as a High Priest and Propitiation for Sin as an Advocate as an Intercessor and as the Attonement we must see our absolute need of him in order to our obtaining Eternal Salvation Christ is both the Priest and the Sacrifice the Priest that offers and the Attonement that is offered O glorious Mystery that he who is our great high Priest should offer himself The Priests under the Law offered other things â—s the Body and Blood of a Beast but Christ offered himself he gave himself a Ransom for us he offered his own Blood his own Life he made his Soul an Offering for Sin he offered himself Soul and Body a compleat Offering not his Body only but his Soul and Body also he offered himself through the eternal Spirit Before Christ can be thus embraced and sought after as a Hiding-place there must be a Preparation going before And it is prophesied of him A Man shall be a Hiding-place the Man Christ Jesus No Man but he can be a Hiding-place from the Storm and Tempest And as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land And it is prophesied of him again He shall be our Peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land What Man is this And who is this Assyrian It is an Allegory or Metaphor The King of Assyria you know invaded the Land and carried away the ten Tribes The King of Assyria by way of Metaphor or Allegory is he that seeks to destroy our Souls and make havock of them Christ shall be our Peace When the Assyrian comes into our Land to spoil us and destroy us the Man Christ Jesus shall be our Defence How through Faith in him he shall be our Hiding-place and our Defence and as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land We must fly unto him by Faith and our Faith must not stand in the wisdom of the words of Men but in the power of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the true Foundation he is the true Ground and sure Footing for every one of our Faith The mighty Power of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ opening and revealing to our Souls the great Mysteries of our Salvation Christ is called the Power of God and the Wisdom of God The Jews require a Sign and the Greeks seek after Wisdom but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a Stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God Doth Paul preach two Christs No by no means neither Prophet Apostle or Evangelist preach two Christs as if Christ within were one Christ and Christ without another Christ The Man Christ Jesus that died a painful and shameful Death upon the Cross in whom all Fulness dwells the Fulness of the Godhead bodily he is the living powerful eternal Word that had the Spirit without measure which is in measure in us he is but one Christ one compleat and intire Christ But some may say Why doth the Apostle Paul call Christ the Power of God and the wisdom of God I answer plainly because the fulness of the divine power and wisdom dwelt in Christ and dwells in him so that through our Faith in him we receive such a measure of the divine wisdom and power as we need in order to have the work of our Salvation wrough out to have it begun carried on and finish'd There are two things that we greatly need that we absolutely and indispensibly need Wisdom and Power We need a measure of God's Wisdom of heavenly and divine Wisdom to make known to us the whole Will Counsel and Mind of God for our Salvation for all that we can read in the holy Scriptures and other good Books and all that we have preached to us from time to time can never suffice to give us the true Knowledge of the will and mind of God in order to our Salvation unless we be supplied with divine Wisdom from above unless we be inwardly inspired endued and inlightned with the Spirit of Wisdom and Knowledge from God and Christ Jesus We need a measure of the divine Spirit and of the divine Wisdom to teach and instruct us concerning the Mind and Will and Counsel of God concerning our Salvation not by Piece-meal and in Parts but we must know the whole Mind and Counsel of God as much as is needful to our Salvation to have it wrought in us David was sensible of this when he thus prayed Teach me to do thy Will O God teach me thy Judgments Psal 119.108 And teach me thy Statutes vers 64. teach me by thy good Spirit But some there are that are ignorant and self-conceited which are ready to say What need we pray after this manner Did not David know God's Precepts and Statutes He had them upon his Memory and upon his Heart But for all the knowledge that he had of God's Precepts yet he needed further to be taught and instructed in the depth of the Mystery of divine Wisdom and Knowledge therefore in respect of the Commandments and Statutes of God he prays Lord teach me thy Precepts teach me thy Statutes and Testimonies and Judgments We need the Teachings of the Spirit of God which is called the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation The Apostle prays thus for the Ephesians 1 chapter 17 18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him The eyes of our understandings being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead and set him at his own right Hand in the Heavenly places We need a measure of the Divine Wisdom that dwels in all fullness in Christ He that was Crucified and buryed rose again and Ascended into Heaven and is now there in that prepared Body wonderfully Glorified but not another Body it â— the same Body but now impassible not subject to suffering or Bodily weaknesses aâ— Hunger Thirst Sleep or Wearyness hiâ— Body is not now passible or obnoxious to any kind of Suffering Secondly Another thing we greatly need is Power these two Wisdom and Power do in a manner comprehend and contain all our needs We want the Instruction of Divine Wisdom to give us understanding and knowledge to know the Mind of God to know the whole Will and Counsel of God to know our Duty to God and what the Lord requires of us and what the Lord Christ requires of us in order to our Eternal Happyness And then we want Power as well as Wisdom if God should give us Wisdom and Understanding and Councel to know what we ought to do and withhold Power from
hath laid upon him the Iniquity of us all He bare ouâ— sins in his own Body upon the Tree that wâ— being dead to Sin should live unto Righteousness by whose Stripes we are healed Greaâ— hath been the love of God to us he hatâ— given his Son to die for us and his Spirit tâ— live in us and he calls us in the Day of Visitation How may we know when he calls wilâ— some say When by his good Spirit he stirs in thâ— Heart and strives in thy Soul checks thee anâ— reproves thee for Sin as often as thou findesâ— anything in thy Conscience that reproves theâ— for what is evil this is the Voice of the Soâ— of God John 5.25 Verily verily I say unâ— you the hour is coming and now is when thâ— Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God anâ— they that hear shall live Even those that arâ— dead in Sins and Trespasses shall be quickeneâ— by the Voice of the Son of God For as thâ— Father hath life in himself he hath given untâ— â—he Son to have Life in himself And hath â—iven him Authority to execute Judgment alâ—o because he is the Son of Man Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that â—ave done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Blessed be the Lord who hath made known â—s Mind and Will unto us we have the Spiâ—it of Truth within us and the holy Scriptures without us It is a great Mercy that â—hey are vouchsafed to all Nations and that â—hoy have been wonderfully preserved in all Ages and Generations from the Primitive â—imes to this day and have come to us safe through so many different Hands and all the Copies of Holy Writ agreeing in Words and Sense without any cousiderable difference Let us bless God for this singular Blessing and Mercy vouchsafed to us Tho' I would not Idolize the Scriptures â—et I do highly esteem and honour them We â—ead Luke 16.27 That in the Parable of the â—ich Man he speaks to Abraham after this manner I pray thee Father that thou wouldst send Lazarus to my Father's House for I have five Brethren that he may testify unto them lest they also come to this place of Torment Abraham saith unto â—im They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them And he said Nay Father Abraham but if one went unto â—hem from the Dead they will repent And he said vnto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be persuaded tho' one rose from the Dead therefore to the Law and the Testimony the Testimony is in our Consciences and the Law is written outwardly but effectually and inwardly upon the Hearts there is no disjoining what God hath joined Therefore if any one should bring any other Doctrin that is contrary to the Holy Scripture or if an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel we are not to receive it It hath been the Spirit of Antichrist in all Ages and the Man of Sin that hath endeavoured to undervalue the holy Scriptures who as the Apostle saith opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God This Spirit of Antichrist where-ever it is it secretly undermines the holy Scriptures therefore it concerns you to keep close to the Law and the Testimony Let me in true love to your immortal Souls desire every one of you to mind the work of your Salvation and to work it out with fear and trembling and God will work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Examine your selves and prove your selves whether you are in the Faith take heed that you be not led by a Spirit of Error to the Law and to the Testimony If any Man think that he is wise in many things let him not presume to be wise above that which is written lest he need to come and learn again what he doth not know and hath been taught Great is the Mystery of Godliness and great also is the Mystery of Iniquity therefore you are concerned to examine your selves and to prove all things and hold fast that which is good You are a seeking and enquiring People else you would not have been here at this time And what can inform you better than the gift God hath been pleased to give unto you together with the holy Scriptures examine your selves whether when you have proved all things you hold fast that which is good Make it appear that you are good Christians by your righteous and heavenly Conversations and by your holy Walk make it appear that you are true Disciples of Christ that you are Followers of the Lord Jesus and endued with his Spirit by being holy in all manner of Conversation Take heed of indulging thy self in any sin take that Counsel which is given by our Lord Jesus to all his Followers Matth. 5.30 If thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy Members should perish and not that thy whole Body should be cast into Hell Live so as to be always ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus that you may be found among the wise Virgins The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto ten Virgins which took their Lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom and five of them were wise and five of them were foolish Here are abundance of Professors in this City that would be taken for Virgins and Followers of Christ but they are too like those five foolish Virgins that took their Lamps and took no Oil with them whereas the Wise took Oil in their Vessels with their Lamps while the Bridegroom carried they all slumbered and slept and at Midnight there was a Cry made behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him then all those Virgins went and trimmed their Lamps and the foolish said unto the wise give us of your Oil for our Lamps are gone out but the wise answered not so lest there be not enough for us and you go you rather to them that sell and buy for your selves And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage and the Door was shut afterwards also came the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us but he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not O take heed that this be not your woful and deplorable Case at the coming of Christ to Judgment but prepare and be in readiness that you may have an abundant entrance into his everlasting Kingdom Take my words into consideration and lay aside every weight and the sin that doth easily beset you and run with Patience your heavenly Race that you may so
under a Divine preparation as many are 〈◊〉 our Days who are ready to say Lord havâ— mercy upon us among so many Religions 〈◊〉 would to God we knew how to chuse thaâ— which is right these are under a Heavenly preparation that earnestly enquire after the truâ— way and worship of the Lord wherein they may seek and serve him and find acceptance It is left upon record concerning Christ He gave his life a Ransom for many to be testified in due time If you speak of a Ransom to one that is a liberty he will not regard it being unconcerned but come and tell a poor captive in Algiers that he shall shortly be discharged from his slavery and sore bondage and set at liberty and that a noble Friend in England will pay his Ransom for him â—and his Heart will melt and leap for joy and he will be transported and greatly affected to hear such glad tidings As the Captives in Babilon when they sat down by the Rivers there and hanged their Harps upon the Willows and wept when they remembred Zion when they that carryed them away Captive required of them mirth saying sing us one of the songs of Sion They said How shall we sing the Lords Song in a strange land So it hath pleased the Lord in our Days to make Thousands sensible of their woful Captivity by reason of sin and to say after this manner alas I am where I would not be I am under bondage to sin and Satan I would be at liberty I am confined and shut up in a dark Dungeon I would be Discharged I am in Darkness and would have the light of Gods Countenance lifted up upon me and he refreshed with the Rays of the Sun of Righteousness I am labouring under weakness and I would receive strength and strugling under my many Infirmities I would receive Power from on high to do the will of God and never be a weary of well doing I am now at a distance from my Fathers House and as a stranger on this Earth I would have my conversation in Heaven and live unto Christ here that I may live with him hereafter and sit with him at Gods Right Hand in Heavenly places Now those that are made sensible of their state of Captivity and darkness and how they have been under the very region and shadow of Death to such as sit in darkness and as it were under the shadow of Death God hath caused light to spring up whereby the Soul comes to perceive that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses to them Christ gave his life a Ransom for many to be testified in due time The Soul hath its lodgment under fears and doubts questioning whether ever it shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God and we are all Children of wrath by nature as well as others the first step of quietness and comfort is like that of the Fathers running to meet his Prodigal Son when he saw him afar off It is when the Soul seâ— and apprehends that God is in Christ reconciling the World unto himself the Lord saith I have found a Ransom I have laid help upon one that is mighty that is able to save to the uttermost Now after we perceive there is a Ransom that there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared then the light of that prophecy opens to us Isa 55.6 7. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Then the Soul begins to perceive this Morning of the Day of God and will say with the Psalmist return to thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Until the Soul comes to behold and tast of this Passover and to believe the record that God hath given of his Son it cannot be unlocked and unchained from its bondage and Captivity He that believeth not is condemned already and the wrath of God abideth on him because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son The believing this record and embracing the promise of God is that whereby we feel a spark of Divine hope kindled in us So that I say the greatest comfort that can be enjoyed in this life is to be assured by the spirit of God that we are saved from the wrath to come we must begin and go on gradually â—â—d work out our own Salvation with fear and â—embling till it appear to thee and thou art â—â—tisfyed that thy Faith stands not in the Wisâ—om of men but in the power of God and â—hat thy sins are remitted Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and â—hose Sin is covered Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is no guil When you come â—o perceive the Benefit which you have received by Christ Jesus and that by a true belief in his name you receive Remission of Sins this kindles in your Souls a love to God and you will be ready to say What hath he paid my debt that I might be discharged from Prison Paid that debt which I could not pay I was in Captivity from which I could not Ransom my self and hath God given his Son and hath his Son Jesus Christ given himself to be a Ransom for me I was under a strange King as the Israelites of old under great slavery in the land of Egypt and house of Bondage hath the Lord brought me out from thence by a mighty Hand and out-stretched Arm and brought me as it were through the Red-Sea as on dry land hath he destroyed those Enemies that designed my Destruction and wrought a great deliverance and Salvation for me What shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases who Redeemeth thy life from Destruction and crowneth thee wiâ—â— lovingkindness and tender mercies When we apprehend that our sins are remâ—ted and that God is in Christ reconciling tâ— World to himself not imputing their trespassâ— to them then we have quietness and peace Rejoyce and beglad O Daughter of Zion thâ— Lord that is Righteous will bring Salvation and he will send forth thy Prisoners out of thâ— Pit where there was no Water Methinks I hear a sound in a Disconsolatâ— Soul saying I believe that God is mercifuâ— the Night is far spent and the Day is at hand yet notwithstanding this is my trouble that â— do not yet feel any Power to live to Christ thaâ— died for me and to walk worthy of my vocation the Soul may therefore cry out
The Great DOCTRINES OF THE Gospel of Christ Owned Believed and Asserted In several DECLARATIONS OR Sermons Preached in London by Sundry Servants of Christ of the Society of Christian Quakers London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheap-side 1694. A SERMON Preached by Thomas Budd At Devonshirehouse London June 17th 1694. 1 Tim. 3.16 And without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory A Great and Glorious Mystery indeed-it is beyond what Man can conceive or apprehend God manifest in the Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ For in the fulness of Time the Word took Flesh The Word became Flesh The Word took Flesh in the Womb of the Virgin being over-shadowed by the Holy Ghost she conceived with Child and in the appointed Time of the Father she brought forth her First-born into the World and according as the Angel directed his Name was called Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins And it is said This Child increased in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Man When he was Twelve Years old he disputed with the Doctors in the Temple in the Temple at Jerusalem He disputed wisely and they greatly admired his Wisdom and when the Time was come that he was to shew himself to Israel and to do the Work that was appointed him of the Father He came to John to be Baptized of him in Jordan but John forbad him saying I have need to be Baptized of thee and comest thou to me And Jesus answering said unto him Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness Then he suffered him And Jesus when he was Baptized went up streightway out of the Water and lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And having received the Holy Ghost and being fitted for the Work which he was afterwards to accomplish He was led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil and when he had fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights he was afterward an hungred And when the Tempter came to him he saiâ—â— If thou be the Son of God command that these Stones be made Bread But Christ resisted the Temptation and told the Devil That Man doth not live by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth cut of the Mouth of God And then the Devil not prevailing by this Temptation He taketh him up into the Holy City and setteth him on a Pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their Hands they shall bear thee up lest at any Time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone And he overcame the Devil in this Temptation also and said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God And the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high Mountain and sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them and said All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me Then said Jesus unto him Get thee behind me Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Here was a great Temptation indeed how apt are these things to prevail over Mankind The love of Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World but these could not prevail over our blessed Saviour who was the Holy One of God Therefore we that profess to be his Followers should tread in his Steps and follow his Example How can we be his Disciples except we deny our selves and take up his Cross and follow him who is the Captain of our Salvation Who is our High Priest who is ascended into Heaven and entred into the holiest of all made without Hands As the High Priest under the Law he entred into the Holy Place made with Hands not without Blood which he offered for himself and the Sins of the People But Christ being become an High Priest of good Things to come neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with Hands saith the Apostle which are the Figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the Presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high Priest entred into the Holy Place every Year with the Blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World but now once in the End of the World hath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9.24 And he is able also to save them to the utmost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them And God the Father hath regard to the prevailing Intercession of his Son him he heareth always and if we pray in Faith and in the Name of Christ our Prayers shall enter into the Ears of the Father as the Father heareth the Son always so he heareth those that believe in him and pray in his Name they are sure to receive the Spirit of Adoption whereby they cry Abba Father Therefore ask in his Name and receive that your Joy may be full you shall receive fulness of Joy that will give Satisfaction to your Souls and you shall receive a double Portion of the Divine Spirit and come with a filial Confidence and humble Boldness to the Throne of Grace and obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in the Time of Need. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3.16 They that receive the Dear and Well-beloved Son of God receive him as God's Gift and they that believe in him believe in both his inward and outward Appearance Ye believe in God saith our Saviour to his Disciciples believe also in me John 14.1 So that it is not enough to believe in Christ's Inward Appearance and to look only to the Spiritual Appearance and Operation of the Divine Word of Truth within us but we must look unto Jesus that is the Dispencer of Life and the giver of his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Look unto me and be ye saved all the Ends of the Earth We must look unto him that is the Giver of Grace and the Dispencer of Life and Salvation as the Author and Fountain of it We must believe in Christ the Eternal Word that came down from Heaven that took Flesh and dwelt
the Son the Father gives Life to the Son and the Son giveth Life unto Believers the Son is continually receiving from the Father and we are continually receiving from the Son through the Exercise of our Faith Would you know and feel an heavenly Vertue and Sap and vital Influence flowing â—â—om Christ into your Souls And would you now nothing of dryness barrenness nor unâ—â—uitfulness then live by the Faith of the Son â—f God and exercise your Faith upon Christ â—ontinually It is not enough to have Faith â—e by you as a Man hath an Instrument lying â—y and he doth not use it But know the Use and Exercise of Faith you must know â—he daily Operation of Faith elsâ— you cannot â—eceive continual Sap flowing 〈◊〉 you from Christ the heavenly Vine Gâ—â— 2.20 I am â—rucified with Christ saith the Apostle neverâ—heless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me â—nd the Life which I now live in the Flesh I â—ive by the Faith of the Son of God who loved â—ne and gave himself for me There is no â—iving but by the Faith of the Son of God Rom. 1.16.17 I am not ashamed of the Gospel â—f Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek For therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written Hab. 2.4 the Just shall live by his Faith Every Man and Woman are to live by their own Faith It is not the Faith and Holiness of another will serve our turn every one must have Faith of his own which is the Gift of God I once more warn you against that Faith that is only literal traditional and historical for that is not the Faith that will justifie and save you that is not the Faith which I preach I am much abused wronged and traduced by some that say I preach an unprofitable Faith and that the Faiâ—â— which I preach all England hath it and aâ— Christendom hath it If they had it wâ— should see the Fruits of it Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Meekness and Temperance these are the Fruit of the Spirit and Concomitants of true Faith The Faith which I preach is indispensibly necessary to every one that expects Salvation and to live with God and Christ in Heaveâ— for ever It is a Faith that is wrought by thâ— mighty Power of God the powerful word oâ— God in the Heart Heb. 4.12 The Word oâ— God is quick and powerful sharper than anâ— two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joyntâ— and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughtâ— and Intents of the Heart This Faith comeâ— from an inward Root this Root is the Lighâ— within the Power of God the Spirit of God within O how many thousands in Christendom have risen up against this Testimony Blessed be God that gave me a share in this Testimony there is a living Testimony that remains in my Mouth and Heart to this Day that the Lord Jesus Christ died for us performed the Office of an High Priest for us and upon the account of his precious Blood we receive Remission of Sins All this is by Faith in Christ we witness to his prophetical Office he is the great Prophet and Teacher of his Church and People and we witness to his Kingly Office he rules and governs in our Hearts by his Holy Spirit This Faith is not universally preached and known in all Christendom in the Root of it which is Christ within the Light within that Christ in his prepared Body did the Will of God and suffered Death for us This Faith whereby I believe Christ died for me and makes Intercession for me the Root of it is the Light within and Christ within Is this the Doctrine that is believed and professed all over Christendom No by no means This Faith I can prove out of our Friends Writings in Print that it respects Christ whole and entire Every true Exercise of Faith doth respect Christ as he is both God and Man It respects him as he came in the Flesh died and suffered for us in the Flesh and as he rose again from the Dead and ascended into Heaven and now appears in the Presence of God for us and as he will come again to judge the world as he is â—he Son of Man God hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the World by the Man Christ Jesus whereof he hath given Assurance â—o all Men in that he hath raised him from â—he Dead Some will be ready to say Shall not the Light within judge all Men Shall not the words which Christ hath spoken judge us at â—he last Day Yes Christ shall judge all Men at the last Day both by his Light in their Hearts and â—s he is the Man Christ now if any think â—â—at the Light within is the Man Christ Jesus and nothing else and exclude the Person oâ— Christ the same Person that was crucified anâ— died for us and was buried This would bâ— a great Error and a contradiction to thâ— fundamental Principles of the Christian Faith I say that blessed Body which God prepareâ— for his dear Son to tabernacle in to be hâ—â— Temple that Body remains in Being and wiâ—â— remain a glorious Body to all Eternity Thâ— Apostle tells us Phil. 3.20 That our meaâ— and vile Bodies shall be made like unto Christâ— glorious Body For our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change ouâ— vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto hâ— glorious Body according to the working whereâ—â— he is able to subdue all things unto himself It will be the Happiness of the Saints thâ— they shall be made like unto Christ both iâ— Soul and Body We shall be made more likâ— to Christ in our Souls and Spirits then anâ— we must be cleansed from Sin and made liâ—â— him now for we expect no Purgatory aftâ—â— this Life therefore defer it not He that haâ— this Hope saith the Apostle purifyeth himseâ—â— even as he is pure My Friends I expect no cleansing after thâ— Life I expect all my cleansing here to 〈◊〉 cleansed from all filthiness both of Flesh aâ— Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of Gâ—â— that so when I come to die I may be receivâ— into the Bosom of Christ that I may have measure of that holy Confidence to pray 〈◊〉 Stephen Lord Jesus receive my Spirit This â—lessed Martyr Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost he looked up stedfastly into Heaven and â—aw the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the â—ight Hand of God and when they were stonâ—ng him to Death he kneeled down and cried with a loud Voice Lord lay not this Sin to â—heir Charge and when he had said this he â—ell asleep Friends you that have a Life of Faith and â—eel Christ dwelling in your Hearts by Faith
â—ou feel his Life Power and Spirit in you to â—ead you in the way of Obedience You may die in Peace and with great Joy and Satisfaction you may die with great Courage and commit your Bodies to the Grave and with â—ulness of Assurance commit your departing Souls to the Lord Jesus to be received into his Bosom and to have an abundant entrance â—nto his everlasting Kingdom All the deceaâ—ed Saints tho' they have a greater Injoyment of God and Christ than we have now or thâ—â—â—hey had when tabernacled in a mortal Body â—et they wait and long for the Reward which â—hey shall receive at the Resurrection of the Dead then is the full Possession the joyful Harvest which our Saviour hath told us of When thou makest a Feast invite not thy Friends â—r the Rich that will invite thee again but the Poor and Needy that cannot recompence thee How few make such Feasts This was our Saviours Counsel and Advice Luke 14.12 13. When thou makest a Dinner or a Supper call â—ot thy Friends nor thy Brethren neither thy Kinsmen nor thy rich Neighbours lest they alsâ— bid thee again and Recompence be made to theâ— But when thou makest a Feast call the Poor the Maimed the Lame and the Blind anâ— thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompencâ— thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the Resurrection of the Just. When is the Resurrection of the Dead when Men and Women die 〈◊〉 No when a good Man and Woman die they certainly go into Paradice there is a great fruition of the Lord's Presence and oâ— his Love and Life that they then receive anâ— enjoy But that is not the Resurrection oâ— the Dead Many were raised from the Deaâ— before Christ died but this is not the generaâ— Resurrection of the Dead And our Saviouâ— himself raised Lazarus and the Widow's Son this is not the Resurrection of the Dead Buâ— now Christ is risen from the Dead saith thâ— Apostle and become the first Fruits of them thaâ— sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 tho' some were raised from the Dead before Christ's Death and Resurrection yet none of them went bodily to Heaven but Christ himself As in Adam aâ— die even so in Christ shall all be made alive but every Man in his own Order Christ thâ— first Fruits afterwards they that are Christs aâ— his coming then cometh the end Friends I hope in this manner of Doctriâ—â— my Testimony is acceptable to some I warâ— you let none despise it I hope in God thaâ— this Doctrin of the Resurrection is acceptablâ— to many if the holy Scriptures have Weighâ— and Authority and Credit with you as I hopâ— they have with all here present then the Faith of the Resurrection of the Dead and the Faith of our own Resurrection and of Christ's Resurrection will be of Credit with you which is such an important Matter that all Preaching is vain without it and our Faith vain without it If you have not a true Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead you are yet in your Sins Pretend what you will of divine Injoyments if you have not a Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead I say you are yet in your Sins and your Faith is vain I prove this from the Testimony of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 15.14 But if there be no Resurrection of the Dead then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen then is our Preaching vain and your faith is also vain yea and we are found salse Witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so be that the Dead arise not for if the Dead rise not then is not Christ raised and if Christ be not raised your faith is vain ye are yet in your sins 1 Cor. 15.16 17. Some ignorantly imagine that the Apostle Paul speaks of an inward Rising and of the new Birth as the new Birth is a most necessary preparation for a glorious Resurrection that better Resurrection but that is a great Mistake to say the Apostle speaks here of the new Birth for he is speaking of raising the Body out of the Grave He speaks of the same that Christ spake John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in the Graves shall â—ear his Voice aâ—â— shall come forth they that have done good unâ—â— the Resurrection of Life and they that haâ—â— done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnatioâ— The Resurrection of the Just is a comfortablâ— Resurrection but that of the Unjust is 〈◊〉 dreadful Resurrection 2 Cor. 5.10 For 〈◊〉 must all appear before the Judgment-seat Christ that every one may receive the thinâ— done in his Body according to that he haâ— done whether it be good or bad You maâ— take notice of those Words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.14 If there be no Resurrection 〈◊〉 the Dead then is Christ not risen and if Chriâ—â— be not risen then is our Preaching vain anâ— your Faith is also vain These Words are linked together like sâ— many Links making a strong Chain that can not be broken The Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust are linked witâ— Christ's Resurrection and Christ's Resurrection is linked with the Faith of it and thâ— Faith of it linked with the Preaching of it they that have not the true Faith of Christ Resurrection and of the Resurrection of thâ— Dead are yet in their Sins and let them pretend never so much to the Faith of Chriâ—â— within if they have not the Faith of Chriâ—â— without them they are yet in their Sins Take not things upon my Credit but searcâ— the Scriptures I hope the holy Scriptures havâ— Credit Esteem and Authority with you Leâ— me once more caution you to take thing rightly that you may not mistake me I say that a bare historical Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead or of the Resurrection of Christ will not prove a Man not to be dead â—n his sins but if we do really believe the Resurrection of the Dead and Christ's Resurâ—ection if we believe these great Truths and â—f our Faith be from an inward Work of the Spirit of God upon our Hearts this Belief will lay a Constraint upon us to live unto Christ that died for us and to have our Hearts in Heaven and our Conversation in Heaven If you are risen with Chrict saith the Apostle then seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God and set your Affectons on things above and nor on things on the Earth What are those things above that we are to set our Hearts and Affections upon And what is it to set our Affections upon things above To set our Affections on things above it is to have our Thoughts and Meditations exercised after this manner Lord whom have I in Heaven but thee There is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Lord my Desire is only unto thee and to the
Chiâ—dren So that God's People that are undâ—â— this New Covenant they have access to Goâ— as Children to a Father they come with a hoâ— Boldness and Freedom into his Presence Master of a Family hath in his House both Seâ—vants and Sons and Daughters and yoâ— know there is a greater Nearness and Affectâ—on between a Man and his Sons and Daugâ—ters than between him and his Servants Master of a Family loves his Children bettâ— than he loves his Servants so on the othâ—â— hand Children if they be dutiful love theâ— Parents with a purer Affection with a moâ— free kind generous and noble Affection thaâ— they that are Servants love their Masters The Love of a Servant towards God is meâ—cenary and for the Reward but the Love oâ— God's Children is a free and filial Affection they say unto God Lord I love thee for thâ— self because thou art good and the most exceâ—lent Being and there is none like or equal â—nto thee in Heaven or on Earth I love thee â—ecause thou hast given me a Heart to love â—ee thou hast made me partake of a Child's Nature thou hast given me the Heart of a Child that I might love thee My Friends the Love of those that are â—ervants is a mercenary Love and their Fear 〈◊〉 a servile Fear a Fear of Punishment The â—ove of God's Children is a filial Love a â—ee and generous Affection a Love whereby â—he Soul is changed and brought under the New Covenant a Love to God for his own â—ake not only for his Blessings and for his Gifts but chiefly and principally for himself â—ot only because they believe that when they â—lie they shall go to Heaven and that because Heaven is a blessed Place and that therefore â—hey are glad they have such a Place to go to but they love God above Heaven who is betâ—er to them than Heaven it self and they can â—ay with David Psalm 73.25 Lord whom â—ave I in Heaven but thee and there is none â—pon Earth that I desire besides thee Thirdly Another difference between that common Illumination which is common to all Mankind and that which is special and pecuâ—iar to those under the New Covenant may â—ppear in his Teaching them God teacheth Sinners saith the Psalmist Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach Sinners in the way God by his universal Illumination teacheth Men many things concerning himself and their Duâ—y to him in a general way but God teacheth his People under the New Covenant by râ—vealing and making known to them clearâ— and distinctly Christ Jesus the Mediator 〈◊〉 the New Covenant God giveth them tâ—â— Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God 〈◊〉 the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Goâ— maketh known to his People this great Mâ—stery of Christ as he is the Mediator betweâ—â— God and them So we read in the Epistle 〈◊〉 the Hebrews Heb. 12.22 But ye are comâ— unto Mount Zion and to the City of the liâ—ing God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an iâ—numerable Company of Angels to the generâ—â— Assembly and Church of the First-born whicâ—â— are written in Heaven and to God the Judgâ— of all and the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Câ—venant and to the Blood of Sprinkling thâ— speaketh better things than that of Abel Theâ— is no approaching to God but through thâ— Man Christ Jesus But you may say How shall they comâ— unto God by the Man Christ Jesus the Mediator that never saw him with their bodilâ— Eyes nor never heard him with their Bodilâ— Ears How then can they come unto Jesâ—â— the Mediator of the New Covenant who they have neither thus heard nor seen Blessed be God that hath given thousand and ten thousands and hundreds of thousand to understand this great Mystery of cominâ— to God by the Man Christ Jesus whom the never saw with their Bodily Eyes nor hearâ— with their Bodily Ears The like Objectioâ— may be made against coming to God who â—annot be seen with bodily Eyes for he is a â—pirit and invisible yet there is a coming to God Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must â—elieve that he is We have now no Opporâ—unity nor occasion of seeing Christ with bodily Eyes or hearing him with our bodily Ears yet we may come to him by Faith Who worketh this Faith God's blessed Spirit When is it wrought and where and how is it wrought It is wrought in God's ordinary way by Preaching when Christ is preached by those that he hath qualified and fitted by his blessed Spirit when he is thus preached by the Power of his own Holy Spirit Faith is wrought in the Hearts of those that hear not of all for some believe the Gospel and â—ome believe not Thus it hath been all-a-long where-ever the Gospel hath been preached some believe and others do not believe I say the Word of the Gospel as it is preached and complied with it is like Rain and Snow that falls upon the Earth it returneth not in vain but hath a Service though it make not all the Parts of the Earth fruitful all Places are not alike fruitful some remain barren still Thus saith the Lord by the Prophet Isa 55.10 11. For as the Rain cometh down and the Snow from Heaven and returneth not thither but waterâ—eth the Earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give Seed to the Sower and Bread to the Eater so shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my Mouth it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplishâ— that which I please and it shall prosper in thâ— thing whereto I sent it When the Gospel is preached in any Congregation in any City Town Country or Nation it cannot be expected that all should be converted it cannot be expected that the good seed should fall every where in good Ground No it may be one part is good Ground but where the seed is sown according to Christs Parable of the sower Mat. 13.3 4 5. Some seeds fell by the way side and the Fowls came and devoured them up some fell upon stony places where they had not much Earth c. And when the Sun was up they were scorched and because they had not root they withered away and some fell among Thorns and the Thorns sprung up and choked them but others fell into good Ground and brought forth Fruit. Blessed be God that hath taught us this great Mystery of coming unto God by Christ Jesus the Mediatour whom we have not seen with Bodily Eyes nor heard with Bodily Ears VVe have access to God by him and we have access to the Mediatour by his precious Blood and by his Blessed Spirit And Faith is a great mystery it well deserves to be called the mystery of Faith and the mystery of it is this it joyns Believing Souls to God through the Man Christ and to the Man Christ whom they have not seen with Bodily Eyes according to those words
revealed by the Spirit of God and the first Fruits and Earnest are given to the People of God here in this World the full enjoyment whereof is reserved for the next Life Now the first Fruits and Earnest are of the same nature and kind with the full Harvest in Glory If thou be a true Believer thou enjoyest a measure of the same Delight and Pleasure in Communion with God on Earth that the glorified Saints do enjoy in Heaven to all Eternity O the inward sweetness delight and satisfaction that the Soul of every true Believer enjoys in God in this Life it is of the same nature and kind that the Saints shall enjoy in Heaven to all Eternity this first Fruits and Earnest is but little in comparison of the full Harvest that is to come Those that are the People of God that have experienced God's Teaching know that which is beyond all the Teachings of the best of Men as the taste of Hony is beyond all Reports of it the Joys and Comforts of God's holy Spirit are beyond all that can be declared and expressed by Man concerning these things Whatsoever God's Servants have declared and reported concerning the great things that God hath promised to them that love him the Knowledge and Taste and Experience of God's People goes beyond it Yet this makes not void the outward Testimony and Teaching of holy Men for so far as any holy Man has greater Experience than I and a greater experimental Knowledge of God he is sit to teach me further than I at present know for the Children of God are gradually taught under the new Covenant None have Forgiveness of Sin vouchsafed to them but those that come under God's Teaching they believe not because of Man's Testimony only because Paul taught so and Peter taught so and James and John taught so but as they said to the Samaritan-woman John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy Saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World Those that are thus taught of God know the Truth and love the Truth as it is in Jesus they have heard himself preach he is not bodily present but he is present by his Spirit the Voice of the Spirit of Christ is the Voice of Christ and the Voice of God the Father you that hear the Voice of the Spirit in your Hearts you hear the Voice of the Father and the Son they that are taught of God they hear the Voice of God the Father Son and holy Ghost There is one thing further upon my Heart which I shall deliver as the Lord shall be pleased to enable me in a few Words concerning the new Covenant I hope you all know thus much that the nature of a Covenant is mutual it binds and obligeth both Parties so doth God's Covenant who ever comes under God's Covenant As God obligeth himself to be their Father and their God anâ— their Husband thy Maker is thy Husband So God's People that come under this Covenant are engaged unto God and God expects and requires that they should be faithful unto him And certainly God expectâ— and requires of every one in order to their coming into Covenant that they give up their Hearts and Souls to him and to take the Lord for their God We must dedicate our selves to his glory and service and say Lord thou shalt be my God I will have no other God but thee no other Lord or Master but thee Other Lords have had dominion over us but now we will make mention of thy Name only Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and surname himself by the name of Israel Is this only an outward Book an outward Writing and Subscription No that is but little to be accounted of thou must write with thy Soul thou must write with thy Heart There is a Bond between the Lord and thee and thou bindest thy self to him and it is written in thy Heart The Lord shall be my God Thus David engaged himself to the Lord Psal 119.94 Lord I am thine save me and he takes the Lord for his Portion Thou art my Portion O Lord I have said that I would keep thy Word How can you say That the Lord is your God unless you are his by Covenant God's Covenant hath a mutual stipulation or obligation there is a mutual engaging and promising The Lord promiseth to be our God and Father and Husband and our Preserver to be all in all to us and we promise to be his People to love him and serve him and obey him So my Friends I now commend you to the Lord and commend those things to you that I have declared at this present time I commit them to the Witness of God in all your Consciences I commit you to God and the Word of his Grace to open your Understandings that you may be inlightned to know him who is the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life eternal and that you may feel his mighty power to make impression upon your Hearts by those things that I have been testifying and declaring among you the Lord alone can teach you to Profit and make those great and precious Promises that have now sounded in your Ears to have a due impression upon your Hearts and to become effectual through the mighty Power of his blessed Spirit for the Salvation of your immortal Souls A SERMON Preached by George Keith At Harp-Lane London Septemb. 30th 1694. Cor xiii 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Or as it may be better translated Vnless ye be unapproved disapproved or without a proof THis is a seasonable Exhortation of the Apostle Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith c. know ye not your own selves c. how that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates saith our Translation ' It were sad indeed if all they were Reprobates that know not Christ within them God forbid for there are thousands that know not that Christ is in them they have not that Knowledge Understanding Proof and Experience yet they are not Reprobate But who then are Reprobates may some say They are Reprobates of whom we may truly say God hath wholly left them utterly left them and ceaseth to be a Reprover to them and their Day of Mercy is expired the Day of God's Visitation and the striving of his Spirit is at an End towards them These are properly said to be Reprobates yet those that are not yet in Christ and know not that Chtist is in them so long as they are capable of Repentance and Conversion and of being turned to God and the Day of his Visitation being not yet expired it cannot
Way After you have proved all things and come to know that which is good that wherein your Peace with God and Comfort doth consist hold it fast let none beguile you the Enemy of your Souls will labour to lay something in your Way If the Lord had not been very merciful to us we might many of us long since have turned aside we might have fainted in our Minds and been weary of well-doing I do not question but many of you in your Pilgrimage-State do meet with many things in your way to everlasting Life Some put one thing into your Minds and some another let it be your Care that as you have received the Gift from above and by the Holy Scriptures are come to know what is good hold it fast How hold it fast By patient Watchfulness and Diligence taking heed to the Grace of God that hath appeared and brought Salvation to our Souls I pity those Souls that are in an unsettled State which are tossed to and fro that are sometimes for one thing and sometimes for another a double-minded Man is unstable in all his ways You are happy if you are come to that Settlement in your Minds as to be stable and fixed that when you have proved all things you hold fast that which is good As you have received an Understanding from the Lord let it be your Care in the Exercise of your Minds to live in obedience to the Lord in what you know to be the holy good and acceptable Will of God and not hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness Rom. 1.18 The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousnesâ— What hath your Care been to hold fast thaâ— which is good You must hold it fast by living according to what you know all profession of Godliness will stand Men in no stead if they do not live according to their Light and Knowledge Therefore I greatly pity many in our Days to whom the Lord hath been pleased to give a large measure of his Grace that they certainly know their Duty towards God and how to live and carry themselves among Men but they are like those mentioned by the Apostle In Words they profess Christ but in Works they deny him There are many in our Days that have more Words to speak than a great many that can speak a great deal but live not answerably I speak not this to upbraid any but in pity to their Souls and that every one of us may be excited and stirred up to live according to what we have received What will it profit a Man if he know never so much and run to and fro till Knowledge be increased The Lord is about to seek out a People in all Places that may try all things and hold fast that which is good This I shall leave to your Consideration and I would ask every one of you that are before me What do you know of that which is good I hope none of you will say That you do not know that which is good for that person speaks contrary to what the Holy Ghost hath declared Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God since the Lord hath been so merciful as to shew us what is good and what he doth require at our Hands it concerneth every one of us to know whether we live and act according to what God requires and do not sin against our own Light Knowledge and Conscience The Lord may bear with us a great while and his Patience and Long-suffering may be lengthned out a great while the Time will come when God will bear no longer it will be as it was with the old World and with Sodom and Gomorrah when Noah went into the Ark a Deluge of Wrath came upon them When Lot went out of Sodom it was destroyed by Fire The Lord sent a Flood to drown and destroy the old World And he sent Fire from Heaven to burn the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because they sinned against him And saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the Terror of the Lord we persuade Men. When I consider these awakening Words and Sayings I think with my self How can sinful Men and Women go on in such a course when they must certainly appear at Christ's Tribunal and give an Account of their Deeds of whatever they have done in the Body whether good or bad If Men would take this into their Thoughts they would consider We must die and as Death leaveth us Judgment will find us and take hold of us Consider your Ways repent and turn to the Lord that you may appear before him with Joy at the great day of his Appearing Let your Religion be what it will I mind not for any Man 's private Persuasion or Opinion Prove all things prove Men's Words prove Men's Sayings and that which is of greatest concernment of all let us prove our own Ways and examine our own Actions how we have lived and what we have done if we have lived according to what we have received and done according to what we have known to be our Duty we are in a good condition but if we have lived contrary our own Consciences will condemn us if we be like those mentioned by the Apostle to Titus Chap. 1.10 That profess that they know God but in Works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good Work reprobate I do greatly pity every Soul that is found in such a state and condition because he is in the broad Way that leads to Destruction Our Lord Christ's Saying was after this manner Matth. 7.13 14. Enter ye in at the strait Gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to Destruction and many there be which go in thereat because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it The Lord is pleased to afford a Day of Visitation to all sinful Men and Women a day of grace and mercy a day wherein he is seeking of them â—y his dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord to â—ring them out of their sinful state that they may be saved from the Wrath to come So often as thou findest any thing in thee â—eproving and condemning thee for any evil thing that is the gift of God the spirit of Truth the holy Spirit the spiritual Appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ who is come to seek and save that which is lost Let me entreat you all that desire the salvation of your Souls that you will be careful to enter into the Examination of your Selves after this
astonished what is the matter They find thâ— word of God quick and powerful and sharpeâ— than a two-edged Sword and it hath â—unded and pierced them they had rather â— touched with a naked Sword and receive â— Wound in their Bodies than feel that Anâ—ish in their Souls when the Sword of the â—â—irit the word of the Lord hath reached â—â—eir Hearts then they cry out Have pity on 〈◊〉 have pity on me for the hand of the Lord â—â—h touched me The Word of the Lord is â—ick and powerful and sharper than a two-â—ged Sword thou wilt find it like the Sword 〈◊〉 Gideon against thy spiritual Enemies When the Children of Israel were greatly â—poverished because of the Midianites they â—ed unto the Lord The Angel of the Lord â—eared to Gideon as he was threshing Wheat 〈◊〉 the Wine-press to hide it from the Midiaâ—â—tes and the Angel said unto him The Lord 〈◊〉 with thee thou mighty man of valour Judg. â— 14. And it is said The Lord looked upon â—n and said unto him Go in thy might and â—â—u shalt save Israel from the hands of the â—â—dianites have I not sent thee And he said 〈◊〉 my Lord wherewith shall I save Israel â—â—hold my Family is poor in Manasseh and I 〈◊〉 the least in my Father's House And the â—rd said unto him Surely I will be with thee â—d thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man â—â—deon desires a Sign he put a fleece of Wool â—on the Floor and the Dew was upon the â—eece and it was dry upon all the Earth â—sides And Gideon said unto God Let not thine Anâ— be hot against me and I will speak but this once let me prove I pray thee this once with 〈◊〉 Fleece let it now be dry only upon the Fleâ— and upon all the Ground let there be Dew 〈◊〉 God did so that Night and gave him a certâ— Token and Assurance that he would vouchsafe 〈◊〉 presence with him Gideon levies an Army thirty thousand And the Lord said to Gideâ—â— the People that are with thee are too many 〈◊〉 me to give the Midianites into their hands 〈◊〉 Israel vaunt themselves against me sayinâ— Mine own hand hath saved me And there 〈◊〉 turned of the People two and twenty thousanâ— and there remained ten thousand And the Loâ— said the People are yet too many bring thâ— down to the Water And they bowed down their Knees to drink Water only three hundrâ—â— Men lapped Water with their Tongues as 〈◊〉 Dog lappeth By these saith the Lord I wâ— save you And the Lord said to Gideon 〈◊〉 down to the Host of Midian for I have delâ—vered it into thy hand but if thou fearest 〈◊〉 go down go with Pharoah thy servant and thâ— shalt hear what they say and afterward shâ— thine hand be strengthened And when Gideâ—â— was come near to the Midianites that lay alonâ— in the Valley like Grashoppers for Multitude and their Camels were without number like thâ— sand of the Sea-side And behold there was â— man that told a Dream unto his Fellow sayinâ— Behold I dreamed a Dream and lo a Cake 〈◊〉 Barley-bread tumbled into the Host of Midiaâ— and came unto a Tent and smote it that it feâ— and overturned it that the Tent lay alone Anâ— his Fellow answered and said This is nothing elsâ— save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash a man 〈◊〉 Israel for into his hand hath God delivered â—idian and all the Host. And when Gideon â—ard the telling of the Dream and the interâ—retation of it he worshipped and returned inâ—o the Host of Israel and said Arise the Lord â—ath delivered them into our hands And he â—â—vided the three hundred men into three Comâ—â—nies and he put a Trumpet into every man's and with empty Pitchers and Lamps within â—he Pitchers And the three Companies blew â—he Trumpets and brake the Pichers and â—eld the Lamps in their left hands and the â—rumpets in their right hands to blow withal â—nd they cried The sword of the Lord and of Gideon And they stood every man in his place â—ound about the Camp and all the Host of Miâ—ian ran and cried and fled and the Lord set â—very Man's sword against his Fellow even â—hroughout all the Host of Midian and they â—estroyed one another These things are written for our Learning â—hat through patience and the comfort of the â—criptures we might have hope so that thou â—hat complainest of thy Weakness and want of â—ower thou shall be strengthened with all might and by the sword of the Spirit the word of God thou shalt prevail and put to â—light the Armies of the Aliens and say with â—he Apostle Thanks be to God that giveth us Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ And with Zacharias Luk. 1.67 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemâ—d his People and raised up a Horn of salvation for us And say as the Psalmist Praise ye the Lord praise God in his Sanctuary praise him in the Firmament of his Power praise him for his mighty Acts praise him according to his excellent Greatness let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. And as Moses praised God in his Song after the deliverance at the Red Sea I will sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horse and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea The Lord is my Strength and Song he is become my Salvation he is my God and I will prepare him an Habitation my Father's God and I will exalt him who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods Who is like thee glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises doing Wonders But some will object and say Notwithstanding all the strength and power the Lord giveth his People here is a great Allay We have a subtle Adversary to deal with the Devil that old Serpent he beguiled our first Parents in Paradice in a state of Innocence He is the Prince of the power of the Air and a roaring Lion going about continually seeking whom he may devour I answer This Talk is begun to be laid aside when thou feelest the power of God and thou maist encourage thy self in this that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World When the strong Man armed keeps the House his Goods are in peace but when a stronger than he comes to dispossess him he spoils him of his Goods When once you come to be acquainted with the power of God working mightily within you you will say The beloved of my Soul is come and hath strengthened me with all might in my inward Man and enabled mâ— to overcome the Enemy The Son of God is come and hath given us an Understanding that we may know him that is true This is very comfortable Here is light sown for the Righteous and gladness for the upright in Heart But methinks I hear another sound in another Soul speaking after this manner I have believed unto remission of Sins and in my waiting upon
Man The Sadducees and Atheistical Persons of that age wherein our Saviour appeared that denied a Resurrection of the Body and that there were Spirits Our Saviour for their conviction did many wonderful Works he raised the Dead and cast out evil Spirits and declared himself to be the Son of God with Power in that he cast out Devils from the possessed Persons and made them confess and own his Divinity One of the evil Spirits cried out saying What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of the most high God I should be glad if I had time to speak more at large concerning Christs Death and sufferings and Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven and sitting at the right Hand of God and living for ever to make Intercession for us The Apostle Peter declares Acts 2.22 25. Ye Men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a Man approved of God among you by miracles wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know whoâ— God raised up having loosed the pains of Death because it was not possible he should be holden of it The Lord Jesus appeared after his Resurrection to Mary Magdalen at the Sepulcher where she sees two Angels in VVhite sitting the one at the Head the other at the Feet where the Body of Jesus had lain And they said unto her Woman Why Weepest thou she saith unto them because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him And when she had thus said she turned her self back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus And he said unto her Woman why Weepest thou Whom seekest thou she supposing him to be the Gardiner said unto him Sir If thou hast born him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take him away Jesus saith unto her Mary She turned her self and saith unto him Rabboni which is to say Master Jesus saith unto her touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father but go to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Mary Magdalen came and told the Disciples That she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her Then the same Day at the Evening being the first Day of the Week when the Doors were shut where his Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you And he shewed them his Hands and his side And the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord but Thomas was not with them when Jesus came The other Disciples said unto him We have seen the Lord But he said unto them except I see in his Hand the Print of the Nails and put my Finger into the Print of the Nails and thrust my Hand into his side I will not believe And after eight Days his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the Doors being shut and said Peace be unto you Then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy Finger and behold my Hands and reach hither thy Hands and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing And Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and my God Jesus saith unto him Thomas Because thou hast seen me thou hast believed Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed To confirm our belief of these great and wonderful things recorded in the Scripture Luke the Evangelist writes after this manner Forasmuch as many have taken in Hand to set forth in order a Declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us even as they delivered them to us which from the beginning were Eye-Witnesses and Ministers of the World it seemed good unto me also to write unto thee most excellent Theophilus that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed And that we might not be jealous in reference to any thing concerning Christ crucified and his being dead and buried and his Resurrection and Ascension he appeared again to Saul going to Damascus Suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven And he fell to the Earth and heard a Voice saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And he said who art thou Lord And the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest It is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do Friends I shall now draw to a close and God willing if I have opportunities hereafter I shall discharge my Conscience in an enlargement upon these great points of Doctrin which are necessary to be opened to you for building you up in your most holy Faith Keep yâ—ur selves in the love of God to whom I commit you beseeching him to strengthen you with all Might in the inwarded Man that you may abound in all the Fruits of the Spirir and shew forth the virtues of Christ and be Holy in all manner of conversation and adorn the Doctrin of God our Saviour in all things by patient continuance in well doing For he that endureth to the end shall be saved A SERMON Preached by George Keith At Grace-Church-street October 31. 1694. Gal. 4. 19 My Little Children of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you THere is something by way of Testimony upon my Heart at this time which I shall deliver as briefly as the Lord shall be pleased to enable me concerning this great â—nd weighty Matter which is of great conâ—ernment to all of us in order to our eternal â—elfare and Salvation that every one in parâ—icular may come to experience Christ formed â—n them This is more than an outward Ptofession Men and Women may make a large Profession of Christ yea of Christ within and â—et be strangers to this great Mystery of haâ—ing Christ formed in them It is a thing â—ore than a bare Theory or Speculation or â—hat which some are pleased to Call an Ideal â—â—owledg or an Idea of Faith there must be Heart-knowledge and Heart-experience to â—itness this That Christ is formed in us and â—â—deed none are fit to speak of this Mystery â—r declare of it unto others but those who â—ave an experimental knowledg and Proof of â—t in their own Particulars They know not â—ow to Preach Christ to others that have â—ot come to witness Christ formed in them â—nd by that Rule many that are called â—reachers and are professed Preachers ought â—o he rejected and denied to be true Ministers â—f Christ if they are strangers to this Mistery â—hough they have high notions of Christ in â—heir Heads and in their Brains from the â—etter of the Scripture and from orher Mens Declarations but if they know not this Mystery of Christ being formed in them they â—e not true Members of Christ if they have â—ot experience of it And therefore it may well enough in part be understood
heavenly Seed that as tâ— Corn that grows in a good Soil it must tenderly cherished So thou must cherish Goâ— Plant in thine own Heart that there may an increase and growth God hath set an hâ—â—venly Seed and Plant in thy Heart it is â—â—ry precious and worthy of thy care and mâ— tender Love and dearest affections in orâ— to its growth and springing up that it may sâ—fe and secured from what soever may be â—â—rtful and pernicious to it I would have you to consider a Diâ—â—nction concerning this Seed as it is formâ—â—g and as it is formed as Corn that â—ows while it is but young and tender in the â—ade it is but forming when it is in the Blosâ—â—m and in the green Ear it is yet but â—â—rming but when it comes to its substance 〈◊〉 be solid Corn and Grain then it is formed â—ow when a Seed or Plant is forming as it is generally known to such as underâ—â—and any thing of Husbandry as VVheat â—hen it is Green in the Field is in danger â—f Blasting but after it comes to be formed â—nd is well ripened in the Ear it 's past the â—anger of Blasting or Mildew or spoilâ—ng Now to apply this Spiritually and inwardâ—y There is a season and a time when this â—eavenly Seed or Plant of God's own planâ—ng is in danger so to speak of Blasting as â—o us and there is a time when it is grown â—trong and vigorous when the danger of Blasting is over I hope there are some here â—rrived at that blessed state and condition that God's Corn and Heavenly Seed in them is â—ome to ripeness and maturity yet there are â—egrees of ripeness to be further attained that we may overcome all Hinderances and Enemies of our growth and increasing with the â—ncrease of God that we may have that sweet â—nd blessed promise fulfilled to us Rev. 3.12 Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar the Temple of my God O Friends Let us all wait for it and lâ—â— us be strong in the Lord and in the Poweâ— of his might while we are warring and fighâ—ing with our Souls Enemy VVe have â— holy war and we have VVeapons but theâ— are spiritual Weapons not Carnal Lâ—â— us make War against our Spiritual Enemie that we may overcome and be made Pillars iâ— the House of God and go no more out Heâ—â— is security we shall go no more out but be a God's ripe Corn gathered into the Barn nâ— danger then when any are arrived at this happy state there is no doubt that any sucâ— will indulge themselves in Lazinefs and takâ— any sinful liberty or Latitude to themselves but have a holy and awful fear and dread and a holy care and concern upon them to serve the Lord with all readiness and chearfâ—lness do the will of God The more that any come to a holy and safe and secure state and condition the more will their Hearts be filled with diligence and fear and love and temperance and humility Now as concerning the state of the Galatians I told you That Paul had laboured among rhem with success but other Teachers came among them by whom they received hurt and suffered loss and detriment so that they needed a New Visitation and building up that all might not be destroyed thaâ— Paul had been building up in them they had suffered that loss and damage that they needed Paul's Ministry to bring them to an Establishment in the truth that they might stand in searching and shaking times Sometimes in Harvest there may arise such tempestuous Winds as may shake the Corn So such shaking and searching times may come as to try and terrify God's People and shake God's Corn before it be gathered into the Lord's Barn It is good to be preparing for such things and making ready and to be earnest with the Lord to prepare us that if shaking Winds shall come we may be preserved stedfast and unmovable and abounding in the Work of the Lord that our labour may not be in vain in the Lord. If it shall be so that many shall be shaken such times may come let us prepare and make ready that we may not be surprized but preserved in shaking times and those that shall be preserved unshaken when the Winds of Mens Doctrins shall blow upon them let them bless and praise the Lord. The Apostle tells us Eph. 4.10 11 12. That our Lord Jesus Christ ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledg 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 tossed to and fro and carried about with every Wind of Doctrin by the slight of Men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive There is nothing but the Lord's Power is able to preserve us if we trust in the Lord and depend upon him he will preserve us and be unto us as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land We shall be preserved if we keep in the living exercise of Faith if we do not live in the daily exercise of Faith we shall be as Corn on the House top shaken and bring forth no good Fruit in season Let us live in the Exercise of faith and depend on God for the assistance of his Spirit and them we shall be preserved in shaking times Now to speak a little further concerning this great and weighty Matter it is commonly said that in Regeneration there is an infusing of certain Habits of Faith Repentance and Love into the Soul but this is not the manner of their Doctrin who are called Quakers nor of my Doctrin nor agreeable to the holy Scriptures to say That Habits of Grace are infused into the Soul The Scripture calls it The Life of God which is better and more than Habits There is a Principle of divine Life communicated to the Soul in Regeneration a measure of the divine Nature which is indeed fitly called The Life of God that actuates and enlivens the Soul and is united to it as the Soul doth animate and act in the Body to which it is united the which union of the divine Life with the Soul is by the Souls Faith and Love to God and Christ This is that which I have had experience of and I have not lost it whatsoever some have said I feel a Principle of divine Life acting in my Soul as my Soul acts in my Body this is Christ formed within us How doth the Soul put forth such noble and vigorous Actings and rule and actuate the Body The Body must be organized have its due Organs prepared that the Soul may act in us and exert its