Believing in him the All-sufficient Saviour you will come to Reign as Kings and Priests and sit with him in Heavenly places This will bring you to the General Assembly and Church of the First born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Whatsoever your hand finds you to do do it with all your might and work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling Live as those that are concerned for Heaven and Eternity Be Faithful and Diligent in your Generation that you may be Rich towards God Rich in the Love of God and in Peace with God These are Heavenly Treasures which Moth and Rust cannot corrupt nor Thieves break through nor steal from you Walk in the way of Righteousness and in the Paths of Judgment that you may have your fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life My Friends that which should exercise your Minds and which all should have an Eye unto is this that your Hearts be fixed upon God and your Affections set upon things above that walking in the Spirit you may beled by the Spirit of God as the Children of God and Heirs of God to the Inheritance above where you shall be for ever with the Lord. Friends This is my Exhorration to you that you will keep near to the Lord and Live under his Guidance and Government and Rely upon Christ alone for Salvation and live in the Light as becomes Children of Light Trust to nothing that will fail you in the Day of your Dissolution for then you will be under an Everlasting disappointment see that it be a true Foundation that you build upon and see what it is that you build upon it that it be not Hay and Stubble that cannot stand the Fire Build upon a Right Foundation the Eternal Word of God and build right things upon it That you may be always under the Guidance and Power and Government of the Blessed Spirit of the Living God that the Exercise and desire of your Hearts be towards the enjoyment of his Living Presence of his pure Power and quickening Spirit This is a Building which will abide the Fire This is a Building upon a Right Foundation What is that The Light of the Lord the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World here is the Right Foundation let us be found in him and keep close to the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him This is the way to be preserved You that have got into a good state and condition keep in it and live near to the Lord and you will feel his Daily his Refreshing Presence and his Assisting Power to carry you on and conduct you in your Travel and Pâ—grimage that you may not faint in the way but in the end Reap the Crown of Immortal Glory that God hath laid up for those that fear him My Friends â—e was the Glorious Light of the Lord and the 〈◊〉 of the â—â—ving Eâ—â—rnal God by which you were 〈◊〉 in your Early Days Nay â—â— the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we have often had in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good Spirit of the Lord and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lue 〈◊〉 among us Praised and 〈◊〉 be the Lords Everlasting Power that 〈◊〉 beeâ— extended to us The Lord Grant that that 〈◊〉 was our Alpha may be our Omega that that which began to turn our Hearts and Minds God â—â—d may â—atch over us and continue with us that we may be kept as an experienced People a Holy Pecuâ—â—ar People Zâ—alous of good Works that God may have all the Honour and Praise to whom it belongs who is God over all who is worthy to be Praised Adored and Magnified by us and all his People henceforth and for ever and ever Amen The Prayer after Sermon MOST Glorious and Infinite God of Heaven and Earth in thy great and unspeakable Mercy thou Vifitest the Children of Men and extendest thy Love from one Generation to another and yet in this Age in which we live thy Day of Grace and Mercy reaches unto our Souls and we have been called by thee unto Righteousness and Holiness that so it might be well with us when we shall be removed out of this World and be no more seen of Men. Everlasting God If we consider aright thy dealing towards us the exceeding Riches of thy Grace in Christ Jesus It may provoke us and constrain us to Love thee and fear thee and serve thee in our Generation Lord thy Visitation hath been effectual upon the Hearts of many of the Children of Men who are Devoted to thy fear and service and give up themselves to Worship thee in the Beauties of Holiness Lord thou hast Gathered a People to thy self and thou hast brought them through many trials and Exercises and resined them by a Spirit of Judgment and they have been Baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire O Lord God of Life thy Mercy is exceeding great and thy Love unspeakable in all the Dimensions of it we pray thee that thou wilt be pleased to grant according to the Riches of thy Glory that we may all be strengthened with might by thy Spirit in our inner man that Christ may dwell in our Hearts by Faith that we being rooted and grounded in Love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the Breadth and Depth and Height and length and to know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge that we may be filled with all the fulness of God Blessed Father of Mercies deliver us from this present evil World and the corruptions and pollutions that are in it let us not live as the Children of this World as those that are of it but as those that are of it but as those that are hasting out of it to the coming of the Day of God and help us to grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who hath Redeemed us from all Iniquity not with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with his own precious Blood us of a Lamb without blemish and without spot that we might live to him that Died for us and be holy in all manner of Conversation O Let the Lion of Tribe of Judah deliver us from that Roaring Lion of Hell that goes about seeking to Devour us make it our Delight O God to do thy Will and let thy Law be written in our Hearts that by patient continuance in well-doing we may seek for honour glory Immortality and eternal Life and that while we are engaged in the Christian Warfare we may take unto us the whole Armour of God and resist the Devil and overcome the World and be more than Conquerors through Christ that hath loved us that having fought the good fight of Faith we may lay hold
a profitable Evidence that there is fruit brought forth not the Fruit of Sin What fruit have you of those things whereof you â—e now ashamed for the end of those things is Death They that are sensible of this know that the wrath of the Lord is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the Truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. The Work of Repentance stands in this not only in denying all Ungodliness but in abstaining from all appearance of evil Therefore stand upon thy guard against thine Enemy that he may not prevail against thee by his Assaults If sinners intice thee consent not to them go not in the way of evil men turn aside from it and pass away Learn Self denial which our Lord Jesus Christ doth declare to be of necessity Except a many Deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me he cannot be my Disciple Thou may'st appear to take up a Cross and deny thy Self but there must be a daily Cross a denying thy self continually not giving way to our Carnal Wills to our own Carnal Minds for to be Carnally minded is Death and to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace Here is a Work that produceth profitable Fruit that will not bring Reproach and Shame and Confusion upon us the Work of the Spirit of the Lord hath not that tendency but will bring the Soul to possess Vertue to inherit Glory Righteousness that exalts a Nation but Sin is the Reproach of any People Sin brings a man to shame and confusion of Face because there is a sense comes upon a man that God will bring every Work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil Eccles 12. 14. We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ saith the Apostle that every one may receive the reward of the Deeds done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad O this brings shame and confusion of Face over a man many times the Lord appears in his displeasure and the weight of his Anger is let forth sometimes so that it appears intollerable Sometimes men are brought under great terror and affliction of Soul and Spirit because of it God afflicts men sorely sometimes and this is in Mercy that we may fear to offend him and be brought to the doing of our Duty and come up in Obedience to what the Lord requireth of us and hath made known to us He bath shewed thee O Man what is good Micah 6. 6. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God shall I come before him with burnt offerings with Calves of a year old will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams or with ten thousands of Rivers of Oil shall I give my first born for my transgression the fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do Justly and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God This the Prophet tells us is more effectual and efficacious than Sacrifices under the Law Be faithful my Friends to what God makes known and give up in Obedience to the Works of Righteousness and live to the Glory of God and in Obedience to the Truth This tendeth to establish the Soul in a Divine Hope and Confidence which made Solomon to say the Righteous is as bold us a Lion why so Because the Lord is his strength He is strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might Friends see to this every one in your own particular that you put off concerning your former Conversation the Old Man with his Deeds which are corrupt and put on the New Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness then you shall find the happy effects of this the constraining effect and efficacy of the Love of Christ as the Apostle did 2 Cor. 5. 14. The Love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which Died for them and Rose again And therefore the Apostle comes to declare of those to this effect He that is in Christ is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become New How is he a New Creature He is the Workmanship of God Created in Christ Jesus Oh the Work of the new Creation How precious is it to be Witnessed to All things are of God who hath reconciled us himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation And saith the Apostle to the Ephesians Eph. 2. 14. For he is our peace having made both one and hath broken down the Wall of Partition between us having aboâ—ished in his Flesh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances for to make in himself of twain One new man so making Peace here is Peace upon a sure Foundation upon a certain Bottom This is the Peace that Christ leaves as a Legacy to his Disciples Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the Woald giveth give I unto you What is the difference The Worlds Peace is uncertain and attended with pain and trouble but the Peace of Christ maintains it self in those Souls that are gathered into the sense of his Power and under his Banner Isa 9. 6. saith the Prophet For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of his Government and Peace there shall be no end And saith the Prophet Jeremiah 23. 5 6. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous branch and a King shall Reign and Prosper and execute Judgment and Justice in the Earth in his days Judah shall be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness Friends It is the desire of my Soul that you may come to know the precious effects hereof to your Souls that you may know Christ Jesus to be your Lord and submit to him and take his Yoke upon you for they that come to Christ must know what it is to be under his Dominion for he is a King and shall Reign and Prosper and execute Judgment The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Lawgiver The Lord is our King and he will save us Therefore my Friends Be every one of you resigned in your Minds and Spirits and live in a dependance upon him that you may feel his Power overshaddowing you from Day to Day then you will say as it is in the Revelations Chap. 19. 1. Halleluja Salvation and Glory and
Honour and Power unto the Lord our God The Power of his Christ is Revealed to us O Friends that you may feel that you are gathered under his Power into his Pavillion that he may be a safe hiding place to you and that you may experience and witness his Power from Day to Day then your Peace shall be as a River O that you may every one find this in your own particular and not rest satisfied in outward Forms and in an outward Profession that you may feel the substance feel the Life and possession and have Heavenly Treasure in your Earthen Vessels then will you be witnesses of Immortal Life that is brought to Light by the Gospel then you shall be of the Number of those that have fought a good Fight of Faith and laid hold on Eternal Life and you shall be sensible of the Visitation of the Lord Giving Spiritual Life unto the Soul Thus the Psalmist experienced and declared All my Fresh Springs are in thee Here is an Evidence and Testimony of this Life O Labour to have a Testimony of this Life that ye may have fresh Springs from the Lord and Draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation These are renewed in the Soul from time to time It may be said that the Stream is but small to some Oh keep to the Streams and partake of them though but in the lowest degree that thou may'st feel the risings of them The Prophet Ezekiel was led into the Temple saith he The Hand of the Lord was upon me and he brought me thither and behold there was a Man whose appearance was like the appearance of Brass with a Line of Flax in his hand and a measuring Reed and he measured a thousand Cubits and he brought me through the Waters and the Waters were to the Anckles Again he measured a thousand and brought me through the Waters and the Waters were to the Knees and afterward the the Waters were to the Loyns And afterward saith He measured another Thousand and it was a River that I could not pass over for the Waters were risen Waters to Swim in a River that could not be passed over My Friends here are Divine openings upon the Soul in feeling fresh springs of Love and Life and you may come to know and witness Refreshings from the Presence of the Lord you are not strangers to the Fruits of the Heavenly Canaan and the fruits of the Tree of Life When you come to pertake of them you will say His fruit was sweet unto my tast you will find that the Lord will abundantly open his bountiful hand and satisfy his poor with Bread Let your waiting be continually upon the Lord and Bread will be given to you and your Waters will be sure then you will see the King in his Beauty the King of Glory discovering himself Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord. Here is a precious Object indeed O the Beauty of Holiness how affecting is it to the Soul The Soul is overcome with God When the Soul comes to the acting of its Faith and Trusting in the Lord and Depending upon him continually to beholding the Glory of the Lord which is of an affecting nature this raiseth desires in the Soul according to the Testimony of the Psalmist Psal 17. 14. As for me I will behold thy Face in Righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness The Apostle speaks of beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and being changed into the same from Glory to Glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. You that know the Revelation of God in you you will find this change from Glory to Glory and a coming up to the Beauty of Holiness Then my Friends here is a pure Communion a Communion with the Saints the Lord Reveals himself and makes his Spiritual abode in the Soul these are those that come to know Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ They that come to know this know God to be with them and do know Gods Power and Presence in the midst of them Then though man may frown the Light of Gods Countenance shall be lifted up upon us And If God be for us saith the Apostle who can be against us He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all How shall he not with him also freely give us all good things The Lord will bless us with all Spiritual blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ Wait upon the Lord and he will bless thee and encourage thee that thou mayst know additional blessings in thy Soul This is the intent design and import of these Declarations that are found among you that you may all know a being gathered unto the Lord and may feel his Power and know the Lot of your Souls Inheritance and know that the Lord will continue his mercies to you and will make good his Promise that if you cast your care upon him he will take care of you they that do this may know the Lord to be their Portion and the Lot of their Inheritance to be in him In times of distress and tribulation the Lord will be with them Israel of Old tho' they did all partake of an outward Canaan yet all had not their Lot in Shilo They that come to sit with Christ in Heavenly places they have their Lot in Shilo in a Peaceable Saviour the Prince of Peace Take a view of your inward state and condition see is the Lord Jesus your Lot and Portion then you shall not want but if you are Strangers to this and live in the state of carnal security sorrow will overtake you The Prophet saw some to do so It is as when a Hungry Man Dreams of Refreshment but when he awakes his Soul is empty and faint If you have not the feeling of the Power of Gods Spirit and are at ease a terrible Day will overtake you Therefore Friends while you have time give all diligence while the Manna falls about your Tents and are humbled in the sence thereof know that the Lord will preserve you from day to day then your Bread will be sweet and your Water sure O Friends The Great Prophet hath been sent to you Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me Friends He will bless you and you shall know your Provisions which are made for you the Lord Christ will bless your store for the Treasures of Heaven fail not where Moth and Rust doth not corrupt nor Theives break through nor Steal and therefore Friends have respect to the manifestation and Spiritual Appearance of the Lord Jesus that you may feel his Power overshaddowing you from day to day that you may be kept by the Mighty Power of God We must wait upon the
Lord from day to day to be kept and preserved by him and be retired from the Vanities of the World and live that Life we live in the flesh by the Faith of the Son of God that we may come to say with the Apostle Paul Not I live but Christ liveth in me that we may be united to him He that hath the Son hath Life and he hath Power to as many as received him to them he gave Power Here is a Divine Ability I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me My Friends If every one of you do feel this in your own particular you will come to a Heavenly place to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken and dwell in a sure dwelling and have the Candle of the Lord to shine upon your Tabernacles light is sown for the Righteous and gladness for the upright in Heart they shall have Peace through him that is the Prince of Peace It is the desire of my Soul that you may feel this inwardly in your selves Therefore Dear Friends retire to that strength that is Treasured up for you in Christ Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might and let all self Confidence be laid aside and trust in the Lord for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength and he changeth not therefore the Sons of Jacob are not consumed He is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever Let us take comfort in the unchangeable Love of God who hath given us this Promise I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 13. Heb. 5. 6. So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me Therefore wait to receive strength from Christ from day to day they that build not upon this Power are upon a Sandy foundation they make an outward profession of Religion and have a form of Godliness but that will not avail Obedience is better then Sacrifice and to hearken then the Fat of Rams And our Saviour saith Mat. 7. 22. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened to a foolish man that built his House upon the Sand and the Rain descended and the Floods came and the Winds blew and beat upon that House and it fell and great was the fall of it Wait upon the Lord his strength hath been Revealed and his power made known and his Arm made bare Therefore fix your Confidence in him that so your minds may be established Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might and take unto you the whole Armour of God Eph. 6. 13 14. This is the Armour that God hath made known for his Christian Souldiers that are making War against sin and unrighteousness who are fighting the good fight of Faith It was the experience of the Primitive Believers We are more then Conquerours through him that loved us therefore feel your strength fixed upon the Lord retire and wait upon him and be in a watchful frame The Prophet Habbakuk when he saw distress was coming upon the Church says Hab. 3. 16. When I heard my belly trembled and my Lips quivered at the Voice and Rottenness entred into my bones and I trembled in my self that I might rest in the Day of trouble then saith he in the 2 Chap. 1. I will stand upon my Watch and set me upon the Tower and I will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I shall Answer when I am Reproved In this Spiritual Warfare let us be attentive unto Christ the great Captain of our Salvation that maketh War in Righteousness let us hearken one day after another and then there will be a Holy skill and expertness given to us you will be expert in the Spiritual War and you will find strength and power given you from the Lord and he will be a hiding place and a Sanctuary to you you shall come to the Mountain of the Lord where there shall be no distress and the Voice of the oppressor shall no more be heard nor destruction within your Walls Thy Walls shall be called Salvation and thy Gates praise And you that know that Spiritual dwelling where the Spiritual Jews are you are come to sing the Songs of Zion which shall be Sung in the strong City where Salvation is appointed for Walls and Bulwarks where the wicked cease from troubling and where the Flocks lye down at Noon where there is a Shaddow of a great Rock in a weary Land and Rivers in dry places Here is the plenty of all good things which in Gods House is opened to us Now my Friends If you are sitting down in outward forms without feeling the operation of Gods Power and Spirit upon your Souls and be not brought to an inward Conformity the dreadful day will come that the Lord will search Jerusalem with Candles that God before whom all things are naked and bare he is taking a view of the Imperfections of his People he is the searcher of the Heart and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of it whether you fall short of that power and Spirit of true Religion or if there be only an outward Conformity and not inward Obedience The Trumpet of the Lord hath been blown in Sion Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet and tell the House of Judah of her transgression and the House of Israel of her Sins Where there is only an outward Conformity and not an Inward subjection there distress will overtake you which I have seen in the Vision of the Lord which hath been upon me as a warning to the Remiss and careless ones and it was delivered with a voice full of Power in these words All foundations shall be manifested of what sort they are A watcher from the Holy one with severity shall overtake the unwatchful Therefore let this be a warning to you all that you may not fall under the stroke of Gods severity The Apostle Paul saith Rom. 11. 17. to the believing Romans speaking of the goodness and severity of God And if some of he Branches be broken off and thou being a Wild Olive Tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the Root and fatness of the Olive Tree Boast not against the branches but if thou boast thou bearest not the Root but the Root thee Thou wilt say then the Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in Well because of Vnbelief they were broken off and thou standest by Faith be not bigh minded but fear For if God spared not the natural branches take heed least be also spare not thee Behold therefore the Goodness and Severity of God on them which fell to them severity but towards thee Goodness if thou continue in his Goodness otherwise thou shalt be Cut off O my Friends what need is there of a Watchful frame think how necessary it is in your own particular every one of you to be keeping in your Watch Tower the
that they may see thy Power in tnrning their minds and Hearts to thee and in renewing and clâ—â—nging them that they may be made the objects of thy Love and brought into a nearness to thee and that they may be made acquainted with the feeling of thy Vertue and power upon their Souls Blessed God of Life do thou fill our Cup with thy Blessings and refresh us with the Incomes of thy Love Thou causest thy People to drink of the streams of those Rivers of Pleasure that are at thy Right hand and thou causest the Rain to Descend and drop upon thy tender Plants that they may grow and be fruitful in every good Word and Work and live to thy Praise and that they may exalt thy Gteat Name and magnifie thy Power manifested to them Lord remember thine every where those especially which are under Affliction and Exercise of body and mind open thy hand and send help to then according to their needs and necessities that they may be kept and supported under all their tryals that they may not be discouraged nor despond in their minds nor despair of thy love and goodness to them O Lord be thou known in thy Love and shed it abroad upon us by thy Spirit that we may all be brought nearer to thee and be more acquainted with thee who art the Fountain and Well-spring of all our Mercies and Comforts and have cause to bless and praise thee that hast made us Heirs of that Life and Blessedness that shall never have an end We desire to return living praises to thy Name for this days mercies for the Incomes of thy Love and thy presence in the midst of us Lord our Hearts are engaged to return thanks and praise to thee and to give Glory to thy Holy Name Lord keep us when we are gone and parted from one another and keep us that we may live to thee and not to our selves and that we may be Instrumental in turning many from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to thee the living God that they may receive Remission of Sins and an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith in Christ Jesus And that they may shew forth the Vertues of Christ in their Lives and Conversations and bring Honor and Praise to thy Name who art worthy of all praise To whom we desire to give Honor and Glory and Thanks giving and Praise not only at this time but for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD At Devonshire House March 11. 1693. THERE is a Day of Visitation which the Lord hath extended unto the Children of Men that we might every one of us observe our Season and time that so we might be Exercised in those things that relate to our Everlasting Peace and welfare in the World to come For we are like to be accountable to the Great God for the Deeds done in the Body Therefore every one had need to weigh and measure their ways and doings that they may stand Justified in the sight of God through Jesus Christ by whom we are Visited who hath been given of the Father not only to be a Light but a Leader to us and blessed will all they be that come to be led by the Lord Jesus Christ For that is a very precious state to know this One way for he is the alone way to the Kingdom of God and all those that make a Profession of him and reject his Leadings and his Counsel they will fall short they will meet with many things in the way that will turn them from the right Way to the Kingdom of God But all those that follow the Lord Jesus Christ it is they that shall receive the Crown of Immortal and Everlasting Life and Glory For this following of Christ is a Crucifying the Old Nature of Man it is a regenerating of Man in his Inward parts without which none of us can come to see the Kingdom of God This is not an outward Birth nor an outward Generation nor a growing into any outward comprehension of things but it is an Inward mortifying of the Deeds of the Flesh and that you know no Man can do but by and through the Spirit If Men walk after the flesh they must dye but if through the Spirit saith the Apostle ye mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall Live I do not speak of outward living in this World only but of living to God Eternally People in this World should live to the Lord then it will be well with them whom they come to Dye When this outward Earthly Tabernacle and House of Clay shall be dissolved all such as live to the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God they shall have an Habitation and a Dwelling with him in his Fathers Kingdom they will be made Vessels of Honor to glorifie the Lord Therefore the greatest matter and thing that we can press after in this Life the most profitable the most advantagious of all things is to press after an Inward walking with God through Jesus Christ for saith Christ to his Disciples You that have followed me through the Work of Regeneration it shall be given to you to sit with me in my Fathers Kingdom Now most People believe that these things are true most that are called Christians believe that they are profitable but to pursue and press after them a great many are short in it Some it may be are hindred by the delights and pleasures and vanities of this World others it may be are hindred by some great Excercise that they meet withal and some and some sore Affliction not knowing that Power that carries through and gives Victory and that is the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ so that the Knowledge of Christ is a very profitable thing I look upon it to be as necessary to be Preached to many that call themselves Christians as to a great many that are Heathens for if a Man or Woman profess to be a Christian and be not of a Christian Spirit and Conversation What will it signifie The Instance that the Apostle Paul gives concerning the Heathen will be more prevalent in the Day of the Lord and that is this Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the Work of the Law written in their Hearts No doubt but they were accepted of the Lord according to their Integrity and Sincerity The Apostle Paul was an experienced Man and understood the Nature Quality and greatness of the Law of God which was dispenced to the Jews and given them for peculiar Instruction and for a School-Master to bring them to Christ for it was never given to compleat Salvation to any Man without Christ the Apostle tells you it was a School-master till Christ come And if you observe that in the time of the Law the Jews time Christ
of the Earth that hath loved us and cleanseth us from our Sins â—n his own blood The Lord open the understandings of the Children of men that they may come to know the Excellency of his Life and love When the Lord comes to open and manifest to the Children of Men his great Love in sending his Son out of his Bosom in the fulness of time to dye for us for Christ had a being before the World began when Mens Eyes and Hearts I say are wonderfully opened to see this Love of God then their Hearts will be melted and broken and their prejudices removed and they will be brought to the Obedience and Service of God We own the Doctrine of the Life and Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession of Christ Jesus And for any to say we denâ— this how inconsistent is it with what we have Preached and declared and how shameless is it for any to misrepresent or falsely Charge us with the contrary since we have gâ—â—e through many Exercises and suffered many Persecutions Buffetings and Imprisonments for Declaring the Truth as it is in Jesus so that if in this Life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable And if Christ be not risen from the Dead our Preaching is vain and your Faith is also vain We have spoken the Truth according to the Scriptures of Truth yet how have the Children of Men been prejudiced against us How many have been bewildred and led into Errour and into misapprehension concerning what we have plainly declared among you And now to give a little ease to my Spirit I would speak something briefly to you let the Love of God in Christ Jesus extended to you affect your Hearts if you are in the living sense of this love it will engage you to live in Obedience and subjection to this Heavenly Light by which you were brought out of Darkness and Redeemed from Iniquity to be a peculiar People Zealous of good Works It will engage you to live to Christ that died for you and as you know a Translation from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son you will Reap the Fruits and benefits of his Death Resurrection and Ascension and Intercession at God's Right hand The Lord God of Heaven and Earth open all your Hearts that while you have a little time and are on this side the Grave and on this side Eternity you may serve the Lord in your Generation and fulfil his blessed Will and finish the Work which he hath given you to do that you may Glorifie the Name of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is worthy of all Praise Glory and Renown Worshipâ— Love Service and Obedience who is God over all Blessed for Ever and Ever Amen His Prayer after Sermon MOst Glorious Heavenly and Divine Fountain of Love and Life who hast let us see the beginings of thy Excellent Day and participiate of thy Love in making bare thine Arm of Salvation which thou hast Revealed and made bare in our Age. O God of Glory and Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth it is in the Power of thy hand to open the Hearts of thy People as thou didst open the Heart of Lydia that the things that belong to the Peace of every Soul may be seen known and experienced Lord God of Glory our Eyes are unto thee and our Souls are bowed before thee for the shewing of mercy and the handing forth of the blessings which thou promised'st to the Children of Israel by the mouth of thy Holy Prophets That thou living Father of Life wilt bless them in turning every one from their Iniquities and the Evil of thtir ways for Lord God of Life this is greatly wanting both in this City and throughout the whole Nation Thy mercies and Favours have been received by many and thy loving kindness hath extended it self wonderfully O Glorious Fountain of Heavenly Love and Life be pleased to remove that Insensibility that is ready to come over the minds of men that the nearer thy Wrath and Judgments do approach to us by reason of that Inundation of Sin and Wickedness that overflows the Land the less Sense and Apprehension there is of it Lord open the Peoples Eyes and Hearts that they may see and consider the danger of their State and Condition and be humbled for their Sin and seek thy Face and turn to thee with all their Hearts that Glorious God of Life the Souls of thy Children may be affected with thy Goodness Patience and Long-suffering that this may be the blessed effect of thy Goodness that it may lead all to Repentance never to Repented of that we may mourn before thee for the manifold Sins and Transgressions of the Land against thy Divine Majesty That Glorious God of Love and Life we may not again provoke thee to anger O Rend the Vail of Darkness that is spread over this Land that it may not hinder the bright beams of Gospel Light from shining nor the Children of Men from seeing their Spiritual State and Condition Lord God of Life let trembling and astonishment take hold of the wicked that they may have a deep sense of the Sins and Provocations this ungrateful Land is guilty of that they may lament and mourn before thee O Lord O Tender God of Love and Life thy mercy and loving kindness was extended to the Inhabitants of Niniveh that great City wherein were more then Six score thousand persons that could not discern between their Right-hand and their Left Didst thou not enlighten their minds and melt their Hearts when thou hadst a Controversie with them and denounced'st Judgment by thy Prophet against them Did not the Mighty come down from their Seats and the King from his Throne and lay his Robe from him and the Nobles and all the People of the Land did they not all put on Sackcloth and sit in Ashes and mourn before thee and Cry mightily to thee and turned from their evil ways and thou didst turn away thy Wrath and Repent of the Evil which thou saidst thou wouldst do unto them and didst it not but extended'st thy mercy and favour to them and saved'st them with a great Salvation Blessed Lord thou art our God O save us for we have none in Heaven but thee and none upon Earth that we can desire in Comparison of thee we have none to make our moan to but thy self our Eyes and Hearts are towards thee Let us hearken to thy Counsel and turn at thy Reproof and let sorrow take hold of their Hearts thaâ— have rejected thy Favours and Mercies O give Repentance unto Life that thy wrath may not wax hoâ— against the Nation and the Inhabitants thereof and that thy Fury and Jealousie may not Consume and burn them up O make them sensible of the Sins that have been committed and of the misery they have deserved that they may come to thee for Pardon and Reconciliation with thee through the Lord Jesus