that perish go on blindly aâ⦠ignorantly for twenty forty or sixty years yea througâout all their life long in this deceit of being Worshiââ¦pers of God and yet not doing his will of hearing ãâã word and not obeying it nor yet doing thereafter wheâ⦠as the Blessedness is to them that hear the word of God aâ⦠keep it Saith David by the Spirit if I regard iniquiâ⦠in my heart the Lord will not hear me Now iniquiâ⦠signifies the thing that is not equal But too many outwaâ⦠Worshippers do not only regard iniquity in their heaâ⦠but also practice it with their hand Nevertheless liâ⦠the Adulterous Woman Who eateth and wipeth her mouâ⦠and saith I have done no wickedness they will not ceaââ¦nor desist to offer up their many and customary Prayââ¦s unto God as aforetime and as if they had never ââ¦one any such thing Such may be found amongst the âumber of those of whom it is written Not every one ââ¦at saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingââ¦m of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which ãâã in Heaven Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord âave we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out âevils And then will I profess unto them I never knew ãâã depart from me ye that work iniquity All will not be ââ¦ved that go to Church or Meetings and then where shall ââ¦e ungodly and sinner appear for of four sorts of hearers ãâã the word there is but one that bringeth forth fruit ââ¦to everlasting life Herein also God is glorified when ââ¦ey bring forth fruit but he is not glorified when they ãâã not bring forth fruit or when instead of Bringing ââ¦rth grapes they bring forth wild grapes âo ye think that the Papists do glorifie God by their Mass ãâã Idolatrous Worship or by their ignorant mumbling ââ¦er their Beads when it is the revealed will of God that âeople should pray with the Spirit and with the underââ¦nding also 1 Cor 14. 15. That whole Chapter is aââ¦inst praying in an unknown Tongue God is a ââ¦irit and they that worship him must worship him in Spiââ¦t and in truth This is opposite unto and shuts out all ââ¦eir pompous outside Worship and carnal ordinances ââ¦ter the institutions and Commandments of Men. For ââ¦eir Worship stands in divers Washings and Bowings ââ¦d carnal ordinances imposed on them who would wilââ¦gly always remain in their corruption and errour ââ¦d never let Reformation come among them although â⦠Blessed be God many have reformed from their ââ¦ays Again May it be thought that the Mahometans by going ââ¦nstantly to their mosque and by their making a great ââ¦y and howling in their Prayers unto the God of Heaââ¦n although they are never so earnest in Prayer as they ââ¦em to be in tone and voice and also by their Waââ¦ings before Prayer as the manner of them is whereâ⦠common reason would shew them that the inward ââ¦urifying and cleansing of the heart of the Worshippers is more required by God and more pleasing and acceptable in his sight then the outward washing of theâ⦠Bodies with water And so with all their other rites anâ ceremonies customs and manners do they glorifie God â⦠when all the mean while they know not nor believâ⦠on Jesus Christ by whom there is access unto the Fatheâ he being the alone mediator between God and Man And so we may run over and conceive in our minâ⦠as to all the Religions Superstitions and ways of Woâship used in the World together with that manifoâ⦠Errour and Absurdity that is joyn'd therewith Do thoâ⦠Worshippers glorifie God It would be hard to say soâ⦠For the Father seeketh such to worship him as worship him ãâã Spirit and in Truth And seeing that so much Errour aâ⦠Folly Ignorance and Vanity is crept in and interminâled with the several Worships of the World especialâ⦠among those of the Roman-Church and that vast multâtude of others who do not at all name the name of Chrâ⦠it may be thought as to them that in God's Sight and ãâã to his Acceptation He that Sacrificeth a Lamb is as if ââ¦âut off a Dogs neck He that offereth an Oblation as if he ââ¦fer'd Swines blood He that burneth Incense as if he blessâ⦠an Idol Which last is the highest degree of provokiâ⦠God that can be So that such Worshippers do rathâ⦠displease than please God they do rather dishonour thâ⦠glorifie him They make God more angry and furthâ⦠off then bring him near or reconcile him unto the Wââ¦shippers But to come home and nearer to our selves even ãâã us who are called Protestants of the pure Reform'd Churâ⦠who come yet nearer to the Pattern shew'd to us in ãâã Gospel than they aforementioned Altho' our Worship ãâã in some measure Spiritual and True Yet here agaiâ⦠a right Faith and a wrong Conversation a good Naâ⦠but evil Doings will not save any of us Nor yet is Gâ⦠glorified by the work done or only in the outward coââ¦ing to the Places of Worship for if People do therein drââ¦near to God with their Lips but their Hearts are far frâ⦠him if they bring only their Bodies to the place but theâ⦠in their Souls do mind other Objects besides the Invisibâ⦠âod then as the Body without the Spirit is dead so such may be âore truly called carcaâe Worship than Spiritual Worââ¦ip for it is the Worship of a dead Body only or of a âarcase without the Spirit Acting or being concern'd thereâ⦠Saith God Now let them put away their Whoredom ând the Carcases of their Kings from me and I will dwell in âhe midst of them for ever Ezek. 43. 9 Lip labour in Prayâr or Worship is properly Whordom for it takes away âhe heart from God the right beloved and places it ân another wrong beloved and so it is a carkase of Worâhip for the reason aforeassigned Both which God requires âo be put away before he will dwell in the midst of us Having abundantly and at large discoursed by what kind of Worship God is not glorified it will easily âppear by what Worship he is indeed glorified For if ââ¦e is not glorified by meer outside Worship as indeed he âs not it follows that he is glorified by such Worship as is spiritual which denotes inward Worship for if it is performed by the Spirit it must be inward because the Spirit is within and true God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth For the Father seeketh such to worship him and consequently he is glorified thereby so that to Worship God in Spirit and in truth is a part of our glorifying God here on Earth Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God Pal 50. 23. Seeing that they who order their conversation aright will have the Salvation of God shewn unto them it follows hence also that
and his Commandments are express against â⦠Hear what the answer of God saith to such To what ââ¦rpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me saith the ââ¦ord I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat â⦠fed beasts and I delight not in the blood of bullocks or â⦠lambs or of he goats When ye come to appear before me ââ¦ho hath required this at your hand to tread my courts ââ¦ing no more vain oblations incense is an abomination to me ââ¦e new moons and sabbaths and the calling of the assemblies cannot away with It is iniquity even the solemn meeting ââ¦d when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes ââ¦om you yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood Wash ye make you cleaâ⦠put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyeâ cease to do evil learn to do well Intimating hereby thâ⦠until people did actually put away the evil of their doing and cease to do evil all their acts of outward Worship all their going to Church or Meeting on the Lor'ds daâ⦠how constant soever they are therein all their maâ⦠prayers offered up unto him every morning and eveniâ⦠nay if it be at noon each week day are not pleasâ⦠and acceptable in the sight of the Lord and consequent they do not at all glorifie him thereby for himself he saith that he will not receive them that he doth â⦠require it at their hands who are sinners and works of iniquity to tread his courts but this he requireth his saints and servants so to do that he cannot awâ⦠with their calling of the assemblies when such come iâ to the congregation their appointed times of Worâ⦠his soul hateth they are a trouble to me I cannot be them all these sayings do import they do not please Gâ⦠and conscequently they do not glorifie him By the way there is no doctrine more necessary aâ⦠useful to be continually made known and preached thâ⦠this for it is the common and uniuersal deceit which â⦠people of this generation and Country yea of all c ãâ¦ã stendom go upon If they go constantly to Church Meeting upon the first day of the week and those the richer sort have Worship in their respective famiâ⦠every morning and evening they think and say to tâ⦠souls all is well enough As the fool said in the gosâ⦠Thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thine eaâ drink and be merry so these foolish and deceived peâ⦠who serve divers lusts and pleasures do say to themseâ⦠Soul that course of Worship and Religion aforemeâ⦠oned will carry thee to Heaven be quiet as to â⦠further thoughts or doubts concerning futurity only sure to go on therein eat drink and be merry take gâ⦠and enjoy as much of the world and worldly comfortâ ever thou canst But in the mean while and all along tâ not do ârame their doings to turn unto God They do not fraâ⦠or square all their doings according to the great Rulâ⦠ââ¦ghteousness in Scripture They do not put away the evil â⦠their doings For many of their ways are contrary unto â⦠different from the Word and Law of God Until peoââ¦e do actually put away the evil of their doings ââ¦d doth not accept of their several acts of Worship â⦠We are of them that believe to the saving of the soul Heb. â⦠39. And so there is a sort of People who Serve and âorship God to the saving of their Souls that is such ââ¦o do it inwardly and who obey constantly from the ââ¦art all the Words of God's Law and Gospel ' Again ââ¦ere is another sort whereof are the greater number Broad ââ¦he way and wide is the gate which leadeth to destruction ââ¦d many there be who go in thereat who do not serve and âorship God to the saving of their Souls for these worââ¦ip him outwardly and they do not confirm all the âords of God's Gospel to do them and so now they are âble unto and will at length fall under that everlaâng destruction which will be unto them that obey not ââ¦e Gospel For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly and it may be truly Reasoned He is not a Christian or ââ¦vant of God who is one outwardly neither is that Cirââ¦mcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew who one inwardly and so he is a Christian who is one inâardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and â⦠in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God Rom. â⦠28 29. For I say unto you that except your Righteousness ââ¦all exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall â⦠no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5 20. And â⦠it may be truly Reasoned and Applyed to the Peoââ¦e of this Generation Except your Religion shall exceed ââ¦e Religion which is according to the Standard and ââ¦urse of this World it will be in no wise a Religion â⦠the saving of your Souls Let that kind of outward Worshippers aforementioned ââ¦editate throughly upon the significancy of these followââ¦g Scriptures But unto the Wicked God saith What hast ââ¦ou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my ââ¦venant into thy Mouth Seeing thou hatest Instruction and ââ¦stest my Words behind thee Psal 50. 16 17. And so this ââ¦nd of outward worshippers do hate him that Rebuketh in the Gate they abhor him that speaketh uprightly Saith tâ⦠Apostle The time will come but I who live nearer unâ⦠the ends of the World do Testifie that what he theâ⦠foretold of is now fulfilled for at this day the time ãâã come that they will not endure sound Doctrine but after theâ⦠own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having Itchiâ⦠Ears 2 Tim. 4. 3. Which say to the Seers see not and to ãâã Prophets Prophesie not unto us right things speak unto ãâã smooth things Prophesie Deceits Isa 30. 10. This day ãâã this Scripture fulfilled in our Ears for they go constanâly to them who speak smooth things and Preach Deceitâ⦠And they will not come to hear him that Preacheth rigâ⦠things which is verified as to the People of this Generaââ¦on and Country And as to him who Writeth these thingâ⦠for they do not receive his Testimony John 3. 32. But ââ¦ject his Words John 12. 48. Because he speaketh and puââ¦lisheth unto them right things Nevertheless such worâ⦠as I have truly alledged from the Scriptures will judâ⦠them at the last day But whether they will hear or forbear whether they wâ⦠Read or not these Scriptures of Truth are again laid bâfore them Now we know that God heareth not sinners but any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him ãâã heareth John 9. 31. Notwithstanding this is writtâ⦠so plainly that every capacity may understand it yâ⦠nevertheless many Men and Women Satan acting wiâ⦠all deceivableness in them
sing Psalms unto him âalk you of all his wondrous works glory ye in his holy name âe ye mindful always of his covenant shew forth from day to day his Salvation declare his glory among the Heathen âis marvellous works among all Nations for great is the Lord and greatly to be pâaised he also is to be feared above all Gods glory and honour are in his presence strength and gladness are in his place give unto the Lord ye kindreds of the people glory and strength Now there is no giving of strengâ⦠to him that is Almighty already but it is only ãâã speak out that he is so Give unto the Lord the glory dâ⦠unto his name 1 Chron. 16. In short it is to acknowledâ⦠and speak out of the glory of God and to give thanâ⦠and praise to his Holy Name Provided always thâ⦠this be done by those who have their conversation ordââ¦ed aright who are of clean lips and obedient heart for therefore it is that those cautionary expressions are heâ⦠necessarily intermingled and incerted in this song of praiâ⦠Be ye mindful always of his Covenant he is also to be fearâ⦠above all Gods intimating thereby that unless people aâ⦠also mindfull of his Covenant and fear God above aâ⦠other things they cannot then give thanks unto tâ⦠Lord nor yet sing Psalms unto him nor declare ãâã glory nor yet praise him so as for God to be please therewith and accept thereof If we fear any thing âbove God that is our God also O Lord our God othâ⦠Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thâ only will we make mention of thy name It is written of Abraham Who against hope believed ãâã hope that he might become the father of many nations ââ¦cording to that which was spoken so shall thy seed be Aâ⦠being not weak in faith he considered not his own body noâ dead when he was about an hundred years old neither yâ the deadness of Sarah's womb he staggered not at the promâ⦠of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving gloâ⦠unto God and being fully perswaded that what he had promâsed he was able also to perform From all which maâ be gathered that to firmly believe and be fully peâswaded that such a thing shall come to pass althougâ according to humane reason it is unlikely to come ãâã pass provided always that we have the word and promise of God for it as here Abraham had this also ãâã a giving glory unto God when the thing seems impossible according to the course of Nature as it was in thâ instance here given Yet here to believe that God both caâ and also will perform the same this is a Giving glory unto God for it gives God the glory of his truth and the glory of his Almighty power This thing if it be rightly and throughly understood ãâã Mystery both to the people of the World and also ãâã the outward Worshippers for as to them at this day ââ¦en Moses is read and so it is when the Gospel of Christ âead The vail is upon their Hearts The written word ãâã God and the manner of the Dispensation of his ââ¦gdom towards us is a Mystery It is given unto ãâã those of the Discipleship to know the mysteries of the ââ¦ngdom of Heaven Mat. 13. 11. The mystery of God should ââ¦nished as he hath declared to his servants the prophets ãâã 10. 7. But that part of this mystery which I would ãâã just mention is that although all Scripture was given ââ¦nspiration of God and is true and will be fulfilled to ââ¦ry tittle thereof yea the Truth and Power and Honoâ⦠of God do all stand engaged to fulfill all and every ââ¦t of this same word and God himself hath born ââ¦ness to it both with signs and wonders and with divers ââ¦acles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own ãâã So that we ought to believe it all to be true and ââ¦t it shall all be fulfilled or we make God a liar if ãâã believe not the Record which God gave of his Son ââ¦o saith Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my ââ¦ds shall not pass away Yet still God being willing to ââ¦ve and exercise the faith of his Servants and also the mixt multitude of people concerning it hath so ââ¦ered and suffered it to come to pass Behold herein ãâã Wisdom and Mystery of God that some things ââ¦ich this his word of truth speaks of should seem ââ¦e falsified They are not falsified indeed but only ââ¦y seem to be so on set purpose to prove to the utââ¦st degree the faith of people herein If they do reâ⦠their faith therein nevertheless then it is a giving ââ¦ry unto God But if an evil heart of unbelief is in ââ¦m like Cleopas and those with him who said we ââ¦sted it had been he which should have Redeemed Israel ãâã seeing and hearing of his miracles in his life time ãâã when he was put to death like a malefactor than ãâã their hopes were blasted their faith withered and âny might probably say it is all come to nothing âis and the like is not a giving glory unto God And so a root of unbelief springs up in the heaâ⦠many whereby they are defiled For there are in â⦠last days many infidels in heart who say Where iâ promise of his coming for since the Fathers fell aslâ⦠things continue as they were since the beginning of the ââ¦tion And so there are many who although they profess Christianity partly to conform to the faâ⦠and custom of the Country they live in or for seâ ends or to provide for and against the doubtful uncertâ⦠if they be of the more considering sort yet they dâ⦠the main disbeleive the truth of Revealed Religion But all these do err not knowing the Scripture and pâ⦠of God nor yet the way and manner of the dispenâ⦠on of his Kingdom towards us Men for they do know throughly how that God doth prove the faiâ⦠Mankind all one as the manners of Mankind As he prove them to know what is in their heart whether they keep his Commandments or no Deut. 8. 2. So he â⦠Hide his face from them to see what their end shall be they are a very froward generation Children in whom â⦠faith Deut. 32. 20. So he doth prove them likewise whiâ⦠they will give any credence to his word which saith shall be so but in the mean while God orders and fers it to be so on set purpose that seemingly conâ⦠and unexpected events happen and fall out So thâ⦠meer natural Man would be apt to think and say it never be so as the word and promise of God saiâ shall be Examples hereof are common in Scripture So it in the case of Abraham to whom Jsaac was promâ⦠in his old Age that Sarah his Wife laughed at the likelihood thereof for which she received a check reproof from the Angel who brought the messagâ⦠any thing
give so much the more glory unto God We may learn another kind of glorifying God from that âsoning of our Saviour Jesus Christ For if ye love them that love you what reward have ye Do not even the Puâ⦠cans the same And if ye salute your brethren only ãâã do ye more than others do not even the Publicans so And ãâã that reasoning of the Apostle For this is thank worâ⦠if a man for conscience towards God endure grief suffer wrongfully For what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for ãâã faults ye take it patiently but if when ye do well and ãâã fer for it this is acceptable with God If ye be reproached for name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of Glory and God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of ãâã on your part he is glorified From all this may be understood that to do those things which are not commââ¦ly done by other Men or what is more than other ãâã will do or to submit our selves to present pain ãâã inconveniency when we do not deserve it but ãâã wrongfully inflicted on us provided always that ãâã happens to us as we are in a way of duty and ãâã for our obedience unto the Commandments of ãâã then indeed this and the like is a glorifying of Gâ⦠This of suffering wrongfully or to suffer when we do well a kind of taking up the Cross and it is a going ãâã and contrary to our Natural inclinations which as forementioned is an instance of glorifying God Wâ⦠doth not only consist in the bare pain and inconvenieâ⦠that the poor Creature endures He doth not afflict ãâã lingly nor grieve the Children of men But it is in the doâ⦠of and obedience unto the Commandments of Gâ⦠That is when I had rather meet with trouble and irksâness to my Fleshly Nature as I am in the service the Lord God then avoid the same trouble or irksoâness by my neglecting and not doing of it For annexing of Trouble Pain Loss or Inconvenieâ⦠which we sometimes meet with in our performing ãâã keeping of them God doth hereby the more effectuâ⦠prove Mankind to know what is in their heart whiâ⦠they will keep his Commandments or no. For to meâ⦠on here a like Reasoning to that of our Saviour ãâã Christ if in keeping the Commandments of God it ãâã all Smoothness and Ease and Pleasure and Agreeableâ⦠to our Nature what reward have ye Do not even ââ¦ââ¦licans and Sinners of their owns they manage and ãâã ease and pleasure and what is it but herein they ãâã gratifying the Flesh And how wo an a Liar For ââ¦g more than others for do not even thâice concernâ⦠all Mankind so And consequently what his Reliââ¦ven unto God by such a kind of life or to do ãâã it is ââ¦gs as these for even Beasts do those things which by nââ¦ure and Sense they are led unto But to do things ââ¦e the common level of Mankind or to Do more then ââ¦s as in enduring grief suffering wrongfully when ââ¦is is in keeping and doing the Commandments of ãâã and the like is a giving glory unto God ãâã the several things which have been afore spoken may be instructed how we may glorify God here on ãâã It must be in keeping of and doing the Comââ¦dments of God for otherwise instead of vainly and ãâã thinking to glorify him it may be said to us at the ãâã Who hath required these things at your hands But if âo indeed glorify God here on Earth according to directions and intimations aforegiven then which ââ¦ld quicken stir up and actually perswade us to inââ¦ly and constantly set about the glorifying God here ãâã Earth It will be a most comfortable review and ââ¦ing back to each of us just as we are going off from stage of this Earth if we have the Testimony of Conscience according to truth that we have gloriâ⦠God on the Earth or that any Glory Honour and ââ¦se hath been given and ascribed unto God through ââ¦y means of any of us Hath thy Life and converââ¦n and thy Deeds done in the Body and so have mine ââ¦fied God our Creator By having been so ordered ââ¦managed by us that when Men did see our good ââ¦s our Faith Obedience and Patience they did âeason of them Glorify our Father which is in Heaven ââ¦mine and Prove your selves herein Hast thou and thou and so do ye ask your selves Have I and have ââ¦rified God at all in my past life And according âhe answer of your several consciences are if some âou have done it a little others perhaps of ye have done it at all but certainly none of ye have done it so much as ye might have done it nor yet so mucâ such of you who are enlightened and Spiritually ãâã derstanding do wish that ye had done In the namâ God then and for his Glory do it more for the timâ⦠come during the few and evil days remaining of ãâã several Pilgrimages here on Earth As ye have been ãâã Instructed from the Scriptures of truth how ye ãâã to walk and glorify God We beseech you Brethrenâ⦠exhort you by the Lord Jesus Christ that ye would abound ãâã in more and more For this will be indeed a Câ⦠Consolation to ye severally when ye come to tast ãâã bitterness of Death it will be as so much Wine miâ⦠with that Gall if ye can towards the shutting up of ãâã days make this appeal in truth unto God and Sing Song for it is all rejoycing and comfort as Christ forerunner the First born amongst many Brethren did ãâã herein also left us an ensample that we should fâ⦠his steps I have glorified thee on the Earth I have fâ⦠the work which thou gavest me to do Proceed we now to handle these last words I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do This Work in the general is the Working out of our S ãâ¦ã tion which or the thing signified thereby is often ãâã Scripture called a work Now the Scripture speakâ and according to truth for it was given by inââ¦tion of God who is alwise and alknowing and for ãâã it is impossible to lie From hence it may be pââ¦able to observe how that the multitude of people and ward Worshippers go upon a gross Errour and miâ⦠which is very dangerous hereby Satan acting wiâ⦠deceivableness in them that perish for they thinâ practice accordingly as if Religion and the serviâ⦠God through which people are to save their Souls ãâã get to Heaven was no Work but only a customaâ⦠side thing which they make not much more of thâ⦠cording to form and fashion talk and discourse ãâã a thing which they have been bred up and used unto themselves observe it accordingly for they implâ⦠ââ¦rk or labour therein and as they manage and ââ¦der the matter they find none in it but herein they ââ¦eatly err Let God be true and every Man a Liar For ââ¦wever
Spirit anointing which we have received of him abideth you and ye need not that any Man teach you But as same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him ând now little Children abide in him that when he shall apââ¦r we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him ãâã his coming As the Apostle said I am determined know nothing among ye but Jesus Christ and him cruciâ⦠So for my part I am determined and purposed ãâã pray God to enable me that herein I may turn my ââ¦poses into performances and to pay my vows to the most âhest To turn ouer a new leaf and during the few ãâã evil days remaining of my Pilgrimage to serve God ãâã more diligently and earnestly and constantly in the ââ¦nistry than I have heretofore and to finish that part of ãâã Ministry which I have received and to testifie the ââ¦spel of the grace of God to the people of this Geneââ¦ion For I assuredly know that a dying hour will come ââ¦d I sensibly feeling within my self a fear of Death ââ¦ich doth hence arise either because I live in some reâved or known sin or I leave some duty undone which âought to do So that the way to take off and remove âs same fear and bitterness of Death in me is not to âe in any manner of sin or appearance of evil as far ââ¦d as often as I apprehend such a thing to be the ââ¦mmand and will of God that I should do The same applicable to other people also to live in no sin of ââ¦ission or commission which if we observe accordââ¦gly and finish severally the work which God gave us ãâã do than at length we shall be ever with the Lord ãâã receive the reward of so doing Wherefore comfort ââ¦e marginal reading is exhort one another with these âords 1 Thes 4. 18. ãâã Christ did finish the work which God the Father gave ââ¦n to do as he took upon himself to be the Saviour and âedeemer of Mankind and as he was the mediatour beââ¦een God and Man and as he executed that threefold ââ¦ffice of King Priest and Prophet Yet have I set my âing upon the Holy Hill of Zion Psal 2. 6. The Lord hath ââ¦orn and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech Psal 110. 4. For Moses truly saâ unto the Fathers a Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unâ⦠you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all thinâ⦠whatsoever he shall say unto you Acts 3. 22. This Peter did a ãâ¦ã ply unto Christ and as Christ did perform and finiâ⦠these three several Offices he did finish the work thâ⦠God gave him to do Wherefore himself said on the Croâ⦠It is finished That is so much and that part of the woâ⦠which God had given him on this Earth for to do anâ finish he did finish accordingly But as to his deliveâ⦠ing up the Kingdom to the Father and as to his sitting ãâã the right hand of God making intercession for us thâ⦠is not finished as yet nor will be finished until the enâ of the world when time shall be no longer What kind of work it was which Christ did finish we maâ⦠gather and understand from what himself aftervvards dâ⦠clares I have manifested thy name unto the Men which thâ⦠gavest me out of the world For I have given unto them ãâã words which thou gavest unto me and they have received theâ John 17. 6 8. This Christ did as he was a Prophet ãâã Preacher From whence we may gather and observâ that to manifest the name of God to people out of thâ World and to make known the words which Goâ first gave unto us is the best and most excellent woâ⦠that one can be imployed in And however other peopâ⦠are busied Martha Martha thou art careful and troublâ about many things but one thing is needful Yet that ãâã the best employment and the best business which haâ relation immediately to God himself and is about thâ things partaining to endless Life And this is life eternâ⦠that they might know thee the only true God and Jâ⦠sus Christ whom thou hast sent From hence again it aâ⦠pears that to manifest or make God known or to Puâ⦠lish those words which contain the knowledge of Goâ is the best of Works and Employments Verily thâ⦠art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Savioâ⦠And many times we lose the sence of him Noâ what brings to the sight or rather apprehension of him or what reneweth the knowledge of him this is thâ one thing needful for the Children of Men for in thâ ânowledge of God all their well being doth consist at âresent and their Life eternal in the world to come âow much God himself doth require and is delighted herewith may be understood from what is written For ãâã desired mercy and not Sacrifice and the knowledge of God âore than burnt offerings The world make their Estimate accordingly and think âhem happy whose Silver and Gold is multiplied or who âave fine and plentiful Estates But as the Psalmist âith Thou hast put gladness into my heart more than in ââ¦e Time that their Corn and their Wine increased So I âad rather than all those good things to have most of ââ¦e knowledge of God and the things pertaining to his âingdom to have the manifestations of himself otherâise then he manifests himself unto the World to have âore of his Heavenly truths Communicated and revealed ânto me I will praise thee with the Psaltery even thy truth ãâã my God The Law of thy mouth is better unto me than âousands of Gold and Silver I rejoyce at thy word as one âat findeth great spoil And seeing that the secret of the âord is with them that fear him and he revealeth his secret ânto his Prophets I had therefore rather that his will ând secret be revealed unto me than all the mony or âstates of the Earth For these and such like are eââ¦dences of his favour and loving kindness which is ââ¦tter then life it self in that it reaches and extends Yet ârther Those who know and apprehend God by Faith âo as much desire and labour to have the favour of God âs others do to get Riches and the favour of great Men. âor the favour of God in this life is a seal and earnest âf his Salvation in the World to come Who hath also âaled us and given the Earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Cor. 1. 21. To get retain or recover when lost the favour of God ãâã a doing and finishing that work which God gave us âo do For the work we have to do in this life is to âerve and obey God and to do the things that are pleaââ¦ng in his sight and thus to become reconciled unto ââ¦im Though God doth hide himself here on Earth from