Bread be held forth to a poor Creature but if he receive it not he may perish for all that it is not his tho' I have appointed it to be his and have separated it from my other Substance to be his If he receive not what I offer and would give him he may Perish for all that Here is Grace and Truth comes by Jesus Christ and God hath offered it to all Men in that he hath raised up Christ from the Dead the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all Men but all Men have not received it therefore all Men have it not and they that have not the Grace of Christ and the Spirit of Christ are none of his but it doth not follow that they never will be none of his When they have received the Gift by Christ and say I will be his Sheep or Lamb they will come into his Favour by that Gift and shall partake of the good things of his Fathers Kingdom but till they have received this Gift they are not the better for it they have not any Benefit by the death of Christ they have no help no benefit by it except it be the Patience and long Suffering of God who for Christs sake bears with their Weakness and waits to 〈◊〉 â—ious and for Christs sake offers them Favoâ—r but they are not come to the Possession of it till they open their Hearts and receive the Grace of Christ then they are convinced of Christs end and â—hat there is a possibility of enjoying the Spirit of God and of being taught and led by it Take this along with you that it is your absolute and indispensible Duty to wait from day to day upon the great God of Heaven the Giver of every good and perfect Gift that you may have that blessed Gift that you may have the Assistance of a greater Power than your own to lead you out of Sin into Righteousness that through Jesus Christ you may be acceptable to God SERMON V. Christ the Way the Truth and the Life Preached at Grace-Church-street Apâ—â—â— 18 1687. I Fear the high Places are not taken away it hath been so in all Ages and it is manâ—festly so in this Day where the Heart is nâ—â— rightly prepared for the Lord there the higâ— Places are not taken away For all the higâ— Places in the time of Israel's Idolatry theâ— were ever set up when they departed from thâ— Lord and all the high Places now they arâ— up in a time of Ignorance of God when People have forgotten the Lord then they exalâ— themselves then Pride and Arrogance and every evil way prevails upon us but when Men come to seek the Lord with Uprightness that brings down their high Conceits thaâ— brings every one into Humility for every one comes to be convinced in themselves that none can find the Lord but as they are brought to be Humble nay indeed none seek after him aright buâ— such none have the promise of finding him but the Humble Therefore it is the duty of every one that is a real inquirer and seeker after God to know the right preparation of the Mind to know themselâ—â—â— in such a frame of spirit that they may see◠〈◊〉 hope that they may have a right and just expectation of finding him whom they are seeking after for this hath been the reason that a great many 〈◊〉 been frustrated in their endeavours and 〈◊〉 their purposes of seeking after the Lord 〈◊〉 have not been rightly prepared for him 〈◊〉 â—â—nifest himself â—â—to them they have noâ—â—â—wn the Preparaâ—ion of his Sanctuary there was a peculiar preâ—aration that was requisâ—â—â— to those that drew near unto the Sanctuary of God they were Hallowed that is made Holy ere they drew near to the Holy Place but alas this hath been greatly neglected in our Days unholy People with unholy Minds have been seeking after the Holy God they have been enquiring after a Holy way and were not prepared to walk in it there was nothing raised in their Minds in their Souls that was fit to walk in that way For so long as Men or Women stand in Unity with their Sins with their Lusts and Concupisence with the spirit of this World and the way of it they are not capable of receiving that which should lead them into the way of Holiness nay if it appears to them they cannot receive it for it is with them as with other guests there be other Lovers already let in which imploy thâ— Powers and faculties of their Souls so that if the most beloved of all the most excellent if the Chiefest of Ten Thousand do appear they cannot see 〈◊〉 comlyness in him The Prophet speakiâ—â— oâ— this state and condition of Men did prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ when we shall see him there is no comlyness in him why we should desire him and so it hath happened to a great many now adays though the Truth hath appeared to them yet they have not looked upon it as a pleasant way as a way desirable but a 〈◊〉 be shun'd if possible What shifts have 〈◊〉 great many People made 〈◊〉 keep themselves if possible out of the way oâ— Truth arguing for this and that and dispâ—tâ—â— for one way and another that was out of Truths way out of the way of Holiness What was the meaning of all their arguments but to tell us they might be happy they might be saved though they did not come into Truths way and walk in Truths way and though they did abide in those things that were contrary to the Testimony of Truth in their own Hearts yet it might go well with them This is the strength of the arguments of all sorts of all persuasions in the World that have been arguing themselves out of the Truth and would argue us out of the Truth too and would take the liberty to do those things which are not agreeable therewith but now the reason of this is because the preparation is wanting they are those that have no need of Truth and that have no need of God and of a Saviour but think they can make shift without them he is not become the chiefest to them they can abide in the high places the can call upon the name of the Lord and they can worship in the Groves and in the high places both together like as those Nations that were brought to inhabit the Kingdon of Israel when the ten Tribes were carried away they sent for Priests to teach them they sent back to the King of Assyria to send them some Priests to teach them to worship the God of their Coâ—ntry and when the Priest came to teach them he taught them the Ceremonies of the Law and the divers observations that the Jews used to practise in that Country and so they grew into a formality of serving the God of Israel They called upon the Name of the Lord and every Nation Worshipped their own Gods How is this Nation and the
Truth without the spirit of truth that reveals it Can any come to the Knowledge of Christ unless he that sent him reveals him Where are People's Books where are their Bibles where is their Rule they call it so that all their Endeavours for many Ages have proved fruitless in respect of the Knowledge of God This is but your say so may some say How doth it appear that we have not attained to the true Knowledge of God and to the true Worship and to the true Religion I will tell you how it appears for all in all Ages that have attained to the Knowledge of God they have been made partakers of his divine nature and his Divine Qualities they have brought forth a sort of Fruit in their Lives and Conversations that hath been of the same Nature it hath been Holy and Divine They have known the Sanctifier and they have been a sanctified People so they have become one with him and have shewn forth the Beauty of Holiness in their Lives that is a Demonstration that may shew the Knowledge of God for without it they live another Life an unholy one a corrupt one a Life of Self-love a Life of Pride Vanity and Enmity and that they never had from God but from another Root a Life of Iniquity and Sin it came from another Seed so that they are still without the Knowledge of God And again all that have come to the Knowledge of God they have trusted in him that People cannot do now-a-days except here and there a few that do know him the generality of the Age they cannot trust God they must have something else to rely upon and trust to for in him they cannot trust Now the Lord said by the Prophet of old They that know my name will trust in me thaâ— is enough if People know God whom to know is life eternal even to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent This is Life Eternal if People were coâ—â— to this Divine Knowledge they would never take care or study for any Refuge or set up this or that or the other thing to lean upon A rich Man he trusteth in his Ricâ—es one trusteth to one thing and another to another but they would trust in the Living God and he should be their God and their Rock and they would venture their Concerns upon him both in this World and that which is to come if they did but know him People may talk as much as they will but he can never properly be said to be my God and thy God till we cast our care upon him and can venture our concerns upon him both in this World and that which is to come and can say He is our God and our Relyance and Dependance is upon him Now this is the Effect and Consequence of this Knowledge of God such as come to partake of it they shall not need to be bid to worship him You shall not need to make a Law that this People shall worship the God that they know there needs no Law to command the People of God to worship him his law is written in their hearts and they that know him will worship him There was never any Man on Earth that had the Knowledge of the true and living God that needed be put upon worshipping him that needed a Law to oblige him to it for the very Knowledge that is given of God through Christ this brings forth naturally an Adoration of the invisible Power which Men put their Trust in it produceth an Adoration that is true Worship it causeth an humble Reverence of that Power it brings the Soul upon its Knees as it were it brings the Soul to stoop and bend and bow upon all occasions to God as his God It raiseth his expectations to receive Counsel and Judgment and Understanding from him as the Fountain of Wisdom and hereby People are taught to worship in the right Divine Knowledge But to tell Men of the Worship of God before they know him though you make as many Laws as you will to force them to worship that God they do not know yet you can never do them any good nor make their Worship acceptable nor make them devout you can never bring Devotion nor Divine Adoration into their Hearts by all the Laws that you can make But there is a Spirit of Life that sets the Soul at liberty from its former Bondage to Sin and Satan and when this Law comes to be revealed in my Heart what saith this Law Worship God give Honour and Glory to him This Law saith Submit thy self to him that redeemed thee thou art his thou art no more thine own This Law being written in the Heart obligeth a Man to a true Worship and to worship God in spirit and truth for this Man hath done imagining among the Heathen that there are Gods many and Lords many He hath done imagining what God is and where he is for he is now come to Knowledge he is come beyond the best Scholar in Athens let him be never so mean and despicable in the World if it be never so poor a Lad or Lass they are beyond the best Scholar in Athens for the best Scholar there came only so far as to contradict their fellow Scholars Some of them were for Mars and some for Jupiter some for one God and some for another These Scholars by some Beam of Divine Light shining in them had come to perceive that the Influences that were in Mars Jupiter and Venus and the Sun and Moon and other Planets they received them from an higher Power that is God They denyed not that these Planets had Power and Influences given to them sometimes they are called heavenly Bodies the Sky or Canoâ— of the Earth and Sun Moon and Stars 〈◊〉 called Heavenly Bodies they have Power and Influences but this was given them and that Power must be greater than theirs from whom they receive their Power Vertue and Influence even that God who is the maker of all things The Scholars at Athens were gotten so far as to see there was a God greater than the Planets which the Nations worshipped they thought that God was to have an Altar as well as Jupiter and Mars and those other Gods and therefore they built an Altar to the unknown God whom they ignorantly worshipped If thou and I are come to the knowledg of the true God then we must know more than these Scholars of Athens who erected an Altar to the unknown God When the Apostle comes to Preach Divinity among these Scholars of Athens there were Masters of Arts and sciences he begins to Preach to them about an unknown God whom ye ignorantly Worship saith he him declare I unto you we do not need to declare to you the Gods of the Nations for you Worship them but to declare to you the unknown God whom ye ignorantly Worship these were the â—reat Scholars of Athens that the Apostle sâ—â—ke to
Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee The Covenant is made to Abraham and his Seed that is with Christ Jesus the Mediator It is he that brings to God those that trust in him and come to him He that cometh to him he will in no wise cast out they that do not come to Christ are cast off already All Men by Nature are cast 〈…〉 if any of theâ— will be 〈◊〉 it is by coming to Christ whâ— is able to â—ave to thâ— uttermost and to makâ— Peace for them and of Twins to make onâ— new Man and to make Peace between God and their Soulâ— There is a necessity for all People that have sense of their natural state and condition that according to Nature have no Title to the Kingdom of God to be reconciled to God By Nature they cannot make a claim to Righteousness and Life they cannot reconcile themselves to God by all their Works saith the Prophet Micah Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand of Rams or with ten thousand Rivers of Oil shall I give my first-born for mâ— Transgression the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul He hath shewed thee O Man what is good And what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and love Merâ—â— and walk humbly with thy God They that will be saved must lay hold of Salvation in that way and method that the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath prescribed He hath prescribed a way for every Body to be saved he would have no Body to perish but that all should come to Repentance and obtain everlasting Life God hath made a way that will serve every Body alike Thousands as well as Ten and all the World as well as one Man Now the way that God hath made is turning out of the State into which they are fallen and a forsaking that Governour that rules in the Hearts of the Chil◠〈…〉 Disobedience aâ— closing with Christ 〈◊〉 God hath appoinâ—ed to reign in every â—â—dy's Heart Peopâ—â— in Christendom will all say they have closed with Christ Do not you hope to be saved by Christ on the Terms of the Covenant It is not crying Lord Lord but doing the Will of God the Terms are All Men must believe in Christ the Eternal Son of God and through â—he Power of that Faith they have in him he comes to rule over them and they become subject to him And if a Believer be not subject to Christ he is all one as if he was an Unbeliever Circumcision or Vncircumcision avails not any thing but a new Creature and Faith which worketh by Love The Covenant doth not stand in meer Words 〈◊〉 I conform to such Articles then I am a Christian if I believe all the Articlâ—s of the Creed then I am a Christian and a Child of God If a Mâ—n will say I believe his Say so is not sufficient The condition of the Covenant that God hath made is That Christ shall rule and have the government of those Souls that he presents to God How should it be otherwise seeing he is not to present any to God that are unclean Christ hath no Commission to present any to God in their Uncleanness and Wickedness He that believeth he must be cleansed and purifyed by him If so then that cannot be done by ruling over them If they had the Rule of themselves they would be polluted and be like Water whose Current is stopt with Di◠〈…〉 â—d not running in its own natural S◠〈…〉 People will commit Sin when they have the Rule of themselves but when Christ presents People to God and when they come to be led by him they are cleansed and purified When the Apostle describes true Faith he doth it by this quality and property of it It purifies the Heart All other Faith is but the Hope of the Hypocrite but real Faith is the operation of God saith the Apostle and that Faith worketh in an unclean Heart to the cleansing of it and in an impure Heart to the purifying of it If the Heart comes to be purified then it must needs follow that the Conversation must be pure also No body doth an ill Work nor speaks an ill Word but it is from an evil Heart Now if the Axe come to be laid to the Root of the Tree and the Word of the Lord operate in the Heart powerfully if never so much evil be in it the Axe when laid to the Root of the Tree will cut it down the Power of God will execute Judgment upon every thing that is contrary to him Christ is holy harmless and undefiled and separate from Sin and Sinners and tho' he extend his Life and Vertue to the Life and Soul of the most wicked Man in the World it never joins with their Uncleanness but keeps immaculate and undefiled in the Heart of the worst of Men. Now this immaculate Power that comes from Christ it will purifie the Hearts of Men and preserve them from evil Thoughts Wâ— and Actions This is the manifestation of 〈◊〉 one Mediator that they must be governed bâ— else they cannot be presented spotless to God the Father There is a necessity of coming to a Saviour otherwise than by Words and Profession we must come to him and heartily joyn with him we have all joyned with the Devil he hath suggested moved and instigated and People have followed his instigations and motions there is no Man but is sensible of a devilish motion why not then of a Divine motion Though now it is become a Bugbear to say we are moved by the Spirit of Christ why not by that Spirit as well as by the Spirit of the wicked one No Man doubts but that there are motions of the Devil which they are sensible of that sometimes they have joyned with him and sometimes they withâ—â—â—nd him What is the reason that Men should joyn with evil motions There is no just reason for it The reason why you and I withstand the motions of the Devil is bâ—cause we find another motion conveyed into our Hearts by the Spirit of God if a Man hath one motion to commit uncleanness he hath another motion to keep himself pure if he hath a motion to speak a Lie he hath another motion to speak Truth there are two movers at the same time in the same Heart which shall we joyn with Shall I joyn with the Devils motion If I find any thing of the â—ove of God in my Heart it will constrain me to â—â—nd the good motion and make me withâ—d the evil motion so that the movings 〈◊〉 the Spirit of God is not such a wonder There are none but they have bad motions in them and they have also motions of the Spirit of Truth they have met with evil motions and they have admired them too much then it is time to repent if there be a distinction between a motion of the Spirit of Truth and a motion of the
THe Works of this Author have obtain'd such general Esteem that many are desirous nothing of his should be lost I have already published two small Volumes of his Sermons the First containing Eight and the Second Ten of his Declarations and the acceptance they have gain'd from Persons of different Persuasions has induced me to emit this Third and Last Collection containing Twelve Sermons more upon several very necessary Subjects none of which have been yet Printed One of them being his last Sermon preached at Devonshire-house London a while before his Death So that now these are all of this Author's which are to be expected from N. C. THE Third and Last Volume OF THE Sermons OF Mr. STEPHEN CRISP Late of Colchester in Essex Deceased Containing XII DECLARATIONS upon several Divine Subjects Exactly taken in Short-hand as they were deliver'd by him at the Publick Meeting-Houses of the People called QUAKERS In Grace-Church-street Devonshire-house and S. Martin's le-grand London And now faithfully Transcribed and Publish'd with some of his Prayers after Sermon London Printed for Nath Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheap-side 1694. The Contents of the Three Volumes of the Sermons or Declarations of Mr. Stephen Crisp THe First Volume contains Eight Sermons upon the following Subjects I. The great Mediator of the Everlasting Covenant II. Heart Preparation for receiving the Gospel III. The First and Great Commandment IV. The Standard of Truth V. The necessary Duty of remembring our Creator VI. The Divine Monitor or Light from Heaven VII The Inward Preacher or the Office of Conscience VIII Saving Faith the Gift of God alone THe Second Volume contains Ten Sermons upon the following Subjects I. Truth 's Testimony against the Power of Sin and Satan II. Bearing the Cross the right Mark of a Christian III. The Spirit of Christ the only true Guide IV. Pure and Spiritual Worship V. The Divine Life of Christ Jesus VI. The Kingdom of God within VII The undefiled way to Eternal Rest. VIII The dawning of the Day of Grace and Salvation IX The Excellency of Peace with God X. True Christianity THE Third and Last Volume contains Twelve Sermons upon the following Subjects I. The mighty Work of Man's Redemption II. The Word of God a Christian's Life III. The necessity of an holy Life and Conversation IV. Baptism and the Lord's Supper asserted V. Christ the Way the Truth and the Life VI. Captive Sinners ransomed by Jesus Christ. VII The Sheep of Christ hear his Voice VIII No True Worship without the right Knowledge of God IX The wonderful Love of God to Mankind X. Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ. XI The acceptable Sacrifice XII Christians should often think on the Name of the Lord Being his last Sermon preached at Devonshire-house a while before his Death And are all to be sold either single or bound up in one Volume by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside Price Three Shillings SERMON I. The mighty Work of Mans Redemption Preached at Grace-Church-street Feb. 8. 1687. My Friends WE are met upon the most weighty Affair that can be to every one of us even to wait that we may have a true knowledge of the beginning carrying on and perfecting the mighty Work of Redemption that People may know that Redemption is wrought in their Souls for every ones Soul hath been lost and captivated and led away from the pure Presence of God all have been alienated by reason of Sin which hath become an universal Wall of Partition and hath excluded and shut out unholy Souls from the Holy God all that have been defiled and polluted they have been excluded from his Dwelling-place they have been driven out into the World and the World hath become a World of Misery and of Distraction and Confusion to the Sons and Daughters of Men there hath been Anguish Tribulation and Wrath upon all their Souls and an insensibility hath happened unto many that they have not been apprehensive of the great Depravation they have lain under and they have not been sensible of the Glory of that State and Condition which they were to have enjoyed and in that State of Insensibility they have not sought after the Lord but have been captivated and led away by divers Lusts and Pleasures by which they have wounded their own Souls more and more And in such a State as this it is that the Lord hath found us he hath sought us out and he hath found us cast out into the open Field and wallowing as it were in our Blood and yet this hath been a time of Love and he hath manifested his Love to us in this respect in that he hath awakened us and brought us to a sense of our depraved and deplorable Condition and given unto a Remnant to perceive that there is a more excellent Glory a more excellent Enjoyment to be had than any this World can afford But a great many of those whose Eyes are so far opened that they can see and discern a more excellent Glory yet they cannot receive it for they are not in a capacity for the Enjoyment oâ— it many have the Glimmerings and some little sight of Heavenly Things but they themselves are earthly Many perceive there is a holy Life but it is not theirs for their own Life is unholy and yet they know there is a Life that is Holy and Pure Hereupon Desires are begotten by the divine Word of Life in the Sons and Daughters of Men through the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator by him Desires are begotten in People that they might come to enjoy that Life of Holiness that they might not only see a better State than what they do enjoy but that they might come to enjoy it and have iâ— for theirs There is an universal Desire in People that they might have Eternal Life and they believe there is an Eternal Life to be enjoyed but every one hath it not and the reason is because they are not fitted and prepared for the enjoyment of it for it is a kind of Treasure that is never put into an unclean Vessel there must be a cleansing and purifying that so earthen Vessels may come to retain and hold this heavenly Treasure and when it comes to this that People must be cleansed and purified here the World turns out to divers Means and Methods some have gone to outward Washings outward Cleansings and Observations of this and the other Ordinance and when all that hath been done they themselves being Judges were yet unclean when they have done all that lies in their Power and Ability towards their Washing and Cleaâ—sing and towards preparing themselves they have found some secret Testimony in their own Consciences that their Hearts were still unclean and that there was defilement still abiding and lodging in the Secret of their Souls and this hath put a great many to a stand what they should do when they have come to the end of all they know not what
contrary to the Mind of God than that the Devil should have the Rule of us for God would have the Government of us himself When we consider the infiniteness of God's Power for destroying that which is contrary to him who can believe that the Devil must ever stand and prevail I believe it is inconsonant and disagreeable with the true Faith for People to be Christians and yet to believe that Christ the Eternal Son of God to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is given will suffer Sin and the Devil to have dominion over them There is no other Name under Heaven by which I can be saved therefore I have put my confidence in him If the Devil must have the Rule of me here then I cannot be subject to Christ in all things I may go to Meetings but I can never master the Devil and his Temptations this is as inconsisâ—ent with the Faith of a Christian as Light with Darkness and Christ with Belial If Christians think themselves true Believers then let them see how far their Faith will reach whâ—ther it be like that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints for by that Faith their Hearts were cleansed and they became free from Sin Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin and the servants of God saith the Apostle you have your Fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life you were Servants to Sin but now you are free from Sin so that this Faith is but one and if Men have got another it will do them no good Take heed thou art not mistaken about thy Faith I have heard some learned Men say That a Believer is a Servant of Sin and he is ever like to be so but he is not at the same time free from Righteousness for he hath the Righteousness of Christ imputed to him and God looks upon him as righteous in his Righteousness there cannot be a more Anti-apostolical Doctrin I may be a servant of Sin and yet have the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness I may be a Servant of Sin say they yet Christ is Righteous he is the Righteousness of God and he hath fulfilled the will of God and hath purchased salvation for me and he is the Object by which I am made righteous Consider this the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness will never do me good till I come to partake of his Righteousness till his Righteousness be made my Righteousness in me and for me Christ is made to us of God wisdom righteousness sanctification and reâ—emption so that if a Sinner one that was a Sinner the other Day come through Fâ—â—â—â— in Christ to have his Heart cleansed and purged and true Righteousness planted in him where Sin was planted there Sin through the Blood of Christ is cleansed and purged away So that Christ is made Righteousness to me and not his Righteousness barely imputed and reckon'd to me Christ is my Wisdom I am a Fool without him Christ is made Righteousness to me for my good Deeds and holy Living cannot be acceptable to God till they be done in him and commended to God by him the proper Work of Faith is to fix the Soul on him that worketh all things in us and for us that worketh in us both to will and to do according to his good pleasure and it is the good pleasure of God that we should live in 〈◊〉 Righteousness They that come to receive this Faith at first receive it from an inward Feeling they have the Operation of the Word of God in them so the Apostle reckons Faith not because such a Man heareth and such a Man believeth what such a Man preacheth but Faith is the operation of God you may hear me and a Thousand preach and you may die Unbelievers for all that except you come to thiâ— to know the Operation of God and the woâ—â— of Faith in you How doth my Heart close with this how doth my Soul joyn with this What Vertue and Power do I feel in my self It may be others that preach feel the Powâ—â— but do I feel it if not I come but to a Noise and Sound If People feel not their Hearts joyning with the Word preached there comes no advantage to them You read in Scripture That the word preached did not profit because it was not mixt with faith in them that heard it This is your Cafe you come to Meetings and you love to hear the Doctrin of Truth preached I tell you and I will speak plainly to you unless you come to feel the Operation of the Word of Truth in your Hearts you may hear the Gospel and the Word of Life preached to you but it will not profit you much How is it possible for a Man to have a Testimony against Drunkenness and yet be drunk a Testimony against Uncleanness and yet be unclean How can a Man hear such a Testimony and believe it and yet commit the Sin he heard it but did not feel the Vertue of it within himself and so he did not mortifie the Sin that he was inclinable to but they that come to joyn with Truth and with meekness receive the ingrafted word they find the Power and Ability of it they find how able it is to save their Souls they find how it worketh not only just when they hear it but it goes along with them and dwells with them and they feel the vertue of it overshadowing their Souls with the Dread and Terror of the Lord not with the Words that a Man speaks I do not trust to them but here is the Power â—â—d the Feaâ— of the Lord which will preserve my Soul and keep me in safety this is that which will keep my Mind fixed upon him and keep my Mind inward that I do not gaze about me so that every one may have an Infallible Testimony of what they have heard and known I have known the Doctrin of several Sects that have been among us and the main thing that many have gone from one People to another about is this that they might know what such a Man holds forth more than such a one and they think the truth is more perspicuous among such a People than other People if you examin the Matter it is this Who preached and proved his Doctrin beâ—â— Alas if they did all concur together and did preach as certain and infallible Doctrin as ever Chrâ—â—â—â— and his Apostles preached this will all â—â— thee and me no good unless we know the Power You know there were Thousands that heard Christ Preach as you now hear me and there were some so taken with him that they went away and said Never Man spake like this Man But were they all Christians did they partake of Life by him No some of them were ready to stone him Now bring this home and consider with your selves whether you are not some of yoâ— in the same State when you hear Trutâ— preached there is an assent and agreemenâ— with it in your
have builded up whereby the Glory and favour of God was hid from the Soul we believed this to be true we would have been looked upon as Heires â—â— God 's Kingdom yet when we are come to hearâ—en to the Truth we find that we are Children 〈◊〉 the Devil and do his works shall a Man believe this after he hath been forty years a professor of Christanity If a Man believe Truth there is no danger in believing it tho' it be his own Destruction that is threatned Now the great thing that I would have ushered into the Hearts of Men is that they may believe the Truth for Truths sake If Men will believe the truth they must believe many things against themselves which they are not willing to believe but saith Christ no Man can be my Scholar my Disciple but be denying himself I must deny my self my pretensions to Christianity my supposed Saintship and â—itle to the Kingdom of God now if I would be convinced that I am a wicked Man a prophane Man one that doth not live as becomes the Gospel I must believe truth the Voice of truth being of infallible certainty it is signified Divinely by the immortal Word that cannot deceive us this ought to be the reason why People should believe the Testimony of it tho' it be against themselves they that do so presently come to find the effects of it for they were in their Sins and Trespasses before and so are still they were before in a kind of liberty in a kind of ease and indulgence of themselves and still their Sin remains in them and they remain in it but they are now under a sense of Sorrow under a weight under a Burden under an oppression which signifies they are alive and quickned for if you take an outward comparison they remain not senseless and dead now lay what Load you will upon a dead Man he will neither groan nor grumble at it but if he comes again to life he cryes take off the Burden the weight and oppression that lyes heavy upon me This is the difference between being deaâ— in sins and trespasses and being brought to liâ—â— and sense again this word of life that comâ— from the Mouth of God begets a sense in evâ—ry one that receiveth it it is of great serviâ—â— and use to all People to be acquainted witâ— it that desire to be Heirs of life eternal thaâ— desire to be Inheritors of the Kingdom of God But how should they come by it they thinâ— by this duty and the other duty and this and the other Temporary performance to obtaiâ— it no but if they will have life they muâ—â— have it from the God of life that created them he must Create them again to good works they can have it but by one way all must be brought to it that way it cannot be by hearing a Man preach unless the Spirit doâ—â— cooperate with the word of God there is nâ— possibility of being quickned and necessiâ—â— binds me to hearken and have a regard to the one means Now I say to you saith Chriâ—â— speaking of Peoples way of living to eterniâ—â— Man liveth not by Bread alone but by evâ—â— word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of 〈◊〉 now when we come to understand this 〈◊〉 as spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ we 〈◊〉 conclude there was a possibility of understaâ—â—ing and hearing that inward Voice and Word of Truth in our own Hearts that God did speak to us by his Son Jesus Christ who enlightned us Hereupon Meetings were appointed at first that the Word should minister Life in them and Life to them that attend them and to this Day our Meetings are appointed for this purpose that we may have â—he ministration of Life and Vertue from Christ the Fountain of Life and Vertue by whom we are to be quickned and strengthned and by whom those that are dead in Sins and Trespasses are to be quickned Therefore I would have every one always to have a Reverence to the Word of Life that speaks in themselves for if we speak as we are moved by the Spirit of God and utter those things by verbal Testimony which God hath made known to us if you have not an Oracle in your Bosoms if you do not at the same time perceive an Eccho of Truth in your own Souls this will do you no good but be an empty sound which will pass away again but the Mind that is serious and settled in waiting upon God with an earnest Desire that it may receive Benefit in going to this and the other Meeting such aâ—one will say I pray God bless this opportunity to me that so I may receive Benefit to my Soul Where People meet in this manner they have not only an administration of Doctrin from without from this and the other Instrument but they have a Ministration of the Word of God in â—â—emselves by which a Man liveth Let us not be 〈◊〉 and hurried away with the grand Error of the Times the great Error of this Age and of the Ages by-past that there is no possibility for People to understand and hear this Voice of God this inward Voice There are say they no immediate Teachings now adays no Inspirations now adays they had as well said that there are no Conversions now adays I will prove it from the Holy Scriptures that there is no Man in this Age is like to be converted to God or redeemed from his Iniquity and brought to the knowledge of his Maker unless he have it by the inward Working of the Eternal God Not by Mans Preaching and Instruction nor by reading all the good Sermons that ever were preached without the Co-operation of the holy sanctifying Spirit which begets Life in them that believe and if these Men say none can be Converted then we must all go Headlong to Hell and they and all These Quakers may say what they will there is no immediate Teaching now adays no Man can know the mind of God nor understand the Scriptures none can open theâ— to you But blessed be God this Darkness is râ—moved this Vail is gone over and taken â—way the brightness of the glory of the Goâ—pel hath expell'd this Darkness and thousanâ— now adays do not onlâ— hear the Minister reprove them but they â—eâ— a Voice within that doth reprove them 〈◊〉 â—â—iquity and they find and feel a Judgment and Tribunal within themselves and that God hath an immediate way of Counselling and Instructing them if they will hearken to him You that are under any sense of this that are come to such an inward sense of the operation of the Word of God if you have heard it reprove you exhort you judge you and condemn you consider that this Word proceeded out of the Mouth of God and not out of the Mouth of any Man You hear the sentence of God upon you in your own Consciences Whence comes it This is out of the Mouth of God Every Word that comes
is a plâ—ce appointed for the Woman in 〈◊〉 Wilderness where she is preserved by the â—â—mighty Power where she is nourished for a Time and Times and half a Time from the Face of the Serpent but she must come out again after some Time in spite of the Devil and all his Instruments of all his Dragons and Serpents The woman must come out of the Wilderness and the Man-Child must come down with great Power to rule the Nations This hath been accomplished say some above fourteen hundred Years ago and if you will take their Word the Church hath been come so long out of the Wilderness But the Church that they speak of hath it not wanted Holiness and Righteousness Hath it given glory to God on high with peace on earth and good will to men No their Church hath lived in Tyranny and barbarous Cruelty and shedding of Blood They say the Churcâ— was in the Wilderness in Dioclesian's Time and when Constantine came to the Empire theâ— she came out of the Wilderness If it had been a Holy Church we should have seen the Man-Child come down from God and Holiness and Righteousness would have run down like a mighty stream and Truth would have filled the whole Earth All these things have not yet been fulfilled for we have seen the Professors of Truth fallen in the Streets they have been persecuted and troubled and thrown into Prisons and … on s but there is a better Church some … to be found I read of the Holy Church the Lamâ—â— Wife the Spouse of Christ that hath been hid somewhere a great while in some Corner or other in the Wilderness but she will come forth again out of the wilderness leaning upon her well-beloved She doth not come leaning on this Prince and the other Potentate She comes not out of the Wilderness leaning on Captains Generals and Armies but leaning on Christ her well-beloved the Immortal Invisible Power of the Son of God she trusteth in it All the other Churches I have read of they have leaned upon one Prince or Potentate or one Emperour or another and they have relyed on these great Men as on their Bulwark but this Church that comes out of the Wilderness will come leaning only upon her well-beloved the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of her Faith she will put her Trust in him for he will deliver his Church from all her Enemies And though the Serpent cast out of his Mouth Water as a Flood after the Woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the Flood 〈◊〉 the Lord will cause the Earth to help â—he â—oman and thâ— Earth shall open her Mouth and swallow up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth Let the Dragon do what he can to destroy the Woman and her Seed she knows what her beloved can do he will command the Earth to open and swallow up the Flood and she shall go dry through it How happy are they that lean upon Christ their well-beloved The Church of Christ in all Ages hath leaned upon him and he hath founded his Church upon a Rock so that the Devil and all his Instruments and the very gates of hell shall not prevail against her The Members of this Church have their Teacher Christ Jesus and they receive Counsel and Direction from him He is their Priest and Teacher and he teacheth them by his Spirit and his Word which he hath placed in their Hearts and given them an Understanding to know him that is true Christ's Word you must keep to 〈◊〉 if you will be true Schâ—lars This 〈◊〉 true Divinity if you will have the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God communicated and opened to you give heed to 〈◊〉 word and that Truth that is in your 〈◊〉 parts Attend to that Light and that 〈◊〉 that is manifested in your Hearts and 〈◊〉 Lord will shew you more of the Power 〈◊〉 Efficacy thereof and if you be faithful 〈◊〉 little he will make you ruler over much 〈◊〉 answerable to the Understanding and Knowledge that God hath given you and if you be faithful in a little he will communicate more and more of his Mind and Will to you and if you be led by the Spirit of Truth you will trust in it and hearken to it and understand the Language of it in your own Hearts and if you be a willing people in the day of God's power God will work all things in you and for you and work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure SERMON IX The wonderful love of God to Mankind Preached at S. Martin's-le-Grand November 9th 16â—0 IT is our great concern while we are in this World to promote the Glory of God and 〈◊〉 work out our own salvation to endeavour â—hat in us lies to be sensible and to help one another to be sensible of the Love of God to 〈◊〉 This is the only thing that can give us 〈◊〉 comfort to have a Sense of the Love of God to us in Christ Jesus There is 〈◊〉 more certain â—haâ—â—hat all of us are Partakâ—â—â— of the Love of 〈◊〉 which is imparted to us daily and we live noâ— a Day without it but we may if we have not a care live maâ—â— Days without it and without the comfortaâ—â—â— Sense of it and that is the reason that 〈◊〉 great many of â—he Sâ—â—â— and Daughters of Men do 〈◊〉 in their Liâ—â—â— so little Love to God becaâ—â—e they have so â—â—â—tle Sense of his Love to them for the Apostle â—ohn that had attained 〈◊〉 great Knowledge and Experience in Christianity plainly declareth that â—he â—â—â—son of that Love â—â—at we have to 〈◊〉 is â—â—â—ause he first loved us and I do not believe that any Man can have any true Love to Gâ—d that is not sensible of the Love of God to hâ—m And 〈◊〉 those temporal Blessings that we enjoy 〈◊〉 thâ—â—â—â—fe as Health and Strength and our very â—â—eath 〈◊〉 â—â—ing and well-being that every Day and Hour are continued they are from 〈◊〉 Love of God to us and the lengthning 〈◊〉 of our Lives and vouchsafing us Oppâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—es for the good of our Souls are evident Tokens of God's Love and Good-will to us Where these things are not coâ—sidered and regarded men live like the 〈◊〉 that perish and regard not him that mâ—dâ— them but go on in Disobedience to him 〈◊〉 Dishonouring of his great Name and hoâ—â—â—ing up Wrath upon their own Souls Aâ—◠〈◊〉 doth every Man while he remaâ—â—â— in 〈◊〉 natural state and conditionâ— foâ— there is in every Man by nature the Sâ—â—d aâ—d Root of all Sin and Rebellion against 〈◊〉 which makes him return evil to God fâ—â— the good he doth to us And I believe we are â—ll of us sensible in some measure of the depravedness that is fallen upon all Maâ—â—â—d and of tâ—â—t â—â—mity to God and that aveâ—â—â—â—ss that â—s 〈…〉 the doing the will of God and that impotency and inability
eternaâ— Life this Life will purifie him and sanctifiâ—â— him at least by degrees till he be wholly sanctified in Body Soul and Spirit This iâ— that which the Apostle writes in one of his Epistles Your salvation is nearer than when you at first believed When they first believed their Salvation was a pretty way off He describes Salvation to be the End of theiâ— Faith and Hope When a Man comes to be delivered from his Sins he shall serve God without fear but when a Man comes to livâ— by Faith he shall overcome he is a 〈◊〉 Soldier of Jesus Christ and he must fight vâ—liantly under his Banner till he gets a Viâ—â—â—ry over all his Enemies and then his Salâ—â—tion is much nearer than when he at first beâ—ieved I would I could say so of some of you for I fear you Salvation is farther off Some go stragling here and there as Sheep not having a Shepherd this is that which my Spirit is intent upon You that are Travellers towards the Kingdom of God it is the wonderful Grace and Mercy of God that evâ—â— it should come into your Minds to seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof They that have obtained this Mercy from God shall receive and enjoy other Mercies better Mercies blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness That is one Mercy but there is another Mercy They shall be filled they shall be satisfied When a Man comes to this he must take up a daily Cross and exercise Self-denial but if he follows Christ he shall be satisfied he shall then have nothing but Peace and Joy he shall then sing Praises and Glory to God in the highest and to the Lamb for ever There is none can understand the Glory that is laid up for those that take up their Cross and follow Christ and love his Appearing This is the great Blessing that God doth give unto his People He hath sent his son Jesus to bless us and turn us from our iniquities This is a Blessing indeed Take heed that you do not admit of any new Terms Do not think to bring God Almighty to new Articles the Terms are declared and concluded on already If you will obtain the Blessing you must be turned eveâ—â—one of you from your Iniquities the Terms are already made the Law of God must be written in the heart and inward thoughts and you must close with that Power that will write the Law in your Hearts and by travelling towards the Kingdom of God you will see the coming of that Kingdom into you It was the Joy of my Soul that I saw the Kingdom of Christ would be set up in my Heart before it was set up there then I saw the Lord's wonderful Work and a great Alteration in me when the Lord was pleased to wean me from the World's Breast and take off my Heart and wean it from worldly Lusts from the World's Joys and Pleasures and Fashions and the World's Honour and Reputation I saw the Lord was pleased to wean me from these things and brought me to an holy Resignation to give up my Heart to him If I have Joy it must be from the Holy Spirit if I have Pleasure it must be in the presence of God who in the multitude of my thoughts within me made his Comforts to delight my soul and if he bring not Comfort to you you will never have it you cannot expect it till you do believe and when 〈◊〉 have Faith you can feel the Kingdom of God within you There must be the New Bâ— the Work of Regeneration for except a mâ— be boâ—â— again be cannot see the kingdom of God there must be a translation from Death to Life there must be a turning out of the old Bottom and a fixing â—pon a new Bottom upon Christ Jesus the rock of ages there must be a Subjection to his Holy Power and Government else you cannot see the Kingdom of God Many have gone on in a Profession mâ—ny Years and never saw the Beauty of it every little Trifle in the World hath diverted them and drawn them away This and the other Pleasure hath drawn away their Hearts they have seen the Glory of the World which hath captivated them But those that make a profession of the Truth and have seen the Beauty and Glory of the Kingdom of Christ they should be shy of returning to the World again for the Apostle saith It happened to them according to the true proverb The dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them They made a Profession and were Members of a visiblâ— Church and had a Name to live but they were inwardly dead the Sight of the Kingdom of God is not given to such but unto Babes that have a Divine Birth and that desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby God hath hid these things from the wise and prudent and â—â—vealed them unto babes You that are hâ—re this day I speak to thoâ—â— that would receive some Kindness from Goâ— and thâ—t desire 〈◊〉 â—nowledge of his ways and that the Myâ—â—â—â—s of his Kingdom may be revealed to yoâ— let your Minds be retirâ—â— and you shall find â—he great things bâ—longâ— to your Peace made known to you We have spoken much of this but I would not have yoâ— know it only by 〈◊〉 Sayings but 〈◊〉 have you g◠〈…〉 â—ur selves toâ—ke whâ— God hath not bestowed this Grace and â—sing upon you If God hath given you Grace do not turn it into wantonness do not abuse the Grace of God What is it that you dâ— when the Grace of God â—â—th convinced yoâ—â—hat such and such a thing is Sinâ— and if yoâ— do it 〈◊〉 â—ll tend to your Ruine Da◠〈…〉 venturâ—â—o commit Sin after you are convinâ— of it O take heed of doing despite 〈◊〉 spirit oâ— grace and of gâ—â—â—ving the holy sâ—â—rit whereby you are sealed 〈◊〉 the day of â—â—demption I wish that the weight of this Consideraâ—â—â—â— might lie upon you and that a holy Dâ—eadâ— Aw of God miâ—ht be wrought in yo◠〈…〉 that you m◠〈…〉 kept from sinnin◠〈…〉 God You know there is a general O◠〈…〉 against presumptuous Sinning Sinning 〈◊〉 Light Why should not we all cry ou◠〈…〉 it It is a most dreadful thing for any 〈◊〉 to sin against his Knowledge and Conviâ— if any of us have been guilty of 〈◊〉 against Light let such a one say I havâ— Iniquity I will do so no 〈◊〉 but enter into Covenant with the Lord and say O Lord so far as thou hast re◠〈…〉 â—y Wâ— unto me I will obey it I w◠〈…〉 light to 〈◊〉 thy Will O God tho' I 〈◊〉 mine own Will Whatever I cross I will noâ— cross God's holy Spirit by which I may
and Wrath and Envy and Revenge and Violence to be found among us as if it would pull down Vengeance upon this City They have heard preached in Pulpits much of Holiness and Humility Patience and Meekness That a meek and quiet Spirit is an ornament of great price Men have heard much Preaching against Pride Prophaneness and Drunkenness and Uncleanness but they have heard it like a tale that is told not much concerned about it and have given little Credit or Regard to what they have heard of these things Why are People so wicked The Reason at last results into this Men are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God they are not the servants of Christ but serve diverse lusts and pleasures and are led captive by the devil at his will and so they go on in Iniquity All the Laâ— of Kings and Queens cannot â—â—â—train and curb them when the Law of Christ is not written in their Hearts but when Men come to see a Necessity of Self-denial 〈◊〉 taking up the Cross this will produce a Reformation This is that I labour for and all good Men and Womâ—n will do it It is time to cry for Reformation Vain Fâ—â—hioâ—s and Garbs and Pride have been cried up why should not we cry for Reformation before the Wrath of a provoked God is kindled agâ—inst us and his Vengeance poured down upon the Natioâ— We must reform our Lives How shall Men reform you will say By getting the law of God within their hearts that is pure and holy and heavenly that will be as a light to mens feet and a lanthorn to their paths Now till People come to this they will go on in Sin and Iniquity till they be swept away with some overflowing and dreadful Judgment So that my Friends in the Fear of God and out of Love to you I seek that you may be brought to God through Christ that you may live in the Love and Fear of the Lord and when you come to die you may have Rest and Peace for your Souls There is no Rest for those that are evil-doers There is no peace saith my God to the wicked The Ungodly cry Peace peace and talk of Peace but there is no Peace for them but they shall have for their Portion tribulation and wrath and anguish this shall certainly come upon every one that doth Evil. It is no matter what Religion you are of if you do not obey the Truth but live in Unrighteousness Now Friends my Exhortation to you â—ll is That you will return to the Truth in your own Hearts and do it while you have time I am not pulling and persuading People to love my Truth but to love God's Truth in their oâ—n Hâ—arts to love it and obey it and you cannot do this unless you resolve to take up a daily Cross and be Followers of Christ who is gone before to prepare a Place for them that are his true Disciples and then he will present them to God as holy harmless and undefiled for these are Heirs of that evâ—â—lasting Kingdom which God hath prepared 〈◊〉 them that love him SERMON XII Christians should be often thinking on the Name of the Lord. Being his last Sermon â—â—eached at Devonshire-House July 17th 1692. a while before his Death THE People of God in former Ages did think upon the name of the Lord I would it might be the daily Practice of all that make Profession to be the People of God in our Days to think upon the Name of the Lord. This you know is an inward Exercise invisible and known to none but God he only knows when you are met together whether you are thinking upon his Name whether the Exercise of your Minds is upon his Power or upon whatsoever else your Minds are engaged They whose Exercise and Desire is to feel God's Power and to be acquainted with his Name the Lord is nigh to them to reveal his mighty Power and his Name to them and they are a People that partake of his Goodness and of his Vertue and 〈◊〉 an experimental Knowledge of the divers Administrations of both his Judgments and Mercies to their own Souls and so they can proceed from Thinking to Speaking of the Goodness of God from the Experience that they have in themselves that the Lord is gooâ— to them For all that some do in their manner of speaking of God and his Goodness and crying up the Name of the Lord it is alâ—â— worth nothing it is but Noise But every one that partakes in his own Soul 〈◊〉 somethiâ—â— of the Divine Vertue and Goodness that flows from God invisibly to him through Jesus Christ he hath Assurance in himself thaâ— he speaks the Truth It is not mere Words made ready to his hand but it is his owâ— Knowledge and Experience of that whâ— God hath wrought in him by his own Spirit there are none that think upon the Name oâ— the Lord and his Power and the workiâ—â— of it but they are able to speak of it eâ—â—â—ctually and truly I know it hath been and is the practiâ—â— among many that they are able to speak 〈◊〉 God's Goodness from what they find in 〈◊〉 Writings and Sayings of some that lived bâ—fore them that did bear an honourable Teâ—â—â—mony of God's Goodness in their Religâ—â—â— and they learn to say it over-again iâ— particular Age But what hath this Tale that they have told wrought This Report they have made How God was with the Christians of old the Primitive Christians and Martyrs they have told a Tale of these things and what hath it effected It hath either brought forth Christians or it hath not Therefore the way for People to be grounded and settled in Divine Knowledge is for every one to speak what they know And if they know nothing of these things to say nothing of them And the way for them to come to receive Divine Knowledge is by thinking by meditating by considering of that Converse that God hath with their own Souls for there is a way provided for all Men to converse with God that made them Every Man and Woman may ask Questions of him and may have Answers from him if they have Patience enough to wait for them every Soul here present that shall come to be serious and with seriousness of Mind shall ask of God what their State and Condition is if they were to die presently God will â—ell them He will answer them he will shine unto them by the Light of his Son Jesus Christ and let them know whether they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of their iniâ—uity still or whether they are redeemed out of it and brought into Covenant with himâ—elf But will you believe his Answer I would have no Man go about to ask such a Question of God unless he hath a mind to believe the Answer that God giveth him To what purpose should Men ask if they ask and ask amiss If they ask without Faith they do