and yet knows in his own Conscience that he is condâ—mned he believeth a Lie he is seduced and deceived A Man cannot be justified â—y Christ when the Spirit of Christ condemneth him Such 〈◊〉 whâ—â—â—e comes to lay down his Head upâ—â— his Dying Pillow all his Faith will fly away I 〈…〉 with some Instances lamentable I◠〈…〉 those thaâ— were called Christians 〈…〉 made a Profession of Religion an◠〈…〉 have laid down their Heads in So◠〈…〉 this be your Mistake consider while y◠〈…〉 Time â—â—at you may die in Peacâ— Now 〈◊〉 Proposition and Tâ—â—der o◠〈…〉 Loâ—â— of God 〈◊〉 Mankind hath alâ—â—ried that Limitâ—â—â—on with it that is 〈◊〉 in the World ought to observe If a Man hope to be saved by Christ he must be ruled by him Iâ— is contrary to all manner of Reason thâ—â—â—he Devil should rule a Man and Christ be his Saviour The whole tenour of the New Testament is against it pray read it as oft as you pâ—â—â—se for it is a good Exercise you will find the true Christian's Faith to be this That he that hath Faith in Christ hath an Operation upon him for the Cleansing his Heart and purifying and purging his conscience from dead works that he may serve the living God though he hath been a Servant of the Devil it will make hâ—â—r leave his former Servitude and bring him under the Influence of another Law the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which will make him free from 〈◊〉 law of sin and death The Apostle sets down â—he several Conditions he had â—â—ssed through I was alivâ— without the law once he thought himself a Man a brave Man a Man of Understanding thâ—â— had profited among the Jews I was alive having respect to that Law which should have been my Goverour but when the commâ—ndment came sin revived and I died He hâ—d â—ead the Law the Commandment many 〈…〉 and had been at the reading of it in the 〈…〉 â—gue but there was a coming of the Comâ—â—ndment which he had not been acquainted â—ith there was a Writing of thâ— Law of God in his Heart when he 〈◊〉 to this inward World upon him â—â—â—re was thâ—â— the 〈◊〉 he lived When the 〈◊〉 came Sin revived and I died There was a professing Life he formerly liâ—â—d but he was slain by the Power of thâ—â—â—â—manâ—ment it laid him in the Dust as a â—â—ain Man when he was in a 〈◊〉 condition he found out that Law in him that was the Law of Sin and Death and this caused a Combat and a War in him I find a law saith he that whâ—â— I would do good evil is present with with me for I delight in the law of God in the inner mâ— but I see another law in my membe◠〈…〉 against the law of my mind and b◠〈…〉 into captivity to the law of 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 members Now this brâ—â—ghâ— him 〈◊〉 a Poverty of Spirit into a Sense of his miâ—â—â—â—ble Condition and then he cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Now some People in this Day they are like the Apostle they have a law in their mâ—mbers warning against thâ— lâ—w of their minds the good that they would dâ—â—â—ey do not and they can go no further But the Apostle Paul did reach further though he did not in that state know Deliverance yet 〈…〉 that he should be delivered and that he 〈…〉 be miserable all his Days Thus haâ—ing 〈…〉 Romans into the several Staâ—â—s through whâ—â—â— he passed he brings them to a furtheâ— Sâ— The law of the spirit of life in Christ 〈◊〉 hâ—th made â—e free from the law of sin 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â— And now there is no condemn◠〈…〉 â—â—em that are in Christ Jesus How sh◠〈…〉 know this They walk not after the flesh 〈◊〉 after the spirit Nâ— Pâ—ul was come to that sanctified state tha◠〈◊〉 of Freedom and Liberty which Christ â—esus will bring all those unto that believe â—n him Holy Men in former Days did experience and find a greaâ— Strife and Warfare in their own Hearts they would do all well and exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man but there is a Law of Sin that wars in their Members if we yield to it it leadâ— to Sin and Death but if we yield our selves to the law â—f the spirit of life there is a Power tha◠〈…〉 â—ved from the Mediator that will â—â—anslate the Soul out of the kingdom of darkness and Sin which the Devil is the Prince of and bring it into the kingdom of God's dear Son There must be a real Change wrought in us before we can come tâ— God and to Fellowship and Commâ—â—ion wiâ—h God which â—lone can make th◠〈◊〉 happy Let this be tâ—e Exercise of eâ— one of us to adore and magnifie and 〈◊〉 Mercy and the kindness of God â—hat 〈…〉 not withdrawn his Spirit from yo◠〈…〉 hath placed a Mâ—n for in your 〈…〉 â—s upon you to cease to do evil 〈…〉 and to consider that the 〈…〉 sin is death Here is a Sin I may â—mit it there is a Temptation beofre me 〈◊〉 I know there is a Bait and a Hook 〈…〉 swalloâ— it if I will but if I do iâ— will 〈…〉 â—y Râ—th Would I come to eternâ—l Death and have my Portion with Lyars and wicked Persons in the Kingdom of Darkness Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched or would I have my Portion with Saints and Angels If I would have my Portion with the blessed in the Kingdom of God when I die I must walk in the way that leads to it but the Gate is strait and the way narrow and few there be that find it Labour then to be one of those few But what signifies our Labour some may say if we can do nothing that is good not so much as think a good thoâ—ht What signifies our Labour all the Labours and Endeavours in the whole World cannot â—â—â—ke a Man happy I now speak to a People to whom God doth vouchsafe the Help and Assistance of his Gracâ— and Spirit and the Visitations of his Love and Power you mu◠〈…〉 â—ndeavour to do somethâ—â—g if a Man enâ—â—avour with the help of 〈…〉 â—ie may doâ— great deal of good and 〈◊〉 a great deal of Evil Though all our Endeavours in our own Power and Strength can signifie nothing yet they are required by God and â—y joyning them with his Grâ— and layinâ—â—old of Opportunities by 〈◊〉 Assistance we may do whâ— God will aâ— But if a Man do 〈◊〉 thing in his own Poâ— and Strength whether Prayer Hearing Râ—â—ing Meditation or any other Duty he ha◠〈◊〉 good let it â—â—one I would consider you as those that God hath followed with his Grace and the Manifestation of his Spirit this is given to every Man to profit withal and every Man hath Opportunity to work with it but he must work while it is day for the night
state and 〈◊〉 you see with your inward Eye that your 〈◊〉 is not so good as you would have it â—o 〈◊〉 then trust and rely upon the all-sufficient 〈◊〉 powerful Operation of God's Holy Spiâ—â—â— mend your state and give you Power 〈◊〉 your Corruptions and to go on from one 〈◊〉 to another towards the Cleansing and Sanctiâ—â—cation of your Souls so that you may receive something from God to enable you to live to God for all that you receive from Men will only make you live to Men but that which you receive from God will help you to live to God that will purifie you and sanctify you and make you clean through the word So through the Word you will come to Cleanness Purity and Holiness And when you are come to the way of Holiness you may believe you are gotten into the way of God's Kingdom and never till then It is not enough to make a Profession but we must live up to the Profession of that Religion that we make it is not holding this Tenet and the other Tenet and saying This Minister I am sure preacheth the Truth thou mayest be a Child of the Devil for 〈◊〉 that I now speak indifferently to all People without respect to any fort They thaâ— believe they are walking toward the Kingdom of God and yet their way is not a holy 〈◊〉 â—hey have cheated themselves and deceiv'd their â—wn Souls and they had need look about them â—nd take heed what they do the Glass is â—â—nning and Time is hasting away and our â—ife may end we know not how soon It is â—ood to prize and improve Time while you â—ave it and bring your Deeds to the Light â—ee what Reproofs Instructions Counsels and Openings you have met with from the Lord and see how you have answered aâ—d been obedient to them and so you will come to take a sound and infallible account of your condition and if it be not so good as it should be wait upon the Lord to mend it he that made you can mend you he that made your Ears must unstop your Ears to hear the Word of God To that Power that carries on the Work of Sanctification and Redemption by his word to that word I must leave you and to his Spirit I commit you This word will be with you and if you part not with it it will not part with you it will go with you to your Houses and to your Shops and to your Beds it will lie down with you at Night and rise with you in the Morning To that end Christ he is a Leader and Governour and the Captain of our Salvation to lead the Van and carry you on in the way of Salvation and as many as follow Christ and are led by the spirit of God they are the Children of God SERMON VII The Sheep of Christ heaâ— his Voice Preached at Devonshire-House May 10th 1688. My Sheep saith the true Shepherd hear my Voice THE Sheep of the true Fold hear the Voice of Christ the good Shepherd and know the Voice of Strangers too But saith he the stranger they will not follow This Scripture hath been a Mark of Distinction in all Ages that hath been peculiarly bestowâ—â— upon the People of God that they have hâ—â—â— a discerning Knowledge to make a certain distinction between them that were of God and those that were of the World Now they that are of God hear us saith the Apostle Now that you may all find in your selveâ— this peculiar Gift of God to be able to understand and discern between the precious and the vile that you might know the Ministration of Life from the Ministration of Dâ—â—th you must all be gathered inwardly into â—hat which you have received 〈◊〉 God for they â—â—at are only exercised 〈◊〉 Gifts and Parts and Acquirements that appertain to this world they have been always subject to Delusions apt to be led away into a by-Path and crooked way that leads to destruction but they that are under the Government and Direction of the Gift of God they have been able thereby to make such a Distinction of Voices and of Sounds that they have been preserv'd from the Delusions of the Age. This was the difference of old between the Prophets of God and the false Prophets between the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ and the false Apostles the difference was not so much in their Words for they had in a great measure the same Words if the true Prophets used to say Thus saith the Lord the false Prophets would say so too if the true Prophets declared against Sin the false Prophets likewise would do so for the false Prophet stole his Word from his Neighbour But the great Matter by which the People of the Lord were preserved was that hidden and divine Wisdom they received of God by which they understood the Voice of the Spirit from the Voice of Strangers from the Voice of them that were of the Flesh and that was the Cause that Christians in the Primitive Days did not adhere to and follow those false Apostles that came to them in their own Names and held a form of Godliness but denyed the Power of it But they amongst them into whom theiâ— witchcrafts did enter they went away from thâ— spirit and saught to be made perfect in the flesh they went to the outward observation and to the beggarly rudiments of things that perish with their using and from the Law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus And as it hath been in those Ages of which we have read so it comes to pass in this our Age in which a dispensation of the spirit of Truth is manifested and revealed unto the Children of Men there is a remnant that have received the Testimony of Eternal Life and have believed the Testimony and waited on him of whom the Testimony is born not to have Life by the Testimony but to have Life in him so they receive their Life by the ministration of the spirit of Christ and they live to God and others who have received no Life from him but have a Life in the Words and Sounds and Noizes and Terms and distinguishing Phrases of things their Life 〈◊〉 there they live not to God but to themselves their Glorying is not in the Cross of Christ but in the Words and outside of things so that every one had need at such a time as this to approve their Hearts unto the Lord who knows the inside of Peoples profeâ—sion the inside oâ— of their Religion that knows how the Heart is concernd towards God and what they say and do upon the account of his service so that all that are met together might come to receive more and more of the Life and vertue that sanctifies the Soul of him that receiveth it For Alas my Freinds it is not the gathering together of the most excellent Words about Religion and about worship and service which will approve any Man in the
his Power or I will submit to him Which of these is the best way the safest way Are there not a great many in this Age that are as sensible of the Workings of God's Grace for their Conversion as ever you and I were that are as sensible that God hath call'd them to Holiness and Righteousness as any of us can be and yet they have resisted the Grace of God They have said in their Hearts We will not submit to this Power that will make us so holy and so watchful and so careful diligent and obedient for this very reason because it will cross my Interest it will cross my Pleasure it will hinder my Preferment in the World and my Reputation among men and for this reason I will not bear this Yoke I would be glad to hope there are none such here that have made such a Covenant with Death and Hell and yielded themselves up to the Devil to serve him all their Dayes Let us who are at this Time and at this Meeting under the Operation of God's Grace and do feel the Lord calling us by his Grace and working upon us by his Spirit let us enter together into a holy solemn Resolution That we will obey this good Spirit and take him for our Leader and submit though it should be to a Cross Thus People will think they will come to this Resolution when the Work of Redemption is begun in their Souls and when they are convinced of their Sin and their Eyes are opened to see the way of Holiness and though they never take a Resolution to walk in it yet every one shall be convinced and see there was a better waâ— than their own and be convinced by the Grace of God one time or other that in respect of God's working of it it is a beginning but in respect of Man that should join with the operation of God it is not beginning for he haâ—â— no desire to those things which he doth not know he still depends upon himself but when the Soul comes to be satisfied that it is the Visitation of God and joins himself to him in a holy Resignation of his own will and saith This is the Lord he is come to work upon me he is come to change and alter the Frame of my Mind It is the Lord let him do what he will here is a Mind brought to submit to the Grace of God God is able to do that for him which he cannot do for himself When People come to the right Object of their Faith and act their Faith upon that Object they every Day find a Progress a going forward in the Work of Grace according to the Work of Faith in their Souls and there is a Power that inclines them to believe it is not for such to cry If they had Power they would do more he that hath the Spirit of Grace the Spirit of Christ that had all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him to put it forth on purpose for the bringing back of Men and Women home to God he that hath this Object of Faith before him he will not look for Power in his own Will and Affections to redeem him he expects a Power to be daily ministred and dispensed to him as he hath need of it through the Lord Jesus Christ who is present with him in all his Tryals and Temptations He cries Here is a Temptation that will carry me away O Lord help me Put forth the Arm of thy Power and save me plant thy Fear in my heart and deliver me Their Eyes shall see their Saviour saith the Prophet Thus when a Man comes to be joined to the right Object of Faith and doth exercise and put forth lively Acts of Faith upon Christ hi Eyes shall see his Saviour the light that shines into his Heart discovers to him the Temptation and it also shews him a Redeemer at hand his Saviour is nigh him and he trusteth in him and relies upon him and says This Word of God is in my Heart and I do really believe that although the Temptation that assaults me be strong yet it shall not prevail whether it be the Profits the Pleasures or the Honours of the World if I put my Trust in this Power I cannot go near the Evil I am a Christian I am entred into a Covenant in Christianity that I will joyn with nothing but what God approves of now when I have represented to my Mind the Temptation of the Devil and that evil which he sets before me and I know it is contrary to the Mind of God How can I go into that evil and break my Covenant with God after I am entred into Covenant with him to love him serve him and obey him the Power of Grace upon such Souls the Operation of Grace is so powerful that the Temptation comes and goes and they are saved and delivered out of it because God helpeth them but if they comply with the Temptation then Tribulation Wrath and Anguish pursues all such as are rebellious and disobedient to the Will of God Now this Redemption is carried on gradually from day to day the Truth that thou believest it operates by degrees thou art delivered first from one evil Practice and then from another evil Work but there is a great deal more thou rejoicest and art glad that thou art delivered from one sin but thou wouldest be more glad to be delivered from them all I speak to those that are serious for their immortal Souls when they see themselves delivered out of one Evil that they were ready to run into they would be glad that they were redeemed out of every evil that their crosness and perversness their frowardness and Wantonness were removed they should be glad to be delivered from all their Sins What do you think say some that a Man while he liveth here may come to see all Sin all Evil and Corruption brought under and nothing but Holiness and Righteousness and Truth remain in him and that there shall be nothing but Simplicity and Innocence Do you think that such a thing can be Why should not I think so You will grant me That the Power of Grace is able to get such Power and Victory over Sin and Corruption that you may come to hate it as much as ever you have loved it if you grant me that the Consequence will follow he that gave me Victory over Sin can give me Power over all Sin All Christians believe That God's Power is infinite the Scripture testifies All things to be possible to God with whom we have to do If all things be possible to God sure this is possible there is nothing so contrary to God as Sin is and God will not suffer the Devil always to rule his Masterpiece Man Mankind is God's Masterpiece the most eminent Creature in this lower World made after God's likeness and though the Devil hath brought Men into his own likeness now yet nothing can be more
in the World but letting her Ear hearken to this Old Serpent she was beguiled there grew up a Consultation in her reasoning part It may be so as he saith I will try So I say to you that are come to a state of Sanctification and in some measure to know the cleansing Power of God and that you have not believed in it in vain but it hath effectually wrought some Change and Alteration in you and is still carrying on the Work of your Salvation Many Temptations will attend you and many Snares will be laid in your way but God hath preserved you to this Day I know the Devil 's Wiles and Temptations are manifold they are fitted to every one's Inclinations fitted to every Opportunity and to every occasion in this World Men are tryed every way by the Tempter to see which way he may ensnare them he tries every way to ensnare and entangle the simple that he may turn them to the right-Hand or to the left that their Souls may be destroyed and perish I cannot speak to you by a more emphatical word by a more familiar Exhortation than this Take heed you be not beguiled as Eve was many will be tempted as she was but I would not have you do as she did and yield to the Temptation Take heed that you do not defile your selves but keep your garments white you that have been washed and cleansed labour to keep your selves unspotted from the world this is pure religion and undefiled that which hath enlightned many a Nation and shall enlighten many of those whose Religion is to be undefiled and to keep themselves unspotted from the world I pray God increase the number of them that so the blessed Work of Sanctification that hath begun in this way may be carried on to his Praise and the Salvation of our Souls to the spreading forth of his Glory and the exalting of his Name that the Strangers which are scattered and desolate may be brought into his holy Way and walk in it that we all in a Fellowship together walking in that holy way may through the Eternal Spirit offer Praise and Tanksgiving to God who is worthy to receive Glory and Honour Power and Dominion for ever and ever Amen SERMON IV. Baptism and the Lord's Supper Asserted Preached at Grace Church-street April 15th 1688. If any man hath not the spirit of Christ he is none of his IF I should say no more there is that in every ones Conscience that will make Application If he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his you may say Whose is he then If they be none of Christ's that have not his Spirit whose are they They are all his whose Spirit rules them every one of us doth belong to him whose Spirit ruleth over us unto whose Power we are subjected You know this distinguisheth People in the World One King knoweth his Subjects from another King's Subjects they are under the Obedience of this that and the other King or Prince his Law is over them they are subject to it so here is a Decision of all the People in the World who they belong to We all of us I hope do expect there will be a Decision at the Day of Judgment and believe the things we read concerning that That there will be a Decision and some will be placed on the right-Hand and some on the left-Hand some will have the Sentence of Come ye blessed and others the Sentence of Go ye cursed but now there is a way of finding out the Decision of the Matter before we go out of the World before the Day of Judgment when there will be no Remedy that is then it must be and abide so now there is no need it should continue so if it be amiss it may be mended if I do not belong to the right Prince if I be not under the right Power and Spirit I may be for now it is a day of Grace a day of Mercy I have been a Rebel to the right Prince I may be pardoned and taken into Favor it is far better for People to know their state now than to know it then because then there will be no Remedy The Apostle in laying down Fundamental Apostolical Doctrines that were to be belived and taken notice of and are in our Age so that we may say Things written of old time were written for our learning he makes this Affirmation and Position of Doctrine He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his he doth not belong to him if he be called a Christian he is not a Christian if he hath not the Spirit of Christ It is but a Name he hath got he hath not that which makes him essentially so for nothing can make a Christian but having the Spirit of Christ therefore when they would vindicate their being Christians they prove it thus For he speaking of God hath sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts and we know the mind of Christ we know him that is true or we are in him that is true These things if they were right if they were true were evident Demonstrations that they were a sort of Men who depended more upon thâ— Spirit and spiritual Teachings and Spiritual Guidance than upon Rules and Methods of Teaching that were in the World I speak of this Friends because you know as well as I how averse this Age of ours hath been to have any thing spoken of Spiritual Dispensations or about spiritual Teachings though a Man hath been counted formerly a wise Man a learned Man a Man of parts if once he come to smatter out a little about inward Teaching it is enough to spot him and make him ridicul'd of his Acquaintance as if there were no such thing in the World We have a Book called the Bible it is from one end to the other full of such Expressions of being led by the Spirit you have an anointing which teacheth you all things The whole Tenor of the New Testament is about Spiritual Teaching and Divine Operarations and of Faith being the operation of God and the Old Testament hath abundance of Expressions by way of Prophecy that in the New Testament Dayes if People would look for the Law of God they must look for it in their Hearts and if they would know God they must look to the mediator the Lord Jesus Christ The New Testament seems to go that way Christians should be the most Spiritual People in the World that is the Guide the Rule But say they the Scripture is the Foundation of Faith and Manners Belief and Practice this is but Dissimulation I am afraid that is to be found in some What is the Scripture the Rule of Faith and may People believe what they find in Scripture Yes but say some it is best be aware for fear of Error What is in the Scripture is serious sound and orthodox and did Quakers think you never find in Scripture that People
were to wait for the Spirit and pray in the Spirit and serve God in the Spirit and that all Religion that is not in Power is not available did they not find it in the Scripture And you that are not Quakers Did you ever read the New Testament How came it to pass that ye never found these Texts But some People read and read the New Testament twenty times over and mock and deride and persecute a Man that shall speak of the Spirits Teaching I have admired at it how intelligent Men to whom God hath given a competent Understanding should be so blinded they have learned to read English and they have read the New Testament over several times and the Old Testament too and they have read those Sentences of Christ's Doctrin that do so currently and unanimously speak of Divine Teachings and Spiritual Operations Spiritual Worship and Spiritual Religion that muâ—t have some Motion and Stirring of the Holy Ghost to be the Original of it and that alâ— others are not acceptable to God doubtless they have read these things but I have often desired and do still desire that they would but read it again once more and try and see what God will do he hath oftentimes made use of the Holy Scripture as a means to awaken People and to open their Understandings and let them see the Mind of the Spirit by which the Scripture is written and the next time if they can find Scripture Text and Apostolical Doctrin to teach People to wait upon the Spirit I hope they will leave Scoffing and Mocing It hath been hitherto looked upon as an Invention to speak of the teaching of the Spirit and waiting upon the Spirit and being moved by the Spirit This Apostolical Doctrin Prayer and Worship hath been looked upon as an Invention that we have brought in To look for the Holy Ghost in that way that was never known to our Fathers is a fantastical Conceit of the Quakers say they To tell People they must be led by the Spirit in Divine Things as in Prayer and Worship and the like that in these things they must wait for the spirit was there ever any Man that was counted good for any thing that ever preached so before they came Do we read any such kind of thing in Scripture O the blindness that hath happened to this Nation I have considered not without admiration how the Devil he is a spirit too and a wicked one the Devil should have power to shove out the knowledg belief sense and feeling of the Spirit of God now a days there are thousands in this Nation that have formerly believed that it was as impossible for a Man to believe the divine motions and struglings of the spirit of God in this life as to raise their Fathers and Mothers out of their Graves some of their learned Teachers have told us it is a Whimsy and Fancy and that there was no inspiration of the spirit now a days but that it was a foolish fancy in us to wait for such a thing it is needless say they there was an Immediate Teaching in the Apostles days and they had the sense of the spirit of Christ working in them to teach them to write Letters and Epistles to the Church which Letters and Epistles were written by the moving of the Holy Ghost but we have no need of it now the Holy Ghost hath brought order and goverment into the Church we have it now in black and white Printed in our Books therefore say they there is no need of the spirit and People need not be acquainted with the operation of the spirit now a days in regard they have it in their Books what manner of Worship they must perform I grant them their due that they have the direction of the Scripture I am able to understand that People are to worship God and pray to him and are to meet together and to observe this and the other doctrinal precepts there laid down I confess I can make shift herewâ—th to frame out a form of Religion and if I do not mistake in the opening and explication of the Doctrine I could make a right form too but I am lyable to mistake another Man that understands Greek better than I saith that the Greek word ought to be translated so and the form ought to differ in such a respect some say the only way of goverment is by Bishops and the word bears it in the original and another saith he hath streched the word for the word means Presbyter another saith Presbyter signifyes no more than choice of Church Elders and Deacons and such like and this is all out of one Book the settlement of Bishops Presbyters and Elders Here a parcel of form-makers all fall out about the meaning of the word what remedy can any mortal Man provide for this We must not be killing and slaying one another about words if I be an episcopal Man and say the word signifyes Bishops I may be a wicked Man still and if another say it must be Presbyter he may be a wicked Man too and if another say it should be Pastor Elders and Deacons he may be a wicked Man notwithstanding Thus they have rent and torn one another about Church Government what remedy shall we have for this that these quarrellings and contentions about terms and words may come to an end Could a Man prescribe a more certain remedy for all these mistakes than this if they had a measure of this spirit which did work in the Apostles when they wrote down these Words which the Apostles had in Writing them then I say they could tell you what the spirit meant for the spirit is the same and not changed and the Words are the same to a small matter so that if a Man had that he might end all the controversie but where shall we have a Man that hath this spirit to end the controversie There is none now a days say the Protestants and say the Papists there is none but one that hath this infallibility and they will not suppose that neither for some of them say that one Man is as infallible as another Man there is a great brangle whether any one Man be infallible or a great many men together are infallible about Doctrin and Worship This might be cured all at once if we could come to this conclusion Papists Protestant and Quakers here is an end of all their out-side Worship He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his If there be not spirit in it it is not Christs Religion and Worship So that they that jangle and bark and bite are without among Dogs and Sorcerers that are straâ—gers to the spirit of Christ there is a spirit in them that denies the spirit of Christ there is a spirit that rules in them that are witâ—out the spirit for no Body that I know on acts things without a spirit and without being moved What are good and
bad all moved by the spirit and yet are there no motions I have sometimes turned the Question upon People and asked them if there were no motions of the evil spirit hath it no such kind of influence that it can move upon our spirits that we can sensibly feel our selves thrusâ— forth to such an action I never met any Man that would deny it they are so generally favourable to the wicked spirit no Man will deny but the Devil hath a way of moving and stirring upon the spirit of a Man and to suggest to him such an evil thing and as I have sometimes said it is so received an opinion that when the malefactor comes to be arraigned at the Bar for some grievous crime they lay the foundation of the inditement such a Day he was moved and instigated by the Devil to do such a thing here is a setled motion for the Devil for him to influence peoples spirits but no way for the good spirit of God to influence Mens spirits here is nothing left us but a bad instigation but to know inward motions to good things it is not to be expected now a days How should ever the cunning Serpent that would have Power over the best of us all be said to winnow us Christ signified to Peter a bold and resolute Disciple Satan desires to have thee and winnow thee as wheat if the Devil had Power over every one to make them his Servants and Slaves whâ—â—â— Remedy have we but we must all perish and go headlong to Hell with him unless there be some way of resisting him That is true say People the Devil must be resisted we find it in the New Testament Resist the Devil This is a good Exercise but tell me one thing when I go about to resist the Devil must I resist him in my own Power If I said you might do so you would say I was an erroneous Preacher and well you might This is an old Free-will Doctrin that a man may resist the Devil by his own Power and escape his Snares and do the Will of God This hath been cryed down by the Doctors of the Church of England and by most of all sorts of Christians and for our parts since the Lord hath opened our Mouths we did never speak a Word in favour of it as if we went about to resist the Devil in our own Strength if we did the Devil would make Fools of us He that goes about to resist the Devil in his own Strength he will entrap and ensnare him in that Men have a propensity to sin and by his Cunning and Subtilty may be led into a Snare before they are aware Thus it is agreed on all Hands that our Power as Men is too weak to resist Satan's Temptation so that you see we must have the Assistance of the Divine Power or go all to Hell there is no medium between these two Extreams some extraordinary Power must assist me or else the Devil will have me If you will not admit of a supernatural Power to come in to help me and you we must all go to Hell there is no Remedy I will say my Prayers saith one do so yet in the best of your Prayers there will be Sin and if I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me I will go and hear Sermons say you the very Man that preacheth will tell you That hearing of Sermons will do you no good at all unless there be Motions of the Spirit of God so that you will be warpt from one thing to another and have diversity of Doctrines and come to no fixedness and while you â—â—ncern your selves about Doctrines all the while the Devil prevails upon you For the Tongue he hath rule of that and for the Mind he hath rule of that and as for the Hands he hath rule of them and makes you do those things that by his perpetual Suggestions he moves you to So that your going to Church and saying your Prayers signiâ—â—e nothing to bring you from under the Wrath of God and from the Captivity of the Devil Hath not the Devil those in Captivity that go to Church and say their Prayers and give Alms These are things that you can do in pour own Power the saying of your Prayers and Fasting and giving of Alms these things thou mayest do the Devil will not hinder thee for he knows that these will not bring thee out of his Clutches nor out of his Chains and Fetters There is but one Way and Means by which the Devil may be effectually resisted that 〈◊〉 by taking to my Help one stronger than he I have gone for Help to many stronger than I in my young Days that I thought to be stronger Christians and many of them did afford their Help in the Work by Counsel by Perswasion by Exhortation and by Doctrin but all this did not do and the Reason was this because the Devil was too strong for me and so he was for them As long as you go for Help to this and the other Place till you find one stronger than the Devil expect no Deliverance or Help from 〈◊〉 thing in the World but lay aside all conâ—â—â—â—â— in the flesh in any Man on Earth or in all the Doctors Words and best Preaching you shall hear lay aside your Confidence in them they will never do you any good in this respect for they will never break your Chains off many are loaded with them but some I hope are weary and heavy laden and feel the weight of Sin I pray God increase the Number though it be a state of Sorrow it is better than the state of Fools that make a mock of sin I would have you weary and heavy laden with your Sins and brought into this state to see your selves captivated by the strong Power of Darkness and to see you are unable to deliver your selves out of it by your own Power For me to fall into the Hands of a Tyrant that is stronger than I and never a Man to deliver me how sad would it be If I could â—â—nd a Man stronger than this Tyrant and that would kill him I should be his Servant and have a better Master â—o Man can kill tâ—â— Tyrant that hath led the Captive and made me a Slave if he say Be drunk I must be drunk if he bid me swear I must swear This is the Slavery that the Devil hath got his Servants into that whatsoever he saith that they must do if he bids them do it O wretcheâ— man that I am who shall deliver me I cannot deliver my self and no Man can deliver me I would be acquainted with all Christians if they could help me I would try all Religions that are this Day in the World to see if â—here be help for me Many are oppressed with Sin and they go to and fro to see what Help can be given them to freâ— them from the Bondage that the Devil haâ—â— them in
elswhere we pay down our Mony for their Redemption but we will not pay our Mony if they be kept in their Fetters still Would not any one think himself cheated to pay so much Mony for their Redemption and the Bargain be made so that he shall be said to be redeemed and be â—â—lled a redeemed Captive but he must wear his Fetters still How long as long as he hath a day to live This is for Bodies but now I am speaking of Souls Christ must be made to me Redemption and rescue me from Captivity Am I a Prisoner any where Yes Verily verily he that committeth sin saith Christ he is a servant of sin he is a Slave to Sin If thou hast sinned thou art a Slave A Captive that must be redeemed out of Captivity who will pay a price for me I am poor I have nothing I cannot redeem my self who will pay a Price for me There is one come that hath paid a Price for me That is well that is good News then I hope I shall come out of my Captivity What is his Name is he called a Redeemer So then I do expect the Benefit of my Redemption and that I shall go out of my Captivity No say they you must abide in Sin as long as you live What benefit then have I by my Redemption I could have been in Captivity no longer if I had not been redeemed I must wear my Shackles and Fetters still and be subject to my old Master and Patron and when he will have me be drunk I must be drunk and when he will have me be unclean I must be unclean Thus many profest Christians there be you see it with your Eyes that will tell you they believe all the Articles of the Creed and they have been baptized into the Christian Faith and can rehearse all the Principles of the Christian Religion and perform the Duty of Christians in going to Church saying their Prayers and in giving Alms too it may be they are such as would be called Christians they would be called so yet they are not Redeemed from their vain Conversations for what makes their Shackles and Fetters about them When their old Master bids them be Drunk they will be Drunk and when he bids them commit Whoredom or Lie or Cheat their Neighbour they will do it You do believe the Devil leads you to this you will not say the Spirit of God led you to it If one demand How did you do it You say the Devil prevailed upon me What hath the Devil Power over Men after they are Redeemed What sort of Redemption is this Then comes in the old Shift again we are Redeemed from the Punishment of our Sin but not from the Act of it Now if those that are called Ranters had told me this Tale it had been like them but when Doctors of Divinity tell us this Tale it is so unlike Divinity that it is Carnal Sensual and Devilish To tell Believers they are redeemed from the Punishment of Sin but not from the Act of Sin that this is the benefit which we receive from Christ's Sufferings that we may sin on free Cost that there is no Guilt contracted by it will any Man or Woman that understands they have a Soul venture their Immortal Souls on this Divinity I hope not They will not venture their Soul on this Foundation-Doctrin I hope God will awaken the Consciences of People that they will not hazard their Souls upon such a carnal devillish Foundation that if the Devil should preach he could not preach a worse Doctrin than this to persuade Christians they may live in Sin and Sin will not hurt them nor impair or break their Peace with God and Reconciliation with him I will tell you how it hath been with me in my Childhood if I had spoken a vain Word or a false Word I had contracted such a Guilt thereby that I was ashamed to draw near to God to pray to him I knew he would not hear Liars I knew there was no way to be accepted without Repentance and Amendment of Life I believe others have met with the same dealing from God by the secret Strokes of Conviction that have come upon their Hearts when they have sinned against God So that I am still of the Mind that the Persons that depend upon this kind of Doctrin do at some times especially when Sickness comes and Death looks them in the Face or in times of common Contagion or Pestilence at such a time they have a weight of Guilt upon their Consciences for this Doctrin will not support them at Death but that then they believe they have contracted Guilt or committed Sin I have wished many times that the Lord would open the Eyes and Hearts of the People of this City and of this Nation to see how miserably they have ventured their Souls Will Merchants in this City ever venture their Goods at such a Rate as Men commonly venture their Souls What will they venture their Goods in a Ship without a bottom before she goes to Sea Now this Doctrin hath not a Foundation shall I believe a Person that tells me I do not contract Guilt when I feel it upon my Heart when I commit Whoredom and Drunkenness and Cheat my Neighbours shall any one persuade me that I do not contract Guilt O Friends we are speaking of great Matters it is about Eternity that we are speaking it is about the hazard of Eternal Happiness therefore I pray let every one be serious and consider what I say for I speak â—n Gods Name and on your behalf Men are â—o come to a true search in themselves what a Life it is that they live Many support themselves by the Doctrins and Precepts of Men and they buoy themselves into Conceits of Salvation let them examin whethâ—â— it be a Life that hath its supportation by tâ—â— Spirit of God this is material for every oâ—â— to consider There are none can live tâ—â—â—d buâ— by the Life they receive from God The grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men Now here is an universal Doctrin There are a sort of Men in this City and Nation that tell us That saving Grace is given only to the Elect. Saving Grace is given to all Men but you must construe those Words all the Elect where they are somewhat injurious and would cast off the condition of the Text if they make a distinction in the latter part of the Sentence for it will not be good Sense The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all the Elect teaching us to deny all Vngodliness c. Here is Vs taken out of the All. The same Grace that is our Teacher appears to be the Teacher of others tho' they turn it into Lasciviousness The Grace is the same tho' they make many School-distinctions between common and saving Grace The Apostle explains it by telling what Grace he means The grace of God which
foundation of their Faith present with them that they may feel the object of their Faith where they hope for Help where they hope for Comfort and Strengthening to be present with them Now every one that believeth in the word of God their care is that they may know this Word of God that they may hear it feel it and behold the beauty of it under the Exercises of it how it conducts and leads how it counselleth and adviseth that so in all things they are to pass through they may not be as those that have run into it as those that do this and that of their own Wills but may be properly Followers of something I go into this or that or the other thing not to do mine own Will not that I run into it but I am lead into it my Leader goes before me the Word of God that hath conducted me and led me I am a Follower of God in all his Dispensations in all his Leadings and Guidings I am to follow him for he teacheth me his way he instructeth me in the true way The best of all his Scholars and Disciples they are to be led and guided into that Work and Service they are to do that they may run into no Irregularity or Absurdity for he will lead them into Holiness Righteousness and Humility where all become the Servants of God in Christ Jesus and Servants to one another There is a mutual Concord and Harmony in the Work of this Spirit in the Service of this Power where every one finds what they are appointed and directed to and all the Members of the Body of Christ know they ought not to be disjointed and rent and separated one from another but tyed together in Joints and Bands to edify one another in the Love of God so thâ—â— here is one Spirit that hath been the Guide of this one People in all Ages Many People have been guided by many Guides and they have been scattered divided and separated one from â—nother and have been under this that and the other Name but all Gods People have been guided by the Spirit of Christ that universal Spirit that is one with God In the Old Testament times and the New Testament times they were all led by the universal Spirit of Christ and they were of one Heart and of one Mind serving the Lord there was a Concord and Unity among them and if at any time any Discord or Division happened it was because the roaring Lyon that goes about continually seeking whom he may devour had found some or other that he might devour and draw into his Snares and Gins for there are some that he may and some that he may not Who are they that this roaring Lion may destroy The Devil knows who those are that he may prevail upon he knows that those which are in the Hands of God are out of his reach My Father saith Christ is greater than all and none shall pluck them out of my Fathers hands yet doubtless those that are in the Fathers Hands are tempted and tried the roaring Lion goes about seeking to devour them if he might a Man that he devours he swallows up with Prejudice Enmity Coveteousness and Pride and he will lead him into any evil thing he hath many Gulphs to swallow Meâ— up into but if he meet with one that is kept in God's Hands he knows such a one is out of his reach and he is not able to catch him If he meet with a Man that he can prevail over as he did over our Father Adam and Mother Eve that are in their own Hands that stand upon their Wit and Parts and Knowledge and Eloquence those that stand upon these things as their Foundation they are in their own keeping these are they whom he may devour and catch and ensnare in one or other of his Gins and swallow them up in one of his Gulphs and Temptations But seeing God hath opened and manifested these things by his Spirit and seeing the secret Wiles of Satan are discovered and made knoâ—n by the shining of his Light how ought every one that is a Believer of the Truth to depend upon God for his Protection and be careful that he goes not out of his Fathers Hands that he never trust himself to his own keeping for his Security and Preservation lest he meet with a Temptation that may swallow him and devour him I remember our Lord Jesus Christ when he was upon Earth he put his Disciples in mind of what happened long before Remember Lot's Wife You may take notice of her the Power of God took hold of her and brought her out of Sodom and was leading her to a place of safety but she had something of Adaâ—'s Apostacy in her Nature she looked back and was turned into a Pillar of Salt Our Saviour was pleased to make use of this Passage that happened some hundreds of Years before to shew how she failed of coming to the place of Safety tho' she was led out of Sodom by the Hands of one of the Angels of God O remember her she was turned into a Pillar of Salt and remains so to this day If we remember where our Safety is and from whose Hands we must expect it we need not go and look at Lot's Wife We have seen many in our Days that have stood fair for Redemption they have had a Power revealed to them that is able to redeem them and save them to the uttermost but afterward by exalting themselves above this Power and taking the Government of themselves into their own Hands they have robbed God of his Glory and he hath withdrawn himself from them and then it was with them as with Saul when the Lord departed from him The evil Spirit entred into him We have before our Eyes from day to day those that have known the beginning of the Redemption of Gods Power and have been in a great measure brought out of Sodom and out of the way of Egypt and they have had opened to them the Mystery of the Kingdom of God for their Encouragement but at last they have taken and arrogated these Gifts to themselves and looked upon themselves as far excelling others magnifying their Parts as if they were their own when they were the gifts of God Then the Lord hath left them to let them see whether they could stand of themselves and they have fallen and been taken in the Ginns and Snares of the Devil who like a roaring Lion goes about continually seeking whom he may devour Now my Friends it greatly concerns us all to know what Refuge we have to fly to in a time of Tryal we have a time of Trial now tho' not a time of External Suffering and Persecution and enduring Hardship yet upon us to try our Faith and Trust in God yet we have no reason to be secure careless nor remiss in our present Duty nor to put the evil day far from us but to be in the
exercisâ— of Humility and Watchfulness as becomeâ— Christians for there is now as much Danger and Peril in this time of Liberty and Tranquility as there was before If any one in the time of Persecution and Suffering hath said within himself I had better give over and part with the Truth and forsake the ways of the Lord and give over my Testimony for his Name for I shall be undone and ruined in the World this Man by his carnal Fears hath lost his Testimony So likewise if a Man in this time of liberty and freedom of serving the Lord and bearing Testimony to his Name if he shall not intirely trust in the Lord to carry him on in his Work and Service and continue his dependance upon him and wait for the Assistance of the holy Spirit of God to work in him to will and to do of his good Pleasure this Man shall lose his Testimony as well as the other Therefore let every one of you keep up a dependance upon Gods holy Spirit for carrying on the Work which he hath begun in your Souls consider what Work it is that Christ is now at in every one of you I know what his Work was when I was first Convinced he was burning up and hewing down every thing that hindered his carrying on the Work of Sanctification and Redemption and Settledness and Stability in the Covenant of Life and Peace So that our meeting together ought to be â—n the Name of Christ I hope it is so with most of you I hope it is not to see and hear what this or that Man saith but to know within your selves what part of the Work of Redemption the Lord Jesus Christ is carrying on that you may join with him and be a willing People in the Day of his Power and say as Paul Lord what wilt thou have me to do If thou wilt have me part with my all Lord here it is I offer it up and if thou wilt have any Service done Lord here I am Speak for thy Servant heareth let there be in every one of you an attentiveness and an humble waiting upon the Lord and say as the Psalmist Behold as the Eyes of Servants look unto the hands of their Masters and as the Eyes of a Maiden unto the hands of her Mistress so our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God until he have mercy upon us When ever a Christian hath his dependance upon God's Wisdom and Power such a one shall never want Wisdom the Lord will give him Wisdom to preserve him against all the Wiles of Satan and he shall never want Power for the Lord will enable him to fulfil and perform what he requireth of him he shall be replenished with Judgment and Understanding Ability and Power to direct him into the good ways of God and to enable him to walk in them It is the earnest desire of my Soul that every one of you may be exercised in those things which are profitable for you and which may be comfortable to your Friends and Brethren that you may all grow up into a stability and stedfastness in the good ways of the Lord that you may not be shaken and tossed with every Storm and Tempest that when there comes a time for the trial of your Patience and Fortitude and Courage you may not be tossed to and fro like Children but be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord that so living in all holy Obedience and patient continuing in well-doâ—ng you may have a constant Supply of Strength and Power from God ministred unto you by his Holy Spirit SERMON VIII No true Worship without the right Knowledg of God Preached at Grace-church-street May 24. 1688. My Friends THere is no Man can truly worship God till he comes to a measure of certain Knowledge of him for all the Worship in the World where the Vail of Ignorance still prevails upon the Mind is all abominable there is no acceptance with God There must be a knowledge of God before there can be a true Worshipping of him for they that worship before they know God they worship they know not what they worship a God they have heard of but do not know so every one that would be a true Worshipper must first come to that which giveth a true knowledge that raiseth up a certainty in the Mind This is the Lord we will trust in him this is our God and we will serve him And that all People might come to this certainty of Knowledge therefore it is that God hath sent forth his Spirit that the things of God might be communicated by the Spirit of God for without the Assistance of this Spirit Men seek after the Knowledge of God in vain If they seek after the Knowledge of God they cannot find it and if they seek after the Worship of God and after Acceptance with God they cannot find it so that all Religion and religious Performances that People are exercised in where the Spirit of Truth hath not the beginning they will all prove fruitless in the end There be wise Men in the world and they have imployed their wisdom to find out the true God but God in wisdom hath ordained that the world by all their wisdom shall not know him so there is an end of all their Labour How shall they know him then As none can know the things of a man save the spirit of a man that is in him so none can know the things of God but the spirit of God so that they that resist the Guidance Direction and Counsel of the Spirit of God are like unto those that would enter into a House or Pallace and remember not the Door that leads into it People would fain come into the Divine Knowledge and into the understanding of Divine Mysteries but they would come by it another way they would study for it they would learn it by Arts and Sciences they would attain it by their own Industry and herein they labour to excel one another If there comes a Man among them that tellâ— them Friends you are all out of the way then they are angry and instead of enquiring what is the way they are angry that their way must be rejected Friends you will never come to the Knowledge of God but by the Spirit of God then they mock and then they scoff and scorn the Doctrin of the Spirit for the Teaching of the Spirit hath been the common Scorn and Derision of our Age. It is so in our Day with many if they cannot come to the Knowledge of God any other way but by the Spirit they would deny to make use of that to be subject to that and these put their Trust in their own Power and Industry to find out the Mystery of the Knowledge of God so they are ever learning but are never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth How should they How can a People come to the Knowledge of the
Truth without the spirit of truth that reveals it Can any come to the Knowledge of Christ unless he that sent him reveals him Where are People's Books where are their Bibles where is their Rule they call it so that all their Endeavours for many Ages have proved fruitless in respect of the Knowledge of God This is but your say so may some say How doth it appear that we have not attained to the true Knowledge of God and to the true Worship and to the true Religion I will tell you how it appears for all in all Ages that have attained to the Knowledge of God they have been made partakers of his divine nature and his Divine Qualities they have brought forth a sort of Fruit in their Lives and Conversations that hath been of the same Nature it hath been Holy and Divine They have known the Sanctifier and they have been a sanctified People so they have become one with him and have shewn forth the Beauty of Holiness in their Lives that is a Demonstration that may shew the Knowledge of God for without it they live another Life an unholy one a corrupt one a Life of Self-love a Life of Pride Vanity and Enmity and that they never had from God but from another Root a Life of Iniquity and Sin it came from another Seed so that they are still without the Knowledge of God And again all that have come to the Knowledge of God they have trusted in him that People cannot do now-a-days except here and there a few that do know him the generality of the Age they cannot trust God they must have something else to rely upon and trust to for in him they cannot trust Now the Lord said by the Prophet of old They that know my name will trust in me thaâ— is enough if People know God whom to know is life eternal even to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent This is Life Eternal if People were coâ—â— to this Divine Knowledge they would never take care or study for any Refuge or set up this or that or the other thing to lean upon A rich Man he trusteth in his Ricâ—es one trusteth to one thing and another to another but they would trust in the Living God and he should be their God and their Rock and they would venture their Concerns upon him both in this World and that which is to come if they did but know him People may talk as much as they will but he can never properly be said to be my God and thy God till we cast our care upon him and can venture our concerns upon him both in this World and that which is to come and can say He is our God and our Relyance and Dependance is upon him Now this is the Effect and Consequence of this Knowledge of God such as come to partake of it they shall not need to be bid to worship him You shall not need to make a Law that this People shall worship the God that they know there needs no Law to command the People of God to worship him his law is written in their hearts and they that know him will worship him There was never any Man on Earth that had the Knowledge of the true and living God that needed be put upon worshipping him that needed a Law to oblige him to it for the very Knowledge that is given of God through Christ this brings forth naturally an Adoration of the invisible Power which Men put their Trust in it produceth an Adoration that is true Worship it causeth an humble Reverence of that Power it brings the Soul upon its Knees as it were it brings the Soul to stoop and bend and bow upon all occasions to God as his God It raiseth his expectations to receive Counsel and Judgment and Understanding from him as the Fountain of Wisdom and hereby People are taught to worship in the right Divine Knowledge But to tell Men of the Worship of God before they know him though you make as many Laws as you will to force them to worship that God they do not know yet you can never do them any good nor make their Worship acceptable nor make them devout you can never bring Devotion nor Divine Adoration into their Hearts by all the Laws that you can make But there is a Spirit of Life that sets the Soul at liberty from its former Bondage to Sin and Satan and when this Law comes to be revealed in my Heart what saith this Law Worship God give Honour and Glory to him This Law saith Submit thy self to him that redeemed thee thou art his thou art no more thine own This Law being written in the Heart obligeth a Man to a true Worship and to worship God in spirit and truth for this Man hath done imagining among the Heathen that there are Gods many and Lords many He hath done imagining what God is and where he is for he is now come to Knowledge he is come beyond the best Scholar in Athens let him be never so mean and despicable in the World if it be never so poor a Lad or Lass they are beyond the best Scholar in Athens for the best Scholar there came only so far as to contradict their fellow Scholars Some of them were for Mars and some for Jupiter some for one God and some for another These Scholars by some Beam of Divine Light shining in them had come to perceive that the Influences that were in Mars Jupiter and Venus and the Sun and Moon and other Planets they received them from an higher Power that is God They denyed not that these Planets had Power and Influences given to them sometimes they are called heavenly Bodies the Sky or Canoâ— of the Earth and Sun Moon and Stars 〈◊〉 called Heavenly Bodies they have Power and Influences but this was given them and that Power must be greater than theirs from whom they receive their Power Vertue and Influence even that God who is the maker of all things The Scholars at Athens were gotten so far as to see there was a God greater than the Planets which the Nations worshipped they thought that God was to have an Altar as well as Jupiter and Mars and those other Gods and therefore they built an Altar to the unknown God whom they ignorantly worshipped If thou and I are come to the knowledg of the true God then we must know more than these Scholars of Athens who erected an Altar to the unknown God When the Apostle comes to Preach Divinity among these Scholars of Athens there were Masters of Arts and sciences he begins to Preach to them about an unknown God whom ye ignorantly Worship saith he him declare I unto you we do not need to declare to you the Gods of the Nations for you Worship them but to declare to you the unknown God whom ye ignorantly Worship these were the â—reat Scholars of Athens that the Apostle sâ—â—ke to
upon â—oâ—'s Sanctuary this Priests Lips shall preserâ—e knowledge All that come to God's Church are taught of this Priest he is a high one the high priâ—â—â— of our profession we have not such another he is not set up by a Carnal Commandment his Induction came not from any Priest in this World but his Induction came from the God of Heaven and Earth his Father set him up for a Priest he comes by a heavenly Induction and Commission he is a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek not after the Order of Aaron If you come to God's Church you may hear this Minister Some have called a House of Stone 〈◊〉 Wood a Church but that will not do noâ—â— therefore there are People that know better than they when they gather Churches of living Stones Men and Women are gathered to these Churches Now the Apostle saith the Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ if you will come to Church you must come to Jesus Christ the Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the general Assembly the Congregation of his faithful People What do you mean by a Church Ask a learned Man that understands Greek and Hâ—brew what is the meaning of the Word A Church saith he is the Congregation of the Faithful it is an Assembly of the Faithful People congregated together Where must they meet they must meet in the general assembly of the first-born whose names are written in heaven The Hebrews were come to that Church though they lived many hundred Miles asunder in Asia Cappadocia and Bythinia You are come to the general assembly of the first-born there is a Priest there is the high priest of our profession the Lord Jesus Christ who is a priest after the order of Melchisedeck not after the order of Aaron How long is this Priest like to stay in his Priesthood For ever He is a priest for ever not after a carnal commandment but the power of an endless life The Priests that were after Aaron's Order they could not continue Death snatched one away then they must have another Priest but here is one that hath a Priesthood higher than the Heavens by the Power of an endless Life Here is the Priest of God's Church and the Teacher of God's People so that when God's People come to Church that is to God the Father there Christ teacheth them according to the old Prophecy I will teach my people my self We have laboured to bring People to this Teaching that they might come to the Knowledge of the Living God Now there needs none to teach them for they are taught of God blessed be God our labour hath not been in vain we see the fruit of our labours and are satisfied We have been labouring to bring Men to know the Lord new all shall know the Lord from the greatest to the least and bow before him and worship him they hear that their high priests lips shall preserve knowledge If they do amiss he chastiseth them for it if they do well then he comforteth them by his Spirit Now our Labour is that all may be brought to this and that every one may know the Lord and may fear him and serve him and worship him in his Temple Our Bodies are a Temple for that use to worship God in know you not that youâ— bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost you musâ— worship in your selves you must go into youâ— selves you must know the Exercise of the Graces of the Spirit in your selves and thâ— Workings of the Spirit of Truth in youâ— selves and that your Souls that are in yoâ—â— Bodies may be bowed to the Power of the Spâ—rit and that your Worship must be in the Spirit you must pray in the Spirit and give Thanks in the Spirit Though those that set up Worship in the Church talk 〈◊〉 Divinity and Religion in every part of it yet the Substance of all the Shadows of the Law are fulfilled in the Gospel the Substance of all the Modes and Rites and Forms of Religion are fulfilled in the Gospel-way So then let every one compare and examine their State and consider how the case stands between them and their Maker what Knowledge they have of God and what Trust they have put in him that so they may be persuaded and prepared to come within the Pale of this Church But you must first come out of the World else you can never come into that Church that is in God if you be in the World you must go to the World's Church and be the Members of the World's Church and you shall have this for your Pains the World will love you but if you come out of the World's Church into God's Church the World cannot love you Be as good as thou wilt thou canst never bâ— so good as Christ Jesus and they loved him not because he was not of the World if you were of this world saith Christ the world would love its own but since you are not of the world but I have taken you out of it therefore the world hates you if they do so to the green tree â—hat will they do to the branches Are you better than I saith our Saviour the servant is not greater than his Lord Those that are the Disciples of Christ must be content to be persecuted reviled and hated for his names sake for thus they treated him who 〈◊〉 holy and harmless and undefiled who gave them a good Example and who did them no hurt but did them good yet the World hated him and it is but reasonable that you should suffer from the World in the same manner and bear it at their Hands If you come to this Church that is in God the Father and Jesus the mediator the church of the first-born that are written in heaven and come out of the World's Church then the World will be about your Ears all the World will set themselves against this Church against the Woman that shall bring forth a Birth that shall rule over the Nations There appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman cloathed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars and she being with Child cryed travelling in birth and pained to be delivered And there also appeared another wonder in heaven a terrible thing and behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and the dragon stood before the woman that was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born and she brought forth a man child that was to rule all nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up to Gâ—â— and to his throne When the Dragon 〈◊〉 ready to devour this Birth God took it into his own Care in spite of the Devil and all his Instruments and he will save the Child and preserve the Woman he that fits in heaâ—â—â—â—ill laugh at his Enemies and defeat them 〈◊〉
is a plâ—ce appointed for the Woman in 〈◊〉 Wilderness where she is preserved by the â—â—mighty Power where she is nourished for a Time and Times and half a Time from the Face of the Serpent but she must come out again after some Time in spite of the Devil and all his Instruments of all his Dragons and Serpents The woman must come out of the Wilderness and the Man-Child must come down with great Power to rule the Nations This hath been accomplished say some above fourteen hundred Years ago and if you will take their Word the Church hath been come so long out of the Wilderness But the Church that they speak of hath it not wanted Holiness and Righteousness Hath it given glory to God on high with peace on earth and good will to men No their Church hath lived in Tyranny and barbarous Cruelty and shedding of Blood They say the Churcâ— was in the Wilderness in Dioclesian's Time and when Constantine came to the Empire theâ— she came out of the Wilderness If it had been a Holy Church we should have seen the Man-Child come down from God and Holiness and Righteousness would have run down like a mighty stream and Truth would have filled the whole Earth All these things have not yet been fulfilled for we have seen the Professors of Truth fallen in the Streets they have been persecuted and troubled and thrown into Prisons and … on s but there is a better Church some … to be found I read of the Holy Church the Lamâ—â— Wife the Spouse of Christ that hath been hid somewhere a great while in some Corner or other in the Wilderness but she will come forth again out of the wilderness leaning upon her well-beloved She doth not come leaning on this Prince and the other Potentate She comes not out of the Wilderness leaning on Captains Generals and Armies but leaning on Christ her well-beloved the Immortal Invisible Power of the Son of God she trusteth in it All the other Churches I have read of they have leaned upon one Prince or Potentate or one Emperour or another and they have relyed on these great Men as on their Bulwark but this Church that comes out of the Wilderness will come leaning only upon her well-beloved the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of her Faith she will put her Trust in him for he will deliver his Church from all her Enemies And though the Serpent cast out of his Mouth Water as a Flood after the Woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the Flood 〈◊〉 the Lord will cause the Earth to help â—he â—oman and thâ— Earth shall open her Mouth and swallow up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth Let the Dragon do what he can to destroy the Woman and her Seed she knows what her beloved can do he will command the Earth to open and swallow up the Flood and she shall go dry through it How happy are they that lean upon Christ their well-beloved The Church of Christ in all Ages hath leaned upon him and he hath founded his Church upon a Rock so that the Devil and all his Instruments and the very gates of hell shall not prevail against her The Members of this Church have their Teacher Christ Jesus and they receive Counsel and Direction from him He is their Priest and Teacher and he teacheth them by his Spirit and his Word which he hath placed in their Hearts and given them an Understanding to know him that is true Christ's Word you must keep to 〈◊〉 if you will be true Schâ—lars This 〈◊〉 true Divinity if you will have the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God communicated and opened to you give heed to 〈◊〉 word and that Truth that is in your 〈◊〉 parts Attend to that Light and that 〈◊〉 that is manifested in your Hearts and 〈◊〉 Lord will shew you more of the Power 〈◊〉 Efficacy thereof and if you be faithful 〈◊〉 little he will make you ruler over much 〈◊〉 answerable to the Understanding and Knowledge that God hath given you and if you be faithful in a little he will communicate more and more of his Mind and Will to you and if you be led by the Spirit of Truth you will trust in it and hearken to it and understand the Language of it in your own Hearts and if you be a willing people in the day of God's power God will work all things in you and for you and work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure SERMON IX The wonderful love of God to Mankind Preached at S. Martin's-le-Grand November 9th 16â—0 IT is our great concern while we are in this World to promote the Glory of God and 〈◊〉 work out our own salvation to endeavour â—hat in us lies to be sensible and to help one another to be sensible of the Love of God to 〈◊〉 This is the only thing that can give us 〈◊〉 comfort to have a Sense of the Love of God to us in Christ Jesus There is 〈◊〉 more certain â—haâ—â—hat all of us are Partakâ—â—â— of the Love of 〈◊〉 which is imparted to us daily and we live noâ— a Day without it but we may if we have not a care live maâ—â— Days without it and without the comfortaâ—â—â— Sense of it and that is the reason that 〈◊〉 great many of â—he Sâ—â—â— and Daughters of Men do 〈◊〉 in their Liâ—â—â— so little Love to God becaâ—â—e they have so â—â—â—tle Sense of his Love to them for the Apostle â—ohn that had attained 〈◊〉 great Knowledge and Experience in Christianity plainly declareth that â—he â—â—â—son of that Love â—â—at we have to 〈◊〉 is â—â—â—ause he first loved us and I do not believe that any Man can have any true Love to Gâ—d that is not sensible of the Love of God to hâ—m And 〈◊〉 those temporal Blessings that we enjoy 〈◊〉 thâ—â—â—â—fe as Health and Strength and our very â—â—eath 〈◊〉 â—â—ing and well-being that every Day and Hour are continued they are from 〈◊〉 Love of God to us and the lengthning 〈◊〉 of our Lives and vouchsafing us Oppâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—es for the good of our Souls are evident Tokens of God's Love and Good-will to us Where these things are not coâ—sidered and regarded men live like the 〈◊〉 that perish and regard not him that mâ—dâ— them but go on in Disobedience to him 〈◊〉 Dishonouring of his great Name and hoâ—â—â—ing up Wrath upon their own Souls Aâ—◠〈◊〉 doth every Man while he remaâ—â—â— in 〈◊〉 natural state and conditionâ— foâ— there is in every Man by nature the Sâ—â—d aâ—d Root of all Sin and Rebellion against 〈◊〉 which makes him return evil to God fâ—â— the good he doth to us And I believe we are â—ll of us sensible in some measure of the depravedness that is fallen upon all Maâ—â—â—d and of tâ—â—t â—â—mity to God and that aveâ—â—â—â—ss that â—s 〈…〉 the doing the will of God and that impotency and inability
â—s will this is Gods will that none should â—â—sh but that all should come to repentance and be eternally saved Now in this work of your salvation we would have regard to him that sent us to Preach the Everlasting Gospel and we would discharge our selves faithfully and be made manifest in your Consciences that the benefits of the Gospel might come to be yours that you might answer the purpose of God in sending Christ to be the Saviour of Mankind you must turn from Sin to God and then you will find the blessing that comes by Jesus which it to turn every one from his evil way You may read this in a Book and you may also plainly read it iâ— your Hearts The Lord Jesus Christ hath given you Light to distinguish between good and evil if you do good you may make a comfortable reflectionâ— upon your selves and this will be your rejoycing the testimony of your Conscience on thaâ— account buâ— if you do evil though all Men do justifie you and commend you yet you will be condemned in your selves so that you have that in your selves which distinguisheth between things that differ in their nature and kind and you have a litle enlightening by the knowledg and understanding you have received concerning the things that are pleasing and displeasing to God if after yoâ— know this you will go on in a way displeasinâ— to God he will at length be too hard for yoâ— and plunge you down into the Abyss of 〈◊〉 Wâ—at â—to all Eternity After Persons are satisfied and enlighten 〈◊〉 with the Light of Christ and come to the Eâ—perience of things in themselves they will love the Light and Walk in the Light but there are many in this Age that have read the Scriptures plentifully and yet still go on in a way of Sin they cannot love the Light that reproves them He that doth evil he hates the Light and the Dawning of the Day is as the shadow of Death to him and it brings nothing but condemnation upon such Persons so that they do not love the Light though it is evident they have it and enjoy it and it shall be their condemnation whether they will or no if they do not love the Light and embrace it it will never be to their Salvation God hath given Christ to be a Light to the Gentilâ—s and his Salvation to the ends of the Earth He is the Light that enlightens every Man that comes into the World the Apostle John tells you the genealogy of the Word of God In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men The Life of the Eternal Word was the Light of Men What Men do you mean I answer He is the true Light that lighteth every Man â—â—at cometh into the World He extendeth â—is Light to every Man but it is condemnaâ—â—on to every Man so long as he continues to be a sinner against God This is the condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love darkness rather than Light because their deeds are evil Now all Men â—re by nature dead in Sins and Trespasses 〈◊〉 our first Parents fell into Sin they were dead to God in the Day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die when they had eaten the forbidâ—â—n fruit they did not die as to outward appearance but they died as to that Communion they had with their Maker in this dead state lye all the Sons and Daughters of Adam but as our Saviour speaks though they be dead they shall live again Christ is Lord from Heaven a Quickening Spirit this is the object of our Faith that hath been extended and offered to Mankind ever since the fall there is no name undâ—r Heaven no other Power or Spirit by which a Man can be saved this great Mediator the Eternal Son of God is the Light that lighteth every Man that coâ—â—â—h into the World Faith in Christ is the same that ever it was notwithstanding the many forms of Worship among the Sons of Men some of Gods setting up and some of Mens setting up yet among all these the object of Faith is the same and Faith the same In the 11th Chapter of the Hebrews That little Book of Martyrs the Apostle there giveâ— you a Catalogue of the mighty things 〈◊〉 have been done by the Faith of Gods Peopâ—â— he begins with Abel By Faith Abel offereâ— more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which 〈◊〉 obtained witness that he was Righteous 〈◊〉 testifying of his Gifts and by it he being dead yet Speaketh by Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see Death â—nd was not found because God translated him 〈◊〉 before his translation he had this Testimony that he pleased God and so the Apostle there goes to Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph and Moses And what shall I say more saith he for the time would fail â—e to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Sampson and Jeptha of David Samuel and of the Prophets who through Faith subdued Kingdoms wrought Righteousness obtained promises stopped the Mouths of Lionâ— quenched the violence of Fire escaped the Edge of the Sword out of weakness were made strong turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens All these great and noble things were done by Faith it was the aspect their Souls had upon Christ the Mediator between God and Man it was their trust and reliance upon God through Christ the Mediator that did suâ—â—ort and uphold them in all they did and suffered This Faith is still the same There are many Faiths in the World beside but they will prove but the Faith of Hypocrites Some have a Faith that if they do this and the other Work they say you may trust your Souls upon these good Works but this 〈◊〉 not the Faith of Abraham the Father of the â—â—â—â—hful But some called Christians are gone 〈◊〉 â—ar in the Doctrine of merits that they â—â—ok they can do enough for their own Salvaâ—â—on and for their Friends and Râ—â—â—tions too that there may be more Merit still over and above that others may have Benefit by the Merit of their Works of Supâ—â—â—â—gation Bâ—t this is not the Faith of Abraâ—â—â— and other Saints by which they wrought such Wonders in the World I would not have Men trust at all in their own Works 〈◊〉 Salvation but trust in Christ alone who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him But some will object We are taught the Doctrine of Faith in Christ and Justificatiâ—â— by him Well for my part my Tongue shall as soon drop out of my Mouth 〈◊〉 opâ—ose the Doctrine of being justified by Faith in Christ But let me tell you this may be misapplied If a Mâ—n believe that he is justified by Faith in Christ
cometh when no man can work Let every one of us that are now met together labour to be sensible of the Love of God to us and love him above all and express our Love by a willing and persevering Obedience that we may have the love of God shed abroad upon our hearts by the Holy Ghost and offer up living Praises to him through Jesus Christ â—ho hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made to kings and priests unto God and his father To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and â—ver Amen SERMON X. Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ Preached at Devonshire-House August the 9th 1691. IT is a general Doctrine in the World That no man by any means in the World can ever be set free from Sin in this Life This is universally received almost among all Christians in all Churches one and another tho' they differ never so much in other things yet they agree in this so that this Doctrine hath â—ot a Sway in the World and it is accounted a great Delusion and a Heresie and a grand Error for any to question the Truth of it Now while a Man is of that Belief That there is an impossibility of living without Sin and of breaking down the Kingdom of Satan in any one Soul in the World How can Men hope or believe that Righteousness should prevail in the Heart of one Man Therâ— neither King nor Beggar if he be a Bishop 〈◊〉 a Gospel Minister the Devil must have a Rulâ— and Goverâ—â—ent in him so long 〈…〉 this World As long as this is believe 〈◊〉 not possible that the other Belief should tâ— place It is madness to think that I must bâ— under the Rule and Government of Satan if I am under the Government of the Son of God And it is still greater madness to say That Christ and the Devil are both my Governours and Rulers It is prodigious Folly and Madness to speak after this manner This Belief prevails over all Men over the Wise and Mighty and Noble and Learned that they can never be freed from the Power of Sin in this World but that the Devil will lead them into Sin every Day leâ— Men be never so sober never so abstemious in their Lives let them spend never so many Hours in Prayer every Day let them come to Meetings and hear Sermons and write them and repeat them and do what they will here is a Bar of Unbelief that lies in the way that makes Men depart from the living God and his Power and lose the Benefit they should receive from Christ And therefore they go to fetch it another way that is to have the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them and they shall be holy and pure in the sight of God when they are polluted in their own Eyes and when they see their daily Failings Infirmities and Corruptions yet God may not see them but that he sees them Holy Just and Righteous in his Son What strange kind of Doctrine is this I must prâ—sume that God will see me in his Son Jesus Christ when I never was in Christ How can this be He that is in Christ 〈◊〉 new creature old things are done away and 〈◊〉 things are become new But if there be Oâ— things remaining still and I be not becomâ— New shall I presume that I am in Christ and that God will see me in his Son When People come to use the Understanding that God hath given them the will look upon themselvâ—â— as barred out by their Unbelief that the Nations have drunk in and it is as sweet to them as the Honey and the Honey-Comb But blessed be God many have vomited it up already If they would have placed this Doctrine upon Man's Natural Ability I would have said Amen to it I know there is none of us all have a natural Ability anâ— Power to deliver his own Soul from Sin and Satan but when they come to place it upon God that though the Lord make bare his arm and reveal his power though they come to have the Grace of God that still they could not be delivered from Sin this hath Blasphemy at the bottom of it The other reflected upon man's Power this reflects upon the Power of God Almighty That the Devil hath got such a Power over us that God hath noâ— Power over us nor cannot have Power aâ— Dominion over us so that of a whole Nâ—tion he cannot have one Man to serve him Much might be said in answer to this When Men are once willing to serve Goâ— they will be willing to leave the Seâ—vice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devil There is no way to answer that good Wish but by waiting upon God for the revealing of his Power I pray God that when you come to a Meeting you may say Lord let thy Power go forth upon my Heart Let thy Arm be made bare and deliver me from the Power and Dominion of Sin Some will say they feel God's Power in a Meeting I feel the Power of God workinâ— upon my Heart in order to the taking away Sin and Transgression and giving me Victory over it through the Lord Jesus Christ If they feel this Power of God upon them it is their Duty to believe it and depend upon it If I believe it I must wait for the Dictates of it and believe that I shall be able to do all things â—hrough Christ that strengthens me Then Faith will come forth into Works and appear to be a living Faith You may remember what the Apostle James saith As the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also As soon as a Man comes to joyn with the mighty Power of God he will be able to withstand Temptation If he comes into evil Company he will deny them and not comply with them 〈◊〉 will find then something of a Power 〈◊〉 Ability to serve God though he is â—ot come to Perfection yet he is walking 〈◊〉 the way of Holiness and pressing forward towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus He will say I am got a little â—â—arer than I was towards the place where I would be towards that Life which I wâ— live and die then let Death come wheâ— pleaseth God it shall be welcome This is the wickedness of many in thâ— World they will not live such a Life as they would be willing to die in They cannot come at it unless it be given them to believâ— for it is the Gift of God they must come to thâ—â— Governour and Leader which goes beâ— to the Gift of God which is eternal lâ—fe then let Death come when it will if I have the Gift of eternal Life It is a miserable thing to think that there arâ— divers that have not laid hold of eternal Life It is manifested that we may lay hold of it there is a Hand of Faith joyning with it When a Man comes to lay hold of
and Wrath and Envy and Revenge and Violence to be found among us as if it would pull down Vengeance upon this City They have heard preached in Pulpits much of Holiness and Humility Patience and Meekness That a meek and quiet Spirit is an ornament of great price Men have heard much Preaching against Pride Prophaneness and Drunkenness and Uncleanness but they have heard it like a tale that is told not much concerned about it and have given little Credit or Regard to what they have heard of these things Why are People so wicked The Reason at last results into this Men are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God they are not the servants of Christ but serve diverse lusts and pleasures and are led captive by the devil at his will and so they go on in Iniquity All the Laâ— of Kings and Queens cannot â—â—â—train and curb them when the Law of Christ is not written in their Hearts but when Men come to see a Necessity of Self-denial 〈◊〉 taking up the Cross this will produce a Reformation This is that I labour for and all good Men and Womâ—n will do it It is time to cry for Reformation Vain Fâ—â—hioâ—s and Garbs and Pride have been cried up why should not we cry for Reformation before the Wrath of a provoked God is kindled agâ—inst us and his Vengeance poured down upon the Natioâ— We must reform our Lives How shall Men reform you will say By getting the law of God within their hearts that is pure and holy and heavenly that will be as a light to mens feet and a lanthorn to their paths Now till People come to this they will go on in Sin and Iniquity till they be swept away with some overflowing and dreadful Judgment So that my Friends in the Fear of God and out of Love to you I seek that you may be brought to God through Christ that you may live in the Love and Fear of the Lord and when you come to die you may have Rest and Peace for your Souls There is no Rest for those that are evil-doers There is no peace saith my God to the wicked The Ungodly cry Peace peace and talk of Peace but there is no Peace for them but they shall have for their Portion tribulation and wrath and anguish this shall certainly come upon every one that doth Evil. It is no matter what Religion you are of if you do not obey the Truth but live in Unrighteousness Now Friends my Exhortation to you â—ll is That you will return to the Truth in your own Hearts and do it while you have time I am not pulling and persuading People to love my Truth but to love God's Truth in their oâ—n Hâ—arts to love it and obey it and you cannot do this unless you resolve to take up a daily Cross and be Followers of Christ who is gone before to prepare a Place for them that are his true Disciples and then he will present them to God as holy harmless and undefiled for these are Heirs of that evâ—â—lasting Kingdom which God hath prepared 〈◊〉 them that love him SERMON XII Christians should be often thinking on the Name of the Lord. Being his last Sermon â—â—eached at Devonshire-House July 17th 1692. a while before his Death THE People of God in former Ages did think upon the name of the Lord I would it might be the daily Practice of all that make Profession to be the People of God in our Days to think upon the Name of the Lord. This you know is an inward Exercise invisible and known to none but God he only knows when you are met together whether you are thinking upon his Name whether the Exercise of your Minds is upon his Power or upon whatsoever else your Minds are engaged They whose Exercise and Desire is to feel God's Power and to be acquainted with his Name the Lord is nigh to them to reveal his mighty Power and his Name to them and they are a People that partake of his Goodness and of his Vertue and 〈◊〉 an experimental Knowledge of the divers Administrations of both his Judgments and Mercies to their own Souls and so they can proceed from Thinking to Speaking of the Goodness of God from the Experience that they have in themselves that the Lord is gooâ— to them For all that some do in their manner of speaking of God and his Goodness and crying up the Name of the Lord it is alâ—â— worth nothing it is but Noise But every one that partakes in his own Soul 〈◊〉 somethiâ—â— of the Divine Vertue and Goodness that flows from God invisibly to him through Jesus Christ he hath Assurance in himself thaâ— he speaks the Truth It is not mere Words made ready to his hand but it is his owâ— Knowledge and Experience of that whâ— God hath wrought in him by his own Spirit there are none that think upon the Name oâ— the Lord and his Power and the workiâ—â— of it but they are able to speak of it eâ—â—â—ctually and truly I know it hath been and is the practiâ—â— among many that they are able to speak 〈◊〉 God's Goodness from what they find in 〈◊〉 Writings and Sayings of some that lived bâ—fore them that did bear an honourable Teâ—â—â—mony of God's Goodness in their Religâ—â—â— and they learn to say it over-again iâ— particular Age But what hath this Tale that they have told wrought This Report they have made How God was with the Christians of old the Primitive Christians and Martyrs they have told a Tale of these things and what hath it effected It hath either brought forth Christians or it hath not Therefore the way for People to be grounded and settled in Divine Knowledge is for every one to speak what they know And if they know nothing of these things to say nothing of them And the way for them to come to receive Divine Knowledge is by thinking by meditating by considering of that Converse that God hath with their own Souls for there is a way provided for all Men to converse with God that made them Every Man and Woman may ask Questions of him and may have Answers from him if they have Patience enough to wait for them every Soul here present that shall come to be serious and with seriousness of Mind shall ask of God what their State and Condition is if they were to die presently God will â—ell them He will answer them he will shine unto them by the Light of his Son Jesus Christ and let them know whether they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of their iniâ—uity still or whether they are redeemed out of it and brought into Covenant with himâ—elf But will you believe his Answer I would have no Man go about to ask such a Question of God unless he hath a mind to believe the Answer that God giveth him To what purpose should Men ask if they ask and ask amiss If they ask without Faith they do
Deâ— Works that Christ came to destroy 〈◊〉 doth he not do it He will destroy 〈◊〉 Devil hath wrought in every Man that will be subject to him Can a Chirurgeon set a Bone if the Patient be not subject to his Hand But this is far beyond all comparison Christ hath received all power in heaven and earth yet he â—â—â—â—ays looks for a willing People he sends 〈◊〉 Day of his Power upon a People anâ— he worketh upon thâ—â—r Heâ—rts by an invincible Power he makes them willing to be helped and mended and healed and cured and then he cures them I dare say there is not one here that is willing to be reformed and to submit to Christ to be saved and redeemed by him but he will do it He that is willing and obedient shall eat of the good of the land and shall know the Good of Redemption See whether it be come to a State of Redemption here is universal Grace offered for the light of Christ Jesus lightneth every one of you It shews you your lost State and Condition When you see yoâ—â— Condition bad that it is not as it ought to be who would not have it better What means Prayer that Christian Duty 〈◊〉 us What shall we pray for Must not People be sensible in themselves what they should pray for before they come to pray And what is it that will make them sensible but the Light and Grace of God They see their own Wants when God worketh Faith in their Hearts and they believe that God can supply those Wants Why should I go to a Beggar to pray him to give me an hundred Pounds I believe he cannot do it therefore I will not pray to him for it Now necessity brings People to go to Prayer but there must be Faith in him to whom 〈…〉 he is able to supply their Wants 〈…〉 relieve their Necessities Upon this acco … the Apostle saith H … cometh to God 〈◊〉 believe that he is and that he is a rewarder 〈◊〉 them that diligently seek him He must 〈◊〉 know that there is a God to come unto anâ— then that he is a Rewarder Here is the Foundation of all true Religiâ—â— and true Worship they that go to God 〈◊〉 say their Prayers and joyn with others in â—â—â—ing their Prayers if they have no 〈…〉 God they had as good hold their 〈…〉 for their Praying is to no purpose They 〈◊〉 pretend to believe in God without an expâ—â—â—mental Power of God working upon 〈◊〉 Hearts their Belief is not worth a Strawâ— without their Respect to the Power of God all their Belief is nothing but if they know that God hath such an Operation upon them that no Man of Woman in the World can discover that to them that God discovereth then they know that God is the searcher of hearts and the tryer of the reins Jerem. 17.10 Suppose I know that there is a God and at the same time I believe that he will never hear me that I am a reprobate Creature and that he hath cast me off for ever and that he hath sealed Condemnation upon me to all Eternity What reason hath such a one to pray This is a desperate condition But while we believe there is a God and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rewarder of them taht diligently seek him it is not in vain to pray yet there is someâ—â—ing antecedent to to Prayer there is Knowâ—edge and Faith upon that Knowledge that God is a Rewarder He that hath this let him pray in God's Name But what must he pray for He must not offer the sacrifice of fools he must have regard to his Lips if it â—e mental Prayer he must pray for that he â—â—ands in need of it is for something he prays â—â—at God hath revealed by his Holy Spirit â—e stands in need of it is for something that he needs it is Power to overcome Corruptiâ—n and Power to overcome Temptation that â—e stands in need of he stands in need of a Mediator to procure for him the Pardon of his Sins These things he stands in need of then let him pray He that is afflicted let him pray So that if a Man or Woman go to Prayer they must pray to God in the Belief of his Goodness â—d Mercy that he will bestow some Blessing upon them that may be for the better that may be for their good When they come to a Meeting to worship God and hear the Word spoken outwardly they must pray for something that may be for their good Lord give me something that may support my Soul and something that may withstand Temptation People should have their Minds thus exercised and they should think upon the Name of the Lord according to their particular Necessity they should pour out their Supplication to the Loâ— This is such Worship as God looks for 〈◊〉 such as he likes and is pleased with he wâ— deliver those that thus pray to him out 〈◊〉 Temptations so that they shall not prevailâ— over them One Man's Temptation is of one sort another's of another sort but they are all delivered by â—e Grace of God and helped over them upon their Prayer to God for they find by Experience that God is a God hearing prayers Now when we have â—â—â—yed what is thâ— next Work It is to â—â—it for an Answer of our Prayer I prayed 〈◊〉 other Day to God for Power to withstand such a Temptation when that Temptation comes agâ—â—n I do expect that God will answer my Prayer Dost thou so Then I pray thee have an Eye to the samâ— Grace â—f Gâ—d that convinced thee and shewed thee the Tâ—mptâ—tion and have thy Faith exercised upon that Gâ—â—ce of God and thou wilt find it sufficient for thee I will warrant thâ—e Let the Devil come with a Temptation never so suiâ—â—ble and subtil keep thine Eye upon the Grace of God and it will deliver thee This was the Case of Paul when a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him he besought the Lord thrice The Temptation did attend him and God gave him an answer of his Prayer My grace is sufficient for thee As if he had said Let the Devil come with never so much Power he shall never overcome â—hee I speak to those that are well skilled in 〈…〉 of Work and have met with sharp Temptations and sometimes perhaps they â—ave been overcome by them and at other times they have withstood them What is the difference why one while they are loose and careless and did not pray for the Assistance of Divine Grace anâ—â—her while they kept close to it and were delivered Therefore when you come to Meeting with a desire to receive Benefit from God with you Expectations God-ward to receive Comfort from the Hands of the Lord let your Eye be upon â—im and the Working of his Grace in your own Hearts and hearken to that Voiâ—â— that is within you and it will be more effectual than mine If you find thâ— Work of Grace in you to
except that he saith He would not the death of him that dies What would he have then He would have you turn and live What means doth he use What I would have done I would use means for it You will say What means doth God use I am ready to say What means hath he not used 〈◊〉 What is it that God doth more wish for thâ—n that Men would repent return and live and be happy for ever He hath created them and given them Life and Breath and continued them twenty thirty forty or fifty Years that they might have Time to prepare for Eternity and he hath given his good Spirit to instruct them but they have rebelled against him He hath sent forth his Word the Gospel of Salvation which hath been preached to them and he hath waited to be gracious and â—xercisâ—d much patience and long-suffâ—â—◠〈◊〉 towards them so that I may say what meâ— hath he omitted He hath planted them as a vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he haâ— fenced it and gathered out the stones thâ—â—â— and planted it with the choicest vine and 〈…〉 in the midst of it and made a win◠〈◊〉 therein and he looked that it should 〈◊〉 foâ—th grapes and it brought wild grapes 〈◊〉 I pray you saith â—he Lord between me 〈◊〉 my vineyard Whâ—â— could have been done 〈◊〉 to my vineyard that I have not done in it But notwithstanding all your unfruitfulness the Day of your Visitation is continued the Lord is willing to shew Mercy to your Souls This is all the Lord your God requires of you That you would think upon his Name believe in him and trust in him and wait upon him for the Operations of his Grace in the Use of his Ordinances and your Attendance upon them and hearkning to his Voice and obeying it and so to hear that your souls may live I will affirm that there is never a one of you here present whether you be Quakers or no but you may meet with the Divine operations of the Power of God in your own Hearts if you will regard it and when you meet with these operations and regard them not I cannot help it if you will resist the good things of the Spirit of God I cannot help it if you will be of that Mind always to resist the Holy Ghost If as your â—athers did so do ye then you must all perish both you and your Fathers there is no escaping but by being subject to Christ Jesus and his â—â—ickening Spirit if there be any Divine â—â—â—â—rations that you meet with in your own Hearts let me perswade you to s◠〈…〉 have regard to them for I know th◠〈◊〉 is near at Hand and when People 〈◊〉 with Divine operâ—â—ions in their Soul◠〈◊〉 humble them and bring down their Pâ— and convince them of the danger of their â—â—â—dition the lies in the way and suggests 〈◊〉 poysonous thing that takes off the edge oâ— these operâ—â—iâ—â—s that they may dislike them It is true◠〈◊〉 meet with convictions of Sin but they reckon they have that Faith and belief in â—hrist that doth in the sight of Goâ— obâ— all their Sins that can be laid to thâ— charge both past and to come If I would look say they to the Divine operations or any thing wrought in me it wâ—re enough to make me mad I look wholly for the meriâ— of Câ—rist my Mind is wholly fixed upoâ— him who iâ— the Auther of Eternal Salvâ— his merâ—â—â—â—ious sufferings and obedience 〈◊〉 obliterâ—â—â—nd blot out all my Sins My Mâ—â—ds I tell you many a Poor Soul hath spâ— upon this Roâ— by undervaluing the Divine operâ—tions of the Spirit upon 〈◊〉 Hearts they mâ—ke a false and wrong application of the merits of Câ—â—â—st which indeeâ— are so grâ—â—â— that no body can ovâ—â—value them but we must not make a false application 〈◊〉 them For this purpose was the Son of 〈◊〉 manifested that he might destroy the Worâ—â— the Devil He takes away the guilt o◠〈◊〉 noâ— that you might live in it still Whoâ— bâ—lieveth iâ— Christ shall hâ—ve Po◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 and not be 〈◊〉 the dominion and 〈◊〉 of Sin Sin shall not havâ— dominion over 〈◊〉 for you are not under the Law but under 〈◊〉 But God be thanked you were the servants 〈◊〉 Sin but you have obeyed from the Heart the form of Doctrine which was delivered you being then made free from Sin ye became the Servants of Righteousness Rom. 6.14 18. But you will say I am guilty of agre at deal of Sin already what shall become of me for the guilt that I have contracted If we confess and forsake our Sins he 〈◊〉 â—kfull and just to forgive us our Sins and to â—â—â—anst us from all unrighteousness and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 9.9 Here is a true application of Christ his Merits and Righteousness when there is a confessing of Sin to Goâ— and a forsaking of it here is an offering and a Sacrifice made to God by our Lord Jâ—â—us Christ for the expiation of Sin he 〈◊〉 by his precious Blood pâ—â—â—hased the pardon of all my Sins that he might present me to God without Spot and Blemish here is a true application the Righteousâ—â—â—â— of Christ but how can I apply it to my self while I live in Siâ— Here Gods Witness in the Conscience of a Sinner pleads against the Sinner when he hath got a trick to believe that his guilt is taken away and all his S ns past present and to come are pardoned while he continue to live in 〈◊〉 and Sin hath yet dominion over him Take heed you split n◠〈…〉 if you be humble well grown Ch◠〈…〉 will think upon the Name of the 〈…〉 when ye find the operation of Gods 〈◊〉 begetting good desires in you to hate Sin 〈◊〉 love Righteousness you will then believâ— you will then Pray to the God of all Grace for the Prayer of the Faithful is acceptable to him The effectual fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man avails much Jam. 5.16 Let your supplications therefore be poured forth unto God to endue you with Power and Wisdom to subdue all your Spirituâ—â— Enemies and to conquer your concupiscence and the inordinate desires and affections of your own Hearts that you may take up the Crosâ— of Christ and follow him as your greaâ— Patrâ—n and in his Name and by the hâ— and Aâ—â—istaâ—ce of his Holy Spirit you mâ— know how to â—â—ercome all Temptations His Prayer after Sermon MOst Glorious Lord God wonderful is thy great Power over all which thou hast revealed and made manifest in this thy blessed Day Thy Arm O thou Almighty God is stretched forth thou hast touched a Remnant with a sense of thy Divine love whom thou hast gathered unto thy Name thou hast revealed thy great Salvation and therewith thou haâ— made glad the Souls of thy Children thou hast endeared thy self â—â—to us by the discovery and manifestation of thy abounding love