faithfully and truly only upon the account of that this is to Reproach God himself and to Reply against God Rom. 9. 20. or as the Marginal Reading there is An answering again and disputing with God which is a sign of a sawcy and disobedient Servant This place of Psal 69. is interpreted of Christ in Rom. 15. 3. and John 2. 17. But all the Reproach Shame and Strangeness which David sustained in his own Person was because those Transgressors he had to deal withal would not be taught thy ways and the Sinners would not be converted unto God The like hath been also fulfill'd in me for herein I speak the Truth I lie not my Conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost as I will a verr the same at the Judgment-seat of God what Shame Strangeness and Reproach I my self whose Mouth now speaketh unto ye and whose Name is hereafter written have sustain'd either in this Nation or in this Parish Neighbourhood and County when I was a Reproach among all mine Enemies but especially mark that Adverb especially among my Neighbours and a fear to mine acquaintance Psal 31. 11. it hath all been because the People of this Nation have not obey'd that Word of the Lord which I have set before them Those in Haggai 1. 12. and in Ezra 10. did obey it but we read more often in Scripture that the Multitude and the Rich and Mighty People would not And so neither have the People of the House of my Nativity and Habitation obey'd that Word which I have formerly spoken unto them neither have the Generality and Multitude of the People of this Town and Neighbourhood obey'd the Word which I more lately preach'd unto them for if they had they would have heard the Word of the Lord at my Mouth but they refused to hearken This evil people have refused to hear Gods words Jer. 13. 10. Behold this is the Return which in the Presence of two or three of his Servants and where two or three are gather'd together in his Name he is in the midst of them which I make unto the Lord God of Israel for him to judge thereof when the great Day of his Judgment is come It may be seen in the Gospel what we are to do when our Ministry is not receiv'd but rejected in such a place Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said it was necessary that the Word of the Lord should first have been spoken unto you but seeing ye put it from you and judge your selves unworthy of Everlasting Life lo we turn to the Gentiles for so hath the Lord commanded us Acts 13. 46 47. And so my Countrymen and Neighbours I would I were the same in common Conversation so as to stand in God's Counsel Jer. 23. 22. and on his side in like manner as I am when I am either writing or preaching his Word it was necessary that the Word of the Lord should have been spoken to ye by me his Creature who was born in this Parish For God who doth nothing in vain doth not set a Light on an Hill or in such a place and give Gifts unto Men for no purpose but rather to give Light unto those round about and near unto it But seeing that the Inhabitants of this Town and Neighbourhood are herein like the Pharisees and Lawyers who rejected the Counsel of God against themselves and seeing that the Scripture herein is fulfill'd A Prophet is not without Honour but in his own Country and amongst his own kin and in his own House Mark 6. 4. By the way think not therefore that ye shall escape without Sin herein because your Refusal and Neglect and Contempt of the Ministration of the Word as it hath been by me used doth fulfil the Scriptures For Judas fulfill'd the Scriptures yet the same Word of Truth saith It would be good for him if he had never been born And ye put away my Preaching the Word from ye wherein the Words of Eternal Life are declared little do ye think that by Conseqence which the Holy Ghost knows Herein ye judge your selves unworthy of Everlasting Life Lo we turn to some other place where it may be better receiv'd for so hath the Lord commanded me Go and preach the Gospel to other Cities Towns and Villages for thither also I am sent But into whatsoever City ye enter and they receive you not go your ways out into the Streets of the same and say even the very Dust of your City which cleaveth on us we do wipe off against you Notwithstanding be ye sure of this that the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you Luke 10. 10 11. Altho' I am to take heed of any thing of Self intermixing for the wrath of Man worketh not the Righteousness of God yet when I have seen so few come to the House where I then preach'd the Word I have been moved with secret Indignation thereat so that I was thereupon put in mind yea I am yet afraid that I am herein secretly Rebellious and Disobedient because I do it not to despise the Shame and venture the Reproach so as to go forth into the very Heart and midst of the Town and there speak forth preach and proclaim what Words I have to deliver and make known unto them that dwell therein For there is a two-fold Reason of Teaching in our Streets Luke 13. 26. which would be according to the Method of God and the Scriptures of Truth that is when either People would not admit such Preachers of the Gospel into their Houses for to preach therein or they made choice of it of set purpose for a more publick Notification of the same Word and that it may turn to you for a Testimony Luk. 21. 13. If I had already or should yet do so which I may probably unless more do come to this place of Hearing the Word then now do it would render the stubborn Inhabitants of this Town and Neighbourhood that Disobedient and Gain-saying People who are now Reproachers and Blasphemers of my Ministry more inexcusable and make their Sin of not Hearing his Word more sinful at the Judgment-seat of God A Son honoureth his Father and a Servant his Master If then I be a Father where is mine Honour and if I be a Master where is my fear saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O Priests that despise my Name and ye say wherein have we despised thy Name Mal. 1. 6. So if I should go to the several Inhabitants of this Town and Neighbourhood and tell them that they despise God and they despise his Name They will be apt to answer God forbid Wherein do we despise God and despise his Name To which my Reply again is That herein they despise God and they despise his Name by their despising his Word and the Ministration thereof as it hath been here truly and faithfully used and held forth By the way it is a fearful thing to despise God For saith
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
he They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed I Sam. 2. 30. And it is just with God that after the same manner a Man sinneth after the same he shall be punished So such may be of the Number of those who after they have for a while slept in the Dust shall awake to Shame and Everlasting Contempt Dan. 12. 3. and their Carcasses shall be an abhorring unto all Flesh Isa 66. 24. At that time saith the Lord they shall bring out the Bones of the Kings of Judah and the Bones of his Princes and the Bones of the Priests and the Bones of the Prophets and the Bones of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem out of their Graves And they shall spread them before the Sun and the Moon and all the Host of Heaven whom they have loved and whom they have served and after whom they have walked and whom they have sought and whom they have worshipped Jer. 8. 2. So at that time it may be said and pronounced Lo these are the Bones of such People who in the Days of their Flesh despised God in their despising the Ministration of his Word It hath often been my Thought and Searching of Heart whilst I have been here in my Native Country whither I have been in the place where it is the Will and Good Pleasure of God to have me in and whither by Preaching to this little Assemble fear not little Flock it is your Fathers good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom so it may be Christ's Flock notwithstanding the Littleness thereof I have indeed walked in the way wherein I should Indeed it doth appear to me to be a good and right Work as I examine the same in the Sight of God and also I have receiv'd Comfort and Satisfaction of Mind in so doing But still there hath arose in me a great Fear and Accusing of Conscience fest herein I neglect much greater things even for several Years last past to be an Ambassador of Peace unto the Nations Isa 33. 7. Here again I remember my Fault this Day for whereas according to the Intimation and Phrase of the Prophet I should have wept bitterly because that same Message of mine was not receiv'd I did rather to my Shame be it spoken betake my self to a sensual and vain kind of Life the report perhaps of which last hath hindred some from coming to hear my preaching which as it becomes hereby in me a yet greater Sin Be ye clean that bear the Vessels of the Lord Isa 52. 11. and this also may be some Reason why God did not altogether so much succeed my Ministry as it were to be desired which makes my Sin yet more exceeding sinful Consider this throughly O my Soul and amend thy Ways and thy Doings but notwithstanding all this other People should not refrain from coming to hear the Word For a Man may preach unto others and yet himself be a Castaway And Christ seems to command and intimate that we should hear even them Who say and do not Mat. 23. 3. It was my Desire before my coming down into the Country That I might come in the Spirit Power and Fullness of the Gospel of all which I have there failed and come short And so it is my Desire again that I may return up to the chief City of this Nation in the Spirit and Power of Elias and as it becometh a Minister of the Gospel but I fear and doubt before-hand that I shall also fail and come short of that However thro' Christ that strengthneth me I hope to practice also as well as approve the things more excellent and to take heed unto my Doctrine and continue therein that in so doing I may save my self and them that hear me As also to try them yet again whither the People who have been hitherto Disobedient and Rebellious will obey God's Word and tremble at his Commandment and do according to his Law Ezra 10. 3. I am to exhort them unto it tho' I fear this will be the Return which I shall make at last as to them But unto Israel who were the outward Worshippers he saith all the Day long I have stretched forth my Hands unto a Disobedient and Gainsaying People This is a greater Work and the greater is to be preferr'd before the less than to preach weekly unto Twenty or Thirty Hearers And also there is a much more lasting Preaching of Truth by writing and by multiplying and publishing the Copies thereof than what is only spoken by word of Mouth which goes off as a flash and is soon forgotten both by Speaker and Hearer It hath been my continued Prayer unto God all along Take not the Word of thy Truth utterly out of my Mouth Psal 119. 43. O continue thy loving kindness to them that know thee and thy Righteousness to the Vpright in Heart Let not the foot of Pride come against me and let not the Hand of the Wicked remove me Psal 36. 10 11. which Prayer if God is pleased to grant then also may be fulfilled what is said in the Verse immediately following There are the Workers of Iniquity fallen they are cast down and shall not be able to rise But again there hath arose some doubtful Thoughts in my Mind about trusting God with my Life Liberty and Livelihood which three are great and near things unto me and the last of all doth most vex and perplex me because that I am forced to lose so much of my precious Time to seek out for the Necessaries of Life which a Minister of the Gospel ought in no wise to do but those things should be before ministred and brought ready to his Hand This is a very troublesome thing which arises because of the Opposition of Satan the Enemy and consideration to me especially who know so well concerning the preciousness of Time the gliding away of Time and the Irrecoverableness of Time And it is not Reason that we should leave the word of God and serve Tables Acts 6. 2. It is not Reason that we Ministers or Men whom God hath endued with Gifts for the Ministry should neglect the Ministration of that Word which is alike requisite to come unto Eternal Life to serve the mean Necessities of this present Life as I am forced to do For when I once go out of my Fathers House I do thereupon forth with cast my self upon the Providence of God and the Charity of the People who are so backwardly and slow in Ministring to my Necessities and towards the publishing of his Eternal Truth that I lose too much of my precious Time in seeking unto them therein It is a Gospel Command to Distribute to the necessity of Saints Rom. 12. 13. See and read a printed Half Sheet of mine superscribed and directed to such Christian Men and Women as inhabit the Cities of London and Westminster and the Places adjacent and bearing date August 27. 1694. There are many other particulars in reference to mine own Case which
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
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.