the unity of this faith and knowledge and the neglecting of this is the frustrating of the whole work of the Ministery for let us preach never so many Sermons to the People our labour is but lost as long as the foundation is uâ—laid and the first principles untaught upon which all other Doctrine must be builded Thus far the worthy Bishop in his Sermon before King James at Wansted 7. Often remembring and real renewing our Covenant with God whenever the Holy Sacraments are administred Baptism is but to be administred once but we are solemnly and frequently to remember and make use of our Baptismal Covenant upon all occasions especially in avoiding all occasions and temptations and motions to sin within or without in time of tribulation and desertion and at the point of death we are buried with Christ in Baptism wherein also we are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God that so many of us as are bâ—ptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into his death therefore are we buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life By Baptism we are planted together in the likeness of his Death and also in the likeness of his Resurrection that our old man might be crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Covenant making and Covenant keeping is the sum of our Religion We are sworn in our Baptism to believe all the Articles of our Christian Creed and to live by faith to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless to pray according to the Lords Prayer without ceasing for Grace that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we may live soberly righteously and godly in this present World that so with comfort we may look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and as we have sworn so we are to perform it even in keeping all the righteous Judgments of the Lord so also the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper which if there be opportunity should often be received by us wherein we shew forth the death of Christ till he come is another excellent means appointed by God both to convey and assure to us the Kingdom of God as also to strengthen and confirm us in the Grace we have received that we draw not back to perdition but going from faith to faith from one degree of Grace unto another we may receive the end of our faith the salvation of our Souls Let us shew the Lords death till he come by often eating this Bread and drinking this Cup but let us examine our selves lest eating and drinking unworthily we be found guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and so eat and drink damnation to our selves III. All the Graces of the Holy Spirit must be had and exercised we must go to the God of all Grace for every Grace he will give Grace and Glory first Grace then Glory It is through Grace we have good hope the Grace of Regeneration according to his mercy he saveth us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he sheds on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour that being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life there is no hope of eternal life without Grace It cannot be expected I should discourse of all the Graces these may suffice 1. The first Grace we are to labour for is Humility by which we come to know our vileness and unworthiness that we are no better than wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked and have need of every thing and yet deserve nothing that we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God The way to be rich in Grace is to be poor in Spirit God will give Grace to the humble the more humble the more holy Saint Paul the chiefest of sinners less than the least of all Saints in his own account yet not a whit behind the very chiefest of the Apostles in Grace and Gifts labouring more abundantly than they all yet not I saith he but the Grace of God which was with me Be cloathed with humility walk humbly with God humble your selves under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time God will save the humble person 2. Acquaint your selves with God know the God of your Fathers This is life eternal to know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent the principal part of the image of God is the knowledge of him If you would have his mercy and his favor you must have understanding for to a people of no understanding he that made them will not save them and he that formed them will shew them no favor they who like not to retain God in their knowledge are not like to go to Heaven that the Soul be without knowledge it is not good the Soul cannot be good without knowledge it is the image of God which makes the Soul good The new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness is renewed in knowledge we escape the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Grace also and Peace are multiplied unto us through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord yea all things that pertain unto life and godliness are given unto us through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue Therefore if you determine to go to Heaven determine not to know any thing so much as Jesus Christ and him Crucified Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get Wisdom and with all thy getting get Understanding get Wisdom get Understanding â—orget it not embrace her and she shall bring thee to Honour and Heaven She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every one that retaineth her 3. Repent and believe the Gospel I put them together for brevity sake as I find them Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus are our very entrance into the Kingdom of God True Repentance which elsewhere I have described at large le ts the Kingdom of Sin and Satan out of the heart that Faith unfeigned may receive Christ and his Kingdom into it Repentance is a turning from Sin and Satan and the World and Faith is a coming to God by Christ a choosing and closing with him as our Lord and Saviour a receiving of his Fulness and Grace for Grace that we may glorifie God and be glorified with him in our Bodies Souls and Spirits which are Gods Seek first the Kingdom of God in a way of repenting and believing and you are sure to find it 4. The fear of God especially for
THE Kingdom OF GOD Opened and Proved To be a Kingdom of Grace and Glory the one Thing necessary for all and the Saints everlasting Happiness A Discovery of the Subjects of it by their Qualification and Conversation Scriptural Evidences for every one to try his Eternal state by with Motives and Means for getting and keeping a comfortable assurance of this heavenly Kingdom By Tobias Ellys Minister of the Gospel Imprimatur Gulielmus Sill Aug. 11. 1677. Printed by T. N. for H. Mortlock at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard and at the White Hart in Westminster-Hall 1678. To His Most Excellent and Sacred Majesty Charles II. BY THE Gracious Providence of GOD King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Grace and Glory Great Sir THE Kingdom of God the Subject of these ensuing Meditations I humbly crave leave to present to Your Majesties Acceptance Perusal and Consideration as containing matter of the greatest weight and worth to Your Self and to Your Three Kingdoms my unfeigned hearty desire confidence and comfort concerning You is that You will pursue to Your utmost Power this great Command Counsel and Proclamation of Your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness And that by Your Example Command Counsel and Proclamation 〈…〉 also endeavor that all under Your Care and Charge may do in like manner it being the great end of our coming into the World living in it and dying out of it next to the Glory of God to enjoy a better namely this Kingdom of God For which end and purpose our Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks are made to Almighty God for You and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the Truth which if You and those in eminent place under You may be instrumental of how greatly will it add to Your Crown and Joy For what is Your Hope or Joy or Crown of Glorying and Rejoycing are not even we Your Subjects in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe because that Your Command Counsel Proclamation Example and Charge to every one of us as a Father to his Children to walk worthy of God who hath called us to this Kingdom and Glory was believed obeyed and followed in that day Wherefore also we pray alwayes for You and for all that are in Authority both Ecclesiastical and Civil that God would count and vouchsafe both You and us worthy of this Calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his Goodness and the work of Faith with power that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in You and we in Him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ in whom I am and ever shall be Your most Humble and Loyal Subject and Servant In all Faithfulness TOBIAS ELLYS Kensinton Nov. 21. 1677. S. Matth. vj. xxxiij But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you SO fearful and fatal was the first sin of our first Parents to themselves and their Posterity who sinned in them that we are all come short thereby of the glory of God and our estate is now both sinful and miserable the knowledge and consideration whereof should incite every one to the most serious and vigorous desires care and endeavors how he may speedily extricate himself out of so deplorable a condition By our wilful sin we are fallen from God grace and glory unto the Creature under sin and Satan's power and being the children of disobedience we are also the children of the devil and the children of wrath But God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life He hath also raised up his Son Jesus and sent him to bless us in turning away ever one of us from our iniquities by giving himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world He also himself took flesh and bloud that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil Even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Because he would have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth And therefore in pursuance of his gracious design of saving Mankind he hath here in my Text issued out his Royal Counsel Command and Proclamation But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you In which words there are two general Parts 1 A Precept in these words But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness 2 A Promise in those and all these things shall be added unto you In the Precept consider the word of Opposition But the Act seek the Persons ye the Objects with their emphaticâ—l Adjuncts and Particles the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness In the Promise we have the Copulative and the matter of the Promise all things the manner of Conveyance with its certainty shall be added the Persons to whom the Promise is made to you For Explication seek i. e. with desire accordinâ—ly do with your might This word implies necessiâ—y misery mercy duty dignity diligence delight difficulty possiblity probability care fear fidelity fervency constancy which were easie to demonstrate had I time Ye not onely of little faith ver 30. especially but this great multitude c. and who ever else will c. First above before all other things chiefly early earnesty The Kingdom a word of large extent and signification which here at large I may not open By Kingdom is meant both Grace Rom. 14.17 the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost And glory 1 Thess 2 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and glory Of God as the Author Giver Conserver and Confirmer of it And his Righteousness By Righteousness is meant Christ himself This is his name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness Righteousness especially for our Justification Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Righteousness So he is by virtue of the personal perfect and perpetual holiness of his Nature together with his active and passive Obedience the matter and merit of our Justification through faith reckoned and imputed And Sanctification passive and active Whereby by the Divine power we are made partakers of the Divine Nature and thereby enabled to die unto sin and
altogether earthly things fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred or been seduced from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows and turn thereby enemies to the cross of Christ which should be their glory whereby the world should be crucifi'd to them and they unto the world whose end is to be drowned in destruction and perdition Yet are there some of the mind of the Spirit that godliness with contentment is great gain and therefore having food and raiment their conversation being in heaven are without covetousness content with such things as they have knowing they brought nothing into this world and it is certain they can carry nothing out who in respect of want have learned whatsoever state they are in therewith to be content Knowing how to be abased and how to abound every where and in all things instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need careful for nothing in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving making their requests known unto God their heavenly Father who knoweth that they have need of all these things namely food and raiment and therefore take no thought what to eat or drink or wherewithall to be clothed for he that feeds the fowls will much more feed them and arrays the Lilies of the field and clothes the grass will much more array if need be however cloath the little in faith And this should silence all our doubts cares and fears as to our protection and provision for this life that if God hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things While worldlings are cumbred with many things and troubled about much serving the minds of heavenly believers are taken up with the one thing necessary One thing they desire of the Lord which they seek after that they may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of their life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple where every one speaks of his glory even his kingdom of grace and glory They long for and think long till the time that all speâ—k the same thing and that there be no division among us through diversity of judgment one of Paul another of Apollos and I of Cephas and I of Christ as if Christ were divided the Language of such as are Carnal but that we be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment that being like minded one towards another after the example of Christ Jesus we may with one Mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to the fulfilling of our mutual Joy and the Joy of our Lord when we are like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind that being knit together in love the way to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ for as many as be perfect be thus minded whereto they have already attained to walk by the same rule to mind the same things and if in any thing any of them be otherwise minded to wait in brotherly loving Union and Communion with each other till God reveal even the truth to them as it is in Christ Jesus Let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus that nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves not judging one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fâ—ll in his brothers way Let us rather follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edifie another with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace for he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men for there is but one Body and one Spirit even as we are called in one hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith one Doctrine of Faith one Grace of Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all Christs Prayer was for our prâ—ctise herein four times in his last Prayer he prays his Father that Believers may be one upon this account that the World may believe and know that the Father hath sent him and the glory that his Father gave him he hath given them that they may be one that they may be perfâ—ct that the World may know that I have loved them as thou hast loved me Behold then how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity the blessing of life temporal spiritual and eternal is the fruit of it What Man is he that desireth life and loveth many dayes that he may see good let him seek the peace of unity and pursue it and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace where ever it is the Lord will command the blessing even life for evermore The Kingdom of Grace and Glory is a Kingdom of Peace also Peace as it is a Grace is part of this Kingdom as it is a Blessing the Lord will bless his People with Peace so it is the Priviledge of this Kingdom the beauty and strength of it It must needs be a peaceable Kingdom when the founder of it is the God of Peace the King of it a Prince of Peace the Gospel of the Kingdom a Gospel of Peace the Preachers of it Ministers of Peace the Subjects of it the Children of Peace the Laws of it Counsels of Peace the Senators of it Counsellors of Peace Indeed in this Kingdom there is some noise of weapons for the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit agâ—inst the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that we cannot do â—he things that we would no Peace without this war between Saints and Satan and Sinners the Flesh and the World Your Adversary the Devil a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Saints have a Law in their members warring against the law of their mind and bringing them into captivity to the law of sin which is in their members and he that is born after the flesh persecuteth him that is born after the spirit all that is in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life must be overcome The good fight of Faith must be fought against the Devil whom resist stedfast in the faith against the World for this is the Victory that â—vercometh the World even our Faith against the flesh mortifie the deeds of the Body through the spirit mortifie
therefore your members purifying our hearts by Faith a Faith that worketh by love and worketh love in their souls who obey the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love not only of Brethren but Enemies so that they can love them with pure hearts fervently That we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil we wrestle not only against flesh and blood but against Principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high plâ—ces we must take unto our selves the whole armour of God having our loynes girt about with truth and having on the brest-plate of righteousness and our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace above all taking the shield of Faith wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and Hope the Helmet of Salvation the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching â—hereunto with all perseverance whereby we shall be more than Conquerors through him that loved us nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ not Tribulation though we must through much Tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers â—or things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord So that in this warfare though the way be not Peace yet the end of it is Peace it yieldeth the Peaceable Fruit of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby even that Peace which passeth all understanding and Joy which is unspeakable and full of glory The Kingdom of God whether the Kingdom of Satan will or no will be the kingdom of Righteousness of Peace and of Joy in the Holy Ghost to the seekers of it the fighters for it the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force By Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ we enter into the kingdom of God and this Kingdom of God enters into us by Repentance towards God we are delivered from the power of darkness by Faith we are traâ—slâ—ted into the kingdom of his dear Son Repentance turns Sin Satan and the World out â—f the heart that Faith may let Christ into it the voice of Faith is Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors that the King of Glory may come in Who is this King of Glory Christ who dwelleth in the heart by Faith and where Christ is he hath his kingdom of Grace As many as receive him or that believe on his Name of his fulness receive Grace for Grace Christ and his Grace are inseparable he that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life our life is hid with Christ in God Christ is Gods first and greatest Gift himself tells us he is the Gift of God given to the World of Mankind before the foundation of the World in Gods everlasting Decree and with in and through him hath given all things pertaining to Life and Godliness even from the first Grace of Election to the last Gift of Eternal Life Election According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World Acceptation of our persons according to the good pleasure of his will he hath made us accepted in the Beloved Creation To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Redemption In him we have Redemption through his Blood according to the riches of his Grace A General Redemption we thus judge That if one died for all then were all dead dead in sins and trespasses dead in Law and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them by the Grace of God he tasted death for every man Regeneration The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature all things are past away behold all things are become new Justification By the offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life in whom we have the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of his Grace that they may receive forgiveness of sins by Faith that is in me saith Christ Reconciliation Being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ the Peace of Reconciliation God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself and Christ in his Ministers beseeching us to be reconciled unto God We who sometimes were far off are in Christ Jesus made nigh by his Blood for he is our Peace that he might Reconcile us unto God in one Body by the Cross having slâ—in the enmity thereby and made both one having broken down the Middle-Wall of Partition between us abolishing in his flâ—sh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinancâ—s for to make in himself of twain one New Man so making Peace Having thus made Peace by the Blood of his Cross God by him Reconciles all things unto himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven and we that were sometime alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death The Favour of God In whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace of Favour wherein we stand an unconceivable unspeakable mercy Jesus was in favour with God to bring us into favour with God whoso findeth Christ findeth Life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. In this Favour is our Life this Loving kindness is better thâ—n our Life next to the Glory of God I know nothing in comparison or competition to be minded regâ—rded sought made sure of and prized but having keeping and increasing in the favour of God It was the happiness of Christ as Man here on Earth to increase in favour with God David entreated this favour with his whole heart I know no chief good besides God and his favour the whole Benefits and Comforts of our Election Creation Redemption Regeneration Justification Reconciliation Adoption Sanctification and Glorification are summed up in Gods Face Countenance and Favour towards us in Christ Adoption The Son of God was made the Son of Man that we who are the Sons of Men might be made the Sons of God by Adoption when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth
dust and ashes It is a bemoaning of our selves that we have been unaccustomed to the yoke of obedience both active and pâ—ssive a following hard after an Incensed God by our Transgressions with strong cries sighs groans a smiting upon the thigh being ashamed yea even confounded that we have sinned an accepting of the punishment of our Iniquities and weeping between the Porch and the Altar an attentive and intentive hearkning to the Call of God O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast faln by thine iniquity with an eccho Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned for thou art the Lord our God spare thy people take away our Iniquity receive us graciously so will we render the Calves of our lips This is after a godly manner to sorrow unto Repentance for godly sorrow worketh Repentance to â—alvation not to be repented of This sorrowing after a godly sort worketh Carefulness in us yea clearing of our selves indignation fear vehement desire zeal revenge in all things to approve our selves to be clear in the matter of sin that we sin no more lest a worse thing come unto us The times of former Ignoraâ—ce God wiâ—ked at but now Commandeth all Men every where to repent The Kingdom of Grace is at hand repent to get into it repent to keep in it repent to get out of it into a Kingdom of Glory repent or perish repent and be saved repent and believe the Gospel for the Kingdom of God is at hand He that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned There is no entering into or abiding in this Kingdom of God but by a Living Faith in God and in his Son Jesus Christ Ye believe in God believe also in me As Christ is the Author of our â—alvation so he is also the Author and Finisher of our Faith No entring into the Kingdom of glory without it for we are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation As many as are ordained to eternal life are ordained to believe God hath from the beginning chosen us to Salvation through belief of the truth that so Christ might dwell in our hearts by Faith which is the Bond of our Union with him Christ Prayes for them which shall believe on him that all may be one in us by vertue of this Union through Faith are we born from above Whosoever Believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God as many as received him even to them that believe on his name were born not of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God We are Justified and Reconciled to God by Faith being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and trusting or believing in Christ we are made accepted in the Beloved in whom we have Redemption through Faith in his Blood the Forgiveness of Sins Adoption into the number and priviledge of God's children As many as received him to them gave he power right or priviledge to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name We are also sanctified by Faith that is in Christ God now puts no difference between Jew and Gentile purifying their hearts by Faith God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Now this saving Grace of Faith is the Almighty Work of the Spirit of God whereby with the heart we believe all that God hath spoken because he hath spoken it It is a believing this faithful saying and accounting of it worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners It is a believing the record that God gave of his Son and this is the record That God hath given to us Eternal Life and this life is in his Son This is he that came by Water and Blood even Jesus Christ not by Water only but Water and Blood and the rather are we to believe for there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one And there are three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one if we receive the witness of Men the witness of God is greater for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son I say it is a believing that all things are or must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms and in the Gospel concerning Christ and his Kingdom not because of Mens saying or Testimony only but purely upon the bare Word of God and his Son and his Spirit for in the mouth of these three Witnesses every Word of God in the Holy Scriptures is establisht It is a confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believing with the heart that God hath raised him from the Dead It is an humble and thankful hearty receiving or accepting of Christ for Lord and Saviour and trusting in his Allsufficiency as our one and only Mediatour through the vertue value and power of his Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal Offices to bring us through all hazards and difficulties in a way of Grace to Glory in season and safely He that thus believeth and continueth to live by Faith hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life This Faith by the Holy Ghost which is given to believers worketh Love and worketh by Love The Love of God is shed abroad in the hearts of true Believers by the Holy Spirit by knowing and believing the Love that God hath to us we come to love God Who can know and believe heartily that God is Love and not love him God is Love in this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins we love him because he first thus loved us All God's graces together constitute this Kingdom of grace but Love is the life and soul of it even Gods love to us and our love to him and our love to each other he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him There is a threefold love between God and the godly a love of Union a love of Communion and Complacency and a love of Benevolence or Communication 1. Like as was between David and Jonathan the Soul of Jonathan was knit with the Soul of David Jonathan loved him as his own Soul Jonathan delighted much in David then Jonathan and David made a Covenant because he loved him as his own Soul and Jonathan stript
Brethren he that loveth not his Brother abideth in death Spiritual Love amongst Brethren is an evidence of Spiritual Life as soon as we begin to Love we then begin to Live Such a love as was between David and Jonathan which was a Love of Union Complacency and Benevolence must be between all true Christians So it was in the Primitive times notwithstanding their diversities of Judgments in smaller matters the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own but they had all things common in Charity neither was there any among them that lacked for as many as were Possessors of Lands or Houses sold them and brought the Prises of the things that were sold and laid them down at the Apostles feet and distribution was made unto every Man according as he had need Were all our Doubtful Disputations laid aside and nothing but Faith and Faithfulness the Truth without Controversie Love without Dissimulation and Righteousness professed and practised amongst us nay were but this one grace and duty of Charity without which we are nothing truly Known Believed and fervently Exercised in the midst of us How soon might we all meet together in the Primitive Pattern and Practise if most of our Praying Preaching and Practising were of â—ods Charity towards the World and our Charity each to other the Love of God would be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost that as touching Brotherly Love we our selves should be taught of God to love one another God who is love and the Love of God towards us well known would certainly beget Christian Love and Chaâ—ity These words of God deserve to be written in Characters of gold upon the posts of our Houses and on our Gates Oh that they were written upon the Tables of our hearts Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another No man hath seen God at any time if we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us Behold here the great Argument breeding and augmenting love in and among Christians by profession God is love known to be so in giving and sending his only begotten Son into the World This Charity of God to us is the Soul of our Souls Charity is the Soul of our Religion not Bodily only for though we bestow all our goods to feed the Poor and give our Bodies to be burned and have not Charity it profiteth nothing The true Charity the Chariâ—y that suffereth long and is kind that envieth not that vaunteth not it self or is not rash that is not puffed up that behaveth not it self unseemly that seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh not evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things that never faileth this Charity not in word and in tongue but in deed and in truth for the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power would make these Kingdoms holy and happy Every grace of God is good great lovely and precious of infinite necessity As Faith Hope Meekness Temperance Patience c. but the greatest of these is Charity in sincerity Above all things we should have fervent Charity among our selves for Charity covereth a multitude of Sins and Love covereth all Sins saith Solomon All dilâ—gence must be given to add to our Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly Kindness Charity Charity is the Bond of Perfectness We are bid above all things by St. Paul and St. Peter to put on Charity to follow Charity to be found in Charity to have fervent Charity to be examples in Charity Charity is the fulfilling of the Law both Moral and Evangelical it is the end of the Commandment yea of the whole Word of God Threatning Promising and Commanding all is but to bring back our Hearts and Lives to the Love of God and one another Oh if the Charity of every one of us all towards each other abounded but exceedingly What cause of Thanksgivings to God would this occasion to the Godly or Charitable There could not possibly be any want in these Kingdoms if there were no want of Charity Charity is all for doing good both to all Souls and Bodies of what quality rank and degree soever to high and low rich and poor together Charity is full of Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks for all men for Kings and for all that are in Authority or eminent place that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth By Charity God will every body should have food and raiment and every Soul its portion in due season Charity would have every Bishop and Minister as it were another Christ for going about doing good and Preaching this Kingdom of God and his Righteousness or another Paul who counted not his life dear unto himself so that he might finish his course with Joy and the Ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God Preaching the Kingdom of God not shunning to declare unto them all the counsel of God that he might be pure from the blood of all men charging also other Gospel Ministers to take heed unto themselves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers to feed the Church of God which he purchased with his own Blood setting them in himself an Example of unwearied diligence in Watching Fasting Praying Preaching not ceasing to warn every one night and day with Tears Serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations not keeping back any thing that was profitable unto them but shewed and taught them publickly and from house to house besides ministring unto his own necessities with his own hands and to them that were with him If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of daily Food Charity saith not Depart in peace be you warmed and filled but giveth them those things which are needful to the Body What is Charity but a
is our portion for ever All true believers must enter into the Joy of their Lord whâ—ch is so great and glorious that it cannot enter into them Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of Man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit here but will reveale them in us hereafter Which made S. Paul to reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us And therefore though now for a season if need be the people of God are in heaviness through manifold temptations yet they greatly rejoyce and Joy in the God of their Salvation This is their time to weep lament and be sorrowful while the men of the World rejoyce but their sorrow shall be turned into Joy and Worldings Joy into weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever The weeping of the godly may endure for a night but Joy cometh in the morning for a short night of sorrow they shall have an everlasting day of Joy as a Woman when she is in travel hath sorrow because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of the Child she remembreth no more the anguish for Joy that a Man is born into the World In like manner those little children of whom the faithful Ministers of Christ travel in birth with until Christ be formed in them What is their hope or Joy or Crown of Rejoycing but their New-born Babes through their Ministery come unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature or age of the fulness of Christ these are their glory and joy in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming when they shall be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding Joy for when Christ who is their life shall appear then shâ—ll they also appear with him in glory and though in these last dayes there are Scoffers walking after their own lusts saying Where is the promise of Christs coming yet such as are born from above believe and wait for the promise of his coming because he hath said I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you The end of all things spoken by Christ in his Word is that his joy might remain in them and that their joy may be full The end of their fellowship and communion with Christ and one another is that their Joy may be full even here upon Earth Whatsoever you shall ask the Father saith he in my name he will give it you hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name ask and ye shall receive that your Joy may be full That eternal life namely Jesus Christ which was with the Father and was manifested from the beginning which the Primitive Christians heard and saw with their eyes which they looked upon and their hands handled for this Life was manifested and they declared it that they might have fellowship one with another and truly their fellowship was with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ came into the World and lived in it to the end their Joy might be full If there be such a fulness of Joy in the Kingdom of grace What a fullness of Joy will there be in the Kingdom of glory But the triumphing of the Wicked is short and the Joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment at the longest his hopes and his joyes at death will give up their Ghost together while the righteous have hope in their death that will not leave them ashamed and the upright shall dwell in the presence of God where they shall shout aloud for joy he shall guide them with his eye and counsel unto death and afterwards receive them to glory and so shall they ever be with the Lord in whose presence there is fullness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore unto which happy state and place the good Lord bring the King and his Kingdoms Amen The Kingdom of God as it is a Kingdom of grace so also a Kingdom of glory A glorious Kingdom is the Kingdom of God infinitely transcending all the glory of all the Kingdoms of this World The tongues of Angels and the tongues of Men cannot sufficiently express or their understandings conceive the glory of this Kingdom of glory Since the beginning of the World Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him O how great is that goodness which he hath laid up for them that fear him which he hath wrought for them that trust in him before the Sons of Men O could we see and hear and taste as the Queen of Sheba did Solomon's the Wisdom of God the House namely the third heaven he hath built the Meat of his Table and the sitting of his Servants and the attendance of his Ministers and their Apparel their Words Works and Wages their Acclamations and shoutings with Joy there would be no more spirit in us than was in her The one half of the greatness of his Wisdom and of the greatness of this goodness cannot be told us it infinitely exceedeth all the fame of report happy are those Men happy are those Servants which stand continually before this God to hear and see and enjoy this his Wisdom and Goodness happy are the People in the account of the World that enjoy the honors and pleasures and riches of this World but in reality happy are they who have God for their God If St. Paul who was caught up into Pâ—radise heard unspeakable words which was not lawful or possible for a Man to utter Who am I that darkneth this Kingdom of Glory by words without knowledge who is able to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of it which passeth knowledge This Kingdom is made up all of glory the three glorious persons namely God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are the glory in it and of it there dwells the God of glory the Lord of glory the Spirit of glory This Kingdom of glory is not Gods glory God is the glory of this kingdom of glory There is one glory of the Sun and another glory of the Moon and another glory of the Stars these derive their glory from the Sun there is one glory of the Sun of righteousness another glory of the Angels another glory of the Saints these also receive their glory from the glorious Sun of Righteousness there are Angels of glory Saints Vessels of glory Thrones of glory Crowns of glory no persons no manner of things to render this Kingdom of God inglorious God hath no pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with him the foolish shall not stand in his sight he hateth all workers of iniquity There shall in no wise enter into it any thing
Communication The glory which the Father gave unto Christ he hath given to Christians that they may be one in glory even as the Father and the Son are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one A Mystery that cannot be seen otherwise than by the light of glory From this most intimate union there doth arise such a Communion between Father Son and the Holy Ghost and the Triumphant Christian Church as will yield infinite and uninterrupted satisfaction much of this Communion will be a mutual Commendation Behold thou art fair my Beloved behold thou art fair behold thou art fair my Love yea pleasant thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee saith Christ of his Church Militant When Christ presents to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish there will be no want of expressions for commendation of her nor will the Triumphant Church want triumphing matter and words to set forth the Praises of her altogether Lovely and dearly Beloved Head and Husband when he comes to be glorified in his Saints he will be admired in and by all them that believe then will the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in us and we in him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus he will rejoyce over us with Joy he will rest in his Love he will joy over us with singing when his Glory shall be revealed that we may be glad also with exceeding Joy When Solomon was anointed King the People rejoyced with great Joy so that the Earth rent with the sound of them When Saints are Anointed Kings by the King of Kings What shouting for Joy then will there be in Heaven There is Joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth When all Sinners by Repentance have commenced Saints in Glory then not only the Angels of God but the God of Angels will rejoyce over them with Joy unconceivable and full of Glory Then will God supply all their needs according to his riches in Glory by Jesus Christ the riches of the glory of the Mysteries of Christ which now are unsearchable will then be laid open The Lord shall open unto his Heavenly Family his good Treasure where every one shall have full and free liberty to take his everlasting portion of glory not for himself only but for the Community the glorified have a partnership in each others happiness Every one in Heaven hath a full view of a share in and a right unto the glory of every blessed Angel and Saint which greatly adds to their glory therefore it is such a weight of glory In the Primitive Church they had all things common neither was there any among them that lacked 〈◊〉 the Church Triumphant where there is perfect Charity all things will be for ever common because they are of one heart and one Soul In this covetous World it is far otherwise every one stands much upon his own glory The Wise Man doth glory in his Wisdom the Mighty Man doth glory in his Might the Rich Man doth glory in his Riches but glorifieth not God with them in bâ—ing rich in good Works making others poor to make himself rich contrâ—ry to the Example and Prâ—â—â—ise of our L rd Jesus Christ that though he was Rich yet for our sakes he became poor that we through his Poverty might be Rich with the Riches of his Grace and the Riches of the glory of his Inheritance being heirs of that Kingdom which G d the â—ather in his everlasting Decree purposed to them We have obtained an Inheritance according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself being Predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the Counsel of his own Will and not only purposed but prepared for them from the Foundation of the World In my Fathers house saith Christ are many Mansions I go to prepare a place for you which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of Man the things which God hath prepared what God hath prepared Christ hath purchased Our Inheritance is the purchased possession We lost not only our selves but all our right to the Kingdom of Glory All have sinned and come short of the glory of God By the grace of Redemption our Lord Jesus Christ hath recovered this forfeited Glory That Kingdom and Glory which Christ hath purchased God hath promised to the Poor in this World whom God hath chosen rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him and because he is faithful that promised this Kingdom is preserved which is an Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled and that sadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them who are the called according to his purpose even the purpose of God according to Election not of Works but of him that calleth for as there is a Kingdom purposed so are there persons that are purposed to this Kingdom and prepared to it that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of Mercy which he hath afore prepared unto Glory even a pecu iar or purchased People the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood for we were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ that we might be the heirs of the Promise of the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation for as there is an Inheritance in Heaven reserved for all that are called according to purpose prepared purchased and Children of the Promise and if Children then Heirs and Joynt-heirs with Christ in his Kingdom of Glory so these are kept by him that is able from falling and presented faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy These are the persons unto whom it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God and to enjoy the Mercies Graces Comforts and the glorious Priviledges thereof both for time and eternity Thus have I through the gracious assistance of Gods Holy Spirit in some measure opened the Mysteries and Treasures of the Kingdom of God which as it is a Kingdom of Grace so also a Kingdom of Glory having finished the Doctrinal part the Application followeth 1. For Information of the Necessity Excellency and Utility of the Christian Religion There is an absolute and infinite necessity that every one should profess and practise the true Religion in the Doctrine and Duties of it which are according unto Godliness for the attainment of Grace and Glory which in conjunction with the Glory of God is the one thing necessary Such a thing there is as Pure Religion and undefiled whereby we bind our selves in a Solemn Covenant to be what God would have us to
be and to do what God would have us to do upon which our endless state depends and therefore to be really Religious which is a living to God is no indifferent thing because the invisible things of eternity which Religion is concerned â—bout are the greatest realities and of the greatest moment to every Immortal Soul which is capable of being unspeakably happy or miserable in Heaven or Hell through all Eternity God and Christ and Grace and Glory must be had there is no living or dying in Peace without them Behold now is the accepted time to accept them and to be accepted Behold now is the day of Salvation which if it be neglected an eternal night of Damnation followeth There is also an excellency in Religion which appears in being conversant about matters of such transcendent worth and weight as namely the glorifying of God in wayes of Grace and Glory upon this account therefore it is the Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbor Religion is for Godliness which is profitable to all persons and things having promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come Happy is the Man that in the way of Religion getteth Godliness for the Merchandise of it is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the Gain thereof than fine Gold she is more precious than Rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Length of dayes is in her Right hand and in her Left hand Riches and Honor her wayes are wayes of pleasantness and all her paths are peace 2. This Doctrine of the Kingdom of Grace and Glory speaks doleful and dreadful Tidings to the wicked and ungodly The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God No Whoremonger nor Unclean Person nor Covetous Man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Let no Man therefore deceive himself with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience the loss of this Kingdom will be more intollerable to the Wicked than the enduring of the eternal torments of Hell because the loss is infinite God is lost and the Eternal weight of Glory is lost The pains of Hell are after a sort finite though infinite in duration and between finite misery and infinite glory there is an infinite inequality 3. If there be a Kingdom of Grace and Glory Are not they then besides themselves that think and say That a holy diligence and strictness in Religion and the Duties thereof in order to its attainment is more ado then needs that practically say It is vain to serve God and What profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance and Behold What a weariness c. When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him and shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory and shall gather before him all Nations and shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the â—oats and shall set the Sheep on his Right hand but the Goats in the Left when the King shall say unto them on his Right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World When he shall say also unto them on his Left hand Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe when Christ shall reckon with his Servants about the improvement of their time and talents for we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad and shall say Well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord and when he shall say to him that received one Talent and hid it in the earth Take the Talent from him and cast ye that wicked slothful and unprofitable Servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth then will the holy diligence of the Saints and Servants of the Lord be justified and the minds of them that judged diligent Godliness to be more ado than needed will be otherwise minded and wish too late they had been wise and faithful that by their Lord at his coming they might have been found so doing as those that were faithful unto death and receive the Crown of Life 4. That there is a Kingdom of Grace and Glory speaks the dignity and happiness of the Saints Let their condition in this World as to the things of the World be never so bad be they poor and persecuted having nothing they possess all things things Temporal Spiritual and Eternal are their right all things are yours saith the Apostle Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all are yours and the reason is because Christ is yours he that hath Christ hath all things He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all How shall he not with him also freely give us all things They who have a true interest in God and Christ and Grace and Glory cannot want for real Treasures Honors and Pleasures either in this or the better World 5. That there is a Kingdom of Grace and Glory speaks also the great love of God wherewith he hath loved us and the exceeding riches of his Grace That God of his free Mercy towards us in Christ Jesus should take any of us out of the state of Nature Sin and Misery to reinstate us into his Grace and Favour That from the presence of his Grace he might translate us into the presence and Kingdom of his Glory What manner of love hath God the Father bestowed upon us God so loved the World that he sent his only begotten Son into iâ— that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life this is love passing knowledge 2. The second Use is for trial and examination of our selves as to our right and title to glory The last Article in our Christian belief is the Life everlasting which every one will say he believes That there is a Kingdom of Glory is without controversie The great Question is To whom this Kingdom of Glory belongs I have before proved by Scripture That there is a purposed prepared purchased promised and preserved Kingdom of Glory and that there are certain persons
them depart in peace be you warmed aâ—d filled notwithstanding ye give not them those things which are needful to the body Doth such a one love or hate his Brother Is he not in darkness and walketh in darkness unto outer darkness if he that hateth his Brother say I love God he is a liar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen How can he love God whom he hath not seen There is a wide difference between the godly and ungodly's sinning It is too true that both of them sin The godly Mans purpose promise and practise is habitually and ordinarily against all sin The wicked Mans Trade Custom Conscience Work and Way is sin he is known to be wicked by being a worker of Iniquity he lives in sin in a state of sin in the practise both of sins of Omission and Commission which they who are Godly doe not dare not do they also do no Iniquity the transgression of the wicked saith That there is no fear of God before his eyes they that fear not God fear not to sin by the fear of the Lord Men depart from evil The fear of the Lord is to hate evil The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself to stand in awe that he sin not Every godly man is negatively and positively holy in heart speech and behaviour His Prayer is his Practise Incline not my heart to any evil thing to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity I have inclined mine heart to perform thy Statutes alway even unto the end No corrupt communication proceedeth out of his Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying he speaketh the truth in his heart his speech is alwayes with grace seasoned with salt sound that cannot be condemned The mouth of the Righteous speaketh Wisdom his Tongue talketh of Judgment his Tongue is his glory so called in Scripture and used only for Gods Glory with it he Prayes to and Praises God The high Praises of God is in his mouth Prayer and Praise with heart and voice is a good Mans daily practice He walks uprightly that is he walks not after the Flesh in the lust of Concupiscence he makes he takes no provision for the flesh to satisfie it in the lusts thereof In rioting and drunkenness in chambering and wantonness in strife and envying all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking he puts away from him with all malice yea all that is in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of heart and life Whatever else God forbids he forsakes he avoids and hates every false way and work he approves himself to be a Citizen of Zion for he backbiteth not with his Tongue nor doth evil to his Neighbor nor taketh up receiveth or endureth a reproach against his Neighbors that Sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not that putteth not his Mony to Usury nor taketh reward against the Innocent As he walks not after the Flesh so he walks after the Spirit because he lives in the spirit and also walks in the spirit which is a walking in wisdom or in the light a walking in faith and love and truth after Gods Commandments for this is love that we walk after his Commandments Moral and Evangelical the rule of our life for as many as walk according to this Ruâ—e Peace be on them and Mercy and upon the Israel of God What God and his Commandments are to us that are we to be unto him and them God is holy just and good all his Commandments are holy just and good such are we to be before God and the World holy just and good in our dispositions communications and conversâ—tions This was St. Paul his Prayer for his Thessalonians The very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ This is the will of God even our Sanctification in our Bodies that we should abstain from fornication for which end every one should know how to possess his Vessel in sanctification and honor not in the lust of concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God for God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness because our bodies are the Members of Christ and the Temples of the Holy Ghost Shall we then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot God forbid Know ye not that he that is joyned to an Harlot is one Body and therefore the holy Apostle exhorts To flee Fornication and all youthful lusts for every sin that a Man doth is without the Body but he that committeth Fornication sinneth against his own Body and yet our Bodies are not our own to use them as we please because they are bought with a price and therefore we are to glorifie God in our Bodies as well as in our Spirits which are Gods by presenting them a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is our reasonable Service not conformed to this World in outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of Apparel but in behaviour as becometh holiness No sin is to reign in our Mortal Bodies that we should obey it in the lust thereof neither must we yield our Members as Instruments or Weapons of unrighteousness unto Sin but as Instruments of righteousness unto God as the Body must be holy throughout so must the Soul also in all the faculties and powers thereof Mind Will Memory Conscience and Affections be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind and put on the new Man which is renewed in knowledge that being transformed by the renewing of your mind ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God till ye be a willing people in the day of his power to be what he would have you to be to do what he would have you to do and to suffer what he would have you to suffer choosing the things that please him having a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly yea living in all good conscience which is to exercise our selves to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men their conscience also bearing them witness and when others accuse excusing for their rejoycing is this the Testimony of their Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God they have had their conversation in the World and having renounced the hidden things of dishonestâ— not walking in craftiness but by manifestation of the Truth of their profession by the holiness of their Conversâ—tion commend themselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God and their hearts being sprâ—nkled from an evil Conscience and purged from dead Works to serve the living God have the answer of good Conscience towards God which breeds peace of Conscience the Peace of God
so cloath the Grass of the Field Shall he not much more cloath you therefore take no thought saying What shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewithal shall we be clothed for after all these things do the Heathens seek but let Christians seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness even those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God and set their minds and affections on things above and not on things on the earth It is much below every Christian by profession only so to love the World as to seek the things that are in the World for all that is in the World the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the World and therefore if any Man love the world the love of the Father is not in him What Jâ—remiah said to Baruch I say to thee O Christian Seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not seekest thou the Pleasures of the World to satisfie the lust of thy Flesh seek them not the pleasures of sin are but for a season the displeasures of God against thee for thy sin are endless easeless merciless and remediless A lover of and a liver in pleasure can never be a lover of God nor God a lover of him nor can he ever be a liver with him while such She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth and damned when she dieth Becâ—use she lived in Pleasure on the Earth and waxed wanton and nourished her heart as in a day of slaughter receiving the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time How much she lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow will God give unto her Seekest thou the honors of the World Art thou ambitious to be some body in the World in Name or high Place of Preferment seek them not if thou be godly it is thy honor as truly as thy end to honor the Lord and them that honor me saith God I will honor If thou be'st wicked or a fool which is all one the Wise Solomon will tell thee Honor is not seemly for a fool To receive honor one of another and not to seek the honor that cometh from God only is the sin and dishonor which every unbeliever is guilty of and a great let and impediment in the duty of seeking first the Kingdom of God Seekest thou to be rich in this World labor not to be rich yet if Riches increase set not thine heart upon them Wilt thou set thine eyes and heart upon that which is not for Riches certainly make themselves wings they flie away as an Eagle toward Heaven But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts especially the lust of the pride of Life in putting on of Apparel whose adorning is that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of Gold in erecting and furnishing stately Buildings and pampering and pâ—easing the flesh which drown Men in destruction and perdition for the love of these things is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle than for such a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God What is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World with all its honors pleasures and riches and lose his own Soul and his portion of grace and glory or What shall a Man give or take in exchange for his Soul Is not the Redemption of the Soul precious It was not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious blood of Christ who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World God never intended the whole World to be the portion of every Man God only is Mans Portion and Man is Gods portion Why should any Man then wrong that noble part within him his Soul as to seek pursue and follow after such beggarly things as Riches and Honors and Pleasures and take up with them as his only hope and happiness which every wicked worldling doth the mean while neglecting and making light of the one thing necessary seeking to enjoy God and Christ and Grace and Glory in whom and from whom alone they may infallibly have the true durable unsearchable satisfying everlasting riches honors and pleasures Oh! did but the great ones of this World consider and know what deceitful baits snares and temptations these worldly dignities pleasures and treasures through Gods permissive Providence and Satans Subtilties prove to their lustful and deceitful hearts Would they so eagerly hunt after them and undo their Bodies and Souls in the pursuit of them True there is no evil in them but through an evil unbelieving heart there is much evil by them Search the Scriptures and see how many rich and honorable and pleasurable persons are gone or will go to Heaven not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called God that hath chosen the poor of this World rich in faith hath not chosen the rich in this World to be poor in faith There is a sore evil under the Sun namely Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Did the Rich in this World in Scripture called the Men of the World which have their portion in this life well consider how little their Riches will profit them in the day of wrath they would not be so high-minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the living God who giveth them richly all things to enjoy they would do good be rich in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate that they may lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal Life which is the worst I wish them and the best use they can put their uncertain riches unto Oh! How many are and will be undone for ever by a deceitful World a deceitful Devil and a deceitful heart from which I beseech the Lord to deliver our most Gracious Soveraign the King and his Kingdom that we may all as one Man with oneness and trueness of heart set our selves according to our Solemn Engagement in our Christian Covenant unfeignedly to renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil which must first be done before we can obey this Heavenly Counsel Command and Proclamation of our Lord Jesus Christ in seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness which let every one of us account it our greatest duty choicest work chiefest interest and highest dignity to be exercised therein let us as we have opportunity exhort one another daily while it is called to day least any of us be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin Satan and the World to make light
of our Lord and Saviour his Counsel Command and Proclamation but let it rather be a principal motive to us to make the Exhortation the more effectual since it is the Counsel of Christ the Wonderful Counsellor who saith Counsel is mine let us with all readiness and thankfulness accept and embrace it as being worthy of all acceptation for it is the Counsel of the most worthy Person most Wise and able to give the best Counsel a Person on purpose sent from God the Father his only begotten Son the second Person in the glorious Trinity made Man and now God-Man for ever in one Person named Jesus Christ he it is that hath given this excellent Counsel to the World namely to seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness which is not only his Counsel but Command for all Power is given unto him in Heaven and in Earth to Counsel and Command God the Father hath annointed him to be a Prophet a Priest and King so he was here on Earth and remains such in Heaven for ever A Prophet to give Counsel a King to Command that it be received and a Priest on our behalf to God the Father to make continual intercession for us that his Counsels and Commands may be effectual to us for our salvation and he is actually and effectually the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him in this Command that seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness A Command that can no wayes be thought grievous a gracious command indeed to seek a Kingdom not an Earthly but an Heavenly Kingdom the Kingdom of God Gods Kingdom a Kingdom all of Gâ—â—ce and Glory where he dwells in all his glory Whâ—t Prince that hâ—th many Kingdoms will Counsel and Command a Subject especially a Rebellious one to seek one of his Dominions but our gâ—â—cious Prince and Saviour doth Counsel and Command every one every where to seek the Kingdom of God by way of Proclamation Ho every one that haâ—h no Money come buy Grace and Glory without price Wherefore do you spend Money and Labour for that which satisfieth not Incline your ear and come unto me hear obey and your Soul shall live inviting all â—oâ—â—â—ly by Counsel Command and Poclamation but by Promise for their incouragement Ask and it shall be given you Seek and ye shall find Knock and it shall be opened unto you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened The experience of all that are in a state of Grace on Earth and in a state of Glory in Heaven that have not lost their labor in seeking should be a powerful motive to every one that is to seek and is at a loss for Grace and Glory to seek that he also may find for he that seeketh findeth even Eternal Life in the Promise which God that cannot lie hath promised before the World began and will be righteous in performing to all them who by Faith lay hold thereof for all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ are Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God The General Assembly in Heaven will give in this testimony There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord hath spoken unto us all came to pass whoever turns Gods Promises into Prayer God will for certain turn his Promises into Performances unto them Oh do not lose Grace and Glory for want of asking seeking and knocking Is the Lord God a Sun and Shield Will the Lord give Grace and Glory Will he withhold no good thing from them that seek him â—â—th he â—aâ—â— A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you I will take away the Stony heart out of youâ— flesh and I will give you an heart of Flesh I will put 〈◊〉 spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Staâ—â— and ye shall keâ—p my Judgment and do them yet wi◠〈◊〉 be enquired of you to do all this for you Is this all 〈◊〉 requires to be enquired of Is seeking the way to â—â—â—ing seek the Lord while he may be found Call upoâ— him while he is near the Lord is nigh mâ—â— all them tâ—â—t call upon him to all that call upon him in truth tâ—â— hand of God is upon all them for good that â—â—ek him God never said and never will say to any of the house of Jacob Seek my Face Favour Kingdom and Righteousness in vain But then we must seek this Kingdom of God and his Righteousness right It is not every seeking that will serve turn nor every seeker that findeth true it is that every wicked Man may and must seek first Gods Kingdom and Righteousness It is a Wicked Principle in them who affirm That a Wicked Man may not Pray Because he cannot Pray he may I hope Pray That he may Pray May he not desire Grace I am sure the desire of Grace is Grace in every one common grace at least which is to be Excited Exerted and Improved for special Grace the blessing of God can turn common grace into special to him that hath and improves it it shall be given the right seeking is with the whole heart then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and Pray unto me and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart God is for the whole heart My Son give me thine heart they only are blessed that seek him with the whole heart I entreated thy favour with my whole heart saith David The only way to get Mercy Grace and Glory from God is to entreat the Favour of God with the whole heart with the mind will and affections even all the powers of the Soul must be vigorously at work in this spiritual duty in seeking first the Kingdom of God The Members of the Body must be also Instruments herein the strength of the inward and outward Man is to be put forth our Natural strength our Spiritual strength all the power we have and can get from God We had need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and to Pray That he would grant us according to the Riches of his Glory even his glorious Power to be strengthened with all might by his Spirit in the inner-man since we wrestle not against flesh and blood only but against principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high places We have three potent enemies to out-wrestle the Flesh the World and the Devil all combined against us we have God to wrestle with by Prayer and all other holy means for the obtaining of Grace and Glory if we be not Conquerors through Christ strengthening us we lose not only the prize of an incorruptible Crown but by our unfaithfulness and cowardize bring upon our selves an infinite weight of Judgment It is he that
Christ Jesus as also Moses faithful in all his house and Abraham they are Stewards of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful to God himself and others for as every Man hath received the Gift even so Minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God In seeking the Kingdom of God before it can be attained there is much doing and suffering-work to be performed which requires much faithfulness he only is the wise and faithful Servant whom his Lord when he cometh to take an account of his Stewardship is found so doing as the Servant of Christ doing the Will of God from the heart not following that which is evil but that which is good He that doth good is of God but he that doth evil hath not seen God Hypocrites say but do not but a doer of the Work this Man shall be blessed in his deed or doing What St. John said of his Gaius beloved thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers ought to be verifyed of every one who seeks the Kingdom of God Seek faithfully do all that is to be done for the obtaining it by patient continuance in well-doing and faithful also in suffering for righteousness sake we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of Heaven think it not strange therefore concerning the fiery Trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you but rejoyce yea count it all joy when ye fall into divers Temptations inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding Joy for great is your reward in Heaven being heirs of God and joynt-heirs with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God in seeking the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator since God Father Son and Holy Ghost are faithful his Word faithful Ministers faithful for so we are to account them being the Ministers of Christ Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful Since it is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that there is a Kingdom of Grace and Glory whatever we do or suffer in order to the enjoying of it let it be done in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart So also diligently those things which are excellent are difficult and hard to come by such are Spiritual and Heavenly things namely Grace and Glory which are most excellent and therefore not so easily attained The great and difficult Work that lies upon our hands is the making our calling and election sure for this end every one hath or should have a particular and general calling to work in both to keep him from Idleness and to put him upon duty and diligence Each calling requires much labor and diligence It is the will of God that none should stand idle This is his Command That if any would not work neither should he eat It is not only the Character of a good Huswife but of a good Christian that she eateth not the bread of idleness It is not for Men and Women who have Souls to save or lose a Heaven or Hell to live in for ever to live a moment idle Time which is for Eternity is too precious a thing to be Idled away to be spent in any thing but diligent seeking the Kingdom of God What is the Proclamation of Jesus Christ but Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good There is Meat for them to eat even hidden Manna Angels food which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give unto them who labor for it with this Meat the Soul of the diligent shall be made fat there is nothing to be had but poverty without diligence He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand but the hand of the diligent with the blessing of the Lord maketh the godly so rich as he addeth no sorrow with it while the wicked who will be rich pierce themselves through with many sorrows The unsearchable riches of grace and Treasures of glory are gotten in a way of holy diligence they who have escaped the corruption that is in the World through lust and are made partakers of the Divine Nature besides this are to give all diligence to add to their Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly kindness Charity till they abound in them for so an entrance shall be Ministred unto them abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ If so much diligence be required to grow in grace What diligence is requisite to the getting of it If Ministring to the Saints be a Work and labor of love which none can attain to the full assurance of hope without shewing diligence therein unto the end What Work and labor and diligence will every grace cost before it be attained and perfected This should by no means discourage but quicken us our labor will not be in vain in the Lord. Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not If we are at the pains to sow holiness in the Seed-time of this life we shall reap happiness in the harvest of Eternity they who labor for rest shall rest from their Labor and their Works shall follow them a Man that is diligent in this Heavenly business of seeking the kingdom of God he shall not stand before mean Men he shall stand before the King of Kings in all his Glory This Kingdom is to be sought fervently both in Speech and Spirit open thy mouth wide saith God and I will fill it we must cry mightily to God in Prayer for it the effectual fervent Prayer of a Righteous man availeth much not slothful in business of the greatest concernment fervent in spirit seeking the Lord labouring or striving fervently in Prayers that we may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God It is good to be zealously affected alwayes in so good a thing as seeking the kingdom of God which must be sought also violently the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Violence in other cases is irregular and dangerous and especially in a way of sin when Men do evil with both hands earnestly the times are then evil with a witness but their mischief will return upon their own heads and their violent dealing will come down upon their own pates especially upon them that lie in wait for Blood that hunt every Man his brother with a Net and upon her that lieth in the Bosom to
possessing it will more than recompence for all the pains and sufferings the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us and therefore this Kingdom of Grace and Glory is to be sought constantly that is without ceasing day and night or very frequently constantly that is perseveringly for God will render to every Man according to his deeds to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory and Honor and Immortality Eternal Life Be thou faithful herein O Christian unto Death and Christ will give unto thee in the Kingdom of God a Crown of Life for only he that shall thus endure seeking unto the end the same shall be saved Even he that doth seek this kingdom of God which is a kingdom of Grace and Glory with his whole heart understandingly believingly faithfully diligently fervently violently valiantly vigilantly early delightfully and constantly which is no more than God requires and the unconceivable excellencies of this kingdom deserves Is not the kingdom of Grace it self nay one Grace of this kingdom more worth than all the Glory of all the kingdoms of this World The very trial of our faith and so of every other Grace is more precious than Gold that perisheth How precious is Faith it self Who that hath the Faith of Gods elect in the least degree in his heart would part with it at any rate nothing in this World better than life skin for skin and all that a Man hath will he give for his life But How many have lost their lives to save their faith that they might believe to the saving of their Souls they have died for the Faith that they might die in Faith And as for Hope which is a patient waiting and looking for that blessed Hope and the Glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus when we shall appear with him in Glory at death but more Gloriously at the day of Judgment when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels to be Glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe who hath this good hope through Grace that would part with it for more than all this World were it Ten thousand times ten thousand better than it is Alass if in this life only we have hope we are of all Men most miserâ—ble but since we can and do rejoycâ— in hope of the G orâ— of God we are happy enough in our hope which 〈◊〉 laid up for us in Heaven Now abideth Faith Hopâ— Charity these three but the greatest of these is Charity Faith and Hope we shall leave behind us having no need of them in Heaven When we are at the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls there is an end of our Faith but Charity which is the bond of our perfection in Heaven never ceaseth What is our Eternal Life in Heaven but an Eternal Life of Love our dwelling in and with God will be a dwelling in Love and God who is Love dwelling in us There will be fervent Charity indeed between God Angels and Men here because Iniquity doth abound the love of many doth wax cold there will be neither Sin Satan or Sinners to quench the flames of Mutual Love and Charity if Charity have so many Gracious and wonderful effects and fruits here What glorious effects will it produce in Glory Thou hast ravished my heart thou hast ravished my heart sâ—ith Christ with one of thine eyes with one Chain of thy Neck a Chain of Mercy and Truth Doth Mercy and Truth and other Graces in his Spouse ravish the heart of Christ What ravishing Joy will there be when Mercy and Truth meet together in Heaven and Righteousness and Peace kiss each other when Grace shall be turned into Glory when Charity a Grace a Duty now shall be Charity a Duty also but our Glory and Reward Will not Christ say of his Spouse then How fair and how pleasant art thou O Love for delights If the Created Glory of a Christian be so Glorious in the eyes of Christ How Glorious will the Increated Glory of God in Christ be to the beholders of it to all Eternity Let us therefore stick at no care and pains to make sure of a kingdom which God hath made so sure to us in his Everlasting purpose and preparation and is purchased for us at so dear a rate as the precious Blood of Christ and promised and preserved to us in his Everlasting Covenant Here have we no continuing City let us seek one to come with the heirs of Promise who look for a City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God It is the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem where God himself an Innumerable company of Angels the General Assembly and Church of the First-born and Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament and God the Holy Ghost the Comforter dwell all together Glorifying one another in an unspeakable manner for ever and Should not the Glory of this Kingdom of Glory and the Heavenly Society therein invite and constrain us all in these Kingdoms to look after such a state and place Is not every one infinitely obliged to seek this Kingdom not only for himself but for the Community if it were possible every moment Is there a Kingdom of Grace which may be had here in this World and a Kingdom of Glory hereafter in another World Is this a faithful saying and Is it not worth every ones acceptation Is not the Grace of God in truth and power the one thing needful here and Is not Glory in the Kingdom of God the one thing needful there Why are we then careful and troubled about many things when one thing is needful Why do we not all as one Man choose that good part which shall not be taken away from us There is nothing else in this World but either it will be taken from us or we from it Should we not labor to know in our selves that we have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us where we should lay up for our selves Treasures Honors and Pleasures that Moth and Rust do not corrupt and where Pride and Covetousness two notorious Theeves do not dare not cannot break through and steal that where our Treasure is there our hearts and hopes may be also But let us lay up for our selves Treasures upon Earth never so safely the Moth and Rust do and will corrupt them and these two Theeves will break through and steal the care of getting and keeping these Earthly Treasures and the fear of losing them put too many besides themselves and their duty in seeking those things which are above The only way is to be careful for nothing but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving to make our request known unto God and the Kingdom of God which is not meat and drink but
Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost which passeth all understanding will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus that our conversation wiâ—l be without Pride in minding high things seeking great things for our selves or covetousness being content with such things as we have because God hath said He will never leave us nor forsake us and we are therefore to take heed and beware of covetousness for a Mans Life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth having food and raiment we are therewith to be content for we brought nothing into this World and it is certain we can carry nothing out God his Kingdom of Grace and Glory with content is great gain What will it profit a Man to gain the whole World and lose God his Kingdom and his Soul Men of corrupt Minds and destitute of the truth suppose that Gain is Godliness but the God of this World hath blinded the minds of these Men which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them yet if God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness would shine into their hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and the Excellencies of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus and the Righteousness which is of God by Faith those things which were gain to them they would count loss for Christ yea doubtless they would count all things but loss for the excellencies they see in God Christ Grace and Glory â—nd would willingly suffer the loss of all things and count them buâ— dâ—ng if by any means they might attain unto the Resurrection of the dead for the price of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus who hath called them out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light of Grace which hath made them meet to be Partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in the light of Glory against they be translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son where they shall be ever with him to behold his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person for we shall see him as he is not through a Glass darkly but then face to face with open face beholding the Glory of the Lord we shall be changed into the same Image of Glory the Lord Jesus Christ shall change our vile Bodie that it may be fashioned like unto his Glorious Body now we are the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in Glory and we shall be like him in our Souls for if we hâ—ve been planted together in the likeness of his death we shâ—ll be also in the likeness of his Resurrection which God the Father according to the working of his mighty Power wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own righ hâ—nd in the Heavenly places and hath raised us up together and mâ—de us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus and according to his abundant Mercy begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to an Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them who are kept by the Power of God to rejoyce indeed with Christ in joy unspeakable and full of Glory which all they who first seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness may assure themselves of But such as invert the Order of Christ that first seek the things of the World and the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness on the by that take Earthly things for their Home Heaven Portion and the Heavenly Glory for a Reserve they forfeit and will come short of this Glory which will be their greatest misery remaining the Children of the Devil they shall be like him in Deformity and Damnation Christ shall say to them on the left hand at the Great Day Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels they who refused to be as happy as God would have had them shall be as miserable as he can make them the pain of loss and the pain of sense both which the Godly escape the Ungodly shall feell in Hell Eternally Who can imagine what a loss God and the Kingdom of Glory will be and Who can endure almost to hear of dwelling in Everlasting burnings they that are Enemies to the Cross of Christ whereby the World should he Crucified to them and they to the World whose God is their belly whose Glory is their shame who mind Earthly things their end is to be punished with everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power for the suffering the Vengeance of Eternal Fire How much better is it for every one of us in the fear of God to be obedient to this Heavenly Call Counsel Command and Proclamation of our dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man in his Glory otherwise How shall we escape the Damnation of Hell if we neglect so great Salvation See that we refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Christ speaketh yet in his Word and by his Ministers who are his spokesmen he that heareth them heareth him and he that despiseth them despiseth him that sent them and they that despise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be lightly esteemed Be it far from us to put Christ upon complaining of us as against his Israel of old All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gain-saying People least we hear him say because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no Mâ—n regarded but ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Commands I also will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a Whirlwind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall ye call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me my Kingdom of Grace and Glory but they shall not find me nor it they shall ask but they shall not have they shall knock but it shall not be opened unto them for that they would none of my Counsel they shall have none of me or my Kingdom but whoso hearkneth diligently unto this Word of Christ Seek ye first the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of Grace shall dwell in them and they shall dwell in the Kingdom of Glory where they shall be for ever quiet from
that our profiting may appear to all taking heed unto our selves and unto our doctrine continuing in them for in doing this we shall both save our selves and them that hear us If the Glory of God indeed the Salvation of our own Souls and all theirs committed to our charge be our very end in our patient continuance in well-doing and suffering for Conscience and Righteousness sake we are made manifest unto God and may trust also to be made manifest in due time in the Consciences of all having our selves a good Conscience that whereas we are spoken evil of as of evil doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse our good Conversation in Christ for our rejoycing should be the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the world and more abundantly to them-ward who are our care and charge in the Lord. Therefore my beloved Brethren of the Ministry let us be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord and though Israel be not gathered and we may seem to have laboured in vain and spent our strength for nought and in vain yet surely our judgment is with the Lord and our work with our God he shall be our strength and we shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord forasmuch as we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. If necessity be laid upon Ministers with a woe unto them whatever they suffer that preach not the Gospel and eight woes to them who are Hypocrites that say but do not Matth. 23. What necessity is there also that Christians do take heed whom they hear what they hear that they hear and how they hear that they may not be hearers only but doers of the work that they may be blessed in their deed The Apostle exhorts comforts and chargeth every one as a Father doth his children that they would walk worthy of God who hath called them unto his Kingdom and Glory which is no more than that their Conversation be only as becometh the Gospel of Christ putting off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts that their Conversation be without covetousness and so of all other worldly and fleshly lusts The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye and the pride of life with all ungodliness is to be denied we are not only to abstain but to flee from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul not fashioning our selves according to our former lusts when we were dead in Trespasses and Sins wâ—lking according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience among whom we all had our Conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind walking after the flesh for they that are after the flesh are carnally minded do mind the things of the flesh so then they that are in the flesh and live after the flesh cannot please God cannot walk worthy of God unto all-pleasing no man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other We cannot serve God and Mammon their Commands are so contrary the one to the other and therefore to walk worthy of God is not to make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof it is to wa k honestly or decently as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envying not in the lusts of concupiscence not in the vanity of our mind in fleshly wisdom not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of scorners or to walk in any way that is not good but to abhor and eschew that which is evil that they may walk with God to walk with God in the name of the Lord our God is to walk worthy of God to walk before him as alwayes in his sight with a perfect and upright heart not allowing in our selves or indulging the least sin but abstainiâ—g from all appearance of evil as that which is only displeasing to God and because it is so â—nd hating it upon that account that we may walk in Christ Jesus as we have received him to be the Lord our righteousness trusting only therein for justification and salvation and for our onely perfect pattern for he that saith he abideth in him ought him self also so to walk even as he walked who alwayes did those things that pleased his heavenly Father herein leaving us an Example that we should follow his steps who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth he was so holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners as the Father gave him Commandment even so did he In the Volume of the Book of God it is written of me saith Christ I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart How willingly and patiently did he suffer for from sinners O my Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt Christ came from Heaven on purpose to suffer in our stead and for our sakes according to the Will of God he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Lord laid on him the Iniquities of us all he was oppressed and afflicted yet opened not his mouth he was cut off out of the Land of the Living It pleased the Lord to bruise him to put him to Grief to make his Soul an offering for sin that he might pour out his Soul unto death he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Christ also suffered for us who his own self bare our sins in his own body leaving us an example that we should follow his steps for it is the Will of God that we suffer for well-doing for if we suffer with him we shall also be glorified together Christ his active and passive obedience for us and our active and passive obedience for him and for his Glory is our way to Glory How patiently did our Lord Jesus suffer from then when he suffered for sinners when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself and his Cause to him that judgeth righteously If when we do well and suffer for it and for Conscience toward God endure Grief suffering wrongfully take it patiently this is thank-worthy this is acceptable with God Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his Glory If we suffer we shall also reign with him for we are called according to purpose through the foreknowledge of God and predestinate to be conformed to the Image of
one then that hath understanding sing praises to God sing praises sing praises to our King sing praises for God is the King of all the earth and the King of glory sing we praises with understanding Our Tongue in Scripture is called our glory therewith bless we God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ which is the best use we can put it to If we be strangers to this heavenly duty of singing praises to God in our hearts and houses with our glory it is much to be feared that as our chief end is not the glory of God by our not glorifying God so our last end will not be glory with God without controversie it is the duty that is most pleasing to God as it is most commanded by him and practised instantly by the perfectest Saints The holier any man is the more in prayer and the most in praise evening and morning and at noon David prayes unto God seven times aday doth he praise him Hypocrites can pray Saints only do bless and praise the Lord. The good and old way of speaking to God our selves and one another in Psalms and spiritual Songs is much given over in these Kingdoms The good Lord give us Repentance that this sin be not laid to our charge We have lost very much of the special presence and providence of God by our neglect herein our Prayers are not heard and answer'd for want of our solemn Praises We obtain mercy by our Prayers and keep them by our Praises It were well if one in ten with a loud voice glorified God for those daily mercies they receive from God There are not found that return to give glory to God after mercies received from God save some few strangers What are our hearts and lips and lives good for else but to warble out in spiritual Songs the praises of him who hath called us out of marvellous darkness into his marvellous light The glad tydings of a Kingdom of grace and glory should open our hearts to pray to God to open our lips that our mouths may shew forth his praises which that all may do let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord and whatsoever we do in Word or Deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving Thanks to God and the Father by him and above all for himself and the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness For Counsel and Consolation and I conclude Our honourable Magistrates and reverend Ministers who are taught of God that are Counsellors themselves of Peace and seek the Peace and Prosperity of Church and State I neither need nor dare give them one Word of Advice in this matter only taking the liberty and boldness by way of Petition most humbly to desire them who have obtained so great mercy to be the heirs of grace and glory that they would according to the Power and Prudence Wisdom and Goodness which God hath graciously and liberally given them improve it to the very utmost that if it were possible our most gracious and excellent Majesties Three Kingdoms may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ not by Profession only but in very Deed and in Truth For the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power since God our Saviour would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth and because he can swear by no greater doth swear by himself As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his Way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil Wayes for why will ye dye and now commandeth all men everywhere to repent Why should not first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty which is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour and I also heartily believe wi l be well-pleasing to our most Gracious King and all in Authority having laid so lâ—rge and sure a foundation of Peace to build as large a Kingdom of godliness and honesty upon It is in your power to compel every capable Subject in these Kingdoms to seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and to thrust Labourers into this Harvest for the Harvest is great and the Labourers are few for the turning of every one unto Righteousness the unlimited Love of God who hath so loved Mankind the general Redemption of the whole World bâ— the precious blood of Jesus Christ the promise of the universal Spirit of Christ the freeness and fulness of the Covenant of Grace which if the Lord please I shall have occasion fully to handle in my Book of Scriâ—tural Oracles and the express Command of Christ Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature the promise of his presence and assistance his own practice and the practice of the primitive Preachers in publishing through the World the glad Tydings of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God are motives and encouragements great enough to put Magistrates and Ministers upon endeavouring an universal Conversion Reformation and Salvation among all their People O could our King and Governors be instrumental to bring these Kingdoms so to seek till they find a Kingdom of grace and glory what an exceeding eternal weight of glory would the King of glory crown them withall for their labour of Love at the last and great day Hearken to a King speaking from the King of Kings Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord herein with fear and rejoyce with trembling Let the Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take counsel together for the Lord and for his Anointed saying Let us break the bands of Wickedness and cast away the cords of our Iniquities from us Let us exalt the King of Kings upon his holy hill of Zion that the Heathen may be his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth may be his possession and all Nations whom he hath made may come and worship before thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name Let our most excellent King Solomon be first herein who is a King of Peace that came into his Kingdom in Peace rules in Peace will dye in Peace and enter into that Peace which passeth all understanding If he follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. His establishing a great Peace amongst us constrains me to believe he will be a means of raising a holy War through his Kingdoms and Dominions against Sin Satan and the World for the glory of
giving of Thanks be made by us all for the KING and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men first to seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and come unto the knowledge and the acknowledging of the Truth which is after godliness that they may be saved for which end the Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord that hath called us to glory and virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature and the divine life The last direction for getting and growing in grace is to get well acquainted with every promise of grace and every promise unto grace to mâ—ke a believing lively application of them to your selves Turn these Promises into Prayers and God will turn them into Performances He hath purposely made them known unto you that he might make them over to you for all the Promises of God in Christ Jesus are Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God and your salvation if having these Promises we cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flâ—sh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God The promises of God are the breasts of Consolation from whence new born Babes desire or suck sincere milk that they may grow thereby in grace unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature or age of the fulness of Christ till they become such as have no need of milk for every one that useth milk is unsk lful hath no experience in the word of righteousness for he is a Babe but of strong meat which belongeth to them that are of full age of perfect even those who by reason of use habit or perfection have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil For Consolation to all the Sons and Saints and Servants of the Lord that hearken unto the counsel command and proclamation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness as you have heard that have this Kingdom and righteousness in you Look unto Jesus lift up your heads and hearts for your redemption draweth nigh when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Let us comfort one another with these words God and Christ and Grace and Glory are ours we are sealed with that holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory all things are ours for we are Christs Paul Apollos Cephas the world life death things present things to come all are ours in possession and reversion This All should comfort us it is worth being a Son a Saint a Servant of God to be as rich as Heaven and Earth yea richer in having God for our portion Let not the Consolations of God seem small to us the promises of the life that now is and of that which is to come are all ours here are the unsearchable riches of Christ treasured up for the heirs of promise wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto them the immutability of his counsel confirmed them by an oath that by two immutable things in which it were impossible for God to lye we might have a strong Consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which is Christ in us the hope of glory for we look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ to be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and they in him It s worth going through the Kingdom of grace all the way which many poor Christians are fain to do in a way of persecution and tribulation to the Kingdom of glory where they shall ever be with the Lord whose presence will make amends for all There God and Christ will be all and in all here Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith hope and love but when Christ who is our life shall appear we shall also appear with him in glory then shall we be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is then shall we be filled with all the fulness of God that will do for us exceeding abundantly above all that now we ask or think unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through grace comfort our hearts and establish us in every good Work to keep us from falling till we be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy To the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever AMEN FINIS
Work and Labour of Love which God will not be unrighteous to forget shewed unto his name in Ministring unto the Saints which every one is to do and shew with the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end But whoso hath this Worlds Good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him How dwelleth the love of God in him The love of God dwelleth not in him at all for this is the Commandment that he who loveth God love his Brother also and he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen How can he love God whom he hath not seen What is the reason and cause of Wars and rumors of Wars Nation rising against Nation and Kingdom agâ—inst Kingdom Of Mens delivering up one another to be afflicted of hating betraying biting devouring and killing one another and of the abounding of Iniquity but because the love of many shall wax cold Iniquity with the effects would soon be at an end were all our heads and hearts at work in promoting this duty and grace of Charity I verily hope still to see His Majesties Kingdoms flourish and abound in this grace of graces namely Charity I have Charity for all that they will be in Charity each with other save the proud and covetous The proud which are cursed will err from Gods Commandments especiaâ—ly from things of Châ—rity while proud I have no hope of such pride is for contention and division only by pride cometh contention Charity is for peace and unity against both The covetous whom the Lord abhorreth count their gain to be Godliness an heart they have exercised with covetous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and go astray because they love the wayes of unrighteousness these are for Use upon Use to swallow up the poor alive From these Persons and Practises the Good Lord deliver the King and his Kingdoms O my Soul come not thou into their secret unto the Assembly of Men proud and covetous mine honour be not thou united But Charity is humble and the humble are Charitable Charity is not puffed up with pride or knowledge not cruel but liberal and deviseth liberal things and by liberal things it shall stand It is manifest that these two cruel evils had a great hand in our late mutual devourings and except God by his wonderful Power and Providence interpose we are still in Eminent and Imminent danger of them The fear of God is another principal part of this Kingdom of God Indeed if we take it in the comprehensive sense it is the sum of Religion but take it as a Grace and the fear of God is to hate evil and depart from it the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death it is the way of life and this way of life is above to the Wise that he may depart from Hell beneath which can never be but by first departing from sin upon Earth Unto Man God saith Behold the fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from evil is Understanding This fear of God is bred in the heart by the love of God Ye that love the Lord hate evil perfect love casteth out the fear of bondage and lets in the fear of reverence for this we have Gods Promise The Children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter dayes they honour the King best who fear God most Nothing like goodness to beget the fear of God and due and true honor to the King Love the Brotherhod fear God honor the King are linked together The fear of God is a fear to sin out of love and reverence to the Majesty of God he who truly fears God fears nothing but sin and none but G d and for God How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God saith he who is tempted to sin while he doth good he is not afraid of the Power because he is the Minister of God for good to him but when he doth evil he is afraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a Revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil otherwise he is not afraid of him that can kill the Body and after that hath no more that he can do because he fears him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into Hell This God he fears to sin against and therefore fears not to be cast by him into Hell While it is his care to cleanse himself from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and to perfect holiness in his fear and to work out his salvation with fear and trembling This fear is Filial and Reverential a Child-like fear afraid to dishonor God If I be a Father saith God Where is my honor An earthly Father expects and deserves honor from his child so doth our heavenly Father from his children The honor of reverence in carefulness to please him and fearfulness to offend him This is the fear of the Lord which tendeth to life and he that hath it shall abide satisfied he shall not be visited with evil in this fear of the Lord is strong confidence The love and fear of God together breeds the best obedience which is the best Sacrifice the fear of God restrains from siâ— which is a transgression of the Law of God and the love of God constrains yea helps to the fulfilling of it Who so despiseth the Word shall be destroyed but he that feareth the Commandment to break it shall be rewarded shall be in peace in keeping of them there is great reward Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them but unto them that are Contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every Soul of Man that doth evil buâ— gâ—ory honour and Peace to every Man that worketh good even to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for Glory and Honor and Immortality Eternal Life This is the Love of God thâ—t we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous This is love that we walk after his Commandments The obedience which is of and pertains unto the Kingdom of God is universal and constant Then shall I not be ashamed when I shall have respect unto all thy Commandments I have inclined mine heart to perform thy Statutes alway even unto the end The Principles of new and true obedience are Faith and Love or Faith working by Love called in Scripture the obedience of Faith neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by love The love of Christ constraineth us to live not unto our selves but unto him who for us died and rose again The obedience we owe to God in this Kingdom of Grace is Active and Passive Active not doing what
he forbids not walking in the Counsel of the ungodly nor standing in the way of sinners nor sitting in the seat of the scornful not walking after the Flesh according to the course of this World but walking after the Spirit doing the will of God from the heart doers of the word and not hearers onlâ— for not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Word in obeying from the heart that form of Doctrine which is delivered to them shall be justified and blessed in his deed Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Let none of you suffer as a Murderer or as a Thief or as a Busie-body in other mens matters let them that suffer suffer as a Christian according to the will of God patiently for well-doing this is acceptable with God to whom we may commit the keeping of our Souls and Bodies also in well doing as unto a faithful Creator Whether our sufferings be from God immediately I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good or mediately from Men Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake such are to rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is their reward in Heaven All that will live godly in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution hereunto they are appointed predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son as in Active so in Passive obedience even thereunto are we called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps for it became him in bringing many Sons unto Glory to make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through sufferings and his Soldiers also When was it that Christians Faith did grow so exceedingly and the Charity of every one of them all towards each others abounded their patience and their joy Was it not in their Persecutions and Tribulations which they endured The ground of Persecution is the best for Grace and Comfort to thrive and grow upon The Primitive Christian hearers were used to hear the Word in much affliction and joy of the Holy Ghost Christians therefore should reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in them even the glory of grace yea of one grace ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heâ—viness through manifold temptations that the trial of your Faith being much more precious then of Gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ In time of great Persecutions and Tribulations St. Paul remembred without ceasing Christians work of Faith and labour of Love and Patience of Hope in the Lord Jesus There is a glory upon them which cannot enter into them they must enter into it If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you Peace of Conscience follows upon sound and sincere obedience to God and his Laws upon our Justification through Faith we have the Peace of Reconciliation with God The Kingdom of God within is a Kingdom of Peace as much grace and obedience as there is in the heart so much peace Grace and Peace be multiplied The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever It is not Gods peace that is not the peace of Obedience He that ordains peace for us works all our works in us Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace peace peace or abundance of peace whose mind thought or imagination is stâ—id on thee because he trusteth in thee Let us be true to the God of Peace the Prince of Peace the Spirit of Peace the Gospel of Peace and live our selves in Peace as much as in us lies with all men and that we study to be quiet and to do our own business not being busie-bodies in other Mens matters walking in the way of peace following peace with all Men and holiness casting all our cares on God being careful for nothing but committing our selves and wayes unto him and the very God of Peace will give us the Peace which passeth all understanding and will give us some understanding of it which will breed that Joy in the Holy Ghost and holy rejoycing which is unspeakable and full of glory which a stranger doth not intermeddle with and if God see it good for us we shall have with all men the Peace of Love and Unity when a Mans wayes please the Lord he will make his Enemies to be at peace with him however he will make him to love and be at peace with his Enemies which is much better this is to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect and merciful as he is merciful yea more when a many wayes please the Lord he will make all Creatures in League with him Thou shalt be in League with the stones of the Field and the Beasts of the Field shall be at peace with thee And thou shalt know that thy Tabernacle shall be in peace or that peace is thy Tabernacle But there is no peace saith my God to the Wicked no true peace for they will not be at peace with God though he beseech them never so much to be reconciled to him that they might have all this peace they know not the way of peace they desire not the knowledge of his wayes or acquaintance with him that thereby they might be at peace with him And therefore when they shall say peace and safety which will be while the strong man armed keepeth his Palace and his goods are in peace but a stronger then he shall come upon him and overcome him and take from him all his Armor wherein he trusted then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a Woman with child and they shall not escape but the Godly shall inherit the Earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace if they cannot have it in the World and from the World they can have it in Christ In the World ye shall have Tribulation but in me ye shall have peace peace within peace of Conscience if not outward peace from Man one way or other peace they will have It is peace they would have therefore it is they so earnestly seek it from God and pursue it with Men they Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem peace be within thy Walls that prosperity may be within thy Palaces for their Brethren and Companions sake they say peace be within thee Since Jesus Christ hath left this Legacy to â—he Church peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you they are at suit with God and Man for it