hope I shall never do it But I desire to remember and always bear in mind so that I may follow his Example in this Duty of trusting on God that Character which is recorded of Hezekiah He trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him there was none like unto him among all the Kings of Judah nor any that were before him 2 Kin. 18. 5. What could Paul finish his Course with Joy when Bonds and Afflictions in every City did abide him Yes he did by the Influences and Comforts of the Holy Ghost within him at the same time For as God was with Joseph in the Prison so he is equally or rather more with his Servants in trouble when they are suffering according to his Will in well doing So I declare truly unto ye this Day behold what a good God it is whom we serve I have experienced more Sweetness and Joy which arises from the Sense of the loving Kindness and Favour of God towards us and from the Belief and Assurance of a greater Reward when I have been in Prison then when I have been out of it For then I have had a troubled Spirit and a wounded Spirit who can bear for my neglect of doing the Will of God and for my accepting of Deliverance upon sinful Terms and out of fear of the future Displeasure of God against me for the same I am of the same Mind still and I desire ever to continue so I had rather meet with what is commonly called Trouble and Suffering which even in the midst thereof is very much sweetned by the Holy Ghost the Comforter in the way of serving God and doing my Duty towards him by testifying the Gospel of God and by asserting his Commandments in the very same manner as they lie and were by him given than avoid Suffering or Trouble in omitting or neglecting of it Your own several Understandings can conceive and tell ye that if one can finish his Course with Joy when Bonds and Afflictions every where abide him which is as certain as Scripture is true and that God hath any Care over his Servants and People then he is altogether as happy as those at full Liberty And so those who take joyfully the spoiling of their Goods from whence doth that Joy arise even from that Knowledge that they have in Heaven a better and more enduring Substance as some have done then these also are in the same or rather a better Condition than those who have kept them for they have not that degree of rejoycing I will not here apply that next Verse of Paul's Farewel Sermon to the Ephesians And now behold I know that ye all amongst whom I have preached the Kingdom of God shall see my Face no more for besides that Humane Temper of mine Romae rus opto absentem Rusticus Vrbem There is a like Disposition in me as was in one of the Patriarks of longing fore after my Father's House There is a Lothness and Unwillingness in me according to the Flesh to leave or throw my self out of it because of having there the Necessaries and Conveniences of outward Life and of dwelling at ease But if I should always continue there how should the Work of God be done by me and wo be unto me if I do it not and I would not have it taken out of my Hands and given to another and so I shall lose the things that I have wrought and not receive a full Reward nor yet obtain a better Resurrection than my other Fellow-Creatures who are for being at Ease the Lord declares himself I am very sorely displeased with the Heathen that are at ease Zech. 1. 15. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion Amos 6. 1. and sleeping in a whole Skin as we commonly phrase it It is a Resemblance to Moses's Faith Choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season Esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt for he had Respect unto the Recompence of Reward And so if I rather choose only Bread to eat and Rayment to put on Gen. 28. 20. as I hope he will give me that as he did unto Jacob in the way wherein I am to go which he hath chalked and shew'd unto me before-hand rather than to enjoy still the Comforts of a full Table or the sweet delightsome Rellish of Sensuality which is like the Israelites longing after the Onyons Leeks and Garlick of Egypt or better Rayment or what is commonly call'd a more creditable kind of Life and all this I do only for the sake of God and of publishing yet more his Word and Truth The having Respect unto the Recompence of Reward doth swallow up all other wordly and carnal Considerations Life is uncertain and it is more sickly in great and populous Cities and there be other Casualties Moreover the Sons of Violence are there so that God only knows whither ye shall see my Face any more But if I can enjoy Health Liberty and have continued Relief proportionable to my Need and I have a contented Mind so to abide and be doing I would willingly by the Grace and Truth of God not as of my self who can do nothing so effect things that ye shall see me no more till ye shall say Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. This is my Desire according to the Spirit tho' the Flesh perhaps may incline me to go to and fro That my Ministry shall not be altogether so much rejected amongst ye as formerly We have been with Child we have been in pain we have as it were brought forth Wind we have not wrought any Deliverance in the Earth neither have the Inhabitants of the World fallen Isa 26. 18. which hitherto hath been fulfill'd in my Ministry as to the People of this my Generation and Country Nevertheless it is of God as that here mention'd is altho' it had not its utmost effect There is an irksomeness and unwillingness according to the Flesh for even common Friends to part especially if we are to see one anothers Face no more and we know of it before-hand But there is yet a much greater sounding of the Bowels and deep thought of Heart between the true Preachers of the Gospel and their People and Hearers Especially if they are knit together in Heart and Affection as appears by this Instance and Example of Paul And they all wept sore and fell on Paul's Neck and kissed him Sorrowing most of all for the Words which he spake that they should see his Face no more And they accompanied him unto the Ship True Christianity where it is lively and real doth draw out the Affections and Passions in the most eminent manner that can be God knows whither my Ministry here used amongst ye hath so far reached the Hearts of any that it hath been reported of me in like manner as was of the Author and
Absolom unto his House So tho God sent unto me by his Spirit reasoning within me once and again Come do thou approach unto me and give up thy self only and immediately unto the Work of the Ministry which I had created thee for and set thee apart for it this He did once and again but I would not come for fear of displeasing my Kindred according to the Flesh But at length God sent a fit of Sickness on my Body which might have cut it down and destroy'd it whereas Commission was then given to shake only the Tree of my Life Whereupon I lying upon a sick Bed and liable unto Death every Hour altho my Sense and Understanding were preserv'd intire and then considering yet more throughly of this matter I vowed unto the Lord which I desire to remember and observe the longest Day I have to live that if it pleased him to grant me a Recovery and Reprieve I would set aside such and such Hours in each Day for the searching out and Contemplation of his Eternal Truths which should be all unto that end according to what is written Restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit Then will I teach Transgressors thy ways and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Psal 51. 12 13. Some of which have made up and composed those several Books I have written and published unto the World The only drift and design whereof is according to that Covenant and Direction which was given to the true Levitical Priesthood To turn many away from Iniquity Mal. 2. 6. and to turn many unto Righteousness Dan. 12. 3. which also are the two only Principal Ends of all our Speaking or Preaching by word of Mouth But here I have observed a Gradation or going on by steps for my first beginning herein was to testifie unto my Father's House lest they come to the Place of Torment for which I receiv'd evil Intreaty and unkind Usage from them for no other Reason but because that I did from the Word of the Lord and not out of mine own Head Rebuke sharply those that sinned but there did arise in the Hearts of some a Rancour and Indignation against it they being then of the like Temper and Disposition with those of whom it is written They hate him that rebuketh in the Gate and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly Amos 5. 10. and at length they would not hear the word of the Lord from my Mouth any more Then I preached to this Town and Neighbourhood in the House of one who is now a Widow where at first my Ministry was well accepted with the greater part I then commending my self to the Hearts and Consciences of my Hearers nevertheless for this things sake I was above Eight Years since removed from my Father's House Who at my going forth thrusted me out of his Gate and at the very same time tauntingly said That God would be as much Glorified by my going away as if I stay'd Whereby was that Scripture litterally fulfill'd Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your Joy and they shall be ashamed Isa 66. 5. And then the Lord called me from seeking to convert a Family and a Parish into the way of his Commandments if I could not as of my self for we are not sufficient of our selves to think much less to do any thing but our sufficiency is of God by the Words of his Grace and Truth be instrumental towards the turning a whole Nation from Iniquity unto Righteousness But alas the Devil and the Spirit of Disobedience hath worked and doth yet so strongly work in the Children of Men that I have hitherto been worsted and foiled in all these For ye are in no wise to think that because the most and greater part have not been obedient to the Word therefore it was not the Word or Work of the Lord in the Ministration whereof I was employ'd for this would be to contradict the Scripture and what hath in like manner happen'd to the other Ministers and Prophets of the Lord in former Generations and Countrys Saith Jeremiah From the thirteenth year of Josiah the Son of Amos King of Judah even unto this day that is the three and twentieth year the word of the Lord hath come unto me and I have spoken unto you rising early and speaking but ye have not hearkned And the Lord hath sent unto you all his Servants and Prophets rising early and sending them but ye have not hearkened nor inclined your Ear to hear Jer. 25. 3 4. Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him tho Israel be not gather'd yet I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength Isa 49. 4 5. Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles and all the faithful Ministers and Preachers both in that and in all the several successive Generations ever since have labour'd in this Work of the Lord to bring Jacob again unto him to bring Mankind into the way of his Commandments and that they might have Respect unto all his Statutes Psal 119. 6. and not keep some and neglect others as the manner of many is Which tho' they have effected of some few yea very few peculiar People about one in an hundred in the several sorts and denominations of Christianity yet it hath not as yet been so accomplished since the Days of the Creation as to the Multitude and Generality of People These indeed have been brought over so far as to outward Worship for all People will walk every one in the name of his God or it may be some more have come further to a partial Observation of the Law but not unto universal and constant Obedience unto all the Words of the Law and Gospel without turning aside to the Right Hand on to the left Saith another Servant of God who was by him employ'd also in this same Work of teaching Transgressors thy ways and that Sinners may be converted unto thee but because of contrary Success therein he crys out Let not those that wait on thee O Lord God of Hosts be ashamed for my sake Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake O God of Israel because for thy sake I have born Reproach shame hath covered my Face I am become a stranger unto my Brethren and an Aliant unto my Mothers Children for the zeal of thine House hath eaten me up and the Reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me Psal 69. 6 7 8 9. By which last may be perceiv'd the exceeding sinfulness of Reproach for to Reproach any one who doth handle the word of God
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
may seem too trivial to relate and perhaps ye would think not altogether so profitable and edifying for ye to hear But herein Use might be made unto your selves as ye know such kind of Experiences Trials and Exercises of a Servant of God and how ye could go thro' therewith if it was your own Case Moreover these and such like Things are absolutely necessary to build up and exercise a Trust on God according to those Words of our Text for in thee do I trust For Trust in God is a relative Term and pre-supposes Danger and Difficulty for God to carry us thro the one and to preserve from the other And as the God of David our Father did therefore suffer his Servant David to have Enemies to keep him in Warfare and that he might exercise his Trust on his Invisible Creator so the same God according to his Method and Workings of old doth now also in this Generation and Country of ours suffer several of his Servants to meet with Enemies Imprisonments as his Servant Paul was frequent in Prisons 2 Cor. 11. 23. sore Troubles and Afflictions By all these to Try Prove and Exercise their Trust on him and whither notwithstanding All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee nor dealt falsly in thy way Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and cover'd us with the shadow of Death Psal 44. 17 18 19. But to proceed yet further in what I have to declare unto ye I did refer it to this Issue That when it was the Will of God to call me away again from hence he would make it known unto me by some Sign and this should be the Sign viz. That if I did once perceive how that in the Course of my Ministry here among ye God did once begin to stop the Current of his Eternal Truths from coming into my Knowledge or if the Number of my Hearers did diminish and lessen then I should assuredly gather that God called me away Both which I have seen fulfill'd for I do but almost preach the same things over and over unto ye which is not improper for a Gospel Minister to do for said the greatest Preacher thereof for these several Hundred Years last past To write the same things to me is not grievous but to you it is safe And the Gentiles besought that those Words might be preached to them the next Sabbath Acts 13. 42. So that it is lawful yea sometimes convenient and necessary to preach the same Sermon or read the same Book or publish the same things over and over again and I have no new thing to declare unto ye For I have found within my self a withdrawing and stopping the Hand as to God his affording me more and further Communication of his Eternal Truths partly occasion'd thro' what was afore-mention'd of my worldly and vain Conversation which did Grieve and Quench the Spirit for the Time partly because I once said I would leave off preaching upon such a Consideration and Temptation which Expression of mine I believe was offensive unto his Holiness who knoweth all things For whosoever once puts his Hand to this Plough and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God And the other I believe was the Reason here mention'd And then the number of my Hearers hath visibly diminish'd and lessen'd as such of ye are my Witnesses who came to hear me from the very first which hath not therefore so happen'd because of much more Inability and Insufficiency in my self over others For the Word which hath been here preached is as Quick and Powerful as Lively and Affecting the Heart and Conscience as rational and true and altogether as faithfully handled as what is preached in other Congregations round about It is a Vexation to see Men of Understanding not set by nor yet to have their due Worth and Esteem from the World I returned and saw under the Sun that the race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the strong neither yet Bread to the Wise nor yet Riches to Men of Vnderstanding Eccles 9. 11. But it commonly so happens that the more Eminent Instruments of the Glory of God to their respective Generations and Countries are not understood by the People thereof For he supposed his Brethren would have underderstood how that God by his Hand would deliver them but they understood not Acts 7. 25. Our Fathers understood not thy Wonders in Egypt Psal 106. 7. Of whom the World was not worthy they wandred in Deserts in Mountains and in Dens and Caves of the Earth Heb. 11. 38. But there have to many went about in this Town and Neighbourhood like Elymas the Sorcerer to persuade People off from Hearing my Preaching the Word whereof they shall give account before him that is ready to judge both the Quick and Dead and I shall implead them there for their prating against us with malicious Words The like did Diotrephes to the Apostle John and not content themselves to refuse to hear the Word preach'd by me they disswade them who would There are many in this Town and Neighbourhood who like Alexander the Coppersmith have done me much harm I mean chiefly as to my Ministry Besides as to what hath fallen in Subordination as to my outward Condition and Circumstances in my intended Settlement of Life in this Country which according to the Flesh I did once desire but now I suppose it will not be As to the Harm they have done to my Ministry let them know as much before-hand and tremble thereat They shall hear of it again at the Judgment-Seat of God All this is chiefly occasion'd because of the matter of the Popish King because I had written not out of mine own Head but only from the Book of the Law and Commandment of God That it was not lawful to turn aside a Papist from his right Quatenus or meerly because he was a Papist especially when his People had sworn a solemn Oath kissing the Bible of Subjection and Faithfulness unto him And so the Prophet of the Lord in Ezek. 17 18 19. doth reprove the King of Jerusalem for despising the Oath which he had taken to the King of Babylon who was an Heathen and so an Oath doth bind to such an one or a Papist when lo he had given his Hand For when a Lawful Oath is once taken by invocating and sealing the same with the name of God as that is so for Subjects to swear Subjection which is their Duty unto their King and Ruler there is none can go off or recede from the same and be guiltless or blameless There is not an Instance hereof to be given throughout the whole Bible So that the aforesaid Proposition may be truly grounded upon this plain Declaration of the Law and Revealed Will of God I will be a swift Witness against false Swearers such are they who despise or do not keep the Oath of God which is contrary unto
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.