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truth_n holy_a lord_n spirit_n 8,095 5 5.0560 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A81042 An epistle to Friends, for union and edification of the Church of God in Christ Jesus. By his servant, John Crook. Crook, John, 1617-1699 1698 (1698) Wing C7209; ESTC R171614 7,559 17

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Thou hast made with Me an everlasting Covenant c. as they abide in the Unity of the Spirit and Bond of Peace But if this Unity of the Spirit be departed from by disorderly walking and running greedily after this present World hasting to be Rich c. Such oftentimes miscarry not only to the loss of their own Estates and ruin of their slamilies but also to the wrong of their Neighbours and above all to the dishonour of their holy Profession and causing the way of Truth to be evil spoken of c. Let not such deceive themselves by thinking such miscarriages may be salved over or covered with an outward and formal Profession of the Truth for God is not so tied to any Profession that they should be at liberty to walk after the Lusts of the Flesh and to please themselves but if we break Covenant with him he is not bound to keep Covenant with us but the breach is always first on Man's part as the Prophet Zachary speaks Zac. 10 11. which was signified by the two Staffes Beauty and Bands saying And I took my staff even Beauty and cut it asunder that I might break the Covenant that I had made with all People and it was broken in that day and the Poor of the Flock that waited apon God knew that it was the Word of the Lord. And when the Unity of the Spirit is departed from and the Bond of Peace broken the other Staff Bands which signified their outward Form or Discipline could not keep them together but God soon cut that asunder also that he might break the Brotherhood between Judah and Israel for the Brotherhood between Judah and Israel of old did not stand in the outward form of the same Profession only as appears Isa 66.3 where it 's said He that killeth an Ox is as if he slew a Man He that sacrificeth a Lamb as if he cut off a Dogs Neck Even when these things were outwardly required but they were departed from the holy Spirit of God therefore it follows But to this Man will I look saith the Lord even to him that is Poor and of a Contrite Spirit and trembleth at my Word Dear Friends Let us be careful to keep to the Laws of the House upon the top of the Mount which is Holiness round about Ezek. 43.12 If Holiness be round about then God is there according to his Promise and Christ is in the midst be the number never so small yet it may be called the House upon the top of the Mount because THE LORD IS THERE then there is no room for Formality or carnal Liberties nor any thing else that tends not to Holiness and Purity But whatever advanceth and promotes Holiness round about even in all our Ways Words and Actions that the Doctrine according to Godlyness may be maintained even that Godliness that is in Christ Jesus altho' we suffer Persecution for it The Name of this House THE LORD IS THERE will end all other Names as it is foretold that the time shall come that the Lord shall be One and his Name One in all the Earth His Name is his Power and Presence of his Spirit and Glory and as we give up wholly to his dispose and ordering of us then it will be with us inwardly in all our Meetings as it was outwardly at the Dedication of the Temple which God took so kindly at the hands of Solomon that he would not dwell in it himself tho' it was so much fam'd in the World but gave it up to the Lord that God so filled the House with his Glory that the Priests could not enter in as it is written in 2 Chro. 7. and not only so but God provided such plenty of Sacrifices that there was scarce room to receive them And as we give up to the Divine Power of God as Peter calls it that will make us Partakers of all things that pertain to Life and Godliness and so fill our Meetings with greater Glory than at the beginning when few Words oftentimes did the Work of the Ministry to God's Praise and Glory and to the Comfort and Satisfaction of the Souls of his People These Pastors which God raised up at the beginning according to his own Heart went out to God's Work as Abraham did out of his Country and Fathers House not knowing whither so they not questioning God's Assistance or disposal of them in his Service and like Israel when they left Egypt and set forth their three Days Journey saying We know not wherewith we shall serve God untill we come there So poor in Spirit were they in that day and so closely kept they retired unto the Light and Measure of the Spirit of Christ within that they durst not out of an holy Fear open their Mouths till the Word of the Lord came saying as the Prophet Jeremy speaks and when that stop'd saying they had done speaking until it came again This was one great cause wherefore the Truth at the beginning so mightily grew and prospered together with the holy Conversations answerable thereunto of those that received the Truth in the love of it into the good and honest Heart as it is written c. These things I write unto you by way of remembrance to stir up your pure Minds to follow these good Examples that those of latter times may beware of lusting to speak many Words and of thinking that may do the business of the Ministry and of lusting to Preach or Pray to gratifie an itching Ear after speaking or sometimes to shew their Gifts and Elocution for Applause This is not spoken to stop the Motion of God's Spirit in any nor to dispise Youth truly Sanctified and Gifted but that none may be exalted when they see People affected with their Ministry Pray observe Christ's Caution to those early Messengers that came and told him that unclean Spirits were subject to them c. by advising them not to Rejoyce in that but rather that their Names were writren in Heaven Luke 10.20 This may be a Caution to all those of lower Attainments and less Authority who had need to take heed of Popularity or striving for a Name on Earth but be sure their Names are Recorded in Heaven Timothy was a Young Preacher but rarely Qualified yet Paul in his Epistle to him amongst other Counsel that he gives him he advises him to Exhort the Younger Women as Sisters with all Purity Timothy was a Young Man and probably attended with Temptations of Youth therefore Paul adviseth him to shun Youthful Lusts and instructs him to be careful in his Exhortation to Young Women that he do it with all Purity least any sinister or by-end should creep in to defile and so frustrate his Exhortation c. A good Caution to all Young Men that are but Young Preachers also Those Pastors after God's own Heart at the Beginning kept much to the Word of Exhortation to the Light of Christ in the Conscience as a Seed
that was Sown for the Righteous to bring forth a plentiful Crop of Holiness to the Lord from whence also sprang pure Living Praises to the Almighty for bequeathing such a Legacy and Gift through Christ Jesus unto such poor Orphans as we were at the day when as to Religion we could call no Man Father on Earth nay we scarcely durst call God Father in that state we were then in at our first Convincement Yet I can say with many more at that day viz. In God the Fatherless found Mercy through Jesus Christ Let all be careful how any meddle by way of Prophecy of Times and Seasons so as to fix Destructions and Desolations to be on or within such a certain time c. But keep to the form of sound Words and Gospel Doctrine used in holy Scripture and Examples of Gospel Ministers and not to be too positive about Persons Places and Things which if imaginary presumptuous or mistaken proves to the great dishonour of Truth and stumbling of many if not to the Ministring an occasion of Atheism to such as watch for opportunities thereunto and also to cause many not to regard true Prophets The first Preachers among us as all true Preachers do minded more the Goodness and Sincerity of those that came among us than they did the number of the People their Business and Message was to gather the poor lost Sheep of the House of Israel and to call Sinners not only to change their Opinions but to change their Hearts Lives and Conversations that such might be added to the Church as should be saved and in all things they shewed themselves workmen that need not be ashamed they were experienced in the Word and Doctrine and knew that a bare Convincement in the Judgment and Understanding was not sufficient to make Disciples of Christ and that unhewen Stones as they came out of the Quarry were not fit to build God an House to dwell in but would rather prove a disgrace to the Workman that useth them and a dishonour to the whole Building if made use of for such unskilful Builders indeed may well be ashamed of their Work and give it over till they are better experienced Therefore such ought to be remembred as have spoken unto us the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Christ Jesus the same yesterday to day and for ever as Heb. 13.7 8 9. and that you be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace and not with Meats as saith the Apostle Therefore Dear Friends and Brethren let us all abide with God in the Calling whereunto he hath called us and none to strive for Mastery nor to be many Masters and to set up as 't were for themselves but all to serve the full time of Silence in order to be Well-experienced in the Word and Doctrine and when you are throughly of God taught your selves you will understand and learn of him how to instruct others But let all in the first place learn well the Doctrine of Self-denial submitting our selves to God in Christ Jesus So will every one know their Place and Service in the House or Church of the Living God where none that are really Members of it but will submit to the Laws thereof which are All Holiness round about and God in the midst judging out all Stubbornness Self-willedness and all that Wickedness of Jealousies Evil Surmisings Whisperings and Backbitings c. which produce Discord and Divisions And all as little Children and serving one another in Love and the Younger receiving the Counsel and Advice of the Elder imbracing it thankfully for God's Glory and their own Benefit and Comfort So will all from the highest to the lowest submit one to the other in true Love and godly Simplicity for Edification and Preservation of the whole And then forgiving and forgetting all former distances that in the Unity of the Spirit you may all knit together by the Bond of Peace and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against you but you shall remain a People to God's Glory and your own Comfort And so you will abide in the pure Religion unspotted from the World manifesting plainly that you have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken by all that Noise and Clamour that is made against you c. Which Kingdom as it came not by outward Observation so it stands not in Word or Opinion nor yet in Meat and Drink but in Righteousness and Peace and in Joy in the Holy Ghost and he that is in these things saith the Apostle Rom. 14.17 18. serveth Christ such a Man or Woman is accepted of God and approved of Men having this Evidence fixed to this pure Religion viz. of Father Son and Spirit and all good Men as being that only pure merciful Religion before God and the Father that the Apostle James hath given as it were a short Definition or Description of James 1.27 So that whoever Professeth this pure Religion and abides and continues in the same bringing forth in his whole Life and Conversation the pure and holy Fruits thereof need not be ashamed of it for to such an one it is not only given to believe it but also to suffer for the same which hath been and is a great Confirmation to many by that sweet Power and Presence of God that hath assisted them in all their Afflictions and Exercises both from within and without and joyfully in that needful time of great and sharp Trials born up their Spirits to their great Satisfaction and Comfort and to the Eternal Praise of God's most Holy and Blessed Name for ever Amen Hertford the 26th of the 3d Month 1698. John Crook A Postscript Dear Friends LET not your outward Concerns prevent your Religious Meetings and Service on the Week Days lest the Earthly Spirit get up again and bury you before your time but meet in the Faith that you shall meet with God whether you hear Words spoken outwardly or not so by retiring into the inward and spiritual Grace you will avoid the extreams of dead Formality and false Liberty and witness that pure Silence wherein was felt the Breast that inwardly Nourished and those Paps that gave us Suck when we were Young When Christ ascended he commanded his Disciples to wait for Power from on high the Promise of the Holy Spirit which according to his Promise fell upon them when they were met together with one accord and the Apostle in 2 Thes 2.2 exhorts them by their gathering together in Christ c. Seeming to use their Meeting together as an argument to keep down that Wicked One and them from that falling away he speaks of c. Therefore Dear Friends and Brethren be diligent in your Meetings together in God's Fear and Service and that will procure his Blessing upon your diligence in your particular Callings therefore I beseech you stir up and exhort one another thereunto by the Elder giving good Examples to the Younger sort who are apt to content themselves with going to Meetings on the First Days only and then too many instead of waiting and exercising Faith to meet with the teachings of the Spirit of God in their inward parts only exercise their outward Ears in hearing what may be spoken outwardly which in tender Love and good will to the Souls of all I desire may be prevented for the future Farewell Iohn Crook LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sowle near the Meeting-House in White-Hart-Court in Grace-Church-Street and at the Bible in Leaden-hall-street near the Market 1698.