Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	act_v	lord_n	zion_n	24	3	8.6852	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78217	Ichnographia. Or A model of the primitive congregational way: wherein satisfaction is offered, by unfolding (according to the Scriptures) what the right order of the Gospel, and way of the saints in the visible worshipping of God is, in the dayes of the New Testament. And how the saints in these dayes may walk up to it, notwithstanding their present hindrances. Together with the maine points in controversie, touching the right visible church-state Christ hath instituted under the Gospel, with the extent of church-officers, and power of particular visible churches, and continuance of divine ordinances and institutions under the defection and apostasie of Antichrist. By W. Bartlet, Minister of the Gospel, at Wapping.	Bartlet, William, 1609 or 10-1682.	1647 (1647)	Wing B986; Thomason E381_17; ESTC R201418	140,788	175

But in Christ there are none for in him there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all fulnes and in him are hid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all treasures of wisdome Col. 2.3 which cannot be said of the creature what they have is but a drop to his Ocean and that little they have is from him also 7. Lastly in r●spect of the duration and perpetuity of it All other power is perishable uncertaine and fading The Monarchs of the world cannot say of their power and authority that it is everlast●ng as Jesus Ch●ist can 〈◊〉 Dan. 4.34 35. and Esay 9 6 7. Of the encrease of his government there is no end Now if Christ be so ●●inently qualifyed for this worke no wonder if it be put altogether into his hands 3. F●om Christ u●dertaking and perfo●ming it as in Mat. 16. and ●8 17 18. Mat. 28 19 20. Ioh. 20.21 Ephes 4.10 1● 12. 1 Cor. 11.23 and 12.28 In wh●c● plac●s we find a Church state appointed by Christ with offices officers gifts ordinances and government correspondent 4. From the Apostles their disclayming this power and authority professing their work was meerely a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministery not a Lordship Act. 17. and that they were the servants not only of Christ but of the Churches also 2 Cor. 4 5. Rom. 15.31 and that they had no power or dominion over the faith or consciences of the people but helpers of their joy 2 Cor. 1. ult 5. From the insufficiency of all humane abilities to accomplish this worke which I shall make out three wayes 1. From want of wit and skill to do it 2. From want of a mind and will to do it 3. From want of power nd strength to do it 1. Men have no wit nor skill for this worke all the abilities of the creature are too low to reach such Mysteries as these what could Moses or David or Solomon do towards the building the visible Tabernacle and Temple of old with the ordinances of worship thereunto appertaining if God had not first made them acquainted with it by his Spirit So what could the Prophets and Apostles have done towards the building the living Temple of Chr●sts Church under the New Testament if Jesus Christ had not acquainted them with the order and manner of it from his owne mouth Who hath known the mind of the Lord 1 Cor. 2. ult Doubtlesse if Christ had left this work to the wit and discretion of men we should have had sorry Church worke Whence is it that there are so many divisions and differences amongst men in the world in the matters of Gods house and worship but this that men are darke and ignorant and not acquainted with the mind of Christ revealed in the word 2. As men have no wit nor skill for this busines so neither have they a mind and will to do it Looke we narrowly into the dispositions of men and we shall find how backward they are this w●y As the Apostle spake in his Epistle to the Church at Philippi Phil. 2.21 All seeke their owne but few the things of Iesus Christ men are so taken up with the building their owne houses that they care not what becomes of Gods house as those in the Prophet Haggai●s Hag. ● 2 dayes every man said The time is not yet come to build the house of the Lord. And doubtlesse if Jesus Christ did not carry on the building of his temple further then men are disposed thereunto he might stay long enough for it We are all of us even the best of the Saints of Cranzius disp●sition and temper who answered Luther it were to be wish●d that such a work were done he spake to him about We could wish that Antichrist were down and J●sus Christ exalted on his throne but where is the man that is of Luthers spirit in the things of God Christ and his Cause may sink for ought that men doe to put themselves forward in preserving and forwarding of it And if at any time men doe begin to set upon this worke doe we not see how soone they are discouraged and draw back and are ready to cease and give over as it was with those Jewes that God brought out of Babylon to Jerusalem after they had begun to build how long was it before they finished neere as many yeeres by computation in building the Temple as they had been in Babylon from the Temple There was little heart little stomach in them to this worke Yea though many of them were good men as well as great men every small threat of their adversaries was enough to make them cease building so that the Lord was faine to send Prophet after Prophet to them to spurre and excite them forward to their worke they were called unto And is it not so now in these dayes how long have we beene building Gods house what murmuring what repining what objections what excuses what carnall reasonings Every man is ready to say The time is not yet come and so sad consequences come of it and sadder yet are like to come I feare and all this I say for want of a will of a heart in Gods owne people to this worke And therefore without controversie this is a truth that further then Jesus Christ acts in us by his Spirit men have no mind to the work 3. From want of power and strength to doe it If men had skill and wit for the work yet so long as they want power how should they bring it to passe Now that men want power and strength for this worke is evident from hence 1. In that there are many and mighty enemies to be throwne downe when this Church-state is to be set up great and high Mountaines that must be made Plaines What a great mountaine was there of a Samaritan faction joyned with the power of the Persian Monarchy before Zerubbabel when he c●me in the name of the Lord to build his house that had been laid waste And what a great mountaine is the Romane Empire and that Antichristian State which now opposeth and who shall be able to dry up th great river Euphrates Rev. 16.12 that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared By which River some understand the Monarchy on which it borders which is the Turkish Empire Now this men cannot doe the stilling the rage of adversaries is beyond the power of men He that shakes the Nations when he comes to this worke Hag. 2.7 he onely can build this house amidst all those commotions and tumults that are made in the world against it This work is the work of a God and not a poore silly worme as Man is And therefore saith the Lord to Zerubbabel Zech. 4.6 Not by might nor by power but by my spirit And againe in Psal 2 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion It is the work therefore of God and not of men If the Lord should leave this wo●k to the

17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. If any man defile the Temple of God and that of 2 Cor. 6.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. For ye are the Temple of the living God In all which places with diverse other that word Temple is used for the visible Church because the Apostle there speakes to and of the whole Church of Corinth conjunctim Ye are the Temple of God c. So that by Temple here where Antichrist sits is to be understood the Church of God Obj. You will say by Temple is meant the consciences of Gods people in that place of the Thessalonians Ans 1. Grant it yet that doth not make void the other but rather confirmes it 2. We never read in all the Scriptures that the conscience is so called but the church of Christ is frequently so styled as wee have shewed before and therefore either its the Church of God Antichrist sits in or it is not if not then that Scripture is not true but if true as cannot be denyed then there is a church-state remaining under Antichrist Obj. But how can this church-state remaine where there is such a generall defection as there is under Antichrist Rev. 13. Ans We must distinguish between the corruption of things and the things themselves between the essentials of a church-state and the accidentals now it cannot be denyed but in respect of the accidentalls of a church-state so all is lost under this defection of Antichrist that is in respect of the right order and administration of Ministery Ordinances and government but not the essentials of these and so long as these remaine the Church-state is not lost for we cannot reason from the corruption of a thing to the nullity and non-being of it as for example the children of Israel and vessels of Gods House that were carried captive into Babylon and prophaned by their being there yet so long as they were not destroyed and broken in pieces they were brought back again to Jerusalem and sanctifyed from their pollution and set againe in the Temple as before and the Lord owned and accepted them notwithstanding their being in Babylon so here the Saints and ordinances the Ministery Seales and Censures of this instituted Church of Christ though they have been under Antichrist yet so long as the essence of them remaines they may be brought back from Rome and reduced to their former purity and first order of the Gospell not that they have a new being but rather they are brought to their wonted wel-being and primitive institution Obj. But doth not this then make the Church of Rome a true Church having the essentials of a true Church-state in it Ans No not a jot no more then a Theeves having the goods of an honest man in his house which he hath stollen makes him to be true he is a thiefe still So here Rome is still Rome the mother of Harlots stil notwithstanding her possessing of the essentials of Christs holy things we may see it clearely in Babylon of old the type of Rome when the Jewes were carried away captive with the holy vessels of the Temple t was not the being of these in Babylon that made her the church of God but she was Babylon still full of abominations there was Bel and Merodach her great Idols and Images still worshiped Ier. 50.2 and as God once overthrew the Type as he overthrew Sodome and Gomorah so that not so much as a son of man should dwell there ver 40. So shall be it with the Antitype Rome the mother of fornications the habitation of devils and the hold of every foule spirit Rev. 18.22 23. and the good Lord for his Son and Syons sake hasten it 4. If Church-state and Ministery and Ordinances be all lost under the defection of Antichrist then the Scriptures also are lost which are the churches treasure and as a Depositum were once delivered to the church to keepe Iud. 3. but we find that the Scriptures are not lost but by the power of Christ they have been preserved yea recovered out of Babylon and freed from those horrible corruptions they were exposed unto while they were in the hands of Antichrist and why may not the Ordinances as well as the Scriptures the church as well as her treasure 5. If this Church-state and Ordinances should not continue but were all lost and ceased then it would follow that there were no meanes left ordinarily for the conversion and salvation of poore lost soules but the contrary to this appeares as wee find by experience for 1. We have the word of life in the sacred Scriptures to be our Cynosura or rule and guide to direct us in the way to life 2. We have the holy Ghost accompanying the Ministery and preaching of this word in an effectuall manner to the calling and conversion of multitudes and bringing those that are called out of their Antichristian-church-state to Sion and to worship God according to his own revealed will 3. We have Pastors and teachers lawfully called and set apart to the worke of the Ministery and faithfull dispensing of this word of life and other ordinances that concern a true visible Church-state according to the practise of the Primitive Churches as we before shewed now where there are the same word and ordinances the same Officers for kind with those in the Apostles dayes to dispense and administer them and the precious presence of Christ in his Spirit accompanying them to make them effectuall though perhaps not in such an ample large measure as in those Primitive times there we may conclude the ordinary meanes for salvation are not lost but still remaine and continue Ob. But it is objected that those that are called now in these dayes to administer the holy things of Gods house are not so qualified as these were in the Primitive times they have not those extraordinary gifts of working miracles as they had Ans 1. I would faine know whether all those that were in office in the churches of Christ in those times had those extraordinary gifts as the Officers of the Church of Ephesus 1 Cor. 12.29.30 Philippi Corinth c. doth not the Scripture shew the contrary 2. I would faine know whether the gifts of working Miracles be so essentiall to the Ministery as that there can be no true Ministery where these are wanting If so then many in the Primitive times were not true Ministers of Christ as Iohn the Baptist Apollos and those Pastors and Teachers that were in the severall Churches of the Saints mentioned in the Scripture For we cannot find in the least of their working miracles and yet they had a true Ministerie If not why then do men refuse the Ministery that hath no miracles 3. I desire to know where it appeares or how it can be made out that the Primitive Saints Ministers or People were given to succeeding ages as patternes for extraordinary gifts of Miracles that they were left as patternes of

seales of the Covenant of Grace given to the Saints viz. Baptisme and the Lords Supper Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 11.23 24. 3. The gift of conceived Prayer from the assistance of the Spirit Act. 6.4 Rom. 8.26 27. 4. Singing of Psalmes Mat. 26.30 1 Cor. 14.15 Col. 3.16 5. The administration of the Censures opening and shutting the Kingdome of heaven Mat. 16. 18. 1 Cor. 5.4 6. A right Ministery to dispense all these viz. those offices and officers Christ hath ordained and given to this end Eph. 4.11 7. Lastly a Church or congregation of Saints in which all these are to be dispensed observed and performed as 1 Cor. 12.28 These I take to be the true and right meanes of worship 2. To right meanes of worship there must be right persons to make use of these meanes Now these must of necessity be such as can make use of those spirituall meanes in a spirituall manner and they can be none but such as are spirituall i. e. that are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1.2 such as are acted by the Spirit and indeed such onely doth the Lord seeke to worship him Joh. 4.23 for they onely can worship him in spirit But as for others that are yet dead in their sinnes and trespasses and slaves to Satan and their owne lusts as all naturall persons are he seeketh not after them to worship him for they cannot make use of those instituted meanes of worship though the fault be not the Lords but their owne and they shall one day answer for it they cannot pray nor fast spiritually nor performe any duty of Gods worship acceptably for they are destitute of the Spirit destitute of faith strangers to the covenant of promise without God and Christ Ephes 2.1 and hope in the world Yea they pollute these holy ordinances of Gods worship when ever they make use of them and thereby provoke the Lord to wrath as Psal 50. ●6 17 Esay 1.13 14. Jer. 77.8 they are a burthen to the Lord and his people as the Sodomites were to Lot and the wicked were to David and Iudas was to Christ Ioh. 13.21 31. and therefore as they were not suffered to come neere to the Lord of old under the Law ●zek 44.7 8 9 ● Cor. 5.13 so they are to be rejected under the Gospel and not suffered to remaine in fellowship with Christ and his Saints and as the Lord found fault with the Church of the Jewes for suffering the uncircumcised in heart and life and such as polluted and prophaned his great name in drawing neere to him and put no difference betweene the cleane and the uncleane Ezek. 22.26 So he blamed the Churches in the time of the New Testament for their indulgence towards such 1 Cor. 5. and Rev. 2. and therefore Christ of purpose ordained Laws and Ordinances both for the keeping out and casting out of the Assemblies of the Saints such as were open and knowne vicious and scandalous persons By all which it is most cleare and certaine that none but such as are holy and sanctified persons at the least ●hat is such a ●fession of ●linesse as ●h no appa● contradi●n thereunto men and wo●●ns conversa● and walk● professedly so are in a capacity to use those holy ordinances and means of worship that Christ hath instituted and appointed to be observed and used in his Church Indeed those that are yet in their naturall estates uncalled and unconverted unsanctified and altogether destitute of the spirit of Christ are to enjoy the liberty of the Word preached because that is an ordinance which Jesus Christ hath ordained to convert sinners from the evill of their wayes and to put them into a capacity for communion with Christ and his Saints in all the rest of his ordinances but till they are called and brought home to Christ by yeelding a professed subjection to the Gospell as those were in the Primitive times 2 Cor. 9.13 they are not to be admitted to speciall ordinances and enjoyment of those spirituall priviledges which Christ hath appointed onely for the Saints Obj. Are not those that we judge godly and in a capacity to make use of all the holy ordinances of Worship to be baptized againe before they be admitted into Church-fellowship and to the use of those ordinances as is the judgement and practice of many in these dayes Answ Negatively they are not and my reasons are these three that follow 1. Because t is supposed they have been though corruptly baptized already and therefore not to be baptized againe Now the corruption of an administration doth not wholly make it void and null If they had the essentials of that ordinance when it was first administred to them that is sufficient without taking of it up againe de novo though there was an error in the c●rcumstantials Now the essentials of Baptisme the learned conclude to be true matter and forme the matter water the forme baptizing them in or into the Name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost And both these cannot be denyed but that the godly in this Kingdome have had though a right administration or manner and way of administration might be and doubtlesse was to the most wanting 2. Because it cannot be denyed but such godly persons we speak of that were baptized in their infancy have received the effect and fruit of that ordinance in a lively manner on their soules the Lord having added to the outward washing with water the inward grace and baptisme of the Spirit by causing them to put on Christ which is sufficient to cover or make up all the failings that were in the first administration 3. Because if the essentials of their first Baptisme were all destroyed and lost in their Antichristian administration as Re-Sap hold but I deny and have shewed to the contrary in the 4. Chap. then it must of necessity follow that the godly must altogether remaine without any Church-state because there must be the same power to erect this ordinance anew that first ordained it and the same or the like officers to administer it as were before it was lost but neither Christ nor any such extraordinary officers are now on earth And hence it is that this doctrine and practice of the Re-baptizers hath made so many to turne Seekers and Waiters denying all Churches Ministery and Ordinances expecting when Christ or his Apostles will come to restore them to their primitive purity and rectitude 3. There must be a right manner of performing those ordinances and meanes of worship by those that are qualified and called hereunto by Christ and this must carefully be lookt unto because the best ordinances may be spoiled by the evill handling and managing of them Now the right manner of worshipping God by those that are to enter upon this Gospel-order and Church-state instituted by Christ consists in these five things 1. There must be a * Owens Country Essay for Church

Government p. 60 voluntary union and knitting together in one This is necessarily supposed as I shewed before Chap. 2. The godly must be formed into one body or Church-society as in the Primitive times distinguished from others Now this is to be done by the Saints that are to embody these three wayes 1. They are to separate or sequester themselves from the loose and profane multitude among whom they live having no more fellowship with them in speciall ordinances whiles they continue such This is expresly commanded 2 Cor. 6.16 17. Ephes 5.11 2 Tim. 3 5. Rev. 18.4 2. They are voluntarily to give up themselves to the Lord and one another as those of Macedonia did 2 Cor. 8.15 to walk together in all the ordinances of Christ 3. This is to be done in a mutuall consent covenant or * Some promissory engagements Owen ut supra agreement as was the practice of the Church of the Jewes and was also prophecyed then should be done now in the dayes of the Gospel Ier. 50.5 and is now practiced in the very Nationall Churches of England and Scotland accordingly Now if it be as they take it lawfull for a National Church to enter into such a Covenant to walke with God and one another according as he shall make himselfe knowne to them in his Word I cannot see how it can be unlawfull for a particular Church thus to doe And for this Vide Master Burr Heart Divis p. 69. 2. As there must be union so also communion that is they must in the worship of God meet together joyntly as members of one body tarrying one for another as 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 11.33 1 Cor. 5.4 3. There must be a sweet harmony consent and agreement in the performance of the holy ordinances of Christ labouring to the uttermost to be of one heart and one mind in executing all Church-affaires Act. 2.1.41 42. Act. 4.32 4. There must be a free ready willing and cheerfull contributing of such blessings mercies gifts and graces temporall and shirituall as Jesus Christ hath bestowed upon us for the comfort and edification of the whole body thus united and joyned together 1 Cor. 14.12 Ephes 4.12 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Act. 4.32 5. There must be a diligent care had and taken that things be so ordered and ordinances be so performed that Jesus Christ do not suffer in his honour nor the church in her happines welfare which is done 1. By keeping the ordinances pure and free from the mixtures of mens inventions 2. By keeping close to the rule of the word in all church actions and administrations without consulting with flesh and blood 3. By following the dictates of the Spirit that J●sus Christ gives to us as our guide and not our own vain fancyes and carnall imaginations laying aside and denying our own wisdome reason understanding further then we see it acted and guided by the word and Spirit of Christ 4. By being very spirituall and heavenly meeke and humble lowly and loving in all our undertakings and performances that Christ may have glory and the Gospell credit 5. Lastly by aspiring and pressing hard after perfection in holines and comming to a full stature in Christ Ephes 4.13 And thus we have done with the first part of the Chapter the Saints embodying and how they are to do it Now followes the second part of the Chapter and that is what concernes their knowledge and practise after embodying Now this I shall endeavour to make out in five things 1. There must be choice of their officers as Pastor Teacher Elder Act. 14.23 Deacon if they have such provision among themselves which are to watch over them administer to them in the things of Gods house and these they are to set apart according to the rule of the word by Fasting and Prayer craving the helpe of other churches in such great and weighty aff●ires and which may give them the right hand of fellowship Act. 14.23 Q. Are they not to be ordained by imposition of hands A. There is no absolute necessity of it for we read no precept for it and but little practise of it in such cases In other cases we do but not in this That of 1 Tim. 4.14 is no institution of it but only a practise of the Elders of the church of Ephesus with the Apostle 2 Tim. 1.6 not of the officers of severall churches as it is now used When that Matthias was chosen an Apostle in Judas roome wee read only of his being numbred among the rest of the Apostles When they made Deacons for the poore Act. 6. we read after they had prayed they laid their hands on them I say after but not before or in the time they were praying as the presbyterians in their ordination do now and whether that Timothy had hands laid on him in time of prayer as it is now used in ordination of Ministers is more then any I suppose can determine So that it seemes it was used rather in way of blessing of them as Christ did the little childeren and others that were sick then setting them apart to the office they were chosen to And that of Act. 14.23 doth not prove it as we have shewed before And Jesus Christ himselfe never used it when he sent forth his Disciples to preach nor gave it in commission to his Apostles that they should do it nor have they enjoyned such a thing And therefore as Polanus Tilenus Calvin other great Divines say it is a matter indifferent not absolutely necessary essential to an officers calling as many suppose And t is no more then what the church of Scotland hath also declared heretofore But to cleare this busines fully there is a learned Treatise put forth lately wherein the judgement of the Reformed churches and Protestant Divines is shewed exactly about this point so that I need not to speake further of it 2. The preservation of their unity for unity among bretheren in church-fellowship is very lovely pleasant and full of beauty as Psal 133.1 2. O quam bonum jucundum c. and there is no one duty more prest on the Saints in church-fellowship then this of unity as the Scriptures do abundantly testify 1 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 14.19 Ephes 4.2 3. Phil. 1.27 and 2.3 4 5. And if we looke no further then to the evill and sad effects which the contrary doth produce viz. Divisions and Rents in Churches The truth both of the excellency and necessity hereof will easily appeare And therefore for this end and purpose that the godly in this way and order of the Gospell may live together in unity and brotherly love they are to study self-denyall humility patience long-suffering and forbearance towards one another putting on bowels of mercy forgiving one another as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us Ephes 4. ult and Col. 3.12 For this see more in that excellent Treatise of Heart Divisions 3. They are to

sometimes did to write Books of Recantation and have as little credit as comfort in what they have done this way 6. If the truth were knowne and men would speak out all is in their hearts it is not to be doubted but a chiefe ground of many mens crying downe this way of the Lord and those that walke in it is no other but their envy at those especially young ones to whom the Lord hath in these last dayes imparted and communicated greater measures of his Spirit and larger discoveries of the mysterie of the Gospel according to the promise Joel 2.28 Act. 2.17 wherein young men shall have the priority of old Because the Lord is good therefore their eye is evill as Christ said to them Mat. 20.15 that took offence at his kindnesse to those that came into the vineyard after them and wrought but an houre But this is an evill frame of heart and cleane contrary to that of Moses that wisht that all the Lords people were Prophets Num. 11.29 7. But lastly doth not this generality of opposition against this way alledged conclude and evidence the truth and goodnes of it especially when such opposition tends to the increase and furtherance of it and that also amongst the most pious and spirituallest Beleevers What though the Authors in the * D. Bastwick the Captain of the Presbyterian Army as he styles himselfe M. Prinne M. Edwards M. Baily M. Vicars Marg. as men not having yet learned or else not regarding what Christ in the Scriptures requires of them Rom. 12.16 17 18 19 20 21. James 1.19 20 21. 1 Pet. 2.1 have cryed it downe as the most pernicious way yet all the dirt they have throwne in the face of it cannot make the Saints out of love with it In the dayes of the Apostles those that embraced the doctrine of the Gospel and right way of worshipping God were generally condemned and spoken against as Sectaries and Heretiques Act. 14.5 14. Act. 28 22. yet that could not hinder the prevailing of it being it was of God So neither shall the worst that men can doe hinder it now but maugre all the powers of hell and the world that oppose it it shall take place for Christ must reigne Impediment 2 2. The second impediment that lies in the way of divers godly persons is this That salvation may be had in that present church-state they for the present are and therefore judge it a nee lesse thing to come into any other Church-state To such I shall commend these few considerations 1. That though it be granted as a truth which cannot be denyed that its possible for men to be saved though they never come into a right visible Church-state and order because faith and salvation is not so tyed to the visible church as that there is no partaking thereof out of it And though it be true also that conversion may be obtained and is in many of the Parish Assemblies as we know by experience yet how unkindly do such Christians deale with Jesus Christ that shall as the Head and King of his church appoint ordaine a holy order for his Saints to observe in their serving and worshipping of God and yet they shall refuse to submit thereunto is it not a disparagement to the wisdome of the Lord Jesus that hath thus ordained a church order for his Saints to walke in and yet they shall count it a needlesse thing 2. Such should consider whether the truth of grace doth not teach them to have respect to the whole revealed will of God and not to dispense with themselves in the neglect of obedience to any the least part of it and if so then how dangerous is it for them to sit downe and content themselves in their present disordered station without comming out of it to Sion as Christ commandeth Esay 52.11 with Rev. 18.4 3. Is not this an argument of a low Spirit exceeding earthly c●rnall like those Potters that remained of the children of Israel in Babylon when the rest were returned to Jerusalem 1 Chron. 4 23. that preferred their carnall ease in Babylon before the enjoyment of the true and pure worship of God in Sion do not such men exceedingly degenerate from the servants of God of old spoken of in the Scriptures ●hat have greatly longed after and mourned with much bitternes when they have been deprived of the enjoyment of God in his ordinances as David and others Esay 56.3 4. Psal 84. 4. Doth not this plainly discover to the world that such men are to this day marvellous ignorant of this great mystery of the Gospel they see not the lustre and beauty that shines forth in the visible Churches of the Saints a right and true communion of Saints having fellowship with Christ in his own ordinances is a meere riddle a paradox to them the comly order and sweet harmony of Jacobs Tents and Israels Tabernacles is not discerned by them though a Balaam himselfe was greatly affected therewith Oh when shall this darkenes be removed 5. I would faine know whether such poore soules are not great enemies to their own happines and hinderers of their own welfare For first have they not many precious Talents Gifts and Graces bestowed upon them for which they shall be accountable to Christ one day which now are as it were put under a Bushel lye asleep and of no use or benefit to themselves or others all which if they were once come into a society of faithfull and zealous Saints would be occasioned frequently to be brought forth and improved to the glory of God the benefit of others and their own great encrease and advantage Secondly are they not subject to many wanderings and out-goings from God and so have need of some to watch over their precious soules to prevent as it is possible such swervings from Christ by their wholsome and gentle admonitions exhortations and reproofes which priviledge they might enjoy if they were in this order of the Gospell but now are deprived of Thirdly are they not many times so overtaken through the subtilty of Sathan deceitfullnes of sin that they not only fall into sinne but there lye and continue in their back-sliding and have none to looke after them to restore them againe to set their broken bones in joynt again whereas if they were in this way of the Lord the Gospell requires how sweetly might they be recovered according to the injunction of the Apostle to the Church of the Galatians Gal. 6.1 And therefore doubtlesse those men that thus reason as before that it s no great matter to come into any other church-state then they are are no small enemies to their own good 6. Lastly may it not be just with God to leave men to themselves in this thing and for their slighting of his wayes sweare in his wrath that they shall never enter into this rest of his that he gives his Saints that he brings to Sion Let us feare

his Throne and openly proclaime before heaven and earth that they will not give rest to their eyes nor slumber to their eye-lids till they have brought him low Ah poore wretches what shall I say to you or do for you would God my soule could weepe for yee in secret and mourne over your sad condition Give me leave to administer one word of counsel to you if it be not too late Lay downe your Armes and come in and submit your selves to him that hath the Keyes of hell and death in his hands Rev. 1.18 and the sooner the better the easier it will be for you why will you provoke the Lord to jealousie are you stronger then he 1 Cor. 10.22 was there ever any that hardned himselfe against the Lord and prospered Job 9.4 Jesus Christ hath rececived gifts for the very rebellious Psal 68.18 Gifts of grace gifts of love and mercy he will forgive your past and present rebellion against him and remember them no more if you will submit unto him and why should you despise his Love Is it not better to fall down before him and accept of the golden Scepter of his grace and mercy that he freely holds forth to you then to stand out in a wilful obstinate way of opposition against him ere long be made feele the unsupportable weight of the iron Scepter of his wrath Oh be wise betime certainly Jesus Christ will be too strong for all the powers of darknes prevaile he will over all the opposition of men devils of hell and Rome and the Kingdomes of the world that rise up against him he will build his Temple and his Father will set him upon his holy Hill of Syon do you and all the powers of darknes your worst God doth but laugh you to scorne in all you do Psal 2.4.5 6. Antichrist must downe the Jewes shall be called and the fulnes of the Gentiles brought in then the Kingdomes of the earth shall become the Lords and his Christs and he shall raign forever Rev. 11.15 And what will you do then then you will crye to the mountaines and hils to fall upon you and hide you from the wrath of the Lambe because the great day of his wrath is come but all in vaine for who can stand Rev 6. ult then Mountains hils themselves shal be made plain before him they shall be so farre from succouring others that they shall not be able to succour themselves Now happy is the man that believes and repents and comes in to Christ before that day appeares 3. Lastly I have one word to all such as God hath honoured in bringing to Syon and whose feet have begunne to walke in those pathes of Paradise which I shall as the close of all referre to 3. Heads 1. To Peace 2. To purity 3. To Perseverance 1. Labour after peace Though others make war against you yet doe you study to be quiet Commit your Name and Cause to him who is your King and Husband and hath all power in heaven and earth given unto him to defend you and offend and subdue those that rise up against you Beleeve it there is not a weapon that is formed against you shall prosper nor a word that is spoken in judgement against you but you shall condemne Wherefore goe on in the work you are called to Esay 54 and feare not them whose breath is in their nostrils those that onely can kil the body Mat. 10. but fear him that hath power to destroy both body and soul in hell fire Wher-fore if they curse you blesse them and if they persecute you pray for them and then happy shall you be and great will be your reward in heaven Mat. 5.44 Rom. 12.17 18. 2. Strive after purity Heb. 1● T is not enough for you to follow peace with all men but holinesse also You are called unto holinesse unto sanctification this is the beauty of Sion the honour of Religion 1 Thes the excellency of the Gospel This commends the wayes of Sion to those that passe by and invites them to come walk in them Yea it stops the mouthes of those that beare evill will to Sion and set themselves against her Oh that the Churches of the Saints were more holy that they were more like to their Head and Husband the Lord Jesus Christ that they could live more in the Spirit and after the Spirit and that they might not give occasion to the adversary to blaspheme What makes many not onely to speak evill of but to avoid and stand off from the waies of Sion but only the scandalous walking of many that have submitted themselves outwardly to the order of the Gospell And therefore let me be the Lords Remembrancer to all such that they follow after holinesse and labour to adorne the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by walking up to the light of that truth he hath made known to them and convinced them of and in so doing how shall they glorifie God and win or at least leave without excuse such that oppose themselves 3. Lastly persevere and hold fast to the end in the practice of what Christ hath made known to you to be his very minde and will in the right way of his worship take heed of drawing backe Heb. 10.38 39. remember that counsell of the Apostle to the Church of the Colos Col. 2.6 7 8. As yee have therefore received Jesus Christ the Lord so walke in him roo●ed and built up in him and established in the faith as you have beene taught abounding therein with thanksgiving Beware lest any man spoile you through Philosophy and vaine deceite after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ As we have been espoused to Christ as chaste virgins and not defiled with the pollutions of Antichrist so let us take heed we be not as Evah beguiled by the subtilty of the serpent and corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 〈◊〉 11.23 The promise is to those that overcome and are faithfull to the death 〈◊〉 2.10 Persecutions should not discourage but rather encourage us in reg●rd that our sufferings for Christ shall turne to us for a testimony as Christ himselfe saith Luk. 21.13 Our Lord and Master himselfe is gone before us and given us an example to follow and he hath promised that if we suffer with him we shall reigne with him 2 Tim 2.12 but if we deny him he will deny us and what are all our sorrowes and sufferings to that Crowne of glory he hath purchased and is gone before to prepare for us especially considering that there are no sufferings we are called unto for his sake but we shall have strength from him to go through them 〈◊〉 8.37 and to be more then conquerours in and over them all I end with that of the Apostle Heb. 13.20.21 Now the God of Peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepheard of the Sheep through the bloud of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good worke to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever Amen FINIS