We now hear of the Name of God which is great wonderful and holy That is to the outward Ear but then is a Conception of him in the Mind and our Eyes are to publish forth his Name We see with our very Eyes his Works and the things which his Hand hath made and by the Dimension of them we may ascribe Greatness unto our God He is the same still who abides of old from everlasting to everlasting He is nothing the more for being published nor yet greater for our most ample and large Expressions concerning him which possibly can be spoken Even the holy Men of old have had diminutive and little Conceptions of him which have increased yet higher according as more Revelation came into the World as appears from the Order and Succession of Scripture They were surprized and amazed at the Presence of his Angel And what is one of them to Thousands of Angels Or what are they to the Lord of all which hath ten thousand Times ten thousand ministring Spirits before him David saith The Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods Psal 95. 3. which Gods may be the Princes of the Earth or Idols Jeremiah witnesseth Among all the wise Men of the Nations and in all their Kingdoms there is none like unto thee Jer. 10. 7. The Prophet in Isa 40. declares somewhat more and so doth Daniel in his seventh Chapter And yet all these come exceeding short of his true Majesty and Greatness It being such as Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor entred into the Heart of Man to declare God as he is I am that I am He is known to himself and by his Name I AM. His only begotten Son who is the eternal WORD hath declared him And also he did before reveal himself by his Spirit but it was by condescending unto and helping our Infirmities And therefore the Spirit useth such Expressions as we can receive but withal giveth us to understand that the things of God are unutterable for the Tongue cannot speak forth that which our finite Understandings cannot apprehend because it is infinite and incomprehensible But yet so far as we know and apprehend we ought to set forth the same to the intent that our Children may shew forth the same unto their Children and to those which are yet unborn And God may so enlarge their Hearts that they may receive yet further Knowledge of him what they had from their Forefathers may grow up yet higher Obedience is the Follower of Knowledge And they that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them tbat seek thee Psal 9. 10. and so it is of all other Duties and if we may rely on God as to the past where he doth not assist much further than just to perform our Duties and that also through Difficulty and Temptation to exercise our Trust and Dependance on him much more may we do the same as to the future when we verily know and are assured that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him The things prepared for those that wait for him are described to be more and greater than Eye hath seen Ear hath heard or hath entred into the Heart of Man so that the greater Apprehension and more full Assurance we have of these things we also are the more quickned and stirred up to do whatever our God requires of us in the mean while Saith David I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart Psal 119. 32. which denotes Freedom and Speed I will that is his own Act. Run doth shut out all Delay and putting it off for it presently begins and pursues it with Strength and Vigour The Word Enlarge doth also signifie in the Original to perswade God shall enlarge in the Margent it is perswade Japheth Gen. 4. 27. for the Apprehension of those great things do incline and weigh down the Mind As before there was an high thing which did exalt it self against the Knowledge of God which was only a wrong Imagination but now there comes a real higher thing which leads and invites unto his Knowledge which is stronger and doth prevail In the Margent of 2 Cor. 10. 5. It is Reasonings opposite to the VVord Imaginations in the Text For let Men once come to this and the things of God will outreason with them People may sit down and stop under a sudden and false Thought or be held under Frowardness Humour and Inconsideration or only examine one Side the present seeming Pleasure and Advantage But if they would give their Thoughts full Scope and stay a little to see whether Truth will come in reflect whether in this he is not under the Command and Direction of the great Lord over all and then consult with his VVord and Spirit Take in the Consideration of future Judgment and Account when there shall be an exact Retribution to every Man according to his VVorks and the Matter of this or that Day shall be particularly discussed The more these things are understood and considered of they press yet more forcibly and what were heretofore rebellious and supposed to be in the Man 's own Power do fall and submit by degrees till every Thought is brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ The Soul is first brought unto Obedience in the General and then the same Reason which brings in some Thoughts doth the other also till the whole doth come in and yield Conformity to it For the same God and Father who is in all and above all and through all he doth require to be loved with all the Heart with all the Soul with all the Strength and with all the Mind The same Lord Jesus Christ expects that we observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded Mat. 28. 20. And so whether this shall be done presently or hereafter there are so many Considerations for the present Performance of the same that whoso suffers them to be debated in his Mind they forthwith turn the Scale against all dilatory Pleas and Excuses For seeing we must all appear before God to give Account of our several Persons before him let our selves judge this one thing in the mean while whether God will not be better pleased with and sooner accept of those who make no tarrying to turn unto the Lord and who do not put it off from Day to Day or with them who trifle with and despise him in the mean time Or whether it will not be better for them whilst Time is before them and Opportunity is present so to employ that Opportunity in doing those things whereof is Hope and Expectation to which God hath annexed a Promise and a Reward Or to be still running after those things whereof they are ashamed in the Act which heighthens their Doubt and Fear of the divine Threatning and Punishment which is established by the same Word and Truth as the other So they are either
have not I do not say could not accomplished and brought to pass How it will be all done suddenly and at an instant by the pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High may be seen in Page 295. As also that there will be an end of all Wars and of all Persecution is shewed in Page 285 288. which will be a very great Good to Mankind So that the â—…king known these things will tend â—…re to the real Benefit of Man than spending their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which satisfieth not or consuming so much time in other and vain Things I need not say much more by way of Preface and Introduction But here I shall only add this further That according as God is now pleased to accompany and Seal these Truths with the droppings and distillings of that same Spirit which hereafter he will pour out And according as that self-same Spirit giveth Understanding for it is too common that the Works and Things of God are not understood Psal 106. 7. Acts 7. 25. for these things are Spiritually discerned As also there is a need of a distinguishing Judgment as to discern and know which are the real Truths of God from the Imaginations or Sayings of other meer Humane Writers Again According as the following Words of Truth do approve themselves to the Hearts and Consciences of the Real and Inward see Rom. 2. 29. and not so much to the Nominal and outward Christians And according as Care Endeavour Industry and Diligence are used in the publishing and making them known so accordingly they will meet with Acceptance or Rejection from the World THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE Introduction to the following Book Page 1 CHAP. II. Wherein that Proposition is at large discussed That People are not forced and compelled to the Obedience of God but they are left herein to their own Free Choice or Refusal p. 15 CHAP. III. That Surmise and Imagination is spoken unto whereby some People think that they have so Grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him p. 118 CHAP. IV. Therein it is discoursed of that false Thought in the Hearts of many People That if they should submit Presently unto the Obedience of God they shall be losers and disappointed of so much Pleasure and Conveniency in the mean while They shall miss of so much imagined Happiness and fall into Vexation Trouble and Misery p. 183 CHAP. V. Herein sundry things are written against them who will not be persuaded by nor live according to Words and also against following the Multitude p. 244 CHAP. VI. It is made known in the general from the Scriptures of Truth without any Reflections on Particular Nations or Governments that at length there will be an end of all Wars p. 285 CHAP. VII As also that there will be an end of all manner of Persecuting the Servants of God p. 288 CHAP. VIII Towards the end of Time and in the latter Days All the Inhabitants of the Earth will be turned and brought over unto God Which will be done and accomplished by the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High p. 295 CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psal 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of that whole Psalm p. 310 Whereunto is subjoyned the shutting up and Conclusion of the whole Book p. 314 Practical Discourses OR AN Earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately unto the Lord their God As the same is opened and alledged from what is written Psal 18. 43 44 45. Thou hast delivered me from the Strivings of the People thou hast made me the Head of the Heathen A People whom I have not known shall serve me As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places CHAP. I. The Introduction IF all Mankind of all Generations and Countries were now summoned together and there was a Voice that could reach them all as God will at the last Day gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there Joel 3. 2. By his own Power and uttering forth his Voice It would be proper to preach and make known these Words unto them But in the mean time he hath shewed the Way and he doth require it of us under the Danger and Penalty of Disobedience that all we should publish the Word Psal 68. 11. which he hath given us as far as we can And he hath so ordered that the still Voice of his Spirit should be sent forth into the Hearts of many People All things are to be done as far as he hath pointed out and put into our Power All we should help whatever we can towards the Furtherance thereof for the Work of the Lord is common and should be the joint Endeavour of all his Servants Ever since the World began and down until this Time and what futher remains on the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by Force According to our Ability we ought severally to the utmost of yea and beyond our Power to be continually doing the Will of God bring Glory unto his Name to further and carry on with all our Might and Diligence the common Salvation to endeavour by all Means possible yea our selves are to act and suffer an holy Violence that People may be more brought over and added unto the Lord. As God is to be loved with all the Soul and with all the Strength and with all the Heart and with all the Mind So all things we have or can do are to be laid out and resolutely put forth without any more Intermission or Weariness than what is absolutely necessary and requisite in his Service and doing good unto others None are to be idle but as we are warned of so ought we to avoid to our utmost that we fall not under the Doom of the unprofitable Servant For behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give to every Man according as his Work shall be Rev. 22. 12. And we having but a short Time might learn this Wisdom from the Serpent to improve this our Time to the utmost Advantage to oppose and destroy his Kingdom to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and to recover those that are already taken captive at his Will As he walketh about seeking whom he may devour so is the Will of the most high God that his Servants should run to and fro that knowledge may be increased Dan. 12. 4. that many may be converted and saved And when each Person is converted then he is to strengthen his Brethren and to endeavour what lieth in him that others may be converted also and so on The like Care and Endeavour is to be used and spread abroad that all Men may be saved and come to the
now live is continually hastning towards its Period so we should at all times make Provision against this shall fail to be received up into the other that we may there continually partake of somewhat which we have done here Indeed the Fruits of the Earth do spring up and are ripe at such certain Seasons of the Year according to the Climate or Countrey but still the Husbandman hath some Employment all the Year round The Kingdom of God over the Souls of Men is not confined to Times and Seasons as in such an Age or Part of Life to such a Month or Day of the Year But this Work may be carrying on at all Times and Seasons The Word may be preached in Season and out of Season at Summer or VVinter Spring or Autumn Sabbath or VVeek-day in the Day-time or at Mid-night as they are journeying or sitting still in the Closet Family or Congregation Truth shall spring out of the Earth Psal 85. 11. at what time it shall please the Lord to open the Fountains of the great Depth And as the VVind bloweth when and where it listeth so he shall give his Spirit to search it out So again Righteousness shall look down from Heaven when the Lord shall pour down his Spirit from on high which as he hath done several Times already so it may acquaint us further of the things there He may instruct his Servants as those of old in what Disposition of Body and Soul they must be in for to receive it To get the foregoing Qualifications of Faith Knowledge Love of God Obedience Holiness Humility convenient Retirement and separating from their Brethren that they may the more approach unto God These things do not so much depend upon the outward Circumstances of set and definite Times of the Year but they come to pass at what Time pleaseth the Father and we receive the Grace and use the Means to be Partakers thereof Known unto God are the great things he will do for his Church for they are fixed in his eternal Purpose and Determination it is not for us to know the Times and Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power Acts 1. 7. Perhaps the very Reason why these are not clearly revealed and manifested unto us is least in the mean while we should neglect our own Concern Our Minds might so run upon what things are to be done in the Generations following that we should leave undone what ought to be done in this Generation wherein we now live As the VVoman of Samaria saith When the Messias is come he will tell us all things John 8. 25. so we might be apt to apprehend it as to refuse to learn any thing in the mean while And when it is promised The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. VVe might content our selves with our former Ignorance and reject any further Knowledge and Instruction in the mean while Even those great things of old time have been transacted by outward Means and we ought still to use those Means which are in our Power to put them forth with all our Skill and Might and then let the Lord do what seemeth him good We know not at first what a Blessing and Success he may give unto them but we may somewhat perceive it afterwards Then things may rise up beyond our Expectations when in the Beginning we are apt to distrust and faint in our Mind Had our selves done nothing or after we had undertaken it then let it fall then it was our own Refusal that we were not Instruments in carrying on the Work of the Lord or he might take it from us and make choice of and give it unto others who should throughly perform his Will If the Way is shewed unto us and we are put in such a Capacity we have also an Impulse and Pressing of Mind to the same and the VVork is right and good as appears evidently from his VVord and the Examples of old there we may and indeed ought to walk in that VVay and actually do according to the Power given us and also comply with the Dictates of a rectified and truly informed Conscience If God may be glorified by such an Action and Good may be done unto others this should be indeed performed And seeing it should be done by some one why not by thee to whom he hath given the Knowledge thereof endued with Ability and is stirring thee up by his Spirit We may learn from Exodus 4. 10 11 12 13. that God is not pleased with Excuses or Delays or with alledging our own Imperfections for he made us at first and can also mend and increase what he hath begun He sent forth further Strength and Ability according as the thing requires The stammering Lips may at length speak plain as in the Beginning of Speech The Voice which was hasty and confused may become clear and distinct And who acquaints at first in general with the Errand that he should go to such a Place and do such a thing will afterwards according to his own divine Method in Acts 9. 6. teach particularly what he shall say And put the very Words into our Mouth a little before or in the very same Hour Mat. 10. 19. just as they are to be uttered forth Remembring still that we are but Instruments in the Hands of God We are to receive the Thoughts he puts into our Heart and to speak them out with our Lips but we can say no more nor think of pertaining to him than what he suggests and puts into our Mind We are to execute what he puts into the Power of our Hands but we can do no more Our God doth not require more than he hath given Those Talents are to be exercised and traded withal which he hath committed unto us but he will never call us to Account for more than we have received So we are to use Diligence and Labour according to what we can In the first Place we should pray unto God O learn me true Vnderstanding and Knowledge that I may keep thy Commandments Now these are either things to be abstained from or things to be done The first are properly Prohibitions or Forbiddings but the Word Commandment imports Duty which is to be done That must be discerned and known before it can be begun and because there may be Hindrances and Oppositions those also are to be seen and overcome that it may be accomplished In the Way to Heaven there are many Turnings aside which we are to be acquainted withal and avoid that we may keep on still in the right Way for if we go out there is so much Time and Labour lost to no purpose which might have set so far on The best Use hereof is to be more careful for the future to keep on right In every worldly Business and Design there are such foregoing Means And if they do at first hit upon those which are
Soul to Sin or be wanting in Duty Both which do now occasion Vexation of Spirit But they shall see and be ashamed for the Envy of the People Isa 26. 11. That is whereas heretofore the World did envy at the People of God from whence did spring up their Hatred and unkind usage of them thinking that such would be more Happy and Blessed than themselves in the end But when God shall also manifest unto them the Favour that even the Wicked had That even they might have learned Righteousness and beheld the Majesty of the Lord see the foregoing Verse They shall be so ashamed for ever having maligned and done despitefully against his Servants as they shall never do it more And whereas also heretofore the Churches had sometimes Rest from their Enemies and again at other Times they were made Havock of and Persecuted This did happen interchangeably and successively as was before observed that at some times some Countries would fear the Lord greatly and then remisly or negligently and not at all And as there was a time of War and a time of Peace among the Nations so likewise as to this we have the certain and assured Promise of the Lord. Also I will ordain a place for my People Israel and will plant them and they shall dwell in their place neither shall the Children of Wickedness waste them any more as at the beginning 1 Chron. 17. 9. He will make an utter end Affliction shall not rise up the second time Nahum 1. 9. This as may be seen from the two foregoing Verses is spoken as to that day of Trouble which hath come upon his Servants that trusted in the Lord their Strong-hold which was stirred up and occasioned unto them by the Enemies of the Lord emphatically and truly called his Enemies though they did shew themselves so to his Church that is his People And when as to many of his Prophets his Son Jesus Christ his Apostles Ministers and People Affliction did arise up not only the second time but even in Job's Phrase The Lord was with them even to seven Troubles Job 5. 19. Yea and to Seventy times seven for their whole Life was a continued Train and Series and Succession of Trouble and Affliction How then was this found true Affliction shall not rise up the second time And indeed it cannot be otherwise understood and believed but that God hath another day shortly coming in the which he will fulfil and make good this his Word when God will Return How long This question shews how impatient and desirous our Nature is of it How long O Lord Holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth Rev. 6. 10. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them I tell you that he will avenge them speedily Luke 18. 7 8. So that it will Repent him concerning his Servants O satisfie us early with thy Mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days and make us glad according to the days he hath afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen Evil Psal 90. 13 14 15. for the Lord shall judge his People and repent himself for his Servants when he seeth that their Power is gone and there is none shut up or left Deut. 32. 36. Like Sheep they are laid in the Grave Death shall feed on them and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Psal 49. 14. Now to make the like Application of all these Scriptures here laid together as Peter did in Acts 1. 16. Men and Brethren who shall read or hear this these Scriptures must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spake by the Mouth of Moses David Isaiah and Jesus Christ hath spoken before concerning that poor afflicted and persecuted Condition of the People of God How they shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their Oppressors Isa 14. 2. The Power of these Oppressors shall be utterly gone and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them God shall repent himself for that hard Condition he suffered his Servants to go through with and he will satisfie and make them glad for it Now it being manifest that all this good Word is not as yet performed on this Earth and in this Life from the like Reasoning which the same Apostle Peter makes use of Acts 2. 29 30 31. Acts 3. 21. We may assuredly gather and believe That in the Resurrection and Restitution of all things God will most certainly make good this his Word That all things which are written may be fulfilled And that there will be a beginning and entrance into this Blessed State towards the latter days here on the Earth when the Lord shall reign before his Ancients gloriously And all things shall exactly so come to pass according as he hath aforespoken of in his word When the Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb Isa 11. 6. and there shall be a Concordance and Agreement between the most fierce and devouring Natures of Men and Women with the most calm meek and peaceable Dispositions according to what is further written and confirmed The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lion shall eat straw like the Bullock and dust shall be the Serpents meat They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain saith the Lord Isa 65. 25. To make way and prepare for this glorious day of universal Holiness and Righteousness is the end of all our Preaching and Writing and laying before Men and VVomen all the Words of Truth which we can The Lord saith I will come near to you to Judgment Mal. 3. 5. So according to the goings forth and Emanations of his Eternal Truth God doth come nearer to the Children of Men both for Good and Comfort to his Saints and Servants as also for Terror and Punishment to the Ungodly and Disobedient For that thy Name is near Thy wondrous Works declare Psal 75. 11. God in Scripture is sometimes said to be afar off and he is invisible So that he cannot be otherwise shewn forth and made known unto others but in his VVorks and by his Name Both which are declared by fit proper and true words So that the Reader need not to be offended at the multitude of them here used if they help to make the invisible God more known unto the Inhabitants of the Earth and render him as it were visible yea and sensible unto their Souls If we do not darken counsel by words without knowledge but according to the measure of the gift in us our words become instrumental that the things pertaining to God's Kingdom are rendred yet clearer and clearer that the Children of Men may more easily understand and perceive them than we do the VVork and VVill of God As I do this day the Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth Isa 38. 18. If
for the Work is as profitable and beneficial to the one as Payment is to the other But the Case is otherstise between God and us for first he hath wrought all our Works in us he brought us into Being and hath fed us up hitherto And one Way or another he hath prevented assisted and directed in those things which more immediately relate unto him though we are heedless as not to discern it no more than we perceive how we live and move in him which yet we do all along that to him belongs all the Glory and Praise thereof The utmost in Man is his Liberty of acting and working together with the Grace of God but still he first implanted that Power and Ability and when it turns towards Good it was God and his Grace that weighed down the Scale and over-ruled it unto the right and true Way Alass We are such small and finite Creatures that the utmost we do is very little and next to nothing For if the best Performances of the greatest and most diligent Saints on Earth be considered what is their Righteousness unto him Or what receives he of their Hands Even they come short of what they might have done yet more for they might have further improved their Talent Therefore I say unto you the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof Mat. 21. 43. But since the preaching and Promulgation of the Gospel to the World no Nation hath yet brought forth such Fruits God knows what will be done in the latter Days as might be justly expected from it Nothing hath been done answerable to the precious Truths contained therein It was the Lord who gave the Word who planted the Trees but the Ground hath not brought forth suitable Increase thereof The Husbandmen have not manured and dressed it as they should have done And what Fruits have been or shall at length spring up from it Lord thou hast but what is thine own They are but living Instruments all one as the Spade or Pruning Hook in the Hands of the Gardiner and at last the Work suffers Loss and Disadvantoge by Reason of those employed therein If they do any thing rightly it is of God that they do so but the Weakness and Fault is of themselves only God worketh in us both to will and to do He hath shewed us how so that all things and all our Works are to be attributed to him only He sits above and Christ at his Right Hand expecting what his Servants will do for him in like manner as till his Enemies are made his Footstool Both which are consequent one to the other for by means of his Servants he will overcome the rebellious and make them submit under him The Lord looketh down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God Psal 14. 1. That did rightly apprehend the End of their Being in this World and did look after their Maker that by the things known already did ascend yet further That by what is known of God did seek out yet more if they could find out further Trace and Footsteps of this invisible Being As his Way is in the Waters he rideth upon the Wings of the Wind and the Clouds are the Dust of his Feet so we may see God in every thing To behold him not only in the Sanctuary but in every Part of his Temple which is Heaven and Earth and in each Part and Corner thereof To behold him in his visible Works and to perceive him in his invisible things To understand that great Relation of the Creator and his Creatures But more especially how we are concerned with that God with whom we have all to do What he doth require of us and what we are to render unto him The Phrase of looking down to see doth plainly denote that they are left to their Freedom and Liberty The same is likewise signified in the Parable of the Vineyard Isa 5. and Mark 12. 1 2. where God hath done all things that were necessary and reasonable and looks what will come of it Whether those Powers of acting he hath endued the Sons of Men withal will be employed in the right way or in extravagant things or be folded up in Idleness and Sloth 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 John 15. 2. To all is committed at first some Grace and Power in order to spiritual things but who do not use it accordingly it is withdrawn from them But to them who manage aright is committed yet more that they should labour according to the Strength given them For whatever is in us is to be used and put forth Knowledge is to be communicated and still further Degrees and Increase thereof is to be sought after in order to impart that forth again Truth is to be declared and spoken out and this also is to be sought after and received for the aforesaid End and Purpose As the Blossom is to the Fruit so is Knowledge to Obedience and good Works The first is the Principle it goes before and gives Hope of the Fruit which is better and accordingly will end in that unless it be blasted and withered So this is the Beginning of our Duty for we cannot do any thing in order to God unless we know somewhat of him We cannot keep his Law till we apprehend what it is As there is an Unwillingness Aversation Forgetfulness of God and good things so there should be something to overcome that to stir up our Remembrance to keep this always in the Imagination of our Heart O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and of Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of the Heart of thy People and prepare their Heart unto thee 1 Chron. 29. 18. Nevertheless it is too often seen through the marvellous Subtilty of Satan who doth every way endeavour to beguile and to beat off that many have good and right Knowledge but it remains as it were blasted for it lies dead within and doth not shoot forth into well-doing Many times it drops off and Perishes having no Root or Stalk in them for taking no Delight and apprehending no Good therein they suffer it to pass through their Understanding as Water running through a Pipe which may wet and moisten a little for the Time but returns to its former Driness They may be a little affected for the Time but afterwards they do not mind nor give heed thereafter It makes a goodly Shew and Appearance without but it is meer Leaf and Colour and nothing worth unless it grows towards Fruit and Perfection God is not to be served by halves As he requires the whole Man so he would have his Work finished and compleat or else a tending towards it if it be such as he will
their Ignorance and Forgetfulness of him For would not his Holiness and Purity keep them in perfect Order and Subjection when one who is a less Partaker thereof than a Drop to the whole Ocean doth cast a Damp and clog that they cannot so freely enjoy the Pleasures of Sin nor run on so uncontroulably in the broad Way which leads unto Destruction When now they would refrain to do such a thing if a strict Demand and Account should be required of them would they not much more abstain if they were sensibly assured that the Lord himself shall come with Ten Thousand of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all He now sitteth in the Heavens and prepareth his Seat for Judgment and as sure as this is the Time of Trial so there will be a Day of Examination and rendring unto every one according to his Deeds Who are now so averse and afraid to hear or speak of him when we know but little more than of his Name and Truth which we hear with the Ear and see it thus written of him and conceive in the Mind But how will they fly back and be astonished when God himself shall come and the very things shall be manifested whereof it is now a Vexation only to understand the Report Who would not receive the Kingdom of God when heretofore it was in Word how must they submit unto it when it shall be actually in Deed When he sent a Message to reign over them and Officers to set up his Kingdom but they did not receive that and did evil entreat them whom he had sent what will they do when the King himself shall come with his Armies and miserably destroy those wicked Men He now speaketh from Heaven by his Word and the Time draweth nigh when he will fulfill the same This Word drops in by way of silent Thought to the Heart or it is heard by hearing of the Ear from a Fellow Creature or it is conveyed unto us by Means of Ink and Paper all which is but a still Voice whereby God doth now manifest himself unto us So he sent his only Son the eternal Word which was made Flesh who dwelt here and became as one of us that God might be more familiar and acquainted with our Nature and also to try whether we would thus receive and obey him But as many as received him to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God John 1. 12. It is said nothing is more free than a Gift so the tendring and offer thereof is free so likewise the Receipt and Acceptance thereof is a free Act for it might be refused If God the Father had shewn his Greatness and Glory then People would run unto him as now they ignorantly stay away for a little shadow and representation thereof from the World But when he hath revealed himself in a little contemptible Appearance this will prove whether they will take their Lot and Portion with that at present and expect the greater things to come Whether notwithstanding the Vail and Covering drawn over the things of God they can yet discern the Glory that excelleth whether they will believe this Word which hath spoken of more than what is now seen or had Again If he should at present reveal himself in his Majesty and Power then People would presently yield unto him who is mighty much more than they now pay Reverence and Submission to the King and great Men as he who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords doth exceed the greatest and highest of the Sons of Men. VVhich is so infinite that no Compassion can be made to express the just and true distance But when this God hideth himself when he seems as one asleep and taketh no notice when he doth not actually give his Favour presently to them that do well nor yet doth he immediately Manifest forth his severe displeasure against them who sin and transgress when it is alike with Subjects and Enemies VVho fear God and who fear him not this will exercise our Faith and waiting as also prove their Rebellion and Contempt Indeed there are the Promises and Threatnings annexed and all must partake of the one or they are liable to the other But yet the Conditions of one are put into our power and none unless by his own fault or wilfullness doth fall under the other His Kingdom and Dominion is over all every thing that can be named or doth any where exist but then he ruleth over them according to their several Natures The VVinds and Sea Obey him necessarily Beasts Birds and Creeping things go constantly according to that Instinct implanted in them which is as it were a Law unto them To Man is committed Revelation and Reason for to guide him nevertheless he may disregard act contrary or yield unto and comply with its dictates So much is left to his freedom and choice There is set before him Life and Good Death and Evil with a repeated inculcation to choose Life And though when these two opposite things are simply and abstractedly proposed every one hath so much Understanding as would preserve and make him happy Yet the great doubt and mistake is concerning the way and means of one or the other which also are laid before the Sons of Men and offered to their choice and liberty as the End is It might first of all be rationally and assuredly concluded That where the End is Right Good and Desirable so is every thing that necessarily tends towards it for upon a rotten Stock and Foundation there can never be a sure Building So contrariwise where the End is dismal and feared by every one they might well suspect the several steps leading towards it and consequently refrain to move a step further which they might if they would As they evidently see and know that God hath put it into their power at first to go into one way or another and when they are in a little they may stand still or go backwards or rather turn aside from out of it So likewise by God's Grace and Invitation They may come unto Life John 5. 40. and it is of themselves that they fall into Death and Destruction Hos 13. 9. This last thing being attendant to their refusal of coming unto God and Obeying his Voice doth seem to imply as if they were forced But if so they would actually do it for are Men stronger than He God is Allmighty and must prevail if it were the purpose of his Heart to compel Mankind unto his Obedience He could raise up Hell from beneath and set it evidently before our Eyes as Nebuchadnezzar did the Fiery Furnace He could even now Command his Angels to sound the Trumpet as at the last day when the dead shall hear his Voice that every Nation Country and Language all that are now living should fall down and VVorship him or they shall be cast into Hell He could so order it even at this present time That those which
carnal Considerations or worldly Inducements no present Motive nor yet a like Danger and Inconvenience did hinder or excuse with him but he immediately went to Jerusalem Undoubtedly all these did for the best and God was well pleased with them He did accept and reward them more than those who seek out for Excuse and Delay or such who first refuse to hear his Gracious call or if they do at any Time hear or it is made known unto them yet they will not yield unto it The Word of Exhortation stands continually for all People both young and old to hear and read it The Spirit and the Bridegroom say always come There is one knocking at the Door of their Hearts for Admission God is ready at all Times to set up his Kingdom within us his Law is already written in our Heart and inward Parts He sends his Prophets rising up early and sitting down late Who being dead speak yet unto us in their Writings There are constant Dictates of Mind to serve and obey our Maker There are Examples of those who do it in our Age and Circumstances of Life There is hardly a Chapter or Verse throughout the whole Bible but some way or other calls and stirs us up The Scripture is opened and alledged The Word preached in the several Congregations throughout our Land and in all the Nations of the World are a Sermon to us also For we are the same Creatures and stand in the very same Relation to the great God over all as those several Persons who hear such and such Truths with their outward Ears We might also know and hear more than we do and those who hear and understand are to declare it unto us to acquaint their Neighbours and Kinsfolks and they to others So that the Word of God might dwell richly and have free Passage among us There is a sufficient Call and Warning to all People in their several Generations and Ages of Life God now commandeth all Men every where to repent because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead Acts 17. 31. As every one knows Christ to be a Saviour so there is the same Notice conveyed that he is to be our Judge And as God shall bring every secret thing into Judgment all the Actions of our Lives for each single Day will be called to account So it will be demanded why such and such did not come when they were called as they sensibly knew by a powerful Conviction over their Spirits when it was inculcated over and over to Day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Heart When they might have considered more and more and themselves did find that the more they did consider the more they were pressed instantly to close with Christ and therefore they did put off considering their Wayes They might at such an Opportunity have heard God's Word which would have urged them to have turned from their evil Ways and therefore they would not attend to them They might at such a Day and by such Means have learned the Knowledge and Fear of the Lord but they would not His Statutes were laid before them but they would not let the Ears hear which were made to hear nor the Eyes see which were ordained for that End And further when the Thoughts thereof did recur to the Mind they would put them far away When God rises up and enters into Judgment how shall Men answer for such things And whosoever now looketh upon or hears what is written in these Lines and he is convinced of the Truth and Sincerity of them but if he should go away and not comply with the Purport thereof or be willingly ignorant or take no notice for fear he should be brought over unto God more suddenly than he otherwise intended how will he give account to the Judge of all Men for the same Even to that God who knows all his Thoughts and Imaginations concerning this or any other matter who will reprove and set the things he hath done in order before him even from the Time he had the Beginning of the Knowledge of Good and Evil unto the Day of his Death God knows all things but we know not as God knoweth and therefore we are so puzzled and distracted in things pertaining to him He seeth all things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth at one Sight and knoweth all things to the utmost as they are known But we now see one thing and then another in order and Succession of Time as he shews them unto us Those Things which are more hidden and invisible he reveals them by his Word and Spirit and still we know nothing perfectly and comprehensively And it may be all confined to things pertaining to us Men which is not the Ten Thousandth Part of the things to be known nor yet one Half of what doth immediately relate unto and concern us The Sum and Comprehension of all is to know God and his Law our Duty to him in each particular and when we do vary from it It may be observed that the whole Scripture which is called the Lord's Book may be all reduced to this Besides the natural imprinted Knowledge God is there more discoverd to us by the History of the Creation of the World his Manifestations unto his Servants that worshipped and feared him his wonderful Works that he did from Time to Time the Descriptions given of him in sundry Places and also the Commandments enjoyned to the Sons of Men. The Law was given by Moses unto which he added much Exhortation to the Observance thereof So did David and the Prophets whose Writings were to press People unto Obedience and a Reproof of Transgression Which last was an orderly Declaration of Matter of Fact and according to Truth how People did turn aside from the Commandments delivered unto them It was a Telling of or Declaration unto the House of Jacob their Sins and Transgressions Which was expressed in general or more particular Terms but yet so plainly that every Offender might understand himself was spoken of and called upon for to amend his Doings There is a strong Sense and Obligation upon the Heart of Man to keep the Law of his Creator and he is sensible of as much every Time he is put in Remembrance thereof As on the other hand he is troubled with Shame Regret and Condemnation when he thinks of and more especially when he is told of his Sin and Error This proceeds from the Consciousness of having offended God and from the Fear of his Anger and Judgment A secret Thought doth arise from Ignorance or Unbelief that either God doth not see or not take notice of such evil Deeds and will not require for them But such an one brings their Sin to Remembrance and makes it recorded before God which
better lay the Law before them and then themselves may consider their variation from it Sometimes they are at a stand and as it were amazed and they know not what to do they may first see and fully perceive and then acknowledge according to that Example in Ezra 10. 2. We have trespassed against our God and have taken strange Wives of the People of the Land yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing So of every Iniquity Transgression or Sin whether it is complicated or single whether many or few are concerned therein still there is hope that God will do what he declares which he also will as certainly as he is God For he is abundant in goodness and truth keeping Mercy for Thousands forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin But then they must make a Covenant with their God to forsake their sins for the time to come and hence forward to tremble at his Commandments and to do according to the Law But if they cover their sins if they keep and hold fast to them then they are still guilty whom the same Truth hath here said That he will by no means clear Exod. 34. 7. The word Forgiving respects what is past but doth not allow for the present or future What then Shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound God forbid That God may shew the more mercy in our manifold and greater sins that we may love much when much is to us forgiven But this and such like is a perverse wicked proud and disdainful way of Reasoning Because God will forgive we will sin yet more because he is Gracious therefore we will provoke him because he is Good we will presume to offend him yet more because he will pass by the Transgression of the remnant of his Heritage and make it up again we will break and at no time continue stedfast in his Covenant And knowing that he will pass it over we will forget the Name of the Lord and hold up our hands to strange Gods we will idolize and labour to please Men without any regard had to him Shall not God search this out for he knows the secrets of the heart He doth see and discern all such kind of Imaginations which shoot forth into alike practices We should do well to consider with our selves Wherefore do we desire any forgiveness at God's hands Because we would partake of his Mercy and avoid his Wrath. We would be happy and are unwilling to be miserable Why know we not that the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him to such as keep his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandments to do them Psal 103. 17 18. And the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Rom. 1. 18. and Disobedience Colos 3. 6. And therefore we must fear God if we would partake of his gracious Attribute and carefully eschew all the other that we do not fall under the severity of his Vengeance If we would be happy we must be holy and to prevent misery the only way is to sin not We are but meer Creatures All that we have is from God and so is all that we expect further We are but perishing and imperfect at present and we shall be yet somewhat more as our hopes and desires our fears and aversations give us notice of So that if we would have the good-will and love of God the consequent is natural and easie for our selves to shew love and good-will towards him in the mean while And then we must sin as little against him as possible Ye that love the Lord bate evil Psal 97. 10. And ye are to decline every false way we are to endeavour to set forth his glory and to honour him which shuts out all manner of stubbornness and the least despising of him Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Heb. 12. 28. We have the Promise and Assurance of that Kingdom and to us is committed in the mean while what is preparatory to that The work and service is given and shewed that we may do it and as we are put in the condition of Servants to so great and honourable a Master as he is in Heaven so it is required of us that we be faithful and willing that is true in the management of what is committed unto us and ready in the performance of the same Another Character that belongs to a Servant is That he be Wise whereof our Saviour speaks and promises to set such over his Houshold Accordingly the Apostle intimates as much negatively See that ye be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5. 17. This must be in order to do the will of the Lord And also we are to be in a readiness against his time of coming to demand an account By doing of God's Will we learn to know it better and the performance is more easie we can correct what was amiss heretofore and perform it more exactly for the time to come From the quality of Servants we come to a more intimate Relation of Sons which the Scripture to assure us of God's Love and Familiarity to Mankind doth more often make use of than the other comparison of Servants I will spare them as a Man spareth his own Son that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Now former miscarriages are passed over and forgotten when there is a sincere and actual service for the time to come where there is a constant desire to please and be accepted with God Agreeable hereunto is the stile of the promises and calls to Repentance Thus saith the Lord shall they fall and not arise shall he turn away and not return Why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual back-sliding They hold fast deceit they refuse to return Jer. 8. 5. But if they do return they have forthwith assurance of Pardon and Forgiveness according to what is written But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not die Ezek. 18. 21. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55. 7. There are innumerable Promises scattered up and down in the Old Testament and also in the New to give hope and encouragement unto sinners to return unto the Lord their God which do answer all their particular doubts and fears Whatever be their multitude and aggravation If they have played the harlot with many lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord Jer. 3. 1. Or if their sins be as scarlet or crimson of the deepest die and guilt he will make them white as
and Knowledge of him to refrain from Transgression If we did see after the Manner of Men from the Example of an enraged Prince who hath the Power to be revenged on ungrateful Rebels and is constant to what he swears or saith God is angry with the wicked every day if he turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready Psal 7. 11 12. He is more and more displeased day by day and as the Creature continually provokes him God only forbears to execute his Vengeance to see whether he will turn or not The longer man puts it off it will be worse for him How grievous and abominable is it to stand as it were at defiance and opposition with God For a worm to contest with and to wriggle against its Maker for a Potsherd to strive with the Lord of the World He justly declares himself to be an Enemy to such wicked doers Ah! I will ease me of mine Adversaries and avenge me of mine Enemies Isa 1. 24. He only sends out his Word to give notice thereof to see if they will submit He sends out the Son of his Love with an Offer of Reconciliation to prove whether they will receive his Message and Counsel who saith Agree with thine Adversary quickly least the Adversary deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer and thou be cast into Prison Verily thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the utmost Farthing Mat. 5. 25 26. The more quickly thou agreest with thine Adversary the more sure thou art to be reconciled unto him Thou must be reconciled to him first or last or thou wilt be eternally miserable The longer thou standest off thou dost the more provoke and enrage him And wouldst thou resist him in the mean while whom thou must at length submit unto Nay when thou art willing to be at Peace with him Even those who are now reconciled and were once afar off are vexed within themselves that ever they should have the least Enmity against so gracious and so good a God The Adversaries of the Lord shall be ashamed And if thy self dost come to be agreed with him thou wilt not only repent and be grieved for all thy former Ignorance strange Imaginations but even for this Opposition and Doubting whether thou shouldst presently come over unto thy God Consider he is stronger and mightier than thou He is all-wise and jealous of his Honour and also he will be glorified in his Creatures And shall they offend him now because they hope hereafter to please and pacifie him Or will they take Advantage over him also as some do over his Servants to affront them the more because they know beforehand such will forgive Is it good that God should search you out or as one man mocketh another do ye so mock him Job 13. 9. Thine hand shall find out all thine Enemies thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee Psal 21. 8. That is find them out to punish them and therefore God certainly knows them with the measure and degree of Hatred they conceive against him The sin is against him and also the pardon belongs to him and also he is the God to whom Vengeance belongeth Now what is the Reason why he doth spare some and punish others He will do according to what he hath said He shall Judge the World with Righteousness and the People with his Truth Psal 96. 13. And by that Truth he takes an estimate of People even now God who knows the hearts will put a difference between Infirmity and Perverseness between unavoidable and willing Ignorance what is to be allowed to the temptation and what is their own fault He doth apprehend all the meaning of his own Law and Word and also all the doings of all the Sons of Men every motion and thought of their Soul and all that is within them The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it I the Lord search the heart and try the reins even to give to every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 17. 9 10. He takes exact account and cognizance of all things and here it is said that it is in order to give to every Man according to the fruit of his doings so that certainly it must be the better way to submit instantly For the present refusal and neglect doth provoke him in the mean while those strugglings and contests do displease him when he exhorts and admonishes if they rebel and vex his holy Spirit he will turn to be their enemy Isa 63. 10. and fight against them We know not when this will be and therefore People should be exceeding cautious how they do in the least displease him When the Scripture speaks of God being angry the same Word invites again to Reconciliation with him Can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3. 3. Now God is continually with us though many are not sensible thereof for he is with us in our going out and coming in and he is with us in all our ways and this would be a continued fear and trouble to the mind unless we are at peace with him and then it is a comfort and an assurance And therefore those who are afar off do not think of God but forget him not knowing that they might have the thoughts of God and the remembrance of his Name be as familiar yea and as delightful as now they go on in their own darkness and imaginations for here is danger and continued doubt They might come to live under the continued sense of God with the same yea and more exceeding comfort than others do with the thoughts of any thing as the Bridegroom rejoyces over the Bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee Isa 62. 3. And reciprocally his people may live comfortably and rejoyce in the Lord their God He is a shadow from the Heat as a great Rock in a weary Land a shelter â—rom the Storm an house of Defence or strong Habitation whereunto we may continually resort Psal 71. 3. And many such like expressions the Holy Ghost makes use of As a woman takes care of her sucking Child and a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings so is the Lord God to his People to assure them of his continued Preservation Love and Familiarity towards them And any one may come over to be amongst his People as they that were not of his People do come to be of them so we do warn testifie and exhort all men every where of every age or condition of life whatever their past sins be and of whatever nature or multitude their present temptation and circumstances are yet still they are invited to partake of the loving kindness of the Lord. What hinders Let the thought imaginanation or excuse be what it will we could speak and give a sufficient answer unto it from the Grace and
thus as it shall be with him in the things to come Envy thou not the Glory of a Sinner for thou knowest not what shall be his End Neither do thou Pity and be grieved at the poor and low Estate of God's Faithful People for thou dost not discern how Graciously he will be pleased to deal with them at the last When the Lord comes to rehearse up his People and to make Restitution and Dispensation of all things then this Man shall be pronounced Blessed and another Accursed though this last whilst he lived he counted himself an Happy Man and the other's Life was esteemed Madness and his End without Honour Our Reason and Understanding can fetch in things afar off and make them seem all one as if they were near We can conceive of things Future as if they were already Present That as we know we should do and as even then we shall verily and indeed wish we had done That we should so behave our selves in the midst of our Trial as we shall desire we had done when we come to an Account and it shall be rendred to every one according to his Deeds We are upon our Good Behaviour all this mean while And as it was said to Cain immediately before his Wicked Fact so it is told to every one of us before we enter upon the Actions of our Life If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted and if thou dost not well Sin lieth at the door Gen. 4. 7. Accordingly from Time to Time we are to lay hold of every Opportunity for well-doing and as carefully avoid the Occasions of all manner of Evil. This is repeated over again for indeed it had need be as often inculcated as Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy doth repeat over and over again to the Israelites God's Law for them to observe and do it To write the same things over again unto Good Minds is not Grievous but to them it is Safe And though it may seem nauseous and irksome to the Evil and Ungodly so it would be but once to mention what they have no Mind to know and no Heart to do All is comprised in the Observation of God's Law and it is of Absolute and Indispensable Necessity so that it can never be pressed or repeated too much We should have it always in our Remembrance and as it should be written and ingrafted in us so it should stir up and be continually sensible in our Minds that we may know how to act and have wherewithall to answer every Temptation and drawing aside to Evil and also have that which would quicken and actually stir us up unto Good The World makes enquiry and seems to be desirous after Good and when it is pointed out and shewed unto them they will not accept and imbrace it This is not the sort they would have or it is too High and Excellent for them through Ignorance they do not desire it They are for abundance of Corn and Wine or for Carnal and Sensual Pleasure but for the Light of God's Countenance for that Gladness he puts into the Heart for Spiritual Joy and Eternal Peace These things the Worldly Man knoweth not neither doth he apprehend the just Worth and Excellency in them But a little outward Mirth in the midst whereof the Heart is Sorrowful or sudden Flashes of Rejoycing which end in Darkness this is what he doth catch and seek after A Thousand or Ten thousand repeated Acts of this Nature do not make up the True Happiness for each is unsatisfactory at the very time it is interrupted and all determined at last In Truth None is to be blamed for endeavouring to make his Life as Comfortable as he can for passing on these few and evil Days of his Pilgrimage with the lesser Trouble and Sorrow But in the mean while great Heed and Care should be taken as to the Means whither Sinful or not and so whither several parts of Duty are not left undone upon this Pretext If we do fulfil all Righteousness and walk in all the Commandments of the Lord Blameless If we do take heed to our ways that we Offend or Sin not in God's Name let us rejoyce our selves as much as we will If we Sanctifie the days of our Feasting and use our utmost Watchfulness and Circumspection that we Sin not nor Curse God in our Hearts Job 1. 5. because he doth not allow it to be so with us always then we are to Praise our God and we may give way unto Honest Mirth and Cheerfulness And so in the other extream Condition If in Cold and Nakedness Hunger and Thirst we can Bless our God and be contented let us trust him further whither he will not bring us to True and Enduring Happiness Whilst others are busied and conversant only about the Present let us look out to the End Nay Let us secure that and then let the Present take care for the things of it self Shall we make it an Article or Doubt Whither we shall immediately set upon the keeping of God's Commandments for fear of losing so much Pleasure and Ease in the mean while and subjecting our selves to Pain and Irksomness Know we not that if it were so our God will abundantly make up for all by his Recompence at the last as he doth give an Earnest by the Sweetness and Comfort we perceive even now For if we consider that Approbation of Mind that strong Consolation and lively Hope and take in one thing with another we have more Good now than possibly could be attained by any Variation or Disobedience It is both agreeable and satisfactory to our Nature if we reflect upon it according to Truth and without its Corruption for God who made us and knoweth our Frame hath fitted his Laws and Commandments accordingly What the Apostle saith I had not known Sin but by the Law for I had not known Lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not Covet Rom. 7. 7. So in not a much unlike manner it may be applied That if we did throughly know the very Nature of Sin and Lust we should not so much give way or consent unto either for that which led our Forefathers into the Transgression is the same that doth entice us at this very day The Woman saw that the Tree was good for Food and that it was pleasant to the Eyes and a Tree to be desired to make one Wise Gen. 3. 6. Here was an Imagination of Good Pleasure and of bettering ones present State and this prevailed to yield unto the Temptation Now if more of each sort of all these three were to be had by keeping within that Station and Bounds God hath set then a meer Selfish and Wise Man knoweth what he hath to do Nay there is each of this sort to be had in the other Trees of the Garden God hath already sufficiently provided for the well-being of Mankind in the lawful use of those things he hath given and it is
Impertinency when that indeed is so with which they please and content themselves So that VVord doth pronounce which is to Judge and determine of every Man's State and Condition and according to which he is to receive We are but Creatures upon Trial and in that same word it is set down how God will be pleased to deal and add further with every one of us So that tho our different Thoughts and Apprehensions do not signifie much as to one another yet we must give Account to that God with whom we have to do who is Judge of all Men and of all Things and he hath expresly foretold us that we shall receive according to the Good or Evil we have done And tho in this wicked corrupt World they call Evil Good and Good Evil Isa 5. 20. Because they have the Multitude and Fashion to bear them along with it yet God is Judge himself Psal 50. 6. Who will sweep away the Refuge of Lies Isa 28. 17. and adjust all things according to Righteousness and Truth If Men do at present contemn and refuse what he doth command and esteem of and again they do honour and seek after what he hath forbidden and is an Abomination in his Sight But God's Thoughts are not as our Thoughts and his ways are not as our ways He is not beholding to his Creatures He is great and highly Exalted And what are a parcel of Worms of the Earth unto him But yet themselves shall know and feel what they get by this their opposition and contrariety to their Maker If there was not Stubbornness and Rebellion in their hearts they might understand For as the Eye doth discern Light from Darkness and the Taste doth perceive Sweet from Bitter So likewise in this diversity of things the Soul of Man can discern between Good and Evil Truth and Falshood Wisdom and Folly Every Scribe that is instructed into the Kingdom of God is like an Housholder who brings out of his Treasure things New and Old Both sorts are wholsome and good which were first received in and he produces forth upon occasion Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your Heart and your Soul Deut. 11. 18. He means the words of the Spirit of God and of Truth The greater number whereof the Mind is furnished withal so much the better That as the desire of the Righteous is only good Prov. 11. 13. Let him sincerely and diligently endeavour that all the thoughts of his Heart may be good true and significative at all times thereby shutting out Evil Falshood and Vanity A good Man out of the good treasure of the Heart bringeth forth good things Matt. 12. 35. which may spring up into suitable Words and Actions Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth John 17. 17. And People may discern what is rightly opened and alledged what is necessarily inferred from this Word of Truth for that also is true and will be fulfilled And tho many false Christs and false Prophets and Deceivers have and are gone out into the World as this same Word of Truth hath foretold and it hath been verified by the experience of every Age yet they deluded more by their Signs and Wonders by their forged Miracles and lying Legends as thereby hath increased the Roman Church more than by their Doctrin For that of our Saviour is Remarkable If it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect Matt. 24. 24. But it is not possible to deceive them for we have a standing Word which is as a Rule or Touch-stone to try the Doctrins whether they be of Men or no and by setting our Consciences in the sight of God and by the Spirit he hath given us we can search out and know the hidden things of Dishonesty and the practice of those who handle the Word of God Deceitfully But when the Truth is manifested it will appear so to us For great heed is to be taken lest under the pretence of avoiding Deceivers we do refuse and turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven and so we shall not escape Heb. 12. 25. But be in danger to be excluded from thence For this slanderous Report and false Imputation of a Deceiver was fastned on our Saviour Jesus Christ Matt. 27. 63. and his chosen Prophet Jer. 20. 7. and his Apostles 2 Cor. 6. 8. and upon almost all faithful Preachers and Writers ever since Such is the Subtlety of Satan and his Instruments by which he deceiveth the Nations That he will first throw out that Reproach and Calumny falsly on others to ward off divert and turn aside that Imputation which truly falleth back upon himself VVho are Deceivers indeed they will call those so who teach the way of God in Truth For these last being obliged in the course of their Ministry to lay open every thing that helps forward the Salvation of Mankind and to hinder their Destruction as much as possible they must also herein be like their great Master as to give a caution to People to take heed what they hear and to beware of those who are Men-pleasers more than the Servants of Christ Nay we must admonish of every thing which dishonours God and brings danger unto Men as unfaithful Teachers do both But these again through Pride and unwillingness to be Reformed seeing they hate Instruction Psal 50. 17. will endeavour to stop the way against the true handlers of the VVord of God for the former sort being secretly conscious of what may be proved and manifested against themselves they will try to be before-hand and falsly accuse or surmise such to be guilty of that which is truly their own Sin and Fault This is one cause of that Reproach which hath fallen on God's holy Prophets and People since the VVorld began As also it shews the perverseness and Disobedience of Mankind that they will as it were Reply against God Rom. 9. 20. In the Margin it is Answerest again and disputest with God which is to resist his will and it is a token of an unmannerly proud and disobedient Servant VVhen they break his Laws and God tells them thereof by his VVord and Spirit which he sends forth through some of their Fellow Creatures yet they are angry thereat and will retort upon them Again they have a mind to continue and go on still in Disobedience But this telling them is a kind of stop and interruption which they do not like and so they had rather remain Disobedient and have this for an excuse that they did not know it They would willingly be forgiven by God yet what they do in this manner is a further Sin and Provocation But God will search it out though we cannot so particularly and exactly discover it for he knoweth the very Secrets of the Heart Who is wise and he shall understand these things Prudent and he shall know them for the ways of the Lord are right and the Just shall walk in them but the Transgressors
Righteousness and Holiness were ingrafted into the Hearts of all Men so that they did live and were led by it at all times and in all places The Spirit of God would dwell in them 1 Cor. 3. 16. As God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. VVhat is requisite to all this we may read in the first Verse of the following Chapter Having therefore these Promises both those aforementioned are included for it is expressed in the plural number let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit Perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Be ye clean ye that bear the Vessels of the Lord Isa 52. 11. And from what is written Thou hast taken Captivity Captive VVe learn that God hath taken even Sin and Corruption Captive which heretofore did hold the Children of Men in Slavery and Captivity But when every Thought in them also is brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ God will plant somewhat else in the room thereof Thou hast received Gifts for Men even the qualifications of his Grace and the fruits of his Spirit Yea for the Rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Psal 68. 18. So that though Men and Women have been Rebellious and Disobedient formerly yet when those Rebellious Thoughts and Imaginations are brought into Captivity when the Gifts of God are first lodged in the Soul to make it ready and meet beforehand the Lord God himself will come and dwell amongst them also So that whereas it was before mentioned And the Lord said My Spirit shall not always strive with Man for that he also is Flesh Gen. 6. 3. And the reason hereof was assigned because the Flesh did so very often overcome the Spirit when the Children of Men did Rebel and Vex and Grieve and Quench the Spirit yet the Blessing and Saying of Gad is made good and herein is found true A Troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at last Gen. 49. 19. So a Troop of Lusts and a Legion for they are many of Temptations have overcome the Spirit but the Spirt shall overcome them at last And the Spirit shall have that Dominion and Prevalency in the hearts of all Men that all its Dictates and Motions shall be so willingly and immediately obeyed and complied withal that there shall be no striving of the Spirit with Man for he shall forthwith and presently go as that commands him to go and come as that bids him to come and do this or that according as the Spirit saith without any such thing as Reasoning and Perswasion or striving in the Heart for there will not be the least Reluctancy or Unwillingness God who sees and knows the things afar off doth foresee this also that even Flesh will become so Spiritual that they shall obey all his Commands and execute his Statutes without any striving of the Spirit but only upon the first motion and making of it known unto their Hearts CHAP. VIII Towards the end of Time and in the latter days All the Inhabitants of the Earth will be turned and brought over unto God Which will be done and accomplished by the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High IF it be asked But when shall these things be I Answer Tho there may be some tendency and preparation thereto in the mean while yet we must not expect nor look for it absolutely and fully Vntil the Spirit be poured down upon us from on High Isa 32. 15. Which shall acquaint us with the things of God and of Heaven in a most wonderful and plentiful manner that we shall then know them as clearly distinctly and truly as now we do the common things of this Earth which are now visible and present before us My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain My Speech shall distill as the Dew as the small Rain upon the tender Herb and as the showers upon the Grass Deut. 32. 2. After that very manner hath the Word and Spirit of the Lord came to the several Men and Women of the former Generations by Droppings and Distillings like small Rain and as the Dew or Showers But this pouring forth of the Spirit upon us from on High will be like great Drops running on continually together or raining down Bucket fulls at once as the common proverbial Speech is When all the Fountains of the great Deep shall be broken up and the windows of Heaven shall be opened Gen. 7. 11. In this sence also So that all the things that are in the Earth or Sea or in the Hearts of the Children of Men shall be openly disclosed and made known And the windows of Heaven shall be opened so that we shall as clearly see and perceive the things there as now by looking through the Window thereof we see the things that are in such a Room of an House as when we are in it and look through the Casement we see the things in the next adjoining Court And that it will be all thus made known Universally at once we are given to understand by what is Written Drop down ye Heavens from above and let the Skies pour down Righteousness Let the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring up together I the Lord have Created it Isa 45. 8. God hath made and ordained that it shall be so that the Heavens shall drop down the things contained therein They shall be so made known unto and had by us as if they were actually dropped down and next to us The Earth also shall open and bring forth the things contained in her which heretofore lay underneath and hidden All this shall be done together And it is observable how they are all expressed by these two VVords Righteousness and Salvation By the first is shewn forth the nature of them as they are fixed and connected together after the Image of him who Created them that is in eternal and immutable Righteousness And because that in the Earth those things are which now hurt and destroy therefore God who causeth Light to shine out of Darkness and by his own way of working Which is marvellous in our eyes will cause that both Heavens and Earth do open and let them It is expressed in the Plural Number and therefore both of them shall have an hand and part in it As to bring forth Salvation and Righteousness is to spring up together with it Intimating that besides that Righteousness which the Skies shall pour down another Righteousness shall spring up together with it By the Phrase of Springing up we learn that this will proceed out of the Earth Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Plal. 85. 11. That is both