O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of Death I have formerly been greatly troubled and distressed because I wanted a certainty of the Remission of my sins that are past now I am as much troubled and disquieted and my Soul is cast down within me because I have not Power over my present sins alas I have not power to fight the Lambs Battles and to overcome my Spiritual Enemies when I am engaged in the Holy warfare under the Captain of my Salvation who was made perfect through sufferings and he hath only made a promise to him that overcometh I have not yet obtained the Victory He that overcometh saith Christ the same shall be clothed in white rayment and I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of life but I will confess his Name before my Father and before his Holy Angels Rev. 3.5 12. Him â—hat overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of God and he shall go no more out and I â—ill write upon him the Name of my God and â—he Name of the City of my God which is New Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven â—rom my God and I will write upon him my â—ew Name Thou complainest of want of power to overcome thy Spiritual Enimies â—rt thou one that longest to overcome then I â—ope the controversy is at an end do not say â— shall carry this Body of sin and Death to the Grave with me but wait to be made a parâ—aker of Christs Prayer John 17.15 17. I pray â—ot that thou shouldst take them out of the World â—ut keep them from the evil Sanctify them brough thy Truth thy word is Truth Wait for Sanctification and to receive power according to that antient lesson John 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them â—hat believe on his Name Dost thou believe â—hat Christ is endued with all power in Heaven and Earth that he may give power to his People and save them from their sins and to be a defender of their Faith now he is in Heaven as certainly as on the Eearth he offerâ—d himself a sacrifice upon the Cross and beâ—ame a Propitiation for the sins of the whole World then doubt not but thou shall have â—ower over thy sins and be more than Conqueâ—our through him that hath loved thee I will tell thee that Lesson which I haâ— learned in the School of Christ that is to wâ—â— to be endued with Power from on high anâ— the desire of thy Soul shall be satisfied and thâ— waiting will not be in vain when thou waiâ—est upon God that waiteth to be gracious But thou further complainest I want strengtâ— where my weakness is and my weakness 〈◊〉 inward I want assistance where my enemâ— comes to assault me and that is within me Every one that belongs to Christ Jesus is 〈◊〉 some measure made sensible of sin and is waiting to be delivered from it Therefore as said Christ gave his life a Ransom for many to be testified in due time Let me be waiting for Power to become a child of God Thou hast Power thou sayest to stand and to keep thy self from falling thou hast power to keep thy self from Drunkenness anâ— Uncleanness and other gross sins but dosâ— thou wait upon the Lord for power over thy Thoughts and dost thou say as it is in the Prophet How long shall these vain Thoughts lodge within me We have a good Lesson from the Apostle in this case Ephes 6.10 Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might puâ— on the whole Armour of God that ye may bâ— able to stand against the wiles of the Devil foâ— we wrestle not against flesh and blood but againsâ— Principalities and Powers against the Rulers oâ— the darkness of this World against spirituaâ— Wickedness in high Places O that all the precious Truths that are delivered to you may be mixed with Faith in them that preach it and hear it Wherefore â—e unto you the whole armour of God that ye â—y be able to withstand in the evil day and â—oing done all to stand Stand therefore havâ—â—g your loins girt about with truth and havâ—â—g on the breast-plate of righteousness â—d your feet shod with the preparation 〈◊〉 the gospel of peace above all â—nâ—â—â—g the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be â—â—le to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked â—â—d take the helmet of salvation and the sword 〈◊〉 the spirit which is the word of God prayâ—â—g always with all prayer and supplication in 〈◊〉 spirit Take unto you the sword of the â—â—irit that you may put to flight the armies 〈◊〉 the aliens Those strange and troublesome â—â—ings those vain thoughts that would alieâ—ate my heart and my affections from God â—hat sort of weapons must we use Our â—eapons are not carnal but spiritual and mighty â—hrough God for the pulling down of strong â—olds of the man of sin and the bringing into â—aptivity every thought to the obedience of Christ O mind these things in good earnest and â—hey will turn to your spiritual advantage â—f it please the Holy Ghost to touch the Preachâ—r's Tongue with a coal from the Altar he may â—op a word of exhortation which will be â—â—arper than a sword and may pierce thy â—â—art Heb. 4.12 The word of God is quick â—nd powerful and sharper than any two-edged â—word piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentiâ—â— the hearts All Scripture saith the Aposâ—â—â— is given by inspiration of God and is profitâ— for doctrine for reproof for correction for â—â—struction in righteousness that the Man of 〈◊〉 may be perfect throughly furnished unto 〈◊〉 good works Some have unadvisedly said That we dâ— the divine authority of the Holy Scripturâ— which we so highly esteem and can say wâ— the Apostle We are not ashamed of the Gosâ—â—â— of Christ for it is the power of God to salâ—â—tion If any among us shall deny the Hâ— Scriptures to be of Divine Inspiration 〈◊〉 them bear the just reproach of it It is commendation given to the Church in Pâ—â—ladelphia Thou hast a little strength and hâ— kept my word and hast not denied my namâ— But now concerning the sword of the spiriâ— which is the word of God I need not sâ— much about it unto you you know the woâ—â— is nigh you in your mouth and in your Heart Many among us have known the word 〈◊〉 God powerful upon our Hearts awakeninâ— us to consider our eternal State Many yeaâ— years ago People marvelled at us saying What ails this People that they are so nice anâ— scrupulous and will not do what others do They will not be chearful and merry and gâ— to Masks and Plays they are cast down anâ— afflicted and weep and lament and moutâ— for their sin before the Lord and are greatlâ—
This Faith comes from this Living Fountain this Living Root and Foundation Christ within the Hope of Glory This would make Christendom as the Garden of Eden and the Paradice of God but Christendom is now become a barren Wilderness there is little true Faith found among them The Lord hath some even a remnant that love and fear him and that are near and dear to him that have a True and Living Faith in the Lord Jesus but they are as a Cluster of Grapes in a barren Wilderness but the rest are as a Thorn-Hedge My Friends Is Christ ascended into Heaven Let us by Faith ascend and dwell with Christ in Heaven let our Faith ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Meditation ascend to Christ in Heaven and let our Hearts and our Affections ascend to Christ in Heaven while we are in the Body and in the Wilderness of this World yet in our Minds and Affections let us be with Christ in Heaven and let us witness with the Apostle That our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the Working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself They looked for the last Appearance of his glorified Body and they looked for his daily coming into their Hearts I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you How will he come unto them By daily renewed Incomes of his Spiritual Life and Light and Divine Power He knew they would have but little Meetings at first yet he encourageth these little Meetings Where two or three are gathered together in my Name I will be in the midst of them It is not limited to a great number the Promise is to Two or three as well as to an hundred or many hundreds If a Man be in his House alone or if he be on the Top of a Mountain or by the Side of a River in Prayer if he be a true Disciple of Christ and takes up his Cross and follows him he shall find the Holy Spirit present with him If a Man love me saith Christ he will keep my Words John 14.23 and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our Abode with him So that here is a daily coming From whence From Heaven Here is a daily Coming from Heaven of Christ's Descending from Heaven The Father Son and Holy Spirit will come from Heaven to a true Believer and make their abode with him We must not understand this coming so grosly as if the Father Son and Holy Spirit should leave Heaven and come and dwell with the Sons of Men. What is this coming then It is the Heavenly Influences the Heavenly Powers and Heavenly Vertues like Heavenly Rains the Heavenly Gifts and Manifestations of the Lord Jesus by his Blessed Spirit in our Hearts So then Friends I beseech you observe these following Words which are of the like Import and concern to every one of us The Word is nigh thee this is the Command saith Moses which I command thee this Day this Word is not hidden from thee neither is far off it is not in Heaven that thou shouldst say Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it How may we be sure it is God's Command as well as the most known and revealed Truth It was a Command to them I say to them to believe that Christ was to come in the Flesh they were to obey that Commandment the Word of Christ in their Hearts the word of Faith the word of Righteousness the word of Reconciliation to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was to die for Sinners In the Time of the Law and before the Time of the Law they were to believe that Christ was to come and die for them and shed his Blood for them Heb. 11.1 Faith is the Substance of Things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Now from the beginning of the World all that long Trace of Time between Adam and Moses for about Four thousand Years they lived by that Faith they hoped for Christ's Coming and had got an infallible Assurance that God would forgive them their Sins and receive them graciously into his Hands when they should come to die and go out of this earthly Tabernacle of the Body and give them an abundant Entrance into his Everlasting Kingdom the Paradise above But why is this Word called the Commandment in the singular Number I will tell you because one Word not many is comprehensive of all God's Commandments be acquainted with this word in thy Heart and it will learn thee all God's Commandments It will teach you all that can be preached from the Holy Scriptures This Word of God that is in your Hearts is comprehensive of all Then you will object and say What need I have any outward Preaching I will sit at home and only mind the Light within the Word that is nigh and in my Heart No that is a great Mistake to say there is no need of outward Preaching many things are greatly profitable that are not of absolute necessity I do not say the Bible is of such absolute neceâ—sity that if Men should take the Bible from us we must perish for want of it God forbid If we should be banished into Turky and they should be so cruel as to take our Bibles from us as they do other Goods and think to bring us over to their Religion this word of Faith in our Hearts will bring to our Remembrance what is written in the Holy Scriptures so that the Bible is a necessary and profitable outward Help but not of such absolute Necessity that we must be undone for ever and perish without it This word of Life that is in thy Heart will preserve thee from perishing eternally O be acquainted with it If a Time should come that there should be no Meetings no outwatd Preaching or Hearing or that we should be shut up in Prison and see the Face of Man no more yet this word of God in our Hearts will teach us and witness the love of God to us in our dying Moments and we shall feel our departing Souls in the Hands of the Lord and may say with our Redeemer Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit O what Joy will this be to us in a dying Hour Now what is it that gives this Knowledge Understanding and Assurance to us The word of Faith in the Heart It may well be called the word of Faith An hypocritical Faith is a Faith without Charity Love and Obedience All Faith is false that is not grounded upon this Word of God it is needful to be preached this inward Word this Word of God within how doth it reconcile us to God It reconcileth us to God by opening of the Mysâ—ery of Christ Jesus and discovering to us
his coming down spiritually that we may witness and enjoy a further measure of him and of his spiritual and heavenly Presence and wait for his coming to us O saith David when shall thy Word come unto me How sweet are thy Words unto my taste yea sweeter than Hony to my Mouth He waited that the Word of God might come unto him Send forth thy Light and thy Truth send it forth from thy Zion from above from thy holy Hill from thy Dwelling-place above in Heaven Send forth thy Light and thy Truth that it may guide me to thy holy Habitation thy holy Hill of Zion He waited more and more for it These Words were first of all spoken by Moses Deut. 11.12 For this Commandment which I command thee this Day it is not hidden from thee neither is it afar of It is not in Heaven that thou should say Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it Neither is it beyond the Sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it unto us That we may hear it and do it But the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou maist do it This is the Word of Faith the Word of Life and Reconciliation the powerful Word of God that is within as a Hammer and a Sword and as Fire it breaks and melts the Heart and is helpful to every good Thing The Tribes of Israel had it This Word which I command thee this Day This Word of Righteousness and Salvation every Man and Woman hath it in all Ages and Generations blessed be the Lord it is more abundantly revealed now than in former Ages and Generations yet Moses saith This Commandment which I command you it is not hid from you But this Mystery of Christ was hid from Ages and Generations It is said to be hid because it was not so plentifully revealed as in latter Ages yet it was not so hid always but something of it was known in darkest Times Moses might well say to the Children of Israel It is not hidden from thee neither is it far off It is not in Heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to Heaven that is to say to bring down Christ from above to bring him down to appear in a Body of Flesh he was not then come in the Flesh yet was expected in many Ages Moses and all the Holy Prophets and Holy Men of God they were contented with a Spiritual Sight of him they waited and prayed for his Coming yet he was not manifested in the Flesh in their Days and Generation they died in the Faith that Christ should come into the World in the fulness of Time and they obtained Remission of Sins for hiâ— sake Who hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us and died the accursed Death of the Cross that our Sins might be forgiven and that the Blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith Before the coming of Christ God's Israel of old offered Sacrifices of Rams Bullocks and Goats not that they believed there was any Vertue in the Blood of those Sacrifices to take away Sin but this was a Testimony of their Thankfulness to God And so likewise it helped their Faith as a Symbol to preach Christ to them and their Posterity That in the fulness of Time Christ should descend from Heaven and take a Body of Flesh Gal. 4.4 The Apostle tells us But when the fulness of Time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons Rom. 8.3 The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus â—â—th made us free from the Law of Sin and Dâ—â—th for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likâ—nesâ— of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh tâ—â—t thâ—â—ighteousness of the Law might be fulâ—â—â—â— in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Christ was a Sacrifice for Sin he came to finish Transgression and make an end of Sin and bring in everlasting Righteousness Now it was in the fulness of Time thaâ— Christ should descend from Heaven and comâ— in the Form of a Servant and die for ouâ— Sins and rise again for our Justification Before Christ died and rose again from the Dead this Prophecy of Moses was not fulfilled Who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring down Christ to us or who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it to us before Christ died and rose again from the Dead He wenâ— over Lakes and Seas Here is a Prophecy given forth by the Spirit of God in Moses hiâ— Time and now fulfilled Christ went abouâ— doing good He went about by Land anâ— by Sea to do good unto People Sometimes he preached aboard a little Ship and sometimes on the Land He travelled both by Sea and Land and went about doing good and healeâ— all manner of Diseases for God was with him And that was the Time and Age of which Moses gave forth this Prophecy That Christ should die and rise again from the Dead and go over the Seas And the Apostle Paul was guided by the same Spirit when he wrote these Words Rom. 10.6 7. Say not in thy Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shaâ— descend into the Deep that is to bring up Chrisâ— again from the Dead the Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thine Heart thaâ— is the Word of Faith which we preach This was declared and fulfilled in the Apostles Days Christ had descended into the lower parts of the Earth died and rose again and was ascended into Heaven This is the Word of Faith that we Preach I shall insist further upon this God willing if I have an Opportunity renewed to me If you have a right Faith and Belief that Christ died for you you will believe it was for us and not for himself he suffered the Death of the Cross he was cut off for our Sins not for his own he shed his precious Blood for our Sins not for his own he offered not a Sacrifice as other Priests did first for his own Sins and then for the Sins of the People for he had no sins of his own If you have fixed your Faith upon this and if you have a living Faith in your Heart iâ— will open to you and give you the Comfort of it I say It is a Lamentation and may be for a Lamentation that the true Faith of it is so little preached in Christendom Therefore Christendom is as a Wilderness which might have been as the Garden of the Lord.
with Joy and the Wicked shall see him with Horror and they would be glad that the Mountains would fall upon them and hide them from his Presence but the Saints shall see their Saviour with comfort and rejoice to hear him pronounce that blessed Sentence that sweet and loving Invitation which will transport them into an Extacy of joyful Admiration Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Therefore Friends I beseech you unless you would rush upon that Rock that will be too strong for the stoutest of you embrace the necessary Doctrin of Christ crucified by whom alone you can obtain Salvation and escape that Wrath that is to come that will certainly fall upon those that make light of Christ and what he hath done and suffered for them Do not discourage me in my Labours a necessity is laid upon me to preach Christ and him crucified and a right Faith in him if any shall put this Question of the Jailor What shall I do to be saved My Answer is that of the Apostle Paul and Silas Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Say not in thine Heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead the Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation But that is not all there must be Obedience and we must express our love to Christ by keeping his Commandments for He is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him If any shall reject this Doctrin and Faith in Christ crucified and say It will do me no good I can tell them from mine own Experience That the Lord hath wrought it in my Heart blessed be his Name and I find the purifying Nature of it Let it not be said That all Christendom or all England have this Faith which I preach for the generality of Men and Women have only a literal an historical and traditional Faith they believe only because they have it sounded in their Ears or read it in the Bible that Christ died for Sinners to reconcile us to God and purchase Salvation for us And tho' as I have oft declared I have that Charity that God has a Remnant in all Professions in Christendom that have some measure of the true Faith If it be a right saving justifying Faith it must be wrought in us by the mighty power of God Your Faith stands not in any Man's Words tho' never so good but in the Power of God Your Faith muâ—â— not be grounded upon any Man's Testimony He that believeth saith the Apostle hath thâ— Witness in himself and the Spirit of God beareth witness with our Spirits that we are thâ— Children of God and witnesseth the great lovâ— of God that gave his only begotten Son to die for us and the love of Christ that gave himself for us and took our Nature and Sins upon him and became a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us saith the Apostle from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree he hath also once suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust that he might bring us to God being put to Death in the Flesh but quickened by the Spirit If all England had a right Belief a right Faith and Persuasion of the Love of God that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all and of the love of his Son Jesus Christ who gave himself for uâ— this would melt their Hearts and draw â—hem effectually to the love of God and Christ and constrain them not only to love the Lord Jesus but to live to him that died for them This Faith in a crucified Jesus is a Faith that worketh by Love and Love is the fulfilling of the Law and will make you have respect to all God's Commandments and if this divine Love reign and rule in our Hearts it will be the most delightful Exercise of our Lives to do the Will of God If all Christendom had a right Belief of the Love of God that gave his Son to die for us and did live in a sense of the love of Christ that was crucified and gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour this Love would captivate and overcome them and melt their Hearts before the Lord. My Friends the power and efficacy of this Faith and Love is that blessed be the Lord which I know from Experience and from a deep sense of this Love of God shed abroad upon my Heart by the Holy Ghost which is given to me and hath opened to me the Mystery of that infinite love and grace of God in the VVork of Man's Redemption by Jesus Christ wherein the Power Mercy Wisdom Justice Truth and Holiness of God are wonderfully displayed to our unspeakable Joy and his everlasting Glory A SERMON Preached by George Keith At Devonshire-house August 26. 1694. John 15.1 2 5. I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman IN these VVords there is a great nearness and unity held forth by the Lord Jesus Christ between himself and his People that do believe in him In the 5th Verse he saith I am the Vine ye are the Branches VVhat Ye is this All Men and VVomen upon the Face of the Earth No who then Only them that believe in him These are Branches ingrafted into this Vine abiding in this Vine and bringing forth Fruit from the Sap and Moisture that this Vine affords they only that believe in him derive vital influence from him By Faith we are ingrafted into Christ the â—rue Vine and united to him true Faith is of â—n uniting Nature No sooner are true Beâ—ievers united to Christ by a true Faith but instantly and immediately they find a divine Sap and Vertue flowing from Christ into their Souls which will make them fruitful I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away And every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more Fruit. True and sound Believers that are really united to Christ will become fruitful in every good Word and Work and abound in all the Fruits of the Spirit mentioned by the Apostle Gal. 5.2 But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law Now from this it evidently appears that that Faith which generally abounds
die when-ever the Lord shall be pleased to call for me out of the World Am I prepared for my latter end Who are they that are prepared for a dying hour But those that know Evangelical repentance for Sin and Faith in Christ Jesus Now what is Repentance 1. Wherein doth it consist In a Knowledge of Sin Contrition and Sorrow for it and a Hatred of it There is first a Knowledg of Sin we must know that we are Sinners that we have sinned against the Lord. This is but a common thing all can come so far as to say we are Sinners and have gone astray like lost Sheep 2. But there is something more in true Repentance There must be a Godly Sorrow for Sin as it was with those to whom the Apostle Peter preached Acts 2.37 Let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ Now when they heard this they were pricked in their Hearts and said unto Peter and unto the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do We are troubled and distressed we know not what to do What shall we do to he saved And thus in a deep sense of sin David cryes out against thee thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightst be justifyed when thou speakest and clear when thou judgest When he was awakened to a sorrow for his Sin he came to a good condition after he had cryed to the Lord in the beginning of that Penitential Psalm Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness according unto the multitude of thy tender mercyes blot out my transgressions wash me throughly from â—ine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin for acknowledg my transgressions and my Sin is â—er before me 2. There must not only be a knowledge of â—n and a sorrow for it but a forsaking of 〈◊〉 and a Hatred of it that we may not reâ—rn unto folly Every one of us that hope 〈◊〉 Salvation must be sensible of the evil of â—in be sorry for it and then depart from 〈◊〉 happy are you that are come so far as to â—e convinced of your Sin and pricked at the â—eart and to whom the Lord hath been so â—erciful as to give you hope of Pardon and â—emission This is the happy state of a Poor â—eking Soul that is come so far as to have â—s Sins washed and blotted out and when â—n is done away there is no more Living thereâ— Then as the Apostle saith Hebr. 12.1 â—e shall lay aside every weight and the Sin â—hich doth so easily beset us Some have one â—â—n and some another that is near to them â—hich the Apostle here calls that Sin that doth â—asily beset thee Persons may part with many â—ins and yet keep this one Sin This is a â—ate and condition wherein Men may fall short â—f Mercy therefore we must be purged from â—ll Sin redeemed from all Iniquity This should make every Man and Woman â—ake warning and be always watchful and â—ake heed lest there should be some Bosom â—in which like a Snake or Viper may sting 〈◊〉 and Destroy us If any Sin prevail over â—s there is great cause of shame trouble and â—rrow But there is a great difference between sinning willfully and falling into Sin througâ— weakness and infirmity Heb. 10.26 If 〈◊〉 Sin willfully after we have received the knoâ—ledge of the Truth there remains no more Sâ—crifice for Sins but a certain fearful lookiâ— for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shâ— devour the Adversary Thus it will be if we give our selves to Sin when we know it is a Sin and yet will do it this is sinning willfully and presumptuously as some Persons Sin willfully so others do Sin through weakness and infirmity and arâ— surprized by a Temptation This was the case of Peter who was Zealous for his Lord and Master Christ Jesus and said If all shoulâ— forsake him yet he would not Yet when iâ— came to the tryal he was overcome with the Temptation and he denyed his Lord Luke 22.56 c. A certain Maid beheld Peter as he sat by the Fire and earnestly looked upon him and said this Man was also with Jesus and hâ— denyed him saying Woman I know him not And after a little while another saw him and said thou art also of them And Peter said Man I am not And about the space of an hour after another confidently affirmed saying of a Truth this fellow also was with him for he 〈◊〉 a Galilean and Peter said Man I know not what thou sayest and Immediately while he yet spake the Cock Crew and the Lord turned and looked upon Peter and Peter remembred thâ— Word of the Lord how he had said unto him Before the Cock Crow thou shalt deny me thrice And Peter went out and wept bitterly In the 20th Chapter of John we read how â—hrist did reason with Peter and brought his â—in to his remembrance he had denyed Christ his Lord three times and our Saviour did â—hree times put the Question to him Simon â—on of Jonas lovest thou me more than these He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest â—hat I love thee he saith unto him Feed my â—ambs And put the same Question to him a â—econd time Lovest thou me And he also said â—nto him the third time Simon Son of Jonas â—â—vest thou me Peter was grieved because he â—â—id unto him the third time lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all â—hings thou knowest that I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my Sheep Peter began â—o be troubled and exceeding sorrowful when he remembred what large Promises he had made to his Lord and Master that he would not deny him or forsake him Our Saviour â—old him of it before-hand and said to him I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not â—nd when thou art converted strengthen thy â—rethren There must be a dependance upon the Lord Jesus Christ who ever lives to make Intercession for us If any Man sin saith the Apostle we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but â—lso for the sins of the whole World if they will â—elieve in him If the Righteous be scarcely saâ—ed saith the Apostle where shall the Sinner â—ppear There is no safety nor shelter out of Christ it is he that appears in the presencâ— of God for us that is for all that lay hold 〈◊〉 him and make it their care to live to hiâ— and to live according to what he hath madâ— known to us Christ hath loved us dost thou love him again Wherein consists our love to him bâ— in keeping his Commandments As the Fâ—ther hath loved me so I have loved you coâ—tinue ye in my love Christ hath loved us anâ— laid down his Life for us he hath tasteâ— Death for every Man the Lord
admire and highly esteem for their profound learning and excellent parts There are places for publick Meetings and solemn Worship and Preaching almost in every Corner of your Populous City and there stands a Pracher with the Bible in his Hand and he calls upon his Auditors to give their reverend and serious attention and harken to the Word of the Lord And the People likewise have their Books in their Hands and observe the Scriptures he Quotes and turn down a Leaf that they may find them when they come home and go away admiring the Sermon and the wisdom and learning of the Preacher and say he is an excellent Man But Alas too few do make it their work to apply the great Truths of the Gospel to their Hearts or so hear as the Prophet speaks That their Souls may live Though I have not a Book in my Hands while I am Preaching to you yet I do highly esteem and Reverence the Holy Scriptures of Truth and I do often at other times take the Bible in my Hands and seriously read it and pray to God to help me to â— right understanding of it that I may rightlâ— divide the Word of Truth and declare unto you the whole Counsel of God and open the Mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the great things belonging to your everlasting Peace and how Christ saves his People from their Sins from the condemning Power and the concommanding Power of them Sin shall not have Dominion over you saith the Apostle for ye are not under the law but grace Rom. 6.22 And being now made free from Sin and become Sorvants to God ye have your fruit unto Holiness and the end everlasting Life for the wages of Sin is Death but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We that Preach the Gospel should imitate the Apostle who used all his skill and utmost diligence by all his Preaching to bring Men to Spirituality Heavenly Mindedness and to a conformity to the Life of Christ God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things c. Who being the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power when he had by himself purged our Sins sat down on the right Hand of the Majesty on high Thus he begins his Epistle to the believing Hebrews and tells them what Christ had done for them and offers to them then he chargeth them to give the more earnest heed to the things that they have heard lest at any time they should let them slip for saith he How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation And in the close of his Epistle he tells them That they are not come to Mount Sinai that burned with fire nor unto blackness and Darkness and Tempest c. But ye are come unto Mount Sion the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an Innumerable Company of Angels To the general assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judg of all and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel It is the end and design of our Preaching the Gospel to bring Men to the saving knowledg of Christ and him Crucified and to turn them from the Power of Satan to the Power of God There is a complaint of some that are Preachers in this City and other places and I fear there is too much cause for it that they only Preach Christ within and the Light within but do not make mention of the Death and sufferings of Christ and the benefits that come to believers by his Sacrifice and satisfaction for he that knew no Sin was made Sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him and he was wounded for our Transgressions bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Without controversy saith the Apostle great is the Mistery of godliness God was Manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World and received up into Glory The Prophets spake of Christs coming in our nature and being manifest in Flesh in that Body prepared for him to do the will of God And Abraham the Father of the Faithful rejoyced to see his Day and was glad great things were foretold of him before his coming and great Titles given to him Isa 9.6 For unto us a Child is born and unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace In the fulness of time when he came into the World Luke 1 8. The Angel of the Lord appeared to the Shepherds abiding in the Field and keeping Watch over their Flock by Night and the glory of the Lord shone round abouâ— them and they were sore afraid And the Angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring good tidings of great joy which shall be to all People for unto you is born this Day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace good will towards Men. I have many times been astonished when I have considered the wonderful Condescention of the Eternal Son of God who being in the form of God thought it not Robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no Reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men and being found in fashion as a Man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross I have searched solemnly into this Mystery for my satisfaction with respect to his bodily and outward appearance and I have thought with my self God hath been pleased in his most wonderful kindness and compassion to condescend to our weakness and infirmity and help our unbelief and lest People should be ready to question Gods Veracity and not believe what is reported by the Angel concerning Christ and Salvation to be obtained by his Death and sufferings and what was foretold by the Prophets God sent his Son into the World that Men might see him Face to Face and hear him Preach to them with his own Mouth who had Grace poured into his Lips that they might be convinced and converted by his heavenly Doctrin who had the words of Eternal Life for such Majesty and Power appeared in his Preaching that many which heard him were stricken with wonder and said Never Man spake like this