in him and that are sincerely devoted to his service and fear and that walk in humility before him and this my Friends is matter of weighty and tender concernment upon my Spirit to mind all of you that come to our Meetings and hear the Truth declared from time to time that you seriously consider the great work that the Lord is about to bring to pass that every one should wait for that they may feel his Mighty Power preparing their hearts for himself and raising up Breathings and Supplications to him that is a God hearing Prayers that are offered in uprightness and sincerity from a broken heart and a contrite Spirit which are Sacrifices that the Lord hath regard to And as it was said of Old when Manoah took a Kid asith a Meat Offering and offerâ—d it upou a Rock unto the Lord and the Angel did wondrously and Manoah and his Wife looked on for it came to pass when the flame went up toward Heaven from off the Altar that the Angel os the Lâ—rd ascended in the Flame of the Altar and Manoah and his Wife looked on and fell on their faces to the ground and Manoah said to his Wife we shall surely die because we have seen God But his Wife said unto him if the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a Burnt-Offering and a Meat-Offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things He would not have manifested so great Love to us surely a Remnant may say at this day from a sense of the great things that the Lord hath shewn us and of his blessed Power working in their hearts and inward parts a tenderdess and subjection to him that we owe obedience to the Lord and we believe that the Lord intends good to his People in that he will exalt his Name in us and prosper his own work of Righteousness that Righteousness may be exalted that many may come to behold the great things and the worthy things which the Lord our God will bring to pass in our Day These things have been foretold for the encouragement and for the strengthning of the Faith of those whose Faces are Sion-ward whose eyes are turned towards the Lord their Maker who have tasted in some measure of the Power and of the Goodness of the Lord our God that they may continue in the Faith whereby their hearts may be drawn after the Lord that those who have been made partakers of the true and living Faith of the Son of God in his Name and Power may keep the Faith and not let go the Faith that they may hold fast the Profession of their Faith without wavering that the Enemy may not be suffered upon any account either to weaken or destroy the Faith of any who have known some degree of Faith in the work of God and concerning his Goodness and special care and Providence for the safety and for the preservation of them that fear him who are the called of the Lord who are chosen out of the World and out of the corruptions of it that they may be a living and a peculiar People and a chosen Generation to shew forth the praise of him that hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light He hath called us and chosen us for that very end that in our Lives and Conversations we might answer his Call of Grace and the truth that we are made partakers of and thereby shew forth his praise and such now have cause to bless the Lord and praise his Holy Name for all his Mercies for preserving of them and helping them in their Way and in their Spiritual Journey and Progress that they are brought into Therefore dear Friends be ye concerned and be inward with the Lord and attend upon him without distraction that nothing may hurry discompose nor distract your minds or turn them about from the Faith trust and Confidence you have in the Lord which he hath gathered his People into that every one may be exercised in a Watchful state and in Lowlyness and Humility and look unto and depend upon the Lord for strength for help and Power to enable us to stand against all the Wiles of Satan that none may be led into any extream from the sense of Truth and from a feeling of that Power that doth prepare the Heart for God and fix it upon him That none may be drawn out either into carelesness negligence slothfulness or presumption on the one hand or into diffidence distrustfulness or despair on the other but that all may look unto Jesus who is the Author and finisher of their Faith that they may be sensible of the benefits of his Death on Earth and of his Intercession in Heaven of the Effect and benefit of his Prayer unto the Father that their Faith when they shall be tryed and tempted may not fail that all may witness and partake of this that he told unto Peter I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Satan hath desired to Winnow thee to toss thee and blow thee about but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith may not fail So my Friends and Friendly People let your Faith stand in that Power that hath gathered you in that Arm of the Lord that he hath made bare and stretched forth to bring a People to himself that every one may live by Faith and have their dependance upon the Lord for strength and for relief that they may partake of the immediate influence of his Spirit which he he is ready to Minister and Communicate to those that are given up to serve the Lord that your Prayers and Supplications may be in the Spirit to that God that poureth out a Spirit of Grace and Supplication upon his People and he is daily pouring out his Holy Spirit upon his People that their Prayers and supplications may reach to him who is a God hearing Prayers That they may be prevalent with God for the Preservation of themselves and others and for the good of all Nations that they may awaken many to repent and seek the Lord whil he may be found and call upon him while he is near that they may be turned from the evil of their ways and from the many Provocations whereby the Inhabitants of the Earth have greatly incurred the Displeasure of God and that they may be sensible how ready the Lord is to turn away his wrath from them This is the desire of the Hearts and Souls of a Remnant on the behalf of many whom the Lord will yet visit and reach unto and call out of the dark ways and by Paths of Sin and Corruption that they may be brought into a Capacity to know the way of Truth and Righteousness and Peace And my Friends while People are sensible that there are true breathings and desires after God and that there is a particular Travel of Soul for the good of a Nation and for the converting of Sinners from the Evil
on in the Holy way We that are come to know this Holy way through the Riches of the Love and Grace of the Great God to us it is our main business to walk in this Holy way they that know any thing of true Christianity know this to be their great concern to walk in this Holy way that leads to Everlasting Life Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and every one that comes into this way and walketh in it they are going on towards Perfection And they are putting off the Old Man They feel in themselves a Power at work that Crucifies the Old man with his Deeds then they go on in the Name of the Lord. This Power doth work till every one in their own particular comes to be Crucified with Christ It was the Primitive Christians experience what the Apostle saith of himself 2 Gal. 20. I am Crucified with Christ neverthless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Great is the Mystery of Godliness You that are engaged in the Christian Warfare and that live the Christian Life and are making War in righteousness against the Devil the Enemy of your Souls you know that Great is this Mystery of Godliness this Mystery is opened among the Disciples of Jesus among the Holy Off-spring of God who are begotten again through the Word of Eternal Life who as the Holy Apostle saith are begotten of his own Will through the Word of Truth that they should be a kind of First fruits of his Creatures We to whom God hath Graciously manifested himself in the Blessed Son of his Love our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus how ought we to walk as becomes the Gospel O that the serious and weighty Consideration of this might rest upon every one of us that we ought to have our Conversation as becomes the Gospel of Christ and be going on to Perfection you know what the Apostle speaks 3. Phil. 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprechend that for which also I am apprehended of Jesus Christ This I am sure every true Christian Man and Woman will do as the same Apostle did who saith I press towards the mark for the Price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And as every one comes to grow up in the Life of Righteousness they will come to know an increase of Faith they will grow up in Faith and in that Hope which hath been as an Anchor to their Souls in the day of their deep Exercise and they will remain steadfast and unmoveable as they walk in the holy way And so every one as they keep humble and bowed before the God Heaven they will know his Teachings more and more and have a sensible feeling of it in themselves every one in their own particular And certainly it is all our business to be waiting for the fulfilling of those many great and precious promises which are recorded in the Holy Scripture which were enjoyed by the Primitive Christians in the Ages that are past and gone and in succeeding times shall be likewise enjoyed by all true Christian People as they come to be Followers of Jesus as we have begun well let us go on towards Perfection nâ—t laying again as I said before the Foundation of Repentame from dead Works and Faith towards God and the Lord Jesus Christ for who ever expects Salvation by Christ the only Saviour must be going on to Perfection they must begin at the work of Regeneration and Experience in themselves a New Birth for if we be not born again we shall die in our Sins you know our Saviour hath left this upon Record and it remains the same truth to this day And therefore how ought every one that makes mention of the name of Great God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ How ought every such a one to be weighty and considerate and Examine themselves whether they are come to know Repentance from Dead Works Whether they have turned from the evil of their doings Some are ready to say I would gladly turn from the evil of my doings but I find I am beset with the Devil the Enemy of my Soul Well if thou believest in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened thee then Cry to him and he will give thee Power to withstand the Enemy of thy Soul Praised and Blessed be the Name of our God that a Remnant can say as soon as we did really Believe in the Name of Jesus we received power in some measure as the Primitive Believers did that received Christ we received Power to become the Sons of God you that have received this Power let your Eye be to the Lord and cry to him for Divine Assistance for of our selves we are not sufficient we have not power of our selves to think a good thought or do a good Action but we depend upon the Power of God to enable us to Work out our own Salvation For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Therefore Repentance and Remission of Sins are Preached in Christs Name and without the Knowledge and Christian experience of this and believing in the Name of Jesus we cannot be saved from the wrath to come Let us wait upon God who by our Lord Jesus Christ saveth all his People from their Sins Not by Works of Righteousness that we have done but as the Apostle saith According to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Those that have experience of the work of Regeneration and of being renewed in their Inward parts where Christ bears Rule when they meet together in the Solemn Assemblies of the Lords People he will be in the midst of them and they that come to hear the word of the Lord and wait upon him know it to be so you that are real Christian People you know this by your own experience therefore wait upon the Lord your God that the work of Regeneration may go on and you will find strength more and more ministred to you and you will feel the pouring forth of the Spirit abundantly upon you the same Spirit that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead and quickned him shall quicken you that you may live to him here and with him for ever hereafter The Prayer after Sermon Most Glorious Powerful and Infinite Lord God of Life thou hast sought out a People to serve thee and thou hast made choice of many from among the Sons and Daughters of Men to honour thy Name in the Land of the Living that we might be capable so to do thou hast opened an everlasting Fountain and the streams of Life have
the Outward Man but in the Inner Man there is a putting off that which is Fading Mortal and perishing and a being Clothed upon with Immortality and Glory Blessed are they which come to receive that Word of God which hath been the Life of God in our Souls This is a Day of Life to us Blessed are they that shall be placed in that Eternal Kingdom and Region where all Time shall be swallowed up and all Tears wiped from their Eyes and sighing and sorrow shall be no more O Friends lift up your Heads for the Day of your Redemption draws nigh That you may not be shaken with every Wind of Doctrine know that the Foundation of God standeth sure that is his Word that was in the beginning with God that Word that was God in this Eternal Word which is God know you dwelling and Habitation and wait upon God in it it was Davids Buckler his Shield and strong Tower it was his Rock God set his Feet uyon a Rock that is higher than Man's Power and all Mans Wisdom and Strength In this the Righteous begin in this they Travel on Blessed are they that walk by Faith that Live to the Lord and Dye in the Lord and shall be for ever with the Lord. They are blessed that wait upon the Lord for a sense of this They are above all the Changes of time and Mortality It is this that was a Reviving Cordial to our Deceased Friend who received the Truth in early Days the Days of the Dawning of Gods Power in this Land and in this City the Remembrance of it was sweet to her Soul let us Remember the Love of God and the Power and Glory of the Name of the Everlasting God that shined then that we may be encouraged to keep together as a peculiar People to the praise of him that hath called us out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light That God over all may be Glorified for ever that we may live to the Honour of his blessed Name That Christs Kingdom may be set up among us and that Gods great Name and Power and Majesty may be exalted and all flesh abased before him We are Travellers here in this Vale of Tears in this Earthly Pilgrimage into the Land of Rest the Heavenly Canaan Let us follow our Blessed Joshua that is leading us into that Land of Promise and he will give to every one his Lot and they shall stand in that Lot at the last day O Blessed are they that are waiting for their Lot and Portion in that Heavenly Countrey to which Abraham had his Eye that City the New Jerusalem the Mother of us all and that House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens whose Builder and Maker is God This Word which I have been speaking of is that by which we are humbled and bowed before the Lord and Instructed in Judgment and Righteousness To this Word which is God I Commit and Commend you and all the Flock of God that you may be preserved to the end of your Days that you may then lay down your Heads in Peace that your Testimony may not end before your Lives end that the Lord may be with us to shelter and overshaddow us in the midst of all our Tryals and Exercises while we are following Christ in Patience Humility and self denyal and bearing his Cross for no Cross no Crown That which is pleasing to God is walking by Faith What is this Faith A pure resolution of Living to God in a Holy dependance on him and a committing our selves intirely to him that so we may know and enjoy the purifying Vertue of his Word that we may not offend God for without Faith faith the Apostle it is impossible to please him By what means saith the Royal Psalmist shall a young man cleanse his Way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word This is the Blessed Word that hath been a Root of Life in all Ages let us abide in this Word to the end of our days and we shall then be blessed with that Life which shall never end but shall remain when time shall be no more The Lord preserve you by his Mighty power in his Favour and Divine Presence that you may live to his Glory and Praise and Die in Peace and be gathered into that blessed and Heavenly Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judg of all and the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel That you may Eternally Magnifie and Celebrate the praises of the Eternal God to whom be Glory for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM PENN At Wheeler-Street April 13. 1694. IT is the Great Cause and Work of God in which you are all concerned this day Now that all of you may see how you quit your selves before the Living Eternal God your Maker and Answer the Visitations of his Love in the discharge of your Duty that you may feel an Answer of Peace in your own Bosoms and find your selves nigh who were afar off that you may all know your selves nerer then when ye first believed nearer to the Lord nearer to his Love and more in his Favour that you may perceive your Interest to grow and increase your Divine your Eternal Interest that which will out-last the World for it Centers in that which shall never have an end O Friends see to it this Day it is the Redemption of your Immortal Souls that the Lord God hath visited you for it is in order to this And all the Religions in the World Articles Creeds Confessions and Professions that leave out this they are all Imperfect and insignificant and will not avail Men in the Great Day of Account Therefore see to it how the Work goes on the Work of your Redemption and Salvation Do you feel your selves near to the Lord Do you find your selves to have more Power over your Souls Do you know your selves advanced in the Work of God Are ye come to dye daily to that which is contrary to the Lord For as you dye daily you live that Life you Live in the Flesh by the Faith of the Eternal Son of God Christ Jesus who hath Redeemed you from all Iniquity and called you to Glory and Vertue Now that you may all be Faithful Stewards of the Grace and Mercy and Heavenly Talents which God hath bestowed upon you and be all found working not Idle in the Market Place Christ Jesus the Lord hath not been wanting to you He hath Piped to you have you Danced He hath mourned have you wept He hath called have you Answered his Call See to it this Day for the glorious Power and Presence of that God that visited you in the beginning is here this Day It is his Heart-reaching Power his Heart-melting Power his Divine sweet Presence which brought us out of
whereby they may be supported through all Tryals and Adversities and through all Oppositions and Temptations that they may meet withal for the tryal of their Faith and for the exercise of their Patience that all their Afflictions and Exercises may be sanctified to them for the bringing them nearer and nearer to thy self and into a more lively inward and single Dependance on thee and thy Divine Grace and Truth which thou hast made known by Christ Jesus our only Mediatour by whom alone we have access to thee and whereby we are made capable of beholding the light of thy Countenance and partake of thy Divine goodness and blessing and of those pretious promises which thou hast left upon Record and Impressed upon our Minds and Hearts Thou hast poured into us a living and inward sense of that pure Life of thy Dear Son whereby we may be enabled to live to thy Praise and O Blessed Powerful Lord God those that are not convinced and persuaded of thy Way and blessed Truth that are not come into it and to partake of the Life of it that are not yet come to live to thee and to live in Obedience to thy Blessed Son the Lord Jesus Christ who are not come under the Power of his Cross that they may be Crucified to the World and have the World Crucified to them Lord awaken them utter thy Voice that shakes the Mountains rend the Vail and draw in their Hearts and Minds and Affections from earthly and fading Objects that they may come to breathe after thee and feel that Spirit in them wherewith thou dost Inspire thy People whereby they may supplicate thee for relief for strength and Victory over the Spirit of the World and over the Temptations of the Devil and the Flesh which do easily beset Men and whereby many are led Captive who cannot yet make mention of thy Name and walk in thy Truth Lord awaken them by thy Powerful Voice and incline their Hearts to seek thee while thou art to be found and call upon thee while thou art near that thou mayst be known in thy glorious Visitation The Cords of thy Love thou hast extended that they may lay hold thereon that they may be drawn out of the Pollutions of the World and of Sin and Sathan that have brought Death over them let the fear of God take place that they may be affraid to offend thee as knowing that thou art a Jealous God and thine Eyes are upon all the ways of the Sons of Men thou art the Heart searching God there is no secret can be hid from thine All seeing Eyes Vnder that Consideration O Lord let many come unto thee and reverence thy Great Name and not provoke thee to Displeasure against them And O blessed God thou hast been graciously pleased to begin a good Word a glorious Work of Righteousness in our days and timâ—s Blessed God and Father we humbly pray thee carry it on and make it prosper Prosper the Souls of thy People in it that they may be a growing thriving and increasing People in thy Holy ways and in thy blessed Work and as thou hast sown a precious seed and Planted a Noble Vine by thine own Almighty hand and given us a Root of Life the Foundation of our Faith Love and Obedience which Foundation thou hast laid in Zion Lord keep thy People sensible of it that they may mind it and wait upon thee and be preserved in that Root of Life wberein thy Blessing is that thy People may partake of thy Blessing and grâ—w up into the Nature of that Life to bring forth Fruit to â—hee to encrease in Faith and Love in Obedience and Humility and Meekness that the Life of true Christianity may be Promoâ—ed and Incâ—eased among thine Heritage that they may live in it and shine forth in it as thy Workmanship which thou hast Created in Christ Jesus unto fruitfulness unto all good Works that they may walk in them That so Powerful God and living Creator they may live unto thee and Act intirely to thy Praise Hâ—nâ—ur and Glory in their Day Age and Generation and that their bright shining forth in the Light if Truth and Righteou'ness may appear more and more as an Invitation to thâ—se that are afar off That in this thy Day wherein thou art setting up â—be Tabernacle of David the Kingdom of thy Belâ—ved Son and Repairing the Ruins and wast Places thereof Lord God Eternal grant that the Residue of Men may seek after thee and be sensible that thou art at Work and raising an Hâ—use for thine Honour and promoting the Kingdom of thy Son which is a Kingdom of Righteousness that of his Government there may be no end that all those that desire after Peace and after Happiness in the Kingdom of thy Dear Son may wait to see him Rule and Govern to see him Reign whose Right it is That Sin may not Reign in their Mortal Bodies that Sinful Lusts and Vile Affectiâ—ns and an Earthly mind may not have Power over them and prevail against them that so their Souls may be lifted up to thee That Blessed Eternal God they may wait upon thee and Renew their Strength and Renew their Thankfulness for the Renewing of thy Mercies and the Incomes of thy Love which are fresh and New every Morning That they may fear thee and wait upon thee and Diligently seek after thee and have sweet Communion with thee in the Enjoyment of thy Presence And Blessed be thou O Lord God Eternal for all thy Mercies Preservations and Encouragements so frequently Afforded to thy People whose Eyes and Hearts are towards thee Our Souls are deeply engaged to thee and we have cause to Bless and Praise and Honor thy Great and Excellent Name and through tâ—y Dear Son to offer up praise and Thanks giving to thy Great and Excellent Majesty for thou alone O God art worthy to Receive the Honour and Praise of all thy Mercies Benefits and Blessings by all the â—iving here and elsewhere who art God only over all Heaven and the whole Earth Blessed and Praised for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM DEWSBERY At Grace-Church-Street May 6. 1688. My Friends Except you be Regenerated and Born again ye cannot inherit the Kingdom of God THis is the Word of the Lord God to all People this day this lies not in airy Profession and in vain Imagination and whatsoever else it is that you deck your selves with all you must every particular Man and Woman be born again else you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven This was the Doctrine of Christ in that prepared body wherein he appeared in the World and Preached to Nicodemus That standing Doctrine to this moment of time and will be so while any man breaths upon the Earth there is no other way no other gate to enter into Life by but this great work of Regeneration Now to enforce People to come to this great Work and to set forward
a Saviour and that thy Life is hid with Christ in God It is Gods infinite goodness to Men that he will hide pride from them and humble them under his mighty hand This is the Condition of poor Creatures that are slain by the hands of the most High How may I know when I am slain and baptized and come to have sincerity They that have this Baptism enter into the Heavenly Life if you love the light of Christ Jesus it will be thus with you God will make short work in the Earth He will set thy Sins in order before thee and make thee watchful unto Prayer and lead thee to holiness of Life and Conversation and make thee abhor thy self and despise all the Pomps and Pleasures and Vanities of the World when he hath adorned thee with his Graces then watch for the Light and in the Light of Christ thou shalt see Light and that all thou hast done and canst do is but thy Duty All this thou oughtest to do thou art Gods Creature and all this will not justifie thee in order to thy Eternal Salvation for these services thou owest unto God If thou diligently wait thou shalt see more light then the Sword that proceeds out of the mouth of Christ who is called the word of God will cut thee off from all thy hopes of Salvation from any thing thou hast done from any of thy qualifications from any thing that thou canst do so that thou wilt be a hopeless Soul nothing in thy own sense and apprehension the power of the first Adam must die before him and thou wilt cry out I am a dead lost and undone Creature but there is a Life hid with Christ in God for me but I can never have it 'till I be slain into the will of God and become as a little Child and be stript of all my own Excellency that I have attained I must come to a sense of my own misery and fall down at the foot of God when I am become as a little Child humbled and slain as to my own will and confidence in my own righteousness I will not then question but I shall live a Holy Life but I will give all that Life I had for that Life which is hid with Christ in God O! there is none come so far that ever miss of Eternal Life All Shuffling People that would have Salvation by Christ and will not let him exercise his Heavenly Power his Princely Glorious Power to Baptize them into his Death it is they that come short of Salvation but all those that yield themselves up to Christ to be Redeemed through Judgment and are become as little Children these are sn a happy state You know that our Lord Jesus Christ took a little Child in his Arms and said whosoever becomes not as a little Child cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven you must all of you become as little Children and depend upon the Mercy and Free Grace of God you must all come to a Holy resignation of your selves to Gods disposal If you come to Christ as little Children and depend upon him you cannot miss of Salvation it is entailed upon such Souls as hear the Voice of Christ they that hear the Voice of the Son of the God shall live I Stand here as a Witness for the God of Heaven I never heard the Voice of Christ as his follower till I was slain and Baptized and lay as a little Child under his Heavenly Chastisements as soon as ever my Soul was brought to this in my Humiliation O then the dreadful Judgment was taken aaway and the Book of Life was opened unto me and the Lord spake comfortably to me I have lovâ—d thee with an Everlasting Live and I was made a Christian through a Day of Vengeance and of burning as an Oven and the haughtiness and Pride of Man in me was brought low Now in this conformity to Christ's Death People may die into Life and Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their Labours and their Works do follow them Away with all your own Wills and your Pride and Haughtiness and your Hypocrisie and Deceit and all depend ancy upon any qualification of your own you must come to have your Life seperated from you else you will all perish Those that will die with Christ and be willing to die for him he is revealed as a Saviour to them He was before us in the Days of his flesh and complyed with his Father's Will he was Nailed to the Cross The Son of God when he was come to the depth of his sufferings what was his cry My God My God Why hast thou forsaken me This was for thy sake and my sake and every Man and Woman's sake that do believe in him he drank the Cup which his Father gave him to drink If it was done thus to the Green Tree What shall be done unto the Dry He went before us and when he cometh again he will take us to himself and take us from the filth of Sin that we may be made New Creatures Now except we be born again we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God and there is no becoming new Creatures tell we be slain to the Old man Thou must be slain to thy Pride and Haughtiness and the corruption of thine own Will and all selfishness thou must have God to burn it np in thee The Holy Ghost will destroy and burn up nothing in thee but that which will bring an Eternal fire upon thy Soul shew me thou whom my Soul Loveth where is the Path of Life the footsteps of the Flock of thy Companions Why should I be as one that goes aside Now every one that lives at home in the bosom of self take this with you though you profess the truth and live in an outward conformity thereunto yet if you secretly indulge your corrupt wills and live a Flesh-pleasing Life and consult with Flesh and Blood and are not rent off from your Lusts you cannot enjoy the Lord of Life While I am at home in the body I am absent from the Lord. The body of Sin is as a Loadstone to draw you from the Life of God and from Glorying in the Cross of Christ This is flesh and blood and flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God For the Lord's sake for your Soul's sake and for the sake of your Eternal Happiness put not off this work but persue it and it will be perfected See how Christ is revealed in you by the Holy Ghost and with fire God will Redeem you by the Spirit of Judgment and burning It is not ranging abroad with your minds but you must know Christ is in you except you be Reprobates If he hath set your Eyes and Hearts upon himself and made you to Water your Couch with your Tears If he hath broken your sleep so as you have cry'd out I shall be damned and never come to Salvation This
will be your cry it was once my cry O let not your Eyes slumber nor your Eye-lids take any rest till you be sure the Lord is your God If you find these Qualifications you are on your way otherwise you will be like a deceitful Bow and never abide in Judgment If you reject the Counsel of God against your selves and refuse to be Crucified with Christ and to be Baptized with his Baptism you will never have Life But by his Baptism and through the Heavenly operation of his Spirit if thou hast Faith in Christ's name thou shalt be Married to him in Everlasting Righteousness Salvation shall be brought to us and Eternal Life be bestowed upon us even that Life that is hid with Christ in God he will give to every poor mournful Soul that submits to his blessed will and believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ This is not a faith of our own making nor a Garment of our own Embroydery but that which the Lord hath given to us O happy Man or Woman that obtainest this gift of God! O! Who will not lose their lives for this Everlasting Life Who will not die for this Eternal Life Now the matter lyes in the Death of your own Wills when you have done the will of God then watch that your own wills be slain and that your cursed self take not the Jewels of God and his Bracelets and Ornaments and bestow them upon self and Paint and Deck cursed self and take not the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot If you be dead to your own wills you are risen with Christ and shall receive a Resurrection to Eternal Life Crucifie self and set the World at naught and trample upon it and all things of it and count them as dross and dung in comparison of Christ that the Father hath revealed to be our Life in the days of our Sorrow and Mourning in the day of our calamity in the day when we cryed our hope is lost Thus it hath been with the Holiest People on Earth it is not by works of righteousness of thy own that thou canst be saved Christ comes to cut all these down that thou mayst be Ingrafted into him and justified by his Grace Do not make this matter of Talk and say I have heard this and that but look into you own hearts and see what Heavenly workings are there What there is of the Power of the Lord Jesus that hath made you to loath this World and the inordinate Love of the Creature that you may enjoy all these things as if you enjoyed them not We cannot when we are slain and Crucified to this World but say my life is in Christ when we come to ascribe nothing to our selves and all to Christ here is a blessed Harmony broken Hearts melted Spirits and yet joyful Souls poor Creatures that were mourning and sighing and crying before the Lord in retired places and yet rejoycing in Christ Jesus I am risen with Christ I said my hope is cut off I will lye down in thy will O God do what thou wilt with me it is in thy Soveraign pleasure and free gift whether thou give me life or deny it to me There must be a resignation of our selves to the will of God it was so with the Lord Jesus and it is so with every true Saint of God you must be humbled as little Children before judgment be taken away and the loving kindness of God sealed up to your Souls if you seek this work of God you will find it if you seek it upon your Beds in all your Labours and concernments in all your Stations and Relations if you press after the new Birth you must use this World as if you used it not and live a Married life as if you were Un-married for the fashion of this of World passeth away This is not Rantism But let me tell you a New World comes by Regeneration a Man is not lifted up in his own mind but laid low in his own Eyes he waits for the Wisdom of God to govern him and he is as a Steward of the Grace of God to give to them that stand in need when a Man is regenerated and born again he is as contented with Bread and Water as with all the enjoyments of this World what is the matter His own will is gone and put down under his feet and whatsoever it is that gives life to all his vain desires and Affections there is a Harmony of all within a Man praising of God and blessing his Holy Name there are no Intanglements shall draw away the Heart from serving of God and seeking his Glory and if God shall call the Husband from the Wife or the Wife from the Husband for the Glory of his Name there is no whining and complaining and crying out but giving them up and a praising and blessing God when they are called to such an exercise and if they are not called to that then they set their Hearts to glorifie God in their several places and stations then they have a full content in a blessed resignation Here their Wills are slain but they praise God they have no desire but Lord thy will be done always praising God always having the fear and the glory of God before their Eyes All the mischief is hatched in pleasing mens own Wills That is the Counsel of every Heart that Christ doth not govern Will you live as the Quakers then you must live contemptibly the Mistriss and Maid are Hail-fellow well met No every one must walk in humility and live in acquaintance with the God of Heaven sâ—e that is wrought upon by the same Spirit must with all diligence behave her self as becomes a Servant of the Lord. Here is now a New World and the fashions of the Old World are gone all Pride Haughtiness Crosness and Trampling upon one another are all gone all slain through the operation of Christ What remains now Christ is in me and we are all one in him Christ laid down his Life for thee and me Now he reigns in me and he hath prepared my body to die for the truth as his prepared body was laid down for my Sin It is a kind of Foolish Profession to make Profession of Christ and live in Covetousness Profaneness Sensuality and the like they that are come to this Heavenly Birth seek the things that are above thou canst do no other Make the Tree good and the Fruit will be good You must be Ingrafted into the Vine of Gods righteousness O! slight not the Day of your Visitation What was it to me to read of any being born again till I was slain and knew the Heavenly Baptism of Christ Jesus Till I saw the Flaming Sword ready to slay me in every way in every turning The Light of Christ convinced me of Sin and his Righteousness justified me and those Works were abominable to me that hindred my Souls passage to Christ Christ Jesus in
Inward Separation 2 Cor. 6. 17. Wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye seperate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty Wait upon the Lord and know an Inward Separation for what will it signifie to change the Name and retain the Corrupt Nature the Old Nature and to live in Pride Vanity Lust Covetousness and other Abominations What doth it signifie to make a profession of Christianity while People live in these sins from Day to Day Consider how it is with you how you stand related to God I do not Question but that all here make a profession of God and Christ and true Godliness that are too much like to some that profess God in Words but in Works deny him being abominable and to every good Work Reprobate I would have better hopes of you that are here present There are many that make a profession of Christianity that are vile in their Lives and ungodly in their Conversations more like Heathens then weighty sober solid Christians their Lives do not speak them to be Christians they have the name of Christians they are called so but their Lives speak them to be otherwise Now Friends I hope and believe that many of you here present do abhor those Abominations that are acted among many that are called Christians you that hate and abhor these Abominations do not you retain that which is Evil in the least degree but now there are some that may abhor to be seen in abominable Pride and yet there may be something of that Nature that doth in secret remain and though they may seek to hide it from Men in their Profession yet God will find them out If I regard Iniquity in my Heart God will not hear my Prayers See that you be a clear People a People Redeemed to God do not halt between two Opinions that so you may come forth clear for God you whose Understandings God hath opened see that you be Preaching for God Do not keep correspondency with the Spirit of the World though we may have Commerce and Dealings among Men Be Watchful keep your selves from the Evil of the World as Christ Prayed for his Disciples 17. John 15. I Pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World but that thou shouldest keep them from the Evil. So that we must have a care that we partake not with them in their Sins least we pâ—rtake with them in their Plagues Take heed of mixtures this was an Abomination in Israel they were not to Sow their Land with mingled Seed or Grain nor to wear Garments of Linnen and Woolen Take heed of the Spirit of the World Do not mix with it least you be Corrupted by it and the Enemy prevail Sin will harden a People the longer they go on in a course of Sin and the longer People take liberty in that which is vain the harder they will grow and the more stupid and benummed if they answer not the call of God to come out of the Abomination of the World God calleth us to Purity and Holiness for without Holiness saith the Apostle no man shall see thee Lord they shall not see God to their Comfort to their Joy and Consolation see that you be found in that Holy way which God hath cast up many Men have been casting up ways their own devising but God hath cast up a way for the Ranâ—omed of the Lord that the way-faring man though a Fool shall not err therein the Unclean Beasts have not trod in this Way The Ransomed of the Lord those that are Redeemed from their Vain Conversation these are they that walk in this pure and Holy way the way of Righteousness and truth see that you be joyned to the Truth and that will be for your good not that God hath need of us but we have need to be reconciled to him Man hath need of Reconciliation to God his Maker for he hath gone astray from him and hath been seperated by reason of Sin and had need be Reconciled Friends I would have you to prize the Mercy of God and the day of his Visitation he hath stretched forth his hand and his Love and Mercy have been extended to us There are many good People zealous People that have desired to see the Days that we now see and have not lived to see them but have died in the Faith of this that God would send forth more of his Light more of his Grace to the Children of Men and that the light of the Moon should be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun as the light of Seaven days many good People that are gone to their Rest have died in the Faith of it though they never attained to see the days that we have seen God hath stretched forth his hand to the Nations and sent forth his Servants to declare the glad tidings of Peace and Salvation to be prefected through Christ Jesus the Mediator Now God hath made us partakers of this Grace and Blessing Blessed be the Lord our God who hath made a Remnant partakers of it that have given up their All that they might enjoy Truth and be Professors of the Truth and the Lord hath preserved this Remnant through many Tribulations ever since we have been a People the Love of God and his Almighty Power hath surrounded us and he hath gathered us to be a People many of us have living experience of the tender Mercies and Blessings of God We cannot say that he hath been a bad Master he hath not laid hard things upon us he hath feâ— his Flock like a Shepherd he hath gathered the Lambs with his Arm and carried them in his Bosom and doth gently lead those that are with Young Isa 40. 11. The Spirit of the Lord hath led us on gently and hath Instructed us according to our Capacities he hath not laid hard matters upon us when we were as weak Children but he hath nourished us by degrees and fed us with the Sincere Milk of the Word that we might grow thereby that we might grow in Grace and in Vertue and Goodness that you may be strengthened in your Inward Man the Outward Man cannot long subsist without Food but the Body without Food will grow Weak and Feeble nor can the Soul live unto God except it receive strength and nourishment from him who fills the hungry with good things and sends the Rich empty away Wait upon God that you may be strengthened and enabled to perform your Duty and what God requires of you Obedience is better then Sacrifice and to obey the Voice of the Lord then the Fat of Rams It is in Christ alone that we have acceptance with God and he is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Acceptance with God is of great value and much to be desired O
Religion they would not be found in Prophaness in that which is an Abomination in the sight of God they would not be found in Abominable Pride in the view of Gods People they will not be seen in that which is Abominable and shameful Wickedness they will keep up a Profession of the truth that they may be without Rebuke Though they are not so vain as to be for the fashions of the World yet they are of the same Nature and Spirit with the Men of the World and they conform themselves too much to the Vanity and Custom and Fashion of the World tho they will not be seen in the height of it There are many other things might be mentioned in short I would only mention this whether you have not kept a secret reserve of some Sins and make a fair pretence for the use of them this will be a sting to you He that loveth any thing mor than me saith Christ is not worthy of me He that denieth me not himself and forsaketh not all that he hath for my sake he cannot be my Disciple When a tryal comes all must be given up and nothing vain and evil must be reserved that is contrary to the Nature of Truth the mind must be subject to the Will of God and subdued to the Power of God there must be a through change and Reformation we must know a Mortification of Sin and not do the work only in parts but we must go through with it Now that we may do this effectually God hath laid help upon one that is mighty There are many Weaknesses and Infirmities do attend us poor Crearures that many times we are ready to faint Have an Eye to Christ let us look unto Jesus God hath laid help upon him who is mighty and who is able to save to the utermost not only from that which is vile and Contemptible but he is a compleat Saviour that will save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him There is no coming to God or being reconciled to God but by him and all that come to God by him shall have compleat Redemption for their Immortal Souls He is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him He is the Author and finisher of our Faith He that believeth in Christ will submit to him and say in sincerity Thy will be done It is an ordinary thing for People to say Thy Kingdom come and thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven This is a good Prayer that Christ taught his Disciples There are many People that are often saying over these words but they do not give up and resign their own Wills to the Will of God if any tryal Affliction or Exercise befal them they are very apt to fret and repine If God shall take away a near and dear Friend or a Wife or a Child we must quietly submit to the Will of God who knows best how to dispose of them whether it be by Life or Death when God is pleased to take Children from Parents or Parents from Children People must not be discontented at the will of God but submit to his afficting hand God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance God calls upon Sinners 1. Isa 16 17. Wosh you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well relieve the oporessed Judge the Fatherless plead for the Widdow come now and let us reason together saith the Lord Though your Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be Red like Crimson they shall be as Wool Let the Wicked forsake his way and the Uunrighteous Man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon see that you accept of his mercy when it is tendred to you and Answer when he calls for he calls upon the Children of Men Return ye Backsliding Children and I will heal your Backslidings and love you freely God doth not delight in the Death of a Sinner but rather that he might turn and live and find favour with him Man hath a Day afforded to him by the Lord and time and strength to do the work of the Day therefore Work while it is Day for the Night cometh when no Man can Work There is a Day and hour wherein Man is appointed to do his Work some are called at one hour and some at another some are called early some are called at the sixth hour and some at the eleventh hour Now those that come in at the eleventh had their peny had their reward as well as those that bare the heat and burden of the Day God will be rewarded of all them that Faithfully give up themselves to him and Answer his Call in the day of his Visitation He that came in at the Eleventh hour had his peny as well as he that came in first Delay not my Friends for time is pretious those that were first bidden and made excuses were not counted worthy to Partake of the Supper Make not excuses while God worketh with thee by his Power join to it and Answer when God calls least it happen to thee when thou art in distress and callest upon God that he Answer thee not and hear not thy Prayers because when he called thou wouldest not hear him Prov. 1. 24. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no Man regarded but ye have set at nought all my Connsels and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity and mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a Whirlwind when distress and anguish cometh upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not Answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me The Foolish Virgins they had a Day and a time they made a profession they took their Lamps and took no Oyl with them But the Wise took Oyl in their Vessels with their Lamps while the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbred and slept And at Midnight there was a Cry made behold the Bridegroom cometh go you out to meet him Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps and the Foolish said unto the Wise give us of your Oyl for our Lamps are gone out But the Wise answered saying not so least there be not enough for us and you but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for your selves and while they went to buy the Bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage and the door was shut afterwards came also the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us But he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not Watch therefore for ye know neither the Day nor
the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh Friends you see the Foolish Virgins came when it was too late therefore prize your Day and keep your Watch I cannot but Admire the Mercy of God that hath extended a Day of Grace and favour to us God hath not only striven for a little time but hath continued striving Take heed that you harden nor your Hearts in this Day of your Visitation least it be said to to thee The Harvest is past and the Summer is ended and thou not saved Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure While it is the good pleasure of God to work upon thy Heart give up thy self in Holy Obedience to him even while the good Spirit of God moveth upon the face of the Waters The Day of your Visitation is not yet over yield up your selves to the striving of Gods Spirit that you may be found a willing People in the Day of his Power There is Balm in Gilead there is a Physician of Value there Prize the Love and Mercy and forbearance and long suffering of God and bless God that hath not cut thee off in thy Sin and in the midst of thy Iniquites and that thou hast not thy Portion with Hypocrites where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth His Prayer after Sermon Most Blessed and Holy Lord God thou art full of Grace thou art the same yesterday thou art the same to day and thou remainest the same unchangeable God for ever unchangeable in thy Nature and unchangeable in thy Love Thou hast not said to the Seed of Jacob seek ye my Face in vain Where thy People have been gathered there thy Presence hath been Where two or three have met together in thy Name thou hast been in the midst of them thou hast not been wanting to us when we have called upon thee but hast been a present help unto us in the needful time when we have been under Tryals and Exercises and when Troubles and Temptations have come upon us like a Flood thou hast been with us in all our Conflicts and covered our Heads in the Day of Battle and stood by us and preserved us by thy Almighty Arm. Thou art a Gracious and Merciful God and hast regard to the Work of thy hands We commit our Souls to thee as into the hands of a Faithful Creatour We pray thee watch over us and go a long with us and when we are â— parated from one another Let us not be separed from thee Everlasting God of Glory let thy presence be with us and accompany us and lead us into the way wherein thou wouldest have us to walk and enlarge every one of our â—eaâ—â—s â—o follow hard after thee O Infinite Everlasting God of Glory Prosper thy Servants in tâ—â—r Labours and Travel to whom thou hast given any abilities to speak in thy Name that they may declare thy truth as it is in Jesus and deliver the whole Counsel of God to thy People O Sanctifie those Mercies thou hast vouchsafed to us at this time and the blessed priviledge we have had in meeting together to be partakers of thy Grace and Favour We thank thee for thy unspeakable Love in giving thy Beloved Son to die for us and to Redeem us from all Iniquity We desire to Magnifie and bless thy Name that thou hast drawn near to us when we have drawn near to thee and that thou hast beautified our Assemblies with thy Living Presence We desire in all Humility to Walk before thee with a single Heart and an upright Mind and that we may give thee for all thy Mercies and Blessings through the Son of thy Love the Lord Jesus Christ Praise Honour and Glory and Thanks giving not only at this time but so Ever and Ever for thou alone O Lord art Worthy who art God over all Blessed for ever more Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. WILLIAM PENN Upon occasion of the Death of Mrs. Rebecca Travers an Aged Servant of God June 19 1688. TIMES and Seasons pass away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever And it is that which hath been the Root of Life to the Heritage of God in all Ages and Generations that from whence their Joy and Hope always sprung that in which their Faith was finished It was their Alpha and it was their Omega In this the Righteous begun and set forth and by this they were preserved in their Heavenly Race till they came to their great end the prize of their High Calling the Heaven of Everlasting Rest after all the Storms and Tempests of time It was this they had their Eye to in the beginning and it was their Joy that opened in the Eternal Word by which they were Quickned and Revived and that caused them to endure to the end without fainting and you shall likewise by patient continuance in well doing in due time Reap if you faint not It was the Word of God to the Children of God of Old and it is his Word in this Day to us you shall Reap if you faint not Blessed are you that are called into the Vineyard you shall have an Everlasting Harvest If you faint not now you shall Reap then What shall you Reap Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and disappointment No you shall Reap Glory Honor Immortality and Eternal Life So Friends though every Day we have Renewed occasions of remembring our latter end yet there is that which never shall have end hath dawned unto us which hath been presented to our View in this glorious day of our Visitation if we lift up our Eyes to it and have regard to it in our rising up and lying down in our going out and coming in and in all we put our hands unto and if we place our Interests and Portion therein then our minds will be established and we shall not be ashamed now nor blush before the Lord hereafter If our Hearts condemn us not we shall have boldness before God So shall all Travellers that have regard to the Word of Truth while they are in their Heavenly Pilgrimage They set their Faces Sion ward and go on not Fainting not Doubting not desponding they have an Eye to the Lord Jesus Christ and have their Hearts kept by that Word that abides for ever Their Belief and Hope is beyond Time fixed upon that which God hath owned to be his Word before the World was and shall be when Time and this World shall be no more The outward Garment which shall be worn while it last shall then be put off Blessed are they that know the White Linnen that which is whole and all of a piece that God giveth to his Children that Love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity who is the Resurrection and the Life He that comes to know and experience this The Second Dâ—ath shall have no Power over him Now this change is not only in
Pharoah's House and out of Egypt's Land and took us by the hand and led us peaceably to walk by the Rivers of Gods Pleasures I say see to it this day that you may answer the great Love of God that the Lord doth vouchsafe his Heavenly Presence in the midst of you and lift up the Light of his Countenance upon you that ye may be found answering his Love in his renewed Blessings that as he reneweth his Mercies you may renew your Obedience and as he renews his Loving kindness you may renew your Thankfulness that your Souls may be filled with high Praises for it is a Day of Praises for the Lord they who have obtained a Deliverance by Gods mighty Arm and Power that brought his People out of Egypt's Land into the Wilderness and through the Red-Sea and over Jordan's River unto the Banks of Salvation they who have received a marvellous Deliverance from their Spiritual Enemies they do not hang their Harps upon the Willows but Rejoice and Praise the Living God they resolve with the Prophet Although the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall Fruit be in the Vine the Labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no Meat the Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stalls and altho ' there be Plague Sword Fire Desolation and Destruction Yet we will rejoice in the Lord we will joy in the God of our Salvation Is it so with you this Day Are you come into this Divine Fellowship into this Intimacy with the Lord have you this Holy Frame of Soul O ye Sons and Daughters of the Morning the Everlasting Day of God hath dawned upon you that you may look into your Hearts and see how it is with you and see your experiences see the things that your Eyes have seen and your hands have handled You have tasted the good Word of God and known the Operation of his Power these are things that they have that are Children not empty Notions but Experiences If we travel on we shall be enabled to overcome and if we take unto us the whole Armour of God we shall be enabled to stand in the Evil Day and having done all to stand and what is the reward of them that overcome they shall eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Life that grows in the Paradise of God as many as are fed from this Tree they are not to be standing Idle but Work the Works of God and are brought into the Paradise of God and enjoy the Delights of God in the Presence of God and the Lord will fill and satisfie them with his Divine Goodness and they shall grow and encrease in the Divine Life more and more Consider how doth the Work go on Consider the Lord Jesus he came in our Natures before he cometh into our Hearts Now Christ Jesus within us is the Hope of Glory and the Mystery that was hid from Ages and Generations is now Revealed in us Christ is now come not only into our Natures buâ— into our Hearts into our Inward man and all those at the Door of whose Hearts he hath knocked If they have opened to him and received him He hath come to Sup with them and he hath given them the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation and they have come into Divine Fellowship with him and so they have eaten his Flesh and drunk his Blood and fed upon that Bread that comes down from Heaven and all that open the Door and let him in they come to eat of this Bread and they come to see him that is the Desire of all Nations and the Light of the World and they walk in his Light This is an Ancient Testimony when you were first turned to the Light of Christ it was not a Natural but a Divine Light that you were turned to the Light of Jesus manifesting himself in us in this Light you received him and I desire to know what you have tasted what surther Joy is there What more excellent object what more excellent mark than this then the Light of the Nations that we are come to walk in Here is Divinity here is that which was before the World began here is made known the Divine Nature It is testified here that you might be partakers of it that you might be a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People that you should shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvellous Light see how this Work advanceth in every one of you that you may be faithful and improve your Tallents that you may be able to give up your account to the Lord with Joy and not with Grief When you shall hear a Voice saying Come come away There is no more Time the Glass is Run then how joyfully wilt thou hear that Voice if thou hast not been Idle but Working out thy Salvation and answering the Call of God and adoring him for his Love to thy Immortal Soul thou art not like Martha cumbred about many things but mindest the one thing needful that good part that shall not be taken away from thee If you thus Work out your Salvation it will be said unto you Well Done not Well Taught not well Disputed but Well Done good and faithful Servants enter you into the Joy of your Lord My Friends Time goes apace and we are wearing off and in a little while we shall be here no more Time will be gone and the Day of your Visitation quickly over the Thought and Consideration of this hath affected me many a time Look Friends that you be all travelling on in your Heavenly Journey as a faithful people and that the Work of your Salvation is carrying on and that is Christ is a Redeemer to you and that he doth deliver you from the Dominion of Sin and the Bondage of Corruption Art thou free who hath made thee free If the Truth hath made thee free If the Son of God hath made thee free then art thou free indeed If thou art made free thy Knowledge will be accompanied with experience and not notions only you want not notions but Possession of Inward freedom and liberty Doth your knowledge of Truth make you free from Sin Oh the tumblings and tossings that thy Soul was in Oh the Covenant making and the Covenant breaking there was no Peace no Rest because you were fallen and because you did not know Dominion and Victory over Sin which is only by the Life and Spirit of Christ Jesus which will lead you into the Path of obedience then you will know that in Christ there is Life and this Life is the Light of Men and the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not you have Life only in Christ and you have it in him as in the Fountain this you must know that you may be delivered from sin By this saving knowledge of Christ and
Christ and let not any content themselves with a bare Profession of Christ and the name of Christians but make us Christians indeed true Israelites in whom their is no Guile We pray thee let the Power of Godliness shine forth in our Hearts and Lives let none be found among us that Crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame and tramplâ— upon the Blood of the Covenant and do despite to the Spirit of Grace Bring such we beseech thee to true Repentance as have made light of Christ and Salvation that they may seek thee while thou mayst be found and call upon thee while thou art near Glorious God of Lise and Love thine Eye is over all thy People at this time and their condition is known to thee and the living sense which thou hast given thy Servants of the state and condition of thy People makes them humble Mourners before thee and and doth bow down their Spirits in thy sight O Lord God of Glory let not thy wrath and Indignation break forth like Fire against the People of this Land but look down with an Eye of Compassion from the Throne of thy Glory and make bare thy Victorious Arm and make them a willing People in the Day of thy Power that they may be moved and excited to Repent and turn to thee and cease from their vain Conversation and serve thee in sincerity and in the beauties of Holiness Let the Spirit of Life quicken them that arâ— dead in Sins and Trespasses and remove the Stupidity Darkness and Ignorance of those that are strangers to thee and know not the things that belong to their Peace and open their Hearts and Minds that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent And O tender Father of Life thou art at this Day threatning this Nation and shaking thy Rod over the Land of our Nativity cause the Inhabitants thereof to humble themselves under thy mighty hand and bow before thee and to consider how fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God If thy wrath be kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in thee Blessed God of Glory Whom have we in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that can help like thee thy loving kindness is better than Life and thy displeasure more terrible than Death When thou hidest thy Face we are troubled but when thou liftest up the Light of thy countenance upon us and smilest upon our Souls and with a Ray of thy excellent Glory shining on us speakest peace unto us and openest a Door for us into the secret of thy Presence then we are filled with Joy unspeakable and satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness then we dwell safely as in the Munition of Rocks Most Glorious excellent Fountain of Divine Goodness be present with all thy People keep them as the Apple of thine Eye under the shaddow of thy Wings and in all their solemn Assemblies when they meet together to Worship thee O Lord meet with their Souls and let them see that thou Rulest and art present in the midst of them who art the Fountain of living Waters to those that thirst for thee the living God Let them in their Assembling together drink of the Brook of Shilo which runs with pleasant streams and there let them find Refreshment to their Souls we pray let them see the great design of thy love to them in that thou sendest them plentiful supplies from Heaven and givest the streams of Life where thou feedest thy Flocks and makest them to rest at Noon and to lyâ— down in Green Pastures and leadest them by the stil Waters though they walk through the Valley of the shaddow of Death they shall fear no Evil for thou art with them Thou preparest and furnishest a Table for them in the presence of their Enemies and they are abundantly satisfied with the Fatness of thine House and thou makest them to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures But everlasting God of Life thou hast a Controversie with those that dwell at ease in Zion that do not lamen and mourn for the Sins and Abominations committed is the midst of them shew them that their Rest is not the Rest of God Let them cease from their own Works and serve and Worship thee in truth and Sincerity And let them know there is a Sabbath an Heavenly Rest for such to partake of Shew them the many secret working of the Enemy that they may watch against him aâ— not be Ignorant of his devices who is going about like Roaring Lyon seeking to devour them and to destâ—â—â— their Souls Arise O God of Glory and appear in Jacobâ— Dwellings and search Jerusalem as with Candles â—â— not thy People spare or hide any Darling sin froâ— the Slaughter nor keep Amaleck alive nor sâ—â—â— those Enemies which thou hast determined to Destruction Lord God of Life and Love thou Soveraign Lâ—â— of Heaven and Earth do thou graciously strengthâ—â— and keep in all tenderness thy People every where â—â— all their Travels Labours and Exercises let them fâ—â—â— Favour and Acceptance with thee in and through thâ— Lord Jesus Christ the Great Mediatour Let them know thy Heavenly Gatherings and there let them abide under thy Shaddow Let their Quiver be filled with the Arrows of the Almighty that may reach the Hearts of many by thy Power and let their Bow abide in strength let them hear the Heavenly Sounding of thy Trumpet from the Holy Mountain of thy Glory and in all their Assemblies let the pleasant Streams of life flow from thee upon their Souls and 〈◊〉 pray thee let them grow green and flourish and be as a Watred Garden bringing forth pleasant Fruits Then Blessed Father of Life and Glory thy love will be discovered to thy People when they are in the daily exercise of thy Grace and under the living Influences of thy good Spirit when thou takest them into thy Banquetting-House and thy Banner over them shall be love Blessed Lord God of Glory when it shall be thus with us we shall behold thy Heavenly Countenance shining upon us and thy glory in the Face of Jesus Christ and we shall be taken and delighted with the excellency thereof Thy Blessed Banquet will be sweet to our Tast and we shall be satisfied and overcome with thy Love then will thy Glory shine and thy Voice be heard Eat O Friends Drink yea Drink abundantly O Beloved Now for all thy Mercies and Blessings and wonderful patience forbearance and Longsuffering towards us We desire to offer our Thanksgivings to thee for thy tender Compassions extended to those that are sorrowful Afflicted and bowed down before thee Father of Life thou hast opened thy Bosom of Love and given them some ease and Refreshment thou hast Remembred us in our low Estate and thou hast been with us and kept us in all our Exercises and Labours and Travels
that they may see thy Power in tnrning their minds and Hearts to thee and in renewing and clâ—â—nging them that they may be made the objects of thy Love and brought into a nearness to thee and that they may be made acquainted with the feeling of thy Vertue and power upon their Souls Blessed God of Life do thou fill our Cup with thy Blessings and refresh us with the Incomes of thy Love Thou causest thy People to drink of the streams of those Rivers of Pleasure that are at thy Right hand and thou causest the Rain to Descend and drop upon thy tender Plants that they may grow and be fruitful in every good Word and Work and live to thy Praise and that they may exalt thy Gteat Name and magnifie thy Power manifested to them Lord remember thine every where those especially which are under Affliction and Exercise of body and mind open thy hand and send help to then according to their needs and necessities that they may be kept and supported under all their tryals that they may not be discouraged nor despond in their minds nor despair of thy love and goodness to them O Lord be thou known in thy Love and shed it abroad upon us by thy Spirit that we may all be brought nearer to thee and be more acquainted with thee who art the Fountain and Well-spring of all our Mercies and Comforts and have cause to bless and praise thee that hast made us Heirs of that Life and Blessedness that shall never have an end We desire to return living praises to thy Name for this days mercies for the Incomes of thy Love and thy presence in the midst of us Lord our Hearts are engaged to return thanks and praise to thee and to give Glory to thy Holy Name Lord keep us when we are gone and parted from one another and keep us that we may live to thee and not to our selves and that we may be Instrumental in turning many from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to thee the living God that they may receive Remission of Sins and an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith in Christ Jesus And that they may shew forth the Vertues of Christ in their Lives and Conversations and bring Honor and Praise to thy Name who art worthy of all praise To whom we desire to give Honor and Glory and Thanks giving and Praise not only at this time but for Ever and Ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD At Devonshire House March 11. 1693. THERE is a Day of Visitation which the Lord hath extended unto the Children of Men that we might every one of us observe our Season and time that so we might be Exercised in those things that relate to our Everlasting Peace and welfare in the World to come For we are like to be accountable to the Great God for the Deeds done in the Body Therefore every one had need to weigh and measure their ways and doings that they may stand Justified in the sight of God through Jesus Christ by whom we are Visited who hath been given of the Father not only to be a Light but a Leader to us and blessed will all they be that come to be led by the Lord Jesus Christ For that is a very precious state to know this One way for he is the alone way to the Kingdom of God and all those that make a Profession of him and reject his Leadings and his Counsel they will fall short they will meet with many things in the way that will turn them from the right Way to the Kingdom of God But all those that follow the Lord Jesus Christ it is they that shall receive the Crown of Immortal and Everlasting Life and Glory For this following of Christ is a Crucifying the Old Nature of Man it is a regenerating of Man in his Inward parts without which none of us can come to see the Kingdom of God This is not an outward Birth nor an outward Generation nor a growing into any outward comprehension of things but it is an Inward mortifying of the Deeds of the Flesh and that you know no Man can do but by and through the Spirit If Men walk after the flesh they must dye but if through the Spirit saith the Apostle ye mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall Live I do not speak of outward living in this World only but of living to God Eternally People in this World should live to the Lord then it will be well with them whom they come to Dye When this outward Earthly Tabernacle and House of Clay shall be dissolved all such as live to the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God they shall have an Habitation and a Dwelling with him in his Fathers Kingdom they will be made Vessels of Honor to glorifie the Lord Therefore the greatest matter and thing that we can press after in this Life the most profitable the most advantagious of all things is to press after an Inward walking with God through Jesus Christ for saith Christ to his Disciples You that have followed me through the Work of Regeneration it shall be given to you to sit with me in my Fathers Kingdom Now most People believe that these things are true most that are called Christians believe that they are profitable but to pursue and press after them a great many are short in it Some it may be are hindred by the delights and pleasures and vanities of this World others it may be are hindred by some great Excercise that they meet withal and some and some sore Affliction not knowing that Power that carries through and gives Victory and that is the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ so that the Knowledge of Christ is a very profitable thing I look upon it to be as necessary to be Preached to many that call themselves Christians as to a great many that are Heathens for if a Man or Woman profess to be a Christian and be not of a Christian Spirit and Conversation What will it signifie The Instance that the Apostle Paul gives concerning the Heathen will be more prevalent in the Day of the Lord and that is this Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the Work of the Law written in their Hearts No doubt but they were accepted of the Lord according to their Integrity and Sincerity The Apostle Paul was an experienced Man and understood the Nature Quality and greatness of the Law of God which was dispenced to the Jews and given them for peculiar Instruction and for a School-Master to bring them to Christ for it was never given to compleat Salvation to any Man without Christ the Apostle tells you it was a School-master till Christ come And if you observe that in the time of the Law the Jews time Christ
a peculiar People to thy self Zealous of good Works O Eternal God of Power let the Souls of the Children of men come to enjoy thy Presence that their Bodies may become Living Temples for thee to dwell in O Eternal God of Life exalt thy own Name and Truth and make thy self known more and more to the Nations of the Earth that they may come to believe in thy Dear Son Christ Jesus and that they may come to know Redemption and Salvation and the things that belong to the Everlasting Peace of their Souls O Lord we pray thee be with the Families of thy Children and People in all their Exercises in all their Afflictions and in all their Temptations be thou near to them to preserve them and keep them and uphold them by thy free Spirit that thou may'st guide them by thy Consel and afterward receive them into Glory O Eternal God of Life be with the Young Generation of the Children of thy Servans that they may serve thee in their Day and keep their Hearts O Lord by thy mighty Power and let them receive the Word of thy Truth in the Love of it and seal them by thy good Spirit to the Day of Redemption And O Blessed God of Life let thy Work prosper in the midst of the Earth and subdue all that is contrary to thy pure Mind and Heavenly Will and exalt the Kingdom of thy Dear Son and let his name be known and trusted in among all the Nations of the World that they may believe in him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation to al them that obey him that so Glory and Honour and Everlasting Renown and Pure praises and Living Thanksgivings may Ascend to thee and let all thy sensible Ones offer them up to thee through Christ the Dear Son of thy Love in whom thou art well pleased for thou alone art worthy to receive all Glory and Praise who art God over all Blessed for ever and ever Amen A SERMON Preached by Mr. JAMES PARK At Ratcliff April 19. 1694. THEY that come to wait upon the Lord and draw nigh to him and diligently attend upon him they shall receive Wisdom and strength from him and Power to enable them to do the Will of God to fear the Lord and call upon his Name to love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and to Work Righteousness in their Time Day and Generation knowing him in whom thay have believed and whom a Remnant are come to and are Baptized into him and walk in him as they have received him and by whom they have been taught All are to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and to Walk in him who is the Lords Anointed the Judge of Quick and Dead all are to have a certain knowledge of him by receiving and embracing him Did we ever know God aright and the Lord Jesus Christ his only begotten Son till we received him and knew him to be in us the Hope of Glory Many of us have received the Lord Jesus Christ and walked in him as we have received him and then we came to know the witness of him in our selves such as know him experimentally can set to their Seals that God is true We have known God the Father at Work in us and his Son Christ Jesus Working mightily by his Almighty Power in and through whom we come to Work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling This causeth a great fear of God to come upon Man I have known in my time a great Trial to come upon Man and then he came to serve the Lord with Fear and that is good service and that undoubtedly will manifest a good servant when a man comes to serve the Lord with Fear and to rejoice with trembling not with an exalted Mind not with a puft up Mind keep out of that beware of that Friends I beseech you all in the Name of the Lord and in the Fear of God wait all in Gods fear and then you will be capable of drawing nigh to God It is Written in the Epistle of James Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you then will you feel the Lord to work in you mightily and to wash you and make you clean and then by the help of the Spirit of Lord you will put away the Evil of your Doings cease to do Evil and learn to do well and endeavour to please God in all things The Children of God are all taught of him and their Peace is great and they are established in Righteousness and they have a living Experience of that Promise of the Lord by the Prophet They shall be all taught of God their Heavenly Teacher and you that are taught of him shall find him near you that Teacher cannot be removed into Corners There shall be an Invisible Eyeâ— an Heavenly and Spiritual Eye opened to you that you may see the Lord near you Draw near to him in Faith and with a true Heart and with fuil Assurance and you will certainly know and you will see clearly that God is no Respecter of Persons but that in every Nation he that feareth God and Worketh Righteousness is accepted of him God is no Respecter of Persons his Love is of large extent with respect to the Sons and Daughters of Men Those thou gave sâ— me saith our Saviour I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled The Mercy of God through Christ Jesus the Son of his Love reacheth all there is Good Will towards Men Luke 2. 9 10. The Angel of the Lord came upon the Shepherds abiding in the Field and watching over their Flock by Night and said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great Joy which shall be to all People for unto you is born this Day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host Praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace Good Will towards men And the Prophet Isaiah tells us For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace You shall have Christ Jesus for your Lord and King and Counsellor and Instructer Christ Jesus the Son of the Highest he will instruct you and Counsel you safely and then great will be your Peace who can disturb the Peace of such a one or bereave him of it Such a one is also established in Righteousness and Christ is made to them of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption that they may be all endued with that Wisdom that is from above which is pure and peaceable and gentle and easie to be intreated Let the same mind be in you saith the Apostle which was in Christ Jesus that great Lord and
this City of the dreadful Judgments of God that he will certainly bring upon the wicked and hard-hearted and upon the stiffnecked and Rebellious and I hope that through the Divine workings of the Divine Spirit and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ and through his Divine and Heavenly light that hath attended these warnings and testimonies many will be stirred up to Repentance And I have this more to say that the Lord God in the opening of his Divine Word hath commanded me This say to my People in the City of London and elsewhere where I have ordered thy Lot Be of believing hearts for the Vials of my wrath shall be poured out upon the Transgressors Therefore charge the Daughters of Sion that they touch not with the Daughters of Babylon and tell them that if they partake with them in their Sins they shall partake with them in their Plagues and in the punishments that God will pour down and execute upon the workers of Iniquity and greater will be their Condemnation if they do not repent and believe than of those that have not had such opportunities Therefore Children of Sion look unto the Lord Jesus Christ that Mighty one upon whom help is laid in whom is Divine strength and Power and from whom you may have Divine Assistance that we may perform the good that is required at our hands and that is incumbent upon us and that we owe to our Creator that we may Worship him from day to day and from one time to another they that perform this service in the strength of Christ they will feel the savour of his life upon them and find the sweetness of joy and peace in their Souls and when we are in our Imployments and Callings and Business we shall feel the savour of Divine Life going along with us and in all our Converse and Communion one with another and in our Families we shall instruct and correct and direct our Children and bring them up in the fear of the Lord that they may not do as the Children of Israel when some of their Judges were dead every one did that which was right in their own eyes Let them do what they will saith Joshua chuse you this day whom you will serve as for me and my House we will serve the Lord. O get your wills subjected to the will of God that you may obey his Righteous Law and feel your selves engaged in his service and have the powerful working of his Holy Spirit in your Souls God will by his own Almighty Arm and Heavenly Grace enable you to do what he requires and is pleasing in his sight he will work in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure By Grace ye are saved saith the Apostle not of your selves it is the gift of God To this Divine Gift we are all recommended Now the Lord God Almighty gather you all into a sense of it The Apostle when he wrote to the Churches he committed them to the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for Guiding and Governing them in the whole course of their Conversations that they might live in the pure fear and love of God and obedience to him and in Love and Concord one with another that God in all things may be glorified and Praise and Honour and Thanks givings may be offered up to him through Jesus Christ his Beloved Son and our alone Saviour who alone is worthy who is God over all Blessed for ever and ever Amen The Prayer after Sermon BLessed God of Life who art the Fountain of all our Mercies the God from whom we receive all the good we enjoy our eyes are unto thee and we wait and attend upon thee thou art pleased O Lord to give unto us all things that we stand in need of which should engage us always to have an eye unto thee for thou never failest any that put their trust in thee many a time O Lord have thy People cryed to thee in the sense of their wants and have bowed before thee and lifted up their supplications to thee and Lord thou hast had regard to them many a time and for the cry of the Poor and the groaning of the distressed thou hast risen and been a present help unto them So that O Lord we have had encouragement from time to time to draw near to thee for that thou dost appear in the midst of the Assemblies of thy People that do meet together in thy Name and in thy Holy fear O Powerful Father of Life we have cause to bless thy Name for that we have had a real tast of thy Goodnefs and of thy Mercy to our Souls Thou O Lord it was that didst appear in the time of thy Love and visitedst the Souls of many that were strangers unto thee and unacquainted with the way of Life and Salvation Thou O Lord it was that hadst mercy upon us in the day when there was none to help us when there was none that could save and deliver then didst thou make bare thy Almighty Arm and didst bring many to the knowledge of thy living way and all thine whose eyes have been to thee thou hast Crowned them with thy loving kindness and tender mercy Praises Praises be to thy Great and Excellent Name who livest for ever and for evermore Living God of Life let all thine be preserved by thy Eternal Arm of Power that they may live in the World to the Honour of thy Great Name Powerful God of Life our eyes are unto thee and thou hast given us to see thee and to have the light of thy Countenance lifted up upâ—n us Father of Mercies we are not able to keep our selves and preserve our selves but the eyes of all thine are unto thee that they may be acquainted with thee and have that Divine help and strength which thou affordest to thy People and to thy Children that they may be enabled to run on in that Race that thou hast set before them that at the end of their days they may come to lay down their heads in peace and have an abundant entrance into that Everlasting Kingdom which thou hast prepared for those that love and fear thy Name Blessed God of Life be with all thy People here and every where draw off their minds from the love of this World and the Spirit of it that they may be brought nearer and nearer to thee in their Love and Affections Blessed God of Life we have been waiting upon thee and thou hast graciously appeared in the midst of us blessed be thy Name Thy living presence is the comfort of all thine that wait upon thee How poor and empty and hungry and thirsty have we come into thy presence yet thou dost not send us empty away but thou hast filled the hungry with good things and opened a Living Fountain that the Thirsty Souls have known the Drinking of Our Souls are constrained to offer Praises to thee this Evening that we have found Comfort and Refreshment from thy Blessed Presence Lord God of Life go along with us and bless us and keep us in the fear of thy Holy Name that we may live in the World to the praise of thy Name Lord bless the present opportunity to all that are here before thee that we may go away rejoycing in the sense of thy love and goodness to us and be engaged to walk in humility before thee Lord let our cry come up to thee keep us every day and preserve us and pity and help all those that are crying to thee that are under Exercises Temptations Afflictions Tryals and Weaknesses of Body and Mind Be near to them to help them in their distress and save and deliver them and us from the Enemy of our Souls that goes about like a Roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour O Powerful God of Life be with all thine every where and bless them and keep them while they are in the World from the evil of it that Living Father of Life both they and we for all thy Mercies and Blessings which in the dear Son of thy Love thou hast bestowed upon us from time to time may render Living Praises unto thee And for thy affording us thy Presence at this time and for all the Seasons and Opportunities we have enjoyed for the benefit and advantage of our Immortal Souls we desire to return thee Praise Honour and Glory through thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ in whom thou art well pleased for thou alone art Worthy Worthy Worthy who art God over all blessed in thy self for ever and evermore Amen FINIS ADVERTISEMENT There is newly Publish'd THE General History of Earthquakes or An Account of the most Remarkable and Tremendous Earthquakes that have happened in divers parts of the World from the Creation to this time and particularly those lately in Naples Smrrna Jamaica England and Sicily With a Discription of the famous Burning Mount Aetna and the several dreadful Conslagrations thereof for many Ages To which is added an Appendix containing several other late strange Accidents and Occurences As I. A Surprizing Account of Angels Singing Psalms In the Air over the Ruins of the Protestant Church at Orthez a City in the Province of Bearne and other places in France in the year 1686. with the Words they Sang in the hearing of many hundred Auditors at once Papists as well as Protestants II. The Life of a Great Person of near an Hundred years old who is now an Hermit in a Forrest in France with the Devotions Cloathing Diet and Subsistance of him and his Companions c. III. The wonderful Army of Locusts or Grashoppers that were seen near Breslaw in Silesia Septemb. 7. 1693. and in other parts of Germany which in their March took up 16. Miles devouring every Green thing IV. Three Miraculous Cures wrought by Faith in Christ in 1693. As 1. Of Mary Maillard the French Girl suddenly healed of an extream Lameness 2. The Wife of Mr. Savage Cured of a Lame Hand 3. A Shepperd near Hitchin in Nartfordshire instantly healed of the Kings Evil under which he had languished Twenty Years Price one shilling FINIS
of God or of Christ his Servants ye are to whom you obey Now consider whose Servants you are whether you are Servants of sin or bought by Christ Jesus and Redeemed from an ungodly life and from a vain Conversation We cannot serve two Masters where there is such a contrariety as Light is to Darkness you cannot serve them at one and the same time there must be a cleaving to the one see that you cleave and joyn your selves to that which is good to that Principle that God hath placed in your hearts and this will season your Souls this will leaven you to God Luke 13. 21. The Kingdom of God is like leaven which a Woman took and hid in three Measures of Meal ' till the whole was leavned God doth give to every Man a measure of Grace that brings Salvation This Grace hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World yet too many People have not had regard to the grace of God given to them but rather trample upon it and do despite to the Spirit of Grace the Grace of God in Christ Jesus is extended to all the Children of Men without respect of Persons God is no respecter of â—ersons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteoasness is accepted with him Acts 10. 35. Now my Friends we cannot work Righteousness but by the ability and assistance of the grace of God now this grace is from Christ Jesus I John 17. For the Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ that grace came by Christ that worketh sanctification Now the Law did not make the comers thereunto perfect nor purge the Conscience but the bringing in of a better hope did by which we draw nigh to God There is no drawing nigh to God but through Christ Jesus no Redemption but through him he is a compleat Saviour he doth not only redeem in part but he saveth to the uttermost all that come unto God by him he is a compleat Saviour he that hath begotten good desires in our Souls whereby we breath after him and are raised to pant and desire after that which is good and as there is a giving up to him that hath begotten these good desires in the Soul the Lord in his good time will answer these desires see that ye be of humble and meek minds and lie low before him and wait on him and he will in due time perfect the work which he hath begun Friends I testifie among you at this time there is not a living desire in the Soul to that which is good but Christ is the Author of it he is the Author of Eternal Salvation to as many as obey him It is he that begun the work he met with us by his Power and Spirit when we were strangers to God For we as well as others were in the broad way going hand in hand with a multitude to do evil and we did not seek God till he did first seek us we did not desire the knowledge of his ways till he raised desires in our Souls he met with us in the way of his Judgments causing terrour to take hold of Transgressors so that we could not take delight in vanities and pleasures as we had done because his terrours took hold of us blessed be the name of the Lord. It was good for us that we were afflicted before we were afflicted we went a stray but now we have learned his Rightâ—â—â—s Judgments Judgments upon the unjust we have found to be Mercy to the just Blessed be the name of the Lord that did seek us out that met with us that put a stop to us in our way that we could not delight in vanity as we had done The Lord brought us to a consideration of our ways and doings He manifested to us if I live and die in this way I am in I am undone for ever I am miserable for ever if I do not know Redemption and Salvation by Jesus Christ The Lord manifested to us by the shining of his Divine Light in our hearts that we were in the Broad way that leads to destruction we read of the Narrow way that leads to Life and of the Broad way that leads to destruction We read of the narrow way but we did not know our selves to be in that way when we saw the Broad way that leads to Destruction this begat a breathing in our Souls and an earnest desire that we might know the way that is pleasing to him And there being many Opinions in the World many of us were hurried in our Minds and where we saw any thing of sobriety and weightness of Spirit we were willing to try them all that we might know the mind of God Friends God raised a travel in our Souls and appeared farther to us God that Commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness shined into our hearts whereby a discovery was made of that which is good and of that which is evil This the Lord discovered to us by the shining of his Divine light and grace in our inward parts so that we need not look abroad we retired inward we saw that we had business enough at home we saw that when we had grieved the good Spirit of God we had trouble for it and when we answered the breathings of the Spirit we had peace within us so that we must distinguish between that which gave acceptance with God and that whereby the Spirit of God was grieved from day to day Now my Friends we came under a travel God by his light and grace discovered to us his way so that now we are come to a certainty of the way Christ is the way to God and if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature he is born again born of the Spirit you should all of you be concerned and consider what you know of a change wrought in you by the power of God whether you have received vertue from Jesus to stop the bloody issue of Sin It is an easie thing to make a profession and to call your selves Christians but it is a weighty thing to be a Christian to be so in reallity united unto God through Jesus Christ to be a Christian is to be a follower of Christ in the way of Regeneration and self-denial except a Man be Regenerate and born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God There are many People would go to God's Kingdom when they die but do not mind being prepared for it many have been pleading for Sin in their life but would go to God's Kingdom when they die where must People be cleansed from sin but on this side the grave there is no Repentance in the Grave nor no Redemption out of Hell This is the day of your Visitation God hath prepared means whereby we may be accepted of him consider of it the gate stands open that leads
to the Holy City there is none can enter into God's Kingdom in their desilements their hearts must be purged their minds purified they must know the work of Sanctification if they will enter into God's Kingdom Now the preparation of the heart and the answer of the Tongue is from Lord. I do not question but here are many tender hearted ones that have tender desires and breathings of Soul after God that desire to know peace with God and reconciliation with their Maker Now my Friends there is not another Mediator besides Jesus Christ he is the alone Mediator and Redeemer it is he gave himself a Ransom for us it is he that reconciles Man to God and we must be found in him if we will come to have acceptance with God So let every one of you consider with your selves how far you are broken off from your evil ways we are all by Nature Children of wrath consider how far you are broken off from the Wild Olive-Tree from that which is corrupt by Nature and whether you be grafted into Christ If thou beest grasted into him thou receivest strength and nourishment and ability from him and for this end we have waited after we have believed we have waited for power many a time we have travelled many Miles to a silent Meeting People have wondred what encouragement we could have to travel to a silent Meeting indeed we have had great encouragement to meet together and we have travelled in great hazard and jeopardy yet we have met together and the Lord hath made us living Witnesses of the fulfilling of that promise that where two or three are gathered together in my Name I will be in the midst of them this was that which beautified our Meetings and we were willing to wait there was a disposition of Soul in us that if the Lord did hide his face from us we were troubled if we did not enjoy the Lord and find him in the midst of us it brought a great concernment upon our Minds and Spirits and we were willing to reflect upon our selves and examine within our selves what was the matter that the Fountain did not send forth its living streams as at other times and what the reason was it was with-held from us Friends this was a great exercise upon our Minds but the Lord graciously manifesting himself appeared to us causing the Cloud many times to vanish away and the light of his Countenance shined on us and our Spirits were revived and we were comforted and this was a great encourrgement to us to wait upon God seeing our own weakness to perform that which is our bounden duty which God required of us of necessity this brought a constraint upon us to wait upon the Lord that we might renew our strength seeing our own weakness insufficiency and infirmity there was a necessity that constrained us to wait for a Saviour for a Redeemer Isa 40. 31. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint My Friends we have need of Supplies from God every day we have need of our daily bread and God gives bread to the hungry Soul he filleth the hungry with good things this is that we labour and travel for now it is those that are hungry that God takes notice of and gives bread to he hath promised that those that hunger and thirst after righteouâ—ness shall be filled See what you are hunting after this day what is it that your Souls do desire you have presented your bodies here at this time what is it for is it to hear what a Man can say to hear Eloquence of Speech to hear some novelties or is it your end to wait upon God I would have every one of you to wait for your selves you that have been acquainted with the manifestation of the Spirit wait in it feel your minds exercised towards God wait at his Footstool this was Maries choice when Martha was cumbred about many things Mary attended at the Foot-stool of Jesus her attendance was upon him So Friends let us all look unto the Lord and wait upon him wait for his appearance and for his Salvation to be manifested to us Wait that you may know that arm of Power that wrought tenderness in you and did beget desires in your Souls after that which is good wait that you may be strengthned in that power that you may be a growing People that you may grow in Grace and Vertue that you may grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ there are degrees of grace and there are several statures and degrees of growth you may read of several statures 1 John 2. 13. Children young Men and Fathers I have written unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one I write unto you little Children because ye have known the Father Now you that make a profession of the truth see how far you are grown into the Life of it see how far it hath prevailed so as to season your Souls and to make you savoury to God that you may not only stand in a profession and be Professors of Life but Possessors of Life of the Life of Jesus that you may receive life and ability from him every day so as to be enabled by his power to perform what he requires of you Now there is no more required of us but faithfulness according to the ability of grace given the Lord God hath been free in his Love and hath communicated to us a Tallent or Tallents Now it is those that are faithful in a little that he will commit more unto but do not expect a greater Tallent or more to be communicated till you have been faithful in a little which hath already been faithful in a little which hath already been made manifest to you see that you be every one concerned for your selves mind your Travel Lay aside every weight and burthen and the Sin which doth so easily beset you and run with patience the Race that is set before you looking unto Jesus who is the Author and will be the Finisher of your Faith If thou dost give up thy self to him he that is the Author will be the finisher of thy Faith to the Joy and Comfort of thy Soul he will Perfect the Work he hath begun in thee I would have neither Old nor Young to satisfie your selves with an outside Profession of the truth of God but see that you be Converted that you be broken off from the Wild Olive and Ingrafted into Christ see that there be a through Reformation wrought in your Souls and that you be separated from that which is Evil what doth an outward Separation signifie if there be not an
of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever Therefore see to it you that make a profession of it see that as you have received the Lord Jesus Christ you walk as he walked that you live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit and not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh that you live not in malice envy or bitterness and so grieve the good Spirit of God and bring a burthen upon the Souls of the Righteous We that are come to the sight and vision of Heavenly things and have the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God opened to us we are come to be Partakers of the gift of Charity which is a more excellent way if this be wanting all is wanting what doth the Apostle say though I speak with the Tongue of Men and of Angels and have not Charity I am become as sounding-Brass or a Tinkling Cymbal and though I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have alâ— Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing and though I bestow all my Goods to the Poor and though I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profits me nothing These things have been often said and declared to you Friends and I have now this General Testimony to give in the dread and fear of the Lord God They that love God above all will Love their Neighbour as themselves they will love those that are the Friends of God and of his People nay it is a duty incumbent on them A New Commandment saith our Saviour I give unto you that ye love one another as I have lovtd you that ye also love one another By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another And we are not only to love one another but to love our Enemies this our Lord Jesus Christ commandeth us Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he causeth his Sun to shine on the evil and on the good and sendeth Rain on the just and on the unjust Now my Friends that you may keep in this love of God and love to one another it is the desire and breathing of my Soul That so your Faith may stand not in the wisdom of Mens words but in the power of God this power will bring down every high thought and imagination into subjection and obedience to Christ that we may walk before bim to all well pleasing that when we come to die we may lay down our heads in peace and be found of him in peace without spot and blameless and at the end of our days we may receive the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Immortal Souls Friends to the Grace of God I commend you the Lord God of life preserve and keep you that you may be safe in the hands of God and abide under the shadow of his wing and be surrounded with his Almighty Arm which hath hitherto preserved us in all our Solemn Meetings and Assemblies when the Enemies of Gods truth have risen up against us The remembrance of it should be sweet and pleasant to us When the floods of the Vngodly were mustred up against us and sometimes halled us out of our Meetings to Goals and Prisons for bearing Testimony to the Truth of God in our day O the sweet and comfortable presence of the Lord that then attended us and blessed be his Name he waited to be gracious to us and did work manifold Deliverances for us and Praise and Glory be given to the Eternal and Almighty God whose Divine Power and Providence hath brought a calm over the Nation so that now we enjoy our Meetings without Trouble and Molestation O that we may be sensible of the wonderful Love and Mercy of God to us And Friends it greatly concerns us to be careful in the whole course of our Lives that we may not give any occasion for the obstructing or hazarding of the present Peace and Liberty we enjoy O there should be a serious care and tender regard to Gods Glory and the Honour of his Great and Excellent Name and also a care and concern for the Reputation of our Religion and Religious Societies that none may have any occasion or just ground to bespatter and reproach us and render us odious to the Government under which we live Blessed be the Name of the Lord for the freedom and quiet Seasons we enjoy and that are continued by the Mighty Arm and Power of the Lord let all our Souls bow before him and let us walk and live in a continual subjection to his Divine Wisdom and Will that our Souls may be all bound up in the bundle of Life that we may serve the Lord with sincerity and perrserverance to the end of our days that then an abundant entrance may be Ministred to us into the everlasting Kindom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ His Prayer after Sermon GLorious God of Life the Visitations of thy Love in thy Day of Grace and Salvation are very sweet and precious to the Souls of thy Children O Lord we have cause to bless thy Name that thou hast extended a Day of Mercy to us a Day wherein thou art visiting the Sons and Daughters of Men a Day wherein thou hast caused the Heavenly Divine Light of thy Son Christ Jesus to shine into our Hearts Thou hast given a Remnant to believe in it the Eyes of our Vnderstandings have been opened by it and wehave come to see and partake of the Visitations of thy tender Love to our Immortal Souls O the shining of this Divine Light hath made us see our way out of Darkness and the Day of thy Glorious Power hath Dawned upon us when many have been in the Region and Shaddow of Death And thou hast manifested thy Loving kindness to the Souls of men in and through our Lord Jesus Christ O Lord be thou graciously pleased to be nigh to thy People Preserve them and Guide them in thy Way the Way of Holiness and Righteousness which thou hast led them into O that they may Perservere therein and obtain Salvation to their Immortal Souls O Eternal God of Life and Glory we humbly pray thee send forth thy Light and thy Truth and open the Eyes of the Vnderstandings of the Sons and Daughters of Men and make them willing in this thy Day to embrace the Appearance of the Dear Son of thy Love in the shinings of his Light and Grace and Truth in their Hearts that they may be Sanctified and Purified and made