Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	work_n	world_n	worthy_a	116	3	5.9909	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79993	The sect every where spoken against or, the reproached doctrine of Ely. As it was held forth in several sermons in the year, MDCLI. By Christopher Cob, lay-man, minister of an united people in Ely. Collected and analized for a private use, by Hampden Reeve, Master of Arts, one of that Society, and a constant hearer. Now published by the assent of the whole Society (as a short character, at present, of them and their way, till an opportunity of a farther and fuller discovery) for satisfaction in general.	Cob, Christopher.; Reeve, Hampden.	1651 (1651)	Wing C4769; Thomason E1251_1; ESTC R209173	234,596	386

builds an Ark a whole Ark not a piece of one Now the best of the World how do they sit down contented if they get but a broken board or two or a sorry cock-boat They think all is safe then I but when the storms come and the rain beats where is the Cock-boat then Will that secure them and be a compleat shelter Many are contented with a so far saving they are not the same they were they are not like this Publican they have escaped some of the pollutions of the world through lust and this they judg enough Now Soul take thine case No but this will not do What if a people be saved out of Egypt and yet perish in the Wilderness And if there be a saving through the red Sea yet if the Soul enter not into Canaan if it fall short of Salvation if it be not saved to the utmost what will come of all Men preach much against Papists for holding there can be no perfect Assurance in this Life but the best Faith is Doubting And in effect our Divines all hold the same Doctrine They say that in the best there may be fears and doubtings concerning their conditions in times of desertion and tryals But it is not so for had they ever been saved to the utmost they should never doubt that work more If the condition be indeed once made sure it is so without all doubts and scruples 't is clear and unquestionable and can never be shaken in that point more The gates of Hell cannot prevail against it And this sure and unmovable work of Truth is that which will condemn the World If the Lord count you worthy to be the people to rest no where short till the Ark be compleatly built and a sure condition of life attained not to settle on flashes nor true stirrings of spirit nor operations not to rest in a half Salvation but to be saved throughout to the utmost That wil judg and condemn the World You may go far and be mighty in shew get a high nest and reach to the clouds but Lucifer must come from his Throne and go down to the Pit God saith of Ishmael He shall be great also He shall beget twelve Princes This flesh brings forth great and high births but yet it shall not be heir with Isaac it shall not enter and inherit Life Though it may fare deliciously and be clothed in scarlet yet a time of dying comes and then this rich man is found in Hell How many servants in my Fathers house saith the Prodigal have bread enough and to spare I but the Inheritance is not their own The servant abides not in the house for ever Therefore what shall I say to warn you As the Martyr Bishop Latimer said being to preach from those words Beware of Covetousness If I should do nothing but repeat over this Text an hour together it were preaching enough said he to them that could hear So if whole days and weeks I should onely warn you of this Take heed be sure you sit no where short of the mountain rest no where till you have an Ark built a safe condition to stick to in all storms All this warning would be little enough to warn you Thus I have spoke something of the Effects following upon Noah's building the Ark 1. He saves his house 2. Condemns the World thereby And I told you he condemned it in seven Particulars four of which I have spoke to the other are yet behinde 1. He condemned the World in taking Gods Word and being warned The wise man foresees an evil and hides himself but this carnal sensual and devilish spirit this World in us and out of us will never be warned till it be destroyed 2. He beleeves concerning things not seen He disputes not with flesh and blood as all the World do Even children can plead Alass I am young and childish what can be expected from me The strong plead Why no need of such haste I may live long And others plead ' Sure God is not so extream He is merciful and will pass by failings And thus all the World shift it off till the Deluge come And how hardly hath it gone with some of the people of God because of this lingering and disputing spirit Moses reasons and reasons till the anger is kindled against him and Lot lingers in Sodom till he is almost in the burning and thus dangerously have we ventured to dispute and reason till our Day may be over and then wo to us 3. He begins this work alone though there be not one to joyn with him in it and the Soul that is truly sensible of its want and is indeed at a strait That must look out for help if none will go with it to cry for a certainty What shall become of them yet that must That must have bread or it starves So the blinde man he cries and cries after Christ and rebuke him who will yet there 's no stopping of his mouth till the cry be answered And this condemns the World they are for company they follow the wise and learned go with the multitude but alass it never was that the great ones and wise ones of the World were the Followers of Christ not whole Colledges and Congregations No The Prophets of Balaam are four hundred and fifty they go by Troops but onely one poor despised Micaiah for the Lord and he never prophecied good to Ahab but evil This true Spirit is the Troubler of the World and judges them nothings and vanities will content them but this cries for substance for bread indeed it looks after an Ark a certain condition and nothing less will serve it 4. He condemns the World in that he builds a compleat Ark ceases not till the work of Salvation be gone through with and finished till the Soul be conformed to the Death of Christ and to the Resurrection of Christ and to the Ascension of Christ till the Soul be brought to know the heart and counsels of God concerning it Now the World are contented with halves with piece-meals with some broken scraps belonging to Salvation but have not the thing it self are not saved to the utmost They cry for Parts and Light into Scriptures and enlargements and peace of Conscience and ease and they have their peny they agreed for God gives it them but this will not satisfie the Noahs nothing but an Ark. 5. This condemns the World That Noah builds an Ark and pitcheth it within and without a sure shelter that not the least water can soak into it Now as all the World and all their Ministers can never reach to this but some crevise is open some flaw sticks to the best conditions where questionings and doubtings will get in do what they can And this cuts them to the heart That no other condition should be approved of and pass for good and safe but that which is thus pitched within and without That which will stand in the

walked and been seen and found by them and the remembrance of this enforceth tears being now deprived being now in a strange Land out of this enjoyment Alass if we belong not to this City this Habitation of God if not a stone in this building it had been good for us we had never been born for without are Dogs Then again this House is to condemn the world let men be never so wise and strict and religious yet if they live alone keep all close and live to themselves the world will never be judged and convinced by this but a spirit of love and union to serve another and deny my own will as 't is said of Christ He pleased not himself and Moses chose afflictions with the people of God and Paul though he was free from all yet made himself a servant to all he made himself a servant he chose the service it was his joy to serve others And no man saith Christ takes my life from me but I lay down my life for my sheep And if we shall ever be brought to this to forsake and willingly give up all our enjoyments and liberties and enlargements and choose afflictions choose to bear anothers burthen though I am free when we shall be glad to be counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Christ when we might have ease liberty and honor and pleasures yet to say Farewel all Friends life and liberty farewel all you are nothing to me neither count I my life dear in compare of my God my Truth my Brethren that I may serve in this work and help to build this house This I say wil condemn the world their consciences accuse them that this mind is not in them they live not this life of love and union There are many that cry for corn and wine and oyl enlargements and flourishings in the Truth but all is for themselves to feed their own bellies but all this is too short this is but fruit that may be shaken a mans Soul may be lost for all this and the House of God lie waste But next III. Consider WHAT WILL GOD HAVE THIS HOUSE BUILT OF WHAT ARE THE MATERIALS OF IT All that come are not the Materials No though they make a fair shew though wise and honorable and great in the eyes of men yet this is not enough this House must be built 2. Of living stones stones that wil abide and endure not soon rot and putrifie Better is a living Dog then a dead Lion Not every one that makes a great shew and comes to hear and seems forward No no onely such which have this spirit of life in them to keep them from stinking and corruption to make them lasting stones they are the materials for this house all others will fall off in a day of tryal There were many followed Christ into Jerusalem when in his triumph and Hosanna was sung before him but very few that went out of Jerusalem with him that follow him to Golgotha to his Cross No none but a few pickt and chosen stones that have a spirit of life to make them last and endure no others are for this building but such as the Lord shall choose to it whom he takes out of many David was chose out of all his Brethren he was a fit stone for the use a man after Gods own heart he loves Truth in the inward parts and this mind he sees in David and him he pitcheth on such a company of choyce stones will he have for this house a chosen generation of lasting stones that may make a Tabernacle never to be pulled down more never to be lost The gifts and calling of God are without repentance such ●s God chooseth for materials of this building are such as are never to be lost and thrown away No man can pluck them out of my Fathers hand saith Christ not such a dead stone as Saul proved when the spirit of life was taken from him he mouldred away and came to nothing but living stones a stable enduring and fixed spirited people he looks for that are not ever hanging and waving and reeling to and fro in their minds but such as are tryed stones and will endure the storms not like Ephraim who being armed and carrying Bows yet turned their back in the day of Battel Then 2. Consider In this House are to be vessels of all sorts and sizes some to hold less and some more some to receive much and to give out and supply and fill up others He will have vessels for every service and every use none are to be barren but all useful and helpful to one another and therefore the thing is weighty and need we should consider it and lay it to heart for he will not build his House of any rubbage but onely of living and tryed stones And then all are to be of use all the vessels of his House are for his own service they are not to be looked on and baubled with and made to serve our wills and lusts Remember what befell the King Belshazzar for venturing to call for the Lords vessels to make up his mirth and jollity the hand-writing appears on the wall and makes him tremble 'T is dangerous trifling in weighty matters God will not be mocked But next consider IV. WHY DO THEY PLEAD IT IS NOT TIME TO BUILD THE LORDS HOUSE What Reasons have they These three 1. Their Ignorance hinders Thence their pleadings come It is not time to build c They knew not that the blastings and Mildews and curse that followed them in all their wayes was because this house lay waste they were ignorant whence all this evill befell them they enquired not into it Lord what is the meaning of the hand against me Why go all things thus contrary Why prosper I not in any thing I take in hand They knew not this was the cause of all Ye looked for much and it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it why saith the Lord of Hosts because of mine House that lies wast and ye run every man to his own house Vers 9. and so on And this is a great block in our way our ignorance we enquire not why am I so barren and desolate and perplexed in all my wayes Why goes all so cross to me I meet with nothing but troubles and fears and tormenting thoughts Alas it is because we live Scattered alone and follow our own Counsells our own wills are our own guides and rulers and come not to build the House of the Lord to be counselled and ordered and appointed there Hence is all our misery 2. Love of their ease hindered it was a great deal an easier way to sit at home in their own ceiled houses then to go up to the Mountain and cut wood down and bring and hew and square it to build the Lords House and who would indeed choose to venture to leave all to give up all ease and

have shew'd you seven Ways by which if the Lord prevent not men may come in upon us to destroy the Body Now I come to the next general Thing Viz. Thirdly The Exhortation given Fear not them that can kill the Body And why should not They be feared 1. Fear not in regard of them that shall do it 2. Fear not in regard it is but the Body they kill 1. Fear not them that can kill the Body Fear not the men the persons that shall do it and that for these four Reasons 1. Because they are but men and man at his best estate is altogether vanity Alas They that go about to kill this body what are they themselves but a vain thing a nothing a shadow how ever strong and high conceited they may be yet alas all Nations are but as the drop of a bucket and what is a man that shall soon fade as the grass that he should be feared 2. Fear them not because they are but the Instrument the Rod in the hand of another and they cannot move nor stir a foot or hand farther then they shall be suffered and permitted and ordered They are but like the wheels of a Clock take off the weights and the Clock stirs not Alas though they may threaten and resolve and take counsel never so strongly yet they are not their own Lords they shall do neither more nor less then the hand will make use of the sword and therefore our Fathers in all their sufferings have looked through and beyond the instrument to the hand that rules and acts all I was dumb saith David and kept silence because it was thy doing 3. Fear them not but rather pity them Alas 't is woe and misery enough to all such as shall have a hand in this work They are imployed about a hard service it is their misery they are hackned by the Devil to do this mischief against the Truth As Christ saith of Judas It had been good for that man he had never been born Who ever shall be an instrument in this work alas 't is mis●ry enough their case may be pitied by us rather then their malice feared 4. Fear them not in this respect because before their plots be ripe they may be cut off and dye and be layd in their graves How many such Cases have been known Haman what a strange plot and how surely had he layd it to cut off the Jews root and branch I but the mischief returns upon his own head before his plot comes to an issue he is cut off himself Alas how soon is it done His breath is but taken away and man turns to his earth and in that very day all his thoughts perish All plots and designs and contrivances come to nothing Remember O my People saith God what Balack consulted and what Balaam answered And yet see how all their designs were frustrate and blasted and came to nothing And in our own Kingdom how many plots have been thus prevented when they have been even ripe for execution So in that Powder Treason when all was fit and but now a candle only wanting to destroy and blow up all yet in the very nick it is found out and prevented Therefore fear them not if God will prevent he can soon do it be they never so strong and desperate and malicious yet He can but take away their breath and alas they may be rotten and stink in their graves before their plots are accomplished When the wicked flourish like the grass and the workers of iniquity like the green herb yet then it is that they might be cut off for ever So that were we but truly principled and instructed we might have our greatest encouragement where we make our greatest fears viz. from the strength and heighth and flourishing of our Enemies when they carry all before them yet Fear them not 2. Fear not them that can kill the Body in regard of the Body which they can kill They can reach no farther then the Body and what is the Body 1. That is but a poor outside a shadow it is but as the cracking of a shell to kill the Body 2. The Body is a perishing thing that will soon dye of it self if none should take a sword against it it will soon dye and moulder 't will fall of it self like the fruit of a Tree let it but alone till it come to be ripe and you need not shake it the fruit will drop and fall of themselves Therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body They kill but a dead man cut down a little grass like Jonas gourd up in a night and gone in a night 3. Fear them not for they kill but the Body and that is not that which is to enter into glory this body is to turn to dust this flesh and blood which you see is not to inherit the Kingdom this Corruptible must put on Incorruption this Corn must dye before it shall bring forth that Body which is to abide God giveth to every seed his own body as it pleaseth Him He will give a Body but not this body this flesh and blood which is sown in Corruption therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body And I could wish that always in all our fears and threatenings from men these seven Considerations might stick by us to keep us up from fearing both in respect of the men themselves and also the Body that only is in their power to kill Alas it is but a poor Cask when they have done their worst that they can touch that which will soon dye alone and save the labour of being killed and should it hold out never so long yet this is not it that is to enter into glory it must break and go to the grave at the last Earth must go to Earth Corruption cannot inherit Incorruption No unclean thing must enter into that City and this is an unclean house a Body of Death and Sin In my Body saith Paul I find no good thing but a Law of Sin in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind and that must dye and not enter into life And thus far you heard the Negative opened What you are not to fear Fear not them that kill the Body c. And how have most of our days hitherto been spent about this body and how are the world all of them lost and drowned in carings and providings about this what to eat and what to drink and what to put on We have been more foolish in this then the Lillies and Sparrows and Ravens they take not these cutting and perplexing cares and yet they are preserved and provided for and what have all our carings brought about to us but sorrows and misery they have not added the least cubit to our stature But now we come to the fourth thing 4. Who then is to be feared Fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell Fear Him fear the Lord He that

this charge of Christ and are under this Love this might encourage you That you have One that will look after you and care for you No man ever hated his own flesh but cherisheth and nourisheth it so tender will Christ be to his own Body if your lot be fallen in that good ground Therefore have your thoughts about you and consider the ground of your happiness or misery Happiness if you be accepted in that good-will of the Father and by that Will given to Christ to be his charge this is a sure token he wil save thee These are the two main pillars on which your Salvation stands For if it were possible not one man would ever be saved but go on in darkness and ignorance all their days and lie down in misery But God hath provided a way and taken a sure course to save all his by and therefore enquire for the old way the way that the Ransomed have passed All the saved ones have been saved this way by this Will of God not by any willings or reachings or desirings of their own not of Works but of Grace And therefore if the Lord be for thee it is enough but if He undertake it not thou art lost and wilt be lost c. THE Prodigals sad Pilgrimage AND SAFE RETVRN OR The Woful Case of Wandering though saved SERM. VI. Febr. 23. 1650 1. LUKE 15.11 12 c. And He said meaning Christ A certain man had two sons And the younger of them said to his father Father give me the portion of goods that falleth to me And he divided to them his Living c. The Analysis THis Parable of the Prodigal may have a three-fold relation 1. To the Jew and the Gentile the elder and younger son 2. To the union of Brethren in the Truth in the same society 3. To the two sons two nations two principles in one man Good Evil. Three general Things observed about the Prodigal I. His going out from his Father In which consider 1. He was grown up to know Him to be a Father 2. He claims his Portion as due Give me the portion c. 3. His Father grants his desire divides his Substance 4. Having his Portion He presently takes his Journey c. 5. He spends all and a Famine comes upon Him And that 1. As a just Judgment for his riotous living 2. To shew him the evil nature of the Country he is in 3. To pinch him out thence and press him homeward II. His Return home again Where consider 1. He comes to Himself He was out of his wits before 2. Bethinks himself that he was a Son though in this case 3. Considers the plenty at home The servants have bread enough and to spare 4. Resolves at last I will arise and go to my Father c. Where consider 1. His sense of his misery and that no help is there to be had 2. He goes at a peradventure what he shall meet with from his father 3. Goes as he is ragged tattered and torn c. III. His Entertainment upon his return And that opened in five Particulars First The best robe is put on that 's the first thing And for these ends 1. To cover his nakedness that that may be hid 2. To take off his shame The sinner is ashamed 3. To stop his fears being guilty he dare not look up till his sin be covered Secondly A Ring is put on his hand to adorn it And that in three cases 1. With Skill He is now made wise in the work of Truth 2. With Diligence Now he learns to redeem his time c. 3. With weightiness of employment He has done with toys c. Thirdly Shooes are put on his feet The feet express the love and affections by which the Soul moves to which shooes bear a threefold Usefulness 1. To fence them to go through all bryars and thorns 2. To quicken them to run swifter 3. To make solid that they may hold out the journey c. Fourthly The fatted Calf is killed There is now meat for him And that has these Considerations 1. Meat refreshes the faint and weary 2. It strengthens to endure labour and employment 3. It makes to look well and gives a good countenance Fifthly There 's Mirth and Musique to compleat all Let us eat and be merry c. And that for three Reasons 1. Because this Son was dead and is alive 2. Was lost and is found 3. Because he received him safe and sound 1st Safe That implies 1. To be well fenc'd about and guarded 2. To be where no harm nor danger comes 3. To be in an incapacity of harming one's self 2ly Sound That holds out 1. To be free of all taint and rottenness 2. To be perfect in its kinde without deficiency All this parallel'd in the inward work upon the Soul Vses hence 1. If possible To forewarn some from turning Prodigals 2. To inform of the certain misery that will follow 3. Yet to encourage and envite such as are Prodigals to return LUKE 15.11 12 c. And he said meaning Christ A certain man had two sons And the younger of them said to his father Father give me the portion of goods that falleth to me And he divided to them his Living c. THis Parable may have relation to three sorts of People And a certain man had two sons c. It may be taken thus 1. These two sons may be the Jew and the Gentile which once were in the House together in the days of Righteous Noah when he built an Ark to the saving of his houshold But Japhet the Gentile went out and from hence came forth that Prayer or Prophecy God shall perswade Japhet and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem Gen. 9.27 And now was the time of prevailing with him for at this time was the calling of the Gentiles but this younger son the Gentile would needs go from Jerusalem to Jericho from the City of a blessing to a curse So is it with the heart as the horse rusheth into the battel without fear and knows not but that a spear may strike through his bowels and as Job saith as the sparks fly upwards so natural is it for man to go to cursing But 2. A certain man had two sons a son that abode in the house and a son that loves to wander And this may have relation to a People joyn'd together in the Truth being of one Family as amongst our selves and yet we may wander one from another we may not all of us so love our Fathers house nor our Brethren nor have a mind to retain God in our counsels but stand and seem wiser in our own conceits then seven men that can give a Reason But 3. It may also have relation to the two sons in one man For what ever we see in the great World without us the same is comprehended in one particular man if it were discovered There are the two Nations in

not you that sold me c. ' I sent you into the wilderness to learn you experience that when you are converted you might strengthen your Brethren Thus you may see of what use Rings are and this is wonderful that God should so adorn the hand with his Rings To be 1. Skill'd in the works of Truth 2. To be diligent in the work of Truth And 3. To be garnish'd with this to be busied about things of worth to be exercised in things that abide for ever Let all your things saith Paul be done to edification Let nothing be out of strife or vain glory but all for the building of something that shall stand for ever But yet this son is wanting still as if the Father should say What if we clothe him with the best robe and put Rings on his hands yet if his feet be not shod too how can he go Therefore 3. This is the third thing And put shooes on his feet c. Let him be shod with the Preparation of the Everlasting Gospel of Peace The feet are the Affections which are to be wrought upon 1. To go but how why Let all your things saith Paul be done in Love There 's need your feet be prepared to serve the Lord in Love And that our loves might be prepared there 's need of shooes to put on that the feet might be enabled to go upon the bryars and thorns to endure the frost and the snow need to have the Love made strong to endure hardness Love saith Paul suffereth long and is kinde envyeth not seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the Truth c. 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6. It had need be shod indeed When God said to Moses Thou shalt carry this people in thy bosom as a Mother doth her child c. Alass pleads he how can I carry all this people If thou dealest thus with me I pray thee take me away that I may not see my wretchedness He had not Love enough to carry him through There 's need of great preparations if such a service be in hand And now the Prodigal shall be made to endure to bless when he is cursed because he knows now the heart of a stranger We our selves saith Paul were sometimes strangers and aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel hateful and hating one another He having a knowledg into this was made to endure Though the more abundantly I love saith he the less I be loved That there may not be a shrinking here this is one main thing he has need of of the shooes of that which may be a fence a safeguard to his feet that no fiery darts no discontents c. may stop or overturn him But then 2. The shooes are that the Love might run the swifter without fear Withhold thy Feet from being VNSHOD saith God and thy throat from thirst Jerem. 2.25 Thou makest my Feet like HINDES FEET saith David But when the Love is cold then the heart by and by waxeth feeble and faint Ezra was astonish'd and sat seven days so because he had said The Lord was able to save them therefore said he I was ashamed to go to the King for a band of men His Love began to be feeble at last And Job sat astonish'd seven days his Love was cold he could not have offended had that been alive Great Peace have they that love thy Law and nothing can offend them How do we stand and pick and choose But when we shall be made able to say as Paul I am not onely ready to be bound for the Name of Christ but to suffer death also When so shod then shall we go boldly without fear when the Love is shod with quickness then I shall run the way of thy Commands When thou hast set my feet at liberty saith David then will the Soul readily love the Lord with all the heart and all the soul and all its strength But when it 's not quick and lively there come in the miscarriages For 1. It 's not shod to endure And 2ly then it has not quickness to speed on the work but through reasoning and disputing the case the Love waxes cold And the Prodigal shall be made to see to his cost when he returns home what his Leaden-heel'd Love was But 3. The third thing that prepares the Love is singleness solidness and faithfulness these are the shooes that garnish his feet these are the Affections to be shod with The double minded man saith James is unstable in all his ways When the Prodigal comes home and sees how double he had been before in all his ways now he is made to say It was good for me that I was afflicted for thereby I learn'd thy Law Now he can say One thing have I desired which now I will seek after That I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever to enquire dayly in his Temple c. Now the Prodigal has learn'd this He knows what it is to put his hand to the plow looking backwards Now his Love is singly fixt upon its object but when it was not single how did he soon wander from it He was bare-foot then but when he comes home then the Father puts on his shooes they were not of his putting on but the Fathers done by his command But all along while I am speaking to you and am seeing what divided hearts you come with and the great loss that is come upon you there 's great need to pray to the Father that he would bring the shooes his Love to set the Affections right to love with rightness readiness and singleness for if He bring them not this evil and hypocritical will will be our undoing But saith God You shall finde me when you shall seek me with all your heart and all your soul He will be sought to of the house of Israel And he has not said to the house of Jacob Seek my face in vain But he that offers to the Lord for a sacrifice that which is torn or lame and has a male in his flock He abhors that mans offering He will receive none but that which is without blemish and that will make our works accepted as Paul saith Faith that works by Love and doth all in singleness of Soul That will make every thing acceptable in his sight 4. A fourth thing the Soul is to be shod with is Soberness for there may be a real singleness of spirit and yet a great headiness Therefore saith Paul let your Moderation be seen in all things For if we cannot say as Job The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away and blessed be the Name of the Lord there is not a sober love Therefore Put off thy shooes said God to Moses He was yet over-heady and not fit to walk as you may see in his strait concerning Miriam because God had stricken her with Leprosie he prays Lord heal her now But as if God

fire and live in the water That which nothing can shake But so far as the Salvation hath wrought a work indeed the Soul can say with David Though the Earth be moved and the Mountains cast into the midst of the Sea yet in this will I be confident c. So far as I am saved I am saved Death where 's thy sting Hell where 's thy victory This condemns and judges the World That this Ark takes in no water That there should be no staggering in the Soul but like Mount Zion which cannot be moved Wilt thou still hold thine integrity said that cursed Wife I says Job till I dye I will not give up my integrity But the man be he who he will be he never so wise bold and resolute to carry it out who hath not this Assurance by a sure and tryed work in his Soul I dare lay down my life for it there are times of staggerings and doubtings within calling his condition in question do what he can Let him nail his god never so fast yet Dagon must fall before the Ark some searching word of Truth will get in between the joynts of the closest armor and pierce their confidence do what they can 6. Noah condemns the World in this That though he be safe in the Ark and hath attained a sure refuge from the Flood yet this satisfies him not he is not at rest yet but sends forth the Dove to enquire about the abatement of the waters There is a condition beyond a sure and safe condition when Christ himself the Saviour is to deliver up the Kingdom to the Father when He promises to pray the Father to send them ANOTHER COMFORTER the Spirit of Truth to abide with them for ever And this is that Dove which the Soul can now send forth to carry out its requests to God and bring tydings from him And this is that which condemns the World That they have no such intercourse with God they have no such Spirit given to make their requests known by Though they may cut themselves and cry aloud O Baal save us yet no Answer comes there is not this Dove which Noah sends forth that can bring an Olive branch of Peace in its mouth and give a sure intelligence that the waters are abated that the wrath is ceased 7. He condemns the World by the real work of saving his house He prepared an Ark to that purpose to save his house and it did the thing intended He did save them And this judges all the World who though they build much yet they save none The wall and the dawber fall together They flee from their sheep when the Wolf comes and leave their eggs in the dust like the Ostrich But Noah did the thing he did save his house He left them not in the mid way till he brings them into the Ark He travels and is pained in Soul till Christ be formed in them This is that Interpreter one of a thousand that can shew to man his righteousness and never leaves till that be done and this condemns the World That sensual and devilish part will never endure thus to stick to the work to cleave to a people through all gainsayings opposings and ill requitals Many can preach so long as they may have honor and gain and be well thought of but now take away their Money or cross their Wills let them be despised and dishonored and they can presently be gone and leave their people and rid their hands of trouble so that they will stick to none farther then they can serve themselves and their own ends and thus nothing comes of their preaching They bring their people to nothing in the conclusion I have known some Ministers my self that have been preaching these thirty years and not a man converted by them What a miserable case is this But alass they were never taught themselves and how can they teach others But the Noahs they have a charge given them over their people they cannot get from them so easily You shall not see my face unless your youngest Brother be with you said Joseph They must not leave a hoof behinde that belongs to Israel Such a charge as this is layd upon me concerning some of your Souls That if you fall short I shall bear the blame for ever The blood will be required at my hand if I deal not faithfully and bring you home if you are not saved to the utmost But the encouragement to me is That some have gone through this work Noah did save his house his labor was not in vain and the Promise to Christ is He shall see of the travel of his Soul and be satisfied Noah is rewarded for his many years labor He saves his house And if the Lord would please after all my twenty years Travel and Preaching but to give me a People that might indeed build this Ark and attain to a sure knowledge of their Eternal Condition That they shall LIVE FOR EVER It would requite me for all if some of you might come forth thus to be Judges of the World and build such an Ark of Truth as that all the Dagons and Idol-worships of the World must fall before it III. The third Effect that follows this building of the Ark is this He became an Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith And about this three things may be considered 1. What is this Inheritance It is a very large Inheritance it is to enjoy the Lord to be joyned and made one Spirit with him The Lord is my portion saith David The Lord is my lot my refuge the lifter up of my head This is a wonderful large Inheritance Great is the Portion of his People Thus shall it be done to the man whom he delights to honor He shall have an Inheritance in Light an Inheritance incorruptible and that fadeth not away no altering of it When I awake I am still with thee saith David His Inheritance abides sure to him Many have a great Portion to look on they have a great stock of Peace and Knowledg and Hopes and Confidence I but a worm eats through the Gourd in a night Riches make them wings and flee away Thus is the hope of the Hypocrite His house falls when he comes to lean on it His great bulk of confidence is but a heap of chaff which the wind soon blows away But David could say The Lord is my Portion I have enough The Lord lives and blessed be the Rock of my Salvation 2. What is it to be an Heir To be an Heir is to be born with a right and title to an Inheritance to have an Estate fall to one by right so that it cannot be cut off it can neither be sold nor given away from the Heir Now this is wonderful To be born with such a right and title to Eternal Life such a neer Interest in the Lord that nothing can separate from him neither tribulation nor sufferings nor life

and ransacked I but Christ when he comes he takes away his armour all that in which he trusted and hoped and said Now I am safe I shall sit as a Queen for ever I shall never see sorrow I but all his armour and fence is taken from him and this is a downfal indeed when he is thus found out and nothing can hide nor cover him any longer his coat of Male is taken from him and then Truth can easily enter then nothing appears but the mans nakedness and guilt and shame then the man cries out with Paul I am the chief of sinners then the Word takes place and enters and every arrow sticks Thine arrows stick fast in me saith David Then the man falls under as a poor naked helpless hopeless thing then he is counselled by Christ to buy eye-salve of him and gold tried in the fire and fine linen for he is found wholly naked and blinde and miserable We had thought Christ had ruled in us and we had been for God and the Truth we had thought our zeal and forwardness and speaking for God should have passed currant but take away this armour of the devil and then we are found out to be a wretched deceitful people a lye and deceit appears to be running in all and that there is nothing single for God and Truth without base selfish ends of our own And this is the first work Christ is to do in your souls to spoil this strong man of his armour else no Word of truth can ever come nigh and seize 2. After Christ hath taken away his armour he then seizes on his goods and DIVIDES THE SPOYL the spoyl Why what use can Christ make of his spoyl what can he do with all the devils goods You may see the thing illustrated Jer. 15. where God speaks thus Let that which is for death go to death that which is for the sword to the sword that which is for the famine to the famine and that which is for captivity to captivity 1. That which is for death to death some of these goods are presently to go to death to be utterly destroyed The enemies which you have seen to day saith Moses you shall never see them more The malignant disposition that was so wickedly bent against all prospering of Truth that evil eye that which lay in the way that one step Godward could not be taken that must be utterly destroyed and cut off for ever that abomination must live no more that ill favour that gave a taint and poison to all our ways and thoughts and words that man to Death Christ will say to that unclean spirit Come out of the man and enter into him again no more That enmity of spirit and hatred and ill will to all good the end of that is to be destroyed for ever That Cain-like love that hates its brother and would not suffer the least breathing nor prospering nor looking up of the Truth for according to that evil disposition in you if you minde it the heart rises against all good where-ever it appear though in a childe in a brother in a husband or wife yet the enmity works and hates to see your offering accepted and mine laid by as nothing But before Christ can ever come to reign this must certainly die and a whole turn of soul be wrought and we made naturally to love and chuse the prosperity of the Truth 2. Something must go to the sword That which is for the sword to the sword The Word of God that sword of the Spirit that shall still go on after that great enmity is slain to search and judge and quicken and stir up the man and cut off what hinders that the soul may grow up into the minde of God and as it hath born the image of the earthly so to bear the image of the heavenly as we have given our members servants to sin so to give them up to be servants of righteousness to be as free and voluntary and earnest in the service of the Lord as ever we have been to serve our selves to spend and be spent for the truth this the sword must do cut out a way thorow all rubbish for this minde to arise It must cut away all that sloth and carelesness that sluggish and carnal minde that sits still at home and would not come out to help the Lord against the mighty When Christ shall come to deal with us indeed and use his sword this must all be cut away and the soul pruned 3. Something must go to the famine That ill taint and setled indisposition that has been gathered and contracted by long custom in evil that hankering and lingering after the wickeds dainties all this must to the famine and be worn out by degrees and pined by little and little till it come to die Where-ever the heart is taken and hangs on the creatures on eating or wearing or trading or whatever enjoyments by degrees and degrees a secret moth shall eat and consume all a wasting and consuming famine must cure this evil disease 4. Something must go to Captivity and that is the last enemy to be destroyed the Devil he will yet keep some hold and footing and not be utterly routed so long as there is any dust to be the serpents food so long as the man hath any life beside the life of God I but now Christ shall designe him to captivity he shall be under a hewer of wood and drawer of water a servant to Christ he shall lord it no more He shall be bound for a thousand yeers and that will be the souls greatest happiness to keep him but in his prison that he may not break forth do his mischievous pranks but lie in his dungeon and be an underling to Truth though he still live for some Canaanites will ever live in the land to be the souls trial c. And thus I have opened to you this Day the great block that lieth in our way the bonds and shackles that hold us so fast It is Satans day 't is his hour and the power of darkness the mans Day of reigning is declining and laid aside in most if not all of you the man is not suffered so to bear sway and go at liberty and soar aloft in his minde but there are secret checkings and mindings of a shortness and the black feet appearing make the feathers fall And in some of you it is an empty and desolate Day you are left without much stirring either from God or from the enemy The land is void of both her kings But the greatest and sorest Day which lies sore upon some of us is The reign of the enemy and then wo to the inhabitants of the world Wo to that Land indeed where the Wicked are in Authority I opened to you the several Woes in it And now to make some Use 1. Examine How is it with you Every soul look home do you feel this strong enemy Do you