This Faith comes from this Living Fountain this Living Root and Foundation Christ within the Hope of Glory This would make Christendom as the Garden of Eden and the Paradice of God but Christendom is now become a barren Wilderness there is little true Faith found among them The Lord hath some even a remnant that love and fear him and that are near and dear to him that have a True and Living Faith in the Lord Jesus but they are as a Cluster of Grapes in a barren Wilderness but the rest are as a Thorn-Hedge My Friends Is Christ ascended into Heaven Let us by Faith ascend and dwell with Christ in Heaven let our Faith ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Meditation ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Hearts and our Affections ascend to Christ in Heaven while we are in the Body and in the Wilderness of this World yet in our Minds and Affections let us be with Christ in Heaven and let us witness with the Apostle That our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the Working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself They looked for the last Appearance of his glorified Body and they looked for his daily coming into their Hearts I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you How will he come unto them By daily renewed Incomes of his Spiritual Life and Light and Divine Power He knew they would have but little Meetings at first yet he encourageth these little Meetings Where two or three are gathered together in my Name I will be in the midst of them It is not limited to a great number the Promise is to Two or three as well as to an hundred or many hundreds If a Man be in his House alone or if he be on the Top of a Mountain or by the Side of a River in Prayer if he be a true Disciple of Christ and takes up his Cross and follows him he shall find the Holy Spirit present with him If a Man love me saith Christ he will keep my Words John 14.23 and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our Abode with him So that here is a daily coming From whence From Heaven Here is a daily Coming from Heaven of Christ's Descending from Heaven The Father Son and Holy Spirit will come from Heaven to a true Believer and make their abode with him We must not understand this coming so grosly as if the Father Son and Holy Spirit should leave Heaven and come and dwell with the Sons of Men. What is this coming then It is the Heavenly Influences the Heavenly Powers and Heavenly Vertues like Heavenly Rains the Heavenly Gifts and Manifestations of the Lord Jesus by his Blessed Spirit in our Hearts So then Friends I beseech you observe these following Words which are of the like Import and concern to every one of us The Word is nigh thee this is the Command saith Moses which I command thee this Day this Word is not hidden from thee neither is far off it is not in Heaven that thou shouldst say Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it How may we be sure it is God's Command as well as the most known and revealed Truth It was a Command to them I say to them to believe that Christ was to come in the Flesh they were to obey that Commandment the Word of Christ in their Hearts the word of Faith the word of Righteousness the word of Reconciliation to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was to die for Sinners In the Time of the Law and before the Time of the Law they were to believe that Christ was to come and die for them and shed his Blood for them Heb. 11.1 Faith is the Substance of Things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Now from the beginning of the World all that long Trace of Time between Adam and Moses for about Four thousand Years they lived by that Faith they hoped for Christ's Coming and had got an infallible Assurance that God would forgive them their Sins and receive them graciously into his Hands when they should come to die and go out of this earthly Tabernacle of the Body and give them an abundant Entrance into his Everlasting Kingdom the Paradise above But why is this Word called the Commandment in the singular Number I will tell you because one Word not many is comprehensive of all God's Commandments be acquainted with this word in thy Heart and it will learn thee all God's Commandments It will teach you all that can be preached from the Holy Scriptures This Word of God that is in your Hearts is comprehensive of all Then you will object and say What need I have any outward Preaching I will sit at home and only mind the Light within the Word that is nigh and in my Heart No that is a great Mistake to say there is no need of outward Preaching many things are greatly profitable that are not of absolute necessity I do not say the Bible is of such absolute neceâ—sity that if Men should take the Bible from us we must perish for want of it God forbid If we should be banished into Turky and they should be so cruel as to take our Bibles from us as they do other Goods and think to bring us over to their Religion this word of Faith in our Hearts will bring to our Remembrance what is written in the Holy Scriptures so that the Bible is a necessary and profitable outward Help but not of such absolute Necessity that we must be undone for ever and perish without it This word of Life that is in thy Heart will preserve thee from perishing eternally O be acquainted with it If a Time should come that there should be no Meetings no outwatd Preaching or Hearing or that we should be shut up in Prison and see the Face of Man no more yet this word of God in our Hearts will teach us and witness the love of God to us in our dying Moments and we shall feel our departing Souls in the Hands of the Lord and may say with our Redeemer Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit O what Joy will this be to us in a dying Hour Now what is it that gives this Knowledge Understanding and Assurance to us The word of Faith in the Heart It may well be called the word of Faith An hypocritical Faith is a Faith without Charity Love and Obedience All Faith is false that is not grounded upon this Word of God it is needful to be preached this inward Word this Word of God within how doth it reconcile us to God It reconcileth us to God by opening of the Mysâ—ery of Christ Jesus and discovering to us
in Christendom is not the true Faith Why Because they have not these Fruits Love is a Fruit of the Spirit where is Love amongst them Where Love is there will not be Backbiting Heartburnings Jealousies Surmises and uncharitable judging one another No where Love is these things will not be but Love Joy and Peace Peace with God and Peace with one another and nothing but Peace and good will even towards all Then our Swords will be beaten into Plowshears and our Spears into Pruning-hooks and Men will learn War no more That there is so much strife and contention in Christendom it is because true Lov◠is wanting among Men and true Faith is also wanting But there are a Remnant that have tru◠Faith that worketh by Love but this noble Faith and Love and the rest of the Fruits o◠the Spirit are greatly wanting amongst the generality of the Professors of Christianity I◠is by Faith that we come to be ingrafted into Christ the true Vine and abide in him and bring forth much Fruit. It is by unbelief that Men are severed from Christ and not abiding in him they are cast forth as Branches that are withered and then cast into the Fire and burned O great is the hurt of unbelief and great is the benefit of true Faith He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit Eph. 4.10 11. saith the Apostle Christ when he Ascended upon high he led Captivity Captive and gave Gifts unto Men. He that first descended into the lower parts of the Earth is the same that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come into the unity of the Faith and the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ that we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carryed about with every Wind of Doctrine by the sleight of Men and cunning craftyness whereby they lie 〈◊〉 wait to deceiave Hence observe the manner of the Speech and Phrase used by the Holy Ghost all these are for edifying the Body of Christ till we come unto the unity of the Faith and knowledg of the Son of God to a perfect Man All Believers make up one perfect Man where Christ is the Head and Believers are the Members Let thy progress be never so great thou canst not come to equality with Christ he hath the fulness of the God-head dwelling in him Bodily we can come only to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ now the greatest and higest measure is but a measure Consider what is Written Rom. 11.24 The Jews that were natural branches were cut off from Christ the good Olive Tree through unbelief What was their unbelief They did not believe in Christ Jesus the Son of Man they did not believe in him that was born of a Virgin to be the Prophet that God promised to his People they did not believe the Man Christ Jesus to be the true Messiah that God had promised to send to put an end to the Types and Figures and shadows of the Law and to their new Moons and solemn Feasts and to Circumcision and to the Passover and to put an end to the offering up of outward Sacrifices and the shedding of the Blood of the Sacrifices that so their Sins might be forgiven them for without shedding of Blood there is no Remission It was not the Blood of Beasts that wer◠offered in Sacrifice could take away Sin Why Because these were only Representations and Symbols to help the People's weakness and to present Christ to their Eyes and suited to their weak State which is compared to the state of a Child This was the Reason they received not Christ outwardly and the Unbelief of the Jews was great in that because they did not receive Christ into their Hearts in his Spiritual Appearance but they received him neither inwardly nor outwardly Whosoever reject Christ outwardly they reject him inwardly and whosoever receive Christ inwardly and sincerely they also receive him outwardly to be the great Sacrifice for their Sins they own his priestly Office for the Remission of Sins through the Blood of the Covenant they do admire the wonderful Design and Contrivance of the Wisdom of God in the great Work of Man's Redemption they adore and admire the Mercy and Love of God his Power and Justice Holiness Wisdom Goodness Faithfulness and Truth in that glorious Contrivance that he should send his Dear Son to die for the Sins of Men and take our Nature and Sin upon him and be made a Curse for us and take the Curse from us and to be made Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him He was wounded for our Transgressions bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed Isa 53.5 Who his own self bare our Sins in his own Body on the Tree that we being dead to Sin should live unto Righteousness He was made Sin for us saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. How was Christ made Sin for us Sin that is a Sin-offering He became an Offering for Sin They that are Branches in the true Vine and grafted into Christ receive heavenly Sap and Moisture from him We must believe that Christ died for our Sins we must believe that he was made a Curse for us and that he shed his Blood for the Remission of our Sins We must believe this weighty Testimony This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to die for Sinners and to shed his Blood for Sinners as well as inwardly to appear in the Hearts of Sinners A Work that was a most necessary Work for the Redeeming Renewing Sanctifying and Cleansing of us from all Sins So my Friends true Faith in Christ receives him with all his Benefits receives him both in his outward and bodily Appearance as manifest in the Flesh and also in his Spiritual Appearance and coming into our Hearts and by true Faith in him we come to be ingrafted into him and receive Sap and Moisture and heavenly Influence from him who is the true generous and Noble Vine Our blessed Lord here holds forth a wonderful Mystery in these few Words I am th◠true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away and every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth
The Great DOCTRINES OF THE Gospel of Christ Owned Believed and Asserted In several DECLARATIONS OR Sermons Preached in London by Sundry Servants of Christ of the Society of Christian Quakers London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheap-side 1694. A SERMON Preached by Thomas Budd At Devonshirehouse London June 17th 1694. 1 Tim. 3.16 And without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory A Great and Glorious Mystery indeed-it is beyond what Man can conceive or apprehend God manifest in the Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ For in the fulness of Time the Word took Flesh The Word became Flesh The Word took Flesh in the Womb of the Virgin being over-shadowed by the Holy Ghost she conceived with Child and in the appointed Time of the Father she brought forth her First-born into the World and according as the Angel directed his Name was called Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins And it is said This Child increased in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Man When he was Twelve Years old he disputed with the Doctors in the Temple in the Temple at Jerusalem He disputed wisely and they greatly admired his Wisdom and when the Time was come that he was to shew himself to Israel and to do the Work that was appointed him of the Father He came to John to be Baptized of him in Jordan but John forbad him saying I have need to be Baptized of thee and comest thou to me And Jesus answering said unto him Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness Then he suffered him And Jesus when he was Baptized went up streightway out of the Water and lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And having received the Holy Ghost and being fitted for the Work which he was afterwards to accomplish He was led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil and when he had fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights he was afterward an hungred And when the Tempter came to him he saiâ—â— If thou be the Son of God command that these Stones be made Bread But Christ resisted the Temptation and told the Devil That Man doth not live by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth cut of the Mouth of God And then the Devil not prevailing by this Temptation He taketh him up into the Holy City and setteth him on a Pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their Hands they shall bear thee up lest at any Time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone And he overcame the Devil in this Temptation also and said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God And the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high Mountain and sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them and said All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me Then said Jesus unto him Get thee behind me Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Here was a great Temptation indeed how apt are these things to prevail over Mankind The love of Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World but these could not prevail over our blessed Saviour who was the Holy One of God Therefore we that profess to be his Followers should tread in his Steps and follow his Example How can we be his Disciples except we deny our selves and take up his Cross and follow him who is the Captain of our Salvation Who is our High Priest who is ascended into Heaven and entred into the holiest of all made without Hands As the High Priest under the Law he entred into the Holy Place made with Hands not without Blood which he offered for himself and the Sins of the People But Christ being become an High Priest of good Things to come neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with Hands saith the Apostle which are the Figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the Presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high Priest entred into the Holy Place every Year with the Blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World but now once in the End of the World hath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9.24 And he is able also to save them to the utmost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them And God the Father hath regard to the prevailing Intercession of his Son him he heareth always and if we pray in Faith and in the Name of Christ our Prayers shall enter into the Ears of the Father as the Father heareth the Son always so he heareth those that believe in him and pray in his Name they are sure to receive the Spirit of Adoption whereby they cry Abba Father Therefore ask in his Name and receive that your Joy may be full you shall receive fulness of Joy that will give Satisfaction to your Souls and you shall receive a double Portion of the Divine Spirit and come with a filial Confidence and humble Boldness to the Throne of Grace and obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in the Time of Need. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3.16 They that receive the Dear and Well-beloved Son of God receive him as God's Gift and they that believe in him believe in both his inward and outward Appearance Ye believe in God saith our Saviour to his Disciciples believe also in me John 14.1 So that it is not enough to believe in Christ's Inward Appearance and to look only to the Spiritual Appearance and Operation of the Divine Word of Truth within us but we must look unto Jesus that is the Dispencer of Life and the giver of his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Look unto me and be ye saved all the Ends of the Earth We must look unto him that is the Giver of Grace and the Dispencer of Life and Salvation as the Author and Fountain of it We must believe in Christ the Eternal Word that came down from Heaven that took Flesh and dwelt
his coming down spiritually that we may witness and enjoy a further measure of him and of his spiritual and heavenly Presence and wait for his coming to us O saith David when shall thy Word come unto me How sweet are thy Words unto my taste yea sweeter than Hony to my Mouth He waited that the Word of God might come unto him Send forth thy Light and thy Truth send it forth from thy Zion from above from thy holy Hill from thy Dwelling-place above in Heaven Send forth thy Light and thy Truth that it may guide me to thy holy Habitation thy holy Hill of Zion He waited more and more for it These Words were first of all spoken by Moses Deut. 11.12 For this Commandment which I command thee this Day it is not hidden from thee neither is it afar of It is not in Heaven that thou should say Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it Neither is it beyond the Sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it unto us That we may hear it and do it But the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou maist do it This is the Word of Faith the Word of Life and Reconciliation the powerful Word of God that is within as a Hammer and a Sword and as Fire it breaks and melts the Heart and is helpful to every good Thing The Tribes of Israel had it This Word which I command thee this Day This Word of Righteousness and Salvation every Man and Woman hath it in all Ages and Generations blessed be the Lord it is more abundantly revealed now than in former Ages and Generations yet Moses saith This Commandment which I command you it is not hid from you But this Mystery of Christ was hid from Ages and Generations It is said to be hid because it was not so plentifully revealed as in latter Ages yet it was not so hid always but something of it was known in darkest Times Moses might well say to the Children of Israel It is not hidden from thee neither is it far off It is not in Heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to Heaven that is to say to bring down Christ from above to bring him down to appear in a Body of Flesh he was not then come in the Flesh yet was expected in many Ages Moses and all the Holy Prophets and Holy Men of God they were contented with a Spiritual Sight of him they waited and prayed for his Coming yet he was not manifested in the Flesh in their Days and Generation they died in the Faith that Christ should come into the World in the fulness of Time and they obtained Remission of Sins for hiâ— sake Who hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us and died the accursed Death of the Cross that our Sins might be forgiven and that the Blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith Before the coming of Christ God's Israel of old offered Sacrifices of Rams Bullocks and Goats not that they believed there was any Vertue in the Blood of those Sacrifices to take away Sin but this was a Testimony of their Thankfulness to God And so likewise it helped their Faith as a Symbol to preach Christ to them and their Posterity That in the fulness of Time Christ should descend from Heaven and take a Body of Flesh Gal. 4.4 The Apostle tells us But when the fulness of Time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons Rom. 8.3 The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus â—â—th made us free from the Law of Sin and Dâ—â—th for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likâ—nesâ— of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh tâ—â—t thâ—â—ighteousness of the Law might be fulâ—â—â—â— in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Christ was a Sacrifice for Sin he came to finish Transgression and make an end of Sin and bring in everlasting Righteousness Now it was in the fulness of Time thaâ— Christ should descend from Heaven and comâ— in the Form of a Servant and die for ouâ— Sins and rise again for our Justification Before Christ died and rose again from the Dead this Prophecy of Moses was not fulfilled Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring down Christ to us or who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it to us before Christ died and rose again from the Dead He wenâ— over Lakes and Seas Here is a Prophecy given forth by the Spirit of God in Moses hiâ— Time and now fulfilled Christ went abouâ— doing good He went about by Land anâ— by Sea to do good unto People Sometimes he preached aboard a little Ship and sometimes on the Land He travelled both by Sea and Land and went about doing good and healeâ— all manner of Diseases for God was with him And that was the Time and Age of which Moses gave forth this Prophecy That Christ should die and rise again from the Dead and go over the Seas And the Apostle Paul was guided by the same Spirit when he wrote these Words Rom. 10.6 7. Say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shaâ— descend into the Deep that is to bring up Chrisâ— again from the Dead the Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thine Heart thaâ— is the Word of Faith which we preach This was declared and fulfilled in the Apostles Days Christ had descended into the lower parts of the Earth died and rose again and was ascended into Heaven This is the Word of Faith that we Preach I shall insist further upon this God willing if I have an Opportunity renewed to me If you have a right Faith and Belief that Christ died for you you will believe it was for us and not for himself he suffered the Death of the Cross he was cut off for our Sins not for his own he shed his precious Blood for our Sins not for his own he offered not a Sacrifice as other Priests did first for his own Sins and then for the Sins of the People for he had no sins of his own If you have fixed your Faith upon this and if you have a living Faith in your Heart iâ— will open to you and give you the Comfort of it I say It is a Lamentation and may be for a Lamentation that the true Faith of it is so little preached in Christendom Therefore Christendom is as a Wilderness which might have been as the Garden of the Lord.
it that it may bring forth more Fruit. He cuts and dresseth it with his Pruning-knife that he may cut off fruitless and superfluous Branches You may take notice from hence that it is manifest that those that are grafted into Christ and bring forth Fruit they may have some Superfluities that may need cutting off but so long as the Branch brings forth Fruit the Husbandman will not cut it off if there be any Life or Vertue in it he will spare it that it may become fruitful God is the wise Husbandman every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit He comes with his Pruning Knife and cuts off the superfluous Branches that the fruitful Branches may grow and flourish by the Sap and Moisture they receive from the heavenly Vine As new born Babes saith the Apostle desire the sincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Those that are in Christ may have some Superfluities if we may be as Instruments to cut off those Superfluities and save the Branch it is well In this Parable of the Vine representing God as the Husbandman Christ as the Vine and Believers as the Branches God the Father acts the part of a Husbandman What is the Office that God exerciseth towards Christ the Vine under this Figure Metaphor and Allegory representing him as a Husbandman We know what Christ the true Vine doth to us that are Branches if we be grafted by Faith into him he supplies us with heavenly Sap and Moisture The Vine gives Sap and Moisture to every Branch it hath such plenty of Sap and Moisture and Fatness in it self as to make every Branch fruitful There is no want in Christ the good Vine to minister and convey heavenly Sap and Vertue to every Branch that abideth in him We now understand what the Office of Christ the true Vine is to Believers that are the Branches and what he doth to them But may some say what doth God to Christ What doth God the Father the heavenly Husbandman do unto Christ the Noble Vine What Influence hath the Son from the Father We need Influences from the Son of God but what Influence hath the Son from the Father I answer Christ as the Son of Man needs a continual Influence from the Father as we need a continual Influence from Christ As the Father hath Life in himself so he hath given to the Son to have Life in himself and he quickneth whom he will Saith Christ John 5.19 Verily verily I say unto you the Son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the Father do for what things soever he doth these also doth the Son likewise for the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things that himself doth And in another Place he saith My Father worketh hitherto and I work But some may say Is not Christ God Yes he is God and he is Man too we must have a right Faith in him not only as God but as Man Had Christ been God only and not become the Son of Man he had not been a Saviour that is a perfect and compleat Saviour It behoved him to become Man to take upon him the Form of a Servant it behoved him to bear the weight of our Sins in his own Body upon the Tree and become a Sacrifice and die for us and then to rise again from the Dead and ascend into Heaven and live for ever to make Intercession for us We needed such an high Priest that was sensibly touched with the Feeling of our Infirmities and in all Points tempted like as we are yet without Sin That is an excellent Place wherein David prophesied of Christ Psal 69.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity captive thou hast received Gifts for Men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them or as it may be better translated That the Lord God might inhabit them and dwell in them Here David prophesied what Christ received from whom doth Christ receive Gifts to give unto the Rebellious He received them from the Father he received them from him for them So that you may understand that Christ is a Mediator or middle Person between God and us God the Father hath sealed the Son and appointed him to give Bread to all the Household of God Labour not for the Meat which perisheth but for that Meat which endureth to Everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed He hath put a Mark upon him whereby he may be known from all others all are inferior to him and short of him all are Servants under him Heb. 3.5 6. Moses verily was faithful in all God's House as a Servant c. but Christ as a Son over his own House◠whose House are we if we hold fast the Confidence and the rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the end Believers are God's House he is their Master Christ is the Steward of the House God hath sealed Christ and hath marked him How hath he marked him With the fulness of the Holy Spirit John the Baptist taught the People 〈◊〉 to know Christ before all other I indeed baptize you with Water unto Repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire John when he had Baptized Christ in Jordan saw the Spirit descending on him Jesus when he was Baptized went up straightway out of the Water and lo the Heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Now to open a little further in a few words the Relation that the Father hath to the Son that is here set forth by way of Metaphor or Allegory in this Parable wherein Christ is styled the true Vine and the Father the Husbandman what the Husbandman doth to the Vine that God the Father doth unto Christ You will say what is that what doth the Husbandman to the Vine doth Christ need any pruning purging or dressing was there any Sin in him No he needs no pruning or purging there is no Sin in him nor never was What doth the Husbandman do to the Vine He puts Earth and Fatness to the Vine and the Vine it self must have Earth and Soil to grow in The Vine cannot grow unless it have a Soil to grow in As a Branch cannot grow unless it hath a Stock to grow upon neither can a Tree nor a Vine grow unless it hath Earth and Soil to grow in Now God the Father who is the heavenly Husbandman he gives Divine Influence and Fatness and Moisture unto Christ the true Vine It is an Allegory a Metaphor and Figure but there is a Reality under it and in it the Son is planted in the Father and we are planted in
the Son the Father gives Life to the Son and the Son giveth Life unto Believers the Son is continually receiving from the Father and we are continually receiving from the Son through the Exercise of our Faith Would you know and feel an heavenly Vertue and Sap and vital Influence flowing â—â—om Christ into your Souls And would you now nothing of dryness barrenness nor unâ—â—uitfulness then live by the Faith of the Son â—f God and exercise your Faith upon Christ â—ontinually It is not enough to have Faith â—e by you as a Man hath an Instrument lying â—y and he doth not use it But know the Use and Exercise of Faith you must know â—he daily Operation of Faith elsâ— you cannot â—eceive continual Sap flowing 〈◊〉 you from Christ the heavenly Vine Gâ—â— 2.20 I am â—rucified with Christ saith the Apostle neverâ—heless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me â—nd the Life which I now live in the Flesh I â—ive by the Faith of the Son of God who loved â—ne and gave himself for me There is no â—iving but by the Faith of the Son of God Rom. 1.16.17 I am not ashamed of the Gospel â—f Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek For therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written Hab. 2.4 the Just shall live by his Faith Every Man and Woman are to live by their own Faith It is not the Faith and Holiness of another will serve our turn every one must have Faith of his own which is the Gift of God I once more warn you against that Faith that is only literal traditional and historical for that is not the Faith that will justifie and save you that is not the Faith which I preach I am much abused wronged and traduced by some that say I preach an unprofitable Faith and that the Faiâ—â— which I preach all England hath it and aâ— Christendom hath it If they had it wâ— should see the Fruits of it Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Meekness and Temperance these are the Fruit of the Spirit and Concomitants of true Faith The Faith which I preach is indispensibly necessary to every one that expects Salvation and to live with God and Christ in Heaveâ— for ever It is a Faith that is wrought by thâ— mighty Power of God the powerful word oâ— God in the Heart Heb. 4.12 The Word oâ— God is quick and powerful sharper than anâ— two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joyntâ— and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughtâ— and Intents of the Heart This Faith comeâ— from an inward Root this Root is the Lighâ— within the Power of God the Spirit of God within O how many thousands in Christendom have risen up against this Testimony Blessed be God that gave me a share in this Testimony there is a living Testimony that remains in my Mouth and Heart to this Day that the Lord Jesus Christ died for us performed the Office of an High Priest for us and upon the account of his precious Blood we receive Remission of Sins All this is by Faith in Christ we witness to his prophetical Office he is the great Prophet and Teacher of his Church and People and we witness to his Kingly Office he rules and governs in our Hearts by his Holy Spirit This Faith is not universally preached and known in all Christendom in the Root of it which is Christ within the Light within that Christ in his prepared Body did the Will of God and suffered Death for us This Faith whereby I believe Christ died for me and makes Intercession for me the Root of it is the Light within and Christ within Is this the Doctrine that is believed and professed all over Christendom No by no means This Faith I can prove out of our Friends Writings in Print that it respects Christ whole and entire Every true Exercise of Faith doth respect Christ as he is both God and Man It respects him as he came in the Flesh died and suffered for us in the Flesh and as he rose again from the Dead and ascended into Heaven and now appears in the Presence of God for us and as he will come again to judge the world as he is â—he Son of Man God hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the World by the Man Christ Jesus whereof he hath given Assurance â—o all Men in that he hath raised him from â—he Dead Some will be ready to say Shall not the Light within judge all Men Shall not the words which Christ hath spoken judge us at â—he last Day Yes Christ shall judge all Men at the last Day both by his Light in their Hearts and â—s he is the Man Christ now if any think â—â—at the Light within is the Man Christ Jesus and nothing else and exclude the Person oâ— Christ the same Person that was crucified anâ— died for us and was buried This would bâ— a great Error and a contradiction to thâ— fundamental Principles of the Christian Faith I say that blessed Body which God prepareâ— for his dear Son to tabernacle in to be hâ—â— Temple that Body remains in Being and wiâ—â— remain a glorious Body to all Eternity Thâ— Apostle tells us Phil. 3.20 That our meaâ— and vile Bodies shall be made like unto Christâ— glorious Body For our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change ouâ— vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto hâ— glorious Body according to the working whereâ—â— he is able to subdue all things unto himself It will be the Happiness of the Saints thâ— they shall be made like unto Christ both iâ— Soul and Body We shall be made more likâ— to Christ in our Souls and Spirits then anâ— we must be cleansed from Sin and made liâ—â— him now for we expect no Purgatory aftâ—â— this Life therefore defer it not He that haâ— this Hope saith the Apostle purifyeth himseâ—â— even as he is pure My Friends I expect no cleansing after thâ— Life I expect all my cleansing here to 〈◊〉 cleansed from all filthiness both of Flesh aâ— Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of Gâ—â— that so when I come to die I may be receivâ— into the Bosom of Christ that I may have measure of that holy Confidence to pray 〈◊〉 Stephen Lord Jesus receive my Spirit This â—lessed Martyr Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost he looked up stedfastly into Heaven and â—aw the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the â—ight Hand of God and when they were stonâ—ng him to Death he kneeled down and cried with a loud Voice Lord lay not this Sin to â—heir Charge and when he had said this he â—ell asleep Friends you that have a Life of Faith and â—eel Christ dwelling in your Hearts by Faith
â—ou feel his Life Power and Spirit in you to â—ead you in the way of Obedience You may die in Peace and with great Joy and Satisfaction you may die with great Courage and commit your Bodies to the Grave and with â—ulness of Assurance commit your departing Souls to the Lord Jesus to be received into his Bosom and to have an abundant entrance â—nto his everlasting Kingdom All the deceaâ—ed Saints tho' they have a greater Injoyment of God and Christ than we have now or thâ—â—â—hey had when tabernacled in a mortal Body â—et they wait and long for the Reward which â—hey shall receive at the Resurrection of the Dead then is the full Possession the joyful Harvest which our Saviour hath told us of When thou makest a Feast invite not thy Friends â—r the Rich that will invite thee again but the Poor and Needy that cannot recompence thee How few make such Feasts This was our Saviours Counsel and Advice Luke 14.12 13. When thou makest a Dinner or a Supper call â—ot thy Friends nor thy Brethren neither thy Kinsmen nor thy rich Neighbours lest they alsâ— bid thee again and Recompence be made to theâ— But when thou makest a Feast call the Poor the Maimed the Lame and the Blind anâ— thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompencâ— thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the Resurrection of the Just. When is the Resurrection of the Dead when Men and Women die 〈◊〉 No when a good Man and Woman die they certainly go into Paradice there is a great fruition of the Lord's Presence and oâ— his Love and Life that they then receive anâ— enjoy But that is not the Resurrection oâ— the Dead Many were raised from the Deaâ— before Christ died but this is not the generaâ— Resurrection of the Dead And our Saviouâ— himself raised Lazarus and the Widow's Son this is not the Resurrection of the Dead Buâ— now Christ is risen from the Dead saith thâ— Apostle and become the first Fruits of them thaâ— sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 tho' some were raised from the Dead before Christ's Death and Resurrection yet none of them went bodily to Heaven but Christ himself As in Adam aâ— die even so in Christ shall all be made alive but every Man in his own Order Christ thâ— first Fruits afterwards they that are Christs aâ— his coming then cometh the end Friends I hope in this manner of Doctriâ—â— my Testimony is acceptable to some I warâ— you let none despise it I hope in God thaâ— this Doctrin of the Resurrection is acceptablâ— to many if the holy Scriptures have Weighâ— and Authority and Credit with you as I hopâ— they have with all here present then the Faith of the Resurrection of the Dead and the Faith of our own Resurrection and of Christ's Resurrection will be of Credit with you which is such an important Matter that all Preaching is vain without it and our Faith vain without it If you have not a true Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead you are yet in your Sins Pretend what you will of divine Injoyments if you have not a Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead I say you are yet in your Sins and your Faith is vain I prove this from the Testimony of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 15.14 But if there be no Resurrection of the Dead then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen then is our Preaching vain and your faith is also vain yea and we are found salse Witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so be that the Dead arise not for if the Dead rise not then is not Christ raised and if Christ be not raised your faith is vain ye are yet in your sins 1 Cor. 15.16 17. Some ignorantly imagine that the Apostle Paul speaks of an inward Rising and of the new Birth as the new Birth is a most necessary preparation for a glorious Resurrection that better Resurrection but that is a great Mistake to say the Apostle speaks here of the new Birth for he is speaking of raising the Body out of the Grave He speaks of the same that Christ spake John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in the Graves shall â—ear his Voice aâ—â— shall come forth they that have done good unâ—â— the Resurrection of Life and they that haâ—â— done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnatioâ— The Resurrection of the Just is a comfortablâ— Resurrection but that of the Unjust is 〈◊〉 dreadful Resurrection 2 Cor. 5.10 For 〈◊〉 must all appear before the Judgment-seat Christ that every one may receive the thinâ— done in his Body according to that he haâ— done whether it be good or bad You maâ— take notice of those Words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.14 If there be no Resurrection 〈◊〉 the Dead then is Christ not risen and if Chriâ—â— be not risen then is our Preaching vain anâ— your Faith is also vain These Words are linked together like sâ— many Links making a strong Chain that can not be broken The Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust are linked witâ— Christ's Resurrection and Christ's Resurrection is linked with the Faith of it and thâ— Faith of it linked with the Preaching of it they that have not the true Faith of Christ Resurrection and of the Resurrection of thâ— Dead are yet in their Sins and let them pretend never so much to the Faith of Chriâ—â— within if they have not the Faith of Chriâ—â— without them they are yet in their Sins Take not things upon my Credit but searcâ— the Scriptures I hope the holy Scriptures havâ— Credit Esteem and Authority with you Leâ— me once more caution you to take thing rightly that you may not mistake me I say that a bare historical Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead or of the Resurrection of Christ will not prove a Man not to be dead â—n his sins but if we do really believe the Resurrection of the Dead and Christ's Resurâ—ection if we believe these great Truths and â—f our Faith be from an inward Work of the Spirit of God upon our Hearts this Belief will lay a Constraint upon us to live unto Christ that died for us and to have our Hearts in Heaven and our Conversation in Heaven If you are risen with Chrict saith the Apostle then seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God and set your Affectons on things above and nor on things on the Earth What are those things above that we are to set our Hearts and Affections upon And what is it to set our Affections upon things above To set our Affections on things above it is to have our Thoughts and Meditations exercised after this manner Lord whom have I in Heaven but thee There is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Lord my Desire is only unto thee and to the
remembrance of thy Name I am travelling through the Wilderness of this World this is the place of my Pilgrimage I am here in a strange Land I am passing through this Wilderness this Country that is earthly but I desire a better Country that is an heavenly Lord I am coming to thee and to be with thee and to enjoy fulness of Felicity with thee That which I have now is but an earnest and fore-taste of Heaven that divine Refreshment which I have now from thy Presence O Lord it is very sweet unto my Soul that followeth hard after thee and even faints and longs for thy Salvation Lord my Soul is satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness when thou drawest nigh to me and liftest up the Light of thy Countenance upon me this puts Gladness into my Heart more than in the time that worldly Men have their Corn and Wine encreased But what is all this in comparison of Heaven and the full Fruition of thee and that fulness of Joy and Rivers of Pleasures at thy right Hand for evermore I would not diminish those divine and spiritual Enjoyments and sweet refreshing Consolations which the Lord is pleased many times to vouchsafe to his People here they have large Enjoyments of the Lord's Presence and sweet Communion with him but all this is but a fore-taste and earnest of what is to come Therefore setting our Affections on things above is to be exercising our Faith our Hope and Meditations upon that Felicity which we shall enjoy after this Life I would not have any set their Imaginations on work so as to form Ideas in their Minds what sort of place Heaven is for those thoughts and conceptions that will profit you the Spirit of the Lord must give them to you and so help you to contemplate and meditate upon the joy and Glory of Heaven If ever you have any real benefit and advantage by the Exercise of your Thoughts it must be through the help and assistance of the Holy Spirit you can have no profitable Meditation concerning God and Christ and Heaven and Judgment to come except the Spirit of the Lord doth work in your Hearts and form your Thoughts and excite your desires and raise your affections to a spiritual and lively Exercise Friends you must labour to come to a Holy silence and stilness in your waiting upon the Lord and to deny your selves and take up the Cross of Christ and give up your selves intirely to the leadings of his Spirit and suppress the natural workings and actings of your own Spirits and let every Thought and Imagination be brought into subjection and into a Holy Captivity to the Lord Jesus Christ in your Meditations on God and Heaven and Glory in the VVorld to come these Thoughts must be given you by the Spirit of God you must form and frame and work them together with the Spirit The Life of a true Christian is to live above to have his conversation in Heaven and to look beyond all present Enjoyments unto that which is to come unto fruitions that are future and Everlasting The Apostle according to the VVisdom given him of God hath given us an excellent definition of Faith Hebr. 11.1 Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Hope looks to that which is future which is not presently enjoyed Rom. 8.24 saith thâ— Apostle We are saved by Hope but Hope thâ— is seen is not Hope for what a Man seeth wâ— doth he yet hope for it But if we hope for thâ— we see not then do we with patience wait fâ— it If any one say that this Doctrine drawes 〈◊〉 from the present enjoyment from the gift oâ— God in our selves to look to that which is beyond the grave I say it doth not Truâ— hope centers you in that which is the preseâ—â— measure and confirms and establishes you iâ— it it is the present measure that worketh truâ— hope in us a present measure of the gift oâ— God of the Grace and Spirit of God the effecâ— of Grace cannot lead us from Grace thereforâ— it is great weakness for any thus to argue 〈◊〉 am afraid my meditation will carry me from mâ— present measure I tell thee the Thoughts anâ— meditations that work in the Heart of a truâ— Christian that carry him beyond present enjoyments to those that are future will noâ— hinder the present measure of Grace received Let me add this one word further the mistery that hath been told us the Mystery that hath been hid from Ages and Generations which is Christ in us who is the hope of glory may we not say Christ in us is our glory and Christ in us is our Enjoyment VVe may say if we are true Believers Christ in me is Joy and Sweetness to my Soul and delight and satisfaction to my Soul beyond all the transient Joys and pleasures of this VVorld If I had the possession of them and were Master of them Christ within affords me that â—atisfaction and content that peace and joy that surpasseth all worldly Pleasures Christ within us is our hope of Glory but the present measure of Christ within is not our full possession of Glory I own it that Christ and his Grace is in every Saint and Grace is Glory begun it is the earnest and first Fruits of Glory The Apostle calls Christ within the Hope of Glory not the full possession of it Christ within leads us to that which is beyond the Grave and beyond Time which is to be enjoyed in a glorious Eternity The Apostle Paul tells us Tit. 2.11 12 13. The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying Vngodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works When is the time of the appearance of this blessed Hope At the glorious appearing of the great God who is both God and Man and our Saviour When is that At the Resurrection of the Dead when all Nations shall stand before the Son of Man the Good and Bad the Just and the Unjust together What this glorious Appearing will be iâ— beyond the power and ability of any Man tâ— demonstrate but there is one thing I shalâ— mention which will make it a most glorious Appearing that all the unjust Judgments that have been passed against just Men against the Saints and People of God shall be reversed this will be very glorious and God will then before Men and Angels justify his righteous and faithful Servants that have been unjustly condemned by Popes Bishops and general Councils and Synods Thus our blessed Lord himself was unjustly condemned and charged with Blasphemy as you may read in the Evangelist Mark 14.62 The High-priest
that Counsel that is here given to the Church of the Thessalonians Prove all things Try all things prove Men's Ways prove Men's Words prove Men's Doctrines prove Men's Principles I question not but you are such an understanding People that I need not say much to you I hope you are come to that exercise of Mind that you will take care not to be led aside not to be prevailed upon by the fair Speeches of any but that you make it your business rightly to come to know how to prove all things that offer themselves to your Consideration which I told you are of a religious Concern and are such things wherein the Salvation of our Souls are concerned That which we must come to prove things by is that which I have next to mention among you this a Man cannot do except it be given him from above We cannot prove things as we ought we cannot try things nor search into things except we know a receiving something from above A Man can receive nothing except it be given to him by God from above You and I have not that Knowledge that Ability that Understanding to Prove all things and hold fast that which is good until I receive the Gift of God I cannot do it And as it hath been often told you God hath been pleased to give so much of his Grace and of his good Spirit as he hath seen good but some have not received this heavenly Gift But some may ask me What I mean by receiving it By receiving I mean when this good Gift is given and bestowed upon Men they are joyned to it and made one with it As it hath pleased God to give to every one of us a measure of his Grace and Spirit There are diverse Names it is but one and the same thing if we have received the Gift from above let us keep to it and abide in it then as we abide in this Gift in this good Spirit then are we in a State and Condition to prove all things It is a true saying of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned You see your Calling Brethren how that not many wise Men after the Flesh not many Mighty not many Noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the Wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the World and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought the things that are The Apostle speaking to the Church of Corinth saith Hath not God made foolish the Wisdom of this World for after that in the Wisdom of God the World by Wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe for the Jews require a Sign and the Greeks seek after Wisdom but we preach Christ Crucified to the Jews a Stumbling-block and to the Greeks foolishness but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God If any saith the Apostle would be wise let him become a Fool that he may be wise Let us lay aside all our own Parts and Wisdom and come to the Gift of God in our own Souls and to the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation teaching us that denying Vngodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Friends my Charity is such I am so persuaded of you all I am satisfied that God hath been so merciful to you all as to enlighten your Minds and open your Understandings that you are among a seeking People walking towards Sion with your Faces thitherward I do not question but you may meet with many things which may sometimes put you in doubt and make you to question your Condition that you do not well know what to do yet in the midst of all your Troubles there there is something in your own Souls and Consciences that will not let you be quiet till you come to be in some measure like those the Apostle exhorts to Prove all things and hold fast that which is good It is good for all Christian People to be examining themselves in reference to Religious matters that do concern the Salvation of their Souls I count those that are seeking Men and Women to be in this holy Exercise the Grace of God which is in their Hearts will put them upon it as it is in Dan. 12.4 They shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased But it is fallen out in our Days that Iniquity doth abound and Wickedness encreaseth That which I have further to mention is this That you will be sure to keep to the Gift of God and when you come to know what is good that you hold it fast when you are upon searching or trying any Man's Doctrine if it be sound hold it fast if it be not sound meddle not with it But some may put this Question How shall we be further satisfied We may be discomposed in our Minds and possibly be in a maze and in great straits that we cannot keep so close to the Gift of God as we ought to do Is there nothing elsâ— that may be assistant and helpful to us I answer yes God hath been pleased to afford us another Help the Holy Scriptures The Bereans they did search the Scriptures whether those things were so You that are a seeking enquiring People examine and prove all things according to the Gift of God which is given to you and see whether any Doctrine that is preached to you be according to the Holy Scriptures If any Man preach any other Doctrine the Apostle passeth a severe Sentence against them 1 Gal. 7.8 There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ but though we or an Angel from Heaven preach another Gospel to you than that which we have preached let him be accursed It is the Lord 's great and abundant Mercy that he hath graciously vouchsafed the Holy Scriptures of Truth to be preserved through all Ages and to be translated and turned into their own Language when we are in doubt or at a loss we may go to the Law and the Testimony there it no contrariety between the Lord 's Teaching and the Holy Scriptures Therefore let us prove Men's Sayings and be not like many in our Days that take things upon Trust It is good to be striving as much as in us lies to prove every thing wherein the Salvation of our Souls is concerned and to hold fast that which is good This ought to be our Care and there is a great deal required after we have examined and proved and found out what is good there are many things to hinder us and turn us out of the
Man The Sadducees and Atheistical Persons of that age wherein our Saviour appeared that denied a Resurrection of the Body and that there were Spirits Our Saviour for their conviction did many wonderful Works he raised the Dead and cast out evil Spirits and declared himself to be the Son of God with Power in that he cast out Devils from the possessed Persons and made them confess and own his Divinity One of the evil Spirits cried out saying What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of the most high God I should be glad if I had time to speak more at large concerning Christs Death and sufferings and Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven and sitting at the right Hand of God and living for ever to make Intercession for us The Apostle Peter declares Acts 2.22 25. Ye Men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a Man approved of God among you by miracles wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know whoâ— God raised up having loosed the pains of Death because it was not possible he should be holden of it The Lord Jesus appeared after his Resurrection to Mary Magdalen at the Sepulcher where she sees two Angels in VVhite sitting the one at the Head the other at the Feet where the Body of Jesus had lain And they said unto her Woman Why Weepest thou she saith unto them because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him And when she had thus said she turned her self back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus And he said unto her Woman why Weepest thou Whom seekest thou she supposing him to be the Gardiner said unto him Sir If thou hast born him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take him away Jesus saith unto her Mary She turned her self and saith unto him Rabboni which is to say Master Jesus saith unto her touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father but go to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Mary Magdalen came and told the Disciples That she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her Then the same Day at the Evening being the first Day of the Week when the Doors were shut where his Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you And he shewed them his Hands and his side And the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord but Thomas was not with them when Jesus came The other Disciples said unto him We have seen the Lord But he said unto them except I see in his Hand the Print of the Nails and put my Finger into the Print of the Nails and thrust my Hand into his side I will not believe And after eight Days his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the Doors being shut and said Peace be unto you Then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy Finger and behold my Hands and reach hither thy Hands and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing And Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and my God Jesus saith unto him Thomas Because thou hast seen me thou hast believed Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed To confirm our belief of these great and wonderful things recorded in the Scripture Luke the Evangelist writes after this manner Forasmuch as many have taken in Hand to set forth in order a Declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us even as they delivered them to us which from the beginning were Eye-Witnesses and Ministers of the World it seemed good unto me also to write unto thee most excellent Theophilus that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed And that we might not be jealous in reference to any thing concerning Christ crucified and his being dead and buried and his Resurrection and Ascension he appeared again to Saul going to Damascus Suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven And he fell to the Earth and heard a Voice saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And he said who art thou Lord And the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest It is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do Friends I shall now draw to a close and God willing if I have opportunities hereafter I shall discharge my Conscience in an enlargement upon these great points of Doctrin which are necessary to be opened to you for building you up in your most holy Faith Keep yâ—ur selves in the love of God to whom I commit you beseeching him to strengthen you with all Might in the inwarded Man that you may abound in all the Fruits of the Spirir and shew forth the virtues of Christ and be Holy in all manner of conversation and adorn the Doctrin of God our Saviour in all things by patient continuance in well doing For he that endureth to the end shall be saved A SERMON Preached by George Keith At Grace-Church-street October 31. 1694. Gal. 4. 19 My Little Children of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you THere is something by way of Testimony upon my Heart at this time which I shall deliver as briefly as the Lord shall be pleased to enable me concerning this great â—nd weighty Matter which is of great conâ—ernment to all of us in order to our eternal â—elfare and Salvation that every one in parâ—icular may come to experience Christ formed â—n them This is more than an outward Ptofession Men and Women may make a large Profession of Christ yea of Christ within and â—et be strangers to this great Mystery of haâ—ing Christ formed in them It is a thing â—ore than a bare Theory or Speculation or â—hat which some are pleased to Call an Ideal â—â—owledg or an Idea of Faith there must be Heart-knowledge and Heart-experience to â—itness this That Christ is formed in us and â—â—deed none are fit to speak of this Mystery â—r declare of it unto others but those who â—ave an experimental knowledg and Proof of â—t in their own Particulars They know not â—ow to Preach Christ to others that have â—ot come to witness Christ formed in them â—nd by that Rule many that are called â—reachers and are professed Preachers ought â—o he rejected and denied to be true Ministers â—f Christ if they are strangers to this Mistery â—hough they have high notions of Christ in â—heir Heads and in their Brains from the â—etter of the Scripture and from orher Mens Declarations but if they know not this Mystery of Christ being formed in them they â—e not true Members of Christ if they have â—ot experience of it And therefore it may well enough in part be understood