up Treasure for himself not caring to be rich towards God O take heed and beware of Covetousness for a Mans Life consisteth not in the abundance of the Things which he possesseth And let our Conversation be without Covetousness content with such Things as we have seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these Things shall be added unto us for the Lord hath said I will never leave you nor forsake you Covetousness is but for Carnality it caters for the flesh making provision for it satisfying it in the Lust thereof The carnal mind is enmity against God not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be The Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes are great Eye-sores to Religion and great Impediments to our seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness If we would be spiritually minded in seeking those Things that are above we must not be carnally minded in seeking great Things for our selves here below We can never fight the good Fight of Faith or take the Kingdom of Heaven by violence without abstaining and flying from fleshly Lusts which War against the Soul Fleshly persons who live after the Flesh in the Lust of Uncleanness can never be valiant Volunteers to fight under the Banner of Christ for the conquering of Sin Satan and the World which must first be done before the Kingdom of Heaven be taken The Flesh doth lust against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are so contrary the one to the other that we cannot do the Things we should while we walk in the Flesh Let us not therefore walk according to the Flesh or War after the Flesh for the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal Let not us be carnal but spiritual putting on the whole Armor of God which will be mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds and mortifying the deeds of the Body namely fleshly Lusts which War against the Soul that in all Things we may be more than Conquerors through him who loves us even our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified unto us and we unto the World as also the Flesh for they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections Passions and Lusts by whom also we resist and overcome the Devil for he was made Partaker of Flesh and Blood that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil the Works of the Flesh which are manifest to be Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Pride Covetousness Hatred Variance Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings Now they which follow such Things can neither seek or ever hope to inherit the Kingdom of God Lying is another sin which in a special manner is to be hated and avoided by us if indeed we will set our selves heartily to seek the Kingdom of God which is the uttering of an untruth with an intent and purpose to deceive a sin that transforms men into Devils They who are given to Lying are of their Father the Devil who abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him when he speaketh a Lye he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it A lying Tongue is one of the seven Things the Lord hates and is an abomination to him Lying Lips are an abomination to the Lord and therefore a righteous man hateth Lying but they that deal truly are Gods delight and God is their delight they that delight in the Lord he will give them the desire of their hearts for the prayers of the upright are his delight But they who delight in Lyes who bless with their mouth but curse inwardly without Repentance are to be cursed eternally The fearful and unbelieving and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second death Let none who seek this Kingdom of God be like the Devil a Lyar but like God who cannot lye Let us fear to lye to the Holy Ghost or to lye of or to lye to one another by the example of Ananias and Saphira who were struck dead with a Lye in their mouth Wherefore with David Let us hate and abhor Lying and putting away Lying speak every man Truth with his Neighbour for he only that speaketh the Truth in his heart is of the Generation of them that first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness that seek and shall see the face of the God of Jacob. Take we heed also and beware of the Leaven of Hypocrisie professing what we mean not to practise pleasing our selves with a form of knowledge and godliness denying the power of it Hypocrites they say but do not they pray but practise not believe but live not as they believe they are Covenant makers but not Covenant keepers drawing near the Lord with their Mouths and honouring him with their Lips but removing their Heart far from him with fl ttering Lips and with a double Heart do they speak to God and man there can be no faithfulness in their Mouth for their inward part is very Wickedness the Prayers and other Duties of such wicked men are an abomination to the Lord. Whatsoever is done in the great business of Salvation is to be done heartily as to the Lord and not unto men If any man speak he is to speak as the Oracles of God not as pleasing men but God which tryeth the Hearts that God in all Things may be glorified through Jesus Christ able with the Holy Apostle to call God to Witness that neâ—ther at any time useth he flattering Words for a Cloak of Pride or Covetousness nor of men seeketh he Glory but whether he eats or drinks or whatsoever else he doth the Glory of God is sure to be at the end of it his own Salvation the pleasing of all men in all Things not seeking his own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved which no worldly fleshly Hypocrites can say who receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God onely so desirous are they of Vain-glory For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus but their own Belly and by good Words and fair Speeches deceive the hearts of the simple but themselves most and worst of all while in opposition to the Glory of God which should be their highest and chiefest end and their onely aim the honouring pleasing and enriching themselves by unlawful wayes and means is their end and business These double-minded double-tongued and double-dealing Hypocrites are far from the Kingdom of God lay aside first Hypocrisie and desire Truth in your inward parts then first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness with desirous expectation to find it Be sure none of these forementioned Evils be your
THE Kingdom OF GOD Opened and Proved To be a Kingdom of Grace and Glory the one Thing necessary for all and the Saints everlasting Happiness A Discovery of the Subjects of it by their Qualification and Conversation Scriptural Evidences for every one to try his Eternal state by with Motives and Means for getting and keeping a comfortable assurance of this heavenly Kingdom By Tobias Ellys Minister of the Gospel Imprimatur Gulielmus Sill Aug. 11. 1677. Printed by T. N. for H. Mortlock at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard and at the White Hart in Westminster-Hall 1678. To His Most Excellent and Sacred Majesty Charles II. BY THE Gracious Providence of GOD King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Grace and Glory Great Sir THE Kingdom of God the Subject of these ensuing Meditations I humbly crave leave to present to Your Majesties Acceptance Perusal and Consideration as containing matter of the greatest weight and worth to Your Self and to Your Three Kingdoms my unfeigned hearty desire confidence and comfort concerning You is that You will pursue to Your utmost Power this great Command Counsel and Proclamation of Your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness And that by Your Example Command Counsel and Proclamation 〈…〉 also endeavor that all under Your Care and Charge may do in like manner it being the great end of our coming into the World living in it and dying out of it next to the Glory of God to enjoy a better namely this Kingdom of God For which end and purpose our Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks are made to Almighty God for You and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the Truth which if You and those in eminent place under You may be instrumental of how greatly will it add to Your Crown and Joy For what is Your Hope or Joy or Crown of Glorying and Rejoycing are not even we Your Subjects in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe because that Your Command Counsel Proclamation Example and Charge to every one of us as a Father to his Children to walk worthy of God who hath called us to this Kingdom and Glory was believed obeyed and followed in that day Wherefore also we pray alwayes for You and for all that are in Authority both Ecclesiastical and Civil that God would count and vouchsafe both You and us worthy of this Calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his Goodness and the work of Faith with power that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in You and we in Him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ in whom I am and ever shall be Your most Humble and Loyal Subject and Servant In all Faithfulness TOBIAS ELLYS Kensinton Nov. 21. 1677. S. Matth. vj. xxxiij But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you SO fearful and fatal was the first sin of our first Parents to themselves and their Posterity who sinned in them that we are all come short thereby of the glory of God and our estate is now both sinful and miserable the knowledge and consideration whereof should incite every one to the most serious and vigorous desires care and endeavors how he may speedily extricate himself out of so deplorable a condition By our wilful sin we are fallen from God grace and glory unto the Creature under sin and Satan's power and being the children of disobedience we are also the children of the devil and the children of wrath But God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life He hath also raised up his Son Jesus and sent him to bless us in turning away ever one of us from our iniquities by giving himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world He also himself took flesh and bloud that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil Even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Because he would have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth And therefore in pursuance of his gracious design of saving Mankind he hath here in my Text issued out his Royal Counsel Command and Proclamation But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you In which words there are two general Parts 1 A Precept in these words But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness 2 A Promise in those and all these things shall be added unto you In the Precept consider the word of Opposition But the Act seek the Persons ye the Objects with their emphaticâ—l Adjuncts and Particles the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness In the Promise we have the Copulative and the matter of the Promise all things the manner of Conveyance with its certainty shall be added the Persons to whom the Promise is made to you For Explication seek i. e. with desire accordinâ—ly do with your might This word implies necessiâ—y misery mercy duty dignity diligence delight difficulty possiblity probability care fear fidelity fervency constancy which were easie to demonstrate had I time Ye not onely of little faith ver 30. especially but this great multitude c. and who ever else will c. First above before all other things chiefly early earnesty The Kingdom a word of large extent and signification which here at large I may not open By Kingdom is meant both Grace Rom. 14.17 the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost And glory 1 Thess 2 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and glory Of God as the Author Giver Conserver and Confirmer of it And his Righteousness By Righteousness is meant Christ himself This is his name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness Righteousness especially for our Justification Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Righteousness So he is by virtue of the personal perfect and perpetual holiness of his Nature together with his active and passive Obedience the matter and merit of our Justification through faith reckoned and imputed And Sanctification passive and active Whereby by the Divine power we are made partakers of the Divine Nature and thereby enabled to die unto sin and
therefore your members purifying our hearts by Faith a Faith that worketh by love and worketh love in their souls who obey the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love not only of Brethren but Enemies so that they can love them with pure hearts fervently That we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil we wrestle not only against flesh and blood but against Principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high plâ—ces we must take unto our selves the whole armour of God having our loynes girt about with truth and having on the brest-plate of righteousness and our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace above all taking the shield of Faith wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and Hope the Helmet of Salvation the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching â—hereunto with all perseverance whereby we shall be more than Conquerors through him that loved us nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ not Tribulation though we must through much Tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers â—or things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord So that in this warfare though the way be not Peace yet the end of it is Peace it yieldeth the Peaceable Fruit of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby even that Peace which passeth all understanding and Joy which is unspeakable and full of glory The Kingdom of God whether the Kingdom of Satan will or no will be the kingdom of Righteousness of Peace and of Joy in the Holy Ghost to the seekers of it the fighters for it the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force By Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ we enter into the kingdom of God and this Kingdom of God enters into us by Repentance towards God we are delivered from the power of darkness by Faith we are traâ—slâ—ted into the kingdom of his dear Son Repentance turns Sin Satan and the World out â—f the heart that Faith may let Christ into it the voice of Faith is Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors that the King of Glory may come in Who is this King of Glory Christ who dwelleth in the heart by Faith and where Christ is he hath his kingdom of Grace As many as receive him or that believe on his Name of his fulness receive Grace for Grace Christ and his Grace are inseparable he that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life our life is hid with Christ in God Christ is Gods first and greatest Gift himself tells us he is the Gift of God given to the World of Mankind before the foundation of the World in Gods everlasting Decree and with in and through him hath given all things pertaining to Life and Godliness even from the first Grace of Election to the last Gift of Eternal Life Election According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World Acceptation of our persons according to the good pleasure of his will he hath made us accepted in the Beloved Creation To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Redemption In him we have Redemption through his Blood according to the riches of his Grace A General Redemption we thus judge That if one died for all then were all dead dead in sins and trespasses dead in Law and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them by the Grace of God he tasted death for every man Regeneration The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature all things are past away behold all things are become new Justification By the offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life in whom we have the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of his Grace that they may receive forgiveness of sins by Faith that is in me saith Christ Reconciliation Being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ the Peace of Reconciliation God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself and Christ in his Ministers beseeching us to be reconciled unto God We who sometimes were far off are in Christ Jesus made nigh by his Blood for he is our Peace that he might Reconcile us unto God in one Body by the Cross having slâ—in the enmity thereby and made both one having broken down the Middle-Wall of Partition between us abolishing in his flâ—sh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinancâ—s for to make in himself of twain one New Man so making Peace Having thus made Peace by the Blood of his Cross God by him Reconciles all things unto himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven and we that were sometime alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death The Favour of God In whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace of Favour wherein we stand an unconceivable unspeakable mercy Jesus was in favour with God to bring us into favour with God whoso findeth Christ findeth Life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. In this Favour is our Life this Loving kindness is better thâ—n our Life next to the Glory of God I know nothing in comparison or competition to be minded regâ—rded sought made sure of and prized but having keeping and increasing in the favour of God It was the happiness of Christ as Man here on Earth to increase in favour with God David entreated this favour with his whole heart I know no chief good besides God and his favour the whole Benefits and Comforts of our Election Creation Redemption Regeneration Justification Reconciliation Adoption Sanctification and Glorification are summed up in Gods Face Countenance and Favour towards us in Christ Adoption The Son of God was made the Son of Man that we who are the Sons of Men might be made the Sons of God by Adoption when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth
that Majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ and that excellent glory which the Apostles were eye-witnesses of for they beheld his glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth the glory of his people Israel were the Majesty Beauty Comliness and Loveliness of all the reasonable Creatures that ever were is or shall be contracted and comprised in one Man How Lovely would that person be to see to but Christ God-man is altogether lovely How great is his goodness and How great is his beauty who is the beauty of Zion the perfection of beauty No wonder that he is the desire of all Nations and that all true Saints have one thing to desire of the Lord namely To behold the beauty of the Lord and that their Soul desires him in the night and with their spirit within them do seek him early Even new-born Babes sincerely desire the Word Christ and the word of Christ that they may grow thereby having tasted that the Lord is gracious at his gracious Invitation O tast and see that the Lord is good not as still-born dead hypocrites who have onely tasted in a way of profession the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come and so fall away Crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh by not Crucifying their Lusts and being Crucified to the World and thereby put him to an open shame but by a lively Faith and Hope they have seen and viewed their Beloved from head to foot and can by experience say My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among Ten thousand his head is as the most fine Gold his Locks are bushy and black as a Raven his eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the Rivers of waters washed with Milk and fitly set his cheeks are as a Bed of Spices as sweet Flowers his lips like Lilies dropping sweet smelling Myrrh his hands are as Gold Rings set with the Beryl his Belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires his Legs are as pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine Gold his Countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars his mouth is most sweet having kissed them with the kisses of his mouth and they at his command kissed him least he should be angry yea he is in the esteem of the poorest New-born Babe altogether lovely The believing Beloved Spouse is also Lovely to Christ Behold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair thou hast Doves eyes within thy locks and thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse saith Christ thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chain of thy neck If the borrowed created beauty of a true Believer a Spouse yet imperfect be so really ravishing to Christ How ravishing will the beauty of the Creator of such beauty be to the glorified spectators of it in the State of Glory which Christ desires on the behalf of all Believers Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me The beholding of this glory is our glory if Joy unspeakable and full of glory is to be had in a way of believing and loving of an unseen God and Christ and glory Oh what unspeakable unconceivable Joys will the perfect everlasting Vision of these afford to the glorified This is that they are Watching Working and Waiting and Hoping or Looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe for when Christ who is their Life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory Christ and his Church long to see each other not in a Glass darkly looking at one another at the Windows shewing himself through the Lattess but face to face The Spirit and the Bride say come Christ saith surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Jesus saith all them that love his appearing This perfect beatifical Vision of God in Heavenly Glory will breed unutterable sweet fruition in the nearest Union Communion and Communication between God and the Godly as there is an Union in grace between Christ and every true Christian by Faith through the spirit which is inseparable So there is an Union in glory or a glorious Union between the glorious Trinity and all the glorified beyond all apprehension and expression now and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one not one in Essence with God in Christ but one by resemblance or similitude an oneness there will be betwixt God and all the Godly glorified infinitely surpassing all other unions here below The Mystery of Husband and Wife one Flesh of King and Subject one Kingdom Soul and Body one Person Root and Branches one Tree Foundation Corner-stone and Building one House are very great and Mysterious but this of Grace and Glory much greater and far more unconceivable those are as shadows and so pass away this substantial and eternal for Brethren to dwell even together in the unity of the Spirit in the unity of that Faith which worketh by Love in the bond of Peace Behold how good and how pleasant it is beyond all expression apprehension and approbation But for the General Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect to dwell even together in unity with Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity through all Eternity in that glory which God the Father gave unto Christ and Christ hath given unto them that they may be one even as the Father and his Son Jesus are one I in them saith Christ and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one How good and how pleasant a sight will this be to behold here and onely here will the Natural and Intellectual eye be satisfied with seeing the hearts of all knit together in Love and unto all Riches of the full assurance of Understanding to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ and that Mystery of Godliness which without controversie is so great God manifested in the Flesh becoming one with us in Nature that we might become one with him in Grace and Glory for by one Spirit are we all Baptized into one Body for the body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ for we are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones as Head and Members make up but one Body so the Son of God who is also the Son of Man and the Sons of God which are as head and members make
of our love It is that to the Soul which the pulse is to the Body a Symptome of Life Gods love is our life our love to God is our great evidence that he loveth us I love them that love me This is the Souls pulse which beats continually What is Spiritual life but Spiritual love to God as God and as our chief good Can we say that Gods beloved which is Christ is our only chief beloved If I can say I am my Beloveds I may be sure that my Beloved is mine Nothing makes persons so perfectly one as perfect love which is not love in Word neither in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth A love to the Person beloved above the Portion enjoyed a love to every one and every thing the party beloved hath a kindness for and a hatred of aversion displicency and abhorrence of that which is contrary to love and the person beloved By this also we may know that we love God and the children of God when we keep his Commandments for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous and hereby we do know that we know him believe in him and love him if we keep his Commandments he that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Liar and the truth is not in him but whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the word of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him as our love to God is a sign of his love to us so the keeping of his Commandments is an evidence of the truth of our love to him according to our Lord Jesus his Question to Peter three times Lovest thou me more than these Lovest thou me Lovest thou me Thou knowest that I love thee saith he How Feed my Lambs feed my Sheep Do you think Christ would have believed Peter or Peter believed himself touching his love if he had disobeyed this Commandment Christ saith to all If ye love me keep my Commandments and he that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Now the Commandments of God are both Moral and Evangelical Moral contained in Moses his Ten Words called the Decalogue or Ten Commandments Evangelical called the Law or Doctrine of Faith concerning the Salvation of Mankind by our Lord Jesus Christ come already in the flesh to be believed by all that will be saved neither is there Salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men whereby we must be saved And therefore when any one doth Oh! that every one would ask this serious question seriously What must I do to be saved the only answer to it is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved This is his Commandment That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment There is a Law of Love as well as of Faith Love is the sum of the Law and hath the Power and force of a Law in it All the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this Love To God above all Love thy Neighbor as thy self If there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely Love to God and our Neighbor Love worketh none ill to his Neighbor therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law As love is the Fulfilling of the Law so sin is the Transgression of the Law of God The Moral and the Evangelical Law is against sin Sin not stand in awe and sin not is one great Command from God which we must live in continual obedience unto Our great fear desire care and endeavour must run out this way that we sin not Sin is the chiefest evil as it opposeth God the chiefest good therefore we are commanded to abhor that which is evil and abstain from all appearance of evil If we will enter into life we must keep this Commandment no entering into Heaven with Sin There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye For God hath no pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with him Sin and Sinners must be turned into Hell for ever The wages of sin is death we must be saved from sin before we can be saved from Hell Let us try what Conscience we make of this Command Do we fear to sin Can we say we fear none but God and nothing but Sin he that feareth the Commandment shall be rewarded Do we live in no known sin either of Heart or Life of Omission or Commission When we are overtaken with sin are we sorry for it after a godly sort until by an humble confessing and an hearty forsaking it we are reconciled to God If we be unreconciled to sin in our hearts and to a way and course of sin in our life we may be sure God and we are reconciled When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Our Eternal State may be known by our dispositions and conversations towards sin as the very bent and by-ass of our hearts and lives are for or against sin habitually and practically so will God determine our Eternal condition for Heaven or Hell In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil Whosoever abideth in Christ sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin and he cannot sin because he is born of God Yet is there a truth in this if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us if we say we have not sinned we make God a liar and his Word is not in us but he that committeth sin is of the Devil and whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother which is a Damnable sin for he that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death and not to love and to hate in Scripture is of the same signification Whosoever hateth his brother is a Murderer and ye know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him He that loveth not his Brother hath neither Spiritual Light Life or Love in him He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes This sin of not loving or hating a Brother is darkness that so blindeth the eyes that whosoever is guilty of it is under this Judgment he knoweth not whither he goeth I doubt not but everyone that loveth not his Brother thinks he doth love him because he loves him in Word and in Tongue and thinks he shall go to Heaven Alass What doth it profit if a brother or sister be naked or in prison and destitute of daily food and one say unto
deceive and destroy the Violent Man or Man of Violence is called the Proud or Evil Man It is the Violent Man that purposeth to overthrow the goings of the Upright by hiding Snares and Cords spreading Nets setting Gins for him while evil shall hunt the Violent Man to overthrow him God hath purposed to preserve the upright Man from this Man of violence though a Brother for a Brother offended especially without cause is harder to be won then a strong City and their Contentions are like the Bars of a Castle There is no going to Heaven or Hell without violence evil Men are more violent in serving Sin and Satan than good Men in serving God which is an aggravation of their Sin and a very great shame it is for such as are bound for such a place as Heaven is and going to God should be so slow and slothful in their pace thither while the ungodly are making such hast to Hell Is a corruptible triple Crown of Earthly Honors Pleasures and Riches in the way to Hell worth so much striving and running for and Is the Incorruptible Incomparable Crown of Life in the way to Heaven not worth much more Every one hath a Race to run a Prize to get the way to run in is Gods Commandments the Prize Eternal Life if thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments The great duty is so to run as to obtain In the Olympick Games the fighters and the Runners which were violent painful Exercises were to put forth all their strength they had therefore their honorable Encouragements to animate them The Apostle alludes to these to put Christians upon the like activity because they have many Duties to exercise which cannot be performed without painfulness and violence but one moments being in Heaven will more then recompence all their labor Let us get our hearts enlarged that with holy violence we may run the wayes of Gods Commandments unto the end that our reward may be great in the Kingdom of Glory which we must also seek valiantly We have violent valiant and potent enemies that stand in our way to this Kingdom to withstand and conquer before we can enter into it the Devil and all his Angels a flattering and a frowning World and worse than all these namely in-dwelling sin a home-born enemy that is more deceitful and dreadful than all our other adversaries which must be mortified before we can be saved We have all Gods holy just and good Laws to obey in every thought word and work in the greatest strictness and spirituality which requires much resolution and courage in us to perform alwayes even unto the end It is therefore very remarkable that when God enjoyns every one to observe to do according to all the Law turn not from it to the right hand or to the left he subjoyns this and repeats it three times be strong and very courageous be strong and of a good courage be strong and of a good courage to observe to do according to all the Law without erring on either hand It is the narrow way of life that leads to the strait Gate which whosoever walks therein shall enter in thereat This can never be done without constant courage and fixed resolution against sins of Omission and Commission and the lively performance of all holy Duties the means of getting Grace and growing therein which is our power to resist mortifie and overcome what God hath forbiden us and to do whatsoever he hath commanded us necessary hereunto is the putting on the keeping on the daily fighting in the whole Armor of God which that it may be done valiantly and successfully must be done in the name and strength of the Captain of our Salvation the Lord Jesus this way David vanquisht all his Enemies that compassed him about like Bees the Name of the Lord was the strong Tower he ran into for safety he made the Lord his strength and he became his Salvation our strength valour and prowess is from Christ which teacheth our hands to War and our fingers to fight that we wax valiant in fight turning to flight the Armies of the Aliens What is it that a Christian cannot do through Christ strengthening him with all might by his Spirit in the inner Man True Believers are the only valiant Men in the World none have so many and great enemies to contest with as they What wonderful exploits did those Worthies in the Hebrews do through the power of their Faith they turned not their back upon the World the Flesh or the Devil in all these things they were more than Conquerors Tribulation distress persecution famine nakedness peril sword death life Angels principalities powers things present things to come height depth nor any other creature can separate true Believers from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus through God they do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down our enemies that we may pass in season and safety through a Kingdom of Grace to a Kingdom of Glory which we must seek vigilantly be vig lant saith St. Peter because your Adversary the Devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour if we be not vigilant as well as valiant we may easily be devoured by Satan he stands Sentinel night and day watching that he may recover them who by Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth through the Mercy and Grace of God have recovered themselves out of his snares to take them captive or alive at his will When we have such a wakeful wrathful watchful and powerful Tempter so nigh us we had need to watch that we enter not into Temptation Saints have sinners their Tempters and their Enemies every way O how infinitely necessary is it that every Saint stand day and night upon his watch that he watch and keep his heart with all diligence that he Pray with David Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips that I sin not with my Tongue that I may keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me for the Tongue is such an untameable evil that if any Man offend not in word the same is a perfect Man such ought all Saints to be even perfect having so many that watch for Iniquity that make a Man an offender for a Word and lay a Snare for him that reproveth in the Gate and turn aside the just for a thing of nought and because in wrath they hate them Cast Iniquity upon their Names their Calling c. Defaming their Persons by giving out or taking up evil Reports against them I heard the Defaming of many fear on every side Report say they and we will report it All my familiars everyone of my peace watched for my halting saying peradventure he will be enticed and we shall prevail against him and we shall take our revenge on him with such Men have many a poor persecuted Christian to deal with Should we not then watch unto Prayer yea watching
that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a Lie Sin Satan and Sinners must never more come there this Kingdom will have a happy riddance of them The everlasting presence of one only God is the heaven of heavens and the glory of this Kingdom of glory Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with thâ—m and they shall be his People and God himself shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow neither crying neiâ—her shall be any more pain no more curse there will be nothing of Hell in Heaven no more then there will be of Heaven in Hell But the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in this Kingdom there will be no need of Sun Moon or Candle for the Glory of God will Lighten it and the Lamb is the Light of it Truly the Light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eye to behold the Sun in the firmament but with invisible eyes to see the invisible Sun of Righteousness in the firmament of glory Oh how sweet and plesaant will that be God is Light and in him is no darkness at all this Light shineth in darkness but the darkness comprehendeth it not The blessed and only Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who only hath Immortality dwelleth in the Light which no Man can approach unto whom no Man hath seen nor can see because he covereth himself with Light as with a Garment for now we see through a Glass darkly or in a Riddle God his Word his Works of Nature Grace and Glory every thing we see hear taste touch smell hath an inexplicable and unutterable mystery in it now we know but in part but in the kingdom of glory we shall know as we are known It doth not yet appear what we shall be it doth not yet appear to us what God is Who can tell what God is but we know that when God-man shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is not in a Glass darkly but then face to face which will be our blessedness Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God we walk by Faith and not by Sight here but in Heaven we walk by sight and not by faith perfectly to see God Father Son and Holy Ghost in heavenly glory and to understand the Mysteries of Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity and that great Mystery of Godliness without Controversy God manifested in the Flesh Justified in the Spirit seen of Angels believed on in the World received up into Glory Preached unto and among the Gentiles even the unsearchable Riches of Christ to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God to the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God which the Angels desire to look into to behold with understanding at once all the secrets of nature grace and glory according to our capacities and to live for ever in the perfect vision and knowledge of them all will be our life eternal This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent If to see the Face of Relations and Friends especially Saints be so desirous but we Brethren sâ—ith St. Paul being taken from you for a short time in presence not in heart endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire With what desire should every one of us desire to behold the Face of God in righteousness that we may be satisfied with his likeness and the faces of an innumerable company of Angels and the faces of the general Assembly and Church of the First born with the beauties and comliness of God and perfect Godliness put upon them to see also a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth nothing but righteous persons and righteousness to see the great City the holy Hierusalem having the Glory of God and her Light like unto a Stone most precious even like a Jasper Stone clear as Crystal and a Wall great and high and Twelve Gates and at the Gates Twelve Angels and Names written thereon which are the Names of the Twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel on the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates and on the West three Gates and the Wall of the City twelve Foundations and in them the Names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And the City lyeth four square and the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal The Wall thereof an hundred and forty and four cubits according to the measure of a Man that is of the Angel and the building of the Wall of it of Jasper and the City pure Gold like unto clear glass and the Foundation of the Walls of the City garnished with all manner of precious stones the first foundation Jasper the second Saphire the third Chalcedony the fourth Emerauld the fifth Sardonyx the sixth Sardius the seventh Chrysolite the eighth Beryl the ninth a Topaz the tenth a Chrysoprasus the eleventh a Jacint the twelfth an Amethyst and the twelve Gates twelve Pearls every several Gate of one Pearl and the Street of the City pure Gold as it were transparent glass where there is no Temple for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it and the City hath no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the Glory of God doth Lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof And the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there a pure River of water of Life clear as Chrystal therein proceedeth out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb In the midst of the Street of it and on either side of the River was there the Tree of Life bearing Twelve manner of fruits every Month which is in the midst of the Paradise of God which Jesus Christ will give to him that overcometh to eat of that he may live for ever Who is he that hath had from the Father of Lights the least saving glimpse of this glory that saith not it is good to be here Who hath had also the very least true sight of the vanity insufficiency brevity and certain uncertainty of all under the Sun that saith not Behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit my eye is not satisfied with seeing nor my ear with hearing nor my tast with eating and drinking or smell with smelling nor the hand with touching and handling Vanity of vanities all is vanity saith Solomon the Preacher A sight of the glory of all the Kingdoms of the World which the Devil gave Christ an opportunity to behold is but a glorious vanity compared with