Word are his Laws Angels all Kings and Kingdoms are his Subjects All power is given unto this King in heaven and in earth he hath a Kingdom in every true Believer where he dwells and reigns as King The Sacred Scriptures are his Laws written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of their hearts their bâ—dies souls spirits every member faculty power quality and all that is within them mind memory will conscience affections thoughts intents desires c. words actions and all their enemies sin Satan and the world the honours pleasures treasures thereof are his Subjects This King of Saints is personally in heaven but dwells and reigns mystically in true Believers by his Spirit by his Word by his Grace Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Now the Office of the holy Spirit is by Regeneration to wash and cleanse our bodies souls and spirits from all filthiness that by his divine power we may be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth And by applying also the blood of Christ If the blood of bulls and goats sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ purge your consciences from dead works Ye know ye were not redeemed from your vain conversation with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ The holy Ghost is given to purifie our hearts by the grace of faith This King by his Spirit Word Bloud and Grace creates in us clean hearts and renews right spirits within us and thereby also prepares our bodies souls and spirits to be temples and habitations meet for his Majesty to inhabit and dwell in As our bodies are filled with our souls and spirits so would our gracious King have us filled in our bodies souls and spirits with all the fulness of God Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit Such is the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man that according to his mercy he saves us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost which he sheds upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour He would have his word dwell in us richly in all wisdom for reaching and admonishing one another By his blood he dwelleth in us How free was he of it during the time of his pâ—ssive obedience in his estate of humiliation He poured out his soul unto death Being in an agony his sweat was as it were great drops of bloud falling down to the ground He offered his side to be broached that he might shed his hearts blood for our redemption the remission of our sins reconciliation our sanctification and salvation In whom we have redemption through his blood Without shedding of bloud there is no remission He hath made peace through the blood of his cross Reconciling all things unto himself whether they be things in earth or things in heaven The blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit purgeth our consciences from dead works to serve the living God Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him In his estate of Exaltation how free is he also of his blood by the virtue of it he makes continual intercession for us In the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper we have his blood given to drink which he tells us is drink indeed and calls upon us to drink yea to drink abundantly He dwelleth in us by his grace It pleâ—sed the Father that in him should all fulness dwell a fulness of grace and truth The fulness of him that fi leth all in all That of his fulness we all might receive grace for grace Through him great grace was upon all the Apostles and many of the Primitive Christians He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers with gifts and graces for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tâ—ssed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love The Universal Church is the body of Christ his Spirit the virtue of his Bloud his Word Graces and Comforts are the life welfare and soul of it Christ our King dwells in this his body and every member of it which is his Kingdom by righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost He covers his body with the robe of his righteousness for their Justification which is their upper garment And to the Church the Lamb's Wife is granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen her under garment which is righteousness for Sanctification and purity both in body soul spirit and conversation The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus This Church or Body of Christ looking for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness is diligently to be found of him in peace without spot and blameless And knowing the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for the sake of his Body which is the Church he became poor that through his poverty it might be made rich through him have an access by one Spirit unto the Father of lights from whom cometh every good gift and every perfect gift whether of Nature of Grace or of Glory For the Lord God is a sun and shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly The spirit of power of love and of a sound mind are his gift which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created the new man to be renewed in the spirit of his mind For that the soul be without knowledge is not good especially the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ and him crucified all other knowledge shall vanish away but this is life eternal to know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ
The pain of sense will easilier be born than the pain of loss The Vision of God is the Heaven of the Godly O it is a blessed sight to see God and to be seen of him If a glympse here of his glorious Majesty be so joyous How glorious will a full and fixed sight of him be in Heavenly Glory May I be blind to all the glory in this World so I may live in a believing foresight and lively hope of beholding that inaccessible Light which is too glorious for Angels to behold without covering their faces This Light is Life it self the original of life to all whether of Nature Grace or Glory God in Scripture is said to be the true and Living God in opposition to false and dead Idols Life is his being he is because he Lives and our Life is hid with Christ in God even that of Nature of Grace and of Glory in him we Live and Move and have our Being Life in it self is a happiness O how precious a thing is Life Skin for skin and all that a Man hath will he give for his Life The Life of a Fly hath been thought to be more worth than the World The Life of a Man doubtless is more worth than many Worlds which are without Life but it is the Life of Grace which makes the Life of Man his comfort and the Life of sin to be a Living Death to him But the Life of Glory which is ever to be glorifying and enjoying God is the glory of Life To live with Life it self and for Life it self to live in us How infinitely satisfying will it be to them who are glorified That we shall be ever with this Lord of Life and Glory is the most comfortable word in all the Scriptures If any Man serve me saith Christ where I am there shall also my servant be Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me The presence of Christ makes Heaven It is our Life eternal to live with him who is Life eternal and to live to him for none of us in Heaven liveth to himself we live there wholly unto the Lord. His Glory there is as truly our end as it is here he will give to every one glory enough but he will not give his glory to another None must glorifie himsâ—lf there God All-sufficient will glorifie every one sufficiently I will glorifie the House of my glory saith the Lord. Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory will be the Heavenly Ditty and Duty Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created The main end of our Election or Predestination Redemption Justification Adoption Regeneration Sanctification Preservation and Glorification is to glorifie God in our Bodies and in our Spirits which are Gods Our vile Bodies are fashioned like unto Christs glorious Body so are our Souls transformed renewed sanctified and cleansed with the washing of Water by the Word that they might be presented to God himself glorious not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that they should be holy and without blame before him in love to the Praise of the glory of his Grace God is Love as well as Life the Life which he lives is a life also of Love What lovely living will it be in Heaven to live with love it self To love and be beloved by God who is Love will be the Saints everlasting happiness God will for ever be in love with all the Glorified Angels and Saints and they again will for ever be in love with him I Love them that Love me saith God not only God Essentially but God Personally is Love The Father is love the Son is love the Holy Ghost is love The knowledge we shall have of the Trinity loving each other with the love of Unity in an infinite manner and measure will very much contribute to our heavenly happiness If the Union Communion and Communication of Love between Husband and Wife be so great a Mystery How much greater a Mystery is that which is between Christ and the Church But O how mysterious a secret are the Transactions of mutuâ—l love between Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity If God so loved the World in this was manifested â—he Love of God because he sent his only begotten Son iâ—to the World that we might live through him herein is love that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins I say if God so loved the World What manner of Love hath he bestowed upon his only begotten Son The Father loveth the Son and the Son loveth the Father and the Holy Spirit loveth both the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost is loved of the Father and the Son and in their mutual loving and glorifying each other as they were happy infinitely from Everlasting so they would have been to everlasting though all persons and things had never been created Gods essential glory is neither capable of addition or diminution by reason of its infinite perfection God is not the happier for Angels or Men he needs neither their love or service but there is no being happy for any Creature save in the full enjoyment of God and his loving favour through all Eternity his loving kindness is life eternal We love him because he first loved us he loved us from all Eternity So God loved the World and by so doing hath engaged himself to love us to eternity whom he loves he loves to the end That which makes his love altogether lovely is That he set his love upon us because he loved us no Merit or Motive in us why he should love us there were Motives and Merits indeed why he should not love us when by wilful sin we had cast away the Mercies of our Creation he might have cast us off and cast us out to the loathing of our persons In the day we were born and lay polluted in our blood then he looked upon us and behold this time was the time of love he then said unto us when we were in our Blood Live His Love was our Life If God loved us so when we were sinful What manner of Love will he bestow upon us when sinless Our sin Original and Actual incapacitates us to receive the Mercies and enjoy the Love the Lord would willingly vouchsafe us But in Heaven we shall be able and perfectly capable and God infinitely willing to load us with all his Benefits God will never be weary of giving out his Loves nor we unwilling or weary in a Joyful and Thankful receiving of them and returning the same to our best Beloved It will be love of the nearest union the highest and holiest Communion and the freest and fullest
them depart in peace be you warmed aâ—d filled notwithstanding ye give not them those things which are needful to the body Doth such a one love or hate his Brother Is he not in darkness and walketh in darkness unto outer darkness if he that hateth his Brother say I love God he is a liar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen How can he love God whom he hath not seen There is a wide difference between the godly and ungodly's sinning It is too true that both of them sin The godly Mans purpose promise and practise is habitually and ordinarily against all sin The wicked Mans Trade Custom Conscience Work and Way is sin he is known to be wicked by being a worker of Iniquity he lives in sin in a state of sin in the practise both of sins of Omission and Commission which they who are Godly doe not dare not do they also do no Iniquity the transgression of the wicked saith That there is no fear of God before his eyes they that fear not God fear not to sin by the fear of the Lord Men depart from evil The fear of the Lord is to hate evil The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself to stand in awe that he sin not Every godly man is negatively and positively holy in heart speech and behaviour His Prayer is his Practise Incline not my heart to any evil thing to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity I have inclined mine heart to perform thy Statutes alway even unto the end No corrupt communication proceedeth out of his Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying he speaketh the truth in his heart his speech is alwayes with grace seasoned with salt sound that cannot be condemned The mouth of the Righteous speaketh Wisdom his Tongue talketh of Judgment his Tongue is his glory so called in Scripture and used only for Gods Glory with it he Prayes to and Praises God The high Praises of God is in his mouth Prayer and Praise with heart and voice is a good Mans daily practice He walks uprightly that is he walks not after the Flesh in the lust of Concupiscence he makes he takes no provision for the flesh to satisfie it in the lusts thereof In rioting and drunkenness in chambering and wantonness in strife and envying all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking he puts away from him with all malice yea all that is in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of heart and life Whatever else God forbids he forsakes he avoids and hates every false way and work he approves himself to be a Citizen of Zion for he backbiteth not with his Tongue nor doth evil to his Neighbor nor taketh up receiveth or endureth a reproach against his Neighbors that Sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not that putteth not his Mony to Usury nor taketh reward against the Innocent As he walks not after the Flesh so he walks after the Spirit because he lives in the spirit and also walks in the spirit which is a walking in wisdom or in the light a walking in faith and love and truth after Gods Commandments for this is love that we walk after his Commandments Moral and Evangelical the rule of our life for as many as walk according to this Ruâ—e Peace be on them and Mercy and upon the Israel of God What God and his Commandments are to us that are we to be unto him and them God is holy just and good all his Commandments are holy just and good such are we to be before God and the World holy just and good in our dispositions communications and conversâ—tions This was St. Paul his Prayer for his Thessalonians The very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ This is the will of God even our Sanctification in our Bodies that we should abstain from fornication for which end every one should know how to possess his Vessel in sanctification and honor not in the lust of concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God for God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness because our bodies are the Members of Christ and the Temples of the Holy Ghost Shall we then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot God forbid Know ye not that he that is joyned to an Harlot is one Body and therefore the holy Apostle exhorts To flee Fornication and all youthful lusts for every sin that a Man doth is without the Body but he that committeth Fornication sinneth against his own Body and yet our Bodies are not our own to use them as we please because they are bought with a price and therefore we are to glorifie God in our Bodies as well as in our Spirits which are Gods by presenting them a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is our reasonable Service not conformed to this World in outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of Apparel but in behaviour as becometh holiness No sin is to reign in our Mortal Bodies that we should obey it in the lust thereof neither must we yield our Members as Instruments or Weapons of unrighteousness unto Sin but as Instruments of righteousness unto God as the Body must be holy throughout so must the Soul also in all the faculties and powers thereof Mind Will Memory Conscience and Affections be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind and put on the new Man which is renewed in knowledge that being transformed by the renewing of your mind ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God till ye be a willing people in the day of his power to be what he would have you to be to do what he would have you to do and to suffer what he would have you to suffer choosing the things that please him having a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly yea living in all good conscience which is to exercise our selves to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men their conscience also bearing them witness and when others accuse excusing for their rejoycing is this the Testimony of their Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God they have had their conversation in the World and having renounced the hidden things of dishonestâ— not walking in craftiness but by manifestation of the Truth of their profession by the holiness of their Conversâ—tion commend themselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God and their hearts being sprâ—nkled from an evil Conscience and purged from dead Works to serve the living God have the answer of good Conscience towards God which breeds peace of Conscience the Peace of God
his Son in sufferings and that we also as he must through much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh let us arm our selves likewise with the same mind by putting off the old man and putting on the new man he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the Lusts of Men but to the Will of God let us be followers of that which is good who is he then that will harm us but and if we suffer for Righteousness sake let us not be afraid of their terror neither be troubled Let them as Christ Jesus did that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator which is to walk worthy of God who hath called us unto his Kingdom and Glory and if we be faithful herein unto death will not be long ere he call us into his Kingdom of Glory where we shall receive the Crown of Life but then we must walk in the Spirit and the Spirit will walk in us which he promiseth to do if we keep our selves from Idols come out from among them and be separated and touch not the unclean thing if we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit we cannot walk worthy of God his Kingdom of Grace and Glory without walking in the Spirit It is the Spirit and walking in the Spirit thâ—t makes us worthy or meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light it is only through the Spirit we do mortifie the deeds of the body that we may live a life of Grace and Peace and Joy we are carnally minded by nature and the carnal mind is enmity against God not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be which is death nor can we be spiritually minded which is Life and Peace if so be that the Spirit of God dwell not in us for as the body without the Spirit is dead so the Soul without the Spirit of Christ is dead also and they who are naturally or spiritually dead cannot walk we must be quickned and sanctified by the Spirit before we can live or walk in the Spirit To walk in the Spirit is to be spiritually minded or of the mind of the Spirit for as many as are led by the Spirit or they that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit now the things of the Spirit are either spiritual or eternal Grace or Glory or what relates to it which the minds of spiritual persons are taken up with such are all holy duties commanded by the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit which is in all Goodness and Righteousness and Truth Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance c. which constitute the divine nature in us whereby we lead the divine life which is our walking with God in the Spirit or glorifying God in our Body and in our Spirit which are Gods walk we then in the Spirit and we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes nor walk in pride To walk worthy of God his Kingdom and Glory is to walk in wisdom toward our selves if thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thy self and towards them that are without and to walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming our time as we have opportunity to do good unto all men especially labouring to be so wise as to win Souls for they that be wise Teachers turn many to righteousness and shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars for ever and ever the wise shall inherit Glory To walk in Wisdom is to understand what the Will of the Lord is and to do thereafter for a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments it is to understand the way wherein we ought to walk and to walk therein The Wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way which is Gods way this was Davids prayer Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a plain â—ath cause me to know the way wherein I should walk lead me in the way everlasting and Gods promise I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eye and his performance he led his people forth by the right way that they might go to a City of habitation Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory saith David his practical resolution I have chosen the way of Truth I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart It is to behave our selves wisely in a perfect way and to walk within our house with a perfect heart To understand also the Work of God his Work of Creation Redemption Providence and Grace and to do with all our might maugre all opposition whatsoever our hand findeth to do whatsoever Gods Providence layeth before us to go through with it considering there is no Work nor Device nor Knowledge nor Wisdom in the Grave whither we are all going That we may be alwayes so doing we had need to pray mightily to God so to teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto Wisdom The Works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein they are honourable and glorious he hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred known taken notice of admired and praised God hath also ordained or prepared that we should walk in good Works then walk we in Wisdom indeed when we are prepared and ready unto and zealous to maintain every good Work To walk worthy of God is to walk in Faith we walk by Faith not by sight Faith is our sight the evidence of things not seen without which it is impossible to please God To walk in Faith is to live by the Faith of the Son of God the life which we now live in the flesh It is a continual coming to God in the Name of Jesus Christ till we come to God a believing that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him It is also a daily receiving the Lord Jesus and of his fulness receiving and Grace for Grace that we should shew forth the praises or virtues of him who hath called us unto his Kingdom and Glory To walk worthy of God is to walk in love as Christ hath also loved us to love God and one another as Christ hath set us an example and given us a Commandment This is his Commandment that we should believe on the Name of his Son and love one another as he gave us Commandment Our walking in Faith is that we might walk in Love Faith worketh by Love Faith unfeigned worketh Love without dissimulation Let us not love in word neither in tongue but
his Son made of a Woman made under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons we are all the Childrâ—n of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Sanctification According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in love God hath from the beginning chosen us to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Consolation Our Lord Jesus himself and God even our Father which hath loved us hath given us everlasting Consolation through Grace Glorification There is no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus them he also Glorifieth they are called by the Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ especially at the day of Judgment when he shall come to be Glorified in his Saints to give Glory to them to receive Glory by them when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in Glory The Glory which God the Father gâ—ve his Son the Glory which thou gâ—vest me I have given them Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me To receive Glory from them passively actively the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in us and we in him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ The faithful Ministers of Christ and Christ himself saith What is our Hope or Joy or Crown of rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of God ye are our glory and jâ—y for this Joy that was set before him he endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God where he sees the travel of his Soul and is satisfied The general Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heâ—ven shall Sing this new Song to the honour of the Lord Jesus Christ in Communion with all the holy Angels Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and blessing And every Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that are in them shall say Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Thus out of the Fullness which is in Christ do we all receive and Grace for Grace as Grace without us and upon us so all Grace within us namely saving-wisdom and knowledge all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in him who is the wisdom in a Myâ—â—ery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the World unto our glory which none of the Princes of this World knew but God hath Revealed him unto us Even the Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations but now is made manifest to his Saints The Mystery of Godliness which without controversie is great God manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels Preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory And unto us by his spirit it pleased God saith St. Paul who called me by his Grace to reveal Christ in me No Man knoweth the things of a Man save the spirit of man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God of him are we in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom For this end Christ as our only Mediator hath taken upon himself the Office of a Prophet a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son who was not only a Prophet but a Preacher of this kingdom of God of whom it was truly said Never Man spake like this Man For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him the Spirit of the Lord anointed him to Preach the Gospel to the Poor he sent him to heal the broken in heart to Preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised to Preach the acceptable year of the Lord All bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and undestanding It is he that Teaâ—heth in the wâ—y of Wisdom and leads in Right Paths that hath comp ssion on the ignorâ—nt and on them that are out of the way to give the knowâ—edge of Salvation unto them to give light to them th t sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide their feet into the way of Peace and to see that â—here be no wicked way in them and to lead them into the way everlasting which he doth by his Spirit by his Word by his Ministers Whom the Father will send in the name of his Son at his request I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you and at Believers request for whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do saith Christ If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink he that believeth on me out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living Waters this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive which is the Holy Ghost which the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things that you need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things necessary to be known believed and practised in order to eternal life and therefore where the Spirit of God dwells there he is a Spirit of Wisdom of Counsel of Understanding in the fear of the Lord. Naturally we know nothing of God of Christ the Spirit of our Selves his Word Will Wayes Works as we ought to know the Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned no not the first Principles of the Oracles of God Having the Understanding darkenâ—d through the ignâ—rance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart The God of this World having blinded the minds of them that believe not least the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them They know not that of themselves they cannot know themselves The first beginning of true
himself of the Robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his Garments even to his Sword and to his Bow and to his Girdle and said moreover to David whatsoever thy Soul desireth I will even do it for thee There is between God and the goldly a love of Union My Beloved is mine and I am his The Bond on Gods part is his Spirit hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit he that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit The Bond on our part is Faith working by Love Christ dwelleth in the heart by Faith he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God This is the most intimate Union as near as Head and Members Root and Branch Man and Wife Corner-stone and the Building which may be severed cut off separated and disunited But this Vnion between God in Christ and Spiritual Believers is inseparable because wrought preserved and maintained by the Holy Ghost who is God 2. From whence followeth a near Communion Truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ Can two walk together except they be agreed There is an Agreement between God and all True Believers by Covenant the Covenant and Agreement that was once betwixt Them and Sin Satan and Hell and Death is disannulled and a Covenant made with God by Sacrifice by all the Saints and by means and vertue of this Holy Agreement it is that God and his People walk together in every Holy Duty and Ordnance there is a Holy Communion between them a Fellowship in Desires and Loves I am my Beloveds and his desire is towards me With my Soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee early He brought me into his Banquetting House and his Banner over me was Love Behold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair saith Christ to his Beloved Spouse Tell me oh thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest saith the Spouse to Christ Here is a Love-Communion nothing but expressions of Love between them and mutual Joy also Draw me We will run after thee The King hath brought me into his Chambers We will be glad and rejoyce over thee with Joy he will rest in his Love he will Joy over thee with Singing in our Prayers and Praises we hold up our Communion with him Oh my Dove that art in the cleft of the Rock in the secret place of the Stairs let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy Voice for sweet is thy Voice and thy Countenance is comely and doubtless he that calls upon us to Pray will vouchsafe his ear to hear and a heart to answer Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us Pray and granteth our Request so he heareth our Praises and Thanksgivings for the Mercies obtained by Prayer we are to offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God continually that is the Calves of our Lips giving Thanks or Confessing his Name This is to Glorifie God he that offereth Praise Glorifieth me There is an Active and Passive Praising of God an Actâ—ve when in heart tongue and life we shew forth his Glory Thus David Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name bless the Lord O my Soul And St. Paul Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ Our Tongue is called in Scripture our glory in nothing more than in Glorifying or Praising God therewith bless we God I will Sing unto the Lord as long as I live I will Sing Praise unto my God while I have my being is the purpose and practise of every faithful Christian Our Lives should praise the Lord then we praise God indeed when our Conversations are only as becometh the Gospel of Christ There is also a Pâ—ssive Praising of God All the Works of God Praise him his Saints only bless him our Bodies Souls and Spirits declare with all the rest of Gods Works his glory but when they are by Gods Spirit changed into the Im ge of God from glory to glory and the faculties of the one and the members of the others are Instruments in tune exercising Righteousness and true Holiness then they much more speak the Praise of God 3. There is also a Love of Communication and Benevolence which is Mutual between God and the Godly God is a Communicative Good he is never weary of giving We are too often weary of asking and receiving God is good and doth good 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 things he that will give grace and glory will withhold nothing that is good If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him We have nothing to give to God but what we have from him the best thing we have to give him is our heart My Son give me thy heart Our whole Man and our whole duty is intirely to be presented to God as a living reasonable service and yet when we have done all we are but unprofitable servants Can a man be profitable unto God as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself Good Lives is profitable to all things and persons but not unto God we cannot add any thing to God's Essential Perfections God is so good that a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple in the name of a Disciple shall not lose its reward Our Love of Benevolence to God is by his gracious power a willing what God wills and a nilling what he nills a doing what he commands us as he commandeth us and a not doing what he forbids us because he forbids us when we are good our selves and good to our selves and do good to others when we forget not to do good and to Communicate as we have opportunity but do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the houshold of Faith and remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being our selves also in the Body then are we if I may say good to God though our goodness extendeth not to him but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the excellent in whom we are to delight There is also a Real Union Communion and Communication between Christians in Love Every Saint loves all Saints By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another and by this we know that we are passed from death to life because we love the
altogether earthly things fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred or been seduced from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows and turn thereby enemies to the cross of Christ which should be their glory whereby the world should be crucifi'd to them and they unto the world whose end is to be drowned in destruction and perdition Yet are there some of the mind of the Spirit that godliness with contentment is great gain and therefore having food and raiment their conversation being in heaven are without covetousness content with such things as they have knowing they brought nothing into this world and it is certain they can carry nothing out who in respect of want have learned whatsoever state they are in therewith to be content Knowing how to be abased and how to abound every where and in all things instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need careful for nothing in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving making their requests known unto God their heavenly Father who knoweth that they have need of all these things namely food and raiment and therefore take no thought what to eat or drink or wherewithall to be clothed for he that feeds the fowls will much more feed them and arrays the Lilies of the field and clothes the grass will much more array if need be however cloath the little in faith And this should silence all our doubts cares and fears as to our protection and provision for this life that if God hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things While worldlings are cumbred with many things and troubled about much serving the minds of heavenly believers are taken up with the one thing necessary One thing they desire of the Lord which they seek after that they may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of their life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple where every one speaks of his glory even his kingdom of grace and glory They long for and think long till the time that all speâ—k the same thing and that there be no division among us through diversity of judgment one of Paul another of Apollos and I of Cephas and I of Christ as if Christ were divided the Language of such as are Carnal but that we be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment that being like minded one towards another after the example of Christ Jesus we may with one Mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to the fulfilling of our mutual Joy and the Joy of our Lord when we are like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind that being knit together in love the way to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ for as many as be perfect be thus minded whereto they have already attained to walk by the same rule to mind the same things and if in any thing any of them be otherwise minded to wait in brotherly loving Union and Communion with each other till God reveal even the truth to them as it is in Christ Jesus Let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus that nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves not judging one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fâ—ll in his brothers way Let us rather follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edifie another with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace for he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men for there is but one Body and one Spirit even as we are called in one hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith one Doctrine of Faith one Grace of Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all Christs Prayer was for our prâ—ctise herein four times in his last Prayer he prays his Father that Believers may be one upon this account that the World may believe and know that the Father hath sent him and the glory that his Father gave him he hath given them that they may be one that they may be perfâ—ct that the World may know that I have loved them as thou hast loved me Behold then how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity the blessing of life temporal spiritual and eternal is the fruit of it What Man is he that desireth life and loveth many dayes that he may see good let him seek the peace of unity and pursue it and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace where ever it is the Lord will command the blessing even life for evermore The Kingdom of Grace and Glory is a Kingdom of Peace also Peace as it is a Grace is part of this Kingdom as it is a Blessing the Lord will bless his People with Peace so it is the Priviledge of this Kingdom the beauty and strength of it It must needs be a peaceable Kingdom when the founder of it is the God of Peace the King of it a Prince of Peace the Gospel of the Kingdom a Gospel of Peace the Preachers of it Ministers of Peace the Subjects of it the Children of Peace the Laws of it Counsels of Peace the Senators of it Counsellors of Peace Indeed in this Kingdom there is some noise of weapons for the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit agâ—inst the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that we cannot do â—he things that we would no Peace without this war between Saints and Satan and Sinners the Flesh and the World Your Adversary the Devil a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Saints have a Law in their members warring against the law of their mind and bringing them into captivity to the law of sin which is in their members and he that is born after the flesh persecuteth him that is born after the spirit all that is in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life must be overcome The good fight of Faith must be fought against the Devil whom resist stedfast in the faith against the World for this is the Victory that â—vercometh the World even our Faith against the flesh mortifie the deeds of the Body through the spirit mortifie
therefore your members purifying our hearts by Faith a Faith that worketh by love and worketh love in their souls who obey the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love not only of Brethren but Enemies so that they can love them with pure hearts fervently That we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil we wrestle not only against flesh and blood but against Principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high plâ—ces we must take unto our selves the whole armour of God having our loynes girt about with truth and having on the brest-plate of righteousness and our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace above all taking the shield of Faith wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and Hope the Helmet of Salvation the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching â—hereunto with all perseverance whereby we shall be more than Conquerors through him that loved us nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ not Tribulation though we must through much Tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers â—or things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord So that in this warfare though the way be not Peace yet the end of it is Peace it yieldeth the Peaceable Fruit of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby even that Peace which passeth all understanding and Joy which is unspeakable and full of glory The Kingdom of God whether the Kingdom of Satan will or no will be the kingdom of Righteousness of Peace and of Joy in the Holy Ghost to the seekers of it the fighters for it the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force By Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ we enter into the kingdom of God and this Kingdom of God enters into us by Repentance towards God we are delivered from the power of darkness by Faith we are traâ—slâ—ted into the kingdom of his dear Son Repentance turns Sin Satan and the World out â—f the heart that Faith may let Christ into it the voice of Faith is Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors that the King of Glory may come in Who is this King of Glory Christ who dwelleth in the heart by Faith and where Christ is he hath his kingdom of Grace As many as receive him or that believe on his Name of his fulness receive Grace for Grace Christ and his Grace are inseparable he that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life our life is hid with Christ in God Christ is Gods first and greatest Gift himself tells us he is the Gift of God given to the World of Mankind before the foundation of the World in Gods everlasting Decree and with in and through him hath given all things pertaining to Life and Godliness even from the first Grace of Election to the last Gift of Eternal Life Election According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World Acceptation of our persons according to the good pleasure of his will he hath made us accepted in the Beloved Creation To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Redemption In him we have Redemption through his Blood according to the riches of his Grace A General Redemption we thus judge That if one died for all then were all dead dead in sins and trespasses dead in Law and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them by the Grace of God he tasted death for every man Regeneration The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature all things are past away behold all things are become new Justification By the offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life in whom we have the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of his Grace that they may receive forgiveness of sins by Faith that is in me saith Christ Reconciliation Being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ the Peace of Reconciliation God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself and Christ in his Ministers beseeching us to be reconciled unto God We who sometimes were far off are in Christ Jesus made nigh by his Blood for he is our Peace that he might Reconcile us unto God in one Body by the Cross having slâ—in the enmity thereby and made both one having broken down the Middle-Wall of Partition between us abolishing in his flâ—sh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinancâ—s for to make in himself of twain one New Man so making Peace Having thus made Peace by the Blood of his Cross God by him Reconciles all things unto himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven and we that were sometime alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death The Favour of God In whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace of Favour wherein we stand an unconceivable unspeakable mercy Jesus was in favour with God to bring us into favour with God whoso findeth Christ findeth Life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. In this Favour is our Life this Loving kindness is better thâ—n our Life next to the Glory of God I know nothing in comparison or competition to be minded regâ—rded sought made sure of and prized but having keeping and increasing in the favour of God It was the happiness of Christ as Man here on Earth to increase in favour with God David entreated this favour with his whole heart I know no chief good besides God and his favour the whole Benefits and Comforts of our Election Creation Redemption Regeneration Justification Reconciliation Adoption Sanctification and Glorification are summed up in Gods Face Countenance and Favour towards us in Christ Adoption The Son of God was made the Son of Man that we who are the Sons of Men might be made the Sons of God by Adoption when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth