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.1
^* TWO MITES |i
ON
Some of the mo4t important and
much dirputed Points of ^
Divinity^
,C.(t into the T„A>ORv for the Welfw
»thePen.r.lof.he*,p„j.di^^
iju unpaaW R«ad„,
^> «^, .:
I HENRV ALLmE; -
IjJ Semw of the Lo^D M»liii
*' ■ Churches.
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HALtFAJC: Printed >y4
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P R E F A C £•
TT is .lamentable 'rn,th,^«'M„ b> hJi
KebcU,o«.gai„ftG01> J^asphi^gea^H^^^
wto fitch a Sute of Op|K>fltiQ„ w. ||!* ^^ j^L^
^«ild oppafin more thaTiagti^'S^ ^^
ftaildi npt only condemn«(tin.ia9MfIf, ti"-^^'' '"^^
trife wholly expofcd wthe$iiM^aad^T
of the Powers of DarlcjJefsi J^r^jji^;
Thodfands ind Teiri df Thbufaii^rj "
Siiis evtii wider aftthe ?riv^
of Grace, and ftfirouiidir^ MiM.^
dcnlptioh. And the Detfft^iyfc:!
ef^loal for the |)^|ll||gl^
.<
"i^^^
«tdhei«it%
^^P^ccigw and inia)
^%!«»*
■ ^:^
^J^^i
»»f>;^if?p^if/
y
^JK^:^ .
J" > E F Ai C E
deceived, whoprofefs to believe ^ in and embrace
the Mbssiah thatis come, when|t t^ f.me Tim,
tiicy areas great Strangers to his^filrace and En '
cmie^^in their Heartsasthe Jews that crucified
^im.«d openly rejefted Him « a horrid Impo-
or: For there is fcarcely any Men under the
Lighi^f th, Cfpei but what c^l themfelve.
Chriiliaftg, and are likcwifc conviriced, that the
Wajr to Heaven is not through grofs Out-brea-
^ing»an4 Debaachciy, fo that rather than to be
mifemble for ever, many will forfakc Drunfeen-
ncfj. profane Swearing, Stealing, laying, Fqrrii,
. eation, AduItei^C and fuch like Vices, and will
«P^<;e fomfe Principles of Religion and praalcc
fomccotfemal Performances, and therefore ima-
tinc all ja.well, and fo go down to eternal Pcr-
ditioa; wSthout much Concern uponUi^irMindsj
«»kI thus-Atnjr Jn the W<?rid make ^J^cir Efcape
from Viotto Morality, but not from Death to
fclfe ;. -^d although I acknowledge that it my h«
bettcf> for civil Society, yet all that cm be faid
bf «i6 Change («fpeaing their pwn State) i,, that
they have ^changed ^om t>t open pix>f«i« c«
-^-*lwaiai, «nd fiom one fift of:
f King
Hope
1
,' .' a^d 1
iliot h
they
from
Anti-
find n
of Go
tal Soi
fullL
me, \\
I inter
that is
may bi
tang lee
read w
ven fo
Truth
TMQR
- Sake-^i
• » . , ,^
-'^
■m^i.
: E.
and embrace
)§e fame Tim?,
'race and En -
that crucified
horrid Impo-
fen under the
Jl themfelves
:ed, that the
f$ Out-brea-
ler than to be
ke Dtrunlcen.
ying, Fqrrti,
es, and will
and pradlice
ercfore ima-
ctcmal Pcr-
A^Mindsj
)ieir Bfcape
n Death to
It it may hf
'M be fajd
ute) li, that
profvieco
PR E T ACE.
Kingdom to another; and fo with a, groundlef*
Hope of Heaven are ftill polling down to -Heif,
'. .' aj^d tlius knowing, that the Devil (who careth
<iot how near Men go to the Gates of Heaven if
they do but mifs) hath many Advocates both
from the Pulpit and the Prefs to carry on his
Anti-Chriftian and Soul dcfftroying Scheme*. I
find myfclf un4er an Obligation, for tjie Honour
of God and the Welfare of precious and immor-
tal Souls tocailin my Two Mixes with the faiih-
full Labours of Xhoufands, that have |oi^ befoie
me, whofe 5'^o« I am not wprthy tp jbeai" i and^this
I intend with the greateft Plainnefs attd'Tendorn^s
that is poflible, hoping that my <leBrJJ|EAiwn
may be fo far divefted of Prejudice ^fi^^fci- ■,
tangled from th«? Strong Ties of Traditi^h m^^}:ri
read with Deliberation and oa»neft lC(kM»
ven for a^ufficiency af light to <^Ceai« tlibr^
Truth and Eitor, and may the '-GnEiaf'ite
THQR OF AI.L Wl»DOM for* Ms '^BlCt^m^^^
Sake— Grant a Blelling to 4t«end
r^is ifli)ftUrtiirorthy Servant, is tlie.
Mj
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t.*-v,
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fk A.
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P R E FA
C E.
R«d„: FW, .„h„„gh y^ ^.y j__j ^_^_^^
"a d./ft«„, f„„ „^„ ^„^ ^^^^ ^^^
»-< ro» have penned U,™ .h„„^,, •
*» » yc„ MW. „a found ,h.„ J'
«o. o»ly ,0 .hoft you efl.i„.a „ ^ ^"-^
Again, I would obftrve, that as 1 ho r '
IS .ffcrted, without being convinced In I ,
j...wo.„.ds..Lrc::r;:rf::r
fo„ „trc.. „y dc„ R„d„, .„,„„„„ ^^ *-
■fii„.j-i ""-••" 'f"/ Starch the Scrip.
««^,<I..Iy. ".0 fee whethcrthofc Thing, ,r. fo
, *£*"<. J'vould furtic, obfervc that aTtW
I will readily .clinowl~J„ .u . *"
.-^.of.«^.„thcraith.,Se„a„?;^^^^^^
y^.;wouldbyno Mean, have „yR„,„i„
gmc. that I do thereby .p^„„ ^, ^^., »
■ iy. or every Part of .hrirPri,cipl,., becanfe ,
,(^4ar*j7.n.
p*^
„>»^-<r
C E.
iiticulars to my
may find fome
y appear new,
e been taught;,
andemn them,
3ugh, weighed
them contrary
[reat and good
VVordofGoD.
» I have Teen
^y Thing that
I in Judgment
Jmuft therc-
w the worthy
rch the Scrip-
Wngs are fo.
' that aJthp*
»ny of thqfc
VCe of, are
lilts ofGopi
' Reader im-
thcir Wrlt-
8> becanfe I
PREFACE..
Jpve thus improved them in fome ParticulaMS
Forlwouldbcfarfromcafting a Van tway w
condemn I^ in general, becaufclimaginca he was
ivrong in fome Things, or differed with me in
fome Circumftantfals i neither would t by aiur
Means approve the whole of any Men's Works or
Principles, 'Secaufc I efteemed them as good Men,
or found fome Part of thei*)Works really- worthy
of Applaufe: This.has beek too raubh the Prac-
tice of the World; efpecially of tbofe, Hi^Ha arc
fo fond of Eafe, as'to rcceire the Jndgnlent of
^thers, rather than to be at the Trouble of* feari
ching for thcmfelvesj And many thereby have'
embraced ^rofs Errors, attd laboured nn4cr thenk
all their Days, bccaufc they i^ broached a^-
held forth by thofc they caUed good M«W ' ' ' '
v*
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^i6f^„ '-<»,'
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1 <
CHAPTER I.
Oft GOm JiECKEts, and Mw^s Fall npt
dternd^
"." r • " , _
;<i^«{IS|>«aWKl,KN0W of nothing, morc^
' '^ "IX % cffcnti^l in leading poor fal-
V? ^Jen Min to Life, than fira
ma^L ^ ^o. convince him of his Dca4h
^ . ff o^ ^o Jjad him to Happi-^
^(Sr>'%JS -nefs, than, to fl^cw him his .
^^.A^eryT And thewforc; in Hopes of being in- '
. 'Jfaimcntal in the bringing my Reader to the
X'. ;. Xjiowledge ofthcGnBAT Redeemer, I ihall
- '. ;;^ .endcavdur, Firft, to acq^uaint Bim with himfclf ;
t u- for who wants a Recovery b\H Jbim that is ftUen ? ,
•A^ci weU, ah well would it be for the fallen Race.
were fromj what they
arc mnir^aiemiig
ignorant -of their Fall, MiUions
Mill
g to T^
i
IT'v.i
te*«
t and
llion.8V,'r'
1 i> y* „
*"N -ji* iA..i~l
r
^)
Fallnfit
ig . more '
poor fal-
han fir (I
lis De^li
Happi-^
him his ,
eing in« '
r to the
I ihall
himfelf;
i&Uen? .
n Race*
iat they
dng^or
ms «iid
itfillion^V.T
^
Millions iive and die ignoMM of the Kccotefy.
And ttow,jjt take « fmall.Vicvv of Man*s mi.
ft:rable Condition, it isjiccc^r^, to confxdcr the
Nature and Caqfe of this his pref^t and mifcr-
able State.' For altho' it may be the groundlefl
, Opinion of many, that God fore-ordained and
determined MW; Vail, or whatfoevcr'cf»m« K? < >l
pafs; yet, I dare not prefume w (hj^jfjiSiy
upon God by fayihg, that Hd flf tp;mined (tfjditr
creed fo Heaivcn-daring a RebeHioft agaiijft Him^
^?1£» as that was, which w«| fOfnntitted by M>i«i
which proved the Ri»in of the new-mtdo W/o^ld^
and fiink an innuiperable Thtoitj . cif. -nvcioiw. -
and immortal ^uls into a Labyrinth of Wo and •
Mifery : butihould think « far more fafLtO.bcr
Jieve^hat the Great BrBRjiALGobi fa^jtng jllf fi^
iiniti^ M Y"*OM and Love, cpblil ^and didf^lit?^^^
fcribe the oi^ly and moft glorious' flafty Aat '
poiEble for Hisowa Glory, andthe-Hi^
his Creatures : And that Plan maAjffli'
be accordiiig to his own l^ature ; fe|
not poffiblyift: contrary ^o HimielffrAtt&t
:/«wHftforn^i:ManJnifi»o
[*''V-
.. . i^^^'^l,^""?* endoiy'ed with fuc^^
- . ^.SJ r '%.
'•k^^:.L^ ;mM
i^i.'i^>;
J^Jaced in fuch a Station, a3 to render him cap-
able of atfiAg «3'« free Agcnh and with hi,
own Choice to obey or difobey/ to chufe or
rcfufe. to fta|i4 or fall, without beiig in the leaft
influenced from, or by his intending to bring
about glorious Events after their Fa//; as He waa
able in infinite Wifdom to bring Good m of
Evil; and 6oD did intend repeemino Lovb
*) the fallen World, if they fell; which he well
knew, they would : The fame is clearly ex-
prefled by the worthy J, FtETCHKi, « fhat
^« in* Cafe, faid he, Man fell, Divine Mercy
♦*^ had decreed ^ Recovery by Jesus Christ.'*
And thus Man ftood pure and holy, like an An-
CEL, and ftationed as a Governor of the new-
p;.? to«de World j(^«; and with a growing Will, whicfr
^'' : tvoiili'toiifirm him in an everlafting State of Hap-
piifeftv-or-fink him in ptemal Mifeiy,- according
w it turns lb or from God. And for his cen-
, tfring to the-DiviNE Being, for everlafting Con-
f^rmattoa he was endowed with every neceflary
.Qualification, to h!^ve retained his "akobi-ic
tf t
1%
^*»
sfisild'ii.
^>^.t?i
* ( 4 ) ^
State a«dy<t a free Agent capable of finning,
(tiai is to Jay, of breaking offi) but by no Means
compelled tp fin. or break off, nor yet con-
ftraincdtoftandagainfthis Will and Choice: For
if he had been fo, he could n^er haiw ^en
^apP7» »or have anfwered the End of his Cr-ea-
tiou^ nor could he be made any other Way in
the Image of God, but a free Agent. And Ijprc,
it is well worth obferving, #Iuit is faid b^'dlft ■-
Great Mxlton, who, in my Opinion^ &^i«
of the clcareft Writer, on this difputcd Poinr,
^hat ii BOW extant. . .- *'
*f WhofeFaukr (fiithh^ t-t^;- '
. Whofe iutbiscnvnf Ingtah h Ht h^tf^me
Alike could ha'v,. f made Urn juft j,^ rights - ^
Sufficient to ha've flood, and fret to Je^^H\ T3 ^
Such I create all the Ethereal Po-wil»i »' « t^ i t'K
And Spirits i both them '-wkp' J^^-i'f^pi
who/aiPd.'^^^hi;-.^.
^ot free, nahat Proof eudli':0i
JiiKert
.' Of tm» AUegimt, ^-*^^
: . ■ ^V-V
■-w«E5fc^5^
~Wl^i e«5r, tuohiU t^^^\__
is)
When Will Md Reafon (Rea/ou alfo is Choice)
VJeUfs and vain^ of Freedom both deJ^iPd,
^adepaffive both and fervid Nec^ty,
Net me they therefore as to Right bekkg '
So -were created; tier Can juftly accufe
Their Maker, or their makings or their Fate
As if Predejlination over-ruPd
Their mU,xdiJfos'd by ahfolute Decree, *
■Or high Forehowledge, They them/ehes decreed
:• Their own Revolt, not I. If I foreknenv,
\:iFm-iffO'Ojkdge had no Influence 09 their Fault,
• Which had no Itfs pronj'd certain unforeknonun.
And as God had a Right to create fuch in-
till^gcht Beings, ca|>able of Handing or falling j
i^^^ not only had a Right to leave them to'
the Freedom of their own Will, but they
c^uld be happy no other Way : for no intelligent
^j u^i^ can poiGbly be out ofMifery, while they
•, • ^ confined to afty Place or Station againft their
^ r^y^ Will: and a» He foreknew . their Fall, Ifc
,, h-a •„ undoubted Right^aswellasanOppor-
; ^ *«% «P ^cree thereby ^edlfplay of his Power
jUf> Git^ci, ajM to bring ,feoutru,h ^venr.
«.^ai,ld f«;minate :i{^ for Hirowa Glory,
,1' '^ * * -
, > "■ ^ •! ' «'■(-' I.".-.
E'f^r^r iSEffy ^'
and the Happinefs of His Cre^Wrw: And thcfe
Events determined without binding of, or in the
leaft infringing on the Will of the Creatur?, Mfijo
had^dready (in God's Foreknowledge) made «n
abfolutc ufc of his own free Agency, t^<i a^ed
wholly of Choice ; without confidering of, or
paying the leaft Regard to the Decrees pr Ho^
nour of his Creator in fo doing* . ;. . , ;
And now we may with Safety bcliev^, . that
there was nothing, that could be any mowing
Caufc of Man's Redemption, but only the JLov^
and Goodneft the infinits BxiTY.wa« po&£i«l
ed of in his own Nature ; and therefore iv&t»
this infinite Goodnefs breaks .forth in JUinitii^^
I NO Lovfi, it muft briak ibrth like isftll", #itJi«
out Partiality, andiis unlimited as Goa HiinftlH
So that it muft flow to all the fallen Race, ^
cleft, and redeem* all that ciin |>oflitfly, ir "iei
Nature of Things, be elcftei and redecafed* f a#
I dare not prefumeto Tay (asihifiyMJW«) thjtt
He could have elefted" ina f^idttmil^Aoit; W
Ifc would i kv^t He mhqr pfec^ that tb ey%yql4
•• ••T^*** -sawt ^wfiere toey wji|^~oe ,fOT ever
'lil«rfhtBunghi» Holy NiM*i w|iifc|i km^>>^^
■'6
^i»<*„i i. 'Sk?
1. ^
( M
w
tliarging Gd0 with the Ncgica of aoing nioffc
good than He did, when He had it in His Power*
but likewife an evident Contradidlion of his own
ihfallible and unerring Word , {b) and whofo-
cver believes in an Infinite, unchangeable, and
fcir-cadftent God, poffeifed of every poffible Per-
fciUon, mull of neceffity believe, that He doth
*: all the good that is poffible, or neceflaiy to be
done, in the whole Syftem of Creation, confiften^
with Hi, Divine J^falure i or clfe He muft be
Sua^;of Neglea or Omiffion : and if fo, then
' there wotild be a Defeft in the Divi^Jk Being,
;, •"^ confe<iuently a changeable Being, which
t'^^ ^ °**^*''** '^""^ ^°"'*'* ' '^ti^^%^r,t, will
" T"^^ " *^ '^y^^g t^a^ God 'redeems all ^
W can poffible be redeemed, and fay that I
uniting Ac Power of Goo : but with no
wore Ground from what I have faid, than to
^u0 »e of faying that the Suit is a Body of
Oarkncfs ./becaufe that I .fay a blind Man re-
i^J^,^8Ht from it. Would any rational
'&*
trUt-liui 1
fesS;
.fc
,r
?^* .ir)i. Ettk. 3S. u. I, Tim* u^
( M
Mni V<Amre me ofWiting the Power ofQddi
if I Ihould fay that God cannot lie, whea God
himfelf declared the fame; (c) orcondcma me
for faying Uatthe Deitit in His Divine Pcr-
feaions w^s pofreifcd of fo muck Love and
Goodness,! that He cannot with-hold it ftot^
•ny of hisl Creatures, that are hungering and
thirfting after it, when He Himfclf dedies the'
fame ('i;. Furthermore, Dbar RtAow^Uyw^
condemn jit for faying whailiuVc f*i^, htti^e
that you believe (at many do) tk«t QobV^lo^
Thoufandi of Veart hifon the Crettio% i^hdfe'
and deten|uned fome particular hknJ^'J^e^^
DuatMtlda, whte He might ai well have ek€^
|hem un^ cvcrlaftiAg Life. I /hould
yoa would give fome ReafoAwhy
termiaedi or why He chofe rat^ ^>^e*
diemr in leverlafting Torment blui^h^ttit -^theii
't%nATOt, ^n ih the B(^oai of i^axftH^fi^
Love, lauding :J^::G^''J!^t-S0t'^^^^'
ftf Kb Grace. ^^^«^Mt^(iiyi ^1^0^
not iwid titof ^j> Aofe tc^Siiiilfti iil
" Ai
i
,VifS
W'^'^^w
p9 )M. 83* i^. Hek. 6. ilV
■:^.
''X4
m- ■
f!
1 1
;(9)
blafpKeming, ta^e^^han in HeaVcn pniUngJ
and yet, fty th^y, I bdiew that God left thcL
to go down CO Hell among the Blafpheac^
when He could have clcfted and fxred the«, if
he had pliafiid ; but he did not fee fit.
No% deair Reader, let me tell you, if that
h9 y<m ¥iftd, that you arc already eondemned
, m, of ^wir own Mouth : for wheii you dedare,
j th*t Tli<M*CMi4«of Souls will forever lay inHeU,
^*^>igl«(aJi hadre been in Heaven, Ji^G©»
Wc<l6ljf bfCfkiiJealW to eka *o», artd that Hb
Wkii hii- Bow4r, bat»wwJAn«t; tkeayoTf
"IWiff^^nsidjf dfetl*?^ thftt ho chofc they ^nld
^ l^eirPortifliiainpftgthfrBtaiphemw in HeH^
llUlfiir than among the Adorers m Hcajwji. But
|«»N|^ ydU via % aiifiiiathat, akho?y^ML can-*
^m ^tllc^hft HcrToix why God. chofc it ftanU h«
ft». ^ «fft)s-Hi»r tA»s left thcnj^ yet neycrthfileia
)BOtt nalj ft^ I OH^ to acknflwlfidgp %, %u>i^
mm^iw^ out^of J|«jfBii|^c kwihly/ hclicve.iti
c 1*111^ my dfiwBiadcr^: donot bq. offe^ided, if
<'fl»uUc difcovej- to yo,u Uje Vile Nature ^f, that
Itorcjynce and Humility, which you feefti ^ he
^, ^ aiding you t^c foiiowingQ^eftian
Wh^
^r
i*U ilXk
y,fti.
-?^^%'^pp
tas;r!*f'f'?5,-
tV
(' «o ),
WJUt Wpuld you think of a Servant, who reports
about Town, that one oIT his Fellow-ScRvants is
murdered' bjr his Mailer, but pretcnds,\iii of"
Reverence to his Maftcr, he muft not enquire into
,hi8 Conduct in fo doing; when at the, fame time,
if Enquiry was made, it would appear that the
Servant not only committed the Murder himfclf,
but that againft the Will" and Advice of his kind
Matter, and againft all the Rules of his Mafter^s
Houfe I I fay, what would you thi/ik of that Ser-
vant's Conduct, who, out of a pretended RevereQce.
or feigned Humility, is cartyi^n'i^i: aa cvii
and falfe. Report againft his '^^^^j^^jHt^wl
Therefore I can do no lefs than iflMpbtt not to '
contradia the Word of God, qflp? Refleaions
upon him out of a pretended Revertilnce and Htt^
Hiil^ty, or charge Goo with dciighting in. tliic RK*
fery of his Qrcatures, when you cimUveaooth^f
Cloak for it, but only faying, that you €»e not
inquire into the Reafon, bccaufc ftcrct
-*5
belong to Cod. '
; I dare lay that you will vertr^ii^iy ,^
k^owledg^ that there can be no Additk)ii,tt iQ
^|fr«tlH«ppmefs«nd PerfeftionsofGooi:^
^^mt
•(W'
^
hiik
m\
■.■^. t(f V
hy tHe H^ppiUis or Mifcry ef HU tiHttit^ j
dnd, iffo, thtti what Sort of a Being muft thcjr-
tt^orlhip, 'Wrho (declare, that he makcj Creatures
t6 delight ill thtir Mifery, when He receives na*
tHing thereby t And now, fmce God tannotpof*
^ Ably refccltt any thing from any of His Creaturc»j
Either by their Happinefs of Mlfciy, is it not
more roafonable, more fcriptural and for the
Honour of God, to believe him (a* He really^
ft) a Bcin^,- whofe Nature is pofleiTed of fo much
Goodhefs, as to ukt Delight in communicating
l6ViAN0 OooiiMESs to all His Creatures, ^hat
t^ifl, dr' cati poffibly receive it, than to declare,
as ihariy do, that He is pofTelTcd of fuch a Na-
turcj as to deal with Hi* Creatures in fuch Ri-
gour, zi the decreeing of .their Happinefsand Mi-,
• • . t \
tcty, only as an arbitrary Difplay of His Power f ^
For you muft know, that there can be no Laws^
' J&ecrees or Statutes, either in Heavcft, Earth or
' JETell, bttVwhat 18 a,ilatural llcfleftion of His own
Divine Nat^re. And now. Dear Header, mUeai
V of believing (as perhaps you hairc lohg done) that
%J&6d U of fttch> Njtturcj as to dec ree the Mlfciy,^
. ftfilU trcaturcji, ©r that (which is la lMMt>jI|''^
«4*
'''^.•iiP3^^
^^
ttVy ' ^ : "•
leaves them W eternal Mifcry, when He migjit
as well havi made them evcrlaftingly happy.
I think you can hut believe Him pofleffed of fo
much Love *iiD Goodness, a3 to take Delight
in the Communications of it to all His Creatures j
and that ininfinite Lovk and Wisdom, the whole
Creation was l^Kilce into being for that End, FiXf
for the ManifeftVtion of his Divine Perfection,
Love fcCooDNEtes ; and that all His Creature,
might be forever l^appy therein. Yea, methinks,
this is a Truth nU only fo much more toth^ ,
Honour of God, l^ut likewife fo tranft)0«i*^t^
His Creatures, thatWery rational Being,th»t W
fiyes to fcc» mull fall in Love with it, and blefi
God ror what He ilt in Himfelf. And, for m^
own Part(bleffed be God !) I feel fo mucfe of «
divine Sweetnefs in tl^is Truth, that »ySqul leaps
for Joy, while I writ^ Jt, andfeemsto.be impV»
tient to fpread the fam? from Pole tpJ*olpi. nei-
ther can I forbear intreatiijjg jUi, »» wiofc ^<*»
'thefc few Lines may fall (wicthey b|broop^«
'l am in the eternal World) to 4^;]fojr:i^;f*.^»
♦ Hid Trcafiire, and when y<^ ;^^,ficcived^
:iht jJjWJjrJDegree of it*5 Imprcffi^i
■•■f- -*'.jf*-'
fts^;
2L
<.
^nourifh.„d Chen/hie a the Wdfare of y,,,
r«;^'^u» «»id immortal Soul. . ■
fi^T then, what thzll I do, faith o„. „• u
.„d '■"'Z''™* >■«» ""gl.t by good Men
*nd many Book, that I h.« r.»/ '
Ci»'. decreeing thcFJ^ fZ """"'"«
. "Wg the Fan of Man, and w, dj,„.
--1-choofi.g.H. ,„,,„,„ ^^^^^
oft^ftBoobofnon,o„Wo,thth„,„,'
"Otiing to fuch, Principle but « ."""''<«»
♦.X^ight being let into them . Th.n n u
,*M^.*«.c,„a.e.j;r^;:;'-'
.% and Darknef. i. f„„„,i ^ J' '« «
«>'r«u, not.0 b!,i Ji ' ."^""''■"•
^pccter /ud^ey ^^^ ^^^^^^
j/
^V?
^*i
.■■\
Por as you muft one Day ftand or fall for youiiir
felf, fo I .would advife you to examine for your-
fclf ; and it may be, that the grcatcft Part of what
you before thought were rich Je>Ycls on thai
Point, may; prove to be of little Worth ; and
if fo, you will never have Caufe to reflect on me
for my Advice. And as for my own Part, .altho*
I highly citcem Luther, Calvin, Milamck*
TON, and many other great Reformers, «yet I
will by no Means, take a Step in the dark to follow
them; nor eat'Poifon, bc?aufc it is. miJted wiUi
the beft of Food. ^
Will, faith one, fo far I wilt agree %itK yo\n
but yet it appears to me; that yoU :«rt. '^bottt
denying\ the Doftrine «f Eleaion whoU/ UHn
toy Dear Reader ; you Ihall have no mdr? xf^Con
to fay, that I deny the Doftrine of Ele^Uoja, |hwi /
you hare to accufe a Man of faying ^tft . i| n.cY4r
rained, bccaufe he ftya, it cannot>»i|i;in a jlafe .
: Bottle that is fcaled up; How can yoft fay ,th«t
J deny Eleaion, only bccaufe I refufc tp hoH-li?:
- forth in fuch a Manner, a? would, h^; li{ip«>0i
. 10 be true ; For wc haye jlrcady
"T^cT Elcaron, s^n»anf dfr,.ir,^
A
'^4
'mt'
.'■• k
-^.«,4jr.„U.i„g could h,vc>«n„o„.B.
-^Mwr''''"'''"'"'^''-'^*' Scale
vmeWifdomfooIiftlydrfMtjjj,, . • ,.,
w^'y to lie Liberty ofa „^K&F ,.
'I-
'. CVip'^tygtel
^<rfw/, A»d rtvoke tbi kigh Dtirit
^.„„^gtqhlef itirnal, nuhith trdaiit d
^hfir freedom: 7hey jbmfthfyrifmifJ thtir
fall
"Ahp now,my dearRcadcr^ tfyou find your-
(elf fettered by Tradition,' and clogged with much
Stuff, that you have imbibed concerning this Poiiit,
thut begins to be a Burden to your SouJ i and
are thirfting for Liberty, like the Hubrew ..
Slaves, .that wifhcd for the Year of Jubilee , .
. {hen let me intreat. you, to bear in your Miml
a new folmn and undeniable Truth j and per-
haps, in the Hand ofGOD, I may fee enabled
• to fervc you in this ^oint. Furft, Jon arc to
^nfidcr, that the very Nature oT ^ Diym*
Beinc is an uncontroulable Povcr of .Ffeedowi
and a Will to all Goodnefti and th^arefor* ^i:
'*muft of Courfe, Secondly b«Ue«rc,tfa»t His i«gfci_
eternal and 'unchangeaWe D««»«; a«on$ aU' kit
Crcawrc. is a Fewer of Choice ^t Free^ageocyi
v/«. ordaifting • Free-vidll and FiWrer •fChoi^j. ,
.whereby they may be .apal>te ^f**^^ /
fer^-ing tht't Creator of C^oic^- b#tll>HW^ K
■^.■''.'1
/'
'( '7 )
-ceiving the Communication, of Hi, Lor. .Hd
Goodness j which never can h^ • r ,
toft .bouei. T 4 " "'■" ^ "" ■">"««
. til" }? the only Wav ^1,,^ r
mftrumental i„ ,dminiftering any lL. .
rA««^ • . * X. A'lgnt to yoii
• interpofcd
(
Jf*lJ
..l4,
'•:iT'i"y'^K'r,7''
■w,'^^^
jf%,> ( t»'ftt-;^w.s--
( i8 )
interpofed between them and tn irreeovemble
State, by ftepping into _the whole World by the
Spirit and Power of his'Incamation ; or elfe the
Diforders that were brought into the World by
Sin, would have immediately pyoved it« DifTol-
ludon and its immortal Inhabitants have funk into
an irrecoverable State of Blafphemy and keen
Defpair ; ' and thus the whole Family of Adam
was fupported from their own Hell, by*theHand
of the incamatis Deity in an animal World with
an animal Bodv, and a Coftfcience, which was
God's Vice -gerent, to hold them in a Po^bilit^
of Redemption and to render them capable of
Jiaving a fccond Choice by the Spirit of Gon,
and of cpnfenting to Redemption (e) whgn
touched with the Offers of Salvation : by the
Hand of a Redeemer ; who in due Time is to give
them a Call, and come with his ovm power for *
their Relief. And thus the whole fall^ Race, cvt^ '
the very Heathens, (f) are held up by the gJfCIt
Redeemer from their own Hedl, in' a^ ^|6 /Cff*" ■
Probation, capable of confcnting to, Ofr^wpS^^B ,
(O-Geo. 3, 15. (/)Rom.2/j4. «J. ^ ^r'ai^v-
« Ay ^ - -
.V
l)?the REDEBMiNo LovE ; Of clfc Man muljt
have been brought to Heaven as a dead Log, or
igainft his own Will, which would be impoffible,
Jind contrary to th« very Nature and Decrees of
GoD; as has been already fufficiently proved..
And tjius, my d<?ar Reader, you are to confi4p^*^:
jrourfcjlf with a few Hours of Probation cut out
of dfetnal NOW ;' neither elefted nor reproba-,
ted, but with elefting Lov? ajl around you,
and a reprobating Power within you, andwitj^
a Confcienpe capable no^ of growing a Chrif-
tian hy Degrees, as fome vainly imagine; but
«f hearing the Voice of Redemption, and con-
senting to the offer, when made you by the great
Reftorer of Mankind : (more clearly to be explai-
ned imone of the following Chapters,) and there-
lore you arc never more to attempt the tracing
back thro* Millions and Millions of Ages, or
any Period of Time before Adam ^Yasmade, (as
I fiippofe vjpu have been taught) to find who is
to be faved, and who is to be damued; for Sal-
vation and Damnation originates here at your
own Door ; for with God therg never was any
fuch Thing, as before or after^ Millions of Ages,
s bcforg
ll.fd^^^*i^i^a .Va,
iiirirflV-'*'**i^^*^SK^.iL
■% ) fT^ltflSS**^ **■''
before Time began, and as matiy' mAre, aft<jr
Time is at a Period, being the very fame ifl^
rtant : confider neither Time paft nor Timet*
fome, but one Eternal NOW; confider that
with God there is neither Succeffion nor Pro-
greffion; but that with Him the Moment He
faid let us make Man, and the Sound of the
laft Trumpet, it the very fameinftant, and your
Death as much firft as your Birth ; and now,
dear Reader, if you are well eftablifhcd in thofc
Truths, and are not afraid to ftcp out of the
Track, that you have long trod by Tradition,
but are ftill thirfting for more Liberty in tKe
GosPEi, Plan ; I wUl attempt, by the Grace
of God, to lead you one Step further in Par»
Axit of ELECTING LOVB. " '
But, faith one, I would aflc you one Qucflion,
before you proceed. Do you difluade me from
uacing back Ages before the World wasma4e,
becaufe it is beyond the Reach of hvraian Thought
ever to find the certain Period, when (^P*» J>*-
CREB4 firft originated i or do you dcnjr «ny fucji
w4icn His Decre c8 .o ri6ln jMt.oriach_
^Periods as firft * Uft with Hi|l;i^. wif .t^^y<«.
_jf' % "^^ OduU& iLl
i.JL'i^'^
:^^imMiSimAku
(Zf)
-"r any r„ch Period, when Go»'s D..„
*n ;„« • ^"^ ^^'^^ «fe only made ufe of
r ^<'*» a" Thing, are NOW : or to be
m=r . ,nd th« yoa muft be convinced, th«
«»».n"„fiftenuogo bad, before ehefler
■"-S ofTime, to ,alt of r„ - ^
»P"Mng .beChH .. ' "•"""= "
'0 8» round '""**^"'"'""'M^«'
w^t h,„t ,ou,de„ Reader. Of .hore,,W hold.
^^ ..px.»«I.ov.,„dtheDcc«e.ofGo.
, in fuch a Method. "•
B„T to proceed, a« I p„n.ifcd ,,,„„,„
0/'"t P.r. » . n fid^ f.,i t th . ele^ing Lov.-oT—
Cou,
T:!'
( «»: ) *
v/Wmi
Cod which is ii unbounded as himfclf, has this
inftant broke forth in the Creation of a World
of immortal Veflels, capable ofdrinki»g inthi»
elefting Love to all Eternity, the very fame in-'
ftant Man has rebelled, and {o ruined himfelf ;
but elcfting Love ftill being aa unbounded as be-
fore, purfues the guilty Rac<^, «nd therefore has
laid Help on one migfhty to fave even to the
very uttertooilall that will or can poffibly be re-
deemed : fgj the very fame inllant this great Re-
ftorer of Mankind rides triumphant over Death
and Hell, opens this electing Love to all the
fallen Race, (irj and decilares that the great Work
of Man's Redemption is fihifhcd, {ij that very
fame inftant He knocks at the Sinner's I>oor, de-
claring that his ELECTING Love is fo great andf
unbounded, that it determines the Salvation of
arcry foul, that will only confent to be made a
Partaker of it; fij and he that confents ihalt
certainly be faved, but he that rcjefts this ELtcl
TING Lovn, reprobates himfelf; and Kierel^
muft be damned- (LJ And thus, my m^^ .
H'J^* W R«vd. i. 20. i P.t. 3. 9. (/^ Mark i&fUS
i'l
^^
w
' *rt
<«3 (
v..'!,
4v,^ fee the RediemiBg and ELECTiito Wr
is fo unbounded, that it- fiin would make every
Creature a Partaker of it , ycaypu may fee that
^K i» impoffiWe to be otherway, if God himfeff
w unliniitted. And now, if you ihould alk („
perhaps fome may) if they were not clefted be-
fore ? t ahfwer ho; bccaufe therfe never waa
any fuch Period a. before. WeJJ, but thiH^
^;^hony a new Doarine, iays^dne ; for I hare
^*n taught, that God firft detcrihined the Hap- V
pmeft of the one, ^d the Mifery of the other,' '
without any Reference to their confenting oi'rejcc-"
ting ; and after that, by Way of Succefllon, make*
ufeofMeahsto bring to that Place and Station,
>vhich He hadWore-intended; and that He
tould, if He pleafed, have brought them all to'
« ftate of Happinefs, True dear Reader, yo^
iav been fotaught, wWchi^ the Way thatHlec.
Mon is generally held forth by fome Men , tho*
Ijtcfyn^ tofay, that Goo never fentthemon '
th.tEr«nd, for tofl,ut up, and limit that. un.
bounded Ocean of B.Bcrx.c- and K«i>H,M,Ha
XoVBwhiehheha.openedat„oIef,cxpence
J^J ^^ofi^m r^ Son • An d y oui ^
M^i
V-
i>4^'
S»*>ifeijr.^,--'B^.<
fath a Principle^ cannot (land any longer, tha4
it i3 rujppoited by almoft blafphemou« Reflec-
tions upon the Deity 1 and even, agaiaii
His own Word, charge him With Partiality i
(m) neither can I fee, how Tuch Men dare pre*
Aime to declare True Grace, and unbounded
Grace ; when at the fame Time they have got ,
the Plan contrafted, and fcaned in their own
Head fo fcant, as to believe, that there i» not
one Dropi of Mercy for the greateft Part of their
Hearers; and that God Aever intended any for
them i but only makes them a Iham offer,' whidi
ftiuft of Courfe, too fliocking to be mentioned,
charge Go|> with that mockery and Flattery^ ,
which, I ilire fay, they wowld toot be willing,
fhould be charged againft themfelves^ Inftead
o.f this, my Reader, 1 think, Ihave fnfficicntly
proved, that the very Nature and •*D«cre«$ * ol*
(aot> afe fuch, as to widihold no Oobdirit)i%-\
from a^ of His Ci«atiires^, and th«t Hia^'si.fcai&
i*iNO LovB is fo unbounded, as to fill ewegr'yi$^j|^^
ibl that can poffibly receive it: and tA^efixrf
Mfc. ^ *
ii--1i'ri>
i.^
"', .7^*1? Jfplie, .6. 9. Rom. 3. ti
'^^*#S4iif«r'^, f-^Ji^
.gunft the y«y Nature „d Decree, of Goo
But then what i, the Reafon, faith one. that'
whUeJ«...„dE„.„„„,,„^^^^^_^
Go. m. J«o, have I loved .„ Es«w have
I hated ? Why. fo, .he fame Reafon. dear Rea-'
dc, .h,..heP,™,„intheSpri„gof.h.Vear.
oefore either Wheat or T»,.. -
you dat he mtend. to gather the Wheat into
gLT;"' '""'"'"""'""« =F°' with
Go. .1 Thing, are NOW ; U,e Harveft i, come,
J*co.ha,confen.ed to bemadea VeffelofL„?.
but E.A» ha, wilfully rejcaed thjs eleffing
We^ «.d therefore n,„ft ofNeceffity remain,
Veffelof wmb. Well X ftould be f„i.<i,d
•ow. filth one. in thi, Matter, ifl«,„r„„„„„
Vinced, that Goo had an/ Reference to Jcon "
f«V or Refufal of the Creature in their Eleflio.
«d Reprobation. Well, dear Reader, if ,4,,
& the chief Difficulty in your Way. ^^ "
^by afcng you a few Qseftion,, J .^ ^
"^ b* by the inl^llib le ^pf q^ ,^.
lit '
V - - ' ' .„> .
fet-me ale you, why God did not redeem all
thofe that you call Eicfl:, when He firft interpofcd
between them, and an irrecoverable State? Whr
did He give them a Confcience, and keep them fa
Ibflg between Heaven and Hell f Or why docs tic
make fach a Complaint. ' " How often wdtdd I
have redeemed you, and ye would not fit J." For
finceit is all only an arbitrary Aft in God ; it
may be done whenever He pleafes ; and then
why would he wait Year after Year, and com-
plain of his Creatures for grieving His holySpirit,
and rejefting hijr Grace fo long as he does ? (o)
And now, if fuch Inconfiftencies as thcfe are noli
enough to convince you, I will now refer you to
what is faid by God Himfelf in this Matter.
Hath He not declared that in fome particular
Places He could jiot do many mighty W<>rk»i.
becaufe of their Unbelief ?|>; And may Ijiq£.
juftly fay from thofe Words, thai H$ l^uM A^-
cleft them ; becaufe thejr would a«fejie&d«^|^:
or confent thereto ? Or would ypti caft ^u^ie
Upon him and fay, that he could, bccauftf Jtt
could hive elefted more *ut Mtouldlidty Atod
,«/tm)Si^:
(hfr***
'y^-
«!
j.>an*i
>5
.. 'C'
r
. again vra. it not declared of .he Je^, of ^Id, "tint
f ^ -uid not enter into Reft, for „;,otfter Rea-
font but becaufe of Unbelief Y,;/"^d if you
.re tjot yet convinced of the Point J^ in De-
hate; let usobfcrve how Eleftion V expreiTed
ih piam Words : Why faith the Word,* « Eleft
- acdording to the Fore-knowledge of Goo the
« Fkther thro* Sanftificition of the Spirit unto
" Obedience. Vr; And :^ He faith, "Whom
;; ^'^'"^ .^'''^^"^^^ ^<^ » dM predeftinate to
. be conformed to the Image of his Son "A )
,,?^wwh«Fore.knowledgeorfe.k„owingcould
' th,, be, ,f he deiJt with them >»s inanimate Ma-
chines, withont any Regard to their confenti„g
orrejeaing; for there wa, nothing in the on<.
^at ihould excite Pity mo« than in th. other'
they are equally miferaWe, hctplcfs and con'
de«ned by their Fall ; and God has declared,'
taiatrtei, no Refpefter of Pcrfons.ftJ I ihall
>^«fer you now to what is faid concerning PAt;i.'s
, daftgemus Voyage, and then conclude this Point.
^I^u. may remember, that after he had declared
- aotpnelafe ihould be loft, <^ ; Ht tells them
that
--» -f'V*- ^
■> V
that if «ny ihould leave the Ship, they conldnc^
be favtd. (v) Now let mc appeal to any un-
prejudiced CKriftian, whether I have not held
Vorth ELECTING LovB more according to the
very Nature 'of God and hi« Gofpel, and more
for" the Encouragement of a periihing World, than
\ if I had declared, [that in fome certain Period,
long before Man was made, God firft determined
the Salvation of the one, iind the Damnation of
the other ; or leaves the other to be damned,
when he might as well have clefted, himj and
then, after a long Sueceffion of Agpa, they are
made and falleft; after which. He comes and
feparates them, according to hi* Determination ;i
the one He brings into everlafting Happinefa ftji
an arbitrary h€t of Kindnefs, the other He leava*
to exercife th? Difplay ©f his Power on them,. in
their eternal Damnation, when He migKt a* i^ell
have redeemed them too, if Ke wQuld^ but would
not: but if electino Love is fo.ttnbounac4
faith one, then why doth nai Qp%^i\f^^f^
^ul receive it? To which I anfw?J,,/fe Jthft
WC IILeafon that a Man cannot f9r^e^,]g^,jgjp^
K
Jamm
^Hkfc
«r<
- (t'jAfti. 21, 31.
:-&
vf
c»
•%
../
'r'ia^^i
I* ■^■^^
>;■•.. -,
""»" '-"■
t't
■ ■!,"''• «""»»' name. fXov. „,„«. hj„
"her Br«n : F„ „„„ ^
/ '""'«"" *"«" this wm oy the C«,m,^
*« bef„«rf, cchtroulcd, or broken ...„ oM
might b= a„mhn«ed. Y«,, ,h„ „„„,j ?
*nn^Mo„i.«f:.rorwhc.,o„h„ldeftr*
*dAeWi,, of. Spirit. „hat have ..hey „„L
|Wc Ana.,thoV,u„.,berurprired,t3
^"^rta^:,:;ta7%*;'°"''''''
io", you &„•„.. Charm, of Re„„„,„
*«'*- < ' /
will
^i:
.fi
^ «w. T«r':9v>-r^%;
f '»-*jr f '*lp^i'V % . ft •
( 50 J '
will be fo far from ftoppU»g,oiffQbduiBjywr Will j
^•tjt will but increafe k« uncoatroulable Rage.
And thij Will of Maa it fo far from btingT
Ibrcedto I^idcwption (as many vainly iq^aginc)
that if God waa to attempt i^ th«y wo*ild c\xrik
him to hii Face ; yea, had Goo Kava bxokQ
forth at once abruptly wiih redoemin;^ X-Ovc o»l
the Will of , the Creature, at his fall, it.wouJA
immediately have plunged hin> beyond aU Px?ffi-
Irflity of Redemption, which ia caOly jrovcd b)f»
the infallible Word of God. Did not <?ojft, bt«
fore ever he had denounced any Qurfo or- V«a,-
gcancc, on his rebellious QSfpf'm^ ; cojn<t inta th«,
.G^tdon ' in <hc cool of the Pay ? With % U^
.Ufimf^^tti^ of vedoemiBS hovel And it- is
-sevidest th»t He taiw wUfe »otM»gflff but J,.o¥^,
f and did. nolj An^*^ ;>f(MlMfd»tely ^ iio» if- ^'
^om an Enday I An4 c»deavoi^ tt> Wc ^Jf, ^ ;
it as fram. «'TocmeatQr-Crj Avdrtiow Vf dcif
Reader, wh« tt^ you o£ fprcia^ Mwi *0 ^
4«n®tiD» a«w»ft Jua Will I Of «f ik >#i^:
.)n«usht to licaweK iua dea4;.9§f ■ ftfil^
W Gen. 3. i; , i , : ainji)*ttf^:i J^i(3*f ^*""
Mf
a
F:t
»u
( 51 )
•' om you fo,b«r admiring d,c i»fiBi,e Wifdom
.nd Conddccntion of Goo, i„ ftoppi„g .fc. r,.
pidity of tJiia growing «,d deftruflive Will from
in e»»ll rapid and delbuaive Courfe, u far as
wa. poffiblc by holding of it in an imprifonrf
iute m thi, elemental World by the Power of
W. inornate Union? While he make, Ufe of
Ten TOoufand Means and Method, to reclaim
.«? That 5s to fay. to turn'it. Courfe, which i,
*c. whole Work of his Incarnation among the
ail" Race, and therefor* when all i, done that
. "» Poffible be done to turn the Courfe of thit
8~«*g «>d rapid WilV,; prove, wholy i„ef.
^•1. (being rejefled) then God fafth him.
^,.t.. invain«,do.„ym„«. ortryany
»»««ri for the Continuance of hi, Forbe«a„ce or
«>7«»8withd.em.Infte.dof doingthemany Good,
Wjlonly .end to fink d,em Iower/„; There-
i"* ':'"»•"*»">" ".cen done prove, abor-
.*"' *«r we left, and g. u. th«r own Plaee.fw;
vZ'Z'^T *'^"' ^ *"" "<l"«>««d to eafe
gy« "»b.bed. contenting the Doflrine of Eiefli.
f"^'-*- W *•»■.. WA«...,7
, ■ S .:
on
'""'Ir^i^A-* ^''^r
«». Ahd now you may fee, thit there is no Bat*
between you and redeeming Love, but what
Js in your ovm Breaft, held up of Choice; Net-
tkcT have you any more Reafon to be difcouraged,
or ftand a-loof from, the Feaft of the Gofpel, than
«ne of the Jews to hav« Hood and ftarved to.dcath
in the Camp of Israei,, when God was rainmgl
down Manna upon, thcnxj only b<caufc they
vaiiily imagined, that it did not rain dow^
i^ them ; or a Man, that ftands up to his Knee?
in Water, to perifh of Thirft, for no other Rca,
•fpn, but becaufe he vainly imaginefl, the W*ter
aoth not flow for him. And if you; »rc^ iftiU
doubting in your Mind, whether or not you ai^
defied ; let me aik y9]i *« following Queftion^
, Ayg:Vild you vot t^^c it as sr great Affront from a
■^or hungry BeggV. when you had invited hii^
Vtnto a &ill Ta%. andintreated him to cat, \f
U feotjld refufc ; when he could giye ?«« ^
other l^eafon for his refufing, but o?4y ^f>« ^"^
alined it was not pr<;pa-red for Wm ? Yea ^i&hl h^
pot ^^ well fay, that yoa-hni^Itttentiptt tofe<^
Hm, but only caHed hint in to modrhim hM
I
^ ,1.
I
(33)
"•« W« i fo unbounded a,,„j.
S.lv,rio„ of „ Soul r, '"*' '^«
"' "I'ngi, be redeemed- r n
"f'rfone Obfemcion n, " ""'^«
y»« ».X in ro.e err; """■"*' ' ""i".
'^ ^i. Convewion r,:rr " '*«. ^e-
'"'»«'. A., he .,„ofl eat I 7""'°-
»kV. who p„-d „„ »" " *" °^ ^o^l Srudg.
'«'W.«o4.2^''"'"""^'"--''fiu-.
«>« Divine Ch^r^X^'^y-^Sp^i of
,f'««HWii^A«n,fo ^de M """"""'J'
**«. th« W it J^ 1 ■""" "^'^"'o"^
' > " ' * * r
;.«*•■■ "Mr
• ( 34 (
Salvation of all the fallen Race. And now thinlcj
my <lcar Reader, if one Spark of"^thc Nature o.
the Divine Being, and when under the Re- '
mains of Sin too, it is fo charitable, as to fprea4
REDEEMING LovE from Pole to Pole , hpw rapid
muft be that Stream of unbounded J^ovc, or how
unlimited the Charity of that Divine Being
who is fuch in his whole Nature unlimited anj
felf.exiftent. ^Or would you prcfume to fay, that
this Man is more merciful and gracious than that
mfinije God, that redeemed him.
And now, ifyouftill feem to be afraid of re.
ceiving thefe Truths, bccaufc it 1, foxnethi.j
new or diiFerent fron||what you have been taught
by thofc you cafl good Men , I :^m»di have yo»
confider two Particulars, Firft. that altho' they may
b. good Men (as Im.ke no doubt but«,a„y goo4
Men have held that Principle) y« ihe bell of
Men may be m an Error in many Thing,, fc. t
«>ndly, if you were cloCfAy to obfcnre the Mtai '^
li«r «^f their Preachiljg, ptthtps you woold miist'
the following Remark (as I have often obfa
»n thde who thus hold forth a HoMtedLgi^
-U>L
Or) V
to GbD, and filled with His blectijjo and re-
PBBMiNo Lovi^, they will ftretch their Arm*
Wide, and tell yoii there is Room enough for every
one, yea for the whole World, and that there it
110 Bounds to the Mbrcy and Lovb of the in-
finite and eternal Saviour j but when they get
tway from God, and yet to preaching the Let.
tcr without the Spirit, they will, draw themfelvc^
up within themfelves, and perhaps give you as
much Encouragement, as fto tell you, that -.there
are fome particular Men, that God has a parti-
cular Regard for, and |hath picked out of the
World, and is determined to favej and finccyou
do not know, hut ypu ar« one of that Number,'
you had as good dry, and if you are not, you
can but be loft. Now me thinks, by this Time, ,
you cannot but be convinced, and believe that
the infinite God has dona all that can poffibly^be
done to make jou happy, and that Hii^ very Na-
ture js fuch, as to cleft your eternal Happinefs, ^
Firft, He wa» fclf moved to fpcak you into Being
in a St9te of Purity, capable of being happy'
in his Enjoyment intreating you to be blefled
-frhhiftrweriiiUtttLwei wA. wjien ywjitd ^
!%,
ti&^^
^^^msmmm^
JJ-R/
(36)
rained yotirfelf,* his Boweli yearned over you
with Pity, and kept you from plunging yourfelf
into an irrecoverable State; and at,^ le{s £z«
pence, than the Gift of His own Son, had fpread
the Gofpel feaft before you/2pdfiers his owa Spirit,
to bring you to the fame, without Money 8c without
Price, only entreating your Confent : Yea, and
is fo far froin wifhing, or determining your De«
ftruftion, that He fwcars by Himfelf, (As He
can fwear by no greater,) that He has no Plea*
fure in your Peath, but that you turn unto Hiio
apd live. , . ;♦
Blame not the Bonuels of the Deity: •
ManJbaUbe hhf^dy as far as Man permits >'
ffeav'n <wi//s eur Hafpinejs, alkws tttr DoM,
Invites us ardently t But not compels .' ;
fleSlhi butpe*fuaJeSf almighty Man dtcreif '■•
Man is the Maker of immortal ^^atet *'
Man falls hy MoMf if finally he fails, ' *
YOWHO,
No^, Confidcr, dear Reader, that thf i^Bpi^
Defign of Heaven mfm. to make -Hit •^eitu'^i.
happy, and alj[ that hat been done for yont^ '^f^
Hi'Lcnttf ind thei<pfore, whofoever lives ■fr#^|Bff-'
\a Bin, v^ill not only lay down their.
>y.iy
"Tim
\\
( S? )
V ♦■
Ae«fo.. every SouJ 1, . , '"" '"PPy =
. ''ioJ, World «„ tLT r " ""'""*"'• •• 'f *« ■
««««»*.;». %u.re.„„,^" o^n::r
"i^" i»««i.. Qce L If™ ; "' ""''
fcr ever/™; ^,^. ^ « °'^'."»4 1<V,
•?^
¥
, Tit- •:■?
5'iUofGo»,and
'ons of his Love;
■ t>r ^c Father,
s them happy ;
own to-Perditi.
arable, a.ifthe '
»on^7. Chrift
'nd theyrcjcc-
^Creation and
^ ye Inhabit-
«■« Wd up by
le Great Ae-
'ow Prifoners
^crabJe State,
iNo Love at
'« pcxiihing
v*-«\
R IT.
CHAPTER j^.
Sfrtl, h •aling cfthcforhidden Frui,.
'T would be unr«fonabIe to imagine, that
the Apple,, which Aba„ dia eat, wore of
f»ch. poifonou, N«„,e. „ „, ^oifo, him «|
11 h,, Poneritjr. and to caufe a pure Spirit of
I-.0HT and tovE to become. fie^,4a,i«,d
«.h«o«, Spirit ; ^„d it „o„ld lii,^.^^ ^^ ^,
roundler. and unreafonable to imagine. ,nd ,»
b«l<cve (« many do) ,,h„ te„«fe M«. J«d
broke, Ac Law. of hi, Cr««or, d,„rfo„ g«,
by way of P^ift„.„ .^^^^ ^^ ^^
evJ and malioiou, Nature, .oi.unift „d to«««
hunforM.Difobedi.ncc; and that he r«»i,H '
h" Corruption from Goo, becaufe Oo»..^«^
py with him, «,d chofe taeiecute th«
foi n e littrr iTfaicfa heliaa ^
•^t'!*
J ^
. ( 39)
fomc rainJy imagine, that the whole Caufe of hit
Mifery coifliftcdin hia being drove out of the Gar-
den of Eden, <viz. from one particular fpot of
Groundto anqthcr ; which is hotonJy faying, that
God might have been more kind and tender to them,
than He was ; but litewife diredlly contrary to th«
plain Word of God : For it is there declared,
beyond all Difpute, that before ever there was
any mention made of their being driven out of
the Garden, or from any one particular Spot of
GrouAd to another, they were become miferable
Wretches, and vainly attempting to cover their*
Shame with Fig-Leaves. and drove by a guilty
Confcience from God to hide themfelves among
the Trees of the Garden.^^; And as I am far
from believing, that Man becam. of fuch an in-
fcmal Nature either from the Apples,^^ by any
Impofition from God ; I ftall endeavour to offer
ft«nc light in this. Point. And Firft, we muft
tonfider, that Adam, nor no created Being, could
b« infinite or immutable, ^ut finite and change.
^I^j^ ^d, if fo, then wholly and folely depend-
(jfj G#D. 3. 7. J,
I
ent
«
^v-
,■ / (40)
ent for Eiiftfence, Prcfervjation and Perfcvcranop*
as every TTliing , but Immatability, nmft be, for
without Immutability there can be nothing but
Mifery : And therefore, when, Man was fpoke
into Being, he ftood in Need "of a Union with,
and Communieations from an infinite, imraut^
able and unchangeable Being : By which Means
he might derive every Supply neceflary for his
Prefervation in Happinefs, and efpecially that of
Light and Lovb ; which every Spirit, both Men
and Angels, ftands in Need of. William Law>
faith, ** God himfelf cannot make a Creature
f « to be in itfelf, as to it's own Nature, any
«* Thing elfe, but a State of Emptinefs, of AV^t,
** of Appetite, &c. He cannot niake it to be good
*< and happy in, and from it's natural State:
** This is as impoffible, as for 60 d to ceafe to
*« be the one only Good, the higheft Life. There^
" fore, that which is natural and creaturcly, caH
" go no higher than this ; it can only be a bare
" Capacity of Goodncfs and Happinefs j andctn-
n* not poffibly be a good and happy Life, but by
«' the Life of God dwelling in it, and in ,Unlo^
•« with it?* AnJ therelore as 'idBg as 4^i^a«^
'0
■■( 41 •)
Defircs centered in the Divine Being, and h«
' afpiring after larger Draughts from the infinite
Fountain, the Union continued^and he remained
pure and holy, by receiving a -continual- Supply
of Li^cHT and Love, but no longer, and Man
BOW being in a State of Trial, ivas not confined
in this Union with God by an abiclute Decree j
for thea he could not have been in a State of
Trial J nor yet was 'he compelled to break it; but
was left capable of chufing for himfelf, and there-
by capacitated to Break, or confirm that Union;
neither could he be made to aft as a free Agent
toy other Way.
But here i would not be underftooj, that
God gave Confent to him to commit Sin, as
GoD*s Will that he fhould fo dti; for it was
much againft GoD's-Will, that he TmiiKt. Jer.
i'l.BTCHBR. faith, "God did all that a wife and
" good Ruler of rational and free Creatures could
* do, to prevent Sin." That is by giving them
» Tufficient Ability to Hand, and fet before them
^cry Thing, that could make them happy : On
the other Hand, He warned them of th.> ^ t rfi nitf
•Evil \
Evil, that would enfue^ if they rebelled: (k)
Yet afl^r all that God had faid and done, to
prtVeht his Ruin ; M^hep He faw, that the Fruit
was {)leafaftt to the Eyes, and a Fruit to be 6.k^
fired ; (a) that is to fay, fees another ©bjeft, cx-
clufive of his Creator, which he imagined to be
worthy of his afpirng after ; he lifted after it,
and thereforfli altho* he had been f^ewamedof
the l^anger, he drew ofif, forfook and fepiariited
frofti his Crfcator, WKo Was tKd'ohiy Fountain of
Light arid Love t and then, ahd never till thea
did they know any thinj^ of the Bnjoymciits of
Tinie arid Senfe i no ri^Ore than the Angels ill
Heaven. ]&ut nqwthr^ had fallen into a bi^ftiat
World and fehfUal Enjoyments." And the Fafl;
<* iscertairi; (faith William Law) that he luf-
** t6d after the knowledge of Good and Evil*
^* and made ufe of the Meant to obtain it : tod
**' nofoonerhad he got this Knowledge, butill
<* that Day, nay, in that inftant, he died } iEftt
** if, his heavenly Spirit, with it's heavenly Ifi:^
** dy, where both eztinguifhed in hiiii ; Ibtai
, («)Gen. a; 1 7 . (4) G ti. g. <^
n .'fc^-i/u *^
^
^.-..,.-^.
.^%
- •■ ■-'rr,^. r7F^;j»»^>^,;rTl^^
r-f!-
U. Xf
t 4S }
" Soul an immortal Fire that could not die, he
" came a poor Slave in a Prifon of bettial FlcA
" and Blood/* Thus the union with his Cr^-
tor was immediately broke, and fo, of Courfa*
lie loft all Communijtation of Light said Lew s
•nd thcrafore of Confeqocncc muft become a dark,
wrathful, fiery' and malicious Spirit, ftandin^in
i fepam^ Station from GOD, and adin^ only
ItoiA aPrihcipk offclf» thcnew objeft, whick
^e had afpited after, and fet his heart upon ; not
beifagttble to fu^ly that want oi Light and lovti
trhich He ftood in Need of: and as the mod
H^lidoua Fruit or fragrant Flowers, that grow\
Mien cut off from the Root or Stock, will oft
k^d. within icTelf rot, and betome naufeoui ] fc
Ofafiy when cutt off* from Goo LooTes all Divine
^oiIt and Love, and becomes a dark, wraths
jUl vmSi malicious Spirit : and malcei his owai
IfeU ; forthia is the only way that evil ever came
into nature, „««'«. filing off from eternal %nd unU
rerfal nature : orBreaking off from Immutability ;
as nothing but Immaubility, and felf Exiftancti
can be felf kaiipy.
Awp now wr may fte the wM tderlu^
Condefcenitqii) .|
Ir
V\..
-- ^1
^
^ondtik^ndon of God i^ tlve happjr Pair, wU
knowing the fatal Con fcquenccs, that \irov\ld at-
tend their Rebellion, forewarned them of the
Danger if afpiring aftc^ or falling in Lore with
any Objeft, bcfides their Creator; who was the
^eternal and unchangeable Source and Fountain
of Light and^ovE. The Day thou catcft there-
ofi faith He, thou flialt furely die .(A J He doth.
not fey, I will kill thee, but thou flialt furely
4|e ; «5i f He had faid> I do not forwani you, or
forbid you to eat as an arbitrary SoVcreiign, or
.bepaufc my Happineft is in the leaft d^pen4ai^
oil your Obedience j feut b^aufc yo«r tjaypi-
ncfs depends wholly, on t U^ion Kfith vaej J.
therefore, out of Love and Pity to you, fprewvii
you of the evil ConAs^ufXK;^^^ that will »tl^d
.yo}u- Septmttotii fr(«i me. Vou wU (»wcly di^ of J^
mi v^u^UA youtielC die to «i]>it^QMil «Mi 41^
-vine hioHv «nd LoVv ; :&r yon wlUJ>«:fetfkttilf
;iip within yourfclf: •^i^es^vt-^^^Uf^PHi embrafp
not, nor afpifc afjof mt 9^^'^P V Objeft <«f
JMIght. 3efid€&thiitB<^<ito-,l^.«^t(>C«Br«
MI. 7. * »
i,.l.^i
#.
.s:?s«^i9« Sf"^l^?Wf" '**^^**^ - ■
.ja,v4<««se3iste«**i».
( *s y
l^'yyou with .„ *,( j.,„ .„j^ „j every TWi,
•W your H,ppiH=f, depend, upon. W.tt, J
t-** l«th much the r.«,e.o f.y on d<i. Polht.
^"P'"»' '■'"'■'>«."'" A. CommaSa Of
' God noe ,o luft ,f,„. „d eat of d.e forbidden
Tree, w« no. ai arbitrary Command of God
^ Obedience, but wa, a moH ti„d and lo,in,
formation given by the Goo of Lov. to Hi.,
.ew.bo„,OiF.fpri„g, coi,cemi„g the State h.
wa. ,n, with Reg,^ to the outward World,
•• wammg him to withdraw all Defire of enter-
o«th« tmiedtlte dying to «.a. di«„e and
fceavenly ^fe, which he then enjoyed "
^ B»T fo^emay now objeft and fay, t}Ut it
»Mght Ml be in the Power of G.„ nevenh..
M,. |,iav. :conti.u.d the CommunicaUon, ,f
;™'7" «•"•«' "'^•pHmiriveReait.d.:
whfch 1. « unreafonaWe. „ to fay, that a M...
2»h«P-. *.«b«hhl.Eye..„igh,f^.j'^
^'"' ""'""■"«'>«> if the Sun would b.!
jKn<iJi^Mu^^
eveiy Thing
atJiis Poliit.
-oihihaHd of
he forbiddch
and of God
ial of Maii*«
and loving
iOVB to Hii .
fhe State he
ird World;
e of enter*
I Evil, be-
had; with-
divine and
ed.**
', that it
neveithe-
atioifs 0f
»« Would
sftitude :
t ft Muk,
fee the
uld bwt
ftiafc
«
^ine. For God with-hcld nothing from him,
iiltho' he had rebelled > but continued to flow of
his Goodnefs towards him j but? Man had turned
his Back againft God, and in fo doing, had fal .
ien into fuch a Nature, as did really rejcdl, and
Willfully refufe, any Divine Light or Lovg
from God, which is evidently manifelled in hi«
endeavouring to dcfert, and hide from God^
when God came to him in Love and Pity .(c)
For the very Nature of the Divine Being is to
flow in Love and Goodness to all his Creatures j
but it cannot be irapofed on them agaiuft their
Will , and therefore it is, that he creates them
frce^Agents, fo tha^either Men or Angel, thai
I'all, they muft fall of Choice , and when they
are fallen, the Divine Light and Lov^ of God
can no more make them happy, until-thdr Nature
as changed, than a Serpent would lttf<afi^ Dqv|^
by being put in a Dove's Cage. Therift#e,,fei|^
the Preat Author of a*.^ T*«jii, M^rhie ao^
'* That I fay unto yott; yt^ inuft. be botn^iT
*' "gain/Y^^asifHe.foidiHyhinkiti^ptifai^l^
a, ^^'J ^ *^" y^°* y<^ 'nuft i^-*^"* *itTni t'^
1
m ^ m u mx ^'^-imr-^
(0 Ceo. 3. t. (lO Johd ;|, ♦^s*«a*»*'^-M ♦
-.'■#,t'"
,■•''> 'kKJ'
is
'^i.V
1 '?
?^f^^^^^'
(W****^^ -",■* H
a*'9ii^
■^
.pi-
■' T47-) ■ ' ;■
^' thcr receive It from me as un arbitrary Com-
f* mand; but out of Pity I inform you, that your
"* Nature 16 fuch, that it is^ impoIEble for you
V ever to enter into the Kingdom of God, or
"enjoy the Priviledge of my coming into the
" World, excepting that you are changed, or
« tnmsfomvcd from a dark, wrathful and mali.
'•' ci«u8 Nature,, to Light and Love, Purity
" and HoLiNiss, and rcftorcd to, and united
'* With, that eternal and unchangeable Fountain
" of Light and Love, therefore marvel not,
" that Ifpy unto you, ye muft be born again.''
And thua, dear Reader, I have, in as kw Words
as poffible, endeavoured to fliew you the C^ufe
of Man's evil l^ture by his Fall. And O how
deplorable is his Condition ! How unfpcaJcable
the p«i^Qf remaining in an unregeneratc State,
g^ Gop^oucof ChristIs tothemaconfuming
|i|%< flid nothing but the reftraining Grace
pi" Goo* tod the alluring Charms of Tim\and
fcnfe, that keepi them out of Dcfpair f
, jr«t Mao, poor Man, tipoit the Brink, of Fate^
: ^^^^^"^ ^^'^"^ to aa end lcfs Stat<; ..
Regardlefs
T.
^'
^tiTiifzmt.fA*;SBi
in'-wj < * jS 1 - •
irai-y CoiH-
, thatyour
e for vou
r God, or
f inco the
langed, or
and mail*
, Purity
ind united
Fountain
irvcl not,
n again.'*
:w Words
lie C^ufc
id Ohoiv
QjcaJcable
«tc State,
mfuniing
g Grace
"ime an4
ofFate^
>tat^ .^
^ardleff
gcgaWHefa of that Soul-tranfportliig Voice j, r
Which cllls the guilty Mortsil to rejoice - .+
Tho* threat*ning Storms of Vengeance itolll
below.
O ! confider, ye that forget God j ye, that
defpife the Gp&el, and rejcA the Rbdebmeh's
Grace sjflnWer how fhort the Step betweea
you and^WIStomlcfs Pit : for ye are condem-
ned within yourfelvcs already. Mcthinks, youi"
panger is fo great, while in a graceUfs State, Aot
none, who have known the Terrors of the Lord,
can forbear to perfuadc you to flee from the Wrath
to come. O I be intrcate^ to conAdet, v^ta
vaft Dillance you arc from God, who^cdAres
himfelf, that there is no Peace nor Happinefs for
you in the State you are now in :(*) And tirrc-
fore, altho* you may not be openly profane, yet
you are in a feparaw Staw fypm. G0P I who ia
the only Source of Happinefs : and therefore, al-
tho' y^u may appear of a kind and loving d^<
pofition among &d(en,' with > mfJiy ittwble .1|hU
lifications ; and likewife with a dofe Conformli
— .(tX}ii* 4t^aat. ■ .. ' . ,
^a
AJF.fi' .■"■»*',Vyi-
.i
• sm
ti A
'
^i;""
• -'h-
■
i
ri'
-A
" ''^
i
-
*.-^
\
, J*
Ln-
% r* i
r V.
&-4i
k.
w
sk^M
y-
1
■W
1
'.V
|.> vi
>r '%•
If !
fX'49 5
' «,i„~4 r ,, -^ """" > T"^ would be de-
^HjKlo.g. OSl„gg..d,wa.tho»foMJ;i„
♦ ^ -Arms
^.'^•"'"^""'"'^ie Satan holds the
i 5ait?
•Awake, AwaJccO Sinner/ sje.n
«^ghtheVergcofth«tinfe„,a]Shore;
ta^AfTER nr:
»if
ct if Def ti
a vital union
ouidbe de-
cut off from
'» thatljjive
' Securi^ J
'oul would
Urfclf pof-
J tiie fallen
Jefore you
fold thine
uns
liolds the
10 more .
)re;
sir Fate.
\
tr
. fV
"^.a/#«Ck.'>V.
>?
C A P T E R m.
HQ W Generations imhom are^ corrupted by, and
%. . Mb ^'ndimt^ for orlginanin.
Now come to a Confideratipu of thgt myfterious
I
and much difputcd Point, how Generations
yet unborn are guiky of, corrupted by^ and juftl^
condemned for original SiUt which was committed ''
fome Thoufand Years ago. And O f What a la*
mentablc Oonfiderationis it, that fc^ many, cveh
in a Land of Gofgel-light, and many/Avho pro-'v;
fefs to be Minifters of Christ, do wholly deny' "
Mants being in a fallen State, or guilty of iri/. \
ttal ^in ; and others who,^ groundlefsly hold, that
Man is not in a condemned Statdj tho' they ali
low'hc is'in a fallen ^tate: Fo.rfaythcj^, Christ^ "
fatis/ied Divine Justice, ahd^canceMcd aUDc- '
mands for that Sin for the Whole World, or for. If
all that are baptized with Waterjn his Namei^f
Now as for the former of thefe. they are fo*«S'^4
from being Chriftians, that they are. wJiqlly cot " '
offfpjtm, and have no lot. or Part in Qf^^'^^*^ "'
v.?
'4
i^
"7-"
%V*'M
Ji-
1/ "
* ( 5» )
^ ; thtir own Pxipdplcs :- Forif Men arc not in • W.
I?n State of Sin and Miferjr, they have no Need of
Christ, or his Gofpel; ^nd^erefore ^heistw to
them dead' in vain. Such Peoplemay a, vreU
' throw ofF their Maft,, ^ fiaf i, uyi,j^ ,^ ^am.
ff Chnftians, and puhliclciy wear theBadgc of the
Pcifts, for they ararealiyRejeaurcs ofC,iRi.T
"d all iU5 Benefit,, „d in a ftor, Time except a
fpccdy Repentance ihould obftruft. they wiy una.
voidaWy £hare . i«iferal,le Part in the Portion
' ^/'^"^^^*- A'*^**.^' the l«tcr. who pretend, '
«iat Cbhist ha, done away all orighaiSIni or
^t«l^ cancelled by o^r being baptised in Hi.
Name with Water, ai^ almoft a, far (rqm the
Truth, a, the former, and preach not only againft
the plain Word of God i(/) but likewife an Inc«i.
fi^aacyinitfclf: For if Ch.ut ha, waihed away
^^Sin which i, the Corruption of Nature,
why arenot all the ChtWre, of Kfea ,URa and
n^l And why arc they i^ot in their Infancy,
mftcad of being filled with Spite and Malice, and
prone to all Mamxcr of Evil, wafted beyond' ^ny
Scnfe of the alluring Chartn, of this v.;n W^ld?
t 5« *>
And why are they noc filled with the nujiei^t
fieams of their Rsdesi4i?u*s Love, and tranf-
ported with the Divinb Perfections of their '
Creator i Or why'is it that the Lord, when
He looks down from Kcaven Upon the Childrer\
of Afcn, to (ce, if there were any, t^at did un-
derftand and feek God, declares, that they uq^
all gonecifidc, that they are all together bqcomo
filthy i and that there is none that does good, nq
not "one }(gj Qr why docs He fay again, that
pel^ruftion and Mifery is in their Wfy. tod that
they have not known the Way of Peace./f^j^
But fume M'lll {ny, that the Children imblb<e
their evil Principles from the Examples an^
evil Pradiccs of others. But fuff^r me to aft
them the Caul'c of the evil Practice of otheiVi
Did they not come into the World as clean a»any
of their Children i bcfidcs, is tKere not Spite ^nd
Malice, Grief and Sorrow, ,. (whic^ could' «o|
be without Sin) evidently fecn in Children^ bf^
fore they are any Way capable of imbibing glkf
'filing from the evil Praflices of others? But
fome will pretend to be more refined ftiil, (but
agp u fu fro mnhgTrm h) who. wi^ icknowT^i^"
'■■■■ . ^; d . _ ■ .., ,:t>. /■, , , . , ^J
' 4)^W. 14. 3. (h) Rom. 3. 16. 17.
mumilim
Llut^
, ft?
(« )
tlitt ill Mankind e.me into tlie WotM with ,
' ""'P' Nature, but not condemned : For Aey
«y. tiiat ChR.ai^cancdlcd tlie Demands of
J"ft.ce for them, but did not change d.eir Na-
tureyfo that the^ fliU come into d,e World pol-
luted, but not condemned , and therefore it i,
dutthere^et Sin in the World, for they „^
Wt to .aforlthemfelvea; „d having ,„ „;,
Na.ure,\aItho' they are not under any Condom,
"••oni tiey are liable to commit Sin ; by which
Means they bec«,e guilty, .„d fo are condem-
"Cd. and many finally loft ,o all Eternity. Now
tf I had not heard Men deflare fueh Things, I
«»>«1<' rcaK^Jy have believed it, tl„: any Man
(where the Gofpel-Sun i, in it, Meridian) could
""■ J",'^ bee. imbibed, and retained fueh .
confufed, .nconfiftent and Antichriftian Principle.
■ " " '" "*' 'fr" n»«, they fay, that they
.« not condemned, beeaufe Chm.t has can-
""•^ *?.'%-!>Hli!L"« <^'«»g«l their Nature.
'«y. let me aft, what Condemnation can a Man
have worfethan the Condemnation of his own
I^.uro,andwh«Benefitiiouldi;^;rCH..s.
fe-ij-iiai^
for ill
,.,>;i V-ry/^
his Offences; when he leaves hiin ftill in his owij
hellifli Nature, which will torment him, and
make him miferable for ever i Which would be
like a Man, who pretends, oilt of Pity, to pay
hii Neighbour's Debts; but after all his pritend-^
fed Pity and Compaffion, leaves the poor Man to
dyt in Goal. O how incqi^itftent *is fuch a Prin-
ciplt \ For my own Parti I fliould be alhamed
to preach fuch a Christ ; neither do I believe,
that a Heaven-born Soul ever did : For God has
promifed His Spirit to lead His Peopl^ into lUI
Truth Y/7 ^^^ therefore whatever Principle "^cmt
Experience contv^di£ls the Word of God, cgjanot
be of the right Kiqd; but muft come fronl a dark
Quarter i Can any one, that Is brought to tht
Liberty ofahs^^oni^^fMSou; poffible believe that
God would become incarnate, fuffer and die, td
work out Part 6£ the Plan o£^ Salvation 'for the
perifhing World ; and after all ^t had bedi
done, leave it to thofe poor foUen Wretches to
finiih it I when He knew that they wa« whollf
prone to ruin themfelves? Does he not d^l
jOtBM it. n.
m
V
■^'
'.^-/
't' ^
s^r
y
a..
■Sr; "
.*» pla in as ban be exprefled, that \vc had kfe'ttea
ourfelvcfi ; but in Him was ouV Help i(k) and j^i
His dying Groans, that He had finiihed the
Work ?^y^ But fome perhaps may fay, that they
have no Expeftation to do the Worlc, but only
by the AiSllancc of God's Spirit. But fmce He
cancelled tiginal St'tif He has given them a Suf-
ficiency to vwM-k for tKcmfdvcs ; and has now
commanded them to work out their own Salvation
with Fear and Trembling. B^t, bicflcd be Gotv
J «cy«rfo learned C(h*I8t, as to get Salvauqn
«P<»a working Govcnantany further, (than bcin^
fpabled by the Spirit of Gop to coiifent, and re-
ceive a whole Saviour . And as for thofc Words;
Of working oUt our xwn Salvation with Fear and
Trembling, they are ipoken to^ofeAvhoare al-
rcadyjuftificdj and therefore, arenot eomaandcd
^work out their Joftification. &ridcs. if that be
ifc« Cafe, thatCHiti8T has thus, by his Death
««i Suferingai «ot Mtnm fuch a Way, as to
^fork out Part of hii Juftification on the Coven;.
#iit of Worfcaj. ^ n ^ Glory belongs asanuch
OJHci. 13. ,. fi) John 19. 30. ; n, '
lir
.yn^^
u.
-n..
; had hu'nr^
i(k} tiidi^
inilhed the
r, that they
but only
at fifice He
lem a Suf^
d has now
n Salvaxion
i<be God,
SalvaUqn
thsnbcin^
it, and ro-
fc Words;
I Fear and
ho are al-
Qimaaded
if that be
la Deatk
n^t MS to
e Covens
ai much
=1®r
■■ — tg--r
i
r
.^|,«
1/
(or- more) to Mzn, aatoCuttis^: as has bt
well obferved by R. Eaaiciiis.
Ko Merit, but of Paaiat, tmdi ■'•■:''
Of Men or Angeb ier ht foU,
fbe God-Man o$dy <wm f» bigk^
*ro merit hy Condignitj.
WerilAfk now fremit*dta iOM^ a34
Or to our Works hy PlBOion taek'd? " "
^b^ GOD would Hit Ajfiftance grAutt •
*7Vx ^iU a doing Covtuamtf
ITbo* Meav*M ifs helping Grace JbouU yttU^
¥tt Merit*j ftill Mfon ibt Fitld. '\ *
f^o <aft tb* Nam, yet'pll i^}ft>u»d -'. ^
Difdmrning hut ^mith verbal found
l(fomfhould borrow Toolt- from you, ^
That he fomefamout fForb might dot
When once hit Work h willfrefaPd^
Sun he difervot htt dm Rewards ^ '
^Itoayufily ht may cltum hit DiHt
j/lfho* he borroiu/d Toilt from yott^ * '■
Swinihut the borow^dStnngibofOtm ^ c%
"Cbst/ htnotr merit to takt rbtctt "*
' ''Trwit muheuco feever we borrow Povw*i^
fol
%i
-•^-^
^^lift dtpmdon WorffYWT:
nM '"
.•fug- !(v«^/«, ' • " *
fvt ^^•\
't''
.■?cs;:^?Sir?iKSiSP^^2
v
■ TiV)
Or if nJiji mikt the Gojptl thui : ■ •
In any Way depend on tu.
We gi'vetbe Law the GoJ^el Place ^
Rewards of Ifibt the Rbom of Grace:
We mix Heavens Treafteret with our trajh :
To magnify corrupted Flejh.
And what faith God himfelFon fjuftification :
Knowing, faith He, that a Man is notjujlifiti hy
the Woks of the faw, but by the Faith of]niv9
Christ ; for by the Worlds of the Law Jhall n*^
Tlejh be juftified.(m) And again, Uts i^ib^
Work of God, thatyeJbelie<ve on hih whom B§l>kl^
ftnt.(n) And this is his Commandment, tbmt kue
believe on his S^oit Jesus C^KiiT.(o) Abraham
believed God, and it was eouMed unto him for
Ri^hteoufsnefs.(p) And without Faith it is impof-
Jible to pleafe God.Cj) Add ytt how many ^ill
pretend, againft the plain Word of God, to
im out Salvation partly by Works; and partly
By Faith , bleeding, the Covenant of Works and
tiie Carcnint of .'Grace together. O that fuch
'^U':f\!'^/^r(^"^^^^^^'
ii< t.
^,Tr
jm
■L- V
'Tii •
r^.
/
T,
■te
f 5«:)
Men. (who briAg Aich Difhonour to the uKUu-
nate G^d, arid are fo prejudicial lo the Welfahi
of pr&iousand immortal S<>^^M^^ ^ rtfonn'>
edl^ or removed, before ^^J^^^^^^l^^ th6 fatal
Means of' Ruining a^X n^^^^^« blinded
Sona of Men! > ' V l^p^ '
BtJT, tho' I have been naturally lead to fluke
fomething of a Degrjcflitori, liiiuft now return t»
the Point, I principally intended. And as it !•
fp evident by tlw plain Word of Gob, diat the
whole Race of Mankind ^re in a ^len State of.
Sin andMifery , (which Ib^lieve qo tnutfChriftiM^
will deny.) I need fay no niorc^ oa th»t |lg||rt|
but fhall endeavour to (hew, how. ih«|t^ |i|
guilty, and juftly condcinnod i9« V|<1 witK
whidh many, even thofe, who bdiere iU oi
Sin) are much in the j^k a||rifv 4# ¥% A
fhould not do juftice to the dealiiigl of 0od wltH-
his Creatures, or cletf Jus Throne orG«llt i#
their Condemnation, if I ihoold only hold, tb«t
An AM ftood a? one Mm 5 lod §^ for,vd m
behalf of all his numerous, »nd uabom Seed»
without their being m(pmt de^re<«^iye or cgp?
• . ~ ■ • ' ■■. ', . -^ ,>« . j.» t'^'
leii^;^or M dne^(im7|h^ri£^And^
.i. ,
j.it Auii i^ 1A3
aS*.ta>^"/S ' it-j .',.», .\'*Mm»!''!^«W.„ ' ;
^S*a3WP
rYltl^fl'-fr>'ftfii^jfe>^
' ;%h"' .^7» t '
• ll
another in a far [Country j who mfuft fare and be
punifhed accordingly, without confch ting to, or
icnowing any thing df what was there afted, or
tranfa6led: 'Whieh, I dafe fay, many would
think very hard ; and yet they will hold to the
Imputation of A dam's Sin. And altho* fit would
not Iblk well for Amos (who was taken from the
^tocK fehd SrcAMOrtE) to undertake to correft
PAtri in W« Grammar- (who vfras brought lip at
the Feet of Gamaliel^) yet I muft acknow-
ledge that many, who are called great Writers on
''Tiginal Sin, are either ignorant of the Nature of'
Man's Fall, or the meaning of the Word Imputa-
tioli. Neither would fuch Men be willing to pay
a Debt charged againft them, which they had no
Handiricohtraaing;^ and yet thiy v^ll fajs, that
ADAM'a'SinR handed down to his'Pbllerity hy
Imputatasm The L6%ti deliver nie firom' cafting
ftich Reifleaions upon him! Now for to fay.
^ that Thoufands and Tens of Thoufanefs are doo!
nied to fcvcrlafting Mifery for fomcthing, thit oiio
#Manwasguifty of, almoft Six Thoufand Ycart
»^in th e Gaildbn of^D,w^ wtthQut^i|%^
[^ ^X^^lcdgc or Confent, ic^s to ^cUgitit^oi
f
^
L«»
^- tl
^-,'ig;^^^ii^^;|^p-p^ ^
re and be
ng to, or
aftcd, or
ly would
)ld to the
fit would
from the
o corred
ght up at
ackncrw-
^ritc'rs on
*^aturc of
Imputa-
ig to pay
y had no
faji, that
erity by
tt cafting
to fay,
are doo.
thkt on'o
d Veart
t
(66)
with the grcateft Rigour imaginable, afld of e^re*
cuting an arbitrary Power over the Works of his
Hands, without any Compaffion, Love or Ten- -
dcrncfs j yea and without Jufticc. And now, as .
it is my Soul's Dcfire to be inftrumental, in. the
Hand of God, to ferve my Frtlow-mortals* in
the Truths of the Gofpel , let me entreat all thofe,
who have any Defire, that I fhould ferve tKeni
en this Point, to receive a fewPartitulars, which I
fhaU offer, and they fliall foon underftand what be-
lieve, and what the Scripture holds forfli in this
Matter. »
Ydv reihcmber, dearReadbr, the fornierlm-
prcffions which you received, and which, I truft,
you itill bear on your Mmd i that the great Gph'
doth noLcome to the Knowledge of ai^ ^^M
by a Succeffion of Ages, or meafurii% ^f^iSj^Ce.^
as Man comes td the Knowledge oi 'l^i^'i
l)ut that He fills a whole Immenfity, afid com'
pifehehds Eternity, viewing all Things paft, ptt»
feiit and to come, as ohe eternal NOW i l^hlctk
undeniable Truth, well im{>rcfled on yo^r Millet
•Tfr
I I
^.r,
L.'
i% fv ■•If
^ ^ ' r * ' »
~ fK^diftntenpTyoHfrom much drfagrecaDic BtuJ^j
d^ ii«rhap8 Kas laiig been a Burden to yovir
Ipid, 1 truli* foon be the Me«ll^
''■'m
\ '1
-j-t
i?
- '"^^i^' V "'i ''^f?*^^
iihi-
'-^.,
(6i )
ing'you, without much Difficulty, to ttnderfUha
^ iomething of this Miftcryj how all the Race of
Adam (without Imputation) are guilty of, and
juiUy condemned for »rg/««/^/«.
AND^rft, confider thijj Great, eternal and all-
Wife God now about to f|>eak a World of Man-
kind into Being : And fecondly, that He intends
tp fct tl^em in a State of Tryal, to aft for theth-
rclves| with Life and Death fet before them j
«nd Thirdly, that God, Icnowing each one has *
Ijrccious and immortal Soul to faVe or to lofe, in.
tends that they fhall be able to adl of Choice,
Without anyControul or Imjjofitionj and there-
ft»rc .c»dpws each of them with a Will, Free-
^cncy CM- Power of Choice, not only becaufe it
. ^ rc*foi»abl« 9il intelligent Beings iholild fo aft ;
i»tUkmifc, that each one fliould be without any
llpMentihe imparUalBar, where He intends
^^^7^ ,•» one Diay appearand be account,
fbl^: And laftly, that He coUefts all their Wills;
«e-agcncy or Power of Choice, «s •i^ Ffc«!
^^«t, or rtUooai and intcUigent fiojot, M
l^-'
{62)
Words by the worthy. |f4t
iM, fkith he, contained ia
•* himfelf as in Miniature alkhis Pofterity." A|
fllmoft in tb«
Fl.K,TCHER.
/^
if he had faid, "' God put the Stock qf all Man*
" kind (as it were) in one Ship". But jfbme
itxay now fay, if they had all remahc^d, or heen
left to aft in a fcparate Station, I fhould not have
been at a Lofs, how they might each one have
•fted for himfelf; bjit I-caHnot fe^ how it wa»
poiSble for them to have the falll Freedom to ad
their own Choice, when they were thus in their
Miniature; or when the Root or feed of all the
yrhole World did only conftitute but one Ma»,
as if they had been fo many Men in t fepcratc
Station . To which I anfwer, Man'# free Will
% ©r Power of Choice is not a material Suhftance,
or local Bulk, but only a Spiritual Facwlty or,.
Power of Thought, and ,thcir WxUes litewilfe * -
Spiritual Body or Seed ; neither did it r*qwc
their Ruin the R<:moval of material Woilds. ^
th^ Dcftruftion of large inanimate Machines, bit
only, as has been already obfvervcd, A«>ftt of
theFrce-WitL, the 1P^^<^^^Z^ Kftl^^f^:^,
>t < Wt
.♦'
■ :.;^^
'if ">: ■
v.-
/
I. \
■ ( 63 )
Power of Thought J md therefore U it not r.a.
foMbleto believe, a„d eafy to underftand how
Adam was inveftcd with all that Tree-Win
and Power oC Choice, and how the whole World
Body and Soul flood i„ him not temporal nor
ammJ, „ ,t.^ „„„ „^ ^^ ^^^.^ j^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^_
• t!! ^"""^ " "«' - "fy for ,»,«
V*" to fet all thp World of Mankihd. when
«I1 was Spiritual,, capable to aft thefr Freedom
and Choice , in. one Body, as in a ThoufandBo-
.^:"P-?"»»'« '^y' '■»«'">ne; how we can
,my ^.Cdndemned for that Sin, committed fo
^mny Thoufand Year, ago; even if wc allow that
A»*Mwas conftitutedtheSeedof all Mankind-
This Objeflion I will anfwer by way of Simili-
fude. Suppofe n.AR R..„,,, ,h„ , „^^,^
tity were to be combined together in a Confpi,.
. «y ag^nft their King, wouia their feparaL
mto different Cities or Kingdoms, after their Re
belhon any way e^cnlpate them f Or if one of
*f Men were to be apprehended, a Thoufand •
MUe. from the Place, and Thoufand Year, after
■ , ^"'^' committed, wquld he not flill be as ■
■ff'^ " " the TinaiWd Place of A.R,beHit»^-
9f Wttold ,6t a Proof, of hi, being really in that
lijT^ >* Confplracy
":*:
I
Conrpincy, juftly condemn him for the. Cr^n«
then, and [there committed *. Fo^ vredo not in^a-
gii^e that God made Mankind at a Venture, not .
knowing the Number of his Pollerity ; or that if
was left to Adam, or any other, whether the
World ihould be "peopled, or not : But we havi^
already confidcred, that God in, and with Adam
\a,yi the foundation for the whole World; and
ii> this fgderal tfead ftands alj that Free'-agcncjr
or Power of Choice, whjch the whole; World
would have ftood in need of, \p havea^ed ip 4
feparate Station, or a Thoufand, Miles dillant;
Tho* there are foii^c Poqr benigh|ed^c%ixr'thf
World, who vainly imagine^ that Qod ^ijpw
making Souls in thefc Days, as the .World teple* -
niflies, tho' againft the plain Word ja£:G*o/.|!^^]|
Anid therefore, according l^'jthat,- He i^^obUMd ,
toi^make a Soul for every lLi<EGVTlltA!JFj.O?|l^j .,
dv that is begotten by fornication^^ Adultiy. "
And fuch Men have no otherX(ray td^jiccou^nt ^ Af^
orhinal Sin, fhan as a clean Sword is tufied- By'P^
bem^ put mto a rully Scabbord : So * tilt
/H
Soul that comes from God is corrustal. an^ IMK
iv;
-«r¥' J*;
>pfflc8Hnnnbf weeing put i^^^ i*|
\J^Jjca- 2. a.
4^
rr
^
ani ui^riptural^^tlia^^cldisl
^ Yorae more Light on (he Matter now
^Pl) Tiz, HoW all the SodlaVa Daughters
'•'ilfl .could he as aaiye, and^||[ free in thei*
^It^hoke when they all &odd in Afci, as if they
I l»id have been in a feparatc Statklfi Firft, my
•kAk Rbabbr, when I fpeak of rfjpir being In
|umv«Seed, or in Miniature, you niuft not
underaand inanimate, or paffive ; b^ each one
iemy capable of Aftion. And now I wUi- give
^ to und^ftandhow fo many cquI4 adl their
Oyrii Choice with as much Frerdom as in a fc-
• ^f^ Station, by the following Similitude. Sup;
. >>fi^iii the Rulesof Singing, you ftrike any Sound
PTttgal^ Note, and one, two, thtee, four, five
W more I ii^mcdiatcly. ftrike the fame Sound,
, «J>6n the fame Key, does that in th^|t Degree
•bftrftft your Note, of Sound ?
l^^iHJF compelled by the o
TWBm . VeaT let me tJk
■\%^
«« fiy one Note,
■<* 1
1 *
- 4^J^_
. /\''^'"' ^\ ' {66) - * ■■;
owft ? Any other way than they feem to be brought
in to your*s ? and increafe ita Strength : And thus
if you are not fo Narrow contraAed as to imagine ,
a xnateml Suh|lance in a Spirit i you may eafily
underftand how a Thoufand may a£t each on« ,
thei^ own Choice, not only without any Compuls
Son or ObllruAion frdm the others i but likewift^
without even a Knowledg vf any other : Each
one conceiving of himfelf (as each one of Adam's
Race certainly will when they ha.]^ thrown off
the Fetters of Mortality, and awake from thia
Sute of Infcnfibili^, the only Aftorj and fee.
themfelves as much aftivc, and guilty as thit
particular Man Adam that has already left his.
mortal, and Tmprl^nedSUte : Or elfe they coul^
Botpof&bly ha^e fo iJAUcH to anfwer for in the!
firft Rebellion as he, yea, tlxey muft othcnyife,
be intlrely guiltlefs and clear. And thm Mua^
READBii,^gi,||e br^l^ JO underftand, tha^
^ ' 1^ -jf^i^'ij
>';*,
the wht^ W&ffd feir nol|^y. by Adam, but;
rea%in Adamj and were as aCUve 19 that SiA^^
as if every one had been tKeve in '<l| fepaiit»':&N^'
j j t i tint! ! For ApAi ^ i y^ ff thg^i -
- ^
i
II thniiiAyiiiliiVJiii
%AM J by ^hich metni Wey Are t%Be«9|f ^JS^^ 7 '^
i
It
J
i
' ( 67 )
•f. and j«% condemned for «.igi„„i s,„. f„
«*»)' were ,11 .aiv. i, ,Uc Rebellion againft Goo,
. .ndtke^eparata^n from Him. And .he fame in
Subftanee „ exjlreffed in hi» AiTemblies Cate-
ch,fa,„rWWord,: " We finned in Mm and
'■en.v.«l„m.nhisfirftT,anfgreflion.V'A„d
i- here declared, who iVii, pretend «ria,. ,,
Jo^.. o^ofe Article,, hecanfei.i.fo„ar„ra,fo:
^» Peoph^.0 approve ,„,Worb, that a„-
r \ " ^""'"' "'"-" Examination. And
--. IjvU. refer my Reader, to wl,a.i.fai, by
Ue:in.„°;:::r" '^' ^ ^°"
bee.*, r . """ "'■ ^'"' ""<' h'
•J'/t?™«''""^^'^B«»'h= Hebrew
'" .""! """•■ "f V'" ; -Wch has puzzled
many of „„, w,,„, ,„ ^^^^^^^ ^^ _^^^^^^__
"'f .'"*-" 'j^''" '« A^plural. Some fay,
*««-'?■» 'he Different Powers of Man's
««<! =4^nd others fay, that it refers to fc, wo-
N»'«-.h,.hepoff.fe,„„,.^^^^_,^^
fo^ »nd.feiri .„al. the a ni^^l.j^^„,,„ -J^
*' i-? /
'/
f^^
I. think th«re is no Need of all this Trouble ta
wrcft the Word of God : For if it is fo dearly
fJfprefled, that to maJce aMan a living Soul, Gop
muft breathe into him the Breath of Lifb •
then hy the fame Rule, it is as clearly cxprefl;:d
as pofTible, that when dod was about to crcat<j
a World of Mankind, itisfaid. he breathed the
Breath of Lives. And now, my dear Rba-
»2R, you may fee how all Mankind was made,
ana then left to Iland, or fall of their own „^oice j
fo that you have no more Reafon to fay, that
Adam's Sin yvas imputed to you, than he has tq
corfiplain and fay, that your Sin was^ imputed to
Jiim. And thus you may come to underftand
that matter, that has been fo difputed in the
World; how a Man in thefe Days can be guil-
ty of Original Sin, or under any Condemnatioa
thereby : And this is a Truth not only, necelRty. t^
be Undcrftood, to clear Qod's Throne. from ii^^
Injuftiee, or rigorous Dealings with his Creaturti^f
^^^it likewife for the Underftanding the Natiifl^i
*Man's f a^d Recovery, without any h^l
A^qc jcs 'f^yo ft tr a di a ions j^ ag^
'ft*-''
# fyt frgni" ^ing denied, that it is ^^
*^
and
./f-«
'?*
-ikl. 'I
?f
Room for 13flpSt^,For GO0 far4 in Adam
*II dicdY^'; AgaiE He faith, that alUavefm-
J»«4. Hc'-aoth not" fay that oni; Man hat^Ymne^^,
andforuiijc^ all the rtft, but %/aith that all
have iioned, (u}.. But i^.chis be the Truth, fait^ :
one,* that I was real aftive in that Sin, committed
In tfe Garden pf ^en ,-, why then is it wholly
?aifc4from my Kfcmory f Why hj»ye I^more
Remcanbrance of ^y|iat was then, and th^com-
^mi?tc4.aacd and tranftaed ? VOur QueftioiulJiA
mar Reader, feems to be of fome Importance,
•ni <i<|fcrve$,^ AnfWer. Bat firft.iet t^lk
you the RUXbri^ why yoqisaid not tlJ; laft Nigh^
"' *|ft^' reniiinberall^our Coi^u^, and ■
iirWs Scenes, that ybu paft ihr/ Yeftei^'
f^y, y9u wm fay^ th^eafJn lyas, be-
caui^^U waUD.a%p ^e^^ bi^jiei^yi«r.;
7^^ *? :^^ ^°"Mpi^» to^ld remcidcr^: ;
all. -^^ttfo ||Loa, dcar^g^DER, and all the
^ ?"' T# *^^P s'^*^^ ^^<^^ ^«<^^ y*?^' '
f *li from G^D|:]i,ut Hkewife in a State of Spiri-
mar Death, ^^; And as infcnfible of your pri-
"WlCo,. ,Ja«. (.) Ro„. 3. ,3. ^^j- fipb.-,.^
>
iS 4i , 111'
W^.
tfit^
' - (70 )
mitive State, or the End for Which you wis made j
as a Man in a deep Sleep, is of his paft Gondudt,
or of ^e Conduft ofthofe about hint. And
thcjrefor?;, do not be furpiifed. if I fliould tell
jfou, that when 70a throw off this 'Made of Mor-
^^lity, and awake in a World of Spirits, you will
«« certainly remember your RebclUdB in the Gar-
den or Ed.bn, as any Sin that erer you, commitjied ;
yea, end as c^eaily as the Man remembers Ebpa^t
CohduS:, whenhe aWakes out of his Sleep. I cAnnoe
ontradid this, faith one } but iUll it feems hardt
'^^J^^^' that I, and the whole World* are in
fuchlH|eep Sleep, and fo far front a.Senfe, or
real "^Owledge of their original Standing j and
what they wetc made for; Well, my dear Rba.*
OBR, 11 it is poffible, I will enldeavour %q ^fer
your Mind in this Matter^ arid prove to -yout
Sati^aBion, that Man is really iii fuch; a S^Vt
pf Infenfibiltty. You miifl firft rtmember (af
lia* lliniidy been obfenred to you) that Man i^
liis pnmkive ftate was aii immortal ^li^4, cl%
ihedWith a^fpirituai and inmiortal Bod/I Vnc)
4herefitfc» ^w hen ha fclli his JmrnorraJ Vtii^pj4
-• imMiitely imprifoiied in that ifflm«»itt-||dy^
I^VWch waA.Ukewife fallen, and thereby Ibfeoihe
libthing
OftiSi^
'"V;
X
nothing but Corruption, Darkncr«-and Dcatli ,
which fallen Body is that Body of Sin and Death,
which tlie Apoftle complaihed of, after his^ in-
inoft Soul or immortal Mind was redeemed. M
• Kowconfider lilcewift, that thi, immortal Body
by ,t. F^,, h,s become .elated to an ania.1;
World, whcrtby it .rumes an animal Body, made
91 tne dements , whi^h Elements at the great
Conflagration is to bd burned up, melt.davvay
or cfafoiv^.^;. And now you are brought td
fee, how thaHmni^rtal Mind, which Was the ef-
ft»tial Part of Man, is impi-iforied by the Fall-
andkcptinfuchin(enfibility;yea, wasitoutd^
Pnfon to .a Hke itfelf, it would be a [B^^he.
«»er. And now, if j can poffibFy, I will give
yott an evident Demoftftration of this, according '
to your oWB Faith. There is your Neighbi>«r'*
<a»ii<i. whitjh is but about ^ Minutes from the
^^ atid i, a6w drawing his lail Bhikth,
^ho. you will allow will \?t capable of any CdH*
ywfe Of Society with Anoels, as foon arfdir.
*«tttigled from all Clogs by Dc|ith , thercfer*'
»o«- muft of Courie-t;e fmn rflr.fr'd T««» all
< t
■ *' ' »■
K'r-
(ft) _y
Difficulties in thi« Matter: for if thftrc is an im-.
mortal Mind in that IiUkgt capable of the lof-
ty Themes of An^hUot infernal Dcfigna teith
Devils, but foimprifonedi while in the Bodfi.
as to be wl^lly iiicapable of any undcrilanding
or Ii^lligpnce, even, if it w^as to live forfome
Years in this mortal World ; then it can no lon-
ger appear ftrange to you, that the World of
Mankind are in fucha State of Infcnfibiliiy.
But, left you fliould not be fully convinced, J
will make ufe of one Obfemtion more, to con-
vince you, that it is no way ftrange, that Man .
after his Fall ihould be fo imprifoncd from a *
Knowledge of Kiinfclf, or infenfible of what hfe /
wa»: There is your Neighbour D. you rememi
ber, Wftt a rational M^ unuJ he was five and
Twtnty Years t)f Age: He th(Sn- fell into J^ Pifr
•rde'r of Mind", froth thctecc to be utterly diepnve* .
of hlg Scnies, "and remained raving , diftra£Ud
Tw«ft^ five Years ; asiij^hc wa«;wfl^'«b^ ,
■l»ia Retfdn, waM bctte^tc^cinbei' % S<#n^
>h<- Ftrft Twenty-five Yeirs/ fhan the''h^ir||^ .
^^' k:Wai utterly infcBfiWiS ot^kr^fhin^^^^
" paft
v*.'
1^*:
,.'.,I-J
=T=^
V J>aft. And now, my dear Reader^ fmce you
are convinced, that fucJi a fmall Diforder, in the
animal Mind will plunge the immortal Mind inta.
fuch a State of Infenfibility, wjien the immortal
Mind ftill remains in itfclf, as ^c was, but oiijy
imprifoned j then how can you fjoffibly be aAy
^ way at a Lofs, how the immortal Mind can be fb
imprifoned and in fuch a State of Infenftbility,
•when it, not only became imprifoned by the Fall
*f the immortal Body, but likcwife iiStfercd an
fanfpcakable, Change in itfelf ? Or hpiv can yoy.
wonder any more, at what t have declared, *nd
fefpecially yrheh fo e'Cddently proved ? Good
Lord I faith my Reader, if this be the Truth
which appears %o evident, to be denied ; then
, ivhit a State of Deadh anl Irifenfibility am I in i
,ind how far froft a real Senfe of what I was,
when firft made ; or what I now aiiu dnd what I
Ihall fpon be ? O ! How can thefe Thin^s^ be,
I cannot deny them • and yet it fhocks me to'
believe thetti. You feem, dear flsAptR, to be
greatly furpriffcd, at what you have litard ; as if
'^ it was fofnew, ahd ftrangc a Doarine, that it is
are ii
Infenl
uutesj
what
i
SiSSSiS^
■,-{4 - -'»
■ ^«''
fince you
disv in the
Mind into
: immortal
, but oAly
y be any
can be fo
fenllbility,
by the Fall.
Sifercd an
!v can yov).
ared, dtid
I ? Good
le Truth, '
cd ; then
' am I in J
at I wai,
lb
nd what! '
iingV be,.
ks me to'
tK, to be
rd } as if
that it is
are im
i
that |Q^
'mtC
> 74 ) i ,
fuch a deep Sle^jj, or State of Death and
• Infenfibllity : But if you vv#I on]y\^cft a'few Mi-
uutes; and taJce>into a ferious Confideratiofl,
what has been faid td'you before now by him;
^^ho welljcnew your dcplora^jo. Condition, and
'^b, mov'ed with Pity to addrcfs you in thefe
■ Words. 6 S/uggard,ho'w long ^Ut thouJleep?(y)
You win not only acknowledge thofe Trifths,"
butlikev^ifcconfefs, that you ought to have re-
ctived^thcm Ijefore now; efpecially w4ien you
%t^ Mm' {tj again. A^ake thou that Jltepejl,
^m:i/i/PpmJ^,JDead, and Christ Jh^tl gi've 4hee
Light. (tc) ,Sure|y you., We not forgot fuch De- '
^hftVation& of your Infenfibility, iud folcmn
from God : Or, if you have, it it poljble
for you eycf to fdtget thatremarkable 0ay,wHcii
your deplorable.Coadition fo affefted tJ^mc of
.'OtontY, as to caufc Jiim to ^ed Tea4 1 of Con-'
doleajice over you*' faying, Ifthu badft: hown^
,'"***fH' «/ leajl in this th^Day, tU Things thJf
*^ 1^ t^iy^JPi0ce ! hut ttojw Mbty art hid from
^*w^«;i^; A^f How iifbi>abi5 iSiffd,: iff •
1 xej«^ thq only^Tkjngs,' which ber^^^^yeuV^
f :
^' ^^ 1
V ■■/.^
■ ■L-tfi
/fi Ifmii.
sr
^j&^
^J
^
" ^iwswP
[JLaJlyX
( 75 )
Beacc; efpetlaily when your eternal Friend is
weeping over you.
Let me mention one more Demonftntion of your
Ii|fettfibility ,- which, I am fare, you will never
forget, through the Walleleft A|cs of Bteriiity.
Father fbr^»Ue thfm ; for- they kno^ju net tuhat they
do, ("^;Thiflk, O think therefore, dearREADBR,
ha\* infirtitely far you are fallen from a Senfe
of the oniy Thing, for which you have your
Being : When you could imbrue your Hands in
the Blood of your Soul's Friend, at the very in-
ftsEOt, wkea he was groaning under your' Load
of Sinsi and fuifferiag, to redeem your periftlng
9iid kwrnortal Soul flnom eternaf Mifcry j and all
thhyou cottld do with fo litricSenfe of yoorGuilt
ittid:Grttelfy. Metluaks^ I have firfBcicmly pro-
ved ManVini«idibIeSt«te; but ntftrthelefe, l«jft
jroo (litouW n«t be fuMy convinced, F wifl nov*'
refer you to « fmall View of the Cq«du€l ofthrf
world in Geaerj^. Look around yoii, my dew
R«ADi«^, nd fee wiitt Throng* of, . what yod
c»U, rationtl Men, with Body and Kfin*^ eW-
J^feyed. for BaysAMpfcaw, in almoft an iirdt--
iif^ tut* zg. 34.
V'..*
fatigable
'k
, •' !■
Friend is
n of your
ill never
Bterhity,
Reader,
a Senfc
ive your
lands in
Ycry in-
ur ' Load
pcrifhing
and a*!!
JorGtrrlt
niy pro-
rfefe, left
I ofthti
my dent
Ihit yovi
did' CM*
tn indto'
^
( 76)
;
Of
fatigable Purfuit of that, which wilt never
ahy Service, either in Time, or in Btemity; and
yet with as much anxiety-, as if their eternal Hap.
jpinefs depended, thereon : Some ftret^ing their
Arms from Shore to Shore, to fill their greedy
Bags with a litflc perifhing Duft : Somd bending
and btJwing, to attain tranfiftory Promotion ; and
fome it riolcfs Expencc than Charafter, Health
and Rcafon, haunting of Balls, Bowls and Ta-/
verns j uirtil both Body and Soul are plungod
into irrecoverable Ruin : Some, twiftin|[«lid tur-
ning a Thoufand Way?, to court th« 1^1^ jRp'.
plaufe of Mortals : Somei ftraylng up aUtPdoWii
from Place to Place, with thdr Bo«<f8 <tecoratedi
painted, adorned aftd^xpofed-in qucHof Jtftsy,
While others ^ in the Twilight- are cntmri^^^
through black Kennels to':tlte ©^il'y Shops; 'iSi
Parfuit of Proftitutes, to qtidn^K' thefr ^mkt
Piit in Debartjchery. Say, fay^, dear RiAUwir,
fty, are thefc the Soiar of God?, Hm the^
^ imtiortal Soul to eiilt forewtr'r At* tWe fef ^^
tteS«>cJety of A«gcl«, aiW^B^dm ^f tW ^^fft
Orja thi> the Capacity- and Sftrte, they yrferfe jfc^
fatigable
^naffiribjtheir Creator ? 6? if yau^ n^^Ta^T^
t;-
(,>!.-■.;
".«,
/•■>-"^/''
4.
ri'
^^
I 77 ) ,
y^further Dcmonftrations of Man's Infcnfibilhy,
let me refer you to a Siflner on his dying Bed
.but afew Minutes- before his expiring Groan,
: .wh^tt. he will plung€,into eternal Perdition, and
fiwajte in keen Defpair: And yet, aliho' he
kapws; he is juft ftepping into an eternal Wor\d,
is pftcn as infcnfible and as unconcerned, as if he
\vas orily about falling . into a ftfw hours of
;<Slecp/f)
^ O may thfc God of all Grade imprefs thefc
Truths upbn your poor imprifoned Souls by Hii
own Spirit, >hile you are a.Prifoner of Hope,
befoie you aw^kc in a World of Spirits, where
tooJke yoa ^will be convinced of your deplo'rabl^
Coadilion, ,and thcyaft Diftance you have 'fallca
from your Creator, by your wilfull and miiijrabia
Rebclli(M|j Yea, fo unfpeakably dangerous, and
mifcrable is your Condition,, mjr dear Ro^er, that
if your Eyes were opened, whilo .in a^hriftlcfa
State, you would no more rett, .eat, driijk „o*
ileep, without Relief by the Blaod of the Lamb
■than a Man in the Flamei of Firc^Ai^i ^atl
-cvyrHappinefs,Eafe or Security^ you nov^hav^^
(c)Vr. 73.%
■ut»*.
-^i
■■*'€•
,i K
•I =;
be
-_^-x
enfibility,
yitig Bed
g Groan,
tion, and
aliho* he
al World,
, as if he
hours of
-efs thefe
Is by Hii
3f Hope,
:s, where
■■-» ^«»v
eplorable
vc fallca
ni/orabis
0U9, and
^er, that
ihriftlcf*
i*in,lc no*
I what-i
V
( 7« )
jjonly by Reafon of theTruth,which IHavC been
endeavouring to convince yoti of, viz. Yourdfep
llcep, Death and Infcnbility. O therefore awake
you, that know not Christ^ for your Soul'? Sake,
before your Golden Moments are at^a Period f J
FINITE Pity is palling by; whpfc Bowels yeai
towards you with Compallion, intreatiqg you to
be wife for Etcrntty . O Remember, that youc
Life is but a Vapour, and you are hahgii^ over
a bottoralef^ Giiljph of Perdition, aftdyotarpoo*
imprlfoned Sdul df a ftlf-tormeijting- Nature I y
Sinjier, why will you fleep aity Joiigfer on the CdK.
finesV everlaftirig Defpaif f OJuve Pity,Jhav«
Pity upon your precious ajjd immortal Soals ?
"Methinksi'feel a GommiferatiQn for you, whiJ^
I write, and can but impbre the invifible Hand
of God, to attend thefe feW brokeii' Lines td
your Heart;, that you mi^ht be akrmed witK
Bartimeus to fit bjr the Wav-fidc^ with tK«
fame molt eameft and itiljiortant Requeft : L'oibl
that I migh^ecti've Sight. (d) And 01 Lfet mC;
as a Well^wilhcr to yourpredou* to^ iinhijJi'fai.
Soul, intreat you jp the BoWels^ olr^ jny^ ^
^r*
^
I i r-'^ Mark '10, 51. •. '/ -^ , . ^ '-
■ ' ' < t .--^i - a m. itH'm m iii m «iii > i« ii ii
k a,
'iMsP''
f^
/>•;
'-i
«nd Maiter, ueirtr more to mwgrne .your cfels
Jrfe bccaiifeyoru fed ej^fy, or rilnagij« .{«, mflny<
do) that your cv^irlafting' Happinefa hangs only
upon an arbitrary A« of God*s itoincfs, in
faying that he will forgive your Orflnces, or Carry
your Soul at the Hour of Delfth among tlvc Saints.
For it is as certain as you area living Soal, thajC
tbcreii no Forgivenncfs, or Pardon that will ever
•b you any good, but that which redeems, and
yfOTk$ a Cif^gc in your inmoft Soul, and if that is
tot WKwght before jrou leave this mortal World
(ddiough you mi^ die without much Concci<n)
|roawill in an inftant ofTimc find yourfelf beyond
the lUach of inffinito Mercy. Arid «ltho' you
»ay fay before you draw the laft Bnsath, you
.fc^i Goo will bri^g you to iheaven, and not
ftt^ycn oC Yet your Deception will be fo great,
♦h**: « fyon u ^Bvcr you have left your impri-
/b«ed State, your P«ycr will be, to be caft as
far from Goo iind Heaven, and every Thing thpt
U heavenly, a« po&blc.(tJ O thetchre %, thou
precious and ifmnortil Soul, fly to t^e Lamb
of God, and never reft until you have become
t ^««mred-mm yqarfel f, Uid the LwtP Jisys
.: • ■ .'■.'•■■'. •"•":• *.. , '
■ v «-'.'-■ --"-f* -
('So )
y " ■ ' ■*
Chuist } yfhcCe infenit« Love waits to re^cm
you oi»t <iy your own -Nati^rc, and rcftoj^youTp
his, which is an ii|iftti^tab|e Heaven ; and never-
more imagipe any other Pajrdon but a Change of
Natifrc, o^ R-cnwval off Diforders.
' C A P T E «. IV. \
Qf/ome of the rvi/ Con/esueaces rof Original Sin.
THERE M noth^ ih»rt rf ^c wofuU
Experience of the wicked im everlaHing
Mifcry, can poffibly iniike known the fatal Con-
icqucnccs, that fttwaded Man*» !Ubt4Ji6n. Y«
ib far wcmiiy *»e Informed, lybik W6 4re Pri-
Xonere of Hope, ©f our deplojablc Cooftditfoii by
Mature, a« to convince us of the D|i»g'«r«»c arc
in, while ottt ofCHRwr j «j,44iuj Wec«lfi*y of*
ipcedy Efcape to fibc City of HefiigtE, wMSc' tiic
Day of Grace continues : and therefbre in Hopes
^ being infetjmcntdofalaiBBng'fpiiie hardened
jjad-fccureMoJtal, and of prompting (Statitudetb
'^ Great REtsiMBii among thdfe happySB^f
•liiat have been i«decmeJW^** '•**^*^ T^
I
«.':
4aaii]j%^laW'4X ..
Cf-i.
r^
lU ^
(81) "*
. Lamb; I fl,alJ endeavour to fpeak a few mon:
,Wol-d» on this moft alarming Point. /
First, Man is cut offf/om God by his own
Folly and Prcfumption (as has been proved) and
broke that Union, which he -once flood in : and
thereby loflall Communication of Divine Light
and Love, and fo he ftands in. a feparate Station
fromGon, who is (he only eternal and unchange.
able Source and Fountain of Happinefs ar.d En-
joyment; and, therefore thispoor fallen Man c'an
' '^"J^y »o Feace, but by the reftraining-Qrace of
QOD : nor any Enjoyment b»,t what his ^animal
Nature receives fr6m the Allurements, and de. N
ceitfulPieafuresofTimVandsfnre; and as a/
-^'rntS^its are ofanaipiring Nature, and
mufl always be.inP,>,ie,fHapp^^^^^
fore heProfpea of enjoying .He Things f^\
and Sehfe, and the reflrai„i„g Grace of i
^;^-^^eepsaMann.,th:w;^
ft"'"^^^^^«-^^-ndure,inHelWo7ha Uf
J^^erimentcouldbe tried on the ;bfl;;„^
Mor^onEarth,whofeemsneithertocarerr '
-^^rd any Thing in this World, ::.^
yd ^ come, by de^^rivin,- him 0^ „JI u.
HHI!«« ««<1 E^yoymehts, that his ah
■r.; .
ahimaJ Na»
V jure
wards
w more
is own
id) and
1 : and
Light
Station
hange-
^dEn-
m can
ace of
inimal
id de'- \
as al]
', and
5?fm<; ^
P, is
"and
lat ir
ipine
for,
the
^
turc la attached to? with his Confcicnce awtke,
And all Grace or Profpcft of Help withheld fron^
every Quarter at the fame Time, he would im* ^
mediately^ be in keen Defpair : O the miferable
State of Mankind while in a feparate State from
Cod! Yea he is fallen fo far from a Poffibility
of being happy, wJiile f<?paratc from that Foun-
"^tainof Light and Love; that he i^ bec6me a
felf-tormepting Spirit* and carries d|ie Fuel for hia
everlaftingMifcrvHi his own Nature, Which wlH
make his Kcll wherever he goes, when left to
hfrnfelf : 'And yet what Num|;|«rs, who profefs to
..be Chriftians, will fay, I hope pOD will npt caft
me down to Hell, aijid imagine that thl^ver-
laftitig Happinefs,dcpcnds only in being Iftitioncd
in fome paradifaical Part of Immeijiity, which
th,ey call Heaven, and (hey imsigin^f, * that ;
God will deal with th'cm ^t the Or|at-Day,
as fome arbiti-ary Prince, who, wh^en Cri-
minals or "f raitors are brought before him, )mll
llanciand confider within himfcif, whet j|jt;is
beft to forgive or .puniih : And fo they think, thi^^
God, in thejr dying D»y, yyiU throw about'R4 '
.^
)
^^ » V
Na.
Jure
wards and Putiift^ments in fucH K Mv»ncr,
i ¥■-■ %
4i3!BSP'^"'
w»>-
" -m, •*■ i".
*t--
■■■'•. »
M
^_
> ^-im
V
r
ttaod ani look upon them, and confider,.*»rhc.
thcx it be bcft to "bring them into Heaven, Qr M
thcmiown toHcll ; And fo He makei fomc hap-
py by giving them the Liberty of coming m
among His Saints jii»d Angels, and others he makes
miferable by his fliuttiifg them out and calling'
thea down to fon^e particular Place of Torment,
madeon J'^rpQfeto punilh them : Andmany ima-
;i«c lh?it,if the wicked could get out of that par-
jicwlai-PUcQ. and fct aniong^tl^e ^a»n" in heaven,
Wy would be ^H>y;oo. O Oiocking Miftake,
and curfcd a^fatuation, to keep poor S^uls froRi
coming to CHR4ST for the Ch-!i|r^their Na-
tures, while the ^irit of Gc4 is ftriving with the
Sons of Men. to reftore t^em to God, from
whence they are faHen ! Hereby Thoufands are
kept in Blindncfs until t^o late tl^ey arc convinced
df tlicir irrecoverable Millake among thcBlafphc-
mers in Hell.
" What is more inconfiftent than to imagine, that-
the bringing an Ethiopian among white People,
.would make him whiter; or that a Lion WQuld
become a Lamb by getting among Sheep > As
---^r^^ KbeT -are 5, Hatho'mioca Avith^^efefo
much Wheat j fo fichebub would "be 4 Devil, if
■ ■■• ' he
lic liad his
andDivBS
had excha
had excha
that the v
fity of a r
that augr
that all i
on, whic
damned
paft Cor
their i^
Abrah
So that
their a^
of thei
find. \
yond
time 1
wUl
State
• be <
CO
; hap-
makes
calling'
irmejit,
ly iijia-
latpar-
icaven,
/liilake,
lis from
:ir Na-
/vith the
D, frora
inds are
invinced
Blafphc-
;ine, that'
i People,
n WQuld
o> As
ever
fo
Devil, if
he
;, had hU Habitation under G^B^^i^'Wln^
Had exchanged ^^^ "^"^ "^'ITZ,^
t A «.chan«cd Natvjres too. And therefore
Uvat the whole WO ^^ ^^ ,,,,i Confeciuence
'^^^'^^"ttMifery of the fallen World,!,
that augments the MUery .. .Rcflcai- '
bn which will be a great Part of theMuery
p.ft Cona.a. which w« th* Ptocu-g c^fe^
„Xl«M Remembrance, notomy «»
So that an ever aftmg R^ _ ^ ^^
their aaual violatmg of Go» . Law.
of their reicaing Hi. G--;f " ft be
fi„a. by wofui Experience, tKeK,Uv^«
4 ,11 Hopes of Recovery i and at the
yond aU H0PP= f Durauon,
• . Innkins forward into «n »"""
ume 1"^'"« ' „,.„ the Torture, of the
„ai unfpeat^'l'iy •'"S""' . j^
poor mifable S^l. O bow deplorable «^«
^ LtelWhatcanbeyo^tormentmg^^^J
■ teConvincedbywoMExpenence, th»t|T
' ■ (e) i^ike i6. >$• ■ . j^vl^
'..J ■
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!« ■ >
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IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)
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Corporatioii
^^23 WIST MAIN STRffT
WltSTIR,N.Y. MStO
(71«)«72-4S0:I
^,
■'/ijlW' <ii$if^
■X.
J-T
^A,
ii.
<
-4-
(T
^
(»5 ) ' X. ■
endurino. f»,„ » . f "u> tiie Certainty of
/^""ng the revolving Rounds of a mifer^M P
• nity f AnrI lorti ' ** '""erabJe Eter-
beyond ,11 Concc,- T "'"' "■"«
"•ill b= that Roct „,.7 '' ^"S "'" Love.
--•ence^r!;' ;•["'-"-' ^'"'i'-l.eTo..o„,
• Man. ,vho j., „.^^^^ 'X- Z^; T^
^«'che' litTr ;r' ' ^""''"°^p"'■-'
P;;^;^;;ng^may appear Chear-
fuli
or Mitigation
^e defpairing
e Certainty of
li/erable Eter-
ng -Aggrtva-
Jfc being fo
lat the Con-
"•ment them
aJJ Wrath,
>D being al]
■ of I,ove,
^ them fo
^'c fo much
^iNEssand
''-If Breath
Torment,
r^; Try
of Light
his Dc-
^profane
curling,
■ Chear-
( 96)
■\
fuIJ
■ fui, and feem to be fomething fati.fied in hU
Mmd5 but let his Lot be caft for a few Hours
anionga fmall Number of the Saint,, who are
excrcifed vrith a lively Senfc of Divine Things
their Hearts melted with the Love of God, and
• the.r ■Tongue.^jnfpircdwiththeDrnH^.SpiKiT,
fl^outing forth thePraifbs of Mhe RedeLer i a^
" ^°»W be alnxoft the greateft Torment, that
could be infliaed'on them. r^;f« that when
H Man dies In Ws fallen State, h. carrie. all hi,
Darknefs and Enmity i„ his own Mture : He
has loll all reftraining Grace, and that animal
Body, which gave him a Thirfl for the Enjoy-
ments of Time and Senfe: and therefore every
Faculty of his capacious Soul is as fo many Swords '
Pointmg at the Divikb Being, thirfting to de.
ftroy cv^ry Thing, that i, contrary to hisown Na-
ture, and raging to torment every Thing that is like
iimfelf : And while he is thus thirfting to Deftroy
•very Thing that i, Good, and to dethrone the
^«ty, hi will be crofhed with a lively fenfe of his
utter inability ; and all this will not divelt him
of that Thirft, which rage, ftill, like a bu«in.
creafe
( 8? )
*fc'
crcafe it. The Devils that are roaring^^owM
the World, for the Dcltruftion of the Children
of Men, and to wound and obftruft the Progrefc
of Religion (i)\ arc convinced by wofull Ex^
perience,.that all their Induftry and hell i/h Sue-
cefs doth but exafperate thtm, and augment their "
unfpeakable Mifery ; yet. fueh is their Nature,
thttthey are" ttili burning with every Faculty, ^
to find out away, ta vent their Rage, andprol
fecute their infernal Dcfigns. And fuch will be
thcNtturc of all the Wicked ia Hell,, that by
a continual hungering and thirfting to find a Mi-
tigation of IVfifery, which at the fame Time,
they arc convinced, will never be at a ifl^d ;
and raging to aceomplifh and attrfin, -wSKhcy
are Aire to be unattainable, will contj2i\ially en.
large their infernal Powers of Thirft, and greatly
increafc their already infupportaltle Miferies ; And
|hu*(too (hocking for human Thought]) They
muft. endure the Weight of that Divine Bb'ino. ^
wh<» to their Nature is a coniUming /ire, anj .f
«he increafmg Torment of their own Nature to aJI "'
Btemity. But as fomething more of this will
naturally fall jn, jn one of the following Chap. „
\
(••) «. Per.5.8. (*)Gen.3. ,.
ters.
ife;» 1^,-
T*-
^;&-
ng up^down
Be I NO, '
ire, and v
retoaJf ^
iis will
C h ap .
tcrs, I (hall no>v conclude with fliort Paraphrafe
on that moll comprehenfivc (and ever to be re^
membercd) Expreffion of Condoleancc to the fallen
World, expreffed by himwhofaW the unfpeaki-
ble Mlfery, that had ufltcrcd in, when his new-
made World had broken off from it's Creator
by the Rebellion." Adam where art thou ? fij
*' as if he faid," where, whefe unhappy Man,
"where art thou, or what haft thou done i L<x,k
" around thee, look around thee O my pcbeHious '
*' Son, and fee what a Flood of Miferj-. what a
" fwecping Deluge of inconceivalUe Diforders are
" now ulhering in upon thee. Peath and Hell
" have broke forth in thee, and roaring all around
** thee; yea fo deplorable is thenState otMifery
" into which tW halt willfully plunged thjMfi
" that the very ^welsof thy kind CREAxoiuarfe
*• rtioved with Pity towards thee ; and, 'if it were
" poffiblc, would undertake for thy Redemption^
" yea and will do it, even to the Gifltdf the Life
" «adl>e«th of my only begotten Son.fJJ BiH
•* where, where, O Adam, where «rt ttiotf?*' «
And Of Aronfc, aroofe, my Retukr; ktmfi
(k) Geo. 3. 9. fV) Gen. i. 1$. Johns. \6,
III i.^ji
fers.
" I
-Awl,
%
' , ( 99)
and attend tod^atraoft alarming Expreffion of the
Deity, not b% to Adam in particular, but like-
wife u individually to you, as if you were called.
by Name from Heaven with Ten ThoHfand Thun.
ders? And think. Of Think, what a Pinnacle
of Danger you are on, while out of Christ; and
how e^pofed to an irrecoverable State of incrcafing
Dcfpair, and be aftonifhed, Q my Soul ? With
all the guUty Race, when viewing the fatal Con-
feqnentes of ihat Hcavcn-daring Rebellion, whfch
we were all equally and perfohally engaged in ,
ami never, never more expcd a Moment's Peatfe.
i5or folid Confolation, neither in Time nor Eter-
nity, without a Re-tlniori to that Fountain of
I-ight and Love by the incarnate. Deity ; and
therefore, hear, O Earth t Earth f Earth ? Hear
the Word of the Lor D/;«; l^or Weep alone, but
rejoice likewife,for the eterhal Jehovah has found
out a way to redeem his fallen Sons from theii^
o\m Hell, His Incarnation hath married all their
fallen Race, thus far' as to hold them in a Poflibi-
hty 6f Redemption, REDEfiMiNc Love is fpread
rtver the whole World, and knocks at the Door
f «) J«re«. «^-^|fT
^
ef
of every ladinduaJ. (n) tct Eartk rejoice, aid
Heaven adore I TOen they hear that Pity has
Broke forth t^o the %„ World. Awake, awake
O yc pcriihng Sons V Ada!., that i« on th«
verge 6f eternal Ruin, finking within yourfelves
to unfpeakablc Mifcry. God himfelf has pitied
your Condition , and felf moved arifes for your
Redemption. Behold, behold, he comes in the
cool of the Day with extended Arms ofCompaf.
fion to his rebel Offspring. Unbounded Lovt
once more invites the whole Family to his kind
Embraces. Lift up your Eyes, O ye felf con-
demncd Inhabitants of Time, for thfc Riches of
etctnal felicity is at your Door and God him-
felf fw^io has took on him the Form of a Servant)
knocks, and O (hall I fay with a bleeding Hand •
Hear, Ohear, and live forever j before the fatal
and irrecoverable Blovi^ is ftruck. Your immor-
tal Souls came from Eternity j and therefore muft
return to Eternity again. And if not redeemed
while an Inhabitant of Time, can never be re.
deemed thro» the waftelefs Ronhds of a miferabje
Eterniiy"; ^or can it poffibly ceafcto exift, bc.^
G
I. Cw, 13. y, ,,
caWk
•i.
/
¥w
( 91 )
cauic the EiTcnccs of it never began to be : Bot was
a fparlc of the Divine Being. O fly, fly, ini-
mortal Souls, fly, from an eternal Hell!
"> . CHAPTER V.
0» the glorious Reco*tftry of Mankind by Chr^Jt.
NOW from thofc T^ruths, fo awful to be-
, lieve,
(And fi|tol to deny) I will repair,'
A Trembling Soul, to feek the Way of Life,
^ily Sorrows to aliay : which, if not found is Death;
mt only fafc to find , but fweet the Triith
To all wlit^c Wounds have felt their fallen State.
'^•Whbn a World of Mankind, an inmimerahld
Gompa^ ©^precious and immortal Souls, had by
their own FoUy and Prefumption, ruined and un-
done themfelves forever J when they had plunged
themfclves into a Labyrinth of Woe, had made
-ihemfelves Veflcls of Wrath and Heirs of ever-
lafting liiifery, and were wholly eipofed to all t|ie
Ravages of temporal, {piritual and eternal Death j
then all the Armies of Heaven flood in filent Suf.
-ficnce, ^xvith Re g ard to mny Relief) tcknowledgi^
ing
l^IANS ',
WUl, of
B.. ,^
s.mi
be : Bnt was
y, fly, ini-
5y Christ,
vful to be-
of Life,
d is Death;
Truth
ilTeri State,
mimeralili
lis, liikdhy
id and dn^*
id plunged
had made
s of ever-
[to all tlie
>al Death {
Glent Suf-
ing
ing not only ilicit utter Inability of affording tbt
Jeaft Relief to. the guilty and defiipiring World •
but even to find out, or prefcribe «lPoflibility pf
Rccovenr/.; Then O ! -Then it wa, that the
Great Eternal GQD (whofe Work tljey hid di.
ib-oyed) was nioved with Pity towards them, and
felfmoved arofe toreftore them fromrtheir helplefa
and undone Conditio;,. A WondeJ of Wonders
thatGon himfblf ihould undertalceito look after
his fallen and ref.ellious Creatures, k the infinite
fixpenceofhisownSoN.
Hark a glad nice the lonely De/nrt \beats.
Prepare the Way a Goi, t^ Cod a^pearl
A God, a God, tht 'vocal Hills re^y, «
^nd Rocks proclaim the approaching ©tiTy.
The ANCIENT ofDats, thc Prince of l»8ijq>;
Heav£n»s Darling was moved with Pity to
underuke the grand Defign. He, who was the
Great Jehovah, the great unchangeable 1 AU;
ftoops to redeem the fallen World. Let the kl '
lANs, pretend to what they^
^Ugiott founded oir the - -
wUl
• '•*♦* . .4<rf--
**.(^'^ T-<J1K.
J&t
^
( 93 )
Bafts of Rcafon : It is fo inconfiftent with true
Rcafop, that thpr? needs nothing done to de-
llrojr their Prin9fples, bat to difcover the Incon-
fiftpnci?! and Contradidions, that arc couched
under thcqi/ For they pretend to fdme created
Being, dignified Man, fubordinatc God, or fu-
per-^ngtlipal Perfonj which if we were to allow"
t\^X thoro was ^ny fuch Being, or Ten Thoufand
Tuch, they Would all bfc as much dependent on God
for their being, Perfevcrtnce and Happincfs, as
the fmalleft Infeft, or moft abjeft Mortal, that
irawls oft the Earth. Therefore aould their fub-
ordinatc God, w fupcrangcUc Pcrfon make Satis-
faaion\ as they pretend, to offended Jufticci yet
a Creature, being hut finite, could not be pof-
feffed of that creating Power, and transforming
fincr^X. which the poor fallen World ftands in
Jic«id of, to be reftored to God j spid therefore
Man-^irould remain a fallen Spirit ftill, an4 fc,
p^rafc fro5i God ; and fo of Confequ?ncc muft
continue a dark, fiery and malicious Spjrit. Why
faith William Law/* If Angclsaftcr Angel?
" had come dowii from Heaven to^ffurc Adam
-^^'^t iw t ^PJ^ h j ^d ^l w Aflsei-^g amr he-w^ ia^
" ftill have bccijj in th«faja« holplefs State j nay
had
m
It
( 94)
with true
me to de-
the Incon-
:e couched
mc crested
3D, or fu-
:re to allovV
1 Thoufand
cntoa OoD
ppinefs; as
[ortal, that
i their fub-
make Satis-
fuftice ; yet
lot be pof-
ansforming
I ftands in
d therefore
11, an4 fcr
u?noc muft
>irit. Why
tcr Angeh
lire AoA.M
ho VH^ldf
State i nay
had
^x^i-'M^
W^
<* had they told liim, God had Pify and Comr
** palTion towards him, he had yet been unhel-
" ped ; bccaufe in the Mature of the Thing,
<* nothing could fo much as ii^ake a Beginning
•' of a deliverance but that which made a Begin-
" ning 4pa New Birth in him." So that the poor
deluded Arians and SpciNiANJ do wholly cut
lh<fip:fe!vc3 off frolti^any l^ofTibilify of being fa;
ved ; while in tha| Principle, they have neither
' Lot nor Part in the incarnate Godv and Will ay
vviil as certainly bjeMamned, ^» they live and
die in that Principle •. fjj Y^a and all the
pcrilhing World ma|v bid an cverlaftiiig Adieu
to all Hopes of Salvation, or any Poifibility o^
an Efcape^ from eterni^al Mifery ; unlcfs thfefe is
fome one found out, slpd appears^ who is iijfiijite
both in Merit and Power. Anc^^ofoavtr. un-
dertakes this grand Defigh, niuft be Capftblif of
ftanding and a£ling in Behalf of both God and
Man.
But as they are man jr^ and very erroneoiis
Conceptions ih the World ibout this great Redee-
mer; even nmong thofcj iwho ifrill )iot vjpiiLlf
^^xpofethc pnndplCTof {fie 3^r*Kf^^
(j; John S. 24.
■*-5P
u -i»*S,'4, •.,>,» < '^as ^
\
S'-
little'
/•
*A.
little enlarge
Whofuppofq
( 95 ) \ '^
on tlvis Poipt, ■ There arc (o
|J)1C,
_ lat the Qod-Hcad<^r eternal Spirit
rufFerc4 a. Goo, and others, who hold' Ckr.st
to be. c«ated Man, Jaken into a divide Union
With the God-Head ; by which the World is re-
deemed. Nowthe former of thcfe are im^^fllble
<^ be right; andth^r latter arc bordering on the
Aeians Grotind. Bdt feme will fay, that altho'
:\ holdf HRisT tp be a created Man^ yet I ca.^-
>>ot fee, how I do in -the lean Bprder on th.
Ariam Principles, for when I fpeak ofC^^uir
being aereatedMan, I mean his Humanity bein. "
a created Man. but not his divine Nature ; and
that created Man taken into a vital andinfeoara-
.^ble Union witJx the God-Head , and thereby.
made capable of redeeming the /alien World
Now let mc «ft my dear Reader, what differs
foch aa 05C frpm the Arian', Christ! You
^^:^thit you mean his Humanity to be a created
•Waa , pray what elfe could be created ?. The
4RIAKS and SocNiANs would not prefume to
i»7, that theDiviNB Being or the God-Head,
thit fupportcdthcMan, was created, and if this
>r the Tr ut h, tha t^yhat you call t he Man C»„.t
wasj created Mia, then why would not any
L
^^ '^ ' n.
Man
■t
arc fomc,
tnal Spirif
i Christ
ji\c Union ;
'orld is re-
impo/Hblc
ing on the
that altho'
'^ct I can- '
'T on tht
of Ct*»lT
kity bein^ " -
irc ; and
infepara-
[ thereby^
1 World. ^
It differs
t! You •
a created
?. The
ifume to
»d-Hcad,
id if this
'w
L
Ch
HIST
not any
. Man I
'Si y
Map I that was without Sin be a complcat Sir
viour for a fallens World "? A5{ii^ but 1 am
lurprifcd ; faith one, at thi« C«nftru<1ion put
upon riiy Principle, or upon what ) ^have faid "
Why Ti\y desir Ready, you have Rea'foh to be
furprifcd, vvhcn.'fuch a 'principle is difcovercd
in ^ou, but not on the Conllruaion thai I have
put thereon; for what I- have faid, is no more
than a reafonable Confcqucncc drawn from your
own Piin^iplc : Tho' perhaps you will reply igan.
that you do hot holdjhat a Man can redeem
the World ; for you hold this Man to ffand uni-,
led to God, and therefore the wholctjdij -He ad
is employed. And pray^, dear Reader, docs %©t
the Arians and S<^cinians fay the fame ? For
ihey de, i^ot prefurac to fay, that God left thia
created, Man to redeem the World pf Kiinfelf
without CoDi and a? for his Union: to. God,
is not every true Ch^iftian in the fame infeperable^
Union, .^r^. And therefore it is evident, that
every truf Qhriftian, when they 'are c^f^catly
fanflifiedf would be as complcat a Saviour for «
CUlen A^orld ; for- they al| being unitfid^to God
r^
{rj Ram. ». 38. 39. john,l4r2<
■ i .i^^L
»
the
i Af« .
;4^.M,.-'
■yss,^
«
^ ^
(S7 ) '
tke whole God-Head might »s well be employed
. for the Sapport of 'the one as the other. Now
let me aft you, would not the worfhipping of^
fuch « Stviour J)e grofs Idolatry ? Tell me then,
faith one, what Manner of Perfon he was, that
fnffbred and died for our Redemption ? For you
Jiave already faid, that thofe, who hold thit the
EriRUAi Spirit, or God as GO0 fuffered and
died, are* far fronvth* Truth. True, dear Rea-
der, thejr are as far from the Truth, as they
would be to fay, that God might ccafe to exift.
For if the God.Head, as* Goo, was fubjca to
jpain and Torment, or could fufffcr any Death ;
then he is not felf-6xift.nt : and therefore may
ccafe tocxift. But perhaps you will fay, that
the Word of Goo fpeaksof hit being grieved to
the Heart, and repenting in his Heart. &c. (s)
. wrkich fecms to fignify His being fubjeft to
Change or Pain 5 as Grief, tho» in the fmalleft
Degree; is Suffering and Pain. To which I an-
,fwer, that with Regard to God's fpeaking of hi*
- Repentance, or being grieved in his Heart, in-
•fearf of bein g mide fo bad aUfe of. at tochaiy
sX /.
* Gaa. 6, 6,
601
y
employed
icr. Novr
tipping of
I me then,
wa«, thftt
? For you
1 that the
ffered and
ear Rea-
as they
to cxifl,
ubjcft to
Death ;
fore may
fay, that
ieved to»
&c. (s)
jjeft to
fmalleft
:h I in*
I of hi*
eart,in-
r
:h « it e
6oi
\
God with being changeable, and fubjcft to Grief
and JPaittv ought to be looked upon as an unparal.
lellcd Condefccnfion to the ptwr fallen World :
For had God expreffcd himfelf in Language
like himfelf, we fliould for ever have gteained
Stranprs to his Meaning, by rcafon of oS Igno-
rance and Nothingnefs i and therefore, in infinite
Condefccnfion, he ftoops to converfe with pobr
fallen Mortals in their own Language. Now,
dear Reader, if you have any Thirft for Light
in this important Pointy yOu muft banifli tdl*
Thoughts of RjioEMPTioN by any created
being, or of a Poffibility of the leaft Degree of
Pain, Torment, Grief or Sorrow in the .God-
Head, as God, without Incarnation* and then L
hope, in a few words, to be inftnsiiu:^;ital of
offerjng you fome Light : for which en«|||ine
intreatyou to receive the following Truths. FSl^fU.
that the fallen Party ii Man, and the Party falleti*
from is God. Sei^ondly as Man cannot be/re-
flored by Man, he muft be reftored by Goif
himfelf. And Thirdly. that God's bavdy fayitii;
Law, or fKat He wai aot angry with guilty Maa^'
*'#;
( 99 )
&c^ would be of no Benefit to him, (« has al.
ready been proved) And Fourthly, that whoever
. undertakes to redeem this fallen World, muft
do ft by Suffering and Death; and that God
M Gqp, is not capaWp of that Suffering and
Death, which is Required. And therefore
fift% andlaftly, that Goohimfelf fteps down in-
to fuch a State 9s to become capabl? of his fuffcr.
^ng and lieath fbr the (kllcn World.
Bvr now the Queition may be aiked by fomo,
why there mull be Suffering and Death for Man's
Reaemption. I anfwer, for the fame Rcafon as
God declares, that the Wheat that is fown can-
not >e quickened excepted it dicftj h has al-
ready been proved that Man is dead ; and as he
is thus dead, nothing can do him any good, hut
that which tends to quicken and reftore him to
^i which the dead Man himfelf cannot do:
TWrefore God muft come into this dead Man
by W» Incamadon, And herein we fee that in-
fin.teLove and Condcfcenfion of the Deity to «
Wlcn World: That when He iSw poor falkn
Manznfuchamiferabl e and hclplefa CnAiri..^
(0 I Cor. I J. 3«.^ ' ~ ' ,■■- "
that
y
if
*t' ^' 1
\^
s has al«
whoever
•Id, muft
hat God
ring and
therefore
lown in-
is fuffcrr
that no «mc could adminiftcr any Relief, but
JJirafclCi nor He himfclf without fuffcring
in th«ir Behalf, which he coild not do, with-
out ftcpping down into fuch a State of Abafc-
mcnt^ as to take on hixnfclfthe Nature of fallen
Man. For as it is Man, that is in a fallen State,
(JoD mufl: likcwifc be Man to redeem him. And
here I would have my Reader obfcrve, thap I do
not mean, that He took on him a Maa, for that
is the very Dodlrine I deny : But I fay, that
(lOD took the Nature of Man; thai is to fay,
God himfelf became like Man; and if you think
that this is a radi Expreilion, or a (bangc Cbn«
ception of God ; let us hear what is faid by in-
variable Truth itfelf.(^«^ " For as niuch thtti
" as the Children are Partakers of Flefl^ and
« Blood, He , alfo himfejf took Part of the fame,
*• that through Death he mig;ht deftroy him, that
«« had the Power of Death, that is the Devil.*'
And thus we may fee, that God did not create
or borrow a Man to be fupportcd under the
Weight of the fallen World j but He himfclf
too|p on him our Nature, tad bccamft Man, as
that
V
(») Hcb. 2. 14.
•i ^
■..3.x
ioae
J. ^^^6^^
'r
( lOI )
i>one but he could lift the miferable World out
of its fallen State : And therefore faith He, « O
. " Israel, thou hall deftroyed thyfclf, but i« mc
" i» thy Help found.'Y^; He does not only
fay by me is thy Help, but in me: Yea is not
this Truth, that Christ was really the Son of
QoD, and God himfelf, as clearly cxpreffcd, as
any Thing in the whole Word of God ? And
^s it not as far from being denyed, as that Isaac
was the Son of Abraham ? The Word declareth,
that he was, and that David w4s the Son of
Jesse. And doth ijot the f4me Word of God
exprcfly fay, that Christ was the Son df
GoD.f'wJ And that God fo loyed the World that
He gave his only begotten Son.fxJ Now if hq
had borrowed a Man or created a Man, then with
WhatPropriety could he fay, that he had given his
only Son, and fent his Son to die. But left fome
thirfty Reader, that was thirfting for Light might
ftill be fome thing in the Dark in this Point,
How the Son of God could fuiFer and die ; fi„cJ
he could not thus fuffer as God : I will endeavour
more clearly toexprefsmyfclf again on thisPoint,
* ^"^ ^°** ''' 9.r«.) Mace. 3.17. (*;joh0 3. IfiT
by
^
1«.
by
^
by fpeaking in behiUf of God. WhcnUc faw tke
World in its miferable fallen State; a| if He
had /aid. my new made World is now faUoi
" into fuch a deplorable Condition, that no one
" but myfelf, c^n poffibly ^fFord them any Re-
" licf neither can I, in the Nature of Things,
" ever reftore them, but by fuffcring Death ;
" which as GpD I cannot do ; nevertholcfi, I
" can in infinite Wifdom take upon me their
" Nature, and will in infinite Love and Pity
« condefcend, to ftep down myfelf into fuch a
" Capacity and Station, as to be like Man and
'« become capable of fufibring and Death for
« them J that I may reftore them to myklf,
« from whence they have fallen." And now if
my dear Reader fliould imagine, tJut thi« h\
deviating li-om thd Truth, qt th« I have not
done th« Word of Go„ J^(U,,e . wc wiUhcair
what the Word ei^r«irc» pf itf^f wilhont any^
Eipofition. S'acri/c* tmi Offering, ami Eunu ./%
JMngt and offering fo. Sin ^n ^gi^ ^,^ ^.
tier hadfi PUafitre iherein, ^uJdcb «m ofiendb^
the />!*,.. then/mdbii L», I ipm t»di thm»
- ^ Cfep, (y) Wh^r c^Q be wore ciaiH^^icfr^
ft V) Heb. 10. I. g.
—I
fid
^,.J1#^SP^?
( i03 )
ftd i He aoth not fay, I will fend.
to be done ; but Lo I
• y
O' Command
. «mc. But fome perhap,
--Inmvfty, if.hi, bcthf Tr«d.,,hatHc,-
" '^*^«'' '°d died on Mou«, Calvary, w,„
»ot.cr«,.d Man; „,>„ „,,,, i„„d„„„d ,
•'"-g Co of«r called a Man, and of his h,.
v,ng .S„„,, ft,, To which I ,nrw„, d,i„k
^. Dc^ Read„, that X am ,bon. .0 wrcft d^ofc
-. 7 "" M"n.'/br When Gon became incarn«c
*' '~««»rMan, but you muft obfervc, that
*;" " »» <■-" Word, ,. hi, being a cr«.
«iM.n, and where ihc Scripture fpcka of hjm
«M«,, or ofhisSoul,&c; I think no one can
"-.derHand „y ,hi„g .jf, ^^^ g^^,^ j_^^^^_
»-. or the incarnate Stat, of Goo, and if he
Kecune Mta, Jie certainly muft have Body. Soul
•nd Spbit , ««1 which is as dearly demonftmted
by God iimfelf, a» can be expreffed." Unto w
.'.' \^" " ''O™. "to uaa Soni. given,«,d
^^ the G*e»,„en, ftj] b, upon his ftouUer.
^ «d h« N«„e fluU be called Wonderful, Coun-
^_ «lor. the mighty Go», A. everlafting F*.
* '•■■■• ^-^rv •■'• ■
"^i
,j^;r.*
that
A Sv
th
th(
CO
thi
wi
TOV
fall
fed,
is
fhe<
td
this
Glo
Stir
only
and
to m
and
I an
NOM
Con^
Not
'" "T^srgf* ; ;ir^-^^'^. T -^^^^S'^.'W^P'W
( 104) • . '^
that Myftcry of Myfteric,, God manifciicd irt
the Flefh : (a) This ia the' Eternal Wordl be-
come Flefli, and dwcIlrwiththcSow of Men
^i» is He, that was made a Curfe for us'
who hath born our Griefs and carried our Sor,'
rows, this is He, that had the Weight of thfc
fallen World upon his Shoulders, andwaspref-
Jed, as a Cart is prefTed with Sheave,, ^r; thi.
's He, that groaned upon Mount Calyary, and
ihed hi. vital Blood for the Sinrof the Ungodly
td redeem to himfelf a peciiliar P««,ple :• Arid
this i. He, that will one Day appear irt ^Uhir
Glory, to judge both the Quick arid the rica<l
Saints and Sinhers, Angels arid Men : This is the
only Name by which Salvation i, to be found . -
and this is the Christ, thafl de/lrc to proclaim'
to my Fellow-Mortals, until my expinW Wth ,
and this is the Doftrine, which by his QrU
I ani willing to Seal with my Blood. Think'
Now, dda. Reader, how u^fpeafca^c w, the
Con^efcenfioh of theDeity, to become li,^4i. ^
iaStr. and die, for the fallen Race ofA^^;-- •
Not at J. held forth by many, to •ppeife^^^'
* •'!
i t
Sm,
r ( '
( 105 )
vindiaivc Wratih, or/ktisfyany ir^ccnAxi Juiticc
in the Deity; but to die wholly i„, ^fo,, the
^len Rgce; to remove W«th. aiid HeU, and
Ten Thoufand Diforders from thcW. A Won
der, of Wonders t Be klloni/hcd 6 Heavens
«nd rejoice O Earth ! For jBHOv.„\hi,nfelf ij
become the Sinners Friend. And Lake, O
An^els, •^d Archangels, With joyful! Lrprife '
When you behold your Creator becomian In-
fant of a S^ang Jong : and thus vaUed w«h\a mor-
^^ l-r^mc fuifering for a rebellious Wg^ld, to
«deei? perifhing aridimmortal SquTs, and Witc
them to your angelic fiajid f . \
ANb Wonder O ye Saint, with Joy, and Lut
forth; the Wonders of an incarnate God, L
fpread, O fpread. Hi, Name from Shore to ShoA r
And awake^awake, O ye carelefs & fccu« Mortali
uiltf Koufe, roufc ye Men of Pleafure, yj
«>'a;d Souls, tied down, the be(UaI.t.nW
«nd.„fcr^al Enjoyment, of this enfnaring World •
^^^re^, to .rife and ileep «o longer;
Mc^SiKA. ro^, ^,er you. Hell threaten,.
^^oa yaun., .nd the bleeding So. of Go.
^^^^•^7^^ WSom^e I#r«th to comeTaT
•^^^^^J^is^^g^
«;"■
infod Juitice
) & fos, the
i HelJ, and
|n. A Won-
Heavens^
i\iiijnfelf is
LWake, O
urprifc I
>me an In-
vith\a mor-
WgWd, to
and \unit&.
» and lilout
God, ind
to Short f
PcMortajJ
seath youi!
eafure, ycl
tranfitorjf
>g World:
> longer?'
threatctits,]
It o f God /
sme; an<
( io6 )
Wl l,.„. ,„„ J,. coW.he«tedF.™„Uifl.
/*rjn» of Faith f And f>««
<«=«»« 7o«Fri«d, the Poet of7-^
ye Prifoncr. of Hope , t«™ . ' ^"* ^
whiJe it 15 called to Day whJU ^w . *
*-L ^' '^""^ ^e Iamb of «#►•! ,
^ke, away the Sins of the VorldurUK
» up « down, from City to Cffv c ^r...
H
J.;.V-::
^'*:^i:
^fe^Tfe^r
I» \
{ <d7 ) " -
hold, behold, the eternal Kino of Kings Ka*
become ah Wtnt of a Span long, and fuffcn^not
©nlyon Mount Galvary; but has been fufFcr-
ing among the Sons of Men fince the Foundation
of die World :(JJ And is ftill labouring with
the Power of his Inc»mati®|l^ thro* all the fallen
Raiqe, ftriving Night and Day to redeem immof-
'ttl Souls from eternal Sorrow. Fear not, fear
not, faith the heavenly Mbssbncer, for behold,
I bring gUd TidiAgs to you and all People/^^
Tidihgs of great Joy indeed f Arife, O yc^^perifli-
ing: Mottals and ftrike that well deferved Note^
jtlnic'e fong for you by the heavenly Hofts : Glory
l6:Gi?J) -ip th^ Higheftf Piace on Earthj
«»d Qo9d,virni to Men\(/J Bow, Bow, O ye
^ ^mgs of the- Earth, your lofty Heads and-fub-
' /^ the feet of King Jesus. Re-
%^^eivc, O Nations, Kingdom^ Towns, and Vil-
lages, the heayenly Viutant ! Porbcholdj thede-
4re of Nations is come I Clouds, Winds, ^and
Se>r;toi J kodu^ ' Hills, afld Vales ; Fire, Airs
l«itii;iBii<l. Water : (hout forth the REDBBMiR't
Jgr«mp, fijMn^Polc to Pole, Ye flying ^ifewl* of
'frf)R«T. 13. t. (*) Luke. *. 10. if) Lake *. 14;
.T*-'^
"'■.^«?!^ri';W'r^-f--,S ,
1
Life
fallci
ingtj
Sihs,
ifl » X
^tiiBa>
n \
Kings Kai
: fuffcrs not
•
een fuffcr-
Foundation
iring with
: the fallen
cm imfliof-
p not, fear
for behold.
People Y'^
ye'perilh-
-ved Note^
: Glory
1 Earth^
ow, O ye
and* fub>
ssut. Re-
, and Vil-
di the dc-
'inds, and
Pirc, Air;.
DBBMIR^t
^OYfU of
utit. i4'
V
*
«
WoM>c ,^o„de„ of i.., N,™. Wki,. .
of J«« A»l. „,^ j,„,^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^.^.
Rood. And p.- ye flaming Amu« .™.„i
J. ..emai TW, ftrike wieh facrcd Flan...
t ?""""*«•""' Note .00 g.and ■
for mortal ft^ain. And f„on. .h J„ j .
p.„ . ., . ""• W'thyoB to bearing -:;
GLORv'""""^' ""'""""' S'™»' A J .
GLORy TO TME LAMS
*- H A P T E R yj
rartaker eA Redeeming Love ^^' x
I ""^"' •^^'/""Soing fiifcWe „d,.— ^■
to^ewfomething of that g,o,ioai W.y'rf '
I-tfe and Salvation, that ],„.b«tt op«,ed t!^i^ '^V
f..IenWo.dBy^.S„„„,^„J''^^^^^.:f*
»« *« Thoufanda „ay m live and df-^i^fe^-'^-
d?«i>tion, and beJievine th.r. o.. I^r^^T'^ ^^^^i
*.:
it
'!^«'«'. and bdiX rf.c„ a^**^*^ i
\fSfe^'
:l?f^:WiiI l^diJy give tto^^gf^l-'-kl
-tr.
Ha
iiiii(
/'
sV%'fc. i^«^->^
Kf«if~» -^ -« ft
f-it
' fA.
( 109 )
fJiall now fpark fomething on the Application of
this gloridus Plan to Individuals, viz. How •
Sirtncr is thereby' reftored to God from his fallen
dtatc, and made Partaktr of EVbr lasting Lovi.
And bieidg now on a Matter no lefs imporrant,
Hian il^ttirwjiich infinitely concern? all the Softs
& Da4i^litfc«-ftf AoAM ; I flHtll a little enlarge oij
tlie mifarable' Deception of Thoufands ii^ this ha-
pbrtant h^nt j neither dati I" forbear to grieve^
while I'confidcr, fo many of my poor Fellow-
Mortals are thus, 'evj^n a Land of Ligk, un-
happily deceived, A i^creby irrecoverably min-
ed ; who will pre^ehd" to believe in Cj^i$Tt
ati J hold forth the abfotute Neceffityof-filling
in with the Plan of Salvation, and yet pcrifh to
all Eternity. And now wp may reafonably {up*
ipb^e, tlut as all Mankind Hand in a ProbatJ(^n-
Suttf they, may be rationally ponvincecLjiimgay
important Points, aii|^yet not r^deem^^li^
Kavc a Confcicnce, that informs them l^S^^
ttf file Diffirisnce between Good aiid EvUj arf<f
^eSpWtofOoD^ciJciatedly ftriving with theitfi
*^t^js dof£lriiially convinced, that they are bora'
^ wad t^t they are in a fallet t State ; that'
<^e:su4r1^ui m^i -xaA orlgfaatf iiitC
\ i&i"'
1^
^
■■*>%
Intereft j
c .iHrithout
, , , ^ They ,fwll fay, th«^
thcjr believe thaj Christ died about Scvcutden:
Hoadred Vcan ago, to redeem even jhc woril
of Sinneh : And vainly imagine/thatiUi that h
now neceflao^ ^r their Redemption ia to fall ia
with, and praflife fqch and %h external <Obfci>
vation;':as »hey hear, -reappointed by Jiimto be
obfer^d in his Church: And beings thus «tioi,.
ally convinced of thofc External*, thi^y*te fcap,
tifedwith Wafer jn the Name -<*f th* Trinixjr
Thej^ refrain fwm «U gro^s Out-breakittg iu,d,^J^
bauchery, and i^ay join ^th fo«e Churchy '
People, that^e NJed ChriAians. -a,id ^^
fhemf«r«fesip ^ of the fame Principle, „,!,«6d ^^^ '
Houfe of WorAip once or twice ;^;\Jir^,^p^
con/jjjprable for the Suppon of th^. mdct$,^m
^be^ltothelloor. ii«ndx>n,^ -
zealous m ftmym, both Jn public -fBA ^raiW •
m.y think they doc much good iii^mmmM~-r
I iwir t^ ifinncttf
Q^er^i
^P»ny aroimd-thaa^ Th«T^ ^T t^|tMi r '
.^fgcata for Morality, and ittf^ m^^mv
'-*^.
.KJtdS
'«<
X
■
V
III )
<*>
nniiiftcrial Rites and Externals of the Church
yea, they may do gll 'this and much
I
more, and
yet have no Lot nor Portion in Christ's fpiri-
tual Kingdom, being ftlll in thoir fallen State of
Death and Darknefs, wholly labouring on the
Covenant of Works, and finally fink into eternal
Perdition/^;; And O? What a fatal Miftake is
this, to live fo near the Gates of Redemption, to
die without much Concern, and go to Hell at laR !
There are others, who will more ftriaiy hold to
theWeceffityofthe New-Birth, and declare that
Salvation is only hy Free Grace : But then, fay
. they, tlie Work of Grace is fo gradual, and im-
pcroeptible,^ata Man may be in a fafc State;
viz. be born again, and not know it: And will
%, that their being influenced to the Externals
of Religion, their having fo great Defires to for-
f«ke Sin and become Chrillians, their havifg got
fo much the Viftoryover the Powers of Corrup-
tion, «8 to refrain fw^m any Out-bjccakings, and
being fo much affeaed under the public and pri-
vatc Means of Grace, , is u great an Evidence of
their i>ei^ born ag«in, as they can ever expeft t«
flttain
»>
% -
*l^"
'>T
Churchj
aore, and
r*s fpiri-
1 State of
on the
3 eternal
[iftake is
ption, to
:1I at laft I
' hold to
rlare that
hen, fay
and im-
fc State;
iad will
Externals
's to for-
vi¥g got
Corrup.
gs> andi
md pri-
ence of
xpc6!t t6
>v
( JJZ )
attain In this Worid ; and fo flatter tieijifeives,
that they are ingrafted, into Christ the true an<{
living Vine, when- they were never cut off of the
old Stock': AVid- therefore not knowing the Righ:
teoufnefs that is by faith, they are going abonfc^Slf ^,
patch^up a righteoufncfs of their ovfTk.(e} Aftfl it
may be faid (tho* with Grief) of fiich People, that'
they go a tirefome Road to^Iell : Fbr they have fo
much, of whAt they call Repentance, Obedience,
Self-denial, Duties A: good Works, that they hav4
wholly barred true Faith and 4 living Saviour oujt
of Doors. And I have Reafon to hs^ j there are
many more, who feem to have fuch an Averfion
to the PhArlfee, that they wUl jihinge thtlm^
ftlvcs^into eternal Ruin on the othef'llaii^ ? JfiaV^ '
ing a dod^r/nal Knowledge oi'^^nitoh^yfiA^
they vainly imagine they havir&a^VVitli '&
Truths of the Qolpel, tn^^m^^&gi$^
Saviour, when they have onlf ,%Jii^^{
to the Word of God and his >niihf flPcs ,'' "' ' "
-»«•
fay they believe in Ch'riit; a»^ .i^fi g^Val
tion by fr?e Gnurc alone, and' fo^ 'feA"^li|,
Expeaation of Efcape firom.Pfei^'4&^i%
attain
HoSlay the T ransformation of th?
— — — s — -■ ■ \\h
Br*
<^ MHoni.
le^ 3.
-• X -f' .n M
-*-^'*^"-
>-Tl^w*iS«!wiWT!BrTaCWI
"^t
t
I.J f
1 « (
( 113 1
^m to,7 W their .nimd Spirits .nimated
evcH to foiac T««fporta; when. « the f«,«
Time, thejr .re utter Strangers either to Ch*,<it*
fmc F.i£h, or a Principle of d,v,nb Lqve : An^
tfccfe have neither Faith nor Woric,, They fay
they have ulcen hold of the Gofpel Plan, and
depend on the Word of Gou / when it is very
^deot,. that the fowcr of the Gofpel and tJ»e
.Word of poo have ncvt* taken them up; fo,
tfcey remain ftill in , deep Sleep, dead in Xref-
i¥ifl« im46in, a,,d Aeir Souis not ^ieing quicken-
«J^>Jior reftore4 irom its faUen Sute to God, are
iHH Spirits of Darknefs. and if their Li^ht be
■D^knefs, W great i« that Darknef.,^^; and
?hcfenwybe.fp fatally impofcdupon by the grand
.Adv<^aiy, .ndthe Decdtfulneft of a treachen)u,
*l«^ ts not onl;^ to fill ihort of aU the Priviiiges
of the«reat Rcdcei^r, but Ukcwifedio like Lambs
pn^^^¥^W f^^^^^ them.
^ ^^ th,j fcpc^don of evei-laftiog Happi-
i?f IW^ ""^ ^* ^"^' they are on the
.Sriak of Ilell, plun^^then^fclves into irreco-
1J«»bteqefpairr«uithu.II,aveReafonto^ •
^ t^e y^ateft p^ pf the Worid of MankincL
■>«-1(
f ^f
( 114 )
evtn of thofe, who bait the Name of ChriAitas;
are fatally xleeeivcd, and will at laft be fdu^d al
mifcrable as the profciftd fafiad.
^ / ^rw /A^ cnudfwitb panting Breath .' • :
^i6* ^/v«</ defending R^ad^ .'■"/
That kads unernng down to Death ;
2^or Mifs the Bark Abode.
Thus, 'while I drop a Tear or fwo
On the nuild Herd, a nolle Fenxi
That dare look up-ward and pitrfue
Ty unbeaten Way to Gojyi,
jp. Wattv
YiT, bKefTcd be God, there is a Number, that
hear the Voice of the Son of God, and hear' fo
a» to livei Whidi J Ml now endeair6«r't5'
fpeakof, andlhew howtl^eyare thus brought to'
the Privileges of the Son of God, and made Par-
takers of cverlafting hmft by the ^reat Reftortrr
of Mankind, together with a ftw Words on thd
Nature and Fruits of that living Principle in the
»ew.bomSoul. And nowJIinuft:,^, myJleadw
to -Review of the Pofilion. that wcleftaU.Mim-
^ndin^ in on e of the foregpiiig ^aapttraj vfc:
^eidupTrom«n iirevociye fee %ilie
Spirit of theSoa of Cot^ wlili ^
1 i^,'
EA
♦r
•»/
confenting to Vj
( "S )
i» a» animal World, capable
"nEEMiNc Love : But whcu . .^... „, ^,,
Power to confcnt, I would not be undcrftood any
fuch Power in the Nature of fallen Man by no
Means, bccaufc fallen Man left to aft like himfelf,
would.. wpn^ediatcly be a Blafphcmer j but you
mull undcrftand hi^ to he held up in that Capa-
fity of confenting, and made capable fo to aft by
the Seed cf the Woman, or by il^c Spirit of an
incarnate God.
UpM^iy „tygt onct pitn-e bejhall Jlan/
On erven ground agcunft bis mortal Foe.
Milton.
But leaft fome Ihould yet be fo far from under,
(landing me, concerning this Power of confent-
log, as to imagine that I am bordering on the*
Armxnians Ground, or that I am giving proud
Manrfomc Room for boafting, I fhall a littlefurthcr
enlarge on this Point. Firll I might bor^^er on
0c Arminians Ground, if I ftould hold any
fuch Power in fallen Man i but I have already
and repeatedly proved, that the Nature of fsaien
Man is fo far' from Jjcing any way helpful (;o |le-
demption that if he was left rn »F\ Kimftlf; hg 7
would be but a growif g Dlafpheincr. : But infi.
,\>
-If:
ttUC
r
**4^.
ifentlng to
:ak of this
rrftood any
an by no
le himfdf,
but you
hat Capa-
) to a^ by
irit of ai^
Milton.
m under,
confent-
ig on the*
ng proud
le further
>or4er on
10I4 any
i already
of f^len
il ^o ^c-
,\n
' ( 116)
niteMcrcy by the Incarnation of God has %pcd
Mm from afting and ruining himfelf, and put him
in a Stateof Probation. Secondly, itis felf evid.,
cnt that this Spirit or Power of Confcnt cannot
be for the building Man up in himfelf, for that
is already Man's only Ruin : For it is clearly
provad already by the Word ofGooUat iht
whole of Man's Ruin and Mifcry. confifted in
his falling out of God, into himfflf j and there,
fore there can be no pofljble Redemption but his
being redeemed out of himfelf back into God
again : And this Spirit or Power is for thatytry
End not to bolfter him up in himfelf, but^tp .
bring him down, and out of himfelf, /W « /«
Ay> convince him of; his loft undone Condition,
and his utter Inability of helping himfelf, which
I dare fay, you will stcknowlcdge is the only pof-
fibly way for him ever to be redeemed. And
now I thin|cyou muft of Courfe be convinced tlvu
this power or Spirit is fo far from helping him 19
boaft, that it is the only poffiblc way tQ ke(|> Jwi^ ,
irom btwfting; and fo far from buUdinj W#
gp in himfelf, or lean him towM4» the 4>o»Rtfc>
A K, that the very End and nature df it it wholly
the reverie. Yea the only way to bring hhn1wi«i
jfi foil the more Ite opens the Door to;rcceivc that
^ut infi-
nite
.J, ^r**- i
ifeiii,
rit
Cii7)
Spirit ^ iigkt, the left Room he has to boaft ,
btuiufe hfc « more and more convinced of his loft
State, Nq^jingBcft, and Inability to help himMf.
And hcfc ^ou can but be convinced of the Truth
of thi3, becaufe you fee there is no Poffibility of
l^dcinptJoB any othec way , for his rejefting this
Vm or Li^ keeps him ignorant of liis help-
Icff undone Condition, and fupports the boaft.
•ngrofprcrtldfelf; wiu^byi^c.is |;ept from an/
Pciffibflity qf being helped. Hut the adhearing to
«W« Spirit, or recciting this^ight doth of Courfe
ftye ,,«id more adminifter ^onvidtion,. and the
MOM Je receives of this Spirit and tight the
*«o^c Room there isftill to receive, and thus
«»uch of this copviaing ^piritJie i^qft certainly
fcenfcht to, and receive, ^ wholly to convince
^<^ m» loft ^onditio,^ ii„4 utter ^.ability of
Iiel|.ii4ghimfelf, and when tlius ponvinccd; Ibrcly
l^ «»*« acknowledge, that-hc is fo far from any
«c^M for boaiWng, that he is obliged to cry
^"t:«^fin*ingPBTn,r^L<;:niavemeorI
^iric,^ the only pol^blt Remedy that he can
^^c -i, to.aft )hit helplcfs and condemned
khs9Q£ fr e e and mtbottftded<?facr
^1
H
■I
u
fl^ \ '
.J^Unt:i^. 30.
-r»*-
^
\r
j'"'
'f*? '
;)t^lA?b:fiiiw ^itik^.^
Ik *'
~.-V' Ok,
fc^Jti,- ^ }
to boaft;
of his loft
3 JKitofclf.
he Truth
Bbility of
Aing this
his help-
he boajl;-
rom anf
earing to
f Courie
and tha
ight the
nd thus
rertainly
:onvince
>iltty of
; fufcly
"om any
to cry .
le or I
he can
lenmcd
["©raeg
I
■i
t»
u
ih the Great and compleat Redeemer. And zTow
you may underftand what is iheantfey ihdfe mucli
difputcd and much abufcrf Words, *« the true
Light that lighted every Man that Cometh int4
the World.'Y/; And again, « the Spirit i»
** given to every Man to profit tfrithal i**(g)
for altho* the refined Arminians have madeufe'
of them to build up proud Man within himfelf *
^Tt it is very wideiit thit it was ta bring him
out of himfelf, and that all Manltind might be lit
a Poffibility of Redemption if they did not rcje«
It. And now between thofe two Extrsm^i
cannot give you a more clear Defcripti<
the Conduft of Zacchius, and i^ii^^JMingi
of God with him :fi^J You reiS|fiibcr, tha^
when he wanted R c d b m p t i o'i4.^dr to fee
Christ, he begins to elimb up i Imt the Voice
of Gon -was make hafte and come ^own. And
thus you fee how far all the World of Mankind
M held np from their own Hell, and with Ri-
^rEMiNo LoTB at his Door. Fbr ifMtnwt*
«bt held up with f^h ^ Pdwtr, j«tfm«C«pt*^
ki^ of confenttng to Redcmpu'oii, k irtift iia--
mr
m:.
.A
) »'9)
•roW^bly fi„k into .„ irrecorerabit Su„, b«i„ft
it Im .Ir«,dy been pro«d he could no. be «.
. deemed but of Choice ; therefore infinite Good,
nef, hoJd. him in ftch State, and c.p.ble of be-
7 «*«•«' ■• For With thi* Power, h. i, t,pMc
of recervrng that „ff„.d ^igU. neeeffa-y to eon-
j;»ceh,n.ofhi.Wp.ef.,ott.„d„ndL.C„n.
<i«.on..b.f„re„bferved.and.hehtoc.nf;tto
« «mpW Redemption by C,.a,„.- And r^
So^'l "/'""' ™"''''«''8mc. b^fomethihginth.
S»SUh.tg,„w,up i„.„ Salvation by Degree,, or
*JI>dua Converfion. For if,,hat ™ the Truth.
a*j«nner, grovvup into Ghriftian, gradually,
Aen «* muft not only believe in a Purgatol
^«^«.gre..VarietyofPlac«and3ta.ion!.pJ
H«ve. and p^t Hell: For asMen die i„ .„
J««^ rf Life, from an Hour to Threefcor"
r«W •nd Ten, fon.e would j„ft b* begini
g^cWfdono, fom. three Qsarter,, and perhaps
»«-,«• Acre one. who had been ve^ i
*|i««oq,, and had arriv^dt. a very oldT^i,
»*ht be wholly «niM5 ,,.iuch would h.^
tH^
,^..:
C-\-
*» bctkufc
lot be ro»
lite Good,
blc of be-
i$ (Capable
y to con-
int jCon-
<5nfcnt.to
■And 7c|P
hg in the
grccs, or
e Truth,
idually ; .
rgatory,
IS, pal-t
' in all
■eefcoro
bcgin-
niihed^r
lerhaps
T ij^T
& unfcriptural Principles, I /Hall therefore pr»L<
cecd further to confider this Point now in hand,
viz. H<Jw the Soul is rcftorcd to God, and who ih
reftored. And firft, h6w the Spirit of DarkneCr,
Wrath and Malice is reftored to God froi* whence
it has fallen; that it may again Uecoine a Spirit
of Light and Love. ,
^ j\nd now my dear Reader, if you would r^
^eive any Light ^n this Point, you muft knoW,
that it i« not the Greatnefs of a Man's Sin. that
will keep him from thus being redeemed; neJ-
ther is any one redefenied, beCaufc hia Sin#ar«
iefs in Number; but it is according at he foWtkit^s
OT retains this World, or himfelf into Which hte
»is fallen. For as the fteatli ofMan wafcaufed
V his falling from God JnLovefjrifh chislJiforldfj
fo he can never be reftored to Life; Silt by rS^ii^
jng back from tWsi World to Gob ag^ft, l^^S^^r
is there any othei^ Redcmpdoh : 'tffcre^i^
that the great Redeemer would fo bfteii KflculM^
the abfolute NecelSty of forfatin^ilFtb IfqlW"^
hlm»(tj and declares that his Kingdom is^ndi^'oK
this World :^i; He doth hot fay, that'^«]gfe.
adlof»
and
{/) M«rkS.. 34. 35 (Ifjobll. ,^.
€#rv/
H
Jj*«y be tedctrted, btcaufc his Sins a»e /ni«ll, aad
another cniioti bectufe kis Sina arcgwat; Wc
hear aotliiiig o^all thie in all Ws prt^king, but #.
we may repeatedly hear jlim paTitWdy d«diu|
the Impoffibiiity of RcdempdMi. while attaci|^
w this World, St that no one can ever be rcd^S^
ed until all is forfakcn.f/J For a« long aa Man %'
^Mng or expeaini; ofHappincfe in this fallen
.World, his- Mind is chained dowm to hia fallJP
rotate,, and cannot be reftored: Therefore the
great Work of the Spirit of Goi^ il£ before ob-
fenwd, firft to bring the Man to a Senfe of his
fallen Condition, iid the trnpoffi bility of- Happi-
ncft or Redemption, while in. Love with the En- "
joymerits Of this fallen World : Neither can he be
rcftored, until he la thus convinced. Therefore
•altho* the Work of Cooircrfion is inilahuneouily,
•yet the V^orkof Conviaioii may be gradual; for
GoBvcrfion i« a Union of the innerMan to Christ,
or the turniiig of the Inmoft Soul, after God ; but
the Work of Convifliion is only the bringing the
^Sinner to a Senfe of its fallen, helplefs and dc-
plorable Condition : And. when thus convinced,
if -a Surrender is made of Soul and Body, and ail
(y Luke i4i
aj*
^.!
1
Ifis
! /mill, and
:wat5 Wc
rking; but #.
ily (Uelail
le attaclw
^'
as Man i^' '
ius fallei)
hu fall<9
'cfore the
before ob-
dfeof lib
»f-Happi-
Ix tbe En-
can be be
rhcrefore
aneoufly,
iual; for
Christ,
OD; but
igiflgtbe
and de-
nvineeda^
, and all
His
( H22 )
r
^, his Concerns into the Hand of the great Hedce.
mer the Urtion takes Place between C-hrist and
the Soul, ^nd the rapid Will 13 turned after God
nor can tl^e Soul be in a fafe State till then. '
Well, jbut I am furprized, faith one, at this,
that thercl i5 no t<ue Religion, but by a vital
Unionjg.CJHRis^ . fo, I ^^^ j^ ^^p^^^ ^^^ . ^^^^
j had done outwardly, would have been of fome
iServJefe to my Soul. You will be more furprif-
ed Maps, if I fhould tell you, that kiany h.v6
thought the fame, that are now in Hell • But -
you may take it for a Truth ofnolefs Import-
«nce, than-fhe everlalting Concern of your pre-
Clous and immortal Soul, that withohtthi. vital
Un.on to CHK,sr, and the Turn of your inmoft
Soul after God, all your external Matters ^11
pravc abortive, and your Hope is but the Hope
of the Hypocrite, and will unavoidably prove
your eternal Ruin. - '^^
But as I have made fomething of a DigrciEon '
from the Matter now in hand, I fhaU rttum to
enlarge. And as we have thiis feeli Matt in «
State of Probation, ftan<iing Vd^^ ILuntEUind
-iOTB at his Door, yea and as far in n Ic^^
ift, without his Confcnt ; wc may be -tht l>«t«r
JcT
-^■X-^
. 4« .
^^
of -
informed of thfi Natui^ of his Recovery/ b; ar*
tending to whit is faid by the Great Rsdebmer
himfelf". Behold, faith he, I ftand at the Door
*• and knock ; if any NTanhear my Voice, and
" will open the Door, I wjll come in and fup
" with him, and he. with mc:*{mj As if he
had faid, lam now about to deliver a Matter of
nolcfs Importance, than that which imnl#ately
concerns ^our eternal ttappinefs ; therefore be
intreated to attend, -take Notice, or obferve, what
I am about to exprefs." That I the great Reftorer
'* of Mankind ftand waiting. Day after Day, at
" the Dofir of Confcience my Vicegerent, and
" knock to quicken, alarm and convince you of
" your fallen and deplorable Condition :" there-
^Tc if any Man, Jew or Gentile, bond or Free,
Male, or Feinifiu old or young, rich ot pooJ»,
«onc cxceptcd,(^»; will hear my Vice, adhere
fti the Dilates of Confcience, and the moving
of myjpirit, and will open the Door, only con-
ftm- to give up ail without any refervc, or Ex-
pcftetion of Help from any other Quarter and
wnr receive „e for hi. Go., hi, Prophe^^..
Fneft,. and h» King ; his prefbnt and cycrUBi^
4
■,*p»r»'|
m
( 124 ) .
Porrfon ; I will come in : Nothing fhall hinder j
iicitJierthcGrcatn?fs of his Sin., ftor thetlrength
^f his Enemies i for my Delight 15 with the
-Sons of Men :^./ Therefore only wnfent, and
the Worjc ihall be^ done. I will takt Poffeffioh
of themnerMan, unite you to myfelf, willfup
With yd»-andyou with m6; wAJgiVe you the
communication, of that Divi^h Light & Lovb,
which you Mve loft byj^our Fall. And now
to be more plain in this important Poiftt.iH,,
(»» I would beuhderftood by eveiy Readerf|
mn endeavour to fpealc of the Operations of thi
Spiirit of God, in redeeming this ldl\ Soul front
it's fallen State, as it may appear to them while
under.the Work ; which is firft to convince of
Sin, that is, fet« them in Order before him, botK
Adual andOrigiijalj and this with fuch Power^
that the Sinner not only hears of hit being '^'
Sinneri but feels it in his own Soul : He is can-
vincedofhis loft and undone Condition i^^ hi?
own Confci%|^ with(>ut lwvi|ig* ,^y Ckum
God's MiRl^'y or the leift fcn^.i^m hi»
JH«uid. Hc U fo r o nv in r fd o f hUh ^ j c^ i iM^ .
diUto,.that he finds his utter JnabiUtj,.ji, ^^^"*
- ~ ' ■ ■ '_ -"* *
»»i)^
'■h:^
■*.^ii
V
.^^'^''
'^/
'%
\
/
obtain Relief for his perifliiog and immortal
Soul, or to extricate himfelf out of that deplora-
ble State of Sin and Mifery, which he is now
convinced that he has pl^unged himfelf into. He
has long; been trying perhaps to recommend him*
fclf to Christ by Repentance and Humility j
he has been labouring with Prayers anl^Tcars to
loveGqD & Holinefs, to hate hi sdvil Ways, and
be forry forhis Sins: But the Spirit of God has
now wrought fo powerfully on his Heart, that
he appears worfe than ever : He finds his Heart
ia hard, i^d his Will ftubborn : I^is Nature is
at Enmity againft God, and all that is good,
and' perhaps filled with blafphemoui Thoughts
i^gainft Go© and his Ways \ He has long had
»:fecret Hope, tfiat he fhould bc^yet more pre-
pared to receive Christ, but liow-aU thcfcHopes
fkit ; tnd he appears more unlit than ever : He
Ims fonwtimeiB, under fontc agreeable Frames,
thought himfelf ahnoft through, and fo would
reft on them ; but iwvy ; he appears fo vil«, that
Conv«rfionfocm»atagr«irter DilUncethaii ever.
iuM been trying every Path he coiili'fi«A i«
; Hopes to find the way out ; whichg m^ftuT^f
letdittg
***i?4|
.1^ K''je-iu. i^^t/^itAta. «JbJL (V
^ ^^r?l^Wi^W^
w^ t»vA
•(»<*«% ^i*-'-;****
I immortal
It dcplora-
he is now
into. He
mend iiim^
Humility j
ri^Tcars to
Ways, and
9f God has
Heart, that
Is his Heart
I Nature is
at is good,
i Thoughts
,s long had
: more prc-
thefeHopes
i ever : He
sle Frames,
d fo would
foviU, that
;etha» ever.
leftding^
leading him cut, has got him more loft & entan^
gled than ever. He has tried every poffible Way,
to flee from the W^ath to come, & to recommeni!
himfelf to CftRisT, or to prepare tfj'bt conver-
ted, but now all appears '" Vstttti"l#i 'li<t find»
no way to ftep another Step, and rfF Kiir Suppor-
ters are now gone. He fees that to My ftom' hi^
Guilt and Mifery is imprafticable j and to rer
form or make Satisfaftion, as much impoffible|
j^nd therefore like the four Lepers at the Gates
pf Samaru (p) he is determined to try the lait
flemedy ; for to ftay where he is, is certain Death,
^nd to reti^rn back unto his former State of Secu-'
rity, will beDeath ,and thereforjc, altho* he cannot;
fee, that Christ has any Love fc«r him., t>t Pi-.
ty towards ^m j neither doth he fee, whcthdr Hft*
intends to tiave Mercy on hin\^ornpt i. yet, h^fels
determined, ^o caft himfelf at his Feetj aiid^truft
wholly to his Mercy, and free Grace for Salva-
tion; and cries out with the trembling Leper. iUr^
if thou nuilt.d) And when liit M tl\«8 ^«»B^1
to a Sehfe of his Condition, and jfwUfi
Tcrn^^ vlW-to forfakcall^ With
■ g fi ' W' Ji' L ' I
n
i^ii. Kings *7» 3. 4.' W M»k I. J^^
Es->;
i?4L vA.'^h
(127 )
Mind turned after God, panting after Redemp.
tion from his fallen State, and depends wholly
on the Mercy of God thro* Jesvs Christ; then
the MDEEMiNO Love enters into his Soulji
Christ the Hope of Glory takes Poffcffion cfth^
inner Man ; and altho* fome, by Reafon of Fears
and fti:^g Temptations, may not be fo fenfible
of their Converfion the very fame inftant, Hour
or Day df their Union to Christ j yet they win
fqon receive an Evidence of their Redemption
^rom Death to Life, by the fealing Evidences of
the Spirit :(r) They will find the Burden of
their Sin gone, with their Affeftions taken ofFof
this World, and fet ofi Things above, with their
licftrts oftentimes drawn out after Christ, un-
4cr a feeling Senfe of the Worth of his redeem-
ing Love; at the fame Time, with a Senfe of
their owto Vilencfs, and the Vanity of all Things
licrc below, together with the Worth and Sweet-
««ft of ^icavenly Things, and the Amiablencfs of
the wv?Mi Bbiho, they .find an cncreafing Third: ,
•ftcr more ^Jburty from Sin and Darknefs, and a
continual p.^tin« after th*^^ Enjoyment of God,
-gj^IifcaBcfrtcr the m ^Fiir
lowI^rSAVMHlfc.
i^
^
.^i^
-•^'as
Rederap*
Is wholly
tsTj then
is Soul ij
ion ofth"
I of Fears
) fcnfiblc
nt. Hour
they will
demption
idenccs of
larden of
ken off of
vith their
iisT, un-
REOEEM..
Scnfe of
II Things
id Swect-
blencfs of
ng Thirfl: ,
fs, and a
of God,
Al^I^I^
^
( 128 }
for their Hearts, which before vyere fet ©n
Things below, are now fet on Thin| above. ^
Now, Dear Reader, be affured, that there is
• not one Spark of true Religion in all the Exter-
nals, tliatever were performed, by Man, without
this vital Union, to the Lord Jesus Christ :
Therefore how groundlefs and dangerous, as wel'l
as unfcripiural, is the Dependance on any Ex-
ternals for Salvation ; fincc all Religion i;^ a Work
of the Holy Spirit on the inner Man f Neither
need we fay much to prove, that a tnxi Principle
of Divine Love wiH produce an external Con-
formitytotheWaysofGoD: For it is as certain
that this internal Wor^of the Spirit of God will
refleft a chearful Conformity to the" Externals
of Religion, as a Fire wil^reflea Lighi; tKcrc-
fore, faith the Apoftle, " If artV ^Mkn'-be in
^* Christ, he is a new Creature; OM things
" are done away, and all Things' W': BfibolAfe
** ncw.'Y^; That is, they are fo ftr-'^«tebi|4^,,;
out of this World, as to have thiir Heahl^p'*
Affcd^ions fet on Things above j and theicftwe*
uuu> t«*yitt«y remain in this WorJdit
%aEJag about a Body of Sia and
«*"
■:WtJ
ft Cot, $. ly.
.^^ft£l
li-'u
i-^t
1 . . 'ft
-- u.
fi6~ *f
{ 129 )
which Means, they are fanftified but in Part,
and cxpofed to many Snares ; yet they have not
their Life and Enjoyment in the Things of this
World : for their Lives are hid with Christ ,(tj
tnd therefore they have h^re no continuing City,
but arc as Pilgrims and Strangers fceking a bet-
ex Country, which hath Foundations, whofe
B.uilder and Maker is GoD.fuJ " Fqxcs have
*' Holes, and the Birds of the Air have Nefts
«' (faith the great Redebmir) but the Son of Man
*' hath not where to la^^ his Head.'Y'f; Not on-
ly that Partiular Body of Christ, that was on
£arth Seventeen Hundred Years ago, but like-
wife the Spirit of the Son of Man in the Souls
of all hisChildren hath no Place of|left, or A-
bodcin this World : For" (^hrist did not come
down to this World, to make his People happy
ii» their fallen State, or to mend $c patch up their
Difordercd World, but to redeem them out of
it { and declares himfelf,«f that his ICingdom is
** not of this World, Yw; and therefore, who.
€vcr prefumes to namctheName of Christ, and
M l Li hci Bfelyea Ch rktia m r (altho' they nj^.-
■>iii Oil'
,'*'wji.^i. ^:*'- ■'■■?• «»^»- ?•"•::,
.l^ihdli^SiiML
€€
tt
''^M^
i'$^ac^A}bffii^au^ij^AamiM.Mk^
5^^
in Part,
have not
;s of this
RIST ,(tj
ing City,
ag a bct-
, whofe
ties have
ve Nefts
n of Man
Not on-
t was 01)
3Ut like-
he Souls
t, or A-
lot come
e happy
up their
% out of
gdom is
■e, who-
18 T, and
"#1
(130)
tend to be born again) if their Hcarta and Affec-
tions are not redeemed* but are flill ^tuag. cm
in the Ploafures and Enjoyments of this fallen
World, will unavoidably find themfelves firtrily
deceived, and eternally rained. I do not n^ein^
dear Reader, only thofe, who are going on iA "
carnal Security, Vice *nd Pebaucoeiy, without
any Conftraint or Reludtance j or thofc greedy
Worldlings, like the unfatisfied Mifer, which .
perhaps you may not be guilty of, and fo flatter
yourfelf, with a groundlefs Imagination, thatyou
are a Chriftian, and that your State is good : But
I mean thofe, who have their ConvcrfttioB^
Life and Enjoyment in this WorJd ; wh^ find
the Enjoyment of the TOng of Time and Scnfc
to be their higheft Good.: For the new-born
Soul is redeemetj out of this World, and IflicJC- .
fortf the Food, aqd the Life ?ind EnjoymeW of-
their Souls are not in this World, but in Heitw; ,
and on heavenly Things I their Convcrfatiott 1U1<F
Defires arc fct on things above :««. For whti^/'
" Man's T^eafureis, theiewill his Heart be«l-^ ^
((
i<^jp;l and ^^^trt^-of^tte ^
res
"Heart the Mouth %eaketh."0; , Theiefoit be
•r«;Xuke If. 34. (j,) M«t. la. 3L'
%^t^^^.
'' C^ i'i&".' "**'
dec^i
edf dCi
( 131 )
Reader, refpcfting the Stata
pf your precious and immortal Soul : .you, arc
^ov«r^aaing for a whole Eternity; and if you
Ihould unhappilx build the Hopes of your everlaf.
ting^ Happiqcfs oq the Sand, great would be your
Fall, and irrccoverabl<5 your Lofs. You may
praftife many ExternaJs of Religioji, have ^ome
Conviftionj of Sin, be fometimes much aifefted
phder the MeanS of Qraee; refpin from many .
Vices, and have y6ur animal Spirits lifted up,
«nd foraething trarifported with an Expeftation
•fan Efcape from Mifery to everlafting Joy; yea,
you^may^afs through many Vifions and ftrange
Dreams, and yet never have your. periling Soul
redeemed. Let mc afkyou.the following Quf-
4on. Where do you get your greateft Happincfs,
and enjoy the fwceteft Moments, not only at fome
particular Time and Place, but Days and Hours.
Weeks and Years ; or eyer fince you profcfled to be
a Chriftian ? Is it in ypur Hufbands, your Wives,
ypur Children, your Friends, your Food, your Rai-
ipent, yourfioufes, your Land^, with ailvofthe
aeafuycs^ of this World, and the thingg JJFTime
auJ §enlc71yhich you have, or cjtpea to have: or
irit;in the Enjoyment of Christ, the Vitalsof
•^ - Religion:
"
AJLL^iJaiUaa^
^'^^PlWSSSgl^S
■,-. ^ .»:
1 1'vn'^ 'T-'^
Religion, and a feeling fenfopf Divine Things'
between God an4 your own Soul f P«y do your
precious and immortal Soul Juftice, and do not
give your Qonfcience the tie , and if upon a
dilige^nt and finccre Search, you find it in and af,
ter the former ; then for the Lord's Sake, ind
your own Soul's Sake, do not flatter yourfelf with
the Name of a Chriftian j for that is all you have :
and therefore you may npver cxpeft to fee God's
F4ce \xi Love, qntil a Miracle of Grace is wrought
upon your Heart : For the true Redemption by
Chrift doth not confift in all the Eternals, Promi-
ses, Refolutions Fancies, Dreams or Vifions,
that ever was fccn orl^nowii by air the MenoJ
Earth ; but it is a Redemption of the Soul from
.It's fallen State to Go d, raifing the Dcfires and
Life of the inner Man out of this miferable, finful
Wd belUjd. W4rld, and turning it to Gon, from
whence it is fallen: 4nd thei-efore, cveiy new-
born Soul is daily hungering and thirfting after
Its original- Source, viz, fpiritual and Div^ie
Food; panting after tight and Love, from
which it has been folon^ a n^jfrrah], TVfrrrr,
"TCwhich itis now «tu«ii,g; i«t,5)„fc|^-
.^Soul., being united infepuibly m^Oiii*'
.feri^«
kM
H-^
( »33 )
Jesus Christ, become Mem|;>er9 of his Body.
Therefore how inconfiftant, God difhonouring,
and unfcriptur^Yjz^ is that Soul deftroying Doc-
trine, that denies the final Perfevf ranee of the
Saints, and fends Men to the Covenant. of Works
for to confirm their Salvation. •/
And thus, dear Reader, I have endeavoured
to fhqv?^ yoaihov^ the fallen Man is redeemed from
his fallen Stafie, and rcftored to God ; which if '
you believe, yqu will not look on every one to
he a Chriftian, that is called fo. And as I have
confidered the man thus far redeemed, I (hall now
proceed to ftvow the Nature of Sanftification ;
about which many, have beep fo ignorant as to
cxpofc theM\felves to great Errors : ^ome holding
Jl to be fomething droped into the Soul ^vhich
they call Qrace, that may be loft ; becaufe it is
caft into fo much filth and Polution : others
holding that a Man born again is wholly a per-
feft Man, and without Sin. Now it is evident
that thefe are both as far from the Truth, as the
Eaft from the Weft : Others there be that f^Sai
to be fomething free from thofe unfcriptural Gott*
ce^tlons, imagine that a Man at thcHourofColt^ "
""t '■ ' •' — ■ — '• — '-fr^ '.: , ,«
{k) Rom. 8. 3« j9. Heb. 6, x8. 19- John 6. 3». ' >:
Lok© 10 42. ' \ '
'■^^-;i vcrfiott ■
verfion iias his Soul partly cleanfed^ or iii&Aified ;
and then God continues to cleanfe the ^oul hy^
Degrees, untill the Soul is yrhoUy fanftified.
Now if this were the Cafe then God would nol^^
only Hand united to a Spirit that was part D«-
vilj but another tnconfilfiancy likewife muft aprv
pear, and that is, if fuddcn Death ihould arreft
the Man, his Soul would be torn afunder, .and
and Part Loft ; for no unclean Thing can pof-
fibly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And
if the Man, at Converfion was perfed ; or could
as fome imagine arrive to perfection in this world,
they could iio more be contained here thaft En^
OCH and Elijah ; Pcrfeftion being notHng lefr
than a compleat Salification, and as for their:
falling from God after Converfion ; Christ has
declared they can no inorts be feperatcd from him
than he from his Father/f; Veal the very Na*
tmre of tht Thing fei^dcft it impoffible : For what
s the Cehvorfion b^ Christ chancing, iiid ta^?
king Pofleffion of ith^lntnoft Soul i which is ap
the Time of the t^ange complcaily fan^ified*'
Ato rtow to iR ew thfe Rgafon Why^the Mantho^r^
' if ^
tpttvcrtcd is not wholly faiidifiecj, ortWl$hpilt Si|),
i«Mf«
:«-
^dfl^- John 14. i-)' and 17: aiVJV '
•btSfi -t i-v-f A
fe.
Uis )
I will Foceed, Man in his fallen State '(as has
already* been obfcrvcd, confift* of Body, Soul,
and Spirit, viz. an animal, or Elemental Body,
a fpiritual and immortal Body, and an immortal
Mind, and at t^e hour of Converflon, the Son of
God takes poffeffion of the inmoft Soul, orimmortal
liiind, but leaveth the fallen immortal Uody in its
fallen State- (fiW.CcJ And now when you fee this
Divifion, you may not only underftand how that,
that is bprji of God caiinot fin iCd) but likewife
what isfaid by the infpircdAi>oIlle to the Romans;
I have a Law, faith he, in my Members waring
againft the Law of Mind, (ej Not a Law in his
Mind, againft the Law of the Mind : But of the
Members againft the Mind ; for the Mind can*
not Sin ; bccaufe it is bom of God, and he de-
lights in the "Law of God (fiiith he) affer tl||^
inward Mm.f/) Viz the immortal Mind that
j« redeemed j ahd then he goes on to complain
of this fallen Body of Death, whith he is bur-
dened with j(^^; which rcmainsyet fallen, and
when fpeakmg of tlie fame Body again, faith, he
W^ for its Redcmption.^i&; And thus you
V)«<Mi f. aa. ft]Ro«. 7.24. WRo*. f. S^ '^
m
t-
"K
(■■36)
mix <■« wherein confift, th.t Wirrfare fo often (po.
ken of between the old and new, or carnal & fpi.
rlturi Man. And now what remain, while mortal
L.fe endures, i, the Mortifica.i,n of the old Man
which ir commonly called SanSification , andthii
Mortificadon we may dearly fee i, carried oi by
the Growth of the inmoft Soul, or imiportal Mind,
by which Mei|s i, becomes more than a Match
for the unfanffi/ied Part ; and thereby morUlies, or
keep, under d,e Powers of Corruption that remain.
of he .nmoft Soul confifts in what i, commonly
caUedthc continual A& of Faith: But to fteat
-ec,ofelyonth.N,.ureofthisWork;ti
»"« Soul ; which our LORO himfelf declare, to
bcasa Well of living Waters, fpringing up unto
"erlafti„gLife.ry;ye,,„d.e„.yN„„„„/
>» .ntelligem «,d immortal Spirit, is . Power
of Growth, or Seed of Generation t (not of Num.
b»s«,^but of Capacity) Uertfore it w«,o nothing
b" Room ,0 .a itfeif, („i„ j„ayr^ ^^
< y « 1 1 ill Fo ci , q ■ ■ __r:^ , -:_-K:
;^one Word or two, to thofc happy Follower^! of
the Lamb, who are thirfting, for Holiaefs, and the
Y'l^ioty over Sin. O ifemember the Kingdonj o^
Oob is withih you, and will Work its own Releafe
and gain its own Cdnqueft : if it is not chained
and led into Captivity by the old Mm, and every
Leap it gets, is fo much Growth for Eternity, .&
every| houf it is led captivei or iihprifoned by giv-
ing the old Man Liberty, is ari everlalling Lofs.
Q therefore as you love your own 9ouI, keep un-
der your Body. Yea, faSer the to fay, ftarve the
old Man to Death j for every Thin j that feeds
Or nouriihes that, ftarvei and imprifons the King-
dom of God within you ; that is, obflru£ls the
Growth of the irnnoft Soul. But how fliall I know,
faith oiie, when 1 am feeding the one and itar-
ving theotKer? I anfwer infallibly, when you
are nourifiiinsa Spiritof fdf, and enjoying the
Creature, (in over fo fmall a Degree) you are
fighHng for the old Man ; but when yofl are after
the Spirit of the Lamb, and Enjoyment df the
Creator, yon are %hting for the new and fpi-
ritoal Man. Therefore faith your Lord and ^
Mas I lit,, if y our righ t E y e, or right Arm o i F en d-
yoo, i4uck them off i th©*«v«r fo dcartoyo!|,M»d.
1 ^_ ~ occupy
; occupltill I come. NowT fuppo^e the Qaeftioft
mil .rife, wh|^h h.B parUy been atbated in ont
of the foregoiftg Chapter. : Who, or how many
out of thi. l^lcTi Race, are to be redeemed, or
how many hath God eleded ? To which I .nfwer
again, God doth^clcdt and will fave all ^tt
can pofTiblj be redeemed. F«fr you may remember,
that it hat been fufficicntly proved already, that
the very Nature of God, and his hijh Decree
*mong all his Creature,, is a Freedom of Choice.
and therefore God cannot r*diem thofe, that
^n not be redeemed, or fave them without their '
Confent,
Now, faith one, ft appears to «c .gain, that
you would have me deny Eleftion , ind theft #
what ihall I do with what is «pr,fled by ChriI*
himfelf?" I pray noi, f«th He. for th. WorW, ^k"
•* but for thofe thou haft given me^of the '
«« World.'Y*; And befidcs I thought that^iiji,
tiNo Love would have been ^e evcrlafting Song '*
«f th« Saints. Well, my dear Rcad», I wnfo
ftr (as you ihall fee) from te|i!hifl| |r«m .to d«B^
filcaioa. that I would teyh yon io;Jfa j|i3fc in
.f^'
(fi jolfi ij, 9/
'V',
!..''>
l:;:,y--^-,
. ■.'•'>
■ \ ■'
TTT- .'V, ■
rt,'. ,, ..'
^
'■^
>'"
--f
th6* ftrSngeft Scnfe : Fd*f.y6u may obfcjve, thit
' t2HitiST prayed not'for the World, but forthoie
Ue Father hath ^ivcn him out of the World.
•And let me aik you, who are they, but all that
' 'ivill, aiid can be redeemed out of the World ;
'«»d they fhaU certainly be redeemed, and ftand
as: immoveable by that electing Love as the
tvci-iaftiBg Hills : For if the fallen World was
given to the So;i of God, to redeem all that can
'be red<;emed, and he has undertakenfor that very
^nti > theii farely you may l^ld Eleftion in the
i&ohgeft Senfe, and receive tjiofe Words, which '
yoM mentioned, jull as 4cj^' are expreflcd with
•all their Force. A|«r ^ f'or your thinking, that
.BLECTiNc Love ^uldbe ihe everlafting Song
^ ^ the Saints, I j^ink fo too, my dear Reader,
\«nd am fo far /rom depriving you of that Expcc-
1 ^ti^, .that I would teach you to ftrike a far
. higher NojI on the fame Theme : For the Way
fou cxpedfed tofing this Song, was to blcfs God
for rcde^ag you, when he would not redeem
Whir. J Md fo your Song would be no lefs ex-
^enfive than the charging of the Deity with Par.
liiftft " ^ • -^
V I ,1
^V : «« ittjlead of this I would tpacljyou to
%
'4
(fcrve, thifl
It forthoie
he World,
ut all that
e World }
and Hand
)VE as the
^orld was
II that can
r that very
ion m the
ds, which '
jfled with
iking, that
ing Song
Reader^
at Expeco
-ike a far
the Way
blefs God
>t redeem
> lefs ez-
with Par- -
ck you to
'r'%^
i>y
'40 ) ^ ^fe^k.
«ng tie Wonders of electing I.otWJL
raited, as to deft all that could poffiWy .feed
ted, and determine the Happinefs <tf«|^ §*
tare, that would be happy. But to ctmvmctp^
further, that lam helping you tofmg electino
Love on a higher Key, than what you have be^
taught } let me aflc you the following Qijeftiot*
Suppofe you afad your Brother were both ju%
condemned to DEAxtf; which would give yo«
tiie moll Caufe of Love and GraticUde to your
Pnnce, (who hath it in his Power) hi, granting
-aReprievertoyou both, or elfe only to: you. Jwd
leave your Brother to be executed f Ic^otdcnyr
t " V^' ^^'^^^H. this J»^ ^
«blc, and I am greatly rejoicett to.^car it, ^^ ■
Ihavelonfe imbibed a Notion in' «y.^
fi- what I have been taught, that I i,!^^.
feme iwic»hr M«V Boo„. ,^1.,.,^^
T*':-*.;!
• ■'' A^ ■ M
v/:,
i"^'-
'If-*
'•r
*.
•^^.5^1
j'4.
( 141 )
■rffi^kfliiliG LovB, and clefts ivery one that can
Ife elcfted: Then why is it, that the whole
World is not faved ; or why are fome Men redeem.
•d, when others arc not ? Yotor "Requeft my dear
JReadcr, well deferves Regard, and fhall beanfwer-
•d by nothing lefs than the infallible Word of
GoDj Olid that by way of Parable, as our Lord
wa* wo^t'to fpcak. ' Why faith the great Author
rf<?ur Salvation. When I Went out to offer rb-
SBB^tfiNG Loys to the fallen World, I fowed the
Seed through all the Race of Adam .(^) and thofe
th«t fell by the Way-fidc were carried away by
rl»c FowUof the Air;^<-; thofe tiiat fell among
Stones <lJd Hot gtow for want df Dept of Earth,^^;
Wd tl^ofe Hut fell among the Thorns were fd
Jpjio^cd, :that they did not gro^ffy(t) but where*
^yerkwil received without fuch Incumbrances,
4tiva$ mmiMt nbvrifbed and cherifbed> it took
4«?P Root imd bfought fortb Fruit in Abund-
^^•CfJ I'lWM you may fee, Dear Rea-
^r, that aa^I before declared) it is the Love of
'^ia fftllen Wod«^ raid the being attached to th«
ps prcciout
of yime and Senfe, that^
f*) .. €jr. Tzry. -nfJTWitt. 13. 4- (^O^Klt. 13^^^
(V ««att. I J. 7. {flM*K. 13.8
9^A
i.t
i
■t-f..
■■}^^'>
¥«4
i that can
he whole
» redeem-
: my dear
c anfwer-
Word of
>ur Lord
It Author
)ffer RB-
}wed the
andchofe
away by
[1 among
were (b
: where*
tbranceSj
> it took
Abund-
tr Rea-
Love of
:d to th«
pTccioiiA
i
,%
fU
i H2 ) •
and immortal Souls from being reftored to Qom
You fee, that the carelcfs and fccure Hearers •(^^y-^
the Word were fo negligent, that they let the Fowl^
of the Air jMck up the Seed, fo that they were loftrf
others for fear of Tryals, and to Ihun the Craf<(
rcjcftcd the Word, and thus by refifting the Calls
and flifling th|i|£lnviftions, were loft; while
others were jPpEed with the Love' and Caras
<>f the World, that the Word of God had n<|'
Place in their hearts, aad fo withered away, by
which Means they were likewifc loft ; but tiiere
was one out of four that caft offaliihtir Idols,
heard the Word, and nourifticd the .Spirit of
Conviftions j which brought them to a Se^fa or
^: their loft and hclplcfs Condition s.t^y.^htacal^'
themfe^veson God's Free-Mercy,. /^rcwk -al},
took up the Crofs, and followed CHRur'iuif;.
was redeemed from their fallen State, and «ftpr.
ed to God again. Let me npw^cfcr^yeja jq^| ^
IS faid of profane Esau. It i, niat faid^^^fc^L . '
never hath ^irth^right, but that l^iW^^l
for what ? Why, for one Mprf^l ofMnh^^fm, i '
was left on Record by Qop tofttf » j> fo|^
i^artimg, through Gtner^tjpwjto.
*< heed (faiA God) let! ma
af\il
■4 ?*t*
^ » <>»»]
r/.
fi '*■'•'■■
v;
( H3 )
'*» BitterncfaVpringing up. or profane Perfon like
'* Esau, who for one Morfel of Meat fold his
Birth-right, and ye know how that afterward,
'' when he Would have inherited the Bleffing, he
« was rejefred and found no4>lace for Repentance,
" altho' he fought jt carefully with tcara/^/
s Agaiji yourtmember, that the Man with one Ta-
. leiit was not condemned, becaufe he had none;
hilt becai^fe He did not improve it. And r^ow my
dear Re«der, I^uft your Mind muft be releaftd
inthisMiSkr, Once it has been fo evidently dc-
^di^ /by God himfelf : I am faith one, fo far
X^°^*^'^^ *^^' ^ will readily acknowledge, that
th^ whole R^afon, why fo many fall Ihort of Sal-
▼?;tion, is, becaufe they arei fo choakcd with the
'hings of Time and Senfe, that lull their Con-
{fcicncc, and rejeftthe Spirit of God; bqt yet I
mnot fee the Reafon, why fome are more choak-
cd with Thorns than others, or why they are fo
niuch more attached^to the Things of Time and
Senfe, as to tie t^ down from Redemption;
while others arcfct at Liberty, and are Tedcenicd
.^cptingit be, becaufe that Goo doth notchufe
iggV^ fh i ^n uib great ^iMcafufe of ht« compdHng
- ^.'fflWet.ia. i6. 17.
Spirit . '
' \.
Im
w
f^
: -•*.^^
'"'\J
i' ^
" Spirit, as he gives the others, (as I have beeE^
taught.) Well, mjr dear Reader, fufter me lirft
to ihow you the Impoffibility of any Truth,
in what you fay, you have been taught j and that,
then we ^yill fee, if there is any Light to be ob-
tained concerning this Matter. You fay,^ you,^
have been taught, 'thitthc Reafon why they vvcri^.^
loft, when others, were redeemed, was only bc-%
caufe that God with-hcld from them that Dc-. ,
grep of CohAc^int, or compelling Spirit, vvhic\
he gave to ;he others. And fo.y|ouJ-We t)eei»j
taught to, charge Qoj) wiUK^i^l||l|ii|iVi{ould' ngr '
be guilty of ydfurfclf; for vrfiAt ^ould you think /-^-f'
if I were to charge you ^Ith the following CNincj "
viz. feeing a Poor ftarving Beggafpafling by your
Door^ (already under as much Mifpry and Diftce(s
as he 'could' bear), when your Servant, ^o ' wa» r'^'H
bidden to invite him in to your Jr^ble, whifperc4'
in your Ear aiM told' you that .yoii had none pravi^
dcd for^him, neither did yo,u jntjend to fcc4 iip *M4? i
you replied tKe Beggar did not kiiow t^at,. ^r'ya^^^^
did not intend that he ever fliould ^ow biityriat
you wasinearncft. Well, bujc-w^'*'^" **" ****^
-%h one, Yorto put mai «~^bi
.». i^fWtt:
f ■*
t H5 ) , '
Princijie'that I have been taught. You have Rca-
ien to be furprifed my dear Reader, for. this is not
only a Conftruftion that I have put oiTthat Print
^¥^; but the Principle, itfelf, when it is only
examined ; for dq you not fay that God waits Year
after Year, on the poor. Sinner, calling him with
his Spirit and Gofpel, when Christ never died
for him; neither does God intend that he fhall
ever tafte one Drop of redeeming Lov^j. And
thus thofe Teaci^ you fpeak of, charge the-
^"•^^ ^VM^ijJfekery, Deceit and Cruehy;
which a ^mk^^^d not be guilty of. And
now my dear Reader f • Whether J fhould be able
^ to offer you any Light or not, in the Matter you
enquired after, would you ftill retain fyjh a Prin-
ciple, that not only againft the plain Word of God
charging the Deitv* with Partiality, but likewife
tliat caftsfuch blafphemous Refleftion upon, him,
^nd nov^yon muftobfervc, dear Reader, that as i
Verel that Js turned Bottom upwards will not
'wcclvc theBLain as one that [is not; fo I will
wadily acknowledge, that fome Souls does not
^^^rjh«fome others do, by Reafon of
u
againft It ;BuF yet I weold by no
Mean»
*}^t^,^
( H6 ) ' .'
Means charge this upon the Deity, or fay," that
he withheld any Thing from them as an Aft
in Go I), which would he immediately againft
the exprefs Word orGqo.f&J But a» the very
Nature of the Thing is fuch, as cannot be impof-
ed upon them againft their Will , fo fome by re-
jeaing may .deprive them fclyef of that, which
others may receive and enjoy j and therefore If
there is any Caulc, why fome are more choake4
with Thorns, and tied down to this bc|lial
World, than others, the CaUfe muft certainly be
found in Man, and not in thc'^'llaiuis of God. >
And if there is any Difference in their ftanding
©r Advantages, let me aflc you the following
Qucftion. What is the Caufe of fo great Differ-
ence as there is between an Idiot and an Newton,
which' may come from the fame Womb ; and an-
other Womb brings forth Twins, the one dwf, .:.
dumb aud blind, and the other with the tJfc o^ *"/"
all thefc Senfcs ? I truft you .will i^t ^^«^ ■ -
to fay that God made them fo, or ww^e^^ ^'
^f thofc Diforders : No, faith one," Itclie»cJ||i||V '
Ifuch Things, as well a all other ftocyn|.Sc ^"l.'
T- '
«»
( H7 ) '
and monrtrous Births were occafioned by the
Difordcrs brought into the World by Sin, that
woeful Rebellion againft C^d. Well dear Rea-
tjear, altho' I am not about to fay, that aa Idiot
cannot be redeemed ; yet thus far I would infer
from what you have allowed, viz. Iffuch vifiblc
Diforders are "flKjjed into^ tlie World by Man's
Rebellion and miferable Fall, it is not reafonable
tofuppofe, that if there is not as great or greater
Diforders about the inner Man, which might ren-
der the Confcience of one Man'morc ufelefs than
tliat of the othiT ; yet by the Confufion and dif-
orders of ihofc Elements, which coniUtutes the an-
imal Body, there may furely be fuch Diforders, as
for Tome Men to be more attached to the Enjoy-
ments of this animal World than others j 'yea it is
not very evident, that among ungcncrate Men,
who sire all in purfuit of Happinefs in the Things
of Time and Senfi:, fbmc are in purfuit of it one
Way, and fome another ; fome arc attached to
one Thirig^ and fome to another ; fome whofc
God B their Go\d,(iJ and othA-s whofe God is
Uieir Belly ;(k) fome are wholi J captivated with
;y
V!
W Matt. ,9. «. P(^.. 7. •(,) Ephe. 3. V9.-
..S-'^
■^i.rx..;'
, ( H8 )
t^ Pride of Life ; fomc with the Lufts of tJ»c
Fle/h { and others employ every Facility of Body
and IVIin4 in Purfuit of the vain Applaufes of Mor-
tals: Yea have you not feen the Mifcr's Han4s
trembling with old Age ; and grafping of Money
at the fame Time ? And now, mysdcar Reader,
you need not wonder, why one is more choafced
with Thorns than another; efpecially when' you
confider, that the Indulgence of any flefhly Lull
increafcs the Thirft, and ftrengthens the Chains,
that ties them down to this animal World. ' And
you may like wife remember, that as foon as Man ,
had fallen and ruined the new-made World, God
immediately informs him, that thcfe Thorns and
Thiftles wouhPbegin to jtowj^ and which we
find by woefull Experience has choaked Tjfoufands
of precious a^d immorul Souls from the Bread of
Life, And oije Thing more, I would obfcrvc, in
reference to the Matter now in Difpnte, namtly»
why fome arc more cliiC^ke^ with thofe Thorns
than others i that ij, jN3|i|pit confider thik .th^ ^-
Nature of Man is fo cdtep^: to the Nature 'iC-;
God, that when the Spirit df^ttia isrftrmng wjtjl
T > I
(/) Gen. I. 1 8.
r> T»— — w
-• «"4* /
kr i «*,_
)■
'4 \ y
."/
( »49.)
the Creature, It will certainly cither harden or
foften } and therefore, if this Spirit is rejedcd, it
hw a Natural Tendency to harden the Creature,
and fcal them down to eternal Perdition : And the
, more this Spirit is rejcacd, the deeper Root thofe
Thorns and Thiftlcs do get. Therefore, faith
God :" If yc will hear my Voice, harden not
** your Hearts. 'Y//;; So that there is no Occa-
fion to chnrge the Caufe of this Hardnefs (as many
do) upon God j for by rejcfting the only pof-
fible^Way, that God could find out to reflore
them, it naturally tends to harden them and chain
4 thepi dowH with ilronger Chains ta eternal Per-
dition : But when confented to, nouriOicd and
chfnihcd, it fhcws-fhe Creature more and more
the Vanity of aU Things in this fallen World •
hy which Means thofe^ Thorns are rooted out,'
and brings them to a feeling Senfe of their State
apd Handing, , ^nd the miferable Condition in
which they are in ; until! {\ convinced of Help
and happiBef, failing from every Quarter, that
they will try no longer in the fallen World for
Happi^fs , but caft themfelves, with all their
(«)Heb,2. 7. 8.
Corccrns
■■^s^^F^^?*"
harden or
ejeftcd, it
Creature,
; And the
loot thofe
ore, faith
irden not
no Occa-
(as many
Jiily pof-
:o rellore
md chain
•nal Per-
hcd and
ind more
World ;
ted out,
eir State
iticn in
of Help
er, that
orld for
II their
Concerns, as poor and helplefi on the great
Redeemer, who has long been waiting for to ,
redeem them froni their fallen State ; for fo much
as their Minds are emptied of this world fo much
the more they are panting after another^ ^nd "
thus, dear Reader, I have endcavo.urcd to
flievt you, that inilead of believing, "(as niany,
do) that th^ Reafon why fo ,many are foftj^
is only becaufe God did not choofe to eleft
and. fave them j or that he rather chofe to
leavt them to perifli ; wheti He might as Mrell ,
have favcd them, if he would. Inftcad of #hiclr,
I fty, I do not only believe j but have fuffici- '
ently proved, that God doth* ycfl» that his very
Nature and high Decrees are fuch, as to delight
to do good unto all his Creatures^ and ftows of ^
hi* Love and GSodnefs" to all that will receiv«
it: By which Means cveiy Soul, that could pof»
fiMy be redeemed, was given to the S<mi j «n<lr.
is redeemed, and held unmoveable in hiiii,, ^hf
the ftrongeft Ties of electino 1iOV« j A^icl^nf
the Reafon, why thofe, that ai« bft, aft ttQtWfc ^,
^mcd, is not becaufe that God deli|lkte^.iii^
■ ■ , ■ • • . ' ' >- , .'. -*4V '
si
f;^v^':
^^i^' I
their Milqiy, or by any Ncgbdt hi (Jod, God
forbid ; but is occafioncd by tJic Will of the Cre-
aturfri, which, inftead of confetitinj to redeem-
ING LovB, rcjefts it ; and therefore cannot pof-
fibly be redeemed : and that Men and Devils that
•re miferablc arc not only the Author of their own
Mifery; but that againft the Will of God, the
Ntture of God, and the moft endearing E^pref-
.^ fionsofhisfovc. And if this is theCafb, as can-
;■ / not be denied, well might the Lord, who had
: A)ne f that could poffibly be done to redeem Sin-
new, complain of them, and fay, " Ye will not
^come unto me, that ye might have Life/»;
^An» now confider, my dear Reader, as you
iwft one day be accou«iable for the Truths you
."kave heard, whether or not, the infinite Goi»
Jita not done -every Thing that is neceliary for
TOUT Salvation. Has He iot tajj;en all Objedions,
^4«tt vhat you make of Cnoicdj^^ut of the Way f
y^t'has He not declared himfelf fo far from
tvifluiig; py williiyr your'ljreftruaioii, that He
^mpitumof^ yoy, for j^ot being redeemed, «iid
fordefpifii^gj^f-his GntceP Of.then belw«c,
m
V
Vrs^]
while RuDBBiiiNc Lovi is at your Door, and
do not ruin your precious and' immortal Soul ,
fince God has been at fo vaft ^^xpeiice to
redeem it. And l charge yo<|^^fe Nimc
of the Lord Jesus Christ, j^^j/^p^ not
build up Walls of Separation I^^^Rd and
your own Souls, and then chargc^^vith the
Caufe of your Dj^ftruftion : Nay. take heed, that
you do not harbour any hard Thoughts of GoD> ' '
or of his Dealings with you j for fucfe Thoughts • •'•'
are as Polfon to your Soul, as Ratfbanc for yonh
Body i and it is what the Devil will, if po/RbJe;
infufe into your Minds, and W giving vyay, to^^^iJ
fuch Thoughts has been the Ruin of m%,
reft no longer in your fallen State, fin-.-your J
ger is inexpreffible? Fly therefore, % to the
4rms of Redeeming Love, for ill Thiitoa;.t,e
ready to receive you.^<,; ^ ^c <:pi|vi^^ij3^'f|^
God has neither, had PleafurCj , nor l>^|Bt^^^^
your Damnation ; biit being 4 infini^i^jigi
Jhis given his own Son to rcdeent.^^^^^^ * ■
)rottr own Hell, and iiOf« ^jtii:|05^^|i^
"l^affioa vvaits at ywir Odbi^si
%uj^r Soul's SAKe to conlcnTto
'te-si,
/ -^t
•yS^
^
'Cji^
.ast'
I*f
Charm. ,,,,,„4p^^^^^^^^^^.^^^^^^^^^
^-verlamng.Goodncrstoyou. O let .e i„.
-eat you. notto reprobate youHdf by rcj.a^^^
'7"^^"°^--But.ccn.u,o;ccelv!
It, that your growing, and In^mortal Mind may
be reftored ba^ into that infinite Goo from
whence you are fallen,- and iorever adore him
for What he is iin Himfelf.
CHAPTER Vir.
'urul Gifts, nvitball the Jjpjlance o/Man^Ul
^ot p.ake a Man of God. or Ambassador ./
HRlSJ. ^
'^ Sihave thus far bUn taking a Viewof Maii^s
•* FtJ}, hisd^ph^jfble State by his Fall, aiid hi.
glorious Recovery by Christ; I fhall now take
fomeNotfceofthePlanandDifciplineofCHRisTV^
^iblc fiSngdom, efpecially of his Mik»thr,
^r^^ut firfl endeavour to ihcw, who a«
*»ot His, and what will not make anAM.AssA-
»«^ of CHR|8*i> 4
l^ .
\ ,....■'• "*'Jlt ■■>>'
i.&7
IS EVERLAS-
g'lt manifeft
' let me in-
t>y rcj€6ling
; O receive
Mind may
God from
adore him
Man luill
SADOR of
an's
of Mi
t ahdhii
now take
Christ's
MUTERS
vho are
1BASSA.
}tabdat
f .»i4 )
,.'''"''/"'"«'« ^' -*« P"P« Place (« ftaU
Wafer be made „a„if.ft, b« .^.j^ ,
1 I't,^"*""^ ^™» Heaven, ha, already
been tJij Means ofiareelv r„„,j- :, , ^
nS^eCaufe of Anti-Chrift, and the fatal Ln
-d,mn,o„alSouk. „-hichGo»ofhi/Mniec
Mercy gr^t „,, ,,,^0, and which, by Hi. Afflftl
»nce,I,„,end.obearaTei.i„,„„y,3.i„ftj4
this mortal Life. . 1*
FiRST. earthly Dignity.' theEfleem of M,n\
or a cortpicuons Station in the World will fl,,\
make a Man of Gob; for if ft „o„id^ thenPa.^"
RAOH. Ah.., P.L.T.,HB,„n and N.„ ^^jj
»11 have been Men of Goo. Neithe^ willh«„,„'
• Leammgor the Art of Philofopfiy «^ii^y^
Of God, for then Socx.s. C.c..o, .»d dl
Ac Heathen Philofophers would have, b.^' M«
ofGon. Neither will .n outward SJ.«W ofl^.,
27' T' «.oft clofe Conformity toExterS
- - """'^''""«"' "k«cn..i«ed theI*p,or
•' ■ -^ -. .■ 1 • ■, 1 •- '
vl
^
^■t
«v
n
''h-
■■#"
n
%
Gloky, would all have beca Men of God: And
Sa»l when {Jerfecuting. tjie Church//^ would
have beeh a Mm of God. Neither can any Li-
ccnchftom, or Impofitidh of Hands by any So-
cictj^ of Men, Minifters, Bifliops or the Pope him-
fclf make a Man of God j for if it would, then
tlic t»ope with his Cardinals, Bifhdps and Friari
are all Men of God, or AmbaiTadors of CHRiar j
for they a^e all brought ih by tHe moft exaft Or-
der of Men. Now all thefe Qualifications are
fo far from making them the Men of God, or
Ambassadors of Christ; that it has «ot helped
them one Step out of the Gall of Bitternefs and
Bonds of Iniquity: They are yetatfenmity with
both Christ and hi. dosPHL, and are porting the
downward Road to. eternal Perdi^. ^„d ^^^ ^^,
gard to their being qualified toprich the Gofpel
,the ^reat Gofpel Lawgiver has put this Aiatter be'
yondanyRoom formach Difpute, when he de-
aares ^em to be Men of Belial, the Children of
tne Oml,tind Advocates for his Caufe.^^ J ^ut 6
*i?sr
>■
•s..
'*!--•■*.<
are qualified by human AffiftgnCe; but likewifc f
TCitly imagine, that forae particular ^en have
11 Power to authoring others ? And^h€ffefbrc iome,
when they have got a good Living %y thci^'prc-
tended MifEon (dr, a«may be faid, bjr malting*
Silver Shrines,fr; land imagine thc^ have got fo
much afor«hand in the Worldt that they may af. •
ford to live without Work, they^will hire one ac
* cheap Rate to pi-each for them, ai^^o they let
out (what they .call) the Gofpel, as a Truckman
dofes his old Horfe: And this is don.e in a Land
«f Light among thofe, who are called Chriftians.
O aftonilhing f What real Chriftian can forbear
to Ihed a Tear over their poor FeUovr-Nfortals,
tha^re thus led blindfold by fuch Wretchcs'down^
to mil ! O that God would haften 6n thcTim«|
when the Beaft, and the falfe Pwphat (hall reign
lio.morc, and Babylon, that Whore of ilte'W«ia», ^
that has crept fb faft into our Protcftdit Cfiuret&s^;^;i- '
fliall be caft as a Mill .Stone into the S«i;^Mjhii*|P
more to rife. What Chriftiw, can- e^eJ -fi^-^g^
nighted, as to imaginCi that tlicutt!^ '
Riches of theEverlaftih^ Gofpd.^iik^^l
'l&Llstr
'*M
I* -
«K -^
oil of Souls could ever be fo hjinded about, and
tradctl upon by the poor helplcfs Sons of lAcn |
I will now hear what is faid by Luther on
this Point, v'lt. WlJcther or not human Affilhnce
vfrill make a Man of Ood ? Why faith he, " If
« is ait Error to {siy, that a Man cannot be aPi-
** vinebut through Aristotle. Nay, faith he,
'*' a Miti eaunot be a Divine, except he becojne
" one without Aristotle." And again faith he,
" A Man becomes a Divine by living, by dying
*' and by being damned, (to wit in his own Senfc)
/•ndnofby ftudying, reading or fpeculating."
And W. Dell, faith, « Let all true Chriftians
*• be advifed, that human learning is fo far from
*' fitting Men for the Gofpcl and the MIniffr/,
" thereof; that indeed there is nothing in greater
'* Enmity to Chri»t crucified, nor more cori^
V trary to the Word of the Crofs, thsin that, yea
'V nothing in all the World hath been fuch an
*' Introducer , Favourer, Supporter, and Enltrger
". of Antichrift's Kingdom, as human Rcgfon,
" Learning and Philofophy."
. A»D th^far, dear Reader, I have endetitour-
=To«r^5wTSp!ibTc It is KT^^
^.,be ma<ie a Minifter of Christ by hiiiiaa
I
'^■*<!!>
-^'/i'^lu / *^i
( i5« )
! V
}out, ane{
of Men i
7THER on
Affilbnce
h he, " It
)t be a,Di-
, faith he,
ic become
I faith he»
, by (lying
ivn Senfc)
culating."
Chriiliang
) far from
Miniffry.
in greater
iiorc cQii'
that, yea
fuch an
i Enltrger
Regfon,
or 9 jM[an
Affiftance : Yet tte greateft Part of Uic WorKl
cxppcls them no^ptimr Way. But I Ihall now
pafs on to confiJer another Point imcb. difputed,
even am:)ng thofe; who will prefume to puU th,cm-
felves Chriftians viz. Whether or not^ it is ab
folufely neceflary for' a'Man to be a converted
Man, 'to be qualified, for the Work of the JMiiKis^
try. And as it is ioapoifible touoiyviQce « Hiu^.
Man of the Diifcrcnce of Coloi^rs, £b it i« next tp
inipolfiblc to convince a Man, Uxat is 4ead ip^
TrefpafTcs and Sins («ltho* he may profefs to be
a Chriitlan, and be a very good llri^ JJpnUift)
of the Impoflibiljty of an unconverted Man -being
a Miniftcrof Christ, and qualified to prcgc^ .
*hc everlaftii^g ^o^^*^- Yet J dow^ ■»<Jt* bwt
I Ihall have Ao«j»6 bpth to the. Judgment «i?d
Approbation of thofc'Heavfiu-b.(iC'S<i^,r;^^t tbuje
experimentally known a Work of .d}gihfi iGcMce
-upon their Heart, and by a vital iijni<|p|0't^
LpitD Jesus Christ, have cxyosyt»d, xh«^i2«w|- ,
munication df divine Light anp towfg^'^v ^^j^
Is it poiliblefbr aChriaian, who J«4<|^|(^.-
^Light and Liberty^of. tfap Go/pd.]B»r.hdbKr-i
^falfen Spirir,/that:b eirt «ff^frqm??^WkU^
:^iBiip3 a Spirit of Dartoefs/is any ^$^'u«« -
^-
-;4
•^1iiie4. f preach til|ipofpeig^ich' t
■-. Enmity aga^nlW|^^1^How din|
are/at
V t*^'
>';^
K
Whatctn be moijc indj|}ri|||nt tl
^aniia^^'fenmity with God *aii§ali
ir a Servant of Qod, .^d iit
^P Kingdom of Christ, 'feich is
i finill&ivine ; when God himfelfsijclaras
^i^KWttefMjjfteriesof theGoip<;lis to ihern%)liih.
^g>cis.^ ;Ther«fore it is as evident, that|i un-
inverted Man cannot preach the Gpfp^ as
Darknefs cannot give Light j or Ice make a^JVIan
warm. But foinc will fay-; an unconverted Man
ftiay feem to be Orthodox, may preach good ""
Doftrine, . yea he Way niake ufevof the fame
Wdrds tbat another does, and then why ;nay I^e
not be«8 ufeful, and do as much good, aliho' 'he
iiimftlf mhy be a caft away ? To which I an-
swer, for the fame Reafon that a Loaf of'Bread
painted o.n Canvas will not fatlsfy a hungry Man,
or a painted Horfe do toxide. Yea the
Peter himfclf made ufe of a ,moft ftrikinj
JP*"^<>n »»|^er tojour Requeft„ HK^^m-^Q
^^^MKm htY cannot feg^^ rf^nfflBl P i | i
%-..
(iJ>Ro:n. 8: 7. r>/i.Con^. ,4.
A'.
X^ '
k. I
MtrMi
1>
)D •■and all
[>, ,frid iit
Ifhich is
■ted Mau
aCrh good
the fame
altho* •he
ich I an-
of Bread
gryMan,
••^Cawie of Christ: For the fa«e RMfort, falOi
"pe, thai a Well without Water i« good for no-.
;^,^«^ tiiing/«^ Now would any Man.prefume to con-
':.^| tradidt the Word of God, and fay chat a Well
without VifaS'r would ferye a tliiflly man as well
as one with. It iartrue a Man without Grace
ipay be al^Ic to deliver found Words^ and elcg-,
ant Diifcourfcs, and fo agreeable to the Let-
ter of the Word, that you cannot accufe him •£"
preaching falfe Do«^rine (and fo may the Dcr
\il) but that is not preaching the Gofjje^ For
tl^ Letter of the Woi:d, and the Gorpel^re t\to
Things The infpired , ^Apoftle .feith." If our
*.' Qofpcl'be hid, it is hid to tl\em that are
*' Ip^^f'vJ, No^itis evident thjtt.he did not ,
me^ti the lictter ot thb Word j for that is no^ .
hid ever; f^-pm the Infidels ; aod,there are man)^ in
the Wpr\d, who have fo much of the Letter ef
the Word in their Head?, that they arc almoft
a living Concprdajt^cej^nd V^kfiftjr be loll to ail"
Eternity for t^^w ant of the ^of^i The S au-
DUCES th4t" came tg the Lord, to t^pt ii(ini,
very ready with the Letter. oC^mlpiroffav -
^i
i-'K-4
were
(u) 2P«» 2, 17,
*~f4
'»4|^XJ4,^.,
ym
-■■■> ». 'V "*»'?!■•* ■/. ^ . t-
I^K^i^;
^iJUMMitii,^
and yet he tells" them, yc do greatly err, mz
i«owmg the Scripture, ^w^
Wbll, but I am Airprizcd, faith one, for this
is fomething new to m<j ; for I imagined, that
if a Man could get fuch a Knowledge in the V/ord
of God, he would not only be fare of Solva-
tion hirafelfn but be qualified to teach others
the Way of Life and Salvation. . True, dear Rea-
der, if he has got the Word of 'God in his Heart :
But you mtift know, that a Man may get his
.Head full of the Letter of the Word, and his
Heart never touched with the Spirit of the Word ;
therefore if you would underftand what is meant
■by the Gofpel, you mull uildcrftand fomething
more than the Letter : For the Letter kWl^l
but" the Spirit giveth Lifc.fxJ The Gofpel is
the Voice of the Spirit of God ; and therefore
it is faid blelTcd are they that know the joyful
Sound.fyJ And again Goi> declares it is the
^owcrofGoD, unto Salvation :fzj And Christ
£^y«, it is that Voice which the Dead ihalli^eaf
and hew, fo zkt9 IWe.faJ And how thiiA^JKi
yon injagine» that an unconverted Man cai^'
j^ats
■SBiMB
wmm
- ft; X Cv. I. iS .nd 34. (a) John 5. aj. .
■■■ f
!.•"«<> •.--7 4"-^-
( i52 )
the Gof2>er, when the Gofpc! it nothing eire,.
but the Voice of Christ : And what can they
lay or do, when t^cy never knew the'Gofpel
on their own Souls ? The Word declares, they
waft firft be made Partakers themfelves i(b) antl
the Apoftle, when fpeaking of th^s Matter, faith,
knowing, the Terrors of the Lord, we pcrfaade
Men/f^ But what can a Man fay, that nevdr
knew but only heard of them. Again faith the
fame Apoftle." The Love of Christ conftrai-
♦• neth us.'Y<J But what muft they fay, thaf
neither love Christ nor his Ways? Why truly,
if they would not give the Word of God the
•Lie ;(e) they would acknowledge and fay, that
the Love of lUc Fleece conllrained them to db
what they do. Again, the Work of the Minis-
ters of Christ is^togo forth with the Offers
of Reconciliation to their Fellow- Mortali.. And
ho^^ can they poffibly preach up this Reconcilia-
tion, when thv^ ■ thsaifelves never Icnew what
it was to be reconciled to God ? For they re"-
main.^|j5 of CHRis^and the Word plainjy dcn ''
clarea, that GppJgQf Christ is a - ^^ '
2. Tim. 2. r»r (t;.». Cor. r. It, (,/; 2. C^, ^.'lA .
if) Mic. 3. u.
FiWk
t
bT. tHWy;
f^1<(f) ^[«y it is notonJy inconfiilent^ and
prcjadip.,! ,0 th. V ^^MH^ ^ j ls,^„,fo4irep.
tly againft the plain Word of God, tkat I have
often been furpri zed to hear Men (and ioir^z who
profefs to be Chriftians) plead fo-mqch for it?".
Vix. that lingoj] verted Men niight preach the
GofpcJ. For I mould Mjiagine, if thej had 1^0-
thing but a Profeffion, aiid werd utter Strar}gcrs
tdiahc fpirituaj Mea'nin^of the Word, they might
ui^dcrftand* the Letter .hor what can be mqj|.
•plainly exprefTcd in the tetter than this very M^
«i|^ M<;5hinl^s the aforementioned Apollle i<i his
%ifU«^to the Hebrews h?s carrie4 it almoft be-
yond aiiy Rpora f(^r Difpute/^; He doth not':^
#
' ■ '^r'
fAy^ that God H^h%iy Objeaiqms againft' their
•^^'^'^'^W^^^^^^ o'that ^c ^s not. willing
t% fhapr preach bccaufc He (lifce fome ajjwt/ry,
f ^"c« -I^^Jj's Commlffions and ^its of Hyn-
or) inteniS^ Privilege %omc.c)tM Me^that J
he has »5r«^^^^^^^iag|%^^h
fliall they pwach yjrifl^hac^ to" It life
.>o'*^ ?^| -^^pn^fkc^ar they fhaJl pVeach
~^* ornot, for*the' ve^ Nature of the Thing ends
"-fr ^^^P".te '. For :1io\v can tlify y^^c^
Cf) Hftb. a. i?; (5) Rom. 10. 15.
f
((
' how ..-^
«* haw b it polSble for them to preach when it
" is A Matter that they are not only Strangers
** to f/jj but Ignemics- againit//; If they, can
'^.preacl^ the Gofpd, why don't they, do it ^
," Why do they go about with npthing but the
*' Letter wjthout the Gofj)el ?** And God
knffls|ing the Damage iheywou Id do by atteain-
ting it,, has ftnftly forbiddep their being ^recei-
ved into his Sanftary/i; But fome who love
Letter better than the Spirit of the .Gofpel>
e fo foad of un<;onvertcd Preachers, wfll ob-
' ^*^*^ %t^*y* ^^^^ Judas preached the Gofpcl.
To .Mini I anfwer that if they have any. Ac*
count of Jt^A^ preaching the Gofpel, it muft
be in the^AJ<;oran(>r fome profane Hiftory, which
I have never read, for there is no fuch Accdimt
in the Word of God. It is true he Was called^
and fo were many others, that arc now in Hell,
who rejecleS the Calls and Offers of Life.al Jud;^
did: for Judas had the offer ofthf fame Stfe
vation, as th«,-0ther Diibiples and a DifpextUtim
of ihe Gofpel i> but when the other JOi^plSUlM^
ccpted the offer, and forfook all to follow Oh*1«
I i~' i I w iiftSii^
',>(*) 1. Cor. ». 14.. [{} Rom. 8. j. jit] ' giM itt $.- ' ' ^M
^v^'
J^-
,^1-A ) t: df ^V
not •nly externa]! jr, but with all the; Heart and^
Soul, he would not; but rather chofe to hug
the World, and fo went about with Christ only
•s an external I)ifciple : For it is beyond kll Dif-
pute, that the Love of the World was his chief
Delight ftill, and whilt the other Bifciples were
rejoicing to proclaim the cverlafting Gofpcl to
their Fellow Mortals, au4 regarded no Trials ia
the Way, fo that they nvght..but. win Souls to
Christ, he was contriving wftich way to get
thVinoft Money (I).
But fome may objeft a^galri and fay, that when
Christ fent out his Difciples two by two, Judas
was fent v/irh them. To which I anfwer, Chi^t
^d i^ottellhimi that if h« would n^>t follow him
with his Heart, he i^ould not with, his ^cidf^
neither doth He in thefe Days : If he did^ I Mr
many of our Church-Members mull abfcond. The
Lord had many external Difciples in thofe Days,
;beHdcs JuDA^j and was fo far from telling them
tkat they ihould not follow him with their Bodies,
unleft they 4id with their Hearts, that He fejmed
grieved when they .tamed hack and Walked no
/
TW7Pri2777
more
%t
■ ''■' i't^X-f^
•.i'Mi
i.t66 f
more with H'm.fmJ , And therefore ilV whci; ihb
.' Lord fent outhw otMr Difcij^es two by two, "Htf
g«vc Judas the Offer igain, and lie . refund, "cHuf.
ii^g-rafhisrto^ carry the Bag, than ito acccf^t of
Grace and a liiTpcnfation of the GofpeJ, then the
jcfs i^'hisJaiW your) Plea, and the jftroiger my
Argi^eit^. XE,is|ru^|JuD Ay, carried the Bag-v^hith
' J. readiJy'a<^kndWledge^iy UBcpnvci-tcd Man may
■do, and may be as mucfi -offended, v^hcn-a little
tempera^ Intel-eft pafles by their Bag or Salary, w
he was, when h« faw' % fmall .Bosf of- Ointment"
pafa by hi« Bag,|r»> and thought, becaufehe diA
not,.S«t it, it was Wholly wafted j and after all.
tiie Pretenfionshe made, or any others may make,
about preaching the Gofpcj, I find tikt he fold hi«
iXord and.Maaer, Goipelaiid tU for-Thit^
l*icps.of Silver :(^/whiciilh*ivfrlte^
many other ttnconvertid MmhXH^^, . Aiad^a
^or h« being chofcn or appf»inted by GitiLfsx doth-
not in the leaft demonftrate hii preachitig tb^^CUf*
Tptl, or being qualified for" ^
think it is very evident^ thah
''*
M. Jfiia 4.=i&._^^ 4«)^9ht
a*i. iS»
.ii .^
peatedly
*sl
Li^'^,
«v
;*•
Peatedly tdukd and rejcfted- thc^Grticc "of God,
; Jxad willfully dcfpifed Ckaisr and all his Be«e-
. fits, he Vas then j«ftly given np to that mifferabl^. ,
E«a. And thus I think it hath been fufficienUy
proved how far Judas was called, how far he -wae
^tfaJificd to preath the Gofpcl, without faving
Grace, how much good he did in the &ufe of
Christ, aiid the:^feble Period of his Mlniftiy.
J <hvert the .^ir on this Matter, bccaufe l'
tnow it is ^ a lvffl|r,^ihat the Advocates of Anti-
. Chrift make much ufe of, to vindicate their unX,
converted Minillers : But for my own Part I wduld '
- not advife them to be too fond of pleading (ov
unconverted Minifter., becaufe tliat Ju«as vva*
unconverted, left if they ihould follow his Ex-
ample, they might iharejn his uahippy Fate ,
^ndl muft acknov^ledge, ttat It apifgars to me fa
Wrom an Example to be followed, that it has
o%n mademetl-emble, looking on it as an a^v-
fol warniag,^ and as an iuilance never to be^*.
gotten; but'V ever to be Ihunned. v -
^Vr fomc perhaps may fay, althoM rcadllv .
J^knowledge, that.. Judas and othe^ un;onvertei ' '
M<» will be caft _ away themMve=
U
•! '
r- ■>.'"?<
e W God,
1 his Bene-
t miftrablc!;^
AjflicienUy
far he 'was
out faving
e Caufe of
Mlniftiy,
bccayfe 1
s of Anti-
their unX,
•t I wduld
iding for , ^J
^i*As vva*
his Ex*
py Fate ;
to me fa
" It has
ah a\v-
readily ^
beiicve, that they may do mucli gooci in the Caufe
of Christ, nevcrthclcfs ; - for gHRisrhlmfelf dc-
declafcs, that they will plead a| the (3^t Day
how they jpropheded, call out DeVils, ^d di»I
mafly .wonderful Works.//; To which I anfy^er,
pH^iSTVfkith, they Will make fUth a Plea, bui
you mult:furely -obferve, my dear Reader, that
^crcis nothing to prove the Truth of What they
plead, but only, their bare fay fo, that they have
dohe fuch Things ; which is the very' Natflre of
theMoralift:,Jror Inftance obfervc the Conduft
^the y.!upg W.in the Gofpel/^; he confid.
r^yg^kr^ th3|>e had kept all the Comitlinds,
^hic)f was aftually^a Falfliooda,and 1 dare fay,
" "^fe^^'^' Chtiilian Will ackriowlegde ihat
•^°''^i>P#e them all ^i^,-; and tlierefore Witli
Regard to the Truth of ^hat thcfc beforementil
oned h4ve dw^rea we muft believe that ,cft^:
they Of Ch*ist have not kept the: Truth; .fjt
Christ hatK declared, that if the blind lead tlii
blirid they Will both fall into the Ditch. {Id doth
''°' *^/^'°%:A4 leader fhalf fall into ^"he
. ^''^.%''' ^^^} the' ptiicr fhall efc«f e^ bdt He (Wtifi
' ■ JLA^- ., iiiiii^ i • I .. - 1* J:_.:-J:-:_:-5l ^ g . '-fc-
h
' •, .they -
^
■ ^
hLs\A
r
• .1
they (hall hoth'-hllOJ A^d .gain H.. Uuh d=.
dared, that tliofe' that run before thejr are fcnt
ftall not profit thePeopk/,; A„d again, U, faith."
H>cre „ no Man ^hich ftall do , Mirack in my
Na»= pan h-ghtly fpeat Eyilof „e,^,; ,.,,,, j,
be oiferwd, that I am not denying thdr bein^
ufeful to the Caufc of Cn.rsr, by God', being
able to bring Good out of Evii , f^ ;„ ,i„,
S=nfe the moft profligate Wretch on Earth vviil
at laa tefoinate to the Giory of Gou. and the
• good of hi, People. I will lifee«,fe. dlow tha.
fome one may be convifted or L,ftra«cd by fon.e-
thmg, which they may do or fay, when they arc
n«.her fent or qualified to preach the Gofpel ;
•either can it be faid, tha.they were Meiienger.
«U..HaidofGo»todowhattheydid,be.
caufe they h,^ no Defign „f doing any Good
foffibty ^e convinced of Sin, and brought to I
'o % .hat would exculpate the Murde„r, o,
"*" °'*°. ''"" "" f commit the Murder for
H'lMm.,s.,i.t,T,.r
C<iavi£(io*
Convidionof the Spcftator; therefore all that
can be faid of his doing any Good, is that God,
who is able to bring. Good out of Evil, Was pleafed
to make ufe of the Conduft of this Man, as a
Glafs, or a finding Obfervation in-the Eyes of^e
SpeAator; vfrhich uf? God is able to make of
the Conduft «f unconverted Minifters. I /hall
now conclude tliis Point by referring my Rea-
der to a few Words more expreifcd by God him-
felf in this Matter. God faith, thofe that turn
manytoRighteoufiiefs fliall ihine as the Star? fqr
ever & ever/«; Now if thefe uncoJiverted Me^,S
may turn miny to Rightco^lhcfi (as fbme pretdndf ' ^
I would afk where it is that they are to Shine ? ^ '
it cannot be in Heaven, for God has declared, ^*
that no unconverted Man ffialUnter in there/*7 ' '
And now my dcarReader, after you have made "^^
a Paufc for a few Moments, and taken, a view
of the World of Mankind, what will you think :^'
Of the greateft Part of thofe that are called the Scr-
vants of the Living God I and the Au9Ai9ADo%i-
of QiRiST ? efpecially when ypii fijid die ^ita.
teft Part^f thofe, oply brought iq by tlic Rules,
.X»l ^"#3. Wjoba^. 3.
SI
■ ^ •
r
n
t
' / ( lyl )
& Orders of Men f And tiien inllcad of |>r<fsichi«g
-U^evurlafting Gofpcl, vrMich Paui. a<clcdi*s is
the Power aijd Sjiirit of the Uving Golj/w; will
entertain you with reading over fome old dry
Leflbn$,inoft of which is' borrowcd.fn>nl Tonic old
> Commentaries or old Sermons that has been read
.^^'Ovc-rforfr, or five times; And thus borrowing or
baying old Papers, trade in them, Sc retail Sc fell
them to poor blindedSoul«,for the eveVIafting Gof-
pel pf tfa^ meek & lovely Jesus.O what a fhockixi-
CoD/Ideratidnf Whofe Heart that has ever felt the
Worth of preclous'and iiftmcwtal Soul* cap forbear
to bleed ? To fe(i whatHavock.4s majle of peri/Iiing
Souls, ami by tWc v/ho pretend td bcf their
Friends, Ad Inftruftors. No Wonder the infir
nite Lover W Souls fo repeatedly denounced futh
Woes on blind Guides. O fly theni, ye that lov^
your own Soul^ or the Souls of othei^ aS from
the concealed Murderers of Souls. orund(fcotetk
Jaws of eternal Perdition. For altho' the)« Jayr
appear fo Orthodox, with Regard to the Letter of
tKeWord, that you cannot flaw their DoMncs
\
ifprtaching
declcitts is
"ttfnvj will
tne old dry
>nl fdnic old
IS been read
rrowing or
retail &: fell
ailing Gof-
a fliockiiig
vex felt the
:ai^ forbear
jfperi/Iiing
ti.be their
r the ihfi.
unccd (ntH
re that lov;c_
*» as from
idifcotttcd
the^ iilajfr
e Letter .of
Doftrlriej
\-
fet.
;m„-;
( »72 )
y^f they have hot the Spirit of Christ thty
^tht»d you to eteraif PcrditiQn :fxj and there-
fore you are commanded of God to Dee frbm them
and forbear to bid them God Speed.f>^ Yea
Paul faith he would to God they were eyen cut
nff-.fxj bHt where you find any one with the
. Spirit of the Gofpch: O deceive ^em as the Voice
of the living God ; for he is with them? and the
BleiHng they may be in his Hand to your Souls ir
beyond all* Expreffion.
. e H A PT E R VlII. \
> -^ .[ .
... A I'TflOM have fufficij^Ttfy provad (to 1
Chj-iftians) in the foregoing Chapter, th»c.
an unconverted M^h cannot he an Ai«bas»ador
, of Christ, yet as the WorTd is fo dark in thp
_ 'I'hings that be of Goir, I IhaJJ o^ce nlore dc
, monftrate thiJ fame by referii>g the Reader to the/
. wlfe^ mA ever to i»e rcmemjiercd Cpn<%it of the
great Gofpel Law-givef, who Wjeil iii^'^^^^^^^
jury that unconvert^i Men had done,, a^ wiii ;
ft H ! 4o to iii Caiif<t and to immof t | | te la '*^^'
f
J..
f.h
Kf,
( '73 )
% .„
„ A
''#t I
ai»ut to lend forth t Man with a Difpcnfation of
his glorious Qofpel (as a Gofpel Precedent for the
lateft GcncMtlOT) no lefs than three Times folemn-
ly €wcRrs him concerning, his Love for God.
« ImreA thou me/' as if he'had faid, " being-
•' aaout te fend you forth on an Errand'^ the
" grcatdft importance, where Jhe Wellfare of pre-
'^ cious and immortal Souls are at' a Stake, I muft
•• examine whether or not, thou haft a Principle
^" of Lave to me and my Gaufe ; for if thou haft
" not, inftead of being ferviceable,. thou wilt be
- prejudidal,^^; therefore, loveft thou mc ?
" Not that I am ignorant of thy Heart, but know.
" ing the ignorance of Mankind in the Things " '
** t^at belong to their everlafting Peace; and the
*• Arguments that my Enemies will hereafter make
" ufe of to introduce Traitors into my Church-
« therrf(,re as an Example and Precedent in my
« S*nauary, artd to awake a folemn Senfe to
" thefc Divine Tniths in thy Mind, lappeal ^
" '^^ ^"^^^"^" '^^ ^W'd Time. Loveft thou
f nie? fxj And thus you may fee both from
Precepts Example, ye, Sc from the ve,y Natur^ ^
a
((
^'"^J»-9. il5/C*rR*Vi.i7.
•■># f f
ifpcnfation of ^
:cdcnt for the
^imes folemn-
ve foF God.
aid, " being*
rrand'''|f the
Ilfare of prc-
3 take, I mull
i a Principle
if thou haft
hou wilt be
thou me ?
, but know-i
the Things '
c ; and the
rcafter make
ny Church;
^cnt in my
III Senfe to
I appeal to
Lovcft thou
both from
cryNaturi?
l|
I
I
(174)
of thS Thing in itfclf, that a.Man muft l?e a Ma^
of Grace, to be z^an of Qod, or Am-eassadoi^
of Christ, viz. a jjgcnerate Man, a M.in with a
new-born Soul, a Man that hath been rcllored to
G0Dfron> nis fallen State, that hath been llain by
the Law ai><l n^adc alive by the Gofpel, and there-
by he knoweth the Ttri^or* of the Law^ the Power
and Swcctnefs of the everjafting GbfpcJ ; he. hath
known a Reconciiiaiion witS Goo, and taftcd the
Wonders of redeeming Lovi ; he hath fek the
cutting Pangs of the New-birth, and hath Chris.t
in him the Hope of Glory jfj»J he hath in him
and with him that Spirit of God^, which is to
lead him into all Truth ifzf he ftands infeperably
united to the Lord Jesus Christ,(^«j and he is
himfelf an Heir of God's everlafting Love.f^^
And thus far lye is prepared to go forth in the
Name of Qod to treat with his Fellow-Mortals,
that are lying; in their Blood under the condemn-
ing Power of Sin : But yet his being a Man of
Grace doth not conclude hi^p to bean Ambassa^
DOR of Christ; fur if it did, then every true
Chriftian wouldvbe a pubjjjc Ambassabor. And
, <:y)C.>l
yf
;.<.,
( 175 )
Ijcre I belie\
mafiy of the fincere Children of
God have ftepped out of the Way, who having a
great Senfeof Divine Things, and a warm ^eal
for the Glory of Goo and the Salvation of Souls,
have imagined, that they were really called from
God to go forth as public Ambassadors, when
they were not qualified for that Office in the
Church of Christ. Nevcrthelefs let it be ob-,
. fervcd, that I would be fo far from obftruajng
their Ufefi^lnefs, that I fhould be rejojced to
find any fincere Chriitian exercifed with fych a
lively Senfe. of divine Things^nd would do all
that was poffibic for^o enooil^c 'the Emprove-
mcnt of their Gifts and Graces, f^t as a Man
may become almoll ufelefs by afpiring after a Sta-
tion, beyond the Liiftits of J^s Gifts and Graces.
I would only obf(?ive the, Command of God/^;
and cfncourage them in the Place and Station, ftff
which God hath defigned them, ' /
If the Loi-d intends a Man for the Miniftry/
/ He" deals with him as a rational Creature, "and
^ therefore qualijics him in fome Degree for \hat
Station, and by his Holy Spirit call, him there.
to, ^^^|ch J jtm «ow to proceed to fpeak upm.
I
*v
\
„X'
(-V, i.Cor. 12. 81. and Rom. I'z. 6, ;. $,
And
V*^ '
;;hildren of
10 having a
warm Zeal
1 of Souls,
railed from
ORS, when
ce in the
it be ob-,
)bfl:rudliog
ejojcecl to
'ith fych a
uld do all
Emprove-
as a Man
fter a Sta-
d Graces,
G0D,ftJ
itign, 6ff
urc,"ajid
for that
HI tkcre-
tk «poii.
/"
i
I
"
\ *
r , • »
Ami npw wkcn I come t^ fpeak of his being caj-
Jed and qualified to thi^Work of the Minilby, I
daie not prefume to limit God in liis calling,
themj eiihjer from the Studerjts at School, ;the.
Men ai the Plpw, the JVIaririers at Sea, or tlic
Herdsmen ai; the Flock, For He calls tl^ejjji.fro9\,
various Callings and different Stations, of Life tA
the Work o£ the Miniftrjt pETBJ^and his Bro-,
th^ were called from the Y\^i^xy.(d) Pavl
from the Feet of (jKUPi\.\\.iy(e) and Amos from
the Flock and. Sycamop^sY/^ Yet this I vyou|d
obferve, that, altfto' God is able to make a dumb
Aft fpcak, yet he doth moft conjmpnly qualify
them in fome Degree, let them be, called fro;n
wfiatfbever Station they may : And it is nj^^ei
that they have fome Degree of. Kujngn, V^ifdpm^
and natural/Qualification ;. neitj^ef cioth.QpD com
'X
monly call them ^vitho^t, nor is^ i; any. )ka)f^cf-
V"
fcntial, whether fuch a Decree as is ntscieiTafy*
be obtained either at the Seats olf Leaming/cfr iw
the Clofet, or among Mechanics, fo that it ij but
acquired. 4|And h^re I would obferve, thjujaltlyjj |
hum^n Wifdom alone vvill by no Means t^^Sl^
( V ) Man . 4. T9 . (r jMi sa. 3 . tf) Airwi i^i^^i't
• ■ I, t •/
■».
T 'V
/
A
( >77 )
a Man for the Miniftry ; yet the greater Degr^
they arc Mafter of (thofe God hath called and
ient forth) the more capable they may be of Dc-
monftratlon, and the more ufeful in their Day.
Bat as for (he Knowledge of the the Tongues, I
ani-'far from "believing that in thefe Days, when
{o little ufe is made of. the Original, even
by thofe, that have it, I fay, I am far from
believing that it is cffentially neceflary, or
that a Map may not be called without them,
ad qualified as clearly and profitably to
the Word, and exhibit the Truths of
Irlafting Gofpel as with them. Yctl wouM
lefpife them, where ever they ma^rjb >ny
good, but I muft acknowledge it appeai^Ttome very
needlefs for a Man to be at too mjich Pains in
Purfuitoftliem, only to attain the Namc^ of a
Collegian. And ic is well obferved, that when
OUT Lord fpeaks of Miniller« conJng in at the right
Door, He doth not fay that the Colleges, Univer-
fities, Bilhops, Priefts or Preibyteries are the Way
«r the Door j but He faith, I am the Way,^^; and
I am the DooT,f^J and whofoever cometh in any
other Way ia a Robber and a Thief//;
(g) John i^\ 6. (A; John lo. ,. o] -John lo."
But
i
jiiijti^
i
( »7« )
BtfT fomc pij^haps will noijvr f«y, that all ex-
traodinafy Calls arc ceafed. and therefore how is
it poflibleVor us to know, who God dalls of
tends to call for the Work of the Miniftry any o/
Way, than by their corning thro' fuch and .„,„
Degrees of Learning', and thro' fuch and fuch Or-
ders of Men, &c. To which I anfwer that if ex-
traordinary Calls as you call them arc ceafed, yet
the Spirit of God hath not ceafed to work with i
the Children of Men } neither is the Spirit of God
«ny more limitted now, than it wa^ Seventeen
Hundred Years ago ; and therefore I have Reafon
to fear, that thdfe Peoj^fe, who make that Objeai-
on, are as ignorarxt of the true Religion, and the
Way of Life and SaKration as Simon M^ovs; for
had they ijnovvn experimentally, what it is to be
called from Death to Lifcvfrom Darknefs to Light
from the Power and Slavery of Sin anVsatan t6
the Liberty of the Gofpcl, and the glorious Privi-
leges of the Son of God. they would not hav6
doubted, whether or^nbt the fame Spirit, that
wrought in them that marvellous Work. :^f^able
whenever he pleafcd to call ^hem to deliver hi«
Word. prca€ liHrf^€o^ermo the Difcharge of
any Duty he faw fit for the Honour of his
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( >79 >
great Name of the Welfare of precioui and
immoual Souls. For it is the Operation
and Teachinjfs of the fame Spirit, which conver-
vcrteth his People, that he has promifed to fend to
Jead his People into al] Truth.flJ But as I have
made fomcthing of a Difgrcflion from the 3ubjedl I
intended to treat upon I muft return to fhew how
God doth call Men to the Work qf the Mi-
niftry.
Now GojD hath various Ways to call his People
to the Difcharge of Duties, but all by the fapic
Spirit, and that with and according to-his Word, *
and.fomt Men may be called more inftantancoufly
than others. Mosis made many Excufes, before
he would confent ;(^/; and the Gdvemors ofls-
RAiL and the Kings of Canw^an oiFered them-
' Selves willingly; (m}sind Paul likewHc faith ««^e
♦* was not difobcdicnt to the heavenly Cal\,^*{"J
«nd Auoi faith, « I was no Prophet, nor tht
V Son of a Prophet, but I was an Herdfman and .
f* a Gatherer of Sycamore-Fruit, and as I follow-
** €d the Flock the Lord God took me and faid
(*) John ,6 3,. WEj^ad; -t. ,. ,,. ,3. (•) Judgc.s.
. 9' ij. {%Ani , A ^.-i au 1 , .-
* "•• .-- c : - " ' unto
%^'*
recious and
Operation
lich convcr-
:d to fend to
ut as I have
le Subjedl I
I fhew how
Qfthe Mir
[ his People
y the fa^nc
i-his Word, »
mtaneoufly
ifcsj before
nors of Is-
fcrcd thcm-
faith«'We
:, nor th«
dfman and .
s I follow*
le and faid
«)Judg«fS.
unto
, ( i«o ) ,
" unto h»e, gtt prophijfy," Now therefore faith
J.C (without any AeambJc,) Hear thou the Word
of the LordY«;. Simon and Andrew left thcip
Fi/hcry and went forth at the Firft Calh And
altho' fome may not be fo, foon and clearly con-
vinced of their being called as others by which
Means they ar^. oficn^tSider great Tr>-als and
TeinpWns. yet fooner or later they a«, brought
ib clearly to i.c thdr Call, that they catf nolon-
gcr withftartd, without contraaing much Guilt
upon their Conference. And here I Aall ehdea- '
vour to difcover fome .Particqlars relating t^their
. Call, while Gop i, moving ^a their Minds by hia
Spirit. *
First, as God Ihewed Moses, when about to
fend him, the afflifted State of hi, Brethren.^/y
fo He ihew, tl^em in an affefting Manner the
deplorable Condition that their poor Fcllow-Mor-
tar. arclh; fo that they can*t but be touched with
a fympathifmg Commifemtion, when feeing thcn>
U» fuch a Condition, lying: in all their Giilt,
under the condemning Power of [Sin poftiag the
downward Road. «id wholly cipofed ^i-tveiy
^ Br eafl Llhey .drai^^te^uggej^^ etcrnit-f^^
. <^^^««'- 3. 7. W Aa.0. 7. ,4. 15- ^6.1^... ^.^'^
diiion
L±bV^Vi.d^M
( i8i )
dition, !?ttd as the Prophet was called to pafs
by them round about and behold their helplcfs.
eondition ;("y; fo they are brought in their Minds
to pafs round about the Slate of poor Sinners, and
view them in their miferable CondiUon, which
*^«°^" ^^c'*" Bowels to yearn over them with Pity :
'And as the Prophet, wiicn afked, whether they
could be redeemed or not, cries out with Words
that exprcffcd kis Pity Tof them, and his longing
dcfire for their Salvation, with an Appeal to the •
Power and Goodncfs of God. f* O Lord God
*' thou knoweft.'Yr; So they feeing the deplor-
able Condition, that Mankind is in, ,re anxioufly y
concerned for their S alyation, and appeal to the
Goodnefs and fower of God, with fuch arden/ jjj^
Groans and longing Defircs. Q Lord God .' thou'*^
knowcft. And again, they being brought to /;?c*
and enjoy fome Thing of that glorious Way of Life
and Salvation, which is' come into the %orld by
the great Redeemer , the Sweetnefs of which
prompts in them a longing defirq to cornmunicat,
the fame to their Fcllow-Men. «< The Love of
Christ, faith Paul, conftraineth us.'* fo that
4fJfeek 3.37. p]««tri77 37
J
to psfs
leJplcfs.
Minds
rs, and
which
I Pity : '
r they
Words
snging
to t}ie .
God
eplor-
ioufly
to the
Thpy'*^^
to f(?e ;
fLife
•Id by
vhich
iicat«
ve of
that
a feeling Senfc of the Love of God conJtriiri,
them to wifh that {>oorftarVing Souls,- that are ilar.
ving and perHhing in their ungencrate State, might
be brought to enjoy thdt Bread of Life, which iS
come down from above. They have been con-
vinced by Experience, ftat tlicre is nothing mare
i-cafonable, nothing more fafe, and nothing more
\ exalted for the prefent and everlafting Hrfppinefs
ofthcperifhing Children of Men, than to em.
brace- the Offers of REDEEMING Love J whicft
makes them long for their Redemption. Again
they are brought to fee fo much of tly Etil, and
Soul deftroying Nature of Sin, thatthey cannot
bear, that their Fellow-mortals ihould be guilty of
dcftroyingthcmfelves and difliohouring their Crc-
ator ; efpcciaily when they fee how Jnuch he has
done for their H.ppinefe, and to redeeitf them
from their miferable fallen State ; and at the faihe
Time feeifrg fo much of the Beauty of Holinefi^
UndhoWrcafonableit is thaf God fhould be fer-
ved, loved and feared by all Mankind make* them
-■J tlmoft impatient, that Me« fhould return to thcfr
l>roper Place and Station, that thc^mayomter
; —~*S-^m their oHginal Source of Ha^^iliefi. A^
f««ng the Shorttiefs of the time Whitji tkey havtf
for
( 183 )
for Rfcpenrance, the innumerable Sna?e» of Death
and HeJl, that they arc every Moment expofcd to,
•»rul having {bme horrible Vi^cws oftheBottomlcls
Gulf ofMifcry, that awaits their unguarded Souls
and the unfpeakabic Worth of Goo's cverlalUng
Love, which they are in Danger of loofing for ever,
almoft crowds them forward beyond themfclves t«
go in the Name of Christ In Hopes to reclaim
thcin before their Eyes are cbrcd in everl ailing
Darfcnefs.
- AcA-iif, feeing the All -Sufficiency of Christ
to favc to the very utmoll all that come unto Gon
by him^.;, beholding the vaft Expcnce he has"
been at to redeem them from eternal Dcftruaion,
and that unbounded Ocean of Love and Grace,'
that floivs through the Mtrits of his Blood : whjch
Difcovcrics together ^^-ith a fmaJl Degree of that '
Spirit «f Love and Pity that once wept ovar^'
pcriih^g Jerusalem^/; awakes in their Souir
incxprcffibic Defircs to go forth in the Name of
God with the Gofpel of Reconciliation, and al-
«ho* they arc at the fame time cxercifcd with a
feeling Scnfc of their own Vilcnefs and Unfitncfs
toJpeaJc in the Name of Chr i st, and tli eirut.
I y^hem
them
fit Heb. 7. 25. [^-]tuk« 19. 41.
ter
. ( i«4 )
ter Ihability of doing any thing iri the CaUfe of*
Christ to the Glory of God and the good of
Souls, as ofthcmfclvcs:^t feeing the Willing-
j ^^s aiid All.fufficlcncy o^CnriisT to go with
I y^hcmi they cannot doubt, but he will,j.go with
' them, ftrengthen their Hands, and encourage their
Hearts to go forth in the High -ways. Hedges and
Ditches to woo and befeech poor perifhing Souls
to come to the Marriage-Supper. They fee that
in their Lord and Mailer all Fiillnefs dwells, and
that in his Strength they can do all things, even
to the removing Mountains and raifing the Dead ;
and at the iame time being under continual Im-
preffion,. of the Divine Spirit, renewing the obliga-
tions which they find themfelves under,to go forth
in the Name of God even to that Degree, that
they dafe notrefufe, neitheir can they refufe wfith-
outcoiltrii&iiig much Guilt upon their ConTcicnce.
Yea to fo great a Degretf are they influenced by
fuch Divine Impreffions and difcovcrtes accom-
panied with the Word of God, that they are ctoiyj*
ftraitted fomctimes to fay with the Apoftle " Ai
** Necelfi^ is laid upon me, and wo unto me if;
-IXpr eadt not tfa? GofpcK 'Yg/" ATid-dro rff
tcr
C«»3 x.Cor. 9. 16,
.*■
i ( 18; )
WW. called by .he SpM. of Go^..^:, it
of P„v.d.,ce .0 .h= P„„fa, „Ta„, ,vho profef. „
''etheAM.„,,„<„3„rcHR,5T, I«„do,.olcr.
!''"":''^«*-"^'-''f-".-i„theBo„e,»ofT!!,
demef. with the following Line,.
_P.«T,let„,e,ftyo„,ye,haeprofcr,,ol,e
tteA«A««„„,softheK.KoofHBAVE», „he.
thcr or n„, you have been experim e„«;;, acquain-
W w„h thofe Truth, iri your own Souls, and if
yott have not, .» I fear many who profefs to be
.he M,»,3TBM of CaatsT, are utter Strangers to
a™, I ftall addrrfa rtyfcif to you in a [„,
Words and in great Plainwfs,
HAvlyoa. niy dear Reader,- no other Million
or Authority to go forth then what you have re-
B'fliop., Prieto. Preftyterian,, Synods or «,y
•AerEceleiUlUcai Authority by th^Ord«i/f _
"^^^^^ J'»» «P«iftentaJly known a Worlc^ ■ ,
'^.
efs to. be
2N, whe-
acquain-
'3 and if
s to be
angers to
a fen'
Mi/Con
itve rc-
;» fifom
or any
Ittsof
Work
( i86 )
-of Divine Grace upon your own Souls ? i^^s th?
Glory of God, and the Welfare of precious and
immortal Soul« bore with fuch Weight hpon your
Mind, that you can call God to Witnefs that you
have been made acquainted w^th tiefe folemn
Truths? Or will not your Confqence witnefs a-
gainft you, & declare that yoi was only animated
by fome fclfilh Views, and that all the Call that
you know of to the Gofpcl. is that you was early
rent to the Seati of Learning, & then as you advan-
ced by Degrees in hujtian Wifdom, you imagined
that you became more &more acquainted with Uic
Gofpcl, and the more qualified to preach, and fo
learned to preach the Gofpel by Rule as a Mccha-
nic learns his Trade, and that after you was thus
qualified, you was examined by thofe you call
great %ine8, who judged you fit for the Work^,
oftheMiniftry, and fo authorifed you to go forth "
in the Name of the Lord, and by thisTimeyou
retdly ima^luc that you arc converted, tho' you
. cannot tell the Time when» and that ym hav<»
ftcafon tobelim hy yoyu ndvttidng in Xfi&yr-
iedge by the Judgement of thqfc tht^n^fa jnej
fw^ and by tlie Numlfcr that attcnAj yoir Pafinb^^
I * *
4>:
ii^that jrou al-c really called of God, and (cat
forth with a Difpcnfatioh of the cv^rlaflingGofpel,
^vhidi if it be the Cafe with you, and this is the
Call and Authority that you are acquainted with,
as I have Rcafon to fear, that there are many,
who know no other Gall, then, you will have no
caufc to fay, that Ijndge'or condemn you, for
you arc alfeidy condemned by your own Gonf^i-
ence and the Word of God. \ I
And thcitfore, my dear Reader, it is Time
for you to begin to look around you, you may
plead your natural Abilities, your great Acquire-
ments, your Authoritjr from thofe you ctll grcrft
Divines, the Number of youf ririfhioners and
great Gongrcgations. But I muft tell you plainly
that all thefe Things, without a Dirine Commif-
fion from Heaven are far Ihort of a fufficient Proof
tRat you are a Minister of Ghkist. O f tbsre.
fore confider your Danger before it is too late, for
if you have all this Time been deceiving your-
fclves and others, you have Reafon to tremble and
look around for Relief: For how (hocking is the-
Thought of pretending to proclaim thatG<^cI
j*rluckyou.yeurft#TeiSam^tha^tmg^
V ;Eacmy againft. O f. That you would iw^il.
dcr the Danger you are in, the Thjiy-y that you
■redoing to precious and immortal Souls, and tht
Jcaloufy of that God, ;whom you have to deal
with. There is a greaf^and awful Day approach-
ing, my dear Friend, when you muft be account-
ai)le at God's impartial Bar for the mm, of
thofc poDr unhappy Souls that you are now lea-
ding blindfolded down to Hell. Wj^gt ^^ ^j
your Salary » or any thing that may animate you,
avail your immortal Soul in a few Daye more ?
Of remember that Goii's all-fearching Eye. is
over you, and that your few flying Moments,
which are now fleeting you into ihe Eternal Worlds
^vinJoon be at a Period. Why will you for the
Af>plaufe of blinded Mortals or a little temporal
IritereJl rifle your precious and immortal Soul on
fuch a Pinnule of Danger in the Jaws o^|pco-
vcirable Ruin ? O f that ye might be co^ced
of the Danger, of .going abdut the World With
a Lie in your right^and, and be brought toll ■
flnctre Repentance before the deftin'd Momiitt \
confes, when, too late, you will know yottr'Xi^if'.,.
take arid for ever rue your Folly." iB«i iaij»|j^ "l ,
,~ ivyj ne . ir%
TTaps think that I am cenforious, o?ri
}'oo i but if the Word of God, nor yimh^m^h^ -- " '\'. ,
• • ■ '. .^r''—- '^'' -"' *""-
N2 > *"fcii
:.:^,
tstr.
i iSg) '
, -.icitfnce do not acculc, you, neither will I, Jj^t
if they are l,oth agtlnll you »hd condemn you.
then do not bl«he me. bccaurc I tell you the
Truth, ajid the Lord Ichoweth I wifli you well.
My Defire «n^ Prayer to God is, that yoiiriSouI
may be faWd in the Day of Christ's app^arin^
' and have many Souls a. S tar, i„ your Crown of
^ rejoicing. But I am not willing that you ftodd
^ >on detfroyingyour ownSoMl and others, t
knoiv that yt»u and I fhall one Day meet,^„d bd
judged atthc fame Tribunal, where nothing will
ftand, but wh« has been tried in the Ballance -
of the Sanduary ; therefore do not flatter your-
felf that becaufc you have baptized many with
Water, and received them into your Churches,
that you hare done fo much for God, qr'that
• yoirhavci been inftnimental in the Conicrfioh
of fo^aily Souls, for yoa* may be ailured, my
dear IfrlcAd, that Cpnvcrfion is fomething more
than tlic Baptifm of Watei^ the PradUce of Ex-
ternals, the Jbijning of Churches, the Sitting down
at the Lo^^d's table, ice. For a ma» may do
all thefc Things, Sc yit remaip as great a Stranger
^e"^HQM£rANs. I'crha^syouraay go toyrwir
"*^, ifc^ Ch«rch
' #-
„-if ^^f
,j^'-
{
i i9« )
Churclior Mcct^g once jw twice « Wedc, .and
^ , dclivor an elegant Difcaurrc , but that you may
dAan^ yet na'cr preach the, Gofpel. Of ^rc,
fore lie Aire that the Gofpcr has raifc<,yoi^ own
SquI from it'j ratl^n^tati/' aud th»t you 'have
been madca^ttaker of |^dȣmino L^vt youiO;
rr]f,Vbeforc yon prcfumq rotccaHcd a Minis.
TER ofCuRisT. or proclaim the Gofpcl to others.
For my ow)i Part I had rather that I never had
3 Being, than to be found leading poor blind Souh
bJindfoldeddown to Hell : And I know that yoi^.
own Soul is ai precious as Mine, and'mu^cxift
\to all Eternity either in the grcatcft Happincfs
or the extremeftififery. ^ly, O f Why wii]
you for a few Days ^f carnal 5«fc and earthly
Enjoyments lie down in ev^lailing Sorrow ? '
JThcDay of Grace is not yet over, your Thread
of Life is yet lengthened out a Moment longer
fpr a Space pf Repentance, and therefore, you
may yet efcape from the Wrath to come, and be •
Aade an Heir of God's evtrlafting Love, > and ,
perhaps mky yet be anlnftniment in tJie H»ii^\
of Gob in bringing prtcious Souls hom«,to a Sa-j '
^^"£',J^i»egn ]d caSccp t cr ^k.y€t^
wards y4h. 'p^ f. toacK^ thcrpforo <oa|lk^i|^||^ - • ,
¥ 'I
t^
( »9i )
fbr ever. The Lord has no Pleafure in your
Deftruaion, but waits to bo gracious unto you»
/ O t that you were wife, 'that you underftood this,
that you would confider your latter End : For
I know the Day cgmeth, that will bum as an
Oven, and all the proud, yet all that do wicked-
ly fhall be as Stubble^'a^ ; and how then will
you be able to ftand, if you fhould be foond a
Murderer of precious and immortal Souls ? O
how cutting is the Thought,, not only to bear the
continual Racks of a guilty Confciencc in keen
.%jpair, with the cutting Refleftions of what you
have irrevocably loft ; but likewifc the Curfes and
cverlafting Upbraidings of thofc poor deluded
Souls led by you blindfolded down to Ruin, to
lie down with you in the Regions of unalterable
^ight. O f that- you could feel that Pity for
youxfelvei, which J'fometimes feel for you, you
WP«*ld reft no longer in fuch unfpeakable Danger,
but would immediately fly to the Arms of Re-
deeming Lqve. O I Sleep no longer in yotr
carnal Security, nor flatter yourfclvcs that all
is well, bccaufe you feci cafy, and bccaufe
W Mpl.
4- I.
you
f/
re m your
i unto you,
r flood thi»,
End : For
burn as an
do wicked-
then vvill
e foand a
Souls ? O
to bear the
:e in keen
f what you
Curfes and
)r deluded
Ruin, to
inalterable
t Pity for
you, you
le Danger,
IS of Re-
cr in your
s that all
d becaiife
neI5
'( »92 )
J^ou can lay down and arife, go out aW
come in without ni\iph Concern upon your
Minds ; for that is not a fufficient Evidence
that your State is good. Neither imagine your^-
felfa Minister of C«ri«t, bccaufe you have
paired through many Rules and Externals ;
' becaufe the World, your People ancJ.Parifkion?
call you fo ; but examine your own Souls by the
Word of God, whether or not Christ hasma^e
you a Minifter of the New Teftement. For al,
tho'^you may be very carlefs in this Matter and
read thefc L"nes with as little Reganl, as^ju
would a Fable, yet be affurcd, mydcar R^eV.
that t]xe everlaftjng Welfare of your precious and
immortal Soul is at Sbkc. O ! therefore 1ooK\
well -to your Ways, and the Lord g^ve you Uni.
derftanding.
And now i have a few Words to thofe happy.
^hofe Hcaven-bom MelTengers of the Lord jEsuk
Christ, that have experimentally known the '
• fore-mentioned Truths, who have not only knowh
>a Work of Divine Grace u^ tlieir Hearts, but
iCiKo of iicavcff to-go t^nrwiih « inpnissr:
>l
you
pnof.hcaoQ,cl<,fP»«,<oBEs^^^,£
i/S^'It.W.. *•
( '93 )
Biellow-Moruls the joyful Newa of rbdbemin4i
Lov E . Fev not O^c Herald« of the G^fpcl tho*
Earth tud Hell are engt^ed againft you ; as they
always were, and always will be agaimil the faith-
ful AuBASSADoas of the Loan; and altho* you
pcet with many Tryals in yonr way (as I prc-
fume to fay you do) both from without and from
within : Yet fear none of thofe Things, which
you n^ay fi^er, but he faithful unto Death, and
3 ^ou fliall receive a Crown of Ufc.fnvJ O
re-
member thofe Soul-Tranfporting Words, which
arc as firm as the everlafting Hills " Lo I am with
*« you," and if Christ be with you, what need
you more ? You are called to an arduous Worlc,
your Strength is Weaknefs and your Light Darlc.
ntfs, but mighty and faithful is He that has called
you, who promifed to fend his Spirit to lead
you into all Truths*; Therefore in Him yoM
can do alj Things ; for in the Lord Jbhovah is
cvcrUPngStrength/jr; And altho' lam of all
Men the moft unworthy to bear his Nanje to the
Gentile World, and havi Reafon to lye iij) the
Pull under « deep Senfc of my Nothingnefs, and
acknowledge w yfelf ihe^lea ft o f all t h e L aboM
r«
■••^W"
(w) R»T. a. 10. («; J«hn i6. 13. {;f)m. a6. 4.
/ eri
*«P3
'ri:
'(194)
«« in Ch»ist»« Vincya«l , yet r cam do no left
than drop > few Words to you by Way of Ad,
vice, and that, I truft with the greatcft Tender,
Hcfs, in theBowehof our Loud and Mastir.
I know that your Work is grcat,^ and that your
Day is fhort. You have nothing lefs than the
Welfare of precious and immortal Souls (in fome
Degree) committed to your Charge. O f there,
fore Jet me intreat you to be up and doing, to do
the Works of Him that fentyou, while itisoali
led Day before the Night cometh, in which nq
Man can work.fzj And as you love y6iir owi^
Soul. & the Soul, of others, fhaieoff the Frownsi
& the Flatteries of this cnfntring World. Many*
of the Servants of the Lord have brought Death-
Bpon their own Souls, and fallen into < legal
State of Formality byfe«-i«g the Crofs, a'nd by
ihunning to declare the whole Counfel pf Qod,'
for Fear of offending fome of their principal Hcari .
er?,and the great Men of the World, bythcif UOl-f
fting for the Applaufe of Mortals, by joining At.
finity with the world & the Bfioiflcr. of Antichrift
md by carrying about fome of the Baby|rt,,jg|^
(»)JohBj.5. Chap.ia. «.
"^■wi
■♦> K^d
Stu
it
,.!&♦
;;-;*;
) '95 )
Stuff.. Neither be too anxious for a great Sharff-
of this vain World. You have already got ^
far better Portion than this World can pofllbly'
afibfd you J and God, who has undertaken for
you, will never leave you to want or fuffer be-
yond what may be for your Good. The Duft
of Peru and the Hearts of all that live arc iu the
Hand of your Matter, whp can give or wkhold,
as He fees jmay be for your Good. And I think
you had better be fed by Raveni, than by Rates
and Fines ; yea a few Penny -Worths of Bread
will fupport your Bodies thro' the Short Period of
yoflr Pilgrimage. l.etme likewifeintreatyou to
endure Hardfhips, us a faithful Soldierof Christ
Jbsus j Regard no fnjall Tiyals in your Way j
for you. may certainly ?jfpea;inv»y, »ot only put-
ward ^ut inward ; for Mnlefs ypu experience you
calinQt I'reach. And a? for my own Part 1 account
it no Privilege to go to Heaven upon a Bed of
§ioch, but would rather go thro* a Storni than a
Cali^, if I am hut indulged with ftrcngth equal
to tl^e Day. I^ither imagine iljat the Great-
ncfs of your ^ork confifts. in your public Ad-
Bin'ftratio ns every Sabbath, ibr that is-Juitthft -
imalleft Partofyoiir Labouf3> if you are ddcr-
mined
•
( 19^ )
mined tq live and die in die Caufe ?V'Christ.
O ! therefore labour Night and Da/ with Tears
to fpread the Caufe of your blcffed Mailer, a^d
to warn the wicked to flee inm the Wra^h
to come, and fpare no Pains to win Souls
to Christ. The Foundation ftands fare, and,
the Lord knows them that are V{\^.(a) Nei-
ther fliall your Reward fail, therefore bcdetermi:
ned, by the Grace of God, to fpend and be fpcnt
to the Glory of Gou and the Goo<i of prccioug
and immortal Souls. For the Work of the HJini-
itry is and ought to be your chief employ till your
^ dying Day. Isfeither have J mu9h Charity for
thofe, \vhomak3 it a Work by the by, or for ta
get a good Living, and fo, when that either fajj*
Ihort, or over flows, their. Labour ceaf^s. L^ "-
me likewifc intreat you to divcft yourfeh-cs as.
„ much as^poflible ofthe ftrong Ties of Tradition. .
By tio means embrace or" retain tsij PrafticeojtJv
Principles as Right or Scriptural, only bccaufij^J
it wask precedent fet up by your. Predcceflors.T
All Men are fallible, and the bcft ^ Chfiftians
are liable to Miftakes; but the Word^Goo can
; y>) a. Tim. 2. ly.
<s»*?i<*»"»p»
• •^''IMiii^iiV^^ '■'■*"
<#***
■M ■
i 197 )
never f»U : 4nd I believe that mny Men would
incrcfc much in fpiritual Wealtli, if they would
give thcmfclves the Trouble of digging for it;
but they too often negle^ to do it, becaufc they
imagine, that their good' old Fathers have dug
deep enou|h. But as the Word of God is yet
*n unexhauftible Fund, make thatyour chief Stu-
ffy. the Man of your Counfel, and the Rule of
- your Life, arid let the World around you knoiy
by your Life and Converfatio», that you have'
been with Jesus. For Example isinore forcible
than Precept. AndQ f be rcjoicc4 and encoul
Wge;l under all your Laboqrs, RcmciAbering
^ that your borrows arc ihort, and your Hours of
'•Tribulation will foon be at a |^criod ; when you
ftall reft from your Labours, and yovr Work.
fallow you./^; Be faithfql to ftand the Storm
8 few Hours more, andyoulhall reach yourde-
fir«d Haven. Preach the Word, be inftant in
Scafon and outofSfcafonj reprove, rebuke, ex-
hort with all long 3(u0fcring and Doftrincf^c; and
as the Lord has told you, that without' him ye
can do nothing,r^j bcfgre to keep near to him.
(y Revel, i^. ,3. Cr)aT»in:4.a. (J) John ,5. ivf:
watchlnjf '.
-si-
J j^^
( i9«) '
watching and praying, as thofe that itiuft give an
Account of the Blo«l of Soul,, and the uL
:^o hasproraifed to be with you unto the Ehd of^
^*« Worid, will nerer leave nor ferake you, bi^-t
will give you ftrength dqual to yorir Day. Jam
a Witncfs for God. that He is faithful to his Pro.
mife, and kind to his Servants ; altho' I have
been unfaithful to him. and hi. G.ufe. ^, ha.
J>ronlifed you, that thofe that Water. Ihall be
alfo watered|<;^; He will ftrengtheii your Hand*
and encourage your Hearts with the Confolation.^
«fhis Holy Spirit; which, bleffedb* Goo, 1
have known to be morefweet, more encouraging,
and more fupportthg (yea far more) than all the
Richer and Enjoyments of Time and Senfe. Yoti ,
are an a glorious Caufe, yoii feWc a gloriousMaf- * ^
t.r, and glorious, yea iriexpreffibly glorbus wiJi
be your everkfting Reward. Rife thctt^ .
i»»ft my dear FcHW,Laboure« (if I may p^^
fume to-claim the Title) ink, and exert ^
Faculty of Body attd Mind to fpread'«i^r^:
terie,ofthe Crof,, and proclaim the Wonders
of RipggM i M o r
■• " " ' ■ II I .
(0 PX-OT. II. 25,
:h
( i99 )
Go fbrJi, go ^rth yc Hcraldi of the Lord,
Girded with all the Armours of the Word.
Go fpread redeiminc Love from Shore lo Shojc,
And bid the guilty World -to weep no more.
Triumphant ride o'er all the Powers of Hell,
And fpread the Light where Men in Darknefs
dwell.
;Go warn the hard'jied from Mount Sina's Flame^
And heal the wounded with the SAViouR'sNanie.
i^°. ^^"^ ^^^ Guilty the attoning Blood,
^J^lAndfeed the Hungry with immortal Food.
^p out with Joy, a frowning World to face,
With the tranfporting Neyvs of Gofpel Grace.
".iJurn not afide to court the World's Applaafc,
.^|atfpend your Breath in the Redeemer's Caufe.
-Withftand the Storm of a few hard Moments more,
I'^^'^.y^*;^*^^ fffcly reach the pcacefuU Shore.
yfCT ifcc'Regions of eternal Night, "
Pj^tC yoiiftaJl reign in everlafting Light.
ymr Names are there in the bright World above
'^?**:^f«'?yo»'" Portion in unbounded Love.
^^^^"■^■■- -
■g>'^'^»ij|^^
"•^-' ' -f .
•N-
.>i#**M/"
CHAPTEk^:i^
t
4
- »iNV,
■* Ja^
y^,t^>' „
. ,».*1<lt««-.
'fi_t. ■ ^(, ,
... :.i£^^..
'..i -
-» *--,«••
^rJ
C H A P T E R IX. \
Ue Nature of an external fetting a Man a\a,t Ly
the Impofition of Hands, as an Ambassador of
Christ.
J T may well be faid thatDarknefs covers the ^
■■• Land, and grofs Darknefs the People, whcii*
Thoufandi and Tens of Thoufands are fomii
ftrably deceived, even in Matters oFthe moft Si-*
finite im^ortatice, as to look on the E^rttftiiii o? ■
' Religion and Ceremonies^ in ChrS^VVJ^c
Itingdom to be eilential, w5icn the PowcipCi^tS^ :
lineft, and the Internal, of his Kingdom a«fc^i^,
treated as EnthttfiaHn, or Matters of A|?Lffib^^
>nce. Well may the Lord ^f^i^^^
of God is made of none Effefl tM U^Ttai^X^
t\om.(f) And herein the grand Ad viriiarywlt|i;
his Advocates deceive the g^t^i^t^^Sf i|^' .
World of Mankind, who under KCi<Ak'^,^,
ligioQ fleep in carnal Security; uktirti^)^ ;i.r -^
tj»e^tocp of Deaih . A miviTtirrh- itf-Hi-^ry^ ^^
*- .^ ^
, V*
rX
«..A
■9^*' '-A St"-
*
a Prceedeiit fct up, that refcmbles Religion and
jiie Chureh of c'hrist, it becomes a Snare for
immortal; Souls, without much further Trouble:
For whea poor Sinners arc in fome Degree con-
vinced of their mlfemble undone Condition, they
. y^ll immedlafelyflj there for Shelter, and there
reft, without mucli more Concern under an ex-
V teraal Covert; Witnef« that infernal Beaft, that
tamc.up (iut of Ui« Sea, having feven Heads,, and
T«» Horns, uiidcr whofe Empire Thoufands
' V<^ ^msht to ah implicit Obedience to Popes,
Cardinals^ Bifhops, & Friars j who are fo fettered
with the prejudice of Education, as to truft, with-
.but much Enquiry, the eternal State of their im-
mortal Souls to their fay fo. Neither is the
Blindnefs, Ignorantc, and Traditions of many of
*^'''-^'^'^^""' Churches nluch Icfs prejudicial to
Immortal. Souls J Witncfsmariy Thoufands, who
^# .^«<l»Wifl» themfelv<??„i^h^rinciples of
^^.A^igidn no farther, than according to the Prac- -
tice.«pd.£teftdents of their Prcdeceflbrs ; and
fcrutinii^ up further to find the Miffion qf th«ir
' Minifters, ^an to'eftduirc whether or not the/"
'mn ( I'liii T iiii r l i I' llHiy ■li i li iii i iiil lijr fiiiT/
Wdfach Moi j Bilhops, PrieftJ or Preibyteriairt.i
t%'^_^
&f5 »J°i( it
*iAilfe '^^tJS^u^ ^
iookkig An that a fui^cient Proof of their hetng
ciUed of QoD, and of their being the true Am-
»A88AnoR. 6f Chiiist. Tho* I would prrfume
to fay. they would not be (6 carelcft of their tern,
i>oraI Intereft; (let not any one fay I mtoo un«
charitable, if their own Confcieace ihould coij-
demn them) and the Enemiea of the Caufe of
«rCHaisT have l>ecn fubtil enough to labou^ to
keep the Worldin IWindnefa, refpeaing thia Mat-
ter J telling them, that all Pi-etenfions to fuch
powerful Operation* of th<B Spirit of Oop in
thcfe Days i^ nothing but Bnthufuiin. And if
any of the Laity fhould enquirciL what neat to be -
linderftood by M?n bcing^ient out bf . tha.Hd«
ly Ohost, ("^/and the Spirit leading them intp
all Truth i(hj or pf Cimisx beingythe Dm,CO
&c. many of theCJeify (who arftidwa^a induft-
rioM to Sep. PcoplcV Eyes up) jvpuld^ Ije.yrife
enough either toteU tlicin,tiwt,tii^, Wei«,*^j^>
cal Expreflioni or elfe th^y oirfy «fo«ft^*to ^
Difcjplesin thpfc Oay v .knt do W ^nc^ii «^ >
n««^ : F<^n tht0f^, Ajr they, W^-ve^
I»
now
f"
li«^
i-l, 5^^ VS*^.'
■T^'
'A.
\ foy )
and introduce Miniftcrs, to difciplinc the Chur-
ches, and tho like, which we will fee into, with-
out troubling the L4ity about thofe Matters ; and
fo they fcal the Eyes of the poor blind Wqrld ifc
Jgnorante refpedlihgj^the Ministry.
Tub Enemies of Chrut haVe been (uhiil
enough to take two effential Steps. Firft they
liavc m»re firmly made them believe, that the
i*owcr of Examlriation and Ordination was com-
inittcd tii the Clergy, than ever they have made them
, 'believe, that Christ WM^the Son of God. And
. fccondly, to make that^lKal Step more cffe6lua>,
they have reinforced it by trailing the licenfing
or approviaj of a Man to the Work of the Mi-
iilffry, authorifing ; which hath ^one forth in the
w«*Jd' with fo much Power as to tanfi many ah
ignorant Perfon to believe, that it is really in thfc^
Power- of fome particular Men Co authori/e othcA^
*«6|»rcidh' Ac cverlaftingGofpel when th<
1cnows,tHat there is no Power neither ii
not Angels to authorife for that important Work
ot|iA" in 'the whole or ; ^n part. And therefore!
toi^'^^af been believed in the World by many
'Plvi|>e Oracle,: thattiach a Man wat
^y %|t^9i^ Affh Me^ ; yet I vtkoilf
m
Msi'
:jJk- JtJ:«I l^i^l^
tenoOMcc an^j^^c^cme, and iikcwife drty
^^K^'^SnHlbden proved in the foregoing jyu:.
^ mP ^^'^ ^«y «« wholly mithorifed hr G^
ATgicreforff Whatever ii dohe by Man ia that Mat-
ter, is only circum(Untial and cerem<Hii4li ixxdeCs
Man ha» Power to difanwil what God has done
«ut fome may now reply, that ait^o* it is true*
that they arc palled, qualified ,4nd7em" forth by
Christt, yet they cannot be complett, aor fit to
go forth aa public Aubassadoiii. untit they w*^
examined and authorifed hy fome ptrtkulw Men.
Which i« a, inconfiftant and aa grtat « Contt..
jiaion, .3 tafay, that,. Thiftgi, W, and not
iinifted: For if they are «6t fo com^catly fittei
tad authorifed. Ja to beJndependent of theHelf
of Man, then Chrmt hti dot»e hi» Work b»tt*
the Halves, «nd muft dep«ml on Min to finJfli it.
^A||^owtf^ey Ihouldnrfbfei^
Cmiund of God ia^co^teraanded, and W
W>rk difta«uJled^«d A^^^^l^^j^:
Aothiiig, or he hai loft «iil'ile(t|^ |»^p g|C
/o,of Necef5ty tfifcMaa* ■Jtat^K^tUM^.'^f^^f-
"W
' ■W'
'*&{ *
•m
4 ^5
, Moses gswcthe l^rd of Phar aqh, for hcpnly to^
^iit 4.0R^r^j A»t lie did not Relieve tkat Pharaoh
.woMdrfgwfl Cpnfeqt, bcfqfe he had, tricd.fij
A«fcfihi»{fcfalnniiy;;telJ, th* to/d, that hphas tried,
sMd, thtMtA jhfi J^'99: feat to, to .go| cofilpleatly au-
thdn/cd, wraldiiot confctiit,:a!jd, therefore he can^
i»«>iWiihiv,ilnAtJ»n, mji! dear Reader, how un-
H»l>r^iito4htMa« be,.^ifalthefametiine iitf
^nd jiiiiiftlifuhderfAidi a eonftraim,:a*ST. PAirt
wa^whenlWiftithv *"ANcce«ty ijlaidupQn.me^
i*r -& jftfoel anto jnec if 1 picadi notthe Gofpel ;!Y/;
ftlt-itiiiajr, be objcaeA again by fome (Who. are
iwaeAing tinft^rcd; with the Spirit of Popery)
^^lfe#t limr,4^ !liqt; preijejld to infrin^ on God»«
,?f?WtJV^i^,<lifanaq| what he has done; but
«ar!tqs<»^iji,Bshd^^ GtobK by: a, Power handed
^^It<M|iwn»/rQi»oirii«0Ti«w :aado!FiT.u« s by
wiUflJi;f|hfijr„«t* im^owtrbdifio authorife 4>thcri4
^feW«t»yj4#lr Mo*doc,jft(;nic.a^.j8o^ if.ti>t be
lk«t|Mt S^ie,^<l» Cafc,c.(tiiot)t Aall Jiereaf.
%«r^Wiritheaiij»ffiWiiji,o^an^4^ieh,^g^ j^;
j»Bg <icWf4 fiwIitTiiMiitriirlajiilcJriTntltheit
' II I *
*«»
":?a
i??.^ W'
' ■ ■ ■ I-
yea and the Pope himfelf, 'ill-^en ef Qdn aiid
Ambassadors of CtiKhfr } For tfatt is. tliciiv
continaal Plea, that tlicyhavo fuch «: Power iiaiidr-j
eddown by a linc«ll]|cfcenf j and I'thiekr whh
as much Propriety aaany in the W^orld can,plea4.
from fuch a quarter : Yea and this is the Waj,
by which they maintain Toj^,^ .Jcfides if
any fuch fct of Men have any Powiferi qualify or
authorife, others |o prcagh the Gofpel eitthet ift the
wHolc or in Part, ^en why may not. the boli
profligate Wretch on Earth be made a Minitter o€
of ^HRirr by them I And, if fo, theti if|fhy may;
they not Pardon Sinj>Qr jEPjnflatc dcpvted.Spirita
from Purgatory to Hcaijejj ?. For altho',fo||»eTOajr^
imagine, that Iran on *^ J^jttreroe ^ jnetjt w no>
n^ore, than what may eafily be .proved, '|?orift
it is 'm the Power of any Maa to. c«m|^lt a ipifav
penfation of the Gofpel to others, «ithet jj^ wh9le
or in partj by the fame Powes they- |ft»y^ Fardon •
Sins, and change Spirits. For it ha^«lrea4jf bej^p^
proved, that the Gofpel and every .Thing; jeleJ^f ft
ing thereto is nothing fhort of the^pirit, of tijeii&l
ins Gop; and tkerefore as nothing ihort of' l^|_
^mighty Powir can tforif m'ijf^ii^ J^^^
JV,
•■^f'i
.1"
( tor )
eofpd » wkoUy. t (pirimal WoA ; we .„ „ad.r
ObVd„t„c,„eI„de, dutnone, butGodhio,.
fdfcan work«y Thi„g effeitial in qu^ify;„
••nJ .«thori6„g not „„iy ,h. Am.*,s*„„,s /,
Christ, but likwift the moil inferior Officer in
the Church of Ch.„t for the Welfare of hi.
»y<Kcd Body, „d.h.t the approving or feui„g
.-part., Man to the Work of the Miniftrir, or
whatever i. ,,„» bedone by M.n i. but „>«„„.
««t.a! and eeremonid . And here I „ould o'b.
W what wa, fiid by the General- Aifembly of
*' ^!'""'' """'■"■J.in .nfwer to the f„Il„„i„-
%.tt.o« p„p„fcd by King J.M., the Fi,«
^'^-"^"'-'"'f-'P^or. Who want, the
Imp.«t.o..fH«,d.r TheAnfwerwa, ,h„,.
The topoiiti,, of Hand, i, „ot etfential, bu,
"c.rc.^U.l-„«, indifferen. in the Admiffion
" of. Paaor- Sev.«l Churche. inFaANc. fay
*e ftme, fo the D„ch Churche., fome i,
SwiTZMiAHD and many in GE»«A«r. And yet
iii* l»c„.,. Mat„A. .. The« are n,a„y
.»^?T''':r°°'y'*" "« I-Pofi'ion of
rmM .. t Ju..,.! u, U.e ^6e ag^a^Bihr7
«« !
but
"JM^c
.^.hi'mif*-
v.J»tW J^f^S5f«*r-w,
en, and tRe
we arc under
)ut God him-
in qualifyln
AiSADORS of
or Officer in
clfare of his
»g or fctting
k^iniftry, or
3ut circum-
r would ob-
^^cmhly of
e following
the Firft.
» wants the
was rhus,
cntial, but
Admiflion
lANCE fay
fome in
. And yet
■re many
sfition of
Minifter J
" but
I ( »o& )
« hut that it mull be by the Kpifcopal.tiands.'?.
5vx left any Ihpuld imagine that I am. to re-*
]q&, or ncgleft thofe external Obfervations,.
(wl)ich I; am not, but would only labour to have
thpm in th^ir proper Place, and give" them no
mp^ipredit thai they deferve.) l^ihall now pafs.
.<>n't<?"|peak a few Words on this Particular, viz.
the Nature of an external Setting a-part an Xk-
BASSADOR of Christ. And here let. us obferve
that the great eternal God having Thoughts qf
Mercy towards the fallen Race, hath not only^i-
ve|i his only begotten Son to die for their Re.
denjptioui but likewife intends to publifh the
fame to the Ends of the Earth, and tjie^eforc from
among the fallen Race calls forth a Number ifrym
their fallen State unto a State of divine Lif(j, and
Union with hii][»fclf, and teaches thenv experimen-
tally the Power of his Gofpcl, and th^ Sweibts of
REDEEMING LovE : He calls an4 ^uali,fie^ tjicm to
go forth and proclaim the fame to tJieir j^ellovr
Mortals: And he hfl,s a chofen Peojple'hi t|ie
World that have knovrn his Voice, and arergo&bL .
ed to hear of his coming among them by hii Skr-
TantsTo Tprcad the Honour of hiiNiffi|;^1Hrpft-
pagate the Rejdcemcrfs KingdpQi in itbt^'^^i) jf<>>^
>> >ji^
.•"f . .
■:MB
►-*#♦■•■
( "9 ) - •
• tfc. RrfempeioB of preciou. .nd imm„„,i ^oalsj
tkefe wiU willingly „d joyfully .rife to bid hi)
MeirengersGoD Speed: And., .here „e n„ny
Wfe Prophet, go,, out into the World, Goo*.
Children .re called forth to witnef. between the
^TJ'X"' ^""" "^ *= Miniftersof An.
^f *- ^>« -y W'»">-«, faith theLord:/,.
A-dthereforehefdth to hi. People. ye,h.'.r.
f»d.w«iWthfo„ef™.„ Degree of th.. Spirit,
^atjudgeth JIThing,,^.; come forth a, Evi.
^«.ce. of tieOofpel. .nd Witneffe. for the Caufe'
17' ''"'"""'■'• Honour., my Name for
AeE«c.«r.gement„f my M.„.„„..,, ^ jf„,
4. good of them that *e blind and know no, th.
O-ftrent. between Ch..„ and Anfchrift; ,.
»^ft« «ddeda« ^Wiclljr to the World by .
fc.«c.Ued,.uAorifed and fen. forth thofc Men
to d.. grea. and imp„t^, y,^ „, ^_^ ^^.^
;*!'r!^'"'"™»'y«A».-p..UothePla«
^>«e.<», for which X h,™ already intended
.tt««-»,«nj fa whid. I have qualified d..m.
«n4
ortal ^ouls)
eto bidhij
e are mzny
orld, Goo'o
between the
ftersof An-
c LordifmJ
Ve that arc
hat Spirit,
th as Evi.
r the Caufe'*
Name for
^8* ai^dfor
w not the
tchrift; a-
maicema.
orld by a
ibie God,
hofe Men
Miniftryj
the Place
intended
m.
and
( aio )
And thtis my dear Reader, I thipk, you c«n no
longer be ignorant of the Nature . of this extcyn^l
Approbation J that it is only the fetting a Man sfc- .
part (by an external Sign) to the Work and.Stati-
(Ml, to which he already belongs, and thaTit ought
to be done for the Honour of Goo, for the En*
eoaragement of his Minifters, aijid as a Teftimony
againft falfe Teachers j and which may prove 4
Bleffing to thofc poor blinded Souls, that are in-
capable of judging between Chiust and Anti-
chrift. And therefore I ihall <iow conclude this^
Chapter with the following Requeft, (let the Ene-
mies of Christ fay what they will.' never more
to look upon a Man authorifcd to preach theGof-
pc], became that hfi has received the Impofitioa
of Hands from fuch and fuch Men ; nor never call
thatauthorifing, which gives no authority nor call
Kim a Miniftcr of Christ, who was not .^ad«
one by Christ. And ye that wiih well'to y<ja|
own Souls, and others, inftcad of receiving zMH '
as an Ambaffador of Ckjlist, bccaufe he din rc«d -
you a Sermon that he has made,,andwr0ted6W
on Paper, or Memory 3 fetrch diligently'lfer Hhe
Spirit, and Voice of the living Gob, forypii-ii|#y
remember
%**-'
( 211 )
remember that Christ when fpcalting of this
Matter, dotj/uotfay they ihdl hear the Voice of
Man, but they ll>all hear my Voic?/.; And:
for your Soul fake do not r^jeft one that has the
Voice and Spirit of Christ, nor receive one
withbut.
CHAP TE R X.
nelmpojpbilit^oftbe Po^er of Ordination in the
Hands of the Mx^iSTKY, ieikg handU do^n
from Timothy and Tirvs.
T T is -not ftrange tha? there is fcarcely any
. ; Matters of Religion more difputcd than the
Call, Quali/ications, an(? Jntroduftion of Men into
the Work of the Mirii% fo'r thefe Rcafons. FirH
becaufe there is fo nuch DiiFe«nce between th...
fmeandthe falfe Miniftcrs. Secon4:y. becgufe that
the World is fo blind and ignorant in the Things
that be of God. ^Thirdly, becaufrthat a true
Mmifter is one of the greateft Bleffings. and a faJfe
^'iiiiteroneofrhegreateft Curfes that a People
l*hBA»>-.|6, - _ —
' ^ ' or
Aa < ^i?tf
ing of tJiig
le Voice of
'(o) And-
lat hgs the
cceive one
•celjr any
than the
jVIcn into
Dns. FirA
ivecn this.
»ufe that
' Things
a true
id a faJfe
I People
Of Land can have. Fourthly, becaufe ikitt ii o«,
thing that the Devil /& hi» Ad^ocate^ labour more
for, than to introdu<^e the falfe, .and obftruft the
true Minifter. Anc^ laftly, becaufe the Followers
of Christ are fo aiixious to introduce the true and
obftruA the falfe ^inifter. And as it is a Mattev
fa much difputcdi I alfo, as faith Ei.iHU,(^ff; Will
/hew my Opinion ; in doing of which I fhdl talc?
a View' of the Matter difputcd ; make fomc Re.
marks on the Dlfputes, try the Weight of them,
• and fee what Inferences m*y be 'drawn from the
whole. /
Thi Matti now in Difpute is the Righto*
Power of Ordination; Some holding it in the
Hand of the /Mi^iftry handed down from Timo-.
THV and Titus by a lineal Defcent j others hold-
ing i^ot onli that, bat lijcewife all the Power of
Church -goiirerhmcnt to lie wholly in the Church or.
Brothcrhaid. I fhall endeavour to treat of them;
feparately^; Firft, I ftall.,b<5gin with the former,.
VIZ. The Power of Ordination handed down from.
TiMOTflfy and Tixys by a lined Defcent.
Now /if I feould let fo m uch Light i^t
or
i')h
fK
old
«r
.ICf.f.iA^tJi^
^ -. (21
"■«y mat t,0D has appointed fn, ,1, r .
"'""'' E«"cy from that Po«-cr, which
^io tr;' "'-"'- ™wrx the-
«».c, .of ! "' *" "'■'^''*= P»-- -aft
down I ,. n "'"■"olcft.d, and arrive fafe
aown to this Day with .11 !,.. t r .
™g« lime, ,t may all bcloft
A«» now with «.ga,a ,„ ,^^
*WWcrofGrrfi»,™»- ''"lure ot this
as
.M^ii^-il^tH^S^
■ ^^^WM^SuP*-!:
,.iia#ik'i>:jiialn&
encies enough
' rational Maw,
I firft, we will
the Power af
TiMOTHV '
whain of Sue-
t was the on]/
Introduction
HaJve this
icr, whether -
ng in thefc
iinaiion, 'or
ver, which
idrcd Years
liy try the
foIJow the
bwer muft
n to travel
arrive fafe
; becaufe
furely in
of this
h uTuch'
as one would imagine no Chrlilian Man could hefc
lifeve it pbflible to be handed about from Hand tdf
Hand by Man ; and if it was (altho* I have fuf-
£cicntly proved it to be Inipoi&ble) yet when we
come to follow that Chain of Succcffion, we Ihall
foon find, it ttaverfcs fo dangeroas a Courfe, and
among fo itiaiiy Eneniics, as to )-ender it utterly in-
capable of retaining that Power in Cuftody : whicli
is to be hahdcd dowii to the End of the eWorld to
particular Meh, for in a very fliort time it falls ^in-
to the ravaging Jaws of that blafphcmoua Bcatt*
whic^ John faw comi»g-«ip but of Hhe Sea, with
Seven Heads and Ten Horns, (p) which blaf-
phemed againftGoD and his Christ f atld there
it la^xpofed fome ilundred Years. Now can i t
be imagined, that that Chain can ever cpnac fafe
.QUtoftheirHands with that fpiritual Trcafait,
:wh<!n.QQi! himfelf declares, that they fmad^ War
agsiipftHimand Againft his Saints ;(qj andwhofe
fichief Employ it. was to deftroy the Caufc of.Gop,
tod oblirujfl cheProgrefs of the Redeemer's King-
doai, and therefore if we allow it poffible for us
to receive this PoWer of Ordinaftion ffom that
^. O-JRev. 13. I. (jjRev. 13, 7^
Quiittcl'
.V , .\,.,tf'~K
P ^ , » <5«,*
** A^** .
'.^.i
ill
~\
■^'
riis)
• Qijaifer, then we niuft h. l^'i. » .
'•'" ■•' come* aJ. I „ . '" *" '**'*"" '
come ,hro> their lianH. . '2 "^Rpme, and
T H mere was not one tnie Beli.,^j:
">"». "» well „d ., „„. "'!'"'.»*<'»«
• Chriftian Man to k rir " " P^^ We for
Jl know, .hat a State Of De.,. the un..
» _. ^»^g»nd approving the Mfnii^... of Chr„t.
(r)ExQ4,i^, iu
"T
?ff
/t-
.'^
pJt'^'v^i^^
4f
1^ * i
n ^0 theijcvii i
•t Bk/pheiner,
■e^unic to fay^
the Devil to". <
h'sMinifteri^#^
•^ fas t have .
Miniftcrs of
on might He
^pme^ and
^^" of
f^» ax^one
1^ " • «*
'«« to the
<^i»lrchof
rtd me frofii
^arlrnefi of
ioilibfJcfor
thingi of
^jtidkc 6f
imeutaJIy
^?=rff
( ii6 )
it is no Matter, whether it be done by Men dc*d
or alive. Is this not as reafohable, to belieVt that
a blind Man is asgood ^ 'Judge of Colours as any.
To fay that in trying the Spirits! whether thdy
'be of Christ or Antichrift, it is ho matter,
whether it be done%y living Evidences of theGof-
pel, who havefome Defgree of that Spirit, that
Judges all Things ;ft) or Men 4cad in Trefpa-
iei and Sins, who are" Enemies to God, and utter
ft. '
, Strangers to the Myftcry of the QoCpcliftJ B^fidcs
is it pofljble for thofe. People whom the Spirit pf
God is to lead into all Truth^w^ ever to believe,
• that God, whcfisaGoD of Purityj and caimot >
look on Sin but with abhorrence, did really in-
tend that the trying of his Servants fliould he
.committed in th« Soul deftroying and Goo-difr
honouring Hands of his moft inveterate Foes j
when He himfeif declares, that uncircum&fed in
Heart Ihould enter into 'his Sanftuary. Nevcf'
thclefs Ifliall treat on one Point morej whic^,
I truft, will prove the Matter as evident, as. that
light is not Darknefs. Let us fuppofc that S^/
Paul did really intend, when Timothy ^
^iTvs were ordained, that, that Powci Jfeoukl
iiZZ
,ft
<i) i.Ctr. 2. 12. 15. (it) I. Cor. 2. 14 («) J,»^ f^Vj
-'* 'V !•»■<*•
¥
r
"ks*^**^
■. it"
Sii.
y
t>e handed dow^ from;ihen,, and no oth^ way
to. the End of the World. Is it "not well
Jnown. that fmce that tf^y-, the Schifm. and
X>iirentiani have been aJriioIl innunierabJe ;
•nd the Diflentcrs. have, at t1,e Time of their
coming off. bo« a puBKcTeftimoayagainft the«i
M the Churches of Antichfitt , and therefore it \t
fcvMent, that old Chain muft by this Time be in
«mai^ Piec« as Saue'5 Oi, ,(^) yea fo man.
fled aridbh>keri;f^ititis paft thcWifdom of
•irflifeMftn on Earth, y<i. S?r. P^ui. himfelf,
1^ he W» to return For that i>brpofe with TimO-
THY ihd T,T0s with-hftti, ever ta patch m,
that old broken Chain, or fp farcolleft and ce-
ment thefcattered Piece, together, as to obtain
•ne wholVor Gofpel Ordination by any Power ^
from th. Power, wfaiclv he committed to T, mo.
jHr.nct.TiTv, Seventeen Hxindred Year, ago
. Th^,ft,th he, who byScHisMarecutofffrpm
.jn«4cft«enflon3.^ And fo it cannot b. iZ
X
delibl^
j'lJiXi
K^ J *'k^'-
no otlx^r ,w»y
' it 'not well
SchiCaii and
innumerabie ;
rime of their
y«gainft the«i
therefore k |«
is Time be in
y«a fo man.
: Wifdom of
MJL himfelf, .
with TiMd-
to patch vtn
leQ. and ce-
u to obtain
any Power *
that Ohaia '
dto TiMO-
I Years ago,
utofffrpm
from tlwt
'hich they
lot be in- _
delibi;'
■ • • '. ■■ ■■ ■ ' ■
deiibJ^ Hired oH thein : And hxttfy Inhere no
fart of 4!t ApoftoHe Pdwfcr (dk k' claimed^
there can be ii'e Suectfflbo td it.** No# in ihii
** Chiweh of RoMi, faith httfgjUh, h hii bcc^
" proved l>y On t;i»rttu!* i| Hlftorun 6fthtl# bWlili
•*'« that there have been at Ifeift Thirty Schifms by
** fevcral, fometlmes no lift than fiv* or fix at
•* once, jiretending to the Popbdom j iild One of
** the Schifms laftcd more than Fifty Yinta, when
« one Pope fat at Rbikt, another if Avigon.
«■* Nay BBLtARMiT* is bbliged to iiflrtjowlcc^
** thit for above Eighty Yckn tt^ethcf ftr iriM
« of a lawful i»ope, flft^ hid iid dflfff »m4d>
** thin what was in tfia^ferf.^ Ahd tljirtfo^ kif
dear Reader, ifthereiSnb Wky for to iltli^Q/oh
}j*el Minified in th^e Hiyk, but by PoWef 4e-*
Hved froml'iijotiiv kd^'tiTiik'thio* thw 61#
brolceh Chain, (as f6itit dticJitft tHert i* Abty, Wii
iii^y bid t fiAAl t^arew^l id all Hojigs of ^er tteiaj^
ftGofpelMicifterik|a)h} kAd fo idieU t6 i!I IhJ^ -,
i^Mfeictof zp0it}^ia6i^eU mmaifbxtt^}
am1)'b1igcd to (ky, hippy bntf 'wtit fhdti; Mi
were upon the Jtz^c of AJUiih, fijtbre ihat thaitt
was bMeh.
'-^
-**j»fc
'"^*
■ -f <i^
Oi^
,Qs
f^tf.
ire
^vry^rh^li^ tn,y f,y^ that, «Ifho* ih.t
Cham ,s fo broken, that no Powcctn be derived
^herefrom, yet that doth not fo .Iter the G.fe,
btit it may ftill rtmain the Rule of the Gofpel :
And therefore if there w.l but one Minifter in
thd WorM, .ndhe not ordained, y.t after he wa,
ordarned, he «,d hi, Succc%s ought ever after
to i;ptain tnd e»rcife that Power , which is a PJe.
wade hj many. This groundleft .«d Inconfifl.
^«< Notion I cannot find>nyfelf capable ofanfwer-
. 7 '"/'^''^ '^ P»'P^^«' tJ^«» " already done by
Ihe afonemention^ Sa-v«l Mather. « The«,
^ trt fome, faith her^ho, tho' they eould neve,
, m ,j their Heart, to believe the mad Whim .
*ofP«pal SucceffionandafuccefEyeOrdination,
^n^-^'^""'^"^'^ •» Ecclefiaftical
•* Juhfdiaion or Government, are for giving
^.the PpwerofOrdinaUon into the Hands of .
:ff;mop pr a Synod, but it i. to behoped, that
r^^'^^^^^^^^ «^«1 know better, than to ght
^l^^li .n-inefUinable IJr«ich of Ecclefiaijcal
v(., 7^*"*<«^*"' own Hands, inlothetti^
^ ofothes,wJv,oughtnottohaveit,«,dwhrk
• POiT^flionof it. hi vc alwa y . laaJc the ^ nfe
''%"''- '. ■'' , **iif
i,i)rf*"v^
.. *'
liat, «liho* that
c«n be deriveii
•Iter the Gafe^
of the Gofpcl :
le Minifter in
«t after he wa»
ght ever after
ivhichisaPJea
«nd Inconfifl^
iWe of anfwer-
•eady done by.
Bit. "Thew
y could nevcf
le mad Whim .
^eOrdinatioiv,
Ecclefidlical
« for giving
Hands of a
•choped^ that
than to givt
Bcclefiaftfcid
totheHindk
, and vrhviA
»» of it.** Andi think faid Author^ght lik^wiiij
have obfervcd, that if the Church wcm thus t(y
givf 'this Power into the Hands of the Miniilry,
y^t that would by no means rcftorfe the Order, and
therefore tliofe Men, who had received tlia Gift
from the Church would have no Power td exeirfife
it : |oryou kliow, my dear Reader, that accord-
ing S what is thus hpld, there was no oth^r Or*
der of the Gofpcl.lmt to receive this P<wer from
Timothy and Titus j lieither was there any fuck
Power given to any Church ; and therefore no.
Church or Pdople could hai^e any fuch Powefr to
difpofeof but Timothy, Titus, and thdr Sue- '
^^eflbrs ; fo that, when*this Chain is once broken,
not only the firft Man that is ordained 'any othe*
Way, but likewife all his Succeffow mod aef UislV^
be wrong; aiid therefore, vho(bev^ be&evei itt '
this fucceffivc Ordiiialion.has alitady" condemned
dl the Minittersj that bttt has beeh or can be,
exclufivc of thoHrin the Church of Roiii,Bcfidte|-|
It may b« obfervcd, that if the Church has P^ip:
thusto ordiln a Man, for to reftort ^m back W
tiut Apoftolic Line, then ftirely thej^ljg^f IMwer «
W Ordun SK over themTcB^ii^iad tf|jjggi|j^
J^ is decided. ~
.-— \i' •k^^j' »
t^jL t^it L<
M
*
{ ^zi }
ArguMcm, an impart;^ Confideritf 6h, I »„li ^^
,*.« any cure io fmpofe my Judgment .^h kiA,
^lu^T'" ''"''""'^"'^°'" th. Thing i.ft,f
«m«„„„„rtM. Judgment WacWul Co*.
ft»t.tI.c„H,„lth,« nothing „o.c .0 do ft. Ac
\' CHAPTER XI.
i THO> the rn.«,fitte„ci«, eh.e .« co..
. •>» Tn.th.of d^oy f^ , I ^ ^^
?* . ' ;i ' f'ti V.J
-p^
v.%
:•,!*©*•"
miy give ihefe
ion, lihali 'ttdt
nent upbh jhiA^
c Thing itle'lf
ciiearfu] C(5fi.
to do fdr tile
t»J'y to ihtfeat
pie Of the nd-
ill the Church
Church Pre-
hat are coo-
nit5 is fuffi.
^O arc thirf .
Go^d,ycc
:d down by
toe fii^r
iftratiQli..pr
*''-r^
*^
c?cd, as I prorniArd, to difcover wliat ^jay be
fonud in Fayo^r of the Power of prdiriajion lying
in the Church or the Hands of the Brotherhood,
fyr which End I fhall offer Precept and ^xamplc,
tp^eth^r by confid?ring the yei;y Nature if' th<^
Thing itfdf. '' '"'.
First, let me afk my dear Re^dec* what c^fl bp
moreinconljUent, than to believe thai^ ^.CliurcV
ihould be depriycd of cKufing, the Mini'ft^r, un-.,
der whofe In;iprovemcnt tjxey exp^^tp lit all their*
.^I>«ys, by feme indifFererit Men that never expeiEl*
to hear him more than once or twice juft for hls^
Tryal j or can it be fuppofed that thefe two \x'
three Men are better Judges of the Call ailH Qaalt^
fications of the Candidategth an the whole Chhtrhf
or Body of Men, which arc to rctcrve Jiiih, 'liv^eil
the wifeftof all Men has declaredi ^at-irf ke?
Multitude of fcouncil is Safety : 7/)' And *'^e
Church 1 ikewife haying'the WelJFare ^ thelr^tiltf
in fome Degree at Stake, whHet^cQ^ers pi^ii|Ni
are living a Hundreft Mila t^ iiS^,
aijd not regarding whether lKc^*^feS^ „_„
again or. not.. . ♦ ; "'f^'^;Sr ***'^
\/i:;.i.
' Si
■ -v^ "T ' n tv-^
f "3 ) -^-
' J^>«-"«-™ro p™,. , Matte,, .wl ^
*«^CW.„fd,eMu,ifte,by.„M«a„ but
Wt fiwlW none on the Peril of hi. Life. There-'
'^ fitch People muft either be veiy fond of their
§^«V«y orelfe they murf^ very ignoran, ; For
Stf*! '""' *' «'S'« 'f Eleaion to be i„ the
^^.«dthe«fe,ve,^„f„.ea, f„,n.«ti„n.I
W" *««M prefume «, f.^ d„, ^. ^hnrch hrf
>» IW *, .«i, the Ceremome, „<i Ci,^„„.
•""•J-of d« Chu.0,, when Aeyhri .I„,dy
^•^*, For tl^t woi^dle lite fiyini «h.t .
?^ f»« Ml|^M tl^ Church withwt thei» C5»n.
ftnt
'^ ^.
^^
■P^y> why the
tter, which wt
at the Church
it of electing
Judgment Ih
Means ; but
t by OrrUna-
1 a» great an
or a hungry
Ws Sorrows,
-ife. There-"
bad of their
orantj For
to be in the
Argument,
no rational
phurch had
1 Circum-
>ci alreiady
aft in the
ingthat a
which £e
6nt
f «4 >
ftnt and Choice, then if the Church and Candi,
date are agreed and married in Heart ^ the Pelv
, kwihip of the GofpcJ j pray what hinders -hi to
from heing their Paftor ah«ady, whether he hw
j^ceivcd the hnpofuion of Hands or not ^
But fome perhaps may object again, and< fay
that, altho' tlie Blcftion be eflential ^nd the Ap-j
probation but oircumitantial, yet that i^t partica*-
lar Matter by itfclf. and that the Minifter| are;
the bcft Judges of their Gifts, Grace* and Quali*
fications. It is to be hdpeti that thcfc ObjeAion*.
will not be found among thofe, wbohav^ dcdved'
that the Right of Ordination naightcomc thro*V»»' '
:hurch-of Rom*, as wcllaa thro* a true Church'
of Chr^t, or the tlaadsof ixnconycrted Mcn-os:
well a«-thofe of true Chriftian* (ajit hiabeeii ob->
ferved'fomc have declared) leli their Objeftiona
ihouM^cla/h, Bcfides^ can any rational Man ever-
believe, that the Great, Etamal and AlKwiic . Bi-
ihop of Souls, who is the Head of the Churcli^
did ever inftitttte fuch aolnconfiitencysajusnvyl**
tical Body, as to flatter hb Peoplp with an emprtty; .
mnd of Powet-^-inA-Prewgi ttm
. that*' he had indulged ;theii|, wjt^
vikg^ of chufmg or eledulpe all the o
4«i
4i.
• m
• , Cht^^h, bu^forfome particular. EnH^ '. I
tdMen oT A , r"cwar Ends, unfcnoWn
^"! "'"'«"=8«»f'he CharchJ For He L
*«dy.pld *e»,, ,h„ ifu,ey ihould agrccL
?'*!'' '■■'' ^'■i-g 'h* Acy p,o„Id .&. („h«L
Jxt,k*cfc Things i„o a f„iou,Cotf.dei:
■ "^' ^'ko-W be raved fro™ treating an.L. .
'mainftiUinUiedarl rn„ii ' / f "*
"«f»f A.. Matter. And now we wiU La,
*rr» '*• '»'"'"^"' Natur. of M,«kini for
. j;«™^ •" how many „^i i,i,„„^ ^,, ^^ T ^^
f'"^**" rfW. Cturoh. and the great ?rf, ,L '
^*""*""'«*"«. 'H.l.hi.awnMind J, J
tVicife thcPo\ferofJExop^lmunicaJtio^/rt^ whi«li
is, thfi mo^ folen^n Ad in ^l thq Church-^ifpip «n^j
but like wife tells then^ that, whenever they Ihoold"
gather together in hi? Name, he would l^e in
the yjidft of tl\em himfclf/^j And therefore*
there x;an bj: but little Room now for any further ,
difpnte about this Matter, who fliall ewrcife the
Power: For whethef the Minifter be prcfent «•
abfent, it is no Way .cflential, for faith CArist*
I tell you that I myfelf will be there : and' not
only with them, bm I teUyou likewife, .whatfoeyey
they fhall afl;, whether the Minifter confent o'r not,
they fhall rcceive^CcJ for I have lead Csiptiviigr
captive to give Gifts untp thciasfdj yea if thcjr
alk, I will give th?m liberally and upbraid notfej
But ,1 will fuppofe we ihould a% the L orii cat^z •
cerning the particular Matter now in Pifputc,
whether or not the ^hurch hath any Right t0/ct
i Man a-part to the Work of the-Miniftry, of
bind him by an externaj Sign or Approb^tioti^tji* •
the Place and Station, whic|» Qqd Jultl^aIr<^|dy
defigncd him ? Why, f«th the Lord, ' ihiv» i^^ir *
"■"f*"
(«) Matt- 1,8. J7. (6) Mut, |8. ap. (0 ^«U» l^||.'
■*-. *
.■>.-i.
i "7)
*"' .f '" "■J' Name Acy /hall receive f b„c
fterer thejr fl„i, ,oofc „„ e,^,_ ^^„ .^^ ,^^^_|
'" ""''■' >W for I m^frff ^ ,, b. „i,^
tncm.
A„D „,„, „y ,,„, j^^_^^ .^.^ poffiblefor
tl... M,„er ? Ne,erthelcf, I will „„„, refer yo„
"0. onl^ ,0 ,I,e expref. Command of Goo „„d„
tko Moftie Dirpe„f„io„ ,. where He faith (af
ter the Chnrch w.. g,.hered together). And
til :?""*"'""'•'»"'= Church,
«... p„, their Ha.d, „p„„ ,he Uvt^.f-J
B '^tewtfe hi. e,preft Co«„„di„,i. Jo".
P«' D»y. to the Church of A.r,oc«ri) which
Con»«d ,h. Church im^etliately obev^ if
..-ror^teWoritwhe^u^oIhavecaUedr::
B« perhap, y„„ „„, f.^, ^, ^^ ^_^ ^__^_^_
"" •'"™« •*"»• '"d 4««fore they might
S::;::^--fa.r. that the Command did „,t
comb
•f #«
i#U
pofllble for
reffed than
Vi refer ypu
3oD under
^aith (af.
er), And
• Church)
the Go/-
h) whkji
'«<^ Sen
. Barna-,
cd them,
fc MlNI*-
T might
Church.
^ did not
coiae tp. thi Miniftere, but toth€ Church;' and
that it was the Church that exercifed th^t
Power, ordained them, and fcht them awajr. dut *
it may be objeftsd again that the Word faith
plainly, there were certain PropKcts and Tea-
«hers, in the Church, wliich fiiay reafonably be
fuppofed, was the Caufe of the Command coming-
to that Church. To which I anfwer again, tfa«t
it is true there were Prophets and Tcachcra in
that ChttPch (as I truft, there fxc in every Church
joi Christ) but there is not th^ leaft Account
of their being one ordained Man amongft aU thofe
Prophets and Teachers : And the reafon why
they , were called Prophets and Teachers w»a
not on Account of theit being ordatai^
Men, Virhich is as evidently to be feen,.fts tlut
two and two niakp four. For you mufl obfervc«;
dear Reader, that the very Men, which are nov^
called forth to be ordained/ were in the fkntfr'
Verfe, and in the stxj famcMauneJr called Pron
phets and Teachers j for- tlij* Word; fidthjlM'V
phets and Teachers, fuch m BAii#ii1iA>' iild
-Saul, Therefore it il ib: e wdea^.jTllii, tfcty
wikjjJv !.„.•,»
were not called Prophets and Tea^henQ^|p^c
of their being ordained Men, but ' t^ule. they^
"W..
*^U.
iif:iSi^SiLw.^i^^:
)
• ( 229 )
T™thr.V l.« fo ckarlv «„ ■ • ' "'•■
ftl«»a»dorH ? • """' ""'■''' "'='»-
iMves and ordain their o„„ lyjj;. ,, ^ ,^ ■
*~«»yol,joaagdn and fay, tk^^Mf
•Fi-Mr^.to ordain Elder, ;. * ^•'^^"T ^n^l
I - "" r^ ^ ^^^e^T Church. Ta
oi. L. ^ 'w'UAati a,^ R^aioa to fear tkA
'Mi
-^
.■^ J^.
:, -^
ncMte .
V 7 i
;
'ficiaVe ii Behalf V the Church in fettih^ a-^wt
Itheh- Officdrs : For no true Church of Cfilni^
could i^:4lbhal)ly reje^ AicK kdps, whci^ ^he^
were to be obtained ; but his tellitig them to dr-
daih Elders -in every Chiirch ddth in no wa^ cbn.
Wude that they had tky Power to aft of drfalh
'**tlufivfc of acting in Behalf of the Church, and
the Churches l^ing jikewife in the Tkyi of their
Infancy, I dai^fay, woufd rejoice to hare -aiif
Advictor Affiftance froiSi TiMotftY ihd TiTxb>
tvho Were both iftfpired M€n : Befidfcs if -Pxirt-
had not known the Power of the Churdi to be d^
cifive, why would he fo often, when any Mafte»
-X)f rmportince was at Staie, write to the ChttrtA
to exercife thdr PdWcr.fAJ Pavl had lifcc*i(fe
tifcfcij decided th^t the GKttch MlCil«i*+>s
hiyfUc^liody, and that CnRisT iittifttf Wit fh
im Mihthtm.fiJ And thierefore It ^oUld'Hatfe
hiba terymnitibT hiih td hdjhmind tiMd-i-M'
ti«d titt^s to ekeftjifcahj^ ^\^ct b^fertl^hi¥,
' m his Chureh J tvhlth hfe ladrt hive done. If j^e
hid fcoferfiiiided them b tttfclXk aiylNiWtf t^-
iltilli>t of atog in »^aff driJi^'dhiifcli: -'-^
*m thi'ti- ' Ski 'iii Ji^'ih-fiS ' Ui-vf
Avi%
''m
IV. . ■
»iwed he would be in *i.
m:<?m « the Fidk i. „f 7^. r' " "
^.«:;7 *!"'««. »?f Annclui«:/^«i But
>?".^«!!<iui.
■ *sS
ef<
c«f Reader he
5 DiTcipIet of
enial tni in^
n Eartii witJ^
Miniftera of
•^«r iatenral
Days, But
lien he was
'«J up iJito
ercbjr com-
bine diftanc
i of aain^
he hat de-
icvcr leuve
^'^y JOHM
^Pi" every
'HKttT ig
fmj But
( FJeih 'u
»t no true',
Cob ^pn-
-( f3« )
th« la .Uowed t^ '«I1 the Ch-^h of Rome) but
the Meaning of this Cenfeffion it that CMRwxis
Jcnown to come now in the Flcfh not only in his
Mioiftew Utlikcwife in all his People/*; There-
fore the Voice f)f that Spiritual Union in Chkist^
royftical Bodyns the Voice of Chrmt in the Jplefli*
And thus, my deai^eader, you underftand what.
I mean by the Miniftcrs of CHRftr receiving their
external Gall from Christ t But do not under-
ftand me that I call the Voice of evevf Gfett^«^
the Voice of Christ, or the Minority of Voi^s
in every Church the Voi«» ofCHRist; by»p.
Mefns, becaufe there tre many who arc cadlcfl /.
Chriftians, that are 8trang)ers to Christ, and
Churches Aat are called Churches of Christ*
that are but the ftrong Holds ofSinand Satta*
But I n*eanth« Voice of that fpiritual Ifcjon of
his Churchy who ftand^ and afts in^^He tciie Ife
lowfliip of the G»fpefi and thtt i« d(^^ thf
Spirit of Christ in tKe Flcft. Aid here I
^ot but obferve» what was f«id worthy of Rcr
m>ibmce by a Servant of the I^oyd; A,9hvch
of Christ, iaithhc, iaftead of^cinK back A«
r«))dik
.^.
Rom. »» •. -'•'. \T«f T. r.-.{
wt
'&^
<~^
' 4 "^7l^»«^ of ,fc .„ie M„^ i^
TIfible JEuMdiH t ti'flii la .i-.; a .. i .
K«I.J.o« ,h« ,v„r3 , rrfijioa, 0„b„.^ „^
««» iSe .n 4. Cufeof CH»„r U»t mkc^fZ
fcffion ofhi.K.Mc.nor.hi„l „.tyoAc . Member
ofh„M.tt.«ilBody who i,c,tt(ed. Member of
ll« CWch,i.6r«ny thing afled, ortniiftaed of
«r for Christ, that is done wholly „id,oa,'
Christ. ^
S.coN,Lr, wherever yo|i «rtd die Spirit of
Chmst , ahho' ,mi,„g ,he ftoft poo,,.«ddlt '
paw People <« Eard. .^ievetW i.W«e done
m the Caafe of C,M5T *hei,,4.„ in d,, g^*^
CorpoiatioH., *ith ,He „«,« ■ fejaeft Difci-lia;
ff the highe(M»idm<r4I«,< ^Ucdly, fct the
World- difdaU thM,,, *,,Se f^(c<><friai of the
E".h,,ndtoadth««with.hemoft i„f,„..^
R^roiehes; yetifthey « poffefledof th.,^
B«F«ofthc8piri.of4e,«^^^ *§
p. .h«« u the «ceUeirt.^ J, ^ ^^^'^'
P.»pi.on,who« Goo J«.«i.«*rM^i
^ "• St6rjrfs
/ J
P'
m^
p.^
If
^"'"""■«"J'»» love your own SW, ., ^„
"^^•"'"■"■Srfc^.»r.Moni«,f, pe*ce.
«d foiia Confoladon; fi^m this komcn*. .Hn^
tI.ev«ftler.Ag«oft.e„i,^,„„„ gfv. fl„p „,
you, Ey«,«„r Slumber .6 your Eyelid,: un.tt
you have c.ft jr„ur pr.f«e i„d evcrl.ftiu^ Lot
•^k-f."' '"'" " G'"-" '»l^"v. Hail
A»U^,gMy f.„„^ of the Lord Y,; Blefled
,^Mn<Ued. iMeffed in dly 8.&et. „d
,^. ^ Bkffed ^ thou whin thou goe, out
aa cotfe..n^ Blefled in Life, and in DeatE.^
ffielTed for tirte .i,d for fiterriity.
'. C H A P TE R xn
jlf 8 fillen A.A„ .„ wj. w. g„.,, ^j g^__^^
M To II hi. 8«„. being ,fa^f,„^ ^^^^ ^^
.^en tiUeaief«neinelfta„.l Methodic obt,i„.
' ■• ^ til. * ■ » . ■ ' -^ ft.
thiag mow i^^t«ral, than for Siniiers, wh.o are mi
dcr,fomc^onviaions by the awakening Spirit of
Gqn.when beginning to ice their G«»ilt and Nak-
cdncfs, than to labour for a Cpvering of their own
Performances* They begin tothink that they are
bom todieji^find they have been quflty of
fome Sins, |pPegin to itare them in the Face, &
being thus troubled with a guilty Confcience, they
imagine they will (land in need of a Saviour fom<j.
time or another ; and therefore they muft begin to
ftir themfelves and look around thcni^|||vadon j
tiicy will forfake their grofs Vices and ppcn Pro-'
frnity, and fly to flidtor themfdvcs under fom^t
external Profeffion by faUing in with fom^ I^rfji^i '
pie of Religion, and perhaps they wiU away Ui
their Minifter for Advice , who ini^cad offtrMi.'
ping them of all their falf. Hopes or Dependant
and fliewing them more of their miferable, loft
and undone Condition, and idvift|ig then, Ho «Ml
their guilSrSouls «Pon Chiist^^ «cvtr Ifc
till they havereceivcd,i|n,4«^ ,f p^
^^ Souls, they will (tcK,^^^,^^^^
yifc them tothe forjakia^.^ v;^v .^^ i^iZ^
1^
.( iif y
•'r
«*«'-, art rttfe^i- . "'"' *«*» tt»
♦«'..> .
*nllct<i'
M Aey h.re ^ «8 upo, : „4 ;*,« ,^, „
■an... »„y pk,^. g'''""^ ^SIm-S"'-
j% - <»>. Mdi^^ ,^i^ _^^ .
ftf TiUe y M ai^ tk ^a ^^ ^1. ^*^ "-^ ***** . ■ '.-
if Ti.t--_ '-"'"W ■BIBK-aa iblBttt
T^
4-,
'4^
4
.T-'- X,'
1 1
*"
239 ) ,
^^cMtf^kc thatM nihouid be ib .*3lou, for
W..clorc.dhc.c«|.o.HeL.w,a„dU,oughr,
^d Goo Service Wl.*« 1.^ &"nc
were not willing to W the Siek k..i-j /
■'iJ *r ";• »*' <■«' »"»• Z«1 .M Suiflnca of
«dt: J. r'**"''^'"'"^ ««-"■'.
yda«,d.Ih.ow„f„^^„^_^,
-■,.■■?.
( ^40)
innen, a^d/nak-
of Men.frjo
and how fatal
iTo t^iloas for
Truth f Saul
and thought he
periecutihg the
ipei ftitious and
aidnotcatwrth
«y coiildftone
'^ The High.
Goj)'3 Houfc
»
nals, that they
healed, on the
could declare
>/feffedwitha
iclzchuh. fxj
dStriftncisof
rhesandlndi-
f Bitternefs,
Strangers to
to Colours.
Hell in a naore dangerous dfe, tlun thofc \jirko
«re thus contentedly. Aeltereii. uiid«» a ClofOf oC^
Externals, a Fo^m of Godlinefs Wit^iout ehe Poww v
Mthe D^vU and his AdvopatqsViir if po#^v
fcach them to believe, that |11 ?rctenfi^ni td v^ijU
l^el%ion, Conviaions ^ Codycrfiq^js, or J[oy ii|
tlie Holy Ghoft i» thefe ©ays is' no^jbing ^
but Enthufiafm, or t^c whimfical Npticww of Im*
poftors, and if t^«y do but keep clofc to thoff
Forma and Hjfternals, all wUl be wU: ■»4 fo
il\c poor deluded Soplt (like Silkworms that lyprjk
themfdves to death in a Uttle SMI)«fpei»d.ill theij
Dayi patching, vii; holding up a Form of IWi,
g'on, until at Igft, when a conquwing D<f«t|i ftriicca
the fatal Blow, the Fabric^ falls to their Surpi3b%
' and then, O too Ihocking to r^ehtion, th^ cf^. ^
left with th«s mournful Cry o£th? fooliflj :V^|ift»j
Give us of yxiur Oil for oiir Lambs are^itfti^/^/
aiid fo lie down in everlafting Oonft^iti libera
too late they axe Qomrlnced of their ii^-jimt^ei^
eoVcrable Miftake. Well but; iaith^«ne,%roul4
you wholly objea againftall gttheringof QI||^hQi^
« .^d joiiUBg„lQL Churches ? T e s, my 'dt u ^M ^ '
{ 24n
Fif t
..Ssr ! , I
!•' '^
r^"***' •"^'ww. f&a. »!■« ftdi
I^rf* «hi. I^ „We Religion i.»|p:
' 4
■"'*^, ''■^']'' . j©in
<*
ii^^^^i^'-4i^^.^-i&p.:.-l'>^^-M»*'*^A'
V- - - 'i
j«|tt^«Clitoc^f f(»x ? Ydnr'Rtfqutft, my dear Ri<a;i
&r/ fliaU be^rw^r^d. Rril, With Regard wh<»t
yw ihall tkinllc df ODdfa people. Yiiu may think
fiF them as Uic Itotd hath taught you. t% thin^
•f Scribes and Pharifes :f«; And utUcft their "^
2mI is eccafioned by g' Love for Religon f «k "
clttfivfe t>f all Reward! and Patil|hineQt8, thef
Will cettainly die with the Hope of the Hypni^
erite, and Will inevitably pwifli to all Eternhyl '
And a«for thcBnd> f<» which the flncere Cha^^ '
ti*n joins with the Chunch of CMiiU'i kJI
not fot a $heltci- from fhe eiinild ^kohh. F^
if he is a true Chri(|ifll^ he is already flic!t«rtf4
froia^ that by thfe hxtid of evetiailing Strength :f<^
And itjumi^iJj«-t«rfn^re for Peath r for he
'|s fo far prepared for it, that Death wouM lie
aGaItt to hifljjr*/ neither tan it bcfor to merit
the F*vo\ir of ^on» ; for that he has already:
tot, nfeither can he ever hf&it.ft) Now if you
would ko^w the gnnd Motive that exchcs theiir>i
I will ttfpt yoti t6 Whm itWtfl^^ tiic Ptofihft
Dai^. %hy, faith jic, It ftr becanfc M:Wt(jm
SUvcr
-ifv :
', T
hi -■
(«« )
Silver/^; Again (faith tlic fame P«,piit) when
•Iwoft in an E«afy under . Senfe of the Sweet-
aeft of th, Way, of Goi. breaking but in fuch
I'-nguage a, thi.. O hour love I thy Law, it i,
'^f^^f^^'thcD^.rO So that you
ft-^Jt „ wholly «,t of a Lbve for the Way.
of OOP, and theprefentEnjoyment, which they
find therein , For it ia the Food, Light, Xife
«»d Joy of their Soal. , .„d therefore the fame
PropheMaith again, I would rather be a |>oor.
deeper in the Houft of ay (Jbn, thati to dwell
In the Tent, of Wickcdnefa//; Jti, the De-
light of t^e Heaven born Souls to go hand in
ItnAwith the defpifed Mowers of the Lamb
trid to enjoy the PrivHcge* of ^e Gofpcl with'
'them. :'f :/ "''■- ». 7..-. ., ■ :' ■ ■ • " , ■
^ And now, let me intreat every on^ lijowhofe
Hands thefe few Line. ,nay fall, iiat to|atter
yonrfelf^ith the Hope, of refgniHg with ChriH
forever, bccauf^you beir hi. aumehere. norex-
p^'tojdifi dieCh»rchtrkiinphant, bccanlfyou
pioftrfi to he * J^^t^ i»f ftc Church nylvapt.
^'^ W «iafcti^^^ae|fbpli& Vii^ins had their
Laafps
rophct) when
»f the Sweet-
l but in fuch
tyLamr, itif
>o that you
•r the Ways
which they
I'ight, tife
re the fame
' be a poor-
i«i to dweJl
is thtDe-
go hand in
the Lamb>
ofpclwitii
iato who(e
( to flatter
'ith Chrill
I nvHta^t.
had their
■/■;
tamps as well as yoM.(g) Von may^^rkewlfe
find, altho* they had no Oyl, they wete fo con-
fident ofthelr^ftanding, that they arofe and trim-
med their Lamps without any more Corieen^^^
than the wife Virgins, until their Lampi
were gone out in tot?l ^arknefs: For the word
faith. Then all thofet Virgins arofc and twmmed
their Lamps.^i^^ And tha» you may fee, that
your beijig confident is ndt t/fufficient Eyfi
deuce that your Standing is^godSi fcr a man
may be as confident on the Sand, ae on the Rock ; '
if the JDevll can but make him believe that all
-if well. Many a Man has died in Peace, only
1)ecaufefome Prieft or Friar has pretended to par-
don their Sijis, The Jews, who to their dying
Day, will declare Chriftto b^the grcatell Im.
poftor on Eanh, will many of them leave the
World with the grcateft Confidence of their fu-
ture State being happy ; althoV the t<^brd dt^I
•lares that thus dying, it is impoffil^c for them
«o be faved ; fij The Mahometans will nian^
ofthein triumph. over Death and the GwiVc till
^ ia^ Momeift. "H^i^ what"tKtnF"|5u
m now of your confidrnc«i my dtfii^ Ikj|4«r^ kullt
[i] Matt. as. I l/t] M«t.a$. y. iMl^ »• 54
■■■4ef*v
dniy
( H9 }
S"n<«» of .r.c JJeJigio,. „ u, W. CwJ/ -
*"rfem„gyoUfra«tba,^J^*?"' ■^'' '
>t thjnj( yon
aovr think
alTure Jii^
wiJiout^i.
irity with-
«/ dew
Hou|, or
hen
m
for f^ch
cMsiM
^yin.
'Of
»*'.«^''
.(/:
-,,, .|»-|r,.., ...^ 4, , ,
iinppffibl<l for to be in' i worfc gohdliion an thU
$idc of eternal Defpair^^n on « falfe Hope.
and you have b«t one
if thit be (oae by
gone fotivtr. do
Wty longer on fuck i
|8otil to ioj; I iHd
Heart, )^«iraiii
ipimoctfl Spailt
of infintte Dan-^
«ew. j,ou may be Very aealow attending to the'
Externa, of Religion, heat manyJSoAfil m.
n«>li3. pmaice niany Fomu of J^<i^y^^
fdf. be baptized with Wjuer. Iftd c«eie to l£
^Sacramerit, ^ the laMtoV %{>« * and jm
hem taae dne Crmmli^ j,|, ihe livii,^ £,t«4
t^t eomci ddwii fi>om Heavwir. -And O, w^ iviH
*a-thtt avail y<»ittJ^^ng^^^o^^., youiai^ cftiab
^ott #e W4j|l bccaufe your Miniftet ha^4g|||an
ved >««il aChfiftian: Bttt,Od<iaottro^S»
^•Jvationon the jadgement <tf mfty Man. .J^i
fideUtmay be thatydair Minifler is as^eat^raoi
rr to CnaisTAa yoiilielf, o be ihii«ated ^^
fo« to tXM^M ywirilanding^foreymt^i
fc ctft, and bdHd! y^ ^ridatipn'^^
Rock that wai ftahdfbiweri >^
>•
w iii |)ii,i i H i i i» j i . n ii iii nn i
x^li:Ap;rjg^':prf
,#
S«*<. "
».'
I
» *
m
Ctt A PTt k Xllt.
- , Tht trut Church «/ Christ.
Nofir come io take iVAall View of the Form
iiid Fiilhion of this Hdufe of Gou, viz. A
Gctfpcl Church. And here I can't but admire
^ Cbndua and Prudeflcc of that wife fiuif^ci*
(tWiowas It Type df Christ) when abou^ to
build; the Houfe of the Lord (which wasliJce-
.#ife « Type of CHRisr's Church) in beihg fa
^i*ful^^t<» have every Stone hewed and.fquared
fefoitildyc into the DuiJding, that there might
be nonoifc of Axes or Hammer* in the Houfe
«^^ori i(l) fb there is none that is fit for the
-^ingofCHR„T'svifibleKingdom,Mfucha,,
•i^wught out of thifbde Mafs ^ Sinnerr into
il»^llha,^ofth^SonsofGoo,.whoh.ve been
*^frQm Deatii to Life; from theJrState of Con-
Jpi«««to a Stateof Juftification:that theremay
*^ifc of the Hammer and Ax^ Gonviftion^
m tlw Work of the Law in the vifible C\^nh ^
for unlefs they are brought to a faving. Uiuoii
^.
any ©ivihe Life from^itn , aiid tkercfbrc ih>
ftead of bciiig any way fcmccable to die CUurcl^
they will be as the aecu^fcd Thing in the Camp i
(mj they \*ould be prejudicial to the whole
Body and perhaps the mpans 6f Scaling rhcmrdvci
down to ctel-nal Perditiori likeivife.^'^; . An^ "
-V altho' no Church can have an infallible Know-
ledge of the Candidates for Gommunion; neither
can we expeft a pure Church on Eartth withwt; '
fome Traitors j yet that ddth not alter the Oaf©
withth^Uiibeliever: For he la iw niore fit fo^:
Communion or Church Fellowfltip, than if cveis^
Church-Member had art infallible Knowledge of
his Staridihg. And altho' the EnemieaofjCHRia'i,
bear fo hard againft any futh Thing ni Go{}>^#
FdIowlhip,yet,bleiicd be God, there isa.S^
fatisfjMng Knowledge of thofe Things, whicJ^^^^^'
World knows nothing of v Yea the Wordof OdiJ^ '
whifch never can fail, has declared that the ^nittit
. have Communion with Goi> die Father, Son anci
Holy Ghost, and iiQ%l«^ one with Ant>4
ther :fpj And althb* thire ^^re Tares among thd
y^^ fi^^imU^!^^^
i«.l]oft. 7. 11, la.- [a] I. CftTtii
' u
j"«a. 7. II. la.- i«j I. Cor.iuti,^ Kit
ef
'^
■if!
«■
■•\"
( »+9 ) ■
of the Woria gfowiag togeAcr. Yd would by
Mean, have „y R«a„ obferve.tha. die Time
thofe Tares were town, w„ while Men flept YW
|U.d therefore we *ay „.fo„abIe f„pp,re,,ha. had
U3e„,vouldnothavebee„ro„,,„,Tares.Butwheh
Chnftians get a Ara/from Gon and are tteeping and
flumbermgwitl, the (bcJilh Virgins, and Chorehea
row formal, loofing the iWer of Godlinef., then
'^'y m « great Meafure lofe that Spirit of difcem
%wlicHGobof hisgreat IWercy ha, given tohis
People: ^,; and then it i, th« Unbeliever, e^ud
Jnfofaft,„totheeh„rche,. Bu, I« them croud
u>.verfom.ny. or even gather whole .Churehe,
1*.th Unbeliever,, yet none but true BoUever,
Jre Member. ofC„.„.., Myttical S„dv, and
Wore no«e ^ be „„et Member, of the
a«rchM,lu.„t,buif„eh^h.vc.,to„^i„
feeglorao«,ehurchTri„mphant;andfueh„oton.
r^v^Fellowftiponewith another, but ttand in
laid have Communion with the HolvR ■ •
.:^^-e^ive.heirStren::h:S-j::
=tTjffi«.V3.;,.-w..^;;,,, „,
■■^. -■•'-:
iiom Go. th.ctera.U'ounMin fc d«, ts,o„A
P«uk=»ofA.divi« N.t„c. „4. i„i„^ ^.^
Dcgrc. of U.« Spirit th«juVd. .11 Tlu.g, ,A.
teb,„daonEa„h„dbin<I.UH«ve...„a
«f«o,E,r.h.„dWe,i„Ho.v»:thcy.„
dom of C.,„T , .nd d«f, ftopie ba»g .k„ „.
d«m.d by Ac Blood of ,hc *.ri.iU.g Cov.««.t.
"d „.„.d .0 .hcLoxd JB,„, C«..„ by d>. Holr
^t" "^'""^ '""""» ^-^'^
^;!";'7'°'*'"^"^v«^"«af„;^.„^
' '"' '«*• •« '""•W Th.«f.„ S i, „ .
..rp*.UbI.IVivU.gc»ek.„,^»^„'"
PO'Wq, ,0 «„Ue in .hc>cllowftip«,4. (^J
Pd «d ^ Hand in H„d in a. W.y. .f <^„^
™^*"«» .0 b. <l.priv«,.f.H^ft.
■**^^ -vKi
4
jf^'-
^*»t <
i*
Privileges, bec«uf<s that their Nurtbersi Gift*
and Qi-aces are fmall ; but have an undoubted
'Rigkt tp embody aild gather themfelvcs together
in 'Church-Order for the Improvement of futh
Gifts ind Graces as God has blefled them with i
which was fufficiently proved, when it was proved
that all the Power laid in the Church or Brother-
hood : Yea altho' their Number njay not be more
than fix or feven Male Members, fot Christ has
promifed to be in them, with them and blefs
theni. And at fuch Times/ when Chriftians are
al)out gathering together in Church Order, they
ought, if they can conveniently call for Advice
•ind Affillance from ChrilUan Churches, but if
they cannot get any from Spiritual ChurcJies.
they ought by no Means to call for any from thofe
Churches, that hold the Form without the Power;
but fliould aft and tranfaft within themfelves in
all the Privileges of the Gofpel, as far as their
Gifts and Oraces may extend ; altho* the Chur-
phes of Ahtichrift will bear hard againft fiich Pro-
ceedings. And v^'ith Regard t6 any circumftan-
tial Difference in the external Obftrratitma pf
-ft4ifeitjny-t|iey o ug ht ty- no Me afli tdftake 'TOy^
^iyifiQa.aanong the true Citizens 6^ SioVj tn4
T
r "j-W-
** *." * -fd
( ^5i )
■^
« nothing^ ihort of the Baptifm of the Hon* j^
GHOs^andi?i^,icanfit a Man for the Church of' It^
Christ, or unite him- to CHRiST»sinyfticalB6d7, 5,
therefore <lifFerent Sects and Denominations or^
circumftantialTbiiFerences about Wtter-Baptifm!
concerning Infants or Adults, fprinkling or Im. '
merfion ought to be no more a Bar in uniting,^
building and communing together, at the Lom.'s
Table, and all other Gofpel Privileges, than the
Difference of their Voices and Looks : Forwhen"^^
the Living God by the Blood of his Son, and
the Gift of his Holy Spirit has infeperably united
them together, who but fuch as are more zcaloua
/or the Shell than the Subftance, or hav« goft
niore of the Baptifm of Water than that of Fire/
would, for the Difference of fuch external Obft^-
vations, prcfume ^o pu^tim afimder t and efpc-'
dally when againft the cxpr|fs Command of;
GoD,^»; and likewife fo often mp^cd for.dif,^
ifering about fuch inferipr Xlattcrs; or fetting
• Seaarian SpiritYo;; And it is wtlltg^^^,
fcrved, that when the great Gofpel. I^gw-Gjiii^;
I ^^« of the Door into his Churchy a Bc ^a| )i th^^
^ivHegesorthe Gofpel, he <ioes:riot fe^tl^tKi*
/
-AJ-I
■S^iil
« i
*«^c!p^^> God IbrWd' liiit ©Vera ffcaven bom
a^"ftttul<i^ again hc^|p«|id with ikk&d^an'
'•^^^"^'^ ' ^'^ not Gcyjk declare again as f liin '
'^^•ean, bttwiprtfledfortlAoamingof (od^DiT.
*dc«?, due there is neithc»ipe# nor Greefc, nei.
'Ihferbctod nor free, neither %leitor Female, but
.^«ort,ih e,Ht«T /.s.,:r|^ Aiidyet, O too
^^oekingtobe told in Gat|, or puBfiffied in
,c»«ALOM'. tWe beggarly Matters uire too offeh
«^ip, tb tlic wounding df Religion, and in
Tftnesxjf Dkrtnefsa^ a fcparating Wall; even
imoh^mt-fpmwm df the Lamb, who were all
once the fame by Wattiir, and* are afl now the
famebjfG'nrce, all drihk dfthe fame Stream, all
e«t the farite Food, all wear the fame Robe, all
^iighuiifcm the Ikmc C.ufiJL>«ght upon l^
the f«me ^piri^ all t«vell«h. fame Cil
,of Reft, and wiir aHmJi^. j, g,, ^ J
T~7~-'
•If,
V
3* 4*
thcWor caf'
Heaven bom
;aln as |}]bin
■v
of fvtch Bif.
Greelr, nei->
Femaie, but
1 yet, O too
uBfiilied in
re too offeh
^n, and in
^all; even
io were ail
H now the
Jtreart, all
I Kobe, all
nc Father,^
tit upon fc^
^adie Ci^
thd famtt
Kingdom
ICingdom, and all join the fome harmonious Bani
>'<^ everkfting Praile, where ©ifcord, 8in and
Sorrow fliall be no more : And yet againftall this,
a^mft the very Nature of the Thing, againft their.
own Welfare and exprefs Command'of Gao, (O
^et me fay it with Grief) . there are Har^ and-vSc-
I<j^ations fometimes among the true JioUowers of
Christ J. yea fo great^ that fame will <.not fit
down at the I^ojd's Tabic together. ' Pray "'what
^cufe can they have, or whatJ^rofit .can they
expedl to gain thereby ? Qnce^more I.will repeat
tiie exprefs Word of God,' there is faitli he nei^
.iher Greek nor Jew, Circumcifion nor UnciTcum-
iion, Barbarian, Sfiythian, bond nor ftce.s biU
Christ isl^l.^^ln all.f^/ And now,^tfeo* Lhsnc
offered both Scriptur? 'and Reafon, fufficieattD
convince any who are Handing Candidates for
Light; yet as it is a Matter of more Importance
than mjny y ^^^g^ll^ I <»*» but sreler say
R4ad|||b^mK i * ftp b^^fc(mc of the gceateft 'q^
Viters on thia PoinT Why, faith W*:3ft»jij^
#
sn fad Thing, that <vcr
J*"tt«>^f'^..
I 5^ Height in the Church, and that thefe Opinion^
C f^Pnld be .reckoned more in a Man, than the
SC Pref^ence ^nd Dwelling of God himA*lf and the
I A Spirit in him : And for my Part, faith he, I ut-
^^^.terIy difclaim all A.ch Diftinftion, of^an's mak-
v^, ing, and will allow of no Diftinflions, hut what
X. God himfelf hath^made, and that is this ; ^e
^ > World, and they that are taken out of the World,
Sf.'Or the Church and they that are without, or in
^ ^ ^ the Church, the Children that are born after the
Nf; Flefh, and the Children that are born after tiflc
,^ t Spirit , or which is all one, faith he again, carnal
^., and fpiritual Chriftians. And D|. Tavlor faith
V. (fpeaking. Wittily on the faii^^Matter) That
.^ Mor a trifling Caufe to cut off a Man from Comu
iJ:^^ Hion of the Church is to do as a Man in the Fable,
- >^ ^<^fpyingaFly uponhisNeighbour's Foreheadwent
• ^ ^ to beat it off with a Hatchet, and fo ftnick out
-his. Brains. And Dr. Stillincflett, faith,
tha^ Chriil, who came to take aWay the unAip-
pomble yoke of the Jewifh CermOnies, certain-
iy did never intend to gall Uie, Necks of the
^gifgpleswith «iother inil^ak of i^, arf^ u would
-4Ki ft^ngci^ faith iic, that tKe Church flioiiidrc:
«iuirc more then Christ himfelf did, and make
i ■
more-
.!":;
fe Opinionf^
, than the
fiSlf and the.
:h he, I ut-
^an's mak-
, Hut what
s this ; ihe
the World,
lout, or in
1 after the
I after' the
ain, carnal
rLOR faith
ter) That
>m Comu.
the Fable,
lead, went
[truck out
T, faith, ■
ie unfup.
ceriain-
s of the
it would
-. J^i
Biffre Conditions of Communion, than ourSavIouy
di<^ of I^ifciplefliip. And again faith he. That
without Controverfy the Main of all the IWf-
traftions, Confufions, andDiforders of the Chrif-
tiaf^ Church hath hee^ by 'adding other Condi-,
tioifs of Comixiunion, than Christ hath done.
IJeither vyill I omit here a v?ry plain aii4 com.
pre^cnfive AdviceofMr. John Bunyan. JRewar«
,of a jangling Baptiil and a liot Pre/by terian.
Anp thu^s, my dear Reader, I have eBTdeavourcd
to difcovcr to you. in as few Words as poflible » ,^
true Church of Q^r^st : But the Piivilegea of
fuch aChurch being fo fat beyond whpt I.can po^r
fibly exprefs, that I ipuft refer my Reader to aiji
experimental Knowledge of the upfpcakable TreSj
fures of that Field. And if you fliould.^v^r be ^
happy as to partake of the Wonders of RbdbiMt
iNtt Love, whereby you may be a worthy Mem •
ber of. the true Churchijf Christ; and in the
it*' . v." ■',.;,'-.>iii- ' ' ' ■
Courfe ofGoD-sI*r0«i(3d^be, have your Lotrj^..
in any Part of the World, where there m^ ,b<»|j
*^ few of t^EolIoweri of the Lamb, my fincerc'-ii^ir'
Ji, as yo^ love yoijr ovvn So^«,4iy4
vice
the Sptfis of others, that ye immediately fqaKtjte
from the Powers ofDarknefs, fh«kc off ill;-4ffiwtjr
t
V
v
Vi\
;_^, I '57)
^l00fW^ OktuetM, that hoia tlieFora,
?f Godlineft witKou, th« Power, .„d g..hery„„*
felvM together in the Fellowftipef the j»ipd '
•ndthe Bonds of P«A, «,d fuffern, one from
E«thorH.n d.at may i„v.de your, Privilege,,
ever ,o„b you of that Power «,d Liberty, whiA
;rourbIefledlordI»thpurchafed for you with , he •
)fnce«fl^, own Blood. Ani to all Church!, ,
lh« gathered and travelling, let #„, yo„ „^
•«1«rthySer«„i„ dieLord, intreatyou to ftand
fl>rall the Truth, and Privileges of the gWi ■
td extend .«„eftly for the Faith once delive,ea
ttttheiftunts : Keeponen Doom K>r k.
^mbe^bat clofefeagainftall fuch. as canno,
f^«fati*aoryEvl!lenoe of a Work of Grace
tfeir He^t. and iheir Uniotiothe LoMJ«„,
|H»«T : „d.be .„o.^,i„„ „^ ^^c«..
a^w" !^*^•'"■"'^j°f^*W>>''>■.
!an Jl^ir*'*""" '*!?'^y«»fCa»„T.y>;
fwk't*^ think .f -Water Baptifa.
(SjJ Matt. a», 4a.
^^ ?*.,.*,
^:
'>i» - -.
( »58 )
IFprI wouH advife til Chriftiaw not to buiM
opon fuoh external. ObfemtioM very high, left
they might bar out foine greater Bleffing, nordf-
teem them beyond tvht|i|ood they may do. Aid
w for Water Baptifm, it may jjc obferved, that^
«mqng the great throng of ifs.iealous Advocates,
t^cy differ as much in their pofitive Affertions a«
black from white. Numbers declare it to be Re-
«cnejatidH ; others feem to be fomethinginore«-
finq|l in this" Matter,, and vrill only fay, tfa«t it
puta the Child in a more fiiir Way for 9onverfion»
^jkys the Lord under fomc Oblfgttion to the
<^P,whye many others ftepalmoftas far out of the
' ^ay on the other Side, and will hardly bdievfti
Man to be a Chriftian,;th«^ will ^et hi^'eWditA
baptized, or that will atot be baptized Jiiiitfelf by,.
Immerfion j ai^ fome othcrs^re To offended a]t -aM.
M^ater-Baptifip, that they are fupcrftitioufly cnga^"
ed againft it. Now it is felf-evident, that thefe
cannot all be right, andthei«fofe,if mydear Rea-
der & any Defire to know »y Mind on this Mat.
ter, I anfwer, that after hearing ^^WarttfeiS D«l
n a t es an d greaKiMi rg gme n te fran eveiy Side, tiaA
a cloie Application ta the iafidlible^ W^»dl^
^vUi.Iiirmly believethat ^ ' {vqlt^^N^iUi
. '' * . - . ■■ . that
;■»'.'.
■^
..n. ,;.
p.- «
( *59 ) - ,
that is of any Benefit to an immortal Souf, but
the Baptifm that John tells us his Lord and
Mafter/houldbaptife with, viz. the Holy Ghost
^nd Firc:(zJ And when a Man Is thus Baptifcd,
he will reign wj{h Christ for ever, if he never
fee any Water. And as for the Ufe of the Water,
my Advice is this ;Jf any true Chriftians are con.' ~
Science bound to be fprinJcIed, they andthcir Chil-
drcn, by no Means forbid them ; and.if others are
Coafci^^nce bouqd to omit the baptifing of their
Infants, but chufc to go all under Water themfeives
after Conver/ion, why ftould they not go, and if
others are Confcience bound to omit both, for the
lord's fiOca do not compel them to ufe it : And
by no Mean* fpend too much Time difputing
•bout it, nor depend fo much upon it as to bar ' ,
out fomc greater Blcfling , for it is all (as you wii4
certainly find upon Examination) but a none-ci*
ifcntial Matter of no more Importance than it
does good, and if any one imagines they ar^
Confcience hound, and really expc« to get or do,
fome Good thereby, God forbid, that I ihoul4
hinder, or controul tny Brother's Confcicn«» i^
(') Luke 3. i^.
-A
tlti^
■i?-..
M
ihofe ii6iic-«flcnti«l Matters; And *$ one Mmi
that is baptifcd witK the Holy Qhoft, will be of
more Service in the Church of Cum^r, than Ten
that gre only baptifed with Water,' I would to
God that all his People were- fo tender in tMt
Point, as nev^r to bar any from Cdmraunion but
fuchw God barsj for if he receiye*'them, whQ,
or what am I, that I fliould refufe them. • Kowi
as I intend a few more Word'i of Advice to the
People of God in one of the" following Chapter*
I fliali conclude this Difcourfe with that impor-
tant Advice ofthe God ofall Grace to you,
and all the Followers of the Ltmb. .Stand* ftH.
therefore in die iriberty^ wherewith C^ittT/h^tli
inade yon -frtis:, iind ^e ^ot entangled »|;tiii >^^
the Yoke of^ond«gi.(^ And the Lordof h|«
infinite Mercy, lead you by his own Wordsjad>
Spirit, into all Truth.
^,<-'
mm^-mmiDim^
, J'
CHAPTER XIV.
I* i
{ 261 ) ' .l'-^
dtt.A PTE jR xrv.
•^ HEN the World ,yi?l her cnormouJ^mes
^^=ft-°^ o«ther Day of Probation, ind.
WI that wa.„cceff«ry for the WeJf^e of the fall
-^^n«.,elusbeendoneb;th. Father, Son and
«oly^^^^^^^ wty^jl,haven,ade '
-ft ofMa„k,nd have outftpod the0^ of^G^ace r
have abufeci the Patience of Heaven T;i ^ u '
,,ndc.*eC„rt-eb^^h,o„h„by.heSi„„fiiV
I.h.b„.„„ rt<,„ ^„^„^ ror>fleI«&, Now ■
COM. G««P„eof.He,V<.HdVei„.„j;2
w.th>c«hc„ifl. D„kni6,,„a ,HeCh;iftia„ C^r^ ^
W '">f°™"*i'' «'-"'<• V'* Antichriftia;
«J0ft SupcrilltionTthcn,:^jifq
^4
-.'fsit.i^i
.'■J-
mam
ous^jrlmes
atioii, and,
r the fajl ^
> Son and
lave made ^
I and the^;,
>f jGrace,/
therQb/*^
■erdition;*
n GuiJc,'
s in the
groaned
iin of i]t'e .
I Now ■
Y wains'
crfpread
n Corn.
hriftian
j h w ith '
I ■^,.
awful Scene.. At%Kdnight it is farefairted this '
PttmpwillSwft. '^ X
From tenfold JDarknsfs 'fudden as the Spark,
JFrom Hmitten Steel ^hm nitrous grai n the fiiaze^
Man ftarting from his Q)uch fhall fleep 119 mOr<i''^
The Day is broke which never more fliall clofe*
Above around beneath Amazamejtit all.
Terror and Glory joiii'd in their extremes,
CKir Gooin Grandeur, and our World on Fire,
>. All Nature ftruggling in the Pangs of l>eath:..
t '. •*. ■ ' "-^ '
;^'* YOUMC'S NlQHT-THOUGriTSi
TMB-wife Virgins fleeping ^with the fiDolilh,
fij th'e^trui Chriftians not only , grown fonT;>»l, *
but fm- the Fear^f the Crofs joining Affinity with" •
Bftbylon, that whcire of th^Nations 1 groW!ng ncg- •
ligent ofth^ Catife of Christ, ^d faying by *;
their Coadu«,the"torddelaycthiiHcoming, and
.the Power of GodiiHefs fcarcely to be found orf* *
-Earth J fake Slicpherds and falfe Chri^ decemag
., :jj'*«^ tra^^ m Purp^^and iino Lini4n, aa^ m«k-
♦ ^ ii^'^miiMndiKofthe "?Sooli of Men, fe)^ '
" \ S®**^''>^GoD,wkichwwLonccjrHott%ofPray«rj
*.^
Wivfift
-^ .; ■ ^'g^f e » Pigiof Thicftt ; thg- gfee^pen^ct
V ,■
• / .-
'V
.>
,r *-* '.ff«»*i>!
, .^iwJ
( 263 )
«ng,of tl„„„h grown proud .nd iofty .,„
man„„ of Debauchery fprcadi'ng Uke , p,,;;,
S'«g= PI.y., B.I1, ,„d M.r,ucr.d., received „ aa
ndulgenee from Heaven, .„d .he fimple Recrea-
tions of Fancy , while the Herdd, of the Gofpel,
^-y Wd forth the Truth, are accounted. L
M« «.d Enthufiaft. , Libraries glutted with
Traged,«,Comedi.,,g„„.„e«„ Novel, and 0-
"■" profane Hiflories, whii. the Sacred Oracle.
«ec..h«.nfa,„oufly rejcfled a, the fapofttion,
of deluded Men. or difrejarded « the Fables of
,' ' '""'°«' '■'™™8 ?»a blafphenring „„,„„. .
lythe I,«,guage of Troops and Mariners, but
•Ifo of Towns and Cuntrift, and revived al the
^xpreffionsofPo«te„ef,,Dr„nlten,ef,aco.,pon
Amufemene accounted neither Sin norQifgrac. •
*«R.ch«a,t.d,.hePoort„.„p,«,inthT^;;
M.«a«dE,ui.y „„,« ^,^
.»d A. vJeftoftheSon, of Men exalted, Sign,
r<; W^ .ndR„,„„. ,,^„^ ^^^ ,^^ _^_^^ .J
"•"nan War. f«..diu, Defolation thto' the World
Jo% iail
a Flood ;
ived as an
e Recrea-
hc GofpeJ,
ted as mad
ted with
s and o-
I Oracle*
ipofitions
Fables of
J not on-
T
( 264)
like a Flood ; and thefe with the moil alarming
Prodigies become familiar as the common Occur-
rences of Nature, and as little regarded as the
Shadows of theEvening,or the threSfning Billows
to the undaunted Shore, while the fccure arid Un-
feeling Inhabitants of the Guilty World arc niar-
iying and giving in Marriage, asregardlcfs as the
Antedeluvians, (e) O the Midnight Darkhefs
thaf now ovcrfpfeads the World ! Darknefs ..covehs
the Land and grofs Darknefs the People, fetting.ar
nought the moft alarming Difpenfatiqns of God*il
Providence, and rejifting the moft (indeai^ing Ex-
preflions of Love and Bowels of CompajEoa, Ca]I.<
defpifed, Mercie*s abtifed. Warnings negledted.
Judgments dcfyed*, Confciences fear#jf, M?nd^
ftuped. Souls condemned, the Day ofQraceoyer,
and the World undone. Hark f Hark. The Cry
is made, tha Midnight Ciy. ^ BehoM the Bride-
groom Cometh. Goye Virjgins, goallye Sonsof
Mcil to meet your Judge. (/J Micaxfii. appear* V
Michael the great Archangel noW beftrldes fcdth
Earthand Sea, and thereby denotes ']bi# Power to
.;;^ alarm the ju(^and theUnjuft, the vfatcty^J^omtis
.■>.l<*.^
_• i#]>I«h. z^ 3S. 39. [/] Math.,^as,. 8.
■ •' * • - .H
,W*
•« Jl
^ f:-
!''■■ • i
«ad tjve nioftjirofi?und Caverns oft he fearUij with
WftedAwn to Heaven, not only claiming tlie At-
tendance of. all the Heavenly Hofts. but likewife
'"' ^^'"^^^ft-^^ of W God-like Power with his
dread Gommiilionfroni the eternal ThXone ;afld
^ th« calling Heaveri, Earth and Sea to attcnd,he
lifts his Hand and fvvears (by what) by Hxm, whi
.- gaveBei^g ,0 all that do exift, artdwhofe Com.
mands Heaven, Earth and Sea obey ; Armies in
Heaven, Le^ion^ in Hell, and Miilioh. on Ear^/x
«« «I* byHiM preftpved, ^nd mn aU feel his
lolemn Awe; by him* the Great I AW, who
\ ^Ws um«oved, eternal and UncontroiUM^ ever
ynd fc* ever reigns , by Him ITwrcar (fwear whaO
-Wiat Time /hall bp no longer. CgJ
Jliid ceaf<;, ye rolling Orb^ from^ole to Pol<?.'
Time* Aants with enormous cdfies Joud call,
For threatening Vengeance on th^£ guilty Ball'
^^''^'"din^-oushear.t^laftTra^^^^^
.HcrbdlowingTlmndmrea^hfi*m» Shore to
Shore.
Afi£s
S-:,.^'
: .'. ,-■ J. '■:
\''Sk^^- ^
.f
Arife ye Detdj^ye f umljcrinf quick 4ppc»r J
Start from your Couch and the laft Sentence
h^n ^ . -;
Yoarj[udgedcfccnd«,y(Mir final Doom i$ hfgh ^
The pdBMioua Morning rends the incltiiis^||ey'
Sbb, fee a threateningDdMge now aW«k» ;ful#
phuroua Worlds burft forth their Magazine* of Fire
S inftanuneous iUrt i^Ten Thou$md8 formidable -
Sons of Thunder* the Heiiv«ns Ihake wit^ the apw
^roachiag Scenes ; the l^^zing 6im is cxtinguiu-*
dl ail a Taper ; the MooiL and Stan all <<tinr4U '
fe^> refufe a Gleam of Li^t to the Poor Guil*
ty, diftraaed and difiblymg World ;(i) 9^ fa!-'
.Icn Nature feels hir aj^roeching Doom. "
^tthit^s I bear ber^ €9Hfciou$^ tf btr Fmte^
^ Witbffatful Gramgs andbidtiftu Crifs
Fill *be pre/agiug Siiu ^ \
VmaiU to fuppof^ tbt tfiigbt .
O/tbtprefeittjor^afprmbit^llBfgrift'
Mttbinks J hear berfummouall' , ./ s
Her guillf Off springy raving with Di^r -\ J'\
And trgmhling try alotult frtptire, ; 1 ^•
■ • ** PoMFHRltJ'hfv-
,<»)»fatt.a4. t%.
.^.i-^
' i^.j^.M* .■
S
-■• - .t •
The $cas rojir, the Rocks ineit, the E^rtli
trembles, the fhundtM-* rattlf , Lightnings play ;
Earthquakes rend j Inundations ovenflow ; Hou-
fcs barn ; Pyramids reel , Vj^ges, Towns, and
Kingdoms fink J while buying Hills exceed
Mount JEtWs o| Visuvius's Flames'; the
Graves open , the Dead arife j the quick are
chanj^ed j and firll the Saists appear ; Hearen'^
LtiVc is fo great for the Followers of the Lamb
that Men and Devils fhall bchoM his peculiar
>Regard for them ; for the Lord himfelf Ihall
defcend from Heaven with i Shou^, with the
Voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump
of God, and the Dead in Christ fhall rife
firi^i/ij And blcflcd and happy are fhcy that
have Part in the firft Rcfurreftion j on fuch the
fedond Death hath no Power/i; The King of
Kings is now making up his Jewels, and will
firft ferve his chofen Sons from the r«de Mifi
t»f Sinners.
Sti hw the joyful Angdt fy
from e^ry quarter of the Sky
(Oi. Tb «f.4.a 6. f^j Xav.a6. Wt
r»
. • "fi » ,'
v^.
( 26^ )
% gather and to convoy all
\To one capacious flace
Above the Confines of this fldmin% Balf^
'&ee^ith nuhai Tendernefs and Love they heitf
Thg Righteous Soa/s thro' the tumultuous Air
While ihe\ungodly ftand.belo'W
R^ing with Shame, Coufufion and DeJ^air
Amidjl this flaming Overthro^jt \
Expeaing fiercer torments and acutef- Jr^M
Round them inferfud Spirits fly ^^
O Horror! CnrfesiTorturesy Chcuns they cry ^
'^And.roar aloud tvith execrable Bla^hemy.
POMPHRET.
What awful Throws I What Heart-rending
Groans and chearful Shouts ire now heard . thro*
the promifcuous and innumerable Throisgt t^f
bove Angels fhouting, Seraphs prailing* and
Saints triumphing ; beneath Devils blafpheming,
and Sinners- roaring. Good Gop ! And where
ami ? ;«. ,
AJl renfijal Ties diilblved, and oS ill Mom
* ThreWn ,■ ,A-^^?'^% ■
yo mort fliall Time, or Weight of fpi6i.ftfc
r'i
-5...
fcaown.
FaRit vr«\ild not bepbifible fw Mortals ift
( *69 )
Y
C.
liear, fee. or receive the approachiog Scenes,
whick arc fpirhual and immor^r Now all
Mortal ^pat^oH ImmoruJity attd/p^es to meet
the i«mortal King, to hear «id receive their
cverlafting Boom. The Maflc is oow thrown
off; theC Prifon-walla are down; and nothing
more to interpofc between Man and Scenes un-
Jcnown to mortal Efts. Now the Bodies arife^
hut not the Elemental Bodies, for they arc to
he bprnt up aad-dt^Tolved,^/; but that fpiritual
Body wkitk Man was made with at «rft, and
whith fell firort^Goo?this Rebellion, aa^ which
ewry Man has tho» fallen, is now to be raifcd
«^ reftored ^ its primitive Rcaitude and Purity.
/«; TTie Dull 6r fcattei«d P«tidcs V Tin
'fhoufand Saints now. ftarting fr^m tlici; long
lumbers, which have been fcattcrcd hy Fi/h,
hy Flame, by Rack ; in th«Sie* or ontheLandi
aH rife and claim a kindred to each diftant Mote,
all purged, all pure, all harmonipus, alf brighti
all Aogcjic, and all immortal.
• And nov^ their Friend appcart.
The hap^y Mom awakes. O blcfe^ Day *
ThaiwipemeirTeai ^, and all their grirfaway.
Wz. Petw i. 13. u. („) ,:cm» 1 5. 3^44. 4/. 46. * 4r.
-\\
,<^
V
«jm :„„
ing Scenes,
Now all
ires to meet
ccivc their
OMf tl)rown
id nothing ^^^ i
Scenes uti-
xlies strife i
hey arc to
It fpiritual
t £rfi, and
and which -
• be raifed
nd Purhy.
iicir long
hy FJ/h.
the Laudj
Ant Mote^
ir brighti
4 D»y*
46. it 47.
V
Now an the Sai«V Iutc reach'd the peaceful
Shore. ■ . \
tl^here Darknefs, Sto, and Death fhall reign rio
more. 1
Thi great ANcrsNT or Davs now owns
all his defpifed FollowA-s. Long have they been
accounted as the Fihhl and Offfcouring of the
Earth, and pramj^d inllhe Daft by the Feet of
the Ungodly. long wtre thejr ld«led with Re-
proachei, and efteemcdi»s>!adm«B and Enthu-
forts; but now they »re ixakdd : Whifc the
wicJced World fliall for ever wail, «f^t in vain
for Rocks &Mocnta^i^to'j^id©tH|)*|Wir«p,
'that fits iij^nthc Throinfe, and fwm «h« i'acc of
the Lamb.^«; Ai»d *ow Ivffi^ toved^«bcni
with an everlafting Love, fliall te?tw« ihtniin
his kind Embraces, wi^ile An||4^9 n^ Archaft-
gels acclamate their faft Arrival Xb tht etflefti^
^orld. Now breaks forth U>c bri^i^tp^ ftfift-.
ning Star j now the Arms of evfrifttig hgn^
encircles them, diyinc Beauty i^klu»| faj, ej^^
Eye, and facred Love lluihes in each. 4ii|e^c.
Face. Is t^s the Lamb, cry otit Taii !pMa#<
^^
4») Ker. «. 16.
•
s
4
w
ftscl-
«»
•
\
L'-Vfe
*v,„
^ f ■i iJit", ^
V *"
^.,^
J
r .■■4
IT'. -Itf
V
( 271 :jr' >^
And Saints, is thi. the Lamb that was Slain ?
Ah flain, the finking World to five. Ii this tj^p
^ Man of Sorrows, that bore our Sins up Mount
'" ^AtVARY, and groaned beneath our Qilt ? Is
this the great Phyfician of Souls that appeared
r fpr our Redemption, when all Help failed from
cv^ry quarter; when |)eaA and Hell co^fpired
Qur Ruin ; when Deftruaion yawned, Yen-
seance threatened,, and Miftry purfqed. Then
O fen, in that diUreffing Moment appeared the
^er » Friend, the Comforter .f Mourners with
Balm from G....o, to the wo/ded Confcience
That brought Salvation to the fallen Race
JLet Angels love and eve^ Saint adore
TJ»e flaughterj^ W,, who did the World
Reftore.
Now ,11 the F.«ow„.ofthc Lam. have, left
ftjguJ.xW„rid,,„dfo„„d„.„^
^:""V ;"*«l„.p,oWd.if„.hkp„.
P^«<wWedli.Pe«..„d„.mte™piedJoy.
^-'g^g-^ - - *^«^ i*4er*rw^
, TcjQ^tations
^,.„,.V*r-^
*5K
was Slain ?
Is this %
up Mount
Qihi Is
It appeared
failcci from
1 copfpired
led, Vcn-
d. Then,
>pcared the
"V" with
'onfcience.
2 Arm of
n Race
3ore
he World
have, left
ft, whicli
his Peo-
ted Joy.
Body of
feeTlBr
yjtatioiis
■'■.,-,•.■11 < I '■ ^ % \
ll"' ■ . ■...! _ *■ ■ , .
Temptntions of the grand Advirfii'iyj^p be in-
Aiared with th)i Allurements of adecpPn WbrH^
No logger Khali their Breafts throW with Griefs
nor their Eyes flow with briny Tears, nor 6vep
mourn the Abfencc of their SoiUs chief Delight.
Now are they landed beyond al^ the Storms and
Tempefts, beyond all Sin and Sorrow : for
thefe aie they th|t are come out of much Tri>.
bulatioh, whofe , Robes are wafhed and made
white in the. B1do4 of tlte Lambj^©^ apd thef*
are they that died in the-Lord, apd reft in their
Father's Bofom, O what unfpeakable S<;enes c^
Joy nov^ppears, when they awake in hl« l,ikt-
u^is aiid are fatisfied i(pj and thofe that have
turned many to Righteoufnefs ihall ihtne as the
Stare for ever and ever }(^^ while ThOufands
by them called home to the Lord are as Stars
in thctt Crown, crying out with Shouts of Praijjj.
Blefled be Gpn Cor the Feet of thofe, that brought
Glad Ti4ing8 to our Souls, that publiflited. good
Things in Si0N,^r/ by Whom wp rcccivedr tjia
Meffages of Peace Tthefe are the Flamca of Fire fi/
that warned us with Tears to floe ffpm the Wt^tK
((?)Rev. 7 14. (/.)?(. 17- 15. ^jr/pan.ia. 3.
Jfc. ja. 7. .{^ Vfyian<>4, 4. '
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IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
VVfBSTER, N.Y. I4SS0
(716) 873-4503
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1 .1 4 .'^'a*:f; v^-T^tiV
/
( *75 )
t» come. Bkflcd be thy Name, almighty Pa^
«m, fay thofc^brought to the Knowledge of hi»
Love thro' theiaftrumentality ofGodJy Parent.,
^.t ever I ^.3 committed to the Care, of fuqh
• ^.thfuiSte^ard,. Bieffed be Goo. Ir thel
Pr,ye„ coupfel,. and Admonitions , L .bovc'
«I1 for the accompanying Influence, of li, Qraee
^d Spirit, that attended them; and iclTed be
God, that ever I was Rationed i„ a Land of
I'ight, where the Feet of t^ Qof^cl Herald
Jwve trodden; and here, fay the Parent., Othou
great Defire of Nation.. -we are with thofe that
thou haft given u«.
Here, blefled Prince, we are for ever thine
To found thy Praife. and to thy glory Aine.
Thy Son., thy Daughters, dear bought Chil-
drcn are
,Thc Price of Blood, RjiDSEMiNc Lovi td
fliare.
. All HaU. all Hail, fay the Meflcngers of the
LorJ, thou great immortal Prince pf Peace, that
ever the Gofpcl of RcconciliaUon was commit-
ted to eartheo Veflels, and we of all Me* the
moft unworthy, fe nt forth to proclaim thp glad
i^t^gs df Silvafon tQ OUT Fcllow-mortal.. Our
Tryala
t
—«*■
almighty Pa.
•wlcdge of his
odJy Parents,
CarcN of fuqh /
D, for thcii,
>; Qut above
of mis Grace
id Blcffcdb©
a Land of
)fpcl Herald
ents, O thou
th thofc that
•vcr thine,
glory Ihine.
>ught Chil-
I Lovi tb
'gers of the
'cace, that
! coimnit-
Mc"^ the
ail. Our
Tryala
m
Tryals were few, and our Sorrows /hort. Lack-
ed we any T^ing during our Mortal State ? Al-
tho* Earth an^ H^ll were againft us, and GIo.
ry to God the Sltfrm is over.
Safe;_iWe-oBr tect have trod the Ddjfrtthro'
.And reach'dthe €hore, where Sorrows muft
Hbrb kll the Prophets, Patriarchs, ApofUcf
and Teachers, Jews and gentiles, bond and free,
Male and Female, ojd and ^ung, rich and poor
that have known the joyful Sound, reft from their
Labburs, and their Wort^ follo^v them. Here
all the poor Difciples of Christ, that have been
long wandering up and down in the World in
Shecpfkias, in Goatfkins, in Defarts, in Dens
and Caves of the EztthfiJ fit down in everla-
fting Joy, with all Tears wiped from their Eyes.
Long have they mourned under the Difordcr*
of their fallen World ; but now they have ex-
changed Sins and Sorrows for immortal Glory,
Corruptible puts on incorruptible, an<l Death
is fwallowcd up in Viftory j and now they fing
the triumphant Song, where Clouds and Dark-i
aefs fliall never more iirterpofc^^ betwccif GotJi —
•^:'
(0 Heb. Ill 37.
an4
( 275 )
-nd their Souls. Ah happy, happy S^ub, it
w well for Urcm, that ever they had a Being ,
Their Joys
begi
arofe
more
do
J now
Their Day eternal bi
With what unfueak:
fhey nowxeflea back from the Chryftal Battle-
jnentsof Heaven their nativeFurity to tll»ir fal-
len World, remembeting their deplorable State
and the innumerable pifor^Iers from which they
«rc now redeemed. Now t^ey remember that
Gulph ofMifery, into which they had plunged '
themfelves, and fee from whence they ai'e redee,
nied. All Souls are now awak^^ thci> Sleep,
and releafed from their JmprilbUPstate. The'
Clogs of their fallen State artlj the Mafkof Mor-
tality are now thrown off, ' ^nd clearly they re-
member their firft ItebcJlion in the Garden of
Eden i which brought Deftruftion with all he^
Furies thro* the new-made World. Now they
remember the bloody Mount, where the Weeding
Saviour bore their Sins, and' opened a State of
Immortal Glory to the guilty World. Ah,' He
it was, that took away their Sfns, and now they
Hold Htm Face to Face ,HbcQ^^
\r
i^
py Saula, it
'd a Being ;
T Sun arofe
to clofe.
IfDelight do
ftal fiattle-
> tflliir fal-
rable State,
which tliey
icmber that
ad plunged
ai^e redee-
:hciV Sleep,
ate. The
flc pf Mor-
y they re-
Sarden of
ith all her
^fow they
e bleeding
a State of
Ah,' He
iow they
^ a l lG lo * '^
.' 7
'>*
^^K*Si.-- '
( ?76 )
ry »iJd.Confolauoiii the Brightncfs of his Fa-
ther's Glorjr, and the exprcfs Image of his Per-,
fon. And now All tbe Glorious of the Godhead
appear i» the Face of the bleflcd Immanuil ;
the leaft Glinjpfe of whofe Vifagc outlines Ten
Thoufand Suns. Every Soul is .now ravi/hed,
with his divine B^uty j Gratitude fills every
Heart and Love fparkJes in every Eye ; while,
the Soul-ravifhing Look and Voice of t\e Re-
deemer kindle in every Breaft, Flames of immor-
tal Love. Blcifed, foprer bleflcd, faith the
King 9f Kings are ye that are the Purchafe of
my Blood »n4 the Fruit of ihy Bowels. Ye are
the Fruit of my Hands, and Trophies of my
Viftory, tl^e Favourites of Heaven and the ob-
jefts of li^r everlafting Love, Welcome, welcome
now to iimortal Glory j welcome to the Seats
df Reft Prepared for you by the Sufferings of
the King of Heaven. Welcome to the Society
of Seraplis, to the Band of Angels and Xrchan.
«els. A^elcome to the Glory of Heaven, and
all the |oy8 of the ccleftial World. Welcome
to the F^elis of Divine Beauty and unbounded
^^^ **f ^g^^'ght. Welcome to the eternal Ages
of Felicity, «^d lU the Sweets pf Redbiiiino*
Love
^ ^.*77 ) ' "
l:«v?. And w9lcom« to your Father's 3ofom.
V^y^cvcr more ihall a aoud vail your Saviour's
Face, aor Darknefs interpofe between ypu and
your God. Behold with Joy and Triumph the
^mpaiTaWe Gulf between you and the Regions
pf eternal Darkncfs ; and remember the deJjJo-
«blc State from which I Ifcive redeemed you,
It was I that beheld you in all your Blocid, caft
out InMic open Fields to the loathing of your
Pcrfon, and then was th<: T|me of Love; my
Bowels yearned over you with Pity, I caft my
ikirt over you, and faid unto you, liY^/«; i
was the good -Samaritan, that faw you fallen
among Thieves, ftrippcd, Mcpunded and kft dead
iH T^cfpaiTes and Si^. when the Law and it's
E«cutors offered you no Relief, then poured
I ^n the Oyl and Wine of my Grace, and bound
up your Wounds, and fcaled you on the Heart
•f cverkfting Love/^; j followed you with
Tendernef, and Love thro' all the Dangers of
your Pilgrimage State, .„d have now brought
you to your defied Home and everlaftiug Reft ;
!!i::!li;:^^reign w«h me, for ever: As
Iier*s 5ofom.
ur Saviour's
:en ypu and
rriumph the
the Regions
the deplo-
tcmci you.
Blood, caft
ng of your
l-ovc; my
I caft my
you fallen
i kft dead
w and it's
-n poured
id bound
he Heart
you with
tngers of
Iwought
Mg Reft ;
vcr: As
«7« )
I live, ye fliall live alfo. Never, aever, faith
the 3nde of the Lamb, fliall we forget the Day
of Efpoufah, and the Time of thy Love. O
thou, by what Nime {Rail we call thcc ? The
mighty God, the everlaftiiig Father, the Prince
of Peace, thou great, thou all wife Father of
all Spirits, Author of all Beings, God of all
Gpicc, 9rlgin of all Exittehcfe, sionrce of all H«^
pinefs, Light of Lights, the Ahgcis Joy, tnil
the Scrajihs Triuinph, or greater Wonder ftill,
the Sinner's Friend, the Rebels Advocate, the
TraitorsPlea. Reigh, O reign rhouKingofKing^
whofe love was Wronger than Death, and wh<»
gave thy life a Ranfom for many. OtKou, whofe
Body was torn and mangled for our Redemption;
keign, reign,, thou grew eternal Saviour, reign
O'er all the Hofts of the Angelic Train ;
Let Angels bead. Seraphic Armiee bow ; .
And the REDEEM er's ranfom'd Virgin glow.
With Love Divine to thy Incarnate Name» 1
And Worlds ynnumtercd fpeak thy laftiasfaffie.
This, this is He, fay Ahglels and Archangels,
that gave being to all our heavehly Hofts ; and
this is He, that preserved <mr nvtttal Feet^ when'
Thonfands of our angelic Armies rcbcftcd . Once
Ihe
•I
V
t^ku^x ■■-■
y
^f
tKe MorniAg-ftnrs fung together, and all thi Sons
Of God fhoutcd for Joy. Happy we ftoodJ wherf
they unhappily fclJ, wd by his unbounded Love,
. vrc are confirmed /«; This is He, whole Di-'
vine Light and Smiles of unchangeable Lore/kindle
jn our Breafti a Flame of facred and immoi tJj Fire.
"V^elcome ye Saints, to your [bleft Abode,/ while
We rejoice at your fafc Arrival to the Arms of
everlaftirtg Love. Come now and tafte, What we
Juvc evcrfmce our Creatloh enjoyed : Arid bleff-
cd be God for your Company. It is an Addition
to our vital Flame, tn^ an Honour to oui angeJic
Band to be vitally related to the Briie of the
Lamb, But little have ye enjoyed the Sweets of
KBDEEMiNG LovB, While Inhabitants df yonfal-
l«n Region j but come now and feel t^iat facred
Flame, that infpires all the Armies ^f Heaven
«nd unites our Songs of Adoration to the Lofty
Tlirone j and look back ye happy H^rs of evcr-
lafting Love with Wonder and Amazement on the
Love and Tenderfaefs of your compa(ffionate Sa-
viour, whofc 8ll.fearching Eye fbliowiid you with
Care thro* all the unfpeakable Dangers of your
vgrm-i. 10. €01:7:
20
.^ morti
I all thtt Sons
flood, wherf
undcdlLove,
> whole Di-
■lioycl kindle
monh Fire.
'odeJ while
e Arms of
e, vlrhat vrc
Aid bleff-
n Addition
our angeJic
ri^e of the
iwcets of
'f yonfal-
lat facred
f Heaven
the Loftf
■8 of evcr-
:nt on the
snate Sa^
you with
of jrour
. tiyotiA
( aj8b )
mortal State. Often have wc attended you With
Chearfulnefsj when commiffioned as miniflcring
^Spirits, invifible to mortal Eye but above all re-
member that Day which filled all the heavenly
Armies with a joyful Sarprifc and Wonder, when
the Creator of the Univerfe hung on Calvart's
Hill, and groaned under the Weight of human
Guilt; that Day, when Millions of Angels, in-
vifible to mortal Eyes, covered all the bloody
Mount, where your Redeemer was extended :
When, if our immortal State .would have admitted
of Sorrows, all Heaven would have beeii dileft itt
Mourning. But new Themes of Joy were fooil
opened in Heaven, when his expiring Groans
declared the grand Work of Man's Salvation was
^nifhcidj and trilimphant Songs .awoke at hi«
inighty Conqueft over Death and Hell ; and this,
ye Souls for ever bleffed, Ihall be your everlafting
Song.
Welcome arriv'd ye Saints forever Well
To Angel's Glory and eternal Reft,
Let Gratitude ^ur Heav*n-bom Souls infpire.
While bending round the Throne of facred
Fire __._ _ ...:
w ~
burning wi^i ^.ove Witefergphlc Lyre,
Th«
The ^iintr ire now gathered from the four
Wind! of He«vcn, freed from all the Infultt of
Btith and Hell, all fafdy environed by tke
Armi of Omnipotence. And now more ihock-
ingScenei appear The Righteous are fevered
from the kicked, the Wheat from the Tares;
and ntm the Ungodly muft awake and appear
before'thea^fiil Tribunal,
O! muft the guilty 8pirit« trertibling come
To toeet^ieir Judge-, and everlafting Doom.
j ^■l;*' ^o«W it be for them now, if fome
MTk Cavern or inciimbeht Shade might ihekcr
them frdm the ^proaehihg Judge. Q could
they ceafe to exift I Jut no, they muft pxift Stran- f
gcr» to Annihilatioii, and endure the approaclfl
ing Sh«eki O intolerable 1 And muA they ffleeC
him once a Man of %>rrow8, but now* a Go©
in Glory J And now thty behold Him in all
his Grandeur, with all his Saints and Ten Thou-
sands of his Angels, all^inged with Light and
Glory, to atten^ hiin in the'laft Affiie.
%, O my Sou!, is t^iis the Man that once
On Calt'ry** Mount fuftaih'd the $inner*«
Weight?
- W3w&GteTia-*ardwiftiniamo^^^
With
Wrpst.^'- t
DM the foup
be Infttltt of
Ded by tkc
more ihoek-
r are fevered
the Tare« ;
And ■p|>ear
ling come
Ung Doom.
w, if fonie
light ihcltcr
Q could
exift Stran- tf
s approacKi
i they meet
9\f a God
iim in all
ren Thou-
tight and
tc.
that OBce
te Sieger's
With
( 28i )
With Sorrows frcrd, and gro/n'd npoi the
Tree / '
To fave a guilty World, and tp rtftore
Poor rebel Man to cvcrlafting' /love.
Ah this is He, once a Babe It Bbthlbhbm^
but now Archangel's King ; ontk crowned with„
Thorns, but now with Omnipotence %d Light
unapproachable. He. that was once arraigned
at PiLAtt'a Bar, now calls Kings, Prilices and
Monarchs before him ; Whole Kingdomi^w j
yea ahd Worlds^ fubmit to. Jiis Imperial ^wij^, .
Milliotis on Earth and Myriad* in Hell con. '
ftraiAed frohi their darA 4bpdcs to attend his
awful Court. See, fee th^ubnumbered Throng , .
Belial with all the reprobate Sons of Akam
who have fealed themfelves down to eternal Fer»
dition muft c^owd the folemippir.
Nor Man albnie ; the Foe of Goo and Man
From hi« dark Den^ blafpheoiing dfiagf hit
' Chain, .. a..^;.. ■■•• ''-■ "
Attd rears his brazen Front with Thindcf
^ Jcarr'd ^
- Ree^ives hia Sentence, ahd begins his H^.
YOVNO*S ^IO» T*T| |0tPOItyf,"
t-
Tuns*
\^.f.
\
.^
.1 i»
* J ♦»*.'-V .>
^
iH '
TknsE, thefirft Rebels in Heaven, muft ftand
^e a\Vful Day, and view their black Reb^lion.
O witk virhat RicluaancewUl they- meet Him' f
He tiiat wa« once their ^ther and their Friend
aaddidall that Yfaa ntfccffary^r their ererlaf-
ting Happinefs. What Tortures will rack thfcm,
at the Remembrance of the • cruel Hand, that
v/ithout any Temptation or Provocation, was lif-
ted in Hcaveui, and bid i)efiance to the God of
all Goodnefs, arid ftfu<?lc the fatal Blow to, their
own eternal State. Once they were Spirits of
litght folacing themfefvcs in cverlaftin^ Love,
and fliouting forth the Praifes of the Kin^ of
Heaven : but now they arc. Spirits of Dark'nefs,
racked with Guilt andDcfpair,^ raging with Ma-'
y*cc and blafphcming the God that made them.
How will they meet ;the great offended God
And bear the Weight 6f their infernal' Load ?
Chains of their own will drag them down f
^wcll
In the dark Caverns of abyfmal Hell.
And how, O how will the ungodly Sdns of
AoAta appear f Murderers, Whoremongers and
^J ^ d ii ktfc rsj-Tlaeveay Drankardg, i^yar s a^d pro
. ^«ne Swcarlat^i the unjnft Wordling with the
. profligate
'■a" „"
1
?*N
(
n, mull ftahd
ck Reb^lion.
meet Him F
their Friend
their ererlaf-
111 rack thfcm,
Hand, that
tion, was Jif-
the God of
ftlow to, their
re Spirits of
ittiifg Love,
the King of
if Dark'nefs,
i^with Ma-
made them,
ended God
emal Load ?
n d(7wn tt
ell.
ily 9dns of
iiongers and
irs arid pro- ^
J with the
profligate
J
( a84 )
profligate Man of PItafttre ; the Ph«rifc«, tho
Hy.p<A:rtte,^ the Carelefs and moft Supine aAd the
TTorft of all Wretches, the enlightened ApofUte i
1 'all x)efpifen of Grace and Rcjeftora ef theGof-
pel ; all have crucifisH their epproacHing Jud|e,
and imbrued their Hands in his Blood* And
now all awake in keen Defpair, no Cloak for
Crimes, no Shelter for Guilt, no Friend, no In«
terceflbr. ilocks fdrfake them| and Mountains de-
ny them an/ Shelter. He Aat hath long been
about their private'Paths, now fcts all their Siift
in Order before them. No Bribe, nor City of
^^efuge for the Murdierer i while the injured Ghoft,
. that by his cftiel Han»l was hurried ta«n'unk«owil
World, ftares him in the Face, and reads c^^
demnation tlxro' all his guilty and Defpairing
Soul. O how he trembles at the awful Sight.
*rJie poor Drunkard now remembers his Ttveraif
and intoxicate Hours, but has no'Winc^Bor Bowlf
of Pleafurenow, to lull'hiaConfcienee tofleepr
(a$ he has often done) or to drown the Sonavii
ofUs, tortured Soul. Every Faculty now nwtke
ezquifite Horror. /The SefifualiiU caQOOjoa-
m
^ger ^find a Th r iit f<tf^ j>ia ion
Povrew of Luft has failed, W^^iig^a jr snaw.
Ta
M
"m
'/..¥
/^'
W tel«had.wiA Regmhi,A«o™pIic« i«
»«l»«!.e,7, .nd curii, the 0.y ,h„ he ,^r
"° "-^^S^td to *eh Sh™. ■ .hi cv^,,fii„ J
""•^' ""* ■«»» »P!»ar to rtentheir Jadge,
«.d b.h*l ,W bi.ckkfm„l Score. Ah ho^
^T^T".^'^ ^^""^ "■« """•■y Name,
«b.ehA»gels„dA«l.,„geh reverence; & f„«
**«tS.y ete„fd„. have received every B«a,h
*^*«r f O ,wh.t . fljoctteg Troth ! I. this
»«*Bi«™- for Repentance tttrtied over to Blaf-
I*«V t Now Acy feel that Damnarion, which
rr^!!! '"^''■•'^ " ""'""'^^ toP>«»rt
"" *""*^' »<• oAe"- B«. 0,00 hte, ttey
;'«w6.«4fl«lth.Wdght«fu,ei,si„„dFoll/
*"'"*' ™" •»««*« e«% throng,
w*' cttJieftndror hit BtafphemoBi Tongjw
**• <Molliiig Drop, tomogiK the Flame.
Jfe«Me» ««withit%adfttrO«Dhe<ew», .
i^hmt-oin im, while ngJig Coifciade
"^r*r
, p*; * ■
rompHces iii
fiat .he ever
md privatcj
a ev^lafting
rtcfies, that
if th€ God
their Judge,
. Ah how
Jiy Name,
^; &fronl
'cry Breath
h I le this
erto Blaf-
311, which
imprecat*
J«te, t!ie^"
md F0H7". r.
throng, •
I Tongtie
Flame.
OBfeinioe
f 286 )
Now tJicpoor Worldling and crue? Opprcffor
niuft bid all their Riches and Poffeffions an cver-
iafting Adieu. Often have they turn'd aWay
the hungry Poor pinched Avith Cold and Diftrcfs ;
apd now they are thcmfclvcs turned out of ttoufc
and Home, with neither FriencLjior Pica, Food
nor Rayment : And now the JufPof all theEartH
makes Inquifition for the Mammon bfUnrigh-
teoufnefs, and they with nothing to return;
Where, Q where wijl they now fle» for 'Shel-
ter ? They have not only crucified the L«frd o^
<5lory, defpifed his iove, and rejcaed his Graced
^ut havelikewifb fquandered away all the tempos
1*1 Favour of th«ir indulgeat preftrver. Q how*
much Goodaefs haye they abufed ? ", k. . ' ..
^ The Hypocrite and Pharifc can 'bo longtr d«J
ceive the Worid witli their Cloak of Religion .•
^hey have nothing now to hide the 3|uuae and
FoUution of their guilty and dcfpairing Souls j
neither dare they any longer mock die Sdarchet^
of all Hearts with their Lip-fcrvice,or plead their
clofc ConfiJtmity to the Extemalaof Jtiligioa.
O unhappy Spirits ! All /their Wkkcdnefe fnd
Hypocri/y is now unmaflted, end they expofe4 te
fttnd the Teft of Divine Scurtiny, iiikI rue thci*
ia^^%f -*■»
{ zS? ) "
'0
itolly in tvcrUm»z Confufioi. (Adapted to the
capacity of our Day, and to be the more ftriking j
I Tpcalcofthe Judgment as fticceffive; yetlwould
not be undcrftood any fuch Thing a»a fuccef-
<rve Trial, or pleading, there, for that Moment
tjic mortal Maflc is diflblved, and the fpiritual
, Body united to the immortal Soul, they arc im-
mediately in the Prcfence of an all-fearching Eye,
and every Man with a Tribunal in his own Bre^.)
And where now is the carelefs, and fupinc Mor-
tai, that could fit Day after Day under both Law
tnd Gofpcl, without any Concern or Regard tq
the Truth. Hov/ often have they been warned
fi-om Mount Sinai by the Sons of Thunder, and
how long hare they been fleeping under the moft
e?»dearing Charms of the Gofpcl, and treated all
with Difregard or Contempt ; while every de-
bauched Lover, or vain Amufementof Time a^d
$Qnfe wasearnellly purfued and embraced! Ah
what would they give now to recall thofe glo-
rious Privileges and precious l^omeatt, which
they have focarclcfly flept undp-, t^d fquandcred
_jwjy J b lSI p iR dYgnityL! JBttt luw d w y Day
1$ over, the Means of Grace are gone, and their
?i*oii» fct never moire to rife: Neither can they
flccp
^WA
tii.^itUf,
(283 )
ipted to the
>re ftriking $
yet I would
iS'i fttccef-
it Mo|n<;nt
le fpiritual
ley arc im«
ching Eye,
ownBre^.)
ipine Mor-
both Law
Regard tq
:en warned
under, and
sr the moft
treated all
every de-
Time a^d
-acedf Ah
thofe glo.
», which
juandered
and their
can they
flccp
^i^r' •* t
flcep any more, but muft forever wake in aftir-
prife pf Mifery. And O how cutting muft the
Sight of the Judge be to the enlightened Apoftati
that was awakened by the indulgent Saviour,
who had been fo long at their Doors, and fo of'
ten intreated them to forfake all and to folloy
him; while his Headwas filled with the Dtfw,
and his Locks with the Drops of the Night. How
often has he intreated them not to reject his
Calls, nor defpife his Grace, telling them, that
his Spirit would not alway s Ibive with Man f
How often has his Bowels yearned over theui
with Pity, entreating them. to be wife in Time >
but they would not have him to reign over them j
and thcfe are they that fmned againft the Light
ot their own Gonfcience, and againft the moii
endearing Expreffions of Love. Thefe arejhcy,
who for one Morfel of Meat fold, their Birth-
right i and now they find no Place for Repent *
tance, akho' they groan with everlaftinf^orrora,
ThcA: are they, that for the Love of theWorld>
or fome. earthly Enjoyment, or Fear ofthe Crofii^
turned away and walked no more with himftc}
^Thefe «c they that-iaftcd oT-
(») Johi)6. 66.
dou
( "89 ) '
Ad h. «U .].«, if „, M„ drew b^t, ki,
whore W. Acy h.,c fo „ach .bufea , How
oft«w«. they w.r,cdwid.T„„. to have Pi-
'y o. their own Souls, while there w„ Hope
V the ftithf.1 Servant, „f the Lord , „ho will'
•ow «-ife to their Condemnation. Ah how of-
«» h«v« they intreated them to hear the Lord'.
Meffaje «,d.ceept of Life and Salvation , but
: d")- eft«med them « Enemie,. becaufe they
toli them die Truth. Bnt now the Gofpel
Tmn^ti. blow, no more, the Ambaffador,
»f the Lord are all tailed home ; and the Day
«f Cnc« it now over; the mediatorial Hour
M go«. ttd Jl the unbelieving World is now-
i^pwl MtheBar. AU guilty .„d Jl undone.
^ k*" «ieaed tie Gofpel of Ch...t. defpifed
V*.. „ **• """P^ "• "^ "»<l" their
r^ ^ ^«« '" He ,»ept »v.r them with
- «f «iy. biwi^ th^ „^ij notttow nor
•4.J.6. 7,
im]>roye
'id to cftin^
» of Goo a.
How often
•w back, his
■ ail was in
meet him,
e<l ^ How
to have Pi.
was Hope,
; who wiJI
^h how of-
thc Lord's
ition ; but
caufe they
he GofpeJ
mbaifadors
1 the Day
rial Hour
U is noiv*
11 undone,
, defpifed
der their
lem with
caow nor
-{ 290 )
Improve th*;,. Day of their VifitaUoil /«; How
•ften has he tendered his precious Blood for tht
ffleanfmg of their guilty and pbUutcd Souls, and
woed them toaccept of his Grace, and flee from
eternal Perdition, and take up their cverlafting
Abode in his kind Embraces f But now He, thaj
made thcnu has no mercy on them, and He that
formed them, fhcws them no favour. And where
now are thofe Soul-deftroying Wretches j thofc
\ blind Leaders of the Blind, who preached ttp a
few Morals, and Externals of Religion fufficient
fpr Salvation ; and for fome temporal Gain or
finifier Views have not only deftroyed themfelves>
but hd many other precious and immortal S0UI9
blindfolded down to Perdition j who will now
«urfe'them for their Neglcft and faltc Inftruc.
tion. Tney have fpent all their Days deceiving
the World, and are gone down to the Grave with
a Lie in their right Hand j pretending to th^
blinded World a Difpenfation of die Gofpel vra$3
'committed to them ; when at the fame time the/
were both Strangers an4 Enemie^ to both Cu&mv
and his Gofpel. And now th^ muft forever me
t he tf FftUy u n der the ^^^s ^tt if Aeh* Bim, oA <m
improve
(«)Luke 19. 4a. 43.44.
- ♦
iir
vSf-^ •v^yi'Mt-ti^vr! 'jF-;-'
i 291 )
v^
in utter Darknds under the Jceen Refleftions of
thofe unhappy Soul., which they have deceived,
»nd the gnawings of a guihy Confciencc.
And where are now the ungodly Parent^%h
inltead of a godly Inllrudtion, have enfnared^
corrupted their Children with their GoD-diihon>
«ring and Saul-dcftroying Praaices ? O how
will they now give an Account of their Stew,
ardfhip I Thefe, fay their unhappy Children, arc
the ungodly Wretches, into whofe Hands our
Souls were committed ; who inftead of prayinjj
trith and for us, facrificed our Souls to Moloch
by their evil and ungodly Inllruftions and Exam-
plcs. Often, faith on5, have! heard curfing and
Avearing by my Parents, but feldom a Prayer
in the Family : They were fond of fupporting
*nd decorating my Body, but wholly neglefted
tha Welfare of my prepious and immortal Soul.
O that <yer I was committed to the Care of
fttch ungcfdly Wretches, who, infteadof encoura-
gipgrne to the Houfe of Gon, and where the
Waters were trpubled, would encourage me, or
indulge me to Balls,- Frolicks, and Houfes of
9^n^Ulnh and iinflil Recreation. Q cruel
/, —- ---^ >»~w.w.,wv /«. yj cruel
i'UiuU, curied Mirdcrcft of your Xrhildren ? I
ad;no\vlcdge
' >■
}
eiieftions of
ve deceived,
:ncc.
irent!
nfnarecTaS
JoD-dilhon-
f O how
heir Stewr
lildren, arc
Hands our
af prayinjj
to Moloch
ind Exam-
urfing and
a Prayer
lupporting
neglefted
rtal Soul.
■ Care of
encoura-
^here the
: me, or
foufes of
O cruel
dren ! I
lowlcd^e
{ Z9* ) '
acknowlege, faith another, that I have often fin-
ned againfi: Lights and tlie Dictates of my oWn
ConCcience, and therefore am juftly eondemiied I
yet^e were the curfed Initruments of mjr eiirerla-
fting Dcftruftion j and now I muft be youi/ com-
pany forever among tJie miferable Bla fphemets
in Hell- O that ever I was born td liVc and
die in fuch a Family. We were an ungodly Fa-
mily on Earth, but we ihall be a far wor|e Crew
in Hell, where we muft take up our evferlafting
Abode. Curfed be the Womi) thit bor^ nte and ,
the Paps that gave me fuck, and curfedi be, the
unfaithful Minifters, thofe blind Guiaesj that*
have negle£led my precious and immortal Soul.
O muft I ly down with M^nifters, Parckts, Bro-
thers and Sifter* in the Regions of c^crlafting
Sorrow, with Devils and damfted Spirits, and.
what is far worfe, with tthegiawingt bf a guil-
ty^ Con^-ience. The Time was, whe^ I had
the offers of Salvation founding in my Ean, but
J rejeded tliem : And now the Day is oVer, and
X am gone forever. And ah ! What an I unhap<<^
py Being is now the Scoffers of ReligioP» ^ii^
^.
'^~^■
have fo often made a Derffion oT tKi CMtdren
of God, and the Truths of the o^crfaftpig ^rt.
* V
V*,
( »93 )
not iuffer me tp aclcnowlcdge mv
«f *e C.r,. „. ,o pk.f, .h. vaia Co. '
■T" *"■"'»"" i»« i» maiing , Moot of R.li
W«I.«d™,Cp„reie„«womdtfcenva,ds„.
r;re''j"^''"^^^'^''"^ 'M would
by W M«». or «hcr lull u, flccp. J,„, o
C«fc«»cc ,. nowwak., .udwiU fl«p„„ ^orc,
b«t wJl fo«vc.,„.„,,a tonurc my guil^aud
'*''i»'™i« Soul Afc r - - {'*""v"''d
*S!T ■" '-"'"^^ -«""'- Hope .o
' . gun
♦ f
^t the true
' of jthc Lord,
^« %n, and
►elieve it was
^iire for my
a fcoffed at
^d told them
and not to
ctiines even
/ own Con-
fatuatcd by
cvcrla/ling
"^edge my
-n forfea
'Ompany
of Rdi-
were de.
•wards re
I would
But O
^er ,♦ n)y
no more,
lilty.and
Hi un or ,
[ope to
r is be-
. gun
♦
f *94 )
gun, Mid will never end. O had I been a StocT
or a Stone, or any Thing but a neverdyihg Soul t
The Judge approaches, aiid my Unhappy Doom
draws nigh. How can I bear that fhocking Sen-
tence, depart. O £temity. Eternity ! And rauft
I for ever tread the gidomy kegidns of etcmal
Darknefs! Mull I wonder and howl with banilhcd
Cain, and traiteroua Jddas, and Myriada of
Blafphcmous Wretches, tormented with reflec-
ting Men and Devils, and fcbrchcd with a guil-
ty Confcience, without one Drop of Water to
cool my tormented Tongue. But ah. ? too late
i pjn convinced of my Folly, and nothing buc
Lofs, irrecoverable Lofs, founds through evtry
Faculty of iiiy Defpairing Soul. I now remem-
ber, how little I regarded the repeated Calls of
t bleeding Saviour, and now 1 (hall bt as Httk
regarded, wheti I Cry, Lord, Lord, open untomt^
For I am now ffer ever baniflied from theG«tei
of Hope, and have nothing to expe^ bat iiiaw-
fing Horrors ihro* the revolving Roundt ^M
miferable Etei-riity ; and all Things paft,
and to come confpiring to make inc
4 tm glirtted with hrcipreffiWe Tonlair
pvery Quartet. Ah ? had 1 Teii TbouSud '
Tongues
( «9J )
Tongucar I cbuW aot cxpref. my. riprro«, «,a
yet I muftsendure them for even O how in,
tolerable are my Paih,. ho^ exquiiite my Hor-
. m,. how eternal their Duration, and hdw un-
.tera^ie m^ State f Hark the /hriJl Outcries
of thofe guiJty Wretches,
Lres
GNowtHg Hjoitbh them
\
Tbn Thoufands Thunders now awe the Atten-
tion <.f all the guilty TJrrong to .the dread Tri-
bunal ; and now that alifcarching Eye pierce,
thro the hidden Receflesof eveiy Soul, and poinw
.: «»nt all their Sin., The Sins moft private and
Jong forgotten are now all refrc/hed in their Mem.
«ry, and all their Shame dtpofed. How heavy
Ac Load, how blaek the Score, how Heaven-
baring thi ^mifivand how cutting the Laflies
." a guilty Confcieace, which now heaves the
^«1 Bar, and reada thcir,own Condemnation ;
«ach one fttnding as feparafc before the Ojpnipo-
tent Jodge, aiid as individually judged, as if he
.in
The Judge and|^
a]on<
'->?♦
riarrors, vai
O how in<i
i^itc my Kor-
an d hdw un-
irill Outcries
'fg Jngvijby
li'vittg Worn
Watts.
etheAttcn.
e Hrcad Tri-
Eye piereej
li and points
private and
their Mem-
Flow heavy
N Heaven-
the Laihes
heaves the
lemnation ; '
• Oijinipo-
1, as if he
dge and^ \
^-^
(>.
)
;
alone to ftahd the naked Teft, how can their
Hearts endUre, ,or . their Hands- be ftron^, t^hcn
the Judge of all the Earth undertakes to deal with
thcrtr,(^«; whofc very Nature is a Heli to them.
For as Jhe Fire diflblves' the Ice by Reafon of
the Contrariety of their Natures, fo the approa-
chingpudgo increafcs their Torment byjlcafon
of the Contrariety of the two Natures ; his Di-
vino^ Light, Love and Q^dncfs being fo oppo-
fite to their Malice, Fire and Darknefs, |hat their
Mifery and Hell is increafcd and inflamed there-
by. It is Divine Love and Goodnefs that ihcy
hate, and therefore beholding fuCh Love anA
Gobdnefs in him is like Fuel to their Souls in-
creafmg their infernal Rage. But behold, Hz ,
comes, and fee Hftii they muft in all his Glory,
Light and Parity, aifd hear Him in Juftice and^
Equity fet all their blackeft Crimes togetherwith
the Love and Co^idefccnlibn, which they luve
fo much abufed, all in Order before th'em^ in
infinite Love and Pity to the iFallen World, faith
He, I left my Father's Bofom, and came down
to fuffer and die for your Redemption ; and in
<«}Ezek. 24.. I4.
•
i It iiiiiUi
♦'■'.
B«Pe
>•
-X
h^^ Icifll Waited .tyour fioors. befceching yoU
T "*' ''"°* ^*^ WraU, to come : Bat aJl wa.
'gcftcd .nd defpifed. D.y. .„d Hours have my
«cmnf laboured for you and w,rncd jou with?
Tear. tocrcai,c.from Mifeiy, to embrace tie (^
P^i Call and enjoy the Priviledges ofmyJP^
• »«te Love. And long has- my Spirit been wait-
ing: upon you, pndBeeii ftriving with your Con-
ftiende« to reftortr you from your fallen State j but
•n waaftill in Vain. Ye trampled my blood utider
foot M defpifed my Grave. Ye hace rejcaed my
^^^ grieved my Holy Spirit, Ye have
«lwifed My Mercy, .and wounded my Caufe. Ye
h^vc reproached my Children and derided m/
Minifters. Therefore I will laugh at your Cala-
""Ucs.. and mock now your Fear is conie.f ^; Ye'
*«^e chofen Deftruaion, arid ruiaed your own
Soula a^ainft all that I have done V could do
ftr your evcrfafting Happing ^h,refbrc g.
^°^ ^'^ 8pi"t», and J^MLite
<»^ Sm ; ^ learn the Folly qipif^ Qrace •
80 rue the UCs of all my Light and Love ,go'
ye Defpife,^. of my Graceand inhabit your own
<*i&»^.i >«. "^ ""• ^
^^'■'■•v . V ^^ -^ • ,pi^
If. /Sfcnv j.fi
/
. '"W
( «9^ ) :
^^Ouilt, go endure the Hell which your own
\^h ^^ *'*''* *"***** ""** ^'^'^ Wnith^ which you
hay* trcafufcd up to>ourfelvc» agiinft the Day
of. Wrath. RipnicmbiBr how \.j Bowels havo
' yearned over you; and faih would I have ga-
thered you in my Arms of/RBDiii4iMo Lov«
as a Hengathcreth her Brood uader her W^gj.
and ye ^ould mt.(e-) What therefore could I
have doae more than I havo done, tg^makeyon
happy ? And yet you have made youHelveaffli.
ferable to all Eternity. Depart therefore yt cur-
fed, into everlafting Fire prepared Iby the Devi!
and his Angle*. O what mortal' l^ngue can cr-
preft, or what Heart coticcire the unfpcakable
Horrors, into Which they have plunged thorn.
felvM ! How intolerafcle- is the Aaguilh of tHe
guilty Confciencei and howexquMtotheTortuiet
of the defpairing Soul .» All friendl forfirke thciii,
and Foes oxafperate them j Coafcicace gnawy
them, ud S^nts rejeft thiemr-Aigdf def{»i/|
them, and Gdn the Author of all goodtbhorri
them and banilhes diem for ever i and ill^ help
^ (0 Xttkt f|. S4^'
U
Mpij
m>
'\ ►
^ :.f
( 299) '
fails from every Quarter; no Mercy, no Sleep,
nor Mitigation ofMifery.
Hope/e/j ImmortaU. Honv they /cream andfii'ver.
While De'vils pub them to the Pit nuideyaiving
Hideous and gloomy to recei've tbim. Headlong
down to the Centre.
sDr. Watts.
O ! tJnhappy Beings f How will they endure
an Eternity of increafing Horror,, burning with
infernal Rage^ tortured with keen Reflexions,
and blafpheming the God that made them [ Their
Die is caft, and their Doom is now fettled for
ever ; the Righteous are fevered from the Wick-
ed } and all the Race of Ab AM;gone to their own
Places as they are made by accepting or rejec-
ting Redseming Levi. The Wheat is gathered
into the Garner, and the Tares caJl into everla-
fting Buming/i/; The Spirits of Light to the
Realms of Light, and the Spirits of Darknefs
to^c Regions of Darknefs.* The great Work
^^'BSi^** 'Redemption Is now finiflied, ajNi the fc-
t^^ •A^>AM has reftored the Ruins of th6 Firft.
The Globe that fell by Man*s Re^^lliidi, is not
awiihikted^ hn^ puriftftd, n nd imn ^ ji l l ikr nnt ft
"(^Mait. 15^^24. 43.
■K
m^^n/h ,
\i
( 3o» 1
» glaffy Sm. mingled with'^pire, where liofe
that are redeemed by the Blood of the Lafcb m
•o reign f„ „„ .^^^ ^^.,^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^
Wieked make„„ impaffabl. Gulf between them
""* "" '^'■«'"~«- And now while all the dark
Cave™, of eternal Darknef.are (hook with dyi„g
Groap hideou, yem, .„d blafpheming ,cL,!
Dox?log,ea of eternal Praife , ,„d all the innu-
»~.bleTh™ngoi^S«nt,, Seraph,, Angel,. .„d
Archangel, crying out Hallelujah f For the Lord
GonOmmpotentreigneth. Amen and Amen
Methink. I heir the vaftunnumbefd Throne
Un..e their Voice in one Eternal Song
Shouting they CO,, All Hail foc.m„e Name "J
I.et Ldve immortal aU our Hod, inflame ' I
To found abroad, thine everlafting Fame. [
Thro «l« <J"l Cavern, of the Worl^ below-
Let ^leM Angel, feel their torfring ChA^
In the black gulf. „he„ Quilt and ilii,fa«fl
reigni -"WW
j^ '^^
( 3«ii )
And the curTd Race of Adams off-fpririg too
l» "their own Hell their Guilt and Folly ru^.
Let Angels Ihout, Seraphic Armies fing
Songs of immortal praifc to God their Kingj
While the pure Bride from yon dark \(^orld
reftor*d
Strain lofty Notes to the incarnate Board. ,
All Hail, all Hail, yehcav'iily Armies join /^^
To laud that precious Name with Songs I>iviri^^*
Let thankful Shouts thro**all the Realm refound
Aikl glide harihonious one revolving round.
Let facred Love infpire the* lofty Strains'!
That cchoPraife thh>* all the Heav'nly Plains I
To God; Ameq, our God for ever reigns, j
To b^ underftood by every Reader, I hayc
treatedjO« Man's ^all and Recovery in a Me-
thod fuitihg ta cwryCaptcityi a(i4,the Concep-
tions of the piefent Day : But (jiall now proceed
more dofcly to- thANMaire of fowe Particulars.
Whpn wcxead of Man andtlus World being
nude we muft no more tnjagtne (as tlic common
Opinion of the World is) made otit of nothing,
^..t!^inag^(^9 th»jt nothing nude femedung { or
-*W Acre waronceiOTie empty void, when God
<did not fill Immcnfity : Neither mull we any taore
underftafl^ingi
>ff-fprihg too
Folly ru^.
ics fing
icir Kingj
ark\^orld
: Board. .
rmicsjoiii /
ongs Divirift *
aim refound
ig round.
y Strains 1
nly Plains >
er reigns. J
ler, I hayc
in a Mc-
he Concep'
>w proceed
Barticulars.
V[orld being
Ke common
of nothings
netIufig{or
whchOdtt
^eahytaOre
erftaiidingi
( 302 )
nnderftand, when we hear of Earth, Trces,Water,
&c. of fallen Earth { or corporeal Hardnefs, before
the fall; than we would imagine the fame corporal
Hardnefs after the final Decifion ; or iu Heaven ;
For we read as much of ^arth, \7ater, Beafts, and
Trees there, as we do in the Creation :faj But
if we believe the V^rdof God^^^ we muft be-
lieve that he is a Spirit, and will have all his
Worlhipcrs fpiritual. And therefore when Man
flood forth in the Image of Gop he was poifeffed of
an immortal Mind, cloathed with a (piritualBody,
^nd in Poffeffion of a fpiritual Paradifc ; his im-
mortal Mind, or Powc^ of thouglit, was originally
in God, called his Breath : but now breathed
forth into ?i' creatu/ely State, and a^l his fpiritual
cloathing. was originally in Good's ctcraal Out-
birth, now brought forth likevirife into a creature,
ly (landing, ai\d thus w^ fee an off-^ring of the
Divine ^einc :(cJ vfhoC^ Wcl^re.now botli in-
ward and outward Creature, wholly depends on
retaining a Union to its Father ; and that Union
confirmed or brp.ken. by the Will of the iiivftrd.
Creature; fo that of Courfe when the Willtll|^jr
(a) Rev. 21. I. le 12. Chtpter i'/^ j'. Xl»ptet- iil
'1.2. (A) John 4. 24. (r) Lukes. 34, Afti 17. 29.
and
^1
V-
,/',
.4..
» ( 303 )
and broke off from its FAtHER.it carried off all
that doadiing, Out-birth, or outward Creature
which ftood forth related to it in a creaturely
Standing , and being thusjfallen off from eternal
and univerfal Nature, it becomes a Curfc and
Hell to, and in itfclf; becaufe it was now nei-
ther felf wciftant, nor united to felf Exiftance •
And therefore this whole creaturely Syftem would
immediately have been in the fame Stat^ as the
unredeemed Part will be after the Grand De
cis.ON, had it not been for the Inte^pofition by
God in the Flelh, by which it^ow ftands forth
a material World, with corporeal Hardnefs, fo
that of Courfe (altho> many have been much puz-
^led to know what Means God would make ufe
of. to deftroy tliis Elemental World) when the
Incarnation of God has done its Office among the
ftIlenR.ce,the Interpofidon ceafing. all corporeal
H«-dnefs, or material Elements muft likewife
ccafe: and thenallwhofe Will has been turned,
or inward Creature redeemed; being again unit,
ed to the infinite and eternal Spirit, will carry
back all that Cloathing, or Out-birth, which be'
>ng3tg ^^ ^^^^n^mmw:m^lnd
univcrfaJ
S5
:arried off all
ird Creature,
a crcaturely
from eternal
Curfc and
as now nei-
Exiftance:
'^ftem would
Stat? 43 the
JRAND De-
■pofition by
ftands forth
ardnefs, Co
much puz-
1 make ufc
when the
among the
I corporeal
ft likewife
en turned,
gain unit-
will carry
fhkh be-
:rnal and
univcrfaJ
( 30+ ) \
unniverfal Nature. And the others whofe Will is
not redeemed, (but Hill going its own cjeftruc-
tive Course,) will fink forever : both inward
and outward Creature in its own Hfill. And
thus, my bEAk Reader, unlcfs you believe there
is corporeal Hardnefs in God, in Heaven, and
Hell, you muft be convinced that the whole caufe
of your ftanding now in this corporeal World is
only by the interpofing of falfen Nature. And
althp' many to fupport a Rigorous Elcftion will
pretend there is nothing done by Chr«t for
fome particular Men ; yet you may fee it is a,'
evident that no Man would ftand in an elemen.
tal Wp,jd^ with a Body of Flefh and Blood' any
more than the fallen Angds, wa^ti^ot for the
Interpofition by Christ, You may Ukcwfc
learn that, altho' the greateft part of Profefibrs
conceive of Christ as in fome Dillant Region
intercecding with the Father for Sinners, or la-
bouring to pacify him, as thoVhe was not f9
compaffionatc as the Son, yet tlw Truth is, thq.
Kingdom of Grace, and thcInterciffionofChrirt
is in die FleA; by God>« Incarnate, SpiriuJr
i^now faith one, that the KingdoAl-drOoD. in
fome
v-'i
-) «.-
. . . ( JO'S )
' ^^« DegTce 15 in the hearts ol the true Belie-
ver,. True, D.AR Reader, the Kingdom of
• G^D has not got PoiTefEon of the inmoft Soul
, . or turned the Will of the Unbeliever, a, Jit ha.
of the true (if it had the.whole Work would be
<f one) yet depend upon it there i|, no other King-
dom of Grace/or Interceffion if Christ, that
^iJl do them any Good, but tijis, God in the
FleOi: for. if there was, then the^e might be fome
Intcrceflion for Sinners after they have left the
flcfli. Yea, and methinbyou can»t but remcm-
^bcr that Chrift, when fpeaking Jo a People who
were declared ta^e at the grcatefj Diftance . from
Redemption, and againft whom tlic greatcft Cur-
fea were denounced, declares in lexprefs Words
that the Kingdom ofGou was within thcmfd)
and as it i. nbt faid that God wis in Christ
reconciling himfelf to the World, but the World
to lumfelf,|r/; I hope you will ndvermore Ima-
gine, that Christ is in fome diftajit Region la- *
bouring to pacify the Father j nor y\t think your-
felf any more at Home, while you find you are
farroundedw ith coiforeal HardnefsUan a crimi-
nal
Ml at the Bar, with his Arm extended, waiting
tile important Turn , or cTer imagine Redeb-
MING Love at^ Piftancc i^m you. for thcTrutl,N
iithis, you are already wraped up in the Re-
»«£MER, and held up on fuffcrcnce a fc«r Mo-
ments, while he laboun to regain your denruftiy^^
WILL, and turn it its proper Courfe. Yea the
whole Ejrittance of this mortal World declare*
thefc important Truths j viz. that you are held
"P, by an interpofmg hand, from an everlafti^g
Hell: With Redbeminc Love all around yon.
labouring for your Redemption. And altho» fomc
may fay, that I am entertaining them with Myf-
tcrics that doth not concern them, yet it is not
only held forth in all the Gofpel, but is fd cf-
fential, that if you had but a rwdliaing Senfc of
it upon your Soul, you would break forth with
Shouts of Joy, in the Unguage of the Ancbls,
it the Messiah in the Manger : Glory to God
in the higheft, Peace on Earth, and good Will
to Men :(/) And would own it to be the Gof-
pel itfelf , preached not only in the Letter of
the Word, hut by every Thing around yout___
(/) Luke a. 14.
jElocks,
( 30? )
Rocks, Hills, and Vales; the City throng, and
the Barren- wafte i cvrryTrce, Plant, and Infe^;
proclaims^ Goi^ incarnate for your Redemption!
G6od God ? What a Wonder is this ! Methinks
I feel ajoyfull Surprifo awake in my Soul, and
hurries my pen to communicate a Word of friend-
ly warning to my fellow Men f Awake, awake,
O S6uls ! Awake and know your ftanding j look
around you, and believe that all you fee, feci,
or enjoy, cries out,«' Redeeming Love I Re-
deeming Love ! The Flooron whicji you tread,
and the Bed on which you Lie manifefts your
being held up from a Bottomlefs Gulf, for a
ft Moment of Efcai)e> the turning of your Door
on its Hinges, when opened to receive you de-
clares a Door open to eternal Rett j, and when
fliut warns you of an approaching period to the
glorious Opportunity j every morfal of Bread on
your Table declares the Bread of Life is fpread
for your ftarving, and immortal Souls ; every drop
Ofcjld Water.thatentcrs your Lips c!^cs out, « O
Sinner! the WaterofLifc is free : Drink and live
forever. The flefli on your Bones, and Blood in
J^ouiLY c ins declare* W Bbtfd of tfae^LAMl 15F~
if
*t
it
your
,*»A.
bong, and
andInfe«Fl;
rdcmption.
Methinks
Soul, and
I of friend -
:e, awakc>
ling J look
fee, fee],
>VE f Re-
you tread,
fefts your
If, for a
)ur Door
you de-
id when
od to the
Bread on
is fpread
cry drop
ut, '« O
and live
Blood In
your
( 308 )
your Redemption. And now. Dear Reader
after you have confidercd the unfpeakable Advan-
tage of the Means of Grace, that informs you of
your ftanding and is to ill r up that Kingdom with-
in, then lifl-en a Moment and you will hear all
Things around you crying out, « Awake. Q
" Manf Awake, and know thefe two Truths,
*• thyfclf; and Redeemer. Linger not on all
" the plain, Icaflyebcconfumcd(^^;forasfoon
" as the Children of M=n arc all come from the
" ^o»n«. the Son will give up all to the Father ,
" The Interpofition will ccafe, and your dc-
" ''t'-oying WILL, if not redeemed, carrymg off
" all your Out-birth,. or outward Creature, will
" go its ownCourfe and remain falling, finking
" ""^ ^'^^ tormenting Nature forever. Away, '
" Away O Man I while thy Creator holds thee
" in a poiTibility of Redemption. O I turn, turn,
" felf-Murderer f Return back to the God. that
*' made thee. Fly before thou art Irrecoverably
"gone ; O ? Fly from thine own Hell, to eter-
" nal Reft. All Heaven is engaged for thy ctcr-
^1 Welfare ; and RmR^uir^o^h^^
i
(s) Gen. 19. 17.
" around
?,-.>.--.>
( 309 )
" around thee. Q f Fall out of thyfe^f on the
** Rock of %es/ai^d Live forever.
r
CHAPTER XV.
Some Remarks on the Condu
'S^
f Manikin Mat-
ters of Religion efpecially 'when GOg is revi-
'ving a mrk ofprace in the Land, together <ivith,
\ , fine Admonitions and Advice^
J\ S I have gone tJiro* the.Ftill and Recovcfy
of Mankind, togctK^y^'with the Plan and
I^ifcipline of Christ's vifible Kingdom, I fhall
now endeavour (in hopes of offering fome Light
to my Pcllovv-Mortals) to take a fmall View of
^he furprifii^ Conduft of Mankind therein, viz.
in Matters of no lefs Importance than the prefent
and cvcrlafting Welfare of thev pcrilhing and
immortal Souls, and whpn moH immediately at
Stake, viz, when God of his iniinite Mercy is
reviving his Work in the Manifeltation of his
RiDBiMiNG Love lo the Children of Men. For
(altho* my Reader may be fupprifed) in a Time
jit Di t rkpcfs a l l is a t 4W ae »t- feqr whettl.i^hr
l^ealM forth, it is not Co, when the World of
/ ^. Mankind,
r
\
L
l«
4^
( 3»0 ) ' \ " :
Mankind, or any particular Land or Pcoplk art
lying in Sin 4nd Wickedncfs, flecping in carnal
Security, and thronging down to Hell under a
Cloak of Externals} holding the Form ofGo^U
linefs, without the Power ; then all fecmg to be
at Peace, and there are no great Difputes about
R>jljgion,v bccaufc they arc all contchted with
•a Form, which the Devil is willing they Ihould
have, and which, ii not worth much disputing
about J neither have they much of tliac Spirit,
which creates a Hungering and Thirfting after
• greater Kno^riedgc of Divine Truths, but
•are, like People, like Pricft. The Minifteh t^A-
^erfing their little Orb* of Forinality once a
Week, and the People with as little Concern give
their Attendance, & thui vainly imagine, that iM
is well. Thoufands go Hand in Hand down toP^er-
dition. But when God of his infinite Goodneis
is moved with Pity towards them, and his Bowels
yearn over dying Nfortals, and he is pleafcd to
come down with the powerful Influences ofiiis
HoLv SritiT, to trouble the Waters, and caufe
^fhaking amon g the dry Boney. then the Scene
\a changed, and thcWorid is foon i^^. to |>c.in
-J'
S
{ 3«i ) ' -
«» uproar//; The le.al PricO, and Miniftcrs,
whdlav. got their Wclth by trading J„ Purple &
fine L,n«en, and of the Souli of Men, find their
Merchandize beginning to ccafe, will begin to
,bcftir thei^fejves, ifpoffiblA, to keep the World
in Blindness, the Scribes and the Pharifecs or
WmalChrimans with them crying out, theChurch
is in Dangey. the Church is in Danger ; faying
^ they will eari^eftly contend for the Faith once
delivered to tl\e Saints .(g) when at the fame
time, they are Cuch Strangers to that Faith, and
the fpiritual K^dom. of Christ, that the/
might with mori Propriety fay in plain Words,
^reat is Diana if the EphIsians/.^; Nei-
ther are there any kn on Earth greater Enemies
to the Power of Goyiinefs, than thofe Tegal Pro-
Xfcflbrs^ who Icnow nothing but the Fo^ : And
they will do more Damage fn aTime of Refor-'
mation, than the opefr Profane : Witnefs that
glorious Day, when Cj^rist was on Earth with
*>is Di/ciples. Publican* and Harlots would em-
brace Him, while the Scribes, Pharifecs and High-
f^nefts would ftone him as ah Impollor, and fay
.qi AOti^f^o. ir) Jmferrvir-pi) A'i^T^fi?^
tlwrt
jS'
Miniftcrs,
I Purple &
find their
begin, to
le World
irifccs or
ic Church
» faying
ith once
lie fame
iith, and
lat thejr
Words;
Nci-,
JnemieJ
al Pro;
i: And
Refor-^
ifs that
h with
Id em-
High^
ad {ky
$.
that He cafled out Devils |^y Bclzcbu^.fiJ And
Ihave reafon to believe, th^t many in thefe Days,
in Times of Reformation^i that are called Chrii'-
,tian8, and are very clofc' in their Externals, are
a« great Enemies as they. But fomc will /ay;
I am fo far from be^ng an Enemy to the Caufe of
CHaKT,^hat I fhould rejoice to fee' Religion
revive, and fpread throughout the World ; but
I do not like to fee Errors, Delufxons and En-
thufiafm creeping into the Churches, for that
is >H I opj)6fc. Now leP me aik fuch People,
what does that differ from the Language of the
High Priefts, Scribes and Pharifes P^Did they '
not fay the fame, and had they not for Years pre-,
tended to exhibit a promifed Messiah ? And
you may reafonably fuppofe that they pretcn-,
ded a Dtfire for Religion to cover the Earth, JU,
the Waters 4oth the Sea ; and tell the People, '
that the Hour was approaching, when their great
Heobimer would come, and you may /ce how
much Truth there was in all their Pretenfions;
for no fo9iier had He appeared (and exactly ac,
cording to the Prophecies too) but they im-!
(0 Mark j. as.
mediately
jy»
^
( 3»3 )
mediately Rofe up againft Him, and wereyie
fii*/! Men to rejea* ftone and crUcify Himj (j)
and lab'jured the molt to prejudice the Minds of
the People againft Him ; declaring Hb was not
the Christ. And why was ail this? Why, he-
ckufe he did hot come according to their carnal
Inclinations, as they expected. For inftead of liis
coming in earthly Pdrtip and Gra-ndeur, as they
expected, Hb came in the Forin of a Servant i
C^) poor, defpifed andrcgefted; a Man of Sor-
rows and acquainted; with Giief i(l) and inftead
of increafmg theit Grandeur^ encouraging their
Merchandize and patching Up their old Forms
aijd Traditions as they expefted, Kb fcourged the
Temple^ ovcrfet their Tables, caft out the Money
Changers, and the Seatyof them that fold Doves }
^«/and inftead of approving thcmand their Con-
<ia6l, declared ta their Faccsi that they were fo
far frtmi being his Servants, or Friends to his
C«afe, that they had tilade his Houfe a Den of
TUtffi(n) and, what was ftill morei«IperB-
tiiig to their carnal Inclinations andyP>rido, iiif
doing <11 this with fmall Cords. £o/if ^6 in
J«MI««I5. fff)MMt. 8I« 13. '
^4^^T.
nd were 'the
y Him, fJJ
lie Minda of
Hb was not
? Why, he-
their carnal
nflead of Jiis
eur, a« they
a Servant}
Ian of Sor*
ind inftead
igtng their
>ld Forms
:ourged the
the Money
Id jpoves i
iieir Con-
y were fo
id? to his
ftlSenof
/cxafjiera*
?ndei, hit
i*li
a Time of Reformation, when Hi is fcour^ing
his Temple, wouM make ufe of more humaa
Learning and wordly Grandeur, they wjuld not
find fo much Fault, and it would pieafe the
World better J but inftead of that, he make* ufe
offmall Cords, and dcchires that he will chafe
the weak things of the World, «nd thing* dt(^U
fed of Men to carry onhis Work, and abafe the
Pride of Man /«»; For^is Hfi firft made Choice
''of poor defpifed Men, Fiiher-inen, and Tent-
mzkersffj to fpread the ^Gofpcl, ^and mai^ of ;
them illiterate Men, (b he doeaTcommonly ftill.
BixT fome will fay 4igain, that they do not
defpife them, bccaufc they «re poor, and difpi-
fed of Mill, or becaufc th«y are illiteratfc, but
bccaufe they are led -^wwiy by <a^ed not accor-
ding to Knowledge j vnd bec«Ufe they are bri»g«
ing Errors «ndCoAfttii<m into tke Mbufe of JOod j
and becaufe they do not cbme in according t6 «r-
deri when God k m God df Ordcd-^ <M>W 'l«c
hretmceihore refer fttdiipebple to ikt Isagtaig^
ahd Conduia of thtiir IVidtoeffiM»> nd Jtelwiv
mettSmi
amm
(0) 1. 6or. 1. 19. ao. ai. O) JMitt. ^ M^ Jllki%l*a*
W td
f 3«t.£i4.^
( 3»5 >
W be as fond of the true Religiemi and wife for
the Day to come j and yet no fooner had God
began to j^p^r out of his Spirit and revive his
true Religion among a few defpifcd Creatures,
who wci«c thereby conftrained to fliout forth his
Praifes, but they were immediately offended, and
oppofed them as Madmen and Enthufiafts ; who
were led away with a blind Zeal and intrtated
the Lord to put a flop to fuch a Religion as
that -.(q) And I make no Doubt but there were
many, who had been pretending to plead with
Goo for a Reformation among their Youth anjl
Children j and yet no fooner had the Lord coi^
verted a fmall Number of them, and conftrained
them by his. Love and Grace to make it mani-
feft, but they virere fo offended and enraged, that
if it had been in their Power, they would have
immediately ptit them all to Silence, and obftruc-
ted the YfoTV(f^) altho* it was only the fulfilling
©f the very Prophecies, which they pretended
ftrittlyto adhere to, and with which the Lord
immediately refuted thcm.(i) Now I have Rea-
fcn to imaging that if thofc Children had been
at
ilk
"1.". - .
t 3^6 )
at their Recreatfonsi or Houfes of catnal Mirth
thofc Men would not have been much troubled
about it : And liktfwife I faf (tho» with Caufe
to grieve) that when People in thefe Days are
meeting for carnal Mirth, fptfndinfe Hour, ovcf
a Bottle of Wine in all Manner of Vaiii Difcourfe,
«ndthe young People frolicking and JJlayingat
Cards, oar legal Preachers, and external Pro..
feflbrs are not much troubled j but when inftead
of all that, they are meeting often for the Wor-
ihip of Go» and thofe young People inftead of
frolieking and finging ca?nal Songs, .re praying
and finging Pfalms, Hymns and fpiritual Songs
exhorting their Companions tqfly from the Wrath
to come, fom^telling what God had done for
jheir Souls, a^ proclaiming the Wonder, of R,.
DEEMING Love, while others arc fo bunlened
with Sin, ihat they are crying out under their
Guilt, what muft we do to be favcd ; then the
Powers of Antich#ft are offended, aad crying
out, awaywithfuchaDcIufion, faying, tl»t they
arc tinder an Impofuion led away by a blind Zeal,
•nd following Jm pulfe^a»aFit . ^-g^4Ju^P«flfa^
kci and fay of thofe God makes vfc of in his
( 3»7 )
Work, thit they are Iiupoftors, arid difordtfrly
Men, and if all fuch Endeavours prove abortive,
and they cannot put a flop to the Work, then
they will try anotliCr Step, begrnoing to brand
<hent with Infamy, caftihg all Manner of Re-
proaches upon, them, finding Fault with all their
Improvcin^tttSj gathering up and magnifying the
Mifs-St^ps and Imprefeilions that can be found
kmong thehi. Such a one, fay they, has becri
guilty of ftich and fuch Thingj : Und fuch a one
is not fit tO'fpcak in Publick, fuch an one did
hot come in a*t the right Door } and fuch. an one
Was not Hcenfed by proper Authority j and then
cry out, as their P^jcdeccffors did, do any of the
Rulers or bfthePharifecs believe in him ? But this
People who krtow hot th^ Law, are accurfed.(^/;
Bo any of our great and leariied Men believe in
Aich Ndttotie, or fojiow fuch deluded Men ? No
bat only a few portr Wonlen,' or ignorant Men,
that are^atuated and led aftgy . O aftonifliing !
I« flilAe Cqpdna of tht poor blinded Worl^
in .Things of the moft infinite Importance ? Who
tikcii, that ha* any-Boweh of Compaffion can for-
( /
* ■' ■
difortJtfrly
i abortive,
^ork, then
; to brand
er of Re-
ti all their
ifying the
1 be found
has becri
fuch a one
n one did
ickanone
; and then
ay of the
? But this
:urfed.^/^
believe in
tfen i No
ant Men,
tonifning^!
cd Worl^
;e? Who
n can for-
hetit-
Iwar to weep, efpeciiljy over fuch, who are not
only ignorant of the Things, that be of God,
but Enemies to the only Thing, which belong
to their everlafting pAce. AhaffaSting Sight in-
deed ! When the l/amb of God was. oaufcd to
^eep thereby, w^en his Bowels yearned ovCi:
;hcm with Pity j/ Such was the Gonduft, that
f aufed Him to drop thofe Tears of Qomp^on
over the blogdy City, and caufed Him to f^y»
when He faw them, not only ThiriUng for hi^
Blood, but likcwifc deftroying their own gn^cioBs
and immo|-tal, Souls <'If thou M.ft knaw«„ evci*
" thou, gtleaftin thi?thyDay> thpTO»g«,t%
" belong to thy Peace, but now. they arc hid>!f«m
" thy Eyc8.'Y«; Who could evex hav» b?li/W(54
it, unJefs they had- feenit, that the fiptypwrft-
ftiing Children of hden, CQuId. cy^, h^c. I;^;^
fo enraged againft xhfi only poibJft ^^», th»t
God conld find ojjjt for their JE^^4(H9a«i<i9. ©
how aftonifliing to^ feet f.ro£cflpMi o^^ §ba|i^%»ir
ty, who h^vc apivJftrcdvciy ?«4j>mpl*i#lftrfw
a Dajrqf Gqi>*j (|«cq, tfc« .outefwottilg itf/Wn
ipirit, aftjwjflaiig (ax a R<feitoatio»i; mMyktm.
i t ii cfdme (tho* ^tin 4ttfecUflu >>'^i' P^y— )
izunif^i^cliy
'9
I
\<f
' (319) i
immediately oppofe it, and If it^was*in their
Pwrcr, would pray it back a^ain. Well might
* God fay unto fuch People (jivhcn appearing, fo
zealous for a Day of Reforms^tion)' Wo unto you
that dcfirc the Day of the L^rd, for what End
do you defiri it. The Day of the Lord will be
untb you a Day of Darknefs and not of Light,
a Day fall of Stumbling -Mocb, as if a Man
fhould flee from a Lion and a Bear met him, or
go into the Houfe to le^n his Hand upon
the Wall and a Serpent fliould bite him/W For
the Day of the Lord infteadj .of adminiftring any
Happinefs to fuch People^ as they txpeft it,
breaks up their carnal Peace, overfets their Tra.
editions, ftirs up their Enemity, and inflames their
Rage againft it, by wlfich means they are more
mifcrablc, than they were before, crying out j
«rt thou come to tormcntus before our Time ifivj
And thus you fee, dear Reader, how the Ene-
mies of Cbrist have followlg the woful Steps
of their Predeccflbrs even dqwn to this Day,
•nd at the fame Time plead their Innoccncy.
Aad therefore if thefe Linei fliould Chanci
re- to
y^
JO-
[vjAmos's. 18.19. 30.
m
\
m"
\ ,
s in theij-
i^cll might
pearing.fo
3 unto you
what End
ID will be
of Light,
if a Man
ct him, or
and upon
fv) Fot
firing any
6xpe£l it,
heir Tra-
mes their
are' more
ing out i
me iCnvJ
the Enc-
'ful Stepf
lis bay,
noccncy.
honce-to
y^
( 320 )
fall into the Hands of fome fuch unhappy Nfor.
tal, who under fuch a Cbak of vain Excufes,
Ihould be found thus fig'htiag againft the Spirit
of the Jiving God, I will ks a Friend to his pre-
cious and inimortal Soul, endeavour to drop u few
Words at his Door.
BE'intrcated, my poor unhappy Fellow-mor-
tal, O be intreated to confider the Danger of
your Way,, before it is too late, and take heed
that you are not found fighting againfl the meek
and lovely Saviour, and deflroying your own
Soul, and take heed you do not call a Work of^
Grace a Delafion, becaufe it is not agreeable to
your carnal Inclinations, Forms and Traditions ;
For you fbe, that all the HigU-priefls, Scribes
and Pharifces, who oppofed the Work of Goo,
and crucified the Lord of GlqrV, had the fkme
Pretences, and made the fanic Excufes, as you
do i they would nof ifknowlcdgc, th«t they wcr«
crucliiying the Lord of Glory,' or oppofing th«
Work ofQoD, but faid, 4cy were oaJy b«iri?ig^
a TelHmony againfl Impoilors, and dcliided Ito*,
to ohftru Q Errorsi and Enjhttfi*fm ci«<p%^ji>\^
fdl
to tlie Houfe.,of (5o» Sce^yatkhf* Jthia Jl lu^
right, and tha,t is not right j fuch • Man it not.
pioperl|.
tS* iAik fas-
, ^M
lit;.
* 1 .^Jft"
'"^'Ad
( 321 )
properly authorized, and another preaches ^ith-
out Liccnfe; one is deluded, and another led
away by a blind Zeal, and fuch a Min hat(i no
ilight to exhort, and thdc private Conference,,
repeated Leftures and Night-meetings you. do'
not like i for, you fay, it breaJcr up Families,
keep. People from their Work, caufmg Servants
and Children to be difobedicnt, &c. And was
this not the Language of all the Enemies of
Christ before you, even from, the Beginning
of the World, and had they not the fame Rea-
fons for oppofing all the Servants of God, when'
feat among them i^^J This was not right, and
that was not right, and Christ himfelf was not
"ght ifxj and his Difciples were all wrong ,
fometimes they were drunk with much Wine }fjyj
«d fometimes much Learning hitf made them
mid.fzj And is it not plain t^e feen, that
to fucl^ People as them and you,' all the Work
of Goo. is wrong J becaufe it is againft your
carnal R^oning and not according to your old
TnuiUioM. Do not think t^at I am your En-
g^ny, bccayfe I-have^difcovered your evil Con-
=!£W
i«e:
» » t
yuAi^i „=iv J ^ *«.
:hc3 yifkh"
tother led
n hat|i no
ifercrices,
s you ^ do
Families,
Servants
And was
:mies of
ieginning
ne Rea-
5, when
ght, and
was not
wrong ;
ine ifyj
le them
en, that
e Work
tft your
^our old
ur .En-
il Con-
I a. 13.
^ to, arid intreat you to defift, before it is to late.
God knows, I wifli your Souls well j and would
rejoice to be inllrumerital in bringing you to a
Senfe of your Danger, and ihew you, that you
are on the Enemies grou'^di that you might
make your Efcap.e from everting Mifery, unto
eternal Joy. O be iutreated\to confider, that
the infallible Word of God hi^s declared/that
unlcfs you have, been born again\of the Spirit of
God, you are an utter ftranger tdthe Truths of
the Gofpel ; and the Things that be of God arc
fooliflinefs to you -^(aj and therefore you may be
fo blinded in Sin, fo bribed by carnal Rcafon,
and fo chained down by the Prejudice of Edu-
cation and Tradition, as to take Light for Dark,
nefs, and Darknefs for Light, and if your Light
fhould be Darkncfs, how great is that Dirk-
nefs i(6J nay you may be fo infatuated by the
Devil, and led aftray by a deceitful Heart, as
to oppofe the Work of God, and perfecute the .
Followers of Christ j and at the famii time vainly
imagine, that you are doing God SctviccfcJ
You may pretend, that you aw evnel^y conten-
ding Tor the Faith once delivered to the Stintt,
yl Wi.Cor.ij tl. »j. [*] Mm, i.asi [e]A&» 16. ft*
V
1^ •■"
if - ju-rTife,,9
{ 3^3 )
whea at the fame time you are a ftrangcr to any
^aith ^ Chrift, and afe only figihtine for a
poor 4^ Form of Godlinefs, without the Power.
("JJ You may likewifc pretend that you are la.
bouring to fupport the Caufe of Christ, and
of the Word of God when at the fame time
you arc enemies to Chrill, and making, the
Word of God of none Effeft through your
I Traditions. ^^^ Andifthis Ihouldhc the Cafe,
that you are fo unhappily deceiving yourfclf, how
can you ftand out in Oppofition any longer, or
if you are contented to live with a dry Form,
ivithout tlie Power, why will you oppofe the
power among others ? Why will you not let them
enjoy a Liberty of Confclence ; or if they are
deladod, as perhaps you may fay, why do you
inake a Scoff at them ? Surely if that was the
Cafe, they are not to be laughed ^ but ought
to be pitied and prayed for. But pray remem-
ber, there is a Poflibility of what you call a
pelufion, and Enthuflafm, being the true Work
of the living God. Therefore mock not, left yo^,
wake your Ban4s ftrong ;f/J for it would be bet'^
tcr for you, that a MiH-ftpne were hanged about
your Neck, and you ca ft into the Sea, than to
' ' : T .
14 a. Tim, 3. 5. [f] Maic. 15. 3. [/] Ifa.'zS. aa.
offcftd
V
m
^ ding f\
you, fa
uJfciS^ -*% i»j,t ,A-.4%
ffWff .%?#*«»!
J
\ '
m
i 3«4 )
offend one of Ch rist*i little One», Pcrlaps yott
will uot believe it to be oJF Ggd, becaufe you.
cannot undcrftand it } but if you have not tx*
pcrimcntally known a Work of Divine Grace ia
your own Suul ; if you have not been born again
by the Spirit of God ; if you arc not bccoiine
a new Creature in Christ Jesus, then it is cer-
tain, that you are fo far frotii^ beinj; a Judge i
whether m is of God or not, that if it be of GoD^
it will appear to you FoolilhnefsY^/ O therefore
be intreated to hear that Solemn Word from Him,
' before wham you muft Ihortly ftand. Behold ye
Defpifers, and wonder and periih : For I wor|
a Work in this your Day, that ye fliall in. no
wife Believe, tho* a Man declare it unto yo}x.(h)
O confider what an awful account you muft one
Day give before God's impartial Bar, if you
fliould be found fighting againft God j for you
are not only ruining y»ur own Soul, but you
are likewife inftrumcntal in the DeftruAion of
the Souls of others, by cafting Reproaches oil the
Work of God, and labouring wi^p^^ Souls
that are around you, to keep thcaii jfajja^teit^
• I
ding where the Waters are tn)uble|t A^ uuto
you, faith the Lord, for yc wUl ^icither enter.
WiCor. a, 14. X^jAasjs.+i.
«*
tumm
^
the
<*
,i-^'
ti^gKii
#4fTT,-,-s-^^;7»"|T-;-»»i)pr?[^T
( 3*5 )
die Kingdom yourfelvcs, nor luffer ye them that
arc entering to go 'm(fj Why will you bring
the Blood of Souls upon you, and wilfully plunge
yourfclvcs into eternal Perdition; or if you will
ruin yourfelves, why vvill you dell roy others?
Pray let them enjoy the Privileges of th^:
Gofpel, for as they n»uft one Day be judged foi^
thcD^felves, why may they not have the Liberty
of fecking for, themfelves, novy while they are
Iprobationers for Eternity.
But I fuppofe fome will fiy, we are not againJl
their enjoing a Liberty of Confciencc, orfeeking
tor diemfclves, but they are forfaking the good
old Way, turning away from their Miniilcr., .
feparating from Churches,' encouraging fcparate
' Meetings,and the like. To which I anfwer, that
by ao Meaas I would advife a Separation in i
Church of Christ. Neither is fuch a ^ng
common: But perhaps it is you, that have left
the good old Way, by fmking into the Form
<lf Godlincfs, withoujt the Power j and they are
.BOW returning back to the Liberty of the Gof-
pel. and feparating fro^m the Seatsof Aniiphrift :
TTPTm*". 23. »3.
mm
Aadi
.pM
: them that
>^ou bring
Uy plunge
if you vvill
' othcrs\?
3 of thi?
judged for',
e Liberty \
' they are
lot agajnil
or feeking
the good
Hinillcri', »
fcparate
wer, that
tiou in a
a Tiding
lavc left
he Form
1 they are
he Gof.
itichrift :
( 326 )
And, if fo, it is no more than what God liim.
\fclf has firiftly commanded them.fj) Aad I
■prcfume to fay, that in fuch a Cafe, if youfavr
the Difference between Light and Darkneirs, you
would be fo far from labouring to keep them in
Bondage; that y oil would thirll foi Liberty your-
felves. For what Fellowfhip hath Righteous-
nefs with JJ«rigliteoufnefs ? What Communion
hath Light with Darkncfs ? "What Concord hath
Christ with Belial ? Or what Part hath he that
believcth with an Infidel ? And what Agreement
hath the Temple of God. with Idols ! There-
fore how is it poilible for them to travel toge-
ther ? For what the Heaven -born Soul laveth,
the Moralifts cannot bear ; they may fcem to
go together in Peace, in a Time oFDarknefs, btft
when God is fhowering down the Bread of Lif<^i
the one eats and rejoices, while the other f^-
jefts and is offended : Wh^cli I have not aify
\been an Eye-witnefs to, in the fliort Gompift
i^f my Work in the Vineyard, but h^ve likcwtfe
red it by the infalli^blcWord of OoD. ThcfC-
foVe let not the Devil pirfuadc ybU, tH«t/^
And,
,| I i« only a ^ancy, or^ind ^al ot i&nie^:mi|^
/ :
ti]8. Cor. k. 17. Rev. iS. 4.
nnlefs
«
'-^
' i it? ) ■
uttlefs you arc convinced, my dear Readeh, of
thefe Things, before your Day of Grace is ovcr^
you will unavoidably be convinced of them to
your cverlaftRjg Sorrow. Neither count me your
Enemy, bccaufe I tell you the Truth. There
w yet a Time for Repentance, and wKo can tell,
but you may yet efcapeevcrlafti^gMifery, and
for ever rejoice in what you are now defpifing ;
a» St. Paul doth now in that Saviour, whom
« he once perfecuted/i; • And for your Encour-
•gement I can teftif^., that in the ihort Compaft
of my Travels l| have known manyj who have
feen oppofin^ tht Work of God as a Dclufion,
ind raakin^l^sfpfFatthofc, that are called New-
lights a^/s»hcraers, wlio are now Advocates for
Uie CajUlof Christ, and rejoicing in that, which
they.^once cifled a Delufion and Enthufiafm.
Otherisfore let me entreat you in the Bowels of
^ Lord Jb8u4 Christ^ if ever you expeft to
fee God's Fate in Love, to confider thefe Things,
let them be impreffed on your Mind, when you
^ lie down, and when you arifc ; when you go
©ut, and when you come, in Search your own
W AAi 23. 4.
Foundation
•ITS',
■f\. -
Readei-, of
ICC is ovcr^
)f them to
nt me your
h. There
\io can tell,
[ifery, and
dcfpifing ;
ur, whom
r Encour-
t Compafs
who have
Delufion,
lied New-
.'ocates for
lat, which
Jthufiafm.
Bowels of
ixpeft to
5 Things,
rhen you
a you go
our own
( 328 )
Foundation, confider your Gonduft, exwnine,
whether or not, you was ever flain by the Law,
and made alive by thcGofpel i whether you have
experimentally known a vital Union to the Lord
J^v» Christ j whether yoii have ever rcctu
ved the Seals of God's Love to your own Soul,
and enjoyed the Communications of Divine
Grace : And if you have not, why will you riflt
yotir precious ahd immortal Soul, on fuch a Pin-°
nRclc of Danger ? Why will you fay, that fuch
ft Man is not right, and fuch a People are all
led iftray ; when the Word of God has decla-
red, that (let them be as they will) you are to
far from being right, that you are juftly condem-
ned, and wholly ^pofed to be caft into Hell every
Breath you draw. Why therefore will you pre-
teiid to difpute fo much about Relieion, when
you have no Religion ? Firft make fure to get «
Religion in your own Soul, that will ftand yon
Inftead, if God fhould tliis Night call you be*
forfe his dread Tribunal : >or why will you fpead
foihuchtime difputing about the Chafl^wheA
you are not iurci that you will ever Uiie M tht
Wheatrririr gctlhe^Beam^t of thiiib owfl Eye,
and then thou canft fee dearer, to pull the Mote
''is
out
ptsi
•!"■} ,'**
%'
¥%'
fft-
( i^9 )
•Ut oFtliy brother's Eye : Firft get the Love of
the fllelTcd Jesus flied abroad in your own SouI»
tnd then you will be A better Judge between
I'ruthtnd Error; tttkd will likewifc be fure to
rejoice, when all Difcords and different Forms
of Religion Ihall ceafc. O confider how incon-
fiflentyou are conducting to be fo zealous for fonxe
external ObfervationS, and at the fame Time
wholly neglecting of that moft important one
'I^ihg needful, oh whi(ih bangs your prcfent and
cVcrlafting ttappiiicfs ? Who that has anyBow-
cls of Pity, can forbear grieving to fee the Cruel-
ty, that Mankiiid irercife upofl thcmfslves ? I
fuppofc, if I were to tell many of niy Readers*
thaf it was no Matter, whether or not they were
Upti*ed with the Holy Ghost and with Fire,
.iHey would not be much difturbcd ; but if I
WtTB to tell thctii, it was na Matter, whether
tUvy were baptiacd with Water or not,they would
OTv out with the greatcft Zeal, away with fuch a
Man, «way v i h ftU^ a Man, for the iQaiurch
ia tn.Danser. Well might Go d pronoontfc a Woe
igmihft fuch People.flJ O take heed therefore,
ag^ ^#de», ^^at y e tt-«re^no t found -tmoa| f
Jlb^
£/]Matt. 23. 23.
thofe
f 5** 1
ie Love of
own Soul}
e between
be fure to
snt Forms
ow incon-
us for fomc
ime Time
>rtant one
refent and
anyBow-
i»e Cruel-
ifelves ? I
' Readers »
they were
vith Fire,
but if I
whether
ley would
th fuch a
i, ijyiiurch
icfcaWoe
tWefore,
thofe
thoiii, agaihft'wliom' fuch Woes tire pitnbunced |
and if, upon diligent f^arch into your 6v^ State
and Condition, you find'' it to be yxMir unhappy
Cafe ; then let m« intreat you for the Lor^s
Sake, and for yoar own Soul's Sakt to Lbok
around yon, and let every Faculty yf your Soul
be wholly attentive to that molt iniportant, and
friendly i^^ePbf the King of Hbaven. -La*
hour n^^J^lbe, for that Meat which periflieth,
but for that Meat which endureth to everlaiting
Iiife.^**;; Thus hoping and praying that thcfc
few Lines may not be wholly in vaii'M your
Souls I fliall conclude with the ejjhieft Groanr
And moft imphade Lah^kge of Elibzer. O'
Lord God of my Mkfler AnitAHAMj I prty the«'
ftnd me good Speed this 'Dky.(n) Send O thoa
oompaffionatef Saviour, for thy Name fake; and
in Pity to perifliing and iminbrtal Sbuls, theae«>
eompanying Influences of thy tilbly Spirit, with
the weak Difii'es, and unfaithfuU LabduM^ of
diinfe unworthy Senrklfti. I^d, O bleffed Go», ,
r Word of ^ower, and Peace, to the Hearts o^
tJlofe, into whofe Hd
thou mayeft fee fit' t9*
•il&i^£«ikfa
{m) John A. 271 (n) Gen. 24. 12,
Mft
li^^^ , > • * -
»•
9a!ltkefe Liae«; t^at fomt prcdoui and immor-
tal. Soul may have caufe to raife an immortal
Notc„to thy Name for thefc TWO MITES:'
■ ^CHA1»TE> XVt.
^mefurthfr Advice, chiify to the F»ilomjert 9/ tb,
Lamb.
♦ ■'-.;■■■.■.■ •. ,■ -■ . ^ ^
S I. h?vc thut |one thro* my Defign pit
^thofc imporunt Points, i.^al^novr drop t
f^.^^yprds vioreof'Adyicc ancf fetfcouragclnent,
chiefly..^ the luppy Follower* of the Lamiu
w*omI cfteeAi n the exccilent of ail the Earth
swd with l!irliomI expeft tQ enjoy an cverlalling
P*y» W»d Jtoyoui Ima^y fay as the Angd toMxR r ;
H»ii thou bicflcd & highly favoured of the Lord:
(\) jwho haVe bcea wdoenied with the Friccof
Blood, jmd are married to the Kin« ^f Heaven
t* *n everUiUng Covenant of Lovii O thinic,
think my FeUow-TfiveUers to etertal Keft,
^ .Va% you axe indolged^ a^d what v«ft Ob.
ligattoils you are under, to be for Goo> :ar^d
no
H^fNi«dwiR-*fc
m
,-,«.
:"\-'.
*" ^■'
nd immor-
immortal
r '
Defign pit
lovrdrop t
iragdnent,
\t Lamk»
the Earth
EverlaUiog
toMARY;
:he£iQRD:
ic Price of
f Heaven
O think,
lal Keft,
: vttft Ob-
>> >and n»
.
I fl.
, ttJier
( 33« )
other ! O therefore be intreated b^ your untrprX
thy Senrant, to Hve above the Allurement, of
this enfnaring World, and let your Light fo ftine
before the World, that other, feeing your good*
Works, may glorify your Heavenly Father iCpJ
remembring that you have a Portion in the cter-
nal World Ten Thoufand Times beyond what
this .vain World can Poffibly afford ypu , nci,
ther have you any more to do with this World, .
than a Pilgrim. All you want Is Joumcy-bregd;
jnft tofupportyoiionyour Way: for yon have-
«o continuing City here, but aie feekii|g abet.
terCottntry,w,hichhathroundationt, whofeM*. ^'
ker and BuUder i, Gai>. And white p^ni
afting on the mortal Side of the Gnv^' yo«»r. ''
the SaltoftheEarth J the Light of Ac World' '•
«nd Witheffe. forUie Living GbD, .Of there!!
fore be wife «,d affiduou. f^^Q^ ^
.Ck.!.^ «ia the Wel^pf pi^ioi^-irf^
mortdiou/s. Sh,kc off the Frown/ and Flatw .
tcries of thi. enfnaring Worjd, iU ni^i. ^^
Setts of the fcomful , . iUnd ,ot in mkM^
-it . ,
. ' i<
^¥';^T*^5,fel^yi
V "
WM:
' '-^ .
■i^e^
(333 )
thirft for tKe Applatife of ^iortalsj W take xif
yoiif efoft dsdiy, and face a frowhing World ;
ictr not tht ittgi of Mfcll, IfeiAcr loVc your Lives
*tiW Dditoi • , hut let the World knovir, that yoti
* .HtT* tffiAit yr\\k]tiij%i sihd intend toQicrtdand
Iftf fpent iit rtij C^ufc. O ! be CJ<refal <tot td
fait iflWpkl Foftoallty ; for it is riot only very
diftibnofablc ttfGori, but will ftairve yourowh
Sdtils, and iriikc you ikfclefs i'h the Woild. La-
»dar therefore for that J^owfir of Godlineft, for
tkit aiVliic Lift ahd facred Flaiiie bf inxmOrtal'
L6Ve to bif dilly te^iving ill yotir SoalSj which
Will ilittVolabiy rcf!«a into a ehearf\il Corifo#-
niity to the eternal 'Ways of God. Live not on
fik Ei|te>ichces, but be Aire to gather Marina
every Morning : And^ink not ftrangc, when
* your i)lelfod Matter is riding forth in the Gof-
p^ of Peace thro* your Towns and Villages,
with the I'ower of his Grace, to redeem precious
and immortal Soufs, that there appears fo much
kifputing, Oppofitions, ahd Separation!, as there
\ commonly is : For as it has bein jsrwed, it al-
~^ Wiyi "WU^ And atwiyi witt"bcibr^wh«r^»iMi
\lwiving his WerfMttnoBg the CWld#ei of Men.
"
,.j .
Vi, •^.li.iftXM^i
f^-jSSS
( f
M^tt-k^
"
( 334 ) -^:.
For He has told you, that He .csyne to fend ?W .
upon the l^artJi i and that He came not to {eift
Peace, btjt the Sword j to Tet the Father Agaiaft
tlie Son, and the Son againft the father j twja
againft three, »nd three again^ two .i(qj For tj^e
Nature of Mankind is fuch, that % Trytj^ «E^
the Gofpel, and the Vitgls of Rclmpn aW^f "
tlicm from their Security, an4 Jbteaki their car- .
nal Peace ; and the natural J^en £br to rctiin
that carnal Peace, will oppofe and w jefijt.th* IWorJc '
^fpiritofGoD to their own evcrIail.in^i{.uiiB ifr}
an^ Will labour h»rd> to obftroft th^ Pow«r (tfJUr
ligion- But as the Enemies of |{.el infill are fl« '
only engaged againft the Caufe of CimiST } but
likewife waiting, and watchingfar ypur Hflti|ng.|
P be furc that you giye no Q^^e q£ Qfcncc,
and then when you are perfccuic^ ft>» Q^^lS■T*fi
Sake, happy ara-ye. Let iw UUw^ife iuytpje^t
you, hot to be offended at thei^ QSfet^c j /pr iTtfip .^
Devil cannot get you to bs.<#eh^d;f(t/th« Wai|. "
of Gop, nor to fay m T¥u "^^m^ Mk¥'^ '
wiir, if poffible, ftir up your Minds againft |their
■•-r"
ij) j-PJ^ '^'^Mj.
5.?-*1*-£i
IX-
^- -: . ,; ■
r*;-'
- V
Offences ; and as he cannot get you to make
Scoff* ^nd Derifion
repeat over the Scoffs and Deri-
ry fbout and
will employ you to car-
fions of oihers an^ re)4ting over, what is faid
and done by the Oppofers. And be n<it fur-
prifcd, if I tell you, that it is doing the pcviVa
Drudgery, and a Snare, that the People of Gon
are oftq^ken in. You may remembelr, that
ybur unerring Leader, who is gone before you,
^ h«s ftriAly commanded you, to falute no Man
hy^Way'.CsJ therefore, if you give no C;^ufe
ibf Offence, pay no Regard to the fcandalous
iandi falfe Reports, which the Bneraies of Chrit
may raife againft you ; neither be any ways, grie-
ved, becaufe your Names are caft out as Evil :
For the Servant is not above his Mafter ; and if
tkey called the Mafter of the Houfe Belze-
hifh,' how much more will they you of his Houf-
hold.ftj If you would conform j|ct^e World,
and fay but little about . the yitals and Power
of ReU|;toa| you would have but little Pcrfecu-
tiOB.
. Thkiib arc likewifc many in the World, who
p iMkt 10. ^, (0 Auth. ro. 25
le ma
M^th
would
O
I t
^-^
..
among
( 3B6 )
would fain keep np their Na:
Chriftiaiis, and therefore will not oppofe the
Work of God j but for fear of meeting with fomc
Trouble, and haying their Names caft oat of
the Synagogue, will ftand aloof from the Work
of God in ^Tipie .ofXryal; or perhapa fecm-
to join with both, oi- appear, to he Neu-^
tprs, But if thcfe Lines ihould ever be commit-
ted to their Perufal, O let n^e tell' them they are
mifcrably miftaken, and I fuppofe kavc forgot,
that Ct^HisT has declared, there is no fupli Thii^
as a Neuter; neither in, His Kii^gdom,- ^»pr Ms
Enemies, for if they.3rei>p,t enjjaged iphis Qsoffla^
they be in. thc^ Caufe of Antichrif| :(u2 ThetCff'^^^
fore I woqld intreat fuch Keople, if they, h»v.^[
any ^^ardforthcir^i^^ and im^xortal Soujs,
by noT^feanTto^alt any longer between XW0
Opinions, neither turn thejr JBacks ^ij the Work'
of God (as I believe many do) (or. fcarofofV
fending feme legal Miniftcre, or PJiarifccs, b^ "
?ome im;nediately from among them, and tpuck
not the unclean Thing, left yc be polluted wilh * "
their Fornication; , a nd by no Mtum
{o) Luke II. 23.
* •
yj:*. vxs J^' 1.- -•' U"; ■'
'■f,"*^
V
i 357 )
nor UJd them Gob fpccd : for if you do, -you
.will. not only go againft the expreft Command
of Goi>^(v) but likcwifc wiU be guilty of tte
Bi.ooD> of Souls yourfclves. I know the Powers
of Darknefs will tell you, that you cannot know
the Differenee between Christ and Antichrilt :
Bat who jjnuft you l^elieve, Man or the God of
Truth, who has not only commanded you to cm-
l brace the one," and rejefl; the other ; which would
:be incoaOftent, |f there was no Difference to
\» known ; b«t has likewife declared in plain
Terms : And I think he is the- bcft Expofitor of
•his own Meaning. My Sheep know my Voice,
and they will follow me, but a Stranger they
will not foUow/w^ Now if there waS nothing
to be known in thofe Matters, why would the
Lord of Glory Co often have fpoken fo pofiti-
vely by an exprefs Command, that his People
fliould try the Spirits,^*^ and feparate from them,
and cbmeDtttfroteimongthem.(0'; Andthera.
forcr if thefe feW tines fliould ever fall into the
Hands of any of the true Followers of the Lamb,
-T-r
"<?) * John t0i TT. Kev. i^r 47~Xw77o!th Sotitt;
»4« W 1 JoJin4. I., [y]i Cor. 6. i-; Kcv. i8.4«
5' . . who
[k .,.
. «^JS*v *»'<*
'k^^<;.^iU^^^S^2d'
'S?
"r;.rj5
1 do, -you
Command
:y of t^e
e Powers
aot know
itichrilt :
God of
m to cm-
:h would
rcnce to
4h plain
jofitor of
y Voice,
ger they
nothing
>uld the
b pofiti-
I People
>m them,
id thera-
into the
eLAMB*
lo. 3. 4.
«r. 18.4-
who
^»
who are not indulged with a Goffiei Mlaiilefi
but are groaniQg under the legal Improvoneni^
otf unconverted Men ; let me intreat them in the
Bowela of the Lord Jb«w« Chuiit, to adhere
to thofe Commands ofGou and come out from
amongft them, left the Blood of Sods hai^^upoB
your Garments : They may think hard at yow
leaving them ; but you cannot do thOA agvei^
ter Injury, than to eontioue with them j yoaf
bidding them Goufpeed> when they at« decQl«
ving themfelves and others, will ntnirally tend
to feal diem down in their Becepfion j «nd %
«nd by, they are gone beyond all Recovel)^;
when if you was bxcomeout from among theaii
it might prove a Matter of Convi^on to thear>
to put them upon Search, and perhaps ^rof>i
the Salvation of their precious and immortalSouli.
Neither can you expeft that GooTwill give yo«
a faithful Minifter, while yoo' ftand among hh
Enemies, fupporting the Caufe of AntichriH
• againtthim. --.-,. .■- . -# ', .-^^v'-t^"
But fome perhaps may fay, what^fhall wo
J i gl_Do my jde a t JRo i der f whjt^
mediately adhere to the Advice o«Iety«, Hid
¥.
i^*^-
:;,*-
J
m. iyj*i^is!k^-4^>iei-'
•rSi-jtLn^^
( 339 J' '
■;'*>'
"\
V
Kii.
not fdrfajce the afTembling yourfclves* together, as
the Minner of fomc ie ; but exhort one another
daHy; and more efplcially as ye fee the Day
approaching -.(kJ And altho^ the Enemies of Re-
ligion will bear hard a^ainft you from every Quar-
ter, cfpcdally the dead Minifters, and legal Pro-
feilbrs ; yet if you wilh well to your own Souls,
and the Sotrls of others j affemblc together, tho*
four Numbers nniy be fmall, and Gqd has pro-
j|ltti«d to be with you, and to blcfs you, and
liyU be your Goo, and you ih^Jl be his Pco-
jk.(aj Make ufe of the beft Gifts he has given
.yo«, andth^t is the Way to have them enlarged ;
^dfn-ay yethe LordoftheHarvell, that he will
ftttd forth Labqurersinto his Harvelt and i(any of
|i^ Brethren appear to have the Gift of Ex-
hortation or Dodrine, put fuch an one forward
^ Iniprovemen^, and by all A^eans n^ajce. ufe of
that Power and {{riviledgc, which has been pro-
ycd by the infallible Word (^God, to be, your
j^rogati^e. . '» .
. But fome perjuif* ^'ill fay, that altho* you are
apon^ leg^ Miyiltcrs ^ ChuVoltes, yctyov^o^ght
■ f " " ■ Tit
(*) llih. 40. 25. {afi Cor. 6." 18. '
not
. ,' ^Mi^if^'^^-
m'.
» «
' 1140 1
not to leave thcni^ but remain with them b
Hopes to reform them, ^d do them fome Good.
But for my Part, I cannot tell, where they, find
either Scripture or Reaf^^jjI^ioM's ftayingin
Babylon, hoping to do y^j^^K/ If you come
out n-om«mong ^"n»^^^^^ the TrutJ^t^ ^
of the living God, yoa^^^^e Mean* ^i "
bringing many a poor Soul ont of Parknqfi into, if
marvellous I^ight j but if you r«ijiain among iht^l
ypu are not only holding up the I^owers ol' Oar^..
nefs to their Deftr^iftion, b^t are taking an c^^ ,
feaual Step to bri<ig Death an^ Darknefs upqa
your own SpuUt I will likcwifc r^fer. ygu ^
the fame Advice given by W, Divi., " You \h.%%f
** are Believers, fa|th'he, who live in any To^ii
** or Tarifli where thofe m% Tc^Qhw, or ^e
V Prophets are, come out from «mongft thcj^
«* touch not the unclean Thing : For it j» b«-l
♦* ter to meet among ypurfclvcs, tho* you >|e
" but few in number, fmce Cjhrist has pijo*.
V mifed you his prefcQc^i thi^i to comm.Qiu-> >
^* cate with t^em i|i t^elf falJ^Ordaaacef; .
•I know that yon «e fei^ Jifr Kun^ber, i^-
'^\
' ky
Strangers in, the Lnd } you likewiie b^
.in-.
SI'S' '
vV-
J/ yyiei /"M
g Bo<Jy of Sin and jpeath, and having many Ene-
nies without and within, you often pafs thro*
many aforrowful Hour : and your Tryals may
)>e great ; and yet I know the Caufe of Christ,
and the Welfare of precious and immortJiJ,, Sou^s
«)ieth near your Heart j gn4 I know that many
'Unopg tlie pinemies of CiiniST arefubtilto an-
- noy thofe they cannot deftroy,,and. often, by their
i.» « Head-knowledge, may wound your Peace, and
rV bewilder your Minds .^ efpecially among the
^tambsj.or weaker Chriftians, who are not fo car
■stmiWeof defending the Truth, by difputiug with
' * them, about the Decrees of Gop the origin of
- Sin, the Plan and |>ifcipUne of the Church, the
< i Miniftcrial Rights, the Power of Ordination &c.
. y^.|«ixl therefore it is, tJ^at I haye endeavoured for
/"-V^^Glory of Gdd, for the Convi£Bon of Sinners
<■ |-<tiid the ftrengthcning of your Hahds againftyour
'' -Enemies, to cafl dioit Two Mite« into the Of-
fc--fcring8 of Goiti And altho I expeft the Powers
§ i/«F Darknefs will rift up againft it -^rom the Pul
pit and the Prefs ; yet I regard not that, fo that
^wtfui~ii^ tnc" rxands "Ot^Qodt ttcs
kwd wa« it in my power I would caft the^e J
f-'-j^Miirits in the foar Quarters S" the Eartli: i
'^M
tr
1
fliall
■' 1
ijnd.
'
you
Perf
SSIl
rlATfT
* 'i
;
• in tl
:
volv
Enj<
t
tow
f
it
-•* t
3. ~
4' a
^i% ■.■<.? ri<y^ '
"i.
t'i^.
many Ene-
pafs thro*
Pryals may
af Christ,
lortal Souls
that many
ubtil to an-
n, by their
Peace, and
amoog the
: not fo Ciir
uting with
: origin of
hnrch, the
Imatiou &c.
lyourcd for
1 of Sinners
againft your
ito the Of-
the Powers
)m the Pul-
lat, fo that
Gotrr-Yer
th^c Jwo
Kartli: And
" . it
i
( ^40
'$
that
ol
it is the Defire of my Sq
great Benefit to yea on your Journey, thro* your
Pilgrimage-ftate, knowing tkat yoK arj^ Baftening
to your Father's Houfe, where you ncTcir will ^
want fuch Encouragemenls, n(jr Weapons to fight ^
the Battles of the Lord; for there all Tryals tn4l«-<^|
\ Cortflifts will be at a Period : Where thnj* th^ ' '
unbounded Ocean of Free Grace, you will creij;
long meet with all the Followers of the hKmi$'- '"
•n e>ferlafting Joy, where your wearied Sonlfi
^r ever reft in the Bofom of everlaftilig
far beyond the Infoltc of Earth or H«ll^ Itf
thf earning ftorms of Sin apd Sorrow * itrfi0t fnUlf
Ihall be difentangled from til your mortil Tk»g
and theDifordcni of your fallen World} wllirt
you fhall be forever tranfported with the DivilA
Pcrfeftions of the Deity in the Arnii e|
BiiMiNC Love j and where thro' richi freei
boundlels Grace, I hope to bear a Part With yop
■ in the lofty Strains of eternal Praife thro* the
voWing kounds of a bleflTed Eternity, i»thtf
Enjoyment of Father, SON.and HoLt 0t«Wi
~~Wwhom flone be the Frtifc WorldTi
AMEN. ^
J-'.-
^ jL^ ' •-.dU. w..A.^w » ^