A New Years-Gift, OR A Token of Love, To all Persons of what PERSUASION soever. By a Friend, and Lover of all Men. REflecting with myself, that the Alwise God, who doth nothing in vain, hath given some Talents more or less to all Mankind, to Traffic withal, but especially to those that live under the Gospel; and considering that he who had received but one, was called to an account for it, as well as he that had received five, and the terrible and just Sentence pronounced against the unprofitable Servant, that had not employed his Talon for his Lords use, I tremble at the thoughts of it, and in the sense thereof, am made to reflect what I have done for the glory of my Lord, with that one Talon which his Free Grace hath bestowed upon me; and finding how unprofitable a Servant I have been with it hitherto, I am moved (I trust by the Spirit of Grace) to delay no longer, but to improve my Talon as well as I can, for the glory of my Lord. And also that by my Example, the meanest may be encouraged to employ and improve the least measure of Grace and Knowledge bestowed upon them, for God's glory and our mutual Comfort and Edification. Exod. 25. 2, 3, 4, 5. We read in God's Word, That God commanded Moses to speak to the Children of Israel, to bring every one his Offering, and to take the same of every Man that should give it willingly with his heart, not only, Gold, Silver, Blue Purple, Scarlet, fine Linen, and precious Stones, etc. all costly Things, and Offerings, proper for the Rich; but also Rams, and Badgers Skins, and Goat's Hair, which were Gifts accommodated to the Ability of the Poor; the meanest Offering of the People, that was presented with a willing heart, being as well accepted by God, as the most sumptuous Gifts of the Rich. Which may be a great Encouragement even to those that have but the least measure of grace, to endeavour to improve and lay it out for the glory of God, and the good of their Neighbour. And accordingly we see, that our Saviour also accepted and commended the two Mites of the Poor Widow, Luke 21. 2, 3, 4. above all the Oblations of the Rich and Wealthy. Wherefore, I hope, that this my poor Mite will be accepted, not only by my great Lord and Master, but also by Men of good will, since I trust, I have no other End, but his Glory and the good of poor Souls, who may stand in need as well as I, to be put in mind, not to wrap up their Master's Talon in a Napkin. Give me leave therefore to deliver here what shall rise in my mind, in a plain and simple stile, and suitable to my meanness, who am without Learning. And in the first place, I will begin with that which I have had a long time on my heart, viz. to tell the world I am in charity with all Men, through that Spark of divine Love I have received in my heart, but more especially with those that love the Lord, and seek his Glory in all their Actions, of whatsoever Persuasion they are: For love is not a Sect or an Opinion, but a fruitful Mother full of Bowels of Mercy, that comprehendeth all, but chief those of her own Bosom, and afterwards those that are without, whether Jews or Gentiles, and takes them in also. Wheresoever Love is, though but as a Spark, she soon spreads on the right hand, and on the left, behind and before; an Enemy as well as a Friend is welcome to her, yea, Mat. 5. 44. Rom. 12. 20, 21. Colos. 3. 12. 1 Cor. 13. 4, 5, 7. Prov. 10. 12. Psalm 34. 14. she entreats them to be at peace with her; she remembreth no wrong, but covers all sins, and seeks peace, and pursues it. Wherhfore in imitation of her, I freely pardon without any Reserve, any that may have said any thing against me for want of that Love which I now feel in my heart, the Lord in his Mercy forgive them, as I desire to be forgiven: For what are all the Injuries that Man can do to me all the days of my Life, in comparison of one sin committed against my God, who daily loadeth me with his Benefits? Shall I have Ten thousand Talents, yea Millions forgiven me by my Lord, and shall I think much to forgive an hundred Pence to my fellow Servant, to my poor Brother, or Sister in the Fall? No sure, I will rather pity him, and pray for him, than render evil for evil, and railing for railing. 1 Thess. 5. 15. And as I by Love freely forgive all, so I desire that all would forgive me, if at any time, I have said or done any thing contrary to the Love I own to all Mankind, and more especially to those that are of the Household of Faith, by Inadvertence, Undiscreetness, or Rashness occasioned by want of watchfulness. The next thing that hath moved me to send these mean lines abroad, is, because several thoughts have risen in me, that this Year may probably prove my last, and therefore my Year of Jubilee, in which I shall be delivered and set free from the Bondage of Sin and Corruption, and return to my first Possession and Family, which I have in God through Christ; wherefore seeing that I hope to be set free from my Bondage, I desire also, as far as in me lies, to set every one free, that throughout my whole Life, I have had occasion to converse or deal with, that is, any who have judged hard of me, and have put a bad interpretation on my good will and purpose; I desire, I say, to set them free, by forgiving and forgetting. For it is said in the above quoted place of Leviticus, And ye shall hollow the Fiftieth Year (the Year of Jubilee) and proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land, unto all the Inhabitants thereof. If under the Law, God would have every one to proclaim Liberty to those that were in Bondage, and that had alienated their Lands, to the end, they might return to their Father's Inheritance; much more ought this to be done spiritually under the Gospel, by celebrating a spiritual Jubilee, when the Trumpet of God's Love sounds in our hearts, proclaiming pardon and forgiveness of Transgressions and Sins, by which we are set free, and inspired in like manner to proclaim Liberty to all those that may have Trespassed against us. The Trumpet of the Love of God sounds from the Heart, first to God's People, and next to those that are without, and may as yet stand in Enmity against them. Beloved Brothers and Sisters, with what words shall I express that love which the Lord hath kindled in my Soul in a double measure towards you this NewYear? My thoughts are too short, and my words too narrow, to display before you the Burning Love which at this time flames in my heart towards you all; from which Love I once more, this New Year, do freely forgive and forget whatsoever hath been done amiss to me, by any of my fellow Christians, begging of God to set you free; as I myself also desire to be set free by you all, for any thing whereby I may have offended you, against the bent and inclination of my Soul, and that Spark of Love which is in it, which would not offend any one. Pray bear with my Repetitions; for it is from the abundance of the heart that my mouth speaketh; and Love is Mat. 12. 34. never weary of showing her good will to all Men. This Divine Love and Charity is the true Principle of on Evangelical Life, without which no person can live so as becomes the Gospel of Christ. Of how great value therefore is this love? Of whom we may say, as Solomon saith of Wisdom, She is better than Rubies, and all the things that may he desired, are not to be compared to her. Prov. 8. 11. Love is of such an Attractive and Assimilative Virtue, that she changeth all things, she toucheth into her own Nature, she is the true Philosopher's Stone, that changeth all base Metals into Gold, Mat. 13. 44, 45. she is the Pearl of great Price, and the Treasure hid in the Field, in order to the purchasing, of which the wise Merchant sells all. Ephes. 3. 19 1 John 4. 16. Oh Love! Love! who can take thy dimensions? who can comprehend thee? For God is Love, and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Where this Love is not found, neither is God there; though a Man should shine never so glorious with all Parts, Gifts, and deep Cor. 13. 2 Pet. 1. 1. Gal. 5. 6. Learning, all would signify nothing without this. Precious Faith itself is of no account, except it work by love. Wherefore, O Christians, let us be led by this Spirit of Love, and readily obey the Commandment of our Lord, who saith, Love your Enemies, bless them that curse you, etc. Matth. 5. 44. And you that call yourselves Protestants, and profess the same Religion, be entreated by the love of Christ, who died for All, to be Enemies to None, especially of your own Brethren, that would fain live in love and peace with you. Why should you fall out by the way? and be at variance Gen. 45. 24. with your Brethren that cannot comply with you in all things that you think lawful, and they may be so to you, though not to them; for whatsoever is not of Faith is sin. Rom. 14. 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, & 23. One believeth that he may eat all things, and another who is weak eateth Herbs. Let none of you therefore judge his Brother, but rather bear with one another in love. They whose Hearts are sincere, and truly love God, will never be angry with their Brethren, that are stronger, and see further than they do, or are more able to promote the Glory of God, and the Good of their Neighbour than they are. The holy Man Moses, when his Servant told him, that some of the People Prophesied in the Camp, Num. 11. 27, 28, 29. was so far from being jealous upon that account, that he rejoiced and said, Would to God that all the People of the Lord were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them. And the Apostle St. Paul declares, that though there were some that preached Phil. 1. 15. 18. Christ, even of Envy, and Strife, yet that therein he rejoiced, and would rejoice. We see how far different these holy Saints were from the Spirit of those who are Envious at the Gifts of others, not to say worse: For I would rather heal all Breaches, than make them wider; and with the Mantle of Love hid the nakedness of my Fathers and Brethren, and heap Coals of Divine Charity upon their heads, to melt their hearts, and to induce them to love the Lord, and his People. This is that which my Spirit groans for, to have all set at liberty by the Spirit of Love and Peace, that Brethren Psal. 133. may dwell together in Unity. Nay, what is more, my Spirit groans for the whole Creation, that it may be delivered Rom. 8. 19 to 28. from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; for through sin it is made subject to Bondage and Misery. My Prayer is to Almighty God, who at first made this Universe so glorious, that he would be pleased to restore it to its first Beauty and Purity, as it was before the Fall; then 2 Pet. 3. 13. shall the New Heaven and the New Earth appear, not only inwardly in Man, but also in the outward Creation, that we may once more see and enjoy the Divine Harmony between Heaven and Earth, when the Morning Stars shall sing Job 38. 17. Isa. 11. 9 together, and all the sons of God shout for joy. Then shall the Knowledge of the Lord cover the Earth, as Waters cover the Isa 30. 36. Sea. And the Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun, and the Light of the Sun shall be seven fold, as the Light of seven days. But before this glorious Day appears, the Lord will debate with his People, and not withhold his Rough Isa. 27. 8. 9 Wind in the day of his East Wind, that he may winnow them from their Chaff; but all this will be only to make way for this Day, by purging away the Iniquity of Jacob, and taking away his sin. For we are not fit to be made Partakers of this Great Redemption, Act. 3. 19 1 Cor. 6. 14. which is the Time of Refreshment, till this be done; for Light and Darkness cannot agree together, Holiness and Sin cannot be inmates of the same Soul. Therefore, let us pray, that this New Year we may see the Destruction of Sin in us; though we may, before this Work be accomplished, pass through his Fire, which is in Zion, and endure his Furnace, which is in Jerusalem. Wherefore, let none of Isa. 31. 9 us flatter ourselves ever to be delivered, save only this way; for the Lord will throughly purge his Floor. There is Luk. 3. 17. a Purifying Work, must go before the Times of Refreshment: Mat. 3. 2, 1. And therefore let us all turn inwards, judging ourselves, & searching our own hearts before the Lord comes to judge and search us; and let us not cry, Peace, Peace, as long as we go on in a Course of sinning without Control, but let us rather resolve, in the strength of the Lord to fight this Man of Sin, resisting even unto Blood. Let us this New Heb. 12. 4. Year engage in this holy Warfare more courageously than ever; let us fight against sin not only now and then, but at all times, and in all places; and against all manner of sins, whether Bodily or Spiritual, which are more hid. Let us remember, that we are Christians, who by their Baptism, are engaged to fight against the world, the flesh, and the Devil. This is our Holy Calling and Employment, to fight resolutely and and constantly against these three Potent Enemies. Wherefore, we have great need to be continually upon our Watch, and to put on the whole Armour of God, and never put it off: Eph. 6. 11. For it is not with this Spiritual Warfare, as it is with that of the world, where Soldiers have their Winter-Quarters allowed them to take their Rest; for Christians from the first moment that they are listed under the Captain of their Salvation, and have their eyes opened to see their Spiritual Enemies, Eph. 6. 12. begin that fight, which is never to cease, till the laying down of the Body: Isaiah 45. 24. but with his Armour, and in his Strength, for he is the Lord, in whom is our strength. MEDITATION. THis is that, O my Soul, which thou must resolve upon this New Year, together with all the Children of God, even to fight the good Fight: And having once put our hand to the Plough, we must not look back. The way is 1 Cor. 9 24. Luke 9 60. narrow and difficult, but it is only so to sinful self, which must be destroyed; for to the Soul that is renewed by Grace; All the ways of God are Pleasantness, and all his Paths are Peace. This is that Path, O my Soul, in Prov. 3. 17. which thou must walk this Year, and all the rest of thy Life, here in this mortal Body. Faint not, but be of good Courage, be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his might: For he hath said, Eph. 6. 10 Josh. 1. 5. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; Be not dismayed, neither be thou afraid, O my Soul, for the Lord thy God is with thee. Heb. 13. 5. Josh. 1. 9 Job 5. 19 And, he will deliver thee in six troubles, yea in seven, there shall no evil touch thee. Believe it, O my Soul, Psalm 56. 4, 11. it is the Word of thy God: In God have I put my trust, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me: No, nor what the Devil and all the Powers of Hell can do against me. I must expect, that the nearer I come to my Journeys end, the more violent and sharp the Combat will be; Satan will be loath to quit his hold of me, without making his last, and most terrible Assault. From my very Youth up, the Lord hath made known something of the hatred of that Roaring Lion against my Soul: But now I am in good earnest and strong desire, to overcome all his Temptations, and Wiles, he will attack me with greater force and cunning than ever: But my God, I trust, will fight the Battle for me, and I shall be more than Conqueror, through Christ that loved me, and gave himself for me, that I in his Conquest should triumph over the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Blessed be my God and Father in Christ Jesus, that he hath opened my Spiritual Eye, the beginning of this New Luke 11. 13. Year more than heretofore, to see what is required of me, and hath promised me his Holy Spirit, who will enable me to perform it. Christian People and Friends, help and assist me in this my undertaking by your earnest Prayers, for I am come to the last Quarter of my Life, the Winter of my Age; yea, and if I mistake not, I am come to the last hour of my day; therefore great need have I to double my Diligence in working in the Vineyard of my Lord, ploughing up the Fallow Ground of my heart, and casting out the Stones of Unbelief, and plucking up the Roots of Bitterness, and Weeds of Corrupt Nature? And to resolve with myself in the strength of my God, to lay aside every weight, and the sin Heb. 12. 1, 2. that doth so easily beset us, etc. that I may be simple and naked in the sight of my God, that neither my corrupt Nature, nor any Creature, may draw my Soul any more from him, but that he may work in it how and whatsoever he pleaseth, till he have purged and purified it, to be a meet 2 Cor. 6. 16. Habitation for his holy Majesty, that I may now more than ever, experimentally know, what it is to have God walk in me, and dwell in me, that so the latter end of my life may be better than the beginning. O that this Desire and Longing may not only be wrought in me, and those that are as low in grace as I am, but also in those that are Men in Christ, and old Disciples, for a greater manifestation of Christ in them, by an exemplary Holiness in all manner of Conversation; and that they may be enabled to bring much Glory to God, by improving their Talents to a double increase, and by doing all their works from the Motive of Divine Love and Charity. The more we love the more we work, and the less we love, the John 14. 23, 24. less we work. If you love me, saith our Blessed Lord, keep my Commandments. And the Beloved Disciple assures us, That this is the love of God, if we keep his Commandments. And the 1 John 5. 3. farther we advance in this love, the more we shall find, that his Commands are not grievous. This Love is All, O my Soul, and whosoever hath it, cannot want any thing; it is the want of this that makes Obedience to the Will of God difficult to us, and makes us apt to complain of the want of outward things. For if we had Love, 1 John 4. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 21, 22. we should have God, and having God, should have all things. O that this New Year we might be made Possessors of all things, in this one thing love: For in it we shall have true Repentance, deep Humility, strong Faith, total Resignation, continual Self-denial, with all long Suffering and Charity towards all Men; and all other Graces that are comprehended in this word Love, which restores the Image of God in the Soul. And seeing God hath spared us another Year, we are now to double our Endeavours, with earnest Prayer to obtain all these Graces, and the rather, because his Judgements abroad, and his long Suffering with us at home, seem to call for it. But what need I to say any more, since you all know this, and perform it also, I hope, better than I do; only it was strongly impressed upon my mind, to burst forth into these broken words to my Betters and Equals, for Inferiors I know none, as being the least of those that have received any Spark of true Grace, yet am forced to cast in my Mite into the Treasury. The Lord knows for what end he makes use of such a poor Instrument! Yet, if the least Glory may thereby accrue to God, and his Children may get any good by it, it is enough, I have obtained my end, and my desire of so many Years standing; I have satisfied my Mind, and eased my Heart, and now shall die in Peace; hoping that this my Talon, by the Blessing of God upon it, and your Prayers, may be increased to two, at the last Day, when the Lord shall say, Well done, good and faithful Servant, enter Mat. 25. 21. into the joy of thy Lord. Amen. Lord, so be it. Hallelujah. What shall I say to you, my Fellow Christians, and Men of Good Will, who truly fear God, though you differ in Judgement; and what shall I wish you this New Year, but that you may all agree in one, to serve the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, and Rom. 7. 6. not in the oldness of the Letter; that you may be all built up into an Holy Temple for Christ to dwell in, and become a Royal Pristhood, partakers of the Blessings of the Priests and Levites of Old, in the Spirit. And herewith I shall end this my New Years Gift, turning these my Wishes into Prayers to God for you all: Deut. 33. 11. Bless Lord his Substance, and accept the Work of his hands, smite through the Loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again. The Lord hear thee in the day of Trouble; the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Ps. 20. 1, 2. send thee help from the Sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion. O England, live for ever, but let no more Enmity live in the midst of thee. Behold how good, and how pleasant it is, for Brethren to live together in Unity. Ps. 133. 1. This is the way to bring that Blessing upon thee mentioned by the Prophet, when he saith, Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him, that Glory Psalm 85. 9, 10, 11, 12. may dwell in our Land. Mercy and Truth shall meet together, Righteousness and Peace shall kiss each other. Truth shall spring out of the Earth, and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good, and our Land shall yield her Increase. Amen. Lord, let this be the Portion of England, yea, of thy whole Church, all the World over. Amen. Hallelujah. A NOSEGAY presented by the Hand of Love, to all the Wellwishers of ZION. WAlking in the Paradisical Garden of the Scriptures, I have gathered here and there several Flowers to present to you that are Wellwishers of Zion, and that prefer Jerusalem above your chiefest Joys; Psal. 137. 6. Mic. 6. 8. 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7. 1 Cor. 13. 4, 5, 6. Gal. 5. 22, 23, 24. James 3. 17, 18. Cant. 1. that you may all this New Year, and many more, smell the most sweet and refreshing Odour of this Nosegay of Divine Graces (which the whole Scripture, especially those places in the Margin point to) springing up in you, in the life and power of them. But above all those other Flowers which breath sweetness and life, let me recommend to you and myself, the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys. These are the Flowers that will revive and quicken you in the time of Deadness, refresh and comfort you in the time of Trouble, and sweeten you in Bitterness and Anguish. This Rose will tincture all the Faculties and Powers of your Souls, with its Holy Fire and Redness; and this Lily of the Valley will perfume you throughout, with its sweet Meekness and Innocence; the one will make you all flaming with the Divine Love, the other will procure you the ornament of a meek Spirit, and deep Humility, which in the sight of God, are of great price. 2 Pet. 1. 4. In a word, they will make you Partakers of the Nature of Christ; the Rose representing his Divine Nature, and the Lily his Holy Humanity. Surely, Beloved, you that ask the way to Zion, with your faces thitherward, who take pleasure in her Stones, and favour her Dust, Jer. 50. 5. Ps. 132. 14. will fall in love with this Nosegay, as soon as you begin to perceive the sweet Odour of it, the Power and Spirit thereof will transport you so, as that you will hardly know where you are, by reason of the surpassing sweetness and comfort this Rose and Lily will afford you. If that Woman in the Gospel received Virtue from a Touch only of Christ's Garment, for the cure of her inveterate Malady, what will not your Souls find in this sweet Rose of Sharon, in this humble Lily of the Valleys? What Diseases, what Evil can stand against this powerful Antidote? this Divine Mixture and Composition of Red and White, of the Divine and Humane Nature? The Divine conveying the strong force of Love, and the Humane sweet Meekness, and lovely Humility. Strong Faith, and earnest Longing after this Divine Nature, will make all that is his to be yours: For, he is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness, and Sanctification and Redemption. Hear therefore, ye that go from strength to strength in Zion, Ps. 84. 7. the Voice of your Beloved calling upon you, Rise up my Cant. 2. 10. Love, my Fair One, and come away. Come away from Vanity; come away from Gain and Profit; yea, come away from all things that steal away thy heart from me, and bid an eternal Farewell to all the love of the World; and let me see Cant. 2. 14. thy countenance, and let me hear thy voice; for then sweet shall be thy voice to me, and thy countenance comely. Yea, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee: I will be unto thee All Things: Hebr. 13. 5. Thou shalt taste of my sweetness, and be refreshed with the water of life, which I will give thee, if thou wilt continue and persevere Mat. 10. 38. Mark 8. 34. Hebr. 12. 5. 10. Luke 22. 30. Rev. 3. 21. in my ways; Denying thyself, and taking up thy Cross daily, and following me; and taking patiently my fatherly correction of thee, seeing that my only aim therein, is to make thee Partaker of my Holiness. And after I have thus fitted and prepared thee, thou shalt eat and drink at my Table, in my Kingdom: For to him that overcometh, will I give to sit with me in my Throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his Throne. PRAYER. O Sweet Rose of Sharon, that hast been died in thine Isaiah 63. 1. own Blood, to take away the Spots of Sin, that had stained all Mankind, have mercy on my Soul, that is all over defiled by Original and Actual Sin; and wash me in that precious Blood of thine, wherewith thou wast covered all over, in the Garden, and on the Cross. O let me never forget that inconceivable Love of thine, which made thee willingly to bear the Cruelty of Man, the rage of Hell, and the Rom. 6. 14. wrath of thy Father, to deliver me from the Infernal Pit, and from the slavery of Sin, which is the worst of the two; for sin is the cause of Hell. Oh, what shall I say of thy Love! Oh that I might express it in my whole life! O Lord, thou know'st, I can do nothing, no, not so much as think a good thought, but all my sufficiency is of thee; who hast said by 2 Cor. 3. 5. Ezek. 36. 27. thy Prophet, I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my Judgements, and do them. Lord, increase my Faith, that I may ask without doubting the fulfilling of this Promise, and all other thou hast given to thy Church, to uphold her in her Wilderness Condition, where the World, the Flesh, and the Devil fight against her. Sweetest Jesus, thou who hast said, Ask, and it shall be Mat. 7. 7. given you, seek, and ye shall find, give me to ask by fervent Prayer, and seek by diligent Endeavour, thy Holy Spirit, who may enable me to answer thy love towards me, that I may begin this New Year, to live more to the glory of thy Name, and the Edification of my Neighbour, than ever heretofore. Comfort me with thy strong Perfumes, thou Risen of Sharon Mat. 11. 29. refresh me with the sweet sent of thy Meekness and Humility, thou Lily of the Valley! Adorn me with the Power of thy Love, and the sweetness of thy Innocence, that my Life and Conversation may be so lovely in the sight of others, that they may be led to thee, by thy Grace and Gifts to me. Amen. Beloved, ye that follow on to know the Lord, this is the Nosegay the Spirit hath caused me to gather for you; and which I present to you the beginning of this New Year. Which if you shall wear in your Lives and Conversations, the sweetness Rom. 13. 14. thereof will make you truly happy, both in this life, and that which is to come. There is such transcendent sweetness in it, that not only you that wear it, shall be sweetened and perfumed thereby; 〈◊〉 likewise, all that come near you, will be in love with this Rose of Sharon, and Lily of the Valley, and shall know that your Beloved is more than another Beloved; & seeing he is so incomparably, lovely we also ought to love him above the rate of other Lovers, and be more careful and circumspect in all our Thoughts, 1 Pet. 4. 7, 8. Mat. 12. 36. Ephes. 5. 5. Words, and Actions, than others, that it may appear to all, that we always carry this Nosegay about with us, which is composed of all the sweet and fair Flowers of Paradise, viz. the Graces of God's Spirit, which are the Virgins constantly attending the King's Daughter, who is all glorious Psalm 45. 13. within. The Letter of the Scripture pointing us to these Divine Mat. 26. 7. Mark 14. 3. Graces, is like the Alabaster Box, filled with precious Ointment, whose very outside doth not want its Beauty and Fragrancy: But when the Box is broken, and the spikenard poured out, than it is quite another thing; for the whole House is filled with Perfume of the Ointment: So when the Spirit opens the Letter in us, than the ineffable Sweetness of the Name of God, which is as Ointment Cant. 1. 3. poured forth, diffuseth itself every where, and fills the whole House of the Soul and Spirit, yea, and of the Body too. But before we can attain to this Spiritual Knowledge, our Old Man must be crucified with Christ, that the Body of Sin Rom. 6. 6. may be destroyed, and we no longer serve sin. And when we are thus made one with him in his Death, we shall also be made one with him in his Resurrection. And if we make it our business this New Year, and all the rest of our Life, to enter into the Death and Resurrection of our Lord, than the sweet Odour of this Divine Nosegay, and the precious Perfume of the Ointment, will make the Virgins in love with our Beloved, and make them seek him together with Cant. 6. 1. us. Be it so, O Lord. Amen. Hallelujah. The Conclusion of this New-Years-Gift, by PRAYER. O Most holy God, whose Thoughts are not as our Thoughts, nor thy Ways like our Ways; for as the Heavens are Isaiah 55. 5. higher than the Earth, so are thy Ways above our Ways, and thy Thoughts above our Thoughts, etc. Thou dost manifest this Truth in me this Day: For who would think, that the Lord should humble himself, to visit a poor sinful Worm, and to speak in and through it, to the Glory of his great Name. Thou showest thyself, O Lord, to be no Respecter of Persons, and that thou canst work by the most weak and despicable Means, and that the Vessel is nothing, and has nothing that is Good, but what it receives from above. I Jam. 1. 17. humbly entreat thee, O Heavenly Father, in the Name and Merits of my precious Redeemer, to own what is of Thee in this Writing, to bless it, and make it prosper. O thou who searchest the Hearts and the Reins! thou know'st I have no other aim in the publishing of it, but only thy Glory: Yet, since the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, Jer. 17. 9 if there should be any sinister end, lurking in my Heart, Lord, discover it unto me, and nail it to the Cross of thy Son; for through thy Grace, I utterly detest and abhor it. Wherefore, I am bold, most glorious God, Father, Son, and Spirit, to implore thy Blessing upon this Newborn Babe. O Lord, thou knowest, that from my Youth, thou hast made me conceive a longing desire, to send forth a few Lines (were it possible) throughout all the World, to incite all Mankind to love thee; and this longing Desire hath still grown in me, till at last thy rich Mercy and free Grace, hath made me to bring it forth in my Old Age. Wherefore gracious Lord, be pleased to take this New Birth into thy Protection, against the many Oppositions it shall meet with from those that reject every thing that hath not the Ornament of Learning and Eloquence; and do thou cover this simple Naked Child, with the Garment of thy Blessing, that it may be received into the hearts of Men of Good Will, of what Persuasion soever. O Lord, my God, thou didst command the Children of Israel to Offer to thee their Firstborn, accordingly, I here offer unto thee 〈◊〉 First Born. The Conception Exod. 22. 29. is thine, the Birth is thine. Let not the De●●●●…nt it hath contracted in the Womb of my Soul, hinder thy Blessing upo● it, nor any of my Sins and Transgressions, but let them all be washed away in that Fountain Zech. 13. 2. which is opened to the House of David, etc. for Sir and for Uncleanness. Let all these Egyptians he drowned in the Red S●a of my Saviour's Blood, and let me hear the same comfortable Promise, thou madest to the Children of Israel by the mouth of Mos●●; The Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no ●ore forever. The Sins that have pursued you all your Life time, you shall never see them any more having the Dominion over you; and if I leave any Canaanites in the Land, it is only to keep you humble; and that you may know that the Land is mine, and that it is I that fight for you against your Enemies, and will do so till your last Breath. Amen. Lord, so be it. Hallelujuh. FINIS. LONDON, Printed for Thomas Whitledge over against the Hat and Feather, on Addle-hill, near Doctors-Commons, 1693.