an end of Baptism A Man is hungry and when his Time comes to eat he hath no Victuals yet he sits him down as if he did eat will this feed and nourish him So men now a days they have a Baptism wherewith they are baptized but Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire is the right Baptism therefore do not baptize until you find the Holy Ghost this will be far better this is the Baptism that they which come to know it are sure of Salvation by it for by this Baptism they are born up and tinctured in their Souls with the Divine Spirit of Christ Jesus proceeding from the Father and the Son till they receive his Likeness and so die unto Sin As many as were baptized were baptized into Christ's death He openeth it himself in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God so that they that were baptized were baptized into Christ's Death and you that are dead unto sin how should you live any longer therein These that were baptized lived without Sin can that be true never any lived without Sin but Christ only Yes saith the Apostle you that were free from sin are alive to righteousness their Life stood before in Sin and now that Life is taken away by Baptism and they are alive to Christ and he that liveth he liveth to God â—e that comes to be partaker of the first Resurrection if he live Ten Twenty Forty or an Hundred Years he liveth to God he liveth no more in the Pomps and Vanities of the Woâ—ld and the sinful Lusts of the Flesh but he liveth unto God This Baptism whosoever comes to be baptized with it shall be saved so that we do not deny Baptism But we hear say That you deny the Lord's Supper We had never such a Thought God knows there is nothing that our Souls long after more but people have been making a kind of Work of their own they have lost a Reality and make Shadows as Children do who when they see things made in the House for Service they will make the like in Sand and Clay People do not see what a great thing it is to attain to the Supper of the Lord as things came into an Evangelical Opening they spake then more lively and freshly of things Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open to me I will come in and sup with him and he with me For the understanding of this Text If you go and examine and search all the Commentators you can find see what the learned Men say of it see if they do not apply this to the Inward Call of the Spirit and Grace of Christ to let him into our Hearts and would one think that those that wrote these things should be against the Spiritual Dispensation of things They say that this knocking at the Door of the Heart signifies the Call of God's Spirit at the Door of the Heart There are two sorts of Sinners that God knocketh at the Door of their Hearts one is a Man that is weary of his Sin for his part he wisheth that he might never sin more As soon as he perceives the Knock and is called upon to let in the Grace of God to help him against Temptation he freely opens his Heart to receive it and saith With all my Heart I will entertain and welcome the Grace of God glad I am that God hath had so much Patience towards me and since God offers his Grace I will embrace this Grace of God above all Pleasures and I will take it into my Heart the Grace of Christ is the greatest Jewel that I know Honest Paul he took this Course and prayeth Lord take away this Tempter here is a Temptation that troubleth me and I am not willing to yield for all the Devil follows me with it He cried unto the Lord and besought him three times earnestly to take away the Temptation And the Lord answers him My grace is sufficient for thee What matter if the Tempter buffet thee and the Temptation trouble thee hast thou not received my Grace into thy Heart thou art a Believer and thy Trust is in me and my Grace is sufficient for thee Let the Tempter do his worst keep thou to the Grace of God and thou wilt withstand and overcome the Temptation when it comes If a Man openeth his Heart and receiveth Christ when he comes then you shall find such an Alteration in that Man that go and carry him the same Temptation which prevailed over him the last Week it will not do with him now tho' he be as weak as Water and as prone to Corruption and Iniquity as before yet now having a Faith begotten in him that the grace of God will defend him he keeps out of the Devils Snares Now this Man trusting in this grace till his Sin and Iniquity be purged out now is the time to spread the Table there is a clean Heart and the Heavenly Guests are now come and the Dainties of the Kingdom are brought to him for his Nourishment Now saith Christ I I will come in and sup with him and my Father also will come and we will sup with him and he with us This never happens to any Body so long as the Table and Heart is foul for the Table must be clean and the Devil and Sin thrown out and then will the Lord confirm and ratify and seal the Covenant so that here is a Seal with a Witness When a Man hath this Testimony of the Love of God that God is reconciled to him in Christ then Christ will come in and he will bring his Father and they will sup with him and this is that which will give compleat satisfaction to such a Soul All the Tongues of Men and Angels are too short to speak of these things as they are in themselves but they are all manifested by the Spirit All the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are manifested by the Spirit of God now to say there is no Spirit to be regarded now adays that is as much as to say we must never regard the Kingdom of God for no Man can discern the things of God but the Spirit of God no Man can tell what they be As no Man can know the things of a Man buâ— the Spirit of God But I must look to this and the other Form and Mark and Method about them for we can know nothing of the things of God themselves I hope you are all of another Judgment and believe that this is a Trick and Cheat of the wicked one People do find the Spirit and will feel it if they will wait upon the Motions of it I do not only mean when you are here together but when you are separated one from another when you feel the Motions of thiâ— good Spirit embrace them and make them yours This Spirit is a Gift that is given so may a Shilling or a piece of
have an Eye to Christ the Author and Finisher of their Faith when Men have a reference to their Faith in Christ this makes their Duty acceptable I cannot do it except the Lord strengthen me therefore I will have respect to the Mediator Christ Jesus who was sent for a Light into the World God sends forth his Grace to every one to lay hold on that generally believe that tho' they are unable to do what God requires yeâ— he will enable them to do it 〈◊〉 aâ— many as receâ—ved him to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God tho' they were the Devils Children before He is the same yesâ—erday to day and for ever He abides alâ—â—â—s the same in his Grace to Men he is in his operation to them the same he offers Grace to them that are out of a frame of Mind to receivâ— it they may know that his Power will givâ— them Ability and that whatsoever they do of themselves will prove fruitless because it is not done in Christ's Name and Power and so not acceptable to God The greatest thing that we are to be concern'd about if we will be Religious and concern our selves about divine Matters about the Kingdom of God and the World to come is to see what frame of Mind we are in at present whether the high Places are taken away whether we are not exalted in our own Conceits of Knowledge and Wisdom and reckon not to be beholden to him for his Grace If we be highly conceited and think we can stand upon our own Legs the high Places are not taken away Men are not prepared to seek the God of their Fathers therefore let every one mind turning to God and see how it is with you see whether there be a Mind brought low enough to be subject to Christ and to the gracious Teachings of his Spirit A Man may say I can make a good Sermon I can make a good Prayer and Exhortation and I can make a Book â—nd 〈◊〉 it abroad I can do all this by mine own Pâ—â—ts and Abilities so thou maist and maist maâ—e it all full of good Words but thou canst never make it acceptable to God for without me saith Christ you can do nothing Tâ—â—â— must have the assistance of the Spirit of Christ else thou canst not make a good Prayer nor a good Book nor any thing good God esteems the very Plowing of the Wicked to bâ— an Abomination to him Where the Mind is not exercised by the Spirit of God if he should pray from Morning to Night and spend all his Days in Pennance it will do him no good If I saith David regard Iniquity you may think I am a Man in favour with God a Man after Gods own Heart yet if I regard Iniquity in my Heart the Lord will not hear my Prayer What signifies Prayers and Sermons made of good Words if they come not fâ—â—m a Heart separate from Iniquity If it be not so it will do no good at all in point of Acceptance with God O let the fear of the Lord enter upon every Heart wait all to feel the Divine Power of the Lord that brings down every high Thought that so you may look to the Preparation of your Heart that is a right Preparation when People are so low so broken and so tender that they are nothing in their own Eyes but what the Lord will make them to be Then they are as Clay to the Hands of the Potter they are fashioned by his Hands and 〈◊〉 the Worâ—â—anship of God in Chrâ—â—â— Jeâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—e one Mediator between God and Mâ—â— They must bear Christ Jesus his likeness 〈◊〉 his hâ—â—â—enly Image they must â—â—ve hiâ—â—ualities and have the same Minâ— in them that was in him I do always that which pleaseth my Father saith the Lord Jesus Christ Indeed he hath the doing of things in the Hearts of Men and God is pleased with him and where Men have the doing of them themselves they are thrown back as Dung in their Faces where any aim at infallible Justification where Men have a right preparation of Heart so to seek the God of their Fathers as to find him and be accepted of him it is through Jesus Christ in whom he is well pleâ—â—â—â— In all your Assemblies Prayers Exercises and Meditations you must be separated and drawn oâ—â—â—â—m your former Lovers and you must be joined to him that God hath sent to be a â—eader and a Guide unto you then you will find daily his Assistance and as you have Assistance from him you will find Acceptance wiâ—â— God and he will shew you the Father and that and nothing else will satisfy the Soul hungring and thirsting after God Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us So when Christ the Mediator comes to have wrought so far as the purifying of the Soul and the sanctification thereof and thereby fitted it for his Glory such holy Souls 〈◊〉 behold his Glory For the Lord 〈…〉 Grace and Glory and no good thing will 〈◊〉 hold from them that walk uprightly That you may be brought to this State and â—ept and preserved in it that the Heavens may rain down Fatness upon you and that you may feel the living Vertues that flow from Christ to every Member this is the Labour and Travel of the Servants of God for their own Souls and the Souls of others that are in Unity and Fellowship with the Holy Spirit SERMON VI. Captive Sinners set free by Jesus Christ Preached at Devonshire-House April 29th 166â— THere is nothing will make People live to God but that which they received from God For as all Men by Nature are in a state of Death so there must be something beyond Nature to make them alive again and that â—s it that every one ought to wait upon God 〈◊〉 that you may feel something that is supernatural And that you may be acquainteâ— with God's Gift The gift of God saith the Scripture is eternal life Many find a Life in this World that is not the Gift of 〈◊〉 The Life that People have in Sin it is not the Gift of God the Delights and Pleasures of this World are become a Life unto them The World is that to which every one must die they that are not dead to that they live all to themselves they do not live to God for none can live to God but by the Life that comes from him That which People receive of Man gathers them unto Man that which they receive of God carries them to God So Men have made Gatherings and have communicated of what they have to one another and by vertue thereof have made them a People Many Men have gathered many People â—â—ny Churches and they live to them that gathered them they do not live to God for want of receiving something from God 〈◊〉 all they that come to receive the Gift of God they die to the World and they come to live such a Life as the World doth
foundation of their Faith present with them that they may feel the object of their Faith where they hope for Help where they hope for Comfort and Strengthening to be present with them Now every one that believeth in the word of God their care is that they may know this Word of God that they may hear it feel it and behold the beauty of it under the Exercises of it how it conducts and leads how it counselleth and adviseth that so in all things they are to pass through they may not be as those that have run into it as those that do this and that of their own Wills but may be properly Followers of something I go into this or that or the other thing not to do mine own Will not that I run into it but I am lead into it my Leader goes before me the Word of God that hath conducted me and led me I am a Follower of God in all his Dispensations in all his Leadings and Guidings I am to follow him for he teacheth me his way he instructeth me in the true way The best of all his Scholars and Disciples they are to be led and guided into that Work and Service they are to do that they may run into no Irregularity or Absurdity for he will lead them into Holiness Righteousness and Humility where all become the Servants of God in Christ Jesus and Servants to one another There is a mutual Concord and Harmony in the Work of this Spirit in the Service of this Power where every one finds what they are appointed and directed to and all the Members of the Body of Christ know they ought not to be disjointed and rent and separated one from another but tyed together in Joints and Bands to edify one another in the Love of God so thâ—â— here is one Spirit that hath been the Guide of this one People in all Ages Many People have been guided by many Guides and they have been scattered divided and separated one from â—nother and have been under this that and the other Name but all Gods People have been guided by the Spirit of Christ that universal Spirit that is one with God In the Old Testament times and the New Testament times they were all led by the universal Spirit of Christ and they were of one Heart and of one Mind serving the Lord there was a Concord and Unity among them and if at any time any Discord or Division happened it was because the roaring Lyon that goes about continually seeking whom he may devour had found some or other that he might devour and draw into his Snares and Gins for there are some that he may and some that he may not Who are they that this roaring Lion may destroy The Devil knows who those are that he may prevail upon he knows that those which are in the Hands of God are out of his reach My Father saith Christ is greater than all and none shall pluck them out of my Fathers hands yet doubtless those that are in the Fathers Hands are tempted and tried the roaring Lion goes about seeking to devour them if he might a Man that he devours he swallows up with Prejudice Enmity Coveteousness and Pride and he will lead him into any evil thing he hath many Gulphs to swallow Meâ— up into but if he meet with one that is kept in God's Hands he knows such a one is out of his reach and he is not able to catch him If he meet with a Man that he can prevail over as he did over our Father Adam and Mother Eve that are in their own Hands that stand upon their Wit and Parts and Knowledge and Eloquence those that stand upon these things as their Foundation they are in their own keeping these are they whom he may devour and catch and ensnare in one or other of his Gins and swallow them up in one of his Gulphs and Temptations But seeing God hath opened and manifested these things by his Spirit and seeing the secret Wiles of Satan are discovered and made knoâ—n by the shining of his Light how ought every one that is a Believer of the Truth to depend upon God for his Protection and be careful that he goes not out of his Fathers Hands that he never trust himself to his own keeping for his Security and Preservation lest he meet with a Temptation that may swallow him and devour him I remember our Lord Jesus Christ when he was upon Earth he put his Disciples in mind of what happened long before Remember Lot's Wife You may take notice of her the Power of God took hold of her and brought her out of Sodom and was leading her to a place of safety but she had something of Adaâ—'s Apostacy in her Nature she looked back and was turned into a Pillar of Salt Our Saviour was pleased to make use of this Passage that happened some hundreds of Years before to shew how she failed of coming to the place of Safety tho' she was led out of Sodom by the Hands of one of the Angels of God O remember her she was turned into a Pillar of Salt and remains so to this day If we remember where our Safety is and from whose Hands we must expect it we need not go and look at Lot's Wife We have seen many in our Days that have stood fair for Redemption they have had a Power revealed to them that is able to redeem them and save them to the uttermost but afterward by exalting themselves above this Power and taking the Government of themselves into their own Hands they have robbed God of his Glory and he hath withdrawn himself from them and then it was with them as with Saul when the Lord departed from him The evil Spirit entred into him We have before our Eyes from day to day those that have known the beginning of the Redemption of Gods Power and have been in a great measure brought out of Sodom and out of the way of Egypt and they have had opened to them the Mystery of the Kingdom of God for their Encouragement but at last they have taken and arrogated these Gifts to themselves and looked upon themselves as far excelling others magnifying their Parts as if they were their own when they were the gifts of God Then the Lord hath left them to let them see whether they could stand of themselves and they have fallen and been taken in the Ginns and Snares of the Devil who like a roaring Lion goes about continually seeking whom he may devour Now my Friends it greatly concerns us all to know what Refuge we have to fly to in a time of Tryal we have a time of Trial now tho' not a time of External Suffering and Persecution and enduring Hardship yet upon us to try our Faith and Trust in God yet we have no reason to be secure careless nor remiss in our present Duty nor to put the evil day far from us but to be in the
except that he saith He would not the death of him that dies What would he have then He would have you turn and live What means doth he use What I would have done I would use means for it You will say What means doth God use I am ready to say What means hath he not used 〈◊〉 What is it that God doth more wish for thâ—n that Men would repent return and live and be happy for ever He hath created them and given them Life and Breath and continued them twenty thirty forty or fifty Years that they might have Time to prepare for Eternity and he hath given his good Spirit to instruct them but they have rebelled against him He hath sent forth his Word the Gospel of Salvation which hath been preached to them and he hath waited to be gracious and â—xercisâ—d much patience and long-suffâ—â—◠〈◊〉 towards them so that I may say what meâ— hath he omitted He hath planted them as a vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he haâ— fenced it and gathered out the stones thâ—â—â— and planted it with the choicest vine and 〈…〉 in the midst of it and made a win◠〈◊〉 therein and he looked that it should 〈◊〉 foâ—th grapes and it brought wild grapes 〈◊〉 I pray you saith â—he Lord between me 〈◊〉 my vineyard Whâ—â— could have been done 〈◊〉 to my vineyard that I have not done in it But notwithstanding all your unfruitfulness the Day of your Visitation is continued the Lord is willing to shew Mercy to your Souls This is all the Lord your God requires of you That you would think upon his Name believe in him and trust in him and wait upon him for the Operations of his Grace in the Use of his Ordinances and your Attendance upon them and hearkning to his Voice and obeying it and so to hear that your souls may live I will affirm that there is never a one of you here present whether you be Quakers or no but you may meet with the Divine operations of the Power of God in your own Hearts if you will regard it and when you meet with these operations and regard them not I cannot help it if you will resist the good things of the Spirit of God I cannot help it if you will be of that Mind always to resist the Holy Ghost If as your â—athers did so do ye then you must all perish both you and your Fathers there is no escaping but by being subject to Christ Jesus and his â—â—ickening Spirit if there be any Divine â—â—â—â—rations that you meet with in your own Hearts let me perswade you to s◠〈…〉 have regard to them for I know th◠〈◊〉 is near at Hand and when People 〈◊〉 with Divine operâ—â—ions in their Soul◠〈◊〉 humble them and bring down their Pâ— and convince them of the danger of their â—â—â—dition the lies in the way and suggests 〈◊〉 poysonous thing that takes off the edge oâ— these operâ—â—iâ—â—s that they may dislike them It is true◠〈◊〉 meet with convictions of Sin but they reckon they have that Faith and belief in â—hrist that doth in the sight of Goâ— obâ— all their Sins that can be laid to thâ— charge both past and to come If I would look say they to the Divine operations or any thing wrought in me it wâ—re enough to make me mad I look wholly for the meriâ— of Câ—rist my Mind is wholly fixed upoâ— him who iâ— the Auther of Eternal Salvâ— his merâ—â—â—â—ious sufferings and obedience 〈◊〉 obliterâ—â—â—nd blot out all my Sins My Mâ—â—ds I tell you many a Poor Soul hath spâ— upon this Roâ— by undervaluing the Divine operâ—tions of the Spirit upon 〈◊〉 Hearts they mâ—ke a false and wrong application of the merits of Câ—â—â—st which indeeâ— are so grâ—â—â— that no body can ovâ—â—value them but we must not make a false application 〈◊〉 them For this purpose was the Son of 〈◊〉 manifested that he might destroy the Worâ—â— the Devil He takes away the guilt o◠〈◊〉 noâ— that you might live in it still Whoâ— bâ—lieveth iâ— Christ shall hâ—ve Po◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 and not be 〈◊〉 the dominion and 〈◊〉 of Sin Sin shall not havâ— dominion over 〈◊〉 for you are not under the Law but under 〈◊〉 But God be thanked you were the servants 〈◊〉 Sin but you have obeyed from the Heart the form of Doctrine which was delivered you being then made free from Sin ye became the Servants of Righteousness Rom. 6.14 18. But you will say I am guilty of agre at deal of Sin already what shall become of me for the guilt that I have contracted If we confess and forsake our Sins he 〈◊〉 â—kfull and just to forgive us our Sins and to â—â—â—anst us from all unrighteousness and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 9.9 Here is a true application of Christ his Merits and Righteousness when there is a confessing of Sin to Goâ— and a forsaking of it here is an offering and a Sacrifice made to God by our Lord Jâ—â—us Christ for the expiation of Sin he 〈◊〉 by his precious Blood pâ—â—â—hased the pardon of all my Sins that he might present me to God without Spot and Blemish here is a true application the Righteousâ—â—â—â— of Christ but how can I apply it to my self while I live in Siâ— Here Gods Witness in the Conscience of a Sinner pleads against the Sinner when he hath got a trick to believe that his guilt is taken away and all his S ns past present and to come are pardoned while he continue to live in 〈◊〉 and Sin hath yet dominion over him Take heed you split n◠〈…〉 if you be humble well grown Ch◠〈…〉 will think upon the Name of the 〈…〉 when ye find the operation of Gods 〈◊〉 begetting good desires in you to hate Sin 〈◊〉 love Righteousness you will then believâ— you will then Pray to the God of all Grace for the Prayer of the Faithful is acceptable to him The effectual fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man avails much Jam. 5.16 Let your supplications therefore be poured forth unto God to endue you with Power and Wisdom to subdue all your Spirituâ—â— Enemies and to conquer your concupiscence and the inordinate desires and affections of your own Hearts that you may take up the Crosâ— of Christ and follow him as your greaâ— Patrâ—n and in his Name and by the hâ— and Aâ—â—istaâ—ce of his Holy Spirit you mâ— know how to â—â—ercome all Temptations His Prayer after Sermon MOst Glorious Lord God wonderful is thy great Power over all which thou hast revealed and made manifest in this thy blessed Day Thy Arm O thou Almighty God is stretched forth thou hast touched a Remnant with a sense of thy Divine love whom thou hast gathered unto thy Name thou hast revealed thy great Salvation and therewith thou haâ— made glad the Souls of thy Children thou hast endeared thy self â—â—to us by the discovery and manifestation of thy abounding love
out of the Mouth of God administers Life Sense and Conviction and you feel it and receive it and you may have more familiar Acquaintance with it There is not a Day or Hour that passeth over your Head nor mine but if we attend to this inward Voice we may know what it speaks to us by its Counsels Doctrins Reproofs Convictions and Illuminations for the Spirit speaketh expresly with an express signification unto the Spirit of Man and if he be under a Temptation to tell a Lie and he comes to a little Pause or Question whether he shall tell it or no if he hearken to this inward Word he will not pause long about it but such a Sentence will arise in him as that to Joseph How can I do this great Wickedness and sin against God How can I speak a Lie tell a Lie when in so doing I sin against God Here is a sentence of Truth wilt thou receive it or not No saist thou I will venture to tell a Lie then shalt thou come into the rank of them that do Despite to the Spirit of Grace that trample under Foot the Son of God and count the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing What Sentence such shall have at the latter end you may read at large in the Holy Scriptures Now there is a great necessity that every one be persuaded to hearken to this Voice not only at a Meeting but on all Occasions they have in the World I hope I speak to many serious and religious Persons that are enquiring about their Immortal Souls what may be best for their Souls whether 't is better to go on in Wickedness or leave off and that resolve and say I would be glad to leave my Sins as well as you if I had Power and to live a holy Life As for the want of Power that you have not Power I do not wonder at it for till you come to an exercise of Faith in that which hath empowered the People of God in all Ages I wonder not that you have not Power You say I am so weak that I am overcome before I am aware the Devil is so subtil and cunning with his Temptations that I am surprizeâ— and snatch'd into Temptations and overcomâ— with evil before I am aware He is like 〈◊〉 Roaring Lion going about continually so all 〈◊〉 whom he may devour But who can he devour Can he devour those that hearken and submit to the Word of God If he could then none could escape him if the Devil could pluck out of Gods Hands then no Body would go to Heaven nor ever shall if he have Power Where the Devil finds any in their own Hands as suppose a religious Person of this and the other Religion who never experienced any thing of this Power of God but trusteth to his Duties and Performances this Man is at his own Hand now such a one the Tempter hath Power over He can make him cheat his Neighbour and lead him into Drunkenness and Uncleanness sometimes and into the greatest Abominations but if a Man come into an exercise of Faith and dependance upon God and hath left trusting in his own Hands and saith I see I cannot preserve my self from sin I see a necessity of putting my trust in the Lord and of waiting upon Gods Power to keep me If the Tempter come to such a one he cannot prevail all the Devils in Hell cannot stir him one jot the Devil may tempt him but he stands in the Power of Faith he knows his Name and saith Get thee behind me Satan when the Devil comes before him and lays a Temptation before him he casts it behind him if the Devil rises up against him he can chain him down he can say in the Name of the Lord Get thee behind me Satan This is the Reason why many are tempted and not overtaken why many are tempted to sin and not overcome How comes it to pass that we do not do every thing that we are Tempted to There is something that keeps us the Devil is not so bad to Tempt but we are as bad in our own Inclinations to yield to him The Heart is deceitful above all Things and desperately wicked who can know it There is more Wickedness in it than can be uttered If People be tempted and not overcome something must preserve them if there be something that preserves a Man from any Evil it can preserve him from all Evil. The Reason why some People are led into Temptation sometimes and resist it is because sometimes the Temptation suits not their Inclination sometimes their Reputation lies in the way sometimes one thing sometimes another But when a thing they are Tempted to suits their Profit and Pleasure then away with the fear of God and nothing shall hinder them I will have my Pleasure But they that understand the Keeper of Israel and come to know his Power living in their Hearts these always bring their Deeds and Temper before him and they come to him for a Verdict and Judment and they ask Doth this tend to the Honour or Dishonour of God Is it good or evil The Oracle of God in the Heart says do it not it is evil Thou wilt kindle the Indignation of the Lord against thee what will it profit to gain the whole world and lose thy own soul or what wilt thou give in exchange for thy Soul Here is one at hand that can give Counsel to all of us at all times this is he that we must advance our Labour and Work upon the Stage of thâ—s World among the Sons and Daughters of Men is to advance the Vertue and great Authority of this mighty Counsellor Christ Jesus we do say and affirm in the Name of God that the same Light and Grace by which God hath brought us out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and from the Power of the Devil into the Kingdom of his dear Son the same Power is extended to you that you may be sanctified and saved from your Sins One Sect will say my Tenets are so and so and our Ordinances are so and so will you come over to us You shall be a Member of our Church Our duty is to come over to the Grace of God that shines in our Hearts now we are Witnesses for God that he doth not desire the death of them that die but rather that they would turn and live for his Word is gone forth and his Light shines and his Glory is risen upon the Nations that they that inhabit the Earth may fear him Fear God and give Glory to God The hour of his Judgment is come Do you know that to be true that you may not be deluded you shall certainly know that the Hour of God's Judgment is come Thus when any one suffers himself to be led away with the Evil One when he feels after that a Remorse upon his own Heart 〈◊〉 finds a secret Judgment and Tribunal set up in his
in the World but letting her Ear hearken to this Old Serpent she was beguiled there grew up a Consultation in her reasoning part It may be so as he saith I will try So I say to you that are come to a state of Sanctification and in some measure to know the cleansing Power of God and that you have not believed in it in vain but it hath effectually wrought some Change and Alteration in you and is still carrying on the Work of your Salvation Many Temptations will attend you and many Snares will be laid in your way but God hath preserved you to this Day I know the Devil 's Wiles and Temptations are manifold they are fitted to every one's Inclinations fitted to every Opportunity and to every occasion in this World Men are tryed every way by the Tempter to see which way he may ensnare them he tries every way to ensnare and entangle the simple that he may turn them to the right-Hand or to the left that their Souls may be destroyed and perish I cannot speak to you by a more emphatical word by a more familiar Exhortation than this Take heed you be not beguiled as Eve was many will be tempted as she was but I would not have you do as she did and yield to the Temptation Take heed that you do not defile your selves but keep your garments white you that have been washed and cleansed labour to keep your selves unspotted from the world this is pure religion and undefiled that which hath enlightned many a Nation and shall enlighten many of those whose Religion is to be undefiled and to keep themselves unspotted from the world I pray God increase the number of them that so the blessed Work of Sanctification that hath begun in this way may be carried on to his Praise and the Salvation of our Souls to the spreading forth of his Glory and the exalting of his Name that the Strangers which are scattered and desolate may be brought into his holy Way and walk in it that we all in a Fellowship together walking in that holy way may through the Eternal Spirit offer Praise and Tanksgiving to God who is worthy to receive Glory and Honour Power and Dominion for ever and ever Amen SERMON IV. Baptism and the Lord's Supper Asserted Preached at Grace Church-street April 15th 1688. If any man hath not the spirit of Christ he is none of his IF I should say no more there is that in every ones Conscience that will make Application If he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his you may say Whose is he then If they be none of Christ's that have not his Spirit whose are they They are all his whose Spirit rules them every one of us doth belong to him whose Spirit ruleth over us unto whose Power we are subjected You know this distinguisheth People in the World One King knoweth his Subjects from another King's Subjects they are under the Obedience of this that and the other King or Prince his Law is over them they are subject to it so here is a Decision of all the People in the World who they belong to We all of us I hope do expect there will be a Decision at the Day of Judgment and believe the things we read concerning that That there will be a Decision and some will be placed on the right-Hand and some on the left-Hand some will have the Sentence of Come ye blessed and others the Sentence of Go ye cursed but now there is a way of finding out the Decision of the Matter before we go out of the World before the Day of Judgment when there will be no Remedy that is then it must be and abide so now there is no need it should continue so if it be amiss it may be mended if I do not belong to the right Prince if I be not under the right Power and Spirit I may be for now it is a day of Grace a day of Mercy I have been a Rebel to the right Prince I may be pardoned and taken into Favor it is far better for People to know their state now than to know it then because then there will be no Remedy The Apostle in laying down Fundamental Apostolical Doctrines that were to be belived and taken notice of and are in our Age so that we may say Things written of old time were written for our learning he makes this Affirmation and Position of Doctrine He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his he doth not belong to him if he be called a Christian he is not a Christian if he hath not the Spirit of Christ It is but a Name he hath got he hath not that which makes him essentially so for nothing can make a Christian but having the Spirit of Christ therefore when they would vindicate their being Christians they prove it thus For he speaking of God hath sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts and we know the mind of Christ we know him that is true or we are in him that is true These things if they were right if they were true were evident Demonstrations that they were a sort of Men who depended more upon thâ— Spirit and spiritual Teachings and Spiritual Guidance than upon Rules and Methods of Teaching that were in the World I speak of this Friends because you know as well as I how averse this Age of ours hath been to have any thing spoken of Spiritual Dispensations or about spiritual Teachings though a Man hath been counted formerly a wise Man a learned Man a Man of parts if once he come to smatter out a little about inward Teaching it is enough to spot him and make him ridicul'd of his Acquaintance as if there were no such thing in the World We have a Book called the Bible it is from one end to the other full of such Expressions of being led by the Spirit you have an anointing which teacheth you all things The whole Tenor of the New Testament is about Spiritual Teaching and Divine Operarations and of Faith being the operation of God and the Old Testament hath abundance of Expressions by way of Prophecy that in the New Testament Dayes if People would look for the Law of God they must look for it in their Hearts and if they would know God they must look to the mediator the Lord Jesus Christ The New Testament seems to go that way Christians should be the most Spiritual People in the World that is the Guide the Rule But say they the Scripture is the Foundation of Faith and Manners Belief and Practice this is but Dissimulation I am afraid that is to be found in some What is the Scripture the Rule of Faith and may People believe what they find in Scripture Yes but say some it is best be aware for fear of Error What is in the Scripture is serious sound and orthodox and did Quakers think you never find in Scripture that People
were to wait for the Spirit and pray in the Spirit and serve God in the Spirit and that all Religion that is not in Power is not available did they not find it in the Scripture And you that are not Quakers Did you ever read the New Testament How came it to pass that ye never found these Texts But some People read and read the New Testament twenty times over and mock and deride and persecute a Man that shall speak of the Spirits Teaching I have admired at it how intelligent Men to whom God hath given a competent Understanding should be so blinded they have learned to read English and they have read the New Testament over several times and the Old Testament too and they have read those Sentences of Christ's Doctrin that do so currently and unanimously speak of Divine Teachings and Spiritual Operations Spiritual Worship and Spiritual Religion that muâ—t have some Motion and Stirring of the Holy Ghost to be the Original of it and that alâ— others are not acceptable to God doubtless they have read these things but I have often desired and do still desire that they would but read it again once more and try and see what God will do he hath oftentimes made use of the Holy Scripture as a means to awaken People and to open their Understandings and let them see the Mind of the Spirit by which the Scripture is written and the next time if they can find Scripture Text and Apostolical Doctrin to teach People to wait upon the Spirit I hope they will leave Scoffing and Mocing It hath been hitherto looked upon as an Invention to speak of the teaching of the Spirit and waiting upon the Spirit and being moved by the Spirit This Apostolical Doctrin Prayer and Worship hath been looked upon as an Invention that we have brought in To look for the Holy Ghost in that way that was never known to our Fathers is a fantastical Conceit of the Quakers say they To tell People they must be led by the Spirit in Divine Things as in Prayer and Worship and the like that in these things they must wait for the spirit was there ever any Man that was counted good for any thing that ever preached so before they came Do we read any such kind of thing in Scripture O the blindness that hath happened to this Nation I have considered not without admiration how the Devil he is a spirit too and a wicked one the Devil should have power to shove out the knowledg belief sense and feeling of the Spirit of God now a days there are thousands in this Nation that have formerly believed that it was as impossible for a Man to believe the divine motions and struglings of the spirit of God in this life as to raise their Fathers and Mothers out of their Graves some of their learned Teachers have told us it is a Whimsy and Fancy and that there was no inspiration of the spirit now a days but that it was a foolish fancy in us to wait for such a thing it is needless say they there was an Immediate Teaching in the Apostles days and they had the sense of the spirit of Christ working in them to teach them to write Letters and Epistles to the Church which Letters and Epistles were written by the moving of the Holy Ghost but we have no need of it now the Holy Ghost hath brought order and goverment into the Church we have it now in black and white Printed in our Books therefore say they there is no need of the spirit and People need not be acquainted with the operation of the spirit now a days in regard they have it in their Books what manner of Worship they must perform I grant them their due that they have the direction of the Scripture I am able to understand that People are to worship God and pray to him and are to meet together and to observe this and the other doctrinal precepts there laid down I confess I can make shift herewâ—th to frame out a form of Religion and if I do not mistake in the opening and explication of the Doctrine I could make a right form too but I am lyable to mistake another Man that understands Greek better than I saith that the Greek word ought to be translated so and the form ought to differ in such a respect some say the only way of goverment is by Bishops and the word bears it in the original and another saith he hath streched the word for the word means Presbyter another saith Presbyter signifyes no more than choice of Church Elders and Deacons and such like and this is all out of one Book the settlement of Bishops Presbyters and Elders Here a parcel of form-makers all fall out about the meaning of the word what remedy can any mortal Man provide for this We must not be killing and slaying one another about words if I be an episcopal Man and say the word signifyes Bishops I may be a wicked Man still and if another say it must be Presbyter he may be a wicked Man too and if another say it should be Pastor Elders and Deacons he may be a wicked Man notwithstanding Thus they have rent and torn one another about Church Government what remedy shall we have for this that these quarrellings and contentions about terms and words may come to an end Could a Man prescribe a more certain remedy for all these mistakes than this if they had a measure of this spirit which did work in the Apostles when they wrote down these Words which the Apostles had in Writing them then I say they could tell you what the spirit meant for the spirit is the same and not changed and the Words are the same to a small matter so that if a Man had that he might end all the controversie but where shall we have a Man that hath this spirit to end the controversie There is none now a days say the Protestants and say the Papists there is none but one that hath this infallibility and they will not suppose that neither for some of them say that one Man is as infallible as another Man there is a great brangle whether any one Man be infallible or a great many men together are infallible about Doctrin and Worship This might be cured all at once if we could come to this conclusion Papists Protestant and Quakers here is an end of all their out-side Worship He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his If there be not spirit in it it is not Christs Religion and Worship So that they that jangle and bark and bite are without among Dogs and Sorcerers that are straâ—gers to the spirit of Christ there is a spirit in them that denies the spirit of Christ there is a spirit that rules in them that are witâ—out the spirit for no Body that I know on acts things without a spirit and without being moved What are good and
Nations of Europe now inhabited with such a People that are calling upon the Name of the Lord but every one worshipping their own Gods one makes Gold and Silver his God another makes his Pleasure his God another his Honour another this that and the other Lust and they bow down to them that is they yield themselves to their Lusts concupisence and corruptions that they stand in unity with but they call upon the Name of the Lord too they do apply themselves to some kind of form of worship which they say is unto the immortal and invisible God but alas they come not to the Knowledge of God by this All that the Priests could do that the King of Assyria sent back they brought not the Samaritans to the Knowledge of the God of Israel they only brought them to a Report of such a God that had set up such a Law They had the Report of it and for fear that the Lions should tear them in pieces they would enter into that Form but they worshipped their own Gods still So it is now People do not come to the Knowledge of the true God the living God by entring into any Form of Religion for instance Prayer Hearing or any Ordinance or Church-Fellowship these give give not Men the Knowledge of God there is but one way to come to that but only one Men have found a great many it is past your Skill and mine to reckon up the many ways that Men have found out upon the Face of the Earth how they might come to the Knowledg of God and to Peace and Reconciliation with him but they have only play'd the Fools and spent their Time in vain especially they that own the Scriptures of Truth to be a true and faithful Record of the Mind and Will of God they play the Fool abominably for the Scripture that they give so much Reputation to in their Profession doth testifie the way is but one and there is no other way for People to be reconciled to God than by coming in to Christ to be found in him to be regenerated and born into his Nature and have his Qualities put upon them That as he was pure they may be pure that 〈◊〉 that sanctifieth and they being sanctified 〈◊〉 him may become both one and so be recâ—â—ciled to the father through him This you know is the common Profession of Christendom or at least of our Nation And in other Nations the common Profession is There is no Mediator but one no Reconciler but one Indeed some others hold there may be other Mediators and that there are others that may contribute to them by their Mediation and by their Prayers and Merits but the generality of the Nation are otherwise Now for People to fall out and say my way is best and thy way is not best and to fall into Contests about many ways when the Scripture concludes but one Way is not well We were better all agree about this Doctrin That there is no possibility of Reconciliation with God since we are fallen out with him and since Sin hath made a separation there is no way of being reconciled again to God but by and through our Lord Jesus Christ nor by him neither unless we receive of his Spirit to quicken us nothing can quicken us enliven us or recommend us to God but the Spirit of Christ operating and working in our Hearts that he may prepare us for the Father's Kingdom If People would agree upon this there would be an end of all Labour and Toyl and Jangling about the right way for the Consequence and Conclusion would be thus That Man that doth not know in himself the â—anctifying Power of the Spirit of Christ Jesus he is out of the way to Reconciliation with God let his Form and Profession be what it will If therefore he be reconciled to God it must be by and through the Mediator and he will never recommend him to the Father till he hath made him a Temple to let in the Spirit of Christ to work in his Heart to fit him for the Kingdom of God And Men have no other way to come to it for though they be zealous in every Prayer and Form it signifies nothing to any great purpose their Hope will be frustrated There is no other way saith Christ of coming to the father but by me I am the way the truth and the life If I am out of the Truth I am out of the way and if I am out of the way then I cannot come to the end of the Way This is plain reasoning among Men If I tell a Lie that is out of the Truth If I have vain Communication or deceive or wrong my Neighbour that is out of Truth what is manifest in my Conscience to be contrary to the Truth if I am in it I am out of the way though I be strict in the way as to Profession yet I am out of the Way to God I am out of the Truth there is no way to God but by Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life whoever is out of him is out of the Way which made the Apostle say That his labour endeavour and desire was that he might be found in Christ not having his own righteousness but having on the righteousness of Christ Jesus Many Men think to recommend themselves to God by their righteous just and honest Dealings and doing Wrong to no Body This is good in it self but doth not recommend us to God unless it be done by the righteous and holy Spirit of Christ Jesus unless it be of his Working he must have the working of Righteousness and Truth in us he must plant it and it must grow by his working if it be acceptable to the Father for without me saith Christ you can do nothing A Man out of Christ a Stranger to his Spirit may do something but nothing available to the well-being of his Soul till he have Reconciliation by Christ Jesus If he be reconciled to God this Mediator must be the Reconciler and he must fit and prepare him for Reconciliation with the Father All the Divisions Sorts and Sects of Religion they all come to an end if this Measuring Line be laid to them they all appear too short and there is nothing will do a Man good but that Religion that obligeth and tyes him to the good Pleasure of God through the Spirit of the Mediator which he feels working in him by which he is raised from Death to some degree of Life When he is sensible what a Burthen sin is to his Life and that godly Life which he hath is burthened with every Sin and oppressed with every vain Thought and every vain Word If he be not in some measure quickned 〈◊〉 â—ot sensible of this Burthen but being quickned he is sensible of the Burthen that lies upon his Life by reason of his Sin and then being under the Weight of his Sin he calls to God
â—s will this is Gods will that none should â—â—sh but that all should come to repentance and be eternally saved Now in this work of your salvation we would have regard to him that sent us to Preach the Everlasting Gospel and we would discharge our selves faithfully and be made manifest in your Consciences that the benefits of the Gospel might come to be yours that you might answer the purpose of God in sending Christ to be the Saviour of Mankind you must turn from Sin to God and then you will find the blessing that comes by Jesus which it to turn every one from his evil way You may read this in a Book and you may also plainly read it iâ— your Hearts The Lord Jesus Christ hath given you Light to distinguish between good and evil if you do good you may make a comfortable reflectionâ— upon your selves and this will be your rejoycing the testimony of your Conscience on thaâ— account buâ— if you do evil though all Men do justifie you and commend you yet you will be condemned in your selves so that you have that in your selves which distinguisheth between things that differ in their nature and kind and you have a litle enlightening by the knowledg and understanding you have received concerning the things that are pleasing and displeasing to God if after yoâ— know this you will go on in a way displeasinâ— to God he will at length be too hard for yoâ— and plunge you down into the Abyss of 〈◊〉 Wâ—at â—to all Eternity After Persons are satisfied and enlighten 〈◊〉 with the Light of Christ and come to the Eâ—perience of things in themselves they will love the Light and Walk in the Light but there are many in this Age that have read the Scriptures plentifully and yet still go on in a way of Sin they cannot love the Light that reproves them He that doth evil he hates the Light and the Dawning of the Day is as the shadow of Death to him and it brings nothing but condemnation upon such Persons so that they do not love the Light though it is evident they have it and enjoy it and it shall be their condemnation whether they will or no if they do not love the Light and embrace it it will never be to their Salvation God hath given Christ to be a Light to the Gentilâ—s and his Salvation to the ends of the Earth He is the Light that enlightens every Man that comes into the World the Apostle John tells you the genealogy of the Word of God In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men The Life of the Eternal Word was the Light of Men What Men do you mean I answer He is the true Light that lighteth every Man â—â—at cometh into the World He extendeth â—is Light to every Man but it is condemnaâ—â—on to every Man so long as he continues to be a sinner against God This is the condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love darkness rather than Light because their deeds are evil Now all Men â—re by nature dead in Sins and Trespasses 〈◊〉 our first Parents fell into Sin they were dead to God in the Day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die when they had eaten the forbidâ—â—n fruit they did not die as to outward appearance but they died as to that Communion they had with their Maker in this dead state lye all the Sons and Daughters of Adam but as our Saviour speaks though they be dead they shall live again Christ is Lord from Heaven a Quickening Spirit this is the object of our Faith that hath been extended and offered to Mankind ever since the fall there is no name undâ—r Heaven no other Power or Spirit by which a Man can be saved this great Mediator the Eternal Son of God is the Light that lighteth every Man that coâ—â—â—h into the World Faith in Christ is the same that ever it was notwithstanding the many forms of Worship among the Sons of Men some of Gods setting up and some of Mens setting up yet among all these the object of Faith is the same and Faith the same In the 11th Chapter of the Hebrews That little Book of Martyrs the Apostle there giveâ— you a Catalogue of the mighty things 〈◊〉 have been done by the Faith of Gods Peopâ—â— he begins with Abel By Faith Abel offereâ— more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which 〈◊〉 obtained witness that he was Righteous 〈◊〉 testifying of his Gifts and by it he being dead yet Speaketh by Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see Death â—nd was not found because God translated him 〈◊〉 before his translation he had this Testimony that he pleased God and so the Apostle there goes to Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph and Moses And what shall I say more saith he for the time would fail â—e to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Sampson and Jeptha of David Samuel and of the Prophets who through Faith subdued Kingdoms wrought Righteousness obtained promises stopped the Mouths of Lionâ— quenched the violence of Fire escaped the Edge of the Sword out of weakness were made strong turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens All these great and noble things were done by Faith it was the aspect their Souls had upon Christ the Mediator between God and Man it was their trust and reliance upon God through Christ the Mediator that did suâ—â—ort and uphold them in all they did and suffered This Faith is still the same There are many Faiths in the World beside but they will prove but the Faith of Hypocrites Some have a Faith that if they do this and the other Work they say you may trust your Souls upon these good Works but this 〈◊〉 not the Faith of Abraham the Father of the â—â—â—â—hful But some called Christians are gone 〈◊〉 â—ar in the Doctrine of merits that they â—â—ok they can do enough for their own Salvaâ—â—on and for their Friends and Râ—â—â—tions too that there may be more Merit still over and above that others may have Benefit by the Merit of their Works of Supâ—â—â—â—gation Bâ—t this is not the Faith of Abraâ—â—â— and other Saints by which they wrought such Wonders in the World I would not have Men trust at all in their own Works 〈◊〉 Salvation but trust in Christ alone who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him But some will object We are taught the Doctrine of Faith in Christ and Justificatiâ—â— by him Well for my part my Tongue shall as soon drop out of my Mouth 〈◊〉 opâ—ose the Doctrine of being justified by Faith in Christ But let me tell you this may be misapplied If a Mâ—n believe that he is justified by Faith in Christ
and yet knows in his own Conscience that he is condâ—mned he believeth a Lie he is seduced and deceived A Man cannot be justified â—y Christ when the Spirit of Christ condemneth him Such 〈◊〉 whâ—â—â—e comes to lay down his Head upâ—â— his Dying Pillow all his Faith will fly away I 〈…〉 with some Instances lamentable I◠〈…〉 those thaâ— were called Christians 〈…〉 made a Profession of Religion an◠〈…〉 have laid down their Heads in So◠〈…〉 this be your Mistake consider while y◠〈…〉 Time â—â—at you may die in Peacâ— Now 〈◊〉 Proposition and Tâ—â—der o◠〈…〉 Loâ—â— of God 〈◊〉 Mankind hath alâ—â—ried that Limitâ—â—â—on with it that is 〈◊〉 in the World ought to observe If a Man hope to be saved by Christ he must be ruled by him Iâ— is contrary to all manner of Reason thâ—â—â—he Devil should rule a Man and Christ be his Saviour The whole tenour of the New Testament is against it pray read it as oft as you pâ—â—â—se for it is a good Exercise you will find the true Christian's Faith to be this That he that hath Faith in Christ hath an Operation upon him for the Cleansing his Heart and purifying and purging his conscience from dead works that he may serve the living God though he hath been a Servant of the Devil it will make hâ—â—r leave his former Servitude and bring him under the Influence of another Law the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which will make him free from 〈◊〉 law of sin and death The Apostle sets down â—he several Conditions he had â—â—ssed through I was alivâ— without the law once he thought himself a Man a brave Man a Man of Understanding thâ—â— had profited among the Jews I was alive having respect to that Law which should have been my Goverour but when the commâ—ndment came sin revived and I died He hâ—d â—ead the Law the Commandment many 〈…〉 and had been at the reading of it in the 〈…〉 â—gue but there was a coming of the Comâ—â—ndment which he had not been acquainted â—ith there was a Writing of thâ— Law of God in his Heart when he 〈◊〉 to this inward World upon him â—â—â—re was thâ—â— the 〈◊〉 he lived When the 〈◊〉 came Sin revived and I died There was a professing Life he formerly liâ—â—d but he was slain by the Power of thâ—â—â—â—manâ—ment it laid him in the Dust as a â—â—ain Man when he was in a 〈◊〉 condition he found out that Law in him that was the Law of Sin and Death and this caused a Combat and a War in him I find a law saith he that whâ—â— I would do good evil is present with with me for I delight in the law of God in the inner mâ— but I see another law in my membe◠〈…〉 against the law of my mind and b◠〈…〉 into captivity to the law of 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 members Now this brâ—â—ghâ— him 〈◊〉 a Poverty of Spirit into a Sense of his miâ—â—â—â—ble Condition and then he cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Now some People in this Day they are like the Apostle they have a law in their mâ—mbers warning against thâ— lâ—w of their minds the good that they would dâ—â—â—ey do not and they can go no further But the Apostle Paul did reach further though he did not in that state know Deliverance yet 〈…〉 that he should be delivered and that he 〈…〉 be miserable all his Days Thus haâ—ing 〈…〉 Romans into the several Staâ—â—s through whâ—â—â— he passed he brings them to a furtheâ— Sâ— The law of the spirit of life in Christ 〈◊〉 hâ—th made â—e free from the law of sin 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â— And now there is no condemn◠〈…〉 â—â—em that are in Christ Jesus How sh◠〈…〉 know this They walk not after the flesh 〈◊〉 after the spirit Nâ— Pâ—ul was come to that sanctified state tha◠〈◊〉 of Freedom and Liberty which Christ â—esus will bring all those unto that believe â—n him Holy Men in former Days did experience and find a greaâ— Strife and Warfare in their own Hearts they would do all well and exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man but there is a Law of Sin that wars in their Members if we yield to it it leadâ— to Sin and Death but if we yield our selves to the law â—f the spirit of life there is a Power tha◠〈…〉 â—ved from the Mediator that will â—â—anslate the Soul out of the kingdom of darkness and Sin which the Devil is the Prince of and bring it into the kingdom of God's dear Son There must be a real Change wrought in us before we can come tâ— God and to Fellowship and Commâ—â—ion wiâ—h God which â—lone can make th◠〈◊〉 happy Let this be tâ—e Exercise of eâ— one of us to adore and magnifie and 〈◊〉 Mercy and the kindness of God â—hat 〈…〉 not withdrawn his Spirit from yo◠〈…〉 hath placed a Mâ—n for in your 〈…〉 â—s upon you to cease to do evil 〈…〉 and to consider that the 〈…〉 sin is death Here is a Sin I may â—mit it there is a Temptation beofre me 〈◊〉 I know there is a Bait and a Hook 〈…〉 swalloâ— it if I will but if I do iâ— will 〈…〉 â—y Râ—th Would I come to eternâ—l Death and have my Portion with Lyars and wicked Persons in the Kingdom of Darkness Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched or would I have my Portion with Saints and Angels If I would have my Portion with the blessed in the Kingdom of God when I die I must walk in the way that leads to it but the Gate is strait and the way narrow and few there be that find it Labour then to be one of those few But what signifies our Labour some may say if we can do nothing that is good not so much as think a good thoâ—ht What signifies our Labour all the Labours and Endeavours in the whole World cannot â—â—â—ke a Man happy I now speak to a People to whom God doth vouchsafe the Help and Assistance of his Gracâ— and Spirit and the Visitations of his Love and Power you mu◠〈…〉 â—ndeavour to do somethâ—â—g if a Man enâ—â—avour with the help of 〈…〉 â—ie may doâ— great deal of good and 〈◊〉 a great deal of Evil Though all our Endeavours in our own Power and Strength can signifie nothing yet they are required by God and â—y joyning them with his Grâ— and layinâ—â—old of Opportunities by 〈◊〉 Assistance we may do whâ— God will aâ— But if a Man do 〈◊〉 thing in his own Poâ— and Strength whether Prayer Hearing Râ—â—ing Meditation or any other Duty he ha◠〈◊〉 good let it â—â—one I would consider you as those that God hath followed with his Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit this is given to every Man to profit withal and every Man hath Opportunity to work with it but he must work while it is day for the night