The AFFLICTED and RETIRED Mans Meditations Concerning the EXCELLENCY of the SPIRIT With a Discovery of the Twofold-Mind the Danger of the one the Comfort and safety of the other First Here is observed what it is for to be Carnally minded Secondly Means to suppress a Carnal frame of Spirit Thirdly The dreadful state of a Carnal minded Man Fourthly How the Spirit is a Christians Help Fifthly Means to obtain the Spirit Sixthly The Characters of a Spiritualized Christian Seventhly The glorious Priviledges of a Spiritual minded Man And a few Meditations by way of Observation With a Dialogue between Christ and a Sinner Christ and a Christian Christ and the Afflicted Person As also a Word to the Remnant of the Womans Seed With a Loud Call to all Saints to Love one another upon the account of Son-ship and not onely upon the account of Fellowship Written by SAMUEL BRADLEY who hath Love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity who prayes for Zions Unity Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye Love one another Printed for the Author in the year 1663. TO THE Impartial Reader READER FOr the satisfaction of many or any who desire to follow the Lord Jesus in sincerity I am here engaged to write a small Epistle to the furtherance propagating and owning of this following Treatise wherein is contained and couched many glorious Truths which did concern all persons to look after in former Ages of the World but now more especially we that live in this last Age wherein Errors do abound and great Mistakes do arise in many whom I desire the Lord would be pleased to help to understand between Truth and Error by his own Spirit Mat. 22.29 which is the best Teacher in the world though at this day it is much slighted and little looked after by the sons of men Christian Reader my desire is that thou wouldest be pleased carefully to read and seriously consider this following Treatise with a single heart and eye 1 Chron. 12.33 Acts 2.46 and impartial affections then doubtless in the conclusion thou wilt not think thy time ill spent I do further desire that thou mayest daily search the Scripture and bring the things contained in the ensuing Treatise to the Touchstone of God's Word to the end thou mayest with the noble Bereans of old Acts 17 11. be enabled to discern between Truth and Error between Life and Death to know wherein thy Life lieth yea wherein it doth consist 1 Thes 5.21 and labour to be obedient unto that command Try all things and hold fast that which is good And also remember my dear Friend that the Bereans were counted more noble than them of Thessalonica they hearing the words of Paul which were cried up for strange Doctrine yea Heresie at that day they searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things Paul asserted and preached were truth or not Even so although many things herein contained may be counted rediculous or erroneous Yet courteous Reader let me desire thee to prove thy self a Berean in this matter Search the Scripture and see whether it be so or not Further my desire is that the Message may not be slighted by reason of the meanness of the Messenger but rather look upon him that sends this Message into the World observe when the great Men of the world have a Token to send unto a Friend they do not alwayes make use of rich great or noble Men to conveigh it but many times employ the meanest Servant of the family in that service to give out the token though it be never so rich a gift or pretious a jewel Rev. 17 14. 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 19 16. Heb. 12 25. So many times it is with the great God of Heaven and Earth who is the King of kings and Lord of lords he hath in this little Cabinet a token of his choice love for to present to you his friends nay further it is presented to you that are yet Enemies if you will but imbrace it the imbracing of it tends to Life the rejecting of it tends unto Death though sent by a mean servant and think it not strange if it be refused slighted or counted erroneous And you my Friend the Messenger be not discouraged in your labour for consider the best Doctrine the truest Doctrine the gloriest Tidings and rarest Sermon that ever was preached by the mouth of our dear Lord Jesus himself was by the Scribes and Pharisees rejected and also questioned where he had his Doctrine and said He had a Devil and was Mad. The blessed Apostle Paul was also counted and called a Pestilent fellow a teacher of strange Doctrines a Ringleader of Sectaries a Turner of the World upside down Acts 17 6. vers 18 Acts 24 14. and what not yet after that way which they called Heresy did this blessed Apostle worship the God of his Fathers believing all that was written Reader if in this little Treatise you meet with any thing doth not agree with the Word of God and the doctrine according to godliness after diligent search and due enquiry into the Scripture the pretious word of God renounce it as not worthy the owning or imbracing I shall speak by way of allusion to the noble Apostle in another case I do judge the Author hath the Spirit of God by which this ensuing Discource was penned I speak the truth of God I lie not Though true it is the dearest of Gods children are subject to miscarry yea many failings and temptations doth attend them and the Lord did formerly suffer the Author hereof in measure to fall yet through mercy not totally nor finally but he is recovered out of the horrible pit and out of the miry clay and the Lord hath set him upon a rock Psal 40 2 3. and established his goings and put a new song into his mouth in making of him since instrumental in turning many souls to righteousness notwithstanding those foul Jer. 20.10 false and scandalous reports are gone forth concerning him yea many hard speeches thoughts have arisen not only from the world but from many who I hope Job 19.2 vers 3. vers 4. are the pretious Sons of Sion This one thing as one who doth tender the Cause of Christ and much honour the pretious Sons and Daughters of Sion do I beg of you Let no hard thoughts or evil reports any more take place in your affections without good enquiry of the same This I urge the more for that tender love I bear unto Christ and his Truths Cause Kingdom and People and I dare not speak or write more then I do know or can affirm concerning the Author Mark since
of the Spirit of GOD. ROMANS 8.6 But to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace Doct. 2. That Mind which is truly and throughly Spiritual doth produce Life and Peace FOr the clearing of this Truth observe these following Particulars in the General First What the Spirit of God is Secondly How the Spirit is a Christians Help Thirdly How a Christian comes to attain unto the Spirit Fourthly The Characters of a true Spiritualized Christian Fifthly The Glorious priviledges of a Heavenly Christian First What the Spirit of God is First The Spirit of God is a Soul-enlightning Spirit The Creature in its first state was in a state of Darkness Ephes 5 8. Eze. 11 19. Zech. 12.1 For ye were sometimes darkness but now are you Light in the Lord walk as Children of the Light It is evident till Christ appears in the Soul the Soul is in a State of Darkness and the Way that God doâ—h usually appear is bâ— his Spirit for his Personal Presence is in Heaven but his Spiritual Presence is in the Believer This is seen by his Promise he made unto his Disciples Acts 1.11 while he was Personally among them and taking his leave of them when they expressed their trouble at the sayings of Christ when he spoke of taking of his leave of them John 16 5 6. our dear Lord is pleased for to encourage them with the Promise of his Spirit as if Christ should say though I be absent in my Person yet I will make it up with the Presence of my Spirit John 19 7. I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And this Spirit of Truth that shall come â—â—â—m the Father shall be an excellent Guide to us Joh. 16.13 it shall lead us 〈◊〉 â—o all Truth so the Spirit in man is called the Candle of the Lord it is that which giveth Light to man and inlightens our dark understandings the Spirit of God is that which makes a discovery of the Deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 Jer. 31.33 Rom. 1.16 to the Soul which cannot be understood but by such as have the Spirit yea it gives the Soul an insight into the deep Things of his Law and it is by the Spirit of God that we come to have a knowledge of our intrest in Christ and our Priviledges that we injoy by him for it is the Spirit it felf that bears witness with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God Yea it is the Golden Key of the Spirit that doth unlock the Cabinet of the Heavenly Treasure unto us till we have the Spirit we know not where our Wealth is or what it is 1 Cor. 2.9 for Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him To the end that the glorious things of God might not lie hid from us God in rich Love hath sent his Spirit for to reveal his pleasure unto us 1 Cor. 2.10 By this we may see that the Spirit of God is a Soul-enlightning Spirit Secondly As the Spirit of God is a Soul-enlightning Spirit so it is a Soul-Comforting Spirit also In the forementioned place in John our dear Lord Jesus is pleased for to put that Honourable Title upon his Spirit and calls it the Comforter Joh. 15.26 whom he did upon his word engage to send into the World the Comforting Spirit of God is a Christians Companion and the truth is let the work be never so excellent and the duty never so choice yet if the Soul meets not with the Spirit as its guide and assistant therein Psal 51 12. it comes off with loss with the want of Comfort and Refreshments from God in the duty Oh! it is the Spirit of God applying of the Promises of God in the hour of Temptation that proves a true comfort unto a Christian yea Ps 119 50. it is the Spirit of God that proves a comfort unto a Saint in all straits and difficulties if in a state of Bondage the Spirit of God procures him liberty if the World frown on him Psal 51 12. the Spirit of God will smile upon him if the Soul doth meet with inward trouble the Spirit will convey inward peace if thou lyest under the state of unbelief the Spirit will convey Faith unto thee In a word Ps 119 156. Psal 34 9. let thy wants be never so many this pretious Spirit will supply all thy wants for thee a Comforter indeed the Lord teach us to prize it Thirdly As the Spirit of God is a Soul-Comforting Spirit so it is a Soul quickening Spirit likewise It is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth little Oh! John 6.63 that duty proves for comforting in which the Spirit appears for quickening It is the Spirit of God that makes us active for God it is the Spirit that brings us to be truly acquainted with the Word and then it is the Word that quickens us Ps 119 50. when we meet with afflictions from God And this is the comfort of a Christian in the hour of his affliction Fourthly As it is a Soul-quickening so it is a Soul-humbling Spirit That Soul that lives under the teachings of the Spirit is taught for to be humble and that soul that hath by the help of the Spirit attained unto humility is a fit Habitation for God in whom God will take delight for to dwell in and the more God doth dwell in us the more we shall live to him Isa 57.15 and the more we live to him the more we shall be free from sin and if at any time sin should get the upper hand of us it will conduce to a humbling of us if God dwell in us the work of humility is the proper work of the Spirit and the more we have of the Spirit the more we shall be in love with it Gal. 5.22 and the more humble in the enjoyment of it for it is the work of the Spirit for to keep the Creature low under the highest enjoymen s of God that Christian that knows much and boasts little in his knowledge of God it argues Col. 3.12 he hath obtained much of this humble frame of heart and lives in the enjoyments of the Spirit of God that doth prove for humbling the Soul in the sight of God the true spirit of God admits of no boasting but brings â—he Soul into a dayly sence and feeling of its own insufficiency Jer. 9.23 24. and to a sight of Christ the Fountain from whence his â—â—eams come Gal. 4.6 Oh! it is the Spirit that brings Christ and the Soul to be acquainted and the more we are acquainted with Christ the more we shall be humbled at every remembrance of our unworthiness to him
the work of repentance has been wrought in his Soul I am one that have had very much familiar acquaintance with him with whom I do and for some season have walked in the Faith and Order of the Gospel and I hope in sincerity of heart I speak it I have not I say since the work of repentance was manifested known any thing but his Conversation his Life his Behaviour namely his whole Conversation is as becomes the Gospel of Jesus Christ And that he hath made it his whole work at all opportunities to propagate the Gospel to be instructing building up and helping forward of poor sinners in the pretious ways of dear Jesus and what he could not do by way of publick Preaching he hath laid hold of an opportunity by way of Writing not desiring to hide his talent in a napkin Further Reader know our lot is fallen in this last age of the world upon whom the ends of the earth is come in which the hour of temptation shall be which shall try all them that dwell upon the earth Rev. 2.10 Therefore 't is not a day for Ephraim to vex Judah nor Judah to vex Ephraim but every one of us in our places to meditate on the Royal Law of Love Jam. 2.8 and very profitable will it be for us to be looking into the Prophecies of the last times and to be learning of obedience that being fore-warned we may be fore-armed against the storm comes for who may abide when he appears Mal. 3.2 Rev. 14.1 but such who have been the faithful followers of the Lamb and they alone shall come to enjoy that glorious Paradise that was lost by our transgression in the first Adam and shall be restored again by the Lord Jesus into the primitive glory at his second and glorious appearance and Kingdom which God the Father will give unto his Son Jesus which is the man from Heaven whose heavenly Paradise will far exceed the Paradise of the Earth and be far more glorious it is that New Jerusalem the Wals thereof are garnished with all manner of pretious stones the Streets thereof are pure gold Rev. 21 18 19. as transparent glass which Paradise shall not be of the Earth nor from the Earth nor of a carnal mind as is shewn by the Author in this Book and yet it shall be placed upon the Earth for Rev. 21.2 Heb. 11 10. It shall come down out of Heaven from God being that City which the faithful Patriarchs look for which has a foundation whose builder and maker is God and it shall be the glorious habitation of Christ in the day of his reign The sight of this City by faith in the Promises of God made the holy men of old to acknowledge themselves to be but strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth and to seek a better Country ver 37 40. Heb. 11 24 25 26. It was that glorious Inheritance that Moses saw when he slighted Pharaoh's royal Court and Daughter choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the Lords People here than for to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and so come short of the Inheritance hereafter From hence Observe That those who will follow God here must look for their Reward hereafter For our blessed Lord saith Behold I come quickly Rev. 22 12. and my reward is with me to give to every man as his work shall be Therefore one word unto the World to poor sinners for my Lord and Master had a tender love to such The time would fail me to tell you what he underwent for you who wept over Jerusalem saying Oh that thou hadst known in this thy day the things belonging unto thy peace Luk. 19 42. Sinner through grace it is yet thy day England it is yet thy day London it is yet thy day It is yet your day Rulers Oh that you would be perswaded to begin to learn those things that belong to your peace Ma. 3.2 break off your sins by repentance for it belongs to your peace Kiss the Son least he be angry with you for it belongs unto your peace Beg of God to give you faith in the Promises for it belongs to your peace For being justified by faith Ro. 5.1 we have peace with God Come learn obedience to Christ for it belongs to your peace Leave off breaking up the Meetings of the Saints and persecuting of them for it belongs to your peace Break off the banishment imprisoning and hard using of the People of God Isa 1.16 for it belongs to your peace Wash you make you clean and put away the evil of your doings cease from all these evils from blaspheming swearing reproaching and learn to do well for it belongs to your peace for God will reckon with you for it 'T will not be long before it be hid from your eyes and then you will call Prov. 1.24 25 26. but God will not hear you shall cry but God will not answer but will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh as desolation Therefore be invited to come and embrace the Lord Jesus and the Lord give you understanding in what is here presented or enclosed and in all the truths of God for you here will read what it is to be Carnally Minded Ro. 8.7 and how such as live in the Carnal Mind must never expect to live with Christ therefore examine try and learn to know how to be Spiritually Minded which will produce Eternal Life with Christ in that Kingdom here treated on and in the Father's Kingdom to all Eternity Which is the desire of him who is the meanest in God's House the lowest of all Saints yet through grace a lover of Righteousness and a friend to Zion and a well-wisher to all Truth a Brother to all that love Christ in sincerity John Glyde The 16th day of the 11th Month 1662. To all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and who desire to be Faithful followers of the Lamb Grace Mercy and true Peace be multiplyed Dearly beloved in the Lord AMong many of the Providential appearances of the Lord to me I judge this to be none of the least that I should speak by Epistle in Print which was the least of my thoughts Surely Saints the Lord is about to speak when he opens the mouths of Babes and Sucklings Psalm 8.2 And seeing God hath put this opportunity into my Hand I shall endeavour to deal Faithfully between God and you and my own soul And so I shall crave your patience to consider three or four things which the Lord hath put into my Heart to commend to your consideration Me-thinks I hear the Lords people speaking in the Language of them in Isa 21.11 Watchmen What of the Night Give me leave to whisper among you O ye Saints among the loud cry of your Watchmen that the Lord speaks at this Day four-fold that is to say four things God speaks to be our work
they shall have this Honour to be a Son a Son unto a noble Prince namely Christ the Prince of Peace a Son like the Father a Peace-maker who maketh it their great Work for to reconcile Differences and not make Breaches amongst Christians Oh! such will labour in all their Proceedings after things that tend to Peace Ro. 14.19 and things whereby one may edifie another some there be that are very forward to break the Peace but very backward to make Peace amongst Christians though they profess themselves to be acquainted with God yet upon such God writes the name of Peace-breakers and thereby none of his Children Ephes 4 2 3. for God's People are glad when they can maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and if there be any Divisions at any time in Gods House or amongst his it will be a burden unto them it will make them cry out as Abraham did to Lot Gen. 13 8. Are we not Brethren why then should we fall out though Abraham was Richer than Lot yet he first seeks to make up the Breach an excellent Pattern of humility Oh worthy of your Observation Christians in this day wherein there is so much want of Peace-makers The sixth Priviledge of a Christian Sixthly Such as are Spiritually Minded are called of God and such whom God doth call are called to Peace That Peace that comes in by the Help of Christ proves both sure and sound that Peace I mean that is of Christs own begiting Jer. 6.14 Isa 48.22 and not that which is of our own creating Some cry Peace peace when indeed they do but deceive themselves when they have no Peace For how can there be Peace in that Soul in whom Christ doth not dwell but where sin hath took up its aboad Though the Conscience of those persons for the present may lie still as if it were a sleep that at last it will speak with a witness and there will none be found able for to quiet it but the Lord Jesus the Prince of Peace who hath the command of Conscience who with the word of his mouth can command it for to be still and such as are truly Spiritual they can say 1 Cor. 7 15. That God hath called them unto Peace as a Christian is called unto Holiness so Holiness ends in true Peace yea the Peace of Conscience that passeth all understanding Oh! if Conscience that Bird which lies in the Breast doth sing the pleasant Note of Peace within it matters not who proclaims open War without for the Harmonious Ditty and Lovely pleasant Songs of the Peace of Conscience 1 Pet. 3 16. is that which will bear up a Christian in his hard Tryals through the Wilderness of this troublesome World till he enters into the Possession of the Land of Canaan Oh! the thoughts of that good Land to which he is Travelling in the Spiritual Mind doth Administer Peace and Comfort to him in abundance and is an excellent help to bear him up under all kind of difficulties whatsoever for the man is maintained and preserved by Christ the Prince of Peace The seventh Priviledge of a Christian Seventhly Such as have their Minds Spiritual their Minds are stayed on God and such he will keep in perfect Peace The government of the mind is a rare and excellent thing to have the Mind setled and stayed upon God an Object of incomparable worth Ephes 4 17. the mind is that which tends much to the Honour or dishonour of God and it is much our concernment as we are Christians to set a strong guard over the Mind and be much calling of our Minds to an account that we may rightly understand upon what Objects they run out upon if upon God all is well but if not our case is dangerous and if not speedily prevented by sudden Reformation it is like to go hard with us though we are seeming Christians Rom. 7.23 for iâ— Satan can but captivate the Mind it will not be long ere he will captivate the Heart also and we at last become his Prisoners but such whose mind is stayed upon God upon such Satan cannot prevail for their Minds being already bestowed it is not in the power of their own hand for to give it unto another and to such the Promises is made and doth belong whose minds are so well bestoâ—ed as upon God Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep them in perfect Peace whose Minds are stayed on thee Mark God hath made such a Soul one of his Royal Family for he hath bound himself by promise for to take care of them and those are very well kept indeed who have such a special Friend as God to be their Keeper and we may take it for granted their Peace is safe and sound for it is the Peace of God for Gods Peace is perfect The eighth Priviledge of a Christian Eighthly Such as are Spiritually Minded are justified by Faith and such have Peace with God True Faith in Jesus Christ doth quiet the Soul and it is an excellent means for to remove all its doubts and slavish fears that made the Apostle for to triumph in that eminent challenge that he makes Rom. 8.33 34. Who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect for it is God that justifies Who is it that Condemns it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who sits at the right hand of God ver 38. making intercession for us And such is his Faith in this Christ that he is perswaded That neither Death nor Life nor Angels ver 39. nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Here is a man whose Peace is made with God though all this Host doth incamp about him namely Grim Death 1 Cor. 15.55 Dreadful Hell the Grave the Law or Conscience yet for all this he will not fear as long as he knows God speaks Peace and hath justified him in his dear Son those whom Christ hath justified ver 56. the Law cannot condemn those who Christ died for shall not partake of the second Death those who Christ hath set at liberty Satan cannot bring into Bondage those whom Christ hath comforted tribulation shall not discourage those whom Christ hath refreshed with his presence distresses shall not come nigh Rom. 8.35 those whom Christ undertakes to preserve Persecution shall not hurt those whom Christ feeds famine shall not destroy those whom Christ hath cloathed with the lovely Robes of his own Righteousness shall not be naked those whom the Father Son and Holy Spirit guards shall not meet with peril or sword in a word those that God makes conquerors shall not be overcome but shall have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ The ninth Priviledge of a Christian Ninthly Such as are Spiritually Minded are united unto Christ and such as are made one with Christ are blessed with Peace The man truly Spiritual and Christ are one that can say in truth I
the mire his Riches will stand him in no stead in the day of Wrath Prov. 11.4 when God shall pass the dreadful Sentence of Death upon him Oh! how should this be as an Alarm before the judgment Day unto us all it may serve for the beating up of the Quarters of the Carnal Men of this World Oh! that it may be a means for to drive us out of our Carnal Security to make sure of a right grounded Evidence for heaven for no Evidence will pass in the day of the Lord but that which is sent by the hand of Christ and sealed by the Spirit What Christ said unto Jerusalem Luke 19.42 I shall say unto the Carnal Men of this World Oh! that you would consider in this your Day the things that tend unto your Peace before they be hid from your Eyes Oh! when will it once be that thou mayest shake hands wiâ—h all thy Carnal Wealth and bid adew unto it all yea with a cheâ—â—ful Heart say unto it farewel and say I have found out a better Friend that will stand me in more stead Oh! a Pearl of great worth that will make me rich for ever and oh that thou wert once forced for to say I would not be without Christ for a thousand Worlds Oh! that this might be the Language of a Carnal Man when he finds his Heart Running out to Carnallity giving of himself an heavenly check What is thy meaning Soul what undo thy Soul for a triffle what for a little Honour and Worldly Estimation when thou hast done all wearied out thy Body and hazzared thy Soul to all Eternity and when thou hast got all thou canst get of the World why thou hast got that which will melt away like Snow yea let me tell thee also upon the best of worldly Injoyments God hath writ Woe thereon Oh! What good will our outward Honour do us Jam. 5.1 when we must look the Judge in the Face and be accountable unto him how we came by it with our Consciences flying in our Faces as a swift witness against us in the Day of Christ I leave it unto the Right Honourable that are so titled in this World to consider This may inform all Carnal men that take pleasure in all Worldly Delights and Pleasure that God hath writ wo upon that also Oh Soul What a miserable man wilt thou be when thou shalt swim in thy Pleasures to Hell It is not thy Wealth Honour nor thy good Friends that thou hast boasted in in the Day of the Lord will stand thee in any stead Oh! if thou dost not make Christ thy Friend here thou art undone man for ever when God shall accuse thee thy Conscience Condemn thee and thou lying under the sentence of a Severe Judge Oh! of what use will any thing that the World can afford be unto thee Oh! let a word of Counsel be acceptable unto thee then and make hast after dear Jesus and cleave and cling about him for a better Heart and better Pleasures or else Soul thou must go into the Pit where there will be no ransom found for thee Psal 9.17 whilst thou remains in the Carnal Mind thou art going thither a pace in a full career to Hell Oh man thou art near the end of that uncomfortable journey and not sensible whither thou art a going The Lord awaken such with the powerful Raps of his Spirit and give them the Portion of an awakened Conscience with the gift of a better Heart and then it is that thou shalt attain unto a better Mind Alas man upon all thy ill-gotten goods and unlawful gain that thou hast got with a defiled Conscience God writes Death yea upon the Posts of thy Doors Isa 33.15 Gen. 3.8 Rev. 6.16 Numb 32.23 And where art thou then man What will become of all thy Gain of Oppression then when God shall enter into judgement with thee when thou shalt go about to hide thy self with thy Father Adam God will find thee out There is no Mountain will hide thee from the presence of the Lord then nor when thou betakes thy self unto the Rocks shalt thou find them a sufficient shelter to thee for go where thou wilt thy sin will find thee out Poor man thou hast got a very bad bargain of it for thy rising up early and going to bed late and eating the bread of carefulness when at last thou must by Gods everlasting decree turn down to Hell for ever Truly that man is but a miserable poor man that is outwardly rich but inwardly poor that hath for many years took care to feed his Body and live deliciously and in the mean time hath starved his Soul Oh! that the Lord would awaken such persons that they might not sleep the sleep of death but consider the Day that will overtake them as a Thief in the night Rev. 16 15. before it be too late Oh! that such would go to Christ and intreat his favour to reconcile them unto the Father and as a token of his love be very earnest with him for to bestow upon them the earnest of the Spirit as a Pledge and Token of his Favour which will prove an excellent help unto them to conquer and overcome the Carnal Mind a Rock upon which thousands have split themselves in the world a Sand that hath sunk many into perdition Oh! it doth much concern all persons that live in the Carnal Mind to make no stay but run with all speed with the blind man of the Gospel to Christ as he brought his blind eyes to Christ so do thou bring thy blind Mind and intreat the Lord Jesus to enlighten thee and help thee to a true sight of himself Jer. 29.13 to the end thou mayest have thy mind stayed upon him without doubt if thou seekest aright thou mayest obtain thy desire yea wo and misery to the Carnal Man for let him injoy what he will it is sent him with a curse as you have already heard Oh! this should teach us for to be careful how we come nigh the dwellings of such who are Carnal and to have no more to do with them then necessity requires Learn to love their Persons but to hate their sins pitty them pray for them and do them any good to help them forward to Christ if thou canst but let thy Soul abhor their wayes come not near their secrets and learn to Honour that God that sent his Son to die for thy good Oh! Learn to be out of love with thy Carnal Mind thy Carnal Heart thy Carnal Wealth thy Carnal Honour thy Carnal Pleasure thy Carnal Gain in a word all thy Carnal Injoyments yea every thing that hath the Stamp of Carnality upon iâ— Rom. 6.23 Oh! let us seriously take the words of Paul into consideration and I shall conclude The wages of sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. A DECLARATION Of the EXCELLENCY
their hands it much prevents them of their Spiritual gain whereby they should become Servants unto God and bring forth the fruits of Holiness whose end tends unto Everlasting Life Holiness is a Commodity in high estimation with such who are in any measure set free from the first Nature which is a State of sin and Everlasting Life is the Fruit of Holiness and the portion of a Spiritual Minded Christian The third Priviledge of a Christian Thirdly Such as are Spiritual are such as live a hidden Life and descerned by none but such as are truly Spiritual That a Christians life is a hidden life observe the Words of the Apostle For ye are dead Col. 3.3 speaking of such whose affections were in Heaven and your life is hid with Christ in God The Spiritualized Christians life is secured you may as well harm the Lord Jesus as harm his Life Let the enemy do what he can he cannot hurt him yea though you put him to death he shall yet live yea at a better rate then ever Lu. 12.33 and though you take from him all his Treasure without doubt his best Treasure cannot be taken from him that let the enemie do what he will unto the Spiritual Christian he receives no hurt or dammage for his life is secured in the hand of a Friend Heb. 13 5. that will never leave him nor forsake him It is a Christians Mercy that their Treasure comes another way out of the reach of the enemy This truth is confirmed upon Record for so saith the Apostle 1 John 5 11. This is the Record That God hath given unto us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son By this you see a Christian is safe enough and if we can but make Christ our Friend we need not fear who ever is our enemy and this is the comfort of a Spiritual Christian Psal 23 1. he shall have his portion that is appointed unto him by Christ it shall be given who is chief Executor by the Fathers appointment our dear Lord will be very ready to give every Child his dew our Lord will also be very careful to set a guard over sin and Satan that they may not rob the Children of their portion Rom. 6.14 and the Spiritual Christian will often give our Lord a visit at the Throne for his Portion now our true knowledge of what we are or what we have in Christ it is by the help of the Spirit of Christ And we know that the Son of man is come 1 Joh. 5.20 and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true Mark and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the True God and Eternal Life Mark this I pray That true saving and sanctifying knowledge is the Pretious gift of Jesus Christ that whatever we have of this kind comes in the way of a gift from God You may further observe that as Christ is said to be in us Christ in you the Hope of Glory so we are here said to be in him That there is no parting of Christ and a Christian This mistery the Carnal Man sees not neither indeed can he see it the Reason is Because the Natural Man receives or discerns not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 because they are foolishness unto him He sees not the Glory and Excellency that is in the things of Christ neither indeed can he know them because they are spiritually discerned and the truth is they are out of his reach He that is Spiritual 1 Cor. 2.15 discerneth all things yet he himself is discerned of no man He is led by the help of the Spirit to a sight of Christ and a taste of the choice things of God but the Carnal man is a stranger to such concernments Mark this makes a Christians life a hidden life because he cannot be seen by the Carnal Man nor is he discerned by him so God in his Wisdom carries a Spiritual Man out of the reach of a Carnal Man that let him do what he will in his Cain-like Spirit he cannot come near him Gen. 4.8 nor find him out or touch his Life And this is the Priviledge of a Christian The fourth Priviledge of a Christian Fourthly To be Spiritually Minded is to know Christ's Birth and such know Christ to be a Prince of Peace The Evangelical Prophet Isaiah doth prophesie choicely of our Lord Jesus For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given Isa 9.6 the Government shall be upon his shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Mark to know Christ born is good but to know Christ given to us is better to know Christ a Saviour is that which doth Administer that to us which is good Oh! the Knowledge of Christ given by the Father for us should much ingage us to give up our selves to Christ First Because when Christ shall Reign as King Phil. 3.10 thou shalt Reign with him Secondly Because Christ is a rare Counsellor that will counsel thee here and plead thy Cause for thee hereafter who is Wonderful in Counsel there is none can or will state the cause for the good of the poor sinner as Christ will he will not onely state thy cause but plead thy cause when he hath done Pro. 22.23 and bring thee off with Honour at the last Day Oh! give up thy self to him and put thy cause into his Hand for he is a friend that will never fail thee worth the owning and esteeming Oh! set an high esteem upon him therefore Thirdly He is the Mighty God alass all the â—ods of the Earth are but Idols unto him Fourthly He will be thy Everlasting Father as he is the Everlasting Father one that will not cast thee off nor turn thee out of his favour upon every thrifle Heb. 13 5. but will have a special care of thee Fifthly Give up thy self to Christ because he is the Prince of Peace a Prince that will produce Peace to thy soul one who doth excel in virtue Oh! give up thy self to him and be contented for to live under his Power Dominion and Government for he will have no Government but that which is right and good Then Peace shall be in thy Borders and quietness in all thy Dwellings for he is a Prince of Peace The fifth Priviledge of a Christian Fifthly Such as are Spiritually Minded are Peace-makers and such are the Children of God and shall be blessed of God The Carnal Mind breaks a Christians Peace and so becomes a Peace-breaker but the Spirit makes up a Christians Peace again so he is a Peace-maker and lives under the Blessing Our dear Lord in his Sermon on the Mount published this Truth from his own Mouth Mat. 5.9 Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Oh!
to the end he may the better carry on his design for to deceive but the Spirit is an excellent help unto us for to find out the cunning deceit of Satan and where ever it comes Psal 51 7. it will never leave the Soul till it hath made it out of love with sin Come let us examine our selves Is that sin which was before our love and delight become now our great burthen Is that sin which was as a right eye Mat. 5.29 or as a right hand to us that was so near and dear once that it must be dandled in the lap of our Affections and lie in our Bosome Is it now turned out and discovered as the great disturber of the Family and by no means must have aboad therein Oh! then it is plainly known and understood who hath the full possession of the House namely the Spirit who brings Joy and Peace along with it for the Messenger of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 is an Embassador that makes Peace Oh! hast thou a sight of Christ and art thou not made thereby in love with Christ for a true sight of Christ doth oftentimes beget a true love to Christ Soul hast thou heard his Voice and seen his Face Cant. 2.14 tell me what is thy approbation concerning him then Is he not excellent in Beauty and Virtue Is not he become your Lord as well as your Love to rule you as well as to comfort you Examine is it not your joy when you can but hear from him and much more your joy when you can get a sight of him O! is not his company your delight is not his absenting the cause of your lamenting Oh! is dear Jesus so much become your joy and delight that you can say None but his presence will content you Phil. 3.7 that if you have the injoyment of all things and have not Christ it will not content you In truth can we say he is so much loved by us that upon no terms would we do the thing that may displease him Cant. 3.5 Eph. 4.1 Eph. 5.15 Col. 1.10 Col. 2.6 Col. 4.5 Gen. 5.22 Prov. 3.13 Cant. 3.4 or grieve him Oh! do we make our study so to walk that we may be an Honour unto Christ a credit unto the Gospel and a comfort to our souls can we say That path where Christ is not I find no content to walk therein Doth our walking conduce unto the promoting of Christ's Honour and Glory Oh! then let sin or Satan rap at our door for entertainment they shall find none Nay though Satan should be very solicitous to have a lodging in the room of our Hearts yea but for one night the Soul will sharply give him his answer with a flat denyal the Reason is saith the Soul My Lord is at home as for sin and Satan they must be gone here is no entertainment can be had no not for a night for our dear Lord hath took full possession and where Christ hath took full possession in a Soul sin nor Satan cannot have a Habitation Soul hast thou Communion with Christ Oh! happy art thou then prize thy Communion what ever thou dost let not Christ and thee part but labour to set thy heart upon that which will conduce to the enlargement of thy Communion Oh! the more acquaintance thou getest with the Spirit of God the higher thou shalt be in Communion with Christ Eph. 4.30 Art thou very tender of the Spirit for it is a tender thing soon grieved and soon gone and if once the Spirit takes its leave of thee then farewel Christ and Communion too for it is the Spirit of Christ that maintains our Peace and Communion with God this doth much concern us for to secure the Spirit and keep it in our possession Rom. 8.9 or else all is like to run to ruine then Satan will make a prey of us is the Spirit active and at work within examine Soul danger is near when the Spirit hath lost its Motion it is not like to go well with that Soul in whom the Spirit is clouded by sin therefore if we intend to take our fill of Christ let us take our fill of the Spirit Ephes 5 18. and drink deep draughts thereof yea then shall we be fit and free to serve the Lord and witness choice eminent sweet and constant Communion with Christ Oh! let us set an high and Honourable esteem on the Spirit therefore for it will prove ouâ— friend in the time of need Rom. 8.26 and be a help to us when all other helps shall fail us The third Use of Exhortation Oh! doth God give forth his choice Spirit as his gift by virtue of his Promise in the way of the New Covenant Then here is blessed encouragement for poor sinners for to make out after Christ Isa 55.6 for it is his delight for to do them good in order for their good he gives down his Spirit for their further encouragement Soul remember it comes as a free gift it is not what you have Isa 55.1 2. or can have shall buy it for our dear Lord is resolved for to give it freely God requires no more but ask and you shall have it Oh! let but Christ know thy mind and he will supply thy wants he will bestow upon thee such a Spirit as shall Administer help and Spiritual relief to thy poor distressed Conscience in all straits be they never so bad if thou art blind he will annoint thy Eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayest see Rev. 3.18 if thou art cast down under the sight and sence of sin by which thou art ready to cry out Thou art undone The Spirit will bring a Promise of the pardon of sin for thy comfort Isa 43.25 26. John 6.63 Rom. 8.11 Eze. 11 19. Rom. 6.14 if thou complainest of deadness in Holy Duties or Spiritual Gospel Ordinances the Spirit of God serves for the quickening of thy heart therein Soul if thou lyest under the bitter complaints of a hard Heart the Spirit of God will soften it for thee and make it new in a moment and humble thy Heart for thee and if thou findest sin too hard for thee and thy iniquities too many for thee to incounter with the Spirit will conquer thy sins for thee Soul if thy complaint be Graces are dead and thou art undone the Spirit will renew Grace in thee and keep it alive in thy Soul and make thee live a comfortable life indeed Remember Soul when ever thou goest to God in the true sence of the want of the Spirit to put God in mind of his own promise for he hath ingaged by promise Joel 2.28 for to give down the Spirit a Christians Excellent Help and forget not to put God in mind how he hath bound himself by covenant by the confirmation of an Oath to give down the spirit All which doth much conduce to our encouragement to wait at the