true Believer after he begins to follow the Lamb he never leaves following him but followeth him whithersoever he goeth Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall Tribulation or Distresse or Persecution or Famine or Nakednesse or Perill or Sword For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Oh beloved he doth not follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth that follows the Lord earnestly for a while but afterward forsaketh him when a storme riseth Yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended Math. 13.21 Nor he that followes the Lamb in some things and the Beast in other things They feared the Lord and served their own gods after the manner of the Nations Nor he that followeth the Lord in a dull heavy manner and a luke-warm temper I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot Chap. 3.15 Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the fountaine of living waters and hewed them out Gisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water Jer. 2.12 13. Oh this is not a following the Lamb They that follow the Lord fully abide in the Lord and cleave to the Lord and continue constantly in Gods ways to the end of their dayes The righteous holds on his way Job 17.9 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. Hosea 6.3 The righteous man holds on his way he followes the Lamb whithersoever he goeth First Speedily Secondly Truly Thirdly Undividedly Fourthly Zealously Fifthly Humbly Sixthly Chearfully Seaventhly Diligently Eightly Constantly Ninthly Faithfully Tenthly Transcendently Now this is following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Now I shall shew you why Believers follow the Lamb. First Because they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. He paid a price for our redemption that so he might discharge the debt of our sins And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Rev. 5.9 There are three things called precious in the Scriptures First Faith is called precious 2 Pet. 1.1 Secondly The promises are called precious vers 4. Thirdly The blood of Christ is called precious 1 Pet. 1.19 O his blood hath redeemed us from six Enemies First From the World Galathians 1.4 Rev. 14.4 Secondly From the Curse Galathians 3.13 Thirdly From Sin Rom. 6 18 22. Fourthly From the Devil Heb. 2.18 Acts 26.17 18. Fifthly From the sting of Death 1 Cor. 15.55 56. Sixthly From Hell 1 Thes 1.10 Rev. 2.12 O his blood is precious blood his blood hath slaine our Enemies he hath purchased by his blood Reconciliation with the Father Union with the Son and Communion with the Holy Ghost Ye that were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 16. Secondly They follow the Lamb because they are washed in the blood of the Lamb. He hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood Rev. 1.5 These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sinne 1 John 1.7 Christs blood washeth away our bloody sins I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live Ezek. 16. For as soon as we are united with Christ our sins are upon him and his righteousness upon us It is Christ that gives us life and puts excellent Ornaments upon us to cover our nakednesse and decketh us with Jewels and Gems of Gold So we become beautiful in his sight Isa 6â— 10 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle nor any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Thirdly Believers follow the Lamb because they are risen with the Lamb. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ siteth on the right hand of God Coloss 3.1 Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should wark in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Every man besides a Believer is a dead man Dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 Therefore they are exhorted to rise from the dead Eph. 5.4 They must rise from evil to good from Earthly-mindednesse to Heavenly-mindedness but now Believers by faith are risen from darkness to light For ye were sometimes darkness but new are ye light in the Lord Walk as Children of light Eph. 5.8 Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Isa 60.1 When the Lord shined forth upon his people in glorious discoveries of himself he calls them away from their former condition When the Lord discovered himself in a Gospel dispensation his people were no longer to sit under dark clouds of legal Ceremonies but to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Fourthly They follow the Lamb because they are enlightned by the Lamb. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 Yea doubtlesse and I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ Phil. 3.8 Divine and Heavenly knowledge brings a man near to God it gives a man the clearest and the fullest sight of God and the nearer any man comes to God the clearer vision he hath of God and the more communion with God The reason why others doe not follow the Lamb is because they see not the worth and want of the Lamb Having the understanding darkned being alienated from the living God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts Ephes 4.18
WILLIAM DYER Preacher of the Gospell Aetat 27 1663 A CABINET OF JEWELS OR A GLIMPS OF SIONS GLORY Written by WILLIAM DYER late Preacher of the Gospel at Chesham and Chouldsbury in the County of Bucks Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things that are written therein for the time is at hand Rev. 1.3 Printed in the Year 1663. TO Those of Chouldsbury Parish Together with all others who did attend constantly upon the Word of God there Preached Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. DEarly Beloved They that love God dearly are dearly beloved of God dearly beloved of Christ dearly beloved of Angels dearly beloved of Saints they are beloved of all and have the love of all whose love is worth the having O my dear Friends I cannot think of you and your condition but it fills my eyes with water and my heart with griefe and with Jeremy I wish O that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of Tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the Daughter of my people Jeremiah 9.1 Oh that I am constrained to be from you whom I could live and dye with spend and be spent for so deare a people as you are I would chuse to be doing the work to which I was called amongst you rather then any where else if I might I should not count my Life dear to me so that I might have the liberty to preach Christ to you for your edification and salvation I hope your Consciences will bear me witnesse that whilest I was with you I Laboured as much as in me lay to be a helper of your joy not to Lord it over your faith and I bless God I can with a good conscience safely say I have coveted no mans Gold nor Silver as you your selves know I could do very much for you but I dare not sin against God and my own Conscience But my dear Brethren Though they have separated us one from the other they cannot separate our hearts I hope there will never be a separation of our loves but that will still continue if we do not see one another yet we may love one another and pray for one another And now my desire is that my pen may reach you though my voice cannot reach you That I may still approve the sincerity of my love to you I shall give you twenty Directions for the right ordering of your Lives and conversations in these dangerous and sinful times that you may live in Heaven whilest you are on the Earth and come to Heaven when you shall leave the Earth I. First Loath sin and leave sin He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whosoever Confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Prov. 28.13 If we confess our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1.9 There must be falling out with our sins before there be falling off from our sins there must be a loathing of sin in our affections before there be a leaving of sin in our conversations Oh is it not a thousand times better to part with sinne though never so sweet than to part with God and Christ and Heaven one of them you must do One sin will damn a Soul out of Christ but no sin can damn a Soul in Christ Sin is the evill of evils it is worse then the Devill for its that that made the Devil to be a Devil O the love of sin and the lack of grace will ruin and destroy your souls for ever It is better not to be than to be a sinner better to be no people than not to be the Lords people Oh therefore kill sin that sin may not kill you mourn for sin and flye from sin do not commit new sins but repent of old sins Ezek. 36.31 You shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities O poor soul hast thou not served the flesh and the Devil long enough Yea hast thou not had enough of sin is it so good to thee or so profitable for thee Oh what a place will you be shortly in of joy or torment Oh what a sight will you shortly see in Heaven or Hell Oh what thoughts will shortly fill your hearts with unspeakable delights or horror what work will you be imployed in to praise the Lord with Saints and Angels or to cry out in fire unquenchable with Divels Oh therefore dye unto sin confess it mourn for it and be ashamed of it hate it and loath it and flye from it as from a Serpent and though your sins are more then you can number yet they are not more then God can pardon II. Secondly Put off the old man and put on the new Eye not one to another seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Col. 3.9 10. And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and Holinesse Ephes 1.14 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6.15 As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby 1 Pet 2.2 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 A new understanding a new will new desires new love new delights new thoughts new words new company and a new conversation he is not what he was before O dear friends be new Creatures that you may be glorious Creatures We can call nothing in Heaven ours till Christ be ours Without regeneration there is no salvation Verily I say unto you except yea be converted and become as little children ye cannot enter into the Kingdone of Heaven John 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdome of God You have heard much of God Christ and Heaven with your ears but this will not bring you to Heaven unlesse you have much of God Christ Heaven in your hearts you must be able to say I was once a slave but now a son once I was dead but now I am alive once I was in darknesse but now I am light in the Lord once I was a child of wrath an Heir of Hell but now I am an Heir of Heaven once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the spirit of adoption A true Believer lives in the Lord 1 Thes 1.1 On the Lord Rom. 1.17 Luke 20.38 From the Lord Joh. 6.57 To the Lord Romans 1â— 8 With the Lord 2 Corinth 13.4 III. Thirdly Make your peace with the Prince of peace Isa 9.6 Psal 2.12 Kiss the Son least he be angry and ye perish from the way
when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him O do not lift up your hand against the Son but kisse the Son Let his Will be your Rule His Spirit your Guide His precepts your practices His decrees your delights His chosen ones your choicest companions Submit to his Gospel and Government Oh Sirs make your peace with God There is a fourfold Peace First There is a peace external this peace is with men Secondly There is peace supernal that is peace with God Thirdly There is peace internall that is peace with Conscience Fourthly There is peace eternall and this is peace in Heaven Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace If you have peace with God the world and the Devil cannot hurt you And upon the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 Believers have God for their Guide and Guard he that meddles with the Saints of God assaults God himself Zech. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine eye He that lifts up his hand against them lifts up his hand against God though they have many enemies yet they have one friend that hath more strength then all their enemies A ragged Saint is dearer to God then a glittering Emperour that wants grace O make your peace with the Prince of peace that in this life you may have assurance of eternal life that eternal death may not be your portion in the other life IV. Fourthly Make Religion your main business and not a by business Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye doe these things ye shall never fall 2 Peter 1.10 Work out your salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 But seek ye first the Kingdome of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Math. 6.23 Oh why is the glory of this world so much regarded but because the Glory of Heaven is so little minded Oh what is an Earthly Kingdome in comparison of the Heavenly Kingdome the Angels themselves though they are glorious Spirits yet they are Ministring Spirits Do not most men in the world make light of God and Christ and the Spirit and Heaven and their precious souls And he sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding and they would not come Again he sent forth other servants saying tell them that are bidden Behold I have prepared my Dinner my Oxen and my Fatlings are killed and all things are ready Come unto the Marriage But they made light of it and went their way one to his Farm another to his Merchandize Math. 22.3 4 5. Wretched Wordlings make Religion a by-business they will hear read and pray when they have nothing else to doe Oh that such men did but know what everlasting Glory and everlasting torments are would they then do as they do Oh that they did but know the worth of their Souls and the want of a Saviour the shortnesse of their time and the greatness of their work would they then neglect God and their own souls as they do Oh Friends Let me beseech you to whom I write to make Religion your main businesse hearing reading praying believing and doing your maine businesse Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the father sealed Joh. 6.27 V. Fifthly Doe nothing in this World but what you can answer in another World For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Rom. 2.16 He hath appointed a day in which he will judg the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained Acts 17.31 For God shall bring every work to judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil Eccles 12.14 Oh for the Lords sake my Dear Brethren Let nothing be done by you in this world but what may be answered in another world Many men doe that in this world which they cannot in another world Now they contemne God blaspheme God rebel against God go a whoring from God and persecute the Beloved of God Instead of protecting the Saints imprison the Saints and are more for crushing them than comforting them instead of visiting them vilifie them and instead of affecting them afflict them and eat them up as they eat bread Psal 14.4 And will not suffer them to worship the true God in Spirit and in truth but Mock them Heb. 11 36. Threaten them Acts 4.29 Accuse them Acts 24.5 Slander them Math. 1.11 Curse them Math. 5.44 Beat them Acts 5.40 Imprison them Acts 4.3 Plunder them Heb. 10.34 Banish them Heb. 11. And Murder them Rom. 8.36 All this the poor innocent suffer whilst swearing cursing whoring robbing blaspheming drunkenness and gluttoning and all manner of debauchery yea murder it self walks unpunished in the streets and only he that departs from evill makes himself a prey What wonder then if such as these shall one day hide themselves in Dens and Holes and cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6.15.36 Oh what will Persecutors do when Jesus Christ shall appear in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that knew him not and obeyed not his Gospel 2 Thes 1 8. Will they not then be dumb and speechlesse and have never a word to say for themselves as that man that had not on his Wedding garment Math. 22.12 But Oh Beloved Let that grace that hath appeared to all men teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts that we may live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Tit. 2.11.12 following the Lamb resisting Satan shuning sin and separating from the world VI. Sixthly Make the Word of God your Rule and the Spirit of God your Guide To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 We have also a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye doe well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-starre arise in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in righteousnesse 2 Tim 3.16 Howbeit when the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come John 16.13 The
Scripture is a Rule before us to shew us where we must go the Spirit is a word behind us to enable us to go according to the Directions of that word The Word of God is a Compass by which we are to Ship our Course the Spirit is the great Pilot that steers us in this course We have no eyes to see the Word till the Spirit enlighten them we have no ears to hear the Word till the Spirit open them we have no hearts to obey the Word till the Spirit bow and encline them By the Word of God we know the mind of the Spirit and and by the efficacy of the spirit we feel the efficacy of the Word The Word of God shews us the way and the Spirit of God leads us in that way which the WOrd points out The Spirit of God is able to expound the Word of God and to make it plain to our understanding The Holy Ghost is the Churches Interpreter he gives the Scripture and he can reveal unto us the sense and meaning of the Scripture The word is Gods Counsellour to discover the path in which we are to walk the Spirit is the Counsel of God that teacheth us how to walk in that path The word is a Chrystall-Glass which shewes us our duty the Spirit gives us sight to see our duty If God had not put his Spirit into our hearts as well as his word into our mouths we should never have arrived at the fair Haven of peace Austin calls the Scriptures The Epistle of God to the Creatures by which we understand the very heart of God God Almighty hath in the secret Scriptures as it were unbowelled himself and unfolded all his Counsel to the Creatures as far as it is necessary to be known for their direction and guidance to everlasting life There be many that walke by false Rules First Some by Opinions Secondly Some by Customes Thirdly Some by Providence Fourthly Some by Conscience Fifthly Some by their own Reason Sixthly Some by mens examples Seventhly Some by their Lusts But O my dear friends let me beseech you to walke by none of these false Rules but keep close to the word and spirit of God VII Seventhly Be faithfull and fruitful Therefore my beloved brethren Be ye stedfast and unmoveble alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know your labour is not in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Every Tree that beareth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Christians must be fruitfull and not slothful See that you bring forth good fruit and much fruit First Sincerity which is not a single Grace but the soul of all Graces Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts Psal 51 6. Secondly Humility A Grace most prevailing with God for the obtaining of all Graces Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls Thirdly Prudence The patient Christian is the best for waiting but the prudent Christian is the best for working Be ye wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves Mat. 10.16 We must have innocency with our wisdome else our wisedome is but craftinesse and we must have wisdome with our innocency else our innocency is but weakness we must have the harmlesnesse of the Dove that we may not wrong others and we must have the prudence of the Serpent that others may not abuse and circumvent us Not to wrong the truth by silence here is the innocency of the Dove not to betray our selves by rashnesse here is the wisdome of the Serpent Fourthly Patience Here is the Patience of the Saints Rev. 13.10 Rev. 14.12 The way to bring the world under us is for us to be patient under them Fifthly Self-denyal If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his crosse and follow me Math. 16.24 Be faithful in your promises in your purposes by faithful to the wayes of God and cause of God O do not begin with the Lamb and end with the Beast but be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life Rev. 2.20 Keep your Lights burning your Lamps shining your Loyns girded your Consciences wakned your Garments unstained and your Spirituall Armour constantly on and closely girt VIII Eightly Have a care of reporting and believing the worlds reports of the people of God Those that have a good conscience have not alwayes a good name The people of God in this life are called the troublers of Israel seditious rebellious and what not An old device of that old serpent to perswade the troublers of Israel upon Elijah the Charret of Israel 1 Kings 18.17 2 Kings 2 12. Jeremiah for speaking against their sins and wickednesses and denouncing Gods judgements against them is judged worthy of death Jerem. 26.8.9 So Jerem. 38.4 The wicked Nobles petition the King to murder him under the pretence that he sought not the good of the people but the hurt So Amos for speaking against the Abominations of the Kings Court is charged with treason against the Kings person Amos 7.10.13 So Paul and Silas for preaching up the Kingly power of Jesus Christ are accused by the envious Jewes and rude multitude for turning the world upside down and breaking the decrees of Caesar Yea Christ himself had this laid to his Charge mark what the Jewes say of him And they began to accuse him saying We found this Fellow perverting the Nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar saying that he himselfe is Christ a King Luke 23.2 Math. 72.18 And for this have the servants of God in all Ages been accused and persecuted killed and stoned Math. 27 37. Acts 7.52 Now if they did so to the green Tree no wonder if they do it to the dry If the Lord and Master was called an enemy to Caesar no wonder if those of his houshold be called so Our integrity will not secure us from infamy The choicest of Professors have had black marks in the worlds Kalender It is usuall for those who live in treason and rebellion against the King of Heaven to slander his servants with treason and rebellion against the Kings of the Earth But my dear Brethren take heed of this for as the death of the Saints is precious so the names of the Saints are precious in Gods account The world will father a hundred Lyes upon the Lords people Men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake Math. 5.11 2 Tim. 2.9 Wicked men hate them most that God loves most But God will roul away the reproaches of his people he will cause their innocency and righteousness to break forth as the Sun at noon day and their names shall be in everlasting remembrance Yea at that great day God will clear their innocency before men and Angels and all the world IX Ninthly Keep in with God now men are out with
Truth obey the Truth and hold fast the Truth Now Beloved Let me beseech you for Gods sake and for Christs sake and for your Soules sake keep your selves from false Teachers from false Doctrine from false worship from false Opinions If you will be tasting and siping at Babylons cup you must resolve to receive more or lesse of Babylons plagues XVIII Eighteenthly Be one with every one that is one with Christ Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your Calling One Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him By this we know that we love the Children of God when we love God and keep his Commandments 1 Joh. 5.1 2. He that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 John 4.26 Oh Consider what a dishonour it is to the Gospel that those that professe themselves Sonnes of the same God Members of the same Christ Temples of the same Spirit Heirs of the same Glory should be at a jarring one with another It is strange and unnaturall that Lillies should prove thorns to one another that those who are Saints in profession should be Devils in practise to one another that Gods Diamonds should cut one another For Wolves to devour the Lambs is no wonder but for one Lamb to devour another is a wonder and monstrous Oh that Christians instead of loving one another should hate one another Oh how unlike are we to that God whom we professe to be our God! He is full of love full of goodness and full of mercy and patience Oh but Christians cannot beare and forbear one with another Oh do not wicked men warm themselves at the sparks of our divisions and say it is as we would have it Oh Beloved hath not God made his wrath to smoke against us for the divisions and heart-burnings that have been amongst us Oh that you would lay this to heart and throw away all discord and divisions and heart burnings and labour for a onenesse in love and affection with every one that is one with Christ Oh labour for a healing spirit You cannot love God if you do not love the people of God If any man saith he loveth God and hateth his brother he is a lyer Let brotherly love continue Heb. 13.1 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another Mal. 3.16 Christs Doves should flock together There be many that cannot love a man unlesse he be of their Opinion or a Member of their Church though he be a Member of Christ Every man hath a good opinion of his own opinion But alas Beloved it is not this opinion or that opinion this way or that way will bring a man to Heaven without faith in Christ and he that hath faith in Christ hath a right to all the Ordinances of Christ and Promises of Christ and Priviledges of Christ therefore let me beseech you to love every man that is a godly man let him be of what way and form he will And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul Acts 4.38 XIX Nineteenthly Love Christ with a Love stronger then life who loved us with a love stronger than death Therefore doth my father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again no man taketh it from me but I lay it down my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again John 10.17 18. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Christs love to us was stronger then death he dyed for love he laid down his life to save our lives he loves us as the Father loves him John 15.9 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love Oh the Scripture hath exceeding high expressions of his affection to us Now Beloved if he died for us and suffered for us and set his heart upon us to love us and delight in us how ought we then to love him again Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind Math. 22.37 38. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 Vnto you therefore which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 Oh let our hearts be full of love and affections to Christ Love will breed courage and cast out fear slavish fear before God and carnal fear before men God can keep us from the torments of men but men cannot keep us from the torments of God Whilest we stand by God God hath promised to stand by us Therefore be not afraid of any Authority that stands in opposition to the Authority of Christ None can promise us better than Christ can none can threaten us worse than Christ can Can any man promise us with better then Heaven Can any man threaten us with worse than Hell Heaven is promised to those that love him and Hell is to be the portion of those that hate him Oh my dear Brethren Let us Love Christ with a love stronger then death so did Paul and the rest of the Apostles Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Rom. 8.35 Love is stronger than Death many waters cannot quench it neither can the floods drown it Cant. â— 6 7. XX. Twentiethly Be every day as serious in your preparation for death as if it were your last day All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come Job 14.14 This night thy soule shall be required of thee Luke 12.20 For what is your life it is even a vapour that appeareth a little time and then vanisheth away Jam. 4.14 Behold thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 As no Saint knows when that time and hour shall be so no wicked man knows when it shall not be To live without fear of death is to dye living To labour not to dye is labour in vain Men are afraid to dye in such and such sins but not afraid to live in such and such sins Oh the Hell of horrors and terrors that attend those soules that have their greatest work to do when they come to dye therefore as you would be happy in death and everlastingly blessed after death prepare and fit your selves for death Did Christ dye for us that we might live with him and shall not we desire to dye and be
Where there is a Vaile cast before the eyes of knowledge there is a Barre set before the hands of practise An ignorant person neither knows what he is a doing nor doth he know whether he is a going he doth nothing but undoe himself by doing Carnal men see no preciousness and loveliness in Christ Oh what is thy beloved more then another beloved Cant. 5,9 If thou knowest the gift of God and who it is that asketh thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water John 4.10 Christ goes undesired in the world because he goes undiscerned by the world But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 But now believers being enlightned by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God they see themselves what they were before faith and what they are by faith and what they shall be at the end of faith they see Christ to be all precious precious in his Ordinances precious in his Discoveries precious in his Graces precious in his Gifts precious in his Promises precious in his Members precious in his Ministers and precious in himself 1 Pet. 2.7 Therefore believers cannot but love him and follow him Fifthly They follow the Lamb because they love the Lamb. Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Ephes 6.24 They love him with a superlative love Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 The Spouse of Christ looks upon what she is as not great enough for his remembrance and what she does as not good enough for his acceptance Look not upon me because I am black because the Sun hath looked upon me My Mothers Children were angry with me they made me the keeper of their Vineyard but mine one Vineyard have I not kept Cant. 1.6 The Church is never more fair than when she judgeth her self to be most deformed never more happy than when she accounts her self most miserable never more holy than when she reckons her self most polluted she is never richer than when she seeth her self to be poorest of all The soul that loves much is a soul that works much the Commands of the Gospel are not grievous to him but precious to him Tell me oh thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest Cant. 1.7 A soul that loves Christ hath hath his eye upon Christ and his desire is after Christ The desire of our souls is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desired thee in the Night yea with my Spirit will I seek thee early Isa 26.8 9. True believers love Christ more then they love themselves They loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 13 11. Christ is dearer to them than their lives they slighted contemned yea despised their very lives when they stood in competition with Christ and his Glory and chose rather to suffer the greatest misery than he should lose the least dram of his honour The love of Christ hath made his Saints and VVitnesses yield all the parts and members of their bodies to the cruel and mercilesse instruments of bloody persecutors their backs to be whipt their eyes to be boared and their tongues to be cut out of their mouths Heb. 11.37 Oh how strongly did these love the measure of loving Christ is to love him without measure Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Tribulation shall not Persecution shall not Famine and Nakednesse shall not Peril and Sword shall not for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.35 38 39. Sixthly They follow the Lamb because they are married to the Lamb Jer. 3.14 I am married unto you Rev. 21.9 I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs Wife Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his Here I will shew you two things First How Christs comes to be ours 2ly How we come to be Christs First Christ is ours by the free donation and gift of the Father God so loved the word that he gave his only begotten Son John 3.16 Secondly Christ freely gave himself unto us so that Christ is ours by his own consent he hath as it were passed over himself unto us Christ loved me and gave himself for me said the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Thirdly Christ hath passed himself over unto his Church by marriage and therefore she is called his Queen his Spouse his Bride and his VVife Psal 45.9 Although we had nothing to bring to him but poverty shame forrow and misery yet he took us and loved us and married us Fourthly Christ is ours by communicating his own Spirit to us 2. The Saints are Christs four ways First By the Donation of the Father God hath made him both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things in the Church Ephes 1.22 And now saith Christ Behold I and the Children whom thou gavest me thine they were and thou gavest them me John Seventeen Six God the Father gave us to God the Son that he might redeem us and God the Son gave us to God the Father that he might sanctifie us and keep us from the evill of the World verse 17. Secondly We are Christs by choice I have chosen you out of the World And the Saints are said to be Chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 And they are called A chosen Generation 1 Pet. 2.9 And chosen and faithful Rev. 17.14 Thirdly The Saints are Christs by purchase We were in our Enemies hands and under their power and could not free our selves from the bondage of the Law Sin Satan Death and Hell therefore saith the Apostle We are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 For in respect of Gods Justice we are bought by Christ Fourthly We are Christs by combination and Covenant I entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16.8 That is I did make a Solemn Covenant or Stipulation with thee that I would take thee to be my people So that it is no wonder Pelievers follow the Lamb whethersoever he goeth they are married to him he is their Head and Husband Seventhly They follow the Lamb because they have the Spirit of the Lamb We have not the spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are of God And we have the mind of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 2.11 12 16. And we know that he abides in us by the Spirit which he hath given us Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his This Spirit that the Lord
I not forget thee Isa 49.15 Who can harm a man if God be with him and for him He that hath the love of God need not care for the anger of men A true Believer hath the love of God the love of Christ the love of good Angels the love of good men and the love of all whose love is worth the having God protects men in his way but not out of his way When men appear for God God appears for men he is good to them in affliction and he doth them good by affliction The seventh Excellency is They that follow the Lamb shall not feel the wrath of the Lamb. Rev. 2.11 He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death 1 Thes 1.10 And to wait for his Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8.1 Oh how sad is the condition of those who live and dye without Christ they are sent to Hell Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes 2.9 They shall feel and suffer the wrath of the Lamb because they despised the truth of the Lamb. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirl-wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Pro. 1.24 25 26 27 28. Do you hear this sinners if God will shew you no mercy if you live in your sins and dye in your sins be sure Hell will shew you no mercy Now the Believer shall feel and suffer none of this he is in a happy state and condition The eighth Excellency is They that follow the Lamb shall reign with the Lamb and this is another Excellency of following the Lamb. True Believers do reign now over the Creatures over the pomp and pride of the world over all spirits over sin over the consciences of wicked men and over sufferings but besides all this they shall reign with Christ and over those that now reign over them Rev 5.10 And we shall reign on the Earth Chap. 20.4 And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years And as the wicked tread down the Saints under their feet so shall the saints tread down the wicked under their feet Mal. 4.3 The Lord hath promised that the meek shall inherit the Earth Doth not the Scripture say that In the last dayes the mountain of the Lords house shall be lifted up above the hills and shall be established in the top of the Mountains Isa 2.2 And that the Kingdoms of this world must become the Kingdomes of our Lord Jesus Rev. 11.15 And he that loves to see the face of his Church beautiful will ere long wipe away those bloody tears it is not long before you will triumph and say Cant. 2.11.12 Lo the winter is past the rain is over and gone the flowers appear on the Earth the time of the singing of Birds is come The ninth Excellency is They that follow the Lamb shall sit upon the Throne with the Lamb Rev. 3.20 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to fit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne Ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 Oh what an honour is this what a glory is this to sit upon the Throne with Christ Is it not honour and glory enough for us to be in heaven with God and Christ and Angels but must we sit upon a Throne there Oh what an honour is this and yet this honour shall all the Lambs followers have The tenth Excellency of following the Lamb is They that follow the Lamb shall judge the world with the Lamb. If you consult sacred Record you shall find that both God Christ and the Saints are said to judge the world The Ordination is Gods the Execution is Christs the Approbation is the Saints When the Apostle would stop the sinful suits among the Corinthian brethren that did not want men of Eminency to put a period unto Controversies saith Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world and if the world shall be judged by you are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters 1 Cor. 6.2 Enoch the seventh from Adam Prophesied saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Judgement upon all Jude 14.15 When the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Matth. 19.28 Now the world judge the Saints but then the Saints shall judge the world now they judge and condemn Christ in his Members but then they shall be judged and condemned by Christ and his Members For as the World cannot endure God himself so neither can they endure God in the Saints and the more God dwells in the Saints the more the world afflicts the Saints but they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth shall sit upon those that now sit upon them Thus have I shewed you the Excellencies of following the Lamb. Fourthly The misery of those that follow not the Lamb but the Beast O their misery is great in this life but it will be greater in the other The first misery of them that follow the Beast is They that follow him shall share with him in all his plagues And the third Angel followed them saying with a loud voice if any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his fore-head or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Lemb Rev. 14.9 10. Oh the plagues the terrible plagues that shall fall upon the Beast Death and mourning and famine and fire Chap. 18.8 The judgements shall come upon all parties and upon all degrees and conditions of men that joyn with the Beast All those that do partake of his sins shall share of his plagues There is First a Vial poured out upon the Earth that is upon the common people Chap. 16. vers 2. Secondly Another Viall upon the Sea that is the Jurisdiction of Rome Verse 3. Thirdly Another Vial upon the Rivers that is their Ministers Vers 4. Fourthly
They are redeemed from amongst men Eighthly They bring their first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Ninthly And in their mouthes was found no guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God O how holy how heavenly how gracious how glorious how lovely and spiritual are these they live in the Lord on the Lord to the Lord and with the Lord They are a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people 1 Pet. 2.9 Thirdly By their Spirit They have another spirit Num. 14.24 All the Lambs followers are in the spirit of the Lamb Rom. 8.9 16. And by that spirit they are led and taught a spirit of holiness a spirit of meekness a spirit of love a free spirit and a true humble and faithful spirit to and for the Lord. Now as the Lambs followers are in the spirit of the Lamb so the Beasts followers are in the spirit of the Beast which is no other then the spirit of the Devil Eph. 2.2 According to the Prince of the power of the Air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience a spirit of Lording and domineering a spirit of cunning and craftiness a spirit of Deceit a spirit of Superstition a spirit of persecution and cruelty and in this spirit are all the followers of the Beast Now by this you may know the Lambs followers from the Beasts followers Fourthly By their name They have another name A new name Rev. 3.12 God gives his people honourable Titles though the Beast giveth them reproachful Titles God calls them The dearly beloved of his soul Jer. 12.7 And The Apple of his eye Zech. 2.8 And His Jewels Mal. 3.17 His Glory his Portion his Bride his Friends and Children But the Beast calls them Seditious Hereticks Deceivers and Deluders Blasphemers and Fools and Mad-men as if they were not worthy to have a being amongst men But though they are Ravens in the Worlds eye yet they are Doves in Gods eye yea they are such Worthies Of whom this world is not worthy Heb. 11.38 Now dear Christians by this you may know the Lambs followers from others by the Nick-names the world giveth them and by the glorious names that God giveth them Fifthly by their Graces they may be known Such as are the Lambs followers are full of faith full of love full of grace and goodnesse they are very fruitful and bring forth much fruit John 15. They are called Heaven because of their heavenlinesse Rom. 8.1 And holy because of their holinesse spiritual because of their spiritualness and faithful because of their faithfulnesse There is much of God to be seen in them in their words works duties and conversations Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in Heaven They seek Heavenly things and walk by a Heavenly Rule they eye Heavenly objects and are lead by a Heavenly Spirit they submit to a Heavenly Government and imitate Heavenly ones there is much of Heaven in them and much of them in heaven When I awake I am still with thee saith David But now the Beasts followers they are full too but it is with blould and swearing cursing stealing lying blaspheming rebellion and all manner of abominations and filthinesse Hos 4.2 Rom. 3. Rev. 13. Now Beloved by this you may know Christs precious ones from the Beasts filthy ones Sixthly The Lambs followers may be known from the Beasts followers by their keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Rev. 14.12 Here is the patience of the Saints here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus So Rev. 12.17 The Dragon was wroth with the Woman and made war with the remnant of her seed which keep the Commandments of God having the Testimony of Jesus Christ True Believers cleave to the Lord and follow him fully But my servant Caleb hath followed me fully Numb 14.24 And Enoch walked with God Gen. 5.24 And Noah walked with God Gen. 6.9 Let us also walk in the Spirit Gal 5.25 And they follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth they hear his voice they professe his worship and obey his doctrine they obhor Antichrist they follow not the Beast nor receive his mark but keep their beautiful garments of Gospel innocency and will not touch beastly Babylon Seventhly By their Company The Lambs followers keep company together Being let go they went to their own company Acts 4.23 So they are said to stand upon a Sea of Glasse together And I saw as it were a Sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten victory over the Beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name stand on the Sea of Glasse having the harps of God Rev. 15.2 So they that are with the Lamb upon Mount Sion are together and keep together and follow the Lamb together Christs faithfull Witnesses do not hear with Antichrists hearers nor worship with them which worship the Beast for they are come out of Babylon Chap. 18.4 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Whereof come out from amongst them and be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you saith the Lord 2 Cor. 6.17 The Children of God wil not keep company with the Children of wrath for they cannot agree For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darknesse and what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. there fore believers keep together walk together worship God together And they that believed were of one heart and one soul continued in the Apostles Doctr. and fellowship Acts 4.32 Acts 2.42 By this the Lambs followers are known to wit by their company Eighthly By their Language they are known True Believers speak the Language of Canaan their Language is Scripture-Language you may know them by their speech as Peter was known by his speech Surely thou art one of them for thy speech bewrayeth thee Mat. 26.73 Their words are holy and heavenly they speak of God and to God and for God and He heareth them Mal. 3.16 But the beasts followers speak wickedly proudly daringly and blasphemously Chap. 13.4 And he opened his mouth blaspheming God his Son his Name his Saints and they that dwell in Heaven verse 6. Men are known who and what they are and to whom they do belong by their Language if they are of God and in God they cannot but speak much of God Ninthly The Lambs followers are known by this They are more afflicted with the Churches heaviness than they are affected with their own happiness The King said why is thy countenance sad this is nothing else but sorrow of heart seeing thou art not sick Why should not my countenance be sad when the City the place of