiry after the welfare growth establishment and estate of one another round the Nations were it as far as from Jerusalem round about unto Illyricum Rom. 15. 19. For after the first pattern we should be continually sending out or receiving in 2 Cor. 8. 23. They are the MESSENGERS of the Churches ver. 19. Chosen to travell with us Phil. 2. 25 30. My Brother and companion in labours and fellow Souldier but your Messenger Acts 15. 26. To send unto you men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Verse 41. And he went through Syria and Silicia confirming the Churches Acts 16 5. And so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in number daily 24. And as the ultimate the very deep sence which is as a dagger in our very hearts to hear how the Lord is dishonored Christ contemned his Kingdome rejected his Spirit wounded and blasphemed and Sion crumbled into Dust and much more suffering then we say in the highest and weightiest matters of Religion since the vast breaches of Sion hath put us after earnest crying and inquiring upon this practice of Vniting though we be poor unworthy creatures For that the name of our God is dear unto us the Lord knows and we would faine be at least in a way that might more glorifie the Lord and his Christ then we can be or doe by these sad Divisions and confusions Not forgetting the honour which his Name hath had formerly when the Saints were Vnited and in all Ages when united in sufferings as under the Heathen and Popish powers when united in Testimony As the Separates and Puritans against the Prelates and their Hierarchy when united in Service and Actings as in the late Wars without so much as the Least stumbling or offending one another about their Different Forms or Judgements O how sweetly Vnited were they in the Work of Christ and of his People at that Day then might be said Behold how good and Pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together and Vnity Psal. 133. 1. What a Beauty and Glory was then upon the Name of God! yea how was he glorifyed in the eyes of All the Nations and of All the Enemies of his People as Rom. 15. 6. That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth Glorifie God! So Psal. 50. 2. Out of SION the Perfection of Beauty God hath shined So Isa. 60. 1 2. Arise Shine for thy Light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee that is upon the Saints so Vnited Whereas whiles Divided the Name of God is Divided rent and torne apieces divers wayes and in sundry Manners to the Exceeding great Reproach of Religion Injury of Christ Decay of Grace and Dishonour of that most Holy Name These are some of those GROUNDS which we goe Upon and are Moved by with a Holy Fear as before the Lord to make a Deliberate and Sober Progresse into so Serious Publick and Necessary a Work as this is Now as we humbly think this is no longer to be Delayed so not rashly to be Vndertaken by Any that have a True Sence of Many Most or of All the aforesaid Incentives Nor can we doe the one or the other without Sin or Guilt In the Sence whereof we doe so heartily Commend it in the Name and Spirit of the Living God to the Christian Concurrence Love Care Practise and Incouragement of the most Cordiall Saints that are sincere Friends of Sion or our Dearly Beloved Brethren Scatter'd abroad in the Severall Cities and Counties of the three Nations that we All alike Deny our selves and so Move with a Sweet Large Indulging Comprehensive Spirit of Grace of Love and of a Sound Mind in the Kingdome of our Lord Jesus for the keeping in the quickning spirit the Growing Light the Christian correspondence and Primitive practises with the Power of Godlinesse and of Religion pure and undefiled amongst the people of God of their severall Formes and Differing Apprehensions Wherefore in a trembling awe and sence before God of their sins that have offended him by delaying Denying Excusing and putting of a Present Duty and that Publick on the ONE HAND Luke 14. 18. 24. Hag. 1. 2. 4. 2 King 12. 6 7. a great sin of this day Mat. 24. 48. 2 Pet. 3. 3. So on the other hand of them and that especially that have provoked him by sudden rash and imprepared falling upon it Eccles. 5. 1. as at Perez Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 10 12 and Beth shemech 1 Sam. 6. 19. c. doe we Goe Softly as it is said 1 King 21. 27. and fairely Waiting before we are fully fixt to hear what any one hath to say against This or what better EXPEDIENT Then this that we may close with may be found for the UNITITING of All Saints as ONE MAN for the Countenancing Incouraging and Carrying on the Interest and Cause of our Christ in his KINGLY GOVERNMENT amongst us Now conceiving it is the Saints work to fetch home THIS ARK into its placed prepared of God i. e. the Temple opened Rev. 11. 19. And there was seen in his Temple the ARK of his Testament c. in order unto it they must be prepared gathered Vnited Sanctified and put in order that goe about it 1 Chr. 15. 1 2 3 12 13. Sanctifie your selves ye and your Brethren that ye bring up the Ark of the Lord God unto the place that I have prepared for it which we hope to see as a Fruit of the third of the seventh in solemnity set apart And as 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek the Lord God of his Fathers though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of the Sanctuary But that we may hide nothing from them that inquire after our Progresse in this Matter that say as Cant. 1. 7. For why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flecks of thy Companies and as Cant. 6. 1. That we may seek him with thee as Nehemiah Chap. 2. 18. said Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good so Ezra 7. 9. 8. 18. We shall informe them of the Proposalls Assented to by this Particular Body not being bound up to the letter of them but in the sence waiting
upon Jehovah-Elohim the Lord our Light for more Light and inlargement from his holy Influences upon us and others as the Effect of this hopefull Essay which we in this way are in a Capacity to drink up as greedily as the Earth drinketh in the Raine The Proposalls for Propagating the great Work of Vniting in and about this City of London which we are stirred up unto by the Word and Spirit of God by the Call of Christ and of his Servants by many most pregnant and speciall Grounds to it Reasons for it and Benefits by it both unto the Lord our Jesus to our selves and others as unto the Present Worke and Duty Incumbent upon us being so convinced in our Faith and Consciences 1. THAT the SCATTERED ONES the Disciples of Christ who keep their garments Clean Rev. 3. 4. and Close Rev. 16. 15. from defiling at this day who wait with us for the Kingdome and second coming of our Lord Jesus and are of the same Faith and hope with us Eph. 4. 4. Satisfied in each other upon the account of Godlinesse and in Close walking with God though now dispersed in and about this City be all UNITED and Gathered together into ONE BODY 2 That this ONE BODY be knit together as a Religious Body upon Principles of Grace and of the Kingdome of Christ Gathered and Governed in a Gospel or Christian Order after the pattern in Acts 1. 14 15 the Primitive Constitution Titus 1. 5. and the Promise of Restitution Acts 15. 15. Rev. 15. 5. Isa. 58. 12. and 60. 15. c. and of opening of the TABERNACLE of the Testimony into the Primitive purity of Worship Waiting for the pouring out of the Spirit and Contending together for the truth with ONE ACCORD as one man Jude 3. 3. That this Body for MATTER consists of such as we can judge faithfull followers of the Lamb Rev. 14. 1. 17. 15. Called and Chosen Cleaving to the Cause of Christ and Controversie now up against the BEAST and his Followers though otherwise they be of different Formes Judgements and Apprehensions 1 Cor. 12. 4 5. 12 13 14. Rom. 14. 2. Phil. 3. 16. Weake and strong bond and free more or lesse honourable Ver. 22 23 24. Holding fast the bond of peace in the unity of the SPIRIT without any Schisme rent or divisions in this Body Eph. 4. 4. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 25. 4. That this Body not sat downe or Consolidated in any One Forme or Judgement what ever wherein one Saint may or doe differ from another doe sit down and knit together iu the POWER OF GODLINES 1 Tim. 6. 3. or life grace and light of all Formes and Judgements upon the account of the New-Creature-onenesse in Christ Jesus Gal. 6. 15. 2. Cor. 5. 17. and upon such Principles wherein we all Agree as ONE MAN and of one Mind for Christ his Kingdome-worke in every Administration of his Kingdome and for the Leavening of the whole Lump 1 Pet. 3. 8. 2 Cor. 13. 11. Rom. 15. 5. 5. That the Members and Particular branches of this ONE BODY have the Free Full and Intire Exercise of their different Judgements and practises in their own particular and different Congregations or Meetings of those Judgments with as great Freedome of their Ordinances wherein one differeth from another as any particular Church now hath onely holding together as Branches of this one Body or PHILADELPHIAN CHURCH of Christ in All Ordinances wherein All Agree keeping their places without the Least molesting or offending one another or the Peace Unity of the Church about different matters medling with those things in the maine Body as are without Controversie to the edifying of the whole and according to the Principles and Points wherein we are all Agreed as ONE MAN Acts 2. 46 47. Rom. 14. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 10. 11. 17 18. 2. Tim. 2. 16. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 5. Titus 3. 9. Eph. 4. 29. And if any PARTICULAR CHURCHES or Members of them as such upon those Principles and Points doe joyne with us that we hoâ—d our Communion with them without the least intrenchment upon or injury to them in their Priviledges or Power which they Exercise as Churches in their own Bodies in Any or all the Ordinances of Christ or Affaires of their own Bodies Isa. 65 10. Zech. 2. 11. Acts 15. 32. 6. 5. Gal. 1. 2. 1 Cor. 16. 11. Rev. 1. 4. 11. 20. 22. 16. 6. That there be a Weekly Church-meeting of this whole UNITED BODY for praying Prophecying preparing and provoking one another waiting for the coming down of the holy Spirit the great things that shall shortly come to passe and the second Appearance of our Lord Jesus with all the things that concern the day of Christ upon us Heb. 10. 24 25 Acts 14. 27. Mat. 3. 16. And for the Edifying of All in the things we are united upon Gathering in of Sinners and dispersed ones or the DVST OF ZION Psal. 102. 13 14. Maintaining a Correspondencie and Clear Intelligence with the Kingdome-Saints in the Nations Isa. 14. 32. as they did in Primitive times by Letters and Messengers Acts 15 22. Phil. 2. 19. 25. 1 Cor. 16. 3. and all the like ways that we can agree in to carry on the KINGDOM-WORK and Government of Christ amongst us 7. That there be a most Indeared and Affectionate Love to one another like that which Christ bare to his Church Joh. 13. 34 35 15. 12. Eph. 5. 2. 1 Thes. 4. 9 1 John 2. 4. 21. Rom. 12. 10. 13. 8. called Love unfained 1 Pet 1. 22. and without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. Avoiding diligently all Causes and Causers of Division in this body Rom. 16. 17 18. Mat. 24 23. Acts 20. 29 30 31. Rev. 2. 14 15 16. and keeping carefully and constantly this BLESSED UNITY and LOVE both in the PARTICULAR and in the GENERALL Phil. 2. 1 2 3. Rom. 14. 19. 1 Cor. 6. 5. Acts 4. 32. Mutually and Tenderly bearing with each others Failings and Infirmities with meeknesse patience pitty piety and sweet brotherly Assistance not upbraiding censuring nor provoking of one another Ep. 4. 32. Ro. 14. 13 15. 1. Gal. 6. 1. Col. 3. 12 13 14. 1 Joh. 3. 16. 8. An earnest JOYNT-STRIVING and Joynt-Contending in all Lawfull and just wayes by doing or suffering for the Truth Faith Purity Power of Godlinesse Light Life Liberty Priviledges and Kingdome of Christ Jesus Jude 3. Heb. 12. 3 4. Gal. 5. 1. 1 Cor. 7. 23. 1 Pet. 3. 15. Every one chearfully and unanimously undergoing the LOT OF THIS BODY in Adversity and Prosperity Heb. 10. 23. to the end Acts 12. 5. 7. Mat. 13. 20 21. And a Tender Sympathizing or participiating one with another in all estates tryalls and conditions except sin and not to DRAW BACK upon any Occasion or Temptation whatsoever the Lord helping us 1 John 2. 19 20. 2 Tim. 4 10. 16 1 Cor 19. 26.
Rom. 12. 15. Gal. 6. 2. Acts 20. 35. Heb. 13. 3. 9. In the AFFAIRES of Christ his Kingdome this Body his People and the Nations freely to give up our selves to the Lord and his Christ and one to another according to Gods word the FATHERS will and the SONS worke and the HOLY SPIRITS working quickning and Inabling of us Freely and Chearfully to Communicate in things Spirituall and Temporall 1 John 3. 17 18. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. 2 Cor. 9. 5 6. Rom. 12. 13. Heb. 13. 16. 1 Tim 6. 17. Gal. 6 10. Jude 20. 1 Cor. 12. 9. and condescending to the meanest service we may be called to or put upon agreeing with our Faith Light and Consciences for the Vse of Christ and this whole Body James 2 1 2 3. Mat. 20. 26. Rom. 12. 16. John 13. 12 13 14 15 16. 10. An Exact and Exemplary Conversation in all MANNER OF HOLINES Humility and Grace to the powerfull Conviction of them WITHOUT as well as profit and comfort of them WITHIN Psal. 24. 3. Mat. 5. 16. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Tit. 2. 11 12. Eph. 4. 21 22 23 24. 1 Pet. 2. 12. with vigilant Care over one another Heb. 3. 12 13 12. 15 17. Col. 4. 6. Mat. 18. 15 16 17. 1 Thes. 5. 14. Rom. 5 15. untill we be APPARENTLY a People dwelling ALONE not wicked nor mixed among the Nations Numb. 23. 9. John 15. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 Eph 5. 11. Hos. 4. 15 Rev. 14. 7. c. Note that the 5 Prop nor any other be interpreted as making this one Body many but ONE particular Church having many Meetings upon different matters and occasions and at allowed times for accomodating themselves and holding Communion with the Philadelphian Churches And besides all that hath been said set in our hearts to promote this so Blessed and Necessary a Work of Uniting among Christians whether in this or any other way that will answer the End thereof upon the Kingly account of Christ We cannot but acquaint you with some of our and your present MOTIVES unto it desiring the Lord to make them as irresistable and powerfull by his Spirit on your hearts as they are on ours 1. THat the greatest Advance which the Scriptures mention of the Name or Kingdome of God in the world hath ever been begun by this WORK OF UNITING first and this that is to be in the last dayes is not onely foretold to begin so in the expresse and plaine Letter or Prophecy both of the old and New Testament but of the type as of Egypt and Babylon The First Work which Moses set afoot after his leaving Tharoahs Court was this of UNITING Acts 7. 25 26. For he supposed his Brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them but they understood not And the next day he shewed himselfe unto them as they strove and would have set them at ONE againe saying Sirs ye are Brethren And this before the plagues came upon Egypt So before the VIALS be poured out upon mysticall Egypt Rev. 11. 8. we must be UNITED and Brethren forbear striving This was the First work upon proclaiming Liberty from Babylon for those who were of one heart Ezra 2. Zerubbabell and the Remnant so Hag. 1. 14 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabell and the spirit of Joshua and the spirit of all the Remnant together and they came and did worke as Zech. 3. 8. Hear now O Joshua thou and thy Fellows and then follows I will bring forth my Servant the BRANCH This was the FIRST WORK viz UNITING and gatherin into ONE that our Lord Jesus and his Apostles put the first planting of the Gospel upon Acts 1. 4. 8. 14 15. whence arose that SEED that hath since sowed the whole Christian world so called and so must it be before the flying Gospel Rev. 14. 8. or Gospel of the Kingdome be preached throughout the habitable world Mat. 24. 14. And so it is foretold to be the great and First work that the Spirit of Eliah which goes before the great and notable day of the Lord or coming of Christ doth put us upon viz. UNITING Mal. 4. 6. And he shall turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to their Fathers and then RESTORING of all things as at First follows Mat. 17. 11. Elias truly shall First come to restore all things Wherefore if Moses Zerubbabell Christ and his Apostles or the Spirit of Eliah if they be may heard and their Examples had in esteem amongst us this is an undeniable duty now upon us the First worke and the first step that we can take to purpose out of Egyt Babylon and the earthly Jerusalem into the reall Advance of the great work of God name and Kingdome of Christ on earth 2. Besides consider hereto the Call of Christ as it was to his Dispersed ones at his Resurrection of a Risen Christ behold he is risen though you see him not it is the Lord said John to Peter Job 21. 7. and he leapt into the Sea to him Isa. 60. 1. The Light is come and the glory of the Lord is RISEN after a death and a sore one after the three days of a CHRIST who dyed for the Collective body and is Risen to the Collective Body the blood of the New Testament shed for MANY not for this or that Forme or sort onely but for the MANY united into one Body calls aloud to this Practice and kind of Communion So that if there be any consolation in Christ any Bowells any mercies any true sence of that Love which was in him to us stronger then Death and which many waters could not quench and raised him from the Grave Let us hear him as Risen from the Dead whose First word from thence is Goe quickly and tell them I AM RISSEN And bid them that is together come and meet me Mat. 28. and there they shall see me Oh then what sayest thou canst thou hear him call so and not come Doth he not now say as Cant. 2. 10 13. Rise up my Love my faire one and come away againe vers. 14. and yet againe vers. 13. Ob let me see thee vers. 10. and Cant. 4. 8. Come with me from Lebanon my sister my spouse with me from Lebanon c. And can we find in our hard hearts to stay behind or not to stir now God forbid 3. Add hereto the consent and concurrence of all Saints in all ages who have lived and and dyed in the Faith and hope of this that All Saints should be gathered INTO ONE in the Dispensation of the fulness of times Eph 1. 10. and of the new Jerusalem and Kingdome state that consists of such a Collective Body Rev. 21. Should Paul Peter James John Apostles Prophets or Saints from Abraham to this day Arise from the dead the whole Classes of them would call us into this UNITING
of the mystery of Godlinesse which is without controversie Object 2. But the mysticall Church consisting of the elect in Christ Angels and men alive and dead borne and unborne c. cannot be properly â—alled Church-state instituted by Christ in the Gospel being constituted from Eternity in Gods Decree c. Answ. Yet the visible Church in Communion with them with Angels and Spirits of just men made perfect i. e. in a most sweete secret and invisible way is of Gospel institution Heb. 12. 22 23. Ephes 2. 19 20 21. and this is all that we affirm that our Communion must be of such a Nature and comprehensivenesse of Spirit as should not onely admit an Onenesse with them in Spirit but a walking with them on earth were they all alive amongst us under their diverse Administrations forms gifts and apprehensions Object 3. Some hold that the Church at Jerusalem was made up of many particular Churches and this you make your pattern Answ. Not in that sense nor do we hold so but we hold the Church at Jerusalem was but one particular Church having diverse sorts of Members and Meetings at some times and so it is our patterne and not as an universall visible Church for that we deny the universall Church being partly visible and partly invisible comprehending all times places and sorts in heaven and earth Answ 2. It is a great mistake to think the particular meetings of this Body are particular Churches for any one Church may have at some times severall meetings about several matters as Acts 12. 5. 12. 17. 20. 20. Gal. 2. 2 3. and yet be but one particular Church So it is here Notwithstanding in another consideration it seemes to some with as good Analogy and Property of speech consonancy and consistency of truth and Rule as now any Particular Church what ever may be called One and yet the members in particular or the families be many may the meetings too be many and it be said The Church that is at their house Rom. 16. 5. 1 Cor. 16. 19 Col. 4. 15. and the Church which is which meets at his house So Phile 2. So those of Caesars houshold yet in this sense that we speak they were but members of the Church So those that met in Maries house Act. 12. 5. 12. yet were but members of the Church at Jerusalem Now the reason is because two or three together in Christs name or the faithfull of some one Family or a meeting of brethren may be called a Church in one respect and not as they stand related in another Phil. 4. 22. and thus may we be said to be but ONE COLLECTIVELY and yet MORE THEN One if every meeting must be so interpreted DISTRIBUTIVELY wherein one may differ and be in his joynt from Another Though for our parts we cannot Understand it so as of many but of one BODY as 1 Cor. 12. 25. but now are they MANY and many sort of members yet but ONE BODY As SION may have many Gates wherein might be severall Assemblies as of one sort that sat in one gate and another sort in Another and yet be but ONE SION Psal. 84. 2. As the BODY hath many joynts members Arteries Sinewes Veines wherein every one Member from joynt to joynt may be lookt upon as distinct and yet as conjunct or a member of the WHOLE yet makes but one BODY Rom. 12. 4. As a CITY Psal. 122. 3 4. 46. 4. hath many houses Trades Streets Corporations and Societies wherein every one in it's own bounds may be called in a sense a Body yet makes but one City compact As an Army with Banners Cant 6. 4. 10. wherein every Company Regiment Colour Brigade and Wing is as it were an Army by it selfe yet makes but one in all as a Kingdome Joh 18. 36. Heb. 12. 28. Mat. 21. 43. may have many Families Cities Villages Shires Countries c. wherein every one by it's selfe may be said to be a little Kingdome and yet are all but one Kingdome And as Heaven Mal. 13. 11. 24. 31. wherein every firmament Element Planet Star and Constellation make up but one Heaven So is it with a true Church of Christ which is called a Body a City an Army a Kingdome and a Heaven in Scripture So the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 14. may be said to have twelve Foundations and in them the name of the twelve Apostles and the Lamb every particular member of different Sate vers. 19 20. as the Jasper and Saphire and Calcedony c. to be upon his own and proper Foundation wherein one differ from another as Paul from Peter c. and yet in another sense All have but one foundation 1 Gor. 3. 11. For other foundation can none lay then that which is Jesus Christ So that if any do understand us distributively as of MANY because of our severall meetings members or branches yet they must conclude us collectively All to be but ONE BODY or Church at last Object 4. But then you are like an Vniversall visible Church Answ 1. No no more then every particular Church was in the Primitive times who had their many meetings and different members as well as we 2. There is no such Church as we know of as universall VISIBLE But 3. That there is an universall Church we beleeve and that every particular Church of Christ should be as like to the Vniversall in Integrals and Parts as the Child is like the Parent or the Daughter the Mother we also beleeve and therefore the nearer and liker we are to the universal Church or mother of us All Gal. 4. 26. in Spirit grace and communion with All Saints visible and invisible the more thankâ—full are we to the Lord whose workmanship we are in Christ Jesus And yet we are but a poor despised Dust a particular visible Church that would faine look like the choice one of her Mother Cant. 6. 9. far short yet pressing after a more Likenesse indeed to the Vniversall consisting of All Saints Jew and Gentile past present and to come and more of the Nature and Spirit of the New Jerusalem But we believe that others are to follow after us and in this Principle too prefer'd before us whose shoes we are not worthy to untie We know not what Influences and Tendencies this may have thereto Obj. 5. But we fear you have no pattern from the Primitive times for such different and sundry Meetings besides the publick of the whole together were that clear we could be satisfied Answ 1. If there had not been left us a plain and direct Example for it as we find in some circumstances yet God hath left his Wisdome with the Church Eph. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 2. 7. a wisdome that is from above James 3. 17. in such Cases as tend to keep up good order Edifying and Discipline in the Body Rom. 14. 19.
and proper places of service and Exercise one without greiving molesting opposing oppressng or offending another and if the Lord doe give us or others more light in this Matter we would gladly receive it For 4. We must confesse as before that being but upon the Day-break and Dawning of this Businesse those that begin it must needs be short of them that are to succeed upon this Principle and this but in a sence a signe of the Day-opening or antecedanean to somewhat of more Life Loveliness and Lustre that others may be raised up into Yet it is our Duty and done with integrity and we doubt not but will be of great Vse for this season and have a singular Testimony from Heaven Wherefore 5. Have a care we beseech you in the Fear and Dread of the Heart searching God! and be well-advised Least ye reject your Work yea your present Work with the WAY Consider well with what Spirit doe ye reject it is there not prejudice or envy at Persons in it for so Johns Desciples did envy Christs and did not the Pharises so too As the Cardinall said of Reformation The Thing is good but that Luther a Raschall Frier should be the Man to put it upon us this is intollerable Or is there not offence at eminent ones holding off as John 7. 48 49. Have any of the Chiefe ones followed him onely this Ignorant people So 1 Cor. 1. 26. For ye see your calling Brethren how not many wise not many noble c. So Acts 28. 22. It is every where spoken against Or doe ye not decline the thing it selfe to delay and put that off and so pretend offence at the Way of it Or have ye in truth found out a more Excellent Way unto it then Declare it or else take heed how you reject this for God will not be Mocked Luke 14. 18. They all with one consent began to make Excuse I pray sayes the first have me Excused v. 29. and have me Excused They have good words Excuse us to our Lord we like the Thing he invites us too very well and we are for it and are Friends but yet we must be Excused Wherefore if it be our Duty to Vnite what mean we to dally or delay They that have refused the first step have not had the honour or the happinesse of the next As the Scribes and Pharises that would not goe with John could not goe with Jesus And if it be onely because thou waitest for a better Way possibly it may be revealed to this poor praying enquiring Body as well and as soon as unto Others be we ever so unlikely in your eyes and this we know that we are in this matter one step nearer to it then they that omit this their known Duty and thereby the great Commandment of Love Besides as Johns Disciples were one step nearer to Christ and his Call then the Jews were so they heard and had the first call to the next step who had taken that John 1. 37 38 39 40. And therefore we dare not omit our present Work or first step but rather take it in the Way to the Next and to that which is more Noble Wherefore if thou darest to put off this in pretence thou hast a better Way let us see thee then at this Work in thy Way or thou sinnest yet the more and so we leave it to thy conscience There is not one Objection more or Query that we can hear of materiall unlesse it be that the Angells and our Lord himself bid Mary call the Brethren together Mat. 28. Joh. 20. but to that we say We are not now under the Ministry of Angells but a more sure Word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1. 19. and a more Excellent Ministry Heb. 8. 6. Nor have we need of an Angell to tell us that which the word and Spirit of God with the clear Practice of All the Primitive Saints doe put us upon Luke 16. 31. If they hear not the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the Dead And yet to this we have the common call from the Saints Dead as well as Alive The Spirit which calls is Christs Vice-roy represents his Person supplies his Place offers his Power and is sent us in his stead untill he comes he is his Pleny-Potentiary to help and enable us as effectually in this matter as if our Lord in his own person were present with us And thus the Voyce that said to Jairus his Daughter Arise and to Lazarus Come forth we hope we have heard and felt in the Spirit and divine Nature of it inviting quickning and raising us as from the Dead to this Duty Yea he that saith Who is he that darkneth Counsell without Knowledge Job 38. 2. hath said unto us Goe thorough Goe thorough prepare your Way cast ye up cast up the high way Gather out the stones lift ye up a Standard Behold the Lord hath proclaimed it to the End of the World c. Isa. 62. 10 11 12. Cant. 3. 10. Isa. 40. 3. which End of the world is now upon us And thus in our poor measure having cleared or rather the Lord for us by a Light above us sweetly lead us as by the hand through these Objections we hope to the Satisfaction and contentment of many an honest heart which Sathan would have laid to have stumbled the Weak and blockt up the Way Now what Remaines brethren what remaines but that every one who is of a willing heart and Separate from the Defilements of these DAYES doe without Delay in their severall Cities and Countries set upon this WORK and present his Offering be it but a little Goats-haire to this Tabernacle-service Exod. 35. 21 26. And All the Women whose heart stird them up spun Goatshaire v. 29. Every man and every Woman whose heart made them willing to bring for ALL MANNER OF WORK not for one sort of Work onely Wherefore stop here a little Reader to Remember or Revise what hath been said upon this Subject Read them over againe and yet againe and then say Are they Truths or no Are they Arguments or not Doe the Motives move Are the Grounds good any of them What sayest thou Is it Duty to UNITE or not and is 't not of flat Necessity If thou sayst NO Certainly thou contradictest thine own conscience but if YEA then weigh but our words with the same Affections and Yearnings of Bowells over the Blood Wounds Shreds and Deaths and Dust of poor unpittied SION which some think incurable that they are SENT OUT unto you though some of them may be deemed Weak some Dubious Unseasonable and Unacceptable it may be yet sure we are so much hath been said and might be to the Proof Profit Verity Excellency Expectation Promise Priviledges Nature Nobility and Necessity of this Work at this juncture of time too as may leave you and others that will reject it one Day Speechlesse and
pale for it when they shall finde it was neither Wisdome nor Grace Comfort nor Counsell Conscience nor Kindnesse to Christ nor his Saints no nor yet Good manners to draw back or Demur upon such a SOLEMN INVITATION as this is for the Gathering the Scattered Uniting the Divided and Indearing the Vnited c. from the Quick and the Dead THE INVITATION WHerefore If there be yet left alive any true Grace in the hearts of Professours any true sence of the Crosse Death and Blood of Christ or of the Cries Blood Ashes Bones and Murthers of the Martyrs Any Smart in the heart for SIONS Deaths Dangers Gashes and Wounds given her by her Enemies New and Old in these Nations Also by the Great Divisions Rents Controversies Envyings and Heart burnings amongst BRETHREN of the same Faith Hope and Principles of Grace and Kingdome of our Lord Jesus If as the Apostle saith in this matter Phil. 2. 1 2. there be with you anyconsolation in Christ any comfort of Love left if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowells and Mercies If your soules be sensibly toucht with the Dishonour of God and Christ with the Death of his Cause the Dispersion of his Saints the Case of the Jewes and the Promise of the Gentiles and if ye have not sinn'd and consumed away all the Fear of God and Feeling of his heavy Hand upon us but that yet there is a Longing in you after these Things and a Hungring with hearty and pure affections after the Day of Christ and HIM alone to be Exalted and his NAME above every Name If it wound you to the Quick and your heart be melted down with tears and sighes to hear so KILLING Cutting Blasphemies as are every day cast upon the Pure SPIRIT of God KINGDOME PRINCIPLES and Professours of our Lord Jesus And if yee unfainedly without Courtly Complements doe desire to be Faithfull to God to Christ to his Spirit his Truth his Testimony his Kingly Interest and KINGDOME SEERVICE in such a Dismall Day of Rebuke Blasphemy Division and Apostacy as this is or would be Vndefiled and freed from the snares and evills of these Adulterate times If any Value be had of Oaths or Ingagements of Tears Blood and Prayers or the Promises Priviledges and Practises of the Gospell and if any true endeavour and sincerity be left to Act for and finde out the Light the Liberty of the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOME and a clear PATH for every one without offence to one another and with a sweet contentment Peace Union Love and good Order to walk in after ALL these Confusions Combustions thick darknesses and Losse upon us O then let us without faile or further let hindrance or Excuse for one Moment UNITE as ONE MAN in All our Quarters and Habitations of these three Nations And as we shall be able to give up our Accounts with comfort at the Coming of our KING JESUS to perfect this his Blessed work begun by his Word and Spirit 2 Thes. 2. 1. at the GREAT GATHERING TOGETHER of All Let us gladly accept this INVITATION of Vniting and Reviving PHILADELPHIA of what Forme and judgement soever we be and take the very Next Oppertunity unto it Knowing how Amiable Desirable and indeed Practicable it is now through grace made amongst us and as it were THE MATTER pointed at by the Finger of God himselfe unto us in and by All these trying tearing and Mount-Perazim Dispensations which we have been Exercised under of late years Isa. 28. 21. Seeing not onely so much Comfort and Christian Benefit to All But even our Ability Stability Livelinesse Patience in tribulation conquest over temptations vigour of love Quickning Spirit and power of Grace and Godlinesse Readinesse of Obedience union of affections Resolution and joynt-motion of Actions for Christ and his Kingdome yea and the very BEING of the Churches of Christ and Religion it selfe seems so much to depend upon it Notwithstanding all that hath been said When we consider what the Day is that we live in how full of Vnbeliefe Ignorance Impudence Apostacy Contention Covetuousnesse and Persecution of the power and Purity of godlinesse Selfe-seeking and all the sins of the LAST TIMES mentioned 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Tims 4 12. 2 Pet. 2. 12. of which our Saviour hath foretold us Mat. 24. we must confesse then We must expect as little fruite or effect from some and those it may be Eminent Professours too as if we spake to and powred our teares and prayers upon Posts Pillars Stones LUMPS of earth Bars of Iron Rocks and Flints or at best Bruite Beasts For as Luke 18. 8. Neverthelesse when the Son of man commeth shall he find faith on the earth That is say some when he comes with his Recovering Grace and Spirit when the times of Restitution begin and of Refreshing first enter in Acts 3. 19. 21. that is at the time of the END when he comes with a recovering and a Restoring of us into the FIRST STATE that he put HIS Saints into and with the DISCOVERIES and tenders of a more excellent WAY and Communion of Saints then we are in Shall he then find FAITH amongst men to beleive him to receive him at that day Will it then be said againe as at the first John 1. 11 12. He came unto his owne and his own received him not but as many as received him to them gave he the Right or Priviledge There be Many sorts that will not receive him in this tender of Recovering grace As the Proud 1 Cor. 1. 26. So the Ignorant John 20. 9 10. the selfe-Wise the disputer of this world the striver about words and vaine questions the worldly and selfe-seeking Professours Hag. 12. 4. and the times-servers and the envious man Acts 13. 4 5. the Magnifyer of Formes or persons one above and against another the Vnbeleever and diffident the Fearfull and amazed or that are absolutely at a LOSSE the heart that is full of any Lust to be satisfied With the pride of life and of gifts and parts and the selfe-Justifier and exalter the men that are given up to strong delusions and to beleeve lyes and those that have somewhat else to set up instead or elfe an Invention to put aside this All these will keepe off from if not oppose this hopefull and blessed worke of UNITING And we doe expect it harder to reduce one Erroneous and rivetted then to Reform or convert an open sinner but as one saies If one should defer his studies of any Art or Science till the writers and Professours thereof did fully and unitedly consent If one should vow not to come at London till All the clocks doe strike together so If one should stay from this Duty till All that seeme and say they are agreed about it he may stay long enough and never come to it at last Therefore for those Deare and precious ones that do with the FIRST begin to