Nations of Europe now inhabited with such a People that are calling upon the Name of the Lord but every one worshipping their own Gods one makes Gold and Silver his God another makes his Pleasure his God another his Honour another this that and the other Lust and they bow down to them that is they yield themselves to their Lusts concupisence and corruptions that they stand in unity with but they call upon the Name of the Lord too they do apply themselves to some kind of form of worship which they say is unto the immortal and invisible God but alas they come not to the Knowledge of God by this All that the Priests could do that the King of Assyria sent back they brought not the Samaritans to the Knowledge of the God of Israel they only brought them to a Report of such a God that had set up such a Law They had the Report of it and for fear that the Lions should tear them in pieces they would enter into that Form but they worshipped their own Gods still So it is now People do not come to the Knowledge of the true God the living God by entring into any Form of Religion for instance Prayer Hearing or any Ordinance or Church-Fellowship these give give not Men the Knowledge of God there is but one way to come to that but only one Men have found a great many it is past your Skill and mine to reckon up the many ways that Men have found out upon the Face of the Earth how they might come to the Knowledg of God and to Peace and Reconciliation with him but they have only play'd the Fools and spent their Time in vain especially they that own the Scriptures of Truth to be a true and faithful Record of the Mind and Will of God they play the Fool abominably for the Scripture that they give so much Reputation to in their Profession doth testifie the way is but one and there is no other way for People to be reconciled to God than by coming in to Christ to be found in him to be regenerated and born into his Nature and have his Qualities put upon them That as he was pure they may be pure that 〈◊〉 that sanctifieth and they being sanctified 〈◊〉 him may become both one and so be recâ—â—ciled to the father through him This you know is the common Profession of Christendom or at least of our Nation And in other Nations the common Profession is There is no Mediator but one no Reconciler but one Indeed some others hold there may be other Mediators and that there are others that may contribute to them by their Mediation and by their Prayers and Merits but the generality of the Nation are otherwise Now for People to fall out and say my way is best and thy way is not best and to fall into Contests about many ways when the Scripture concludes but one Way is not well We were better all agree about this Doctrin That there is no possibility of Reconciliation with God since we are fallen out with him and since Sin hath made a separation there is no way of being reconciled again to God but by and through our Lord Jesus Christ nor by him neither unless we receive of his Spirit to quicken us nothing can quicken us enliven us or recommend us to God but the Spirit of Christ operating and working in our Hearts that he may prepare us for the Father's Kingdom If People would agree upon this there would be an end of all Labour and Toyl and Jangling about the right way for the Consequence and Conclusion would be thus That Man that doth not know in himself the â—anctifying Power of the Spirit of Christ Jesus he is out of the way to Reconciliation with God let his Form and Profession be what it will If therefore he be reconciled to God it must be by and through the Mediator and he will never recommend him to the Father till he hath made him a Temple to let in the Spirit of Christ to work in his Heart to fit him for the Kingdom of God And Men have no other way to come to it for though they be zealous in every Prayer and Form it signifies nothing to any great purpose their Hope will be frustrated There is no other way saith Christ of coming to the father but by me I am the way the truth and the life If I am out of the Truth I am out of the way and if I am out of the way then I cannot come to the end of the Way This is plain reasoning among Men If I tell a Lie that is out of the Truth If I have vain Communication or deceive or wrong my Neighbour that is out of Truth what is manifest in my Conscience to be contrary to the Truth if I am in it I am out of the way though I be strict in the way as to Profession yet I am out of the Way to God I am out of the Truth there is no way to God but by Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life whoever is out of him is out of the Way which made the Apostle say That his labour endeavour and desire was that he might be found in Christ not having his own righteousness but having on the righteousness of Christ Jesus Many Men think to recommend themselves to God by their righteous just and honest Dealings and doing Wrong to no Body This is good in it self but doth not recommend us to God unless it be done by the righteous and holy Spirit of Christ Jesus unless it be of his Working he must have the working of Righteousness and Truth in us he must plant it and it must grow by his working if it be acceptable to the Father for without me saith Christ you can do nothing A Man out of Christ a Stranger to his Spirit may do something but nothing available to the well-being of his Soul till he have Reconciliation by Christ Jesus If he be reconciled to God this Mediator must be the Reconciler and he must fit and prepare him for Reconciliation with the Father All the Divisions Sorts and Sects of Religion they all come to an end if this Measuring Line be laid to them they all appear too short and there is nothing will do a Man good but that Religion that obligeth and tyes him to the good Pleasure of God through the Spirit of the Mediator which he feels working in him by which he is raised from Death to some degree of Life When he is sensible what a Burthen sin is to his Life and that godly Life which he hath is burthened with every Sin and oppressed with every vain Thought and every vain Word If he be not in some measure quickned 〈◊〉 â—ot sensible of this Burthen but being quickned he is sensible of the Burthen that lies upon his Life by reason of his Sin and then being under the Weight of his Sin he calls to God
the godly they do not like such a Life now but they will like it then Friends you that are Lovers of your Souls and meet together upon that account of being better and having Expectation and Hope that you shall receive Comfort and Benefitâ— your meeting together I tell you as a Sâ—â—vant of God and a Lover of your Souls it is but a little while and you will wish that you had chosen the most holy harmless innocent Life that ever you saw your selves or heard of from any body else and you will wish that you had been more watchful over your Thoughts Words and Actions There is a day a Day a coming when we must give an Account for every thing that we have done whether good or evil you must give an account for your cursed Debauchery for your Swearing and Lying and inordinate Passions you must give an account for every vain Thought and every idle Word If this will certainly come to pass how shall I prevent these Idle Words and evil Actions Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way saith the Psalmist by taking heed thereto according to thy word I am not as those that say Lo here and lo there I do not say You must come and learn Truth of me but if you find it you must find it in your selves What if I live in the Truth that will not serve thee and if I be a holy Man that will not sanctifie thee thou must hearken to Truth 's speaking in thy self thou mayest hear it speaking in thine own Heart before thou be an Hour older you may hear it call you to Righteousness and Holiness and if you heâ—â— it you may do it too if you please for there is a Power that goes along with it I know enough thou wilt say but I cannot do what I know I have not Power What ails thee that thou hast not Power If I had Power then I would abstain from all Sin and break off from my evil Ways but the Devil throws this Object and the other Object in my Way and by his Temptations he doth insnare me I have not Power to resist Would you have me do more than I can do and as long as I have not Power I am to be excused Now here is a Device of the Devil to keep People in his Net still If Men would be true to themselves they would not be long without Power If thou art convinced of the Evil of thy Ways and that it is thy Duty to break off from Sin there is a Power offered to thee that if thou joyn with it thou mayest overcome all Temptations and forsake thy Sin I would have you all prove and search and see whether I speak Truth or no I am persuaded there is not a Man or Woman here but they have sometime abstained from an evil Work which they were tempted to How were you restrained because you knew it was an evil Work you durst not do it the Devil had not a coercive Power to force you to do it I knew it was an evil thing and I joyned with that in my Mind which dissuaded me from it and I prayed to God to give me Power to abstain from it The Devil tempted thee on still who helped thee against the Temptation God restrained thee by his Grace Will not he be a present help unto thee H◠〈◊〉 the same yesterday to day and for ever depend upon him still and he will be always ready to help thee and support thee and strengthen thee and thou shalt be kept from Sin in an Hour of Temptation Consider that all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to Christ and if he be able to keep thee thou shalt not fall into it 〈◊〉 â—hose that come unto me saith Christ noâ—â— shall pluck them out of my hands and my father is greater than all If thou comest unto Christ he will in no wise cast thee out and if thou depend upon him he will preserve thee and none shall be able to pluck thee out of his hand If thou joyn with the Truth and with that which is holy thou shalt have Strength and Ability to withstand Temptation and overcome it and I may speak with Reverence Christ hath bound himself to those that trust in him Those that keep the word of 〈◊〉 patience I will keep them in the hour of temptation If I keep waiting upon his Power that is ready to help me and have a mind to be â—urified and sanctified and to have Righteousness brought in to my Soul and have mine Eyes unto God and my Expectation from him he will work in me to will and to do of his good pleasure Now here People have a fixed Foundation for their Faith there is no working at this rate without bearing a daily Cross Theâ—â— are a great many can receive the Truth in Words and receive Doctrines and Teneâ—â— and that with Delight but there is no practising Holiness and Righteousness without a daily Cross and Self-denial There are a great many have come to Truth as far as it stands in Words but when it comes to something that they must do to speak the Truth and live in the Truth they meet with so much of the Temptation of the Devil so much Lust and Corruption and Ungâ—â—liness in themselves they meet with such evil things that their Souls joyn with and yield to that they cannot go on in the ways of Holiness unless they look up to Jesus and have an Eye to their Saviour and take up his Cross and follow him Whatsoever Reproaches and Sufferings and Persecutions they endure they must have a godly Resolution to follow the Lord Christ and say I will obey his Commands he shall have the Rule and Government of my Life and be the Guide of my way whatsoever stands in â—y way I will take up my Cross and deny my self Without this there is no good Christianity in the World There are a great many that seem to be religious and are Professors of the Truth We all know there are many Professors of the Truth in Notion and with some Zeal will talk of it but they do not know how to live and walk in the Truth they do not live uprightly and honestly in it they do not keep their Words they do not live justly and honestly with all Men nor do unto others as they would havâ— others do to them They can tell how to speak and act then why do they not do it They have got a Notion thaâ— they are above the Cross of Christ and Self-denial is far below them People will not live in the Truth This is wanting in the whole World If we look into this City we shall find a great many are illuminated there is abundance of Knowledge and Understanding among Professors â—bundance of Learning and great Nâ—â—â—â—rs of learned Men What is the Reason that Oaths and Curses and all manner of Wickedness runs down the Streets like a River there is Pride
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
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