asked our Saviour and said unto him Art thou the Christ the Son of the Blessed And Jesus said I am And ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right Hand of Power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven Then the High-priest rent his Cloths and saith What need we any further Witnesses Ye have heard the Blasphemy what think ye And they all condemned him to be guilty of Death A wonderful thing that Innocence it self should be condemned as Guilty and that the supream and righteous Judge of the World should have such an unrighteous Sentence passed against him and be crucified and slain by those he came to save and that for their sakes endured the pains of Death to purchase for them eternal Life He was made a Curse that they might inherit the Blessing When Pilate would have released Christ they cried Not this Man but Barrabas As they have treated the glorious Head of the Church so they have dealt with his Members this godly Man and the other godly Man have been reproached persecuted and put to Death for the sake of Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith the great Captain of our Salvation who was made perfect thro' Sufferings If we suffer with him we shall reign with him at the Day of hâ—s glorious Appearing and it will be a glorious Appearing indeed to them that look and long for it The new Covenant open'd IN A SERMON Preached by George Keith AT Harp-lane near Towerstreet London Sept. 2d 1694. Jeremiah xxxi 31 c. Behold the Days come saith the Lord That I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the Day that I took them by the Hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which my Covenant they brake although I was an Husband to them saith the Lord But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel After those Days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their 〈…〉 write it in thâ—â—â— Hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People And they shall teach no more every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying Know the Lord For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquity and I will remember their Sin no more THERE are diverse great and weighty things needful here to be opened for there are many Persons are very apt to mistake that have not a right Understanding of the Nature of the New Covenant and they make a great jumble and confusion between that common universal Illumination extended to all Mankind even the most barbarous Nations where the Gospel never came by any outward Ministry and that Illumination which is proper and peculiar to the new Covenant The Apostle speaking of the Gentiles to whom Christ was not outwardly preached and where his Name and Fame and the Sound of him was not come he writes thus Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and Godhead so that they are without Excuse And again the Apostle speaking of the Dispensation of God that the Gentiles were under who had not a Law outwardâ—â— delivered to them Rom. 2.14 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the Work of the Law written in their Hearts their Conscience also bearing Witness and their Thoughts in the mean while accusing or else excusing one another Here is Writing of the Law upon the Hearts of the Gentiles and to be sure God wrote this Law But with what Pen you may say did he write it You may read in John 1.1 2 3 4. In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God 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. Here is the Pen God's Light is this Pen God hath written his Law upon the Hearts of all Men both Jews and Gentiles Believers and Unbelievers for both Writings are God's Writings they are written by the Hand of God the Finger of God or with the Spirit of God But you may say What is the difference between these two Writings What is the difference between that Illumination which is common to all Mankind and that which is proper and peculiar to the new Covenant I answer the Differences and Distinctions may be branched forth into divers weighty particulars more than at present I shall have time to mention but I shall speak of some of the chief of them First The Law of God is universally writâ—en upon the Hearts of all Men but it doth not make a Change upon them so as to sofâ—en their Hearts We read of two Sorts of Hearts in the Holy Scripture Hearts of Stone â—nd Hearts of Flesh God hath promised to â—ake away the Heart of Stone and to give â—n Heart of Flesh This universal Law of God is written upon the Hearts of all Men â—pon the Hearts of the Wicked and Disobeâ—ient Let wicked Men do their worst and â—ndeavour never so much with all their wickedness and filthiness to obliterate and â—lot out the Law of God that is written â—pon their Hearts they cannot do it it remains to judge them and will judge them â—nd leave them without Excuse But the Law â—f the New Covenant is written upon a Heart â—f Flesh It is written upon the Hearts of â—one but those that are the People of God â—hat are true Israelites upon them that are â—ews inwardly in the Spirit not in the Letâ—er whose Praise is not of Men but of God This is one great difference between that Illumination that is common to all Mankind and â—hat which is proper and peculiar to the new Covenant Secondly The Law of God as he writes â—t upon the Hearts of all Men. It is his Law â—s he is the great Creator and Maker and Lord of Heaven and Earth All ought to be subject to his Law as he is their Maker aâ— they are obliged to serve him reverence hiâ— fear him and obey him and hereupon heâ— every Man and Woman's Teacher Hoâ— As he is the great Creator and Maker aâ— Lord of Heaven and Earth And here tâ— Relation between God and Men and Womâ—â— is that which is between a Master or Lord aâ—â— a Servant But now the Law of the neâ— Covenant it is the Law of a Parent towaâ—â— his Children now this far exceeds the otheâ— and God's Teachings here are fatherly Teacâ—ings they are God's Teachings as he is Father to his People and as they are his
Sin of Justification of Peace with God and of eternal Life and Happiness as Christ was held forth in the Promise we lay hold on Christ as his Doctrine is preached As we lay hold on a Man by taking hold of his Cloaths or a Lap or Skirt of his Garment so we lay hold on Christ by the precious things testified of him So that there is a great difference between common Illumination given to all Mankind and that special Illumination which is proper to Believers and whatsoever other Differences there are may be reduced to these three But though the common and special Illumination be differing yet they both come from one Fountain and Root God Christ and the Spirit according to 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. And the common Illumination is of a saving tendency by way of introduction and preparation to the other But some may put the Question and say Of what Use is this common Illumination if it belong not to the new Covenant then of what use is it to us I answer it is of great use it is of the same use with the Law it is as a School-master to bring us unto Christ to point us unto Christ This common Illumination is like John the Baptist his Ministry and Baptism he was sent before to prepare the Way of the Lord. This common Illumination prepares Men and Women for Christ it will make them sensible that they are miserable Sinners miserable Offenders and Transgressors and that God is angry with them and that they deserve to die and that the Wages of Sin is Death they having sinned Death is their Wages I say this is of great Service to People to be thus far convinced that they are Sinners and that they need an Advocate and Mediator to come between God and them because they have offended him If we had offended a great Man we would be glad for some who had Interest in him and great favour and friendship to speak for us If we had offended the King and committed Treason would not we be glad of some Person that hath a great Interest in the King's favour to intercede for us If the King had a Son would not we be glad that he should mediate for us and interpose between us and the Wrath of the King and turn away his Indignation and make Reconciliation for us Would not we be glad that the King's Son should obtain a Pardon for us and restor◠us to the King's favour We have offended the King of Kings and the supream Lord of Heaven and Earth so that we need a great Mediator we need one to make our Peace and purchase Pardon and Salvation for us God hath laid help upon one that is mighty he hath given his dear Son Christ Jesus to be the great Mediator between God and Man to be the great Peace-maker and Reconciler and the Saviour of Sinners But it should not be thought that Christ hath greater tenderness and love for us than God the Father Who so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life And now in the next place there is another thing that is weighty upon my Spirit and it is of great concernment and that is to answer this Question Question How doth God do this great Work of putting his Law in our inward Parts and writing his Law in our Hearts Doth he do it without all outward Means Helps and Instruments I answer In God's ordinary way he doth this great VVork by outward Means Helps and Instruments tho' he can do it without them It may suffice us that God hath vouchsafed to us these outward Means and Helps of Instruction in the Preaching of the Gospel and in our Reading of the holy Scriptures It pleaseth the Lord by the mighty working of his 〈…〉 it to go along with the outward Ministry of the VVord and to make impression upon us and to write his Law in our Hearts this Law of the New Covenant This I testify from mine own Experience and I doubt not but divers here can witness the like to have been their Experience that God hath by the mighty power and operation of his holy Spirit accompanying the outward means and helps of Instruction made impression upon them and written his Law upon their Hearts This Law of the New Covenant here expressed in the singular Number is sometimes stiled Laws in the plural Number When it is stiled Law in the singular Number it signifies a Body of divine Laws consisting of many parts I will put my Law in their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my People Now the Laws and Precepts of God which he gave to his People the twelve Tribes of Israel some have computed their number to be above six hundred Laws many of which were typical and ceremonial How do these typical and ceremonial Laws which were given to them bind us that live under the Gospel Do they oblige us now I answer they do not bind us as to the typical and ceremonial part but they bind us as to the spiritual part as they have a spiritual and moral signification as the Law of the Sabbaths and Sacrifices and New Moons c. they bind us not as to the ceremonial part but as they have a spiritual and moral signification in them I shall now proceed to some few things that remain In the new Covenant God hath promised to his People To blot out their Iniquities and to remember their Sins no more The Law of the first Covenant doth not admit of Pardon of Sin The Soul that sinneth shall die but the new Covenant hath Pardon of Sin through the Mediator Christ Jesus upon the account of shedding his Blood for us This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of Sins Mat. 26.28 Why doth not he say for Remission of the sins of all He died for all and shed his Blood for all but it is only effectual to those that believe in him Pray observe with me this weighty Matter of Doctrin which is this None hath his Sins blotted out but as he comes to God's Teachings the Father's Teachings but as he comes to be taught of God over and above all Mens Teaching whatsoever every one that is taught of God doth know more of God more of his Love more of his divine Grace more of his Power more of divine Enjoyment those that are taught of God know more of a divine Sweetness and Enjoyment and of Comfort than can be had by the Teachings of Man or in the Bible it self according to that Expression of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of Man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him The full fruition of these things is reserved to the World to come but the deep things of God are
among us that came in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh We must believe in him as the true Light that lighteth every Man which cometh into the World There is a Sufficiency in this Light which is the Light of Life and the Arm of God's Salvation But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart saith the Apostle That is the Word of Faith which we preach that we might hear it and obey it And if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead thou shalt be saved Here is the Means of Salvation the powerful Working of Faith in thy Heart and that is the Light within the Spirit within It is the Power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ that worketh this Living Faith in thy Heart This Faith in Christ Crucified when thou shalt be assured of Eternal Life in him of Eternal Salvation by him This Work of Faith with Power is wrought by Christ in all that believe on his Name He is the Dispenser of it This is the Word of Faith which we preach if thou shalt confess Christ with thy Mouth and believe in thy Heart that God raised Christ from the Dead who died for our Sjns and rose again for our Justification and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at thâ— Right-Hand of God and liveth for ever to make Intercession for us By this Living Faith in the Lord Jesus which worketh by Love which constraineth thee to live to him that died for thee thou shalt escape the Wrath to come and obtain Eternal Salvation by means of this Living Justifying Faith thou maist receive the Spirit of Adoption and call God Father Christ Jesus is become now thy High Priest and Elder Brother and thou maist walk by Faith in the narrow way that leads to Eternal Life And if thou hast received Christ Jesus the Lord then walk in him and follow his Example who was Holy Harmless and Undefiled and separate from Sinners and made higher than the Heavens by Faith in Christ thou shalt overcome the world and obtain Victory over thy Sins and Lusts And if we be once united to Christ by a Living Faith he will be a Light and a Leader to us and as a Pillar of a Cloud by Day and a Pillar of Fire by Night as he was to the Israelites when he conducted them out of the Land of Egypt through the Red Sea and the Wilderness and brought them safe into the Land of of Canaan a Land flowing with Milk and Hony O the Showers of Mercy that come from this Heavenly Cloud and fall down upon the believing Soul Who can declare the Showers of heavenly Joy and Consolation that are poured down upon those that are Childreâ— of Light that walk in the Light and have the Light of God's Countenance lifted up upon them O thou poor distressed sorrowful Soul that art clouded and at a distance from the Lord that art cast down and disquieted having all thy Sins set in order before thee thou art greatly afflicted and almost overwhelmed with Grief when thou remembrest how thou hast transgressed the righteous Law of God and sinned against the tender Love and Compassion of thy Heavenly Father that waiteth to be gracious rely upon his Grace and Mercy and pardoning Love and he will subdue thy Lusts and Corruptions and speak Peace unto thy disconsolate Soul If he appear unto thee as unto his Servant Moses in a Flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush when the Bush burned with Fire and was not consumed If God appear terrible to thee as a Flame of Fire it is not to consume thee but to burn up and destroy thy Sins and Lusts which would destroy thy Soul When he appears as a consuming Fire he will purifie and refine thee from thy Dross and only burn up the combustible Matter in thee And when he appears as a Cloud to thee thou shalt feel Divine Showers of Joy and Refreshment to thy Soul which will make thee as a watered Garden to be green and flourishing Here is the Baptism of the Cloud of which the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 10.1 Moreover Brethen I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the Cloud and all passed through the Sea â—nd were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea When the Lord shall suddenly come into his Temple saith the Prophet Malachy even the Messenger of the Covenant who may abide the Day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like a Refiners Fire and like Fullers Soap and he shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver Here is a Refiner and Purifier indeed When he hath refined thee with Fire he will then water thee and cleanse thee and make the Cloud thou art under drop down divine Dews of Refreshing upon thy disconsolate Soul and he will lead thee in the way as he did Israel of old by the Pillar of Fire and of a Cloud both by Day and by Night so he will shine into thy Mind by the Light of his Dear Son When the Children of Israel were marching out of Egypt they were in a great strait Pharoah and his Host pursued after them to destroy them they saw no way to escape they must unavoidably go into the Sea or fall into their Enemies Hâ—nds Then the Lord appeared to deliver them by a mighty Arm of Power when the Egyptians pursued after them all the Horses and Chariots of Pharaoh and his Horsmen and his Army and overtook them encamping by the Sea And when Pharaoh drew nigh the Children of Israel lift up their Eyes and behold the Egyptians marched after them and they were sore afraiâ— and cryed out unto the Lord and they said unto Moses Because there were no Graves in Egypt hast thou taken us away to die in the Wilderness wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us to carry us out of Egypt And Moses said unto the People fear ye not stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord which he will shew to you this Day for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to Day ye shall see them again no more for ever So when thy Soul is brought into great Straits then stand still in a pure Resignation to the will of God and he will deliver thy Soul wait upon him and be resigned up to him and he will work Deliverance for thee from Time to Time when thou art in great Straits and Troubles and afflicted and distressed and seest nothing but a Sea of Trouble before thee that thou must pass through thy Faith
c. Look therefore unto Jesus how shall I look unto him Look unto him by Faith believe that he is an Advocate an Intercessor and Mediator and a Propitiation for thy sins This will give thee an entrance and admission into his Presence again and thou wilt have the Springs of Life that were stopped opened again the Wells of Salvation opened and thou wilt come to know Joy and Consolation again and then thou wilt declare what God by this living Faith hath wrought for thee when thou comest to know the overcoming of Unbelief If thou hast this living Faith thou canst say to this corrupt Tree of Unbelief that is grounded and rooted in thee be thou plucked up and it shall be so If thou hast Faith as a Grain of Mustard-seed a very small seed thou shalt say to this Mountain Be thou removed and it shall be so and to thiâ— Sicamore-tree Be thou plucked up and planted in the midst of the Sea and it shall be done O this living Faith this Faith unfeigned it works by Love and Charity which the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 1.5 Is the end of the Commandment out of a pure Heart and good Conscience This pure divine Faith doth witness the overcoming of Unbelief and it is more precious than Gold that perishes and will be found to Praise Glory and Honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ. This Faith will endure all Temptations Tryals Afflictions Buffetings O this pure living Faith that is wrought by God's powerful Word and declared by the Light within by the Arm of God's Salvation it doth do the Work that is appointed for it to do The Hand cannot do any thing without the Body or the Head no more will this Arm of God's Salvation within work without the power of the Man Christ Jesus that is the Giver of it nor without his Death and Sufferings but it is all-sufficient to save us with them with his Death and Sufferings Resurrection Ascention Mediation and Intercession Look not only to the Light within but look unto Jesus the Dispenser of it It pleased the Father that in his blessed Son Jesus Christ should all fulness dwell The fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in him of his fulness we all received and Grace for Grace A Brief DECLARATION OF Thomas Budd AT The Close of a Meeting in Harp-lane October 14th 1694. Rom. 10.6 7 8 9 10 Say not in thine heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart That is the word of Faith which we preach That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart Man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation IT is not a bare litteral traditional or historical Faith or Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that he was raised from the Dead will save us but we must know a living Faith wrought in our Hearts by the living Word 〈◊〉 God that Word that is nigh that is in oâ— Hearts and in our Mouth we must know thâ— operation of the living Word of God to worâ— Faith in our Hearts in the Man Christ Jesuâ— This Faith must be wrought in our Hearts bâ— the living Word and by the Spirit of Chrisâ— by the same Power that raised up Christ froâ— the dead It is not a bare historical Faith or Knowledge that will save us but we must have living Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we muâ— believe in him that he died for our Sins anâ— rose again for our Justification and that he ascended into Heaven and sate down at the righâ— Hand of the Majesty on high and that thâ— Heavens received him and will retain him until the time of the restitution of all things according to the Testimony of the Angels aâ— his Ascension into Heaven Act. 1.9 10. It iâ— said That while the Disciples beheld he was takeâ— up and a Cloud received him out of their sight and while they looked stedfastly towards Heaveâ— as he went up behold two Men stood by them iâ— white Apparel which also said Ye Men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven The Apostle saith The Heavens have received him till the time of the Restitution of all things he will come again and restore all things and raise the dead to life He will open the Graves and cause the Dead to come forth then he will come to be glorified 〈◊〉 his Saints and to be admired in all â—em that believe in all them that â—elieve the divine Promises and that put â—heir Trust in him He will be glorified in all â—hat believe in him and expect Salvation by â—im Then Believers shall be restored to their â—rimitive State and to a greater dignity and â—lory than Adam enjoyed in Paradice when â—e was created in the Image of God That â—ost Image shall be restored again when the Lord Jesus himself shall descend from Heaven with a Shout and with the Voice of the Archâ—ngel and with the Trump of God and the Dead in Christ shall rise first they shall have â—he preference For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every Man in his own order Christ the first Fruits afterward â—hey that are Christ's at his coming then he will change our vile Body that it may be fashiâ—ned like unto his glorious Body according to the Workings whereby he is able even to subdue all â—hings unto himself to the Bodies of the Saints A SERMON Preached by George Keith At Devonshire-house June 17. 1694. Rom. 10.6 7 8 But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above Or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart That is the Word of Faith which we Preach THE Apostle Paul by the Wisdom given him of God preached Salvation by Christ Jesus both within us and without us This is the true Gospel of Salvation the true Gospel-Doctrin which Christ Jesus himself preached and all the holy Prophets Evangelists and Apostles they preached Salvation by Jesus Christ by the Knowledge of him without dividing him It is not our Principle to divide these Christ within us and Christ without us but to join them I have fully preached â—saith the Apostle the Gospel of Christ Say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above But we may know
This Faith comes from this Living Fountain this Living Root and Foundation Christ within the Hope of Glory This would make Christendom as the Garden of Eden and the Paradice of God but Christendom is now become a barren Wilderness there is little true Faith found among them The Lord hath some even a remnant that love and fear him and that are near and dear to him that have a True and Living Faith in the Lord Jesus but they are as a Cluster of Grapes in a barren Wilderness but the rest are as a Thorn-Hedge My Friends Is Christ ascended into Heaven Let us by Faith ascend and dwell with Christ in Heaven let our Faith ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Meditation ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Hearts and our Affections ascend to Christ in Heaven while we are in the Body and in the Wilderness of this World yet in our Minds and Affections let us be with Christ in Heaven and let us witness with the Apostle That our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the Working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself They looked for the last Appearance of his glorified Body and they looked for his daily coming into their Hearts I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you How will he come unto them By daily renewed Incomes of his Spiritual Life and Light and Divine Power He knew they would have but little Meetings at first yet he encourageth these little Meetings Where two or three are gathered together in my Name I will be in the midst of them It is not limited to a great number the Promise is to Two or three as well as to an hundred or many hundreds If a Man be in his House alone or if he be on the Top of a Mountain or by the Side of a River in Prayer if he be a true Disciple of Christ and takes up his Cross and follows him he shall find the Holy Spirit present with him If a Man love me saith Christ he will keep my Words John 14.23 and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our Abode with him So that here is a daily coming From whence From Heaven Here is a daily Coming from Heaven of Christ's Descending from Heaven The Father Son and Holy Spirit will come from Heaven to a true Believer and make their abode with him We must not understand this coming so grosly as if the Father Son and Holy Spirit should leave Heaven and come and dwell with the Sons of Men. What is this coming then It is the Heavenly Influences the Heavenly Powers and Heavenly Vertues like Heavenly Rains the Heavenly Gifts and Manifestations of the Lord Jesus by his Blessed Spirit in our Hearts So then Friends I beseech you observe these following Words which are of the like Import and concern to every one of us The Word is nigh thee this is the Command saith Moses which I command thee this Day this Word is not hidden from thee neither is far off it is not in Heaven that thou shouldst say Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it How may we be sure it is God's Command as well as the most known and revealed Truth It was a Command to them I say to them to believe that Christ was to come in the Flesh they were to obey that Commandment the Word of Christ in their Hearts the word of Faith the word of Righteousness the word of Reconciliation to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was to die for Sinners In the Time of the Law and before the Time of the Law they were to believe that Christ was to come and die for them and shed his Blood for them Heb. 11.1 Faith is the Substance of Things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Now from the beginning of the World all that long Trace of Time between Adam and Moses for about Four thousand Years they lived by that Faith they hoped for Christ's Coming and had got an infallible Assurance that God would forgive them their Sins and receive them graciously into his Hands when they should come to die and go out of this earthly Tabernacle of the Body and give them an abundant Entrance into his Everlasting Kingdom the Paradise above But why is this Word called the Commandment in the singular Number I will tell you because one Word not many is comprehensive of all God's Commandments be acquainted with this word in thy Heart and it will learn thee all God's Commandments It will teach you all that can be preached from the Holy Scriptures This Word of God that is in your Hearts is comprehensive of all Then you will object and say What need I have any outward Preaching I will sit at home and only mind the Light within the Word that is nigh and in my Heart No that is a great Mistake to say there is no need of outward Preaching many things are greatly profitable that are not of absolute necessity I do not say the Bible is of such absolute neceâ—sity that if Men should take the Bible from us we must perish for want of it God forbid If we should be banished into Turky and they should be so cruel as to take our Bibles from us as they do other Goods and think to bring us over to their Religion this word of Faith in our Hearts will bring to our Remembrance what is written in the Holy Scriptures so that the Bible is a necessary and profitable outward Help but not of such absolute Necessity that we must be undone for ever and perish without it This word of Life that is in thy Heart will preserve thee from perishing eternally O be acquainted with it If a Time should come that there should be no Meetings no outwatd Preaching or Hearing or that we should be shut up in Prison and see the Face of Man no more yet this word of God in our Hearts will teach us and witness the love of God to us in our dying Moments and we shall feel our departing Souls in the Hands of the Lord and may say with our Redeemer Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit O what Joy will this be to us in a dying Hour Now what is it that gives this Knowledge Understanding and Assurance to us The word of Faith in the Heart It may well be called the word of Faith An hypocritical Faith is a Faith without Charity Love and Obedience All Faith is false that is not grounded upon this Word of God it is needful to be preached this inward Word this Word of God within how doth it reconcile us to God It reconcileth us to God by opening of the Mysâ—ery of Christ Jesus and discovering to us
the Son the Father gives Life to the Son and the Son giveth Life unto Believers the Son is continually receiving from the Father and we are continually receiving from the Son through the Exercise of our Faith Would you know and feel an heavenly Vertue and Sap and vital Influence flowing â—â—om Christ into your Souls And would you now nothing of dryness barrenness nor unâ—â—uitfulness then live by the Faith of the Son â—f God and exercise your Faith upon Christ â—ontinually It is not enough to have Faith â—e by you as a Man hath an Instrument lying â—y and he doth not use it But know the Use and Exercise of Faith you must know â—he daily Operation of Faith elsâ— you cannot â—eceive continual Sap flowing 〈◊〉 you from Christ the heavenly Vine Gâ—â— 2.20 I am â—rucified with Christ saith the Apostle neverâ—heless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me â—nd the Life which I now live in the Flesh I â—ive by the Faith of the Son of God who loved â—ne and gave himself for me There is no â—iving but by the Faith of the Son of God Rom. 1.16.17 I am not ashamed of the Gospel â—f Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek For therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written Hab. 2.4 the Just shall live by his Faith Every Man and Woman are to live by their own Faith It is not the Faith and Holiness of another will serve our turn every one must have Faith of his own which is the Gift of God I once more warn you against that Faith that is only literal traditional and historical for that is not the Faith that will justifie and save you that is not the Faith which I preach I am much abused wronged and traduced by some that say I preach an unprofitable Faith and that the Faiâ—â— which I preach all England hath it and aâ— Christendom hath it If they had it wâ— should see the Fruits of it Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Meekness and Temperance these are the Fruit of the Spirit and Concomitants of true Faith The Faith which I preach is indispensibly necessary to every one that expects Salvation and to live with God and Christ in Heaveâ— for ever It is a Faith that is wrought by thâ— mighty Power of God the powerful word oâ— God in the Heart Heb. 4.12 The Word oâ— God is quick and powerful sharper than anâ— two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joyntâ— and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughtâ— and Intents of the Heart This Faith comeâ— from an inward Root this Root is the Lighâ— within the Power of God the Spirit of God within O how many thousands in Christendom have risen up against this Testimony Blessed be God that gave me a share in this Testimony there is a living Testimony that remains in my Mouth and Heart to this Day that the Lord Jesus Christ died for us performed the Office of an High Priest for us and upon the account of his precious Blood we receive Remission of Sins All this is by Faith in Christ we witness to his prophetical Office he is the great Prophet and Teacher of his Church and People and we witness to his Kingly Office he rules and governs in our Hearts by his Holy Spirit This Faith is not universally preached and known in all Christendom in the Root of it which is Christ within the Light within that Christ in his prepared Body did the Will of God and suffered Death for us This Faith whereby I believe Christ died for me and makes Intercession for me the Root of it is the Light within and Christ within Is this the Doctrine that is believed and professed all over Christendom No by no means This Faith I can prove out of our Friends Writings in Print that it respects Christ whole and entire Every true Exercise of Faith doth respect Christ as he is both God and Man It respects him as he came in the Flesh died and suffered for us in the Flesh and as he rose again from the Dead and ascended into Heaven and now appears in the Presence of God for us and as he will come again to judge the world as he is â—he Son of Man God hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the World by the Man Christ Jesus whereof he hath given Assurance â—o all Men in that he hath raised him from â—he Dead Some will be ready to say Shall not the Light within judge all Men Shall not the words which Christ hath spoken judge us at â—he last Day Yes Christ shall judge all Men at the last Day both by his Light in their Hearts and â—s he is the Man Christ now if any think â—â—at the Light within is the Man Christ Jesus and nothing else and exclude the Person oâ— Christ the same Person that was crucified anâ— died for us and was buried This would bâ— a great Error and a contradiction to thâ— fundamental Principles of the Christian Faith I say that blessed Body which God prepareâ— for his dear Son to tabernacle in to be hâ—â— Temple that Body remains in Being and wiâ—â— remain a glorious Body to all Eternity Thâ— Apostle tells us Phil. 3.20 That our meaâ— and vile Bodies shall be made like unto Christâ— glorious Body For our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change ouâ— vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto hâ— glorious Body according to the working whereâ—â— he is able to subdue all things unto himself It will be the Happiness of the Saints thâ— they shall be made like unto Christ both iâ— Soul and Body We shall be made more likâ— to Christ in our Souls and Spirits then anâ— we must be cleansed from Sin and made liâ—â— him now for we expect no Purgatory aftâ—â— this Life therefore defer it not He that haâ— this Hope saith the Apostle purifyeth himseâ—â— even as he is pure My Friends I expect no cleansing after thâ— Life I expect all my cleansing here to 〈◊〉 cleansed from all filthiness both of Flesh aâ— Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of Gâ—â— that so when I come to die I may be receivâ— into the Bosom of Christ that I may have measure of that holy Confidence to pray 〈◊〉 Stephen Lord Jesus receive my Spirit This â—lessed Martyr Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost he looked up stedfastly into Heaven and â—aw the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the â—ight Hand of God and when they were stonâ—ng him to Death he kneeled down and cried with a loud Voice Lord lay not this Sin to â—heir Charge and when he had said this he â—ell asleep Friends you that have a Life of Faith and â—eel Christ dwelling in your Hearts by Faith
Chiâ—dren So that God's People that are undâ—â— this New Covenant they have access to Goâ— as Children to a Father they come with a hoâ— Boldness and Freedom into his Presence Master of a Family hath in his House both Seâ—vants and Sons and Daughters and yoâ— know there is a greater Nearness and Affectâ—on between a Man and his Sons and Daugâ—ters than between him and his Servants Master of a Family loves his Children bettâ— than he loves his Servants so on the othâ—â— hand Children if they be dutiful love theâ— Parents with a purer Affection with a moâ— free kind generous and noble Affection thaâ— they that are Servants love their Masters The Love of a Servant towards God is meâ—cenary and for the Reward but the Love oâ— God's Children is a free and filial Affection they say unto God Lord I love thee for thâ— self because thou art good and the most exceâ—lent Being and there is none like or equal â—nto thee in Heaven or on Earth I love thee â—ecause thou hast given me a Heart to love â—ee thou hast made me partake of a Child's Nature thou hast given me the Heart of a Child that I might love thee My Friends the Love of those that are â—ervants is a mercenary Love and their Fear 〈◊〉 a servile Fear a Fear of Punishment The â—ove of God's Children is a filial Love a â—ee and generous Affection a Love whereby â—he Soul is changed and brought under the New Covenant a Love to God for his own â—ake not only for his Blessings and for his Gifts but chiefly and principally for himself â—ot only because they believe that when they â—lie they shall go to Heaven and that because Heaven is a blessed Place and that therefore â—hey are glad they have such a Place to go to but they love God above Heaven who is betâ—er to them than Heaven it self and they can â—ay with David Psalm 73.25 Lord whom â—ave I in Heaven but thee and there is none â—pon Earth that I desire besides thee Thirdly Another difference between that common Illumination which is common to all Mankind and that which is special and pecuâ—iar to those under the New Covenant may â—ppear in his Teaching them God teacheth Sinners saith the Psalmist Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach Sinners in the way God by his universal Illumination teacheth Men many things concerning himself and their Duâ—y to him in a general way but God teacheth his People under the New Covenant by râ—vealing and making known to them clearâ— and distinctly Christ Jesus the Mediator 〈◊〉 the New Covenant God giveth them tâ—â— Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God 〈◊〉 the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Goâ— maketh known to his People this great Mâ—stery of Christ as he is the Mediator betweâ—â— God and them So we read in the Epistle 〈◊〉 the Hebrews Heb. 12.22 But ye are comâ— unto Mount Zion and to the City of the liâ—ing God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an iâ—numerable Company of Angels to the generâ—â— Assembly and Church of the First-born whicâ—â— are written in Heaven and to God the Judgâ— of all and the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Câ—venant and to the Blood of Sprinkling thâ— speaketh better things than that of Abel Theâ— is no approaching to God but through thâ— Man Christ Jesus But you may say How shall they comâ— unto God by the Man Christ Jesus the Mediator that never saw him with their bodilâ— Eyes nor never heard him with their Bodilâ— Ears How then can they come unto Jesâ—â— the Mediator of the New Covenant who they have neither thus heard nor seen Blessed be God that hath given thousand and ten thousands and hundreds of thousand to understand this great Mystery of cominâ— to God by the Man Christ Jesus whom the never saw with their Bodily Eyes nor hearâ— with their Bodily Ears The like Objectioâ— may be made against coming to God who â—annot be seen with bodily Eyes for he is a â—pirit and invisible yet there is a coming to God Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must â—elieve that he is We have now no Opporâ—unity nor occasion of seeing Christ with bodily Eyes or hearing him with our bodily Ears yet we may come to him by Faith Who worketh this Faith God's blessed Spirit When is it wrought and where and how is it wrought It is wrought in God's ordinary way by Preaching when Christ is preached by those that he hath qualified and fitted by his blessed Spirit when he is thus preached by the Power of his own Holy Spirit Faith is wrought in the Hearts of those that hear not of all for some believe the Gospel and â—ome believe not Thus it hath been all-a-long where-ever the Gospel hath been preached some believe and others do not believe I say the Word of the Gospel as it is preached and complied with it is like Rain and Snow that falls upon the Earth it returneth not in vain but hath a Service though it make not all the Parts of the Earth fruitful all Places are not alike fruitful some remain barren still Thus saith the Lord by the Prophet Isa 55.10 11. For as the Rain cometh down and the Snow from Heaven and returneth not thither but waterâ—eth the Earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give Seed to the Sower and Bread to the Eater so shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my Mouth it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplishâ— that which I please and it shall prosper in thâ— thing whereto I sent it When the Gospel is preached in any Congregation in any City Town Country or Nation it cannot be expected that all should be converted it cannot be expected that the good seed should fall every where in good Ground No it may be one part is good Ground but where the seed is sown according to Christs Parable of the sower Mat. 13.3 4 5. Some seeds fell by the way side and the Fowls came and devoured them up some fell upon stony places where they had not much Earth c. And when the Sun was up they were scorched and because they had not root they withered away and some fell among Thorns and the Thorns sprung up and choked them but others fell into good Ground and brought forth Fruit. Blessed be God that hath taught us this great Mystery of coming unto God by Christ Jesus the Mediatour whom we have not seen with Bodily Eyes nor heard with Bodily Ears VVe have access to God by him and we have access to the Mediatour by his precious Blood and by his Blessed Spirit And Faith is a great mystery it well deserves to be called the mystery of Faith and the mystery of it is this it joyns Believing Souls to God through the Man Christ and to the Man Christ whom they have not seen with Bodily Eyes according to those words
revealed by the Spirit of God and the first Fruits and Earnest are given to the People of God here in this World the full enjoyment whereof is reserved for the next Life Now the first Fruits and Earnest are of the same nature and kind with the full Harvest in Glory If thou be a true Believer thou enjoyest a measure of the same Delight and Pleasure in Communion with God on Earth that the glorified Saints do enjoy in Heaven to all Eternity O the inward sweetness delight and satisfaction that the Soul of every true Believer enjoys in God in this Life it is of the same nature and kind that the Saints shall enjoy in Heaven to all Eternity this first Fruits and Earnest is but little in comparison of the full Harvest that is to come Those that are the People of God that have experienced God's Teaching know that which is beyond all the Teachings of the best of Men as the taste of Hony is beyond all Reports of it the Joys and Comforts of God's holy Spirit are beyond all that can be declared and expressed by Man concerning these things Whatsoever God's Servants have declared and reported concerning the great things that God hath promised to them that love him the Knowledge and Taste and Experience of God's People goes beyond it Yet this makes not void the outward Testimony and Teaching of holy Men for so far as any holy Man has greater Experience than I and a greater experimental Knowledge of God he is sit to teach me further than I at present know for the Children of God are gradually taught under the new Covenant None have Forgiveness of Sin vouchsafed to them but those that come under God's Teaching they believe not because of Man's Testimony only because Paul taught so and Peter taught so and James and John taught so but as they said to the Samaritan-woman John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy Saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World Those that are thus taught of God know the Truth and love the Truth as it is in Jesus they have heard himself preach he is not bodily present but he is present by his Spirit the Voice of the Spirit of Christ is the Voice of Christ and the Voice of God the Father you that hear the Voice of the Spirit in your Hearts you hear the Voice of the Father and the Son they that are taught of God they hear the Voice of God the Father Son and holy Ghost There is one thing further upon my Heart which I shall deliver as the Lord shall be pleased to enable me in a few Words concerning the new Covenant I hope you all know thus much that the nature of a Covenant is mutual it binds and obligeth both Parties so doth God's Covenant who ever comes under God's Covenant As God obligeth himself to be their Father and their God anâ— their Husband thy Maker is thy Husband So God's People that come under this Covenant are engaged unto God and God expects and requires that they should be faithful unto him And certainly God expectâ— and requires of every one in order to their coming into Covenant that they give up their Hearts and Souls to him and to take the Lord for their God We must dedicate our selves to his glory and service and say Lord thou shalt be my God I will have no other God but thee no other Lord or Master but thee Other Lords have had dominion over us but now we will make mention of thy Name only Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and surname himself by the name of Israel Is this only an outward Book an outward Writing and Subscription No that is but little to be accounted of thou must write with thy Soul thou must write with thy Heart There is a Bond between the Lord and thee and thou bindest thy self to him and it is written in thy Heart The Lord shall be my God Thus David engaged himself to the Lord Psal 119.94 Lord I am thine save me and he takes the Lord for his Portion Thou art my Portion O Lord I have said that I would keep thy Word How can you say That the Lord is your God unless you are his by Covenant God's Covenant hath a mutual stipulation or obligation there is a mutual engaging and promising The Lord promiseth to be our God and Father and Husband and our Preserver to be all in all to us and we promise to be his People to love him and serve him and obey him So my Friends I now commend you to the Lord and commend those things to you that I have declared at this present time I commit them to the Witness of God in all your Consciences I commit you to God and the Word of his Grace to open your Understandings that you may be inlightned to know him who is the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life eternal and that you may feel his mighty power to make impression upon your Hearts by those things that I have been testifying and declaring among you the Lord alone can teach you to Profit and make those great and precious Promises that have now sounded in your Ears to have a due impression upon your Hearts and to become effectual through the mighty Power of his blessed Spirit for the Salvation of your immortal Souls A SERMON Preached by George Keith At Harp-Lane London Septemb. 30th 1694. Cor xiii 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Or as it may be better translated Vnless ye be unapproved disapproved or without a proof THis is a seasonable Exhortation of the Apostle Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith c. know ye not your own selves c. how that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates saith our Translation ' It were sad indeed if all they were Reprobates that know not Christ within them God forbid for there are thousands that know not that Christ is in them they have not that Knowledge Understanding Proof and Experience yet they are not Reprobate But who then are Reprobates may some say They are Reprobates of whom we may truly say God hath wholly left them utterly left them and ceaseth to be a Reprover to them and their Day of Mercy is expired the Day of God's Visitation and the striving of his Spirit is at an End towards them These are properly said to be Reprobates yet those that are not yet in Christ and know not that Chtist is in them so long as they are capable of Repentance and Conversion and of being turned to God and the Day of his Visitation being not yet expired it cannot
and Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ it is not the true Doctrin of the Gospel of Christ to preach Pardon of Sin and Justification through the Obedience that any Man or Woman can perform to or by the Light within the Spirit of God within or any inward Principle without Faith in the Man Christ Jesus It is by Faith in him that we witness Peace with God Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 It is not in my Heart to go into Niceties to answer that Question that hath more of Nicity than of Necessity in it Whether we are justified by Faith or by Faith and Works viz. by such Works as accompany Faith and go along with Faith and that flow from Faith as the effects of it We cannot be justified whatever any may â—irm without Faith in Christ crucified and â—hoever preach that we may be justified by â—y Works that we can perform any obediâ—nce to Christ within or without without â—ith in Christ crucified they preach another â—ospel and pervert the Gospel of Christ â—al 1.8 But though we or an Angel from â—eaven saith the Apostle preach any other â—ospel unto you than that which we have preachâ—â— unto you let him be accursed Now they preach another Gospel that preach â—ustification and Remission of Sins by our own â—orks and Obedience without Faith in Christ crucified The Apostle James saith â—deed Jam. 2.21 Was not Abraham our â—ather justified when he offered Isaac his Son â—pon the Altar Seest thou how Faith wrought â—ith his Works and by Works was Faith â—ade perfect And the Scripture was fulfilâ—â—d which saith Abraham believed God â—â—d it was imputeâ— to him for Righteousness â—â—d he was called the Friend of God And it is â—id concerning Rahab Was not Rahab the â—arlot justified by Works when she had receiâ—ed the Messengers and had sent them out anoâ—her way Josh 2.15 She let them down by a â—ord through the Window and she said unto â—hem Get ye to the Mountains lest the Pursuâ—rs meet you And the Spyes said unto her â—ehold when we come into the Land thou shalt â—ind this Line of Scarlet-Thred in the Window â—ich thou didst let us down by c. The â—carlet-Thred did typify and represent and shadow out the Blood of Christ by which shâ— should be saved she hid the Spyes and thâ— was a good Work her Faith that saved heâ— was as the Scarlet-Thred dipt and dyed iâ— the Blood of Christ which cleanseth from alâ— Sin So these Works were not without Faith but did accompany it and were the real Fruiâ— of it I have told you that the Object of Faitâ— is God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son both in his inward and outward coming anâ— appearance and as he is yet to come again and appear without us at the end of thâ— World at the great day of Judgment and also the holy Spirit Now to open to you briefly one Scripture John 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name The Exposition that some have given of this is the receiving of Christ inwardly that is so far good But that dotâ—â—ot comprehend the whole sense and meaning of the Words To receive him and believe on him is not only to receive his Light and Power and Spirit in our Hearts but to receive him as he died for us and shed his precious Blood for us and became both a Priest and Sacrifice for us and offered himself through the Eternal Spirit without spot to God We must believe thâ— worth and value of that Sacrifice to expiatâ— our Sins and to make attonement for us â— so that by Christ's Sacrifice and offering oâ— himself the justice of God haâ—h satisfactioâ— made to it as fully as if we our selves had sufâ—â—red and made full satisfaction So that to â—â—ceive Christ is not to receive him only in â—â—s inward Appearance but in his priestly Ofâ—â—ce as he died upon the Cross and shed his â—recious Blood for us I have said it divers times and it is in my Heart to say it again That Christ offered the Gift of his Manhood upon the Altar of his Godhead that sanctified it and made it so â—ighly valuable and acceptable How will â—ou prove this some might say This may â—ell be proved out of the holy Scripture Heb. 13.14 For if the Blood of Bulls and of Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling â—he Vnclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the â—lesh how much more shall the Blood of Christ â—ho through the Eternal Spirit offered himself â—â—thout spot to God purge your Consciences â—im dead Works â—o serve the living God The â—â—â—rnal Spirit 〈◊〉 the eternal Power and Godâ—ead is the Altar tâ—â—â— is greater than the Gift â—â—d the Altar which sanctifieth the Gift and â—hich was that that gave value and merit to â—s precious Blood and to what his Body and â—oul suffered here I say is the Gift upon â—â—e Altar and the Altar sanctifieth the Gift 〈◊〉 Christ had been Man only then his Death â—â—d Sufferings and his precious Blood had â—t been of that great worth and value to exâ—â—te our Sin and make Attonement for us â—â—d reconcile us to God God hath had reâ—â—d to this in all Ages God looks favourable â—on us only through Christ our great Mediator and High-priest Christ's Blood is of meritorious Efficacy in all Ages since it was shed and before it was shed And as Christ is the Object of our Faith so is the Doctrin of Christ in all the parts of it in a secondary sense but more especially as it respects the Promises of Salvation and his Commandments these two the Promises of Christ and the Commands of Christ if we believe his Promises we believe his Precepts and obey them We are pardoned and sanctified and justified freely and all boasting is excluded If we believe in Christ we believe in his Person and we believe his Doctrin his Promises and all that is written That through the comfort of the Scriptures we might have Hope I will by a Similitude express and represent to you of what great use the Promises are unto us as I have found by experience blessed be God that the great and precious Promises of our Lord Jesus Christ and hiâ— sweet Invitations and Calls that are recorded in the holy Scripture are a mighty help to us in laying hold upon Christ We cannot take hold of a Man so well when he is naked as when he is clothed It is not so easy foâ— us to lay hold on Christ naked as when he iâ— preached in the Gospel and as when he iâ— clothed as it were with the precious Promâ—ses It is very hard for us to lay hold oâ— Christ and embrace him and come to him without a Promise The Apostle Peter holâ—ing forth this great Mystery tells us 2 Pet. 1. â— Whereby are given to
us exceeding great and precâ—ous Promises that by these we might be Partakers of the divine Nature according to his divine Power whereby he hath given unto us all things partaining to Life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue You see the Promises are of great use to us in order to our being made Partakers of the divine Nature and to witness Regeneration and the new Birth It is not enough to read them outwardly unless a divine Work be upon us to enable us to see the Promises and our Right and Interest in them otherwise they will not be effectual upon us The next thing that I would speak to is the Subject of Faith that is the Seat of it as it is placed in a Man or Woman whether it is only in the Understanding as an assent to the Truth or placed in the Will and Affections so as to have an influence on all the Powers and Faculties of the Soul I answer True and saving Faith is seated in the Understanding and in the Will and so hath an influence upon the Affections and so the Affections come to be renewed and sanctiâ—ied through the Power of Faith As Faith is â—n the Understanding it respects Christ as he â—s faithful and true but as Faith is placed in â—he Will of Man he iâ— the Beloved of the Soul â—nd the great desire of the Soul and Faith reâ—pects Christ and God in Christ as he is good â—nd gracious not only as he is holy and â—â—ist faithful and true but as good merciful and gracious tender and compassionate 〈◊〉 Faith in God and in Christ Jesus as it is seated in the Understanding and Will it esteem him as the supream Truth and chief Good submits to his Scepter and depends upon hiâ— Sacrifice and Satisfaction resigns and surrenders up to his Government to commanâ— the whole Man the Affections Memory anâ— bodily Members that Christ may be All in All. And now to come to a Conclusion and to end as I begun it is the Duty of every one that professeth himself to be a true Christian to examine himself whether he hath the true Faith of Christ or be in the true Faith Now I have opened the nature of true Faith it is the more easy for you to come unto an Examination of your selves examine your selveâ— by all the Marks and Tokens that can 〈◊〉 given you whether you are in the Faith anâ— the true Faith be in you if you have thâ— Spirit of God ye may know the things freelâ— given you of God It is by the Spirit of Goâ— that we may know whether we have Faith and Love and Meekness and Humility anâ— other Evangelical Graces There are divers Helps and such things as may be called Marks and Evidences whereby we may be helped to know whether we have true Faith oâ— no. But some may say if we may know whether we have true Faith by Marks and Signs what need we the Spirit And if we maâ— know it by the Spirit then what need wâ— Marks and Signs and other Evidences It is the work of the Spirit to intimate to us whether we have these Marks God hath given us the Book of the holy Scriptures that tells us If we have Faith it works by Love it is such a Faith as hath Works accompanying of it such as love to God and love to one another If thou lovest not thy Brother whom thou hast seen how canst thou be said to love God whom thou hast not seen If we love God above all and love our Brother and love our Enemies these are good Marks and Evidences that we are in the Faith The holy Scripture giveth Marks and Signs of a Man's being a true Believer but the Scripture doth not tell us that we have those Marks But you will say If a Man do examine himself he may be mistaken though he attend â—o what Conscience shall speak You are not to rely upon the Testimony of Conscience alone a Man 's own Conscience may err and his Heart deceive him when it tells him That he hath Faith and Love and other Evangelical Graces But if the Spirit of God witnesseth with our Spirits that we have these Marks and that we are indeed the Children of God then be sure we cannot be deceived when the Spirit of Truth doth give us this infallible Testimony A SERMON Preached by John Raunce AT Harp-Lane near Towerstreet August 19th 1694. 1 Thess v. 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good IT is a Saying of the Apostle Paul to the Church of the Thessalonians Prove all things hold fast that which is good The Thessalonians were a People too like to many in ouâ— Days they wanted to be truly settled in thaâ— which is good and that made the Apostle speak in Commendation of the Men of Bereaâ— Acts 17.11 These were more noble than thosâ— in Thessalonica in that they received the Worâ— with all readiness of Mind and searched thâ— Scriptures daily whether those things were so that were preached among them And truly Friends I have this to say among you That every one who is come through the Exercises they have met with to a tryal of things that offer themselves to their Consideration they may be said to be a happy People if they have so proved all things as to hold fast that which is good This is the Day wherein we live wherein things offer themselves to a seeking Peoplâ— after such a various manner that truly all who desire Salvation to their immortal Souls ought to be very mindful of the Exhortation I now mentioned Prove all things and hold fast that which is good Some may ask me What is here meant by All Things that the Apostle bids them Prove I answer They were such things as are of a Religious Concern He did not bid them prove all things of one kind or another that offered themselves to them but these all Things relate only to religious Matters We are among a People that are religiously concerned about many things that offer themselves unto them There are many Ways many Perswasions and Professions and many things that offer themselves to our Consideration It ought to be our Care and Concern like the noble Bereans to try all things and prove all things It greatly commends those Men and Women that will try and examine Matters and not receive things upon Trust as too many do in our Days There are a great many as the common Proverb is that are ready to pin their Faith upon another Man's Sleeve to be of his Opinion and Perswasion without any good Ground or serious Consideration That which I have to mention among you at this Time is the Apostle's Exhortation Prove all things hold fast that which is good In Matters of a Religious Concern Matters of Faith wherein your Eternal Salvation is concerned go not by hear-say because other Men say so but let us all come to practise
hath laid upon him the Iniquity of us all He bare ouâ— sins in his own Body upon the Tree that wâ— being dead to Sin should live unto Righteousness by whose Stripes we are healed Greaâ— hath been the love of God to us he hatâ— given his Son to die for us and his Spirit tâ— live in us and he calls us in the Day of Visitation How may we know when he calls wilâ— some say When by his good Spirit he stirs in thâ— Heart and strives in thy Soul checks thee anâ— reproves thee for Sin as often as thou findesâ— anything in thy Conscience that reproves theâ— for what is evil this is the Voice of the Soâ— of God John 5.25 Verily verily I say unâ— you the hour is coming and now is when thâ— Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God anâ— they that hear shall live Even those that arâ— dead in Sins and Trespasses shall be quickeneâ— by the Voice of the Son of God For as thâ— Father hath life in himself he hath given untâ— â—he Son to have Life in himself And hath â—iven him Authority to execute Judgment alâ—o because he is the Son of Man Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that â—ave done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Blessed be the Lord who hath made known â—s Mind and Will unto us we have the Spiâ—it of Truth within us and the holy Scriptures without us It is a great Mercy that â—hey are vouchsafed to all Nations and that â—hoy have been wonderfully preserved in all Ages and Generations from the Primitive â—imes to this day and have come to us safe through so many different Hands and all the Copies of Holy Writ agreeing in Words and Sense without any cousiderable difference Let us bless God for this singular Blessing and Mercy vouchsafed to us Tho' I would not Idolize the Scriptures â—et I do highly esteem and honour them We â—ead Luke 16.27 That in the Parable of the â—ich Man he speaks to Abraham after this manner I pray thee Father that thou wouldst send Lazarus to my Father's House for I have five Brethren that he may testify unto them lest they also come to this place of Torment Abraham saith unto â—im They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them And he said Nay Father Abraham but if one went unto â—hem from the Dead they will repent And he said vnto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be persuaded tho' one rose from the Dead therefore to the Law and the Testimony the Testimony is in our Consciences and the Law is written outwardly but effectually and inwardly upon the Hearts there is no disjoining what God hath joined Therefore if any one should bring any other Doctrin that is contrary to the Holy Scripture or if an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel we are not to receive it It hath been the Spirit of Antichrist in all Ages and the Man of Sin that hath endeavoured to undervalue the holy Scriptures who as the Apostle saith opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God This Spirit of Antichrist where-ever it is it secretly undermines the holy Scriptures therefore it concerns you to keep close to the Law and the Testimony Let me in true love to your immortal Souls desire every one of you to mind the work of your Salvation and to work it out with fear and trembling and God will work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Examine your selves and prove your selves whether you are in the Faith take heed that you be not led by a Spirit of Error to the Law and to the Testimony If any Man think that he is wise in many things let him not presume to be wise above that which is written lest he need to come and learn again what he doth not know and hath been taught Great is the Mystery of Godliness and great also is the Mystery of Iniquity therefore you are concerned to examine your selves and to prove all things and hold fast that which is good You are a seeking and enquiring People else you would not have been here at this time And what can inform you better than the gift God hath been pleased to give unto you together with the holy Scriptures examine your selves whether when you have proved all things you hold fast that which is good Make it appear that you are good Christians by your righteous and heavenly Conversations and by your holy Walk make it appear that you are true Disciples of Christ that you are Followers of the Lord Jesus and endued with his Spirit by being holy in all manner of Conversation Take heed of indulging thy self in any sin take that Counsel which is given by our Lord Jesus to all his Followers Matth. 5.30 If thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy Members should perish and not that thy whole Body should be cast into Hell Live so as to be always ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus that you may be found among the wise Virgins The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto ten Virgins which took their Lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom and five of them were wise and five of them were foolish Here are abundance of Professors in this City that would be taken for Virgins and Followers of Christ but they are too like those five foolish Virgins that took their Lamps and took no Oil with them whereas the Wise took Oil in their Vessels with their Lamps while the Bridegroom carried they all slumbered and slept and at Midnight there was a Cry made behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him then all those Virgins went and trimmed their Lamps and the foolish said unto the wise give us of your Oil for our Lamps are gone out but the wise answered not so lest there be not enough for us and you go you rather to them that sell and buy for your selves And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage and the Door was shut afterwards also came the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us but he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not O take heed that this be not your woful and deplorable Case at the coming of Christ to Judgment but prepare and be in readiness that you may have an abundant entrance into his everlasting Kingdom Take my words into consideration and lay aside every weight and the sin that doth easily beset you and run with Patience your heavenly Race that you may so
â—ou feel his Life Power and Spirit in you to â—ead you in the way of Obedience You may die in Peace and with great Joy and Satisfaction you may die with great Courage and commit your Bodies to the Grave and with â—ulness of Assurance commit your departing Souls to the Lord Jesus to be received into his Bosom and to have an abundant entrance â—nto his everlasting Kingdom All the deceaâ—ed Saints tho' they have a greater Injoyment of God and Christ than we have now or thâ—â—â—hey had when tabernacled in a mortal Body â—et they wait and long for the Reward which â—hey shall receive at the Resurrection of the Dead then is the full Possession the joyful Harvest which our Saviour hath told us of When thou makest a Feast invite not thy Friends â—r the Rich that will invite thee again but the Poor and Needy that cannot recompence thee How few make such Feasts This was our Saviours Counsel and Advice Luke 14.12 13. When thou makest a Dinner or a Supper call â—ot thy Friends nor thy Brethren neither thy Kinsmen nor thy rich Neighbours lest they alsâ— bid thee again and Recompence be made to theâ— But when thou makest a Feast call the Poor the Maimed the Lame and the Blind anâ— thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompencâ— thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the Resurrection of the Just. When is the Resurrection of the Dead when Men and Women die 〈◊〉 No when a good Man and Woman die they certainly go into Paradice there is a great fruition of the Lord's Presence and oâ— his Love and Life that they then receive anâ— enjoy But that is not the Resurrection oâ— the Dead Many were raised from the Deaâ— before Christ died but this is not the generaâ— Resurrection of the Dead And our Saviouâ— himself raised Lazarus and the Widow's Son this is not the Resurrection of the Dead Buâ— now Christ is risen from the Dead saith thâ— Apostle and become the first Fruits of them thaâ— sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 tho' some were raised from the Dead before Christ's Death and Resurrection yet none of them went bodily to Heaven but Christ himself As in Adam aâ— die even so in Christ shall all be made alive but every Man in his own Order Christ thâ— first Fruits afterwards they that are Christs aâ— his coming then cometh the end Friends I hope in this manner of Doctriâ—â— my Testimony is acceptable to some I warâ— you let none despise it I hope in God thaâ— this Doctrin of the Resurrection is acceptablâ— to many if the holy Scriptures have Weighâ— and Authority and Credit with you as I hopâ— they have with all here present then the Faith of the Resurrection of the Dead and the Faith of our own Resurrection and of Christ's Resurrection will be of Credit with you which is such an important Matter that all Preaching is vain without it and our Faith vain without it If you have not a true Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead you are yet in your Sins Pretend what you will of divine Injoyments if you have not a Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead I say you are yet in your Sins and your Faith is vain I prove this from the Testimony of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 15.14 But if there be no Resurrection of the Dead then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen then is our Preaching vain and your faith is also vain yea and we are found salse Witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so be that the Dead arise not for if the Dead rise not then is not Christ raised and if Christ be not raised your faith is vain ye are yet in your sins 1 Cor. 15.16 17. Some ignorantly imagine that the Apostle Paul speaks of an inward Rising and of the new Birth as the new Birth is a most necessary preparation for a glorious Resurrection that better Resurrection but that is a great Mistake to say the Apostle speaks here of the new Birth for he is speaking of raising the Body out of the Grave He speaks of the same that Christ spake John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in the Graves shall â—ear his Voice aâ—â— shall come forth they that have done good unâ—â— the Resurrection of Life and they that haâ—â— done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnatioâ— The Resurrection of the Just is a comfortablâ— Resurrection but that of the Unjust is 〈◊〉 dreadful Resurrection 2 Cor. 5.10 For 〈◊〉 must all appear before the Judgment-seat Christ that every one may receive the thinâ— done in his Body according to that he haâ— done whether it be good or bad You maâ— take notice of those Words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.14 If there be no Resurrection 〈◊〉 the Dead then is Christ not risen and if Chriâ—â— be not risen then is our Preaching vain anâ— your Faith is also vain These Words are linked together like sâ— many Links making a strong Chain that can not be broken The Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust are linked witâ— Christ's Resurrection and Christ's Resurrection is linked with the Faith of it and thâ— Faith of it linked with the Preaching of it they that have not the true Faith of Christ Resurrection and of the Resurrection of thâ— Dead are yet in their Sins and let them pretend never so much to the Faith of Chriâ—â— within if they have not the Faith of Chriâ—â— without them they are yet in their Sins Take not things upon my Credit but searcâ— the Scriptures I hope the holy Scriptures havâ— Credit Esteem and Authority with you Leâ— me once more caution you to take thing rightly that you may not mistake me I say that a bare historical Belief of the Resurrection of the Dead or of the Resurrection of Christ will not prove a Man not to be dead â—n his sins but if we do really believe the Resurrection of the Dead and Christ's Resurâ—ection if we believe these great Truths and â—f our Faith be from an inward Work of the Spirit of God upon our Hearts this Belief will lay a Constraint upon us to live unto Christ that died for us and to have our Hearts in Heaven and our Conversation in Heaven If you are risen with Chrict saith the Apostle then seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God and set your Affectons on things above and nor on things on the Earth What are those things above that we are to set our Hearts and Affections upon And what is it to set our Affections upon things above To set our Affections on things above it is to have our Thoughts and Meditations exercised after this manner Lord whom have I in Heaven but thee There is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Lord my Desire is only unto thee and to the