by his chastisements Hebrews 12. 11 15 16. from gracious returns of prayers and from beholding the light of his countenance and so from victory over our iniquities and the evil of our temptations Isaiah 1 10 18. Psalm 32. 3 4. Yea the secret and wilfull retaining divers lusts disables from so coming to the knowledge of the truth that we might be saved by it 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. Therefore saith James we have not because we ask not or we ask and receive not because we ask amiss to consume it upon our lust or still secretly retain the purpose desire or idol of iniquity in the heart whence he thus admonisheth Submit resigne or yeeld up your selves to God Resist the Devil and he will flee from you draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you Clense your hands ye sinners purifie your hearts ye double minded c. James 4. Oh! That yet we were willing so to discern diligently to look into and consider the Lords body as to examine our selves search and try our wayes in that glass and to see what we see not and judge our selves as there discovered and reproved as we are instructed 1 Cor 11. 28 31. Yea so to remember him in all his wayes as to acknowledg him in all our wayes not leaning to our own thoughts or understanding But as those that call on the father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear The good Lord would yet be merciful and pardon and heal us though yet we be not sanctified after the sanctification of his sanctuary were we but willing in the light and strength of his grace and name in Christ so to prepare our hearts or suffer him to prepare and fix them to him that the iniquities and idols might be discovered and the purpose or desire to hide and hold them fast broken and we made willing to see and part with them for the excellency of the knowledge of him for he doth not onely alwayes prevent with his abundant grace in Christ to humble but will also prepare the heart of the hamble and cause his ear to hear Psalm 10. 17. Isaiah 1. 16 19. 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. James 4. 6 10. Thus have his servants the Prophets that have spoken to us in the Name of the Lord in all their earnest and diligent inquiries after God and for understanding the visions of the times and the things that in both parts of them as to the actual accomplishment bringing forth of them were then yet to come namely the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Humbled themselves to the searching ouâ— and being sensible of and acknowledging their iniquities and the iniquities of their people as discovered in the instructions of his name and written upon the rod See Ezra 9. 6. to the end 10 1. Neh. 1. 6 7 and 9. tot Psalm 32. 5 and 38 and 39. Isa 64. 5 9. Dan. 9. 3. 20. And thus they have instructed us in the way not to be as the Horse or Male c Psalm 32. 8. But to search and try our wayes and turn to the Lord to examine and judge our selves in the true light to humble our selves in the sight of the Lord and under his mighty hand And surely such walking humbly and mournfully before him in the sence of our own vileness and searching out and giving up our iniquities and Idolls in the light and power of Gods name in Christ is found in the right worshipping in which the father is worshipped in spirit and truth in the light of the Spirits testimony given of Christ and so in Christ the truth Yea the way the truth and the life that rejoycing in and giving glory unto Christ Jesus in which the father is truly honoured and worshipped in the spirit hath alwayes in it and is it self found in a taâ—king shame to our selves and relinquishing all rejoycing in the flesh that no flesh may glory in his presence Philipians 3. 3. 4. I might here add in this seeking him after the due Order as to the manner of our seeking that there is in it a joyning and cleaving together in his name and so seeking and striving together for the faith of the Gospel even in the Vnity of the spirit with them that call on his Name in truth that worship him in Christ according to the Gospel The persons with whom we may and are to joyn dwell and walk in the Unity of the spirit and so together with whom we are to be followers of the Apostles they are such as walk as they have the Apostles for an example Philippians 3. 17 20 21. And we are diligently to mark know and distinguish them by considering the end of their conversation Compare this to the Philippians with Hebrews 13. 7 8 9. For there are many other walkers zealous pretenders to godliness mortification holiness that have also much of the form or outward appearance of it in many things who yet are the enemies of the Cross of Christ the very end of their conversation though privily carried on under a fair shew of mortification and holiness with good words and fair speeches to deceive the simple is to deny the Lord that bought them To destroy or cast down him from his excellency to render him undesireable and to corrupt believers from the simplicity of him And the thing thereto worshipped adhered to and magnified by them is their own Belly their own or some private Spirit experiments works mortifications sufferings and the like instead of the person of Christ and the works finished in his body and the grace treasured up and hope set before us in him for this life and that to come as evidenced by the spirit of truth in his testimony given of Christ They glory in their shame mind earthly things things suited to sence and in which they have their portion in this life But as for me sayes David I will behold thy face in righteousness even in Christ the true light and manifestation of the righteousness and glory of God and so in the great and precious promises confiâ—med in him For here we walk by faith that is the evidence of things not seen the confidence of things hoped for and not by sight When I awake sayes he namely in the morning of the resurrection of the just by Christ at his comming then I shall be satisfied with thine image Psalm 17. 15. with 2 Cor. 4. 17. 18. and 5 1 7 9. Hebrews 11. 1. Romans 8. 23 24. So here the Apostles conversation and so theirs that walk as they have them for an example is in Heaven exercised in and about the treasure they have there in the person of Christ with God and the expectation they have in him as now appearing in the glorious presence of God in the Heaven it self for them from whence also they look for the same Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to
of Christ the power of godliness that creep into houses or gather into companies and societies like the Churches of Christ Then such as Timothy are advised with more diligence to follow their work and design together with them that call on him out of a pure heart 2 Timothy 2. 22. with chap. 3. 1. 6. And all of us to be followers together of the Apostles and mark them which walk so as they have them for an example considering the end of their conversation as afore-said and so knowing and owning them for our companions to strive together with Phil. 3. 17 18 19 20 21. with chap. 1. 27 28. and 2. 1. 6. c. And that in all our acts of seeking and striving for the faith of the Gospel in all our hearing speaking doing suffering yea in our prayers to God as Romans 15. 30. with Ephesians 6. 18. Acts 1. 14. and 12. 12. See the many instructions and earnest entreaties and exhortations to this seeking and striving together in the Scriptures already mentioned and in divers others Surely a good and pleasant thing is this unity of the Spirit and the generation of seekers dwelling together in it For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore Where ever two or three are gathered together in his name there is he in the midst of them rendring them comely as Jerusalem that is compact together and terrible as an Army with Banners Psam 103 Cant. 6. 4. Mat. 18. 20. This last branch of order in the manner of our seeking is fitly added to the latter part of the former branch For onely by Pride commeth Contention Envying and Strife And then follows confusion and every evil work Proverbs 13. 10. James 3. 13. 16. and 4. 1 6 10. Therefore our Saviour thus joyns them in his instruction and exhortation Mark 9. 50. Have Salt in your selves have peace one with another Meaning by Salt the humbling instructions of the Gospel and the reproofs of instruction and signifying that the retaining them and suffering their effecacy each of us on our Spirits is the way to have peace one with another hence also the Apostle instructs with all lowliness of mind to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for there can be no union or perfect joyning together without suffering the desires of vain glory to be subdued and our selves to be broken off from our own purpose and desire in which we are each minding and seeking his own things nor will there be any right submission of the younger to the elder nor of all of us one to another in the fear of the Lord without being cloathed with humility in the hearty acknowledgement of his glorious name Ephesians 4. 2 3 c. Philipians 2. 2 3 4 7 20 21. 1 Peter 5. 5 6. According to these last considerations of the due order in the manner of our seeking after which the Lord is to be sought by us They seek him not after the due order that are not gathered together to him in his name and so seeking him in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of it and in the unity of the Spirit in it or thus They that worship not in the spirit in the light teaching and instruction of that one spirit that is in and with the testimony of Jesus taking of his things and shewing them and so teaching all things and leading into all truth For as this is the spirit of prophesie so also of faith and of grace and supplication in which all the true worshippers worship God Rev. 19. 10. They therefore worship not aright that worship not in the spirit and so that have not their rejoycing in Christ Jesus who is the truth with a relinquishing and free giving up all Idols and rejoycings in the flesh for the excellency of the knowledge of him John 4. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. Particularly thus 1. They that run not into that name of Christ in which is the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power for their light and instruction what to seek for in him and from him and how to seek but adhere to their own or some private spirit for that which will instruct and lead to seek and wait for in him or from him such things as God hath not put in him for us and therefore not promised to give with him to us as some such private assurances or speakings of peace and liftings up as are more suited to the sensual mind and may a little gratifie the flesh that desires ease or liberty or like things which instructions cause to err from the words of Knowledge and therefore neither can they stay upon or rest satisfied with the incouragement and strength which that spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus giveth to seek him to hope in and wait upon him and so not with that rejoycing which is onely in Christ Jesus because that gives no incouragement or strength to seek hope or wait for such things in him or from him or to seek in such a way as by their own or some private spirit light word or spark of their own kindling they are led to They therefore run to such sparks for light and heat and for a time may walk in the light of them stollen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret places is pleasant But from all those sparks and rejoycings in them they must lye down in sorrow Nor can these persons while wilfully walking in this way heartily acknowledge his name or give glory to it in submitting and falling down under the discoveries and reproofs of its instruction because their deeds are evil Their principal works and wayes are so contrary to it and reproved by it nor can they be heartily united with those that fear his name and worship him in truth And truly any branches or rellicks of that way of iniquity above-mentioned will have answerable like effects of confusion and disorder upon those that retain and walk in them 2. Nor are they seeking after the due order that though in some good measure right as to the first branch That is as to the things they seek and look for in him and from him seeking according to his will yet are not content with that ground of incouragement and way of approach that is onely in and through his blood and powerful mediation with it and therefore instead of attending principally to seek farther assurance of understanding in that that their hearts might be comforted and strengthned therein are even seeking peeping into corners and waiting for some other private incouragement or ground of assurance in which to seek expect and wait for his righteousness in perfecting what concerns them and so unsatisfifyed if they cannot gather up or kindle something of that nature as if they were without hope in the World as if all that ever God hath done for them in his Son and for and to them through him were nothing to assure them
them because they testified concerning us that our works were evil though they did it in bearing witness to his infinite grace in Christ for and towards us It was one of the greatest griefs and burchens on the Spirit of this Servant of the Lord much complained of by him towards his end That he had preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this place till it was made a reproach and derision to him till it was even snuffed at and become contemptible a burthen yea a Savour of Death to them that sometime had heard it with gladness and rejoyced in it 2 If we look farther even upon the generality of those that have a great zeal of God and pretend to be earnest seekers and worshippers of him in these parts where this light shined yea even among those that were willing for a season to rejoyce in his light as John 5. 33. 35. Yet how few seeking the Lord after the due order But first seeking to frame their hearts unto and do something for God that thence they may conclude God hath a gracious affection towards and hath done great things for them in Christ First seeking to know their love to him that from thence they may conclude his love to them First seeking to know or rather guess or imagine their election before they will know or believe Christs death for them yea that they may gather the knowledge of that from the other And being so fundamentally out of order The Vision of all is become to them as a sealed book The great things of his Law a strange thing having no understanding or perswasion of the truth of it they can have no usefulness of it as to any of their worship but their fear towards him is taught by the precepts of men according to which they prefer and lay the stress of their Religion in the lighter matters yea in the ordinances of men such as Tonch not Taste not Handle not neglecting the weighty matters of the Law as Judgement Mercy and Faith Yea how is the foundation and head of the corner laid aside by the chief builders and teachers that they heap up to themselves May not this complaint be taken up of the generallity of those that profess them selves the Churches of Christ and are called by his name and gathered into societies and pretended order Though it may be feared of the greatest part of them not by him not entring by the door but climbing up or creeping in some other way into such houses or societies as the Apostle fore-tells us such shall do in the latter dayes as under a form of godliness privily deny the power of it the Gross of Christ the Lord that bought them I say may not this complaint be taken up of the generality of them That take away but their disorder and irregularness and what will be left them of all their Religions or of all their fear or worship towards God It s to be feared of the greatest part of them very little if any thing their fear or worship it self is little else but a bundle of confusion and disorder their very stock is a Doctrine of vanity and lyes their root rottenness and confusion at least in a great part of it and what then can be expected in any of the blossomes or branches as springing from such a root but disorder and confusion like as in the Land of Darkness where there is no order and where their light is as darkness as hath been oft bewailed by this servant of the Lord concerning many of them among whom he formerly had his conversation And with whom and for whose good he still laboured exceedingly as he had opportunity notwithstanding the many discouragements he met with from them but God hath taken him from the evil 3 If we go yet farther to take a view of the true worshipers or such as in some measure call on him in truth or at least are more fundamentally in order then the former Yet what disorder and confusion hath been found with them Yea what pollution in their holy things had they as they have been redeemed from among men and gathered together unto him by the powerfull effecacy of his precious blood discovered Had they even so in the light and power of that grace cleaved together in his name and sought the Lord after the due order they might have prevented this breach yea had we yet after the judgement was devised and framed against us as a punishment and correction of our disorder Had we I say yet sought him after the due order in this thing and so for the healing and restoring to us this our now deceased Brother While yet there was hope as the taking him away was along time evidently enough threatned before finished to give us opportunity to seek him in due manner while he might have been found and intreated by us in that matter If we would have judged our selves surely we should not thus have been judged had we diligently in the opportunity which is now past for that prepared our selves to the search and consideration what is the meaning of the voice in such judgements threatned and searched and tryed our wayes in the true glass and with a true heart that what is halting might be healed And so run into his name together to see what we might have sought for with servency in such a case as this and on what ground and in that instruction incouragement sought it of him or rather sought him in it with a hearty acknowledgement of the evil of our ways and doings humbling our selves under his mighty hand lifted up That he would graciously teach us what we see not and make us willing to see and be ashamed of give up what is discovered reproved that he would prepare our hearts and cause his ear to hear that we might turn from our iniquities and understand his truth and he might turn from the evil threatned and not bring it upon us Surely this judgement might have been prevented God would have repented him of the evil even when he had devised and prepared it against us as Jer. 11. 8. 11. with 1 Cor. 11. 30 31. For this shall every one that is godly every true worshipper of God that worship in spirit and truth yea such true worshippers joyntly and together standing fast in one Spirit with one mind or soul and so in personal fellowship one with another as they have opportunity they shall strive together in their prayers in a time of finding even for this To prepare our hearts to him that we may not still hide our iniquity under our tongue or set up the Idol of it in our hearts but heartily acknowledge and confess it unto him together and resign it up to him that is ready to pardon and heal And to cause his ear to hear That he may do for us for his Names-sake forgiving the iniquity of our sin Surely in the Floods of great Waters they shall
in the Ark the first Testament which made nothing perfect but pointed to a better hope in Christ and so were Ministers of the letter and had a ministration of death to nurture and lead to life and peace in him that was to come Now the service of the holy Priesthood is to be exercised in the Heavenly things themselves That which is committed to their charge is the revelation of Grace and Truth as now come forth in and by Jesus Christ delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification The dispensation of the fulness of times in which al things are gathered together in one and so in which is the revelation of the truth and body of all those figures tipes and shadowes in the law even in Christ that excellent ministry in which God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings whereas that committed to them was but Gods speaking in divers parts In this speaking by his Son last of all is given unto us the full and clear revelation of the name of the Father in the manifâ—station of the truth of all his former Oracles and promises to the Fathers and so of his infinite grace and glory therein and that in the face of Christ in the discovery of which his name The name of the Son is also revealed in which he is manifested as before witnessed in Oracles Tipes and Prophesies and as the fulfilling and body of them all in what he hath already done and by means thereof doth and will do The Son of God the Saviour of the World The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World the perfect sacrifice and offering for sin That is the onely and compleat ransome and price of redemption for all The Mediatour between God and men the High-Priest over the house of God yea the onely He in whom it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell even the fulness of the God-head bodily and in whose blood the whole New Testament of precious promises both for this life and that to come is sealed that also the performance of them may be given forth in due time with him And this revelation of the Son and so of the Father in him is given us in the full evidence and demonstration of the Spirit with plainness and power in which also the name of the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth is revealed in his full and glorious testimony of Christ and so of the Father in him immediately given and in his powerful presence and working with it unto all things pertaining to life and godliness to the end of the World as was before prophesied of that powring forth of him from on high And so they are Ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit being in this dispensation blessed with all Spiritual Blessings and that not in earthly or tipical but in Heavenly things even in Christ in whom all Spiritual blessings the truth and body of all figures and tipes are treasured up for us and in the rveelation of him brought to us and in this Ministry committed to the Holy Priesthood That they should offer up spiritual Sacrifices of prayer and praise to God continually and confession of his name by Jesus Christ as comed in the flesh and so that they should Minister in the Heavenly things themselves and not in Tipes Figures or Patterns as the Levitical Priesthood but in and about the true Sanctuary Mercy-Seat Altar Sacrifice c. as the truth and body of all is met and found in him So then the bearing and keeping the charge of the Vessels of the Lord that is now the work or service of the Holy Priesthood under the Gospel and was resembled by the Priests and Levites bearing and keeping the charge of the Ark of the Sanctuary and of all the Vessels of the Ministry may be thus expressed 1. Their great business and the sum of all is to keep and to bear even to bear upon them and hold forth The truth of God as it is now come forth and manifested in the personal body of Jesus Christ which the Father prepared for him in our nature that he might do his will for us and in which he bore our sins on the Tree and in which being raised from the dead he is entred into his glory for us which is such as in which it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in him even the fulness of the God-head bodily That by him our faith and hope might be in God They are to hold fast and hold forth to others this acknowledgement or profession of their faith in which those things which the Prophets said should come to pass That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew light to the People and to the Gentiles is declared to be even so fulfilled and come forth in that one offering of his personal body once for all And so in him the truth and body of all the tipes and shadowes of the law Whence the house of God which is the Church of the living God as now it is since the appearing of Christ the Church of the man Christ raised from the dead who was dead but is alive for evermore and standeth in the name and majesty of God his Father to feed and rule I say his spiritual house his holy Priesthood is according to the general acception of that 1 Timothy 3. 15. said to be The Pillar and ground of truth even of the manifestation of the truth and righteousness of God in all his former Oracles and promises given to the Fathers and in all the grace and good things tipified and witnessed in the law and Prophets as now come forth in Christ raised from the Dead and treasured up in his personal body for us And though that Scripture may have another acception such as in which that clause the pillar and ground of truth is attributed to the living God that stands before it and indeed He even God in Christ and so the man Christ Jesus in the name and majesty of God he is not onely the truth but in the most full and absolute sense the pillar and ground of it yet that understanding though taken in here destroyes not the sence fore-mentioned in which also His Church from him and as in conjunction with him the Head is signified to be in a subordinate sense the pillar and ground of truth And happily the words may be so left that we may take in the sense of both acceptions together We shall briefly speak to it in the sence we have mentioned according to the usual acceptation as that also may stand and agree with the other The truth of which in any sence The Church of the living God is the Pillar and Ground is as before hinted Jesus Christ himself as raised from the Dead in that Body in which he was delivered for our offences And so the
received in and through him and in the receiving of him even in the believing on his name unto which also his Gospel is his arm or power sent forth 1 John 5. 11 12. Col 1. 14 15 19. and 2. 2 9. with John 17. 4 5. 1 Peter 1. â—1 Hebrews 1. 3. and 9. 24. 1 Joh. 1. 1 2. Hebr. 7. 23. 25. c. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Joh. 14. 3. Rom. 8. 17 18. Phil 3. 3. 9 10. 21. In him is manifested the righteousness of God in that promise and Oath unto David That of the fruit of his Loynes according to the Flesh God would raise up Christ to sit on his Thrrne In that God hath made that Jesus of the seed of David after the Flesh both Lord and Christ and set him on his Holy Hill on his Right Hand in that Glory of his Father in which also he shall gloriously appear in due time to take to him his great power and reign till all enemies be subdued and then deliver up the Kingdome to God his Father He is already raised and entered into his glooy and shall no more return to corruption And as so raised and exalted with the Right Hand of Power is called the sure mercies of David in whom God hath manifested his truth to David and that he will not lye unto David or fail him of a man to sit on his Throne for ever Acts 2. 25 36. and 13. 32. 37. compared with 2 Sam. 7. 12. 16. 1 Kings 2. 4. and 8. 25. with 2 Sam. 23. 5. Psal 89. 19. 37. and 132. 11. Isa 55. 3 4. 6. In him likewise is the body and truth of those manifold figures tipes and shadowes under the law as to instance in some few He in that body raised from the Dead is the true Temple and Sanctuary which the Lord hath pitched and not Man John 2. 19. 22. Hebrews 9. 11. 2 Cor. 5. 1. In whom the fulness of the God-head dwells bodily that so of his fulness we may receive Col. 2. 9. John 1. 16. As also the Great Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession and so the Minister of the holy things of that true Tabernacle of his own body Heb. 1. 2. And in comming into him others are made of the Spiritual House and holy Priesthood as before is shewed He is the body and truth of all signified in those tipical offerings of the Lord made by fire yea of all those Sacrifices Atonements and Offerings for sin in that offering of his own body once for all in which the Father hath smelt a savour of rest for ever and which he ever lives to present and now to appear in in the presence of God for us He is the true Ark and treasury of all Grace and Truth for the Law came by Moses discovering sin witnessing and leading to the better hope in Christ and this whole Testament was kept in the Ark with divers other things But gâ—â—câ— and truth in the forgiveness of sins charged by the Law and the fulfilling all the Tipes and shadowes of it came by Jesus Christ and is now manifested as kept and treasured up in him in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge that with him they may be given and opened to us and so he is the true mercy seat answering to the tipical one which covered the Ark of the Testament that charged with sin and concluded under curse and whence also the oracle came forth He is the propitiation or covering the atonement and reconciliation for our sins and not for our sins onely but also for the sins of the whole World He is our peace and being so is also the way by and through which God is gracious and speaks graciously to men yea the Oracle by whom he hath spoken and through which he speaketh to us in these last dayes Yea in him the Oyl for anointing to service and light for directing in all our worship even in the man Christ Jesus and so brought to us in the revelation of him in the Doctrine of God our Saviour in which dispensation of the fulness of times God hath gathered together all things in one even in Christ and so given us the manifestation of the truth of all those former Oracles Prophesies Tipes and Shadowes in the testimony of Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Of this truth of all former witnesses and shadowes and so of the righteousness of God in them as now come forth in Christ the Church may be said to be the Pillar and ground not so as to uphold or support the truth in a proper sense To be put to that charge and hard service is proper to the makers and worshippers Idols the imagined Deities and Rocks of mens chusing which indeed are no Gods but vanity and lyes and therefore cannot bear up support or save them that look to the nor can they stand by themselves but must be born up and maintained by them that make and worship them And prove so heavy a burthen to the weary beast that they are not able to support maintain defend and save them Isa 46. 1 2. 5. 7. Jer. 10. 5. c. But the portion of Israel is not like them for he is the former of all things The truth of God in Christ as now raised from the dead iâ— the begetter maintainer and upholder of his Chruch Isa 46. 3 4. Jeremiah 10. 10. c. with James 1. 18. 1 Timothy 4. 10. In the Lord they have righteousness and strength Isaiah 45. 20. 25. But their work to which also they are begotten and strengthned of him is so to keep retain and bear upon them the writing of this manifestation of the truth of God in the tidings and patterns of it so fair and without spot that others may see and read it in their word and conversation and so instrumentally also through him that worketh in them mightily to maintain and defend it in the World To watch in all things to keep the commandement delivered to them without spot unrebukable c. That the truth of the Gospel may continue with others So Paul was a chosen Vessel to Christ to bear his name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel to keep the Faith and that the truth of the Gospel might continue with others Acts 9. 15. 2 Timothy 4 7. Gal. 2. 5. And so he instructs Timothy to watch in all things to the keeping this charge 1 Tim. 6. 12 13 14. and 2 Tim 4. 5. And all believers so to shine as lights in the World as a City set on a Hill as a Candle on a Candle-stick holding forth the word of life in word and conversation That it may be seen and read of all men Matthew 5. 14 15 16. Philippians 2. 15 16. And as in old time a pillar was used for a witness remembrance of Gods gracious appearances Gen. 28. 11. 18. 22. and 35.
that yet they may have space and opportunity to repent and seek him while he may be found and God shall give us life of sparing to a farther gracious end for them that sin not unto death compare 1 John 5. 14 16. with James 5. 15. 16. See also Luke 23. 34. Acts 7. 40. Romans 9. 1 2 and 10 1. with Psalm 35. 13 14. And for other things pertaining to this life concerning which we know not by the light of his testimony whether this or that may be best for us or for others or most conducing unto life and godliness Even so without carefulness earnestness or fervency for this or that to present our needs wants affliction case and matters to him and leave it with him waiting and seeking for his good will to be done and that however he deal with us he will not correct us in anger that we may earnestly beg of him as Psalm 38. 1. and 6. 1. Jeremiah 10. 24. And so committing our matters wholly to him without a will or fervent spirit for this or that of all such things as before that he may add and dispose to us what is good before him Phillippians 4. 5 6. Matthew 6. 32 33. with James 4. 13 15. 2 In the incouragement and strength of his name always retaining in the midst of the heart the believing remembrance and consideration of that which he hath already done for us in not sparing his own Son but delivering him up for us all when we were yet sinners enemies and without strength and of the plenteous redemption in him through his blood not forgetting all his benefits through that precious sacrifice of the body of Christ once for all and the powerful mediation of the sacrificeâ— who is the Great Apostle and High-Priest of our profession bestowed upon us But calling them to mind and considering how they lead into that good name and commend to us that unspeakable gift and the infinite grace in and through it there seeking our strength and incouragement and thereby ingaging our hearts to approach to him and seek his fâ—ce for such things and in such wise as is according to his will therein declared as afore-said And so waiting and staying on his name because it is good yea even when by any tryals or difficulties that befal us we are in darkness and see no light yet staying upon that and trusting in him according to it till he make that in every such case a light to us and give us to behold his righteousness according to it with hearty submission to his Government though sometimes he makes us to wait for that Alwayes relinquishing all other lights rejoycings and incouragements that may offer themselves from sparks of our own kindling or from any private grounds to come in that onely and as that ingageth and incourageth So in and unto all our seekings and striving for the faith of the Gospel standing fast in that one spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus seeking our strength in the Lord and in the power of his might even in the grace that is in Christ Jesus as revealed in the glorious Gospel and going in that strength of the Lord God making mention of his righteousness as our support incouragement and stay And of his onely Psalm 71. 16 and 4 1 and 50 14 15 and 52 9 and 95 1 7 and 100 and 103. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. 1 Tim. 2. 1 8. Isa 50. 10 11. with Mich. 7. 7 8 9. Isaiah 26. 3. with Philippians 4. 6. and 3. 3 Romans 5. 1 11. And so in the strength and incouragement of that grace and name of God in Christ to perswade others to be reconciled to God in the publishing his name because God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses to them and hath given us that word of reconciliation instructing moving and strengthning to such in deavouring the good of others in hope There seeking our strength and incouragement and not in any of our gifts parts or excellencies to the Discipling the Nations baptizing them in his name and going in that might according to our capacity because all power is given to him as Lord and Saviour and by him the word of his Grace made able especially in the faithfull ministration of it to give them repentance and the forgiveness of sins Likewise to suffer the little children to come to him and receive them in his name because of such is the Kingdome Mark 10. 14. with chap. 9. 37. And on that ground and in that encouragement instructing others according to their capacity to rejoyce with his people pray to him and seek him while he may be found and call on him while he is near observing what Christ commanded his Apostles Proverbs 9. 1 6. Isaiah 55. 1 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14 21. Matthew 28. 18 20. Rom. 15. 6 12. And whatever we do in word or in deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Col. 3. 17. 3 In and with a hearty confession and acknowledgement of his name and of the goodness and truth of it in all that it saith so as therein acknowledging our own vileness and sins and knowing every one the Plague of our own heart as by the light and instructions of his name discovered and reproved or by his corrections according to the instructions of his name witnessed against Confessing our faults to him and one to another as discovered and reproved that so he may be justified in his sayings and proceedings and glory given to his name by us as 1 Kings 8. 33 35 38 46 48. James 5. 16. Psal 32. 5 and 51 5. Jer. 13. 15 18. And in such wise seeking pardon and healing in his name willingly giving up to him and laying apart in the light and strength of his gracious reproofs what ever secret purpose idol or way of iniquity he discovers and reproves not secretly hiding it under our Tongue or in our Heart that we may still hold it and find pleasure in it even while yet we are praying to him for help and healing of the breaches or evils procured to us by it nor shunning the light least som secret deeds and wayes of our own heart which we love should be detected by it but coming to the light giving earnest heed to the instructions of his name and searching and trying our wayes thereby that we may yet be taught to see what we see not as Job 34. 31 32. Psalm 19. 11 12 c. and 139. 23 24. Lam. 3. 39 40 c. Jam. 1. 21 25. Our unwillingness to see and confess our fins our secret designs and purposes for vain things that cannot profit us our loathness to acknowledge or be made sensible of our idolatry let go our idols hinder us from knowing and proving what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord Romans 12. 1 2 3. from reaping the peaceable fruit of his righteousness