and unprofitable and righteousness cannot be attained by them no nor by any of yours said she the best of you must acknowledge you have sinned and are sinners and that in your best righteousness therefore by the deeds of the law can no flesh be justifyed in the sight of God but now the righteousness of God is manifested without the law c. she earnestly pressed that that though they had not all sinned as she whose sins was manifest yet so unclean was their best works that if God should enter into judgement with them they could not stand nor escape the wrath of God it was said that was true according to the old covenant But now we are considering our selves under another covenant As intimating that according to the covenant given us in Christ men might be accepted and stand just before God in their own works not considering that God hath made him that knew no sin to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him but still in him she glorifyed nor would be beaten off from it nor moved to rejoyce in any thing else nor to seek after any other thing to rejoyce in but stood fixed like him God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the cross of Christ by whom the world is crucyfied unto me and I unto it This I observed in her reasoning with divers that though somtimes she would to commend that grace in Christ tell them how it had taught her and had and did work upon her such humiliation willingness to take shame c. And to satisfie them did tell some that she had confessed her sins and declared her wayes so farre aâ— she knew them to her faithful friends and they had prayed for her and God heard them yet when she was urged to try the truth of her faith and repentance that way and from the truth of such things to gather or make to her self a ground and foundation for her faith and â—ope she would not plead them at all but relinquisht them as empty weak and unprofitable to that purpose and would glory in nothing as the ground of her faith and hope but the cross of Christ the grace in him to man ward who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification that only through faith in it had healed and put strength in her soul and did strengthen her to plead for her hope of eternal life to good purpose against all that would have moved her from it I perceived also the too usual way that men walk in with sinners to urge repentance confession and sorrow for sin and that it iâ— such as doth not bring forth any such fruit in truth it worketh not the righteousness of God it is even such as in which they are teachers of the law nd know not what they say nor whereof they affirm urging Gospel precepts and duties on the terms of the covenant of works the man that doth them shall live in them and cursed is every one that comes short that is first telling them it is their duty to repent to believe c. without testifying to them any certain ground of repentance and faith in what Christ hath done and is become for them as true for them in Christ whether they belâ—ive of no yea before they dare assure them of any truth in the Gospel declarations for and towards them and then to provoke to it tell them if once they can find such a frme and that their graces are true according to such signes as they give they may thence conclude God loves them and Christ dyed for them c. In this they understand not what they say nor where of they affirme for as without opening a door of repentance in the redemption wrought and obtained from the curse of the law and preparation of forgiveness of sins in Christ through his blood and preaching it in his name there could have been no repentance towards God nor could it have been equally required and so had been nor mans duty having onâ—â— sinned and being sinners they must have been utterly and for ever shut out from God and from his mercy so neither is there any arme or power of God put forth to work repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ but in the testyfying or preaching the cross of Christ or in that which is equivalent the discoveries of Gods goodness and propitiousnesse to sinners that is in and through our Saviour so that as the Apostle saith Herein is not love that we have loved God but that he hath loved us first sent his Son the propriâ—iation for our sins so may I say herein is not repentance unto life that men first repent and beleive before they know weather God hath had love of pitty and compassion towards them in Christ wheather Christ have by the grace of God tasted death for them or no and then ground their knowledge and assurance of that upon the truth of their repentance and graces What I observed bâ—â— bring to my mind a former passage that I shall now relate I went to visit a woman condâ—mned to death for killing her husband and met with one in the Prison coming from her that told me she feared iâ— was in vain for two godly Ministers had been with her and taken great pains and could not bring her to any plain confession nor perceive any such true contrition as mightgive them any hope concerning her and they had given over yet I desired I might see her and was permitted the woman being very 〈◊〉 on her bed spake frowardly to her that led me in what said she have you brouâ—ht me in another torm nâ—or to which I replyed that I came not to judge or torment or trouble her nor to ask or require any thing of her but to tell her good news the best for her that ever she heard and it was certain and true upon whichshe lift up her head and asked what it was I told her that Jesus Christ came into the world to save her from her sins even her by name for he came into the world to save lawless and disobedient sinners ungodly and prophane sinners even such as were Murtherers of Fathers of Mothers Man-slayers Whore mongers Adulterers c. Yea even Blasphemers of the name of Christ and Persecutors of the Church of God and such as were disobediently and rebelliously against light coming to them such such he came to save from their sins she said that was good news indeed but could I indeed shew it her in the word of the Lord that expresly for such Iesus Christ came into the world to save them I told her yea it was plain and fully there testyfied and did shew it her in that 1 Tim. 1.8.9.15 comparing the verses and that with other Scriptures I shall not enlarge this discourse to shew how I did evidence and shew it by that and other Scriptures and apply
in medling more then they needed or in not affording me what mercy and priviledge by the law of the land I might have had in my sad case the Lord forgive them and graciously set home convincement upon their hearts of their evil and wrong I forgive them I blesse God I have not the least prejudice against any I take it out of his hand that is righteous and infinitely merciful in punishing me with less then Hell fire for ever and be you all warned in time to flee from sin as from the Devil for it will lead you captive to the Devil flee to Christ for help and strength against it for sin brings shame it must be owned and acknowledged and Gods Judgement submitted too the sooner and the more voluntary the better for Whore-mongers and Adulterers God will judge Oh that such as have sinned as I have done would make hast to confess their sins and take shame turn at his reproofs in time that you may escape the damnation of Hell that is infinitely worse then this Therefore to day while it is called to day the Holy Ghost saith harden not your hearts if ye would hear his gracious voice harden not your hearts against the reproofs of his instruction to day even to day off that this spectacle may be a warning to you all and that God would set home to your hearts these broken words of a dying woman oh that they may be laid to heart now in time Take heed especially all ye that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity flee it as from a Serpent void evil lascivious wanton company chamring wantoness provoke lust lead into further snares I had thought I had been strong enough to withstand dally not with him take heed of dallying with the temptation it will get dominion at last it bites like a Serpent make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof for he that soweth to his flesh shall of it reap corruption and God will more severely judge them on whom his name is called that all may know he cannot endure iniquity he will least of all eudure it in them that come nigh him he will magnify his name and will be sanctifyed of all that come near him Take heed all of you that none of you harden your harts against him and his voice by his pretious people because of me but hear and attend to the Gospel know them that call on the name of the Lord in truth God is in and with them of a truth though I have sinned against God and them and therefore am thus corrected with the rods of men and they are permitted to use extremity upon me I have sinned the Lord is righteous let others take heed of despising the grace of God or hardning their hearts against it and against the way of truth because of what I have done for even that Grace of God bringing salvation to all men is the true grace of God and doth truly teach and powerfully work It doth in its appearing to us teach that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world it did teach me but I wanted a Ioseph like spirit to have reasoned from all the Grace appearing in Christ how then shall I commit so great wickedness and sin against God oh that I had harkned but I rebelled and hardned my heart therefore he was fain to bring down my heart withall this labour and in all love to my soul and to warn and admonish others not to harden their hearts be not mockers or despisers least your bands be made strong do not for lying vanities for sake your own mercies for there is eternal mercies life redemption in Christ prepared for you whether you beleive it or beleive it not it is prepared in him for every one of you given with him that you might know and beleive and 〈◊〉 made pertaker of it in and with him â—he King the God of glory hath made a marriage for his Son the marriage is made the feast prepared and ready for you all the servants are sent to the bidden guests and they make excuses some their Farmes Oxen Wives and such things for lying vanities for sake their own mercies and some complement themselves out they say I have sinned and am so vile a sinner so unclean and so polluted I am not fit I must first wash my self or make my self clean or be washed by my tears or works of the law before I may come to him to eat of his bread and drink of the wine that he hath mingled take heed of this let none complement themselves out here câ—me as ye are 'T is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the world to save sinners sinners as sinners he came to save but not to save them in their sins but to save from them to redeem us from all iniquity and unless he save and wash us we cannot be clean he knew what we were before he called us and he called and gave himself for us that he might wash us and unless he wash us we can have no part with him come therefore in his calls and drawings come as thou art he will in no wise cast thee away how sinful and vile soever but he will wash thee with the washing of water by his word for consider how great things he hath done for thee while thou wast dead in sins and trespasses and altogether filthy and polluted in thy blood and while such he calls thee and such were some of those that are now made accepted in the beloved even such as I have been Whoremongers Adulterers c. But they were washed in their coming to him washed in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God they did not wash themselves first or were washed by any other means before they came oh come therefore to the waters he that hath no money come ye and do not complement your selves out well but the bidden guests refused and the King was forced to look for guests where he could he sent out to the high wayes and hedges and that once and again to call draw into the house that the house might be filled and when many were come in the King looking among those come into the house finds one without a wedding garment and said to him friend he calls him friend for Christ had been a real friend to him But how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment loe he was speechless he had not that to say for excuse that there was none prepared for him or he had no way on means offered to come at it he was speechless nothing to say for himself There is certainly a wedding garment provided for you all in and by Christ t is made ready loe all things are ready and with him tendred a perfect righteousness to cover you and make you acceptable in
the sight of God despise it not it s for every poor sinful wretch in the world prepared in Christ given with him to be put on in coming into his house and so unto him For he that knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we might be made the vighteousness of God in him and to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the â—ngodly his faith is counted for righteousness and to him God imputeth righteousness without works I hope you will excuse my weakness I had almost forgot what I was saying the man wâ— speechless and so the judgement following was according to truth as we are sure it is in all the revelations of his wrath present and eternal against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Go take the unprofitable servant bind him hand and foot and cast him into utter darknesâ— where there shall be weeping wayling and gnashing of teeâ—h Go ye cursed into ever lasting fiâ—â— prepared for the Devil and his Angels depart from me alâ— ye workers of iniquity Oâ— most dreadful sentence most dreadful sentence and yet this the certain doom and judgement of all those that are incensed against him yea of all that are not found in him whether they have sinned grosly as I have done or no or whatever righteousness according to the law or other garments they be found in not being found in this they cannot be accepted with God and so not stand in that day nor escape that dreadful sentence it shall come upon all that â—anctifie themselves that purifie themselves behind one tree c. That feed not on the flesh of Christ that was given for the liâ—e of the world but eat swines flesh c. Oh this that I now suffer is nothing to that dreadful sentence which yet is the portion of all the ungodly that dye in their sins and it is his infinite grace not my deserving that I did not fall under it for ever all less that to me is infinite mercy but that also he should by these means graciously recal me to that resting place from which I had wandered and heal my backslidings love me freely own and call me by a new name in Heaven sprinkle my heart and conscience with that blood that speaks better things then that of Abel more powerfully for mercy and forgiveness and healing then that for vengeance which he hath done and doth abundantly I may truly say whence is this to me Behold what manner of love is this And this hath made me willing to accept of the punishment of my iniquity since my shame was discovered and heart brought down she oft said she never had any temptations since she was apprehended and in Prison such the mercy of God which she acknowledged in it to escape or use any means to get from under it either by making away her self or life privately as many had charged her with such enterprizes but there was sufficient evidence to the contrary or by getting out in which she much and often in the Prison magnifyed the mercy of God to her yea she admired at his mercy in thus judging her And that by this means she that had so procured these things in her self and blemished the name of God should so soon be delivered from all her trangressions and from the reproach of the foolish and from that mercy encouraged her friends to hope that though they must remain to bear the reproach of it longer then she yet not to be discouraged he that had found out a way to deliver her such as in which Righteousness and Mercy both was magnifyed would deliver them and his name and magnifie it by that which to outward appearance might seem to blemish iâ— he knows how to bring good out of evil to make grace abound where sin hath abounded but shall we therefore sin that grace may abound God forbid but when he hath magnifyed his grace in such forgiveness and healâ—ng such sinners and therein commended his righteousness and glorifyed his name oh sure said she she loved much to whom much was forgiven she often protested her great peace and joy of spiâ—it in the veiw of what she was hasting too and that all sorrow and shame would presently be at an end to her and God would wipe away all tears for his sons sake the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the wâ—rld and yet said that she was filled with shame and blushing for her own iniquity there called to remembrance but withal with great rejoycing in the Lord and in him only by means of whom her sin should be no more remembred and therefore did relinquish all confidence in the flesh in any works of her own according to the law or in any arguments or gracious frames of brokenness sorrow for sin meetings desires after his name which though she doubted not of his gracious acceptance of them pardoning the iniquities and mixtures in them through the mediator that lives to present them and take away those iniquities and mixtures and so make them accepted in himself yet did she not know or allow them at all in the ground of her hope and rejoyâ—ing in God nor needed them having enough in the flesh of Christ that was given for the life of the world to nourish her to eternal life nor in particular words of scripture brought to her mind and applyed by her to such her needs and conditions as she thought they answered too and though from such things she had conceived hopes of longer life here partly by reason of her desire of it for her childrens sake and cheifly as she thought that she might live to walk more close with God and with his people and glorifie his name as she had brought dishonour to it And those hopes were disappointed yet that did not move her at all from her hope and rejoycing in the hope of eternal life because that was begotten â—â—d she strengthned and quickned to it through the resurrection of Christ that foundation stands sure and hath this seal for confirming the goodness and sureness of it The Lord knoweth owneth approveth them that are his namely that are built and abide on this foundation yea though they have wandred from Mount to Hill forgot their resting place yet turn again hither and have their hearts and minds stayed here and though from all her sparks that she had bin kindling and composing her self withall she must lye down yet she had the name of the Lord to trust in and her God to stay upon and he was wonderfully a present help to her in the time of trouble and did through his name and the excellent knowledge of himself so sprinkle her heart and conscience and deliver her from blood guiltiness that her tongue did sing aloud of his righteousness did open her lips shut by her own iniquities and her mouth did shew forth his praise she appointed the 25 Psalm and sung with