A TRUE NARRATIVE OF GOD'S Gracious Deal WITH THE SOUL of Shalome Ben Shalomoh, Of the Circumcision after the Flesh. As Delivered to the Church of Christ, Assembled at Their Meetinghouse, in Rosemary-Lane, September the 29th, 1699. With some ADDITIONS made thereunto since; Being taken from his Mouth by the Subscribers to the Certificate annexed to the Preface. Published for Exalting the Free Grace of God. Come and hear all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul. Psal. 66.16 I say then, Hath God cast away his People? God forbidden: For I also am an Israelite of the Seed of Abraham, etc. As concerning the Gospel, they are Enemies for your sake; but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Father's sakes. Rom. 11.1, 28. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the Glory of God. Rom. 15.7. LONDON: Printed for William Marshal, and Sold by him, at the Bible in Newgate-Street. 1699. To the READER. THE End of Publishing the following Narrative, is, not to ascribe Glory to one particular Party, as if by our own Power or Holiness we had made this Man, who was spiritually dead, to walk; but to obviate such Mistakes, which a thing so novel and uncommon may be obnoxious to; and more especially, to magnify the Riches of Free Grace, which has glorified Jesus Christ, by the Manifestations of his Divine Power and Goodness, 1 Pet. 2.3. displayed to the Soul of this Son of Abraham: And therefore, to you who have tasted, that the Lord is gracious, the ensuing Narrative (I presume) will be acceptable: For tho' it pretends not to the captivating Oratory of our Age, yet it may challenge your serious Regard, inasmuch as Salvation is come to his House, who is, according to the Flesh, of the rejected Stock of Israel; whom it hath pleased irresistible Grace, to turn from Darkness to Light, Act. 26.184 and from the Power of Satan to Himself. Which, I hope, is an encouraging Presage, of the happy Re-ingrafture of the unbelieving Jews, into their own Olive-Tree: Rom. 11.24 A thing witnessed to by the Sacred Word of God, and confirmed to us by this unusual Act: By the one he has declared, what he will do; and by the other, what he can do. And as the Word of Promise may encourage us to pray, so this Instance of Divine Power to hope, Ezek. 37.5, 9 that God will cause Breath to enter into those dry Bones, that they may live. But not to enumerate Particulars (which is foreign to our present Purpose) since there is a professed Expectation of the Jews Conversion in these Latter Days, among the greatest part of Christians; I shall proceed to obviate such Objections, as may possibly be brought against the Truth of this Jew's Conversion. Object. 1. Is it possible, that a Person so unacquainted with the Christian Religion, and so vicious in his Life and Conversation, should so suddenly arrive to such a strong Persuasion of his Interest in a crucified Saviour? Answ. In Answer hereunto, consider, 1. That God, the most Sovereign Agent, is the Sole Worker of Faith in the Hearts of his Elect; wherefore it is called, Col. 2.12. Faith, of the Operation of God: And in his working thereof, he acts like himself, energetically, and instantaneously. He that commanded Light to shine out of Darkness, 2 Cor. 4.6. at once, in the first Creation, can in a Moment illuminate a Soul benighted with its own Darkness, by giving the Light of the Knowledge of his Glory (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉), in the Person of Christ. Why should it be thought then a thing incredible, that he who at the last Trumpet's Sound, will effect such an amazing Change in the Bodies of the Saints, and that (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉), in the twinkling of an Eye, should make one not less admirable in the Soul of a poor despised Jew, the Conversion of whose Brethren in the Flesh, Rom. 11. is represented by Life from the Dead? There is doubtless a determinate Instant, wherein the Soul of an Elect Sinner is to be delivered from the Power of Darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son; Ezek. 16.8. which is called the Time of Love, Ps. 110.3. the Day of Power; until which the Soul is polluted in its own Blood, Heb 11.6. and whatsoever he doth is displeasing to God, because done in Unbelief, and having undoubtedly the Nature of Sin: To which agrees several Passages in the Homily of Good Works, as follows: Without Faith, all that is done of us, Art. 13. of the Church of Engl. is but dead before God, tho' the Work seem never so gay and glorious before Man: Ev●n as a Picture graven, or painted, is but a dead Representation of the Thing itself, that is without Life, or any manner of Moving; so be the Works of all unfaithful Persons before God, Page 46, 47. Edit. in Octavo, 1687. they be as the Course of a Horse that runneth out of the Way; which takes Labour, but to no purpose. Thus far the Homily. Hereby you may see, how the Sentiments in that Age, concerning Words before Faith, differed from those which now obtain amongst us. What they accounted sinful and dead, is now esteemed Righteousness and Life: A superficial Reformation of Manners, passeth for Conversion; and a Moral Heathen shall be caressed for a Serious Christian: Whilst the poor Publican, who discovers the Depravity of his Nature, by the Enormity of his Actions, is destined to an unpleasant Pilgrimage, before it be allowed him to lay hold of a Gospel-Promise; and to serve the Egyptian Taskmasters, some Years, (it may be) before permitted to inquire after the Freedom of the Gospel: And if the God of all Grace, heals a Conscience wounded for Sin, with greater Expedition than is by some allowed, who are forwarder to lay Burdens on others Shoulders, than to touch them with one of their Fingers, the Cure immediately must be called into question, because the prescribed Time was not observed in perfecting it; and whilst God is owned to be a Free Agent, they rob him of his Prerogative, in confining him to Humane Methods; and the Person on whom such an instantaneous Change is wrought, must expect, from them, no better Treatment, than the Blind Man, in the Gospel; did from the blinder Jews, John 9 2. Censider some of those Instances (recorded in Scripture for our Learning) wherein God has exemplified the Power of his Reigning Grace, by making stouthearted Rebels (who are far from Righteousness) submit to his Righteousness. Zacheus, Isa. 46.12. a notorious Sinner, Rom. 10.3. immediately becomes a joyful Receiver of Jesus Christ. Luke 19 He that was Prince of Publicans, is suddenly pronounced a Son of Abraham; as Stella, Tom. 2. p. 221. a Papist, observes on the place: Qui heri peccator fuit, jam hodie possit divina benignitate justus effici: He who was Yesterday a Sinner, by Divine Bounty, is to Day made Righteous. The Jailor, whom we find Inhuman in his Treatment of Paul and Silas, Act. 16.24 not long after washing their Wounds, as a genuine Effect of his Believing the Word they spoke to him; he who about Midnight designed to be his own Executioner before was a joyful Believer: And how many of the obstinate Jews, who had imbrued their wicked hands in the Blood of Christ, fled for refuge to the hope set before them in the Gospel, and in one days time became Church-Members, whose continuance in the Apostle's Doctrine was as steadfast as their Conversion was sudden, Acts 2.23, 41. Objection 2. It may be said these were extraordinary Instances, and therefore nothing to the Purpose in hand. Answer. I grant that the Work of Regeneration is not ordinary, but special, if compared with the more usual Dispensations of Divine Bounty in his common Providence, as to the things of this life; and tho' there are not many Converts in this day who parallel the foregoing Instances; yet they who have the Spirit witnessing with theirs that they are the Sons of God, cannot but set to their Seal; from their own Experience, that the Lord's Arm is not shortened, Doctrina adversariorum qui legem cum Christo decebant, ut justificationis causum concurrere. i e. The Doctrine of our Adversaries, who hold, That the Law is a Co Adjutor with Christ, in the Justification of a Sinner. Beza in La. tho' the Doctrine of his Grace is so clouded by some Self-Justiciaries. The Apostle affirms, That the Spirit cannot be received by the Works of the Law, but by the Hearing of Faith. And how far the generality of Preachers deviate from this Doctrine, is too conspicuous; who not allowing the Grace of God to be so powerful and effectual now, as when the Gospel was first promulgated, send us for Life to that Law which hath already condemned us. Object. 3. Why did not this Convert give some Reasons why he turned from Judaisme? Answ. He gave the most persuasive Argument that could be, viz. His believing Jesus Christ to be the true Messiah, upon the naked Testimony, and Record of God, concerning him, expressed in several Texts of Scripture: Which will be a sufficient Reason to those poor blind Jews, who are still walking after the Imagination of their own Hearts, to relinquish their Errors, when God in his infinite Wisdom shall think fit to call them by his Grace. 2. Consider, the Things he spoke, were delivered to a Church of Christ (not to an Auditory at Lions), to satisfy them of a Work of Grace in his Soul: And therefore, tho' his Speech was rude, yet it is not doubted, from the Certainty of his Conversion, but he had those Divine Impulses on his Soul, whereby he could not but desert Judaisme, and lay hold of the true Messiah for Life and Salvation. It only remains (Reader) to inform you, That what Shalome Ben Shalomoh spoke publicly, has not passed under any material Alteration since; but as far as it consists with Plainness and Perspicuity, his own Expressions are retained, tho' through his Deficiency in our English Dialect, it was judged proper to alter some of his Words; yet retaining his Sense: Which, with some Additions, forgotten by him when he delivered himself to the Church, and others whereinto God hath since instructed him, are now offered to your serious Consideration (the Glory of God, and your Good, having been primarily consulted herein), by Your Servant, in our Lord Jesus Christ, T. H. WE whose Names are hereto annexed, Pastor, and Members of the Church of Christ, into which Mr. Shalome was admitted, do hereby certify, That the following Account is what he delivered Viva Voce, to the Church; and that such Additions as are made, were taken from his own Mouth, by Thomas Humphrey. Nathaniel Shepard. Samuel Stratton. THE NARRATIVE of the CONVERSION OF Shalome Ben Shalomoh, the JEW, DELIVERED Unto the CHURCH of CHRIST, to which Mr. Thomas Humphrey is Pastor. Mr. Humphrey. BRethren, I suppose you well remember that Mr. Shalome was proposed to this Church in order to Communion therewith; he is now come to give an Account of the Deal of God with his Soul: I hope you will attend, as those who are sensible of the Grace of God towards you. Sir, If you please to speak. Shalome, I hope (Men and Brethren) that what I am about to say, may prove as effectual as the Sermon which Peter preached to the Men of Judea and Jerusalem, at the hearing of which there was an Universal crying out, Men and Brethren, What shall we do? Acts 2.37. If that be your Enquiry, take Peter's Answer, You must believe and be baptised, that the Holy Ghost may come upon you, v. 38. I Shalome Ben Shalomoh, was born of Jewish Parents, my Father's Name Shalomoh, my Mother's Leah, was circumcised the eighth Day in Pusnonny, in Poland, where I lived till I was twelve Years of Age, at which time it pleased God (who works all things for the good of his Elect) that all our Family (my self alone excepted) died in a great Plague, which had universally spread its self through that Land: Being left thus destitute, I had an Inclination to travel, and in my Travels, a Boy, who was in the Duke of Brandenburg's Army, came and said to me, Why do you not turn a Christian? A Christian, said I, why think you I will worship Images? (for such was my Ignorance that I thought all Christians were Papists, there being none but Papists, who were called Christians, and Jews, in the Country where I was born:) do you (said I) believe the Bible, the Old Testament, the five Books of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Song of Solomon? Yes, said he, we have all these. Do you, said I, worship Images? There are, said he, two sorts of Christians, Protestants, and Papists; we believe no other Saviour but Jesus Christ alone. Well, said I, carry me to a Minister, who accordingly brought me to the Duke of Brandenburg's Minister, who opened to me something concerning Jesus Christ, from the five Books of Moses, As, 1st, that in Gen. 3.15. And I will put enmity between thee, and the Woman, and between thy Seed, and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel; which appeared to me, when God opened my Eyes, (for I could not see it before) a lively Representation of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ; as also from that in Numb. 21.9. when God commanded Moses to lift up a brazen Serpent on a Pole, that every bitten Israelite looking thereto might be healed; did I learn that Jesus Christ was the true brazen Serpent, by believing on whom alone it was that I could obtain Salvation and eternal Life: He also endeavoured to show me, how that many of the Psalms were prophetical of Jesus Christ, particularly Psalms 2.7. Thou art my Son, this Day have I begotteu thee. And Psal. 110.1. The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right Hand, etc. And Psal. 22.16, 17, 18. The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my hands and my feet, I may tell all my bones, they look and stare upon me, they part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. Which did to me clear up something of what Jesus Christ underwent as he stood Surety for his Elect, from Isa. 9.6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his Shoulders, and his Name shall be called wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. I learned something of the Humane Nature of Jesus Christ; he also endeavoured from Gen. 1.2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the Spirit of GOD moved upon the Face of the the Waters; to evince to me the being of the Holy Ghost; the Notion of a Trinity I took in form Gen. 1.26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let us make Man. And from Gen. 11. where God coming down to see the City and the Tower which the Children of Men had built, saith in ver. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go to, let us go down and confound their Languages. From Gen. 49.10. The Sceptre shall not departed from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet till Shiloh come, etc. I saw that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah, in which I was satisfied, and tho' as yet I had nothing more than the Notion of Things, yet, as the Eunnch said to Philip, Acts 8.36. so said I, What hinders me to be baptised? and baptised I was in Berlijn in Brandenburg, the Duke stood my Godfather: I became not a Christian for Silver, nor Gold, but was constrained thereto by the mighty Power of Jesus Christ; I was beholden to none, but to the Almighty Power of God. After this I was recommended to a Minister in the City Ryneburg on the Rhyne, by whom I was further notionally confirmed in the Christian Faith: and from that time had a mind to travel into England; where, under the Denomination of a Christian, I lived a great while Revelling in all manner of Wickedness, committing Iniquity with Greediness; as I grew older I thought it was high time to reform, knowing I must give an Account of Deeds done in the Body; I then resolved to lead a new Life, and venture on the Mercy of Christ, which, tho' I prayed for Night and Day yet could not find; I made many Resolutions to live better, and broke them as fast, knowing nothing of the Person of Jesus Christ; at length I was by continued Prayer very solicitous for Repentance; yet thought I, should I repent, it will not avail me unless I could forsake my Sins; to Prayer I went, and in a Agony I was, I fling up mine Eyes and Heart to Heaven, Lord Jesus Christ, said I, tho' thou wilt not show Mercy to me, tho' I must perish, yet will I trust thee still; Terrors of Conscience still pursued me, so that I often thought through want of Ease in my Conscience, tho' I should trust in Jesus Christ, yet I should be Damned; I thought many times, as I passed over the Fields, that I saw the Lord Jesus Christ coming in the Clouds; upon which, when I began to consider my own Condition, I passed Judgement on myself as one that deserved Hell and Damnation; I found (as I thought) the Devil binding me in Chains, which made me cry out, as Rom. 7.23, 24. I am carried into Captivity, to the Law of Sin which is in my Members; O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death? The Terrors of Hell took hold of me, I thought I saw the Pit of Hell ready to receive me. How to get Peace of Conscience I knew not; nothing but Hell and Damnation sounded in my Ears; I thought I must be damned, if I turned not to Jesus Christ: In these Agonies of Spirit I read once and again the Book of one Baxter, which I thought would have been a great Means of my Salvation. But, alas! that drove me more into Hell, I thought I should by it have sunk into utter Despair; I could find nothing in it for my Consolation; what Course to take I knew not, I desired the Lord Jesus Christ to do a Miracle upon me, in breathing the Breath of Life into my Soul, who was dead in Sin, as he formerly raised those who were naturally dead from their Graves; I pleaded his Power as he in Matth. 8.2. Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean; and cleansing I stood in need of, for I saw my Sin so black, that I abhorred myself in dust; I thought I was not worthy to roll myself on Jesus Christ; yet to venture I resolved, I knew I could but be rejected, as 2 Kings 7.4. If we say we will enter into the City, than the Famine is in the City, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we shall die also: Now therefore come, and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians, if they save us alive, we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die. I always concluded Prayer after this manner, Lord, tho' thou wilt not hear me, yet will I trust to thee; I prayed (as one sensible of my own Insufficiency) that God would by his Spirit teach me to pray; there was yet a secret Hope in me that God would call me; however, I resolved to lean on the Lord Jesus, praying that he would give me the Spirit of him that raised Jesus Christ from the Dead, to raise me from the Death of Sin; such was my Affection to Jesus Christ, that I often wished myself in a Cave so that I might enjoy him, tho' I endured the greatest Hardship. In these Conflicts of Spirit the Devil set in upon me, told me, It was impossible for me to be saved; For, said he, your Parents have wished a Curse upon you; and insinuated as if I was by that Curse bound over to eternal Damnation: How, said he, can you believe that the Son of God should be born of the Virgin Mary? or that he that was born of her, should be the Saviour of your Soul? Know you not what a Fellow (which word went through my Soul, God knows) he was? It is impossible, said he, that he should ever save you. To whom I answered and said, Satan, get thee behind me; God (said I) and the Lord Jesus Christ are all One; God at first created the World out of Nothing, created Man out of the Dust, and of a Rib taken out of Adam made he a Woman; yea, Christ himself was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary: And now, O Devil! what is too hard for such an Almighty Power which has done all this? Thou hast no Power over him, nor canst thou Disannul what he hath done. After this, my Inclination stood bend to frequent the Assembly of God's People; tho' whether to go I was at a lost, I heard there was many Churches, One cried, Here is Christ; another cried, Here is Christ: I knew there was but one Christ, however, I thought I would assemble myself with a sober People; at length I came among the Quakers, but, alas! there I found nothing to my Satisfaction, so that I was at a Loss again, and so continued for many Years, going no where, but lived without Christ, an Alien from the Commonwealth of Israel, a Stranger to the Covenants of Promise, without God in the World, at last my Heart began to burn within me, whether thought I shall I go: I prayed that the Lord, if he had any Love to me, would show himself to me in Jesus Christ, (for I always did even when I lived in the Flesh, (as many nominal Christians do) look for God in the Face of Jesus Christ,) and point me out a way; at length I came to White-chappel, where my Apprehensions concerning my State were dreadful; I went one Night to bed, and there thought I heard a Voice distinctly, saying, Arise, arise; if you look not about you, and repent not, you must certainly be damned. This was a sad Sermon preached to me, which from a slavish Fear and Dread drove me to worship God, not from a Sense of his Love, but, as I said, from a fearful looking for of Judgement and fiery Indignation; my very Heart trembled within me; Lord! thought I, it is high time to repent; what shall I do? Meeting a young Man, I told him my sad Condition; who told me, Unless I was born again of Water and of the Spirit, I could not enter into the Kingdom of God; which new Birth was wholly mysterious to me: What shall I do then, said I? I fell to weeping; I pray, said I, help me to a Minister, a good Gospel-Minister, (I prayed many times that God would direct me to a right Church (tho' with never so much Affliction, the Head whereof is Christ. I have often seen, as I thought, Jesus Christ perfectly at the right Hand of God, who has promised to pour out his Spirit on all Flesh, and certainly it cannot be far off; I am sure if I were to die shortly, it will not be long after my time) who brought me to this Minister, to whom I declared my Mind, who went Evangetically to work with me, he went far beyond Baxter, Baxter drove me back; but this Gentleman told me there was free Grace for all that came to Jesus Christ: This proved an happy Day to my Soul, he told me the Lord accepts Jew and Gentile, as in Gal. 3.28. There is neither Jew, nor Greek, there is neither Bond nor Free, there is neither Male nor Female, for ye are all one in Jesus Christ; after some Discourse with Mr. Humphrey, who made some Discovery to me of God's Way of Salvation by free Grace, of the Way of the Work of the Spirit of God, on the Spirit of a Man, in raising him up from the Death of Sin, I read in a Book in which I found the Citation of that Scripture in John 17.26. Father, I have declared unto them thy Name, and will declare it, that the Love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. And, thought I, now there is an open Door to come to God through Jesus Christ; it came on my Soul with such Power, that it appeared to me as if a Door had been set open for any to enter in who will, how abominably vile and filthy soever they be. I thought I saw Jesus Christ, yea, the very Godhead shining round about me through the Manhood of Jesus, for in him dwells the Fullness of the Godhead bodily, 2 Col. 9 And now I am persuaded whether I direct my Prayer to God the first Person in the Trinity, or to Jesus Christ the second, it is the same, they being the same in Essence, equal in Power and Glory. The Quakers indeed will suffer no Man to Pray, but as the Spirit moves them, pretending to be guided by a Light within, which is no other than the Devil transforming himself into an Angel of Light; and indeed it proved but a dark Guide to my Soul: But as I was reading the Book , it pleased God to dart in a Beam of Divine Love in Jesus Christ on my Soul, tho' for about an hour and a half, my Bed shook under me, I quivered and trembled, and thought my very Heart was broken within me; Lord thought I, what shall I do to be saved? But it was soon cleared up to me by the Spirit of the Lord, that I should be saved by Jesus Christ and by him alone; and I am sure there is Salvation in no other than in Jesus Christ; no, there is not. And now I would give my Body to be burnt, yea, had I a thousand Lives, I would lay them all down, rather than be an unbelieving Jew; For, saith Christ, unless you believe that I am he, i. e. the Messiah, you shall die in your Sins, and whither I go you cannot come, John 8.21, 24. This is a miserable Sentence to all Unbelievers. I often wondered when I heard Ministers pray for unbelieving Gentiles, surely thought I the Gentiles all believe in Jesus Christ: But, alas! Believing is quite another thing than I took it to be, a thing of far greater Difficulty than most are ware of; He that comes to God must believe that he is every way such as the Scripture declares him to be, Heb. 11.6. he must believe that all his Attributes are highly exalted, and infinitely advanced in our Salvation, that the Law is much more highly magnified and made honourable, Isa. 42.21. by the Obedience of Jesus Christ God and Man, than it could possibly be by the perfect Obedience of Sinless Adam; he must believe that what Christ has done and suffered for us as our Surety in our room and stead, is the only Righteousness whereby we are justified before God and accepted with him; and that this very Righteousness becomes ours, pleadable by us by Virtue of God's Divine Act of Imputation, Jesus Christ is all and in all, Col. 3.11. But, alas, by how few are these Gospel-mysteries really and truly believed? Here you see one in whom the Covenant of Abraham is fulfilled, as it is in all those who believe in Jesus Christ; But if you do not believe you must die in your Sins; I am afraid that my Forefathers (tho' I must Judge as Charitably of them as I have warrant for) yet I fear lest many of them are gone down to the Pit of Eternal Destruction; and yet I am, a Brand plucked out of the Fire, Zec. 3.2. Now if God saved not his own Covenant-childrens, his own Spouse, those who were naturally in the Root, what will become of those who are grafted in, and yet believe not that Jesus is the Christ? 1 John 2 22. but I know, and am persuaded, That Jesus Christ loved me, and gave himself for me, Gal. 2.20. which is the main Point, and that by his Death and Resurrection my Soul is saved. Mr. H.] Brethren, you have heard what an account Mr. Shalome has given in; If you have any Question to ask on any thing that he has said, you have your Liberty. Shalome.] Brethren, Come, what will come, I am willing to wait with Patience, flinging myself wholly on Jesus Christ, trusting in him, resolving to die at his Feet, in the Strength of Christ I speak it. Here it was desired by a Member in the Name of the Church, that Mr. Humphrey would propound such Questions to him, as by his Answers to which, his Insight into, and Experience of the glorious Mysteries of the Gospel might farther appear. Mr. H.] What do you find in your Soul upon believing in Jesus Christ? Shalome.] Comfort, Joy, and Peace, as if I saw the Heavens themselves opening ready to receive me; but sometimes I feel a dark Night. Mr. H.] What Course do you take when you find the Gild of Sin flying in your Face? Shalome,] I go to Jesus Christ, I go to Mount Calvary, there he gave Satisfaction for my Sins, and is now ascended, and sits at the Right Hand of God, and makes (how call you it in English? It was answered, Intercession; Ay,) Intercession, Heb. 7.25. He was the Lamb of God slain from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.8. and I verily believe that God elected me in Christ before ever I was born; yea, before the Foundation of the World was laid, Ephes. 1.4. Or else I should never have come to him, had he not loved me with an everlasting Love, he would never have drawn me with loving Kindness; Jer. 31.3. and now might I be a King, a King of the Jews I value it not, I had rather be a Beggar, and die in a Dungeon, then be an unbelieving King. Mr. H.] Well, but what say you to the Devil, when he tells you, your Sins are too great, or too many to be pardoned? Shal.] Say to him! I tell him Jesus Christ was the great Sacrifice, who upon the Cross gave full Satisfaction for all my Sins be they never so many, or never so great; He obeyed and suffered for me; and besides this, Must I believe the Devil? Mr. H.] And what course do you take when you are down in your Spirit? Shal.] I have Hope in the Lord, and stay myself on God still; when in my own Conscience I was under the greatest Sense of Condemnation, when the Law, Conscience, Sin and the Devil all condemned me, my Cry was as now it is, I trust in Jesus Christ; when I had no Strength, and knew not where to go, still I resolved to trust in Jesus Christ, with whom there is free Grace, and to whom there is an open Door; and I could cheerfully undergo the Destruction of this Body, might it be in the declaring the Name of Jesus Christ to my Brethren, in discovering something to them of the Riches of the free Grace of God in Jesus Christ, which has plucked me as a Brand out of the Fire, that it might redound to the Praise, and the Honour of Jesus. Mr. H.] And what is it that moves you to pray? Shal.] The Spirit of God setting home on my Soul the Sense of the Pardon of my Sin, what is it that keeps me in the Ways of Jesus Christ (of which I was ignorant till God by his Providence made you an Instrument in directing me thereto) but the Spirit? And now I see it is a Way so plain, that wayfaring Men, tho' Fools, shall not Err therein, Isaiah 35.8. I am, since God has called me out of Darkness into his marvellous Light, made to admire the infinite Wisdom of God in taking Flesh upon him, a Mystery so strange, so odious to the Jews, that they could kill him who should affirm it. Mr. H.] Did you not find your Soul drawn by hearing the Gospel? Shal.] Yes, by that it was that the Love of God wonderfully appeared to my Soul; By that I was made to see myself an adopted Child of God, an Heir of Glory; so that, when under a Cloud, I could then cry, Thou art my Father, I am thy Child, leave me not therefore utterly, take not thine Holy Spirit from me, but act as a Father towards me; If thy Spirit leaves me, I am like a Child whose Leading-strings if you let go down it falls: We have continual daily need to feed on Jesus Christ; the Manna we had Yesterday will not serve us to Day. Gentlemen, Do not look upon me as a righteous Man in myself, for there I am a Sinner, and altogether unclean, Isaiah 1.6. But yet in Jesus Christ I am without Spot, Sin, or Slain, and blameless before the Throne, Cant. 4.7. By Grace I am what I am, 1 Cor. 15.10. In the imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ, Gen. 3.21. Mr. H.] Then you do not think to be saved by your own Righteousness? Shal.] No, it is all as filthy Rags, I might better have continued a Jew, then seek Salvation by my own Righteousness; they who have received Grace, cannot do otherwise then praise, and glorify the Lord; but when we have done all we can, it is but filthy Rags, Dross and Dung; It is Jesus Christ alone that saves me when all is done; Grace laid the Foundation, and when the Top-stone is laid, it will be with shouting forth, Grace, Grace, Zach. 4.7. Mr. H.] And what alteration did you find upon discoursing of the Gospel? You believed in a general Way, you said, that the Messiah was come. Shal.] I did so, and had but a common Work of the Spirit; I desired to be let further into the Mysteries of the Gospel, that I might be found One of those Worshippers, who worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; that is, the true Worship, not at Mount Samaria, nor yet at Jerusalem. Mr. H.] I well remember when you first came to me, you was much troubled with the Burden of Sin. Shal.] Ay, There appeared the Mercy of God, now you put me in mind: I was always cast down, my Heart was broke, I was just as a broken Reed; I could not tell what to do; Oh! Sin did load me, I saw myself even in the Pit of Hell, I thought I was not worthy to come to Jesus Christ; but such was his Grace, that he was pleased to lay hold of me; and since I am come to him, I have Peace in Conscience, and Joy in the Holy Ghost; Glory be to his Name for ever. Mr. H.] Well, what, do you believe that God has forgiven you all your Sins at once? Shal.] Yes, I believe he has forgiven all at once, past, present and to come; and now Christ will not leave me, tho' I fall I shall rise again. Mr. H.] You see what Ground you stand upon; Shal. I hope I stand upon the Rock; the true Rock, upon Peter's Confession of Faith. Mr. H.] As to your being chosen of God, and elected, what do you believe touching that? Sha.] Elected, had I not been Elected, I am assured God would never have wrought such a Work upon me; He has Elected me before the Foundation of the World was laid, and when I was young, my Heart was opened within me; when I heard my Parents speak any thing of the Messiah, tho' they would not tell me that he who was slain without the Walls of Jerusalem was the Messiah; they talked of two Messiahs, one that should come to be slain, the other to deliver: It may be that both Jews and Gentiles will in a short time be called in, the Lord will call them. And I wish that at this Day, God would turn the Hearts of all People, that they may all come to Jesus Christ; Oh! the Joy, the Comfort, the Happiness that is to be found there! There is Salvation in none other but in him; whether shall we go? (saith Peter.) Thou hast the Words of eternal Life. Indeed there is no other Way, we must have no Confidence in the Flesh, we must deny all our Comforts, and come to Jesus Christ, all must be laid down but Jesus Christ. Mr. H.] If you have (Brethren) any other Question to propound, Mr. Shalome is very free to answer them. It was desired by the Church, that something might be asked him concerning his Conviction of Original Sin. Mr. H.] What do you think about the Pollution of your Nature? Shal.] What do you mean by Pollution? Mr. H.] Do you find any Evil workings in your Heart? Shal.] Yes, but Jesus Christ takes them off. Mr. H.] Whence do you think you received this Corruption and Pollution? Shal.] From the first Adam, for in Sin I was conceived, and born in Iniquity; and the Corruption of my Nature is such, that it hath rendered me utterly unable to keep the Law in its Demands, and therefore by the Law was I drove to Jesus Christ, i. e. when I saw the Law to be so holy, just, and good, so Spiritual, and I so Carnal, that it required so much, and I was able to perform so little, and the Gospel making a Discovery of one who had kept the Law and satisfied Justice to the full, I fled for Refuge from the Law as a Covenant of Works, to lay hold of the Hope that is set before me in the Gospel, as a Covenant of Grace; this is what I intent by the Laws driving me to Christ. Mr. H.] What do you, when you find these evil Thoughts stirring in you? Shal.] What? Why then I fly to Jesus Christ, to that Blood which hath washed me from all my Sins, and roll myself wholly on Christ. Mr. H.] Think you, that you stand Righteous before God? Shal.] In Jesus Christ I do, tho' not in myself, for in myself I am a condemned Creature; but yet I am fully satisfied that there is no Condemnation to me being in Jesus Christ; tho' I may slip and fall through the stir of the Old Man in me, which in themselves are sufficient Matter for Condemnation, yet seeing myself in Jesus Christ, I know there is no Condemnation to me for these Facts. Mr. H.] What think you of Jesus Christ's keeping the Commandments? Shal.] He kept them perfectly for me, had he broke the Law in the least Point, he had been no better than the first Adam was, and we had been utterly undone; Had he broke one Commandment, he had been guilty of all. Mr. H.] Wherefore desire you Communion with this Church? Shal.] 1st, Because Christ hath made it my Duty. And 2d, To Renew the Actings of my Faith on Jesus Christ; Mr. Shalome withdrew. Mr. H.] Brethren, you have heard the Account of God's Dealing with the Soul of Mr. Shalome. Let me acquaint you, that I have occasionally had a considerable Acquaintance with him, perhaps as much as any one Man here; I must needs say, I think he hath given as a Proof of God's Dealing with his Soul by way of Conversion, as any one I have conversed with since I came into the Ministry; altho' his Language may be broken, and his Phraseology unusual, yet I have observed a true Strain of Faith run through his discourse, and he hath given me sufficient Reason to conclude that he is a stronger Believer than most of us Gentiles. According to the usual Custom observed by the Congregational Churches, in their Admission of Members, the Question was put affirmatively and negatively whether Mr. Shalome Ben Shalomoh should be admitted a Member of this Church, and it passed Nemine Contradicente in the former. After I came to the Lord's Supper I found much Joy and Comfort, as if I lived out of the World, nothing but Joy and Rejoicing: I see that Jesus Christ, as he is God, is my Father; but as Man, he is my elder Brother; It hath pleased God to discover something to me of the Glory of that Covenant that he made with Abraham, in Gen. 17. I am assured it is a Covenant of Grace Ratifyed and Confirmed in the Blood of Jesus, and doth belong to me and my Seed in their Generations; so that I am persuaded, and assured, that my Children have as just a Right to Baptism, as the Seed of Abraham of old had to Circumcision, or as Believers have now to the Lord's Supper, in as much as it is an external Sign of the Washing away of Sin by the Blood of Jesus Christ: God hath made himself over to me in absolute Covenant made to Abraham, and to my Seed as a part of me; and when I take the Lord's Supper, in Faith, I see that as really as the Bread is broken, and the Wine poured forth, the Body of Christ was broken, and his Blood poured forth for the Remission of my Sins; when I recollect my former State that when I lay in my Blood, and was led away Captive by Sin, when I thought not on Jesus Christ, yea, before I was born Jesus Christ thought of me, and laid down his Life for me, and made Satisfaction for my Sin; when, I say, I consider these things, I am made to pray for the Spirit of Praise that I may glorify God for ever, who by the Riches of his Grace hath brought me in, as the First-fruits of that great harvest of the Jews when a Nation shall be born in a Day; which I firmly believe is at hand. ERRATA. PReface, Page 2. line 20, lege 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, put Art. 13. of Church of England, to the 21 line. The following PROOFS out of the OLD and NEW TESTAMENT concerning the Godhead, Manhood, Doctrine, Death and Resurrection of the Messiah being transmitted to us, we thought good to publish it, which by the Divine Blessing may tend to the Conviction of the Jews, and to the Building up many in their most Holy Faith, who profess a Belief in the Name of Jesus Christ. Psalm 110.1. THe Lord said to my Lord Sat thou at my right hand till I make thine Enemies thy footstool. The only begotten Son of God. Mat. 22.43. Mark 22.36. Luke 20.42. The same Words as in the Old Testament. Psalm 2.7. The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Acts 2.34. Acts 13.33. Heb. 1.5. To which of the Angels said he at any time, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son. Heb. 5.6. John 1.14. John 3.16. And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelled among us, and we beheld his Glory, the Glory as of the only Begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. Isaiah 9.6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlaststing Father, the Prince of Peace. The eternal and true God. John 10.36. I and the Father are one. Micah 5.2. Out of thee shall come forth unto me to be Ruler in Israel, whose go forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Coeternal, and Coequal with the Father. 1 John 1, 2, 3. The same was in the beginning with God; all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. Prov. 8.22.32. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the Earth was. Col. 1.13.16. Heb. 1.3. By him were all things created in Heaven and in Earth, visible, and invisible. Psalm 7.14. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his Name Immanual. That he should take our humane Nature, and be born of a Virgin. Mat. 1.23. John 1.14. 1 Tim. 3.16. Luke 1.31.34. And the Word was made Flesh. God was manifest in the Flesh. Gen. 22.18. Gen. 18.18. Gen. 12.3. Isai. 11.1. Jer. 23.5. In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed. That he shall be of the stock of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David. Rom. 1.3. Rev. 5.5. Mat. 1.16. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of the Seed of David according to the flesh. Hosea 11.1. Out of Egypt have I called my Son. That he should flee into Egypt. Mat. 2.5. Isa. 40.3. Mat. 3.1. The Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the Way of the Lord, make straight in the Desert an high Way for our God. That one in the Spirit and Power of Elias should prepare his Way. Mat. 3.4. Luke 3.4. Mark 1.3. John 1.23. Mat. 17.10.12. Mark 9.11 12. Psal. 9.1, 2. The People that walked in Darkness have seen a great Light, etc. That he should begin to preach in Galilee. Mat: 4, 15, 16. Isal. 35.4, 5, 6. The Eyes of the Blind shall be opened, and the Ears of the Deaf shall be unstopped. That he should confirm his Doctrine by many Miracles. John 19.29. Matth. 27.48. The Blind receive their sight, and the Lame walk, and the Lepers are cleansed, and the Deaf hear, the Dead are raised up, the Poor have the Gospel preached to them. Zech. 9.9. Behold thy King cometh unto thee, he is just, and having Salvation, lowly and riding on an Ass, and on a Colt the Foal of an Ass. That he should enter Jerusalem triumphantly on an Ass. Matth. 21.5. Mark 11.2. John 12.15.12. Psalm 41.9. Yea, mine own familiar Friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my Bread hath lift up his Heel against me. That he should be betrayed by one of his Disciples for thirty pieces of Silver. Then one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, went unto the Chief Priests, and said, What will ye give me, and I will betray him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of Silver. Zech. 11.12. And the Lord said to me, Cast it unto the Potter, a goodly price that I was prized at of them, and I took the 30 pieces of Silver and cast them unto the Potter in the House of the Lord. Matth. 27.7. And they took Council, and bought with them the Potter's Field to bury Strangers in. Zech. 12.7. Awake, O Sword, against my Shepherd, against the Man that is my Fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts, smite the Shepherd, and the Sheep shall be scattered. That the Apostles should be scattered when he was taken. Matth. 26.31. Mark 14.27. John 16.32. Matth. 26.56. Then said Jesus to them all Ye shall be offended because of me this night, for it is written, as Zeck. 13.7. Isaiah 50.6. I gave my Back to the Smiters, and my Cheeks to them who plucked of the Hair, I hide not my Face from Shame and Spitting. That he should be mocked and spit on. Matth. 26.67. John 18.22. Then did they spit in his Face, and buffeted him. Isaiah 52.12. And he was numbered with the Transgressor's. That he should suffer between two Malefactors. Matth. 27.28. Then were two Thiefs crucified with him, one on the right Hand, the other on the left. Isaiah 53.4. Surely he hath born our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows. That he should suffer for our Sins. Matth. 8 17. Himself took our Infirmities, and bear our Sicknesses. 1 Peter 2.24 Who his own self bore our Sins in his own Body on the Tree. Psalm 22.1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, etc. That he should suffer extreme Agonies in his Soul. Matth. 27.46. Mark 15.24. Psalm 22.16. Numb. 21.8, 9 The Wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my Hands and my Feet. That he should die an accursed Death, and be crucified, as he was tipifyed by the brazen Serpent. John 19.34. John 3.14. But one of the Soldiers with a Spear pierced his side. Psalm 69.21. And they gave me also Galls for Meat, and in my Thirst, they gave me Vinegar to drink. That Vinegar and Gall should be offered him to drink. John 19.23. Matth. 27.48. They filled a Sponge with Vinegar, and put it to his Mouth. Psalm 22.18. They part my Garments among them, and cast Lots upon my Vesture. That Lots should be cast for his Garments. Luke 23.24. And they parted his Garments, and cast Lots. Exodus 12.46. Numb. 9.12. Neither shall ye break a Bone thereof. That not a Bone of him should be broken, as was typifyed by the Paschal Lamb. John 19.33, 36. When they came to Jesus, and saw he was dead already, they break not his Legs. Zech. 12.10. They shall look on me whom they have pierced. That he should be pierced. John 19.34, 37. One of the Soldiers with a Spear pierced his Side. Psalm 16.10. Thou wilt not suffer thine holy One to see corruption. That he should not see Corruption, but rise the third Day. Luke 24, from 13 to the end. Joel 2.28, 29. I will pour out my Spirit on all Flesh. John 16.7. But if I depart I will send him (i. e. the Comforter) to you. Acts 2.3, 4. There appeared to them cloven Tongues, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. FINIS.