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
man spareth bis Son that serveth him The Lord will bave mercy upon Sion and spare his People in the Day of his fierce Anger until his Indignatioa be over-past The Walls of Sion are the Walls of Salvation and they are a Bul wark to Gods People when did these Walls and Bulwarks fail you Have you not been preserved in your Day and Generation if these Walls of Salvation had failed we had not been preserved in Christ Jesus we had not now been a Peâ—ple we have stood the Brunts we have been kept safe in the strong City where Salvation is for Walls and Bulwarks And so I shall commit you to the Lord Jesus Christ the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World I desire you all to look to him and fix your Hearts upon him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that believe in him and obey him to him be Glory Praise and Dominion who is God over all Blessed forever Amen His Prayer after Sermon MOST Blessed Lord God thou art Lord of Heaven and Earth Infinite in Love and Life and Glory the God of the Spirits of all flesh in whom we live and move and have our Being who art neaâ— to every one that draweth near to thee and call upon thee in Truth Thou openest thy bountâ—ful hand and refreshest our Hearts with thy Mercy and Blessing O Lord God of Power thy Mercies are manifold and they are over all thy Works and the Works of thine own hands do all praise thee and thy Saints bless thee and magnifie thy excellent Name thou art pleased to magnifie thy Law â—nd to send forth thy Light and Truth and to make it honour able in the Hearts of many in the Day of thy Love in the Day of thy Power Thou art Redeeming thy People from Iniquity and purging away all their dross and taking away all their Tin O Lord God of Life and Power Let all that believe in thy Son Jesus Christ be purged and purified more and more let them be washed and sanctified that all that may be done away and removed out of their Hearts that is contrary to thy self that the Glory of thy Truth may arise and shine in their Souls and let all feel the Power of thy Truth and be sensible of it and believe it and obey it that they may follow the Lâ—adings of thy Holy Spirit and answer thy requirings and glorifie thy name and do thy Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven Let us all receive our daily Bread from thee and have the Light of thy Countenance to shine upon us Comfort the Hearts of all thine every where be thou their strength and stay and a presâ—nt help in trouble and solace their Souls with the sense of thy Lâ—ve which is better than Wine and with thy favour and loving kindness which is better than Life Strengthen the weak hands that hang down and coâ—firm the feeble knees and succour those that aâ—e tempted and comâ—ort them and relieve them O Righteous Lord of Heaven and Earth make known thy Mighty Power in working upon the Hearts of thy People here and every where make known by Name and Glory thrâ—ughout the Whâ—le Earth Let thy glorious everlasting Gospel be sounded forth and Preached in all Naâ—ions of the World And let thy renown go forth and thy fame be spread abroad in all Nations let all the enemies of thy Peâ—ple be scattered and all that make opposition against thy Truth be conquered and overcome by the Power of it and submit themselves least â—hey perish in their opposition And let thy People receive thy Truth in the Love of it and become willing in the Day of thy Power to serve thee in the Beauties of Holiness and gird up the Loyns of their Minds and be kept sober and vigilant and hope to the end and live in love and unity with one another and keep themselves in the love of God and by Patient continuance in well doing seek for Honour Glory Immortality and Eternal Life Let us delight our selves in thee that thou mayst give us the desire of our Hearts whom have we in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that we can desire besides thee Thou hast many times refreshed us with the sense of thy Love in Christ Jesus and thou hast brought us into thy Banquetting House and thy Banner hath been spread over us we have been satisfied with the Fatness of thy House and drunk abundantly of the Rivers of thy Pleasures we have sat under thy shaddow with great delight and thy fruit hath been sweet to our tast Bless us and all thine every where and mind us of our latter end that all the Days of our Appointed time we may wait till our change come and be so prepared for our great account that we may give it up with Joy and not with grief Now Blessed God of Heaven and Earth for all thy Mercies and Favours that we have received and the Blessings and Benefits which thou hast bestowed upon us and continued to us and for preserving us from time to time by the Arm of thy Power and for opening our Hearts at this time to receive the Word of thy Truth and the Influences of thy Spirit take thou the Honour and Glory Thanksgiving and Praise which we humbly and sincerely offer up to thee for to thee it doth belong and thou alone art worthy who art God over all blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. FRANCIS STAMPER At Devonshire-House May 3. 1694. God hath laid help upon one that is Mighty to seve to the uttermost all that come unto God by him THis Mighty One that the Almighty Lord Jehovah hath laid help upon for Man it is the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of his Love and they are blessed of God that come to partake of the help that is in him who said to his Disciples and Followers in the days past without me ye can do nothing Friends This is a deep and a very near word and it stands us all upon to consider whether we have him or no for we all owe Service a Duty and a Worship to the Everlasting God and of our selves we cannot perform it without the help and assistance of his Beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ and the comfort of all that believe in him and love him is this that he is not only able to help but willing to help Blessed be the Lord God for ever may all you say that have been made partakers of his Vertue and of his Power and Life that have found a willingness in him to assist you in all your troubles in all your exercises in all your afflictions in all the bowings of your Souls and Spirits before the Lord who have said in your Prayers and Supplications Lord lend me thy help let me have thy gracious aid and assistance Without this help of the Lord Jesus Christ we cannot do that good that sometimes
Name of the Lord is a strong Tower The Righteous shall fly unto it and be safe and when they are assaulted with the Enemy the Spirit of the Lord shall be with them and when the Enemy comes upon them as a Flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard for them against the Adversary and they shall stand still and see the Salvation of God And they shall find the Power of Gods Spirit come upon them for Sanctification and they shall be as the purest Wheat gathered into the Garner of God Therefore My Friends let the Testimonies of Truth which the Lord is pleased by his Servants and Messengers to send to you take hold of you and go along with you and have a place in your secret thoughts It is an Exhortation of the Word of Truth which God gives by his Spirit to you therefore let it be retained While you are in the Light walk as Children of Light and have no Fellowship with the Vnfruitful Works of Darkness and you shall dwell safely and be set upon a Rock that is higher than you you shall be as Stars shining in a Dark World and though there be darkness upon the Earth yet here is Light here is Beauty Those that are in Zion and in Goshen the Songs of the Night shall be given to them When others are in distress these are they that have their Habitation in the Lord and find a Spiritual repose and enter into Rest and enjoy that peace which God through Jesus Christ his Beloved Son doth give unto the Souls of his People that Peace that Passeth Vnderstanding Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom Teaching and Admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts unto the Lord. Salvation and Praise be ascribed unto our God continually for all his Mercies and Favours for to him Honour and Glory and Thanks giving belongs And as you render Praise to the Lord in the Name of his Beloved Son you shall find acceptance with him and an answer of Peace returned into your Bosoms when you pray as the Psalmist Psal 141. 1 2. Lord I cry unto thee make bast unto me give ear to my Voice when I cry unto thee let my Prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up my hands as the Evening Sacrifice Hereby you shall enjoy Divine Rest and Repose and Refreshment from the presence of the Lord and that Joy that is unspeakable and full of Glory This is my Desire and Souls Travel and the end of my Labour among you that this may be your Lot and Portion with the Lord. The Prayer after Sermon BLessed Lord God who hast in this day of thy Power made manifest thy Self unto thy Children and People who are this day waiting upon thee O Lord God we pray thee let thy Infinite Mercy more and more be extended to us and we humbly pray thee do thou preserve us a sensible People that as thou hast afforded the Visitation of thy Love unto us we may delight in it Lord reveal thy Love more and more to us that we may obey thee and delight to do thy Will Lord thou hast an Eye of Pity and Compassion upon the Sons and Daughters of Men whom thou seest in a lost and perishing condition and thou wilt remember them in their low estate because thy Mercy endureth for ever extend the Riches of thy Goodness to such as are strangers to thee that they may come to the knowledge of thee through the Son of thy Love for this is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent O Lord manifest thy Love to us more and more and appear is thy excellent Glory for the bringing down of every thing contrary to thee Blessed Father and Fountain of Life set up thy Throne and Reign in the Hearts of the Children of Men that they may own thy rightful Government and submit to thy Wisdom and become a willing People in the Day of thy Power and be reconciled to thee in the blood of thy Son Be with us in all the Dispensations of thy Grace and Love and manifest the operation of thy Power upon us in our attendances on thee from Day to Day and from one season to another Lord thou that hast revealed thy Glorious Arm and Power to thy People in their many Travels Exercises and Afflictions that have come upon them for the tryal of their Faith and the exercise of their Patience and Humility and other Graces let our Patience have its Perfect Work and let the trial of our Faith be found unto Praise Honour and Glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ and let our humility lay us low before thee that being humbled under thy mighty band we may be exalted in due time for the sake of Jesus Christ whom thou hast hast exalted at thine own Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to us and Remission of Sins Lord our desires are to thee and our expectations are from thee do thou supply us with all things needful for our Souls and Bodies as thou hast mercifully sustained us hitherto O Lord do thou Bless all the Manifestations of thy Love and Power unto us that we may be sanctified and made meet to serve and glorifie thee that we may give up our account with Joy at thy Tribunal that we may then be found in Christ not having our own Righteonsness but being Justified freely by thy Grace through the Redemption that is in him we may enter into Glory and be for ever with the Lord. Blessed Father of Life Remember all those that are scattered up and down upon the Hills and Barren Mountains and are wandring up and down as Sheep without a Shepherd Remember them in this Day of thy Love and mighty Power and bring them home to the Sheep-fold of Christ who is the true Sbepherd and Redeemer and Saviour of Souls Lord go along with us from this place to our several Habitations and Imployments Let the Angel of thy presence attend us Let the Word that hath been preached dwell richly in us in all Wisdom Dearest God of Love and Life one Plants and another Waters but thou alone dost give the encrease we pray thee go along with us and be near unto us when we are separated one from another Now Lord for all thy Mercies and Benefits and Blessings renewed to us from day to day and from one season to another we desire to offer up to thee a pure and living Sacrifice of Praise and Love and Thanks giving for thou alone art worthy who art God over all who with thy Blessed Son and Eternal Spirit Livest and Reignest for ever and ever One God World without end Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM BINGLEY At Grace-Church street March 4. 1693. Friends IT is weighty upon my Spirit this Day to call upon you all to take