Historical Belief of what Christ did for us above Sixteen Hundred Years ago 't is not this only that will administer a sufficient true and saving knowledge of Christ and really interest us in his Death and Sufferings all which People may talk of and please themselves withal and yet continue as fast bound under the Dominion of Satan who still rules where disobedience is as those less perfect in that Lesson But the true and saving Knowledge of Christ is to know our selves turn'd from Darkness to Light Act. 26.18 from the power of Satan to the power oâ— God Col. 1.13 that by it we may be delivered from the power of Darkness and be translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son to know his saving power really to rescue and redeem us from under the power of him that hath enthrall'd us Joh. 8.32.36 Mar. 3.27 and leads Captive at his Will those who lives in the vanity of their Minds to know him bind this strong Man Mal. 3.2 3. to spoil his Goods and dispossess and cast him out to know Christ to sit in the Soul as a Refiner Luk. 3.16 17. Ro. 15.16 Joh. 13.8 1 Thes 5.23 1 Cor. 1.2 Joh. 14.23 Heb. 13.21 to burn up consume and destroy to purify and throughly to purge out whatsoever is contrary to him to wash us and make us clean that we may have right to a part in him that being cleansed and sanctified he may take up his abode with us exercising his Kingly power and working in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure The Mind being thus disentangled and having cast off its former Yoke the old things being done away 2 Cor. 5.17 Ezek. 36.26 all things now become new a new tender Heart of Flesh according to the Promise new Thoughts Desires Inclinations Affections Words and Actions this new inside producing a new outside also Mat. 23. â—6 even throughout a new Creature now in Christ indeed and â—eally entituled to those Benefits that â—…erue to Men through him That liâ—ing Faith that pleaseth God Jam. 2.18 to the end and gives Victory and is ever fruitful to him in â—ood Works being begotten and this work of Redemption and Regeneration thus wrought in the Soul by Jesus Christ Heb. 12.2 together with that most preâ—ious Sacrifice he offer'd up when his Precious Blood was shed upon the Cross for us we believe compleats the Salvaâ—ion of every Soul that is thus awakened and made alive and set free Ro. 6.11.13 by the power and Spirit of him that â—s the Way the Truth Joh. 8.36 and the Life of every Soul that truly lives to God to walk in that Holy way of Life Truth and Peace Isa 35.8 9. that was prepared of old for the Ransomed and Redeemed to walk in And we believe that he graciously waits with exceeding great kindness and long suffering that Men may Repent knocking at the Door of every Man's Heart freely offering Rev. 3.20 but not imposing his Assistance to this most concerning work and change in the Minds of Men Mat. 23.37 so that in the day wherein God will judge the World by Jesus Christ and every secret thing will be made manifest God will be justified and clear of the Blood of a Men and every Mouth will be stopped and every Man's Condemnatioâ— will be of himself for having rejected the Day of his Visitation where in God calls to Man and offers to be reconciled to him for resisting thâ— strivings and slighting the Reproofâ— of his Spirit Neh. 9.20 which in matchless Mercy he hath given Man to instruct him and shew and lead him in the way of Life and Peace We believe that though the pravity of Man's Nature in the Fall is such that the Natural or Carnal Man that is enmity against God in the state of meeâ— Nature Ro. 8.5.7 8. minds only the things of the Flesh and naturally brings forth the Works thereof and cannot please God nor keep and observe his Laws but is prone to evil yet that those who embrace the Visitation of God 1 Pet. 1.23 and are really Regenerated and born again of incorruptible Seed Heb. 4.12 by the Word of God that lives and abides for ever that ingrafted Word that is quick and powerful Jam. 1.21 Joh. 17.17.19 and able to Save and Sanctify the Soul are born into a new Life and invested with another and higher power and becomes Spiritually minded Joh. 3.6 and by the Spirit are set at liberty to walk after the Spirit and bring forth it's fruits and receive ability from the Spirit to serve God acceptably Ro. 8.14.15 being now led by the Spirit of God and become his Children taught of him and through the Spirit of Adoption receiv'd into their Hearts 1 Cor. 12.3 Ro. 8.13 6.6 Eph. 4.22 23 24. Gal. 5.24 Col. 3.9.10 have right to call God Father and Jesus Lord For having through the Spirit mortified the Old Man or first Nature with his corrupt and depraved â—nclinations and evil Deeds and put him off having crucified the Flesh with the affections and lusts thereof they put on the New and Heavenly Man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and being renewed in the Spirit of their Minds Ro. 6.4 7.6 they now walk in Newness of Life and are really in Christ and therefore are changed and become new Creatures and now think and act under the conduct of a principle Superiour to that which formerly governed them having their Minds raised to a Region above that of fallen Nature so that now the stream of their thoughts desires and actions runs in another current and the bent of their affections are after those things that are above where Christ is Col. 3.1 2. that Eye being now open'd that sees a more transcendent beauty and desireableness in the invisible and durable treasures of him than all the transcient felicitles of this World can afford â— Ro. 13.14 And we believe That whosoever expects the blessed imputation of Christ's Righteousness ought thus to put on the Lord Jesus and to be thus cloathed upon and covered with his Righteousness and in measure have his Holy Life brought forth in and through them and know him to enliven and influence their Minds Isa 26.12 Phil. 2.13 and 4.13 Joh. 15.5 and to work in and for them and that without him they can do nothing but through him that strengthens them they can do whatsoever he commands them that as they abide living branches in him through that sap and vertue they daily receive from him Joh. 15.5 8. they are made able to bring forth fruits well-pleasing to God whereby he is glorified For though God the Father accepts us in Christ and for his sake yet is the New-Birth the indispensible Qualification and true distinguishing Mark of those that are really in him He that is in Christ is a new
12.15 16. it being disagreeable to his Justice to condemn those that have not deserved to be punished and having no pleasure in the death of him that dies Ezek. 18.32 Wis 11.23 24. should yet make the major part of Mankind with design to damn them unprovok'd thereto without ever tendring them Salvation or that he would make the far greater number wholly uncapable of accepting the Salvation tendred them by putting it out of their power to perform those Terms upon which he offers it and then condemn them to eternal Misery for not complying with those Conditions that 't was impossible for them to observe Isa 45.22 For he don't only call to all the ends of the Earth which implies all Mankind to look to him and be saved but he hath given to every one a Portion of his Spirit to enable them so to do he hath not only sent forth the Son of his Love to shed his Blood for every Man Joh. 3.14 15 16. to be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent that whosoever believeth in him Joh. 6.44 45. should not perish but he also draws them and as they will receive it toucheth them with that Divine Magnet that only can incline and impower them effectually to turn to that Pole in which all our true Happiness centers But this is the condemnation Joh. 3.19 20. that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light Eph. 5. â—â— because their Deeds are evil and hate the Light and will not bring their Deeds to it lest it should reprove them for whatsoever is reprovable is made manifest by the Light but Men love their own broad ways to pursue the sight of their Eyes and desire of their Minds Eccl. 11.9 and therefore hate to be control'd therein and reform'd The Apostle stirring up the Ephesians to Purity of Life and to avoid several Evils there mentioned saith expresly Eph. 5.6 7. Let no Man deceive you with vain Words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience And in another place Ro. 8.13 That those who live after the Flesh shall die So that 't is for want of Peoples embracing the Means and bringing their Deeds to the Light of Christ in their Hearts and heeding the Reproofs of Instruction Pro. 6.23 Gal. 6.8 which is the way of Life for want of sowing to the Spirit and by it mortifying the Deeds of the Flesh that People are lost and sentenced to Perdition and not because they were personally and inconditionally reprobated from all Eternity God who is Lord of all 1 Tim. 2.3 4. is gracious unto all and would have all Men to be saved but they disobey the Call of God and reject his Offers and resist the Strivings of his Spirit and are deaf to those Knocks of our Saviour for Reception and Entertainment in their Hearts Rev. 3.20 and choose and prefer the present World and will not deny themselves to follow Christ 'T is not as these Men say because Salvation was never within their reach if 't were not what must we think Were those feigned Tears then Luke 13.34 Mat. 23.37 that our Saviour shed over Jerusalem when the Day of its Visitation was over Saying also How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathers her Chickens but you would not not you could not But if any Men can be so hardy as to entertain an Opinion so derogatory to the Justice Mercy Love and Paternal Care of God and repugnant to the Gospel-message we cannot but admire what should induce them to obtrude it upon others and urge it as though 't was a necessary Point to be believed in the Christian Religion for we cannot apprehend how this begets Love to God increaseth Faith in Christ and raiseth our Veneration for him excites to Diligence and encourages Piety which is that which advanceth true Religion but on the contrary it 's plain that it tends to the indulging some in a Security and procure in others a slight Esteem of the Death and Sacrifice of Christ as being partial and casts them into Despond and probably may encourage both to gratifie the Desires of their Minds to the full extent since nothing can alter such a supposed Decree of God one way or the other Yet we deny not the Prescience of God who fore-knows all things things past present and to come being at once present to him so that it may be said such who believe in Christ with that living active Faith that works by Love and excites to Obedience and persevere therein unto the end and so know Salvation by him are in him in whom the Election is before the World began and that those who so believe not but reject the Tenders of his Love and by persisting in Disobedience neglect so great Salvation are condemned already Nor do we deny such a Preference as that some are made Stewards over more and some fewer Talents according to which their Improvement ought to be Where much is given much is required and where less is given less is required for God is just and equal in all his Ways he is not a hard Master Mat. 25.14 to the 28. that he should exact or expect more than the Improvement of his own Had he that received but one Talent imploy'd it and made it Two we doubt not but it had been accepted for we believe that none are from Eternity absolutely excluded without any Talent and that a Day also is afforded wherein 't is possible for them to improve it So that though the Grace may work more powerfully in some than in others yet are all left without Excuse There is yet another Opinion dependant on this which we cannot receive neither as they state it for which our Opposers think very ill of us that is once in a state of Grace and ever so that there is no total or final falling away from Grace How this Doctrin promotes true Zeal and Piety and improves Christianity we can't understand nor see no other reason why its Votaries should be so fond of it but because 't is concordant to that of Personal Election and Reprobation so that those who imbrace the one are bound to believe the other But otherwise certainly it tends rather to slacken than spur on People to that care and diligence and constant unwearied watchfulness to Prayer which our Lord so much exhorted to and the Apostles so solicitously presse the Saints every-where to be found in as of absolute necessity What else means those Promises of Reward in the Revelations to those who should overcome and hold out to the end but to ingage them to a constant Perseverance Or what needed it if 't were impossible for them to fall short whom we suppose none will deny to have been in a state of Grace And the Church of Ephesus was threatned to have their Candlestick removed Rev. 2.5
uncharitable Expression Devil must needs carry us a pick-pack to Hell Is it in that we hold forth the infinite Love of God to Mankind in not only freely of his meer Grace and Favour providing a Sacrifice through which an Atonement is made for the past Transgressions of Man who was never at all in a capacity to make any for himself Joh. 3.15 16. Act. 10.43 1 Cor. 12.7 which is applicable to every one who shall believe repent and return but hath also afforded to all the means of Faith Repentance and Conversion for God requires not impossibilities of Men but expects they should improve those talents distributed to them In not only sending forth the Son of his love to dye for their Sins that they should no longer live therein but also in sending forth his Light and Spirit of Truth into their Hearts Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.13 to lead and guide them into all Truth and causing his Grace that brings Salâ—ation Tit. 2.11 12. to appear to all Men to inâ—truct and teach them to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World to rescue and save them from â—iving in the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and help and strengthen them to return to their Obedience and live a Sober Righteous and Godly Life to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of their Lives Which Gift from God to Man the Holy Scriptures plentifully testifie too under various denominations as Spirit Light Word Grace Seed Leaven Anointing c. By all which we understand that Spirit or Heavenly Talent Mat. 25.14 15. with which God hath endowed Mankind in some degree or other that he may profit with it in the improvement whereof by a diligent Co-working therewith to the answering those holy ends for which we receive it we doubt not but to be happy in rendring a good account of our Stewardship and entring finally into the Joy of our Lord. Our Opposers themselves also pretend to the Spirit and Grace of God or else what means their Praying for its Assistance and those plausible fine-spun Discourses of it wherewith they sometimes entertain their Auditory We Charitably hope 't is more real than only to beautify and recommend them to the Hearers as what they cannot well avoid for that the Scriptures are so full of that Language and if indeed it be real why is that aâ—… Fault and Error in us which is so sound and ornamental in them And we think it very strange that they should apprehend any incongruity in granting this Divine Principle to be a Divine Light to the Mind since its proper Office is to teach and instruct to manifest and point to us our Duty as well as to dispose and enable us to perform it and ought to be our Leader and Governour If the Godly Admonitions Tit. 2.11 12. Joh. 14.17 26. 16.7 8 13 14. 1 Joh. 2.27 and Exemplary Lives of Good Men were rightly called Lights to the World surely much more properly may this whose Fountain is Light and does more nearly illuminate and inform the Understanding and renders those effectual justly challenge that necessary and acceptable appellation If then the Grace and Spirit of God be in the Hearts of Men surely 't is not wholly unactive there â—â—t will be making some Attempts â—â—wards accomplishing the end for â—hich 't is placed there 't will be at â—â—mes attacking the Enemy and endeaâ—â—uring to supplant its contrary for â—â—ing holy and pure in its Nature it s â—…ver reconcileable to Sin and Evil â—…t ever strives against it and may as â—â—…en regard it be infallibly known by â—â—e nature of its efforts And we dare â—ppeal even to all Mankind whether â—â—ey find not something placed in their â—inds and Consciences which though â—erhaps not regent there yet never â—ingles with nor consents to their eâ—â—… deeds but always remains undefiâ—â—d and testifies against them and conâ—â—icts reproves Joh. 3.20 21. Eph. 5.13 and condems them for 〈◊〉 and also oft-times in the cooler â—…emper of their Spirits manifests their â—…ates to them and as 't were Reasons â—ith them discovering the evil of their â—ays secretly calling to them to come â—ut of it begetting Desires and Incliâ—ations sometimes to seek after God â—nd to make their Peace with him Now since Man in his meer natural â—tate is totally Dead and fallen from God that he cannot as of himself think 〈◊〉 good Thought and that God only â—…s essentially good and as that which is truly so must needs proceed froâ— him Joh. 16.8 13. this Principle in us that ever coâ—victs us for Vice and Evil whether 〈◊〉 Thought Word or Deed and disposeâ— us to consider of our latter end Prov. 14.13 anâ— oft makes Men sigh in the midst 〈◊〉 Laughter reminding them that fâ—… those things they must give an Aâ—count that draws us Heaven-ward and inclines us to Vertue and Goodness to do to all Men as we would bâ—… done unto to be Just Sober Merciful Temperate c. Must needs bâ—… something that is not of us but 〈◊〉 pure and immaculate and of a divinâ— nature ever aspiring and raising thâ—… Mind towards its Original Whence it cannot be a Natural Light or meer light of Nature as very manâ— would have it who yet talk of the Spirit of God being in Man for 't is aâ— undoubted truth that no Agent can act beyond its own sphere and raise its object to a state more noble that it self nor produce effects of a Nature more sublime than its own Original Besides 't is very clear and evident from Scripture Job 21.17 Psal 18.28 that the Mind of Man is oft lighted by a Light superiour to that of meer Reason and that Man by the utmost power and extent of Humane Reason and Speculation though 〈◊〉 may arrive to an implicit knowâ—â—dge that there is a God yet can â—ver attain to a true spiritual and â—â—ving knowledge of God without the â—oncurrence of a Divine and Superâ—â—tural Agent Ro. 1.19 2 Cor. 4.6 Prov. 20.27 Luk. 24.45 Joh. 1.9 Eph. 5.13 14 17. Psal 36.9 For though the Mind 〈◊〉 Man as a Rational Being be that â—apacity or Candle that is to be Lightâ—â— yet 't is Christ that must so enâ—â—ghten it as to give us a true disâ—â—rning of those things that appertain â—o him and his Kingdom and by adâ—ering and yielding Obedience to its Discoveries Prov. 4.18 1 Cor. 2.10 to the end we shall know an Accession â—f more Light And the Apostle speakâ—ng of what God by his Spirit had reâ—ealed to them saith expresly that â—he spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God and that as none knows the things of a Man save the Spirit of Man which is in him so the things of God knows no Man but the Spirit of God That the Natural Man neither knoweth nor receiveth the
not Life How could his People in all Ages partake of him if he were not present in them Surely this Doctrin don't deserve to be scoft but is most comfortable to those who are sick of Love and thirst ardently after the Enjoyment not Hear-say of him Consider seriously these things which are agreeable to Scripture Ro. 10.6 7 8. 2 Cor. 13.5 Col. 1.27 and with what reason People have derided us for our Belief herein terming it the Quakers Christ as though his manifesting himself in our Hearts were another or distinct from Jesus Christ of Nazareth that is glorified with God the Father in Heaven which we deny For though he be ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God far above all Principalities and Powers yet is not he so circumscribed but that as by him all things were made and created so he is the Life and Fulness Col. 1.16 Eph. 1.23 3.9 4.10 and filleth all in all in his Church and People Is the Divinity and Humanity of Christ divided Is not their inseparable Union the true and intire Christ Can then his God-head be present and he who is the Heavenly Man be absent What think you of him that appear'd to John and gave him his Commission to the Seven Churches whom he describes Rev. Ch. 1. who saith Behold I stand at the door and knock Rev. 3.20 2.23 if any Man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me The same saith I am he which searches the reins and hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your works Was not this the true Christ the Mediator Act. 17.31 Ro. 2.16 by whom God will judge the World And can he make this near inspection into the innermost part of the Minds of Men so as no Thought can escape his notice if he be not present there What made Paul desire that our Lord Jesus Christ might be with Timothy's Spirit 2 Tim. 4.22 Joh. 1.16 1 Joh. 4.13 if he thought it impossible Do not all acknowledge the Spirit of Christ who is the Anointed to be in his People and is he then absent Is its being a Mystery far beyond our comprehension to conceive how it can be a sufficient Argument that therefore 't is not so Ought we not in such cases to exercise Faith and acquiesce in the Testimony of the Holy Ghost exprest in the Sacred Scriptures rather than interpose with our nice and curious Subtilties prying unnecessarily into things that are too high for us remembring that Secret things belong to God and that those that know most here know only in part the things that are invisible 1 Cor. 13.9 12. and see them but as through a Glass Shall Men that neither know themselves nor have any intuitive knowledge of the Essences even of the meanest things wherewith Nature every-where presents us which are obvious to our Senses aspire to those yet more abstruce and undertake to account for that which is beyond the reach of the most pregnant Wits to penetrate Nor do we thus celebrate Christ's inward and spiritual appearance in the Soul of Man with the least intent to diminish the true value and efficacy of what he did without us or transacted for us as God manifested in Flesh but in concurrence with it and pursuant to it for the compleating the Salvation intended in it neither is it in opposition to him as he is without us but we believe in him as he is inwardly revealed in measure and also as he is in his own immense fulness without us both as he is the one Offering for Sin and also as he is that quickening Spirit and immortal Seed by which we are begotten again and made alive to God and the Author of that Living Faith through which 't is savingly applied to us For though he offered up himself once for all and sat down at the right hand of God yet 't is of absolute necessity that he thus appear and operate in the Hearts of his People through all times or otherwise they can never be happy nor they receive the full advantage of his Death But that he doth thus appear and work is most evident for since he is the alone Saviour and none are saved but those who are Regenerated that Grace or Operative Divine Agent that is the Efficient of true saving Faith and Regeneration must needs be Christ in us our Hope of Glory Wherefore 't is that we so frequently invite People to regard believe in close with and submit to him as he is the true Light discovering Evil thus manifested in their inward Parts for the full accomplishing their Redemption and Restoration that they may taste and see for themselves that the Lord is good and gracious and to Christ within otherwise than thus a measure of the anointing from the Anointed we don't pretend whatever People have apprehended concerning us Which truth our very Opposers are obliged to acknowledge notwithstanding they so ridicule it in us We hope it 's no Error to avouch the Power of Christ to be stronger than that of the Devil Gen. 3.15 that he is able really to bind him to bruise his Head and break his Power to dispossess and cast him out to fulfil to the uttermost the end of his coming to destroy the Works of the Devil and to save those from their Sins who shall have true Faith in his Name and Power Surely it 's not inconsistent with Christianity to believe that Christ can or will throughly purge his Floor that he can indeed deliver out of the Prison-house 1 Thes 5.23 and restore Man out of the Fall to God again and give him power to forsake the Devil and all his Works c. We find it consonant to Scripture and the Gospel-dispensation to believe that those who are regenerated and born again of the Spirit Ro. 6.6 7 11. 2 Pet. 1.4 have through the Spirit mortified the first carnal corrupt Nature which cannot please God and if dead Eph. 4.22 23 24. Col. 3.9 10. and slain and buried too surely then it no longer lives but the Mind is at liberty and restored to act in a new Life to walk after the Spirit and fulfil the Righteousness of the Law the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Ro. 8.2 4. having set them free from the Law of Sin and Death which is its Wages 'T is for want of Peoples experiencing this real Birth of the Spirit brought forth and knowing Freedom in themselves by it which no Duties or Performances in the Will of Man nor entertaining of the most refined Opinions in Religion can administer short of the Law of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts 't is for want of this that People are so very apprehensive of difficulty even to impossibility of living a Holy Righteous Life which yet is so necessary to our Salvation
these had not been long since laid down they would have cleav'd as close to them and that had those of Baptism and Bread and Wine been then discontinued also they would be now as easie under its omission For Tradition Custom and Education makes greater impressions on Mens Minds than perhaps every one may be sensible of nor is it an easie task at first to move them from those things to which they have been fastned by it Would but People wholly relinquish these Prejudices and consider it impartially 't is probable there may appear no such real difference as justly to omit the one and yet with equal reason to continue the other since 't is not that Bread that gives Life to the Soul nor doth necessarily include it but that Christ may be and is received and fed on without it Nor that those can be thought to forget his Death and Sacrifice Tit. 2.14 who sensibly partake of the Benefits thereof and pursue its Ends who are taught and assisted by him to live a Godly Righteous Life Gal. 1.4 and bear about in them the Marks of the Dying of our Lord Jesus who died for all Mat. 1.21 2 Cor. 5.15 that those who live should no longer live to themselves fulfilling the Desires of their Minds but to him that died for them Phil. 3.10 that through the power of his Resurrection they may mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh and have Fellowship with his Sufferings in whom his Life is made manifest Neither can those who acknowledge his Death and Sacrifice and partake from time to time of this Bread and Wine in memory of it and yet are not by him redeemed from a vain Conversation and made conformable to his Death and so feed on him as to participate of that Life that comes by him in any wise escape Damnation let their Pretensions be what they will Since then God hath replenish'd our Hearts with his Grace and hath not with-held his Heavenly Manna from us but daily owns us by his comfortable Presence to our great satisfaction under the Omission of these things supplying our Wants and Necessities as we have recourse unto him in that which ever hath access unto him having our continual Dependancy on him who enables and strengthens those of us * For we intend not to Apologize for those who tho' they may be call'd by our Name yet live loosly and walk disorderly and are Blemishes and a Grief to us which yet ought to be imputed to their Insincerity or Unwatchfulness and not to the Insufficiency of the Principle they pretend to that retain our Primitive Sincerity and Integrity to lead a Sober Pious Christian Life as becomes the Gospel of Christ which is the certain Product of Spiritual Grace and forasmuch as our Opposers acknowledge it to be but an outward visible Sign and dare not say that the inward Spiritual Grace is tied to it nor that 't is of absolute necessity to Salvation with what Reason do they Unchristian us and so load us with Calumnies and Accusations on this Account using it as an Instance to blacken us and condemn in gross our whole Christian Profession principally from hence as though 't were the chief thing that constitutes a Christian and entitles him to the Benefits that come by Christ What shall we think then of perhaps more than Two parts in Three of their own Assembly who no more practice this than do we and yet are many of them as sober People and if we may know as Christ directs us by their Fruits are doubtless as near the Kingdom and no less in a State of Grace than are those who so exult in and value themselves upon this Performance which however it may bound and distinguish particular Societies and Communions 't is certain no Observations nor Performances short of being ruled and governed by the Spirit of Christ as Head can entitle us to a Membership in him we may make a specious shew and carry a System of Divinity in our Heads but if he rules not our Hearts we are none of his 'T were well they were as thoughtful to fulfil all Righteousness in every respect and as zealously careful and concern'd to observe and punctually perform all the Commands and Injunctions to which the Christian Religion obligeth them and to qualify themselves to be rightful Inheritors of those Blessings and Promises pronounced by our Saviour as they tenaciously adhere to this as though 't were indeed the Sum both of Mens Duty and Enjoyments and that their Salvation turned upon this very Pin which yet People may perform while their Wills are unsubdued and Lusts unmortified But we find that Men have been apt enough to be busily employed about Mint Annis and Cummin whilst they neglect the weightier Matters to run into and cry up and maintain those exterior parts of Religion that are reconcilable to an Unconverted State If the Professors of Christianity were less taken up about Signs and Shadows and nice and unnecessary Scrutinies and Distinctions wherewith they perplex it and more devoted to observe the weighty important and indispensable Precepts of Christ and demonstrate the Power that Christianity hath over their Minds by affording signal Instances of their being his true Disciples and rightful Heirs of his Kingdom being in measure invested with his Divine Vertues and Graces we should have less Envy Variance Back-biting and Detraction which weaken the common Interest and Piety and give our common Enemy an advantage and more Christian Love Peace Concord and good Neighbourhood amongst us If all that mean well did but pursue Vertue love it and encourage it where-ever it appears and hate Vice and Evil in all and discountenance it every where and make these the Measures of their Christian Charity rather than Parallel Opinions in lesser Matters 't would bring us nearer together and more advance True Piety than all their contending about different Apprehensions in things far less essential God who regards not Names but Natures knows among all Nations and People who are his and the Rule he left us to know also was their Fruits their Actions being the exertion of their Wills all Mankind are either under the Power and Conduct of the Spirit of God or else of the Devil all are either Carnal or Spiritual-minded and as is the spring and bent of their Desires and Affections so is their Actions each Birth have their proper Products which are contrary to each other So that let what Notions or Opinions soever possess Mens Heads they live according to that Spirit and Principle that governs their Hearts We cannot gather Grapes of Thorns nor Figs of Thistles no Fountain sends forth bitter Water and sweet at the same time 'T is an Evangelical Truth Gal. 5.19 20 21 22 23 24. Those that live in Envy and Strife and bring forth the Fruits of the Flesh are of their Father the Devil Eph. 5.9 and those who by the Spirit mortifie those corrupt