A LAMENTATION Over the Dead in Christ, not as those without hope; with instruction, admonition, and encouragement to the Survivers.  
As it should have been delivered to the People (had not Satan hindered) at the Funeral of Mr. Henry Rix of Cambridge, Jan. 19 1656— 7. in pursuance of his earnest request on his Deathbed. Now published for the benefit of those that will hear.  
By THOMAS MOOR junior.  
David lamented over Jonathan.  I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan, very pleasant hast thou been to me, thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of Women; how are the mighty fallen in the midst of the Battle, and the Weapons of War perished? 2 Sam. 1. 25, 26, 27. And Jeremy lamented for Josiah, and all the Singing-men, and Singing-women speak of Josiah in their Lamentations to this day, and made them an Ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the Lamentations, 2 Chro. 35. 25. But I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning them that are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others that have no hope; for if we believe that Jesus died, and risen again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him, 1 Thess. 4. 14, 15. 
Printed at London by R. I. for Livewell Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-head Alley. 1657.   

To the Reader, and especially to those at, or near Cambridge.  
ON the sad news of my dear Brother's Sickness to death, I went as soon as I could, if happily I might to have seen him, and that I might have been refreshed together with him before his departure; but it pleased our gracious Father, the wise Disposer of all things, in whose hands are all our lives, our times, and ways, to deny me of that, by speeding another Visitor (to him fare better) to take him away from the evil against which he had been long striving, in the light and strength of the Lord, that he may henceforth be with him, and at rest from all his Labours and Combats, though yet waiting for the completing of the Adoption, that is, the Redemption of the Body, till the rest of his Brethren have finished their course as well as he. He departed the night before I got to Cambridge, where I understood, That it was his earnest request on his Deathbed, that if I came in time, I should be desired (as from him) to give the people a word if Exhortation at his Funeral, and also that the Minister of the Parish, on his desire was freely willing with it; on which considerations I consented to it, and knew not of any Blocks in the way until the time was almost come, that I should have performed the will of the Deceased in this matter; ●●to which service, apprehending from the  considerations, God calling me, and making the way hitherto clear enough, I was very ready to have offered myself, notwithstanding some reports, I know not how raised, of some Scholars threatening incivility to me, which I did not much credit, of at least feared not, purposing by the grace of God not to resist evil if 〈◊〉; and trusting in a greater power than that of man for protection. In some others thought it convenient to take me off, yet could I not be satisfied without publishing what I then intended to have spoken, and that for these Reasons.  
1 I cannot but judge the removal of this Israelite indeed, and at such a time, to be a sad Correction and Judgement, especially to the place, and people among whom he lived, he being one whose heart (through the grace of God in Christ our Saviour, towards man) was fixed, trusting in ●●● 〈◊〉 and walking in the hearty belief and acknowledgement of the truth of the Gospel, and waiting for the hope of it, and thence filled with the constraining operation of the love of Christ persuading men, and seeking the good of all by all means within his capacity, shining as a light in the world, and amongst a crooked and perverse Generation, holding forth the Word of Life in word and conversation; and how much as to these things he was alone is that place I spare to speak, yet he through that grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all men, teaching us (as Tit. 2. 11, 12.) so demeaned himself, that he had a good report of all men, as well as especially of the truth itself; for cleaving to which, though he had many adversaries, chief of those that sometimes in some measure acknowledged, and rejoiced in the truth with him, but now have turned away their ears from it, and are ●●●ned aside to fables, yet they could find nothing against him, but in the ma●ters of his God, and were made ashamed, wherein they falsely accused his good conversation in Christ.  
2 That which follows was much set upon my spirit, as a very needful and seasonable Instruction, and Admonition to the people there, and at that time; and I knew not but God by his providence called me thither at such a time, for such an end, though I could not but judge myself most 〈◊〉 to present it.  
3 Some that observed, could not but take notice of a great hand of Satan, with great diligence exercised to the hindering it.  
Therefore that I may both do what in me lies to perform the desire of the deceased, and also not to rebel against him that pressed my spirit, to give my sense of the meaning of the voice of this providence, as by bringing to remembrance, and opening the Scriptures to my understanding, he gave it me, if peradventure any may be awakened by it, I here present it to view, and commit it and myself to him, in whom I desire to be Servant to all,  
THO. MOOR. From my house at Lynn, Febr. 10. 1656 7.   

On the Subject of the following Discourse upon the Death of Henry Rix.  

Here hast thou first a Paradox explained,  
Evincing some have Righteousness attained,  
Nevertheless this truth remains, there's none  
Righteous in, as of themselves, not one  
Yet in the Lord, and 'tis in him alone:   

Righteousness and strength some have, and they  
In him are justified, and glory aye,  
Xpecting still its Crown of Immortality.   

Henry in's Lot shall then with Christ affix,  
And we with Christ shall meet our Brother Rix.   

Next we present thee with our cause of grief,  
Desiring God from Heaven to send relief;  
He's gone in whom no guile, an Israelite;  
Is there in's stead left such another Light?  
Then had we not such cause as now to moon,  
Yet mourn we not as those that hope have none:  
First, in behalf of him that's fallen asleep,  
We have great cause to joy, and not to weep;  
For we believing Christ did Die, and Rise,  
Do know that with him he shall come likewise,  
And then possess with all the Saints the Crown,  
The righteous Judge shall give when he comes down;  
And in mean time he rests in blessed peace,  
Where from his wars and labours he doth cease,  
Then for ourselves, our God, our Rock's alive,  
And will not fail at need us to relieve:  
Yet for ourselves we have cause to lament,  
Yea sure the Judgement is of large extent,  
And larger than to them that lay't to heart,  
Nor is't the less because few feel the smart,  
Yet still our cause of lamentation's more,  
To says the Children of the Spiritual Whore;  
Against the Heavens themselves with sport rejoice,  
Not doubting to prevail with their strange voice.  
Reproaching now the poor that trusts in God,  
Because afflicted with their Father's Rod;  
But in due time God will arise, and then  
No place will be for these proud wicked men:  
In the great Judgement than they shall not stand,  
But shall be broken with a mighty hand;  
A little while, and then he will not stay,  
But come with all his Saints, O come away;  
Is it not yet the time to judge thy Flock,  
When as to outward means their powers do slack?  
Is there yet any left, shut up, or hid?  
Cause them t' appear, thy flock to help and rid;  
Make them more wise and strong to do exploits,  
Through thy good name to show the deep deceits,  
So manifold of him whose name is Legion,  
That with us may remain the pure Religion,  
And haste the coming of that blessed day,  
In which thou wilt wipe all our tears away:  
In mean time, teach us to account and mind,  
Thy patience is Salvation to th' unkind;  
A pleasure in their death, thou now hast none,  
While yet thy grace brings them Salvation;  
Of thy mind make us more, as reading well  
Ith' greatness of thy love, thy terror sell.  
Thence instantly with meekness praying them,  
Now to be reconciled unto him;  
That was made Sin, and Curse for's all, that we  
The righteousness of God in him might be.   
T. M. Junior.   

A Lamentation over the dead in Christ, with Instruction, Admonition, and encouragement to the Survivers, in some explication of the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Chap. 57 1. as compared with other Scriptures.  Isaiah 57 1. The Righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come.] 
THe words present us with a Twofold matter of Lamentation, or cause of grief, doubled in the expression of each part, to note the greatness of the Judgement, and to awake us to the more diligence to learn righteousness by it.  
1 That the Righteous perisheth, merciful men, or men of kindness, and godliness are taken away.  
2 That no man lays it to heart, none considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil. We read [to come] but those two words being added by the Translators, as appears by their different Character, may be left out in our reading, and the text without them, not only as fully takes in the truth expressed by but is more signified, viz. That he is taken away from the evil, as well that present as that to come. The Instructions fully signified, and set before us in the words of this Lamentation are,  
1 That the perishing of the righteous, the taking away of men of kindness, and godliness, is a sad correction to the survivers, which God would have so laid to heart, and considered by them.  
2 That when God so strikes, and yet none lay to heart, or consider it, it is an evidence of wilful blindness, and great hardness in such a people, and a sign and forerunner of greater Judgements.  
3 That even in these sad Judgements there is special mercy, and choice blessedness to those so taken away, and that to be considered also, they are taken away from the evil; Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth, yèa saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them.  
I That the perishing of the Righteous is a sad correction to the survivers, which God would have so laid to heart, and considered by them; for our understanding and usefulness of this, we shall propound to consideration, 1. Who are the Righteous, 2. In what sense they may be said to perish, and when they so do; and then shall further demonstrate and explicate the Position.  
I Who are the Righteous and merciful men, or men of kindness, or godliness, truly if men be considered as they are by Nature and first birth, as descended from Adam, or as they are in and of themselves, or in what they may attain to by the will of flesh, or will-wisdome, and strength of man, in whatever exercised, There is none righteous, or doth good, no not one, of all the natural Children of Adam; they have all sinned, and are come short of the glory of God, they are become wholly sinful, weak, and corrupt, they are dead in sins and trespasses, and children of wrath, as so considered, one as well as another, Psal. 14. Rom. 3. 19-23. Ephes. 2. 1, 2. By the Law is the knowledge of sin in the best as well as in the worst works of men, yea it discovers his whole nature overspread with it, and therefore by the deeds of it shall no man be justified in the sight of God, Rom. 3. 20. Gal. 3. 11. Psal, 143. 2.  
There is only one man of all the Nature, even the man Christ Jesus, that is in a proper and strict sense, Good, or Righteous, in and of himself, and for us, and he is none of the natural Children, nor naturally of man, but of God, (Mark 12. 18.) who also prepared for him a Body in our Nature, and of a Woman, by the secret and wonderful efficacy of his holy Spirit, and did in that Body deliver him to Death for our Offences, and raise him again for our Justification; and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might be in God; And he is expressly called the Righteous, 1 Joh. 2. 1. the Just, Jam. 5. 6. even the righteous, or just one, and justly too; for,  
1 He is perfectly so in and of himself, being the Natural and only begotten Son of God, so that he is of the Father, the same that the Father is, Righteousness, Justice, Truth, Holiness, and Goodness itself; yea in that Body prepared for him in man's Nature, though he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, subject to all our infirmities that came by sin, yet without sin, He knew no sin; And this rendered him a meet and worthy Person to undertake for Sinners, to prepare, and give a Ransom to God, and be a Mediator for them; for, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean, not one; therefore no mere man can redeem his Brother, or give to God a ransom for him; for such a High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, etc.  
2 He is perfectly so in what he hath undertaken, and done for men in that Body prepared for him in man's Nature, he hath perfectly and voluntarily fulfilled that will of the Father he came to do, as to the works to be finished in his own Body on the earth, Psal. 40. 6- 9 Hebr. 10, 5- 12. Joh. 17. 4. He humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the Cross. He laid down his life that he might take it again, even as he received Commandment of his Father, Phil. 2. 7, 8. Joh. 10. 17, 18. Heb. 12, 2. 1 Pet. 2. 24. and because of this,  
3 He is made perfect for us, the Righteous, and just one, or justified Person in our Nature, and for us, acquit off all our trespasses and sins that were imputed to him, and so therein a Victorer over all Curse, and Death laid upon him, having by himself purged our sins, he is accepted, and set down on the right hand of God as a perfect Ransom, and price of Redemption for men, and standing propitiation for the sins of the whole world, yea a Prince and Saviour, for to give repentance, and forgiveness of sins, and the Judge of all, Heb. 1. 3, 4, & 12. 2. 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6. 1 Job. 2. 1, 2. Acts 5. 31. & 10. 36. 42. Yea,  
4 He is righteous and faithful in all appointed him. A faithful Mediator and High Priest, a faithful testimony of God's goodness to men in due time, that through him they might be saved; and the Author of eternal Salvation to them that obey him, and the righteous Judge of quick and dead, by whom God shall judge the world in righteousness, even by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead, for to this end he died, rose, and revived, that he might be Lord of dead and living; so that he is properly and absolutely the righteous One in and of himself, and for us; the Lord our righteousness, in whom, and in whom only weehave righteousness, and strength; yet is not he the righteous that are here spoken of. For  
1 This Text speaks in the plural number, of righteous ones, merciful men, men of kindness, or godliness, nor is he included as one of the righteous ones here spoken of. For  
2 He was not, nor could be holden of Death, as David, and others that sleep in Jesus, are; his flesh saw no corruption, Psal. 16. 10. with Acts 2. 25- 31. so that he did not perish out of the earth by death as they, Mich. 7. 1, 2. He was raised again the third day, and after seen of many witnesses. Yea,  
3 Though he was taken from the earth in his Ascension, yet that was no chastisement, or correction, and so no cause of grief or sorrow to us, no nor to them that did enjoy his personal presence on the earth; but cause of great joy, for if he had not so personally ascended to the Father. The Comforter, that coming forth of the Spirit of truth, in the evidence and demonstration of the works finished in his Body, accepted, and for ever virtuous with the Father for us, could not have come, Joh. 7. 39 & 14. 26- 28. & 16. 7, 8. yea he went to prepare places for us, that he might come again Personally, and receive us to himself, that we, even all that by him believe in God, might be ever with him in his glory, Job. 14. And so neither is he so perished from the earth, or from among men, in his being personally received up into glory, as to be no more capable of conversing with them, helping, or doing them good, but is thereby absolutely perfected in such capacity, even in that body in man's nature through sufferings glorified, for being ascended fare above all heavens, even in Heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us, even the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth; he fills all things with his influences, and operations, and is in his gracious and Spiritual presence, and virtues, in the hearts and societies of his people, that through grace believe in him, Ephes. 4. 7. 8- 10. 11. Matth. 28. 20. Joh. 14. 17, 18.  
By all which it appears, he is none of the righteous spoken of in this text, yet the consideration already propounded of him as the righteous one, will help us to understand who are the righteous that are here spoken of, and therefore is no digression from our business; for from these two considerations, viz. That of the Natural Race, or Children of Adam, there is none in ●●r of themselves, or in any thing they can do, righteous, or that doth good, nor that is so accepted, owned, and justified in the sight of God, no not one; and that he, and he only in man's Nature is the righteous one, and that for us also, The Lord our Righteousness; I say, from these two considerations, it appears;  
That of all the Children of men, they only are righteous that in the light and power of God's testimony concerning Christ, do so believe and receive it, that in belief and acknowledgement thereof they disowne and run out of themselves into Christ, for righteousness, and life, 2 Cor. 1. 9 Phil. 3. 3- 9  
It is a good description, or character of the righteous, that on hearing of the Name of the Lord, that it is a strong tower, they as men therein made sensible of it, acknowledge their own nakedness, and the lyingness of other refuges, and therefore the danger of abiding out of this, they run into the Name of the Lord, Prov. 18. 10. they fly for refuge (even in the light and powerful drawing of the Name, and Grace of God in Christ, which bringeth Salvation to all men in due time) unto the hope set before them in Christ, that they may lay hold of that, Heb. 6. 18.  
The righteous then are they (whoever they be, or whatever they have been) that through his name believe in him, Acts 10. 35. 43. for what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness; now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace, but of Debt; but to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness, for that was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our effences, and raised again for our justification, Rom. 4. 3, 4, 5. 23, 24, 25. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, chap. 10. 10. Therefore even the sinners of the Gentiles, which before followed not after righteousness, yet when the light of God's testimony concerning Christ came to them, they falling down in the acknowledgement of their own vileness as therein discovered, and seeking righteousness by faith in Christ attained righteousness; when Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness yet attained it not, because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law, for they being ignorant of God's Righteousness, and going about to establish their own, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God, for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth; for Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law, that the man which doth these things shall live by them, according to which rule there shall no man be justified in the sight of God; for by the Law is the knowledge of sin, yea it concludes under the Curse, Every ●●● that continueth not in all that is written in the book of the Law to do it, Gal. 3. 10, 11, 12. so that whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, Jam. 2. 10. and there is not a just man upon earth that doth good, and sinneth not, Eccles. 7. 20. yea, lafoy many things we offend all, Jam. 3. 2. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wife, Say not in thy heart, who shall ascend into heaven, that is, to bring down from above, or who shall descend into the deep, that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead; it sets not men a work to inquire how these things she'll be wrought for them in Christ, or to fancy, or seek for an accomplishment of them over again in them. But what saith it, The Word is nigh thee, even that preaching of peace by Jesus Christ; declaring all this freely done, and finished for us by God in the Person of Christ, without any thought, motion, or desire of ours; This word of Reconciliation is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart; even this word of faith which we preach, declaring the ground of Faith prepared, and true in him, and thence instructing and persuading to believe it. This is made nigh in those preach of it vouchsafed, that by its own light and power it might be acknowledged, and believed, that if according, as in this nigh coming of the Word▪ light and power comes with it, instructing, moving, and strengthening the heart, thou shalt confess with thy mouth, and believe in thine heart, that God hath raised Christ from the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, etc. Rom. 9 30-33. & 10. 1-11. therefore also this Prophet Isaiah interprets the true followers after righteousness to be they that seek the Lord, for righteousness, and strength, that on the report of his righteousness being near in Christ, in whom he hath caused his Judgement to rest for a light to the people, do believe that report, and entertain in their heart that his Law, or Doctrine, Isa. 51. 1-7. & 45. 22-25, & 53. 1.  
Those that in the light and power of God's testimony concerning Christ, in the opening of it to them, as therein it is made nigh them, fall down in the sense and acknowledgement of their own sinfulness, and vileness, and the unprofitableness of all their own works to help them, and seek righteousness in Christ, even by faith in him, in what he hath done, and is become for sinners, that through the knowledge and faith of him they may be found in him, clothed with his Righteousness, and not that of their own, Phil. 3, 8, 9, 10. 1 Job. 5. 20. These are the righteous, and so of the righteous Nation, that learneth and keepeth the truth as it is in Jesus; these are the righteous spoken of in this text, and therefore truly so called.  
1 Because herein they do Righteousness, or Justice, they are doers, or workers of good, Rom. 2. 10. Acts 10. 35. 43. 1 Joh. 2. 18, 29. & 3. 6. 2 Joh. 9 3. Joh. 11. For,  
1 In this they do nothing in any light, wisdom, or strength of theirs as of them, in or by which no man can understand the things of the Spirit, or come to Christ, or do good, but as knowing their strength is to sit still in this respect, letting their imaginations fall, and every high thing that exalts itself against the obedience of Christ; they by him do believe in God, they through Grace believe, and that not of themselves, but of the gift of God, they come in his drawings; see light, not in their own, but in his light, believe in the evidence and demonstration of his Spirit, and by the power thereof coming along to them in his words, and works, so that their faith is of the operation of God, who of the discovery of his own good will in Christ, through the word of truth begets them; they are in this not their own, but his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to them Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, and so do work the work of God, not only which he requires of them, but which himself is working in them, Joh. 6. 29. for they are born to this believing on his name, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1. 12, 13. 1 J●h. 5. 1. Jam. 1. 18, 19 1 Cor. 1. 29, 30. Eph. 2. 10. and yet this is graciously imputed, or counted to them for righteousness, though it is the powerful operation of the grace of God in them through his name. As on the other hand, that which is in Scripture called Unbelief, that is, to reject when men hear, is truly charged on men as their own proper sin, disobedience, and unrighteousness, even wilfully committed against the light and power of God's grace bringing Salvation, for though men have neither light of understanding, nor freedom, or inclination of will in themselves as of themselves, yet while he is calling he is certainly putting forth his hand, drawing with the cords of love, and the bands of a man, the demonstrations of his love, evidenced in the lifting up the Son of Man, and lifting up the yoke of thraldom on the Jews, setting meat before them; so that his goodness not only hath tendency, but suitable operation in it. It doth lead men to repentance though they draw back, and harden their hearts again, so that he that despiseth, despiseth not man only, but God, who hath also given them of his holy Spirit to instruct and reprove them; they harden their hearts against the word spoken in his Spirit, in the light and power of that by his Prophets, Isa. 65. 1, 2. H●s. 11. 2-7. Rom. 2. 4, 5. Nehem. 9 20. 26. Zach. 9 11, 12. 1 Thess. 4. 8. and so are fighters against God, closing their eyes, and stopping their ears, and hardening their hearts when he is opening, and working upon them, lest they should be converted, and he should heal them, Mat. 13. 15.  
2 They do in this, believing on his name, do nothing but what they have good reason and substantial ground for, in what he hath done, and is become for them, as declared in his testi-Mony, and what they are thence obliged to as their reasonable service, there being a righteous ground and foundation of faith prepared and laid for us in Christ, as declared in the Gospel, whether men believe, and so come and be built upon it or no; for God hath made him that knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might he made the righteousness of God in him. Whence also the Holy Ghost reproves the world of sin, because they believe not on Christ, and evidences it to be great unrighteousness, from the consideration of what great things he hath done for them, as also from the faithful evidences thereof to them, instructing and moving to it, as their reasonable service; so that indeed they render him hatred for his love, and evil for his good will, and are without cause his adversaries, yea against, and contrary to all right reason, or cause, They not regarding the work of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, which was true in him for and towards them, that through him they might have believed, Joh. 16. 8. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 24, 25. Psal. 68 18-21. 2 Corinth. 5. 11-21. & 6. 1, 2. Psal. 28. 5. & 109. 4, 5.  
3 This work of faith in Jesus is a righteous work, directed in truth, as may be seen in every act or branch of this faith of the operation of God. For,  
1 Such it is, as in which they acknowledge God to be true in his testimony concerning Christ, which is the great things of his Law; and in all the instructions and say thereof, and therein acknowledge, and disown themselves, and all their own imaginations, and the traditions of men, as discovered, and detected in the light of God's testimony, to be vanity and lies; he that hath received his testimony, hath set to his Seal that God is true; whereas on the other hand, he that believeth not God, hath made him that is the God, & Fountain of all truth, a Liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son, even this record, that God hath given us eternal life in his Son, so as to be received in receiving him, in his testimony, etc. Joh. 3. 33. 1 Joh. 5. 10-12. What greater unrighteousness than to make God a Liar, and yet this is done by all, that when they hear, believe not the record of God concerning Christ; but in the faith of God's operation, God is acknowledged to be true, and every man a liar; his Word received as his, and reverenced and preferred before all the Traditions or Precepts of men, if never so many, and those never so learned, or holy.  
2 Such it is, as in which they ascribe righteousness to their Maker, and make their boast of his righteousness, and of his only, Job 36. 2, 3. Psal. 71, 15, 16. As that in which Law is answered, Truth fulfilled, a Door of approach to God opened, and without which they must have been for ever cast out, as an unclean thing, so as in this they acknowledge their own sinfulness, and vileness, as therein evidenced. They are the true confessors of sins, that do in the belief of that testimony of God concerning Christ, own them as theirs, according to the discoveries of the true Light, and so confess, and disowne, and give them up as filthy, as thereby detected to be purged; and such confession and acknowledgement of our own vileness is certainly included in this faith of the operation of God; If a man with the heart believe God's testimony concerning Christ, then doth he therein believe what it faith concerning himself, or concerning Sin, or Righteousness to be true, and so believing, owns its reproofs, whence the Apostle John faith, If we, any of those great Apostles, and so consequently any believer in this life, say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a Liar, and his word is not in us, 1 Joh. 1. 8. 10. If any object against the righteousness of this act of faith, That it is affirmed of Zacharias and Elizabeth, that they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless, to this we answer; This confirms what we have already said, for if they walked in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless, than they walked in this of confessing our sins, always acknowledging our own vileness, and wretchedness. And truly this was contained in all those Commandments, and Ordinances of the Law, under which he served in the Priest's Office, for in those Sacrifices there was a remembrance again of sins every year, Heb. 10. 3. yea the High Priest himself ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sin 8, Heb. 5. 3. And now the perfect Sacrifice is offered, and the Purgation for all Sins completely made in the virtue of the blood of Christ, men are in the testimony of this Fo●untainepened, discovered to be sinners, and all their righteousness as filthy rags, and so their own vileness, and the need of coming to this Fountains for washing, always showed in the opening of it; so that he that walks not in the confession, or acknowledgement of his sinfulness, vileness, and wretchedness, as there discovered, ascribing righteousness only to his Maker; he doth not righteousness, he makes God a Liar, the truth is not in him; he walks not blameless; for by the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified as blameless in the sight of God, for all have sinned, and are sinners, have Sin in them, as well as Death upon them, while in this mortal body, rendering it vile and wretched, Phil. 3. last. Rom. 7. 18-24. And for a sinner to hid his sin is most worthy of blame; the just are they that live by faith in the righteousness of another, even of Jesus Christ, the just and righteous one. Behold, his Soul which is lefted up, is not upright in him, Galath. 3. 11, 12. Rom. 1. 16, 17. Hab. 2. 4. Hence the confessing of our sins answers to, and is put for the walking in the light, as he is in the light, 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9 and good reason, for God is always in the discovery and demonstration of Christ the true light, discovering our sinfulness, and vileness, that we may not trust in ourselves, but receive the sentence of Death there, that we may learn in the belief and mindfulness of his testimony, concerning Christ, to trust in him that raiseth the dead. So that if we be walking in the light, believing and acknowledging Christ in his testimony, we must needs be found in the believing view, and remembrance of what he hath done, and is become for us, and God's glory in him confessing our sins; and so he that is borne of God, that is led of the Spirit of God that always leads into, and in Christ, for all righteousness and life; though he have sin in him (for which simply God holds no man underblame, or Condemnation by Christ) yet so fare forth as he is born of God, that is, as he abideth in Christ he sinneth not, he doth not commit or serve sin, no not in hiding his sins, which is the first step of making provision for it, which who so doth, shall not prosper; truly he should sin with a very high hand, even to the making God a Liar, if he should say that he had no sin in him, warring, and moving for service, or that he had not sinned; yea doubtless, in any thing wherein his heart is departing from his refuge, or his eye wand'ring into corners; the immortal Seed, the Word of God not retained in his heart, in believing mindfulness, Sin gets the advantage of him, and his readiness to halt appears, and so in many things we offend all, and are therein of Satan, not of God, 1 Joh. 3. 5, 8-10. Psal. 38. 17, 18. Prov. 28. 13, 14▪ Psa. 19 12, 13. & 119. 8. 11. 133. 176. & 51. 1-7.  
3 Such also is this believing with the heart, that God hath raised Christ from the Dead, that in it, the Lord himself becomes the Believers hope, his expectation of all further grace and glory is in him, begot, and strengthened from the infinite grace of God to man ward, commended in this, that while we were sinners, and enemies, in due time Christ died for us, and the infinite virtue of his Blood, in which the peace and atonement was made with God for us, while we were yet enemies; This grace in Christ believed renders him precious, fills the heart with high esteem of the greatness, and truth of God's love in him, and of the infinite and abiding virtue of his Blood, and his fitness and faithfulness through it, to perfect what concerns them. So that in this faith of God's operation, their expectation and hope is not grounded, either on a peremptory conclusion, that they cannot fall, or miscarry, or on their act of believing, or faithfulness, and resolutions of constancy, and abiding; nor are they left to draw up their consolation, and hope, by way of Argument from their being such, or in such a state, as to which such Promises are made; but the grace in Christ understood, and believed, the heart being exercised in the hearty belief and mindfulness of him; what he hath done, and is become for sinners, and his office, faithfulness, and readiness to help, teach, and draw them, and to accept all comers without upbraiding, and to give them through his name in the virtues, and openings of it, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, in the knowledge and faith of it, and first fruits of the Spirit now, and in the hope of the Harvest in due time. I say, the heart and mind being exercised in the hearty belief, and mindfulness of this grace in Christ, and so stayed on his name, is not then left to reflect back into itself, to draw up its consolation, and hope, from its being such a believer, but is filled with strong consolation, and hope, through the grace understood and perceived in Christ; while the heart is only minding him that is the ground, and object of hope, the hope is begot, and strengthened in a Divine and Spiritual way, through the opening of that name, and shedding abroad his love in the heart therein; so that Jesus Christ received by faith in his testimony, and not their receipt of him, is unto them, and in their hearts the hope of glory, the ground and foundation of it, and he from whom viewed it springs, and in whom it i●. And that after the same consideration of him, as he is in the Gospel preached to every man; He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things. See Rom. 5. 5-10. & 8. 32. Col. 1. 26, 27. Gal. 2. 20. Joh. 6. 51. And such is the truth and excellency of this name of God in Christ, that they that k●●w it will trust in it, if any man whatever did know, own, listen, and seek to it, according to the discoveries of it brought him, it would beget trust, and hope, of which he should not be ashamed; it quickens to new and living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  
Again, in this faith of the operation of God their expectation is so in him, even of all things pertaining to life, and godliness to be now given, with him, not without him, or in any other way; but through the knowledge of him, whom he spared not, but delivered up, for us all, that even that hope retained in them purifies their hearts from ways of iniquity, in which presumptuously growing careless, or wandering from him, they might miscarry, and fail of the grace of God, so as they are instructed, and admonished by it to give diligence, and attend always to read the vision of God, as written in the face of Christ, that so they may be strengthened to run, and kept through faith, to the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Yea such it is, as from the excellency and grace in the ground of it, as also in the way in which it is to be met with, rather to be chosen then any other way, or rule, and the excellent glory of the end of it, as strengthens them to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness, and as those that believe in him, and look for such things, not to make haste, to fancy an accomplishment of the great things hoped for in this day, or to bring about the accomplishment of God's promises, he that believes makes not haste; Behold his soul, that is lifted up, either above the reading of the Vision of God in Christ in his testimony given, for guiding his feet in the way of peace, that he may run with patience the race set before him, as Heb. 12▪ 1, 2. or to imagine and boast of an enjoyment of the Vision, so as by seeing and possessing the great things, the glory in the hope of which we are called by the Gospel, or to put to his hand in striving, and fight for the hasting or bringing forth of God's righteousness in the things behind. His soul is not upright in him, but the just shall live by faith.  
In all which considerations it appears, they are in this believing through his name, workers of righteousness, doers of the truth, and therefore truly called, The righteous. As well as also,  
2 Because they are herein justified in the sight of God, imputed, accounted, and accepted righteous in that perfect righteousness Christ hath wrought, and is become for them with which faith closeth. By the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified in the sight of God; but now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus; that is, by the Preaching, or Doctrine of Jesus: So now, manifested unto all, and upon all them that believe, unto all by way of redundancy, tender, and manifestation, but upon all that believe, even by way of imputation of it to them, and acceptation of them in it; so in the next Chapter, God is said to impute righteousness without works unto them, to accept their persons into delightful favour, and fellowship, by and in the virtue of that perfect righteousness which they have by faith accepted, and so they are made accepted in the Beloved; they are made, or pronounced, and presented good, just, righteous in the sight of God, being found in him; and so it is upon all them that believe, for there is no difference, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus. That (vers. 24.) answers to, and shows the reason of both the former branches, (viz.) That the righteousness of God is unto all, and upon all them that believe, though all have sinned, etc. and so is to be understood in a twofold sense▪ 1 The whole Nature is justified in the second man Christ Jesus, that stood for all, to bear their sins, in which all have already sinned, and with which the whole Nature is thence polluted, in that he is justified for them from the sins imputed to him in his Resurrection, and this is freely by his grace through the Redemption in Jesus. 2. All that believe, every one of them believing what he hath done, and is become for sinners, and so through his Name believing on him, are in their particular persons justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in him; God accepts them in his Son, and remembers not, nor doth impute to them their former wickedness, or present unprofitableness, but imputeth to them righteousness without works; as in Acts 10. 35. 43. that saying, That in every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him, vers. 35. is thus explicated, as fulfilled among those where the Gospel comes, That through his name, whosoever believeth on him shall receive the forgiveness of sins, vers. 43. So Acts 13. 39 By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses, they are delivered from under the condemnation of the wrath, which in respect of the execution of it is yet to come, under which they all abide, that on hearing believe not on the Son of God, 1 Thes. 1. 10. Joh. 3. 18. 36. He justifieth even the ungodly believing, and so coming to, and being found in the righteous one, that being justified freely by his grace, they might be more and more made heirs according to the hope of eternal life given us in Christ, that through the righteousness of God, and our Saviour, they might be made to be meet partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, Rom. 3. 20-22-24 25, 26. & 4. 3, 4, 5. Tit. 3. 4-7. And so,  
3 Therefore also are such believers on his name called, The righteous, because the end and fruit of this righteousness of God, and our Saviour, in which believing they are accepted, is also, that through the knowledge and faith thereof the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them, even the righteous affections, and services the Law required, but gave no strength to bring forth, as well as the life and peace it was ordained to, but could not give; that the believer might be filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ, Rom. 8. 2, 3, 4. Phil. 1. 10, 11. even the fruits of the Spirit, whose evidence and demonstration is of Christ, in his testimony, bringing forth in the believing receiver, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance— And they that are Christ's, have in the light and strength of the Lord, crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts, That henceforth they should not serve sin, Rom. 6. Gal. 5. They believing with the heart, that God hath raised Christ from the dead, do through the grace and power of that believed, and believed in, receive in a first fruits of the Spirit, the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness in this sense also; Giving all diligence through the knowledge of him, they add to, or in, their faith virtue; his goodness, compassions, holiness, etc. as manifested in Christ, frames to some likeness, or conformity to him, in like love, bowels, mercies, holiness, etc. And so in their virtue they add, or proceed to further knowledge, tastes, and proof of his graciousness, and therein temperance, and so godliness, brotherly kindness, charity. Hence it is the Apostles would have these things, namely, the righteousness of God, and our Saviour, through which they were made partakers of such precious and operative faith, to be always bad in remembrance, seeing hereby they were saved, if they kept in memory 1 Cor. 15. 14. 2 Pet. 1. 1-12, etc. this word of faith, and so this faith, that is of the operation of God is not without its works. It works through love, as from the consideration of God's love in Christ, as the foundation and fountain of it, whence it hath all its fresh Springs, so in a channel of love towards God and man. It favours therefore of ignorance of the righteousness of God, and our Saviour, and of the preciousness of this faith of God's operation through it, when any say to us, That it is not enough for us with the heart to believe, and close with God's testimony concerning Christ; but we must also look for the work of the Spirit inwardly, to quicken, save, and sanctify us; such say at least signify, that the work of the Spirit for quickening, saving, and sanctifying the soul, is another thing besides, and divided from this testimony, and not certainly met with in this way of believing, and having the heart and mind exercised and stayed on that name, and grace of his believed, so that a man may with his heart believe, and confess, that God hath raised Christ from the dead, and yet not therein experiment the quickening and saving work of the Spirit; contrary to Rom. 10. 9, 10. 1 Cor. 15. and so do indeed lead believers, having begun in the Spirit, to seek to be made perfect by the flesh. True it is, a man may say he hath faith, when yet his faith hath no works, nor spirit left in it, only an empty and idle opinionating such a thing, or professing to believe it as true, without any hearty mindfulness of the importance, or grace of the truth he pretends to cleeve. And of such a faith James saith, Can it save? faith if it have no works is dead; a spiritless, and unprofitable thing being alone, yea, even that faith is signified by him, to be nothing else but a dead Carcase, pretence, outside profession, or show of that which indeed is not, or not with the heart, not kept in believing remembrance and mindfulness, for even there he signifies, that if it were unfeigned, or with the heart, according to the discoveries given, less or more, it would work savingly, like as the same Propositions believed to be true by the Devils, works horror, because they speak as much against them, as they do for man; even so man, any of mankind believing with the heart, it would be unto righteousness, Let God be true, and every man a liar; if any say, he steadfastly, and with his heart believes the truth, and greatness of God's love to man ward, as manifested in Christ, and yet perceives no such preciousness in Christ, and his testimony, as to move him according to his measure, to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ; but easily listens to, and admires the pretended excellencies of other spirits, that lift not up the Son of Man according to the Apostles Doctrine, but privily some other thing, or work in his stead, or embraces, and cleaves to the things of this present world, nor is moved with like love and compassion towards men from the grace in Christ believed, nor united in heart with them that fear his Name, and call upon him in truth, to know and own them as brethren, and strive together with them for the faith of the Gospel, but hath left his first Love, or else hath not yet so received the love of the truth as to save him; let us not acknowledge his say to be true, that he doth so unfeignedly believe the truth as it is in Jesus, for so we shall render God a Liar, and his Word without effect: but let God be true, and every man a Liar, for that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men, teacheth us, That denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live righteously, soberly, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the mighty God, and our Saviour.  
Let none of us therefore be moved to mean thoughts of the efficacy of the word of faith, because we, or others prove it not, while we think and say we believe, that thence we should slight that as vain, and run to some other way to wait for the Spirit, or for perfecting what was begun by the Spirit in the hearing of faith; but let us judge ourselves of wavering, unconstancy, or double▪ mindedness, and of neglect of that so great Salvation, and having itching ears after something suitable to our divers lusts, and let us suffer our hearts by the grace of God, while yet admonishing and striving with us, to be more fixed trusting in the Lord, without guile or waveringnesse, seeking righteousness in Jesus, through the knowledge and faith of him, through which he gives all things pertaining to life and godliness, Let us give more earnest heed to the things we have heard, in the word of the truth of the Gospel, lest at any time we let them slip. Consider that love of God to manward appearing in and through Christ saved the Apostles, and so, and therein they had the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost shed on them abundantly through Jesus Christ, and that Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  
And to this answers the other descriptions of the righteous ones in this text; They are merciful men, or men of kindness, or godliness. Men filled and seasoned, with the apprehension and persuasion of the mercies, compassions, and kindness of God to sinners, to the unkind, and evil, and of that as discovered in the face of Christ, where he is to be truly known and worshipped. And so of his good will in Christ, begotten through the word of truth, to their faith and hope in him, and joy in hope of the glory to be revealed, and patience in tribulations, and thence moved and filled with bowels and mercies, compassions; and kindness, answerable to that they believe, and perceive to be in God towards others, even towards all in blindness and distress, yea to the unkind and evil, the love of Christ constraining them, to persuade them to be reconciled to God in Christ, and to seek ●heir good by all means within their capacity, and with all earnestness, knowing also the ●errour of the Lord; because they thus judge, That if one died for all, then were all dead, and that be died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him this died for them, and rose again; yea hence also they are filled with delightful love of, and desire of fellowship with those that call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart, and with bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, meekness, and goodnesseone towards another, and towards all men, answerable to the kindness and mercies of God in Christ.  
And so, if we read it, men of godliness, it will come to the same, for they are the right and true worshippers of God, who worship the Father in spirit and truth, and such the Father seeks to worship him; they worship, adore, honour, magnify, believe, and trust in him, in the Spirit, that is, in the light and power of, and according to the testimony of Jesus, and of God's glory, as shined in his face; which testimony the Holy Ghost hath given, and in it, his evidence, and demonstration of Christ, and of the Father, is. And therefore when we are called upon to godliness, or to worship God, that testimony of Jesus is said to be the spirit of Prophecy, in, and according to which we are to worship, Rev. 19 10. and so they in that light and strength of the Spirit have their rejoicing in Christ Jesus [The truth] And have no confidence in the flesh, Joh. 4. 23, 24. & 5. 23, 24. Phil. 3. 3. and in this true worship and fear of the Lord, they are made partakers of the Divine Nature, in interest in it, union, or fellowship with it, conforming to it, so as by Christ through faith, so as thereby they go on purging themselves from all filthiness of flesh, and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord, 2 Corinth. 6. 16-18. & 7. 1. purifying their hearts through belief of the truth, and retaining the hope of it in them to unfeigned love of the brethren, and to more freedom from the entanglements, and cares of this world, as those that are pressing after the mark of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, which pure religion, and undefiled, brings forth its fruit, in their visiting the Sick, the Widows, and fatherless in their affliction, and keeping themselves unspotted in the world; so as they walking in the Spirit (though they have flesh warring in them) are by the light and power of the Spirit in the testimony of Jesus, kept from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, and so preserved blameless unto the day of Christ, Rom. ●. & 8. 1-13. Gal. 5.  
And to this agrees that twofold description of the Persons that shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, and stand in his holy place, Psal. 24. 3, 4, 6. The first is, He that hath clean hands, and a pure hears, that hath not lift up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, for though there is none righteous, no not one, but all have sinned, and are wholly polluted, and unclean, yet this truth remains for ever, Without holiness no man shall see the Lord; so that if there be not some way in which men may be made again the righteousness of God, and made partaker of his holiness, they must all be shut out for ever from God, under the curse of the Law; but God hath made his Son that knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; and according to that rule the sixth verse of that Psalm gives us the next, and fundamental description of the subjects of the glorious privilege , or rather the description of those Persons, in whom the truth of the former description is found, and so an answer to the question, Who are the righteous? This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face O Jacob, or, O God of Jacob; that seek the Lord for righteousness and strength, that through his Name believing in him, seek righteousness by faith in Jesus, as Isa. 55. 3, 4, 5, 6. & 45. 22▪ 24, 25. Rom. 9 30. and as before is showed by the Scriptures, On them comes that blessedness of Gods not imputing former iniquities, but imputing righteousness without works, Rom. 3. 25, 26. & 4. 3▪ 6. yea they through the understanding and faith of Jesus, have their hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience, and their whole man in all their actings, and conversation, therein continually washed with that pure water of the love of God, through the blond of Christ shed abroad in their heart, Heb. 10. 19-22. 1 Pet. 1. 18-22. that in the issue they may be presented without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, Ephes. 5. 26, 27. Col. 1. 21, 22, 23.  
And truly this large description, and explication of the righteous, and merciful men, or men of kindness, and godliness, gives us a true character of him, whose being taken from us, occasioned this Discourse.  
We come in the next place to consider.  
2 In what sense they may be said to perish, and when they so do. Here give me leave for our instruction and encouragement, First, to propound to consideration, in what sense they perish not; in respect of themselves, or as with reference to their hope towards God; They perish not, they for their parts are not driven away, or cut off from God, or from their hope in death; the wicked dying in his sins, even in his stubborn refusal of him that came to save him from his sins, and so out of Christ, he is therein driven away in his wickedness, cut off, and shut out from God, and from the hope of a better life, and from all opportunities of ever being made partaker of that hope; doth not their excellency which is in them, even their hope go away, and perish with them? They die without wisdom; But the righteous hath hope in his death; he retains, or holds his hope and joy even in death, yea then goes to a more full enjoyment of it, Prov. 14. 32. Whence our Saviour saith, If a man keep my say, he shall never see death; he shall never die, in the full, and proper sense of the word, he shall not in, or by death be separated, or cut off from God, or from his hope and portion in him, Joh. 8. 51. & 11. 26. but from thenceforth shall be more especially blessed in, and with his presence, and with more immediate, and uninterrupted fellowship with him in spirit, even while out of the body, and while that sleeps in the dust; whence the Apostle desired, in respect of himself, much rather to departed out of the body, out of the flesh, that he might enjoy that more immediate, and free presence of, & fellowship with Christ, which to him would be fare better, 2 Cor. 5. 1-6-8. Phil. 1. 20. 23. neither are their bodies though resting in Death, and so sleeping in the dust of the earth, lost, cut off, or perished, as indeed they should be if there were no Resurrection of the Dead, as the Apostle reasons, 1 Cor. 15. 18, etc.  
If Christ be not raised, and so, If the dead rise not, than those which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished; If in this life only we had hope in Christ, we were of all men most miserable; then indeed there had been some ground for, and truth in their saying, Ezek. 37. 11. Beholdour bones are dried, our hope is lost, and we are cut off for our parts; for even those that having seen those great and precious promises afar off, which were before confirmed of God in Christ, and were persuaded of them: and embraced them, yet died, not having received them. But what saith the answer of God to them, vers. 12. Behold O my people, I will open your Graves, and cause you to come up out of your Graves, and bring you into the Land of Israel, etc. And now also for the confirmation of our faith, the ground of it is actually come forth and manifested, Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that sleep, for since by man, even by the offence and disobedience of one man, sin, and so death by sin, the first death reigneth on all men, and so it is appointed to the whole kind once to die, though all shall not sleep, or rest in death, some of this Body of righteous ones, shall survive at the Personal appearance of Christ in his glory, and they shall immediately, and on a sudden be changed, and pass through death, yet so as therein they shall die, though not sleep, or rest in death; Death is passed on all in the ordinance and appointment of God, by reason of the Sin entering by one man, even so by man (viz.) by the obedience and righteousness of one man, Jesus Christ, in which the transgression of the first one man, in which all have sinned, and the sin and sinfulness thence entering into, and overspreading the whole Nature, is so finished, and made an end of in the Court of Heaven, or purged, and put away from before the Father, that no man shall eternally perish, or be separated from God in it; nor are they left under the power of that Judgement of Banishment, the curse of the Law; but all Judgement committed to the Son, and he empowered to execute Judgement also, because he is the Son of Man; by him is the Assurance and certainty of the Resurrection of the dead, For as in Adam all dye, even in the influence & demerit, as the fruit of his transgression; even so in Christ, in the merit, influence and virtue, and as the fruit of his Righteousness shall all be made alive; raised out of the first Death, that they may all appear before his Judgement Seat, to be judged according to the rule of his Gospel; all shall be raised by him, but every man in his own order. Christ the first fruits being already raised from the dead, afterwards, namely, immediately at the time of his second Personal coming, those that are his peculiar ones, the righteous Nation that keepeth the truth, those in whose heart the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, (in that evidence, and demonstration of him in his testimony) dwells, to the quickening their spirits now, or making them alive to God, while yet the body is dead because of sin, shall then have their mortal bodies quickened, even raised from the dead by the same spirit that now dwells in them; and shall then, in their souls, and bodies reunited in that blessed and glorious Resurrection of the Just, enter together with him into the everlasting possession of the joy and glory of their Lord. And this is that which is called, The first Resurrection, Rev. 20. 4- 6. Thess. 4. 16. the test of the Dead, John in that Vision of things to come, saw, lived not again till the thousand years of Christ's Personal Reign on earth, with the children of the first Resurrection were finished.  
In which time there shall be new Heaven, and new Earth, and the new Jerusalem come down from God out of Heaven, and all things made new, and a perfectly righteous and glorious Kingdom and Government, Revel. 21. 1- 7. Isa. 65. 16- 19 & 66. 22. & 11. & 32. 1- 5. Psal. 72. And the Lord shall be one, and his name one throughout all the earth, Zach. 14. 9 And the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the Sea, Hab. 2. 14. And there shall be great and wonderful Conversions, and daily flocking in with joy, as Doves to their windows, to the Name of the Lord in Jerusalem, of the Nations of them that are saved from the former desolating Judgements and Consumptions, among which also the natural Israelites then surviving shall be chief, to fill the face of the world with fruit again, and to be Subjects of this glorious Kingdom (for all the children of the first Resurrection of Jews and Gentiles shall be Reigners) And to walk in the light of the new Jerusalem, They shall flow together to the name of the Lord in Zion, Isa. 2. Mich. 4. Isa. 9 4, 5, 6, & 24. 13, 14. & 66. 19 etc. Zach. 2. 11. & 8. 22. & 16. Rev. 21. 24. Psal. 102. and though there shall be no more Death, nor fruits of Sin in the New Jerusalem, or upon the Children of the Resurrection, Revel. 21. 3, 4. no nor Night, nor need of the Sun or M●on to that City, when yet the glory and brightness of them (in that restitution of all things) shall be seven fold to what it is, and so useful in and so all the world besides, the subjects of this glorious Kingdom, Isa. 30. 26. & 60. 19, etc. Rev. 21. 22, 23, 25. Neither shall there be any more wars, or tumults among the Nations one against another in the time of that glorious Kingdom, Isa. 2▪ 4. nor shall there be that heavy Bondage of corruption remaining on the Creature, or enmity between them that is now, Isa. 11. Rom. 8. 19 25. Acts 3. 20, 21. and so none of those poisonous Infections, or unnatural Diseases, or untimely Deaths, that now are common to man, shall be then common to any, or accidentally, or casually befall them; yet as there shall be extraordinary and immediate Judgements from God then falling on those Nations, Families, and Persons that will not voluntarily serve under this Government, and come up to worship the Name of the Lord in Jerusalem, even to the cutting them off, Isa. 60. 12. Zach. 14. 16- 19 even so there may, yea there must needs be some remainders of mortality, and the Natural death generally on the people, the Subjects of this glorious Kingdom, the people that shall then be left of the Nations, and that shall then be created, or born to praise the Lord, who yet have not passed through that change. According to God's appointment, All must once die, amongst which some will be found even then dying in their sins, not coming up to worship the Lord, and his Name in Zion at Jerusalem (in Christ, and the children of the Resurrection) as proclaimed and shining forth from that great City, that shall be the glory of all Lands; and others dying in the Lord (as Isa. 65. 16, 17- 20. of which happily some may immediately be changed, and fashioned into the likeness of his glorious Body; but some even of them shall stay, or rest in death until that great and general Resurrection that shall be after the finishing of that thousand years, for in that Resurrection it is evidently signified, that there shall be some found written in the Book of Life, Revel. 20▪ 12- 15. and they must needs be of them that lived, and died in the time of that thousand years, or were immediately changed in the finishing of the same; for all that slept in Christ before that day of Christ's appearing in his glory, and the survivers of that body than were brought together with him, to the inheriting & reigning in that glorious Kingdom. Then after that cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power, for be must reign in this Mediatorial, and Davidical Kingdom, till he have put all his enemies under his feet, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death, which though perfectly destroyed in the children of the first Resurrection, in the beginning of that glorious day, even immediately on his descending, or coming down from Heaven, yet not wholly destroyed from being an enemy, while it holds the wicked from their everlasting punishment, and vengeance, in which God shall be glorified, and the righteous shall glory for ever; and while also it detains some of those worshippers of him, whose names (as such) are written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, even such of them as died in that time of his reign on the earth, from the possession of their utmost happiness.  
Therefore in the conclusion of that day of his Reign, or of that manner of Administration of the Kingdom (for the Kingdom, and the glory of it is everlasting, and never shall have end) all the rest of the dead, small and great shall be raised by him out of their Graves, and from the disappearing state of Death, and shall appear before his Judgement Seat. This is the second, and last Resurrection, Revel. 20.  
So that there shall be a general Resurrection of the just, and unjust, which in both parts our Saviour distinguisheth from that first fruits of quickening of the spirit, from that death in sins and trespasses, which is now effected by the light and power of the Gospel in them that in hearing hear, of which work of Spiritual quickening now, having spoken in Job. 5. 25. he adds vers. 28. Marvel not at this (as who should say, that which I shall now tell you of is not only another, but a greater work, and so a greater and more glorious evidence of the virtue and power of the voice of the Son of Man) for the hour is coming (he saith not and now is, as of the former work, vers. 25. in which leaving out that Clause here, having added it to the former, he fully signifies that it is not now; and yet here he speaks of the whole and general Resurrection of the Dead in both the parts, first and second) in which, all that are in the Graves (or in the disappearing state of death) shall hear the voice of the Son of Man (in an immediate, wonderful, and mighty putting forth of it) and shall come forth, they that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of Damnation.  
And of this Resurrection in both parts (and at both times as in the other Scriptures) Christ is in the Name of the Father the only foundation, and Author, even as the Son of Man; for had he not died, rose, and revived for them all, and therein by himself purged our sin: in which we had all sinned, and were become sinful, and dead, he could not have been our Lord, and Judge, according to the rule of the Gospel, Rom. 14. 9 Joh. 5. 22- 27. nor could any have been raised from the first Death, and brought before his Judgement Seat by him, if he had not by the grace of God tasted Death for them. Therefore with respect to that general Resurrection at the last Day, confessed by Martha, Joh. 11. our Saviour saith, I am the resurrection, vers. 25. The Foundation and Author of that general Resurrection in the last day, both of just and unjust; and so he is the life from the dead, that eternal life which was with the Father for men, and is now manifested, that it may be known and enjoyed; he is the Author, Fountain, and in a sense, the matter of it, as delivered to Death for our offences, and raised again for our Justification; therefore, whosoever believeth in him, though he were dead, yea though they die in common with others, yet shall he live, and he that liveth and believeth on him shall never die, (as before said, in the full and proper sense of the word) the first Death being abolished, and they by him delivered from that wrath, which in respect of the execution of it, is yet to come on them that know not God, nor obey to his Gospel; they are not cut off from him, or from their hope in death, as others are, yea he being the Resurrection, they his peculiar Treasure, must needs have the firstness, and blessedness of that, yea they in having him by faith in his name (as Joh. 1. 12. Ephes. 3. 17. 1 Joh. 5. 10-12, 13.) have part in the first resurrection in the knowledge, faith, and hope of it in him; and the righteousness of God, and our Saviour, is engaged for the making them partakers of it actually in themselves, in the accomplishing it upon them together in his time, for which they are all waiters till that Personal appearance of the Lord in his glory, which he now being raised from the dead actually possesseth, and holdeth for them in Heaven with the Father, and so is to, and in them, by faith, the hope of it; which hope they having in him, it makes them confident, and patiented in waiting for the enjoyment of it, Rom. 8. 23, 24, 25. 2 Cor. 4, 13. & 5. 1. 6, 7. Heb. 6. 19, 20.  
So that they perish not, nor are at all cut off from their blessedness by death, but from henceforth more blessed, and sealed up to the full enjoyment of that blessedness, and holiness with him for ever, even the periect blosting our, and delivering them from all their transgressions, and the fruits of them, and the making them perfectly like him in holiness, and glory in soul and body for ever, in that time and state of the first resurrection, in which they shall be perfectly delivered from the first Death, to the full enjoyment and possession of everlasting life; in the knowledge, faith, and hope of which, their spirits now are made alive, or in part quickened from that Death in sins and trespasses (which i● but a part of that first Death that passed on all men at first by Sin, while yet their bodies are dead because of sin, which also in that day of Christ shall be raised up together by him, and the second Death shall have no power on them; his testimony having been believed by them in their day, and through it they being found in him, shall not be found naked to the second Death, and if not to that, then to no following death or misery for ever; for we read, or hear of no third Death, unless in some unlearned distinctions, not found or known in the Scriptures, which distinctions do render the Natural and Bodily death, in which it is appointed to men once to die, to be the second Death, whereas indeed it is but the finishing of the first Death on the Body, or its full seizure on it, and that which the Holy Ghost calls the Second Death, they call the Third; in which rendering the Natural Death of the body to be the Second Death. They intimately deny the Resurrection of the body from that Death; for Scripture informeth us, that out of the Second Death there is no resurrection or redemption, and do therein render that which they call the third Death, to have no terror, torment, or punishment in it to be felt, and sustained by the body (for that can be capable of no such thing if it never be raised) but at most by the Spirit only, without the Body, in which the evil deeds were done; and so this distinction renders that which Scripture knows by no other name but The Second Death (though by them called the Third) to be much easier than the First, for that did seize, not on the spirit or soul only, but on the body also. But the Scripture every where represents it infinitely worse, and more dreadful in every consideration, and to be suffered for ever in soul and body together, when the body shall be raised from the first death in that resurrection of Damnation, in which it shall be rendered capable of suffering everlasting and unspeakable vengeance and torment, according to the infinite grace now abused by them, for according to his fear, or grace, and name in Christ, that he might be feared by men now, such his wrath and terror then against his enemies, Psal. 90. 11. 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11. 14, 15. 20, 21. Heb. 2. 14. and who then can comprehend the greatness and power of it, when though they shall suffer the utmost horror, anguish, and torment that an utter separation from God, and wrath deserved, by treading under foot his Son, cou●●ing his Blood an unholy thing, and in all this, offering despite to his Spirit, being poured out to the utmost, may occasion to them, yet nothing shall make either soul or body cease to be, or be separated any more as they were in the first Death, that there should ever be any release, abatement, or intermission in the whole, or in part, of that weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth world without end; yea their worm dyeth not, and their fire is not quenched, nor is there any darkness, or shadow of death, in which the workers of iniquity may hid themselves. O than it will appear, that Blessed are all they that trust in him; yea therefore from henceforth, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, they having part in the first Resurrection, this second Death shall have no power on them.  
On the other hand, they that in death, which terminates the gathering time and space of repentance, are found out of the Lord, dying in their sins, they are then, and thence for ever blotted out of the Book of Life, cut off from all hopes of ever attaining, or having part in the first Resurrection; though they shall be all of them raised, and made alive from the first death, and then, and therein brought to the clear sight, and acknowledgement of the truth of the grace of God in the Lordship of Christ, through his death, sometimes, and while it was due time bringing Salvation to them; that which here they wilfully rejected when light came to them, and which if it had been now received in its own light and power bringing Salvation, would have been to their everlasting comfort, in the quickening them to a new and living hope through the resurrection of Christ; they shall then confess to the glory of God, and clearing his Justice, in judging them for ever according to the rule of his Gospel to a second and never dying death, infinitely worse than the first, and in sealing them up in Prison from the time of their filling up the measure of their sin of that nature, which is at the utmost, at the time of the end of their Natural life, when he hath done striving with them, and waiting to be gracious, I say, in his sealing them up in prison from such time to that dreadful Judgement, Isa. 45. 23. Phil. 2. 10, 11. Rom. 3. 4.  
From which time they are shut up under the sentence and condemnation of that second Death, and so in respect of their state and condition, are from thence Trees twice dead, plucked up by the roots, though the wrath, in respect of the full and most dreadful execution of it, on soul and body for ever, is yet to come, so that in death they perish for ever from the presence of the Lord, and from his favour, in which is life; the wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death.  
So then, they that are fallen asleep in Christ are not perished, or cut off for their parts, no not from their union with Christ, by virtue of which, even their bodies that sleep in the dust shall be first raised even to the resurrection of life, yea they are from henceforth and more than ever blessed, the day of their death infinitely better to them, than the day that they were born. We come next to consider, in what sense such persons may be said to perish, and when they so do; and this we shall find explicated to us in the other expressions of this chastisement in this verse, as compared with other Scriptures, they are said to perish from the earth, to cease, and fail from among men that yet survive, when by Death they are taken away from them, they having no more a portion in any thing done under the Sun, nor capacity of being helpful to the survivers in any knowledge, wisdom, or work, for in death there is no remembrance or commemoration of him among the survivers; in the Grave who shall give him thanks, or praise him to others, yet living, or show forth their hoping in his truth; The living, the living he shall praise thee (saith Hezekiah) as I do this day, the Fathers to the Children shall make known thy truth; which explicates in what sense the dead praise him not, nor hope for his truth, that is, they celebrate not his praises among the survivors, nor are capable of exercising or showing forth their hoping in his truth to them-ward, or among them, they cannot make known his truth to them, and so not praise him as he did then, the Fathers to the Children, Eccl. 9 10. Psa. 6. 5. Isa. 38. 18, 19 for otherwise in respect of themselves, and to Godward, the dead in Christ even in these respects do live, they retain their hope in death, and joy in it; yea they enter into a more full and peaceable enjoyment of it in spirit, their spirits are made perfect, each one walking in his uprightness, and are still confidently expecting, longing, and waiting for that day of full Redemption, even the redemption of their body, and the judging and revenging their sufferings and wrongs on them that dwell on the earth, crying, Lord, how long, Prov. 14. 32. Isa. 57 2. Heb. 12. 23. Revel. 6. 9, 10, 11. They are with Christ, which to them is fare better, as is showed before; but they are dead to us, and can no longer in their persons be profitable to us, which made the Apostles and Prophets in their longing desire of the good of all, and for the furtherance of the Gospel among men, and that the truth of it might remain with those that had received it, so much desire to abide with them, even to abide in the flesh in this body, though so much to their own disadvantage, preferring others good before their own; in death they perish, cease, and departed from us, and are out of capacity of being helpful to us.  
And yet further, These Scriptures; The Righteous perisheth, the good man is perished out of the Earth, and so the cause of grief here lamented, is not verified simply in the taking away one, or divers of the Righteous by death; but when also they are taken away as such a time, and in such manner, as that there is none of like faithfulness to God, and kindness to men left in the place, or places where they lived, to survive them, or at lest none in their room, or stead: But that if one or more of them be taken away, there is so many the less of that Generation, or Righteous Nation that keepeth the Truth, left in the midst of the crooked, and perverse Nation, to shine as lights in the world: Most sadly and fully is it verified, when there is none left in the place, or places, whence they are taken; and thus is this matter of lamentation explicated in the expressions of it in other Scriptures, as Psal, 12. 1. Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, the faithful fail from among the children of men; so Micah 7. 1, 2. Woe is me, for I am as when they have gathered the Summer fruits, as the Grape glean of the Vintage, no cluster, etc. The good man is perished out of the Earth, and there is none upright among men: Oh that the matter of this sad complaint were not too sadly verified amongst us, and in this place at this time. These things being thus opened, we shall briefly demonstrate and explicate the position. That the perishing of the Righteous, the taking away of men of kindness, and godliness, is a sad correction to the survivers, which God would have laid to heart by them. For proof of this  
There needs no more, than the Scriptures already cited, where we see that the servants of God take it as a heavy chastisement, woe and misery to themselves, the taking away of such faithful labourers, and fellow-helpers with them, as were instruments of drawing others in, and gathering them together in clusters, to the acknowledgement, and seeking of the name of God in Christ; and strivers together with them, for the faith of the Gospel, and so helpers of their faith, and joy. So the Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians concerning Epaphroditus (his brother and companion in labours, and fellow-soldier; and their messenger) That he had been sick, nigh unto death, saith, that God had mercy on him, the Apostle Paul, in restoring the said Epaphroditus again, lest he should have sorrow upon sorrow, where he plainly signifies, that it would have been a very great chastisement, and occasion of grief and sorrow to him; if Epaphroditus had then been taken away. And how much more heavy is the correction, or judgement, to those societies, or companies of people to whom they were more particularly messengers, and set as guides to go before them in the word of the Lord; and so to the people generally among whom they lived. It is mentioned as a heavy judgement on the Nation, and people of Israel, we see not our signs, there is no more any Prophet, neither is there among us any that knoweth, how long, Psa. 74. 9 and so threatened, Ezek. 33. That he would lay the land most desolate, even the Mountains of Israel, so as when it should come to pass, they should know that a Prophet had been among them (verses 28, 29, 33.) Intimating, they should then know, by their being deprived of him, and so know what their mercy was they slighted, by the want of it. And truly it must needs be a heavy correction and judgement to that place, or people, from amongst whom the Righteous so perish, or f●●● from the earth, and from among the children of men. For these reasons,  
1 They are set in the world, and preserved in it, and from the evil of it while they are continued in it, for the good of the world, even of all men among whom they live, yea their Persecutors to be as Instruments in God's hand, for the opening their eyes, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a chosen Generation, that they should show forth the praises of him that hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light, and shine as lights in the world, by holding forth the word of life in word and conversation, Joh. 17. 15-18. 23. Acts 26. 17, 18. Matth. 5. 13-16. 1 Pet. 2. 9, 10, etc. Phil. 2. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Yea,  
2 Their being so preserved in the world, not taken out of it, that is, not so taken out, but that there may be a Generation of them continued successively, and they in their several Ages preserved, and kept from the evil of the world to the end , it is one of the main things for which Jesus Christ appears in the presence of God, making intercession for the good of Transgressor's; therefore while any of them are graciously preserved among any people, it is an evidence of the powerful mediation of Christ (whom the Father hears in all his Petitions) yet continued and graciously exercised for that people, as Joh. 17. 15-23. Whence the Apostle exhorts, not to receive this grace of God in vain, because God saith, In an accepted time I have heard thee, that is, Christ making intercession for them, in a day of salvation I have helped thee: which he doth, in helping, supporting, and preserving his Servants, to hold forth the Word of Life among others in word and conversation; Behold, this is the accepted time, this is the day of Salvation, namely, while they the Ambassadors for Christ, were instructing, exhorting, beseeching, reproving, etc. while their mouth was open, their heart enlarged, etc. 2 Cor. 6. 1, 2, 11. with Chap. 5. 20.  
These considerations demonstrate, the Righteous perishing and failing from among a people, to be a heavy correction and judgement, even of this nature.  
1 Such as in which God taketh, or is taking away their Candlestick out of his place, where he had set and preserved it to give light to others, as Rev. 2. Yea  
2 Such as in which the good man of the house appears as risen, or rising up out of his place of mercy, and forbearance, in which he hath been long holding open the door of life; now to shut it against such a people for ever, if they speedily repent not. Such it is, as in which there is an appearance of the end, or nigh approaching of the end of his time, in which he is pleading with the Father for sparing, or letting the fruitless Figtree alone, that he may yet dig about it, and dung it; according to that, Luk. 13. 6, 7, 8, 9 like that, Isa. 5. A judgement of a far higher nature, than a famine of Bread, Amos 8. 11, 12. These are such providences, as in which in some measure God is declaring men reprobate silver, on whom the bellows is burnt, the lead consumed, the founder melteth in vain, and therefore fit to be left as Refuse, and no more pains to be taken with them.  
Use. The Position thus opened, let it admonish us to consider and lay to heart even this sad providence before it be too late, before the Decree bring forth, and we be as chaff that passeth, &c▪ Jeremy in his Lamentation, on such an occasion, teacheth us to make this use of such Providences, viz. To search and try our ways, and turn to the Lord, Lam. 3. 39, 40. If when his hand is lifted up, and his Judgements begin sadly to be poured out upon us, we yet learn righteousness, he will yet be gracious, and in the midst of wrath remember mercy; let us then be so wise as to hear the Rod, and who hath apponted it▪ consider the meaning of the Voice; and that we may understand it, let us consult with the Scriptures, what manner of iniquities are usually punished with such Judgements.  
We shall find one great Head of Iniquity that is found in many Branches▪ and in divers branches of it, to have been punished with such Judgements, is, The not discerning the Lords Body; for this cause, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11. 30. not only many are weak, and sickly, but also many sleep; which though a mercy to them that sleep in Jesus, to be so taken away from the evil, yet a Judgement to the survivers procured to themselves, by their not discerning the Lords Body.  
The Lord▪ Body is first and primely his Personal Body, and of that he was speaking immediately before, ver. 27. yea the commemoration of that as broken for us, and the infinite grace and virtue of the sufferings sustained therein, is the subject matter of his Discourse there.  
The Lord's Body in a secondary sense is, his Mystical Body, his Church, those that through the tastes of his graciousness are built upon him, in whom the poor and rich, bond and free, Brother of high degree, and of low, do meet together, they being all in coming to him through the tastes of his grace, and so in being baptised into him, baptised into one Body, and made to drink into one spirit.  
Now that not discerning, perceiving, considering, knowing, or owning the Lords Body, that the Holy Ghost charges upon men as their sin, and God judges them for, is not such weakness, or ignorance, as is of necessity through natural frailty, or for want of means and discoveries vouchsafed, but a wilful and rebellious, not knowing, discerning, or taking notice of it, in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit in the testimony of Jesus, setting it before them, and therein opening the eyes, and lifting up the yoke of Natural thraldom, Hos. 11. This is the condemnation, that when light comes, men love darkness rather, because their deeds are evil, and reproved by the light, Joh. 3. 19 And so when the righteous, the true worshippers of God in Christ, that are set as Lights in the world, holding forth the word of Life in the demonstration of the Spirit, and with power are lifting up the Son of Man in what he hath done, and is become for sinners; and the infinite virtue and grace of his Personal sufferings, and Sacrifice, and therein showing forth his virtues and praises, and so in both preaching not themselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord, and rendering themselves servants to all for his sake, beseeching, alluring, and drawing them in the light and power of his Spirit with them (as Hos. 11. Zach. 7. 9- 12, 13. 2 Cor. 5. 14- 20. Phil. 2. 12- 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9- 13, etc.) even to the most High to consider the Lords Body, and in the grace and power of its virtue and demonstrations to be reconciled to God; yet none at all will exalt him, but are bend to back-slidings, when so called, alured, drawn, and wrought upon; they will not know, nor regard the Work of the Lord, or the operation of his hands, but despise both him and them for his sake, neglecting so great Salvation.  
This iniquity is found in many Branches, as we shall see in this, and the other Scriptures, where these Judgements are bewailed, and the reason of them given; As,  
1 When by the righteous and merciful men, the large extent of the infinite grace and virtue of the Lords Death is so commended, and lifted up, that the Lords House, his Temple, where he may be worshipped, and place of entertainment in his Son, and with them that call upon him in truth, is presented as a house of Prayer for all people, where a rich Feast, and Treasury of all things pertaining to life and godliness is prepared, and set on the Table for them all, that all through his grace might come in thither, and eat of his Bread, and drink of the Wine that he hath mingled, and that whosoever comes by him in the light and power of his drawings, while his grace is bringing Salvation to them, as it doth to all in due time, might be accepted; and therefore graciously inviting them all, as in the Chapters before the text, Isa. 55. 1- 7. & 56. 7, 8. with Prov. 9 Mat. 22. 1 Tim. 2. 1- 8. joh. 3. 14, 15, 16. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15- 19, 20, 21. & 6. 1, 2.  
Yet men not only set light by it, neglect so great Salvation, make excuses, and will not come, but also wilfully close their eyes, and harden their hearts against this grace of God that brings Salvation to all men; and also like the Beasts of the Field come to devour, forbidding the plain and faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ to the world, that through him they might be saved. In which they please not God, and are contrary to the good of all men, and persisting in this wilful opposition of the grace of God in the Lord's Death to all men, they fill up the measure of their sin, till wrath come upon them to the utmost, 1 Thess. 2. 15, 16.  
And in this way of iniquity are found chief, and as Ringleaders, the Generality of the Watchmen, the Masters, Teachers, and bvilders that are approved by, and of high account with men, they come chief under this charge in the Chapter before the text, Isa. 56. 9, 10, etc. His Watchmen, (the Watchmen of their own setting up and approving) are blind, and ignorant, not having learned truth as in Jesus, but professing to be wise in Science falsely so called, and thinking thereby to comprehend the things of God in Christ, have erred from the faith, and turned aside to vain jangling, the generality of them have in all Ages refused, and set at nought that Stone which God hath made, the foundation and head of the corner, Psal. 118. 22. Matth. 21. 42. with Chap. 22. 1- 15. Joh. 3. 10. 14- 15, etc. Acts 4. 11, 12. Job. 7. 48, 49. And where any of them do see any truth in that Doctrine, that exalts, or lifts up the Son of Man, and God's glory in him, yet they are dumb, and will not confess it, as Joh. 12. 42, 43. Among the chief Rulers also many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God; yea they generally love to flumber, are loath to be stirred up, and awakened, to consider and set their hearts to that which might be for their own and others good, but lying down to sleep, do reject, and stop their ears against that knowledge of him that comes to awaken them to righteousness, and discovers the falseness and vanity of their Dreams. See further what follows of them, in that Isa. 56. with 1 Tim. 3- 5.  
2 Another sort there are, that do not so much, or directly set themselves to oppose the Doctrine of the Grace of God in Christ, or the preaching thereof, yet will not diligently mind or consider it, or the weight, importance, tendency, and instructions of it, but do inwardly shun the light and power of it, and harden their hearts against the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit in it, because it discovers and reproves their deeds as evil, not suffering grace to make them willing in the day of his Power, so to receive the love of the Truth as that they might be saved by it, do wilfully reject, and harden their hearts against the reproofs of the instruction of the Lords Voice crying unto them, discovering, and reproving their Covetousness, Oppression, In-justice, Violence, lest they should be converted and healed by it. And in this are found chief the generality of the rich men, and Rulers of the people; see at large Micha 6. declaring the procuring cause of that Judgement, of the good man perishing out of the earth, such they were, as that the good man being perished, or taken away from among them, the best of them was a Briar, and the most upright as a Thorn-hedge, see Chap. 7. 3. 4, 5. yea in Ezekiel's time, many of them did show much love and respect to the Prophet while he was among them, and he was to them as a pleasant Song, yet they would not regard his words to do them▪ or to suffer their saving operation in them, for their heart went after their covetousness, and that is there given as the reason of the Judgement threatened, in which they should know, that a Prophet had been among them, Ezek. 33. 30- 33.  
3 Others there are, that through the knowledge of God in Christ have made some escape from them that live in error, and from the pollutions that are in the world through Lust, and some of them have stood against many strong temptations, and have tried those that say they are Apostles, and are not, and found them Liars, and yet after all this, turn again with the Dog to his vomit, and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire, leaving their first love to that person, and to the excellent knowledge of him. Some with a more high hand than others, turn from the holy Commandment after knowledge of the truth received, and turning away their ears from the truth, are turned aside to Fables, even to such damnable Heresies, as in which privily under pretence of magnifying him, the Lord that bought them is denied by them; others cleaving to, and embracing this present world, not continuing in, but forsaking the Apostles Doctrine, and Fellowship, not discerning, or considering, and remembering the excellency, grace, and virtue of the Lords Body that was broken for us; and for such like iniquity God threatens the removing of their Candlestick, Revel. 2. 1- 5.  
Now if yet we would judge ourselves, we should not be further judged of the Lord, if when his hand is lifted up even to destroy, and make an utter desolation, yet if any take notice of it, and say; I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; then he is gracious, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, for I have found a ransom; If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin, but he that hideth his sin shall not prosper; he that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly fall, and that without remedy; and this leads us to the next Branch of instruction, namely,  
2 That when God so strikes, and yet none lay to heart, or consider it; it's an evidence of great hardness, and wilful blindness in such a people, and a sign and forerunner of greater judgements. The truth of this is evidenced in the  Scriptures, yet for farther, and more particular demonstration of it. See also, Isa. 26. 9 Oh Lord! when thine hand is lifted up, they will not see it, but they shall see, and be ashamed, etc. Jer. 5. When God hath threatened, and begun to make desolations (as chap. ●. Then he saith, Run to and fro through the streets and broad places, And see now if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that seeketh, the truth, and I will pardon it. And though they say, The Lord liveth, and swear by his Name, surely they swear falsely; O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction, they have made their faces harder than a rock, they have refused to return; and in this also the poor and rich did agree to break the yoke, and burst the bands, as Psal. 2. Therefore a Lion out of the Forest shall slay them; A Wolf of the Evenings, that comes privily to devour, like that spirit of Antichrist, and ministers of Satan, Prophesied of to abound in the last days, that come with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, privily bringing in damnable Heresies, denying the Lord that bought them, such an enemy shall spoil and destroy them; God shall send them strong delusions (by giving permissive commission to Satan, a● in the case of Ahah, 1 King. 22. 19,— 22.) that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but bad pleasure in unrighteousness; Surely his soul shall be avenged on such a Nation as this. See also Psal. 78, 64, 65, etc.  
What then shall we say, when in stead of laying it to heart▪ and considering it, and being grieved, many rejoice, and sport themselves at such judgements, as Micah 7. 8. Isa. 57 3, 4. imagining they shall now have their desire, and that the Righteous being taken away, their name, even the good name of God that was upon them, shall perish, as Psal. 41. 5, 6, 7. and therefore encourage themselves in their evil ways, doctrines, and practices, faithful reprovers, that were a terror to them, being ceased from them; now they say (as Psal. 12.) our tongues are our own, who is Lord over us. And now a● men delivered to do such abominations, they speak vanity, every one with his neighbour, with a flattering lip, and double heart, thinking to prevail with their lip, or doctrine; now to root out the lip of knowledge, encouraging themselves, as if the foundations of the righteous were destroyed, and therefore reproachfully saying to the poor, that hath no helper but God, and yet puts his trust in him, where is now thy God, thy hope, thy confidence— what can the righteous do? Mic. 7. 10. Psal. 11. But our God, who is our rock, and foundation is in his holy Temple, in his Son our very present help, and strong Tower of defence to save us, The Lord's throne is in Heaven, from whence his eyes behold, his eye lids try the children of men, he is a God, by whom actions are weighed in an even balance, and though he do not speedily execute judgement against evil works, because he delights in mercy, and would not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, such his gracious affection towards sinners, even rebellious ones in this day of his grace, and patience, yet all these things are laid up in store with him, sealed up among his treasures, and shall be brought forth, when every secret thing shall be brought to light, and God shall manifest the counsels of the heart, than no more patience, or forbearance to be exercised towards rebels; the Lord shall laugh then at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh; yea, the Lord himself shall come, and ten thousands of his Saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him, Then the Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things, etc. for to him belongeth vengeance; their foot shall slide in due time, etc. Deut. 32. 34, 35, etc. Judas 14, 15. In the mean time therefore let us look to him for counsel, and see what use he instructs us to make of this consideration, when we shall see the days so evil, and iniquity thus abounding, and evil men, and deceivers waxing worse and worse, by every warning and judgement. Truly then  
1 Let them alone, withdraw from them, reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; for he that reproveth a scorner, getteth to himself shame, he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot, though still as grace instructs, we may yet mourn in secret for their pride, as Jer. 13. 17. And not be hasty in desiring the woeful day; but let our prayer be for them, if yet there may be hope, even when God appears to be rising up, as one that will no more be entreated; See Jer. 14, & 15.  
2 If there be any that will hear, be diligent, and earnest in season, and out of season, in instructing, and admonishing them, while it is to day, not to harden their hearts; rebuke a wife man, and he will love thee, and be yet wiser, and with meekness instruct them that ignorantly oppose themselves, etc.  
3 And let us together be admonished 1 In the way of his judgements to wait for the Lord, quietly to bear his indignation, because we have sinned, and reverently listening to him, and standing in awe before him under such testimonies of displeasure, knowing that he is righteous and faithful, as well as infinite in wisdom, and power, as he hath manifested himself in that faithful witness, settled for ever in Heaven, and in due time he will bring us forth, and we shall behold his righteousness: Then she that is mine enemy shall be ashamed, Micah 7. 6. 10. And fret not ourselves because of evil doers, wait patiently on the Lord, commit our way to him, and he shall bring it to pass; despise not his chastisement, neither faint when rebuked of him, seeing it is the Lord; The helpers taken from us were not otherwise helpers, but in the Lord, and he hath not taken himself from us in whom is our help. 2 When we see how the reproaches, and blasphemies of men are increased against him, and do set themselves against the heavena; let the consideration of it, make us more willing to bear them, seeing they are the reproaches of them, that reproach him, that fall on us, and commit vengeance to him. 3 Bee we stirred up to cry mightily to God for help, Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, the faithful fail from among the children of men; they speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with a flattering lip, and double heart do they speak; cry therefore with more earnestness to God in Christ. 1 For pardon of our iniquities, and healing of our distempers, Psal. 41. 4, 5, and 38. 12,— 16, 17,— 19 2 For wisdom in the knowledge of him, and those great things of his Law, that may guide us in a plain path, because of our enemies that watch for our halting, Psal. 27. 8— 11, etc. And to this purpose also, 4 Let us redeem the present time yet left us, and be admonished by his judgements to awake to righteousness, and not sin against him; for it is a shame for us that we are yet found so much without the knowledge of him; what, the summer past, the harvest ended, and yet we not saved? Jer. 8. 20. Oh that at least in this day, before it be wholly passed, we did wisely consider our latter end; yea, the rather because the days are evil, redeem the time, and be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is; and to that purpose, take heed to ourselves lest ●● any time our hearts be overcharged, with surfeiting and drunkenness, or cares of this life, and so the day of death, and of judgement come on us unawares; Be not drunk with Wine of earthly pleasures and cares, wherein is excess, but be we filled with the Spirit, speaking to ourselves, and one another in Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual songs, etc. not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some it, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as we see the day approaching, and for our encouragement herein, that we be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience, do already in Spirit inherit the promises; Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; look upon him in the light of God's testimony, there you shall see, That the end of that man is peace; And this brings us to the last instruction.  
3 That even in these sad judgements to the survivers, there is special mercy, and choice blessedness to those so taken away, and that to be considered also. They are taken away from the evil, or as we read it from the evil to come.  
1 They are then taken away from, and do departed out of the flesh, in its weak and corruptible state, out of a vile, or wretched body, that had sin in it to be striven against, as well as death upon it, A law in the members warring against the law of the mind; And shall not again return to it, until it shall be renewed, or given them in a new glorious and incorruptible state, in the first resurrection.  
2 They are then taken from an evil generation, that was continually vexing their righteous souls, with their unlawful and ungodly doctrines, and practices, and so from all Satan's temptations, and batteries; the accuser of our brethren is cast down from Heaven, he cannot reach the spirits of just men made perfect, which are with Jesus, and have finished their warfare, their end is peace.  
3 They are taken from the evil, and judgements to come, as Lot was plucked out of Sodom, that they may be out of danger of being defiled with the sins, procuring such judgements, that so they may not partake with them of their plagues, yea, that they may no longer plead for sparing, and diverting such judgements. Oh heavy judgement to the survivers, yet therein the dead are blessed. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, combats, and dangers; and their works follow them.  
Use 1 This consideration instructs us, that while they are in these mortal bodies, they are not taken away from the evil, though through grace delivered, kept, and daily getting escape from the pollutions and entanglements of it, and victory in the continual combat, yet they have sin in them, as a Law in the members, to strive against, even unto blood, to death, and that continual leading them captive, though they minding the things of the Spirit, in the light and power of the grace vouchsafed, are not led captive by it; yea hitherto they have not attained, neither are they perfect, they have not yet apprehended, or laid hold of that for which they are apprehended of Christ Jesus, but are pressing on to it, expecting the full enjoyment in soul and body in that blessed and first resurrection; in the mean time, in death they are taken away from the evil, but not before, though in a sense they are said to be perfect, or upright ones, that have their hearts fixed to seek righteousness in Jesus, though much weakness and sinfulness be yet found in them; they are perfect, as opposed to waveringnesse, or double-mindednesse, and so in the way of righteousness, in which is life, and light increasing to the perfect day; but in this day, not arrived at their journey's end, not perfect as to attainment, but still striving against sin in themselves, as well as against it in others, and so have fightings within, and fightings without, as also they are groaning under the burden of those weaknesses, and that death that is yet upon them, and in a sense reigning over them.  
This should teach us, not to be secure, or sleep as do others, but to be watchful, and take heed to ourselves, lest at any time sin get advantage over us, and we be hardened through the deceitfulness of it; left at any time we be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come on us unawates; Put we on the whole Armour of God, that we may be able to stand in this evil day, Heb. 3. 12, 13. Luk. 21. 34. Ephes. 6. 10, etc. 1 Joh, 1. 8,- 10. with chap. 2. 1.  
2 The dead that die in the Lord, being then taken away from the evil; it minds us. That the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgement, to be punished, that so we may now look to the Lord, and wait for the God of our salvation, as Micah. 7. 7,- 9 In his hand are all our times, and ways, and with him is wisdom, strength, and faithfulness, to deliver us from the evil of temptations while yet we are left among them; and if he see them too heavy for us, he will either deliver us out, or command restraint to the remainder of them, that might not tend to his praise in our profit, Psal. 76. 9, 10. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 9  
3 This consideration also is an Antidote against immoderate mourning for them that sleep in Jesus, as those without hope, it speaks to all the surviving Brethren of such in the faith, and patience of Jesus, that they have not lost, but for the present parted with such their Brethren, and helpers of their faith and joy, that they may enjoy them in a fare better manner for ever; when the Lord comes, he will bring them again with him, in the mean time they are taken away from the evil, for which we have cause to rejoice on their behalf; and for our own parts that are left behind for a while, we know not how little a while that may be, it cannot be long; and this also we know, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, he abides or dwells in him, whom also he hath raised from the dead, to support and help us: through him we shall do valiantly, it is he that treadeth down our enemies, yea he will with his Son give us all things; he doth and will keep us by his power, or powerful Gospel through faith, to the Salvation now ready to be revealed in the last time, that we may also finish our course with joy, 2 Cor. 1. 10. Psal. 60. 12. Rom. 1. 16, 17. & 8. 32. 1 Pet. 1. 5.  
4 Let this last consideration be of this further and general use to us all, seeing the righteous hath hope in his death, and the end of that man is peace; seek righteousness, and seek it in the Lord, seek it by faith in Christ Jesus, Seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near; we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God; and as motives to it, consider, 1. He hath made his Son that knew no sin to be sin, and a curse for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Consider how great things he hath done for you, in and through the cutting off the Messiah, as Dan. 9 24. 16 that he might be feared by you.  
1 Therein, by executing the Judgement of this world on him, (as Joh. 12. 31) he hath finished the transgression (that one offence and disobedience that brought in Sin and death, Rom. 5. 12- 18.) and made an end of the sins that came in merely thereby, the guilt of all the sin, and filthiness of the nature thence naturally, and necessarily derived, Jesus Christ hath by himself purged or taken away from before the Father, and so finished and made an end of it in the Court, he being taken from the Prison, and from the Judgement therefore laid on him, so that the Father will require no more payments of that Debt, nor go to Law or Judgement with men, according to that rule of Judgement; but hath committed all Judgement to the Son, that all men should honour the Son as the Saviour and Redeemer, the Abollisher of their death, and Deliverer of them from the curse of the Law, even with the Same honour as they honour the Father, as the great Creator of them all, acknowledging the Redemption wrought, and his Power over them as Lord and Saviour, by means of death to be of the same latitude, that so though sin be in them, and death upon them, at the fruit of that first Transgression, yet the sting thereof, which is the Wrath of God, on that account due, the Curse of the Law being suffered, and taken out by Christ, no man shall perish for ever in or by that simply; neither remains it as an Iron bar between God and them; no man is necessarily kept out from God by that sinfulness and death yet remaining on them, but may come to God by Christ the Mediator, in whom the enmity is slain, the peace made, and so the door opened, and way made clear, and the grace of God bringing Salvation to them through it, Rom. 3. 23, 24. Heb. 1. 3. Joh. 5. 22, 23. Gal. 3. 13. Psal. 107. 15, 16. Ephes. 2. 16. Col. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Tit. 2. 11.  
2 Yea therein by making his Soul an offering for our sin, and causing him to bear our sins in his own Body to the Tree, and in the virtue there of he hath made reconciliation for iniquity, a Propitiation, Purgation, or Sin-offering for the taking away the following sins of the people, and brought in everlasting Righteousness, the Works which the Father gave him to do on earth, being once actually finished in that person, the Sacrifice of his own Body, perfected through sufferings once offered, is of everlasting value and virtue with the Father for us, even for the taking away the sins of the world, and for the holding open the door of Life, and procuring the continuance of Mercies even to the rebellious, that the Lord might dwell among them; as well as likewise for the continual covering, and presenting complete, and spotless before the Father, all that are found in it, and for the perfecting what concerns them, God hath set him forth in the infinite virtue of that his perfect Righteousness, and Sacrifice, a standing Propitiation, not for our sins only that through grace believe, but also for the sins of the whole world, that through him he might declare his righteousness, in exercising patience, and forbearance to Rebels during the day of his grace, and patience, and that is while it is due time; and in justifying whosoever through his Name believeth in him, that being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption in Christ, they might be washed, sanctified, and made Heirs in the virtues and influences of the same everlasting righteousness, Joh. 1. 29. Rom. 3. 25, 26. Heb. 7. 25- 27. 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2. so that though those iniquities, or unrighteousnesses, in which when the light and power of the grace of God is bringing Salvation, and comes nigh to men leading to repentance, lifting up the yoke, than men close their eyes, and harden their hearts, and choose darkness rather, because their deeds are evil. Though I say, sins of this nature be not finished, or made an end of in the Court, as was said of the , but are detained in Heaven against men while they abide in them, they being of a new nature, and such as were not, nor could have had being in the world, if there had not been peace made for them, and that also preached to them, even by his Spirit to their spirits (as 1 Pet. 3. 19, 20.) Joh. 15. 22- 24. they provoke new wrath, which abides over men while they continue in them, Joh. 3. 18, 19, 36. and will end in a second death, if persisted in till finished by them; yet there is Reconciliation, and Propitiation made in the virtues of his Blood, or being cut off by death even for sins of this nature, so that by means of that Death, which was for the redemption of the Transgressions under the first Testament, in the infinite and abiding virtue of that Blood, he is the Mediator between God and men, and maketh intercession for the Transgressor's, yea he hath received power and authority in the Name of the Father, to procure and give forbearance to Rebels, during his pleasure; he hath the Keys of David, he opens and no man shuts, he shuts and no man opens, he hath received gifts for men (yea for the rebellious also) observe that additional clause, and the instruction in it, That he hath received not only gifts for men, as men and sinners from Adam considered, but for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. And so also to give through his Name forgiveness even of all sins past, to whosoever through this grace, seethe and believeth on him, as well as always to present them acceptable in the presence of God in himself, in the virtue of that his perfect and everlasting righteousness, yea they have righteousness and strength in the Lord answering to all their needs, weakness, and nakedness for their covering in the presence of God, and that they may be filled with the fruits of it, in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel, all the generation of seekers of God's Name, and face in Christ be justified, and shall glory; therefore saith he, Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for I am a just God, and a Saviour; and his righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and shall never be abolished, however men fight against it.  
3 Therein he hath sealed, or confirmed the Vision, and Prophesy of bringing forth blessing in Abraham's Seed to all Nations, giving his Son Jesus, as raised from the Dead, for a Witness to the people, a Leader, and Commander to the people, a Light to the Gentiles, and his Salvation to the ends of the earth, Gen. 22. 18. Gal. 3. 8- 13. Isa. 42. & 49. & 55. 3- 5. Acts 2. & 13. for bee hath now made the man Christ Jesus, in the Name and Majesty of God, a testimony to men, the Light of the world, to be testified to them in their several Ages, and in due time having anointed the most Holy, even that most holy Body, the Personal Body of Christ, through sufferings glorified with the Fathers own self, the glory he had with him as the eternal Son of God before the World was, with the virtue of whose Blood, the Heavens themselves were sprinkled, that Grace and Truth might thence come forth to us, It hath therefore pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, even the fullness of the Godhead bodily▪ that of his fullness we might all receive, for the opening our eyes, and turning us from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that we might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in him; Now Jesus Christ in his Personal ministration on earth, was a Minister of the Circumcision, yea after his Ascension the first pouring out of the Holy Ghost, bringing and opening the testimony of Jesus as the Works are finished in his Body was upon his Apostles, and Disciples, that were all of the Circumcision, and by them it was first to be preached to the Circumcision, and after to all Nations for the obedience of faith. Now this his being a Minister of the Circumcision, was to confirm the Promises to the Fathers, and that in the confirmation of them, and in the grace so coming forth in Abraham's Seed, and confirmed among his Family, and from thence coming forth to the Nations, the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written; For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, etc. Rom. 15. 8, 9 And this may answer to his confirming the Covenant with many for one week, the last of the Seventy, in the midst of which himself was cut off, and did therein prepare, and through those sufferings himself was perfected that everlasting Sacrifice, in the coming in of which, the Typical Sacrifice and Oblation did cease, about, or soon after the third day, or year of his being manifested to Israel, and showing himself in his Personal Ministration as the Son of God, the Saviour of the World, and so in the midst of the week he was cut off, and through sufferings made perfect, Luke 13. 32, 33. and in a like time after, the revelation of the mystery out of the Scriptures of the Prophets was come forth fully and confirmed in them, and by them, according to the Commandment of the everlasting God, given forth for obedience to the saith among all Nations, so that the Lord Jesus in that his most holy Body, being made perfect through sufferings, is the anointed Prince and Saviour, for to give us repentance, and forgiveness of sins; and he hath confirmed the Promises to the Fathers, and given forth the testimony and revelation of himself, and the Father's glory in him, in full, and as it must stand till his Second appearing; At which Great Day, all the things behind shall even so be fulfilled, as declared in this dispensation of the fullness of times; in the mean time, God hath spoken to us in these last days by his Son, and in, and with, and according to this word is the influence of the light and power of his Spirit poured out on all Flesh, on all the Nations, reproving the World, and leading Believers into all truth, the Father having glorified him for the calling the Nations in the preaching peace to them, by virtue of the peace made for them by his blood, Isa. 55. 4, 5. Matthew 28. 18, 19 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6, 7.  
2 In and with this consideration of the great things he hath done: Rich provision of all things pertaining to life and godliness in him for us; behold him also in his faithfulness, in all his Work, and Office appointed him, it is according as it hath been manifested in that which he hath already done, therefore that to be remembered as a standing witness of it, as Isaiah 50. 4, 5, to the end; so Hebrews 12. 2. he that failed not in that, will not fail in any thing that he is appointed, and empowered to, for us in the virtues of that, either in his appearing in the presence of God for us, or in the Name of the Father, giving good things to us, that through him we might be saved.  
See also the Father's face in his, Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will be teach sinners in the way; and than it follows, The meek, that is, those sinners that in his first and preventing teachings are melted, and turn in the light and power of his reproofs, those will he guide in judgement, and further teach his way, Psalm 25. 8, 9 like that, John 16. 8, 9, 10- 13. he fails not, Isa. 4●. but makes his Judgements as the Light that goeth forth, he is all the day long, while by any means he is calling to behold him, stretching out his hand, Isaiah 65. 1, 2. Hosea 6. 5, 6, 7. his goodness is leading to Repentance, even those that are not led by it, Romans 2. 4, 5. Isaiah 48. 17, 18. Psalm 81. He is drawing with the cords of a man, the demonstrations of a Saviour in a body prepared for him, through sufferings made perfect, and glorified with the Fathers own self, and with he bands of love, the displayings of his love, and glory in that face of Christ, and therein lifting up the yoke of thraldom naturally on the Jews, while he sets meat before them, and this, even to such as break his bands, and cast away his cords from them, Hosea 11. John 3▪ 14, 15, 16. Psalm 2. Jeremy 5. 5. Zach. 7. 11, 12. Ezek. 24. 11. 13. Psalm 81. and in turning at his reproof, he will pour out his Spirit further, and make known his words, Proverbs 1. 23. he hath now no pleasure in the death of any Sinner, yea behold, he stands ready to accept of all comers, And in every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him; to him give give the Prophets Witness, that through his Name, whoseever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins; and the end of that man is peace.  
Consider also as further Motives to press us to haste, and diligence in Learning Righteousness, the present opportunity only is ours, wherefore the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; If once the good man of the House (that by such Providences, as is the subject of this Discourse, appears as rising up, if once he) be risen up, and have shut the door against any of us, it will then be too late. And this also, we know we must all die, and do see that the natural life is a very Bubble, presently broken by the least blast of God; and the gathering time terminates with that at farthest. After death, the Judgement shall be according to the things now done in the Body, good or evil, according to the rule of the Gospel.  
Let all move us to consider, and receive instruction while it is to day, learn Righteousness by his Judgements, and for our direction herein, He hath showed thee O man what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, in receiving his Testimony concerning Christ, and as that gives ground, persuades, and strengthens in the supernatural Light and Power with which it is evidenced and made nigh thee, so through it believing on him that justifieth the ungodly, as Romans 4. & 10. to love mercy, accept, receive, and drink down the mercy and pity of God to man-ward, as manifested in and through Christ bringing Salvation (as Hosea 6. 6. with Matth. ●. 13.) reject not the grace of God in Christ, the love of the Truth that comes to save your souls; and walk humbly with thy God, acknowledging our own vileness, wretchedness, and deadness in sins and trespasses, ascribing Righteousness to our Maker, receive the Sentence of Death in ourselves, that we may learn to trust in him that raiseth the Dead; lift not up our imaginations, high thoughts, or purposes, against the evidence and demonstration of Christ, the instructions, reproofs, and requirings of that; Murmur not among yourselves, but with meekness receive the engrafted word that is able to save your souls, and in the light and strength of it, be ye doers of it in all the fruits of Righteousness, Justice, Mercy, and humility in your whole demeanour towards God and m●●▪ 〈◊〉 that Grace of God that brings Salvation to all men, hath appeared, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blesse● hope, etc.  
The Lord's voice crieth unto the City, the man of wisdom shall see ●●● name, hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it, Mich. 6. 8, 9  
FINIS.   

ERRATA.  
PAge 2 l. 1. r. significant. p. 6. l. 26. add, he is guilty of all p. 8. ●. 〈◊〉 jawer. p. 19 l. 3 ●. for in. r. from. p. 17. l. 1. r. believe, p. ●7. l. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 23. add the, p. 48. l. 29. r. jaws: