are but a few therefore vain and carnal men do conclude thaâ— they are in the right and that the most are the best and that it is a safe and sure way to follow a multitude Secondly Because they are poor I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord Zeph. 3.12 The true followers of the Lamb in all Ages have been the poor of this world but rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and because they were so the world despised them and were filled with prejudice against them Then answered them the Pharisees Are ye also deceived Have any of the Rulers or the Pharisees believed on him but this people who knoweth not the Law are cursed Joh. 7.47 48 49. The world have always had a great prejudice against Truth where-ever it was found against Truth in the Word of God against Truth in the Worship of God against Truth in the Ways of God against Truth in the People of God against Truth in the Providences of God this is that the world knoweth not this is that it cannot receive this is that it cannot bear therefore the people of the world are filled with prejudice against Truth as they have been in all times and in all Ages past that is to say 1. Against the Morning Truth 2. Against the Naked Truth 3. Against the whole Truth 4. Against the Love of Truth 1. The Morning Truth is that love light mercy and grace which Almighty God hath been pleas'd to bring forth and make manifest to his people in the dispensations of Times and in the Ages of the World for the good of them that did love and fear him When the fulness of time was come that the Children of Israel were to be brought out of the Land of Egypt and to go in and possess that good Land of Canaan which the Lord had promis'd to give them for an inheritance this was then the Morning truth To believe the Lord their God and to follow him fully but they were filled with prejudice against it And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this Land to fall by the Sword that our Wives and our Children should be a prey were it not better for us to return into Egypt And they said one to another Let us make a Captain and let us return into Egypt Numb 14.3 4. But when they had possessed the Land of Canaan and had divided the Land by Lot the Morning truth was then To keep Gods Commandments and to observe his Statutes and Judgments and to keep themselves from Idols and from all Idolatry but they were filled with prejudice against it and rebelled against the Lord their God and built them high places and did set up Images and Groves on every Hill and under every green Tree 1 Kin. 14.23 And when they slew the Beasts for sacrifice that they might offer up their blood they were then to look through all the sacrifices and through the blood to the blood of Jesus For if the blood of Bulls and of Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ Who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.13 14. Then the morning truth was to believe the Prophets which shewed of the coming of the Just one but they were filled with prejudice against it Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just one of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers Acts 7.52 And in the days of our Saviour when he was on the Earth and preached Peace to them and wrought many Miracles amongst them went up and down doing good this was then the morning truth To believe in him Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Acts 4.12 But they were filled with prejudice against it Then Jesus said unto the chief Priests and Captains of the Temple and the elders which were come to him Be ye come out as against a Thief with Swords and Staves When I was daily with you in the Temple ye stretched forth no Hands against me but this is your hour and the power of darkness Luke 22.52 53. And after he was risen from the dead and had shewed himself several times to his Disciples and that all power was given to him both in Heaven and in Earth then this was the morning truth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Mat. 28.19 20. But they were filled with prejudice against it And when they had brought them and set them before the counsel the high Priest asked them saying Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name And behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your Doctrine and intend to bring this mans Blood upon us Acts 5.27 28. But when believers were added unto the Lord multitudes both of Men and Women then the morning truth was the free grace of God being Justified by Faith. And by him all that believe are Justified from all things from which ye could not be Justified by the law of Moses Acts 13.39 but they were filled with prejudice against it For as much as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls saying Ye must be circumcised and keep the Law to whom we gave no such commandment Acts 15.24 And this is the morning truth now to worship the ever living God in spirit and in truth and to wait for his Son Christ Jesus from Heaven and for the rich anointing of the spirit and the fulfilling of his word and the accomplishment of the prophecies and the perfecting of his work and the finiâ—hing of the mysteries of God to wait in patience in faith and in hope in a lamb-like spirit this is the morning truth in this our day and the World is filled with prejudice against it 2. The naked truth as it stands in the scriptures of truth which was delivered to the Saints of God by the Prophets and by the holy Apostles and by our Lord Jesus For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds Heb. 1.1 2. To the law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light
because of the Bridegroom's voice this my Joy therefore is fulfilled John 3.29 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 And there came unto me one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues and talked with me saying Come hither I will shew thee the Bride the Lamb's wife Rev. 21.9 This glorious Bride is the Church and this Church is the Kingdom that shall not be left to another people 6. The Church of Christ is a purchased Possession In whom also after that ye believ'd ye were seal'd with that holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our Inheritance until the redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his glory Eph. 1.13 14. Remember thy Congregation which thou hast purchased of old the Rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed this Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Psal 74.2 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20.28 Will men cast away that which they have dearly bought Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit â—hich are Gods 1 Cor. 6 20. You are not your own you were bought by Christ Jesus And the price he gave for you was not Gold Silver which men take out of the Earth For as much as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Gold and silver from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Will men leave that which they have purchas'd to their worst and greatest Enemies Hath not Christ Jesus purchased his Church with his own blood For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation Rev. 5.9 Now if this be so who can believe who can think that the Church of God shall be left to another People Thirdly The holy Spirit will not leave them the spirit of truth that dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leave you comfortless John 14.17 18. know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye hâ—ve of God and ye are not your own 1 Cor. 6.19 Howbeit when the spirit of truth is come he shall guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you things to come John 16.13 This holy Spirit of God is given it is given to them that ask it If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Luk. 11.13 Every true believer hath this spirit of Christ in him But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8.11 This Spirit of God is to be found no where but in the Church of God and in every member of that body Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his v. 9. As a tree is known by the fruit it bears so is the spirit known to be in a man by the fruits he brings forth The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Gal 5.22 23. First then the Spirit of God convinceth Secondly it quickeneth Thirdly it leadeth Fourthly it strengtheneth Fifthly it comforteth Sixthly it maketh intercession Seventhly it witnesseth Eighthly it sealeth Ninthly it revealeth Tenthly it resteth on you That good work that is begun in any man or woman and carried on from first to last is attributed to the Spirit of God. The father he ordains calleth and chuseth and hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 1.3 The Son he hath redeemed us and delivered us from wrath from sin and from the world and from the curse of the law Luke 1.68 The Spirit he applies all that to us that God hath given and Christ purchas'd and from hence it ariseth that there is so much contention and disagreement amongst men this is that which brings a Sword that brings a War and makes divisions and one man to hate and persecute another namely from the seed that is in them and from the Spirit that is in them For he that is born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now Gal. 4.29 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Gal. 5.17 It is so contrary that you may find this in the nearest relations as husband and wife parents and children brothers and sisters if any of them be in the Spirit of God and enlightened and renewed in their minds and the others be not but are in the spirit of the evil one in the spirit of the world under darkness and blindness there can be then no agreement but discord and division and they are contrary one to the other as to spiritual things For the world knows not the Spirit of God neither can it receive it Take two men that were great strangers one to the other the one living in the East Indies and the other in the West and after some time they both return home to this land and by a special providencae they here meet together and after a little discourse one with the other they so well agree being knit together in love that they could even live and the together because they were of one spirit the Spirit of God being in them both and that unites them and makes them to be one in hope and faith in love and affection The members of Christs body are many but one spirit in them all endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace There is one body and one spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. This blessed Spirit did never leave the Church of God nor never will so long as God hath a Church here on Earth this Spirit of God leads every true believer into all truth and from strength to strength and from glory to glory from one degree of grace to another till they are taken up into the heavenly glory and to be
to pass hereafter First That there would be a great Apostacy a falling away from the truth v. 3. Secondly Out of that Apostacy one would rise up to be the head of it whom he calls the Man of sin the Son of Perdition that wicked One ver 3 8. Thirdly ' That he should be revealed in his time ver 6. And made manifest that all might know him Fourthly That his coming would be after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish v. 9 10. Fifthly He shews what he would do when he was come oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped and as God sit in the temple of God and shew himself that he is God v. 4. Sixthly How the Lord would punish them and plague them for their Apostacy And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness v. 11 12. Seventhly This he calls the mystery of iniquity For the mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way v. 7. Eighthly That the Lord shall consume that wicked one with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming v. 8. God hath in all ages rais'd up faithful witnesses and filled them with his Spirit and they have preach'd the everlasting Gospel peace and good Will to Men on Earth and have declared that message which was from the beginning that God is love and light and they have vindicated that truth which others preach'd before them that was condemned by the World for Heresie and this work the Lord hath been carrâ—ing on in the Earth these many years past and this is the work that the Lord is carrying on in this our day pouring out of his Spirit upon his Sons and Daughters shining into the Hearts and Minds of Men turning them from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto God that all men may come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved and this is the Spirit of his Mouth the Rod of his Mouth that shall destroy that man of sin and all the wâ—rks of darkness and all that which exalts its self aga â—st Gods will and authority his love and grace The word of truth doth prevail and it will prevail This is that brightness that shall destroâ— tâ—e works of the flesh wherever it comes and â—l nes into any Hearts and this is that which shall â—reak in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms Namelâ— The Lord shall consume with the Spirit â—f his Mouth shall desâ—roy with the brightness of his comiâ—g Before she travelled she brought fortâ— before her pain came she was delivered of a man child who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such things Shall the Earth be maâ—e to bring for him one day Or shall a Nation be born at one For as soon as Zion travelled she brought sâ—ith her Children Isa 66.7 8. This shews the great success of the Gospel how it shall prevail and overcome And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1.33 I am now to shew you in the last plaâ—â— tâ—aâ— tâ—e true Church shall stand for ever aâ—d this I shall evince from these following considerations 1. From the Word of od 2. From the Provi eâ—ces of God. 3. From the Pâ—ople of â—â—d 4. From the Enâ—mie of God. First from the W rd of God thâ—â—â—s The Word of Prophecy The Word of Promise The Word of Threatning 1. The Word of Prophesie The Lord God hath spoken by the mouth of his Prophets which have been since the World began that his people should be saved from their enemies and from the hands of all that hate them That in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the Stars of the Heaven and as the sand which is upon the Sea-shore and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies Gen. 22.17 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Psalm 125.1 And it shall come to pass in the last days that the Mountain of the Lords House shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it Isa 2.2 The Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of his people shall trust in it Isa 14.32 behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far countrey Is not the Lord in Zion is not her King in her Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven Images and with strange vanities Jer. 8.19 And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.27 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call Joel 2.32 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to Judg the mount of Esau and the Kingdom shall be the Lords Obad. 21. 2. The Word of Promise God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early Psal 46.5 when thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy saviour Isa 43.2 3. And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16.18 let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 The question is put by God himself in that great and known place Isa 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb yea she may forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I have graven thee upon the Palms of my Hands thy Walls are continually before me Thy Children shall make haste thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee God did never forsake his people God cannot forsake his people God will never forsake his people And our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised that there shall not an Hair of their