Peace when we are taught of God and chiefly we have great Peace when we obey and do according to that Teaching of his And so we hear his loving Kindness when he causes us to know the way wherein we should walk From whence observe again That when our Spirits are dissatisfied restless and troublesome it is a certain sign either of some Guilt appearing forth in them or we are not conversant about and employed in what we ought Again on the other hand as we can prove our own Work and then find rejoycing in our selves and not in another Gal. 6. 4. This is a Sign and Evidence that it is a Good and Right Work The Apostle speaks in this manner unto some to whom he writes The God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing So the same God of Peace fills People with Peace in doing his Will which same Peace he denies them again as they neglect the doing of his Will I have experienced much of this last my self and by the Horrors and Accusings of mine own Conscience herein I can somewhat guess and apprehend before-hand what will be the pain of Loss at the great Day of Judgment The Sun rejoyceth as a strong Man to run a Race Psal 19. 5. So there is a Satisfaction in all the created Beings to move and act according to the Rule Law and Will of their Creator And again when they do not they are out of their Element and then there is Trouble Doubt and Disquiet As God asks the Question in reference to the false and idolatrous Worshippers among the Jews Should I receive Comfort in these Isa 57. 6. So it may be conceived and judged of before-hand as to our several Acts of Religion According as we find and receive Comfort in them so it is a foregoing Sign of God's Acceptance of them For as the Jewish Worshippers did hereby know that the Lord receiv'd a Burnt-Offering and a Meat-Offering at their Hands if the Fire did come down from Heaven and consume and Sacrifice and when he did shew us all these things Judges 13. 23. So even then it might be understood and also under the Gospel that God did Remember all our Offerings and accept our Burnt-Sacrifice and so what we did as pertaining to Religion and Worship if thereupon God did immediately give us the chief things of the lasting Mountains and the precious things of the lasting Hills Deut. 33. 15. that earnest and glimpse of future Glory I mean that Peace and Joy and Comfort in the Holy Ghost at the very same time and afterwards also wherein we were serving him This again is to be differenced from that fond Exultancy of Spirit and Complacency of Mind which the false and formal Worshipper may sometimes have in that in his own Imagination he hath done something for God and for his own Soul Like unto Micah who said Now know I that the Lord will do me Good seeing I have a Levite to my Priest Judges 17. 13. which yet was but a false Conceit of his own for as may be understood from Verse 5. he was an Idolater And let not such a one or any other false Worshipper think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord as to the future Recompence which he hath promised to such only who worship him in Spirit and in Truth But when we receive Comfort in our Holy Things and in our Religious Performances upon some true and assured Grounds out of God's Word This is an Evidence and Sign before-hand of our Salvation and that our Religion is a Religion to the saving of the Soul So again on the other Hand when we do not receive Comfort in our Religion but we perform it in a way of Drudgery and Task Here we may suspect our Course that as such People do not receive true Comfort in the Acts of their Religion so the great God unto whom it doth all relate and terminate doth not receive Comfort in them neither will they receive Benefit thereof hereafter Either such do not worship God in Spirit and in Truth or there is Sin and Iniquity in the Worshipper God heareth not Sinners If I regard Iniquity in my Heart the Lord will not hear me Or they do not turn unto him with their whole Heart It is only done out of Custom or as a Task that is set them which they do not mind after it is over Such will be of the number of those who shall say Lord Lord Mat. 7. 21. throughout their Life and yet shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Such do neither pray unto God for it neither doth God cause them to know the way wherein they should walk and so they neither hear his loving Kindness nor is any due and belonging unto them for this is the favour he beareth unto his People and is distinguished and peculiar to his Elect only There is a great Fear Jealousie and Doubt in the Heart of Man especially in those who prepare their Heart to seek know and please him whither we be in the way of God or not Besides the sure Word of Prophecy the certain Rule of Scripture if it be according to that and more especially by the Spirit which he hath given us We may very much conceive and judge thereof before-hand According to what Peace and Satisfaction of Mind we have if the other Signs here mention'd do also concur and agree then we are in God's way But if we are in Doubt Perplexity and Uncertainty of Soul then probably we are out of it Each Person knows his own Case and Condition herein better than all the Divines or Preachers of the World can instruct or put him in mind of To the Law and the Testimony and the Light that is in them and also within himself hereby he may know and assure his Heart before him viz. That he is in the way wherein he should be even the way which the Invinsible God his Creator would have him to be in and which leads up unto Heaven the Habitation of the most High Behold I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the way and to bring thee into the Place which I have prepared Beware of him and obey his Voice Exod. 23. 20 21. This Angel is Conscience which also is to be ruled and guided by the written Word or that of himself which God hath implanted in Man or Woman By the Dictates and Motions whereof we may well guess whither we be in the way or not It is said The Angel before thee to keep thee in the way so Conscience is a Guide going before us and in our sight that is of the Eyes of our Vnderstanding being enlightned Which if we follow all along signified by those Words Beware of him and obey his Voice it will keep us in the way And when we are turn'd aside or out of it this will give Knowledge and Warning thereof yea and it will bring us in again if we Beware
Finisher of our Faith Some say that he is a good Man and others have said nay but he deceiveth the People This last Reproach hath been handed about or otherwise they would never have dissuaded People from coming to hear me So far it is true some do secretly wish that I was gone out of the Country yea many in this Island had rather I was gone out of the World By the way if their Spirits now are so impatient and restless that they cannot endure a single Troubler of Israel how then will they endure when their Souls fly out of their Bodies it is but a short Respite and Reprieve between if they should be with the whole Company of Prophets and Apostles who were so to their Age and Country what I am accused of now Neither they nor my self have troubled Israel but those Men only have troubled it who have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord. Some very few others in this Neighbourhood had rather perhaps that I stay longer among them for their Souls Good and Edification by their attending on my Ministry in this place But beloved of whom I hope Salvation to speak a short Word unto ye I have no greater Joy than to hear that my Children walk in Truth John 3. 4. For what is our Hope or Joy or Crown of Rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ for ye are our Glory and Joy 1 Thes 2. 19 20 This is my Hope my Comfort my Joy and my Crown that every one of you are not gainsaying and disobedient Despisers and non-hearers although far the greater Multitude of the Inhabitants of this Town and Neighbourhood are Ye might convince them in the mean while as ye will be Witness against the others at the last Day Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exbort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and please God even according to all the words of the Gospel without adding one Word or diminishing from it so ye would abound more and more The same Paul saith on this wise concerning another Minister of the Gospel Receive him for he also worketh the work of the Lord as I work So my dear and beloved Fellow-Christians I would have ye to know that whensoever I go from hence notwithstanding the contrary Reproaches of many People I do work the same Work of the Lord which I do here in this place Namely by the words of God's Grace and Truth which are committed to my Ministration to endeavour to convert Sinners and to make them a People prepared for the Lord. But there I do it more by writing and publishing the Copies thereof which is the more lasting and remaining Good Here it is by a living Voice and by Word of Mouth Again of this ye are not ignorant that in other Cities Towns and Villages there are the like Creatures of the same God as ye your selves are and alike Sheep of the one and everlasting Shepherd who hath us Ministers for his under-Shepherds and these Sheep are to be fed instructed and exhorted in the Words of Eternal Life So that ye may be contented and satisfied for they also are Children of the Stock of Abraham and Flesh of your Flesh and Bone of your Bone altho' one who was a Burning and Shining Light in his Generation and some of ye were willing to rejoyce in his Light for a season should be removed to another place for the much yet greater ends of the Gospel and for the yet more Universal and lasting Publishing and Propagation of the Eternal Truths of God For the Souls of such of ye as shall be saved will be saved nevertheless whither I go away or stay if ye remember and continue mindful of the things that have been spoken and particularly if ye obey and observe the very last Direction which I Intend to leave with ye As also in the latter Days when ye shall consider it more perfectly than I can now declare it unto ye then ye will glorifie God on my behalf and also be well pleased therewith and have good Will towards me in my making the better Choice as to obey the Call of God and prefer the greater things pertaining to his Kingdom before the less This common thing of good Will is a thing that the Ministers of the Gospel do very often want signified by that relative kind of Speech Glory to God on the highest on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men. But as to the Souls of them in this Town and Neighbourhood who shall perish they would still continue Despisers and Non-hearers Reproachers and Blasphemers stubborn and perverse be Blinded Rom. 11. 7. and Snared Isa 8. 14. at the Word of my Ministry and there would be a stumbling Block hindering them from coming to hear it altho' I should continue here all the remaining evil Days of my Pilgrimage which I intend not to do As Robert Bolton call'd for his six Children up when he lay upon his Death-bed and utter'd this his last Saying unto them Take heed that none of ye do meet me at the Judgment-seat of God in an un-regenerate Heart so in this my Farewel-Sermon I warn and testifie unto all the Inhabitants of this Town and Neighbourhood let those that hear carry out this Word to them that do not hear take heed that none of ye do meet me at the Judgment-Seat of God in an un-regenerate Heart nor yet in the Spirit of despisal and refusal to hear the Word of the Lord nor yet in the Spirit of Reproach Stubbornness and Perverseness nor yet in the Darkness of Ignorance which most People are now in And which shews for these are the Fruits and Effects thereof that your Hearts as yet are Un-regenerate Unsanctified and Unrenewed and your foolish Hearts are darkned Which perhaps altho' they are not in every part yet it is so in some part thereof for ye are not as yet turn'd unto the Lord your God with all your Heart and with all your Souls and with all your Mind without the Exception or Reserve of any Lust Humour or Will of your own And ye are not as yet given up to follow the Lamb who is the Way the Truth and the Life and consequently the Conducts and Leadings of Divine Truth whither soever it goes but such do turn unto the Lord with some of their Heart but not with their whole Heart This Word is proper and belongs unto those of the several Professions Sorts Sects and Names of Religion inhabiting among us as they are commonly called or distinguished by Church-People Presbyterians Quakers The name of it nor yet your listing your selves in either of the Parties nor yet your confining your selves only unto it will not save ye nor any of ye But it must be pure and undefiled Religion before God thro' his Gracious Acceptance thereof it must be by true Primitive and Universal Christianity the way wherein our Fathers
walked who now are at Peace thro' which as a Means ye are to hope that your Spirits may be saved in the Day of the Lord. Jesus A confirming all the Words of the Law and Gospel by your doing of them But whosoever shall do and teach them even the least Commandments the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 19. And it is thro' this thing even that mention'd in the foregoing Verse The setting your Hearts unto all the Words which Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles have testified unto Mankind unto this Day which ye shall command your Children to do all the Words of this Law And then it follows thro' this thing ye shall prolong your Days even so to a blessed Eternity in the Land even the new Heavens and the new Earth where Righteousness dwells whither and when ye go over the Jordan of this Life to possess it There is no other way or name given under Heaven whereby they must be saved than that of Christ Jesus and the Observance of all things whatsoever he hath commanded us Whatever Reproaches and false Sayings have been uttered against my Person or Ministry tho' here it may be expected I should take up such a kind or form of Speech Father forgive them for they know not what they do I pray God lay not this Sin to their Charge But since Christ and his Apostles spake after this manner so much Light and Grace so much Knowledge and Revelation have came into the World that People now may know what they do herein namely that themselves who reproach and speak falsly are as so many Instruments in the Hands of the Devil for to resist let and hinder to defeat spoil or render of less Effect the Ministry of such a Servant of the most High God who doth only Teach the way of Salvation So that if we should still pray and ejaculate after this manner it may seem to encourage others in a like course of sinning and Teaching Rebellion against the Lord for so did Shemaiah the Nehelamite in giving out as if Jeremiah his Prophet was mad as ye may read in Jer. 29. 26. 32. so that instead of my praying Father forgive them for they know not what they do I pray God lay not this Sin to their charge I shall here use and apply as to them other Words of Christ and his Apostle But I say unto you that every idle Word which there signifies false or reproachful Words as appears by the Verses immediately foregoing that Men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment Mat 12. 36. Who shall give an account to him that is ready to judge both the Quick and Dead 1 Pet. 4. 5. We are not allow'd to pray nor will God hear but according to Truth How then can I pray Father forgive them for they know not what they do when the Times of that Ignorance which God winked at are long since past But now in this Gospel-day more Grace and Knowledge have appeared unto the World So that either People do know or may know which is near one and the same thing what they do and whom they have Reproached and Blasphemed and against whom they have exalted their Voice even against the Holy One of Israel when with their Mouth they have reproached and spoken falsly of his Minister and Servant especially as he was in the Ministration of his Word and when their lying Lips did speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the Righteous Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good Report if there be any Vertue and if there be any Praise think on these things Those things which ye have learn'd and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of Peace shall be with you Phil. 4. 8 9. Wherefore I take you to record this Day that I am pure from the Blood of all Men for I have not shunned to declare unto ye all the Counsel of God For as may be reason'd from Joshua 8. 35. there should not be a Word of all that God hath commanded in the Scriptures which his true Ministers should shun or refuse to declare and make known unto the People I am not he that is set over ye after the Law of a Carnal Commandment or according to the established manner of the Country But as God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then Gifts of Healing Helps 1 Cor. 12. 28. so by the Gifts given and committed unto me I may come in for an Helper in the Work of the Ministry And by my constant Warning of the Inhabitants of this Town and Neighbourhood against all manner of Sin and Transgression and by laying open the Unreasonableness and Danger thereof I shall somewhat ease that Account which he is to give for the Souls more immediately and especially committed unto his Charge Notwithstanding all the Labours that are used in this Parish and the Parts adjacent to prevent it whosoever for all that shall perish at last yet I take you to record again that I am pure from the Blood of all Men because I have not refused to declare unto them all the Counsel of God that came into my Mind and which was against their Sin Iniquity Transgression Hypocrisie Disobedience and Ignorance all which and the like do drown Men in Destruction and Perdition And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified I commend you especially to the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation and to its Teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World So that whosoever of you shall deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and shall live Soberly and Righteously and Godly in this present World he or she and such only shall obtain and inherit Salvation in the next World I commend you also to the Teaching of the Spirit of God there is no Teaching like the Teaching of the Spirit and Lord evermore give us this Bread Lord evermore give us the Teaching of thy Spirit and there be sure to obey its Voice and to do always according to those Dictates of Duty and Motions of Good the Spirit shall from Time to Time suggest and put into your several Minds Remember to observe this Rule even to do and put in Practice all the Good that ye shall ever think of or what shall be in the Power of your Hands for to do But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is no Lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have Confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming 1 John 2. 27 28. As ye and my self do constantly to our Lives end observe these last Rules and Directions here deliver'd however we shall be divided and separated one from another on this Earth in matter of Place But we Brethren being taken from you for a short time in Presence not in Heart 1 Thess 2. 17. for such of us as are obedient unto the Word in Heart and Affection we shall be together still for Godly Hearers will remember a Godly Teacher after he is removed from them as also he will remember such Hearers as were attendant on and obedient unto the Word of his Ministry in such a Place yet such of us as do these things If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them and blessed are those Servants whom when the Lord cometh he shall find so doing shall meet again at a blessed Resurrection Amen so be it saith my Soul Richard Stafford FINIS LONDON Printed in the Year 1698. and are to be Sold unto such who will receive the Truth in the Love thereof Advertisement THese are to give notice That I have several other Practical Sermons or Discourses of mine own composing lying by me in Manuscript which if they who have the Plenty or Competency of this Worlds Goods would according to their several Ability thus Consecrate some part of their Gain and Substance unto the Lord Micah 4 13. so as to be ready to Distribute and willing to Communicate towards the outward Labour and Charge of the Printing and Publishing of them it would be for the Glory of God in making known his Truth Isa 38. 19. and for the Edification and Benefit of his Church and People and consequently it would be a good Work in such Persons who shall be helpful and any ways assistant herein for which they would be rewarded by God in the Life that is to come Charge them that are rich in this World that they do Good that they be rich in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the Time to come that they may lay bold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. This is a Faithful Saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works these things are good and profitable unto Men Titus 3. 8.
Absolom unto his House So tho God sent unto me by his Spirit reasoning within me once and again Come do thou approach unto me and give up thy self only and immediately unto the Work of the Ministry which I had created thee for and set thee apart for it this He did once and again but I would not come for fear of displeasing my Kindred according to the Flesh But at length God sent a fit of Sickness on my Body which might have cut it down and destroy'd it whereas Commission was then given to shake only the Tree of my Life Whereupon I lying upon a sick Bed and liable unto Death every Hour altho my Sense and Understanding were preserv'd intire and then considering yet more throughly of this matter I vowed unto the Lord which I desire to remember and observe the longest Day I have to live that if it pleased him to grant me a Recovery and Reprieve I would set aside such and such Hours in each Day for the searching out and Contemplation of his Eternal Truths which should be all unto that end according to what is written Restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit Then will I teach Transgressors thy ways and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Psal 51. 12 13. Some of which have made up and composed those several Books I have written and published unto the World The only drift and design whereof is according to that Covenant and Direction which was given to the true Levitical Priesthood To turn many away from Iniquity Mal. 2. 6. and to turn many unto Righteousness Dan. 12. 3. which also are the two only Principal Ends of all our Speaking or Preaching by word of Mouth But here I have observed a Gradation or going on by steps for my first beginning herein was to testifie unto my Father's House lest they come to the Place of Torment for which I receiv'd evil Intreaty and unkind Usage from them for no other Reason but because that I did from the Word of the Lord and not out of mine own Head Rebuke sharply those that sinned but there did arise in the Hearts of some a Rancour and Indignation against it they being then of the like Temper and Disposition with those of whom it is written They hate him that rebuketh in the Gate and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly Amos 5. 10. and at length they would not hear the word of the Lord from my Mouth any more Then I preached to this Town and Neighbourhood in the House of one who is now a Widow where at first my Ministry was well accepted with the greater part I then commending my self to the Hearts and Consciences of my Hearers nevertheless for this things sake I was above Eight Years since removed from my Father's House Who at my going forth thrusted me out of his Gate and at the very same time tauntingly said That God would be as much Glorified by my going away as if I stay'd Whereby was that Scripture litterally fulfill'd Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your Joy and they shall be ashamed Isa 66. 5. And then the Lord called me from seeking to convert a Family and a Parish into the way of his Commandments if I could not as of my self for we are not sufficient of our selves to think much less to do any thing but our sufficiency is of God by the Words of his Grace and Truth be instrumental towards the turning a whole Nation from Iniquity unto Righteousness But alas the Devil and the Spirit of Disobedience hath worked and doth yet so strongly work in the Children of Men that I have hitherto been worsted and foiled in all these For ye are in no wise to think that because the most and greater part have not been obedient to the Word therefore it was not the Word or Work of the Lord in the Ministration whereof I was employ'd for this would be to contradict the Scripture and what hath in like manner happen'd to the other Ministers and Prophets of the Lord in former Generations and Countrys Saith Jeremiah From the thirteenth year of Josiah the Son of Amos King of Judah even unto this day that is the three and twentieth year the word of the Lord hath come unto me and I have spoken unto you rising early and speaking but ye have not hearkned And the Lord hath sent unto you all his Servants and Prophets rising early and sending them but ye have not hearkened nor inclined your Ear to hear Jer. 25. 3 4. Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him tho Israel be not gather'd yet I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength Isa 49. 4 5. Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles and all the faithful Ministers and Preachers both in that and in all the several successive Generations ever since have labour'd in this Work of the Lord to bring Jacob again unto him to bring Mankind into the way of his Commandments and that they might have Respect unto all his Statutes Psal 119. 6. and not keep some and neglect others as the manner of many is Which tho' they have effected of some few yea very few peculiar People about one in an hundred in the several sorts and denominations of Christianity yet it hath not as yet been so accomplished since the Days of the Creation as to the Multitude and Generality of People These indeed have been brought over so far as to outward Worship for all People will walk every one in the name of his God or it may be some more have come further to a partial Observation of the Law but not unto universal and constant Obedience unto all the Words of the Law and Gospel without turning aside to the Right Hand on to the left Saith another Servant of God who was by him employ'd also in this same Work of teaching Transgressors thy ways and that Sinners may be converted unto thee but because of contrary Success therein he crys out Let not those that wait on thee O Lord God of Hosts be ashamed for my sake Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake O God of Israel because for thy sake I have born Reproach shame hath covered my Face I am become a stranger unto my Brethren and an Aliant unto my Mothers Children for the zeal of thine House hath eaten me up and the Reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me Psal 69. 6 7 8 9. By which last may be perceiv'd the exceeding sinfulness of Reproach for to Reproach any one who doth handle the word of God
what the Spirit saith in Eccles 8. 2. and against them that turn aside the stranger from his right Mal. 3. 5 Now the Stranger there meant was either an Heathen who also was an Idolater or a Proselyte of the Gate and here God speaks against turning him aside from his right in like manner it may be truly reason'd and apply'd against turning aside a Papist from his Right As the Prophet Malachy was no Heathen nor Stranger only because he did by the Spirit deliver and make known the Commandment of God to be on this wise so I am no Papist altho' I make known also and affirm the Will and Commandment of God to be on this wise as I have here receiv'd and learn'd it from his own Word of Truth I shall not here mention many more Particulars to illustrate and confirm the Truth of what I have written about these things But as it is written The foolishness of Man perverteth his way and his Heart fretteth against the Lord. So I would just observe That the Disobedience of many People because they have acted contrary thereunto yea of the Religious and Professors also have fretted against the Lord because he hath given such Declarations of his Will and such kind of Commandments as in Mal. 3. 5. afore-mention'd and these following To turn aside the Right of a Man before the Face of the most High to subvert a Man in his cause the Lord approveth not Lam. 3 35 36. From whence again it may be truly reason'd and inferr'd That the more like any Man is unto the Mind of God the supream and only Good thou art of purer Eyes then to behold Evil and canst not look on Iniquity the better that Man is so by Consequence we are the better Men and more like unto God and God doth better love and approve of us if we do not approve of such kind of Doings neither as the Lord approveth not for indeed it is according to the Law of God and the Laws of this Realm as also to Right Reason for this is necessarily tending unto the Welfare Peace and Order of all Communities and Societies of People living in a Nation or Countrey together that every one should have and enjoy his civil Right and respective Property both in his Lands or Goods of whatever Opinion Perswasion or way of Worship in Matters of Religion he or they be of Thou shalt in any wise set him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall choose one from among thy Brethren shalt thou set King over thee thou mayst not set a Stranger over thee which is not thy Brother Deut. 17. 15. In all this we have not dealt falsly in thy Covenant neither have our Steps declin'd from thy way So it stands at this day I have at sundry Times in several Years preached the Word amongst ye and stretched forth my Hands unto a Disobedient and a Gainsaying People Ye know that I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and taught you publickly in this place and I would have done it from House to House but that my time was taken up in writing the Truths of God though herein again I have been guilty of many Omissions and Neglects for I might have more discoursed on that Subject as touching their not hearing the Word to those whom I have occasionally made Visits unto or been in Company with I have testified both to the Jews and also to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ I have preached both to the Godly and to the Ungodly to the Nominal and also to the real Christians Repentance from dead Works and that they should turn to God and bring forth fruits meet for Repentance I have also preached Faith in Jesus Christ as ye are my Witnesses And so ye are likewise That I have inculcated over and over the Doctrine of Universal Obedience That is To have respect unto all God's Statutes Psal 119. 6. And to have all his Judgments before us and not to put away his Statutes from us Psal 18. 22. nor yet any of them Yea I have more than once or twice set my Seal and in this place deliver'd my Testimony against Partial Obedience that is when either Priests or People are Partial in the Law which in Mal. 2. 9. God finds fault with and reproves them for and they keep some of the Commandments of God and neglect others as the manner of many is who call themselves Christians altho it is a dangerous and Soul-destroying Deceit Herein I have been peculiar and distinct from other Congregations for this same Doctrine of confirming all the Words of God's Law to do them Deut. 27. 26. Is not so much preached therein as it should be I am sure it is not so much practised by the Hearers and Members thereof as it ought to be And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem I mean to the chief City of this Nation not knowing the things that shall befal me there save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that Bonds and Afflictions abide me I speak this by way of surmise because those things have heretofore befaln me in that place But none of these things move me neither count I my Life dear unto my self so that I might finish my Course with Joy and the Ministry which I have receiv'd of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God I must at length unavoidably taste of Death one way or another At first indeed I have a melancholy Prospect before me namely of Poverty and further Imprisonments for I believe this before the Scene will yet turn with me I believe God that it shall be even so as it was told me howbeit we must be cast upon a certain Island Acts 27. 25 26. I believe God that it shall be even so as hath been shew'd to me before-hand in my Mind how that it should be with me also as it was with his Servant Job and the latter end of my Life should be more than my beginning howbeit according to his Method and Workings of old I must undergo greater and sorer Troubles than I have as yet endured Before He doth quicken me again and bring me up again from the depths of the Earth Psal 71. 20. But I trust in the living God that he will proportion his Invisible Protection unto the Danger I may be subject unto and his Deliverance according to the Trouble and Suffering I may be involved in and his Relief suitable to what my Need shall be As old Hilarion did say when he was tempted to deny Christ These eighty six years I have served him and found no harm in him and shall I deny him now No I will not do it So for some Years last past I have trusted on God hitherto and it was then well enough with me blessed be his Name for it and shall I distrust him now No I
hope I shall never do it But I desire to remember and always bear in mind so that I may follow his Example in this Duty of trusting on God that Character which is recorded of Hezekiah He trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him there was none like unto him among all the Kings of Judah nor any that were before him 2 Kin. 18. 5. What could Paul finish his Course with Joy when Bonds and Afflictions in every City did abide him Yes he did by the Influences and Comforts of the Holy Ghost within him at the same time For as God was with Joseph in the Prison so he is equally or rather more with his Servants in trouble when they are suffering according to his Will in well doing So I declare truly unto ye this Day behold what a good God it is whom we serve I have experienced more Sweetness and Joy which arises from the Sense of the loving Kindness and Favour of God towards us and from the Belief and Assurance of a greater Reward when I have been in Prison then when I have been out of it For then I have had a troubled Spirit and a wounded Spirit who can bear for my neglect of doing the Will of God and for my accepting of Deliverance upon sinful Terms and out of fear of the future Displeasure of God against me for the same I am of the same Mind still and I desire ever to continue so I had rather meet with what is commonly called Trouble and Suffering which even in the midst thereof is very much sweetned by the Holy Ghost the Comforter in the way of serving God and doing my Duty towards him by testifying the Gospel of God and by asserting his Commandments in the very same manner as they lie and were by him given than avoid Suffering or Trouble in omitting or neglecting of it Your own several Understandings can conceive and tell ye that if one can finish his Course with Joy when Bonds and Afflictions every where abide him which is as certain as Scripture is true and that God hath any Care over his Servants and People then he is altogether as happy as those at full Liberty And so those who take joyfully the spoiling of their Goods from whence doth that Joy arise even from that Knowledge that they have in Heaven a better and more enduring Substance as some have done then these also are in the same or rather a better Condition than those who have kept them for they have not that degree of rejoycing I will not here apply that next Verse of Paul's Farewel Sermon to the Ephesians And now behold I know that ye all amongst whom I have preached the Kingdom of God shall see my Face no more for besides that Humane Temper of mine Romae rus opto absentem Rusticus Vrbem There is a like Disposition in me as was in one of the Patriarks of longing fore after my Father's House There is a Lothness and Unwillingness in me according to the Flesh to leave or throw my self out of it because of having there the Necessaries and Conveniences of outward Life and of dwelling at ease But if I should always continue there how should the Work of God be done by me and wo be unto me if I do it not and I would not have it taken out of my Hands and given to another and so I shall lose the things that I have wrought and not receive a full Reward nor yet obtain a better Resurrection than my other Fellow-Creatures who are for being at Ease the Lord declares himself I am very sorely displeased with the Heathen that are at ease Zech. 1. 15. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion Amos 6. 1. and sleeping in a whole Skin as we commonly phrase it It is a Resemblance to Moses's Faith Choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season Esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt for he had Respect unto the Recompence of Reward And so if I rather choose only Bread to eat and Rayment to put on Gen. 28. 20. as I hope he will give me that as he did unto Jacob in the way wherein I am to go which he hath chalked and shew'd unto me before-hand rather than to enjoy still the Comforts of a full Table or the sweet delightsome Rellish of Sensuality which is like the Israelites longing after the Onyons Leeks and Garlick of Egypt or better Rayment or what is commonly call'd a more creditable kind of Life and all this I do only for the sake of God and of publishing yet more his Word and Truth The having Respect unto the Recompence of Reward doth swallow up all other wordly and carnal Considerations Life is uncertain and it is more sickly in great and populous Cities and there be other Casualties Moreover the Sons of Violence are there so that God only knows whither ye shall see my Face any more But if I can enjoy Health Liberty and have continued Relief proportionable to my Need and I have a contented Mind so to abide and be doing I would willingly by the Grace and Truth of God not as of my self who can do nothing so effect things that ye shall see me no more till ye shall say Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. This is my Desire according to the Spirit tho' the Flesh perhaps may incline me to go to and fro That my Ministry shall not be altogether so much rejected amongst ye as formerly We have been with Child we have been in pain we have as it were brought forth Wind we have not wrought any Deliverance in the Earth neither have the Inhabitants of the World fallen Isa 26. 18. which hitherto hath been fulfill'd in my Ministry as to the People of this my Generation and Country Nevertheless it is of God as that here mention'd is altho' it had not its utmost effect There is an irksomeness and unwillingness according to the Flesh for even common Friends to part especially if we are to see one anothers Face no more and we know of it before-hand But there is yet a much greater sounding of the Bowels and deep thought of Heart between the true Preachers of the Gospel and their People and Hearers Especially if they are knit together in Heart and Affection as appears by this Instance and Example of Paul And they all wept sore and fell on Paul's Neck and kissed him Sorrowing most of all for the Words which he spake that they should see his Face no more And they accompanied him unto the Ship True Christianity where it is lively and real doth draw out the Affections and Passions in the most eminent manner that can be God knows whither my Ministry here used amongst ye hath so far reached the Hearts of any that it hath been reported of me in like manner as was of the Author and