were to wait for the Spirit and pray in the Spirit and serve God in the Spirit and that all Religion that is not in Power is not available did they not find it in the Scripture And you that are not Quakers Did you ever read the New Testament How came it to pass that ye never found these Texts But some People read and read the New Testament twenty times over and mock and deride and persecute a Man that shall speak of the Spirits Teaching I have admired at it how intelligent Men to whom God hath given a competent Understanding should be so blinded they have learned to read English and they have read the New Testament over several times and the Old Testament too and they have read those Sentences of Christ's Doctrin that do so currently and unanimously speak of Divine Teachings and Spiritual Operations Spiritual Worship and Spiritual Religion that muâ—t have some Motion and Stirring of the Holy Ghost to be the Original of it and that alâ— others are not acceptable to God doubtless they have read these things but I have often desired and do still desire that they would but read it again once more and try and see what God will do he hath oftentimes made use of the Holy Scripture as a means to awaken People and to open their Understandings and let them see the Mind of the Spirit by which the Scripture is written and the next time if they can find Scripture Text and Apostolical Doctrin to teach People to wait upon the Spirit I hope they will leave Scoffing and Mocing It hath been hitherto looked upon as an Invention to speak of the teaching of the Spirit and waiting upon the Spirit and being moved by the Spirit This Apostolical Doctrin Prayer and Worship hath been looked upon as an Invention that we have brought in To look for the Holy Ghost in that way that was never known to our Fathers is a fantastical Conceit of the Quakers say they To tell People they must be led by the Spirit in Divine Things as in Prayer and Worship and the like that in these things they must wait for the spirit was there ever any Man that was counted good for any thing that ever preached so before they came Do we read any such kind of thing in Scripture O the blindness that hath happened to this Nation I have considered not without admiration how the Devil he is a spirit too and a wicked one the Devil should have power to shove out the knowledg belief sense and feeling of the Spirit of God now a days there are thousands in this Nation that have formerly believed that it was as impossible for a Man to believe the divine motions and struglings of the spirit of God in this life as to raise their Fathers and Mothers out of their Graves some of their learned Teachers have told us it is a Whimsy and Fancy and that there was no inspiration of the spirit now a days but that it was a foolish fancy in us to wait for such a thing it is needless say they there was an Immediate Teaching in the Apostles days and they had the sense of the spirit of Christ working in them to teach them to write Letters and Epistles to the Church which Letters and Epistles were written by the moving of the Holy Ghost but we have no need of it now the Holy Ghost hath brought order and goverment into the Church we have it now in black and white Printed in our Books therefore say they there is no need of the spirit and People need not be acquainted with the operation of the spirit now a days in regard they have it in their Books what manner of Worship they must perform I grant them their due that they have the direction of the Scripture I am able to understand that People are to worship God and pray to him and are to meet together and to observe this and the other doctrinal precepts there laid down I confess I can make shift herewâ—th to frame out a form of Religion and if I do not mistake in the opening and explication of the Doctrine I could make a right form too but I am lyable to mistake another Man that understands Greek better than I saith that the Greek word ought to be translated so and the form ought to differ in such a respect some say the only way of goverment is by Bishops and the word bears it in the original and another saith he hath streched the word for the word means Presbyter another saith Presbyter signifyes no more than choice of Church Elders and Deacons and such like and this is all out of one Book the settlement of Bishops Presbyters and Elders Here a parcel of form-makers all fall out about the meaning of the word what remedy can any mortal Man provide for this We must not be killing and slaying one another about words if I be an episcopal Man and say the word signifyes Bishops I may be a wicked Man still and if another say it must be Presbyter he may be a wicked Man too and if another say it should be Pastor Elders and Deacons he may be a wicked Man notwithstanding Thus they have rent and torn one another about Church Government what remedy shall we have for this that these quarrellings and contentions about terms and words may come to an end Could a Man prescribe a more certain remedy for all these mistakes than this if they had a measure of this spirit which did work in the Apostles when they wrote down these Words which the Apostles had in Writing them then I say they could tell you what the spirit meant for the spirit is the same and not changed and the Words are the same to a small matter so that if a Man had that he might end all the controversie but where shall we have a Man that hath this spirit to end the controversie There is none now a days say the Protestants and say the Papists there is none but one that hath this infallibility and they will not suppose that neither for some of them say that one Man is as infallible as another Man there is a great brangle whether any one Man be infallible or a great many men together are infallible about Doctrin and Worship This might be cured all at once if we could come to this conclusion Papists Protestant and Quakers here is an end of all their out-side Worship He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his If there be not spirit in it it is not Christs Religion and Worship So that they that jangle and bark and bite are without among Dogs and Sorcerers that are straâ—gers to the spirit of Christ there is a spirit in them that denies the spirit of Christ there is a spirit that rules in them that are witâ—out the spirit for no Body that I know on acts things without a spirit and without being moved What are good and
exercisâ— of Humility and Watchfulness as becomeâ— Christians for there is now as much Danger and Peril in this time of Liberty and Tranquility as there was before If any one in the time of Persecution and Suffering hath said within himself I had better give over and part with the Truth and forsake the ways of the Lord and give over my Testimony for his Name for I shall be undone and ruined in the World this Man by his carnal Fears hath lost his Testimony So likewise if a Man in this time of liberty and freedom of serving the Lord and bearing Testimony to his Name if he shall not intirely trust in the Lord to carry him on in his Work and Service and continue his dependance upon him and wait for the Assistance of the holy Spirit of God to work in him to will and to do of his good Pleasure this Man shall lose his Testimony as well as the other Therefore let every one of you keep up a dependance upon Gods holy Spirit for carrying on the Work which he hath begun in your Souls consider what Work it is that Christ is now at in every one of you I know what his Work was when I was first Convinced he was burning up and hewing down every thing that hindered his carrying on the Work of Sanctification and Redemption and Settledness and Stability in the Covenant of Life and Peace So that our meeting together ought to be â—n the Name of Christ I hope it is so with most of you I hope it is not to see and hear what this or that Man saith but to know within your selves what part of the Work of Redemption the Lord Jesus Christ is carrying on that you may join with him and be a willing People in the Day of his Power and say as Paul Lord what wilt thou have me to do If thou wilt have me part with my all Lord here it is I offer it up and if thou wilt have any Service done Lord here I am Speak for thy Servant heareth let there be in every one of you an attentiveness and an humble waiting upon the Lord and say as the Psalmist Behold as the Eyes of Servants look unto the hands of their Masters and as the Eyes of a Maiden unto the hands of her Mistress so our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God until he have mercy upon us When ever a Christian hath his dependance upon God's Wisdom and Power such a one shall never want Wisdom the Lord will give him Wisdom to preserve him against all the Wiles of Satan and he shall never want Power for the Lord will enable him to fulfil and perform what he requireth of him he shall be replenished with Judgment and Understanding Ability and Power to direct him into the good ways of God and to enable him to walk in them It is the earnest desire of my Soul that every one of you may be exercised in those things which are profitable for you and which may be comfortable to your Friends and Brethren that you may all grow up into a stability and stedfastness in the good ways of the Lord that you may not be shaken and tossed with every Storm and Tempest that when there comes a time for the trial of your Patience and Fortitude and Courage you may not be tossed to and fro like Children but be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord that so living in all holy Obedience and patient continuing in well-doâ—ng you may have a constant Supply of Strength and Power from God ministred unto you by his Holy Spirit SERMON VIII No true Worship without the right Knowledg of God Preached at Grace-church-street May 24. 1688. My Friends THere is no Man can truly worship God till he comes to a measure of certain Knowledge of him for all the Worship in the World where the Vail of Ignorance still prevails upon the Mind is all abominable there is no acceptance with God There must be a knowledge of God before there can be a true Worshipping of him for they that worship before they know God they worship they know not what they worship a God they have heard of but do not know so every one that would be a true Worshipper must first come to that which giveth a true knowledge that raiseth up a certainty in the Mind This is the Lord we will trust in him this is our God and we will serve him And that all People might come to this certainty of Knowledge therefore it is that God hath sent forth his Spirit that the things of God might be communicated by the Spirit of God for without the Assistance of this Spirit Men seek after the Knowledge of God in vain If they seek after the Knowledge of God they cannot find it and if they seek after the Worship of God and after Acceptance with God they cannot find it so that all Religion and religious Performances that People are exercised in where the Spirit of Truth hath not the beginning they will all prove fruitless in the end There be wise Men in the world and they have imployed their wisdom to find out the true God but God in wisdom hath ordained that the world by all their wisdom shall not know him so there is an end of all their Labour How shall they know him then As none can know the things of a man save the spirit of a man that is in him so none can know the things of God but the spirit of God so that they that resist the Guidance Direction and Counsel of the Spirit of God are like unto those that would enter into a House or Pallace and remember not the Door that leads into it People would fain come into the Divine Knowledge and into the understanding of Divine Mysteries but they would come by it another way they would study for it they would learn it by Arts and Sciences they would attain it by their own Industry and herein they labour to excel one another If there comes a Man among them that tellâ— them Friends you are all out of the way then they are angry and instead of enquiring what is the way they are angry that their way must be rejected Friends you will never come to the Knowledge of God but by the Spirit of God then they mock and then they scoff and scorn the Doctrin of the Spirit for the Teaching of the Spirit hath been the common Scorn and Derision of our Age. It is so in our Day with many if they cannot come to the Knowledge of God any other way but by the Spirit they would deny to make use of that to be subject to that and these put their Trust in their own Power and Industry to find out the Mystery of the Knowledge of God so they are ever learning but are never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth How should they How can a People come to the Knowledge of the
his Power or I will submit to him Which of these is the best way the safest way Are there not a great many in this Age that are as sensible of the Workings of God's Grace for their Conversion as ever you and I were that are as sensible that God hath call'd them to Holiness and Righteousness as any of us can be and yet they have resisted the Grace of God They have said in their Hearts We will not submit to this Power that will make us so holy and so watchful and so careful diligent and obedient for this very reason because it will cross my Interest it will cross my Pleasure it will hinder my Preferment in the World and my Reputation among men and for this reason I will not bear this Yoke I would be glad to hope there are none such here that have made such a Covenant with Death and Hell and yielded themselves up to the Devil to serve him all their Dayes Let us who are at this Time and at this Meeting under the Operation of God's Grace and do feel the Lord calling us by his Grace and working upon us by his Spirit let us enter together into a holy solemn Resolution That we will obey this good Spirit and take him for our Leader and submit though it should be to a Cross Thus People will think they will come to this Resolution when the Work of Redemption is begun in their Souls and when they are convinced of their Sin and their Eyes are opened to see the way of Holiness and though they never take a Resolution to walk in it yet every one shall be convinced and see there was a better waâ— than their own and be convinced by the Grace of God one time or other that in respect of God's working of it it is a beginning but in respect of Man that should join with the operation of God it is not beginning for he haâ—â— no desire to those things which he doth not know he still depends upon himself but when the Soul comes to be satisfied that it is the Visitation of God and joins himself to him in a holy Resignation of his own will and saith This is the Lord he is come to work upon me he is come to change and alter the Frame of my Mind It is the Lord let him do what he will here is a Mind brought to submit to the Grace of God God is able to do that for him which he cannot do for himself When People come to the right Object of their Faith and act their Faith upon that Object they every Day find a Progress a going forward in the Work of Grace according to the Work of Faith in their Souls and there is a Power that inclines them to believe it is not for such to cry If they had Power they would do more he that hath the Spirit of Grace the Spirit of Christ that had all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him to put it forth on purpose for the bringing back of Men and Women home to God he that hath this Object of Faith before him he will not look for Power in his own Will and Affections to redeem him he expects a Power to be daily ministred and dispensed to him as he hath need of it through the Lord Jesus Christ who is present with him in all his Tryals and Temptations He cries Here is a Temptation that will carry me away O Lord help me Put forth the Arm of thy Power and save me plant thy Fear in my heart and deliver me Their Eyes shall see their Saviour saith the Prophet Thus when a Man comes to be joined to the right Object of Faith and doth exercise and put forth lively Acts of Faith upon Christ hi Eyes shall see his Saviour the light that shines into his Heart discovers to him the Temptation and it also shews him a Redeemer at hand his Saviour is nigh him and he trusteth in him and relies upon him and says This Word of God is in my Heart and I do really believe that although the Temptation that assaults me be strong yet it shall not prevail whether it be the Profits the Pleasures or the Honours of the World if I put my Trust in this Power I cannot go near the Evil I am a Christian I am entred into a Covenant in Christianity that I will joyn with nothing but what God approves of now when I have represented to my Mind the Temptation of the Devil and that evil which he sets before me and I know it is contrary to the Mind of God How can I go into that evil and break my Covenant with God after I am entred into Covenant with him to love him serve him and obey him the Power of Grace upon such Souls the Operation of Grace is so powerful that the Temptation comes and goes and they are saved and delivered out of it because God helpeth them but if they comply with the Temptation then Tribulation Wrath and Anguish pursues all such as are rebellious and disobedient to the Will of God Now this Redemption is carried on gradually from day to day the Truth that thou believest it operates by degrees thou art delivered first from one evil Practice and then from another evil Work but there is a great deal more thou rejoicest and art glad that thou art delivered from one sin but thou wouldest be more glad to be delivered from them all I speak to those that are serious for their immortal Souls when they see themselves delivered out of one Evil that they were ready to run into they would be glad that they were redeemed out of every evil that their crosness and perversness their frowardness and Wantonness were removed they should be glad to be delivered from all their Sins What do you think say some that a Man while he liveth here may come to see all Sin all Evil and Corruption brought under and nothing but Holiness and Righteousness and Truth remain in him and that there shall be nothing but Simplicity and Innocence Do you think that such a thing can be Why should not I think so You will grant me That the Power of Grace is able to get such Power and Victory over Sin and Corruption that you may come to hate it as much as ever you have loved it if you grant me that the Consequence will follow he that gave me Victory over Sin can give me Power over all Sin All Christians believe That God's Power is infinite the Scripture testifies All things to be possible to God with whom we have to do If all things be possible to God sure this is possible there is nothing so contrary to God as Sin is and God will not suffer the Devil always to rule his Masterpiece Man Mankind is God's Masterpiece the most eminent Creature in this lower World made after God's likeness and though the Devil hath brought Men into his own likeness now yet nothing can be more
have builded up whereby the Glory and favour of God was hid from the Soul we believed this to be true we would have been looked upon as Heires â—â— God 's Kingdom yet when we are come to hearâ—en to the Truth we find that we are Children 〈◊〉 the Devil and do his works shall a Man believe this after he hath been forty years a professor of Christanity If a Man believe Truth there is no danger in believing it tho' it be his own Destruction that is threatned Now the great thing that I would have ushered into the Hearts of Men is that they may believe the Truth for Truths sake If Men will believe the truth they must believe many things against themselves which they are not willing to believe but saith Christ no Man can be my Scholar my Disciple but be denying himself I must deny my self my pretensions to Christianity my supposed Saintship and â—itle to the Kingdom of God now if I would be convinced that I am a wicked Man a prophane Man one that doth not live as becomes the Gospel I must believe truth the Voice of truth being of infallible certainty it is signified Divinely by the immortal Word that cannot deceive us this ought to be the reason why People should believe the Testimony of it tho' it be against themselves they that do so presently come to find the effects of it for they were in their Sins and Trespasses before and so are still they were before in a kind of liberty in a kind of ease and indulgence of themselves and still their Sin remains in them and they remain in it but they are now under a sense of Sorrow under a weight under a Burden under an oppression which signifies they are alive and quickned for if you take an outward comparison they remain not senseless and dead now lay what Load you will upon a dead Man he will neither groan nor grumble at it but if he comes again to life he cryes take off the Burden the weight and oppression that lyes heavy upon me This is the difference between being deaâ— in sins and trespasses and being brought to liâ—â— and sense again this word of life that comâ— from the Mouth of God begets a sense in evâ—ry one that receiveth it it is of great serviâ—â— and use to all People to be acquainted witâ— it that desire to be Heirs of life eternal thaâ— desire to be Inheritors of the Kingdom of God But how should they come by it they thinâ— by this duty and the other duty and this and the other Temporary performance to obtaiâ— it no but if they will have life they muâ—â— have it from the God of life that created them he must Create them again to good works they can have it but by one way all must be brought to it that way it cannot be by hearing a Man preach unless the Spirit doâ—â— cooperate with the word of God there is nâ— possibility of being quickned and necessiâ—â— binds me to hearken and have a regard to the one means Now I say to you saith Chriâ—â— speaking of Peoples way of living to eterniâ—â— Man liveth not by Bread alone but by evâ—â— word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of 〈◊〉 now when we come to understand this 〈◊〉 as spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ we 〈◊〉 conclude there was a possibility of understaâ—â—ing and hearing that inward Voice and Word of Truth in our own Hearts that God did speak to us by his Son Jesus Christ who enlightned us Hereupon Meetings were appointed at first that the Word should minister Life in them and Life to them that attend them and to this Day our Meetings are appointed for this purpose that we may have â—he ministration of Life and Vertue from Christ the Fountain of Life and Vertue by whom we are to be quickned and strengthned and by whom those that are dead in Sins and Trespasses are to be quickned Therefore I would have every one always to have a Reverence to the Word of Life that speaks in themselves for if we speak as we are moved by the Spirit of God and utter those things by verbal Testimony which God hath made known to us if you have not an Oracle in your Bosoms if you do not at the same time perceive an Eccho of Truth in your own Souls this will do you no good but be an empty sound which will pass away again but the Mind that is serious and settled in waiting upon God with an earnest Desire that it may receive Benefit in going to this and the other Meeting such aâ—one will say I pray God bless this opportunity to me that so I may receive Benefit to my Soul Where People meet in this manner they have not only an administration of Doctrin from without from this and the other Instrument but they have a Ministration of the Word of God in â—â—emselves by which a Man liveth Let us not be 〈◊〉 and hurried away with the grand Error of the Times the great Error of this Age and of the Ages by-past that there is no possibility for People to understand and hear this Voice of God this inward Voice There are say they no immediate Teachings now adays no Inspirations now adays they had as well said that there are no Conversions now adays I will prove it from the Holy Scriptures that there is no Man in this Age is like to be converted to God or redeemed from his Iniquity and brought to the knowledge of his Maker unless he have it by the inward Working of the Eternal God Not by Mans Preaching and Instruction nor by reading all the good Sermons that ever were preached without the Co-operation of the holy sanctifying Spirit which begets Life in them that believe and if these Men say none can be Converted then we must all go Headlong to Hell and they and all These Quakers may say what they will there is no immediate Teaching now adays no Man can know the mind of God nor understand the Scriptures none can open theâ— to you But blessed be God this Darkness is râ—moved this Vail is gone over and taken â—way the brightness of the glory of the Goâ—pel hath expell'd this Darkness and thousanâ— now adays do not onlâ— hear the Minister reprove them but they â—eâ— a Voice within that doth reprove them 〈◊〉 â—â—iquity and they find and feel a Judgment and Tribunal within themselves and that God hath an immediate way of Counselling and Instructing them if they will hearken to him You that are under any sense of this that are come to such an inward sense of the operation of the Word of God if you have heard it reprove you exhort you judge you and condemn you consider that this Word proceeded out of the Mouth of God and not out of the Mouth of any Man You hear the sentence of God upon you in your own Consciences Whence comes it This is out of the Mouth of God Every Word that comes
bad all moved by the spirit and yet are there no motions I have sometimes turned the Question upon People and asked them if there were no motions of the evil spirit hath it no such kind of influence that it can move upon our spirits that we can sensibly feel our selves thrusâ— forth to such an action I never met any Man that would deny it they are so generally favourable to the wicked spirit no Man will deny but the Devil hath a way of moving and stirring upon the spirit of a Man and to suggest to him such an evil thing and as I have sometimes said it is so received an opinion that when the malefactor comes to be arraigned at the Bar for some grievous crime they lay the foundation of the inditement such a Day he was moved and instigated by the Devil to do such a thing here is a setled motion for the Devil for him to influence peoples spirits but no way for the good spirit of God to influence Mens spirits here is nothing left us but a bad instigation but to know inward motions to good things it is not to be expected now a days How should ever the cunning Serpent that would have Power over the best of us all be said to winnow us Christ signified to Peter a bold and resolute Disciple Satan desires to have thee and winnow thee as wheat if the Devil had Power over every one to make them his Servants and Slaves whâ—â—â— Remedy have we but we must all perish and go headlong to Hell with him unless there be some way of resisting him That is true say People the Devil must be resisted we find it in the New Testament Resist the Devil This is a good Exercise but tell me one thing when I go about to resist the Devil must I resist him in my own Power If I said you might do so you would say I was an erroneous Preacher and well you might This is an old Free-will Doctrin that a man may resist the Devil by his own Power and escape his Snares and do the Will of God This hath been cryed down by the Doctors of the Church of England and by most of all sorts of Christians and for our parts since the Lord hath opened our Mouths we did never speak a Word in favour of it as if we went about to resist the Devil in our own Strength if we did the Devil would make Fools of us He that goes about to resist the Devil in his own Strength he will entrap and ensnare him in that Men have a propensity to sin and by his Cunning and Subtilty may be led into a Snare before they are aware Thus it is agreed on all Hands that our Power as Men is too weak to resist Satan's Temptation so that you see we must have the Assistance of the Divine Power or go all to Hell there is no medium between these two Extreams some extraordinary Power must assist me or else the Devil will have me If you will not admit of a supernatural Power to come in to help me and you we must all go to Hell there is no Remedy I will say my Prayers saith one do so yet in the best of your Prayers there will be Sin and if I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me I will go and hear Sermons say you the very Man that preacheth will tell you That hearing of Sermons will do you no good at all unless there be Motions of the Spirit of God so that you will be warpt from one thing to another and have diversity of Doctrines and come to no fixedness and while you â—â—ncern your selves about Doctrines all the while the Devil prevails upon you For the Tongue he hath rule of that and for the Mind he hath rule of that and as for the Hands he hath rule of them and makes you do those things that by his perpetual Suggestions he moves you to So that your going to Church and saying your Prayers signiâ—â—e nothing to bring you from under the Wrath of God and from the Captivity of the Devil Hath not the Devil those in Captivity that go to Church and say their Prayers and give Alms These are things that you can do in pour own Power the saying of your Prayers and Fasting and giving of Alms these things thou mayest do the Devil will not hinder thee for he knows that these will not bring thee out of his Clutches nor out of his Chains and Fetters There is but one Way and Means by which the Devil may be effectually resisted that 〈◊〉 by taking to my Help one stronger than he I have gone for Help to many stronger than I in my young Days that I thought to be stronger Christians and many of them did afford their Help in the Work by Counsel by Perswasion by Exhortation and by Doctrin but all this did not do and the Reason was this because the Devil was too strong for me and so he was for them As long as you go for Help to this and the other Place till you find one stronger than the Devil expect no Deliverance or Help from 〈◊〉 thing in the World but lay aside all conâ—â—â—â—â— in the flesh in any Man on Earth or in all the Doctors Words and best Preaching you shall hear lay aside your Confidence in them they will never do you any good in this respect for they will never break your Chains off many are loaded with them but some I hope are weary and heavy laden and feel the weight of Sin I pray God increase the Number though it be a state of Sorrow it is better than the state of Fools that make a mock of sin I would have you weary and heavy laden with your Sins and brought into this state to see your selves captivated by the strong Power of Darkness and to see you are unable to deliver your selves out of it by your own Power For me to fall into the Hands of a Tyrant that is stronger than I and never a Man to deliver me how sad would it be If I could â—â—nd a Man stronger than this Tyrant and that would kill him I should be his Servant and have a better Master â—o Man can kill tâ—â— Tyrant that hath led the Captive and made me a Slave if he say Be drunk I must be drunk if he bid me swear I must swear This is the Slavery that the Devil hath got his Servants into that whatsoever he saith that they must do if he bids them do it O wretcheâ— man that I am who shall deliver me I cannot deliver my self and no Man can deliver me I would be acquainted with all Christians if they could help me I would try all Religions that are this Day in the World to see if â—here be help for me Many are oppressed with Sin and they go to and fro to see what Help can be given them to freâ— them from the Bondage that the Devil haâ—â— them in
an end of Baptism A Man is hungry and when his Time comes to eat he hath no Victuals yet he sits him down as if he did eat will this feed and nourish him So men now a days they have a Baptism wherewith they are baptized but Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire is the right Baptism therefore do not baptize until you find the Holy Ghost this will be far better this is the Baptism that they which come to know it are sure of Salvation by it for by this Baptism they are born up and tinctured in their Souls with the Divine Spirit of Christ Jesus proceeding from the Father and the Son till they receive his Likeness and so die unto Sin As many as were baptized were baptized into Christ's death He openeth it himself in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God so that they that were baptized were baptized into Christ's Death and you that are dead unto sin how should you live any longer therein These that were baptized lived without Sin can that be true never any lived without Sin but Christ only Yes saith the Apostle you that were free from sin are alive to righteousness their Life stood before in Sin and now that Life is taken away by Baptism and they are alive to Christ and he that liveth he liveth to God â—e that comes to be partaker of the first Resurrection if he live Ten Twenty Forty or an Hundred Years he liveth to God he liveth no more in the Pomps and Vanities of the Woâ—ld and the sinful Lusts of the Flesh but he liveth unto God This Baptism whosoever comes to be baptized with it shall be saved so that we do not deny Baptism But we hear say That you deny the Lord's Supper We had never such a Thought God knows there is nothing that our Souls long after more but people have been making a kind of Work of their own they have lost a Reality and make Shadows as Children do who when they see things made in the House for Service they will make the like in Sand and Clay People do not see what a great thing it is to attain to the Supper of the Lord as things came into an Evangelical Opening they spake then more lively and freshly of things Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open to me I will come in and sup with him and he with me For the understanding of this Text If you go and examine and search all the Commentators you can find see what the learned Men say of it see if they do not apply this to the Inward Call of the Spirit and Grace of Christ to let him into our Hearts and would one think that those that wrote these things should be against the Spiritual Dispensation of things They say that this knocking at the Door of the Heart signifies the Call of God's Spirit at the Door of the Heart There are two sorts of Sinners that God knocketh at the Door of their Hearts one is a Man that is weary of his Sin for his part he wisheth that he might never sin more As soon as he perceives the Knock and is called upon to let in the Grace of God to help him against Temptation he freely opens his Heart to receive it and saith With all my Heart I will entertain and welcome the Grace of God glad I am that God hath had so much Patience towards me and since God offers his Grace I will embrace this Grace of God above all Pleasures and I will take it into my Heart the Grace of Christ is the greatest Jewel that I know Honest Paul he took this Course and prayeth Lord take away this Tempter here is a Temptation that troubleth me and I am not willing to yield for all the Devil follows me with it He cried unto the Lord and besought him three times earnestly to take away the Temptation And the Lord answers him My grace is sufficient for thee What matter if the Tempter buffet thee and the Temptation trouble thee hast thou not received my Grace into thy Heart thou art a Believer and thy Trust is in me and my Grace is sufficient for thee Let the Tempter do his worst keep thou to the Grace of God and thou wilt withstand and overcome the Temptation when it comes If a Man openeth his Heart and receiveth Christ when he comes then you shall find such an Alteration in that Man that go and carry him the same Temptation which prevailed over him the last Week it will not do with him now tho' he be as weak as Water and as prone to Corruption and Iniquity as before yet now having a Faith begotten in him that the grace of God will defend him he keeps out of the Devils Snares Now this Man trusting in this grace till his Sin and Iniquity be purged out now is the time to spread the Table there is a clean Heart and the Heavenly Guests are now come and the Dainties of the Kingdom are brought to him for his Nourishment Now saith Christ I I will come in and sup with him and my Father also will come and we will sup with him and he with us This never happens to any Body so long as the Table and Heart is foul for the Table must be clean and the Devil and Sin thrown out and then will the Lord confirm and ratify and seal the Covenant so that here is a Seal with a Witness When a Man hath this Testimony of the Love of God that God is reconciled to him in Christ then Christ will come in and he will bring his Father and they will sup with him and this is that which will give compleat satisfaction to such a Soul All the Tongues of Men and Angels are too short to speak of these things as they are in themselves but they are all manifested by the Spirit All the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are manifested by the Spirit of God now to say there is no Spirit to be regarded now adays that is as much as to say we must never regard the Kingdom of God for no Man can discern the things of God but the Spirit of God no Man can tell what they be As no Man can know the things of a Man buâ— the Spirit of God But I must look to this and the other Form and Mark and Method about them for we can know nothing of the things of God themselves I hope you are all of another Judgment and believe that this is a Trick and Cheat of the wicked one People do find the Spirit and will feel it if they will wait upon the Motions of it I do not only mean when you are here together but when you are separated one from another when you feel the Motions of thiâ— good Spirit embrace them and make them yours This Spirit is a Gift that is given so may a Shilling or a piece of
Bread be held forth to a poor Creature but if he receive it not he may perish for all that it is not his tho' I have appointed it to be his and have separated it from my other Substance to be his If he receive not what I offer and would give him he may Perish for all that Here is Grace and Truth comes by Jesus Christ and God hath offered it to all Men in that he hath raised up Christ from the Dead the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all Men but all Men have not received it therefore all Men have it not and they that have not the Grace of Christ and the Spirit of Christ are none of his but it doth not follow that they never will be none of his When they have received the Gift by Christ and say I will be his Sheep or Lamb they will come into his Favour by that Gift and shall partake of the good things of his Fathers Kingdom but till they have received this Gift they are not the better for it they have not any Benefit by the death of Christ they have no help no benefit by it except it be the Patience and long Suffering of God who for Christs sake bears with their Weakness and waits to 〈◊〉 â—ious and for Christs sake offers them Favoâ—r but they are not come to the Possession of it till they open their Hearts and receive the Grace of Christ then they are convinced of Christs end and â—hat there is a possibility of enjoying the Spirit of God and of being taught and led by it Take this along with you that it is your absolute and indispensible Duty to wait from day to day upon the great God of Heaven the Giver of every good and perfect Gift that you may have that blessed Gift that you may have the Assistance of a greater Power than your own to lead you out of Sin into Righteousness that through Jesus Christ you may be acceptable to God SERMON V. Christ the Way the Truth and the Life Preached at Grace-Church-street Apâ—â—â— 18 1687. I Fear the high Places are not taken away it hath been so in all Ages and it is manâ—festly so in this Day where the Heart is nâ—â— rightly prepared for the Lord there the higâ— Places are not taken away For all the higâ— Places in the time of Israel's Idolatry theâ— were ever set up when they departed from thâ— Lord and all the high Places now they arâ— up in a time of Ignorance of God when People have forgotten the Lord then they exalâ— themselves then Pride and Arrogance and every evil way prevails upon us but when Men come to seek the Lord with Uprightness that brings down their high Conceits thaâ— brings every one into Humility for every one comes to be convinced in themselves that none can find the Lord but as they are brought to be Humble nay indeed none seek after him aright buâ— such none have the promise of finding him but the Humble Therefore it is the duty of every one that is a real inquirer and seeker after God to know the right preparation of the Mind to know themselâ—â—â— in such a frame of spirit that they may see◠〈◊〉 hope that they may have a right and just expectation of finding him whom they are seeking after for this hath been the reason that a great many 〈◊〉 been frustrated in their endeavours and 〈◊〉 their purposes of seeking after the Lord 〈◊〉 have not been rightly prepared for him 〈◊〉 â—â—nifest himself â—â—to them they have noâ—â—â—wn the Preparaâ—ion of his Sanctuary there was a peculiar preâ—aration that was requisâ—â—â— to those that drew near unto the Sanctuary of God they were Hallowed that is made Holy ere they drew near to the Holy Place but alas this hath been greatly neglected in our Days unholy People with unholy Minds have been seeking after the Holy God they have been enquiring after a Holy way and were not prepared to walk in it there was nothing raised in their Minds in their Souls that was fit to walk in that way For so long as Men or Women stand in Unity with their Sins with their Lusts and Concupisence with the spirit of this World and the way of it they are not capable of receiving that which should lead them into the way of Holiness nay if it appears to them they cannot receive it for it is with them as with other guests there be other Lovers already let in which imploy thâ— Powers and faculties of their Souls so that if the most beloved of all the most excellent if the Chiefest of Ten Thousand do appear they cannot see 〈◊〉 comlyness in him The Prophet speakiâ—â— oâ— this state and condition of Men did prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ when we shall see him there is no comlyness in him why we should desire him and so it hath happened to a great many now adays though the Truth hath appeared to them yet they have not looked upon it as a pleasant way as a way desirable but a 〈◊〉 be shun'd if possible What shifts have 〈◊〉 great many People made 〈◊〉 keep themselves if possible out of the way oâ— Truth arguing for this and that and dispâ—tâ—â— for one way and another that was out of Truths way out of the way of Holiness What was the meaning of all their arguments but to tell us they might be happy they might be saved though they did not come into Truths way and walk in Truths way and though they did abide in those things that were contrary to the Testimony of Truth in their own Hearts yet it might go well with them This is the strength of the arguments of all sorts of all persuasions in the World that have been arguing themselves out of the Truth and would argue us out of the Truth too and would take the liberty to do those things which are not agreeable therewith but now the reason of this is because the preparation is wanting they are those that have no need of Truth and that have no need of God and of a Saviour but think they can make shift without them he is not become the chiefest to them they can abide in the high places the can call upon the name of the Lord and they can worship in the Groves and in the high places both together like as those Nations that were brought to inhabit the Kingdon of Israel when the ten Tribes were carried away they sent for Priests to teach them they sent back to the King of Assyria to send them some Priests to teach them to worship the God of their Coâ—ntry and when the Priest came to teach them he taught them the Ceremonies of the Law and the divers observations that the Jews used to practise in that Country and so they grew into a formality of serving the God of Israel They called upon the Name of the Lord and every Nation Worshipped their own Gods How is this Nation and the
for his Assistance he cries to God to help him he now knows that he hath striven and laboured in vain O God of all Grace if thou vouchsafe not Help to my Soul if thou dosâ— not interpose by the Assistance of thy Grace I cannot overcome this Sin There is a continual Cry to God for Divine Assistance and as they cry to God for Assistance he ministers Assistance to them by which they are able to overcome the Enemy of their Souls and all Temptations when they come And when a Man finds such Divine Assistance his Faith is strengthned and confirmed and so he fights the good fight of faith and at last gets the Victory Victory over his Sin and his own Lusts and Concupiscence and Victory over the Assaults and Temptations of the Adversary and at last he comes through the Grace of God to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live righteously soberly and godlily in this present world Now when People do thus it is by the Grace of God This Life of Righteousness Sobriety and Godliness is not the effect of their Labour and Exercise and of their Endeavours herein but it is the effect of the Holy Spirit that hath been the Teacher When you see a Man is grown a good Scholar eminent in al◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ning you will conclude he di◠〈…〉 to all this of himself he could not leâ—â—n this and the other Language this â—nd the other Art and Science of himself No he had some judicious and able Master and â—eacher who communicated of his Leaâ—ning and Knowledge to his Disciple and Scholar This is the efficient cause of his Improvement Now if a Man by the Grace and the Spirit of God and the Teachings of it live a holy godly Life this is the effect of something he did not always live such a Life How comes he to live such a Life now Is it by his own Industry Labour and Exercise No it is by being exercised taught and led by the Spirit of God so that it is the effect of the Grace of God that he should live such a holy Life though it is not the meritorious cause of it as he is a Creature but acceptable to God in Christ the Mediator Thus a Man comes to be justified and accepted not because he is a godly Man but is made so by the Spirit of God You are not under the law saith the Apostle but under grace You are under the Teachings of it under the Directions of it Grace can reprove People for that Grace and that Truth that comes by Christ and manifests it self as a Light in the Hearts of Transgressors reproves their Sin and calls them out of it it reproves them for it and exhorts them to leave it both at one Time so that we must acknowledge all our Righteousness Holiness and Obedience to be o◠〈…〉 â—â—ll that we do in order thereunto a◠〈◊〉 done by the Teaching by the Influence and Operation of the Grace of God given us in Christ Jesus it is the effect of him who is our Mediator he worketh it in us and for us of his good pleasure If we be justified we are not justified for a righteous holy Life and for our Obedience but we are justified through Christ who worketh a godly Life in them that believe so that a Man is not justified by any other way or means and all other ways a Man takes of being reconciled to God are vain and fruitless and have been spoken against by all that were moved by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament Saith the Prophet What shall I come before the Lord with all I am fallen under Death and Sin and in a separation from God I would fain be reconciled to him what shall I do to be reconciled to God He goes about to reckon without Christ and without Faith and Holiness Shall I take a thousand Rams and ten thousand Rivers of Oil Shall I come nearer still Shall I make an Offering of the Fruit of my Body for the sin of my Soul Shall I offer my first-born to God that I may not be rejected and brought to a separation from him Thus Men when they come to be sensible do feel in themselves that all this is to no purpose The Answer comes Thou maist live but all thy Contrivances about making an Offering are vain 〈…〉 â—â—ewed thee O Man 〈◊〉 â—o do It is noâ— thy findinâ— this way and tâ—â—â— way viz. thy â—â—â—â—s and thy Oil and 〈◊〉 first-born it is no way of thy devising and imagining that can reconcile thee to me I have shewed thee O Man what is good What is this that is shewed It is comprised in a short compass It is to love Mercy to do Justice and to walk humbly with thy God Will this serve without offering Rams and Oil and offering my first born This will do if thou canst but love Mercy when it s shewn thee that is embrace Mercy and love it He hath shewed Mercy to all Men then love it and receive it do justly leave every thing that is unrighteous and do that which is just in the sight of God but do not boast of thy Justice and Righteousness but walk humbly with thy God here is the whole Duty of Man This looks as if I should go to Works and forbear something in order to my Justification Indeed the consideration of these kind of Lessons do corrupt some Men and put them upon doing this or that and upon forbearing this or that and hath brought many to Confession and great Abstinence and put them upon great doings thinking this would answer the Justice of God I have loved Mercy and given all I had to the Poor If I do justly and abstain from this and the other Liberty if I walk humbly that is if I humble my self by this and the other manner of Pennance and Contrition then I do what God requires and then I have pleased God Now all that havâ— gone this waâ— of working to do justly and love mâ—â—cy and to make themselves humble and humbled themselves low in such a manner they have missed the Mark. He hath shewed thee O Man what is good that it is impossible for fallen Man to answer this himself he may be convinced of his Duty to do Justice but by his own Power and Strength he cannot do it there are so many Temptations from without and so many from within such a proâ—â—nsity in Nature that will prevail against all â—â—e â—onds of Charity that he can make Therefore is Help laid upon one thâ—t is mighty without the Grace 〈◊〉 God that comes by Christ Jesus a Man can never do it tho' Convinced Tho' the Lord hath shewed him what is good he shews us that we are unable of our selves he hath taken care to send his Son God hath so loved the World that he hath sent his Son into the World that he might help those that have need of help that every one that is in Distress might
have an Eye to Christ the Author and Finisher of their Faith when Men have a reference to their Faith in Christ this makes their Duty acceptable I cannot do it except the Lord strengthen me therefore I will have respect to the Mediator Christ Jesus who was sent for a Light into the World God sends forth his Grace to every one to lay hold on that generally believe that tho' they are unable to do what God requires yeâ— he will enable them to do it 〈◊〉 aâ— many as receâ—ved him to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God tho' they were the Devils Children before He is the same yesâ—erday to day and for ever He abides alâ—â—â—s the same in his Grace to Men he is in his operation to them the same he offers Grace to them that are out of a frame of Mind to receivâ— it they may know that his Power will givâ— them Ability and that whatsoever they do of themselves will prove fruitless because it is not done in Christ's Name and Power and so not acceptable to God The greatest thing that we are to be concern'd about if we will be Religious and concern our selves about divine Matters about the Kingdom of God and the World to come is to see what frame of Mind we are in at present whether the high Places are taken away whether we are not exalted in our own Conceits of Knowledge and Wisdom and reckon not to be beholden to him for his Grace If we be highly conceited and think we can stand upon our own Legs the high Places are not taken away Men are not prepared to seek the God of their Fathers therefore let every one mind turning to God and see how it is with you see whether there be a Mind brought low enough to be subject to Christ and to the gracious Teachings of his Spirit A Man may say I can make a good Sermon I can make a good Prayer and Exhortation and I can make a Book â—nd 〈◊〉 it abroad I can do all this by mine own Pâ—â—ts and Abilities so thou maist and maist maâ—e it all full of good Words but thou canst never make it acceptable to God for without me saith Christ you can do nothing Tâ—â—â— must have the assistance of the Spirit of Christ else thou canst not make a good Prayer nor a good Book nor any thing good God esteems the very Plowing of the Wicked to bâ— an Abomination to him Where the Mind is not exercised by the Spirit of God if he should pray from Morning to Night and spend all his Days in Pennance it will do him no good If I saith David regard Iniquity you may think I am a Man in favour with God a Man after Gods own Heart yet if I regard Iniquity in my Heart the Lord will not hear my Prayer What signifies Prayers and Sermons made of good Words if they come not fâ—â—m a Heart separate from Iniquity If it be not so it will do no good at all in point of Acceptance with God O let the fear of the Lord enter upon every Heart wait all to feel the Divine Power of the Lord that brings down every high Thought that so you may look to the Preparation of your Heart that is a right Preparation when People are so low so broken and so tender that they are nothing in their own Eyes but what the Lord will make them to be Then they are as Clay to the Hands of the Potter they are fashioned by his Hands and 〈◊〉 the Worâ—â—anship of God in Chrâ—â—â— Jeâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—e one Mediator between God and Mâ—â— They must bear Christ Jesus his likeness 〈◊〉 his hâ—â—â—enly Image they must â—â—ve hiâ—â—ualities and have the same Minâ— in them that was in him I do always that which pleaseth my Father saith the Lord Jesus Christ Indeed he hath the doing of things in the Hearts of Men and God is pleased with him and where Men have the doing of them themselves they are thrown back as Dung in their Faces where any aim at infallible Justification where Men have a right preparation of Heart so to seek the God of their Fathers as to find him and be accepted of him it is through Jesus Christ in whom he is well pleâ—â—â—â— In all your Assemblies Prayers Exercises and Meditations you must be separated and drawn oâ—â—â—â—m your former Lovers and you must be joined to him that God hath sent to be a â—eader and a Guide unto you then you will find daily his Assistance and as you have Assistance from him you will find Acceptance wiâ—â— God and he will shew you the Father and that and nothing else will satisfy the Soul hungring and thirsting after God Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us So when Christ the Mediator comes to have wrought so far as the purifying of the Soul and the sanctification thereof and thereby fitted it for his Glory such holy Souls 〈◊〉 behold his Glory For the Lord 〈…〉 Grace and Glory and no good thing will 〈◊〉 hold from them that walk uprightly That you may be brought to this State and â—ept and preserved in it that the Heavens may rain down Fatness upon you and that you may feel the living Vertues that flow from Christ to every Member this is the Labour and Travel of the Servants of God for their own Souls and the Souls of others that are in Unity and Fellowship with the Holy Spirit SERMON VI. Captive Sinners set free by Jesus Christ Preached at Devonshire-House April 29th 166â— THere is nothing will make People live to God but that which they received from God For as all Men by Nature are in a state of Death so there must be something beyond Nature to make them alive again and that â—s it that every one ought to wait upon God 〈◊〉 that you may feel something that is supernatural And that you may be acquainteâ— with God's Gift The gift of God saith the Scripture is eternal life Many find a Life in this World that is not the Gift of 〈◊〉 The Life that People have in Sin it is not the Gift of God the Delights and Pleasures of this World are become a Life unto them The World is that to which every one must die they that are not dead to that they live all to themselves they do not live to God for none can live to God but by the Life that comes from him That which People receive of Man gathers them unto Man that which they receive of God carries them to God So Men have made Gatherings and have communicated of what they have to one another and by vertue thereof have made them a People Many Men have gathered many People â—â—ny Churches and they live to them that gathered them they do not live to God for want of receiving something from God 〈◊〉 all they that come to receive the Gift of God they die to the World and they come to live such a Life as the World doth
〈…〉 Works is the Devil's Child then â—â—ey wiâ—â—â—â—nfess this is of the Devil and â—he other 〈◊〉 the Devil This is an evil Wâ—â—k an◠〈◊〉 that I had need be brought into another condition When People come to an Acknowledgment of the Truth and of their own Condemnation then they are one Step towards Redemption and Salvation No one ever took one step towards their Salvation till they â—cknowledged their own Condemnation He that sanctifies and they that are sanctified are all of one and they that are joyneâ— to the Lord are one spirit An evil tree saith Christ cannot bring forth good fruit When Christ spake this he spake it to Men and Women â—nd he spake it of Men and Women and not of Trees And when he said No man can gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles he speaks of a Generation of Men as if he had said 〈◊〉 this Thorn must be translâ—â—â— changed into another nature before 〈◊〉 bring forth Grapes and this Thistle 〈◊〉 changed into another nature before 〈◊〉 forth Figs. There must be a Change in the naâ—â— Man before there can be a Change 〈◊〉 Fruit and Effect of his Doings Whaâ— he sows thâ—â— he shall also reap whatsoâ—â— man doth in the body he must give an 〈◊〉 thereof at the day of judgment for th◠〈◊〉 will be opened and men judged according to 〈◊〉 thinâ—â— written in those books If there be 〈◊〉 Booâ—â—or thee and me I le warrant thee thâ—â— is a great deal in it there is a Recorder anâ— a Clerk for the Book which God hath opened in every Man's Conscience and there 〈◊〉 set down every Manâ— Transgressions and hiâ— Sins Saith one Thâ—â— hast written my Transgressions as with the point of a diamond thou hast ingraven it so deep that it seems impossible that it should ever be blotted out again Some have had their Sins so deeply ingraven in their Consciences that they have thought they would never be blotted out they were written as with the Pen of a Diamond When People see and consider that they have ventured their Souls upon such 〈◊〉 Grounds I hope they will be awaked to 〈◊〉 after Righteousness when they see the 〈◊〉 nothing good in them Where there is 〈◊〉 thing good it is God that hath given it 〈◊〉 them Some will say If I be pervers◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 wicked I cannot hâ—lp it therefore 〈◊〉 be beholdenn to my Maker to help 〈◊〉 â—lse I must never be helped Now beâ—â—â—â— God knows that we are helpless he 〈◊〉 â—id help upon one that is mighty that is 〈◊〉 Lord Jesus Christ and Christ hath sent 〈◊〉 his spirit into the world to convince the 〈◊〉 of sin and to lead his people into all 〈◊〉 And this Grace that comes by Jesus â—â—â—ist hath been so universally shewed and 〈◊〉 universally extended to all Men that I never met with a Man yet that had none of it But let them be as bad and as dark as they could yet the Light of Christ shined â—o that Darkness into the darkest Heart that ever I met with in all my Life He sheweth Men That his light shineth in darkness and the darkness cannot comprehend Therefore the Worâ— that God hath set us about and the Service which he requires at the Hands of many of us is to turn Men from their own Darkness unto the Light of Christ their Saviour and from the Devil's Power that hath enslaved them to the Power of God that can redeem them and yet we are far enough from that which they call Free Will we are far enough from this We say a man can never be saved till he learn to deny his own Will it is God's Will that every one â—â—ould be saved But some will not be saved they will keep their Wills and not resign them up to God they have a Free-will to go to Destruction As for Salvation if they will obtain it they must part with 〈…〉 and they must take a Yoâ—◠〈…〉 on them before they can b◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ple can have theiâ— Wills they will 〈…〉 Christ's Yoke upon them He that 〈◊〉 Christ's Disciple must deny his own Wâ—â—â— take up his daily Cross These are â—he 〈◊〉 of the Gospel But you will say No Man by 〈◊〉 Power he hath can redeem himself 〈◊〉 Man can live without Sin We will say Amen to it But if Men teâ—â— us That when God's Power comes to help uâ— and to redeem us out of Sin that it canno◠〈◊〉 â—ffected then this Doctrin we cannot awaâ— with nor I hope you neither Would yoâ— like it well if I should tell you That God puts 〈◊〉 his Power to do such a thing buâ— the Devil hinders him That it is impossible for God to do it because the Devil doth not like it That it is impossible that any one should be free from sin because the Devil hath got such a Power in them that God cannot cast it out This is lamentable Doctrin hath not this been preached this Doctrin of Impossibility of living without Sin It doth in plain Terms say Though God doth interpose hiâ— Power it is impossible because the Devil hath so rooted Sin in the Nature of Man Is 〈◊〉 Man God's Creature and cannot he nevâ—â— make him and cast Sin out of him If 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rooted deeply in Man I say 〈◊〉 〈…〉 deeply rooted but Christ Jesus is enâ—â—◠〈…〉 the Root of the Nature of 〈◊〉 that he hath received Power to destroy 〈◊〉 evil and his Works â—nd to recover and 〈◊〉 Man into his Primitive Nature of â—â—â—hteousness and Holiness or else that is 〈◊〉 That he is able to save to the utmost â—â—at come unto God by him We must throw 〈◊〉 the Bible if we say that it is impossible 〈◊〉 God to deliver Man out of Sin Is not â—â—â—ist entred into the root of our Nature And hath he not taken upon him the Seed of Abraham after the Flesh Is he not entred into the Root of all Men's Natures and tasted death for every man that he might quicken every one that is dead in sins and trespasses All these things speak the Love of God to Mankind in order to â—â—â—ir Salvation Much might be said to these things these Clouds of Error and Darkness that have overspread the Nation yet this I say if one were to speak of it never so long it must be by the Eye that God gives you that you must see it it is he that opens the Hearts of Men as he did Lydia's If there had not been the Power of God that reached her Heart Paul could not have opened it When all is said that can be said the Counsel of God which hath sounded in your Ears is recommended to you that every one may retire in quietness and stillness of Mind to 〈◊〉 for the feeling of that quickning Pâ—â—â—â—r of the Spirit of Christ that is sent inâ—◠〈◊〉 Hearts of Men that that may open 〈◊〉 Eyes to see your present state then you 〈◊〉 see a better state 〈◊〉 further
state and 〈◊〉 you see with your inward Eye that your 〈◊〉 is not so good as you would have it â—o 〈◊〉 then trust and rely upon the all-sufficient 〈◊〉 powerful Operation of God's Holy Spiâ—â—â— mend your state and give you Power 〈◊〉 your Corruptions and to go on from one 〈◊〉 to another towards the Cleansing and Sanctiâ—â—cation of your Souls so that you may receive something from God to enable you to live to God for all that you receive from Men will only make you live to Men but that which you receive from God will help you to live to God that will purifie you and sanctify you and make you clean through the word So through the Word you will come to Cleanness Purity and Holiness And when you are come to the way of Holiness you may believe you are gotten into the way of God's Kingdom and never till then It is not enough to make a Profession but we must live up to the Profession of that Religion that we make it is not holding this Tenet and the other Tenet and saying This Minister I am sure preacheth the Truth thou mayest be a Child of the Devil for 〈◊〉 that I now speak indifferently to all People without respect to any fort They thaâ— believe they are walking toward the Kingdom of God and yet their way is not a holy 〈◊〉 â—hey have cheated themselves and deceiv'd their â—wn Souls and they had need look about them â—nd take heed what they do the Glass is â—â—nning and Time is hasting away and our â—ife may end we know not how soon It is â—ood to prize and improve Time while you â—ave it and bring your Deeds to the Light â—ee what Reproofs Instructions Counsels and Openings you have met with from the Lord and see how you have answered aâ—d been obedient to them and so you will come to take a sound and infallible account of your condition and if it be not so good as it should be wait upon the Lord to mend it he that made you can mend you he that made your Ears must unstop your Ears to hear the Word of God To that Power that carries on the Work of Sanctification and Redemption by his word to that word I must leave you and to his Spirit I commit you This word will be with you and if you part not with it it will not part with you it will go with you to your Houses and to your Shops and to your Beds it will lie down with you at Night and rise with you in the Morning To that end Christ he is a Leader and Governour and the Captain of our Salvation to lead the Van and carry you on in the way of Salvation and as many as follow Christ and are led by the spirit of God they are the Children of God SERMON VII The Sheep of Christ heaâ— his Voice Preached at Devonshire-House May 10th 1688. My Sheep saith the true Shepherd hear my Voice THE Sheep of the true Fold hear the Voice of Christ the good Shepherd and know the Voice of Strangers too But saith he the stranger they will not follow This Scripture hath been a Mark of Distinction in all Ages that hath been peculiarly bestowâ—â— upon the People of God that they have hâ—â—â— a discerning Knowledge to make a certain distinction between them that were of God and those that were of the World Now they that are of God hear us saith the Apostle Now that you may all find in your selveâ— this peculiar Gift of God to be able to understand and discern between the precious and the vile that you might know the Ministration of Life from the Ministration of Dâ—â—th you must all be gathered inwardly into â—hat which you have received 〈◊〉 God for they â—â—at are only exercised 〈◊〉 Gifts and Parts and Acquirements that appertain to this world they have been always subject to Delusions apt to be led away into a by-Path and crooked way that leads to destruction but they that are under the Government and Direction of the Gift of God they have been able thereby to make such a Distinction of Voices and of Sounds that they have been preserv'd from the Delusions of the Age. This was the difference of old between the Prophets of God and the false Prophets between the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ and the false Apostles the difference was not so much in their Words for they had in a great measure the same Words if the true Prophets used to say Thus saith the Lord the false Prophets would say so too if the true Prophets declared against Sin the false Prophets likewise would do so for the false Prophet stole his Word from his Neighbour But the great Matter by which the People of the Lord were preserved was that hidden and divine Wisdom they received of God by which they understood the Voice of the Spirit from the Voice of Strangers from the Voice of them that were of the Flesh and that was the Cause that Christians in the Primitive Days did not adhere to and follow those false Apostles that came to them in their own Names and held a form of Godliness but denyed the Power of it But they amongst them into whom theiâ— witchcrafts did enter they went away from thâ— spirit and saught to be made perfect in the flesh they went to the outward observation and to the beggarly rudiments of things that perish with their using and from the Law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus And as it hath been in those Ages of which we have read so it comes to pass in this our Age in which a dispensation of the spirit of Truth is manifested and revealed unto the Children of Men there is a remnant that have received the Testimony of Eternal Life and have believed the Testimony and waited on him of whom the Testimony is born not to have Life by the Testimony but to have Life in him so they receive their Life by the ministration of the spirit of Christ and they live to God and others who have received no Life from him but have a Life in the Words and Sounds and Noizes and Terms and distinguishing Phrases of things their Life 〈◊〉 there they live not to God but to themselves their Glorying is not in the Cross of Christ but in the Words and outside of things so that every one had need at such a time as this to approve their Hearts unto the Lord who knows the inside of Peoples profeâ—sion the inside oâ— of their Religion that knows how the Heart is concernd towards God and what they say and do upon the account of his service so that all that are met together might come to receive more and more of the Life and vertue that sanctifies the Soul of him that receiveth it For Alas my Freinds it is not the gathering together of the most excellent Words about Religion and about worship and service which will approve any Man in the
and yet knows in his own Conscience that he is condâ—mned he believeth a Lie he is seduced and deceived A Man cannot be justified â—y Christ when the Spirit of Christ condemneth him Such 〈◊〉 whâ—â—â—e comes to lay down his Head upâ—â— his Dying Pillow all his Faith will fly away I 〈…〉 with some Instances lamentable I◠〈…〉 those thaâ— were called Christians 〈…〉 made a Profession of Religion an◠〈…〉 have laid down their Heads in So◠〈…〉 this be your Mistake consider while y◠〈…〉 Time â—â—at you may die in Peacâ— Now 〈◊〉 Proposition and Tâ—â—der o◠〈…〉 Loâ—â— of God 〈◊〉 Mankind hath alâ—â—ried that Limitâ—â—â—on with it that is 〈◊〉 in the World ought to observe If a Man hope to be saved by Christ he must be ruled by him Iâ— is contrary to all manner of Reason thâ—â—â—he Devil should rule a Man and Christ be his Saviour The whole tenour of the New Testament is against it pray read it as oft as you pâ—â—â—se for it is a good Exercise you will find the true Christian's Faith to be this That he that hath Faith in Christ hath an Operation upon him for the Cleansing his Heart and purifying and purging his conscience from dead works that he may serve the living God though he hath been a Servant of the Devil it will make hâ—â—r leave his former Servitude and bring him under the Influence of another Law the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which will make him free from 〈◊〉 law of sin and death The Apostle sets down â—he several Conditions he had â—â—ssed through I was alivâ— without the law once he thought himself a Man a brave Man a Man of Understanding thâ—â— had profited among the Jews I was alive having respect to that Law which should have been my Goverour but when the commâ—ndment came sin revived and I died He hâ—d â—ead the Law the Commandment many 〈…〉 and had been at the reading of it in the 〈…〉 â—gue but there was a coming of the Comâ—â—ndment which he had not been acquainted â—ith there was a Writing of thâ— Law of God in his Heart when he 〈◊〉 to this inward World upon him â—â—â—re was thâ—â— the 〈◊〉 he lived When the 〈◊〉 came Sin revived and I died There was a professing Life he formerly liâ—â—d but he was slain by the Power of thâ—â—â—â—manâ—ment it laid him in the Dust as a â—â—ain Man when he was in a 〈◊〉 condition he found out that Law in him that was the Law of Sin and Death and this caused a Combat and a War in him I find a law saith he that whâ—â— I would do good evil is present with with me for I delight in the law of God in the inner mâ— but I see another law in my membe◠〈…〉 against the law of my mind and b◠〈…〉 into captivity to the law of 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 members Now this brâ—â—ghâ— him 〈◊〉 a Poverty of Spirit into a Sense of his miâ—â—â—â—ble Condition and then he cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Now some People in this Day they are like the Apostle they have a law in their mâ—mbers warning against thâ— lâ—w of their minds the good that they would dâ—â—â—ey do not and they can go no further But the Apostle Paul did reach further though he did not in that state know Deliverance yet 〈…〉 that he should be delivered and that he 〈…〉 be miserable all his Days Thus haâ—ing 〈…〉 Romans into the several Staâ—â—s through whâ—â—â— he passed he brings them to a furtheâ— Sâ— The law of the spirit of life in Christ 〈◊〉 hâ—th made â—e free from the law of sin 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â— And now there is no condemn◠〈…〉 â—â—em that are in Christ Jesus How sh◠〈…〉 know this They walk not after the flesh 〈◊〉 after the spirit Nâ— Pâ—ul was come to that sanctified state tha◠〈◊〉 of Freedom and Liberty which Christ â—esus will bring all those unto that believe â—n him Holy Men in former Days did experience and find a greaâ— Strife and Warfare in their own Hearts they would do all well and exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man but there is a Law of Sin that wars in their Members if we yield to it it leadâ— to Sin and Death but if we yield our selves to the law â—f the spirit of life there is a Power tha◠〈…〉 â—ved from the Mediator that will â—â—anslate the Soul out of the kingdom of darkness and Sin which the Devil is the Prince of and bring it into the kingdom of God's dear Son There must be a real Change wrought in us before we can come tâ— God and to Fellowship and Commâ—â—ion wiâ—h God which â—lone can make th◠〈◊〉 happy Let this be tâ—e Exercise of eâ— one of us to adore and magnifie and 〈◊〉 Mercy and the kindness of God â—hat 〈…〉 not withdrawn his Spirit from yo◠〈…〉 hath placed a Mâ—n for in your 〈…〉 â—s upon you to cease to do evil 〈…〉 and to consider that the 〈…〉 sin is death Here is a Sin I may â—mit it there is a Temptation beofre me 〈◊〉 I know there is a Bait and a Hook 〈…〉 swalloâ— it if I will but if I do iâ— will 〈…〉 â—y Râ—th Would I come to eternâ—l Death and have my Portion with Lyars and wicked Persons in the Kingdom of Darkness Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched or would I have my Portion with Saints and Angels If I would have my Portion with the blessed in the Kingdom of God when I die I must walk in the way that leads to it but the Gate is strait and the way narrow and few there be that find it Labour then to be one of those few But what signifies our Labour some may say if we can do nothing that is good not so much as think a good thoâ—ht What signifies our Labour all the Labours and Endeavours in the whole World cannot â—â—â—ke a Man happy I now speak to a People to whom God doth vouchsafe the Help and Assistance of his Gracâ— and Spirit and the Visitations of his Love and Power you mu◠〈…〉 â—ndeavour to do somethâ—â—g if a Man enâ—â—avour with the help of 〈…〉 â—ie may doâ— great deal of good and 〈◊〉 a great deal of Evil Though all our Endeavours in our own Power and Strength can signifie nothing yet they are required by God and â—y joyning them with his Grâ— and layinâ—â—old of Opportunities by 〈◊〉 Assistance we may do whâ— God will aâ— But if a Man do 〈◊〉 thing in his own Poâ— and Strength whether Prayer Hearing Râ—â—ing Meditation or any other Duty he ha◠〈◊〉 good let it â—â—one I would consider you as those that God hath followed with his Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit this is given to every Man to profit withal and every Man hath Opportunity to work with it but he must work while it is day for the night
not believe except the Answer please them Many in our Days have put up their Petitions and Prayers to God that he would discover to them the State and Condition of their Souls The Lord hath answered them that notwithstanding all the Profession that they have made of his Name and of their Faith in his Son Jesus Christ and of the Work of Redemption yet he hath told a Man Thou art still unredeemed thou art still in thy Sin and Lusts and Concupiscence prevail over thee thou art still in Bondage This is God's Answer to many but there is something ariseth in their Minds that they are not willing to believe this I would think better of my self than this What if thou dost think better of thy self Thou art never the better for â—he word of the Lord stands sure There is no removing of it there is no â—â—nial of the Truth If this Truth condemn thee all the World canâ—ot justifie thee and this Trutâ— by which God condemns the Sinner is in the Sinner's own Heart What will he do with it It is in the Sinner's Conscience it doth not only condemn him by Book out of this Chapter and that Verse out of this Author and the other Author but he is condemned by God's true and faithful Witness in his own Conscience Thou wilt not believe iâ— but if thou believest not this then thou remainest in thy Unbelief of the Truth and nothing else but believing it can save thee No counsel else can deliver or redeem thee So that the best Advice and Counsel that I can give a People in this case is this That when they come to such a religious Meeting as this is they would come with a Mind prepared and fitted to think upon the Lord to think upon his Name and the way by which he brings People to himself for no Man can be called a Child of God that doth not partake of his Nature If a Man be never so wise and rich and great in the World if he be a Prince or an Emperour without this he is a Child of Wrath Now if these Children of Wrath meet with something that convinceth them if they are touched and become a sensible People then Crowns and Diadems are nothing to them Such a one will say If I be a child of wrathâ— a Captive to Sin and my own Lust and Concupiscence yet for all that I will go to a religious Meeting where I hope the Word of God will be preached I hope to meet with something there that will do me good and I have a Desire that I may be translated out of a natural State from being a child of wrath and to be brought into the kingdom of God If I have this Desire in me God that made me wrought it in me for by Nature we cannot so much as think a good thought When Men think of being better and of amending their ways and doing their Souls good these are very good Thoughts in themselves When such Thoughts are begotten in any Men's Hearts I would have them to ascribe them to the Grace of God and nothing else Preachers may do much where these Desires are begotten but it is not in their Power to beget these Desires Many have come to a Meeting with loose prophane and wandring Minds and though many good things have been spoken to them it hath not reached so far as to beget good Desires their Hearts have been so alienated from the Grace of God in themselves which is the great superiour Worker to which we are but Servants and Ministers there is none can beget any thing but he in whom all Power is They that are under the Power of Darkness the Devil begets in them Wantonness and Vaniâ—â— Prophaneness and hardness of Heart Some go away from a Meeting without being touched and perswaded and they have no good Hope of being better But where People are really touched in their Spirits with a desire after something that will do them good they must come to the Fountain of Good the God that made them and think upon him if they cannot see his glory and hear his voice yet they can think upon him This is the least Duty of a Christian to think upon the Name of the Lord and where their Minds are exercised about divine Matters about the State and Condition 〈◊〉 their poor Souls If I die this â—ight what will become of me This and that Sin I have committed how shall I be able to answer to God for one of a thousand of all my loose Thoughts Words and Actions They that come to a Consideration of this and a due Sense of their State and Condition though it is such a State that they do not like of that it is not such as it ought to be yet notwithstanding it may be better they may be brought out of it into a better condition Now this is the duty of all to be waiting upon God the Fountain of all Good that they may receive something from God for every good and perfect gift comes from above from the Father of Lights the Father of thy Light and my Light that Light comes to us from the Father of Lights If we have any perfect Gift bestowed upon us it is bestowed by God therefore you will grant that we are all obliged from the great◠〈…〉 least to wait upon him if we have the 〈◊〉 Expectation from God by a Meeting otherwise we had better keep away But I am apt to judge that the most here are come with some Desire that if it please God they may receive Benefit by their Meeting Where shall they have it They say if such a Man preacheth then I can edifie much by him This is a great Mistake for let who will preach there is no Body can receive any Benefit but it must be from the Lord as the Fountain of Good for the best Preachâ—rs in the World are but Instâ—â—ments in the Hands of Godâ— if God doth not bless his Labours 〈◊〉 â—â—eacher can do nothing to the Souls of Pâ—â—ple bâ—â—â—an sound the Truth 〈◊〉 their Ears outwardly but he can reach no further God only speaks to the Heart If thou mind the Preacher and not God that made thee all his Preaching will do thee no good It may indeed help thee to a Notion or Speculation but that comes not to the Inside that will be no better the Insidâ— wants mending There are great Deformities Scars Spots Stains Wounds and Lamenesâ— upon the Soulâ— of Men by reason of their Sins Lusts and Corruptions and there wants a Remedy and thâ—â—â— is no Physician of value but God that 〈◊〉 us after his own Image The Devil hath brought in Deformity he hath made one proud another cruel another wanton another an Oppressor another malicious this is all the Devil's Work And for this end 〈◊〉 Jesus came into the world that he might destroy the works of the Devil He came to destroy Pride Malice and Lust these are the