Gods Loud Call FROM HEAVEN; TO ROUSE and AWAKEN His People in the WORK of their DAY. OR, The SAINTS Great and Present DUTY, in Bearing and Declaring a public TESTIMONY and witness for GOD, in Owning the LORD and His ways before the face of all Men, and in the midst of all OPPOSITION. Being a Seasonable WORD, to Alarm those that seem ready to Draw Back, that now they Stand up( by Improving Spiritual Weapons, Ephes. 6.13, 17.) for their Religious MEETINGS, and Holy SERVICES, notwithstanding mens Acts and Decrees to the contrary. Also some Sound ARGUMENTS at the End of this Book, to Confirm the Truth Asserted; By a Friend of known Integrity. Written by EDWARD DELAMAINE, A Servant of the LORD of Hosts and KING of Kings; and one of the least of the yet many Thousands in Judah, that have kept their Garments Spotless, and their Virgin State Undefiled, from the filth and pollution of this Age. Jer. 30.21. Who is he that engageth his Heart to approach, or appear for me, saith the Lord. Nehem. 6.11. Should such a man as I flee? London, Printed by S. Dover, and are to be had at his House in Chrishophers Alley, in Martins Le Grand. 1661. THIS SHORT Epistle Dedicated TO The Churches and Congregations of Christ in this Nation, that have Witnessed, Professed and Practised, a Pure Separation, from all the Worlds Worships, Ordinances, and Traditions: Grace, Mercy and Peace be multiplied to you in the Lord Jesus. Dearly Beloved, YOU are much upon my heart, and in my thoughts; I think myself, yea Life well bestowed, if spent, or offered on your service and behalf; nothing will so much contribute to my joy, yea in a manner an addition to my Life, if ye stand faithful for God in this Day, and in the Trials you will meet withal. Oh my Friends, God Calls, His Servants Call, His Dispensation Calls, for you now to appear and stand up, like men for God; it's the desire of my soul that I may see your Faces with joy, in the day of account; and that will not be, unless I see your Faces, your Lives, with boldness and faithfulness for God. Having some leisure since my enlargement from Jehovah's Furnace, in visiting some of the Lords People, I thought it needful to present this following Treatise to your use, you Heirs of Glory, born of a high Birth from above, descended from the Royal Race of Heaven, to you this Mite is given. Oh! me-thinks when I consider, what you are born to, what you are Heirs of, what a Father you have, what a Kingdom and Glory to receive, I cannot serve you too much, nor do enough for you. And I hope in the sense of what God hath done for you, and your Interest in him, will draw you forth, yea be so prevalent upon your Spirits, that ye cannot do enough, or lose enough for him: Count nothing to dear to part with for him, no Enemies so great, so potent, that can make you desert the Lord. My beloved, if you would be of such a spirit, as I treat of in this Epistle, you must set light by the things here, have all of that nature under your feet, you must die to the World, and have your Affections crucified to it. So earnestly praying for your great Progress and pressing forward in the Work of your God, and withall affection desiring the great prosperity of your Inward man, with the once more Reviving, Flourishing state of Beauty and Glory of the Churches of Christ in these Nations: I rest, Your Brother and Companion, in the Sufferings and Tribulation of our Lord and King; unto whom be all glory honor and praise in his Church throughout all Ages, world without end, Amen. EDWARD DELAMAIN. Gods Loud Call FROM HEAVEN; TO Rouse and Awaken His People in the WORK of their DAY. OR, The SAINTS Great and Present DUTY, in Bearing and Declaring A public TESTIMONY and WITNESS for GOD, in Owning the LORD and his Ways before all Men, and in the midst of all OPPOSITION. Dearly beloved Brethren, WE were not born for ourselves, but in the first place to Serve our God, and then to be Useful one to another: Self, God never designed to be reserved; a Selfish Spirit God no where owns, nor any where Commends; He that seeks to Save himself, shall undoubtedly Lose himself, was a Doctrine taught by the Lip of Truth; if we be Self-seekers, we shall in the end be Self-losers: Self, it's the greatest hindrance and block that lies in a mans way to Heaven. I see and perceive, the Evil of the Day in which we live, what mens Spirits are, and how incident it is to the Lord's People to be crying out, saying, Master, save thyself; Husband, Brother, Friend, save thyself; But these savour indeed of self, and not of the things of God. It was more than an ordinary Impulse of Spirit that drew me forth, not onely to be minding my own Duty in relation to this Day, but also others of theirs, touching their Generation Work; not so much to contend for Crowns and Dignities here below, for Sceprers and Kingdoms, Oh these are poor and beggarly things and perish in the using, fit onely for those whose Portions are in this Life; But let us stand up and declare for our God, and his ways, and Ordinances. Therefore for a Foundation or Ground of my Discourse, see that eminent Place, Matth. 10.32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven. The Lord Jesus in the Verses going before, was Dehorting his Disciples from the Fear of Man; implying thereby, that should they admit or entertain, slavish Fear of Man, it would prove a great Impediment, or let, to their Confessing of Him. In the Words red, you have these Particulars. First, A Duty laid down, and that is, To confess Christ. Secondly, The Universality of the Duty, [ Whosoever] Christ excludes nor exempts none from this Service. Thirdly, You have the Persons before whom Christ must be Confessed, and that is Men. Fourthly, The gracious Promise of Christ, what he will do for those that Confess him before Men; And that is in two parts, 1. I will confess him,( saith Christ) It is a Work that he will not leave for men to do, no nor for Angels, I will do it, saith Christ, I will confess him; A Work that Christ himself will be employed in. 2. As Christ himself will confess those that confess him, so he will Confess them before his Father; He doth not say it shall be before Men and Angels, but before my Father; He that is the greatest and can do the most good, him will I confess you to. There are two Words in this Scripture, will be needful to inquire into. 1. What is meant by Men; And that notes Wicked Men, or the World; it cannot be meant the Saints, for they are to Confess Christ before men, which must be understood the World. 2. What is meant by the Word Confess; It notes a public Owning and Declaring: See a few Scriptures for this, John 9.22. These words spake his Parents, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess Christ, he should be put out of the Synagogue. By Confessing here, must be understood, A public Owning and Declaring of Christ; And great prejudice attended those that did thus confess Christ, they were Excommunicated by the Jews: So likewise in this our day, Men Jeopard their Liberties and Freedoms, by publicly Owning of Christ. See also, John 12.42. Nevertheless, among the chief Rulers also, many Believed; but because of the Pharisees, they did not Confess him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue. Oh this is the Case of many in this Day, they are afraid to Confess Christ, to Bear a public Testimony for him, to Own him; lest they should be put out of their Places, employments, Tradings and Callings: Now from this Scripture mentioned, you may observe this, That it is not enough for men in an evil day, to Believe in Christ, without a public Owning and Declaring for him. These Rulers Believed, but yet they came short of their other Duty, which was as great and necessary; Many think now, That if they Believe in Christ, and Own, and confess him betwixt God and their Souls, that it is enough and sufficient: No, no, that will not serve the turn, God Commands and Expects otherwise, A public appearing for him, a Confessing of him before Men, yea though it be in a time, when it may be Criminal so to do, when it may expose them to Sufferings or Death. See also, Acts 24.14 But this I Confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so Worship I the God of my Fathers. As if the Apostle should say, I do here publicly Own and Declare. Thus having opened the Words, I shall lay down this Doctrinal and Practical Truth from them. That there ought to be a public Testimony born for the Lord by his People before the World. This is that which God looks for, his Word calls for, and which I would fain treat on. This Duty is so weighty, that the Omission thereof is no less counted, than a Denying of the Lord. See Matth. 10.33. Denying the Lord is put in opposition to a not Confessing of Him, to a not bearing a public Testimony for the Lord. I shall lay down these few things. First, show that the worthy Saints before us did bear a public Testimony for the Lord in the World. Secondly, show what Testimony we ought to bear for God, and wherein we ought publicly to Own Him. Thirdly, Give you the weighty Reasons and Grounds, Why the Lords People ought to bear a public Testimony for him before the World. Lastly, Lay down the wholesome and profitable Use of this Doctrine. For the First, See Luke 12.8. Whosoever Confesseth me before Men, him also shall the Son of Man confess before the Angels of God. And that Scripture in 2 Tim. 2.12. is somewhat remarkable, If we Suffer, we shall also Reign with him; but if we Deny him, he will Deny us. Here the Apostle opposeth Denying to Suffering, Implying that Suffering attends public Owning of God. But see that rare Spirit in Nehemiah, 6.10, 11. when his Friends and Companions, advised and counseled him to Meet within the Temple, and shut the Doors: he makes them this Answer, Should such a man as I Flee? He esteemed it a Fleeing from God to be Private when he should be public; Oh no, he abominates the thoughts of that, to go into a Corner now, when he ought to bear a public Testimony for God; Should such a man as I am flee? I that have been so eminent for God, one of the first that engaged in the Work of God; I that have been so instrumental to carry it on hitherto; I that have been a mighty encourager and heartner of others in the Cause of God; I that have gone through and overcome so many Oppositions, Difficulties, and Impediments; should such a man as I slay? should I now shrink back, and draw my neck out of the collar? I will not go in, saith he: nay though it might have saved his Life, yet he would not do it, I will not go in. Oh my Friends, keep alive your holy Resolutions for God. Now Nehemiah declares in Verse 13. the evil tendency of his being Private, when he should be public for God; such an Act or practise, occasioned through fear, would be a sin against God, and matter of reproach for the Heathen. Oh it's not for Christians now to run into corners and holes, but to be public for God, to stand up for him, now if ever. See Acts 4.17, 18. Compared with Chapter 5.25, 28, 29. When the Apostles were Commanded by the Rulers then to Preach no more in Christs Name, one would have thought they might have Preached his Name though it had been in private; No no, they were of a more public Spirit for God, they went as publicly as they could, and Declared openly the Lord Jesus; they would not do what the Rulers would have them, they were not of such base Spirits, as to stoop to mens wills and lusts and sinful Commands: Did men say they should Meet no more to speak in that Name? they are resolved to meet whatever come on it, so little did they fear the Breath of poor Worms. Oh Beloved learn of these Primitive Saints to be thus spirited for God. You have likewise an account concerning John the Divine, Revel. 1.9. He was Banished into the Isle of Patmos by the Emperor, for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus, his publicly Owning and Declaring the Lord. And Revel. 6.9. Some were slain for the Testimony which they held, which they publicly Owned; Here were faithful Souls, that kept their Testimony for God to the very Death. Thus much for the first Thing. But now, How and Wherein must we bear a public Testimony for Christ? First, For his Person, He that shall confess[ Me] saith Christ. He is now vilified, now Reproached, and set at nought, therefore we ought publicly to Own Him, to stand up for Him, and to declare for this man Christ Jesus, though he is called by the Vile sons of men, a King of Clouts, they see no Comeliness in him, nor do they desire, that he should Reign over them: Oh but do you Own Him both in his Person and Government. Remember he is your KING: It's true, in the day of his Humiliation, he had no outward Comeliness, no outward Beauty, it was all within, there was his Beauty, there was his Comeliness; But the day will come, that in his very Person there shall be visible Beauty and splendour, Isaiah 33.17. Thy Eyes shall see the King in his Beauty: He shall be in such glory then to the confusion of all his Adversaries; Oh therefore confess him now, stand up for him now, let him be to you the chiefest of ten thousands; and consider, that he one day, will be the Judge of the whole Earth, when Kings and Potentates shall throw down their Crowns, and shall come trembling before him, biding Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, and cover them. Oh who would not own this Lord, this Potentate, this Mighty One, now in this day, when he is set at nought? Secondly, As you must Own the Lord in standing up for him, in Vindicating of him, so also his Words, and therefore Christ saith, He that shall confess me, and my[ Words.] Of his Words there are Two parts: 1. His Precepts, these ought to be Owned; The least Command is worth Suffering for. 2. His Principles in matters of Faith: We should contend earnestly for those Principles and Truths we Own, being the Faith of the Gospel. How is God's Word, I mean the Scriptures, set at nought this day? How are they vilified and abused, by a People of great Profession, and pretended holiness and zeal for God? Now the more Christs Words are Despised, the more we ought to Own them, and set a high esteem on them. Really if such a Generation had the Power as they have the Will, what would become of this Revealed Word? And therefore what may come to pass we know not, but of this be assured, that perilous days are coming, in which the Word of God, I am persuaded, will by Satan and his Instruments, be endeavoured to be thrust out of doors; How doth it therefore highly concern you to stand up for it? For, 1. It is the great means of Conversion and Illumination. 2. It is the great Rule for you to square your Life and Actions by. 3. It is the great Cabinet, that contains all the Lords Promises and Intentions of good to you; and believe it, if you Own Christ's Words, he will look on it, and so take it, as a owning of Him; for he that contemneth or despiseth Christ's Words, contemneth and despiseth Christ. A Third thing that you are to confess of Christ, to Own, Stand for, and publicly Declare, is, The Worship, Service, and Ordinances of God. The more men set them at nought, the more men cast dirt upon them, the more do you highly esteem of them, and prise them; Oh how do men endeavour in this our day to lay aside the very Ordinances of God, the pure Worship of God, by introducing their own Worship, and their own Traditions, and their own Imaginations! which are abominable in the sight of God. Do men trample upon Believers Baptism? Do you the more stand up in the Vindication of it; for remember, that this and the rest of the Ordinances that God's People practise, they are the Lord of Heaven's Ordinances, of the Divine Majesties own Appointment, and Institution, and therefore deserve to be highly owned and esteemed. Now in mens false Worship and Traditions set up, there is a very fair show and outside, like Nebuchadnezzars Image made of Gold, sumptuous to behold, and so to affect the carnal Eye, but there is not a Word or Tittle of Gods Command, or Precept for it; Which Command of God indeed is the beautifying and adorning of his Worship and Ordinances, but is wanting in the Worlds Worship, namely the King of Heavens Authority for it; now the Worship and Ordinances of God, are very mean and low as to the outside of them, but their Beauty is within, their comeliness within, they are like the Kings Daughter, Psal. 45.13. all glorious within. Now this the World sees not, and therefore casts them away, as things of no worth; but let the Lords People consider that they are the Conduit Pipes, through which the Lord conveys Spiritual strength to his People, The way of the Lord( saith the wise man) is strength to the Upright, Prov. 10.29. This way of the Lord is to be understood the Commandments and Ordinances, Psal. 119.32. They are strength to such, as do sincerely own and partake of them. Another Reason why the Lords People should publicly Own and stand up for the Worship and Ordinances of God, is, Because they are the Means, and the direct way to Heaven and Salvation; No Blessing or Promise of Glory, out of this way and means. God hath chalked out a Way, made a Rule, a Path, for souls to go to Canaan; and that is the Way of his Worship, and Service, his Ordinances, and Commandments: No going to Heaven but by this way; therefore how doth it concern the Saints to Stand up for it, to Vindicate and Own this despicable and mean Way of God( as to outward appearance) though the Powers of the Earth act contrary to it. And pray consider how mighty zealous, careful and tender hath God in all Ages been, of his Worship and Ordinances, he will not have a hand, no not so much as a finger in it besides his own; he accounts it high presumption for any of the sons of men, to go to alter, model, or new form his Worship and Ordinances, thereby imputing no less than the want of Wisdom in the Sacred and Divine Majesty of Heaven: And consider how severely God hath dealt and punished those that have adulterated, and derogated from the Worship of God, the very Sons of Aaron by offering strange fire, must not be spared, but fire from heaven must destroy them. See, consider and fear, Leviticus 10.1, 2. If Uzza, though a good man, shall offer to meddle with the Ark of God, Gods displeasure from Heaven shall follow him, 1 Chron. 13.7, 9, 10. Because none were to meddle with that, but his holy Ministers. See 1 Chron. 15.2. That hand of Jeroboam that made the golden Calves, perished and withered, 1 Kings 13. the beginning. And that nabuchadnezzar that made the Golden Image, to be Worshipped, Daniel the third, was the very man that the Divine Majesty Plagued, in turning him to a Beast, for the space of Seven Years, until he came to aclowledge the true God, See Daniel 4.24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 33, 37. Now seriously consider, If God was then so strict and severe in punishing those that Violated his Worship and Ordinances, given by his Servant Moses; Oh how strict and Severe will he be now to such, that make voided Gods Commands and Ordinances, by their Tradition? Seeing it is given by his Son, the Lord from Heaven, declared to be the Mighty God, and onely Potentate. A Fourth thing that the Lords People are to Confess of Christ, or to bear a public Testimony for, is in reference to his People, to Own and Stand up by each other, to be mighty unanimous, and of one Soul in the things of God. The Lord's poor People are now made as the dirt in the streets, of no esteem, of no worth; Oh you are to own them: though they are very Low, yet consider they are the Heirs of Glory, that shall one day Judge the World, yea their Persecutors. Little do Kings, and Mayors, and great Men think, that those whom they now Persecute and Imprison, shall one day become their Judges. I had rather be in the state of a Persecuted Worm, than to be a Persecuting Prince. Oh consider that the Saints, they are the Jewels of God, though now they lye in the dirt, there will a time come of their making up, yea Glorious like unto their Head; Oh that Men would consider, That whatsoever they do to Christs Lambs and Followers, he will take it as done unto himself, Matthew 25.45. See Acts 9.4. Saul Saul, why Persecutest thou me? Alas, might Saul have said, Thou art too far out of my reach to Persecute: I, but Saul Persecuted the Lords Members, and therefore it was taken as to himself. Here is one thing worth observing, That there is a mighty sympathising, and fellow-feeling in Christ the Head, to his People the Members. Are they touched and hurt on Earth? he feels it in Heaven; and no sooner do his Members receive wrongs from Men, but their Head is right sensible of it: Saul, Saul why Persecutest thou me? Like to a man that receiving some Wound or Blow, with the pain doubles his words; Oh, oh. So Christ in this Case, he was so touched with his Peoples sharp wounds of Persecution, that he suddenly crys out, Saul, Saul. Then let the Sons of Sion be exhorted to Own the Lords People, though Imprisoned and Persecuted, be not ashamed to Own them, though now they be clothed in Rags, and sit on dunghills, and eat the Bread of sorrow, it will be otherwise, when their King Comes. A Fifth Thing in bearing a public Testimony for the Lord, and that is, to stand up and Declare for your Meetings in the Service and Worship of God; Oh be not of that fearful, timorous spirit, that will in such a day as this, either go into Corners, or else run to Steeple-houses, those Heathenish and Idolatrous places; but keep you to your public Places of Meeting, do not relinquish them; Do men Decree and Proclaim against your Meetings? Oh remember, That the God of Heaven hath Decreed and Proclaimed, that ye shall Meet. See Hebrews 10.25. Forsake not the Assembling of yourselves together; If so, then Gods People, the Church, ought not to divide, and to Meet separate, into Corners, into divisions and parts, but in such a Place where the Church may be together. Oh it is sad to Consider, that the Proclamation of a poor Worm, should not only Command mens persons, but their very Spirits also! Oh Friends, which is greater, and more to be obeied, God or Man? Believe it, God is the Lord of our Consciences, he hath the sole Rule and sovereignty there, it is his proper Prerogative: and therefore the Scripture saith, He died that he might be Lord of all, Rom. 14.9. Acts 10.36. Plainly Implying, That he is the great and onely Lord over the Consciences and Spirits of men, to give Laws, Precepts, and Commands, in Relation to Spiritual things: No man hath to do here, no Potentate,( but our Lord) hath to meddle here; if any King or Powers dare offer to entrench on mens Consciences, to their utmost Peril be it; and if men give way to their usurped Authorities, to their uttermost perils be it also; no Governors, nor Rulers have any more Power as from God, to give Laws in matters of Religion, or to Rule over mens Consciences, than they have to sit in Gods Throne in Heaven, or to pluck him from his Throne. Oh therefore, if this small Treatise should come to the hands of such men, as would lord it over mens Consciences, I charge you in the Name of the Lord, before whose Tribunal Seat, you and I must one day stand, be careful what you do; for this is a sin of such a high provoking nature, as God is resolved not to put it up, but he will take hold of Vengeance, and unsheathe his Sword, and display his Judgements. Oh worm! darest thou be so impudent to put thyself in Gods stead, to meddle with mens Consciences, to lord it in Religious concerns? Oh who gave thee this Power? and whence hadst thou it? where and when? I I will assure thee, That the Great God of Heaven will severely punish for this, when he comes to Judge thee. But a Word now to the Lord's People; stand up for your Meetings, and holy Services, let Men and Powers Decree never so contrary; Do you return Nehemiah's Answer, See Chapter 6. Verse 3. I am doing a great Work, and I cannot come. Do men say, Leave your Meetings, and come to the Place of Worship that our Law and Governours allow of? Do you say, We are doing a great Work, we are Serving our God, according to his own way, we are serving him, according to his own appointment, we are doing a great work in our Religious Meetings, namely, to build up one another, to strengthen and edify one another, we are doing a great Work, teaching and instructing the blind World, we are doing a great Work in our Religious Meetings, bringing, leading, turning poor souls to God; this Work we do, and we cannot come to obey Mens consuls, Lusts, and sinful Commands. In the other part of the Answer of Nehemiah, which is very considerable, speaking to his Adversaries, he saith, Why should the Work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you? Is there any Reason for it, Oh you Sons of Men, you Earthly Powers, that at your Commands we should let the Work cease, which we are to perform in our Religious Meetings? Why should the Work cease, the great Work of our God, in building his People, in teaching and instructing the World? Why should this Work cease? for we to come and obey your Commands, to leave our Meetings; we will not do it. There are two Principal Reasons, why the People of God should Declare, Own, and Stand up for their public Meetings. First, There are the Souls of Gods People to be edified, built and strengthened, this is one great end of Assembling and Meeting, which God hath ordained, that the Saints should be built up in their most holy Faith, that they should be strengthened and confirmed in the things of God: And without all doubt those Famous Souls in Malachy 3.16. made this the great end of their Meeting, to build, strengthen, and fortify one another in the things of their God, in that sinful day. Oh my dear Friends, consider that your trials will be great, your Enemies many, Fears within, Temptations without; therefore what great need and necessity is there for the keeping up of your Meetings, the strengthening and confirming each other in the things of God? But Secondly, That you may be a means to Instruct, and Teach, and Inform the World; This is another end why God hath designed his People to be public in their Meetings for Him, that they may be useful to the World, to Sinners; That we may Preach, Col. 1.28. frightening every man, teaching every man, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; For God would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the Truth, 1 Tim. 2.4. Now Gods People cannot be thus useful to the World, to Sinners, as God expects, and as their day-duty requires, if they should Meet in Corners, run to Holes, if they should be Private. Oh! Christians should be of General and public Spirits, like their Father, to mind the good and well-being of All Men; That poor souls which are ignorant, may be informed and enlightened, and be acquainted with the ways and Truths of God. God hath not been wanting for the Conversion and Salvation of all Men, and therefore hath ordained Means to it; Namely, the Preaching of his Word by his Servants, and they ought to do it though Force and Violence prevents them. Oh shall men detain you by words, or make you afraid, and to be remiss in this Duty, which is so necessary? Know, that if in your public Meetings, one poor Soul be got and gained to Christ, and caught in the Net of His Gospel, though you be had presently away to Prison, Verily I say, it's worth Suffering for; That one Souls gaining, will make amends for your Imprisonment, and occasion matter of great Joy. And in our public Meetings, let the Powers know, that we come not in scorn, spigte or contempt of their Rule and Government, but it is in obedience to our Gods Command, to his Requirements to us to serve him, and be useful in our Meetings, both to his People and the World. And to the Saints I say, let them seriously consider the 5th. of Matthew 14, 15, 16. and see how inconsistent that is, how opposite, how contrary to their being of timorous spirits, searful spirits; to be private, when God calls for public manifesting of themselves for him, to be the Light of the World, a City set on a hill that cannot be hide. Thus much shall suffice for the Fourth Thing. And Lastly, In your public Confession of Christ, you must Own Him, in all his Ways and Dispensations to you, which He may led you through, to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes; Let Him led you where he will, still to Own Him, and Stand for Him: If the Lord led you to Death, yet to keep close to him; For know, that the worst of Dispensations is the way to the best of Conditions; The across is the direct path to the Crown. Through the sourness God leads us to Canaan; little do our Adversaries think what good they do us by their Persecuting of us, they usher in, and hasten our Redemption and Glory; Did they but know what good they did, by their cruelty to us, they would be apt to envy us: Oh all their Persecutions, Cruelties and Infringments of Liberty and Freedom, is( if Christ's Words be true, as they are) but the hastening and setting forward of our Redemption, Luke 21.28. When these things come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your Redemption draws nigh. Ah Lord, is this a time to look up, and to lift up the head, when we see great men are against us, they that hate us bear Rule over us, and Thy People are very low and weak, no visible means attainable: Well saith the Lord, your Redemption draws near. How near was Israels Redemption of old? when they were in the greatest of straits and miseries, that possibly could be imagined, yet then Deliverance was near, even at the door; Now the Lord is the very same as he was in all Ages past. Now if the Lord led you through ways most cross to flesh and blood, and most shameful and reproachful, yet do you follow the Lord in them. Now I shall come to the Third Thing proposed, and that was, 1. To give you the Reasons which are weighty and considerable, Why there ought to be a public Witness and Testimony born for the Lord in this day. When I speak of Owning the Lord, I mean and intend, his Words, his Worship, always, People and Ordinances; All these I include in Owning of Christ. The first Reason; Because God hath always kept a Remnant in the World for this end and purpose, and for this cause God hath placed you in the World. Who are to stand up for God but his People? and who are to bear his Name but they? Oh wherefore is it, that in all Ages of sin and wickedness, God still had his Remnant amongst them? was it not to Declare and Stand up for Him? In the great wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, God had a Righteous Lot, 2 Peter 2.7, 8. And delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy Conversation of the wicked; for that Righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. When Twelve were sent to spy out the Land of Promise, Ten of those Twelve proved treacherous, and brought up an evil Report of the Land; yet there was a Remnant, namely Caleb and Joshua that Stood up for God, and bore a public Testimony for the Lord, that Owned the Lord in that day. See in the great Abomination and Idolatry of King nabuchadnezzar, there was a Remnant at that time, that Stood up for God, that bore a public Testimony for God against the wickedness of their day. So in Malachy 3. there was a Remnant that Stood up for God, and kept their Religious Meetings in the face of all Opposition: Then they that feared the Lord, met often together: They Met before in a day of Prosperity, I, but now it shall be often, more frequent than before. So also, after the Lord Jesus, there was a Remnant that Appeared and Owned the Lord, though against the Decrees and Orders of the Rulers. So in the Marian dayes, God had his Remnant then, that Owned and confessed him; And think you not that God hath his Remnant now in this Nation? Yea surely. Oh my Friends, it's you that must be Witnesses for Him, this God looks for, and expects at your hand, therefore let me entreat you to answer the Work of the day. Wherefore have you lived to this time? Wherefore hath the Lord Reserved you to this Age, but now to Own Him and Stand up for Him, in the Vindication of his Honour, Glory, Truth, ways, People and Ordinances, and your Religious Meetings? See that saying of the Lord Jesus, John 12.27. But for this came I into the World; And he saith also, For this cause came I unto this hour. Oh! so say you, Some Years ago I was in the Battels, and the Lord Covered my Head in the Day of battle; though Death was near, yet he preserved me, and hath kept me to this hour: Oh wherefore is it, but now to Appear for the Lord, and to Own Him, notwithstanding Mens Acts to the Contrary? For this cause came I to this hour. Some years ago I was in great sickness near unto Death, but a Step betwixt me and Death, many died on the Left hand, and on the Right, and yet my Life was preserved and is to this hour; Oh is it not, that I might Confess the Lord, Declare for him, his ways and Worship? Some years ago I was as a Sheep going astray from God, listening to strange Doctrines and Opinions, that had almost drawn to Errors and strange Delusions; Oh! but the Lord hath taken my feet out of the Snare, and redeemed my Soul from the Error of the wicked, and hath Established me in his Truth to this day; Oh therefore shall not I now in such a day as this, when his Truth is vilified, his ways and Ordinances every where spoken against, doth it not behove me to Own them, and appear publicly for them? You have a notable saying of Mordecai, to Hester, when he would have her stand up and use her Interest in Owning the Lords People; See Esther 4.14. Who knoweth, saith he, whether thou art come to the Kingdom, for such a time as this? So say I to the Lords People now, Wherefore hath God brought you forth in such a time as this, in such a generation and age as this, but more than ordinarily to Act for Him, yea publicly to Own Him and Appear on His behalf? A Second Reason, why the Saints ought now to be public for God, and all Religious concerns, is, Because, The Lord, his Word, his People, his always, his Worship and Ordinances, are publicly Disowned, Openly Blasphemed and Reproached; and therefore there ought to be a public Owning and Declaring for the Lord and his always. Oh the public vilifying of God his People and Ways, in the public Places of this Nation, and that by those that call themselves Ministers, and make it their business to revile the Lord, reproach his People, and Villify his Ordinances, and therefore it behoves Saints to be as public as possible, in their work and duty, in their honouring of God, in their extoling of God, in their clearing and vindicating of his poor People, in their esteem and setting forth the Excellency, Worth and Commendation of the Ordinances of our God, that the vile sons of men do trample under foot. God's Name this day is publicly dishonoured and Blasphemed, if not by Authority, yet silently passed over and winked at; Oh where are the Lord's jubilees now? are they asleep? are they in a dream? are they drowsy? Is your Fathers Name and Glory Trampled upon, and will you not be moved with it? will you not be concerned in it? Awake oh Sons of Sion, See you not what is done to your Father this day, and to his great and glorious Name by which you are called? Oh how dear should his glory be to you, to whom you are so nearly related! In 1 Sam. 4. the later end, See the great Zeal that ancient servant of God had to the Honour and Glory of God, when it was Eclipsed and Blemished, he was careless of his own Life and Being; when once Gods Glory was gone, his Life was but burdensome to him. Oh! therefore for the Lords sake, forsake not the Assembling of yourselves together: Meet publicly and often, cry aloud to God against the Abomination of the Day; Oh beg for a Spirit of prayer and supplication, that you may be kept from all defilements whatsoever, that you way wrestle earnestly with the Lord, that the Lord may say, I will go down and see, if the sin be so great, as the cry hath come up to me. A Third Reason, why there ought to be a public Owning and Appearing for God, is, Because, If there be not, it will put the Lord upon taking up a heavy and sore complaint against his People. See Jer. 9.3. But they are not valiant for the Truth upon the Earth. God expects Courage and Boldness in his People, in a Day when his Truth is slighted and contemned; he expects a Spirit suitable to the Day. Oh my friends do not grieve the Lord, put him not upon the Complaint; let it suffice and be sufficient that his enemies grieve him and cause him to Complain, but do not you do it; answer the expectation of God this day. God expects not onely that his People should know the Truth, not onely believe the Truth, but to appear for it and own it, yea to be valiant and courageous for it. This word Truth is a deep word, there lies much in it, John 18.37. For this cause came I into the World, that I might bear witness to the Truth. As it was with the Head the Lord Jesus, so likewise with his Members, the Lord's People; and by Truth must be meant the Things of God; Now the Spirit of the Lord doth call the Will, Mind, or Law of God, the Truth of God: See Psal. 119.142. So then, it is clear, That all God's Appointments, Requirements and Ordinances, are bundled up in the Law of God, which is the Truth. Then our Religious Meetings are part of God's Law, and so the Truth we are to be valiant for. God's Truth is worthy to be Owned, and Suffered for, no People under Heaven have more glorious Truths and Causes to Suffer and Die for than we have; Oh therefore be Valiant and courageous for it, God hath not been wanting in making you Valiant and courageous for his Truth. 1. He hath furnished you with rare Patterns, eminent Examples, rich and excellent Precedents; Witness famous Nehemiah, Should such a man as I flee? should I decline? should I dissert the Work and Interest of God? I that am so Eminent for it, so deeply engaged in the Work? should I now be Cowardly and Fearful? I will not be so. See also those ever to be Renowned Three Children, Daniel 4. that valued not their own Concerns, their own Safety and Preservation, when the Interest and Glory of God lay at stake; We are not careful, say they, O King, to Answer thee in this matter; in this matter that so much Dishonours God, in this matter that so much Blasphemes the Divine Majesty, We are not careful to answer thee in this matter that so much entrencheth upon Gods Prerogative, our Consciences; And say they, but if not, put the worst that may be, yet We will not bow down to the golden Image which thou hast set up; Thereby teaching us this wholesome Lesson, That they were of such valiant and heroic Spirits for God, that they would not decline, dissert, nor relinquish, the Work, Cause, and Interest of God, although all visible helps and means failed, or were denied and withheld from them; But if not, we will not comform to the Worship which thou hast set up. Also, Witness those worthy and noble Spirits, the Primitive Christians, that bid their Adversaries Judge, Whether it were better to obey God or man. But Secondly, we have great means, Ability and Strength from God, to make us Valiant and courageous; God will not be wanting in supplying us with Strength sufficient for the day in which he will bring us forth. Thirdly, God hath made great Promises and Rewards to his courageous and Valiant ones; Oh! how should the great Reward of Glory animate his Peoples Spirits, heighten their Zeal, elevate their Affections, increase their Courage for God? My dear Brethren and Friends, you stand this day betwixt two Pillars, betwixt two Rocks, or rather betwixt two flaming Swords, to enliven, to support, to give an edge to your Courage and Valor for God in this Day. On the one hand stands eminent Examples, worthy Presidents, for Courage and Boldness for God: On the other hand stands Rich Promises, and Large Rewards, for your Courage and Boldness for God. Thus Christians are you beset, thus are you environed round about on each side. Oh me-thinks, how can Saints Act now less than Eminently for God! than Excellently and Famously for the Lord! Oh it should be below Saints Spirits to Act beggarly for God, privately for God, when they should be public, when they should be of an open Spirit in appearing for God, though it procures a Prison! Alas, that is not worth speaking of, Death itself is not to be mattered, Gods very Presence is able to make a Prison a palace to thee, and thy Bonds great Liberty: Through Grace I have experienced what I say. Fourth Reason, why we ought to be Eminent for God, in Bearing a public Testimony for Him, in this evil Day, is, Because, God will take it mighty kindly at the hands of HIs People, He will take special notice of it. See that famous Scripture, Mal. 3.15, 16, 17. Here were choice Souls, that appeared for God in an evil day, in Meeting together, and speaking often one to another; Now saith the Scripture, God harkened and heard; It notes great Attention that God gives, He takes special notice of it, and of what these People did: Oh! the Lord was so affencted with these People, that he loves to stand and harken: What! for them to Appear for him now, to Stand up for him now, to Own the ways of God now, when it was a Crime to be Religious, when 'vice, and unsettledness, and all Abominations was in Fashion and uppermost; When the wicked were set up, and those that tempted God were delivered; when the Ordinances of God were lightly esteemed and set at nought; Oh! then was the time in which these People Met often, then did they Stand up for the Lord, his Truth and Ordinances. Now this highly affects God, he is hugely in love with it, this he mightily eyes and regards; God harkened, he was mightily drawn forth to be in high esteem of this Act; And saith the Scripture, A Book of Remembrance was brought before him, for those that Met, and that thought upon his Name. This is like to Kings and Potentates, that when any of their Servants have done some rare and special Service for them, they are made one of their Favourites, and are Inroled amongst their famous Worthies, and Entered into the Chronicles for a Memorial. So was the Case of Mordecai, he had done an Eminent piece of Service for the King, and therefore was to be Inroled in the Kings Chronicles, amongst his jubilees, Esther 6.1, 2, 3. So also with the Lord, he hath a Book of Remembrance in which his jubilees are Inroled, in which they are kept alive for a Memorial to Posterity. Oh! me-thinks, to consider seriously, that these People in all the days of Liberty, Freedom and Prosperity, when they served God, and met together and spake one to another, we do not find that God harkened and heard then, and that he called for his Book of Remembrance then; but he doth it now when they in such a day Owned Him, and Stood up for Him: As if the Lord would intimate to us, that though he might silently pass over or forget all our actings for him, and servings of Him, and meetings in a day of prosperity, when Religion was in fashion, no Crime to be Religious: Oh but in a day of Adversity, in a day of Backslideing, of great hard-heartedness and Abomination, God will not silently pass over, he will not forget his Peoples Services, and Actings for him in such a day; Then, when his People bore a public Testimony and Met often, was the very time in which the Lord harkened, and called for his Book of Remembrance. Oh my dear Friends! How should this move you, induce you, draw you forth to this work and duty? Would you be accounted the Worthies of God, to be Inroled in his Book of Remembrance? Oh then Act Eminently for God, be public for him, Stand up for him, Own him in his ways, juleps and Appointments. A Fifth Reason, why we should Bear a public Testimony for God, is, Because if we do not, it will be esteemed and looked upon as being ashamed of Him; and truly if we be ashamed of him now, he will one day be ashamed of us. See Mark 8.38. Whosoever therefore is ashamed of me, and of my words in this sinful and adulterous Generation, of him will I be ashamed, when I come in the glory of my Father with his holy Angels. I do wish with my Soul, that all the Lord's People would seriously lay this Scripture to heart, That[ whosoever] is ashamed to Own Christ now, He will in His Day be ashamed to Own them. And Christ seems to intimate when Professors are most apt to be ashamed of Him, and that is, in this adulterous and sinful Generation: He may well and properly call this Generatition, adulterous, they have adulterated and changed the holy and pure Worship and Commands of God. Isa. 24.5. God complains there, That they had transgressed His Laws and changed His Ordinances. And Isa. 29.30. And their fear towards me, saith God, is taught by the Precepts of men, as it is at this day; and this is Spiritual Adultery, and Spiritual Fornication, which most Ages have been guilty of. Now for any man that hath Owned and Professed Christ, not to Appear for him, and Own his Truths and Ordinances in this adulterous Generation, what is it less than to be ashamed of Him? Here is one Thing may be Observed, That it's possible for the very Disciples and Followers of Christ to be ashamed of Him. Christ makes a large and general Proposition [ Whosoever] shall be ashamed of me; Let it be a Paul, or a Peter, I will be ashamed of him, I will disown him. It seems to be a strange Doctrine, That the Followers of the Lord may be ashamed of Him: Really, I should hardly have believed it, had not the mouth of Christ spoken it; What, to be ashamed of Christ! to disown Christ! Is this possible? Yea, it is. Oh Friends! Who can find in their heart to be ashamed of Christ? He that is such a good Master, such a good Lord. Never any lost by serving of him, never any repented their serving of him, he always fully and freely rewarded his Servants and Followers: But yet, and the more is the pity, his Disciples may be ashamed of Him. If we had no more Reason to confirm the truth of this, our Experience were authority sufficient; What our Eyes have seen, and our ears have heard, how many in this little time of Trial, which we have gone through, have been ashamed of Christ, of his Words, Works, ways and People; or else what means their going into Corners, into Private Places, their running into Heathenish Places, at the Wills and Commands of men? If Men say they shall not Meet, they are contented; if Men say they must go to the Parochial Churches, they are willing to comform. What mean Persons sleeing into Remote Parts, before they are Pursued from their Native Parts? Here is the Place, where we have Professed and Owned the Lords Truth, and here the Lord hath called us, and therefore here they ought to Stand to it, and Appear for it. Oh! what means Persons turning their Backs upon the Works of God, by Swearing against them? And how have many Leaders and Elders, been ashamed to Own their poor imprisoned Brethren? hardly that kindness was received, as a Visit in the Goal; the Lord lay it not to their charge. Oh what means mens using such indirect unlawful means, to rid and free themselves from Trouble and Suffering; But that they do evidence, that they are ashamed of the Lord, and so cast off his Service and cross? Oh my Brethren! In your public Owning of the Lord, be exhorted not to be ashamed of Him; Be not ashamed of His ways, though contemptible; nor of his People, though poor and low: the time is coming, when they shall be the Excellent, and the most Honourable in the Earth: Be not ashamed of the cross of Christ; if the Lord put you upon difficult Service, across Work, as I may call it, which is most ignomineous and shameful, be not ashamed of it. Christ underwent much shane for you, it's but Reasonable that you should undergo a little for him; He mattered not all the Scoffs, Jeers, Flouts, Buffetings, and what no? and all this from the hands of the Vulgar, for your sakes; Oh do you so for him: Let God put you upon the meanest and worst of Services, be not ashamed of it: Oh if it should come to pass that you should be whipped naked, or put in the Pillory, be not ashamed. The Martyrs of late were so far from being ashamed, that the Ropes about their Necks they esteemed as Robes for Christ, and from Christ: Remember those worthy Souls, Acts 5.41. They rejoiced they were counted worthy to suffer shane for the Name of God. Let me tell you, that your not being ashamed of the Lord, his ways, and cross, is a great and blessed means to advantage the Gospel, and to benefit Souls. See that precious Scripture Philip. 1.12, 13. My Bonds, saith Paul, happened to the furtherance of the Gospel: It's a strange Expression, it seems to be a thing very unlikely, that a man being kept close shut up in Prison, and yet should Advantage the Gospel, and Further that. One would have thought, that if the Apostle had been at Liberty, and been going from Country to Country Preaching, that might indeed have been a Furtherance to the Gospel; nevertheless his Bonds and Imprisonment did. The Reason follows. But to the Second Thing. The Apostle by his Bonds did not only Further the Gospel, but benefited Souls also, See Vers. 14. Many of the Brethren waxed Confident by my Bonds. A strange Product of Sufferings! one would have thought, they would have been cast down, timorous, ready to draw back, to be discouraged, because their Champion was gone, no, they were not. But how can these things be, that they by Paul's Bonds should wax Confident, and the Gospel be Furthered? See the Reason of it, Verse 20. Paul was in nothing ashamed, but had all boldness; Was in nothing, no not of the cross of Christ; There was a lively Spirit in Paul which attended him in Sufferings, which the men of the World knew not of. It's reported amongst the Indians, that when the use of Letters came first among them, they admired at it, that some Ink being done upon Paper, Persons, though they lived a Thousand miles asunder, could yet Converse by a piece of Paper, and know each others Minds; The Indians concluded there was some Spirit in the Paper. So when men do see the wonderful effects and carryings forth of God's People in Sufferings, they may well conclude with the Indians, that there is some Spirit in it, some lively Spirit for God, in nothing to be ashamed, but to have all boldness. Now, as for such as be ashamed of Christ now, he will, unless they repent, be ashamed of them; and it's sad to consider that in that day wherein Christ may do the most good, and wherein you will stand in the most need, then for him to be ashamed of you, to disown you; which if you had not been ashamed of him in this adulterous Generation, you might now have shared with Him in Glory, and been equal with his holy Angels. The Sixth and Last Reason, why the People of the Lord ought to Bear a public Testimony for him before the World, is, Because( and pray mind it) Christ will publicly own his People before his Father and his holy Angels. He that shall confess me, saith Christ, him will I confess before my Father; As the Lords People Bear a public Testimony and Owning of Christ, so one day He will do so to them: In that great day of Tribunal, when the Judge of the whole Earth shall pass a righteous Sentence and Judgement; First, He will bring his People upon the Stage before all the World, and whereas they have lived and died, with great Calumnies upon them, as Wicked Persons, as heretics, as fanatics, as the Tares, as the worst of Persons; Oh in that day Christ will Own them, yea before the World and his Father, and will publicly Stand up for them, and make the difference who are his People, and who are not; who were the Tares, and who were the fanatics, He will set them before his Father and say, These are my Jewels, my Lambs and Followers, they followed me in the Regeneration, they bore a public Testimony for me before the World, they Owned my ways, my Worship, my Ordinances, yea when it was Criminal to do so; yea, it cost them their Liberties, their Freedoms to do it, also the loss of outward Enjoyments, and Relations; yea, to many of them the deprivation of Life itself; and I have engaged to them in their Life time, that I would Stand by and Own them before my Father. Now the Lord of Heaven will clear and take off all those blots, calumnies, and reproaches, that have lain upon his People in the day of their Lives and Deaths, See Mal. 3.16, 17, 18. In that day, saith God, they shall be mine, when I make up my Jewels: Good Lord, what a strange saying is this, they shall be mine. What Lord, were they not thine, when they Appeared eminently for God? when they were singular for God, when they Met often together, when they publicly Owned the Lord? Yes, they were the Lords then, but in the day when he comes to make up the rest of his Jewels, he will publicly Own them, they shall then be His, that is, declaratively, the World shall know it: Alas, now they are stigmatized with dreadful names, now they are called fanatics; Oh but saith God, I will Own them, in the Day when I make up my Jewels, there shall be a vast disproportion, a large difference between the precious and the vile, betwixt him that serveth God, and him that doth not. Now a Word to Apply this Subject, and so Conclude with it. Seeing this is a Truth, That the People of God ought to be public for God, to bear a public Testimony for him, to Own him, in this evil day: Then I would make this Use of it, and that is, To Exhort all the Lords People to labour after a choice Spirit for God, an excellent and singular Spirit for God. See how highly God takes notice and commends this Spirit in his Servant Caleb, Numb. 14.24. He was of another Spirit, and followed the Lord fully; therefore, saith God, I will bring him to the Land, and he shall possess it. Caleb was one of the Spies sent to search the good Land of Promise; and Ten of those Twelve that were sent, brought up an evil Report of the Land, and so they discouraged the hearts of their Brethren. From whence Note, That the sin of Fear is of an Infecting Nature, it will Infect. The Fear of Man brings a Snare, that is a true Proverb. And thus Fear went further, it bread Discontents in them, and they murmured against the Lord, and repined at his dealings with them. Another Evil that followed this Fear of theirs, They spake reproachfully, and cast contempt upon the Works of God, and said, Wherefore hath the Lord brought us forth of Egypt? Oh how do men now turn their backs upon the Works of God, because they see a black and dark day over those Works, there is an Eclipse hath happened in the Sun. Also these fearful Persons, went to make themselves a Captain, and so return to Egypt, to the Vomit which they had Vomited up; It's even so now, because men do apprehended that the Work of God goes backward, therefore they will go backward: The Lord make them sensible of their evil herein. I, but now Caleb the Servant of the Lord was of a choicer Spirit, different from his Brethren, and that chiefly in Four respects. 1. He was very Bold and courageous for God, did not at all Fear, nor was Daunted at the great Oppositions and Discouragements he met with: Now his Brethren were of a Fearful timorous Spirit, they feared the great Walls, and the great Men there, but this was not in Caleb; The great lets, Difficulties, and Obstructions, did not at all discourage or move him, he was of another Spirit, saith God, of a more choicer Spirit: Oh that this were in the Churches of God. 2. He had a Spirit of great Faith and Confidence, in Depending on God, and therefore speaks to his Brethren, concerning his Enemies, They shall be Bread for us, and our God will help us: Though no visible means, yet he had an Eye of Faith fixed on God; but his Brethren were of a Faithless and Unbelieving Spirit, but saith the Lord, There was another Spirit in Caleb. 3. He was very Zealous and Affectionate for God, though they were ready to ston him, yet he did not at all abate nor diminish his Zeal for God, though his Life might have been in Jeopardy: now his brethren were of base and lukewarm Spirits for God; I, but saith the Lord, there is another Spirit in my servant Caleb. 4. He very much persevered in his Faithfulness for God, and therefore the Lord saith, He hath followed me fully: Now this was not in his Brethren, for they declined and disserted this full following of the Lord, and therefore the Lord saith, that there was another Spirit in Caleb, a more choice and Excellent Spirit. Now this is that which the Lord looks for and expects at the hands of his People, namely, a full following of him, both in his Requirements, and in all his Dispensations too, though never so cross to flesh and blood; if God leads us( through a faithful bearing Witness for his Truth) to a Prison, to Banishment, to a Gibbet or Stake, we ought to follow him. Believe it my Friends, it's this other Spirit, this choice Spirit, and no less, that will bear up a Christians head in this day; It's not an ordinary Spirit that will carry him through all the Waves, Storms and Difficulties; It must be this Singular Spirit, that was in Caleb. Lastly Consider, That because of this choice Spirit, and following the Lord fully, he should enjoy the Land of Promise. From whence Observe this Truth, That God hath Choice reserved Favours to hand forth and bestow upon those that are of a Choice Spirit, and his close Followers. If there be any Rarity better than other, any signal Deliverance, they shall have it, they may as it were have the Lord's Heart and Hand to do them Good. These things seriously weighed and considered, let us be up and doing for our God, Confessing and Owning of Him, and Follow Him fully, and so in the End he will Reward us, with Immortal Praise and Glory to all Eternity. FINIS. Here followeth some Sound Arguments, To PROVE and CONFIRM the Truth of Bearing A public Testimony FOR GOD; As it is Contained in this BOOK. Penned by a FRIEND of Approved Integrity and Faithfulness for GOD, for no other Reason than to make an Hedge, that the Wolf Break not in and Devour the Sheep, and cause them to Flee into the forest. Argument. 1. IF Christ hath given full Power to his Church, as such, to Preach the Gospel publicly, Administer Ordinances, and Officiating in other Matters relating to their Meetings in the Worship of God; Then for to Neglect or Decline, at the Command of Men, is to Regard Man more than Christ: But Christ hath given full Power to his Church, as such, to Preach the Gospel publicly, Administer Ordinances, and Officiate in all Matters relating to their Meetings, in the Worship of God; Ergo. Argument. 2. If God spared not the Angels, when they would be as the Most High, or entrench upon things which concerned His sovereignty only; Then He will not spare Rulers that do so, nor His People that Consent thereunto. But God spared not the Angels, when they would be as the Most High, or meddle with things which concerned His Sovereignty only; Ergo. Argument. 3. If it be an Evil, to see a Thief Steal and be Silent, then it's a Evil to see Christ controlled or Robbed of His sovereignty and be silent. But it is an Evil to see a Thief Steal, and be silent; Ergo. Argument. 4. Where Rulers, have no Power to Command or control, there it's no Transgression to Disobey: But in Spiritual Matters, over mens Consciences, Rulers have no Power to Command or control; Ergo. Argument. 5. If the Church and Servants of Christ in these dayes, are bound to Follow the Example of Christ, and his Church in the Primitive Time, and they Met publicly as a Church, against the Laws of the Rulers; Then the Church and Servants of Christ now, are bound to Meet together publicly as a Church, against the Laws of Rulers: But the Church and Servants of Christ in these days are bound to Follow the Example of Christ, and his Church in the Primitive Times, and they Met as a Church publicly, against the Laws of Rulers; Ergo. Argument. 6. If Christ hath set His Church as a Light to the World, and an Ensign on a Hill; Then they must Appear as a Church publicly before the World, and not keep under a Bushel, or run into Corners: But Christ hath set his Church as a Light to the World, and an Ensign on a Hill; Ergo. Argument. 7. If God hath Owned and Honoured his People, in their Meeting often together, and in Bearing a public Testimony for Him, in an evil day, and He is the same for Ever; Then His People ought to be Encouraged to Continue and Promote Meetings, and to Bear a public Testimony for God in an Evil day: But God hath Owned and Honoured His People in their Meetings often together, and Bearing a public Testimony for Him, in an Evil day, and He is the same for Ever; Ergo. Argument. 8. If the Scripture Commends Meeting together as a virtue, and Reproves the Neglect thereof as a 'vice, and that in an Evil day; Then Meeting together ought to be Continued and Pursued: But the Scripture Commends Meeting together as a Virtue, and Reproves the Neglect thereof as a 'vice; Ergo. Argument. 9. If we should Urge that for a Reason to Neglect Meeting together, which the Spirit of God Urgeth as a Reason to Frequent Meeting, and the People of God have found help therein; Then we should Pervert Scripture: But to Urge an Evil day as a Reason to Neglect Meeting together, is to Urge that for a Reason, which the holy Ghost Urgeth as a Reason to Frequent Meeting, and the People of God have found Help therein; Ergo. Argument. 10. If the Prudent Prophets and Apostles could not but Speak the Things they had Learned of God, to the hazard of their Lives in an Evil day; Then the Prudent must not keep silent in Religious Matters in an Evil day: But the Prudent Prophets and Apostles, could not but Speak the Things they had Learned of God, though to the hazard of their Lives in an Evil day; Ergo. Argument. 11. If it be the Warfare of the Saints, to contend earnestly for the Faith and sovereignty of Christ, and Freedom of His People, in Religious Matters, against all that Oppose them publicly; Then they cannot be as Wise as Serpents and Innocent as Doves, in seeing them Trampled upon, and be silent: But it is the Warfare of Saints to Contend for the Faith and Sovereignty of Christ and Freedom of His People in Religious Matters, against all that Oppose the same publicly; Ergo. Argument. 12. If it be the Character of a Righteous Man to be Bold in the Pursuit of a good Cause; Then they that Flee, and give place to the Devil are not Righteous: But it is the Character of a Righteous Man to be Bold in the Pursuit of a good Cause; Ergo. Argument. 13. That which Papists, or Episcopal Men and other sorts of Professors Contend for as their Principle, when the Powers are against them, as of right to be Allowed; and yet to be against it, when the Powers are on their side, renders them Inconsistent in Principles, or Hypocrites in Profession: But Liberty to Meet together to Worship God, according to their Understanding and Conscience, is that, that the Papists, or Episcopal Men, and other Professors have Contended for, when the Powers have been against them, as of Right to be allowed; Ergo. Argument. 14. To do to all Men, as we would have Men do to us, is the Law of the Gospel: But he that would have the Liberty of his Religion when he is Undermost, and will not grant it to others when he is Uppermost, doth not do to others as he would be done unto; Ergo. To him that knows to do well, and doth it not, to him it is sin. If you know these things, happy are ye if ye do them; And that you may do them, is the Desire of D. R. THE END.