l> 
 
 *A * * m ° Him ' * 
 
 « 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Collection of Puritan Literature. 
 
 Division 
 
 Section 
 
 Number 
 
 D V 
 
 I 
 
ft 
 
THE 
 
 LOSS and RECOVERY 
 
 O F v'"'** 
 
 CJ 
 
 Eie& pinners : 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 DIFFICULTY 
 
 %0-J OF THEIR 
 
 Coming back again to GLORY*; 
 
 Methodically held forth 
 
 Under the Similitude of Captifccg Ranfomed 
 and Returning from &lafo£C|J* 
 
 ^ 
 
 By Mr. John Ad am son, late Preacher of the GofpeL 
 
 Pial. 78. 2, 3, 4. 1 will open my Mouth in a Parable; I wilt 
 utter dark Sayings of old : Which we have heard and, 
 known f and our Fathers have told us. We will net hide 
 them from their Children* jbewirig to the Generation ts- 
 come, the Praifes of the Lord y and his Strength, and his 
 wonderful Works ihat he hath done. 
 
 £2)INSVRGH, 
 
 Printed for the Autho r's Reli& 
 


 Epiftle to the Reader. 
 
 Reader, 
 *TF /A00 £<? One fenfible of thy loft Gon~ 
 JL dition in thefrjiAdam^by thelireach 
 of the Covenant of Works j of thy 
 daily Failings and Shortcomings in Tin- 
 ties $ that thou art guilty \ both by Want 
 of Conformity to God H s holy Law^ and 
 by many c Iranfgreffions thereof - % being 
 convinced of thy Selfinfufficiency, utter 
 Inability.^ and natural Averfion to give 
 that Obedience his Law requires ; and 
 would ft be freed from the Tower of 'Sin , 
 and brought from under the fever e Sen* 
 tence of the Law* denounced againfl thee 
 as a Iran/greffor* into the glorims Li- 
 berty of the Children of God; Then la- 
 bour with all Eamejfnefs for renewing^ 
 Jirengthning and comforting Grace^ and 
 to get thy Evidences clear* "The jolt 
 ing Treatife will inform thee inhere thotl 
 Jhalt Und them y viz. Ij y upon fearct: 
 thine own Heart* thoufindejt Fait I 
 A a Chi 
 
The Epiflie 
 Chrift, 'Repentance and Holinefs, which 
 are the Fruits of EleUion^ thou wilt ob- 
 tain thy Defer e. 
 
 2. If thou be a Wr at h-pref aging Soul, 
 diftraUed, as Heman was, Pfel. 88. 4, 
 5, 15. who fee ft nothing but a Cloud of 
 Wrath hanging over thy Head^ an a~ 
 vo aimed accufeng Conjcience on the one 
 Hand, and the 7 'errors of the Divine 
 Law on the other ^ and the Sword of 
 avenging Juftice behind^ and thevafl 
 Ocean of unmeafurable Eternity before 
 thee 1 and feeft no Way of Efcape, like 
 Ifrad at the Red-fea, Exod. 1 4. 2. Tet 
 do m^defpair of Mercy *> on the one Hand, 
 <zs if thou wertpajl Hope : For tho thou 
 be in an helplefs Condition, confidered in 
 thy felf> cis to any Thing that thou canft 
 do^ in order to procure Peace with God, 
 or Pardon of Sin, having no Ability oj 
 thine own to do what is commanded thee; 
 Sit not fl ill in that Cafe, up and be do- 
 tig; intreat the merciful Lord to give 
 thee Strength to do what he requires, and 
 leg of him that the great Lover of hji 
 Man may become Surety for thee for Good* 
 c But, mi the other Hand, if thou gettefi 
 py Word of Wlfyiife to rely on for thy 
 
 Com- 
 
to the Reader. 
 Comfort, afcribe all the Traife to five 
 reign Grace, and nothing to Self: Hold 
 on in the Way ofT)zity, and diligent Ufe 
 of appointed Means ; for who knows, hit, 
 in that Way, it may pleafe the Lord to 
 let thee fee the King in his Beauty, and be- 
 hold the Land that is eery far off? Read 
 and ponder the following 'Piece, it will 
 inform thee that thy Cafe has been the 
 Cafe of others ; who, tho they were wi- 
 der great T)otibts and Fears, as thou 
 art, yet came forward, and found both 
 Acceptance and Tjeliverance* And thd 
 thy Heart be not yet prepared according to 
 the Preparation of the San&uary, ifajphou 
 come in Humility, with a Senfe of thy 
 low -and loft Condition by Nature and 
 TraUice^ thou appear eft to be one ofthefe 
 fenfihly loft Sinner \ry whom Chrift came 
 tofeek andfave. Hold on thy Way, look 
 not hack with an Eye to the periling 
 Tleafures and Profits of the World, left", 
 by catching at the Shadow^ thou lofe the 
 Sub fiance. $& not of them that draw 
 back unto Perdition,- for he hath tik Pleafure 
 in fitch, Heb. 10. 38, 39. 
 
 3. If thou be a Reader > that never 
 had aright Sight, nor fenfibk Uptaki 
 A 3 
 
The Epiftlc 
 
 of thy loft Condition by Nature, nor of the 
 Neceffity of a Mediator to reconcile often- 
 • iied Jiiftice and offending Sinners ; hut 
 art heed/eft^ and car ele fly loitering away 
 precious Time, and flighting appointed 
 Means, and art come thatfearfitl Length 
 in cur fed Neutrality and Indifferency, as 
 fiat to care what come of the Glory of 
 God, and the Sahation of thy Soul, and 
 its eternal State, 1 would put thee in Mind 
 of that fearful and Soul-amazing Word, 
 Prov. i. 24, &c. Becaufe God has called, 
 and thou refufed ; he hath ft retched out 
 his Hand, and thou doft not regard ; but 
 fett'ft at nought all his Counfel, and wilt 
 none of his Reproof : He alio will laugh 
 at thy Calamity, and mock when thy Fear 
 cometh, " Read ferioufly this Treatife, 
 and confider what came dfthefe who re- 
 mained in Pri/on when Boanerges blew 
 the Trumpet : Turn fpeedily hy Faith and 
 Repentance, and flee to Chrift J e fits, the 
 Remedy provided of God for loft Sinners, 
 in Time, before the Shadows of the ever- 
 fafling Evening be fir etched out: For, if 
 Mercy kill, what can cure} 
 
 4. If thou be One, Reader, who by thy 
 WbraUice declareji thyfelf> not only to $e 
 
 a 
 
to the Reader. 
 
 a Stranger to the [awing Operations 
 the Spirit o[ God upon thy Soul^ but alfb 
 an Enemy to the Tcwer ofGod!ine[s,and 
 the Life of Religion in others , mocking 
 at Godlinejs, giving up tbyfilfto all Man- 
 ner of Loofnefi in Hearty Life andVrar 
 ttice ; My Advice to fhch is. Stop a 
 little in thy Cour[e, fit down and 
 confider [erioufly thy [ad and lamen- 
 table Condition, being an Alien to the 
 Commonwealth of Ifrael, and a Stranger 
 to the Covenant? of Promife > and, while 
 fitch, without Chrift, having no Hope 3 and 
 without God in the World : Under Slave- 
 ry to Sin and Satan, liable to Wrath and 
 vindiUive Juflice (John 3. tilt.) Under 
 the [ever e yet juft Sentence and Curfe of 
 the Law o[ God, as a Tranfgre(for 
 (Gal. 3. 10.) Earneftly [eek God's exciting, 
 ffrengthning and afjifling Grace, to work 
 thy Heart to a [erious Self examination 
 of the deplorable Cafe thou art in, the 
 Shortnefi of thy lime here, the Certainty 
 of a future State, either o[ Will or Ub> 
 that thou mufl Jloortly enter into ; a 
 that there is no Repentance in the ( 
 whither thou art pofii; 
 an ill Condition there: /// 
 A 4 
 
Wi The Epiftle 
 
 'Need <f turning Jpeedily for the Sale of 
 thine immortal Soul, before it be too late. 
 Search the following Treati/e, it will 
 iiform thee % that it is r.ot thy being fo 
 long of coming that will undo thee, but 
 thy never coming to God by Faith and 
 Repentance that will mine thee Soul and 
 Sody eternally ; therefore hate and leave- 
 Sin \ love and praUife Holinefs ; believe 
 in the Lord Jefus Chrift, and follow 
 him, thd with the Crofs on thy Hack, 
 and thou haft the Promife of his P re- 
 fence and PrpteUion too. 
 
 j. ^Reader, if thou be One, who baft r 
 got thy felj varnijhed over with a Mash 
 of Hypocrify, the deluding Shadow of 
 Holinefs % under which too many in this 
 Jge hide them/elves ; to fuch my. Advice 
 is, T)o not take fuch a Shadow for a 
 ^Bridge $ver the great Waters ; I mean± 
 Labour s thro' God's affifting and 
 ftrengthning Grace, to get y our f elves tin- 
 vailed of that Mash, and get on a Cove- 
 ring if the Mediator's Right eoufnefs, 
 rich Grace and Mercy, before you enter 
 the ^Jordan of 'Death, and Ocean of 
 Eternity * Delay not to examine how the 
 ftands betwixt God and thy Soul $ 
 
 afure 
 
to the Reader. ix 
 
 aflure thy felf, within a little the Mef 
 fenger of Mortality Jhall be fent to fetch 
 thee to thy everla fling Habitation j and 
 then, if the Foundation of thy Hope 
 fail, <wd the Superfiructure of thy Con- 
 fidence prove comfortlefs, where frail 
 thy Hope be, when God taketb away 
 thy Souli 
 
 Now, being fir aimed of "lime and 
 Room to enlarge this Epiftle, and ur* 
 willing to detain you longer in the Porch, 
 or fiop your Entrance into this Orchard, 
 to behold and tajte of the Variety oj 
 Fruits that grow therein : Let me beg 
 a Requeft or two of you, into whofe 
 Hands this Sook Jhall come, 
 
 i. "Do not condemn it before ye htqw it \ 
 
 My Meaning is> T)o not, upon a (lender 
 
 Sight, or flight View of a few JLines or 
 
 Pages, throw it by with Ttifdain, but 
 
 fearch it ferioufly and throughly i Upon 
 
 fitch a Search of it, Vm hopeful thou 
 
 wilt fearch thy felf and^ perhaps, may 
 
 find fome "Things difcovered in thee, 
 
 that thou waft ignorant of 'before; which % 
 
 i$ may be, will extort better Thought? 
 
 jrom thee oj it, than thou hadft at thy 
 
 firfi fuperficial View of iu 
 
 2, 2)<?- 
 
x The Epiftlc 
 
 2. "Do not detain it a Prifoner in thy 
 CheB or Prefs, as too many do with good 
 Books, even the Bible it f elf, as if they 
 were Things of little Value $ left the 
 Rufl or Duft of thefe Helps God hath 
 afforded thee, rife up one 'Day as IVitnefs 
 again} thee, when thou wilt find it too 
 late to repent. 
 
 2. Thou that readefi with a Defire to be 
 edified or inftrutied of thy loft State by 
 Nature, and of the Remedy provided of 
 God for loft Sinners, in that wonder Jul 
 Contrivance of Salvation, laid in the 
 Depths ofelefting, redeeming and applying 
 Love ; fearcb and confider diligently every 
 Tafl'age in it, and thottlt find that others, 
 who have been defirous to Inow and ex- 
 perience Juch Things, have met with the 
 Mailer's Prefence in the Way of Duty, 
 and a Sight of him from the Mercy-Seat, 
 by the Eye of Faith, reconciled to them 
 through the Mediator: Which, that it may 
 be thy happy Lot, n the earned Defire and 
 Prayer of One, who is, Reader, thySotiVs 
 Welwifter, and a Lover of Peace and 
 
 Truth in Zion, 
 
 A. S. 
 
 Poft- 
 
Poflfcript, by the fame Hani^ con^ 
 ccrning the Author, 
 
 TW£ worthy Author of the cnfuing 
 Treatife was One, the Fragrancy of 
 whofe Memory is yet javoury to thefe 
 who furvive Dim, for his Worlds Sake, and 
 his faithful Contending* in his Day, againfi 
 the Encroachments made upon his lovely 
 Lord and Mafier, Jefus Chrffl, his. Preroga- 
 tives Royal, and Privileges of hu Church. 
 oAs to his Birth, he defcended of very 
 credit alle, godly and religious Parents : 
 was born in the Panfl) of Aberdagie near 
 Perth, religioufly educate in his younger 
 Tears, and early fent to the Grammar -fchool 
 at Perth • where, having flayed the orau 
 nary Courfe, he profited much. Thereafter 
 he was fent to the College at St. Andrews^ 
 where he ply ed his Studies wjth much Dili- 
 gence andSuccefs, attaining a good Degree 
 Gf Learning, in the Tongues Greek and 
 Hebrew, in Thilofophy ^nd the Sucnces 
 taught at the Univerfity ; fo that he exec 
 ed many of his Contemporaries : And l?h t 
 Upon Examination found Aefervinz, w 
 graduate there. oAljo^ upon his .Exerci, 
 
xii Poftfcripr, 
 
 in order to Preaching, he was found fo fit, 
 that he was brought two Tears fooner from 
 the New College, than the ordinary C our (Jr. 
 'Being brought to the Presbytery of Perth, 
 and having pad his Trials, he continued 
 preaching among them for feveral Tears, 
 till that fatal Tear 1712, that the Flood of 
 Oaths and Streams of Apofiafy brake into 
 the Church, and the frnful Bands of Jjjocia- 
 tion made among themj elves, holding The 
 Abjuration no Ground of Separation, and 
 conferring that Jurors and Nonjurors fhould 
 mutually forbear to teftify againfl each 0- 
 ther : Then he left them, having preached 
 his Farewel-Sermon at the Kjrk of Rind 
 in that Presbytery, in the Month of June 
 1713, upon that Text, Heb, 11*58. Of 
 whom the World was not worthy, they 
 wandred in Deferts, 65V. And came ta 
 the Hills, where he continued for the Space 
 of near 12 Tears ;■ during which Time, in 
 the Exercife of the Minifiry, he had, no 
 doubt, Fight ings from without, aud Fears 
 from within: let it plea fed the Lord ta 
 blefs his Endeavours, arid crown his La* 
 hours with Succefs, by making him an In- 
 firument in his Hand of converting feveral 
 Souk to God-, yvho declared on their Death- 
 
 leds % 
 
concerning the Author, xiti 
 beds, that his Sermons to them were in the 
 Demonftration of the Spirit and of Pow* 
 &\yea, like Apples of Gold, jet in Pic- 
 tures of Silver;. a?id that they had, and 
 would ever have Reajon to blefs God, that 
 ever they heard hhn on thefe Texts, A£te 
 17. 11. Phil. 3. 8, 9 and Job 19. 25. For 
 'I know that my Redeemer liveth, i$c. 
 Several other Inflances might have been 
 addea \ but let thefe fuffice for a ■ Tafte* 
 oAlfoj for Brevitf s Sake, we are conftrau 
 ned to pafs fy; in this port Preface, feve- 
 ral Tajjages of the Author's Life, which 
 might be a Volume by themfelves* 
 
 He was laborious in his Mafier^s Ser* 
 vice ; ready on all Occafiofts, when tailed, 
 Po preach; was inftant in Seafon and out 
 or Seafon ; of a Lion-like Spirit, repro- 
 ving, rebuking, exhorting, even the grofs 
 -ana profligate Swearers (which I was an 
 Eye and Ear -wit nets to myfelf;) boldly 
 contending for the Faith once delivered to 
 the Saints, and for the Royal ^Prerogatives 
 of his Lord and Mailer Jefw Chrifl ; ajjer- 
 ting his Head/hip over the Church, againfi 
 Apoftates i Time-fervers, Self-jeekers, Men- 
 pie a/ers, &c. as his Books ana Papers* 
 formerly printed, more fully bear : But 
 
 would 
 
xlv Pofticripr, 
 
 would never quit an Hair or Hoof of the 
 Truth ; oft repeating that Word, Let us 
 hold by the Truth, and the Truth .will 
 make us free : Let us not cut or divide 
 the Commands 6f God ; but let us give 
 God his Due, and Man his. Thus he 
 continued earnefily contending, till at laft 
 it pleated the Lord to lay his afflicting 
 Hand upon him, fo that he was taken 
 with a very fore oAgue, under which he 
 continued a cotiftderable Time ; and the 
 *Difeafe increafing, with a violent Tain 
 in his right Hand, that did incapacitate 
 him to write ; and perceiving the T)ifea/e 
 to increafe, and Death to approach, while 
 any Strength remained, he ce a fed not to in- 
 treat the Lord for a mercifulVifitation to his 
 Church and People ; and that he would raife 
 up faithful Watchmen upon Zion\r Watch- 
 towers. &4nd finding him/elf upon the 
 Confines of the World of Spirits, near E- 
 ternity, he left his dying Tefiimony againft 
 all the Union-makers, and Joiners there- 
 with ; againfl all Oath of Ab]uration-t alters, 
 and the Joiners with them ; again/} all 
 thefe that love their ovdn Bellies more than 
 our L,ord Jefus Chrift^ &c. 
 
 We conclude this brief Hint, with; a 
 
 fort 
 
concerning the Author. xv 
 fhort Character of his Terfon : He was of 
 a large Stature, tall, comely Perfonage y 
 Vittle'Eyed, /harp Sighted, of a quick at- 
 tentive Ear, a firong healthful "Body, able 
 to endure lever e Studies, till at laft, thro* 
 the "Decay of radical Moiflure- Death pre- 
 vailed) and fo he exchanged this mortal Life, 
 for, and with good oAfjurance of a letter , 
 upon the 30 Day of May 1725, at Lin- 
 dores in the Parifh of Ebdie, on the North 
 Side of Fife-Shire, about 9 Miles from the 
 Tlace of his Birth. So this faithful Ser- 
 vdnt of God, and valiant Soldier of Je- 
 fus Chrift, was brought to his End ; for the 
 Lofs of whom, we may lament in the Words 
 of David for Saul and Jonathan, How 
 are the Mighty fallen, and the Weapons of 
 a fpiritual Warriour perifhed, upon thy 
 high Places, Scotland / 
 
 A POEM.. 
 
 OUR faithful Jdamfon is dead and gone, i 
 ^ Hath left us defticuue here to bemone 
 In Grief our Lofs, with Sin and Mifery 
 Qppreft, without his friendly Sympathy . 
 
 Who was a Paftor and a Guide to thofe 
 Willing to hear Wm. faithfully difclofe 
 
xiv A PpEM 
 
 God*s Will mofl: freely, in his Word reveal cl; 
 And his whole Couniel never yet conccal'd. 
 The haiiibus Sins and Danger of his Day, 
 With tii' incumbent Duties would he difplay, 
 To Hearers high and low, to rich, poor, mean, 
 As Oracles of God plainly contain. 
 Now Adamfons dead Body lies in Dull, 
 We can't recal him, but lbon follow muft. 
 O that we may our pofting Time improve, 
 And get our Hearts fixed on Things above; 
 Where full Joy flows, and Pleafures ever be : 
 May we, when Time fails, Accefs have to fee, 
 Drink that New Wine at Will, and forget Fears, 
 With Sin and Sorrow here, all Groans and Tears. 
 Still blefs and praife his holy Name, who hath 
 His Elect, fully freed from Sin and Wrath; 
 Suffering for them the Pains they fhould endur'd, 
 Them lov'd, walh'd in his Blood, their Peace procur'd 
 To him, who did from Death our Surety raife, 
 To th' Comforter, who Chrift's Purchafe applies ; 
 To Father, Son and Sp'rit, be endlefs Praife. 
 
 \ 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 T)Age 2. line 6. no, read any. p. 15. H 8- r. Cenjimftien. 1. 
 1 19. of r. off. p. 34. 1. 1. r. And if. p. 127. 1. ult. r. en- 
 dure, p. 14P. 16. r. Portraiture, p. 181. 1. 3. many, i.may. 
 * p. 103 1.6. ivete, x.were. p. 223. 1. 17. he, v. be. p. 151. 1. 18. 
 as, r. us. p. 278. 1. 28. hat II, t. whole, p. 2S5. 1. 13. it, r. it 
 is. Some little Words are repeated, as, to, and, are, &c. 
 Alfo a Letter turn'd, as, n, for u 5 which need not mar the 
 Senfe, nor puzzle the Reader. 
 
 THE 
 
The Loss and Recovery 
 
 faytUi QlfST O F 
 
 Ele6t Sinnfers. 
 
 UPON a Day, when I was about my law- 
 ful Employment, and fitting down to 
 refrefh my felt, I efpied a Man coming from 
 the Eaft Country, with a mining Counte- 
 nance •, but his Tongue differed much from 
 his Face : For he had the moil- dreadful 
 threatning Tongue that ever I did hear. I 
 faw likewife a poor Man coming to meet him, 
 in a couragious Manner ^ But this Man -with 
 the mining Face came up to him, and look 
 upon him with a very auftere Countenar 
 pronounced a Curfe upon him, atkrttl tl 
 ever took Breath in Ada-m, as well ash 
 And with that he pulled out: a Roll of a 3ck 
 and put it in his Hand j and it \v6s written 
 within and without with Mourning, Curies, 
 Lamentations and Wo, E::.ek. 2. ult. 
 
 Now, when the Man had received the 
 Book, lie began to read it with great Cyber- 
 nation \ and found written in it mar 
 Laws, which if a Man keep^ he U 
 
The Lojs and <I{cc*l>ery 
 them: Which, when he had read and con- 
 sidered, he confented to the Equity of them, 
 and faid, Rom. 7. 12. The Law is holy, and the 
 . Commmdment is holy 9 jufi and good* But, turning 
 over the Book, he found, that neither he, nor 
 I no mere Man more than he, was able to keep 
 I them, Feci. *7. 20. For there is not a jttfi Man 
 I iifon the Earth, that doth Good, and finneth not* 
 \ And then, defirous to know more, he read on, 
 and found, Gal. 3 10. Curbed is every one 7 that 
 ■continue th not in all Things that are written in the 
 Book of the Law to do them. And then the poor 
 Man cried pitifully to him to give him Strength 
 to keep tliefe Laws that he had put into his Hand. 
 ~ But he anfwered, I am Mofes, that know how 
 to deliver jufi Laws to you •, but, how to give 
 Strength to keep them, or, how to (hew Mer- 
 cy to them that break them , that is the Thing 
 I know not : Ye had once Strength enough, 
 ye iltoold have husbanded it better, when ye 
 had it. And then he asked at the Man, What 
 ¥?as his Name ? The poor Man replied, I am 
 * a Sinner, that have broken this Law *, and a- 
 jgain, I. cry for Mercy : O ! let me not pe- 
 irifli* Then anfwered Mvfes 9 As many as have 
 iwnsd without Law, pall- perijh without Law ', 
 and as m wy as have finned in the Law, jha(l be 
 ana'perifh by , the Law. For with God 
 Reipt.it of -Per j on s. 
 Then the Man asked at Mopes, Whence he 
 1 thde Laws, that . he, delivered to him ? 
 anfwered, TJiat he had got them in the 
 
 Eaft 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 
 Eaft Country*, And, i f he pleated to zo along 
 with him ? he would both let him fee where 
 he got the Laws, and how it came to pais that 
 he was not able to Iceep them, but had fallen 
 'under this Curfe. 
 
 And then they went both together Eaft- 
 ward *, and I alio left off all Cares of ieffer 
 Concernment, and went with them, that I 
 might fee what this fad, and fo very weigh- 
 ty concerning News would come to at Length* 
 And thus we went on dJfcourfing together, fad 
 enough, till we came as far as Babylon and / 
 fipotamla *, and there ran about thefe Countries 
 Four pleafant Rivers, Fifor\ Gih<tn y Hiddekei^ 
 and Euphrates *, and when I faw the Rivers, I 
 began to mufe, thinking, that if the Garden 
 of Eden was in the World, it muft be here*, 
 for thefe are the Rivers that ran through Pa- 
 radife. And walking up the River- En hates 9 
 we came in Sight of the moil pleaSmt Plant- 
 ing that ever I had feen before -, the"< 
 its Parallel in alt our Country. VVlv 
 when I had feen, I thought with my felf. If 
 I might be permitted to live here, I s " il-.ould 
 never defire to go Home again \ for this Place 
 muft be the very Suburbs ol Gldry* for all 
 Manner of pleafant and delegable Fruk: 5 
 bounded here ^ the Air was pu;e,the Smell 
 of the Flowers fragrant an 
 much that One told nre, that ii I 
 permitted to dwell here, 1 ihould ne 
 Then, 1 being very averfe from Dea: f 
 
 B 2 There- 
 
4 Ibe lojs and %ec6Very 
 
 Therefore I will go to the Keeper o\' this Gar- 
 den, and will promiie to ferve him a'l my 
 Life, if he will but allow me Entrance here. 
 But Mofes gave me a fhbrt Anfwer to that, 
 That there were Cherubims and a Flaming 
 .Sword placed here, that never one of Adam's 
 Pofterity fliould enter : For this is earthly Pa- 
 radife. It had a Street to let Man out, but 
 none to let him in. He faid, moreover, 
 What worth is a Dyvour's Bond ? 1 had loft 
 my Credit already. 
 
 When 1 had heard thefe fad News, what 
 thro' Joy that I had been hop : ng to win in to 
 this Garden, what thro' Sorrow whenT faw 
 the Entry of it clofed up, what through 
 Toil of my fore Travel, I turned fo drowfy, 
 that I fell afleep. Thus it fared . once wich 
 the Difciples, Luke 22. 45. Jefus found them 
 pcp'mgfor Sorrow. And fo I fell a Dreaming, as 
 fee know Men ordinarily dream bf thefe Things 
 when tttey fleep, that they are much concer- 
 ned abc&t- when they are awake : And the 
 Dream as it was to me, I tell it to you *, If 
 you. can, pleafe mew the Interpretation, 
 
 I dreamed, and, behold, the fame Garden 
 'that I faw before, was more rfully reprefemed 
 to me *, and in the Garden there were walk- 
 ing Two of the moil heavenly-like Perfons 
 that ever I. faw , the Glory of Heaven, and 
 and the Image of God was mining upon them \ 
 they were indeed, to give them their Due, 
 fair as the Sun* clear as the Moon, terrible 
 
 like 
 
of EkEl Sinners. 5- 
 
 like an Army with Banners •, and they earned 
 with them a pleafant Child *, like a very An- 
 gel : And beiides, they were filled with Joy 
 andPleafure in the very higheft Degree, without 
 all Mixture of Sorrow, Toil, or Weariness. 
 The Reafon of their Glory and Joy both, 
 was, He that dwelleth in the Gardens was 
 with them, and they had Communion with 
 him; the being in whole Company but Forty 
 Days, made Mofes^s Face fo to Fnine : And it 
 was Fellowfhip with him that DavU had in \ 
 far inferior Degree, that made him fay, Pfal. 
 2 1*5. Thou baft made me exceeding glad with 
 thy Countenance. John 20. 20* Then were the 
 Vifciples glad when they faro the ho?d n What 
 needs more ? Communion with him makes 
 Heaven wherever X is enjoyed : Jacob got but 
 a little While's Communion with him. Gen* 
 28. 16, 17. and he fays,, God is in this Piace^ 
 and it is the Honfe of God ^ yea, the Gates and 
 Suburbs of Glory. 
 
 Now, the little Child that they carried a* 
 bout with them, was as happy as therbfelves: 
 And, that he might leave his Nau.e upon his 
 Inheritance with his Son, he fir-named it by 
 himfelf Adarns-fon , bejiig to fhare of Vvett 
 or Wo ? according as he flood or 
 
 TVten I he:rd a very feriou be- 
 
 twkthim that dweileth in the Car- 
 ol the Place, and Adam, and ch 
 B 3 
 
 * Importing their Poftcrity, .ibo'nct yet 
 
6 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Matters of the greater! CoHcernment : Which 
 when I had diligently taken Heed unto, I 
 found, that the Lord of Glory, the abfolute 
 Sovereign of Heaven and Earth, had graciouf- 
 ly condtf bended to, and was juft now entring. 
 into Covenant with thofe Perfonsj whirh I 
 admired at, they being but the DufT. of his 
 Footftool : And this Covenant was moft equal 
 and juft for the Glory of his Juftice, and alfo 
 : the Happinefs of Man. And then I under- 
 | 2kKX» it was the Covenant of Works. 
 
 Now, this Covenant was made betwixt the 
 Lord, and Adam in the Eftate of Innocency, 
 wherein there is fomediing required *, and that 
 Which is required, is perfect, perfonal, and per- 
 petual Obedience : Tftat which was promifed, 
 v -was* L[fe -j which comprehends all good 
 -Things both here and hereafter. Lev. 18. 5. 
 7e Jhall keep my Statutes and my Judgment s^ which 
 a Man do, he fhall live in them. Mat. 19. 
 17. If tlnu wilt enter into Life, kecy the Com- 
 mandments. And this Covenant was made for 
 lam and all his Poftelty*, Gen. 2. 16% 17. Of 
 'Tree in the JWidfl of the Garden, thou fialt 
 . cat} for in the Day thou eatefi thereof 9 
 
 thou (halt jnrely. die. Rom. . %• 12. -20. By , 
 
 one n cntYcd into the World-, and ZX 
 
 , one Ai'trSs Dij obedience many were 
 
 . And the Lord's threatning that 
 
 he ilieuld die 11 he did eat of that Tree, was 
 
 a 3yie*cy, to warn him to take Heed that he 
 
 not meddle vyith it \ for he would have 
 
 died 
 
ef EleEl Sinners. y 
 
 tlied if he had eaten of it after it was forbid- 
 den, whether Death had been threatned or 
 not ; For, Sin and Death go Hand in Hand 
 unfeparable, Rom. 5. 12. Death by Sin, and, 
 6. 23. And 2 as there was a Neceffity that the 
 Lord fhould give him a Law to be governed 
 by, for Man depends on God in his Kind of 
 Manners as well as in his Kind of Being } and 
 the Law of Nature given to Man, is founaed 
 on the Nature of God \ fo that, he mufl com- 
 mand that, and not the contrary .• For, what 
 horrid Blafphemy were it, to lay, That the 
 Lord might command us not to worfhip him- 
 felf, but to worfliip Satan *, and to murder our 
 Parents. Moreover, to fay, That a Creature 
 exifteth, and yet not fubjeft to God, is a Con- 
 tradiction - the Wind, and Sea, and all obey 
 him} and, with Authority he commands the 
 unclean Spirits, and they obey him } Or, to 
 fay, That they are fubje& to God, and yet 
 not obey his Law, or to beigoven.ed without 
 a Law, or, that an infinitely juft* God ' fhould 
 rule them by an unjuft Law, is a Contradi- 
 ction. 
 
 Moreover, I looked, and behold, the Wo* 
 man came away needlefly wandritig from her 
 Husband :' And I faw Apoliyon come, and m 
 all Hafte took PoiTefiion of the Body 
 Serpent, and made to meet her. And 
 entred Difcourfe with her. 
 
 Serpent. Hail, noble 1 acLy, Q^een a 
 prefs of the World (for he (pake ?a?x:e ? v. 
 
 B 4 Mif- 
 
The Lofs dnd Recovery 
 Mifchief and War was in his Heart.) It were 
 a Pity, faid he, that fuch an excellent and 
 beautiful Creature as thou art, were not in a 
 more high and honourable Station. 
 
 Woman, Who art thou ? a Brute, and an 
 nn eafonable Creature ? And how comes it to 
 pafs, that thou, being fuch, yet hath both 
 Speech and Reafon, far above any Creature 
 of that Nature and Kind ? 
 
 Serjent, Nature .' faid the other. Well 
 and very eafily may any Creature climb up, 
 and nobly afcend far above what is natural to 
 them. And therefore I faid, It were a Pity 
 that fuch a noble Creature as thou art, were 
 not in a far higher Station .• For I, as you 
 fife, at firft was a Brute Creature, wanting 
 both Speech and Understanding, and now have 
 both. 
 
 Woman How came you then to get both ? 
 1 wonder at this! 
 
 Serpept. I came happily here upon a Time 
 to this Tree of Knowledge, rightly fo called, 
 becaufe of an admirable Vertue that is in the 
 Fruit of it, to give Knowledge to all that eat 
 of it, and did eat thereof in my Simplicity ; 
 and immediately, Speech and great Knowledge 
 came ' o me. 
 
 ff(;^?. But this is the only Tree in all 
 the Garden, that tre Lord hath difcharged 
 tas to eat of, upon the highefl Peril, /V, laid 
 he, in tie D*y thou eatejt thereof) thou fait. Jure ~ 
 iy die. 
 
of EleFi Sinners. 9 
 
 ' Serpent. And no Wonder he discharged yai 
 to eat of it, becanfe he dtfires none to inure in 
 Divine Honour with himieli : For he ncu k 
 eth^ that in tine Day thou eatefi tkerecj^ yt 
 be as Gods knowing Good and Evil. Fo , a? it 
 hath advanced me from a Bruce to a rational 
 Creature *, fo, it will advance you that are ra- 
 tional Creatures to be as Gods.,- That is all ' 
 the Death that ye ihall die, ye iliall be Dei- 
 fied. 
 
 Woman, Thank you, for your friendly Ad- 
 monition and Advice - I will try il 1 can win 
 up a Step higher. 
 
 Serpent. O do it ! For, if ye had known 
 hovf happy a Condition ye would have been 
 in, if ye h<<d eaten thereof, ye would have long 
 fince been as a God. 
 
 Woman. Well, I fliall be fo within a little. 
 And fo, jhe took thereof and did eat 7 and gave 
 alfo to her Husband And he did eat ^ and the Lyes 
 of them both were opened^ find they law t at 
 they were lying nakcd r and open to the Wrath 
 and Difplealure of God, whom they had \o un- 
 gratefully offended ; and great horror took 
 hold upon them, feeing that they were gift ty" 
 both of Rebellion and Sacrilegt their 
 
 own Blood and the Blood of the whofce$&'orld 
 'waslyin^; upon their Heads j and not 
 they murdered their Bodies, but their ''souls. 
 And then, iuch a Trembling fell upon them, 
 that they flew away in a dread rui i 
 hide themielves from an omnifcient Godh 
 
t o The Lofs and Recovery 
 whom none can any where hide themfelves ^ 
 andcrap in trembling among the thick Trees 
 of the Garden : And the Serpent looking after 
 them, derided and accufed them, and rejoiced, 
 as do alfo all his Seed in Mifchief, Jer. 1 1. 17. 
 When thou doft Evil, then thou rejoiceft. Then 
 Adam lamented thus, 
 
 God made with me a Covenant, 
 
 both holy, good and juft ^ 
 But I the Covenant did break, 
 
 to fatisfy my Luft. 
 And now I fmart for it full fore ; 
 
 from God loft run away. 
 Many that are not born as yet, 
 
 will fore fmart for this Day. 
 I coveted to be like God, 
 
 I'm Satan-like, I fee; 
 An Heir of Death, of Hell and Wrath, 
 
 alas ! and wo is me .' 
 1 was at Heaven once to Day, 
 
 but foon by Sin I fell. 
 O lothfom Sin ! O weary Sin / 
 
 from Heaven throw'fl to Hell. 
 
 And, when I had feen this fad Sight, I loo- 
 ked about, and faw two Perlons coming to- 
 wards me - the one was a very eloquent Per- 
 fon, the other of a fad and dejected Behaviour; 
 the Name of the one was Teacher, and the 
 Name of the other Fear. And this was the 
 pifcourfe that paft betwixt them. 
 
 Teacher 
 
of EleEl Shiners. 1 i 
 
 Teacher. Hew now, Fear f| hew doft'thou f 
 and what haft thou feen here to Day ? 
 
 Fear. Do ! 1 never did worie : For this 
 'Day I am undone. And for what I have feen j 
 I have feen the faddeft Sight that ever 1 faw 
 iiince the Day that i was born, even until 
 now. 1 may fay in the Motnirg y would God it 
 were Evening \ and in the Evenings vocutd Cod it 
 were Morning ; for the Sight of mine Lyes whuh 
 I fee y and for the Fear of my Heart wherewith I 
 fear.- For 1 faw the Serpent come and de- 
 ceive Evah : And we are all gone and loft. 
 But, is the Thing real ? Can it bepojjible ? or, 
 Is it not a Dream ? 
 
 Teacher. It is a true Bream that is feen wa- 
 king. 
 
 Fear. But was there not Ground for the 
 Woman to fear and fufpect the Serpent ? Why 
 was not the Woman afraid ? 
 
 Teacher. There was Caufe of a cautious 
 and wary Fear indeed . but no Ground of a 
 Fear of Ha*rm : For the Woman had not yet 
 finned •, and Fear of Harm is the Fruit of 
 Sin. And thp 1 flie law a Brute fpeak, fhe 
 might think that it was an Angel appeared to 
 her; for ihe knew that there were good Angels 
 who converfed with them in their Eltate of 
 Innocency, tho now we cannot abide the Sight 
 of them \ and they were appointed to wait 
 upon her and her Husband. 
 
 Fear. But what will become of their Po ffe- 
 rity ? 
 
i 2 The Lofs an J Recovery 
 ritv ? Is it true that they are in as fid a Con- 
 dition as themtelv. s ? 
 
 c Tcaxhr. They are *> for the Covenant was 
 mnde with him, for himielf and aii his Pofte- 
 ricy. 
 
 Fear. But what Juftice was there in that? 
 . Mi^.ht not every one been left to ffoiid and fall 
 for himielf, and not have put the Stock of 
 '' the whole World in one Man's Hand f 
 
 Itaeher. But who art thou, O Man/ that 
 enquired into the Secrets of God's Will £ 
 Where was the Law that obliged God to it ? 
 Wilt thou provoke the Almighty to Anger? 
 Art thou wifer than he ? For, i . Altho 5 every 
 Man was not there, at the Covenant-making,to ! 
 plead for, and choofe what they would have:, 
 yet God, that was wifer than they, was there 
 to chooie for them, who wifiied their Well, 
 and could make a wifer Choice for them than 
 they could do for themfelves. Befides, what 
 a Perplexity would it have been to every Man 
 every Moment fe ring his Fall •, and if once 
 fallen never to be recovered again ? But betides, 
 God had provided a Way to recover the whole 
 Kurnber of the Elecl, if they fell. 2. It was 
 mod reasonable," that 'Ada*^ being the com- 
 mon md Reprefentative of all his Pofle- 
 rit'y, fhould engage. for them*, as Perfons take 
 the Father of the Family engaged for ail his 
 Children. 3. Tho' he/n'fm naged the S':ock s 
 and proved Bankrupt j it was reaibnaMe we 
 
 fhouid 
 
of EleEl Sinners* 
 
 fhould fliare in his Poverty, feeing, we were to 
 ihare in his Ricines, it he had flood. 
 
 Fear, Buc, how come we to be guilty of 
 his Sin / If we be not, how can we be puni- j 
 flied for it ? 
 
 • Teacher. You may as well enquire, how we 
 come to be Partakers of C-srifth Right eou nM 
 and HMnefs 1 For, deny the one, and deny 
 the o.her. Is there not an Union betwixt the 
 Head and the Members ? Corrupt mortal Hu- 
 mors in the Head, corrupt and infeft the whole 
 Body, anda lively healthful Bead, ihedsdown 
 enlivening and inlightning Influences upon the 
 Body : So is it here. Adam, a corrupt Head, 
 wronged the Body, Rom. 5. H+ By one Man 
 (Ad.,m the Head of that Corruption) Sin m~ 
 tred into the World, and Death by Sin '■ : Spy by 
 one Mans Obedience (Chrift the Head of the 
 elect WorldJ Right eoufnefs entred into the lVorid 7 
 and Life by Right eoufnrfu C 
 
 Fear, How did the Sin of Adam infect the 
 Bodies of his Pofterity ? 
 
 Teacher. Several Ways. 1. In their Concep- 
 tion, Pfal. 5 J. 5. I was jhapen in Sin, and coM 
 ceived in Iniquity. John 3. 6". That which if 
 horn of the Flejh is Flejh: 1 ha* is, they that 
 are born of corrupt Nature, have corrupted 
 Nature thernfelvets ' r and fmce a corrupt 
 brings forth corrupt Fruit, io it is 1 en\ 
 feeing noi.e can give, that toothers which he 
 himfelf hath not, how can any good cor 
 m froai Adam t w r hen he tidd none to himielf ? 
 
 2. By 
 
The Lojs and <%ecoVery 
 2. By Imputation, as being our Head and Re~ 
 prefentative. 
 
 Fear I fee Reafon for that, ' But the great 
 Difficulty to me is, Since the Soul is not begot- 
 ten of, nor defcends from the Parents, bin is 
 immediately created of God, and infufed into 
 rheBody then, and never till then, that the 
 Body befit to receive it h How can that Soul be 
 guilty, or want natural Holinefs and Purity ? 
 If it fall, Adam hath no Hand in it h and, if it 
 be created guilty of Sin and Impure, this 
 were to make God the Author of Sin. How 
 can thefe Things be ? 
 
 leather. The Covenant was made with 
 Adam, not only for the Bodies of his Pofterity 
 bat for the Souls alfo ; that he falline,all mould 
 rail. 2. God is not the Author of Sin ; For 
 e doth not create it a finfnl Soul h it is not 
 ipure when it comes out of the Creator's 
 Sands. For t h ore Is a threefold Difti^aion of 
 Purity or Holinefs. T . A pure and holy Soul, 
 as was Adam s when created. 2. An impure 
 and unholy Soul, flich as Adapts after the Fall 
 3. A Soul not pure, that is, tho' it want origi- 
 nal Righteoufnefs, yet \t is not contaminate 
 with original Sin : And fucharethe Souls of all v 
 4dan?& Pofterity when they come out of the 
 Creator's Hand. It is created with pure natural 
 Habits, but hath not the Ima e of Cod upon 
 it \ and yet God is not the Author of Sin. For 
 It is one Thing for him to create it without 
 original Righteoufnefc, a&ing as a Creator and 
 

 ■■Ill ■ 
 
 of Elecl Sinners. 
 Judge both, according to his Covenant with 
 idam ; and it is another Thing to infufe Sin 
 oto the Soul, which he doth not. But this 
 JVant of original Righteoufneis is a Sin in us, 
 xjcaufe it is the Privation of a Habit that ought 
 ;o be in us, which we have finiully loft.- 
 i. The Soul becomech guilty of original Sin, 
 5V its Conjuaion with the fmful Body which 
 nfe&eth the Soul, as the Paflions of the Soul 
 ioth affea the Body, there being fuch a clofs 
 Union and near Sympathy betwixt them*, and 
 yet the Lord is not the Author of Sin,, be- 
 caufe he infufeth the Soul into a finful Body : 
 Becaufe he made an unalterable Law in the Be- 
 ginning, that in every Body there fhould be a 
 Soul 5 which Law he was nowife* obliged to 
 alter, becaufe we have finned : And i% the 
 Soul, the imperial and commanding Part, is 
 plucked of the Throne, and made a Lacquie 
 to the Body, to obey its bale Defires.^ And 
 this Truth is fo clearly revealed in, Scripture, 
 and fo confirmed by fad Experince, that tho' 
 we cannot know bow it is, yet. we may furely 
 know that it is. And it is greater Wifdom, 
 when the Houfe is on Flames, to run quickly, 
 and get it quenched, than to Hand enquiring 
 how it kindled, till all be loft and confurned. 
 Fear. But, I admire yet at Jd m, poor 
 Man! that when he faw that lie was gone, and 
 Death feiz : ng upon him, that he did not run 
 quickly to the Tree of Life ; for ft 
 Qc?h 3. 22. if he had done fo, he mighc 
 
1 6 The Lofs and Recovery 
 for ever. For as frighted a poor Body as I am! 
 I think I would have done ic my lelf , thai 
 would have Deen better vet, than to have crept 
 inro a Bum, and ly trembling fo long. 
 
 Teacher. IViany a one think they would 
 have managed the Bufinefs better than Adam y 
 it rhey had been in his Room •, but it is ea- 
 fjer laid than performed. For, if all the 
 World in their own Perfons had been there, 
 they would peri/hed all, as well as he. But, 
 2. This wasnoneof h s Milmanagement, that 
 he did not rim .to the Tree of Life for a Cure} 
 for he would have been no better altho' he 
 had gone. All his Miimanagement lay, in eat- 
 ing of the other Tree, and then running away 
 from God. For, i. This Tree of Life vaftly 
 differeth from that, that you read of, Rev*. 
 22. 2. That in heavenly Paradife reftoreth 
 Life, tho' it be Jolt ; but this Tree, Life once 
 loll, h cannot recover it. 3. That whole 
 Scripture is Ironical, and full of holy Sarcafms 
 and Scoffs' at f Adm\ Madmfi>: For, the Lord 
 faith, I. 1 ">:e"7vU'i is ucccme'us one cf us. As if 
 lie had faidjlook to tliis,afl ye that come after 
 him; how the ftian hath conquered "US tkelri- 
 ftt.ryy and irotten the. Divinity from US, 
 which he fo much affected : And htm happy he 
 hath made himfelf by hts Rebellion } he is be- 
 corneas one cf US. But how I according to 
 the Devil's Suggeftion and his own Apprehen- 
 sion : And this'the Loid fays, to make him 
 .iter to embrace the Promife, and to be 
 
 more 
 

 of EleB Sinners. 7 7 
 
 more cautious and watchful afterward,and be 
 ter obey what the Lord commanded him. 
 And as for this that thou fpeakeft of, Left he 
 fhotild take of the Tree of Life and live j or ejyi 
 it is another holy Scoff, that is, The Man is* 
 not like to leave his Folly yet, for all thai 
 Mifchief he hath gotten thereby ; but he will 1 
 meddle "alfo with the Tree of Life : And as ^ 
 he thought to grow wifer by the taking of the 
 other Tree •, fo he thinketh he Will live for \ 
 ever, tho' it be not fo: And fo he will abufe 
 the Sacrament, which he hath no Right unto j 
 for that Tree was not plaqed there,that it might 
 recover Life, if it were lofr 5 But to confirm 
 him, that he mould keep Life, as long as he 
 did not eat of the other Tree, which was a Sa- 
 crament of Trial : For thefe Trees were the 
 two Sacraments of the Covenant of Works ;, 
 the one. the Sicrament of Trial, the other the 
 Sacrament of Confirmation. Now, all this 
 Time Adam was ftill lamenting his Mifery* 
 and the Lofs. of Happinefs. And thus he 
 .faid, 
 
 Adam was happy once to Day, 
 
 God's Image on him, pleafant Life! 
 Like to an Argel, with his God } 
 
 But now he's loft, he and his Wife, 
 Death fpiritual on him is feiz'd, 
 
 Eternal Death it comes alfo, 
 And Death of Body is at Hand : 
 
 And now poor Adam's very Jow # 
 
1 8 TJie Lofs and Recovery 
 Difeafes on my Body work, 
 
 And therewith make a weary Strife: 
 tTThe Conflict they'll never give o'er, 
 
 Till they bereave me of my Life. 
 O/' What a Change within a Day ? 
 
 An Heir of Glory when I rofe, 
 And now an Heir of Hell am I ; 
 
 A bonny Day, but dreiry Clofe. 
 And well deferv'd, when happy 1, 
 
 Alas ! I could not hold me i'o. 
 Ingratitude to my good God, 
 
 Hath laid poor Adam very low. 
 My poor Poftepty are gone, 
 
 I'm murdered and all my Race : 
 And loft Communion with our God ; 
 
 Alas ! the Lofs of *s lovely Face, 
 All that come after will admire, 
 
 My Cruelty will not approve : 
 For robbing mine of Paradife, 
 
 Of Peace with God, and of his Love. 
 
 And now, when he was thus bewailing his 
 Mifery, I beheld Him that dwelleth in the 
 Gardens, with whom he had entred Covenant 
 a little before, come walking in the Garden - 7 
 and as he came near, he cried, with a kindly 
 flow Voice, Adam, where art thou ? I wondered 
 that he did not fpeak more aufterely % for he 
 never changed the Rebel's Name, but faid, 
 Where art thou, Adam ? What Condition is 
 this that thou art new in I 
 
 Adaw 7 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 1 9 
 
 Adam anfwered, I am lying trembling at 
 thy Voice ; for, whenever 1 heard it, it ftiucfc 
 me .with Terror, and 1 ran to hide my felf. 
 
 Lord. What haft thou done, Man f for I have 
 done nothing to terrify thee, I never did thee^J 
 Wrong, I never (pake an angry Word to thee.^ 
 v Is it not Heaven to be in my Company ? How 
 cheerful and confident waft thou when I parted 
 With thee ? 
 
 Adam. But, alas ! the Cafe is altered^with 
 me now *, it is a far changed World, Lord, 
 fince thou and I parted. 
 
 Lord, What's the Matter > Thou haft fure- 
 ly eaten of the Tree of which I forbade thee. 
 Thou haft finned, Man, or elfe thou wouldft 
 never have been afraid of me j for Sin is the 
 Caufe of Fear of this Sort, Lev. 26. 27, 36. 
 And if you will not hearken to my Voice, but walk 
 contrary unto me:— I vr ill fend aEtintnefs into their 
 Hearts, and the Sound ofafliakcn Leaf fn all chafe. 
 them, and they jhall flee when none purfueth them* 
 And thou muft anfwer for what thou had 
 done. And therefore, I command and charge ' 
 thee to come and appear before me, to anfwer 
 to what Claim I have to lead agaifift hee : And, 
 in like Manner, That thy Wife, and the Ser- 
 pent, and all appear-, and I will proceed legal- 
 ly with thee. I alfo call Witneffes_ro atteft 
 to what they have feen : Prepare for thine 
 own Defence, and come forward. And One . 
 beholding the Lord's mild Manner of dealing 
 toith ham, how flowly he came up to him, and 
 C 2 lpQk& 
 
I 20 Tin Lofs And Recovery 
 
 fpoke fo mildly when he came, began to re- 
 T&ice, expe&ing the belt. 
 
 The Lord is very gracious, ) 
 
 In him Companions flow ; 
 In Mercy he is very great, 
 
 And is to Anger flow. 
 To Rebel Adam Safety comes, 
 
 Loth him to terrifie, 
 Judgment's his Aft, but his flrange Aft, 
 
 Therein delights not he. 
 But when a Penitent he fpies, 
 
 O then ! he runs with Speed, 
 Falls on his Neck and khTeth him, 
 
 To Mercy quick indeed. 
 And if a Sentence fore be pafl, 
 
 This Judge is not to blame ; 
 He that fuch Goodnefs doth abufey 
 
 He hath the greater Shame. 
 
 By this Time the Court was fenced, and the 
 Pannels fitted before the Bar. And then Adam 
 and his Wife were charged with Rebellion \ 
 ■ and asked if they were guilty, or not guilty. 
 ISIot guilty, O my Lord, laid they. And, 
 V^hen 1 heard this, I thought it was good ; 
 my Kind being to cover my Tranfgrefftons m 
 xny Bofom, and hide my Tranfgreflions like 
 Adam, Job 32. 33. The Crime that was laid 
 to their Charge was, Plotted Rebellion and 
 Treafon againft their King} and alio? Sacri- 
 IffiS in dealing from the Holy One. 
 
of EleEi Sinners. 2T 
 
 Then were there WitnefTes called to declare 
 I what they had feen, and what they had to fay 
 againft thefe Pannels at the Bar. The nrft that 
 was called was Shame, the moft couragious^v 
 Man that ever took a- Caufe in Hand j for, 
 if it be right, he will be thorow with it. 
 
 Shame. Then faid he, Pleafe to hear me, O j 
 moft righteous Judge ; This is a guilty Man, i" 
 atteft to it } and I was an Eye-witnefs both to* 
 his Treafon and Sacrilege^ both he and his Wife, 
 when they put forth theirHand and took of the 
 forbidden Fruit : And then Shame flew up in 
 his Face, and bid hin look to himfelf whaC 
 be had done $ and he blufhed to fee himfelf, 
 and I damped his Countenance -, fo that, when 
 he lay croutching in yonder Bufh, he was fo a- 
 ftiamed of what he had~done, that he had not 
 Confidence to look out, left any fhould fee 
 him ; and how greatly was he afhamed to ap« 
 p;ar, when he heard thy Voice, as guilty Per- 
 sons are ! but he thought to ly hid muffled up 
 in the Thickets of the Garden. Nay, look 
 upon him, O righteous Judge, and fee what 
 is written on his Forehead, and his Wife's | 
 both. The Shame of my Countenance rifing up, doth i 
 teftify againft me yVfal.^.i^. Ifa.3. 9. Moreover, ' 
 my Lord,I judge it meet that he be caft out of : 
 Paradife, for it is ufelefs to him now *, yea, as 
 he now (lands, Heaven were ufelef? to him,, ; 
 if not worfe than Hell '.- For he is now befong] 
 Juftice, like dry Stubble before; a devouring 
 Flame •, ay, the nearer it comes, it confunlef^ 
 G 3 t}& n 
 
1 1 The Lofs and ^ccCVery 
 
 the fafter : He is therefore unfit for, and «n- 
 worthy of this Garden. Drive him out, he 
 is unworthy any more to live, or to receive 
 cither heavenly or earthly Bleffings. 
 
 Then was Terror called, and asked if He 
 fcnew any Thing of this Man's Sacrilege and K 
 Hebelliofi ? Who anfwered, Yes, O Righteous 
 Judge. I alfo was an Eye- witnefs to his 
 Crimes \ both he and his Wife are guilty. I 
 faw them pat forth their Hands and take of 
 the forbidden Fruit : And'he cannot deny, but 
 I fpoke very fmartly to him then, and told 
 him I would inform the Jud^e thereof \ and, 
 that if 1 were called, I would be as fore a 
 Witnefs, as he mould have *, and, I trow, 
 tlje Words that I fpoke to him, put a Knell to 
 ■Ins Heart, that he hath not left the Trembling 
 to this Hour. I was Witnefs alfo to both of 
 them, when they took their Heels and fled, 
 and took Guilt upon themfelves \ Why would 
 tl -y have fled,0 my Lord,if it had not been fo? 
 He lie i no otherwiie, than a Rebel from his 
 provoked Prince, or a weaker .Enemy from a 
 ftronzer. Moreover, I faw him when he lay 
 trembling in the Bum for Fear to be difcove- 
 red. Where there is no Sin, there is no Fear « 
 They were not afraid at the Serpent, before 
 they f nned •, But now, they are afraid of God, 
 the greater} Good* And,asmy fellow Witnefs 
 h ath faid, he ought to be expelled Paradife. 
 %e hath loft aRight to Heaven and Earth •, 
 therefore? let him get Juftice. 
 
 Then 
 
ef Elefl Sinners. 3 5 
 
 Then was Conference called, and asked if he 
 had any Thing to fay againft thefe Pannels at 
 the Bar? Who anfwered, Yes, O righteous 
 Judge, I have as much to fay mine alone, as 
 can 3o his Turn} and I have Power to make 
 him confefs, and will do it before all be done J 
 ancl, if I condemn him, he is gone, 1 John $y ; j 
 jo. If our Beans (our Confcience ) condemn usm 
 God is greater than our Hearts, and knoweth all 
 Things. And he knoweth that I fpeak the 
 Truth: For I called a private Court, O 
 righteous Judge, ("according to the Power thou 
 haft invefted me withj and there have I con- 
 victed and condemned him already 5 and here 
 I accufe him, and declare him guilty, Rom. 
 2. 15. And 1 condemn him to be dive/ted of 
 all his Enjoyments, and juftify thee in fo do- 
 ing: And I will make him fay with his own 
 Mouth, The Lord is right eott< y for I haze finned 
 againft him. And, if this will no&^lo, I may 
 aggravate his Sin : He had got the whole 
 World gifted to him, and Heaven promifed- 
 him-, Only one Tree in the Garden kept 
 from him : What Kecd had he of that? Had 
 he not many Thoufand as good, mo than he 
 was able to make Uie of? Only this forbidden, 
 to let him know that the World was God's } 
 and that the Lord was zbove him : It was nei- 
 ther Scant nor Want that made; him to take 
 it was againft the greater!; Love and I. ibera iry 
 that could be, And, I expecl Juftice w 'ft fee 
 done upon him a in this Court that cannot err: 
 C 4 And 
 
14 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 And that becaufe, The Judge of the whole Earth 
 • fcaleth juftly. 
 { Then were the Pannels called, and asked if 
 they had any Thing to fay for themfelves,why 
 judgment and Sentence fhould not pafs againft- 
 : them. Are ye guilty, or not guilty ? They 
 ^anfwered, Hot guilty. , Jdamfdid, I deny not 
 ||>ut I did eat of rhe Fruit of the Tree, but I 
 fern not guilty for all that} if there be any Guilt, 
 it lieth at thine own Door. 
 
 Judge. How. wilt thou prove that ? 
 Adam. Thou gave me this Woman •, and 
 the Woman that thou gave ft me, gave it me \ and 
 fo, it cometh ftrai^ht to thine own Door. 
 
 Judge. What fayefc thonj Woman ? Art thou 
 guilty, or not guilty? — 
 
 Woman. I am not guilty. For, the Serpent 
 deceived me, and I did eat. If thou hadfl not 
 made this Se?p>nt, I had never eaten of it : 
 The Fault is thine own, and not mine - for I 
 wa'S dece : ved. 
 
 Judge. Out of your own Mouths will I 
 judge you. Adam, thou onghteft to have o- 
 beyed me, rather than the Woman: And thou 
 Woman, oughteft to have obeyed me, rather 
 than the Serpent : Bothof you areguilty. And 
 then, 
 
 The Judg$ proceeded to pfs Sentence. 
 And firft upon the Serpent, that tempted them 
 to RebelHon. On thy Be'y fliatt thcu go, and 
 Qu(t (I) tit thcu eat. Any Pleafure that chou 
 ihait have, fliall be in thefe dufly Pleasures of 
 
 • Sin, 
 
1 5 
 
 o/ E/f^ Sinners. 
 Sin, and tempting Men to fin bv the Baits of 
 the World, And therefore, the Dev/'/j be- 
 feechC£r*/?,thathe would not caiUhtm ; ntothe 
 Deep. The Reaibn was, he wculd nor enj 
 his Pleafure there fo much, in temptw Menjj 
 to Sin \ and that is the great eft o{ Curies, Jj 
 to have one Sin made the Eimifhment of ano- 
 ther. 
 
 The Wctnanh Sentence was, In Sorrow ft alt 
 thou bring forth Children , and try Defer e [Jul' be 
 towards thine Husband: That \s y Thdv fhalt have 
 much Pain both in Conception and pirch : and 
 (halt have many falle Conceptions alfo : And 
 thy Defire~ftall be towards thy Husbdnd *, That is\ 
 Thy Deferes ihall depend upon the Pleafure of 
 thy Husband, to grant, or not to grant, as he 
 pleafeth. And this Punifiiment was moll juft, 
 and fuitable to the Sin of the Woman , Because t 
 fhe did not ask her Husband's Leave, in ib 
 weighty a Matter, as the Eating of the for* 
 bidden Fruit was. And this was moft grievous 
 to Women *, becaufe, by Reaibn of their 
 Weaknefsj their Defer Cs are moft violent, being 
 maftered with their Ptjfions, He that was 
 mild and gentle in his Government before, 
 fhail NOW rule over thee with Riv/vr. 
 
 The Sentence of the Man was., That 
 Ground fewuld be curfed for his Sahe^ end brhtig 
 forth Thorns and Thiftles, and but little- Ffii 
 even after hard Labour ^ A die 
 
 and return to the Duft. And ih a iroft, 
 
 juft Sentence to the MM} th ad 
 
1 6 The L ofs and ^ecdVery 
 
 all the Variety of the Choice Fruits of Eden^ 
 yet was not content with it 5 if he got not of! 
 Wfhis one Tree alio. 
 
 And the general Sentence of them both, 
 $nd all t'jt.r Pofteiity, was, That t,ty jhould he 
 | baijhedgfr m the Garder, as banifhed Men •, and 
 \ that tfcy (hould undergo the Curfls and Mi- 
 ^ ftries of Bod/, iuch as, Hunger, Thirlt, 
 I Wearineft, Sicknef , Perils, Poverty, Dif- 
 I grace, Reproach, and" every Way accurfed, 
 Deut, 28. 15. ad finem. Becaule thou haft no£ 
 ; obferved this Law, Cur fed jh.dt thou be in the 
 City and in the Field \ in tky Basket^ and in thy 
 Store y in the Fruit of thy Body y and in thy Land) 
 Kine and Sheep y and in ail thou fetteft thine Hand 
 to do y till thou peri jh y becaufe thou haft forfak&i- 
 me : F eft Hence y and Confimption, and Famine $ 
 Fowder and Duft inftead of Rain } thou floalt fall 
 before Enemies^ and be fmitten with Madnefs^ 
 &C Deut. 27. 15, to 25. 2. Spiritual Plagues, 
 Blindnefs of Mind y Hardnefs of Heart , Terror of 
 Conference ; and that they fhuuld be given up to 
 vile AffeBions, Rom. 1. '26. And that they 
 fhould be the Devil's Prifoners, wherever they 
 Went, 2 Tim. 2.2<5. Taken in the Snare of the 
 Devi 7 , led Capt.'ve at his Will. And bound 
 with Fetters, a threefold Chain not eafily bro- 
 ken. The P voer of God to refer ve tbem to e- 
 ternal Punifliinent, 2 Per, 2. 11. The Lord 
 Iceepeth and referveth the Wicked to. the Day 
 pi' Judgment to be puniifeed : Their guilty Conjci- 
 
 ences. 
 
of Elccl Sinner s. 27 
 
 wrcs, and the Bauds of Sin. They cannot v;m 
 away from God's Pow^r, go where they pleafe* 
 to Heaven, Earth or S.a, he i 3 ay there: 
 They cannot break Prifon and run away from 
 Con/dence, more than run away from them-^S 
 felves *, for their own Conicitnces are Fetters 
 tfill upon them : And, for the Cords of Sin, 
 none can free them of thefe * r there is none 
 that can forgive Sin, but God only : And, as 
 long as Sin is not forgiven, they are fare kept 
 for Execution. And, befide all, when they 
 died, they were to be caft into Torment im- 
 mediately, Lnke \6, 23. The rich Man died y 
 and lift up his Eyes, being in Torment, 2 Thef. 
 I. 9. The Lord Jefus fhall be revealed in flam- 
 3%,?g?j t0 ta ^ e Fwgeance. What a Venge-» 
 'ance^t? Eternal Excommunication from 
 thejlpcnce of God, Father, Son and Ho!y 
 Ghoft, and eternal exquifite Torment, in 
 Soul and Body for ever •, They full be purified 
 with everlaflingDeftru&lon from the Pie fence of 
 the Lord t and- the Glory of his Tower* But 
 
 The Lord, of his great Mercy, when he < 
 was fentencing the Serpent •, in the Mjtift of it, 
 let in Light and Relief to poor Man, that there 
 was fome Hope of the Recovery of fome of 
 them, and that by the Lord JESUS CHRIST, 
 the Seed of the Woman j Gen. 3. 15. J will put 
 Enmity between thee and the Woman, bcfvc'.xt her 
 Seed and thy Seed *, it fhall bruit e thy Head, and 
 thou flak bmife his Ekel. The Serpent fliall 
 
 £e& 
 
2 8 The Lois and %eco')?ery 
 
 get a mortal Wou >d in the Head for decei- 
 ng the Woman : And CHRIST's Sufferings 
 Sjs underftood bv the Strpenfs B~uifing of the 
 I^Hcel •, his coining; in the Room of the Ele£t, 
 jjjp.'id fuffering Death for them, that were 
 Hjhreatned for Difobedience. And there was 
 K« difmal andMark Night, but the Sun rofe at 
 ■Midnight aniong them, and upon them that fat 
 Win Darkne/s, and'' the Shadow of Death, a great 
 Vcht fo;n>d t And, might not Chrift be a 
 furprifing and refreihing Gueft to them ? That 
 fhewed a Way how the Ju(l ihould fuffer, and 
 the Unjuft go unpunished; and yet no Inju- 
 itice ^one in this Court, where the Innocent 
 cannot be piurihed, neither the Unjuft pafs 
 impunifhed \ atid all this Light brought about 
 by Chrift. It is good our Common to love 
 Chrift •, for he was the firft that ever brought 
 the glad Tidings of the great and eternal Sal- 
 vation, when Men were in a hopelefs and help- 
 lefs Condition, 
 
 However, they were to lv under the for- 
 mer fad Sen e nee av and until they repented 
 of, confeiTed and forfook their Sin, andentred 
 into a New Coven mt, to embrace Chrift for 
 their Saviour,and his R.ighteoufnefs for to jufti- 
 f them, and that on the Terms of the Gof» 
 pel. 
 
 And when I had heard and feen all thi?^ I 
 
 v vet another Wonder, for this was a Day 
 
 of Wonders. I heard One cry upon the Efcu-k 
 
 qf the lenience, Let thy mighty Ones come aown^ 
 
 Q 
 
 
of EkFl Sinners. 29 
 
 Lord. And then I looked up,and law a very 
 glorious Light:, that d«zled mine Eyes \ and I 
 beheld lome glorious Creatures come down 
 through thej\irlikeLightning,thei:Bodies very* 1 
 ftrong, having great Wings, that at this Ti™ 
 made a great Noife, for there were great Tran-^ 
 factions and Revolutions carying on this Day,' 
 every Motion of every Creature had a great: 
 Noife } they feemed to be all like Fire, and 
 in their Hands great and terrible Swords, all 
 fparkling and burning with flaming Fire, Gen. 
 3. 24. Who, when they came into the Pretence 
 of the Judge, they coveted their Faces with 
 their Wings y and the Judge laid unto them, 
 Thus faith the Lord God y Lrive out the Man cut 
 of the Gar den 1 to till the Ground from whence he 
 was taken. 
 
 And when he had fo faid, they anfwered, 
 Bleffed be the Glory of the Lord frcrn his I lcce y 
 Ezek. 3. 12. Now, he is provoked to go a- 
 way from this Place, to leave this Garden by 
 the Sins of Man •, but he is a glorious t.orJ, 
 when he is from this Place, as well as when in 
 it : Man\ Sins have dimini-fhed his Glor 
 thing •, but Mercy and J u ft ice ftiine more con- 
 fpicuous than before. Jib 35. 7. If i'i u fin- 
 nsft^ what daft thou dgainft hirfy? a-- d if th -u be 
 righteous, what give ft thou to hin. ? for all that - 
 is come and gone,he is fliH the glorious Lord : 
 And b{effed be the Glory f the Lord fern his Place". 
 And when they had fh fa id, they drove out 
 thi $4Hn 9 Jiut with a fore Heart wmt he out, 
 
 and 
 
3 o The Lofs and ^eco^ery 
 
 and many a wearv Look over his Shoulder, ta« 
 king his long Farewell of plealant Paradife, 
 and intre-ting that he might be allowed to flay, 
 and he would be more obedient than ever. 
 But it was anfwered, he was now more unable 
 than ever^ and the Word or Bond of a Dyvour 
 was not worth the laying hold upon-, his Cre- 
 dit with God was now gone, and he would be 
 trufted no more : So they drove out the Man ; 
 and Cherub : ms and a flaming Sword kept 
 him at the Door, that he never wan in again. 
 And then he lamented as followeth} 
 
 Sin and Satan have confpired 
 
 and ot p/or.Adam made a Prey, 
 My poor Pofrerity and I 
 
 cc ivifted and fentenc'd to Day : 
 The Cherubims of Glory have 
 
 from Eden me for Ay exp H'd, 
 ■ A ban'fii\i M-n now rruft I be, 
 
 becauie I have bafdv rebell'd. 
 To fpend my Life in Mifery, 
 
 with Sorrow, Labour, Grief and Pain^ 
 Lamenting Paradife th it's loir, 
 
 np'er to be gain'd-by Men again. 
 But Life in Death there did appear^ 
 
 jov fpranii up in our Miieriej 
 In midft of Wrath he Mercy minds, 
 
 lor ever blefs'd and prais'd be HE. 
 Out of a Covenant of Works, 
 
 that's mutable,and loft its Strength, 
 
 One 
 
of JLlett Shiners. 31 
 
 [)ne firm and lure up hath he rais'd, 
 
 that: lands in Glory lure at' length* 
 The Woman's Seed holy and bleft 
 
 is promifed, us to redeem, 
 And for to bruife the Serpent's Head, 
 
 from Sin and Wrath n* to exeern. 1 
 And now let us improve his Love, 
 
 this Cautioner put in our Place: 
 Redeeming Love hath found us ON E, 
 
 we are Debtors the more to Grace* 
 Thefe that receive him, happy they / 
 
 God only knows who it will bfe : 
 Our Joy is mixed with our Tears : 
 
 I trow from Eden we muft flee. 
 But go we, ftay we, let 113 learn 
 
 of our Lord God to bode the heft: 
 At fuch a Time, he who gave Chriit, 
 
 why doubt we but he'll give the reft f 
 
 And now, when I had feen this wonderful 
 and unexpected Mercy of the Lord to Rebel 
 Man \ that, infteadof utterly deft ruying them, 
 only threatned them, and ; promifedi heavenly 
 Paradife if they would repent : 'And aifo fee- 
 ing they had fmarted in Part' already- for their 
 former Offence, I looked to fee them the moft 
 cauticus and holy Company that could be teen 
 (Upon the Face of the Earrh, the ^reate/V Ha- 
 tred to Sin and Satan, and the greater! Love to 
 God and Holinefs that could be # , but feeing it 
 the qutfe contrary, Gen. 6. 5. T.ie Wickedncfs 
 ef Mm npors the Earth w#s great 7 and that all 
 
 the 
 
3 1 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 the Imaginations of the Thoughts of his He an 
 were t.nly evil, and that cwtitiualy . That Word 
 came immediately into my Mind, Ecclef 8. 1 it 
 Bccauje Sentence is not Jjeedily execnte agai.fi an 
 evil Work, therefore the Hearts of the Children oj 
 Men are Jet in them to do continually Evil; Anc 
 that, Thf ye wtmld bray a Fool in a Mortar, yet 
 trilt not his F. Iy depart frrm him ■' And this high- 
 ly aggravate, sSin ^ the Holy Ghoft points out 
 Kinir Ariaz, as a Monfter of Wickcdnefs on this 
 Account, 2 Ooror.. 23. 22. This is that King 
 AhaZ, wtia in the Time of his Affiiclion finneA 
 yet toe more. Or, This is Ahaz., ay the \ame\ 
 that nothing can make better-, yea, Hell itfeli 
 cannot make a Perfon better, nor to forfake 
 Sin: For tho' there be an Addition to their 
 Pumihment in Hell, as they add to their 
 Wicktdnefs, yet {till they go on in Sin \ and, 
 let a Ma a be fet upon a fuperftitious \^ay of 
 'Worlliipping God by humane Inventions, not 
 allowed in the Word, he will not be beat of! 
 them \ 1 herefore ye have that obfervable 
 - 'Lake id. Dives in Hell will have a Way 
 of his own Invention taken to convert his Bre- 
 thren \ Send LaZarns to tell them, not to ct 
 this Place, and t. ey will hear him. 
 
 They grew .To corrupt, that whatever the 
 lord forbade them, that was the only Thing 
 theV would C&j Jer. 3.4. 4—17. O do not that 
 abominable Thing that I tate ! But they hearkned 
 nor, nor inclined their Ear, but would walk on 
 in their Wickednds : All Manner oi Blafphe- 
 
 mies 3 
 
of EleB Sinners. $ $ 
 
 mies, Adulteries, Rapines,Murders, Evil-fpeak- 
 iiig, ^-ying and Deceiving, that was forbidden, 
 was found amongft them : But, on the other 
 Hand, whatever the Lord commanded them, 
 that was the Thing they would not do. Jem 
 44. 1 7. As for the Word that thou haft [poke?? tm 
 us in the Name of rhe Lord, we will not hearken^ 
 
 &C. 
 
 All Love to God and Man was laid afide, all 
 Prayer and S:udy of the Scriptures, Pfal. 
 10.4. Yea more, they took up Apprehenfions, 
 that all mould be well with them for all that* 
 Deut, 29. 19. I frail have Peace, t lot? I walk after 
 the Imaginations of mine own Heart, to add 
 Drunkemiefs to Thirft. And they thought thefe 
 that joined with tbem and encouraged them in 
 Sn, were their only F ; et,ds •, and that thefe 
 that gave friendly Admonitions to have Sin, or 
 Reproofs for it, were their great eft Enemies. 
 I heard one wicked A'.:ab fay to one of the ho- 
 ly Prophets, Haft thw found mc,0 mir.e Enemy ? 
 And he faid of another, There is one Micaiab, 
 that will tell us all the Mind iff God^ but I hate 
 him : Yea, fome of them apprehended that 
 the lord loved profane irreligious Drunkards 
 and Swearers, much better than the fincerely 
 Godly. MaL 2. 17. Every one (fay they,) that 
 doeth Evil, is good in the Sig ] .t of the Lord : A- 
 gain, that wasfeen among them that was never 
 feen among condemned Men under a Sentence 
 of Death, as they were, and that was, excefc 
 .five Covetoiiihefs and Care of the World, 
 
 Pfd, 
 
j 34 Tk* ^°f s and Recovery 
 
 ffaL 4. 5» W/33 will jherv us any Good ? Arid 
 any of them had an;/ Thought; of leaving 
 tl>.- ; r Sins, and the finui Courfes of the World, 
 it would be afterward, when thefe left them : 
 A id doth God thank them for that? I trow not. 
 For, if Go I were ay pie.. fed with late Repen- 
 tance, who of all the Chriftian World would 
 jjerifh ? will God^he.r their Cry when Trouble 
 curaeth - ? 
 
 Sj that Oae beholding their Madnefs, fang 
 tl u , 
 
 The faddeft Sight, that e'er I faw, 
 
 this Prjlori is within, 
 Satan's Captives do h re ly bound 
 
 Slaves to Death, Hell and Sin.' 
 Into a Mortar bray a Fool, 
 
 rrs Folly lafteth fall : 
 They think that Wifdom doth ly her©, 
 
 to do Mifchief and 111. 
 Mod lamentable is their Lofs, 
 
 of Wits they're quite bereav'd .* 
 But in the weary Hour of Death 
 
 too late they're undeeeiv'd. 
 lord h Id them for to leave their Sin ? 
 
 improve the D^y of Grace, 
 Left thev at laft to Mountain* call 
 
 tohtaethem from thy F*ice. 
 
 Aid when I had fe :n all this, I wondered 
 that th Lord (pared them, and Ifaid, Shall he 
 elcape that doth thefe Things ? Aie^there no 
 
 Re- 
 
of EleFt Sinner si 3 ? 
 
 Rewards and Punifhments at all for Good and 
 bad > fliall Blafphemer^, and Murderers, ani 
 other notorious Sinners proiper? fliall not the 
 Cry of the Blood of thefe godly Ones, fried' 
 by the Wicked, be. heard crying, Hjw lw£, O 
 Lord) holy and juft, wilt ihou not avenge rUr Blood 
 on them that dwell en the Earth f fhall not God 
 avenge his own Eleft ? And I he^rd o^e an* 
 fwer, Tea t hi will avenge them-'fediiy. Hcvir± 
 theiejs) when the Son of Man Cvmeth^Jhall he find 
 faith on the Earth ? That is, thtfir Expecta- 
 tions of it will be almoft loft ; yen, the goaly 
 themielves began to murmur and rep'ne, and 
 fay, Wherefore do the Wicked proip.r ? 
 
 And then i faw two Men coming up to me,' 
 the one of them was of a very furious Temper 
 and fiery Difpofition •, the other was of a calm, 
 meek, compofed Difpofition: The Name of 
 the one was Hafly ^ and the Name of the o4 
 ther Patience. Every Word that Hafly (pake 
 was fo loud and angry-like, that they mighfr 
 hear him at a great Diftance, and alio under- 
 stand what he was faying : But nothing could 
 be heard or underftood that Patience (poke, his 
 Speech was of fuch an unaccuflomed Dialed, 
 till he was come cloft up, and had thrice re- 
 peated it, and icarcely then. And thus they 
 twere reasoning together. 
 
 Patience. How now, Hafly ? I am forry to 
 fee you fo paifio-nate and out of Humour. What 
 hath wronged you to Day ? 
 
 D x HM 
 
'j 6 The Lofs and <%e€rtery._ 
 
 Hafy. Wrong'd me, Man ! I think there 
 was never a poor Thing in the World uied as I 
 am. 
 
 Patience. Why ? what is the Matter? 
 
 Hdfty. Matter | (aid he, a ftrange Matter, 
 I am a poor Thing, that,with the reft of JVlan- 
 k : nd, was for Sin ientenced to Ruin, except I 
 repented and embraced (Thrift, who would fa- 
 tisfy for me, and deliver me *, but now, by the 
 Grace cf God 9 I am what / am y tho' none of 
 the beft : 1 embraced Salvafon on Gofpel- 
 terms, I hated Sin, pitied thefe wjcked mife- 
 rable Ones among whom I was, and'ontof I.ove 
 gave them many friendly Advices : Buf, do' 
 they take Counfel? do they thank rre for my 
 Advice ? I trcw no, 1 think they have put all 
 Humanity awav- For,fo r my following of Good, _ 
 they have become mine Enemies, and they re- 
 pay my Love with Ha' red ^ 1 think they be a 
 Pack of the veiyefl Knaves in Chriftendom, 
 ctherwife, would they hate me for following 
 that which is good ? Yea, Man, they are filled 
 with all Unrij htecufneis, fijled with it 1 think 
 they are, yea, as full of it, as a Toad or an 
 Afpis full of Poifon • and if I were among 
 them, I mould tell them their Helly-day 7 s Namei 
 For one hath fent it to me in Writ, Rem* i. 20. 
 Being filled voir b all Vnrighteoufnefs • 2 Pet. 2. <?„ 
 H*vin<; E)es full if Adultery , that cannot ccafe 
 frm Sip.' And is not that a ftrange Matter, 
 Wan ' Yea, I will tell vou what Sort of Fer- 
 fcas they and their Father, or both are, as I 
 
 was 
 
of Elefi Sinners. 37 
 
 was informed, by One that cannot lie, Atts 
 13. 10. Full of all Subtilty and M^jchief^ the 
 Child of the Divd, an Ehemy to all Right eoufnefi^ 
 that ceafe not to pervert the right Ways f the L»rd 4 
 Andean any better be expected ot the Children 
 ofiuch a Parent ? And ytt I would not be fo 
 angry, Man, were it not that the Rogues de- 
 ny their Father : I believe they think Shame 
 of him, and boaft of an hoLeft Man to be their* 
 Predecei'for ; they will tell you, We have Abra- 
 ham to our Father. Bony Bairns of Abraham in- 
 deed ! Yea, and if ye anger them more, they 
 will tell you, they have one Father ', even God* 
 But God knows, and they that are handled by 
 them as I am, if they be lilce God, or not, John 
 8.41. but 1 will believe Chrift better than the 
 be»ft of them, who told them, v. 44. Te are of 
 your Father the Devil , and his Lufts ye will do % 
 I would not know them fo well, Man^ were 
 it not by their Fruits *, for the Spirit tells us 
 kow to know who's aught them, By their Fruit $ 
 ye fhall know them. And if ye knew them as> 
 well as I do, ye would wonder that there is fo 
 much Malice to be found out of tiell, and fo 
 much Injuftice, as to perfecute Righteoufnefs 
 as foch : They are mine Enemies \ be:aufc I fol- 
 low that which is (rood. 
 
 Patience. For as ill as they are, fay nothing 
 of them but the Truth} Can it He poffibie they 
 perfecute Holinefs, as Holinefs ? 
 
 Hafty. Truth,Man ! vea, and fcarce all that 
 fame : For aa kafty a Body as I am, 1 know 
 
 what; 
 
'} 8 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 yv. at I am faying yet •, for we are commen- 
 ce d to be angry and not fin : But do you think 
 that they will let you or me know, if they 
 c ; n help it, that they periecute Good, as Good, 
 or that they perftcute it at all? I trow not. 
 
 But I wiil teil you how it is, Man • They 
 Well can, being taught by their Ghoftly Fa- 
 ther, make moft abominable Laws \ which, 
 at firft to'the Inconfiderate, appear very gooc% 
 yea, as good, Mm, as the Forbidden Fru'c 
 was to Evahy and that was good enough : 
 And they varnifli thqm over with a Pifture of 
 J-loiioefs ^ and this indeed, and no Leg at the 
 End of :hem, Obey God and the King : But this 
 is fo iophiftically and ambiguoufly written, 
 chat heavenly Cr kicks and heavenly Philoib- 
 phers find, it may be read thus, Difibey God y 
 tmd obey the King, And, as for the Laws 
 themfelves^ if ye Vould tnke their own falfe 
 Glofs from them, and put a true Commentary 
 Upon them, ye would think that it would 
 non-plus Hell Itfelf to parallel them again, 
 they are fo cunningly devifed; fnch a Shew of 
 Holsnefs, and fo much Abominations in them, 
 jneet together, Pfai 94. 2Q. They cunvhiviy de- 
 <v>fe Imc.uity, and decree it' by a Law, And no 
 Man, with a fate Conference, can obey thefe 
 laws, without fiat Rebellion againil God's 
 Law. ' 
 
 I will tell yen what they do, Man \ They 
 'Will dilcharge that God be worihipped accor- 
 ding 
 
of Ek& Sinners. 3 p 
 
 ding t© the Rules prcfcribed in his Word, if 
 that Way do not fait with their fin fill W-> 
 lefs Liberty \ and they will command that 
 Do&rine and Difcipline in God's Houfe may- 
 be difpenfed with, as they pleafe : They will 
 impofe upon Mens Confciences, to make Ufe 
 of humane Ceremonies in God's Worfhip •, tn 
 obferve fuperftitious Days, of which Tool is 
 one, that Diy muft be kept •, Pafch is ano- 
 ther : They are wot right all the Year over, if 
 they get not the Sacrament on the ; r Knees 
 that Day, worfhipping the Creature, at b^ft, 
 as Papifts worfhip God, bowing befoe ari 
 Idol ^ befides orher ridiculous Ceremonies .- 
 And they will appoint Popes and Kings and 
 Prelates, Head and Puiler over the Church of 
 God. Againd all which the 5c. ipture is very 
 exprefs, Gal. 4. IO, Te obferve Days a?d Times, 
 I ftand+in Doubt of you, Rev. 2 2. 19. If any 
 Man Jhall take away any Thing in this Book, God 
 Jhall take his Name cut cf the Book of Life : And 
 if any Man fiall add to what is writte", the Lord 
 fhxll add to him the Plagues written in it. Ifa. 
 33» 22. The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is cur 
 JLawgiver, the Lord is our King* And now, if 
 any fhall difobey thefe Laws, and reflife to 
 make Ufe of humane Inventions in the Wcr- 
 fbip of Goti, and Difciplme ci his Houfe ; 
 they busk him up in a Rebel's Clothes, nn4 
 bring him i» before their Bar *, and, There's a 
 Man that blafpherned God and tie Kiis: A- 
 way to the Gibbet with him. Ana I am vot 
 D % fuxa 
 
4° The Lofs mi Recovery 
 ; "(lire of my Life one Day among them. Thefe 
 arc (heir Pretences that they have to wrong 
 pie. But, pretend wh;^ they will, it is be- 
 puife I follow that wh'ch is good. Dmid fays, 
 . ,1his is their veryReafon,?/*/. 38.20, Theje that 
 render me Evil for Good, are m>ne Enemies a he- 
 caufe I follow that which is Good. I leek to ad- 
 vance Holinefs, and they abhor nothing more 
 than Holinefs ^ and they hate me for it : I will 
 tell you exactly, they are like Caifi, 1 John 3. 
 1 2. that flew his Brother : And wherefore flew he 
 him ? Becaufe his own Works were evil, and his 
 Brother's righteous : They are fuch Haters of 
 Holinefs, and Lovers of Sin, that if ye love 
 fiolinefs and hate Sin, they will be your Death 
 if" they can. 
 
 Befides all this, they are Backbiters, Rom. 
 t. 29, 30, 31. They are p-oudBoafiers,. like the 
 very Devil, they look aioof, and undervalue 
 all except themfelves : Haters of God, which 
 they evidence by the Breaking of his Rules, 
 wronging of his Servants ; and they hate him* 
 and fay of Ir'm, We will not have this Alan to 
 reign over us : They are Truce -breakers • no Co- 
 venant, particular, baptifmal nor national, can 
 hold them. If they happen in fome inconfi- 
 derate rafh Fit to make a Covenant with God, 
 the next News is, Go to the CrofTes of the 
 publick Places, and ye will fee the City reek- 
 ing with thofe Soft of Papers, which they 
 facrifice to Vulcan. They like better to ferve 
 £heir icjols than God - 7 and 1 wouder they are 
 
 not 
 
of ElcFt Sinners. 41 
 
 tot afraid to do it : For, if they could read 
 he Bible, they would fee, that National Co- 
 venants are, and have been countenanced of 
 jbd, 2 Ckrott) 15. 12, to 16. And they entred 
 nto a Coven Avt y toJeek the Lord Cod of their Fa~ 
 farS) to fee k the Lotd^ and he vow found of 'them \ 
 Mfo, we fee God's Difpleafnre for breaking 
 Covenant, tho' it be but with a Man, Ez.ek. 
 17. \6. Eteh. 21 » 2^ 26. Thou wicked JPrince, 
 whole End is come, that hau fworn and bro- 
 ken my Covenant:, Ibus jaith the Lcrd 9 Remove 
 the Diadem, take awcy the Crown, and I w ill 
 overturn, pvtrtuw, overturn the Kingdom. It 
 coft him his Crown for Breach of Covenant. 
 And as we have heard, fo have we feen in our 
 Day, Princes cafl down from their Thrones. 
 And, may it not be laid to be on the fame 
 Account . ? And what fliall I fay. more of them ? 
 There is no Fear of God before their Eyes ; and 
 they are to every good Word and Work reprobate. 
 And ye will tell me, thefe Folk will not perfe- 
 cute Holinefs, asBolinefs.- I think, Patience, 
 thev might have called your Name Charity - 
 for you have more for them than they deferve, 
 or the Word of Godalloweth them. 
 
 Patience, I pity your Cafe, the like of yoo 
 is not for to live amonft them; £ nee better 
 may not be, a patient Man, like n.e, were fit- 
 ter to be am on t± them, who have this for rry 
 Motto, that that cannot be cured, I mud 
 endure itj. But, how do they proi'per, Man f 
 
 One 
 
42 T?r Lofs and Recovery 
 
 One would think they would never thrive bL 
 the Wo i Id. £ 
 
 Hafty. Thrive, /t/*> ? Tis a World** 
 Wonder how they thrive 'oral! that : For L.et-t.- 
 ffrs come rp me from all Airrhs of the World! 
 how th-.y thrive. Job lent me U ord, that "nL 
 in the Land ot V^ they thrive to \i'.miraltoniE 
 Read the Le'- r er \our Idf, Job 10. 6, 7. Wfew? / 
 remember thl ,/ ', m afraid, And Trembling doth tale 
 hcd I of my FUJI} - ? wherefore do the Wifkcd p r iff^ ? 
 become old *, yea^ mlg ty in Paver ? Tioeir Seed is 
 ejrabLflied in the Earthy their Huies are j'afe from 
 Fear of Evil, neither is the Rod of God vym tkem\ 
 their Bull gendereth and faileth not 7 their Cows 
 culve, and caft not their Calves •, they fend f 
 their little Ones as a Flock, and their Children 
 in the Dance; they take the Timbrel and the Harp % 
 And rejoice at the Sound of the Organ. That's the 
 Way they profper •, they have thriving Fa- 
 milies, when the like of Job hath not one of 
 his Bairns left him y they have increafmg Flocks 
 and Herds, whereas a poor godly Body will 
 neither have Cow nor Ew. They are re- 
 joicing in the Dances, when the Godly are 
 weeping fojerm the Night, and their Tears 
 are upon their Cheeks. And Aftfb again fent 
 me Word how they profper in the Land of 
 Ifrael, P/i/.73' 3' 4> *- ^ rVicted enjoy Profpe- 
 they are n n troubled as other Me?:, neither 
 flagued as others \ t their Eyes fi-tnd out with Fat- 
 8?#/j, and they htve m re thm.their Hearts could 
 
 with. bxAM*l*c'.x fent rap Word, Mal.'$* 
 
 that 
 
of Ek£f Sinners. 4$ 
 
 hat rfiey were in greac Pomp and Splendor 
 /ith him *, Now, they that work Wickedaefs arc 
 § ap, rt«^ f/?*/* that tempt God are even deli- 
 vered. Andy'PfaU 73. Becaufe they have more 
 han their Hearts could wifh, therefore Pride 
 cmtajjeth thtfli about as a Chain, A ftrange 
 here fore, becaufe God was fo good to them* 
 hersfore they Were lb ill to his People. 
 
 Patience. But tho' they have the Earth a- 
 mong them, let them alone with it, they will 
 not hold you out of Heaven, 
 
 Hajly. Heaven, fay you! I would never 
 come there, if they could hinder it ^ for, 
 I heard "thrift expoftulate foundly with them 
 on that Head, Luke it. 52. Wo to you, for ye 
 have taken away the Key of Knowledge \ ye will not 
 enter in your felves, and them that would enter ye 
 kindred m 7 That is, they fo carelefly interpreted 
 the Law of God, that Men were little the 
 better of it \ they infilled more upon their 
 Rites and Ceremonies, than upon the Bible; 
 And thefe that are in the Place' of Teachers, 
 and bring in their pernicious Ceremonies, a;nd 
 Inventions of Men, take away Knowledge, cal- 
 Ld the Key of Heaven, becauie it is by it that 
 we eater : 'lis the Foundation of all faving 
 Grace, Rem 10.14. and put Darknefs in the 
 Room thereof: Ceremonies are like fhattered 
 Iron in the Lock, that keeps it from opening, 
 And 10 they hinder, or at leaf*, as the Word; 
 n.ay be read, they forbid us to enter. 
 
 Pa* 
 
44 T% Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Patience, That's true $ the World is wrec- 
 ked w'th this Kind of Trail] . But do they 
 any Thing eHe to hinder you ? 
 
 Hifiy\ Yes, much more. i. They labour 
 to get fuch Princes fee upon the Throne, as 
 woul.i countenance' their finful Practices, and 
 hold the People of God in ontinual Vexation* 
 This hath been an old Prafricw among them,//*. 
 7. 4, ^. Syria, Fp'jra'.m ana the Son of Rem; iah y 
 have taken evil Cewfcl agair/r thee, favwgi Let 
 us go up again ft: Judah and vex it 9 and jet a King 
 over it, even the Son of 'tabeal. They cared 
 not, and, it may be, knew not what Son he was, 
 if they got the Church of Gdd vexed. And 
 hath it not' been fo in our Day ■ Have not we 
 had our Syria without, and our Ephralm with- 
 in, to vex the Church; and would fain have had 
 one upon the Throne to vex the Church > 
 Be fide, they labour to get fuch corrupt States- 
 men in Place and Power, as they are fure 
 would make Under-hand Work to get it over- 
 turned. 
 
 2. They that will not wait wpon Ordinan^ 
 cas themielves, or, if they do, yet are Ene^ 
 jraife's to the Power of Godlinefs, labour to get 
 corrr.pt Miniflers into the Church, that they 
 kn-w Would be a Jvdas among the Difciples, 
 to betray the Intereft, now one and then ano- 
 ther, till manyeft Vores carry the Day; and 
 fo vote thrill (nit of Doors, and Holmefs, and 
 altogether, and fo live as they lift : ^ndfome 
 fakhiul Miaifters cannot have Life, but muft 
 
 re» 
 
 
of Ekft Shiners. 45 
 
 remove. This they do to keep Men out of 
 
 Heaven. 
 
 3. They will not fuffer any to buy, or fell, 
 or have common Traffique with them, except 
 they be of their own Kind, Rev. 13. 17. That 
 none jlwuld buy or fell exec ft tkty had thf Mark of 
 the Beafi. They that are Mailers will caft Te- 
 nants oat of Doors, if they oppofe them 5 
 and abufe them many other Ways. 
 
 4. Perfecute them with the Tongue, mock, 
 vilify and reproach them - 7 that fo they may 
 keep back any that, think themfelves Men of 
 Spirit, to join with them : making them the 
 Object of their Sport and Mockry, in their 
 merry drunken Fits, Judg. 14.25. When their 
 Heartf*werc merry, they called for Samfon, that 
 he might make them Sport. Ko lefs would ferve 
 them than the Naaarite of God to fport with 9 
 calling him filly, blind Fool, and letting him 
 at nought : But, I think, ic fhould be dear- 
 bought Sport that fhould be had from a Nazjfc 
 rite of God. Ffal.69. 12. They th.it fit in the 
 Gate fpeak againfl me, and I am the Sun? of the 
 Drunkards. And, 1 think, it is as If gh a Com- 
 mendation as a Man can have, to be the Table- 
 talk and Song of Drunkards. And thefe that 
 would enter they hinder. 
 
 Patience. But, what cm be their Reafon ? 
 
 Hafly. As they ufe to fay, the Devil is 
 their Reafon, whofe Children they are, and 
 betwixt whom and the Godly there is Enmi- 
 ty, and that an irreconcileable One, <3en. 3.15. 
 
 2. Be- 
 
4 6 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 2. Becaufe Chrift hath chofen them out of 
 the World, Jsbn 15. 19. Becnfcye a e not of 
 the Worlds but J have chofen you, out of the 
 Worlds therefore the World batetb you. Your 
 Counfels, Manners, End and Purpofes are 
 contrary, and tend to the Ruin and Over- 
 throw of" the Kingdom of Wickednefs, that 
 they would fo fain hav j advanced : Therefore 
 they hate you •, For Men love thefe, whofe 
 Natures and Ends agreee with theirfj and 
 hate thofe that are contrary to them. 
 
 3. They love Darkneis, and the Works of 
 Darknefs j and have no Will that they Ihould 
 be discovered by the Light. Therefore they 
 hate the Godly, and especially godly Mini- 
 vers, who are Lights to ciheover it, and re-, 
 prove them for it. 
 
 Patience. But when Men, and especially pri- 
 vate Men, cannot abide to be reproved ior 
 their Sin, how fhall a Minifter carry ? 
 
 Hafty. Hafty as I am, 1 grant all prudent Me- 
 thods fhould be taken with them, in a fair Way, 
 to make them take with their Fault, and leave 
 if, and being cunning to catch them with Guile: 
 It is Gofpel-guile to beguile a Man out of 
 Hell, and deceive him into Heaven. This was 
 P aid's Way, 2 Cor. 12. If. Being craft y,/ caught 
 ym with Guile, They fhould aifo infill much 
 upon the Love of Chrift : There is a contain- 
 ing Power and Efficacy in ir, 2 Cor. 5. 14. 
 '.-The Love of Chrifi confiraheth us. And thrift 
 draws with Loving Kindnefs, Jcr. 31. 3. And 
 
 when 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 47 
 
 When the Spoufe would have the Daughters 
 lof Jerufalem fall in Love with Chrift, ihe in- 
 fills much upon his Lovelinefs. O ! he is an 
 excellent One for Government \ away with 
 Pope and Prelates, and take him : His Head is 
 as the mod fine Gold, and his Locks are 
 bufhie, and black as a Raven •, in Oppofition 
 to gray Hairs, a Sign of decayed Strength-, 
 but he is ay youthful and healthfulto Eter- 
 nity : He will be a frefh Head ior Government 
 and Influences, when all other Heads will be 
 old, dead and decayed idols, Cunt 5. 4. ad fi~ 
 tier*. And thus fhe gained them, Cb^.6. 1. 
 Whither is thy Beloved gone, fay the]r, that we 
 may Jt*k him with thee ? 
 
 2. If this will not do, they ought freely to 
 declare the Mind of God to them, whether 
 they will hear, or whether they will forbear ; 
 as the Lord gives Commiihon to EsLehelj 
 Chap. 3. For they are a reieltuus Houfe* And j 
 they ought to be clofs in Application, and very 
 particular again ft fuch and luch Sins. 
 
 Patience. Many now-a-Days compLrn of 
 clofs Application, and are angry that Mini- 
 fters are not Caution* enoiuh, but too parti- 
 cular. 
 
 Hapy. Are they angry ? God forbid that I: 
 fhould pkafe them in this : For, if I fleaje? 
 Me,.^ then am I not the Servant of Chrift Je;us - 
 If I pleafe their Humours, without regard to 
 the Pleaiing or Difpleafing of Chrift, ;. when 
 their Dgfires are contrary to his Word, 
 
 ' 58. 
 
4$ The Lo/s and (Recovery 
 
 5S. I. Cry aloud, and fpare net, lift up thy Volet 
 Ufa a Trumpet, and jliev my Pe,pl e their Tranf- 
 g^frons, and the Houfe of Ifrael tatir Sin, They 
 fay, Spare- God lays, Spare not. Now, judgeJ 
 whether we fljonld obey God, or Man ? And 
 iome are too gentle" in their Reproof*?, and 
 general too in their Applications, as EH\ Nay, 
 my Sons, do not \o wickedly. We find Nathan, 
 tho' he began prudently with David, yet he 
 ended with, Then art the Man. The Ap6/tles 
 tvere particular in Application, Jfts 2. 26. Te 
 have cructfied the Lord of Glory. And the Prince 
 of Apoftles did caft them this Copy himfelf; 
 Wo to you, Scribes and Pharifees, iawiers, 
 pointing out the Perfons guilty : Minified 
 fliould both fave the Souls of Men and their 
 Favour, but rather lofe tkeir Favour than their 
 Souls. 
 
 Patience. But, what fhall we do, if they not 
 only continue in their Sin, but alfo fsek to do 
 K5 Harm ? 
 
 Hafty. How did John the Baptift before us ?' 
 He faithfully perfifted to reprove Herod, till 
 he loll his Head -, he could do him no more 
 Wrong. Minifters are Ch rift's Soldiers \ they 
 fhould draw the Sword of Reproof aid of Dis- 
 cipline both, againft the greateft of the Land, 
 yea wicked Princes, Rev. 12.7. Michael and 
 his Angels fought againft the Dragon • that is, 
 Chrift and his Minifters, called Angels : Among 
 others of ChrifVs Soldiers they ought to be 
 vaiiant,E&fj&, 3.8,9.//?.*^ made t hy Fore-lead firong 
 
of Elefi dinners] 4$> 
 
 train ft their Fore-heads , as an Adamant harder 
 than the Writ *, /w them not, Jer. ?. 10. / 
 have fit thee over Na' ions and Kingdom;, liked 
 Valiant Warrior , to full down and to defiroyi 
 ver. 1 8, 19. / htvtmtde thee 4 Brazen Wall, *\ 
 Defenccd City agalnjl the whole Ldnd y againft the 
 King of Jiuiahj and agalrft the^ Princes thereof; 
 And they full fight again ft thee, but not f rev ail 
 dtrainfl- thee ; for I urn with thee to deliver thee. 
 
 Patience. Mufl we. not put a Difference be- 
 twixt thefe that have long lived under the Gof- 
 fpel, and no better 5 and thefe to whom it is 
 but newly come ? 
 
 Hafty. Yes. For the one cannot do Duty 
 till they know it : But thefe that have lived 
 Twenty, Thirty Years under the Gofpel, and 
 no better, little Hope of their Recovery 5 the 
 bed Means have been wared upon them, and 
 they no better : Phyficians u(e to give over 
 fuch Perfons, as irrecoverable : They ought to 
 be more fliarply reprovedi 
 
 Patience. What mall we do, if they defert 
 Ordinances, and deride and mock at both 
 Ordinances and the Difpenfers of them, and 
 Hill harden tbemfelves more And more ? 
 
 H*fty. We may yet follow them home to 
 their Cities and Houfes, when thiy have left 
 God's Houfe -, and bid Peace to. the Houfe, 
 and exhort them meekly and compailionafely 
 to return: And if they yet harden their Hearts, 
 then, in the Sighc of God, call rheir Family^ 
 the Stones and Timber of the Hbufe and all 
 
 ■ 
 
50 The Lofs and ^eco^ry 
 in it, and in which they flay on the Sabbath 
 Day, when they mould be in God's Houfe, to 
 witnefs againft ttem, and fo leave them-, and 
 ftake off the Dud of your Feet for a Witnefs 
 againft them, as a Sign that God abhors and 
 contemns them, as Men conttmn the Pollution 
 of the Feet * 7 becaiife they have defpffed his 
 Grace, Minifters and Ordinances : And tell 
 them, They leave them. Let God and them 
 deal together. For the Lord forbids them 
 to, reprove, or ware Pains on an obftinate 
 JScorner, Prov, 9. 8. and Prov. 29. 1. He 
 that being often reprove d 7 hardneth his Neck, fhall 
 fuddenly be deftreyed^ and that without 'Remedy. 
 For God gives up with obftinUe Sinners, 
 Tfal. 81. II My People would not hearken ta 
 my Voice, fo I rave them up : And allows his 
 Mirtifiers to do fo too. 
 
 Patience. Let us to the Purpofe again. Since 
 the Wicked profper fo well, how w it with you, 
 and the reft of the Godly ? For I fee, for as 
 hafiy as ye are, ye gnefs at the Truth. 
 
 Hafty. It is a World's Wonder that I am 
 alive ♦, for, befide what Trouble I meet with] 
 from them, Providences are very adverfe to 
 sne y my Efote and Means Sir the World de- 
 cayeth, my Family decreafeth, Health of Bo- 
 dy is away, and many a fad Day as to Spiritu- 
 als', alfb my Life is a continued Tra8 of Trouble. 
 
 Patience* How do you carry thefe Troubles f 
 
 Hafiy. I am able to carry them no longer. 
 For, when I meet with fo much outward 
 " -— — Troubk, 
 
of Elect Sinners. 5 1 
 
 Trouble, 1 t conclude that all my Religion is 
 vain. Jfaph did fo before me, pfil, 73- 1 have 
 cleanfed my Hands w vatn y and wajhen my Hear* 
 in Innocence : For all the Day Idng I have been pU~ 
 sued, and chained every Morning* 
 
 Patience: Your Conclufions are like ybiirfelf, 
 both rafli and hafty : «And ye have need of P*~ 
 tieruej Hcb. 10. 36. to wait for the Time ap- 
 pointed of Delivery. That having Believed 
 the Promifes, obeyed the Precepts, and fub- 
 miiTively endured Trials, ye majr receive the 
 Things contained in the Promifes^ Jam. 5. 1 u 
 Ye have heard of the Patience of Job^ and jeen the 
 End of the Lord 5 the gracious Out gate at laft* 
 Doth not the Husband-man wait with Patience 
 for the Fruits of the Earth ? And tho' many 
 ftormy Blafts pafjs over the Crop, yet at lalt 
 Jt comes to the Barn-yard } Heaven will make 
 amends for all the Trouble ye meet with : 
 And beiide, as was faid^ ye have need of Pd» 
 tience, and to learn Patience by thefe Afflicti- 
 ons, Rom. 5. 3. Tribulation worketh Patience^ 
 Jam. t. 3, The Trial of Faith worketh Pati- 
 ence - y the one inftrumentally, the other exps- 
 rimentally : And fuch a hafty Man as ye, have 
 need of thefe Trials. 1 Pet. 1. 6. If Needbe % 
 ye are in Heavinefs through manifold Temptations* 
 It is needftS either for the preventing pf Sin^ 
 or for the purging away of Sin. (1.) For the 
 preventing oi Sin. Hof 2. / will hedge tip her 
 
 >' with Thorns, that JheJhailnotfirdherPaths^ 
 
 Afflictions prevented Sin in DavJ, Pfal, n^ 
 El £i- 
 
5 * The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Before I was afflicted I went afiray 7 but new I have 
 learned^ by my Affli£Hons, to keep thy Law. 
 (l.) For the purging away of Sin, If a. 27, 9^ 
 By this therefore flull the Iniquity of Jacob be 
 purged^ and this is all the Fruit to take aro.y his 
 Sin. , Jer. 46. 27. Moab hath been at Fafe from 
 
 -f : from his Touthi he hath not been poured from fafe 
 fel to Veffel) therefore his Taste remaineth in him, 
 and his Scent is not changed. It had been goo<i 
 for him he had met with more Trouble. It is 
 faid alfo, VfaU 73. They are not in Trouble as c- 
 
 \ ther Men y therefore Violence covereth them as a 
 Garment, They are all ufeful; if thou wert in 
 Heaven, thou wilt fee thou never got one Af- 
 fliction, but what thou flood in Need of s 
 Moreover, it doth not evidence that thy Re- 
 ligion is in vain, becaufethou art chaftned^ but 
 rather the contrair 7 for if ye be without Chaftife* 
 tnent^ whereof all are Partakers^ then are ye Ba- 
 1 ftarh, and not Sons. The Father's chaining the 
 Child, doth not Un-fon the Child, he is a 
 Son ftill : Yea, it is but thy Rafhnefs makes 
 thee fay fo $ for Faith could take the fame Pre- 
 mises, from which thou concludes tjiy Religi- 
 on in vain, ver, t 3. Neverthelefs, of all my 
 ■Wants and, the Abundance of the Wicked, / 
 fim continually with thee. 
 
 Haftjf. But I want all my Children, there- 
 fore God doth not love me. He hath taken 
 them away,becaufe he thinketh me not worthy 
 of them ; far lefs of greater Bleffings. My 
 Spark is quenched. 
 
ef Eletl Sinners] j* 
 
 patience. Neither doth this follow. Who 
 can conclude that Job was not loved of God, 
 becaufe his Children were all taken away, by 
 an extraordinary and untimely Death ? And 
 David, % Sam, 23. ^.lamenting the Lofs of his, 
 Children, faith, Altho y be make it not to grow^ 
 yet he hath made with me an ever lofting Covenant* 
 The Lord may take thy Son from thee, and 
 give thee his SON in the Stead thereof 5 
 And where is thy Lofs then? when he hath 
 taken thy Child to himfelf, and given thee his 
 Son to thy felf. I heard of a Man, that bury- 
 ing hisonly Son, got.fuch Affurance that Chrifl 
 was his, that he faid, he would be content to 
 Jay an only Son in the Grave every Day for as 
 much Manifestation. The Lord ufeth one 
 Way or other topunifti theGodly in this Lifej 
 Amos 3. 2« Ton only have I kn ,von of all the Fami~ 
 lies of the Earthy and then fore J will punifh you 
 for all your Iniquities. But, 
 
 I would not wifli a fadder S'gn of One ap- 
 pointed to Ruin, than to be left to S ; n, and 
 not get fome heavy Stroke in this Life ^ but 
 Hell wilipay the Fair for all to the Wicked. 
 And oftentimes the Godly's Lofs is Lofs of 
 Children ; this was EU's Puniibment, 1 Sam* 
 2. 31. Rehold y the Days come, that I will cut-off 
 thine Arm*> and the Arm of thy Father* s Ffoufc % 
 and there (hall not be an old Man in thine Huufe: 
 Yet Eli was beloved of God for all that. 
 
 Hafiy. But when I cry under Trouble for 
 E % Re- 
 
54 *ffl e ^°f s an <? fycovery 
 
 Relief, he doth not anfwer ray Prayer * 7 there- 
 fore he dqth not love me. 
 
 Patience. Neither will this Conclufion hold, 
 
 nonfequitur ; and yet this was the Conclufiori 
 
 of the Church, Lam. 3. 7, 8. He hath made my 
 
 Chain heavy -^ alfo when I cry y and jhour, hejhutteth 
 
 cut my Prayers : ver. 18. Therefore my Strength 
 
 And my Hope is perijhed from the Lord\ and yet, 
 
 ' for all this, he recollc&s himfelf, that the Con- 
 
 clufiou was jafli and hafty, It is good for 4 
 
 %4an that he fhould both hope, and quietly wait for 
 
 the Salvation of the, Lord^vev. 20. and downwards. 
 
 This will I recal to mind \ and therefore will 
 
 I hope yet,tho 5 1 faid raflily, My Hope was pe- 
 
 yifhed, *when my Prayers were not aniwered } 
 
 and I am flill getting new Mercies. 
 
 Befide that the Conclufion holds not, thou 
 v grievoufly miftakes about the Anfwer of Piay- 
 er, thou thinkeft thou getteft not a good An- 
 fwer, or no Anfwer, if thou getteft not the 
 Thing thou feekeft *, but God is wifer than thou, 
 aid exchangeth with thee, and gives that which 
 is more fujtable for thee, as he did with Mo~ 
 fes, Exod. 33. 18. I befeech thee jhew me thy Glo- 
 ry I The Anfwer is, No Man can fee my P^ct 
 md live. But 1 will exchange with thee, and 
 Jhew thee my Goodnefs, and hide thee that 
 thou fhalt not fee my Glory, / will make all my 
 Goedtiefs pafs before thee. And is not thi$ God*S 
 ppodnefs, to afflift his own ? fay it, David 
 \ faid it, It is good for me that I was' afflicted. The 
 Church faid k, ham. 3. 27, h is good for * Man 
 
 t& 
 
ef EkEl Sinnersl yj 
 
 to bear the Yoke in his Youth ; he fitteth dent and 
 kecfeth Silence, if fo be he nsay have Hope. Not 
 like the poor hafty Man, he had more Patience : 
 1 hou thinkeft that continual Difcoveries oi 
 his Glory would be beft for thee ; but he fees 
 'tis beft to hide that from thee, for thy Good. 
 Hof. 5. ult. / will return to my Place till they ac* 
 knowledge their Sin, which they would not do, 
 nor think upon it, if 1 had flayed, The'Spoufe 
 {Cant. }. 2, 6.) flept when Chrift was prefent, 
 and therefore he withdraws ; And now, when 
 he is away, flie is in a better Condition than 
 when he is prefent -, Jhe is at Duty. Our old 
 Bottles .cannot hold this new Wine ; continual 
 Prefence is like too much Sun- mine, which 
 burns up the Fruits of the Earth -, becaufe, for 
 as excellent as it is,we cannot carry it right ? yea> 
 the Difciples themfelves could not do it, Luke 
 p. 32. When Chrift appeared in his Glory, on 
 Mount-Tabor, Peter and they that were with 
 him, were heavy with Sleep, they could not 
 carry it : He alio made an Exchange of the 
 tylercy with Abraham, who prayed, O let Ifh- 
 mael live in thy Sight, Gen. 17. ifc. The An- 
 fwer was^ In Ifoacjhdll thy Seed be called. And 
 What loft he there ? when what was refufed 
 him in an IJhmael, the Son of the Bond-woman^ 
 the Figure of the Covenant of T^orks, he goc 
 it made up in ar* Ijaac, the Figure of the Co- 
 venant of Grace, the Son of Laughter or Con- 
 solation.. If they get Chrift., the Son of the 
 E 4 Saint* 
 
5<$ The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Saints, Laughter, what Lofs tho' they want o? 
 
 ther Things that they woul .1 have ? 
 
 3. The Prayer reny be anfwered, and thou 
 ftot know it *, becaufe ir came to thee in ano- 
 ther Way than thou expefi d it: Thou looked 
 for it to come wound up in M^rcy, a; to all the 
 Circumftances thereof, conamg firming to thee} 
 and it came frouning,, and wound up in Wrath 
 and Vengeance : PJal. 65. 5. By terrible Thirgs 
 'in Right€oufn€Js y thou wilt anjwer,'* Pfal. 99. 8. 
 Thou anfweredfi themfi Lordjhou vtafl 'a God that 
 fhewcd them Mercy, tho* thou toofaft Vfngtmct. 
 on their Inventions^ (Pfal. 89. 32, 33.).That is, 
 they got Mercy to their Souls, fome of them *, 
 and yet their Bodies fell in the Wilclemefs. 
 Thou may eft get a good Anfwer, and lofe thy 
 Eftate, thy Child, thy;, Husband, or Wife$ as 
 thefe Goaly that did not communicate aright, 
 (f Cor. 1 t. 30.) are brought to the Grave •, but 
 their Souls to Glory. So it will not hold that 
 the Lord loves thee not, becaule,as thou think- 
 eft, thou getteft no Vjfwer to Prater. 
 
 Hafty. But the Promiies fa 1 ') me \ I cannot 
 find any Accompliihrnerit of them, as the 
 podly do-, therefore the Lord does not love 
 we : And, tho' I love him not as Iou^ht, yet 
 1 dow not live and want him. 
 
 Patience, ^either does this follow. It may 
 alfo be anfwered with a hton jequitur : For 
 fhy Hafte and thy Pvafhnefs appeareth greatly 
 { om thy own Words. What ? Man ! a Lo- 
 ver oi Chrifi, and yet fays he loveth not thee? ; 
 
o/ EleFl Shiner t. 57 
 
 iJo fuch Thing in all the World. For, 1 . The 
 vtry Loving of Chriit is the Fulfilling of a 
 Promife, He will give them a Heart to love 
 him,,j Deut. 30. 6. The Loru try God will give 
 thee a drcumcifed Hearty to feck and to love the 
 hord thy God with all thine Heart, that thou 
 mayeft: irf6J\ And is he not then as good as his 
 Word in that ? Yea, and in much more, that 
 in thy Hafte thou overlooked, as David did 
 
 the whole Promifes^ PjaL 1 \6. 12. / [aid, 
 
 AH Men are Lta/:r ? All that ever faid, the 
 Fromifes belong to me. Bun how ? It was, 
 when I was in my Woful Htfte* 2. He lays, 
 He loves thee *, therefore the Conclufion r ol- 
 loweth not, ' Prcv. 8. 17. I love them that I vc 
 me. That's the Them : With thy own Con- 
 feflion, He loves thee*, for thou fkLft, Th u 
 loved him : And when he lavs, / / <uc rbem^ 
 that love me . it is as good as i? he appeared 
 to thee, and told thee, Mini, or Woman, by 
 Js T ame and Sirname, Thou art the Per/on that 
 J love. 
 
 Afaph alfo thought the Promifes failed him, 
 ^.77-7, S, 9, to. Will the L'.rd ca/i f 
 for ever ? Is Sis Mercy clean tone ? Hath he for- 
 gotten to be gracious ? But yet he concludes 
 not that the Lord doth not iove him : No, but 
 confefkth himfelf to he m r.he wrong for tne 
 faying of it} I jald^Surely this is rn ne Infirm y t 
 tpy Sin. 
 
 H*fiy* But the Lord hideth his Face from 
 
 me i 
 
5 5 The Lafs and <P K eco1>ery 
 
 me j and this is as Death to me. Therefore 
 
 he loves me not, Lam.$. 2,3. 
 
 Patience. Neither doth this follow. Non 
 fequitur either; We find indeed, that the Church 
 argued thus, Lam. 3.2* 3. He hath brought me 
 into Dzrknef^ purely agairift me is he turned. But 
 it was in a Htft-y Fit like thme y for it is in* 
 confiderately drawn ; for (he fays, 'Tis good 
 to wait patiently. A little more of my Na- 
 ture, Hafty, would make thy Life more plea- 
 jfant, Ifa. 8. 17. J will wait for him that hideth 
 his Face from the Houfe of Jacob, and I will look 
 for him. And fo fhe may •, for (he hath a Pro- 
 mife of a fweet Return, Ifni. 54. 8. In a littlr. 
 Wrath have I hid my Face from thee for a Mo- 
 ment ^ but with everlafting Kindnefs will I have 
 Mercy on thee y faith the Lord thy Redeemer* 
 What ? Man, that's a grange Hafte ! Wilt 
 thou take as much Patience as wait for him but 
 a Moment? Job drew alfo as rafha Conclufion, 
 Job 13. 24. Wherefore hideft thou thy Face from 
 me f and holdeft me for thine Enemy? Thefe are 
 firange, jealous, and unbecoming Sufpicions, 
 that poor unbelieving Believers hav£ of God, 
 that he cannot turn about his Foot fas they fay); 
 but he muft be taken for a*i Enemy : How un- 
 pleafant is this to him, as conftruft'ng the 
 wortf of him ? What Man in all the Country 
 would be pleafed with this Sort of Dealing ? 
 But Job doth not hold long at this *, for he 
 beginneth to bode better Things of him, Ver- 
 f *s 15, 16. Now a tho\ he ftouid even fay me % 
 
of EleB Sinner si 59 
 
 yet mb I trujl in him* He alfo fall be nr S i- 
 vation^ tho' all the World had fworn the 
 contrary. That was a£Ld like a Sait t, and 
 thefe were Thoughts of Go i becoming his 
 Majefty. But at every Turn to cry out, God 
 is mine Enemy i * Fy for Shame \ no more 
 fuch ram and haft v Lan uage : He is not fickle 
 and .changeable like the Bairns. He is God 
 that changeth not •, therefore the Children of 
 his Servants fhall ay be preferved, Pfal. *o2. 
 28. A little more Patience, Man : And do 
 as the Church did, Ijai* 49. 1 4. The Lord hath 
 forfaken me, but, My God it is that h**h forgot- 
 ten me. lfai. 4^. 15. Verily thou art a God that 
 hidefl tVy fell \ O Lord God of Ifrael the Saviour. 
 A Saviour, tho' a hidden Saviour. And who 
 aught the Church at that Time, mere than 
 you ? She was Flefh and Blood, and havi as 
 Ill-wiH and as little* Need to want Cnriit as 
 you or I have either : Thev had Souls as pre- 
 cious as ours are,to be laved •, and 1 trow they 
 were never the farther from being laved, that 
 the) had fo noble Thoughts of God, Wait 
 upon him but a little \ And to them thai wait 
 for him y -he vrjll appear the fecond Time without 
 Sm unto Salvation* For he is good to the Soul 
 that feeketh him, lam. 3. To the Soul rhat 
 waiteth for him, as well as to the Soul that 
 fenfibly enjoveth him. 
 
 Hafty. But alas! I feel his Wrath prefling 
 my Spirit ; he hates me> he doth not love me, 
 that hath left me fo. 
 
60 Tloe Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Patience. N n feouitur. This doth not follow 
 either. Felt Wrath will not prove that he 
 jjateth thee. P al. i i 5. 3. The Sorrows of Death 
 ccmy ffed me *b ut, the Pains of picll gat hold, 
 upon me. And yet he fays, / love the Lord, 
 v. r. And the Lord fays, Frov. 8. 17. I love 
 them that love me. He fays alfo, v. $, 6. The 
 Lord is gracious and merciful \ I was brought low, 
 *nd he helped me. That was even low enough ; 
 tortured with .the Pangs of Death, and gat a 
 Dip in Hell: And yet, I love the Lord, and he 
 loves me,for all that. If thou be not worfe 
 than this, in an Hell upon Earth, do not con- 
 clude that the Lord does not love thee, We 
 find Heman alfo, Pfd. 88. 4, 5, 10. at the fame 
 Met with it, / am counted with them th t go down 
 to the Pit, free among the Dead^ while I fuffer 
 thy Terrors ,/ cm diftr-. U d. Was not that a pi- 
 tiful Cafe, out of his Wits with the Agonies 
 of Hell ^ crying, Writ thou (liew Wonders to the: 
 Dead 1 I would count it as great a Wonder* 
 if the Lord would pity poor me, and let me. 
 know he loveth me, as I would do, if he 
 would pity one that is in Hell, and bring it up^ 
 and yet, Does he conclude thai the Lord does 
 ngt love him, or hath quite left him ? No, 
 ao, he's lother to quite his Grip of fuch a 
 good Bargain. Therefore he takes fure Hold, 
 i. \ % LopdC. J my Sa uio^rJoY, all that's come and 
 gone* And who's aught you, more than poor dir. 
 fc&ed/^^Take a little morePat ; ence,Man: 
 Gall backycur rafh, hafty, troubled Thoughts, 
 
of ElcEl Sinner f. 6 t 
 
 and fearch them over •, it may be there is not 
 fuch Caufe of Fear as thou apprehended. Da- 
 vid was in a fad Cafe, Pfal. 42. 6, 1. O my 
 God, my Soul is caft down within me, all tly 
 Waves /ind thy Billows have gone over me. Yet 
 what follows, v. II. Why an thou caft down, O 
 rny SuJ . ? and why art thou difquieted within me 1 
 He will not let his troubled Thoughts go un- 
 fearched. O there's a noble Spirit of a gal- 
 lant Saint of God, lying urrder a very Sea of 
 Wrath, and yet fees no Caufe to be difcoura- 
 ged *, At the Noife of thy Water-fpouts all thy 
 Waves and thy Billows have gone over me. Why ^ 
 *rt thou cajl down, O my Soul ? and why art thou 
 d:fquieted within me ? Truft in GW, for I flyaH 
 yet praife him ', is ftrange, but very heavenly* 
 Language. Jonah faid, 1 am caft cut of thy 
 Sight, and down to the Bottom of the Sea, yet 
 will I look back again to thine holy Temple. 
 Do thou fo too,Man, and there's no Fear yet : 
 Believe in the Lord, and all fhall be well. He 
 it a Buckler to all them that truft in him* He 
 that believeth in the Lord ft all not make Hafte, 
 
 Hafty. But there's one Thing 1 wonder af/ 
 Why the 1 ord dealeth fo favourably wich the 
 Wicked, when it goeth fo ill with the Godlv ? 
 
 Patience. No? fhat his beftowing Profperity 
 on the Wicked is any Sign that he loves them! 
 nor his dealing fo harfhiy with the Godly a 
 Sign that he hates them .^Nothing like it - For 
 hove and Hatnd Is r.ot knwn by all that is before 
 us. Bat he does it, 
 
 ' ' * i f That 
 
 >,*i^ 
 
6 1 Tlie Loft and fyecoyery 
 
 i. That he may mew Mercy to all, events 
 the Wicked trumielves, Mat. 5, 45. For he is 
 merciful to the Vnkind and to the Evil, Atfd to 
 fhew he hath a Love of Beneficence to them 
 as his Creature^ to provide for them •, th©' 
 he lath not a Love of Complacency in them, 
 becaule they are Sinners, 
 
 2 i hat; he may put a Difference betwixt the 
 Children and the Dogs. Thefe that get moft 
 of the World, ev^n Alexander him 1 elf, it was 
 but a l.oi e caft to the Dog, for it is all their 
 Portion ♦ their Heaven 1 is all iri this Life* 
 and an ea. thly Heaven is a poor Heaven,; Save 
 me from the Men that have their Portion in this 
 Life^wh-fe Belly thou filteft with thine hid Trca(urt % 
 What will come of them with it, when Death 
 and they yoie. ? PJd. 49. For they can carry no* 
 thing with them to the Grave. They get their 
 Portion in this.Side of Jordan *, but the Godly 
 have uheirs on the other Side of Death. O 
 H*fy\ Repine not at them : Do not envy therrr 
 of their Poition •, It is but a Beaft's Portion, 
 and common to them with the Beafts. Why. 
 doll thon grudge at thtm, that have got but 
 the Bieiftngs of the Footfiool ? That Cabul 
 Portion, a Portion of Clay or Snow, that will 
 awav, and is on the Wing already : They have 
 not a Night's Tack of it. And he hath blef- 
 fed thee with all 1'piritual and heavenly Bkf~ 
 iings, the Bleilings of the Throne, kept no- 
 thing back from thee , God, Chritf, heaven 
 ana all is thine. 
 
 • 3. TJiaJt 
 
of EleB Sinners. 6-$ 
 
 3. That he may convince Men and Women 
 low low an Efteem he hath of the World 5 
 ie gives many a One large Blads of Room in 
 it, that he will give no Room to in Heaven, 
 in the Covenant* nor in his Love and Affec- 
 ;ions. -And if it were meikle worth, th( 
 Heathens and Mahometans would not have lo 
 much of it-, Adulterers, Haters of Holinefs, 
 Swearers, Drunkards, and gracelefs Atheifts, 
 that will not ferve God alone, nor in theii 
 Families, and fome of them not own public] 
 Ordinances either, would not have fo much ol 
 ic.- And if it were good, or much worth either^ 
 it would not be withholden from fome godl] 
 Chrifiians, from whom he hath not withhelc 
 his own Son : He counts not upon it. 
 
 4. He gives the Wicked Profperity, an< 
 much of the World in Judgment - 7 both to makt 
 Hell the more terrible to them : and to ripen am 
 fatten them for Ruin ^ as Men do with Slaugh- 
 ter-hearts, r they put them in the fatteft Pa- 
 flures-, whereas thefe they are to fpare an 
 put ia a poorer Pafture, Ja. 5. 5. Ye have tivet 
 in Vie afore en Earth, and been wanton • ye havi 
 nourified yonr Hearts, as in a Day of Slaughter. 
 
 5. That he may give them their Choice: 
 They choofe the World, and they get it, PJal. 
 4. 5. And the Godly get their Choice al fo, 
 Pfal. 73. None in Heaven nor in Earth that I de- 
 fire befide thee. And as we choofe our Portion 
 ij? the Choofing-time, fo will we fare when 
 
 God 
 
6 \ Tb* i- f s ari <f itwveiy 
 
 God cometh to deal our Portions in the Dea!-^ 
 
 im>dm . 
 
 6. To (lop the Mouths of the Wicked, that 
 thev may have no Excufe before his Bar, that: 
 
 I they ran 'away from him and would not ferve 
 him, M/c* 6. 3. What have I done wit thee, and 
 frhercln hue I wearied thee± tcft'fy againfl me ? 
 potteft thou not from me Corn, Wine arid Oil? 
 
 - A^i set thou woukfft not ferve me, 'upon 
 mine own Oft \ hut bellowed it on pampering 
 the Pieih, and ferving thine Idols, Hof. 2. 8, 9. 
 
 I For jhe did not know that J gave her Corn, Wink 
 
 " and Oil, avd multiplied her Silver , which thev pre* 
 fared for B*al. Therefore will I return mid take 
 away my C*rn in the Time thereof \ and my Wine 
 in the Seafon thereof^ and I will recover my Wool 
 and my pi 'ax given to cover her Nakednefs: Many 
 a One* that have much of the Earth, have ' 
 much to anfwer for, and are like to get little of 
 Heaven. 
 
 Hafty. Since Things are fo, I fee I have been' 
 in the Wrong to repine at God's Providence. 
 I beg God's Mercy, and your Pardon far what I 
 
 t . have 1 "aid 'in mine Havre. 
 
 Pat I exec. God will forgive vou, and fo do 
 I, for am Offence you have done to me, or 
 any other of the Generation 'of trr Righteous 
 Only take heed henceforth, have more Pa- 
 tience, and give not Wav to ycur H.4y Nature. 
 And tor further information, go to the Sanclu- \ 
 ary and fee their End, Pjai. 37- 3 7 9 38. M*rk \ 
 the ferjetl Man, and behold the M»n of Vyright- : 
 
 wefs+ 
 
of EleB Smnrrs. 6f 
 
 $efs+ for the End of that Man is Peace. And ail 
 is well that Ends well. But Sinners fhall be de*> I 
 firoyed together 5 The End of the Wicked fhall be j 
 cut cjf. °And what's the Matter how they be- 
 gan, when they end miferably ? 
 
 Hafty* I mil keep thy Commandment j* Lord for* 
 fake me not utterly. For now I fee, that thy 
 . Paths are in the deep Waters, and thy Footfteps 
 hid. Providences now, are like crooked Pieces 
 of Timber, that I know not what Ufe they are 
 for } but thefe in the Hand of the Artificer 
 are put in fuch a .goad Order, that he makes a 
 ftraight Ship of them to fail the Oceari* So 
 will thefe, tho' never fo crooked and adverfe- 
 like, land the Believer in Glory ; and Provi- 
 dence frequently produces the Effecl: contrary 
 to what it appeareth to do : Therefore I cannot 
 make Providences a Rule to underftand the 
 Bible by ; but the Bible a Rule to underftand 
 Providences by. And tho' 1 mifiake the Pro- 
 vidence of God, feeing but a fmall Part there- 
 of now, and quarrel thereat, yet in the 
 Clofe I fhall be made to fay, Surely he hath done 
 all Things mil. 
 
 Patience* Right glad am I: Thus you have 
 won to your Feet again «, and it puts me in 
 inind of that Word, Mic. 7. 8. Rejoice not a- 
 gainfl me, O mine Enemy % tho 7 I fally 1 fiall arife 
 again ^ tho* J fit in Darknefs y the Lord will be 4 
 Light unto me. And Thanks to God, that the 
 Needy are not always forgotten^ mr the Expefta* 
 tion of tbt Pger di/appointed. 
 
66 Ti?e Lafs and 1$ecoT>ery 
 
 Hafly. And I blefs God, that caft jou in my 
 Way j and give yon many Thanks, that you 
 have fo freely inftru&ed me, and given me fo 
 tnuch Ground of Confolation, when I was at 
 the Brink of Defpair. Two are better than One* 
 Patience. God forbid that I fhould refute to 
 help you, or any that defire my Help ; for 
 this would not only be inhumane Cruelty, but 
 alfo crofs the very End of the Lord's Gifts 
 to, and Dealings with my felf •, for, what 
 Comfort and Advice you got from me was 
 dear-bought to my felf, for I learned it in an 
 All of 'Tribulation , 2 Cor. I. 4, 5,. Who comfor- 
 ieth us in all Tribulation^ that we may be able 
 to comfort others with the fame Comfort where- 
 with we our [elves are comforted of Cod, For as 
 the Sufferings of Chrift abound in us^ fo alfo our 
 Confolation abounds by Cbrifi. 
 
 But one Thing I would ask you, Are all 
 thefe captive Rebels in a profperous Conditi* 
 ; on at all Times ? 
 
 ' H fty. Not at all. It is but commonly fo, 
 for the moil Part \ for fome Tokens of God's 
 Wmh are manifefte d now and then upon 
 fome of them: For ic happened a little after 
 their Ba'nifliment, when they were at the 
 Beight of their Wickednefs, that the King 
 hearing, that all Flefh" had corrupted their 
 Ways, except one Family \ he lent Word to 
 the Head of that one Family, to make a Ship, 
 and fhut himfelf into it \ which, when he had 
 done with Building, he faid to him, Come 
 
 thoK 
 
of EkB Sinners. 6? 
 
 thou into the Ark, for thee only have I found 
 righteous } and then he opened the Windows 
 of Heaven, and the Fountain of the great 
 Deep, and deftroyed them altogether : But 
 fome wicked Perfon in that Family crept into 
 the Ship, and as they increaled, thev grew as 
 ill as ever before :, and, might not that be a 
 Warning to them ? 
 
 Patience. I think fo indeed. But how carri- 
 ed they afterward ? 
 
 Hafty. I told you, as ill, I might have faid, 
 \vor(e than ever before. 
 
 patience, How then? 
 
 Hufty, He lent a MeiTenger to fome Cities, 
 the chief whereof was Sodom> and cried to thefe 
 that were his Relations, Up, get you out oi 
 this Place, for the Lord wilkteftroy this City : 
 And the Man was fcarce out of the City, 
 when the Flames of his Vengeance came down 
 and burnt up Man, Wife and Bairn*, and tur- 
 ned it into a Lake of Water to this Day. 
 
 Patience, Were they not terrified out of Sin 
 b)- this Time? 
 
 " Hafty. Within a little, fome of them were 
 as high in Rebellion as ever: And the King 
 lent a MeiTenger to all that had not a Hand ia 
 the Rebellion, to feparate themfelves and flee 
 from their Tents *, which, when they had done, 
 the very Earth re.it under their FeU, and 
 they went down alive into the Pit. 
 
 Patience. How did they do then ? 
 
 F a &4«" 
 
w 
 
 68 the Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 Hafty. They then beginning to fear, faid, 
 We die y we penjh 9 we all ferifl) : Therefore they 
 began fbme of them to feek to get tlvis Evil 
 remedied : But the Remedy they took was as 
 ill as the Difeafe. 
 
 Patience. What did they do ? 
 Hafty. They began to facrifice to the 
 Lord, thinking that he would fpare them, of- 
 ten hearing that the Lord called for Sacrifice 
 from them: But they brought ftrange Fire, 
 which the Lord commanded them not. And 
 then the Anger of the Lord was kindled a- 
 gainft them, and the Fire of the Lord brake 
 out upon them, and they died before the 
 Lord, Lev. 10. i, 2, 3. 
 
 Patience. What? was there no Fire on God's 
 own Altar, ro do his own Workj but mnft he 
 be ftill borrowing a Spark from them ? Had 
 not God given a Bible, Man ? 
 
 H a fty* Yes, he had. 
 
 Patience. But why did they not make Ufe 
 thereof f It would have been both eafier % and 
 betide^ they would have been fure of his Fa- 
 vour : And he would not have met them in a 
 Flame, faying, Who bath re cured thefe Thi?igs 
 at your Hands ? 
 
 Hafty. I know not if they can give a Rea* 
 |bn for every Thing they do, that will Hand 
 valid in Law with them. But yet they have 
 Sleafons. 
 
 Patience. What are they, Man ? 
 . t?*fy. 1. They fee others take their own 
 
 Sparks 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 69 
 
 Sparks to God's Altar ; for they and the Romans 
 are Door-neighbours, and all the Roman Altars 
 are reeking with Wil^-fire : And they will have 
 theirs that fame Way. 
 
 Patience. But where happen they upon that 
 ftrange Fire ? 
 
 Hafty. What needs you ask that Queftion, 
 Man ? All their neighbour City, Rome^ is on 
 inch a Flame with this Fire, that ye would 
 think the City would be confum'd with it, and 
 all the neighbour Villages. There is enough 
 to be had there •, and they go to the next Door, 
 and borrow a Coal. 
 
 Patience. I wonder why they do that, Man ? 
 I think they fhould never be warmed at that 
 Fire : It is but earthly Fire. Would not 
 God's Fire be much hotter? 
 
 Hafty. I wot not what ye call hotter, Mam 
 But, I think, they come hotter away from 
 their Altars, where they fet on the Roman, 
 Fires, than ye do, that come from the Altar, 
 where ye are ferved with God's own Fire. 
 
 Patience. That's ftrange ! How hot will they 
 be then ? 
 
 Hafty. Even as hot, as you can hardly be* 
 hold them afar off and not to be fcorched - t 
 and thefe that are neareft them are burnt up 
 quick, like Fagots at Stakes, out of Hand. 
 
 Patience. I wonder how it came to pafs? 
 
 Hafiy. I will tell you the Reafon. God's 
 Fire is a meek and heavenly Fire, for the Be* 
 aefit of the Perfons to warm them at; But this 
 
* 7° T7;e Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Romifr Fire was borrowed from Hell *, the- 
 Pefign ancf Nature of it is not to warm, but 
 to bum, either both Soul and Body, or elfe 
 the Body alone •, any of them that you pleafe. 
 But, 2. Men are more hot upon,and tenacious of 
 their own Inventions, than of the Lord's In- ■ 
 ftkutions, Pfal. \o6. 36% 37. Taey went a-who- 
 flng after their, own Inventions, And they were 
 fo hot upon thefe Inventions, that they flew 
 their own Children, and facrificed them to 
 Idols, and to Devils : But God's Fire is not fo 
 hot as to burn Perfons, and to. med Blood. 
 So, ye fee, as the Romans borrow their Fire 
 from Hell, it goes to Hell again ; it is a Sacri- 
 ficing to Devils. And from whence comes this 
 ft range Fire, but from Hell, that Men are fo 
 hot upon? Luke 16. 27, &c. The rich Man in 
 Hell fays, Send Lazarus from the Dead to con- 
 vert my Brethren. He, tho' in Eel), eftee- 
 ined humane Inventions before, the Word of 
 God ; And O ! how hot was he upon the ; 
 Head ? when Abraham would convince him 
 that his ft range Fire would do no Good ? but 
 Mofes and the Prophets were the only Thing, 
 Nay, Father Abraham,, but they will believe. 
 It was a giving the Lie to Abraham glorified* 
 tho' he be now beyond Sin. Nay, Father,' 
 but my Invention will be better than the Bible. 
 So is it with thefe that take frrange Fire, and 
 teach ftrange Doftrines, the Commandments 
 of Men *, they rather break the Sabbath Six 
 Tunes, before they break their fuperftitious 
 
 Days 
 
of EleH Sinners. 7 * 
 
 Days once ; Yea, there are of them that have *| 
 not for Seven Years baen in the Cnurch, that 
 never forgot to obierve thrift m^s all t hat Time 
 once. And they will rather break all xht Com- 
 mandments, than quit there Ceremonies *, \ea, 
 they break them to eftabliih theje. The Sixth . 
 Command is, thou (h.dt nut kill. And yet many 
 have they killed, becaufe they would not yield 
 to their Ceremonies. The Third Command 
 is. Thou flidt not take the Name of the Lord thy 
 God in vain. And yet thefe that can hardly 
 fpeak a Word without an Oath, ye will not 
 mifs them kneeling on /^/d*- Sabbath at the Sa- 
 crament, and pratting over the Book of Com~ _ 
 mm-praye^ like Parrots \ which is brought from 1 
 Rome? t ran dated into EngUfli. 
 
 Fatienie. But doth the Lord inflict no lighter ] 
 Pmiihment upon them, than Death? 
 
 ff*fty. Yes ^ fome are call out of their Lands, 
 have their Children taken from them, being 
 fuffered to die in the Hands of Murderers, o* 
 other untimous Deaths : The Lord fets Tome 
 of them by the Ears among themfelves, thaC . 
 they liieath their Swords in one anochers 
 Bowels, at their drunken Cup , foretimes oaf) 
 the Lord's Day, fometimes on other Days - 
 fometimes they drink their Death with their 
 own Hands, and die in a Surfeit \ fome with 
 great Judgments, Rev. \6. 21. And yet they 
 go on to blafpheme the Name oi the Lord, and 
 eta not repent of their Deeds, 
 
 F4 
 
ft The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Patience. But doth he not take more meek 
 and mild Ways to reclaim them? 
 
 Hafty. Yes. For thefe Judgments are all ex- 
 
 ' torted from him *, they are his Work, but his 
 
 I flrange Work ; for every Eight Days at leaf!, 
 
 he fends Ambaffadors of Reconciliation through 
 
 the World, praying them in Chriifs Stead to 
 
 be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5, 20. faying, 
 
 Return unto me^ and I will return unto you, faith 
 
 the Lord of Hofts, Mai. 2. 7. Return, and I will 
 
 not caufe mine Anger to fall uton you \ for I am 
 
 1 merciful, faith the Lord, 
 
 Patience. I am lure thefe Ambaffadors are 
 Welcome Guefts among them, Rom* 10. 15. 
 How beautiful are the Feet of them that preach the 
 (joftel of Peace,, that bring glad Tidings of good 
 'Things! The worft Things of thefe Men, evexi 
 their fweaty fpilt Feet may be beautiful in 
 their Eyes. 
 
 Hafty. It is far otherwife, 2 Chron. $6. 1 5, 
 
 16". The Lord jent te them his Servant j, becauj'e 
 
 he had Ccmpafion on them *, but they mocked his 
 
 Meffengers, mifufed his Prophets, and defpifed his 
 
 j Words, So that the Lord laments over them, 
 
 Mat. 23. 37. O Jerufalem, Jerufalem^ thou that 
 
 lilleft the Prophets, and fioneft them that are fent 
 
 . ynto thee, how often would I have gathered thy 
 
 children together, as a Hen gather eth her Chickens 
 
 under her Wings, but ye would not , ? I would j 
 
 and ye would not. 
 
 Patience, And what doth he then ? 
 
 ff*fyi He feu4s Meflengers again, the fe- 
 
 cond 
 
of EleSl Sinners. 73 
 
 eond Time, with the fame EmbafTy of P*ace, 
 M*t. 22. 4. Again he fent forth other Servant s 9 
 faying, All Things are ready , c me ye. Peace and 
 Paradife, and all Bleflings, earthly a«d heaven- 
 ly, that ye (land in Need of, are re* iy. 
 
 Patience. How do they welcome thw fecond 
 MefTengers ? 
 
 Hafty. Juft as they did the firft ; Mat, 21. 
 35> 3^» Again he J ent forth other Servants, more 
 than the firft, and they did unto them likerrpje i 
 and evil intreated them, and caft them ou«: of 
 the Vineyard : They beat one, and kitted another^ 
 and fioned another. 
 
 Patience. How did he do then ? 
 
 Hafty. Ye (hall hear more of that afterwards. 
 The King fent to them his own Son, fayinj 
 They will reverence my Son. 
 
 Patience. So might they well do *, b«t di< 
 they fo ? 
 
 Hafty. Not they. For, whenever they fa\ 
 him, they c#nfpired againft him, faying, This 
 is the Heir, come let us kill him, and the InherU 
 tance fhall be ours. If once Chrift and his Goi 
 pel were out of the Land, we will be come t< 
 our Kingdom, we will get Leave to live as w< 
 lift. Then they began to fing. 
 
 Hafty. 
 Poor Hafty, 'mong the Rebels be 
 hath for a long Time been 5 
 guch Wickednefs among them fouacj 
 thought never %q h$ye feea* 
 
 The 
 
74 T! )e Lofs and Recovery 
 The Thing that was mod wonderful, 
 
 that made me to admire, 
 The great Abundance God gave them,' 
 
 plasai'd thefe whom he lov'd dear. 
 ; Conc'ufions then they did infer 
 
 on either Part not good ; 
 From Temporals to Things Divine 
 
 did each of them conclude. 
 Poor H. ,fty, in Afff&ion, faid, 
 
 All my Religion's vain : 
 But, my good God afiifting me, 
 
 I'll never fay't again. 
 Thefe in Profp-rity did prove, 
 
 that therefore all was right ; 
 But Pm afraid they findic yet 
 
 but Folly at the Height, 
 hat ? do they think to live in Sin, 
 
 and God's Church overthrow } 
 hat God above they will command, 
 
 as they do Men below v 
 nd then to Heaven ftraightwill go, 
 
 when their Life's fpent in Sin ? 
 The Word of God deceiveth us, 
 
 if ever they win in. 
 
 Patience, 
 On Ceremonies they are mad, 
 
 which their own Hearts devife : 
 But for fuch Service God thanks none \ 
 
 for they his Word defpife. 
 V^hat Profit can be h;id by them ? 
 
 they're wife who underftand % 
 
 For 
 
of Elect Sinners. 7j | 
 
 For God did never them require, 
 nor will tale oil their Hand. 
 Were they biit wife and understood, 
 
 and left the fame at laft, 
 Andclofs would cleave unto his Word, 
 
 he would not crave the reft. 
 Our Fathers, fay they, kept the fame, 
 
 and we think tiiey are bleit : 
 Stiff-necked, like your Fathers, ye 
 
 the Holy Ghoft reiift. 
 Their Tule is not the lead of thefe y 
 
 then they muft fare right fine, 
 And preach, and pray, and worfiiip too 
 
 Bacchus the God of Wine. 
 Our God is holy, juft, and H E 
 
 fuch Service doth abhor : 
 Inftead of God, their Belly they 
 
 and Bacchus do adore. 
 Before that Idcl-day 9 they'll break 
 
 rather the Ten Commands. 
 Humane Inventions they hold fagL 
 But God's Laws are no Bands* 
 Hafty. 
 . Poor Rebel Men, that have rebell'd, 
 how loth are are they to yield 1 
 For Arms high lifted up have they, 
 
 with God to fight a F;eld. 
 Their Obftiqacv is i'o great 
 
 they perfift ani rebel ; 
 Before to him they will fubmir* 
 they'll rather land in Bell. 
 God's Mercy's to them wonderful, 
 
 his Love tranfeendeth far ; Po r 
 
7 6 The Lofs and <%ec$ypry 
 
 For other Servants fendeth he, 
 
 when the firft kiMed are, 
 Thepi'ofe»ed Terms eafieare, 
 
 To henceforth holy live •, 
 All Bygones fhall be Bygones then, 
 
 he'll graeioufly forgive. 
 And when all others they rejeft, 
 
 he fends his Son at lad, 
 Expecting they will him receive, 
 
 when they refus'd the reft. 
 But better do they love their Lufts, 
 
 than Heaven, Chrift and all. 
 They will not have reftor'd by him 
 
 what they loft by the Fall : 
 But let U S reconciled be, 
 
 accepting of his Grace, 
 And holy Lives live here away, 
 
 and our End fhall be Peace. 
 Patience. 
 O foolifti Man ! who can bewail 
 
 thy Obftinacy ftrong ? 
 That Malice hath refitted Love 
 
 fo long, fo long, fo long. 
 Whence comes't that Love and Patience botfe s 
 
 Peace MefTengers that call % 
 The one defpis'd, the other flain } 
 
 Himfelf refus'd withal. 
 © come and rife, O rife and come, 
 
 and bieft for ever ye. 
 But if ye bide away, ye're gone, 
 
 ye'il die, ye'U die, ye'll die* 
 
 Theft 
 
of Eleft Sinners. 77 
 
 Then fcid pjriEtfCE, What Way fliall 
 thefe poorCaptives be got brought home again? 
 What Courle {hall be taktn with them to make 
 them leave their Sin, and embrace this io great 
 Salvation ? 
 
 Hafiy. Alas ! I am now wearied wjth long 
 Difcourfe and fore Travail : Let us repofe our 
 felves a little, for there 1 fee two Men coming 
 up, better than we. If you pleafe, let us hear 
 them* 
 
 Patience. That is well faid : For the Holy 
 Ghoft faith ? Let us be flwift to hear, and flow f 
 Jfeak : And, Let every Man efteem another better 
 than himfelf : And, Let nothing be done through 
 vain Clory^ but in Lowlivejs of Mind. And tho* 
 
 there be much PaiTion in thee, yet there is al- I 
 io much Good. 
 
 Hafty. Ko Thanks to me* but to God and 
 you, for any Good in me •, but the reft is mine 
 own, and that is my Grief. 
 
 Then thefe two excellent Men kept Silence, 
 from whom I received much InftrucTion ; and 
 the other came up and faluted them, and ask- 
 ed how they had fpent the Forenoon. 
 
 Patience and Ha fly. We began the Day 
 where God began with us, in Paradife, and 
 have continued tallo'pg thereupon even till row* 
 that it is Time that we had a little Refrefli* 
 ment, for it- is now the Noon-tide, the Sun is 
 in the Meridian, is it not ?•> 
 
 The other Two anfwered, It is : But do you 
 aot minjd the Example of the Lord ? when he 
 
 h Jm had 
 
78 The Lofs and <l{ecoT?ery 
 
 had much to do, and Che Difciples prayed him, 
 faying, Mafter, eat : Be faid, I have Meat to eat 
 that ye know not of 9 it is my Meat and my Drink 
 to do the Will of him that \ent me. What would 
 ye think to dine to Day as Chrift dinecj. ? and 
 as the holy Prophet Jeremiah, jer. 15. if. Thy 
 Words were Food, and I did eat them ' 7 and they 
 were to me f he Joy and "Rejoicing of my Soul. We 
 have here neither the Bread nor the Wine, but: 
 we have the Bible, and that is all: And what 
 , would ye think to dine upon that fame ? They 
 are not to mean that have*> $ many One have 
 pai 1 dear for worfe Fare at a Time, have 
 \ they not ? 
 
 Vatiertte and Hafty. Glad are we ! For his 
 Words are fweeter than the Hony and the Ho- 
 nv-comb : And 1 think they are not worthy of 
 a Bible, who prefer it not before their neceffary 
 Food *, and thefe that have their Belly for their 
 God, their End is Destruction, who mind eartfr- 
 ly Things. Then aniwered 
 
 Goodnew* and Anxious ^ (Tor that was their 
 i; Karnes) Where brake you off your Difcourfe ? 
 lit were a Pity but to follow it out to AMEN, 
 as briefly and edi fyinclyjis we can. 
 
 Patience and fidfiy. ■ We talked of the Crea- 
 don, of the Covenant of Works, of the 
 Breach thereof, of Man's Sentence and Banifli- 
 ment, of their Behaviour afterward, of their 
 finful life, and Puniihment for the fame, of 
 the fov<i?urable Providence^ to the Wicked, and 
 crois Providences to the Goodj with the Rea- 
 
 fons 
 
of El eft Sinners. 79 
 
 ions thereof, and how they ufed the Meffen- 
 gers that the Lord fent them, killing triem : 
 And juft as we law you, we were g~>ing to en- 
 ter upon the Lord's fending of his Son, whea 
 all his Meffengers weiae deipifed. Then 
 
 Goodnews and Avxisus began thus, 
 
 Anxious. What is this Son of God, that the 
 Lord fent to thefe Rebels, when they had flain 
 his Ambaliadors ? 
 
 ■Goodnews. What, Man, doft thou not know 
 the Lord Jefus Chrift, the only Name given 
 under Heaven whereby we s can be faved ? It is 
 a Shame to be ignorant of him, tho' there were 
 no more. 
 
 Anxious. It is a Shame to be ignorant of him, 
 y and it is a Shame to fay we know him : For to 
 be altogether ignorant of him, there is no Sal- 
 vation *, for it? is the Way to eternal Life", to 
 know jefus Chrifl whom he hath fent. The 
 Daughters of Jerufalem, Cant. 5. q. asked the 
 fame Queftion, What is thy Beloved ? But no 
 Man knows lb much of Chrift, that they reed 
 not know more : I love not thefe that, are con- 
 tent with what Knowledge they have win at 
 of him. But I am fo Amxicus to know rf m, 
 that I think upon him Night and Day *, 1 think 
 on him when I am waking, and I dream of hin^ 
 fleeping. Do vou think that it is enough icf 
 me to know him, a? I know Mofes, JfaiakiJ or 
 Paul? Was' Pa J crucified for me? Ard did my 
 Sins all get the dead Stroke in him ? Hath 
 ffitiak kiteence u$on the Heart to renew it? 
 
 Is 
 
So Tlie Lofs and %ecoyery 
 
 Is it enough for me to reft on anHear-fay Know- 
 ledge of Chrift ? 'Tis not a Hear-fay Know- 
 ledge of Chrift that will take me to Heaven, 
 otherwife all the Devils would throng Heaven 
 to the Doors, for they all hear of Chrift. all 
 the Sinners in thejChriftian World would be 
 favejJ, if it were fo.~ And yet many are called^ 
 and few are cbofen. And befide, they never 
 know him right, that are not made even like 
 him, transformed into his Image, 2 Cor. 3. 18. 
 And I am fure I am very unlike him yet •, yea* 
 as unlike him, as Fell is unlike Heaven : His 
 Glory, f en in the Gofpel-Glafs, is a Glory of 
 Holinef , into which they are transformed .• 
 And beriold, I am vile. There is a faving 
 Glory in him, Ifa. 45. 22. Look to me, and be 
 ye [aved* And I am in Slavery to Sin and the 
 Curfe j and do I know him then ? There is a 
 Glory of Love in him, that warmeth the moft 
 frozen Heart, and makes it burn with Love to 
 God and his Ways ^ and my Heart is cold and 
 frozen : And do I know him aright ? Alas ! 
 no. O how Anxious am I to know him I 
 
 Goodnews All this is true *, and we never 
 know Chrift aright till. we be unite to him, as 
 the Body to the Head, and as the Head fheda 
 down inlightning and inlivei ing Influences on 
 the Body, that {o we be influenced with his 
 Grace : We never know him aright, till we 
 know that we are a£led by the Life of Chrift,. 
 and that fame Spirit whereby Chrift is afted, 
 Phil. 2. 20, I mn crucified with Chrift-) ncverthe- 
 
 lefs 
 
of EleH Sinners. 8 j 
 
 lefs f live ; yet not /, but Chrifi liveth in me* 
 But I have great Expe&ation of you, tho' ye 
 know not what ye would of him*, for the Know- 
 ledge of him is a growing Knowledge*, 'tis not 
 a Leffon of one Day this, but to be had by 
 Diligence and long Continuance, Huf.6. %. Then 
 fiall we know, if we follow on to know, the Lord } 
 bis going forth is prepared as the Morning, By 
 diligent attending upon, and improving of 
 Ordinances, Thereby fnall we know experimen- 
 tally that the Lord is gracious* John 8. 31, 32. 
 If ye continue in my Word y then are ye my Dip' 
 cifles indeed, and flmll know the Truth, and the 
 Truth Jhall male you free : As the Morning-light, 
 that ftill arifeth, and beautifieth and refrefheth 
 the Earth, and maketh it fruitful, and difpel- 
 leth all Darknefs. 
 
 But, before we proceed, I would ask one 
 Thing at you, How got yon that Name ? For, 
 as your Name is, fo are ye \ Anxious is your 
 Name, and Anxious is your Nature, Did ye 
 get it from your Father? If ye did, I am fure 
 they would call him a Prophet in that Coun- 
 try, where they are not well acquaint with 
 Prophets. i 
 
 Anxious. Nothing lefs. My Name at firft 
 was Security \ and I was fo called, from a. dull 
 and dead Difpofition that I had : In thefe Days 
 ye would not have fear'd and felf d me both 5' 
 for, if the Houle had been in Flames about 
 me, 1 valued it not ; tho' ye had la'd me on 
 the Top of a Mail, I would have fekxed no 
 ^ '*"■ more 
 
■ 
 
 $ t The Lofs and ^Recovery 
 
 more than if I had been lying on the Top of a 
 Rock. My Mother's Name was Vain-hope j 
 becaufe, when running to Hell, fhe commonly 
 faid, That fhe hoped to be faved. 1 alio had 
 a Brother they called Mr. Like-father, arid a 
 Sifter they called Mrs. Mother-tike, and the 
 youngeft Sifter's Name was Mrs. World' s-fafhion ; 
 The Reafon wa^, Ye might as well make the 
 Fire to feek downward, and the Mountains to 
 mount up to the Clouds, as make them do any 
 Thing except what they faw their Father and 
 Mother and the reft ot the World to do. And 
 the Father of us all was called Mr. Falfe*peace : 
 Be dwelt long in a City called Darknefs \ and 
 he got the Name from a Cuftom that he had 
 to fay, IJhuil have Peace, tho I wtlk after the 
 Imaginations of mine own Heart : As alio from a i 
 ftrong Man that had the Cuftody of the Houfe, 
 Who ufed to cry, Peace, Peace y when fudden 
 Definition was clofs at the Door. And I will 
 tell, what 1 heard my Brother fay and main- 
 tain in the Face ot Jeremiah (for he was a 
 brisk bold Fellow) Jer. 44. 17- W* *>& W*«n 
 ly do whatfoever goeth out of our own Mouth, t$ 
 bake Cakes to the Queen tfrfleaven. I wifh he 
 had loft his Frying-pan that Day. And what 
 was his Reafon ? Becaufe his Father did it. 
 And I heard my Sifter fay, which was bolder 
 yet, and that in the Face of Chrift, John 4 
 iO. That they ought to worfhip in Cerium V be 
 caufe her Father worshipped there. And mj 
 youngeft Sifter would be up with the ferexnrfj 
 
 n 
 
of Elefl Sinners. 8 j 
 
 in the Falhion : If Lying, Security, Swearings 
 Reproaching Religion was the Falhion of the 
 World, it was her Fafhion alio. And I faw 
 Paul meet with her upon a Day, and ferioufl/ 
 dehort her from it, Rom. 12. 2* Be not conform 
 to this World, but be ye transformed by the Renews 
 trig of your Mind : And again, Le us not (leep 
 as do others, but let m watch and be fober. They 
 fhould have another Spirit than the Men of thg 
 World-, To follow the Lord iiilly : They 
 ftiould have other Manners, other Ends, other 
 Language, and other Habits than the Men of 
 World. 
 
 Goodnews. How came ye to get your Nam£ 
 changed ? 
 
 Anxious. When I was lying upon my Bed 
 upon a Time, I heard the dreadfulleft Thun- 
 der-clap that ever I heard all my Days, and 
 fuch fearful Flaflies of Lightning came into the 
 Houle, that I thought it fhould have burned up 
 the Houfe, Heb. 12. 18. and then there was 
 Blacknefs of Darknefs and Tempeft •, and then 
 I heard a dreadful Voice, faying, Dew. 29. 19* 
 If any Man blefs himfelf, faying, I Jhall have 
 Peace tbo' 1 walk after the Imaginations of mine 
 own Heart -, the Lord will not fpare him, but the 
 Fury of the Lord jhall bum agaitifl him, and all 
 the Curfes in this Law (hall come upon him * ; and 
 I will blot out his Name from under Heaven, The 
 Hope of the Hypocrite fiall be like the giving vp of 
 the Ghaft.Yc ft'jf-necked and uneircumcifed inHeart 
 fvdEarsyye do always refifi the Holy Ghoft$ as did 
 
 voUr 
 
84 the Lofs and Recovery 
 
 your Fathers, fo do ye, Aas 7. 57. **» the* 
 I defpifed my Idol-fancied H appiqjfe, when I 
 got fuch a Wakning i And I got quickly up* 
 and cried to the Family, Vp,get you out of this 
 Place, ocherwife ye are all but dead Men, But 
 they faid, Bind the Fellow, for he is gone mad. 
 For, my Words feemed to them as idle Tales? 
 mi they believed me not. And then, / heard *- 
 nother Voice crying Come out from amotg tl.em, 
 be net Partakers of their Shi s y left ye jhare in their 
 flagies alto. And then there came a very 
 tender-hearted Perfon to me, crying, O let 
 me new run and meet him ! who took me quick- 
 ly by the Hand, and pulled ire out : And I 
 asking at him what I fhould do ? He bade me 
 efcape for ny Life, and come to one that i 
 would find at a little Diftance called Goodnews. 
 And every one feeing me on Hade, and flying 
 like a purfued Perfon, to the City of Refuge, 
 or like Lo out ofSodtm h they called me Auxi- 
 ns : Alfo, becanfe I earneftly enquired 01 
 them about feveral Things that they cared not 
 for, neither knew they, ought about them. Ana 
 when I fell a weeping thereat, they woulU 
 fay, What aileth this Anxious Fellow to weep 
 fo > And now by the Mercy of God I am come 
 
 r at iaft to you GOODNEWS i And / Mf*tnt. 
 cd, mlefs 1 had believed to fee the GOODNESS 
 cf the Lord in the Land of the Living. 
 
 Goodnews. Who was it that fpoke-fo ternoly 
 to you ? And who was it that pulled you out . 
 Aiixim. May-be ye know better than h 
 
 V §0t * 
 
of EleSi Sinners. 8 y 
 
 Goodness, It was the fc LORD JESUS 
 CHRIST, that Patience told yru was fent 
 to redeem the loft Ele£fc World, A&s 9. 6. 
 
 Anxious. That is a Wonderful LORD JE- 
 SUS CHRIST} I thought it had been the 
 like of Mofes. 
 
 Goodnews. Yes. To them whofe He is, Ifal 
 p. 6. To'hs a Son is given y and His Name jJiall be 
 called WONDERFVL. All that ever got 
 fiim, are wondring at Him. I fee He and ye 
 are in leaking Terms ^ 1 wifh ye never finder 
 again, till your Salvation be fecured, arfd your 
 Soul lealed to the Day of Redemption by the 
 
 Holy Spirit. 
 
 Anxious. The Holy Gbnfi ! Who is that ? 
 
 Goodnews. What ? Man ! Doft thou not know 
 the Holy Ghcft I 
 
 Anxious. 1 hear of H'm by the Hearing of the 
 Ear : But as for any furtiier Knowledge of 
 Him, 1 fear I may fay, as thefe (aid, Afts 19. 
 2- I do not Jo much as know whether there be an. 
 Holy Ghoft. For, do not the Devils, and thefe 
 that fin againft the Holy Ghoft, know that 
 there is a Holy Ghoft ? Fut I would ay have 
 that Knowledge that would make me better. 
 They fay, They never knew the Holy Ghoft, 
 that are not fan&in* d and made holy by Him, 
 Tit. 3. 5, They fav, They never knew the 
 Holy Ghoft right, bur theV that find CHRIST'S 
 Purchafe made over to them by the Holy Ghoft y 
 Tit. 3. 6. The Spirit's Gifts and Graces, by 
 Chrift's MeritSjare ftied upon us, Chrift me- 
 G 3 rits 
 
$6 The Lofs and <%kcoVery 
 
 jits the Spirit, and the Spirit renews us, and 
 gives us the Purchaie of Chrift. They fay, 
 \ r When the Holy Spirit cometh, he will teach m 
 . all Thr,gs : And / am more brutish than any 
 :. M*n m They fay, Where the HUy Ghofi is 
 \ known, the Perlon is a Mortifier of Sin \ for, 
 through theSpirit mortify they theDeeds of the 
 Body. And, is not Sin ftrong in me ? They 
 lay, They that know the Hoy Spirit right,they 
 1 are fervent and ferous Supplicants, Zech. ia* 
 I to. They fay, They know not the Spirit 
 | aright, that are not abounding with Coniola- 
 tion, fometime or other, more than I can pre- 
 tend to, Alas ! all this confidered, 1 may 
 fay, I know not the Holy Ghofi. And they fify, 
 Thev that have the Htly Ghofi y they have the 
 Eawefi of Heaven. I fear, the Child on the 
 Breaft knows as much ot ,the Holy Ghofi as I 
 do : And p r I thought ghat Chrifr had been 
 the only Ptrfon concerned in the Work of 
 Re-en ption for a longTime-, and ye fay, The 
 fJdy C , oji is fo aifo : And 1 think it is fo ^ hilt, 
 fe that 1 felt that it were fo ! that wouAtl be 
 betier. I muft 1 arn to.knw this better. 
 
 Goelfom* Isow ye lay, There are Two con- 
 cerned in the Work of Redemption •, And 
 What if I fh< uld fay Three ? the Father, the 
 Son, and the Hoy Ghoft 
 
 A xiotu. The Father aifo \ Who is that ? 
 Goodnews. Haft- then been fo long Ttme with 
 vie , and ye' haft thou ttot known the Father? when 
 k ib eternal Life to know EMm. 
 
 Anxiout* 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 87 
 
 Anxious. I may fay with Philip Shew me the 
 Father, and it fujjiceth us. I fometimes tkought, 
 and little better yet, that the Father was full 
 of Jufttce and Wrath againft Singers, and that 
 Chrifi did all. But it is not an H car -fay y that 
 there is a Father, that will fufEce me. They 
 fay, That none know the Father right, but 
 they that can lay, He fo Ipved them, that he 
 bath given to them his only begotten Son ; and 
 that are able to reafon from it, Rem. 8. 32. 
 He that J pared not hit only begotten Scn y but deli- 
 vered him for us aH 7 will he riot with I. im freely 
 give us all Things ? Alas ! any Thing paffeth 
 for the Knowledge ol Eternity now •, and ay 
 the more that 1 know of One, I think 1 know 
 the lefs. Can 1 fay, that God hath loved me, 
 and given me Chrift? Would toGod I were able* 
 
 Goodncws* 1 have heard you all along, and 
 find, that tho' your Knowledge be not great, 
 yet it appeareth ro be of the right Stamp \ 
 for ye are both Anxious to know, and that not 
 only that you may know, but that ye 
 may experience and win to the moft fub* 
 lime and faving Knowledge of a DEITY, 
 and what Hand They have jointly in the Car- 
 rying on the Work of Redemption : And tho ? 
 your Knowledge be bui: weak, yet, I fay, it is 
 hard to determine what Degrees of Knowledge 
 may confift with Grace *, but furely, where 
 Revelation is but little, we may expeel: that 
 Knowledge may be the lefs, and yet true 
 Grace there; Was not Philif* Knowledge 
 G 4 weak? 
 
8 8 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Weak? Shew us the Father, arid it fqjficetb us* 
 Tho' Chrift was with him bodily, yet the Re- 
 velation was not then fo great as now, by very 
 \ far : Chrift had not then fuffered and rifen * 
 fthey wanted the Writings of the whole New 
 [TejUment - 7 and it was much for them to fee a 
 | Man in a low Eftate fpeaking to them, very 
 \ hungry and thirfty, reje&ed by the mod Part, 
 I and fometimes weeping, fometimes fleeing to 
 | hide himfelf from his Enemies j I fay, it was 
 |a great Matter for them to know and believe 
 ; that that was GOD in the Flefh. But of 
 ' what thou fayeft about the Weaknefs of thy 
 ^Knowledge, of what Hand the Perfon of the 
 \ Father and the Holy Ghoft had in the Work of 
 Redemptitm, and how God fent his Son, when 
 other Meffengers were flighted •, We fhall be- 
 gin at the Fountain-head, and bring you to 
 the Spring of the Well of Salvation : For, 
 tho' Chrift came in the Flefh, all the Perions 
 had an Hand in the Contrivance ; and, as One 
 faith, " The Flefh that the Son of God took 
 « c upon him, was like a Garment that Three 
 tc S : iters did weave, and One of the Three 
 6< wore it." 
 
 Anxious. That is the very Thing I would 
 be at •, Pray you proceed to that excellent 
 Work. 
 
 Gjfodnews. Firft, The Father did choofe the 
 Hotifey the EUft World : The Source of all 
 is the Ele&ing Love of God> Eph. i. 4, Hath 
 
of EleB Sinners. § > 
 
 :hofen us in Chrift before the Foundation of i e 
 World. 2. The Son redeemed the Houfe, Tit. 
 2. 14. Who gave Himfdf for us, that he m'zht 
 redeem us from all Iniquity. 3. The. Holy Ghoft 
 purifieth, and dwelleth in the Houie, J'Jin 1 4, 
 17. Even the Sf rlt of Truth, for Le drreHeth vr.th 
 Vott\ and jl) all be in you , Tic. 3. 5,6. But, as I 
 laid, #ill the Spring and Source of all is Love 5 
 the Love of God, Father, Son, ana Holy 
 Ghoft. From this love Chrift. came, 2 Thijf. 
 2. 1 2. God, even the Father, whohatu loved us, and 
 given unto us everlafting Confolation, even Chrift, 
 called The Confolation of Ifrael. 
 
 Anxious. Declare this Matter, concerning 
 Electing Love, to me *, for it is very myfte- 
 rious. 
 
 Good-news. God's Ele&ing Love is His eter- 
 nalj holy and wife, unalterable Purpofe of Love 
 to a Number of loft Men, appointing them to 
 eternal Salvation in and by Jeitis Chrift. Eter- 
 nal Love, and therefore free Love, Efu 1. 4. 
 Goo fen us in Him^ that we might be holy. 2 Theff* 
 2. 13. God having from the Beginning chojen us 
 to Salvation^ throuo-b Santtification of the Spirit, 
 dndXelief of the Truth. 
 
 Anxiom. I thought that Chriii had been the 
 Caufe oi Ele&ion. 
 
 Goodnews. No. Chrift is the meritorious 
 Caufe of Salvation-, but his Righteoulneis 
 (I think ye mean,) is not the Caufe. of Electi- 
 on : For, tho' Sin be the meritorious Cauie of 
 Damnation, yet it is not the Caufe ef Repro- 
 bation* 
 
9© The Lofs and Recovery 
 bation •, but the Lora's holy, juft Will and 
 Pleafure, in palling of them by : So ChriiVs 
 Rignteouinef ., tno' it be the meritorious Caufe 
 of Salvation, yet it is not the Caufe of Electi- 
 on, but God's Love, z Thijfl 2. 12, 13. 6W, 
 even tfje Father ^ who bath loved us*, And given 
 who as eve dafti^ G/nfilatjon. Therefore, many 
 that have pLafant Thoughts of Chrift, they 
 are far in tht wjrong to the Father, that they 
 have Jo harih Thoughts of Him. Was it little 
 that his Love to them' was fo great, that he 
 parted with his own Son for them ? John 3. io\ 
 God fo loved the World y that he gave his only be- 
 gotten Son. And Chrift, in Election, was con- 
 defcended on to be given to be the Redeemer - y 
 and lb is the Effed of Bkflion, and not the 
 Caufe of it. 
 
 Anxious. But, was it not our fbrefeen Faith 
 and good Works that was the Caufe of Ele&i^ 
 on, as P>p'fis affirm ? 
 
 Goodnews. Nothing lefs. For that which is 
 not, produceth no Ltitfls. *Tis rr-ofl abfurd 
 fco fay, we merited S Ivation before we had a 
 Being. 2. It is the Fruit of Election, there- 
 fore cannot be the Caufe. The Beams give 
 not Light to the Sun 5 but the Sun to the 
 Beams. 3. It we e blafphemous to fay, that 
 God depended on the Creature in his Atting^, 
 and not the' Creature upon God, Rom. 8. 29, 
 30. Efh. 1. 4, 5. Heeletted us, that we might 
 believe, that we might be holy ; not becaufe 
 we would believe, or would be holy, John 15. 
 
 16* 
 
of EUH Sinners. 9 { 
 
 I6\ Te have net cnofeu me, bur I have chofe yuu a 
 God depends not on Man in any 1 hin^ (much 
 left in the Decrees, wk.re all was owainud 
 whatever came to pais) but Man u on God. 
 
 Anxious, gut, may not tne D cree o; file- 
 Sing Love be altered? A Perlbn elected, and 
 and &ivento Chritf, and yet penifi? as fome 
 fay, An Elect To-day, and a Reprobate To- 
 morrow ? 
 
 Goodnews. Not at all : For, All that the Fa- 
 ther gave Cjnjt, Jhaii come to him ; and him that . 
 Cometh, he Will in no wife caftw*. lfa. 46. fo. ■ 
 My Cornel (lull ft and. He keeps the Gift well, 
 for the Giver's Sake. Nabvta would not quit 
 his Vineyard, becaufe it was his Father's In- I 
 heritance \ much lefs will Chriit quit his Peo«? « 
 pie, his Inheritance. It is called the Lmmuta- I 
 kiiUy of his Cuwfel, Rom. p. 11. and, ver. 19, 
 ihe Gifts and CalUrg of God are with ut Reyen- 
 tance, to wit, the G : fts that come from Elec- 
 ting Love. Indeed he may take an Earthly 
 Kingdom from a 5*»/, for not *.eftroying the 
 Amalekites ; but he will not take the Heavenly 
 Kingdom from a Peter, even for denying his 
 Matter, 2 Tim. 2. 19. The Foundation &/ God 
 ftandeth fure, having rhis Seal, The L rd know- 
 eth who are his. Eletting Love u a fure Fc«n-? 
 dation \ and the Superft rupture of Salvation, 
 that is built thereupon, will (rand out a Storm, 
 and abide a Blaft, Heb. if. 10. They looked for 
 *a City that had Foundations, the Builder and 
 Maker whereof is G$d a The Church built here-. 
 
 on. 
 
92 The Lofs and ^{ecoyery 
 
 on, the Gates of hell cannot prevail againft it. I 
 2. They are iealed and made fare, as Men 1 
 feci? re any Thing by a S^al ; Having this Seal, 
 The Lrrd knonth w )/} o ar * His. And if the 
 Elect tall away, the Caufe muft be either on 
 God's Part, or our Part : But it can be faid oi 
 Iseitner \ Therefore they cannot fall away. 
 ]Sut on God's Part } for he hath fecured them 
 by a Seal % and exactly knows them, by bis ' 
 pwn Sramp upon them : Not on our Part ei- . 
 , ther 5 becaule Chrift is our Cautioner, that 
 j we tail not away, Heb. 7. 22. He is the Surety 
 ; of a better Teftament. And, befide ail this, 
 there is a Connection betwixt all the Links of 
 the Golden Chain of Salvation, R rn. 8. 33, 
 I Whom he fedeftr ated, them he alfo called y whim 
 i.Jhe called^ ne far.Et fief /?, ju ftifitth^ And alorifieth. 
 I Moreover, Chrift commands his Difciples to 
 I rejoice that their Names were written w Hea- 
 ^ <ven. k would have b^en but fmall Ground of 
 Joy, if they might be blotted out again. 
 Wherefore eife is it called the Book of Life, 
 !vlf it be not that their Life and Salvation is ie- 
 £ured that are writu n in it? Written ammgth* 
 Living in Jesufa.em, and Written in Heaven • to 
 hold out their Stability and Certainty of win* 
 niflg to Heaven, iy Oppofition to thefe that 
 are written in' tie 'Earth 9 Jer. 17 13. that is, 
 Their Names, Expectations, Souls and all pe- 
 rifli,, like lerters written upon the Sand % 
 eafily obliterated and put away with one- Puff 
 of Wind. 
 
 AnpcioHS; 
 
ef EleB Sinners. p 3 
 
 Anxious, But Mofts prays, Exod. 32, 32. 
 Pardon tkis Pecplt y or blot v,e out of tht Book that 
 'Thou haft written \ therefore they may faH 
 away. 
 
 Goodnervs* That's not the Book of Life, of 
 Ele&ion, bnt of this prefent Life % for, he is 
 praying, That before the Lord mould cut; off 
 all Ijracl y he rather die in their Room. 2. Grant 
 it were the Book of Life, ' yet it would not 
 prove Ele&ion alterable, becaufe it is not an 
 .Affirmation that the Thing may be done -, 
 but only a Wifh and Defire, implying a Con- 
 dition, if the Thing were poilible, a; it is not* 
 Such was hisZtal and Fervour in Prayer *, and 
 Perfons in fuch a Frame will pray for that I 
 whi(5h they know will neverbe. As Chriit pray- 1 
 ed himfelf, That the Cup might depart from | 
 him, which he knew would not depart : Here- 
 by he only holds out, that he had fad Appre- 
 henfions of Death, and that the Wrath of God , 
 was very terrible. So Paul prays,he might be? If 
 accurfed: from Chrift for Ifrael • not that hc^ 
 would be feparated from Him with refpe£fc timm 
 Grace and Holinefs $ for,that wculd both havtifN 
 been unacceptable to God, and moft impious^ 
 in him: But, tint, before all Ifrael fnould pe- 
 rifli, he rather not come to Heaven, if it wergjB 
 j>oiiible, which he knew it was not poffible. 
 And this is a Fit of ^eal alfo. 
 
 Anxious. But the Pfi Imifi prays, Pfal. 6g> 28. 
 That their Ntmis might he blotted out of the 
 Book of Life* 
 
 Good- 
 
p4 T^ e Lofs and fycoverf 
 
 Goodvews. That is no more, but, Let it ap- 
 pear that their Names were never writt n in 
 it, as they thought •, and the following Words 
 prove it, Write them not wnwg the Righteous* 
 They are not written th< re as yet. That is 
 Gbfd+tiewsi the Decree of Ek&ing-Love ffonds 
 fure J ike a Rock. 
 
 Anxiuva, But can any Man win to a certain 
 Knowledge that he is elected > 
 
 Good) ews, P*p,/hj Armenians i and fbme Pro- 
 tenants that are too near of Kin to them, fay, 
 They cannot. But what's the Matter what all 
 theie Enemies to the Truth and Power of 
 Godiinels fay t For, one Thing is faid 9 and 
 another Thing feefi, bleffed be God. And I 
 chink no W-onder tho' fome of our Proteftants 
 fay it cannot be attained \ for it is to be won 
 at when Perfons give more than ordinary Di- 
 ligence, iPet.i. And they not giving tuch 
 Diligence, but give up themfelves to Lazinefs* 
 U'L never at it*, and becauie they get it not 
 t?hemfelve&,they think others get it not either-, 
 but thev are beguiled : For it is a Shame for 
 them,' and an arrant Bo dnefe, both to contra- 
 dict that which is fo clearly revealed in Scrip- 
 ture, and fo fweetly experienced by the Saints. 
 Job had it, he lavs, / know that my Redeemer 
 liveth. Mofes had it, He is my God, and J will 
 frail e him. The Church had it, Cam, 2. itf. 
 My Beloved is mine, and I am his. Mary had 
 it, My Soul re'piceth in God my Saviour. He- 
 man had it* Pfal. 88. 1. Lord God my Saviour, 
 
 faith 
 
ef EleB Sinners. 95 
 
 faith he. Paul had it, / know that Chrifi loved 
 me, and f*ve himjeif for m\ I wifll they 
 would u,ive the Diligence that other Folk 
 gave, and had it alio, thar we might not te 
 vexed w th th^fe L.ies aga ; nft the Truth. 
 Anxious. But whatCourfe fhall I take to get 
 
 Goodnews. Ye need not climb up above the 
 Clouds,and turn over theDecrees,& fe rch the 
 fecret Records of Heaven } ye muft rot begin a£ 
 the Caule and fe k the Effett, but ye muft: 
 begin at the ErYett and learch back to the 
 £aufe. Go in to your own Hearts and Con- 
 ferences, and fee if the Fruits of Election be t 
 there to be found } fee if ye can find Faith, 
 Repentance and Holinefs there : And thus | 
 reafon with your felves, Whofoever has Re- 
 pented, Believed, and become Holy, that Per- 
 ibn is eletted : But I find all thefe in me, ergoM 
 I am elcfted, Eph. 1.4. Chof n toliolii.efs. 
 
 Anxiom. Doth this certainly exclude all 
 Fear, and ftill abide with the Perfons ? 
 
 Goodnews, It doth at fometimes exclude all 
 Fears, and doubteth no more that it mil) be 
 glorified, than if it had been in Qlory a Thou- 
 fand Years ago ^ Pfal. 73. 24, 25. Thou wdv 
 guide me with thy Quunfel here, and afterward re- 
 ceive me to Glory. It is not May-he Thcu wilt, 
 but, Thou wilt do it. Pfal. 34. This poor Man 
 cried, the Lord heard, and delivered him from 
 till hi4 Fears $ Not from fome of them, but from 
 
 {hem 
 
y6 The Lofs and fycfpery 
 
 them altogether, i Tm. I. 15. This is a faith- 
 
 1 ful Saying And worthy of Ml Acceptation, Thiit 
 Chrifi came to fave Sinners, of whom I am the 
 chief Kot may-be I am, but he plainly aiferts, 
 I reallr am the chief of faved Sinners. 1 know 
 fome that have had fuch Degrees of it, that 
 they have found no more Trouble than if they 
 had been in Heaven, but great compofed Peace, 
 
 [ Serenity and Tranquillity of Soul } and faid, 
 It was not the Place, but .the Enjoyment of 
 G^ d, that made a Man happy. 2. 1 ho' the 
 Thing be ay alike certain in itfelf, yet it is 
 
 1 not ay alike manifeft to the Senfe of the Be- 
 
 I liever. 
 
 j4"'xious. When is it leaft difcernible ? 
 Goodnews. 1. In Time of great Sin, efpe- 
 
 ' c'ally aeainft Light, as David\ Sin wa«. Sin 
 
 \ oblcureth the I enters of our Evidences, that 
 we cannot read them as fometime a-Day we 
 could do. 2. In Time of great Affli&ion, 
 
 $ljjam. 3. 2, 3« He hath brought me into Varknefs, 
 rfurely avainfl me is he turned. And Job faith, 
 Ifflob 9. \6. Tbo y J had called, and thou hadft an- 
 
 towered me, yet would I not believe that thou hadfi 
 fjohen\ for thou breahft me with a Ttmpeft. 
 3. When they g«?t no Anfwer to Prayer, Lam. 
 3. 8, \ 8. Alfowhen I cry and flout, he jhuttetb 
 $ut my Prayers. And then fhe faith, MylS'renrth 
 and my Ho e is pcrijhed from the Lord. 4. When 
 they are rafli, and do not poftder all Things 
 deliberately, PfM.32.21. I fed i* my H,tfle 9 I 
 *m cut off pom thy Frefence. But it was a rafh \ 
 
 Wordy I 
 
of EleB Sinners. 97 
 
 Word, Thou heardefi me neverthelefs of all that.' 
 5. When Chrift hides himfelf, the Sun ofthe 
 fpiritual World is withdrawn then,tho' they 
 want not his Influences, and Advantage by 
 him, yet they want Light to read their Evi- 
 dences, and his comfortable Beams to refrelh 
 them: And then they will fay, The Lord bath 
 forfaken me ; I cannct well adventure to call 
 him my Lord. 
 
 Anxiom. But when is it that they ordinarily 
 have it ? 
 
 Goodness. Readily at firfl Converfion, as 
 Paul, Atts 9. 17. he was filled with the Holy 
 Ghoft, 1 John 2. 13, 14. I write to you, young 
 Men, becaufe ye have known the Father \ and t9 . 
 you, little Children*) becaufe your Sins are forgiven 
 you. The Lord wyleth them on to their Duty 
 for their Good at fir ft, as it were with Smiles 
 and Apples, as Parents do their Children : Bud 
 when more experienced, he doth it with 
 Frowns and Rods \ and, Get you out of my 
 Pretence. The Kindnefs of Youth and Love of 
 Efpoufals is great, firft when Chrift and the 
 Perion meeteth. 
 
 2. When much in the Exercife of Prayer 
 for themfelves or for the Church? Dan 9. 23. 
 O Alan of Be fires ! thy Prayers are heard. Ye that 
 fay ye cannot win at AiTurance, become Men 
 of Defires. Pray much. 
 
 3. When called to great Work, Gen. 12. 
 2, 7. The Lord appeared to Abraham before h<* 
 was called to leave his Country. And to Jere« 
 
 H with 
 
9 8 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 f tniahj before he was fenc to Preach, faying, 
 
 I Before thou waft formed in the Womb, I knew thee, 
 
 4. Before they be to meet a dark Day and 
 
 t* difmal Difpenfations. So Chrift, before he is 
 
 I led to the Wildernefs to be tempted of the 
 
 Devil, the Voice from Heaven fays, This is my 
 
 [ beloved Son, in whom 1 am well pleafed. The 
 
 next News is, Then was Jefm led ef tloe Spirit 
 
 I to be tempted of the Devil. Thou wants AfTu- 
 
 I lance, thou fhalt not get fuch a Blaft •, but if 
 
 I thou have it, there is & Cloud gathering: Pre- 
 
 | pare for an On-fet. Chrift, before his Pafiion, 
 
 Death and Pains of Hell, is taken up to Tabor, 
 
 and gets a dip in Heaven, Pfal. 102. Thou haft 
 
 lift me up on high, and cafi me down* 
 
 5. When they are under Perfecution for the 
 Truth j If ye be perjecuted for Right eovfnefs 
 Jake, happy are ye *, for the Spirit of Glory and of 
 God refieth upon yeu. When Jofeph was put in 
 Ward unjuitly, it is faid, The Lord was with 
 Jofeph in the Prilbn-houfe. And Paul and 5/- 
 las had great Affurance in the Prifon, that they 
 fang and rejoiced. Heavenly Rutherfurd, in 
 Prifon, had wond-rful Affurance, the Prifon 
 like a Heaven to him . that he fays of Afflicti- 
 ons, That they are fuch a Eurden to a Chri- 
 stian, as Wings are to a Bird. Chrift, when 
 he was to leave the Difciples, left goad Com- 
 pany with them, John 14. 27. My Peace I 
 heave with you^ my Peace I give unto you ; when 
 they werfc to go as Sheep among the raidfr of 
 .Wolves. 
 
 6. Ac 
 
of El eft Sinners. p(JM 
 
 6". At the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper* * 
 what fweet Words are thefe> This is my Body A 
 that is broken for you ' y This- is the Blood of tht$M 
 New Teftament fled for yon • Ye jhew forth thM 
 Lord's Death till he come again ? O fweet ! Hm 
 is to come again. What will he do then,when J 
 he cometh again? Receive them to himfelft 
 When they get this Affurance, there is many | 
 a long Look for that Again-coming, that they 
 may drink the Wine new in the Father's king- . 
 dom. 
 
 7. When much in the Exercife of holy re«$| 
 verentiai Fear, PJal. 25. 14. Tie Secret of thB 
 Lord is with them that fear hipt, and he willfherijfa 
 them his Covenant, let them fee their Names 
 written at the End of the Promifes. Fear and 
 fin not, fear and obey, if ye would have Affu- 
 
 rance. Fear alfo the Heart, that is deceitful 
 above all Things. 
 
 8. When we make it our great Work to 
 keep a good Confcienee. Do not wrong it 
 with Sins of Omiffion nor of Commiifion ; 
 nor with Negligence in Duty, 1 Tim. 3. p. 
 Holding the Myftery of Faith in a -pure Confcience- 
 A tender Walk and a good Conference are ne- 
 ceffary for AfTurance : It will not keep HoiTfe 1 
 with Sin, nor dwell in a filthy, untender Con- 
 fcienee. 
 
 9. W 7 hen we contemplate much the Match- 
 lefnefs and Boundlefnefs of the Mercy of God; 
 that his Mercy is farther above our Sin* than 
 the Heavens are above the Earth ? and that he 
 
 H 2 is 
 
too The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 is a God that pardoneth Iniquity, becaufe it is 
 
 ft/ery great, P/i/..ij; 10, it. 
 
 10. At Death. 2 Sam. 23. 5. When dying 
 tipavid was clofing his Day, and fitting in the 
 ffentry of Death, ftepping down to his Bed of 
 uft, then he can fay, Although. my Houfe be 
 not Jo with God, yet he hath made with me an 
 verlafiing Covenant, 
 
 Anxious. But I cannot attain to AfTurance by 
 any Diligence. 
 
 Goodnews. It is not daily Bread, but a Cor- 
 ial for a fainting Soul. Pfal. 94. 14, 17, 18. 
 hePfalmift was juft at the giving over*, Vnlefs 
 ^jpe Lord had been my Help, my Soul had almoft 
 dwelt in Silence. When I [aid, My Foot jlippeth 9 
 then thy Mercy held me up. In the Multitude of 
 thoughts within me, thy Comforts delight my Soul. 
 >Thou thinkeft thy Trouble can be no greater, 
 yet it may arife, as the Storm with the Dif- 
 ciples, Mark 6* 47, &c. And when Even was 
 come, the Ship was in the Midfl of the Sea^ tcjjed 
 with Waves. They thought it was Time now 
 to hel$, for they could not endure this dread- 
 ful Storm in the dark Night: But yet the 
 Trouble 13 skrewed up higher, the firft Watch 
 Baft, and no Help •, the fecond, and the third 
 Watch paft, and no Relief : And it is come 
 to the laft Watch, and then thinking it eiaough 
 now, and looking for Relief with the Day, 
 bur yet the Trouble increafed •, Theyfaw JESVS 
 toolkit** en the Waters, and thought it had been a 
 Spirit come to fink them, and they cried tut fur 
 
 Fear % 
 
of EleH Sinners, i o tl 
 
 We *r ^ they are at their Wits End : And theni ] 
 comes the Comfort, when they can bear n< 
 longer without it • Fear not, it is /, he not tfi-Ait 
 So it was with Job, I am full of Confufion, an< 
 yet AfRittion increafetb. When the Perfoi 
 are long toiled, and now weeping and giving 
 over, then comes Comfort, If a. 57. 18// wit 
 refiore Comfort to him and to hu Mourners* 
 
 2. Thou mightft have AfTurance by the fame's 
 Diligence thou takeft, if thou were not in the 
 Fault thy felf. Many a one hinder their own 
 AfTurance, and take Arguments to plead witH 
 Satan againft themfelves : But beware of thi\j >: 
 he hath Sophiftry enough of his own, he need- 
 eth not thy Help. Let B*d plead for himiel|j| 
 he is a great Enemy to thy Comfort. 
 
 Anxious. What do 1 to hinder mine own AfV' 
 furance ? 
 
 Goodnewt. Firft, Ye try to find out the AfTui' 
 ranee of Ele£bon, when ye are in a pettifh, 
 ill and hafty Frame. If ye be not ay Handing 
 with the Lamb upon Mount Zion, and look- 
 ing in at the Gates of Glory, ye think ye can- 
 not have AfTurance of Election : But then ye 
 fhould remember, that once ve had AfTurance, 
 when ye were in a better Frame *, for every 
 Change of Frame will not bear this Conclu- 
 fion, that there is a Change in our State. It 
 was in this pettilh Frame that Afapb faid, / ?m 
 a Beaft ; envying the Profperity of the Wic- 
 ked, and fretting at the Lord's Difperifations 
 to himjelf. Job was often in a very ill Frame, 
 1 H 3 *d 
 
o i The Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 ,d yet he faid, Twill hold f aft mine Integrity^ 
 d will not let it go. Do thou fo alfb. 
 
 2. When the Lord is taking away Mercies, 
 fmiting with Tore Rods, it is hard then to 
 
 nd out Afliirance of Election. But this fhould 
 be confidered, That temporal Mercies and 
 'Promifes are all changeable and conditional. 
 "Job was rich enough the one Day, and had a 
 Brave Family - ? and the other Day poor and 
 childlefs: And feeking his Affurance at fuch a 
 *pme, he faith, Chap 13. Surely again ft me is 
 lie turned, and holdeth me for his Enemy. And. 
 the Lord lays, That tho' he alter his Difpen- 
 fations, yet he will not alter his Covenant } If 
 thy Children break my Commandments^ I will vifit 
 their Sins with Rods ; yet will I not break my Or 
 venant*, but keep my Love for him, Pfal. 89. 33. 
 
 3. Thou takeft too high Marks to try by. 
 As the Wicked are deceived by taking too low 
 Marks *, thinking, if they be like others, all 
 is right, comparing themfelres with them- 
 felves, They are not wife: / am not like other 
 Men, is enough for them : So the Godly mif- 
 take by taking too high Evidences. If their 
 Faith be- not as great as Abraham's, their Fa- 
 tience like Job's : If my Love be not like the 
 Spoufe's Love, all is not right. But confider, 
 ^11 the King's Soldiers are not Champions and 
 Giants •, fome have lefs, fome more Grace -, 
 
 'fome more of one Grace, fome more of ano- 
 ther. And there are two Ways of trying 
 Cold, the one is by the Weight* to fee how 
 
 much ; 
 
of EleB Sinners. i a 
 
 much •, the other is by the Touch-ftone, &g 
 fee if it be true Gold : And if it be true? 
 Grace, tho' of the leaft Degree, God will nefcj 
 caft it, tho' little of it. He accepteth, ac~ 
 cording to what a Man hath. Have ye as mu< 
 need of Salvation ? Are ye as loft in your owi 
 Eyes, as the Saints ? Then ye may be lure oj 
 Salvation : For, He came to feek and fave the] 
 that ^e loft. The leaft Degree of Grace is fa 
 ving Grace. 
 
 4. Thou fcrupleft too much •, for fearchii 
 in thy felf, thou fayeft, I have not done th$| 
 and I have not done that } and I am guilty of 
 this, and of the other Sin : But thou doft not 
 purely rely on Chrift, as thou monldft, wha 
 is the Lord our Right eoufrefs, and is m<ide of God 
 unto us Wifdonty Right eoujnefs, Sinblificatica and 
 Redemption. For the Lord reckons more upon 
 what the Believer would be, than on what he 
 is : He looked on David'' s Defire to build the 
 Temple, as if he had built it. He looks more 
 upon what we are in Chrift, than what we 
 are in ourfelves *, and tho' . empty in ourfelves, 
 yet We are compleat tn him. My Strength and 
 Heart faileth tne 7 but the Lord never feUeth me f 
 Pfal. 73. 25. And tho' ye be weak, yet the 
 Foundation is ftrong ', all the Strength lieth in 
 the Foundation. The Foundation of the Lord 
 ftandeth jure, 
 
 AnxioHs. Bat what fhall I do, thtf I may 
 
 clear up this, and make it evident to my Heart, 
 
 H 4 that 
 
104 The L°f s *nd (Recovery 
 
 |that I anfElefted, fo that I may be thorowly 
 ^convinced of it ? 
 
 Good-news. Once look if ye love God, prove 
 
 Rthat to your Htart : And tho' ye think it is 
 
 if not fuch as it fhonld be \ yet, doth it make 
 
 | you Endeavour to keep his Commandments \ 
 
 I to be friendly to his People ? Becaufe ye fee 
 
 lye are incapable to requite himfelf, yet the 
 
 ESaints of God fhall be the better of yen, Pfal. 
 
 m6. 2. (2.) Love ye his Ordinances? (3.) 
 
 !|Can no Difficulty hinder you from following 
 
 I Chrift ? Is it like a Flame of Fire, that the 
 
 I^Vaters of Perfection cannot drown ? and, 
 
 paotwithftanding all the ill Tales that Satan 
 
 tells you of Chrijl, yet ftill ye love Him the 
 
 I more : The more Water is call on this Fire, 
 
 #ill it rifeth higher and hotter *, fo that ye 
 
 |<dow not live at a Diflance from him. Set me 
 
 fl4$ a Seal upon thins Hearty for Love is prong as 
 
 Deaths Cant. 5. 5. My Soul failed me when he 
 
 fiake : I was like to die, and to break my 
 
 Heart for him : And ye can bid a Defiance to 
 
 Hell and Earth, Life or Death, Perfecution or 
 
 Famine to Separate betwixt you and him: 
 
 Then ye are his Sons ;- for Faith, Love 
 
 jind Adoption are the Fruits of Ele&Ion. 
 
 And thefe that have Faith, receive Chrift? and 
 
 become the Sons of God, John 1. 11, 12. and 
 
 t);efe that are his Sens, love \i'm as a Son the 
 
 Father, and call him Father, Rom.%. 15, i<?« 
 
 Bccau'c ye are Sons^ God hath fent forth the Spirit 
 
 his Son into jour Hearts ^ whereby ye cry^ Abba % 
 
 Fat her 
 
of EleEi Sinners. i o j 
 
 'Father] And by refle&ing on this, that ye have 
 thefe Actings of Grace, and the Spirit, which 
 are the Fruits of Ele&ion \ Therefore ye know 
 that ye are ele&ed. For, as Walking and 
 Aflr'ng are the Etfe&s of Life \ there's a Man 
 walking, therefore that's a living Man : So 
 here, 1 love God, I have received him j there- 
 fore I am elecled and chofen of him. 
 
 2. Ye may know it by the Lord's Hand-writ 
 given to you, Rev. 2. 17. He gives the white 
 Stone,andthe newName ; a new fan&ifiedHeart, 
 and in the Heart his Law written, Jer. 31, 3.3. 
 
 3. By the Seal of Gods Spirit, featingym 
 up to the Day of Redemption, Eph. 4, 3c* i John 
 3. 4. We know that he abidefh in us, and roe in 
 him, by the Spirit that he hath given us. The 
 Witnefs of the Spirit with our Spirits, infal- 
 libly proves it fure like a Seal, 1 C<r. 2, 12. 
 We have not received the Spirit of the World, but 
 'he Spirit of God, that we may know the Things 
 reely given us to know. 
 
 4. Ye may know it by the great holy Bold- 
 nefs that is in you, in drawing i ear to God, 
 and going forward to Glory, Ihb. 10. 22. Let 
 us draw near with true Faith, and full Affurance 
 9/ Hope. They go in over Glory's Harbour, 
 with a full Gale of the Spint in their Sails. 
 And, is it not a Sin to deny that in a pettifh 
 Fit, when we are in an ill Humour, that the 
 Spirit of God doth {0 {trongly afTert ? And al- 
 fcho' thou fin it away, or He, in his fovereign 
 PJeafare, withhold it for a Time ', yd he will 
 
 re- 
 
 r 
 
io6 The Lofs and ^ecoyery 
 
 reflore it again, Pfal. 10. 14. 20.4.8,9* 
 We a>c troubled on every Side , yet not diftrrjfed } 
 perplexed^ but not in Defpair } perfecuted, but not 
 for joker. . cuft down, but not deflroyed. Be of 
 good Courage i and he fitll ftrengthen thy Soul^ Q 
 ye that feek the Lord, your Hearts foall live for 
 ever. 
 
 And this AfThrance is fo far from making 
 the Perfon flack in Duty, that the Affurance 
 of God's Love draws us after him in a Pulfa- 
 tion of Grace, and in a Conftraint of Love, 
 2 Cor. 5. 14. 'the Love of thrift conftraineth us. 
 
 And now I have given you a Hint as I could 
 of the Spring and Source of Salvation, Elec^ 
 tiag Love, from whence Chrift came, and 
 hovr we may win at the Afluraace of it, and 
 when. - 
 
 Anxious. But there is one Thing that migh-? 
 tily difquieteth me, that I would fain be infor 
 med about, and that is, To know fomething 
 of the Decree, or Nature of the Decree of Re- 
 probation ^ If it may not be called a bold Di- 
 ving into God's Secrets. 
 
 Goodnews. 1 lhall therefore hint at it, in fo 
 far as I fee it revealed in the Word. 
 
 REPROBATION, then, is God's eter 
 nal Purpofe, whereby, according to his abfo 
 late Sovereignty and the wife Counfel of hi: 
 Wii>> paifing them by, and not chufmg then 
 to Life, but leaving them to periih in thei 
 Sins, to the Praife of his infinite Juftice 
 
 Where ye fee, 
 
 1. Ther 
 
of Elecl Sinners. 107 
 
 Firft 9 There is fomething Negative, a Paf- 
 iing of them by : Which included! , 
 
 (1.) His Denying either to give them facing 
 Grace here, or Glory hereafter \ and leaving 
 hem toperifhin that Mifery wherein they were 
 to plunge themfelves. 
 
 (2.) That, upon this his faffing of them 
 by, Sin of all Sorts fhould follow - and that 
 not only from his Faffing of them by, but from 
 their Free-will, and the Strength of Corruption, 
 that was to be in them, after the Abufe of 
 Free-will. And yet the Lord cannot be faid to. 
 be the Caufe of Sin, more than he that doth 
 not cure the Difeafe in another, can be faid to 
 be the Caufe of that Man's Difeafe, nor of 
 them that are infected thereby : For it infer- 
 reth, That his PaiTmg of them by, Sin rouft 
 follow upon it *, but he doth not thereby in- 
 fufe Sin into them by not giving them what 
 would keep them from Sin, which he was not 
 obliged to give : Yea, his P?iling of them by 
 is not fo much the Caufe of Sin, as the 5#»'s 
 Leaving of the Earth is the Caufe of Darknefs; 
 that is, accidentally: For Dark efs followeth 
 the Departing of the Sun, by Necefllty of Na- 
 ture *, but in the Lord's Paging by the Crea- 
 ture, Sin fbHowed by Man's free Choice*, and 
 God is not obliged to give tbatVhich would 
 keep them frorn Sin. And befide, the Grace 
 that he denieth to Man now, is that, that they 
 will not by any Means receive : For they love 
 TiOthing lefs than Grace, and to be governed 
 
 bv 
 
toS The Lo/s and Recovery 
 by the Spirit *, and fo their Dcftru&ion is oi 
 themieives. And his Grace that he denieth, 
 is not that they mav fin, but that they may be 
 jpunifned (or Sin -, and fo the Glory of his Ju- 
 i\':ce ana Sovereignty doth appear. 
 
 Secondly, The pofitive A£l of Reprobation is, 
 His Anointing theie to be defervedly punifhed 
 for Sliming, either againft the Light of Nature, 
 or of the Gofpel *, and hence the Reprobate 
 are faid to be V effete of Wrath appointed be- 
 fore to Condemnation, Judc. 
 
 Anxious. But how doth this conM with the 
 Juftice of God, that Men, confidered in equal 
 Circumfbnces, mould be fo unequally dealt 
 with ? Would not this be Injiiftice in a Judge ? 
 
 Goodnews, He a&eth here as a Sovereign, 
 not as a Judge : For, for whom he paffeth by, 
 that is an Aft of Sovereignty $ and to whom 
 he giveth Grace and Glory, that he doth Free- 
 ly. And he might have left all to perifli, and 
 yet been moft Juft : And fo, the Elecl: have 
 much Canfe to praife his Love and free Grace \ 
 but the Wicked have no Caufe to complain 
 upon him, but leave their Complaint upon 
 fchemfelves •, for he is no way engaged to give 
 Grace and Glory to the Reprobate, neither by 
 Debt, nor Pfipmife. And fo, as he is an ab- 
 folute Sovereign Lord, he hath Power to do 
 what he pleafeth, Math* 11. 25, 26, Even fo, 
 Father, for fo it fcenjed gsod in thy Sight. And 
 Chap. 20. J $. May I not do what 1 wilt with mine 
 ntwn f h thine Eye eviU becaufe 1 am good ? 
 
 ■ " , 2. With. 
 
of EleH Sinners. i co 
 
 2. With rtipeft to Punifnment •, He may 
 be faid to aft as a juft Judge, to punifli them 
 for their voluntary Sin, Prov. 16. 4. The Lord 
 made all Things for himfelf, the iVteked alfo fop 
 the Day of Evil. Matth. 25, 41. Depart from 
 me, ye Cur fed, into everlafiing Fire ; For I was 
 naked, and ye clothed me not. 
 
 Anxious. But, How confiftetli it with his 
 Truth, who offers them Salvation, and calleth 
 them to accept of it -, when, in the eternal 
 Decree, they are, by him, excluded from it? 
 
 Goodnews. The Lord h free of all DiiJimula- 
 tion, becaufe he offers them it conditionally 
 if they come up to the Terms on which Sal- 
 vation is to be had} and not abfolutely, 
 fhewingthem, not what he will do, 10 much 
 as what is their Duty to do; which he fti 11 
 hath a Right to require, tho' they have loft 
 their Power to perform. And if he had de- 
 clared another Way for Men to be faved, than 
 that which is real, and the fame very Way 
 that leads to it; or, if he did exclude any 
 that truly repent and believe, he might have 
 been faid to diifemble ', which he doth not, 
 upon the Account of the Decree of Reprobati- 
 on : But it is not fo, when he makes a free 
 Drier, and declarerh the true Way to Man 
 mho wijfully contemneth and defpifeth it." 
 
 Anxious* But how doth this confift with his 
 Love to Man, to leave the moft Part to pe- 
 rifh? r 
 
 Good- 
 
I i o The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Goodnews. Altho' his Love to Mart be great j 
 yet he is not oblig'd to >love every one alike, 
 and that this Love mould be univerfal : For, 
 fame he loves with a general Love, as they 
 are Creatures ; fome he loveth with an efpeci- 
 al and tranfcendent Love, to redeem them, 
 When they are loft Creatures. And befide,^ 
 his Love is Free, he is Debtor to no Man. 
 
 Anxitw, But, how doch it confift with his 
 Holivefs ? For, by denying his Grace, Men are 
 under a Neceility of Sinning. 
 
 Goodnews. i. He did not make Sin, nor in- 
 fufe it into them \ but found it in them, or 
 knew that it would be in them, and that they 
 would be under a Ncceffity to fin upon the Back 
 Of Reprobation ; And yet he cannot be the 
 Caufe of Sin, (i.) Becaufe they finned volun- 
 tarily, and Sin followed upon the Back of Re- 
 probation, as the Confequent followeth the 
 Antecedent, not as the Effecl: followeth the 
 Caufe. For, from the Antecedent to the Con- 
 fequent, there interveeneth no caufative Exer- 
 ting and Bringing forth theEfTeft: For the 
 Sun cannot be laid to be the Caufe of Darknefs, 
 becaufe the Sun's Leaving our Horizon is the 
 Antecedent, and Darknefs v the Confequenct - 7 fo 
 doth Sin follow Refrobatwt i as D trine fs follows 
 the StirSs Withdrawing. And hence we may 
 conclude, That Man muft of NecciTity perifh, 
 excepr the Lord fuftain him : But the Lord is 
 not the Author of #», becaufe he giveth not 
 that, which he oweth not* 
 
 Anxious, 
 
of EkSl Sinners. i t i 
 
 Anxious. Can any Man know whether he be 
 a Reprobate in this Life ? 
 
 Goodnews. No, except thefe that have finned 
 againft the [My Ghofi- for they do not know 
 what Time of their Life he may work a 
 Change on the worih i Cor. 6. 9, 10, n. 
 Paul ran long on in grofs Sin, yet was conver- 
 ted j and Manajfch, a .Warlock and Blood- 
 fhedder: Aifo feme are called at the laftHour. 
 
 Anxiow* But, was it not forefeen Sm thai 
 was the Caufe of Refrobation ? 
 
 Goodnews. No, no : God depends not on 
 Sin, and on Sin before ever it was j but it was 
 only the Good-will and Pleafure of God, M*l. 
 1.2, 3. Was not Efau Jacob'/ Brother ? Tet Ja- 
 cob have I Uvedy and Efau have I hated : And 
 that while the Children were not yet bom, neither 
 having done Good or Evil, Hath not the Potter 
 Power over the Clay 7 to make of the fame Lump one 
 Veffel to Honour ', and another to Dijhonour ? What 
 if God, willing to ffiew his Wrath 9 and make his 
 Power known? Rom. 9. from ver. 11. They 
 make Objections againft this Decree of Repro- 
 bation, That it feemed an unrighteous Thing 
 for God fo to deal. What ? faith the Apoftle^ 
 |/j there Vnrighteoufnefs with God ? God f&rbid } 
 or, God forgive them that make fuch an Ob- 
 jection. 
 
 Anxious, But, are thefe Perfons determined as 
 -O Perfons and Number ? Or, is it left as a 
 Thing indifferent, whether this, or the other 
 Man ? 
 
 Good* *-J 
 
1 1 1 Hie Lofs and Recovery 
 Gcodnevos. The Lord knowcth them both by 
 
 flame and Number, Rem. 8, 29. For whom he 
 did f:Yeknow y tl em alfo he did predeftlnatel 
 
 2 T'm. 2. 19. Having this Seal^The Lord knowcth 
 who are his. Thi y are marked out and known 
 o* God - 7 yea, condefcended on by Name, both 
 as to Peribns and Number, Rem. 9. 13. Jacob 
 
 - hfivt J loved, hut Efau have I hated. And the 
 Spirit tells us, Rev. 17.8. The World won dred 
 after the Beaft, whofe Names were' not written in 
 the Lamfs Book f L fe, 
 
 Anxiau. But, is there any Altering of thefe 
 Decrees ? 
 
 Goednews. No. We have told already the 
 Immutability of the Decree of Election : Not 
 one Hair of their Heads, nor Pile of their 
 Duft fliall be loft, let be a whole Perfon, John 
 1 8. 9. / have loft none •, and, None of them is 
 loft but the Son of Perditim, who was not given 
 him in Election to be faved ^ but only to lerve 
 him a little, to bear the Bag, and be Steward 
 of his Houfe : For it is faid, He was a Son 
 of Perdition before, as well as after he was a 
 Difciple \ and none of the Reprobate can be 
 laved. Ifaiah faith, 7A. 6. 8, 9, 10. They 
 could not believe^ btcaufe Ifaiah faith again, He 
 hath blinded their Eyes, and bar dried their 
 Hearts, left they jhould be converted, and I 
 jhould heal them. 
 
 Anxious. Ifnonecan be faved that are not ele - 
 £r.ed, and none that are elected can be loft,U 
 it not true that fome fay, I need not care how 
 
 I 
 
of Elefi Sinners* 1 1 S 
 
 I live? For, if elected to Salvation, I fliall be \ 
 faved, live as unholily as 1 pleaie \ and' if not, 
 I ihail not be laved, tho' 1 ftould live never fo' 
 holily : And io I may live f ecu re. 
 
 Go.dewj. 1'hou mayelt as well fay, Thou 
 mayeft defpair ; for this is a middle Sort of 
 Defpairing ana giving over: And ye know, 
 when a Man gives over the Trade, the Profit 
 is gone. Alio, if thou perfift in this Trade 
 of deiperate Security, conclude thou haft done 
 with Heaven and Happinds. 2. If the Devil 
 were permitted to preach, this would be the 
 Subject he would inM on, That thefe that 
 were elefted mould be faved, live as unholily 
 as they pleafed :, and fo turn the World like 
 Sodom itfelf, and God's Wrath would come 
 down and devour altogether. 3 It is a great 
 Untruth, that the Reproba e .MWfer'fc t ho' 
 they live hoi ily • or .the F/^. be fivcd, tho* 
 they live profit .- I fa y> \ t i s uotorioufly falfe, 
 and all that can follow upon it ; for, once 
 wrong in the firft Outfetting, and ay the long- 
 er they co on, the further from the Journey's I 
 End: For this is to feparate the Things that: 
 God hath joined together, and it is impoihble 
 that they can be feparate \ for he ehufeth Ho- 
 lmefs ai the Way, and Happineis as the End, 
 Ye may as , well fay, That God appointed 
 that thefe that would go to London from Edin* 
 bur g h,mu& go the Way nraight to the North Pole 5; 
 tor Holme Is is the Way to Heaven, and Sin is the 
 Way to Hell, Efh. 1.4, He hath ehofm m in 
 
4 The Lofs and {Recovery 
 
 )im i that we jkould he holy, and without Blame 
 before him w Love. Rom. 8. 29. Predeftinated 
 us to he 0/ 1 form to the Image of his Son. A&s 
 27*24, $ j. compared. The Lord told, That all 
 in the Ship with Paul mould be fave,d •, and 
 yet, when the Mariners were fleeing from the 
 Ship, and ufing no Means for Safety, Paul tells 
 them, They could not be laved, except thefe 
 abode in the Ship. It was impcilible for them 
 to periii., and it was alfo iropoifible for them 
 :o be laved without Means. So that thefe two 
 Jiertions may be both true at once, That 
 J e er an eieft Perfon cannot perifh % and, That 
 Peter an ele£t Perfon, continuing in the Sin of 
 Denying Chiift, cannot be faved. To look to 
 be 'laved, and not ufe the Means, is to tempt 
 God, and mine the Soul, 1 John 3. 3. Every 
 one tha hath this ho e in hm 9 purifietb himfelf 
 I Cor. 9. 26\ / therefore run, not as uncertain • 
 The more kne 1 am, I run the more : And if 
 did fit down and give over, though I were 
 'lofs at the Prize, my Certainty would 
 'urn to an Impoiiibilit^ •, like the young 
 un, not far from the Kingdom of God, yet 
 lever entred into it : If. I were at the Clouds, 
 would come tumbling down to Hell, if I 
 went not forward •, like Capernaum, lift up to 
 Leaven, and cafi: down to Hell, Matth.n. 
 'he Way to obtain, is to run •, it is to run : 
 So run, that ye may obtain. Thefe that would 
 be faved with an unholy Life, join a moral 
 Evil with a pbytol Good. Were that a wife 
 il,.-v* ' Man,' 
 
of Elefi Stnnirsl f 
 Man, that would fay, God hath decreed Seeijm 
 time and Harveft,' therefore I will neithej 
 plow nor fow, and yet get a I arveft ? Woulc 
 not that Man deferve-Uy ftarve ? For Plowinj 
 and Sowing are the Means, without which n( 
 Harveft, tho" 9 it be decreed, and cannot fail^ 
 It is as if Hez.ekiah had faid, Now God hat! 
 decreed I fhonld live Fifteen Years, Therefrri 
 I will neither eat nor drink : Would he n( 
 have died in lefs than Fifteen Days? Foi 
 Without Holinefs no Man jlidl Jce the Lord, A\ 
 ye may as well fay, The El eel: fliall be 
 wTd and damn'd, as fav'd without Means. 
 
 Anxious. But what fhall we think of thel 
 Broken-hearted Perfbns, who do all th« y ca?j 
 and yet fay they are but gone? Thev arc guil 
 ty now and then of fome Sin, and therefore 
 think they lofe all, 
 
 Goodnexvs. But it is one Th : n£ for One U 
 lofe his Right to Heave- by himfelf, and and] 
 ther Thing to lofe k actually ; tor it i* a J 
 fecure' in Chrift. One Thing to lofe it 4c| 
 jure, another Thing co 1 fe it de f.fto, 1. Thj^H 
 rtfl -.Ql u on his Truth, make God a Liar, be-, 
 cauie they believe not. They are far in the 
 Wrong. 3, They 'charge the lord with lit?! 
 juftice, as if he fliould flay the Innocentil 
 What ? thou a I over of God, a Worker of!§ 
 Ri ^hteoufnefs, and fayed fo ! Htb. 6,.io| 
 G*d is njt unrighteous to forget thy Works and:" 
 Labour of Love. 
 
 I 2 jinxiouso * 
 
The Lofs and (Recovery 
 Anxious, i am afraid" that many ftumble at 
 lis Do&rine. 
 
 Goodsews. The Truths of the Gofpel muft 
 
 lot be concealed, becaufe fome ftumble at 
 
 them* For,if fo, then Chrift fliould. never 
 
 lave been revealed : For many break their 
 
 leeks on Chrift that Stumbling-done • and 
 
 Unifiers were neceflitate to keep tip many 
 
 'ruths> which the Wicked fturrble at. This 
 
 to&rine of Pre deft in at ion is like the reft of the 
 
 >fpel j to the One it is the Savour ot Death 
 
 ito Death? and the Savour of Life to Life 
 
 others : And Miriiflers mould preach Truths 
 
 B> both, that they may be a iweet Savour to 
 
 fcem that are laved, and them that perifli. 
 
 End if the Heart of any rife at it, we may 
 
 fa .'i Wk ■■' art ihou 9 O Mm, that rifiieft againft 
 
 Mid ! Rom. 9. 14. And to flick to the Means, 
 
 ■lying out, {landing o 1 the B> ink of tnis Bot- 
 
 Kadeis Depth, ai>d not able ro fat hem it, ! 
 
 wkc Deph both of the W'tfdom and Knowledge of 
 
 God ! How unjearchaHe, are his Judgments, and 
 
 his Ways faft finding but ? Who hath known the 
 
 jfrfi-nd of the. Lord 9 and who bath been his CounfeU 
 
 ler ' f Who hath fir ft given to him , and it % Ji hall be 
 
 recommenced to him again ? For of him 9 and to 
 
 htm^ and by him are all 'things^ to whom be 
 
 Glory and Honour for ever and ever, Amen# 
 
 jflfhen fang One, 
 
 foodnews and Anxious do both 
 In Knowledge much abound : 
 
 The 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 
 The Myfteries of the Decrees 
 
 are wonderful profoun .. 
 The tallen Angels patfed by, 
 
 our Natures far above } 
 And to US the Savior r lent 
 
 * out from Ejecting Love. 
 Becaule he pleafcd, fome he chofe, 
 
 and others patted by, 
 In Sin ana Mifery undone : 
 
 Who dare to him reply ? 
 Let none at this offended be, 
 
 be did to thee no Wrong : 
 But, whom in Love he did eleft, 
 
 O praiie him with a Song, 
 His Purpofes cannot be chang'd : 
 
 Let none from thence conclude* 
 That, if elefted, fav'il I'll be, 
 
 tho' my Life be not good. 
 At laft thou fhalt be undeceiv'd, 
 
 and thy fad End ihall tell, 
 Whoever wickedly do live, 
 ^ at laft ihall end in Hell. 
 Neither let any hence conclude, 
 
 If I be paiTed by, 
 My holy Life will not avail, 
 
 God will not hear my Cry. 1 
 For on his Juftice and his Truth 
 
 this fadly doth reflecT:, 
 Thy Labour and thy L ove's Reward 
 
 that he doth fHH neglect 
 But cleave thou clois unto the Means, 
 
 give the Reward will he : 
 
 W 
 
 The 
 
8 The Lofs and Recovery 
 'he Righteous of his Reward 
 
 neglejEked ir.all not be. 
 Election is a Bans lure, 
 
 thv Burden for to bear ; 
 >n Holinefs be thou intent, 
 
 for Heaven do not fear. 
 
 Anxious. You have told me the Spring and 
 Source from which Chrift asd Salvation iiow- 
 ?d to the Elect Wo/ld, the eternal Counfel 
 id Decree of God. And now I am very de- 
 irous ro know what Contrivance infinite Love 
 md Wildom fell upon to redeem El eft Man : 
 'hat's the Life of all, to know that. 
 Goodnews. You heard Pant nee vxAHafty upon 
 lat before \ It was to fend God's own Son, 
 'hen other MefTengers could not prevail. 
 
 Anxious. Yes, 1 did: But how did they a- 
 ;ree ? 
 
 Gaodnews. They made a Covenant among 
 fhem, tranfa£led betwixt the Father and the 
 Jfon ^ efpecially, That if Chrift would come 
 ■nd redeem Man, he ihould profper (IJa. 53. 
 10.) in the Undertaking. 
 Anxious. How is that Covenant called ? 
 Goodnews. l>e Covenant of Redemption^ or 
 the Covenant of Grace. 
 
 Anxious, Some fay, Thefe are two Cove*- 
 fej Uits. 
 
 Good-lews'. No : For the Covenant of Grace 
 is nothing elfe but the Covenant: of Rcdemitiop 
 maniiefled ^ and the Covenant of Redemption 
 
\ 
 
 of Eleft Sinners. v 
 
 is nothing but the Covenant of Grace not yj 
 manifefted: Even as the New Teftament is ti 
 Old more clearly reveuled j and the Old Ted a* 
 meat is die New more dark and obfcure *, botJ 
 of them holding out the Way of Salvation it 
 and by Jefus Chrift. AH the Lines of bod 
 Teitaments meet in him, as the Centre of th< 
 whole Bible, Juft as if a Rebel were taken b] 
 the King, and put in Prifon to fuflfr - 7 an< 
 then the King and his Son made a Covenai 
 betwixt them, and drew it up in Write, fq 
 the Pardoning of the Rebel, on Condit:< 
 that he would leave off Rebellion, and fei 
 his Son all his Days } and then lent his Soi 
 himfelf to gain his Confent, promifmg if 
 would do fo, he would fatisfy his Father fb 
 his Offence - 7 and then the King's Son can 
 with the Covenant or Bond, and prefei ted 
 to the Rebel ro fubfcribe, and accordingly 
 the poor Man did it. His Subfcribing of ij 
 makes it not Two, but it is ftill One. 
 
 Anxious. But there are feveral Things re-' 
 quired in the Covenant ot Redemption, from 
 Chrift, that is not required at our Hands in 
 the Covenant of Grace , fuch as that, He 
 Ihould fulfil the Law, and fuffer for the Sins 
 of others , but it is required of us to accept; 
 of his Righteoufnefs : Therefore the Cove* 
 uants are different. 
 
 Good-news. This doth not prove that the/ 
 
 are different, more than a Perfon that is 
 
 Cautioner for another Man's Debt, and pay- 
 
 I 4 etff 
 
o The Lofs and ^ecoyery 
 th it all for him, makes the Bond of Cau- 
 tionry to be Two different Bonds-, 
 
 Anx'uuu But in the Covenant of Redemp- 
 tion there is no Promife of Pardon of bin to 
 Chrift, for he had none *, but to us poor Sinners, 
 in he Covenant of Grace : It abounds with 
 Promifes of Pardon of Sin. Therefore, the 
 Covenant of Grace, and of Redemption, are 
 different Covenant?. 
 
 Goo(lt?ews. Chrift [Gr. ThelnhreposJ God- 
 MfoU is confidered as Head of the Eleft 
 
 orld •: And tho' he needed no Pardon, as 
 confidered in himielf, yet, confidering the 
 Relation he flood in to his Members, he need- 
 ed Pardon to his Members, whole Sins the 
 Head differed for. Or, if you pleafe, Pro- 
 mifes of Pardon were made to him, to be 
 given to his Members, PfM. 68. \8. TW haft 
 received Gifts for the Rebellious :, that is, Thou 
 haft received Gifts of Pardon to beftovv upon 
 the Rebellious : And was not that a Promife 
 Jjpf # Pardon ? His receiving Pardon in our 
 |Name to beitow on us. But, 
 
 2^/y, There was mch an Onenefs betwixt 
 Tphriff and us> that what the One got, the 
 other got alfo. 
 
 i. In Law, tho' the Surety and Debitor 
 l?e two Perfons phyf callv, yet but One legal- 
 ly } one Cbjecl of Juftice : \\ hofoever piir- 
 £weth the one, purfueth the other alfo. He 
 that purfueth the Debitor, purfueth the Cau- 
 
 ler alfoo 
 
 1* The 
 
^of EleB Sinners. i 1 1 
 
 2. The Debt is one, and the Sum not two 
 Sums to be paid, but one •, not (wo Lives to 
 be laid down, but one. 
 
 3. The Solution of the Debt is but one ; 
 when the one hath paid, the other hath no- 
 thing to do. 
 
 4. One and the fame Difcharge, Juilificati- 
 on and Pardon ot Chrift for the Sins of the E«? 
 left imputed to him as their Cautioner. And 
 what will Juftice feek more ? Pardon Chrift 
 the Head, and who will purfue the Members 
 more ? Now, in this Senfe, Chrift may be 
 laid to have Promifes of Pardon, and actually 
 pardoned and declared righteous, who before 
 was, by Imputation, accounted (as One faith) 
 the groffeft Sinner : And therefore it is faid, 
 I Ttm, 3. i6\ He was jufiified in the Spirit \ and 
 we in him are juftified. So the Covenant is 
 but One • One charged with Sin, One paid 
 the Debt, One got the Difcharge. 
 
 Anxious, But there are Promifes of a higher 
 Nature made to Chrift in the Covenant of Re- 
 demption, than to us in the Covenant of 
 Grace ^ fuch as, a vaft Dominion, a Name 
 above every Name, a Throne at the Father's 
 Right-hand, Heb. 1. 3, 8. Phil. 2. 9. Therefore 
 they are different Covenants 
 
 Goodnews. This i« as if a Creditor had a 
 Dyvour Debitor, and' he pleaded with another 
 to be his Cautioner and pay him the Debt, 
 and he would deal favourably with the Debi- 
 tor y but give greater Things to the Cautioner, 
 
 and 
 
rid: 
 
 12 2 Tl->e L ofs and (Recovery 
 
 and advance him to honourable Employmen 
 But all thefe are but Articles maki ;g up \l 
 fame Bond or Covenant, hi wi g the Unit 
 and Infeparability of the one Article of tr 
 Covenant from the other. See all thefe pi 
 together, Philip. 2. 6, 8, 9. He who was inti 
 Form of God , bumbled himfiiU and became cbt 
 diem to Death for M4. Wherefore God hath h'a 
 exalted him, and given him a N*me abte en 
 Name, So that, upon the Account of his F 
 * gaging in our Name, to become Mm for 
 and die for us, God p^omifeth <o exalt h 
 So this proves the Covenant of Redemp.\ v 
 and the Covenant of Grace to be One, and no 
 Two. 
 
 Anxious. Jut there is neither Repentanq 
 nor juftifying Faith required of Chrifi, ancj 
 both are required of us in the Covenant o 
 Grace : Therefore the Covenant of Redempti 
 on, that doth not require thefe of Chrift, muf! 
 be different from the Covenant of Grace, 
 which requireth both of us. 
 
 IGaodnews. From whom doth God feek them, 
 if he feek tkem not from Chrift ? Is it fron 
 you and me ? Prav, come away with them 
 If we have them : But God feeks them at the 
 wrong Door, when he feeks them from us. 
 
 2. Grant he do feek them from us, I would 
 fain know who is Cautioner for ue : for we are 
 not fponfihle :God will neither tale our Word 
 nor Writ for them ^ we are poor broken Dy- 
 vours. Is there .any Thing fought from us J 
 
 m H 
 
of EleB Sinners. 1 1 5 
 
 but what Chrift is Caution for ? And, as we 
 faid already, the Cautioner and the Principal 
 are One in Law *, both get a Chatgj to make 
 Payment together, both are pur i tied together, 
 and the Creditor takes the Sum from any of the 
 Two t Heb."j.22. He k the Surety of a better Tefta- 
 tnevt. Then that's a better order'd Covenant, 
 than that he (hould not bind himfelf fpr Faith 
 aid Repentance, when he band for the reft ; 
 qtherwife, for any better he or we either 
 would have been, he needed never have bound. 
 By his Death he merited both, John 3. itf. 
 'God gave his only begotten Sap, that who/oever bc- 
 
 e'veth on him Jhould not perijh. He gave him to 
 erit Faith for us, to believe on him : And as 
 he came and undertook to merit, lb he actu- 
 ally hath done it, and billows them on us, 
 that he may be as good as Condition. Is he 
 hot a Prince $nd a Saviour exalted to give Repen- 
 tance and Rem'jjlon of Sim to his People ? So> 
 that it holds, th it the Covenant of Redemp- 
 tion is the Covenant of Gnce not yet ma- 
 nifefted*-, all the Articles thereof drawn up 
 betwixt the Father ^ and the Son : The Father 
 requiring of the Son, that we (hould content 
 to the Articles thereof, when revealed} and 
 that he would be Surety for us, in whofe 
 Room he flood, that our Confent (hould be 
 gained ; And he promiied that he would do 
 it, J hn 6. 37. All that the F it her giveth me y 
 fhdll all come me ; that is, They (hall all be 
 content to lubferibe the Covenant,to repent and 
 
 be- 
 
12 4 The Lofs and fycoVny 
 believe. There is a full Promiie to the Fa 
 ther, PfaL HO. 3. % Pepe jhul be wUiir^ t 
 a Day of thy Power. I wU'l draw Ml Men Ele<i 
 Men, afer m - / / be lifted up from the 'Eartai 
 They mall every one of them come running h 
 to me in a Pulcion of Gr**ce, ami in a Con- 
 ftraint of Love } they lhall not be able to 
 fhift my Love-pulls, 2 Cor. 5. 14. and thus th© 
 Apoftle fays, The Lotto of C r jr tonffajtineth us. 
 Our pcrlonaJ giving away ourielves to him, 
 is not tlien another Covenant *, bur our Sub- 
 scribing and giving Conient to be iaved 5 upoa 
 theJe very fame Conditions, agreed on be- 
 twixt the Father and the Son from Eternity. 
 Anxious. O brave News ! Salvation to be 
 had, if we give our Confent, and the glori- 
 ous Mediator bound Cautioner for that to Man : 
 Let us hing on about his Hand, till he make 
 us willing out-through and in-through. O f 
 He's a brave Cautioner, that will do all he 
 takes in Hand, Mk. 7. ult. Ttoou wilt perform 
 thy Truth unto Jacob, and thy Mercy unto Abra- 
 ham* that thou hafl fworn unto cur Fathers, It 
 was his free Mercy ever, to promife it-, he 
 might never have done it, and been as happy 
 as he is : But hoxp y when once done, his Cre- 
 dft lieth on it, Man ! He cannot be true, yea, 
 he cannot be God, if he bring us not to Glory. 
 We that have fubicribed the Covenant (and 
 well for us tjiat ever we did it \ and Glory, 
 Glory to him, that ever determined our Hearts ; 
 to do it J Let us iiand to what we have done \ 
 
 the 
 
of Elect Sinners. 125 
 
 jtfae beft Aft ever we did all our Life over, 
 tho' we mould never do more. And what's the 
 JYiatter what we had done> if we had not done 
 it? ft ah 80. 17, 18. O let thine Hand, Power 
 and Protection be ufon us 7 fo henceforth tie will 
 not go bacK y Thy Truth ftiil tnga^ed. And if 
 fo, M*n 7 as lure as God is God, we fhall as 
 fiireiy come to Glory. And what if he fulfil 
 that fweeteft of all Promifes, / come again* 
 within Forty Days ? We would bid Adieu 
 then to our weary Days, and welcome cheer- 
 fully our Well-days. I indte i believe the 
 Covenant: of Redemption and the Covenant of 
 Grace are one and the lame Covenant. 
 
 A?.xiom. But there is one Thing ye fpake 
 of, That the Mediator of the Covenant, equal 
 With God, humbled himfelf, and became obe- 
 dient unto Death,even the Death of thevCrofs 
 to buy Salvation for us 7 That's the World's 
 Wonder of all. Dear Goodnews ! Was there 
 no other Way to get Man redeemed, but that 
 coftly Way ? If there was, 1 wonder that he 
 took it in Hand ■, and if there wa,not, I wonder 
 that ever it was done at all. So may I won er 
 and all the W01 Id befide me, mo than I. O] 
 is net God an ablolute Sovereign ? M ; ght he 
 not of his abfolute Sovereignty have pardoned- 
 Sin freely, without any Satisfadlion, and let 
 !:he poor Things be going ? 
 
 Gotdnews. Be going, Man? Nay, not tho' 
 t were his only begotten Son, he ifluft die if 
 >|n be but imputed to him. And how will' he 
 
 iet 
 
I 2 6 The Lofs and Recovery 
 let you and me go then, think ye ? If thefe 
 Things be done in the green Tree, what (hall 
 be dme in the dry ? Did ye ever read the 
 53d of Jjaiah ? Our Iniquities^ the Iniquities of 
 11s all were laid ip>n him. And what comes of 
 him then ? O bdt the innocent Lamb is rigo- 
 roufly dealt with ! What? Man ! He Was "a f- 
 fii&e i, and he was opprefTed j yea, ftpkafed 
 the Father to brulje b t m. What? Man! He is 
 led away as a Ldfmb to the Slaughter, and as a 
 Sheep before her Shearers is dumb. And, Prov. 
 IT. 11. Though Ha id fiould join in Hand, the 
 Workers of Iniquity (hall not pafs unpunijhed. 
 And, will he ufe his Sovereignty, to wrong 
 his Juftice ? No, no. 
 
 2. If he cannot be the Judge of the W r 6rld, 
 if he be not juft to punifh Sin * then he muft 
 of Juftice punifh it, and net pals it by without 
 a Satisfaction, Gen. 18. 25. Shall net the Judge 
 of the whole Earth do right? And, Rom. 3. 5, 
 6. God f i$ not unrighteous^ who taketh Vengeance. 
 As if he had faid, It is inconfiftent with his 
 Juftice, not to take Vengeance, and diftribute 
 Punifliment to Ciienciers : For, How then fi uld 
 God judge the Worid^ if he were not righteous 
 to take Vengeance cr.- the Wicked? How could 
 he be the Supreme Bead arc! Governour, the 
 very Rule of Righte uinr and biftributer 
 of Rewards and Putiifhtrierits, if he were not 
 juft and righteous in r 3 ><re, Will and Ef- 
 fence? And it is as nai jral to God to be juft, 
 and to punifh Sin wit] ■ a ."xit^faclion, as it 
 
 S 
 
of FJefl Sinners. i 27 
 
 is natural and rigi* to him to judge the World. 
 Deny him to puniih Sin without Satisfaction, 
 and ye deny him bis Due of the fupreme Ad- 
 miniftration of Juftice, to judge the World, 
 2 Thejf. 1.6. It is a right com Thing with Cod to 
 render Tribulation to them that trouble you \ 
 
 3. Now, grant this, That Juftice muft be 
 fatisfied for Sin ; then, it muft either be tarif- 
 fed by the Sufferings of Chrift, or at a cheap- 
 er Rate. But, that Juftice can be fatisfied at 
 no cheaper Rate, if evident, if we confider, 
 •1. That it is inconfutent with the Wifdom of 
 God, to buy that at a dear Rate, that may be 
 had at a cheaper. It would be accounted 
 Folly in a Merchant, to give Millions of Gold 
 for that which he ml ht have for a Farthing. 
 And hence it is,' that all Satisfactions are call, 
 as infufficient and unfatisfaetory to Juftice for 
 our Redemption, Pfid. 4c. 5, 6. S£cr>'fices and 
 Offerings th v would jr not. Yea, the Fruit of 
 the Bodv could not fatisfy for the S l 'n of the 
 Soul. The Rfd mption of the Scul was fb 
 precious, that none was able to redeem his 
 Brother, nor give to God a Ranfom for h'm, 
 T aL 49. Now, if a \^fc Price c uid ha\ : done 
 it, it did nut crnffl with V ive Cne 
 
 Ifo vaftlygreat. 2. It ; < incontinent with the 
 great I ove of God to .his own Son, if a lefs 
 Prce could have done it: Low then ccukl he 
 give up Lis well-hi-lcvcd Sen to bear his 
 Wrnih, and the Curfe of the Law, and to 
 endures Punifhiuent equivalent to the Torment 
 
 of 
 
¥ J 28 Tfie Lofs and Recovery 
 ©f the Damned, if a lefs could have done it ? 
 And hence it is laid, Rom. 3. 24, 25. He bath 
 fet forth his Son to be a Pro It Ut ion thro* Faith 
 in, his Blood, to declare his Right eoufnefs : That 
 he could neither ftifter §in to pafs unpunifhed, 
 nor could a leffer Satisfaction than his Suf- 
 ferings do the Turn \ fo he could not do it. 
 Yea, it was an Infinite God that was wronged 
 fey Sin, and threfore no finite Creature 
 could make Amends to an Infinite God. 
 
 But, if it rr uft be at a Price of equal Value,- 
 then it muft be one of the Pe ions of the 
 Trinity ; and jqdge ye which of them was 
 fitted to come and iatisfy in our Nature. Di- 
 vines fay, they think, he that was the Mid- 
 dle Perfou in the Trinity was the fitted, if it * 
 was fit that he mould be Mediator betwixt God 
 and Man, and that the SON of God fhould 
 make us Sens by our Union with him ; and 
 that it was moft convenient that the Father 
 fhould fend the Son, and the Son the Holy Ghcft 
 from the Father : And it is fitter to acquiefce 
 in this only Way appointed and agreed on in 
 that eternal Covenant of Peace betwixt the 
 Father and the Son, than needlefly to debate, 
 whether Man might not be redeemed another* 
 Way. 
 
 Anxious. I am well fatisiled to reft content *, 
 and I crave Pardon for diverting you hom pror 
 ceeding to the Covenant itielf. 
 
 Goodnews. Would to God I. had manv fuch 
 Diverfions *, they are Reirefhments to me. 
 
 And 
 
of Ek& Sinners. 1 29 1 
 
 And, I thinfe, we mould, ere we go further, .j 
 fing his Prailes, feeng the Redemption of I 
 the Ele£l lay at his Door, and none other was 
 to be found. For /W, 1 Tn®. 1. 15, itf. J 
 fpeaking of Chrift's iliewing hint Mercy, and 1 
 coming to redeem, breaks out in that fweet | 
 Doxology, Now, to him that loved, us 9 to the \ 
 King Eternal, Immorrai, the only Wife Col 9 be 
 Glory for ever. There's an Emphafis in the 
 Word NOW : Tho' I had Ten thoufand 
 Things more to lay, .1 am fo overpowered 
 with Love, that I muft immediately break off, I 
 and fing his Praifes ; and therefore,- let us lee 1 
 how the Work of the Glorified in Heaven will 
 go with us here on Earth. j nd if we taw 
 
 'how elevatedly the Glorified fing, |we would 
 think Shame ro lift our Harps to the Work * 9 ' 
 
 , or we would let them drop out of our Hands, 
 and ly weeping upon tht Ground betide them, 
 O Man ! they fmg bravely, and no Thanks to 
 them 9 for they have the uninterrupted Beati- 
 fick Vifion of God in Glory, and have neither 
 Sin nor Sorrow, Man : And we have but dark 
 and fhort-lafting Waffs of his Prefence, and 
 we are born-down and heart-broken with a 
 Body of Sin and Death. However, let us do 
 as we can 9 and God, thro' jefus Chrift the 
 Cautioner of the Covenant, accept of weak 
 Mints to Duty, and truft us perfect Service 
 till we be in a perfeft State. Then they fang. 
 
 K G*9d* 
 

 jTi l o The Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 Goodnews* 
 In Sinners great Salvation-work 
 
 the Trinity' alone 
 All had a Hand, and none but They, 
 
 thefe Bleffed THREE in ONE. 
 The Father choos'd, the Son redeemed, 
 
 the Sp'rit doth fanctifle : 
 [The Father" lent the Son, he came, 
 
 the Spirit fealed me. 
 into the Book of Life for ay 
 
 ray Name they did down write : 
 |,And I, by Search and Holinefs, 
 
 the Knowledge thereof get. 
 From the Effect up to the Caufe 
 
 afceridingby Degrees, 
 Into the Living's Roll my Name 
 
 there written clearly fees. 
 When I look there, the Lord me tells, 
 
 Mv dear Love, I am thine : 
 His Praife abounds, my Heart refounds, 
 
 And well's me, I am thine. 
 Anxious. 
 Amonpt thefe Three a. Covenant 
 
 Was made, loft Man to fave •, 
 From Love Qhri&came, from Love God gave* 
 
 who me grac'd over have. 
 Some da thU Covenant div'de, 
 
 and take it Two to be : 
 Altho* they Twenty fiiould it call, 
 
 it is but One to me* 
 
of Elefl Sinners. \ 5 I 
 
 For it in Heaven was contnVd, 
 
 Chrift Cautioner became : 
 And when it was reveaPd to me, 
 
 I did fubfcribe the fame. 
 Whatever God reqnir'd of me, 
 
 thar all from Chrift was fought : 
 And without Chiift my Cautioner 
 
 of me requir'd he nought. 
 And I to God did Promife make, 
 
 his Reqnefts to fulfil ; 
 If Chrift would undertake for me, 
 
 and valid make my Bill. 
 And when this Covenant is mine, 
 
 I'll foar above the Sky } 
 I'll praife, I'll blefs, I'll bleis, I'll praife, 
 
 and Hallelujahs cry. 
 
 Anxious. If you pleafe now, O Goodriewst'^ 
 wiH you begin and tell me, what paft betwixt 
 the Father and the Son in the Counfel of Peace 
 and Covenant oi Redemption, which ye told 
 ; me did flow from the glorious Source of El- 
 ting Love } and this will be the beft News that$ 
 ever I heard. 
 
 Goodnews. Man's Condition was conlidered 
 and thought upon, and whether there were any 
 Poifibility of recovering them % and when-ic 
 was found poffible thro' Chrift, the P <eher 
 propofed, and the Son made Answer to thefe 
 Terms. And thus we may conqeke tliey be- 
 gan. 
 
l 5 1 The Lofs and fycoVery 
 
 Father. Son, a great Part of the Angels are 
 fallen from Heaven to Hell*, and Man alio, 
 the Favourite of God, is quite gone, that you 
 rejoiced fo much in from Eternity. Your ha- 
 bitable Part of the Earth is a black Part, the 
 Habitation oi Wickednefs and unfupportable 
 Mifery : Man, in whom you fo much deligh- 
 ted, is become the Abhorring of my Soul*, 
 they are Filthinefs in the Abftracl -, their Fil- 
 thinefs is in their Skirts, therefore they are 
 come down wonderfully. Son, will you re- 
 deem any of them, it poffible? or let all ly 
 and perifh for ever ? 
 
 Son. I am content, Father, that fbme of 
 them be redeemed, if it pleafe thee. O Father, 
 art thou content ? 
 
 Father. Yes, I am content. 
 
 Son. Holy Spirit, art thou content ? 
 
 Sprit. Yes, I am content. 
 
 Father. Well, let us choofe, whether fhall 
 we redeem the Golden Veffels, the Angth^ or 
 tihe Earthen Veffels Man, your Favourite in 
 whom you delighted ? 
 
 Son. Father, make thy Choice. 
 
 Father, Let the Lot of Electing Love light 
 on loft Man, if fcliou be content, Son, £p/?. 
 
 1.4. 
 
 Son. I am exceedingly pleafed. 
 
 Father. Holy Spirit, art thou pleafe4 ? 
 Holy Spirit. Content and very glad. 
 Either* What Way muft he be made up 
 
 again? 
 
of EleH Sinners. \ 3 5 
 
 again ? Will it not be by making a new Cove- 
 nant with him ? 
 
 Son. Say, Father. " 
 
 Father. Make with him a Covenant. 
 
 Son. Make with him a Covewant. 
 
 Holy Spirit. Make with him a Covenant. 
 
 Son. But he broke the laft Covenant ; How 
 can he be trufted again ? Why did he break it ? 
 
 Father, It was left to his Free-will, he had 
 not a Cautioner ? Was it not? . 
 * Sou. Yes, Father, it was, being left to his 
 Free-will \ he had not a Cautioner, 
 
 Holy Ghofi. It was, being left to his Free-will, 
 to flaud or fall % he had not a Cautioner. 
 
 Father. What Courie now fliall. be taken ? 
 "Muft there not be a Cautioner placed, on 
 whom the Strength and Strefs of all mall ly ? 
 For Man hath no Strength. 
 
 Son. Say, Father. 
 
 Father. Let a Cautioner be fought out for 
 weak loft Man, to redeem him ^ and let him 
 be an able One, mighty to lave. 
 
 Son. Let a Cautioner be fought out for weak 
 loft Man, to redeem him \ and let him be an 
 able One, mighty to fave. 
 
 Holy Spirit . Let a Cautioner be fought out 
 for weak loft Man, to redeem him } and let , 
 him be an able One, mighty to fave. 
 
 Father. What Sort of a Covenant fliall be 
 made with him ? 
 
 $m. Say, Father. 
 
 K 3 #8 
 
Ft 1 4 T7;e Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 Father* Let itrbe an everlafting Covenant* 
 
 ordered in ' all Things and fare, that all his 
 
 Sins fhall not wynd him out of it *, and let it 
 
 | be able to bear the Strefs of his Salvation, and 
 
 • to fatisfy all his Defires. 
 
 Sm: Let it be an everlafting Covenant, orde- 
 red in all Things and fure, that all his Sins 
 fhall not wynd him out of it ♦, and let it be 
 able to bear the Strefs of his Salvation, and to 
 faJsfy all his Defires. 
 
 Huiy Spiritl Let it be an everlafting Covenant, 
 
 Ordered in all Things and fure, that all his Sins 
 
 phali not wynd him out of it} and let it be 
 
 pable to bear the Strefs of his Salvation, and to 
 
 fatisfy all his Defires. 
 
 father. But what will be the Work of the 
 Surety of this Covenant ? 
 
 S#7. Let the Father fpeak bis Pleafure. 
 Father. Muft it not be fuch an One as is able 
 to fatisfy jufiice for all the Wrongs done to 
 Juflicc ? and thereby merit all that he hatli 
 loft, Peace with God, and Pardon of .his Sin j 
 and able to be forthcoming for his Obedience, 
 in all Time coming. 
 
 Son. It mull be fuch an One as is able to fa- 
 tisfy Juftice for all the Wrongs done to Jufiice, 
 tnd thereby merit all that he hath loft } and 
 to reftore Peace with God, and Pardon of- Sin-, 
 and to be forthcoming for his Obedience in 
 ■all Time coming. 
 
 Holy Spirit. It mnft be fuch an One as is able 
 to fatisfy -Juftice for all the Wrongs done to 
 
 Ju- 
 ju 
 
of EleFI Sinners. ? 3 5 
 
 Juftice } arid thereby to merit Pe^ce with God, 
 and Pardon of Sin *, and able to be forthcoming I 
 for his Obedience in all Time coming. 
 
 Father. Let us feek out a Surety to fatisfy- I 
 
 for their Offence, that I may be merciful to \ 
 
 • their Unrighteoufnefs. . I 
 
 Son. Father., take a Ranfofn for his Offence | 
 among the inanimate Creatures that have no * 
 Life, that, Mercy may appear in fhedding no ! 
 Blood, if that can fatisfy. 
 
 Father. It cannot do, //Jr. 40. 15, 16. Leba- 
 non U not fufficient f burn, nor can 1 be pleafe&J 
 with Ten thoufands of Rivers of Oil : YeajH 
 the Glob of the Creation, and all the Ifles oii 
 the World, all is like a Drop of a Bucket, and-| 
 as a fmall Duft in the Balance, and the Ifles 1 
 as a very little Thing. And without fheddingl 
 of Blood there is no Remiifibn of Sin. Life | 
 for Life. The Threatning is, In the Bay thorn 
 eatefi thereof, thou flialt finely die. Some will/i 
 lofe their Life for it, happen on whom it will.. 
 
 Son. Then, Father^ if Blood muft beflied^i 
 I am fparing ol Man's Blood, I delight not iri^ 
 their Death : Let the Life, or Lives of irraM 
 tiohal Creatures pafs for their Life. 
 
 Father. No 5 that "will not do either, 
 4P. 6* Sacrifices and Offerings thou vcouldfr not } | 
 Burnt-offerings and Sin-offerings thou haft not re- 
 quired. Heb. 10. 5. lor it is not foffible that) 
 the Blood of Bulls and Goats fiidd take away Sin A 
 For that Blood is corporal, and of its own Na^ 
 turecan have no Influence on a Spirit, nor ,fiH 
 K 4 t*sfy| 
 
t 3 6 The Lo/s and <%fcol>ery 
 
 l tisfy God's Juftice •, and befide, it is of another 
 NIature than that which finned. Thou foalt 
 die when thou eateft thereof, that is, as the 
 Event fhew^d, in that Nature that hath finned, 
 AH thxfe I caft ^ irrational Creatures cannot 
 I fatisfy. 
 
 Son Then it ' muft be Man. Can he get a 
 Friend or Child to fatisfy for himfelf, or for 
 one another ? 
 
 Etner, That will not do either *,' for Man is 
 : but a finite Creature, and cannot fatisfy the 
 Wrong done to infinite Juftice, Mk.6.q* Shall 
 mj give my Firfi-born for my Tranjgrejfwns y or the 
 K|ra/r of my Body for the Sin of my Soul ? Pfal. 
 WA9' None of them can redeem his Brother , nor fay 
 %to God a Ran font for him j for the Redemption of 
 fr the Soul is p ecious y tho' not impofiible : They 
 | cannot redeem them either from the firft or 
 'Second Death. 
 
 Son. Will the Angels do it then, that are 
 I more excellent than Men? 
 
 Father, No-, i. Becaufe they are but finite. 
 .2. Becaufe they are of another Nature than 
 | Man} and it muft be One that is in the fame 
 I Mature that finned, that muft fufYer *, accor* 
 1 ding to the Threading, In the Day thou eateft 
 j? thereof thou ftialt fur ely die. 
 
 Son. This is ftrange ! that Man is loff, that 
 they fhould look on the Right -hand, and there 
 was no Man that would know them, all Refuge 
 ■■ failed, no Man cared for their Soul, Pfal. 142. 
 I 4. §aall they thus ly in irrecoverable Mise- 
 ry ? 
 
of EUH Sinners. i 3 7 
 
 ry ? I wonder at it, Ifa, 63. 5, 9. / /40M W 
 f j^r* was none to helfa and 1 wondred that there 
 was no Intetccffor, and therefore mine own Arm 
 brought Salvation : And I am content, in Love 
 #ndPity, to redeem. Father, wilt thou part 
 with me, and I will go and take the Work in 
 Hand? 
 
 Father. \fo love the World , that I am content 
 to <nve mine only begotten Son 9 that whofoevsr 
 believeth on him jhould not peri ft, but have ever- 
 lafiing Life, John 3. 16. I will be to them a 
 Father^ to love them, and to give to them 
 everlafting Confolation. And if I give thee 
 4b r them, need they fear that I will withhold 
 any Thing elie from them ? Rom. 8. 32. Son, 
 art thou content to go and redeem them ? 
 
 Son. I fee that nothing elfe can do it. Lo- 
 vers and Friends, Angels and Men cannot redeem 
 one of them all-, tho' they were willing, they 
 are not able:, they would fink under the Burden 
 of Sin. Any that will be Caution for them, a- 
 Mnong all the Creatures, would drown for ever 
 in the Cautionry \ and thy juftice, Father, that 
 is infinite, cannot be fatisfied with any finite 
 Ranfom. None of thefe Sins ot theirs can be 
 purged with Burnt-offerings or Sacrifices. Sa- 
 crifices and Offerings thou wmldft not, in Bumt- 
 ojferings and Sin -offer in? s thou ha.'fi no Fleafure, 
 Pfal. 40. 6, 7. Then /aid /, ,Lo, I come * ? it is 
 written of me^ I delight to do thy WUU 
 
 Fa- 
 
i } 8 7J?e Lofs and Recovery 
 'Father. But it will not be little to pay the 
 Price of their Redemption : The Terms on 
 which they are to be faved are very high, and 
 not eafy to be performed. 
 
 Son. They fhall be harfh Term?, Father, be- ! 
 fore I do not undertake them, that I may get 
 poor loft Man redeemed,and plucked as a Brand < 
 out of the Burning. Wnat are thtfe Terms, 
 Father ? 
 
 Father. . r. Jufticc muft be fatisfied in the 
 lame Nature that finned. Therefore, it is re- 
 quired, That thou the eternal God and Crea- 
 tor, muft become a Creature, the Cemmon- 
 Head and Reprefentative of all the Eleft 
 World : And thou mud, in that Nature, ful- 
 
 I ill the whole Law of God, yield perfecl, per- 
 fbnal and perpetual Obedience thereunto $ that 
 the Eleft, vyhom I gave thee to redeem, may- 
 have thy Righteoufnefs imputed unto them, 
 That as by one Man , Sin (the Sin of Adam and 
 his XJnrighteoufnefs) entred into the World^ 
 
 \ and Death by Si?*; And many were made Sin- 
 ners : So by one Man's Righteoufnefs, Chrift 
 the fecbnd Adam, Life may enter into the 
 
 I World, and many may be made righteous. Are 
 not thefe high Terms ? How will the Creator 
 take to be a Creature, and to be made fub- 
 je& to . tho Law ? 
 
 So?j. O, high Terms! O vafl Mountains! 
 But the Salvation of the El <\& fhall not flick 
 here, I will go down among them, leaping over 
 the Mountains 1 and sniffing J$w tkcHttlsy Cant. 
 
 2. 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 1 3 9 
 
 2. 8. Hlefe. 10. 5, 6. For, yjwce ft is mt pofftble 
 that the Blood of Bulls or Goats can take away 
 Sin- Therefore, when he cometh into the 
 World, he faith, Sacrifices and Offerings ihiou 
 -xouldj} not y but a Body thou haft prepared for me. 
 Then I faid, Lo I come, it is written of me^ I 
 delight to do thy Willy O my God. 
 
 Father. But how wilt thou take with it, to 
 be made under the Law, to be circuracifed, 
 and fubrait to all its Demands, who art above 
 all Law ? 
 
 Son. Man's Salvation mall not fiick here 
 either } tho' this be a wonderful Step of Hu- 
 miliation, yet, Gal. 4. 4. If God's fending fartJj 
 his Son made of a Woman 7 made under the Law^ 
 will redeem'them that are under the Law' I come 
 willingly leaping upon this Mountain, an<i 
 skipping over this Hill, 2>, / come, I delight 
 to do thy Will) O my God. Let them have the 
 Advantage, and I undergo this great JJunai* 
 lity. 
 
 Father. But y this thou muft alfo do, Son, it 
 thou wilt redeem loft Man, thou muft be 
 made Sin ior them *, and how wilt thou take| 
 with that, that art the innocent Lambjof Godj, 
 holy^ harmlefs and undefiled^ frparared from Sin- 
 ners . that lotheft Iniquity, and art of purer 
 Eyes than to behold it ? AH the Sins "of the- 
 Ekft muft ly upon thee, and be charged upon 
 thee, If a. 53, 6. We all lik& SheeaJmve gone a- 
 fir*y y and the Lord hath laid en mm the Iniqui- 
 ties of tu dl. 
 
 / Sort' 
 

 140 Tlie Lofs and ^ecoyery 
 
 Son.- O Father, This is a harfli Term, Sin 
 for them ! Yet, fmce their Salvation can be 
 purchafed at no lower Rate, the Salvation of 
 the filed fliall not flick here either-, On Con- 
 dition that my Righteoufnefs may be imputed 
 to them, Let all their Sins be laid at my Door, 
 and imputed to me. I deiight to do thy Will, 
 O myGod\ I come leaping over thi$ Mountain, 
 and skipping upon this Hill, Rojn. 8. 3. For 
 what the Law could not do, in that it was weak 
 thro 7 the Flefli: Send, O Father,. thy Son, who 
 
 I will go willingly in th.9 Likenefs of iinful 
 FJdh, and make him a Sacrifice for Sin : Let 
 ><Sin be condemned in ChrifVs Flefh, and there 
 puniflied •, and let the Sinner efcape Punifh- 
 irjent, for the Law is weak *, it can condemn, but 
 it cannot juftify •, and this Weaknefs is not 
 from itfelf, but from the Subjeft it hath to 
 deal with, corrupt Nature : Like the Sun,that 
 hath Light enough for thefe that have Eyes, 
 but cannot give Light to blind Men. Even fa 
 Father, for fo it Jeemeth good in thy Sight, 
 Make me to become Sin, who knew no Sin, for 
 
 ilLem, that they may become the Rigfoteouf* 
 nefs of God in me *, and kt poor Man be ju- 
 iHfied in me, and in me let them glory -, and 
 jet this, be that whereby they fliall anfwer all 
 
 . Accufations, that accufe them as unrighteous, 
 If a. 23. 6. This is the Name whereby he fliall be 
 called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUS-* 
 SESS. 
 
of EkSi Sinners. i^\ 
 
 Father. But this is not all :, thou muft be 
 made a CURSE for them, who art God blef- 
 fed for ever. For, having all their Sins char- 
 ged upon thee, and Handing in the Room of 
 Law breakers, thou art now accounted a 
 Breaker of the Law or Sinner, and io accur- 
 fed, Gal* 3. 10. Cur fed is every One that continue 
 eth not in all Things, written in the Bock of the 
 Law^ to do them* 
 
 Son. O harfh Term ! Yet the Salvation of 
 loft Man fhall not ftick here either * 7 if they 
 may be freed from the Curfe, Gal. 3. 13. / 
 fhall redeem them from the Curfe ef the Law, being 
 made a Curfe for them, that the Blejfwg may 
 come" upon them through Jejits Chrift. I come 
 skipping over this Mountain, and leaping 
 over this Hill alfo} Lo, I come, it is written 
 of me, I delight to do thy Will, 6 my God. ' 
 
 Father. But, if thou wilt redeem loft Man* 
 thou mud leave thy Father's Bofom, the 
 Place where thou from Eternity rejoiced al- 
 ways betbre me •, and go down to the Earth, 
 and be a Man of Sorrows, J fa. 53. 3. A Man 
 of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief. Th~ 
 whole Life muft be filled up with, -and be a 
 continual Succeifion of uninterrupted Sorrows 
 and Sufferings*, yea, a Man of Sorrows, as if 
 all the Faculties of thy Soul, and all the Mem- 
 bers of thy Body were fo many Pieces of Sor- 
 row, and the Lamb of God a Compound of 
 Sorrows. 
 
 Son. 
 
1 4^ TbtLofs and (Recovery 
 
 Son. Content, Father: The Term is very 
 harm, but the Salvation of the Ele& mall not 
 ilick here either., Surely I will bear their Griefs^ 
 and c/trry their Sorrows • if, thereby, they may 
 be admitted tq enter into the Joys of their 
 Lord. Lo I come, leaping over this Moun- 
 tain, and ftepping over this Hill alio. 
 
 Father* But if thou wilt redeem them, thou 
 •muft be defpifed, mocked and derided by 
 fhem - 7 yea, fmitten and wounded alfo* Herod 
 and his Men of War will fet thee at nought} 
 they will fee no Beauty in ' thee, why they 
 (hould defire thee : Thou wilt be defpifed and 
 rejected of Men. 
 
 Son. This is harfh enough, to be defpifed 
 of them whom I efleem more than mine own 
 Life} yet content, Father y their Salvation lhall 
 not flick here either : I come leaping over 
 this Mountain, and skipping over ritfVHill alfo. 
 I delight- to do thy Will % if thou, Father 9 wilt 
 turn from thine Anger, and not laugh at their 
 Calamity nor mock when their Fear cometh : 
 If thou fcorn them not, nor have them in De- 
 rifion, then 1 am content to indure the Con- 
 tradictions of Sinners againfi myfelf ; and 
 when I am revifd, patiently will I endure 
 it, and not revile again* if 1 can get them in- 
 gratiate in thy Favour •, and. I am content to 
 be fmitten by them : If thou wilt fpare them, 
 let the Chaftifement of their Peace be* upon 
 me', and by my Stripes let them be healed. 
 
 Father* 
 

 of EleH Sinners. 14 $ 
 
 Father. But, Son, if ye will redeem them, 
 ] tjye muft be taken Prifoner, and hal'd away to 
 ^Judgment : They will come out againft thee, 
 n*s againfta Thief, with Swords and Staves to 
 rtake thee, with the greateft Malice: What 
 wilt thou do then ? 
 
 Son. Content, Father, tho' harfii enough, if 
 they may go free : I will iky, If ye take me, 
 let thefe go their way *, and I mail have many 
 reclaimed that were taken Captives by the 
 Devil at his Will. And if to, I come, lo I 
 come, skipping over this Mountain alio. 
 
 Father. But then they will condemn thee nn- 
 juftly to die, and prove by falie WitnefTes 
 that thou art worthy of Death -, and how 
 wilt thou take with fuch Dealing, to be con- 
 demned by them, whom thou art going to 
 fave r 
 
 Son. Content : Their Salvation mall not 
 flick here either. Let them take me from 
 Prifon to Judgment, condemn and do what 
 they will *, yet, if they mall not be condem- 
 ned when they ftand in Judgment, I ihall never 
 open my Mouth in my own Defence } tho' 
 they lead me as a Lamb to the Slaughter, I 
 mall be as a Sheep before its Shearer, dumb, 
 and never open my Mouth : But I mall not be 
 dumb in their Defence } in all Courts and 
 Judicatories wherever they are Cenfured, will 
 I appear to plead their Caufe, and that as 
 long as I live to appear in thy Prefence for 
 them> and as long as I have a Mouth to open 
 
 in 
 

 144 Tfo Lbjs and Recovery 
 
 ja their Defence, they fiiall not be condemned, 
 Heb. 7. 25. I fhall be able to lave to the utter- 
 moft, living for ever to make Interceilion for 
 them } and ay lay, that they and I were One 
 in Law, the Crime one, and therefore one 
 Condemnation, not two \ Sin was condemned 
 in my Flefh, that they might be juftified. 
 And, lo I come on this Confideration with De* 
 li&ht, leaping over this Mountain, and skip- 
 ping over this Hill alfo. 
 
 Father, But they will lead thee away to the 
 Place of Execution, and bring thee to the 
 Crofs, If a. 53. Thou wilt he taken from Prifap y 
 and<ied as a Lamb to the Slaughter, 
 
 Son, Content, Father, if they lead me to the 
 Crofs with much Malice and Blbdnefs, I fhall 
 lead them to the Crown with much Love, 
 With Loving-fort dnejs will I draw them. For, I 
 have loved them with an everlalling Love, 
 Many a Love-pull will I give them, and many 
 a gracious Throw. I will draw them to Hea- 
 ven in a Pavilion of Grace, and in a Conftraint 
 of Love. And if they lay the Crofs upon my 
 Back, and toil my half-dead and weary Body 
 by the Way to the Place of Execution, lihall 
 prepare a Chariot paved with Love, wherein 
 they may ride in Coach to Glory, Cant. 3. 
 10. trimmed with matchlefs Lovej that they 
 jfhall fit on Love, ftand on Love, ly on Love, 
 look on Love, fleep on love, walk on Love; 
 and this Chariot fhall keep them from being 
 weary, it lliall defend them from Injuries by 
 
 the 
 
of EleB Sinners. 145- 
 
 the Way, and from the Storms and Tempefis 
 of Wrath : If they lead me out in blind Ma- 
 lice to the Crois, I Jhall become a Guide to 
 Glory to them, //a* 42* 16. And I will bring the 
 Blind by a Way thet they knew not^ana byf aths thai 
 they have not known , and I will make Darknefs 
 Light before them, and crooked 'Things ftraightm 
 Tbefe Things will I do to them^ and not fcrjake 
 them : I will cany the Lambs in my Bofom^ and 
 gather them with mine Arm, and gently will I 
 lead thoje that are with Toung. They fhall meet 
 with other Sort of Dealing from me than I 
 meet with from them. Whereas they laid 
 the heavy Tree of the Crofs upon my weary 
 Body, 1 fhall have them fliamed out of Htm 
 and into Heaven, by wonderful and undeier- 
 ved Love. The Love of Chrift fhall contain 
 them to yield Obedience, when they confider 
 this. Lo I come leaping over this Mountain, 
 and skipping over this Hill alfo. 
 
 Father. But thou wilt meet with Pains equi- 
 valent to that of the Damned, in the Garden 
 the Night before, and wilt be in an A^ny. 
 Sinlefs Nature . driving under the extreme 
 Weight of the Sins of the Ekft, and the 
 Wrath of .God, till the Blood gufh out at e- 
 very Pore of thy Body. 
 
 Son. O harih Article irr the Covenant of Re- 
 demption ! that I muft.wade thro' Hell and 
 all, before I can get them faved. Yet- Nell 
 ihall not funder me and them. Content, Fa- 
 ther, I mufl even go down t© that weary Car- 
 L dent 
 

 146 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 den of Gethfemane^ and there fatisfy for the 
 Sins committed in the Garden of Eden. And 
 v/ill even run wild and weary threjf Times be- 
 twixt my Father and the Difcipie. crying for 
 Help : I mufi there meet with his Wrath 
 idiom I never offended, and be brnifed with 
 the Sins of thefe whom I am to redeem 5 and 
 be denied of the Father, that never denied me 
 before, when I cry that the Cup may depart 
 from me, and when I come to feek that poor 
 Relief from the Difciples to watch with me 
 an Hour, and the laft Hour, and that Hour 
 wherein the greatefl Work is upon the Wheels } 
 the ElecT: either now or never faved \ I mnft 
 take with it to be denied, and back and ly 
 down in my bloody ] Bed again •, none -in Hea* 
 ven nor Earth to pity me, none to help me. 
 I muft tread the JVilte-prefs of the Father's 
 Wrath alone, and of all the People never One 
 with me : Yet content, Father^ if they may 
 efcape Hell and Wrath. Lo, I come, leaping 
 over this Mountain, and skipping over this 
 Hill alio. 
 
 Father, But, after all that is done to thee both 
 by God and Man, they will nail thee to the 
 Cr'ofs lying on the Ground, and then lifting 
 thee tip upon it, let it fall with a Jump into 
 its Socket, till the Weight of thy Body with 
 the Jump, tear thy Hands and Feet, my 
 Wrath lying on all the While : And Jew and 
 Gentile having a Hand in this thy Death , and 
 
 then 
 
of EleEi Sinners. 1 4 7 
 
 then they will pierce thy Heart with a Spear, 
 wken thou giveft up the Ghoft. 
 
 Son. O this is an harfh Article in the Cove- 
 nant of Redemption ! yet the Redemption of 
 the Elett ihail not flick here. Content, Father} 
 I come skipping over this Mountain, and leap- 
 ing over this Hill alfo. And if Jew and 
 Gentile lay their Hands both upon mej as 
 thefe that facrifice lay their Hands upon the 
 Head of the Lamb to be facrificed, I fhall eafe 
 them of $in,I fhall have many both of Jews and 
 Gentiles to Glory : And, if they nail me to 
 the Crofs, 1 I fhall loole thorn that are bound 
 over unto Death j I fhall make that Day % he 
 great Gofpel Jubile of the World, when the 
 great Trumpet fhall be blown, and thefe fliaM 
 come that were ready to ferijh, I fa. 27. u ^. And* 
 if they lift me up upon the Crofs, I ihail 
 draw many up to Glory : And, if they thrufl 
 a Spear into my Side and pierce my Heart, I 
 fhall take that Occafion, to let them look in and, 
 read upon mine Heart what Soft of Love it 
 wa?, that lodged in my Heart to them froni 
 Eternity \ and from that Wound I fhall let out 
 my Love, and my Heart's Blood both to: , ,eth' r , 
 and let them take both and part it among them^ 
 for meikle Need they have of it * 7 and long do 
 I think for that Time. So, Father , the. Salva- 
 tion of the Ele& fhall not flop here. Lo, I 
 come, skipping over this Moun'ain, and leap- 
 ing over this Hill alfo. And, when tbey ha'v© 
 done all they can aga-ntf me, and afted their 
 
1 4S The Lofs and ^ecoVeij 
 Tragedy to the End, I fhall bow down my 
 Head to kifs and imbrace them, and tell them 
 
 I they are heartily welcome to all that I have 
 boughr at fo dear a Rate, and that I am feek- 
 ing no more but the Salvation of their Souls,* 
 and that will fatisfy me for all. And now, 
 behold ! the Life of the World lying dead in 
 the Decree of electing Love} and, on this 
 Account, he is called, The Lamb (lain from the 
 
 j foundation of the World* 
 
 And now, is not that true of the beloved 
 Difciple, who fays, God is Love ? Waft thou 
 Anxious to know God, and to know Chrift ? 
 Lo! thefe are a Part of his Ways. But O ! 
 how little a Portion of him is known ? 
 Would you know what God is ? Cod is Love. 
 O boundlefs, unfearchable Love I John 3. io\ 
 
 \ Cod fo loved the World , that he gave his only be- 
 
 ' gotten Son , over to Death, Wrath, the Curfe 
 of the Law j to all this we were now fpeak- 
 ing of, and more. Here is a So without a 
 Such y 1 John 4. 10. Herein is L<~ve, not that we 
 loved hirrij but that he loved &j, and gave his only 
 begotten Son to he a Prcpitiation for our Sin. 
 Herein is Love,as if there were Love no where 
 elie, but in God's parting with his Son for 
 us. What would not a Parent give, ere he 
 gave over his Child to be fo ufed ? Would 
 they not rather die themfelves ? I have read 
 of a poor Family in Germany, that in a Fa- 
 mine, the Husband made a Motion to the 
 ,Wife, to fell one of the Children xor Bread 
 
 to 
 
of EleFl Sinners. 1 49 
 
 to the reft ; the Wife at laft confenteth : But, 
 whenthey began to think which of the Four 
 fhould be fold, they both refnfed to part with 
 the eldeft, being their Firft-born /, they would 
 not pare with the fecond, becaufe he was the 
 very Image and Potrai&ure of the Father \ the 
 third they could not part with* becaufe he 
 was the Image of his Mother •, the fourth 
 was named, but that was the Ben j ami?) , the 
 Son of their old Age. And fo, they refolded 
 rather to perifh altogether, than part with 
 any of them. But here is an eternal Admira* 
 tion ! That God parted with his only Son, 
 who was t, e Brightnefs of his Glory , and the 
 expnfs Image of his Terfov* And O! how fur- 
 pafling is the Love of Chrift ? that gave it not 
 over altogether, at fuch high Terms as we 
 have heard \ would we not love a Perfon that; 
 flood up for us behind our Back, and foughc 
 for us, when we were aileep, and faved our 
 Life ? Here Chrift flood betwixt us and eter- 
 nal Excommunication from Godpe fore ever We 
 had a Being : And, may it not be faid, If any, 
 Man, by Difobedience, dec-are that he lovetrj 
 not the Lord jefus Chrift, let him be Anathe- 
 ma Maran-atha r accurfed to the coming of the 
 .Lord? 
 
 Anxious. I never had fuch fweet Thoughts 
 of God and Chrift as now. O ! let us fmg 
 Praife to him now, before we go any further, 
 
 Gcodneivs. I am glad to hear that from you : 
 for it is good to mix Praifes with our Medita- < 
 
 L 1 tion.5\ 
 
 ■*■' - - 
 
 
I 50 T7;e Loft and Recovery 
 
 tions, and the Remembrance of his Mercies. 
 
 • And then they fang. 
 
 Anxiow. 
 When firft I hardly did efcape 
 
 from Satan, Hell and Woe -, 
 What God, what Chrifi, what's Spirit was, 
 
 alas ! I did not know. 
 But when Gosdnews I heard from him, 
 
 1 never heard before : 
 The more in Knowledge I increas'd, 
 
 frill anxious to know more. 
 "When I in Mercy's Ocean wade, 
 
 the Waters did arife *, 
 v Where Ancle-deep there I did fwim, 
 
 ere I pafs'd thro' them thrice. 
 t The great Love of the Trinity 
 
 with Tongue cannot be told ; 
 ]Who bought that with Chrift's precious Blood, 
 
 that I for Nought had fold, 
 pod's Love fo great, nothing too dear 
 
 to give, us to redeem : 
 Chrift's Love fo great, to us in Hafte 
 
 thro' Seas of Blood did fwim. 
 The Law, Man's Malice, Father's Wrath 
 
 come skipping o'er did he ; 
 Yea, wading thro* the Pains of Hell, 
 
 he, fmiling, came to me. 
 His Arms ftretcrfd out upon the Crofs^ 
 
 fvveetly me to imbrace ^ 
 And dying Jefus bow'd to me, 
 to kifs his lovely Face. 
 
of EleEl Sinners! Ifi 
 
 Before that I a Being had, 
 
 Chrift did Hand up for me •, 
 And that ray Soul he might redeem 
 
 lay dead in the Decree. 
 And now let me Hand up for him, 
 
 now in thefe finful Days ^ 
 And, as I can, requite his Love, 
 
 and glorious make his Praife. 
 
 Gsodnews. This much for the Tranfaftioa 
 betwixt the Father and the Son, concerning 
 the Redemption of Men, and the Way how 
 they were to be redeemed, have I fhewed to 
 thee, O Anxious ! 
 
 Anxious. Now, can ye tell me what paft as 
 to the Number that were to be laved ? Whe- 
 ther few or many ? 
 
 G&odnews. They are many, confidered in 
 themfelves, Thoufands of thojffends, and Ter* 
 thoufand Times ten thoufand, are they. called 
 in Scripture. And again, an innumerable Com- 
 pany out of all Nations, Tongues- and People. 
 And, the Captain of Salvation brings many 
 Sons to Glory. But yet, with Refpecl: to the 
 reft of the World, they are but the feweft 
 Part : Let Turks, Pagans and Heathens, and 
 others be let afide, that are without the Church, 
 without the Ark, and therefore muft periih in 
 the Floods of Wrath. Again, come to th$ 
 Chriflian World, the Scriptures fay, Many 
 trc called, but few are chofeit. F^W that hear 
 
 the Gofnel are faved. 
 
 L 4 4$. 
 
152 'The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Anxious* But is it not faid, that God*s 
 Mercy, is over all his Works •, How then can 
 the lew eft Part be faved ? 
 
 Goodnews. So it is : And it is more .Mercy 
 to lave Ten, than Juftice to deftroy a World, ' 
 all Things confidered. Both the Abominable- 
 nefs of Sin, and the great Price paid for, and 
 Love appearing in their Recovery. 
 
 Anxious* Show me how they tranfa&ed 
 about the Number of thefe that fhould be 
 fawd ? 
 
 Goodnews. See Ifa. 49. There the Father and 
 the Son are brought in tranfa&ing. The SON 
 would know whi he fhall have for this fore 
 Labour. 
 
 mSan* Father^ I have condefcended to redeem 
 the Eleft, and jhed my Blood for the Remjf- 
 fion of their Sins. But now, I would know 
 'v/hom I mail have. 
 
 Father. I will give thee a great Number, Son, 
 out of the Nation of the Jews, Thcufands out 
 fjf every Tribe, v. 3. 
 
 I Son* I am not content with this, Father, to 
 Tpend my Blood at fo low a Rate : This will 
 be but a ipending of my Strength in vain, 
 and labouring for nought •, v. 4. a fmall Re- 
 gard for fuch terrible Suffering. What fhall 
 become of poor Heathens that are in the 
 -Ends of the Earth ? Give me fame in Scotland 
 and England, fbme in France, Germany, Holland^ 
 and other Places up and down the World ; 
 &ui let me have a numerous Multitude. 
 
of EleEl Sinner si i 5 3 
 
 Father. Content, Son •, as thou confented to 
 to all the Terms wherein they were to be re- 
 deemed } fo will I to thee in this. / will alfb 
 aive thee for a Light to the G entiles y that thou 
 ft ay eft be my Salvation to the Ends of tlx Earth. 
 Pfal. 2. Since thou haft asked, / will give thee 
 the Heathen for thine Inheritance^ and the utter- 
 moft Ends of the Earth for thy Pojfefion. Many 
 Millioas fhalt thou have that came not of 
 Jfrael. 
 
 Son. Now, Father , it is done, the Matter is 
 agreed : I have undertaken the coftly Work, 
 and thou haft bidden me a *eat Reward, a 
 vaft Multitude to be redeefled to God with 
 my own Blood. Now, I ask Strength for th# 
 Work, to fupport weak humane Nature that I 
 am to take on, and the Body that thou haft 
 prepared for me, that it. fink not under the 
 Burden of Sin, Sufferings and Wrath ; for Hu- 
 manity had great need of Strength, Mark. 14. 
 34 His Soul was exceeding forrowful,even unto 
 
 Death. PJal.'^o. 11. O let thy Loving- 
 
 hndnefs and thy 'Truth continually prefervc me. 
 
 Father. Mine Arm fhall be eftablifhed with, 
 thee, and my Hand fhall ftrengthen thee } the 
 Enemy fhall not wrong thee, If a. 42. 5, 6, 7. 
 I will hold thy Hand, Ifa. 49. Behold my Ser- 
 vant whom I uphold, mine EleEb in whom my Sml 
 delight eth : He ftall not fail nor be difcoura%ed v 
 
 Son. But I muft be qualified for my Work - 
 thou muft inveft me with a threefold Office^ 
 
 fuitH 
 
I? 4 77;e Lofs and Recovery 
 fuitable to a threefold Indignity that Man Is 
 lying under. 
 
 Firft % Father, Man is under*a dreadful Blind n 
 nefs and Ignorance : The firft Thing that they 
 loft, was, Satan put out their Eyes, that they 
 could not fee that they would be miferable 
 by eating the Forbidden- fruit. I muft have the 
 Qualifications of a Prophet j to teach and enli. -fa- 
 ten thenu. 
 
 Father. That thou fhalt be, Son, and the 
 Pfince of Prophets, that never Man fpake as 
 thou fhalt fpeak j thy Voice lhall have a Cre- 
 ating Power, Pfffl. S i. to create a clean Heart. 
 And thy Heard fliall be thy Workmanfhip, 
 created over again in Chrift, to Love and to. 
 good Works. There (hall be a quickning Re- 
 ( furreftion-power in thy fpeaking, John 6. Txey 
 that hear the $on of Ged> fhaU live, thou fhalt 
 have Power and Authority to convince of Sin : 
 That they fhall Angle out themfelves one by 
 one, being convi&ed in their Confciences. 
 Thou ihal have a comforting Power, Jfa. 66. 
 , Tfoou fhalt comfort thern 7 and they {hall be com- 
 foned. Thou fhalt have an enlightning Power 
 I with thy Teaching, / have given thee for a 
 hight to the Gentiles, that thou mayefi be my 
 Salvation to the Ends of the Earthy Ifa. 42. 6, 7. 
 Thou ihalt as far exceed all other Prophets in 
 Light, as the Light of the Sun exceeds the 
 Light of a Candle. 
 
 Son. But, Father, poor M^n is a guilty Sin- 
 ner, he can never be faved, except the Guilt 
 
 of 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 155 
 
 of Sin he done away. Make me alfo a ?n>/r, 
 authorize me with thy Authority, to offer 
 up myfelf a Sacrifice to fatisfy for their Sin; 
 for, without thou give Authority, thou wile 
 not accept the Offerings, Hek 5. 5. 1 will not 
 glorify myfelf, to take this Office on at my 
 own Hand, 
 
 Father. Thou fhalt be a Prlefi of the moft 
 noble Order of my Appointment, Pfal. 1 ijp. 
 4. / have [worn , and will not repent , Thou art 
 a Prieft for ever after the Order of Melshinedck. 
 An Eternal and Unchangeable Priefthood, as 
 Melchizedek, a righteous Prieft % and thy 
 Sacrifice alone mail make up the Peace effe- 
 ctually, Hcb. 7. 16 7 17, 24,25. And befide, 
 thou fhalt continue for ever, and have an un- 
 changrable Priefthood, and all for whom thou 
 offers Sacrifice fhall be faved. For he is able 
 to fave to the very uttermofl all that come un- 
 to God by him, as their Prieft to offer and 
 interceed for them, fince he ever liveth to 
 make Interceftion with God for them. More* 
 over, I fwear to thee, that One Sacrifice oj 
 thine fhall do the Turn : No more Need of 
 flaying Bulls and Goats. Away with the Po^ 
 j)ijh reiterated unbloody Sacrifice of the Mafs k 
 it is a Reflection on this Sacrifice of thine : AH 
 the Prints in the World may caft their Cap 
 at this Prieft, Heb. 10. n, to 15. Other 
 Priefts offer often the fame Sacrifice, but thi? 
 Prieft, by once offering up the Sacrifice of 
 himfelf, hath perfected for ever them that are 
 
 lan&i«t 
 
I y 6 The Lofs and Recovery 
 fan£Hfied. Their Sacrifices could not take a- 
 £ way Sin, tho' many: But thine; One Sacrifice 
 alone ihall do it» 
 
 Sm. But, Father^ thou knoweft that j>oor 
 Maais taken Prifoner ot the Devil and Sin 
 they are all in the Land of Captivity. I mod 
 he an authorized King to recai their Captivity, 
 
 Father. I will give thee a twofeld Kingdom. 
 m A more general One, Thy Kingdom jhallrule 
 over all Creatures, animate and inanimate, dead 
 and living, Devils and Men, ihall all be fub- 
 je£t to thee •, fince thou haft asked of me, / 
 have given thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance^ 
 And the uttermoft ntrts of the Earth for a Pcffefft- 
 
 , Pfal. 2. 6,7, 8. Thou fhalt have Power 
 to command Men and Devils, Sin and Sorrow, 
 to let thy People go that they may lerve thee. 
 Thou fhalt have Power to break them in Pieces 
 as a Potter's VefTel, with a Rod of Iron, and 
 greatly plague all that rife up againft thee. 2. 
 I will in a particular Manner, make thee King 
 of Saints, PfaL 2, 6.1 have anointed thee King upon 
 fgpy holy fJ ill ofZion* There thou malt gracioufly 
 govern by holy Laws, and diftributing gracious 
 Rewards: And I give thee Power over the 
 Hearts of thefe thy Subjects, to fubdue them 
 to the Obedience of the Truth, Pfal. no. 1 1. 
 "Thy people (hall Joe willing in the Day of thy 
 Power. 'And thou malt recal their Captivity 
 as the Streams in the South } and the gladeft 
 News that ever thy People heard, lhall be thy 
 coming to them inveftecl with a Kingly Power, 
 
of Eleft Sinners. ! 57 
 
 Zechi 9. 9. Rejoice greatly , OZion - 7 jhoutfi Daugh- 
 
 ? r of Jerufalem } /i?r, behold, thy King cometh to 
 
 bee having Salvation, 
 Son. But Mm is now broken } they have no- 
 
 hing that can make them up, all Heaven and 
 iarth cannot fupply them, if it be not from 
 zhee : Whom have they, or what have they 
 in Heaven, but thee ? or in all the Earth that 
 :an fatisfy th; ir Defires, if it be not from thee£ 
 Therefore fend me down full-handed, a ricSf 
 Chrirt among them. O give me, dear Father^ 
 Fulnefs, and an All-fu.nefs*, for they are Aliens 
 from the Common- wealth of Ifrael, Strangers 
 to the Covenants of Promife, having neither 
 God, Grace, nor Hope in the World, Efh, 2. 
 12. 
 
 Father, So?/ y What would thou have,and thou 
 fhaltget it ? ift, Thou fhalt get God's Spirit 
 down with thee : Go thy Way, If a, 61. 1. The 
 Spirit of the Lord God is u^on ih,e, to pr each glad 
 Tidings to t : he Meek, to proclaim Liberty to Cap- 
 fives , to proclaim the acceptable Tear^ The great 
 Gofpel-Jubilee : All Slaves home again • all 
 Servants to the Devil and Sin, free; all Dy- 
 vours back to their PoiTeilions again : Enjoy* 
 your God, your Happinefs, your Souls, as for- 
 merly : All Mourners,, up with your Harps a- 
 gain • be comforted, all chat mourn : All loft 
 Sinners, Salvaton for yoii,\//«. 27. ult. The 
 great Trumpet fnail be blown that Day thoa 
 goeft down, And they fall come that were ready 
 to prrifli in the Land of Egypt ? and the Ouuafis 
 
 tn 
 
l 5 8 The Lofs and GfycoVety 
 
 in the Land of Ajfyria. idly? Go thy Way 
 down among them, Son, with all Grace, Vfal. 
 45 • Grace is poured into thy Lips, God hath a- 
 ., minted thee with the Oil of Gladnefs above thy 
 i Fellows* I give thee Sufficiency of Grace and 
 Gifts for "Up- making the whole eletl: World. 
 Thou fhalt be an Ocean of Grace, a Cloud of 
 I Grace .* All that is in Believers from thee, i< 
 but Drops from the Ocean *, yea, thou fhalt 
 be an Everflowing, and yet an Overflowing 
 Fountain of Grace, flowing over with 5treams' 
 of Grace, Life and Silvation, and never 
 have the lefs behind, John u 15, \6. Grace 
 and Truth came by jefus Chrift : And out of his 
 Fulnefs have all we received^ and Grace for Grace. 
 $dly y Go thy Way down among the Dyvours^ 
 •Son^ with all the Fulnefs of a Godhead, and 
 put them once from complaining ; let me hear 
 them crying, O Saviour, hold thy Hand, for 
 I have more than I am able to guide, Col. 2. 
 p, 20. Let me hear them crying, O what a 
 Chrift is this ! For all the Fulnefs «f the God- 
 head furely dwelleth bodily In him*, and we are 
 compleat in him, nothing wanting. We 
 have all our Salvation and Satisfaction to all 
 out Defires, 2 Sam. 23. 5. He hath received 
 Gifts for Men, even for 'the Rebellious, that 
 the Lord God might dwell among them. Since 
 thou promifed fo freely to me to redeem, col! 
 thee what it would, I fhall fit thee to purpofe 
 for the Work. 
 Son. But I have an heavy Charge of it, bound 
 
 to 
 
of EleB Sinners. i 5 9 
 
 ) give perfect, perfonal and perpetual Obedi- 
 ace to the whole Law of God in my own 
 
 iame, as Man, and in the Stead of all for 
 /hOm I undertake • O let me have continual 
 nfluences and frefh Communications of Grace, 
 trength, and Quickrdrg from thee. 
 
 Father* Thou flialt not want this continual- 
 y, Ifa* 50. 4. He wjtknetb me Morning by Mor- 
 ung, he wahieth my Ear to bear, as the Learned ;' : 
 That is, from Time to Time, becawfe Hu- 
 jlfcane Nature is weak, and had need of conti- 
 nual Influences from the Divine Nature, being 
 its really Man as any other Man, Ifa. 1 1, 2, 3. 
 \the_ Spirit of the Lord frail reft upon him, and in~ 
 fluence him with quick Vnderftanding in the Fear 
 of the Lord. Hence it is that he is able to fay, 
 John 17. 4, 5, 6. / have kept the Father's Com- 
 mandments, and abide in his Love, And may 
 plead the Father's Promife for them he under- 
 took for, as well as for himfelf, John 17, 4, 5. 
 fhave glorified thee on Earth, I have finijhed the 
 Work that then gaveft me to do } and now^Father^ 
 glorify me with the Glory that I had with thee 
 before the World began, ver. i6 7 17. Keep through ■ 
 thy Nn^ie theft that thou haft given me : Sancti- 
 fy them through thy Truth, thy Word is Truth. " 
 Son. But I mult be fure, that I lay not down 
 my Life at a Venture*, I muit have a fure 
 Promife, that I fhall not lofe my Reward. 
 I Father. That thou flialt have, Ifa. 53. 10. 
 When thou fhait make thy Soul an Offering f for Sin, 
 ihcufhalt fee thy Seed,-- Ad the Pleafure of the 
 Lord Jhtill prosper in thy Hand* 
 

 i 6o The Lofs and (Recovery 
 Son* But thou muft accept and be well-pleafed 
 I with my Labours. 
 
 Father. That I will do, If*. 49. 4. Thou fliah 
 I be glorious in the Eyes of the Lord, And I will 
 ( let thee and others know it : For, when thou 
 art down at thy Work, 1 will fend down a 
 I Voice from the excellent Glory, laying, l\ii 
 its my beloved Son y in whom I am well plea fed? bear 
 $j ye him. 
 
 t>Son. But I am to undergo the Law, to be 
 reckoned a Sinner, yea, iuflfer like a great Sin- 
 ner, the reproachful Death of the Crofs : Ju- 
 ilify me therefore, Father? and roll away the 
 Reproach of the Crofs, and the Ignominy the 
 Enemies cad upon me. 
 
 Father. That I will do on the Day of thy Re- 
 furre&ion, Ifa. 50. 8. He is near that juftifieth 
 me, Who is he that contendeth with me ? 1 Tim, 
 3. 1 5. Great is the My fiery of Godlinefs, God 
 manifefted in the Flefi, juftified in the Spirit, re- 
 ceived up into Glory, I wili let thine Enemies 
 know, the Difgrace and Reproach they caft u- 
 p©n thee is fallen on them, in thy Refnrrefli- 
 on-Morning, when the News is carried to them, 
 Yon hath been the Son of God we flew the o- 
 ther Day *, for he is up out of the Grave again, 
 in a glorious triumphant Manner*, and it will 
 appear to the Godly, that their Debt is paid, 
 that their Cautioner hath win cue of Prifon, 
 Rom. I. 4. Declared to be the Son of God with 
 Power, by his Refurrettion from his Dead. Pfal. 
 2. Thou art my S$m y this Day have I begotten 
 
 thee. 
 
of EleH Sinner si Vit 
 
 thee. ('Tis fpoken of his Refurreftion-Day - 
 for fo the Apoftle explaineth it, Atts 13. 32, 
 33.; as if the Father had faid, Now, S§n 9 thofc 
 art come to be like thyfelf again, and inverted 
 with all thy former Glory . and this Day is 
 like a New-Birth-Day to thee, when thou haft 
 throughed the Work of Redemption, The* 
 fang they. 
 
 When God the Father, and the Son, 
 
 Redemption did devife 3 
 Ghrift many feeks, God many gives, 
 
 And never him denies. 
 Father, give Strength, the Work is great, 
 
 that thefe for whom I die 
 May all be fav'd, and none be loft' 
 
 By weak Humanitie. 
 Me alfo do thou authorize 
 
 to go on thy Command, 
 Left thou mould fay, , I neither fought 
 
 nor will take off thy Hand. 
 My Son, do thou it undertake, 
 
 thou fhalt not be to mean ; 
 I'll hold thee by my mighty Hand, 
 
 and ftrongly thee fuftain. 
 I make thee Prophet, Prieft and King, 
 
 and that in high Degree j 
 Both blind -and guilty Captives thou 
 
 fhalt fafely bring to me. 
 ''Mong empty Sinners go thou down 
 
 with fo great Grace in Store, 
 
 M And 
 
l6z The Lofs and Recovery 
 And let them have till they do cry, 
 
 Hold, Lord, and give no more* 
 jWith Influences of the SpVit 
 
 thou /halt be fo fupply'd •, 
 The Travail of thy Soul thou'lt fee, 
 
 and malt be fatisfy'd. 
 And juftified from the Law, 
 
 and all that it can crave •, 
 Til raife thee up, and in the Grave 
 
 thy Soul I will not leave. 
 And let me now, mine empty Soul 
 
 . Hold imder's lucky Hand - 7 
 And ever take, and ever praife, 
 
 till I in Glory land. 
 
 Anxiom. Shew me more diftinttly^howGod 
 and Man, and the Mediator are confidered in 
 this Covesant. 
 
 Goodness, This Tranfa£tion is carried on be- 
 twixt an offended God and offending Sinners, 
 f)V the Intervention of a Mediator, to reconcile 
 thefe two diluting Parties : For God was fo 
 Iioly and juft, that he could not look upon Man, 
 being fuch a filthy Sinner ; and Man durft not 
 look upon God, he was fo juft and holy, and a 
 Confuming Fire to the Workers of Iniquity : 
 And befides, Man was not now fponfible, being 
 a broften Dyvour. And in this it differs from 
 the Covenant of Works \ for there tbe Lord 
 a&ed as a holy Law-giver, with Mm an 
 innocent Creature \ but it not being fo now, 
 there is .Need of a Mediator. 
 
of EleEl Sinners. i6( 
 
 Anxious. But what Sort of a Perfon oug! 
 this Mediator to be ? 
 
 Goodnexvs. Such a Perfon that was able to 
 reconcile God and Man, Heaven and Earth, 
 that was now at Odds : Therefore he muft be 
 both God and Man in one Perfon. i. He 
 muft be Man, that he might have that Sentence 
 put in Execution upon him, in the fame Na- 
 ture chat finned, In the Day thou eat eft Thereof 
 thoujhalt furely die\ and by his Death expiate 
 Sin, and fo make us acceptable to God, Efh. 
 i.5. to ingratiate us in God's Favour, by him 
 who is the Darling of Heaven, Col. i. 20. 
 That having made Peace through the Blood of his 
 Crofs, he might reconcile all Things to God* Alio, 
 That he might by Death defiroy him that had the 
 Tower of Deaths that is y the Devil *, and delivefik% 
 them that through Fetr of Death were all their 
 Ufetime fubjeEi to Bondage* For, He meeting 
 with Death, Death left its Sting in him } fo 
 that tho' its Wings may now make a Notfe,^ 
 yet when it cometh it cannot hurt. . @ Death \m 
 where is now thy Sting ? For the Crofs wass! 
 that Field where Ghrift encounter'd with the 
 Brunt of the Battle with Satan, Death and Sin; 
 where he bruifed the Serpent's Head, He b. 2. 
 14. and came off a glorious Conqueror, Col. 2. 
 1$. he triumphed over them upon the Crols f 
 And befide, to advance our Nature, by uniting 
 it to the Divine Nature *, and in "that Natute, 
 to interceed with God for us, prefenting to 
 him his Sufferings in that Nature, and that 
 M 2 we 
 

 164 Tft* Lofs and Recovery 
 we might come with Boldnefs to the Throne 
 of Grace, having there One in our Nature to 
 interceed for us,that hath a kind Sympathy, and 
 
 ' jpellow- feeling of our Infirmities, Heb. 4. 16. 
 
 ' 2. Ke muft be God alfo, that his Divinity 
 
 might addVertue to his Humanity -and that as Sin 
 
 procured infinite Wrath ; fo.Blood of an infinite 
 
 Value fhould iatisfy infinite Wrath. Alfo, he 
 
 could never have born up under, nor come out 
 
 from the -Weight of Sin and Wrath, if he had 
 
 not been God as 'well as Man, Rem. 1. 4. ' De- 
 
 clared to be the Son of God with Power, by his Re~ 
 
 furrettion from the Dead. A&s 20. 28. He 
 
 purchaieth his Church with his own Blood, 
 
 -called the Blood of God. Hence it is able to 
 
 purge our Confcience, Heb. 9. 14. And that 
 
 vwe might attain to the Favour of God, by him 
 
 who was tthe Beloved of the Father, Mat, 3. 
 
 17. And that he might (being made perfect 
 
 through Sufferings) become- the Author of 
 
 f|eternal Salvation to all that obey him, Heb. 
 
 3. He muft be both'God and Man in - one 
 Peribn, 1. That both Parties might truft to 
 him : The Father could not truft to him, nor 
 Man either, as now flated, if he had not been 
 both ; for never Man yet, that was not more 
 than Man, was worthy of Credit : But he be- 
 ing God-Man, the Father lippens to him, as 
 to a firm Rock, Vpon this Rock will I build my 
 Church. And Man feeing him bcjth God and 
 Man 3 puts Credit in him, Hcb* 4« 15? l6 \ 
 WEkm*mm*m~~^ ' Bet! 
 
of EleSl Sinners] 16 j 
 
 itoth for Power and Companion .• We have 
 Boldnefs to come to the Throne of Grace, 
 having an High Priefl touched with the Feel- 
 ing of our Infirmities, 1 Pet, 2. tf. He that 
 trufteth in him fliall pot be afhamed : God 
 commits all Judgment to him, becaufe he is 
 the Son of Man ; and Man commits the Keep- 
 ing of their Souls to him, becaufe he isa 
 faithful Creator. 
 
 2. That being both God and Man, he might 
 feek the Glory of God, and the Good of Man 
 both, John 17. 16, 17. / have glorified thee on 
 Eart'h. And, He gave himfelf for the- Churchy 
 Tit. 2. 14. to redeem it. 
 
 3. That he may be invefted with Power 
 from both Parties, in their own Natures, tp 
 determine the Differences, and make both 
 Parties ftand to the Determination • T(oe*Father 
 hcareth' him always^ John 1 1. I. And Man is 
 m-ddc to ftand to the Terms, Pfal. no. 3* 
 Made willing in the Day of thy Power, "the LovW 
 of Chrift conftraineth us y 2 Cor. 4. 15* 
 
 4. That he may deal with God in our Room,' 
 therefore he muft be Gc#l ; and he mufl he 
 Man, that we may be able to deal with God by 
 him. And one o{ the Ancients cried out, O 
 let me have nothing to do with an abfolute God 7 
 God out of Chrift. 
 
 Anxious. O the Study of Chrift is ftf eet ! 
 
 and ay the deeper the fweeter. And I wonder 
 
 that Men fhould take fuch golden Mattocks as' 
 
 Time, Wit, Strength and Reafon, to &i* into 
 
 M 3 
 
1 66 The Lofs and Recovery 
 the Dunghill of a perifhing empty World. 
 IVjight they not be better improven, to be dig- 
 ging in the durable and fatisiying Gold-mine 
 of salvation, torching to know unfearchable 
 Chrift ? i know fdme more of him, and I 
 love him better fince ye and I met, and have 
 much more I ranquillity of Mind. 
 
 r GoodnevPs. We may fay of them, as If a. 55. 
 They jpend their Money for that which is n$t 
 B ead) twd their Labour for that which doth not 
 fatisfy : And that all they do, is but a Toiling 
 themfelvesto Hell in the Fire of Vanity, Hab. 
 2. 3. Paul fays of fuch, Gal. 3. \. that they 
 were like bewitched Fools, O falijl) Galatians ! 
 Wjo hath bewitched you ? But ye nor I either 
 cannot help it, God help it. .But let us now 
 pot pafs this fweet Meditation of Immanuil 
 without a Song of Praife. Then they fang, 
 
 Once God and Man at Odds did fall, 
 
 could not be reconciPd. 
 JWho can, in Battle~rank ? withstand 
 
 God's Armies on the Field ? 
 A Mediator long look'd for, 
 
 but found he could not be : 
 In the Creation none but Chrift, 1 1 
 
 ^and never One but he, 
 By Heaven's Wonder, here defcrib'd 
 
 One Perfon, God and Man : 
 JJJ1 PifFerences now removed, 
 
 fince e'er the Fewd began. 
 
 God. 
 
of Eleft Sinners. \ 6/ 
 
 God lip'neth much to precious Chrift, 
 
 and, poor Man, lb may he : 
 Who give him Trull, are not beguil'd. 
 
 For ay blefs'd let him be. 
 
 Anxious. But how did Chrift 2& in making 
 up the Peace betwixt God and Man ? 
 
 Goodnews. i. He acled and carried it on 
 mo^ humbly, Matth. n. 28. Meek and low- 
 ly was he in Spirit ', fo humble, that he was 
 Servant to both God and Man. If a. 42. 1. the 
 Father fays of him, Behold my Servant whom I 
 uphold. Humble, yea, humble unto the very 
 Death. 2. He was alfo a Servant to Man, and 
 that's the World's Wonder, that's the Re- 
 deemed's Wonder to Eternity. For the Son of 
 Mm came not to be minifired unto^ but to mini" 
 fter y and to give his Life a Ranfom for mmy. 
 And humbled himfelf to the Death, taking 
 upon him the Form of a Servant, and being 
 found in Fafhion as a Man. God in the Flefh, 
 ferving Man, is a Heaven's Woader, the An- 
 gels Wonder. 
 
 2^/y, He a&ed with great Moderations 
 (1.) Bringing down the Majefty of God from 
 ftaading with poor Man upon the rigorous De- 
 mands of the Law "from the guilty Perfon, 
 that Another fhould fatisfy the Law and fulfil 
 it for him, and that by his Righteoufnefs ma- 
 ny fhould be juftified *, and that, inftead of an 
 inherent per'fonal Righteoufnefs, the Lord I 
 fhould accept of a gifted and imputed Righ- 
 M 4 teoufnefsi 
 
1 6S The Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 tepufnefs •, an4 that, inftead of perfect,' the; 
 jCord fhould accept of weak Mints and fincere 
 'Obedience, yea, of the' Will for the Deed $ 
 and that the good Lord would pardon what 
 %hey want, and be good to every one who is 
 "at Pains to prepare his Heart to feek the Lord, 
 tho' he be not prepared according to the Pre- 
 paration of the San&uary. 
 
 (2.) With God-Man on God's Behalf very 
 modify ingly^ in bringing Man near to God in 
 his own Perfon - 7 and that Man ihould leave 
 his proud, nice and precife Terms \ that he 
 fhould leave off to feek to be juftified by his 
 own Righteoufnefs, and be content to be jufti- ■ 
 iied by the Righteoufnefs of another, Being 
 juftified freely* by his Grace , through the Redemp- 
 , tion that is in Chrifv Jefm ; and that, inflead of 
 {landing to our Rebellion againft God, we fhould 
 be content cheerfully to yield Obedience to 
 God, in his Strength, and fay, / will keep thy 
 Commandment s y O for fake me not utterly* 
 
 3. He ads with great Affability, having an 
 open ready Ear,that both God and Man might 
 have eafy Accefs to him, "John \. 18. The Fa- 
 ther tells his Mind to him, for he lieth in his 
 feofbm, and was fent from him with the whole 
 Cpunfel of God. (2.) He is affable to Man 
 alfo *, he allows them to cvm? with Boldnefs to 
 the Throne of his Grace, to obtain Meny and find 
 Grace to help in Time of Need, 
 
 4. He acted with great Meeknefs and Pati- 
 ence, Zechn p. 9. Meek, and having Salvation. *, 
 
 for 
 
of EleSl Sinners. x 6$ 
 
 3X he was fmitten of both Parties, and yet 
 iever repined, (i.) He was fmitten of the 
 'ather, Ifa. 53. 9, 10. Stricken, fmitten uf God, 
 md afflicted. Altho' he had done no Violence , 
 leither was Guile found in his Mouth, yet it flea- 
 ed the Father to bruife him. But he was wounded 
 "or our Tranfgreffions, he was bruifed for our Ini- 
 quities, the Chaftifemwit of our Peace was upon 
 mm and by his Stripes we are healed. He got 
 a fad Redding-ftroke, when he came in betwixt 
 us and revenging Juftice, Zech. 13. 7. Awake, 
 O Sword, {mite •, That he cried out with lamen- 
 table Cries, like the Scriechings of the Defpe- 
 rate, My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken 
 me f I never did offend thee, I never did 
 Wrong to God nor Man. (2.) He was fmitten 
 of Man alfo :, When they faw him, they faid^ 
 This is the Heir, come, let us kill him. Poor un- 
 grateful Sinners ! let you kill him ! what ails you 
 at him? what Evil hath the meek Lamb of God 
 done to you, that no lefs will ferve you than, 
 Come? let us kill him ? Yet ye fmpte him upon 
 the Face \ ye fcotirged hirri : It was a .Shame foe 
 you to handle him as he was handled, when 
 Pilate brought him iorth wearing the Purple 
 Robe and the Crown, of Thorns, and faid to 
 .you, Behold the Man ! the Antitype of Ifaac r s 
 Lamb, that was caught by the Head in the 
 Thicket inftead of Ifaac. And, can. ye look 
 upon him that ye have pierced, and not mourn 
 like the Doves in the Valleys ? Yea, and ye 
 
 led 
 
1 70 The Lofs and Recovery 
 led him as a Lamb to the Slaughter ; and as a 
 Sheep before his Shearers is dumb, fo he open'd 
 not his Mouth. He a&ed with wonderful 
 Meeknejs, 
 
 5. He afted mercifully. For the Mercy of 
 God, and the companionate Heart of a Man, 
 touched with the Feeling of our Infirmities, is 
 141 him, Heb. 2. 17. In all Things it behoved 
 him to be made like unto his Brethren , that he 
 
 might be a merciful high Prieft, t? mz\e Re-\ 
 
 Conciliation for the Sins of the People, John 6, 
 37. Him th At ccmeth to m?, I will in nowife ca\}\ 
 tut. The bruifed Reed will he not break, and 
 the fmokifig Flax will he not quench. He 
 carrieth the Lambs in his Bofom, and gathe ? 
 reth them with his Arm. And he weepeth 
 .when they refufe to be reconciled, Luke 19. 41, 
 42. When he beheld Jerufalem, he wept over til 
 becaufe they would not be reconciled to God. 
 
 ©\ He afteth wifely, in fpeaking Good of 
 each Party to the other, that he might gain 
 their Love and Affeftiqn one to another •, My 
 father, faith he, loveth you, and wlflieth you 
 well h and it is his Will that I fliould lofe 
 none of you, and that not one Hair of your 
 Head, nor Pile of your' Duft be a wanting at 
 the laft Day. How engaging is this ? for us to 
 hear that that Perfon we hate, is {till evi* 
 dencing his Love to us, and fpeaking Good of 
 us in our Abfcnce. Well faid the Spoufe of 
 him, His Mouth is fweet. And he fpeaks Good 
 of th em to God : / have given them the Words 
 
 xvhicl 
 
of Eleft Sinners. 1 7 1 
 
 vhich thou gweft me, and they have kept them. 
 And he is Surety for bdth Parties, for the one 
 :o the other : He engageth for the Father to 
 ns, that he fhall be as good as his Word, and 
 that all his Promifes mall be to us in Chrift 
 Yea, and in him Amen. And he is Surety lor 
 us to God, that we fhall (land to our Promifes •, 
 and if we fail, he will make it up, Heb. 8. 6\ 
 He is the Mediator of a better Covenant. He 
 fatisfTeth God's Juftice for our Offences, and 
 merits the Spirit to enable us to keep the re- 
 quired Conditions, by one and the fame Sacri- 
 fice of himfelf i and that they fhall be enabled 
 both to repent, believe and rely on this Sacri* 
 fice for Expiation of Sin, and Reconciliation to' 
 God, and procuring of God's Favour, Heb. 
 9. 15. He is the Mediator of Abetter Teftjtment, 
 that by Means of Death, for the Redempti- 
 on of TranfgrefTors, they which are called 
 might receive the Promife of the eternal In- 
 heritance. 
 
 7. He acleth powerfully, and goeth on in 
 this great and dangeroufly difficult Work, 
 with an undaunted, majeftick and couragious 
 Spirit, and that thro' all Oppofitions and extra- 
 ordinary Difficulties, one of which would have 
 made all the Angels of Heaven, and Men upon 
 the Earth to give it over •, if it had not been ib, 
 he would;furely have given it over, having to 
 do with Perfons fo vaftly different, and fo much 
 required to reconcile them, Ifa. 42. 4. He jlmii 
 not j ail nor be difccurnged. With fuch undaunted 
 
 Cou- 
 
1 7 1 TIx Lofs and Recovery 
 Courage and Power went he on in this Work, 
 • that he carried down all before him, and no- 
 thing could caft him down, but he carried 
 all before him, Death,' Wrath, Hell, Sin, and 
 the Obftinacy of the Hearts of Men. i. The 
 Weight of the Work did not difcourage him - 
 but he bore up under it,till on the Crofs he faid, 
 Now, It is finished. 2. Oppofitions from Men 
 could not difcourage him \ for all the Malice 
 he was to meet with at Jerufalem, yet he .fted- 
 jaftly fet his Face to go thither ^ and when News 
 were fent him to flee, for Herod would kill him, 
 he fays, Go tell that Fox, / tnuft work to Day 
 and to Morrow, and ft and to the Work till it 
 be perfected," nbtwit.hftanding of him and all 
 that will oppofe it. 3. The Extremity of his 
 exquifite Pain of Body, Hidings of God's Face, 
 and Soul-agonies did not difcourage him, even 
 when upon the Crofs: Then he. took Care of 
 his Mother, preached unto and converted the 
 Thief that was upon the Crofs, plucked him as 
 it were out of Hell, even when his own Arms 
 were naif d to the Crofs. 4. The Smiles of the 
 World could not put. a Stop to him. When 
 they would take him by Force and make him 
 a King, he would rather have poor Man 
 brought to Glory, before he fat a King upon 
 a Throne himfelf } and therefore he withdrew 
 himfeif from them : And yet many a poor Man 
 would hazard their own Salvation for a L ord- 
 fhip or a Lairdfnip. What would have become 
 01 the Salvation of the Elefr, if it had beer\ 
 
 in 
 
of EleR Sinneri. 175 
 
 a fuch Mens Hands ? If one had offered them 
 . Kingdom, would they not have given over 
 he Work? 5. Bad Entertainment from his 
 ) W n did not difcourage him, John 1. 12. He 
 :*mc to his own y and his own received him not. 
 5 The Sword of avenging Juftice could not 
 do it, Zech. i$. 7. but forward he came, and 
 laid clown his Head upon the Block, and open- 
 ed his Breaft to the flaming Sword of Juftice j 
 yea, and made his Soul an Offering for Sin, 
 fuffered both in Soul and Body, that he might 
 redeem both Soul and Body -, and yet went 
 on, and never failed nor was difcouraged till 
 he laid, It is jmijhed. ' When the Work of Sal- 
 vation was put in Chrift's Hand, Help was 
 laid upon One mighty to'fave. 
 
 8. He carried it on with great Fidelity 
 both to God and Man * 9 he was faithful to him 
 that>appointed'him, as a Son over his own Houfe, 
 Heb. 3. 5,6. 2. Faithful is he to Man, he 
 mak'eth lnterceffion for them for ever. And, 
 when his Parents fought him, he lays, Y/i(t 
 ye not that I muft be about my Fat 
 and, /. mufr work the Work of him that I 
 And convening with the Samaritan Woman, 
 feeking her Converfion, he forgot to eat }. and 
 he tells them, that it was his Meat and Drink 
 to do the Will of him that tent him, and to 
 finifh his Work. 
 
 That's the Way Chrift afts as Mediator, if 
 ye would know : He interceeds with the Fa- 
 ther for us alfo now in Glory, and hath fent 
 
1 74 Tl?e Lojs and Recovery 
 us back word what Speed he cemes, arid that 
 there is Room in Heaven preparing for us 5 an( 
 that in a little he will come back for us, an< 
 receive us to himfelf, that where he is, there 
 we may be alfo, John 14. 2, 3, Then fhail m\ 
 be for ever with the Lord* 
 
 V Then they fang 9 
 The Lamb of God, like Li»n bold, 
 
 Salvation carry'd o» 5 
 Thro' Oppofitions all he went, 
 
 and did give o'er for none. 
 He faithful to the Father was, 
 
 and did him glorifies 
 So faithful alio unto Man, 
 
 forget to eat did he. 
 jtJis Meeknefs and his Patience both 
 
 admired is by me \ 
 For God the Father did him bruife, ^ 
 
 him alfo fmite did we. 
 Yet patiently he did endure 
 
 both Anguifh, Grief and Pain -, 
 So that, when he reviled was, 
 
 reviled not again. 
 No Guile was ever found in him, 
 
 of Vi'lence all he's free : ' 
 Vet like a Sheep and iilent Lamb 
 
 before his Shearers he. 
 O'l the Head of this lovely Lamb » 
 
 , all Nations laid their Hands, 
 And on him rolled they their Sins? 
 
 when in their ftead he ft&nds, 
 
of EUci JSinners. \J 
 
 I ad in their Room a Sacrifice 
 
 to God offer'd t© be : 
 /hereby Atonement is made up, 
 
 and alfo fav'd are we. 
 nd yet he finifhed the Work, 
 
 that faved we might be. 
 [ewon my Heart, anddet him hav't $> 
 
 and me him glorifie. 
 k nd now he's to the Heavens gone, 
 
 to plead ftill for me there - 7 
 ind Manfions in the Father's Houfe 
 
 for me he doth prepare. 
 Ie promifed to come again, 
 
 and to bring home poor me 
 Skit of this weary Wildernefs : 
 
 right welcome fliall he be. 
 fhovl away thefe finful Days, 
 
 and Rights of Vanity, 
 £nd Uke a Roe on Iiether's Mount 
 
 come skipping unto me. 
 And I will go to meet my Lord 
 
 out from thir Lions Den ; 
 From Sin and Sorrow I'll be iree, 
 
 and weep no more -again *, 
 But take my Harp into my Hand, 
 
 fing fweetly then will I : 
 For Day nor Night l's never reft, 
 
 but Hallelujahs cry. 
 
 Anxim. Now 1 fee, that Grf a nd Oirift- 
 have made a Covenant for the Ele& World, 
 as W and &ab<a for the Flock ' 7 whatever, 
 
 01 
 
■ 
 
 1 76 The Lofs and Recovery 
 of the Flock was wanting, it was to be reqni 
 red at Jacob's Hand. But fince in all Covenant! 
 there is Hill fome things required of both Par- 
 ties, ihew me therefore what is the great Thins 
 that God promifeth to us, and that we are tc 
 promife to God. 
 
 Goodnews. The great Thmg promifed on 
 both Sides is comprehended in that Scripture, 
 Heb. 8. 10. 'This is the Covenant that J will make 
 with them, I will be to them a GX)D, and they 
 Jliall be to me a Veo le, 
 
 -Anxious* What is that, for the Lord to be 
 a Perfon's God ? 
 
 Goodnews. Heaven will be the befl Anfwer 
 to this Question : For, when the Church is 
 reprefented in Heaven, this their Happinefs is 
 expreft, Rev* 21. 3» The r fabemacle of God is 
 w»th Aden, and he (hall dwell with them, and be 
 to them a God. It is better felt than exgrerr^ 
 what it is for the Lord to be a God to a Penon j 
 To be under his enlightning, enlivening and 
 comforting Influences *, God, my God, fupply- 
 ing all Wants. God is Pardon to the Guilty, 
 Reft to the Weary, Comfort to the Diftreffed,- 
 Health to the Sick, Wifdom to the Foolifh, 
 Happinefs to the Miferabk, Salvation to the 
 Loft, Pfal. 144. ult. Yea, happy is that People 
 whofe God is the Lord, To hear what it is for 
 God to be a God to a Perfon, and yet not to 
 have him, is to hear One that is a Barbarian 
 i||£a]ung, that ye underftand~not one Word 
 he faith -, Gr as if Gne'fuQuld tell a poor 
 
 Man 
 
of EleB Sinners. \y? 
 
 j Man, that Ophir is all fall of Gold and Riches* 
 
 'the hearing of that makes him not up, he may 
 
 .' perifh as well as if there were no Gold there. 
 
 Get God to be your God, that's the Life of all* 
 
 and then ye will know \ O come and fee, and 
 
 be able to fay, This God ts our God for ever and 
 
 ever. 
 
 i. If God be yours, all is yours, i Cor. sL* 
 li. Whether Paul, or Apollo's, or Cephas, or 
 the World, or Life, or Death^ or Things prefent^ 
 or to come^ all is yours, and ye are Cbrift's, and 
 Chrifi is God's. The Earth to tread upon, the 
 Air to breathe in, the Sun to mine upon you 5 
 .Affli&idns are yours, not only to work for your 
 Good, but to make the Glory ir^Heaven more 
 weighty : Death is your reconciled Friend, to 
 take you off the Field of War, and tranfport 
 you to the Land of Peace, where the Inhabi- 
 tants fhall not fay, I am iick $ for they that 
 dwefl therein fhall all be forgiven their Iniqui- 
 ties. Yea, happy is that People whole God 
 is the Lord. 
 
 2. To have God to be your God^ is to have 
 all the Divine Attributes employed fbr^ and 
 not againii you. (1.) The Power of God, that 
 is mofl terrible to the Wicked, is yours, M 
 protect and defend you. Strong and mighty 
 is the Lord God to judge the Wicked ; Mife- 
 rable. they ! But flrong and mighty is the Lorri 
 God to fave you } Happy, you ! Ye*, happy 
 is that People whofe God is the L.ird. 
 
 N (2.) Tbe 
 
\y% The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 (2.). The Life of God is yours. Nothing 
 more terrible to the Wicked } It is a fearful 
 'Thing to fall into the Hands of the living God* 
 Miferatyle they, as long as God liveth ! But 
 nothing more comfortable to the Godly in 
 their Diftrefs than this, that God liveth, Gen. 
 1 5. 14. The poor Woman, that had no more 
 but a Drink of Well-water, yet this comfbr- j 
 te.th her, It is the Well of him that liveth and 
 feeth me. This alfo comforted Job in his Di- 
 ftrefs, / know that my Redeemer liveth. Yea, 
 they live by vertne of the Life of Chrift } and 
 '^ as long as Life is in the Head, the Body mall 
 t die, John 10. 10. B.ecaufe I live, ye fhali 
 live alfo. As long as Enemies cannot take away 
 the Life of Chrift, the Godly 's Life is fecure 5 
 Happy are they / Tea, krfppy is that People whofe 
 God is the Lord* 
 
 (3,) The Juftice of God is yours-. Nothing 
 more terrible to the Wicked than this, The 
 Lord is juft, and taketh Vengeance : But to 
 you that are his, He pardoneth the Sins of 
 his People, He is faithful and juft to forgive 
 us our Sins ; The Debt is paid in Chrift alrea- 
 dy, and Juftice will not fuffer him to have 
 the Sum twice paid ^ both from the Cautioner, 
 and from the Debitor, Happy are they 
 
 (4.) The Mercy of God is yours. Nothing 
 
 can be more terrible .to the Wicked than the 
 
 Mercy of God ; therefore David prays, Of thy 
 
 Mercy fay mine Enemies. He fays not. Of Ju- 
 
 , but, Of Mercy doit 7 as if Mercy were 
 
 more 
 
of Efcft Sirmprs] 179 
 
 more exaked than Juftice in doing it. But, 
 O how fweet is God's Mercy to the Godly ! 
 PfaL 103. Thou hall crowned me with Mercy 
 and Loving-kindnefs. Tea^ happy, &c. 
 
 (5.) The Jllfufficiency of God is yours, tho" 
 nothing more terrible to the Wicked. God 
 comprehends all \ and when he leaveth them, 
 as he will do, what have thev behind ? all is 
 gorie. But this is it wherewith the Lord 
 comfbrteth Abraham, when entring into Cove- 
 nant with him, Gen. 17. / am God AH'fufficient a 
 What thou wanteft, I have. He fays to the 
 Covenanter with him, as the old Man of' Beth- 
 lehem to the Levite, All thy Wants be on tni± 
 only turn in hither* His All-fufficiency is theirs* 
 Happy they ! Tea, happy is that People whefi God 
 ts the Lord. 
 
 (<5.) His Wifdom is yours. This alfo is ter- 
 rible to the Wicked: For God is wife in Heart} 
 Who ever hardned himfelf againfl God, and pro- 
 fpered ? He taketh the Wicked in their own Crafti- 
 nefs m But it is comfortable to his People i He 
 turns the Counfel of Ahithophel into Fcolijbnefs a 
 A wife Counfeller in all Straits, Jfa. 9. 6. His 
 Counfel is infallibly good \ never one that he 
 leads with his Counfel here, but he lands them 
 all in Glory at laft, Pfd. 73. Happy are they I 
 Yea, happy is that People ivhofe God is the Lord. 
 
 (7.) His Faith fulnefs. to fulfil his Promifes.' 
 Nothing is more ternble to the Wicked than 
 his Faithfulnefs ; for he is faithful in his 
 Tlueatnings as well as in his Promifes, Hath 
 
 N 2 fee 
 
1S0 Tl)e Lofs and Recovery 
 
 he threatned the cnrfed Canaanites ? They may 
 lay their Account with it, he will be about 
 With them. Hath he faid, The Wicked lhall 
 be turned into Hell, and all prayerlefs Perfons 
 and Families ? He will lay them low at laft in 
 Deftru&ion's Dungeon. But, doth he promife 
 Canaan to Abraham's Seed ? They are as fure 
 of it, as if they were in it already : Heaven 
 and the great Salvation, they are fure of it, 
 Mic. 7* ult. Thou wilt perform thy Truth unto 
 Jacob, and thy Mercy to Abraham, which thou 
 haft [worn unto our Fathers. It was Mercy to 
 make the Promife ; he might make, or not 
 make it, at his Pleafure : But, once made, he 
 is fo far engaged to his Faithfulnefs, that he 
 cannot be God and not fulfil it. Happy are 
 they ! All the Divine Perfections are theirs. 
 
 3. To have God to be our God,' is to have 
 a Right to God, perfonally to be inter effed in 
 the Love of God, the Purchafe of Chrift, the 
 Spirit, the Comforter. Yea, happy are they ! 
 4. All his Names are theirs, The Strong 
 God, Jehovah, a Fulfiller of Promifes. The 
 Name of the Lord if a ftr'ong Tower, whither the 
 -Righteous run^ and are fafe. And there is no 
 Condition the Godly lhall be in, bwt there is a 
 Letter of his Name to comfort them. (1.) 
 Are they miferable ? he is Merciful, Exod.34. 
 <>>7' (*>) Have they lived long in Sin? he is 
 Long-fiferwg. (3.) Is there Sin of all Sorts, 
 againfl Law and Gofpel, againfl: Light and 
 Love? then he is Abundant in Goodnefs and. 
 
 Truth, 
 
of Bk& Sinners. i&V 
 
 Truth. And tho' we break our Word to him a 
 yet he will keep his Word to us, and will not 
 -alter his Covenant : He many only punifh with 
 temporal Strokes, keeping Mercy for Thou- 
 fands •, we need not fear the Number be filled 
 up, and Mercy fpent. (4.) Are our Sins of 
 all Sorts, that they may be called Iniquity^ 
 Tranfgreffion and Sin * Yet he will forgive all* 
 (5.) And if we doubt he will not fhew us Mer- 
 cy, he extends Mercy to Thoufands •, whereas 
 Anger extends but to the third and fourth Ge- 
 neration. He rather fave a Thoufands than de- 
 ftroy Three. Happy are they l TV*, hajfy is 
 that People whofe God is the Lord. 
 
 5. He is ours by Communication and Glorify- 
 ing Influences 7 2 Pet. I. 4. We are made Parta- 
 kers of the Divine Nature^ and made Partakers 
 of his Holhiefs } Ms Image ftamped upon our 
 Souls, 2 Cor. 3. 18. We beholding as in a GUfs 
 the Glory of the Lvrdj are changed into, the fame 
 Image. 1 John 3. %. We Jhall be like him, for 
 we Jhall fee him as he U \ as Mofes's Face did . 
 fhine, by beholding him upon the Mount : And 
 fhall, by vertue of our Union and Communion 
 with him, be raifed up to Glory at the laft 
 Day. And Chrifl a made of God unto us Wifdom, ' 
 Eight eoufnefs, Sanfliflcation and Redemption. For 
 God the Lord is a Sun to enlighten,"* Shield to 
 defend \ and he will give Grace and Glory , and 
 withhold no aood Thine 'from them that live vp* 
 rightly. 
 
iSi The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Anxious. But what is it for us to be God's 
 People ? 
 
 Goodnews, i. It is, upon our renouncing 
 all our wicked Practices, and rending our Con- 
 tract with all other Lovers, to take the Lord 
 to be our God on Gofpel-terms, Beut. 26. 17. 
 This Day haft thou avouched the Lord to be thy 
 God, and haft promifed to 'walk in his Ways, 
 and to keep his Statutes, and his Commandments, 
 and his "Judgments, to do them with all thy Heart, 
 and with all thy Soul,and to hearken unto his Voice. 
 And this is that giving of our Confent to be 
 faved on the very Terms agreed upon betwixt 
 the Father and the Son j and that now ye fub- 
 fcribe heartily to it. Efpecially, it takes in 
 thefe two Things that we muft do, if we would 
 be his People, and have him to be our God, 
 to wit, Faith and Repentance, which are both 
 required, Mark 1. 15. The Kingdom cf God is 
 at Hand ; Repent ye, and Believe the GofpeU 
 Ye are now to fubmit to Chrift the King of 
 Zion ; therefore this ye muft do, otherwife ye 
 cannot be received Subjects. Ye muft Repent, 
 and Believe the Gofpel : Both are required, and 
 yet both are promifed. So that the Covenant: 
 oi Grace is a*Miracle in this, as well as in all 
 the other Parts of it : It hath a Condition 
 without a Condition ; By Grace ye are fived 
 throvgh Faith, and that net of your/elves, it is the 
 Gift of God. A£h 3. 19. Repent, that your Sins 
 ;.' h blotted cm. And yet he is a Saviour 
 
 exai- 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 185 
 
 exalted to give Repentance and Remiifion of 
 Sins. 
 
 Anxious. But it is debated by fome,That the 
 Covenant of Grace hath no Conditions. 
 
 Goodnews, It is but a needlefs Debate •, And, 
 to be reafoning when we mould be running : 
 An Enquiring if the Lord doth require any 
 Thing in order to Salvation^ when we ihould 
 be doing that which the Lord requireth in or- 
 der to Salvation. And we judge it not fit to be 
 debated before any unlearned Auditory ; For 
 they are too much given to takean unwarrant- 
 able and lawlefs Liberty : And this is ready to 
 open a Door to more of ihis^znd toLibertinifm y 
 and other Errors. But, to fatisfy you in this 
 Matter, we fay it hath Conditions, and yet no 
 Conditions : And yet all comes to one Thing, 
 that Faith and Repentance are ftill required of 
 us in order to Salvation. 
 
 1. If ye fay, That it hath meritorious Condi- 
 ditions, then we deny that it hath fuch Con- 
 ditions. (2.) If we confider it as made with 
 Chrift from Eternity, whether he would fave 
 any or not, ("which we fpoke to before; then 
 we fay there were no Conditions but GodV 
 Love and fovereign Good-will, whether to 
 make fuch a Covenant, or not : If he pleafed 
 he would make it with fuch Conditions, and if 
 he pleafedhe would not have fuch a Covenant, 
 
 2, If we confider it as made with Chrift 
 from Eternity, we fay,, It had Conditions 
 
 "quired of Chriil as our Head and Surety, 
 N.4 that 
 
184 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 that he fhonld both do, and enable us to do 
 alio, before ever we could be faved } that 
 he fhould iiiffer for our Sins, and work Rigb- 
 teoufnefs for us, and make us willing, Pfal. 
 1 \o, 3. For this Law being made, Chrift be- 
 ing Surety for us, we were one in Law r, 
 and what was fought of the One, was fought of 
 the- Other alfo. We mwft either fatisfy for 
 what we had done, and live up to the Law in 
 'Time coming, or elfe our Cautioner muft do 
 it for us : And of Chrift it was required, that, 
 if we could not do it, he fhould fuffer for us •, 
 and that we fhould henceforth fulfil the Law, 
 at leaft in him :, and that we mould have Ad- 
 vantage by what he did." We muft have Faith 
 in him, to rely on him for Righteoufeefs and 
 Strength, and repent for what we had done : 
 And thefe Terms we muft confent unto, on 
 the higheft Peril \ for, Without F/tith it is im- 
 pojfible to pleafe God* Luke 1 3. Except ye repent , 
 ye foall all likewife perifo. And, hath the Co- 
 venant of Grace no Conditions ? I thought it 
 had two, Faith md Repentance } and that Chrift 
 had been Cautioner for us, that we fhould 
 do both, as well as he is for all the other Blef- 
 iings of the Covenant. 
 
 And Faith and Repentance are not the merito- 
 rious Caufe of Salvation, but the inftrumcnttl 
 Caufe, or the Caufes without which we cannot 
 fce faved, John 3. 16. Whof never believeth on him 
 (hall not perifjj. They are not impenitent, unholy 
 Sinner3,ncr Infidels^that win to Heaven*, all thefe 
 
 • ~ Un- 
 
of EleH Sinners. 1 8 5 
 
 Unholy, Unclean, Abominable and Unbelie- 
 vers are locked out of Heaven : He that \oelie- 
 vetb on the Sen, hath Life ', but he that believeth 
 not, hath not Life, but the Wrath of God abideth 
 on him, John %*ult. He that believeth, and is bap- 
 tiuedyfiall bejaved ; but he that believel h not , JW/ 
 be damned, Mark 16. i<5. And if it had no Condi- 
 tions, why doth the Lord threaten Damnation, 
 for not giving that which he hath not required ? 
 And to fay it had no Conditions, were to fay that 
 the Lord were bound to us, and not we to 
 him \ which overturneth the Nature of a Co- 
 venant. Or, why doth he call it a Covenant ? 
 he might have called it aPromife. And, why 
 did he call Chrift the Mediator of the Covenant I 
 he might have called him the Mediator of the 
 Promife : Bur this founds not fo well as the 
 Holy Ghofl hath expreffed it, and I know not 
 if it be good Senfe either. But, if it be ob- 
 jefted, That it is a Covenant of Works, and 
 not of Grace \ If there be any Conditions re- 
 quired, the quite contrary followeth, Rom. 4, 
 I6« It is of Faith, that the Promife might be free* 
 
 Anxious. But, if there be Conditions requi- 
 red in the Covenant of Grace, how doth it 
 differ from the Covenant of Works, which 
 alfo required Conditions ? 
 
 Goodnevps. With refpecl: to Chriil it was a 
 Covenant of Works, Gal. 4. 4. God fern forth 
 his Son made of a Woman, made under the Law- 
 that he might redeem them that vcere under the 
 l<aw> For it was required of him, 1, That 
 
 he 
 
! 8 6 The Lofs and (^ecoyery 
 he fliould fatisfy for our Breach of .Covenant, 
 J fa. 53. We all like left Sheep have gone affray^ 
 and the Lord laid on him the Iniquities of us alL 
 And, He was wounded for our Tranfgreffiorift 
 2. That he mould give perfect Obedience to 
 the Law: And this he fays at his Baptifm, 
 Suffer it to be fo, for it hehoveth us to fulfil all 
 Right eoufnefs m He was made a Curfe for us, 
 that we, through him, might inherit the Blef- 
 fing, Gal. 3. 13. 
 
 2. It differeth with reipeft to us, in] that 
 it requireth -of us all , and mtech more than 
 did the Covenant of Works. For, here is 
 ibught Faith and Repentance, which the Law 
 ftught not : It foughf not Repentance, becaufe 
 we had not fir^ped^n either would it accept 
 of it if we did Sin f And it fought no Faith 
 in Chrift, a crucified Saviour and Surety -, 
 ibr he was not fo rWealed in it. 
 
 3. It differeth in this', That the firft Co- 
 venant required all in our own Strength, Ihis 
 do, and thou fhalt live. But in this we are to. 
 do on borrowed Strength, Gen. 17. 1. / am 
 Godjll-fujjicicnt. What chou cannot do, I will 
 tielp thee, 2 Qr r . 12. 7-, 8. My Grace is fufficient 
 for thee, my Strength is made per feci in thy 
 
 Weaknefs. Phil. 2. 12, 1.3. Work cut your own 
 Salvation with Fear and Tremblings it is God, 
 that worketh in you bo*h to will and to do. 
 ,4. In this alio, The firft Covenant being 
 >ken, no Salvation co be obtained any more 
 by it : Que Sin of one Man 3 damm'd u$ all 
 
 the 
 
of Ele£i Sinners* 187 
 
 bhe Bleflings of it, that never one Bleffing 
 Should come to the whole Race of Mankind 
 in that Channel any more: But in this, All the 
 Sins of all the Elett cannot flop the BleiTing, 
 tho' we fliould fail feven Times in a Day, 
 ffeb? 8. 'This is the Covenant that J will make 
 with youy I will be merciful to your Vnrighteouf- 
 nefsy and your Sins and Iniquities I will remember 
 no more. Jer. 31, 37. I will not caft eff all Ifracl 7 
 for all that they have done,, The v one js Brittle 
 and Changeable, the other Permanent, Dura- 
 ble and Everlafting : All is confirmed by the 
 Death of Chrift the Teftator. Another Ad- 
 miniftration cannot be expected, other Terms 
 can never be expected Lilian Faith and Rcpcn~ 
 tance. • The Seals of it cannot be altered, Bap- 
 tifm and the Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. 11. As 
 often as ye eat this Bread^ and drink this Cup 7 ye 
 do fliew forth the Lord's Death till he come again \ 
 5. In refpeft: of their Manifeftation. The 
 one is written on our Heart by Nature, Rem. 
 2. 14, 15. The Works of the Law are writ- 
 ten on the Hearts of the very Heathen : But 
 the Covenant of Grace is profoundly deep and 
 myfterious, and cannot' be attain'd unto but 
 by Divine Revelation : hence Chrift fays to 
 Feter^ Flejli and Blood hath not revealed this to 
 tkecy but my Father which is in Heaven. Yea, 
 the Men on Earrh and Angels in Heaven could 
 never find it out, that God fhould become 
 Man, the Prince of Life die, that God in the 
 Fle/h fhould bear thePunjihrnent due to Rebels^ 
 
 and 
 
I 8 8 TJ?e Lofs and Recovery 
 and fee them free : So far were they from at- 
 taining it without Divine Revelation, that 
 they cannot comprehend it when it is revealed. 
 
 6. In refpecVof the End. The firft Cove- 
 nant was principally to declare God's Juftice 
 and Faithfulnefs, in keeping his Word to, and 
 rewarding an innocent Man with Happinefs : 
 But the End of the fecond to declare the Mer- 
 cy and Love of God, John 3. io". Godfo loved 
 the World y that he gave his only begotten Son^ that 
 whsfoever believeth on him Jhould not perifoi b%t 
 have everlafting Life* In the firft Covenant, 
 Man was to go to Heaven on his own Feet y 
 but, in the fecond, he is to ride to Glory in a 
 Chariot paved with Love, in this Covenant of 
 Grace. 
 
 Anxious having heard aft this, broke out ia 
 a Song, with his Heart in a Flame of Love, 
 and Tears on his Cheeks. 
 
 Heaven's Wonders here ihine forth, 
 
 Good-news from God above, 
 I am to ride to Glory now 
 
 in a Coach pav'd with Love. 
 Wifdom Divine did it contrive, 
 
 and made it up of Grace;, 
 Its Boards with Love did all cement, 
 
 ' fitly joi'n'd in their Place, 
 Of lafting Wood of Lebanon, 
 
 that nev.er will expire: 
 All. my. Salvation it makes fure,, 
 
 and all I can defrre. 
 
 'lis 
 
of EleB Sinners. \ 8p 
 
 Tis bottomed with precious Gold* 
 
 left 1 fink down and die : 
 fts Purple-Cover keeps off Wrath 
 
 from falling down on me. 
 Jo them within it wonderful 
 
 and pleafant doth it prove : 
 They walk, they ly,* they fit, they fleep, 
 
 and there they dream on Love. 
 The Lord is now to be my God \ 
 
 What more can he give me ? 
 The Heavens and the Earth are mine, 
 
 and Life eternallie. 
 And I am his, and ever mail; 
 
 well's me that it is fo. 
 He will not lofe his own, I'm fure, 
 
 for Death, Sin, Hell, nor Wo. 
 The Terms of this New Covenant 
 
 debate now will not I ; 
 Nor reafon more, when I fhould run, 
 
 and to frm quickly fly. 
 Let me repent, let me u elieve, 
 
 when he for theft doth call: 
 When I thefe want, I'll cry for them ; 
 
 and ever praife thee ihall. 
 
 Goodncws. What think ye of this Covenant 
 of Grace, -now when ye have got a View of it? 
 
 Anxious. Think ! I know not whether I had 
 bed to fpesk, or to wonder and hold my Peace. 
 Glory to God, that ever contrived it! Glory 
 to the Son, that ever undertook it ! Glory to 
 the Spirit, that hath renewed my Heart, -and 
 
 made 
 
i po T7;e Lofs and Recovery 
 made me to embrace and fubfcribe it ! And 
 Thanks to you, that hath informed me of the 
 Nature of it. The Caufe and Spring of it is Won- 
 derful ! Matchlefs Love ! The Parties contra- 
 cting in it are Wonderful ! Jehovah and finful 
 Duft, by the Interventionof fuch a Mediator ! 
 The Nature of it is Wonderful ! Superabounding 
 Grace ! s Tlie Terms of it are Wonderful I 
 Ask and have ! • The Mediator of «it is Won- 
 derful ! God manifefled in the Flefh i That 
 ever he undertook it, on fb harfh Terms, is a 
 World's Wonder! yea,it is a very Complication 
 of Wonders ! T*hefe are my Thoughts of it: 
 But one Thing I would fain know, How did 
 the Mediato" come to fulfil his Part of it, to 
 fuffer and dje for Sinners .?•■ Was there not an 
 Aver/ion in him then to fuffer? 
 
 Good-dews. Have ye forgotten that I told you, 
 He undertook the harfheft Terms with thefe 
 Words, Lo 9 I come , / delight to do thy Will. 
 Yea, he came over Myriads of Ages, fo to 
 fpeak, longing till the World was created, and 
 till he wan down in the Morning of Time, to 
 Eden, to vent his Love to poor Man, that 
 lodged in his Bread from Eternity, and preach 
 a crucified Saviour. Have. .you forgotten that ? 
 Avxious. God forbid that ever 1 fliould for- 
 get it. But I mean, when the Time of his 
 Humiliation was at Hand, when he muft now 
 pay dear for his Love, to Pickles of Duft and 
 Hell-coloured Worms - Did not the Extremi- 
 ty 
 
of Eleci Sinwrs* 1 91 
 
 ty of his Trouble make him fhrink, and go 
 heavily about the Work ? 
 
 Goodnevos. He did not go heavily and a- 
 gainft his Will, as we often do,about his Work } 
 and even the Difciples, they muft be conflrain- 
 ed to leave him, and to go to the other Side , . 
 but he fought no Containing to leave his Fa- 
 ther : A ftrange Change ! an uncouth other 
 Side to him , tho' he was to meet with the 
 Malice of Earth, and Hell, and Death, and, 
 the Father's Wrath, on the other Side. But, 
 when theFulnefs of Time was come, and the 
 bleffed Decree broke forth, in which all the 
 Promifes, which were big with Child of this 
 bleffed Babe, were delivered •, and a Saviour 
 born, and given into the Lap of a loft World : 
 The Glory of the higher Houfe, the Father of 
 Eternity is now lying a Babe in a Manger. / 
 come with Delight • it is written of me. And it 
 will appear that he came mofl willingly, if 
 we confider that he longed for the Time of 
 of his Sufferings. Luke 12. 50. 1 have a Bapnfm 
 to be baptised with, and % how am J ftraitned till 
 it be accomplijhed ! O how am I preiTed and 
 pained till I win to Mount 'Calvary, to get my 
 Hands and my Feet nailed to the Crofs / To 
 get my Heart's-Blood ihed, and God's Love to-, 
 gether, for them to part among them. 2.From 
 his being offended at any that would diffwada 
 him from fuffering } as appeareth in the Re- 
 buke he gave to Peter ^Get thee behind me^ Satan^ 
 Mat. \6t 22. Peter diffwades him from it. But: 
 
 he 
 
1 9 i The Lo/s and Recovery 
 he fays, What? Man! Does thou think that 
 Ihave ib little Love to loft Man, that I will le§ 
 their Salvation ft ick at my Suffering I And thou 
 flialt get the Name of the Devil for thy Pains, 
 Get thee behind me^ Satan. TakejSat&n's Name 
 and Anfwer both. It was the very Anfwer he 
 gave to Satan. For all that will difTwade *me 
 from it,they are a Devil ',a 'Temptation. 3. When 
 he was going up his lafl Journey to Jerufalem, 
 When one would thought, the Nearnefs of his 
 Sufferings would waken an Averfion to Suffe- 
 rings *, yet he is now, even now? as willing a* 
 ever, Luke 19, 28. it is faid, He went before,af- 
 cending 1 r to Jerufalem. He outwent the jfthole 
 Multitude, even when on his March to meet 
 the awak'ned Sword of Jiiftice in the Garden, 
 and the Pains of Death, and the Father's With- 
 draw ings upon the Crois. 
 
 Anxiotu. Now, I mind, we juft came in 
 where Hafty and Patience left off to Day : For, 
 you know, they left off here, at the Pains that 
 the Lord took upon theie Rebels to make them 
 fubmit •„ that he fent firft fome, and then °- 
 ther Servants *, and when 'they had ftoned fome, 
 and killed others, lafl of all, he fent his own 
 Son, Heb. 1. 1. God, who at fundry Times, and 
 in divers Manners, ftake to the Fathers in Time 
 paft, hath now at lafl: fpoken to us by his Son. HoW 
 did they take with him ? One would think 
 that now Doors and Windows, Houfes and 
 Hearts, would all be caft wide opon to receive 
 him, when the good Shepherd came down 
 
 . among 
 
of EleB Sinner f. .195 
 
 among them that were loft Sheep ; when the 
 great: Phyfician came down among an Hofphal 
 of fick, dying Sinners, when the Redeemer 
 came down to proclaim the acceptable Year of 
 the Lord, and the Gofpel- Jubilee to them that 
 wete Captives to the Devil, bound with Fet- 
 ters, and that over to eternal Fire. 
 
 Goodnews. V >ry bad Entertainment did he 
 get^ John 1. \\f 12. He came unto his own, and 
 bis own received him not. The whole Country 
 rofe in a Hubbub about him, when they faw 
 this glorious Sun of Righteoufnefs come down 
 ampngft them j becaufe Light is the Overthrow 
 of Darknefs, and Satan ftirred them up to put 
 out this Light, which they willingly confented 
 to, becaufe they hated the Light, John 3. 20. 
 This is the Condemnation , that Light is come into 
 the Worlds and Men love Darknefs rather than 
 Light, becaufe their Deeds are evil. For every 
 one that doth Evil hateth the Light, neither Com- 
 eth he to the Light, left his Deeds (thereby) 
 flwuld be reproved. John 7.7. The World hateth 
 me, becaufe I teftify that the Deeds thereof are e~ 
 vil. No Minifter of mine more than I, that 
 will deal plainly with the World, and teftify 
 againft their evil Deeds, but muft meet with 
 the World's Hatred, as well as I. A Com- 
 pany of Deceivers, that, like AhaWs falfe 
 Prophets, will footh them up in Sin, andftatid 
 in Awe to reprove them •, tiufe will have a 
 brave Life amongft them .- But an honeft Ml- 
 taiah) they have not fo much Policy as to hide 
 O . theft 
 
1^4 *fl> e Lofs and ^eco^ery 
 their Malice, tho' their Confciences tell them 
 they may get God's Mind from them; There 
 is one Micaiah^ by whom we may enquires of the 
 Lord, but I hate him. This was the Entertain- 
 ment he met with *, they, whenever they faw 
 him , Cenfpired again ft him, A£ts 4. 27. Againfl 
 thy holy Child Jefus, both Herod and Pontius Pi- 
 late, with the Gentiles and the People of Ifrael, 
 are gathered together. They met him moft ma- 
 licioufly and ingratefully ; they met infinite 
 Love with matchlefs Malice : They thought to 
 have cut him off as foon as he was born ; and, 
 to make fure, they flew all the Babes of that 
 Country. They afterward, when he was en- 
 tred upon his Miniftry in publick, fent Officers 
 to take him, John 7. and at laft Judas fold him, 
 and a Multitude in Arms came out againfl him, 
 Mat \26* 55« Are ye come out againftme, as againfl 
 a Thief, with Swords and Staves for to take me ? 
 And after he was taken, O what hellifh Malice 
 and Injuftice did he meet with ! He was moft 
 malicioufly abufed before ever the Court met ; 
 They bound him whenever they laid their 
 Hands upon him, they took him to the High 
 Prlelt's Hall, Luke 22. 45. and there they moc- 
 Jced and fmote him, blindfolded him, and 
 {truck him on the Face, faying, Prophefy who 
 was it that fmote thee. What heathenifh and 
 barbarous Cruelty wasthis,fo to have ufed any 
 Man? Nothing proved againfl him, yet bound 
 and mocked him as Samfon. 2. They gave 
 him not fair Juitice , for he was judged in a 
 
 Court 
 
of EleB Sinners. 1 p jr 
 
 Cotirt that had not Power to do it} a Pack of 
 malicious Scribes and Pharijees 7 from whoni 
 Herod had taken away the Power of Life and 
 Death, fo that they confefs, J«hn 18. 31. It is 
 not lawful for m to put any Man to Death. But 
 any Thing was good enough for them for Law; 
 if they could get the common Rabble to cry^ 
 Crucify him, that paft for Juftice here. 3. He 
 was accufed of" that which he was not guilty 
 of, Of not paying Tribute to Cefar. Nothing 
 more falfe 5 for he taught it, That Cefar fhould 
 have Tribute, Mat. 22. 24. Give unto Cefar 
 the Things that are Cefar'/. And he confirmed 
 his Do&rine with his Practice : Before Cefar 
 fhould want his Due, he will work a Miracle, 
 and get it from a Fifh, 4. When he fpeaks 
 gravely to them, they fmite him in the very 
 Court } and when he is filent, they chide him, 
 John 18. 22. 5. They fubborn falfe Witnef- 
 fes againft him •, the very Judges fought them 
 out, of Defign to take away his Life, Mat . 
 26. 59. 6. The Judge, that condemned him 
 to die, declared, that he was a juft and inno- 
 cent Perfon, Mm. 27. 24. And Co he is ten- 
 tenced and haled away to Execution, and nail- 
 ed to the Crofs, and bows his Head, and gives 
 up the Ghoft, when he had cried with a loud 
 Voice. That fhews his Love yet continueth ; 
 he parted with Life before his Strength was 
 gone. And this is the Entertainment thac 
 Love met with in the World : They would 
 
 o % by 
 
\$6 The Lofs and Recovery 
 by no Means receive him-, but, Away with 
 i him at any Rate. 
 
 Anxious* But, did none receive him at all, 
 when he came to his own ? 
 
 Goodnews. God forbid. Some did receive 
 him, but they might be all foon counted 
 His own received him not. But to as many as re- 
 ceived him-) to them gave he Power to become the 
 Sons of God. We find one Simeon*, that waited 
 for the Confolation of lfrael, Luke 2. 28. that 
 received him both in his Heart and Arms when 
 but a Babe, and blefled God that his Eyes had 
 feen his Salvation. So did one ./4w?^in the fame 
 Chapter ; ib did his Difciples *, fo did many of 
 the common People acknowledge him* Mar\ y 
 Martha and L&zArtts all in one Family ; 'tis 
 good to be in a good Family: And n? any moe 
 than thefe received him, as the Woman of Sa- | 
 maria, &c. But the Bulk of the Nation re- 
 setted him \ the moft Part of the Clergy and 
 Nobility, John 7.48,49. Have any of the Pha- 
 
 es or of the Rulers be Li eve d on him ? fay they, 
 But this People that know not the Law (have be- 
 lieved on him, and therefore fay they, They) 
 are accurfed. But this Wind did fliake no Corn ; 
 the poor Commons were the BlefTedeft of the 
 two. Chrift will never want a Back in the 
 'fiormieft Day that ever blew : As many as are 
 ordained to eternal Life, will ay believe. 
 
 Anxious. What could be the Caufe ? I am 
 fine they had not known him - 7 for, if they 
 
 had 
 
of Elefi Sinner si ly? 
 
 had known him, they would never have been 
 fo mad as to have crucified the Lord of Glory. 
 Goodnews, Some indeed knew him not well, \Cor. 
 2, 8. What is that to fay ? They had the no- 
 tional Knowledge of him •, for the World was 
 ringing with it, that he was the Son of God, 
 His Vfher was publicity preaching, and crying 
 that he was come, John the Ba$tifl 9 a Voice 
 crying to them to prepare his Way : Yea, he 
 preached him, and pointed him out as come; 
 Behold the Lamb of- God y that tciketh away the 
 Sms of the World. But all the Matter was,' 
 they wanted the faving and experimental 
 Knowledge of him ^ and their Ignbrance of 
 him was an affe&ed and voluntary Ignorance, 
 they were willingly ignorant: As many are 
 convinced, in perfecuting God's People, than 
 they are the Righteous they perfecute ^ as in 
 our own Day, the Enemies of Chrift would 
 have flain the People of God, and then, when- 
 ever they expired, faicl, I am fure that Man's 
 Soul is in Heaven. And if they were ignorant, 
 the Fault is their own : They might have 
 known, both by Search of the Scriptures, and 
 attending on his Miniftry •, as many in our Day 
 are ignorant, becaufe they will not wait upon 
 Ordinances. But befide, the Scripture faith, 
 They did know him, Luke 20. T4. They reafo- 
 ned am t or?g rhemfelvesj faying? This is the Heir, 
 come let m kill him* And herein their prodigi- 
 ous Madnefs appears •, they think, Now he 
 is God in the Flefh, we will get him deffroyed 
 O 3 now:, 
 
'198 the Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 now, and be free of his Yoke and Bonds that 
 we hate and abhor. For, do not Sinaers evi- 
 dence the defperate Madnefs and Diftrattion 
 of their Mind, in finning over Light and Con- 
 ference; that have no Bands at all upon them ; 
 that to Beholders appear worfe than diftra&ed, 
 fb that Paul lays of fuch, Gal. 3. 1. O fooliih, 
 yea bewitched Galatians I One would think, 
 this were impoffible for a rational Creature, 
 thus to go over the Belly of Light : But what 
 need We think it ? Is it not true, that the 
 Swearer, Adulterer, Drunkard, Prayerlefs Per- 
 fons know they are damning their own Souls ? 
 and yet they will do it, and would be the 
 Death of the Godly that reprove them \ and 
 long for nothing more than that Religion were 
 out of the Land that would hinder them> that 
 they may run to Hell with Eafe, and not have 
 every Body taking a Tug of them, and trou- 
 ble them by the Way. They have not will 
 of two Hells, one here, and one hereafter 
 too. And yet others, more mad, come after, 
 and fall to Work again againft the Church and 
 Ways of God, thinking they will prevail upon 
 God's People : And if Chrift were in the Flefh 
 this Day, coming with an Army to right for 
 keligion, there would be Thoufands on the 
 World's Side, for One that would be on 
 ChriiYs Side, Then th(yjang % 
 
 s Wfcen Time approach'd, and now was come, 
 that Chrift pays dear for's Love 
 
 Had 
 
of El e St Sinners* ipp 
 
 Had to Man from Eternity^ 
 
 he muft fharp Sufferings prove,' 
 Hi* Courage yet did nothing fail ^ 
 
 but forward with Delight 
 He went, to meet his Sufferings fore, 
 
 nothing could him affright. 
 Now mat chiefs Love comes to redeem 
 
 Men, from Wrath, Hell and Fears : 
 And matchlefs Malice doth him meet, 
 
 with their Swords and their Spears, 
 Moft barb'roufly they him abus'd, j 
 
 before arraign'd was he > 
 In Court, with ill PowV, Witnefs falfe* 
 
 there he condemn'd muft be. 
 They knew he was the Son of God, 
 
 their Confcience had* no Bands 5 
 But contrary to their own Light, 
 
 they acted with their Hands. 
 They thought the Wicked would them thank 
 
 for their great Skill that Day -, 
 And that their Fathers had no Wit 
 
 to conquer Chriftj as they. 
 Satan makes Fools of wicked Men, 
 
 when they think they're moft wife ; 
 They a£t like mad bewitched Men, 
 
 as our Apoftle fays. 
 
 Anxious* But what did he do, when he was 
 thus rejected, defpifed and put to Death? It 
 would feem that they had now done with 
 Heaven and Happinefs, and that the Treaty 
 of Peace now fhould be at an End, 
 
 O a Goad-' 
 
200 The Lofs and (fycoilwy 
 
 Goodnews* No. He was never more earned 
 than now. For he is God, and not Man, 
 therefore he did not confume them. But,*as 
 foon as he wan up out of the Grave, which 
 was but Three Days after, he is at his old 
 Work-again, Luke 24. 47. and fends forth his 
 Apoftles, commanding them to go and preach 
 Repentance and RerniiTion of Sins to all Na- 
 tions, beginning at Jerufalem. One would 
 have thought that Jerufalem would never got 
 a Call to Repentance again, nor yet a Promife 
 of Remiffion of Sins, who had fo handled 
 the Saviour, and whofe Hands were yet reek- 
 king in the Blood of the innocent Lamb of 
 God. But it is far otherwife - 7 he fays, Be- 
 gin at them : Give them the firft Offer, for 
 loth am I to leave them. Or, if I muft leave 
 them, I will give them a Farewel-Sermon yet, 
 before I go. I fhall have fome of them that 
 crucified me, to fhare in the Benefits of my 
 Sufferings. And, after his Afcenfion to Glory, 
 he lent forth the greateft Throng of Ambaffa- 
 dors that ever came before, 1 Cor. 12. 28. 
 And G$d hath fent fome' into the Churchy fame 
 ' ApoftleSy fome 'Teachers , mid fome Prophets, fome 
 s of Miracles •, Among the reft, he fent 
 efe Two Men with great Gifts, One Boaner- 
 , and another Paracletes } the One a Son of 
 Thunder, the other of Confolation \ the One 
 a Terrifier, the other a Comforter. And fo 
 thefe Two went up and down amongft them, 
 dealing hard with them by Threatnings and 
 
 Pro- 
 
of EleH Sinners. 201 
 
 Pronrifes to lay afide their Wickednefs and 
 fubmit, and then they fhould be fet at Liber- 
 ty/ and all that ever they had done fhould 
 be forgiven unto them. 
 
 Anxious. What faid thefe Two Men to 
 them, when they came to thefe Captives and 
 Prifoners ? 
 
 Goodnews. They blew a great Trumpet, 
 that the Dead might have heard it, it was fo 
 loud, and had fuch a majefrick Sound, I fa, 27. 
 ult. John 5. 25. 
 
 Anxious. What did they then ? 
 
 Goodnews. Boanerges took out a Proclamation^ 
 that he had the Seal oi Heaven at, and fhew- 
 ed his Warrant for what he had to fay." And 
 then he. cried, 
 
 I here, in the Name and Authority of the 
 Great God,the Judge of the Quick and the Dead, 
 Denounce War from Heaven againft all Rebels 
 to the King of Glory • and that there is no 
 Peace to the Wicked, faith my God : There- 
 fore, prepare to meet an offended God. In 
 his- Name, I declare, not one impenitent Soul 
 ihall efcape eternal Damnation, A:ls 13. to. 
 O full of all Stibtilty and Malice, ye Chil- 
 dren of the Devil, ye Enemies of all Righte- 
 oufhefs, that do not ceafe to pervert the 
 Ways of the Lord *, Ye Serpents, ye Ge 
 tion of Vipers, how can ye efcape the Dam- 
 nation of Hell ? Dent. 29. 19. And if/any of 
 you fhali flatter your felves, and declare by 
 your Praflice, that ye think ye fhall have 
 
 Pea^e* 
 
1 o % The Lofs and Recovery 
 Peace, tho' ye walk after the Imaginations of 
 your own Hearts, the Lord fhall not fpare 
 you, but the Fury of the Lord fhall wax hot 
 againft that Man : And all the Cur fes in this 
 Book fhall come upon him, and I will blot 
 out his Name from under Heaven. 
 
 Moreover, I here Denounce eternal Wrath 
 againft all that prefer the World, their Lufts 
 and Pleafures, to God -, and have the World 
 nearer their Heart than him : That they fhall be 
 funifhed with everlafHng DeftruBion from the 
 Pre fence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his 
 Power, Phil. 3. 19. Whofe God is their Belly, 
 whofe End is Deflrvclion, who mind earthly 
 floings, 
 
 2. I Denounce from the great and terrible 
 God, the 'fiery Indignation and Vengeance of 
 a Mediator, on ail that will any Way adven- 
 ture to worfhip him otherwife than it is writ- 
 ten ^ that add to, or pare from the Word of 
 God 5 either by worfhipping him by Idols, or 
 humme Traditions, reflecting on God's Wifdom, 
 and uftn'ping upon his abfoiute Authority, Rev. 
 18. 19, 20. For I proteft and teftify to every 
 Man, be what he will, rich or poor, bond or 
 free, That, if any of them fhall add to the 
 Sayings of the Book of this Prophecy, God 
 fhall add to him the Plagues that are written in 
 this Book. All Obfervers of Idolatrous Days, 
 Plagues from God fhall be heaped upon them, 
 Gal. 4. 10. Ye obferve Days and Times, I 
 greatly doubt your Salvation, Jnd if any fhall 
 
 tak* 
 
of EleB Sinners. ooj 
 
 take away from the Book of this Prophecy , God 
 fljall take away his Part out of the Book of Life, 
 and from the holy City, and (rem the Things 
 that are written in this Booh. Ail ye therefore 
 that obferve thefe abominable Days ', ye have 
 Bibles, but fhall be difinherited of all the 
 Promifes that are in them, ye ftiall never fyl 
 the Floor of the new Jerujalem, except ye 
 repent. 
 
 3. In the Authority and Name of SHAD- 
 DA I, the great and terrible God, I Denounce 
 the Wrath and Curfe of a Trinity upon thefe 
 that are Common Swearers, Blafphemers by the 
 Name of the dreadful and tremenduous Maje- 
 fty of God, That ye fhall furely be throws 
 alive into Hell, and eternally tormented with 
 "the Devil and his Angels, Deut. 28. 58. If thou 
 -wilt -not fear this glorious and fearful Name ■ ■ 
 the Lord jliall make thy Blagues wonderful. And 
 it will be no Excufe for you, thaf fwear by 
 Faith and Conscience, or if it were but by a 
 Bird in the Air, Damnation will unavoidably 
 follow upon \t, jam. 5. 12. The Difcharge is 
 (trie!:, the Punifhment peremptory : But 4^H 
 all Things, my Brethren, fwear not at all, nel 
 
 by the Heaven, nor the Earth, nor any other O 
 ture, left ye fall into Condemnation. 
 
 4. I here Denounce eternai Damnation with 
 the Devil and his Angels, upon all Prayerlefs 
 Perfons, that flight God's Worfhip in tjieir Fa- 
 milies, or in their Clofets, Pfal. 9. 17. The 
 Wicked fhall be turned into Hell, arid all the N*- 
 
204 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 tiops that forget < God. Workers of Iniquity, 
 Perfecuters of the Godly, and PrayerJefs Per- 
 sons, thefe are three fad Forerunners of eter- 
 nal Damnation, Jer. 10. 25. Pour out thy Fury • 
 on the Heathen , and the Families that call not on 
 thy Name. Ye are excluded from Chriftians, 
 and reckoned with Heathens \ but your Hell 
 will be hotter than the Hell of Turks and Pa- 
 gans, or Sodom or Gomorrha, Mat. 11. ft' pall 
 be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the 
 Day of Judgment, than for you. 
 
 5. I Denounce War from Heaven, and fiery, • 
 Indignation from the Lord, to devour all thefe 
 Adverfaries of the Lord, that take a Latitude 
 to break the Sabbath-day, Jer. 17. 27. If ye 
 will not hearken unto me y to hallow the Sabbath, I 
 will kindle a Ftre in jerufalem, that pail csnfume 
 it y and pall not be quenched. That will not give 
 God one Day of feven. And alfo, this fiery 
 Indignation againft all that overly perform Du- 
 ties, not employing their whole Heart and 
 Spirit in the Work : For God is a Spirit *, and 
 they that worship him 9 mufi worjlup him in Spirit 
 and in Truth. 
 
 6, I Denounce the dreadful Curfe from, the 
 tremenduous Judge of the whole Earth, againft 
 all that revolt and rebel againft their Parents, 
 lawful Magiftrates, and the Minifters of Jefus 
 Chrift : all that contemn their Perfons, deride 
 and mock them. God the Father of all Things 
 will take Vengeance j The Son, the fcreat 
 Teacher of the New Teftament, whofe Image 
 
of EkH Sinners. 205 
 
 and Authority the Minifters have, will take 
 Vengeance on you, for abufmg his Image and 
 Ambaifadors, 2 Chron, 36. 16. If ye mock his 
 MefTengers, the Wrath of the Lord will kin- 
 dle againft you, and there will be no Remedy ; 
 and this mall be your doleful Lamentation one 
 Day, How have I hated JnfiruBion^ and dij obeyed 
 the Voice of my Teachers ? Prov. 3. 1 7. The 
 Eye that mockcth kjs Father, - •the Raven of the 
 Valley frail pick it out •, that is, Let him die an 
 unnatural Death, and be unburied, till Crows 
 fhall eat his Body, to fhew his Detection at 
 fuch a Sin : And yet the Minifters of the Go- 
 ipel meet with fuch Mockery, Jer. 20. 7, 8. 
 Every One mockcth me fmce I began to preachy I 
 cry out of Violence and Spoil } the Word of the 
 Lord it a Reproach unto them. God will laugh at 
 your Calamity , and mack when ycur Fear comethy 
 Prov, I- 24, 25, 26* Pfal. 2. The Lord will 
 laugh at them, and have them in Derifion. 
 
 7. I Denounce the heavy Wrath of God, 
 that rents the Rocks, that burneth down to 
 the loweft Hell, againft all Grinders of the 
 Faces of the Poor, all Rackers of Rents, all 
 that do not relieve the difrrefTed Members of 
 the Honourable Family, whereof Chnfl is the 
 Head, Matth, 25. 41, 42. Depart from me, ye 
 Curjed I into everhfting Eire, prepared for the 
 Devil and his Angels ; For I was hungry, and 
 ye gave me n» Meat ; naked, ard ye clothed me 
 not j Sick and in Yrifcn, and ye viftted me 
 Ye are gone, tho' ye never had c.mmitted Sin, 
 
2o6 The Lofs and Recovery 
 if ye omit and flight to relieve them that are 
 in Mifery *, much more ye that rack Rents, 
 and break poor Things : The Ground will not 
 yield it, God does not give it them . and 
 would ye have more than God gives ? Will 
 your Tacks and Pactions with them bear that ? 
 Matth. 1 8. 28. —*--Tbe Lord flaw that the Man 
 caught his Feliow by the Throaty and fluid. Pay 
 me what thou owefl, 'Then his Lord caught him y 
 and delivered him to the Tormentors^ till hejhould 
 pay all that was due to him. If ye forgive not 
 jfden neither will your heavenly Father for? ive 
 
 you . But if ye fay, They are but Offen- 
 ces that we are to forgive, not real Debts, and 
 to quit our Gear or our Rents. I anfwer, It is 
 not only Offences that God forgiveth, but he 
 alfo forgiveth the Want of paying of real 
 Debts :, the Sin of Omiffion, that we have not 
 paid him the Rent of Glory due to his Name, 
 Ye that will not quit any Thing to a Tenant/ 
 but call them out of Doors naked and bare, 
 Fear y That as ye forgive them their Debts, flo 
 will God forgive you yours. 
 
 8. I Denounce Exclufion out of the King- 
 dom of God, and certain Condemnation from 
 the Judgment-feat, againft all that live in Un- 
 cleannefs in Heart or practice, Epb. 5. c. No 
 Whoremonger or Adulterer hath any Part in the 
 Kingdom of Gcd and of Chrift^ Rev. 21.8. And 
 the Whoremongers frail have their Part in the 
 Lake that burner j with Fire and Brim-flow, Heb. 
 13. 4. Whoremongers and adulterers God will 
 
 judge 
 
of Ekft Sinners. 207 
 
 judge, Rev. 22. 1 5. Whoremongers are lock- 
 ed out of Heaven at the laft Day. 
 
 9. I Denounce the Wrath and Curfe of God 
 againft all thefe that do any Thing to hinder 
 their own Profperky in the World, by Idlenefs 
 Drinking, and the like. Curfes and Wo be 
 to the Tippler that glorieth in it, that he can 
 drink his Neighbour Drunk, and be no worfe, 
 Tjk, 5. This is a Sin, tho' no more in it but the 
 Breach of this pofitive Command •, hindering 
 his own Wealth, a dealing from himfelf; Provy 
 21. 17. He that loveth Wine, Jhall not be rich - 
 Wo to him that putteth his Bottle to his Neigh- 
 bour, and maketh him drunk : Wo to the Tipplers 
 that are prong to drink Wine, and Men of 
 Strength to mingle ftrong Drink : W$ alfo to 
 beaftly Drunkards, that rife early tin the Morning 
 to drink Wine, and continue aU Night till it in- 
 flame them, Ifa. 5. ti. The Creature appointed 
 to quench Thirft, is fo abufed to Excefs, that 
 it kindles it. Alfo, Wo to all ilothjul Per- 
 fons, that impoverish, and thereby kill them- 
 felvesby Lazinefs, Prov. 21. 24. The Dcfire of 
 the Slothful flayer h him 9 becauje his Hands refitfe 
 to labour. And all Thieves and covetous per font 
 jhall not inherit the Kingdom of God, That hin- 
 der the Wealth of their Neighbours. 
 
 10. 1 Denounce the Wrath of God, and 
 War from Heaven, againft all thefe that are 
 Liars, Backbiters, ipeak Evil of their Neigh- 
 bours behind their Backs, to wrong their 
 Neighbour in their good Name, or Means : 
 
 For 
 
2o8 Tlie Lofs and Recovery 
 For liars are among the black Grew that 
 flrall not enter Heaven, Rev. 21. 27. And there 
 jhall in nowije enter into itj— whatsoever loveth 
 or maketh a Lie* 
 
 n.WO alio to all thefe that are Murnui 
 rers at Providences, difcontent with their own 
 Lot in the World : As the Ifraelites murmu- 
 red in the Wildernefs, and were deftroyed of 
 Deftroyers *, And that, like covetous Ahab^ 
 coveted Nabfth r s Vineyard, 1 Kings 21.4* And 
 gtieve at the Good of others, Efiber 5. 13. 
 That all avails them nothing, as long as Mor- 
 decai got Leave to fit at the King's Gate. That 
 are defirous of Vain-glory , envying one amther y 
 -provoking one mot her ^ Gal. 5, 16. 
 
 12. I Denounce the Wrath of God, and 
 War from Heaven, and eternal Perdition, to 
 all that are guilty of any of thefe Sins, and 
 continue Impenitent, Luke 13. Except ye repent, 
 ye Jhall all likevoife perifij. 
 
 13. 1 Denounce War with God, and eternal 
 Damnation, againft all that will not by a lively 
 Faith Hee from Wrath to come, John 5. 40. 
 Mark 16. \6. That thefe that believe not may 
 Jbe damned, that have not a Faith thatVorketh 
 by Love, 2 Theff. 2. 10, 11, 12. Becaufe they 
 received not the Love of the r truth J GjoU gave 
 them up to (rrong Delufions, that they all mirht be 
 damned that believe not the Truth^ but had Plea 
 Jure in Vnrighteoufnefs* 
 
 74. I Denounce War from God, and eternal 
 Excommunication from his Prefence, againfil 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 209 
 
 all thofe that love not our Lord Jefus Chrift * 7 
 Let that Man and that Woman be Anathema 
 Marau-atba, accurfed to his Coming again, 
 1 Cor. 16. 22. All thefe that by their Obfti- 
 nacy and PeriifHng in a Courfe of Rebellion 
 againft the Law of God, and Gofpel of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, ye fhall not efcape. Hoxo 
 flail ye efcape, if ye negletl fo great Salvation £ 
 Heb. 2. 3. 
 
 Anxious* That Boanerges muft be a bold 
 righteous Lion •, I am fure, he«muft be one of 
 thefe Miniflers that are defcribed to have a 
 Lion's Face, to go through thick and thin w 
 BleiTed be Boanerges of the Lord, that was io 
 faithful to God, and to the Souls of the Peo- 
 ple ; For, I think, of all the plain, particular,* 
 home Preachers that ever I heard, Boanerges 
 bears the Gree. But, what did he more ? 
 
 Geodnews. He let the Trumpet to his Mouth 
 again, and blew the Trumpet in Rich a terri- 
 ble Manner, that ye would have faid, it was 
 Che Breath and Power of God founding in it 5 
 enough to have rent the very Rocks. And 
 then the People, fome of the poor Prifoners 
 began to tremble, as tho' the Lord were im* 
 mediately calling them out to Execution. And 
 then he cried again, m Atis 2. 36. God bath made 
 the fame JESV 5, whom ye have crucified^ both 
 r hord and Chrift ; And here I Declare, in his 
 Name, the acceptable Year of the Lord to? 
 all that will repent \ and the Day of the 
 ^eneeance of our God, to all that will not ac- 
 P • cept 
 
lio T7;e Lojs and ^ecoyery 
 
 cept of Deliverance from this Bondage to the ; 
 
 Devil, on Gofpel-Terms, Jfa,6i.i. Choofe 
 
 or*refufe : There is Lite and Death let before 
 
 you. 
 
 Anxious. And what followed thereupon ? 
 Goodnews, There arofe a Mighty Wind 
 {Cant. 4. ult.) out of the North^ that made 
 them fall a trembling,. Atts 9. 6, and cried, 
 Lord ! what wouldfi thou have me te do f A&s 
 2, 37- And being picked at the Hearty they cried 
 cut, What fall we do f This was a great Change, 
 and they cried, What jhall we d<T? It was the 
 Dint of Peter's Accufation, followed with the 
 Pe\yer oi God, that made them feel the 
 Smart of Sin # 7 Sins now, that were pleafant 
 before, were like fo many Daggers at their 
 Hearts. The Comforter hinafelf, when he 
 cometh, he convinceth of Sin. God's Power 
 is feen here, Aft* 6. 10. They were not able 
 to refift the Spirit and the Power, by which 
 he fpake. . He touches them powerfully to do 
 the Thing commanded. So that thefe Perfons 
 meeting with fuch convincing and awakning 
 Calls, ftill wild and weary, cried, What ihall 
 1 do? They were both wild and weary what 
 to do } but vet willing to take any Courfe to 
 be faved. They did not now ftay.tio parley* 
 and cut and carve on /Terms with God % to 
 fay, Lord ipare me Worldly-mindednefs j for 
 . trow there was fome other Thing m their 
 * ^ds than the World ; They did not flay to| 
 r^fc fay 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 1 1 1 
 
 ay, Lord fpare me from Prayer; I trow they 
 ould not hold their Tongues, but cry for 
 ilercy. Like a Man that had a drawn Sword 
 t his Breaft, he is all ardent Prayer, crying^ 
 'ave my Life on any Terms* What fhall I do 
 o be faved ? They did not now flay to fay^ 
 .ord fpare me this and the other Idol ^ for I 
 row they had their fill of Idols by this Time: 
 tod they knew now, that if they could be 
 mi freed of Sin, they would be freed of Dam« 
 lation alfo. And, Hof. 14. 2. Take away all 
 niquity, and receive us gratioufly. They did 
 tot now think k a Burden to be called to ferve 
 }od : I trow they think their Heaven and their 
 Salvation lyeth in this, to get Leave to ferve 
 lim. What fhall we do to be faved ? 
 
 Anxious, And what came of them in thi^ 
 veary Plight ? 
 
 Goodnews. Why ? They had run away fromi 
 jod for ever in Defpair, like Cain and Judas^ 
 md quit Hope of Mercy altogether, had it 
 iot been Paracletes came feafonably in, and 
 :npported them. 
 
 Anxious. And what did Paracletes do id 
 :hem? 
 
 Goodnews. He blew a great Trumpet, witfi 
 fuck a lovely Sound, that ye would havd 
 rhought, all the Time it was founding, Hea- 
 /en was dropping into the Heart, and th^ 
 Soul going oat of it felf into Heave ft. And 
 
^ \ t The Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 Hg iift up bis Voice and cried, I here, \i 
 the Name and Authority of God the Father 
 who hath loved us, and given unto us ever- 
 lafting Confolation •, and in the Name q 
 Chrift, the only Hope and* Happinefs of loi) 
 Sinners } and ia the Name of the Holy Spirit 
 the Comforter of the Weary, Proclaim th 
 King of Heaven's Peace and Pardon to al 
 penitent Sinners ; no more to do, but, Jfa 
 55. 7. Let the Wicked-man forfake his Ways 
 and turn to the Lord, and he will have Mercy o\ 
 him ; and to our Godj and he will abundant^ 
 parden. "Ifa, 1. 16, 17, 18. Ceafe to do Evil 
 Learn to do Well, — and then, —-TV your Sin 
 were as Crimfen and Scarlet^ thfy fiall he mad 
 like the Wool and the Snow. 
 
 1. I Proclaim^ all wild and weary Sinners 
 that wot not what to do to be faved, Come t< 
 the Wonderful Counfelior, Ifa.o. 6. who'wiil te 
 thee what thou mufl do *, and his Counfel i 
 infallible : Never one was loft that took it 
 And if thou take it, He will guide thee with hi 
 Counjel, and hereafter receive thee to Glory, Pfa 
 73. Believe on the Lord J ejus Chrift, end tho 
 fljalt be faved. Lippen fo him, commit th 
 Conduft of thy Ways to him % and credi 
 him for thy Salvation. Do, as if ye were t< 
 be faved by Doing j and lippen no more tj 
 what ye dcr, than if ye had done nothing 
 Take him to be your Surety to God the Fa 
 ther, for you -, And, the Chaftifement of you 
 
 Peac 
 
of Ekcl Sinners. 1 13 
 
 } eace flail be upon him, and through his Stripe 
 e flail be healed, Ifa. 53. 
 
 2. I Proclaim the King's Peace and Pardon, 
 nd an Ail of Indemnity to all that are pur- 
 iied for their Life. Flee from avenging Juftice 
 nto the Mercy of God in Chrift : The Gates 
 re call open to you } the Gates of the Goipel- 
 efuge, and God's Word and Oath for it, that 
 r e mail be fafeif ye come, Heb. 6. i8. That by 
 wo immutable Things^ wherein it is imfojfb'le for 
 iod 4o lie , they might have the more firong Con~ 
 elation*) who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on 
 foe Hope fet before them* 
 
 3. Under the Warrant of the God of Mer- 
 y, and the Lamb of God that taketh away 
 he Sins of the W r orld, I Proclaim the accep- 
 able Year of the Lord to all that have /itten 
 he Gall of the Gofpel till now, that it is the 
 alt Hour, the Glofe of their Life, Mat. 20. 6* 
 ^bout the Eleventh Hour I call upon you that 
 ave flood all the Day idle } Come ye alio in 
 b the Vineyard : Not long in coming, but 
 ever coming will ruine you. Make Hafte m r 
 or the Shadows of the everlalting Evening 
 
 1 re flretched oitt. 
 
 J I 4. I here Declare the Pleafure and gracious 
 li Vill of the God of all Confolation, That all 
 6 hat have grown worfe under Rods, mall now 
 tte v/elcome to Jefus Chrift; yea, tho' they 
 (|>ave, like King Ah ax., finned yet the more 9 Ifa. 
 a 7. 17, 18. It is his fovereign and gracious 
 ■fleafure, that thefe that he hath Tmitten, and 
 a ■ P3 W 
 
% 1 4 T^ e Lofs and Recovery 
 
 yet they have gone on frowardly in the Way { 
 of their Heart, and. now are mourning for it, 
 That he hath fcen their Ways, and that he 
 will heal them, and reftofe Comforts to them, 
 anct r o rheir Mourners. 
 
 5. I alfo Declare and Proclaim Peace in his 1 
 !N ame to all Swearers and perjured Perfons,that 
 have fworn againft the known Truth,theKing'$ 
 Pardon and Indemnity 9 tho% like Peter, they 
 had fworn they never knew Chrift 5 yea, tho* 
 he hath ftoien, and fworn falfly to hide, it, 
 
 \ 6. 5, to 8, All that about which he hath 
 fworn falfly, he fhall reftore a Trefpafs-orTer- 
 ing, and it fhall be forgiven him. Not Swear* 
 ihg, but never relenting, fhall damn him. 
 
 6. I here Declare and Proclaim,in the Name 
 of that God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy, 
 Airthat have fworn to God, and not perfor- 
 med, but gone back, Jer. 3. 14. Return, return, 
 O backfliding Children ; for the Lord is married 
 yet to you. He healeth Backflidings, he recei- 
 
 .h giacioufly. He received Peter, after twice 
 relapfing from him. Seventy and feven Times 
 in a Day will he receive you, if ye fall *, and 
 if ye think ye fail oftner, lippen norhing at 
 aM to what ye have done, but all to Chrift. 
 Have you been all the Day labouring^) keej. 
 clean your Garments, and yet at Kight ye fine 
 them all bedaubed with Mire? Then put of] 
 all your own Righteoufnefs/and on with the 
 Righteoufnefs of Chrift, and let him be calleC 
 The Lord your Right eoufnefs^ Jer 6 23, 6» 
 
 7- Al: 
 
of EleB Sinners. 21 j 
 
 7, AH that are in League with SatanJ and 
 have flied innocent Blood, Come and Welcome - 7 
 Quarters for you. Manajfeh, the Warlock and 
 Shedder of Blood, got Quarters before, you. 
 Here Chrift Hands with outffretched Arms' to 
 receive you : He died, and fullered the Punifli- 
 xnent due to thefe and all other Sins. 
 
 And then he blew the Trumpet again, and 
 cried, Ho ! every one that is ready to perifh 
 in the Land of Egypt, and the Outcafts in the 
 Land of Ajfyria, Come, take Difcharge out of 
 Chrift's Hands-, here is Difcharge for all your 
 Sins : The Trumpet of the Gofpel is founding 
 louder and louder ; he will not go away with- 
 out fome of you. Come, for he commanded 
 ui to corny I you to come in ; Give him'a good 
 Anfwer. O arife and come away, He calleth 
 'you* The M-fter is comey and calleth for you. 
 The Gofpel-JaM** is To-day : All Slaves, 
 home to Liberty ; all Forfeiters, home to your 
 old PoiTeilions again; all VV after-prodigals, 
 home to your Father's warm Houfe again. 
 He cometh running to meet you. The Mafter 
 is come, .and calleth for you. Come away, 
 Captives ; come out of the Pit, ye Prifoners. 
 
 Anxious, And how did they do then ? 
 
 Goodnews. The Son of God, that before 
 came in the Flefli, came now in the Spirit and 
 with Power,and called himfelf,#*. 61. 1,2. The 
 Lord hath fent vfte to proclaim Liberty to the Cap' 
 tives, to open Prifon'doors to them that are bound, 
 to proclaim the acceptable }Ur. of the Lord And 
 V 4. with 
 
2 1 6 Tlie Lofs and Recovery 
 
 with tW he (hook the Foundations of their 
 Prifon, and every Man's Fetters fell from him. 
 But there were fome funk deep in the Pit, in 
 their Prifon-houfe •, and he let, down a Three- 
 fold Cord, of Goof's Love, Chrift's Merit, and 
 the Spirit's Comforts, and drew them u£, being 
 f aft hanqued about their Hearts, And he faid, 
 As for thee alfo, by the Blood of .the Covenant 
 have I brought up thy Trifoners out of the Tit 
 wherein there is no Water. Jer. 31. 3. With Lo* 
 ving-Undnefs mil I draw thee* And then their 
 Fetters were taken off, and they got Liberty, 
 and were fet free from the Power of Juflice, 
 the Dominion and Power of Sin, that kept 
 them fait, and from their Confcience?, that 
 they could not before efcape from the Pain of l 
 And then he fet them upon a Rock 3 and told 
 them what they muft further do. 
 
 Anxious. What were they next to do ?. 
 
 Goodnews* There came near to them One, 
 whofe Name was WONDERFUL, COUN- 
 SELLOR, and faid to them, All that are for 
 efcaping from Wrath to come, to win out of 
 this Captivity and Prifon, muft, 1. Renounce 
 their former Ways, and the ill Manners of the 
 Place that they live in, Pfal. 45. 10. Hearken, 
 O Daughter^ and confider \ Forget alfo thy P nple, 
 find thy Father's Houfe. Caft afide all your ove 
 to Superftition and humane Inventions •, lay 
 afide exceiiive Love to; the World and its pe- 
 riling Pleafnres, Rcv % 12. 1, hold your Feet 
 >ipon the changeable yv r orld ; lay afide ail your 
 
 Sins 5v 
 
of EleSl Sinners. % \ y 
 
 Sins, never to receive them again \ fay unto 
 God, 'take away all Iniquity ,Hof. 14. 2. Lay afide 
 all Conformity to the Men oi the World, 
 1 Thefj* 5. 6\ Do not as others do, who. mind 
 earthly Things, whofe Earth is their Heaven, 
 whofe Belly vs their god, whole good Wifhes is 
 their Chrift, who have a Flatterer for their 
 Minifter, whofe End is DeftruHhn, whofe Plea- 
 fares are Poifon. Moreover, 1 obteft and ad- 
 jure you, that ye henceforth wtlk net at other 
 G 'entiles , in the Vanity of your Mmds *, Whofe 
 Minds are taken up with Things vain and 
 empty, that will quickly periih : Thatyehate 
 the Light no longer : That ye be no longer 
 alienated from the Life of God, thro' the 
 Ignorance that is in you, becaufe of the Blind* 
 nefs of your Mind •, But that ye follow on ro 
 know the Lord. Read the Scriptures, wait 
 upon Ordinances, where Knowledge is to be 
 had : Pray over the Word and Ordinances, 
 that ye may get the faving Meaning thereof, 
 TfaL 119. it. Lord, open mine Eyes, that I may 
 behold the Wonders that are in thy Law. Eph. 
 4, 22. Put' off \ concerning the former Convcrf at i~ 
 on, she old Man, which is corrupt according to de- 
 ceitful Lufts* Be ye not conform to the World, but 
 transformed, by the renewing of your Minds. 
 
 2. Ye mult turn to the Lord's Ways pre-, 
 fenely, and that without Delay, Pfai. up, 
 
 59, do. I thought upon my Ways. / made 
 
 Hf$t>y and delayed not % —— but turned my Feet 
 
 unto 
 
2 1 8 Tloe Lofs and ^coVery 
 
 unto, thy Testimonies* It is not Time to reafbn, 
 
 when we mould be running. 
 
 3. Ye muft deny your felves, Luke p. 23. 
 And take up your Crofs and follow me. Have 
 your Eye to God's Glory • and that in all Dif- 
 ficulties : Ye muft hold on your Way, that 
 ye may demonfirate that ye are righteous. 
 
 4. Ye muft take you to the Way of the 
 heavenly Travellers, Jer. 6. 16. Ask for the 
 old Path, where is the good Way t and walk there- 
 in j and ye jh all find Reft to your Souls. 
 
 %• Ye muft be very laborious and diligent 
 in the Way, Heb. 6. 10. Be not (lothful, but 
 Followers of them, who through Faith and Patience 
 have inherited the Promifes. Ye muft run, and 
 . >fo run that ye may obtain, I Cor. 9. 24. And, 
 in your Running, ye muft do thefe Things : 
 
 (1.) Set Chrift before you, look to him: 
 Rnn, looking to Jefus, from your firft letting 
 out on your Way from this Prifon into which 
 ye were imprifoned, when thruft out of Eden, 
 Earthly Paradife, till ye be in Heavenly Para- 
 d-'ce. Ay Jefus, and ay Jefus. For, if ye 
 begin to look on Difficulties, and pore too 
 much upon your own Unworthinefs, ye, will 
 faint and give over : Say, with the good King, 
 Lord, we have no Might againft this great Compa- 
 ny, neither know we what- to do, but our Eyes are 
 towards thee, 
 
 (2.) Look to the End ye would be at, the 
 Salvation of your Souls, For I am to give you 
 
 ft 
 
of EleH Sinners. 1 1 p 
 
 a Rule, That, if ye obferve, ye mall have 
 Peace and Mercy upon you, Gal. 6. 16. 
 
 (3.) That ye may attain to the End, take 
 the Rule with you to direft you to it, If a. 8. 
 20*. To the Law and to the Teftimony* Lay 
 Weight on ^nothing, do nothing, believe no- 
 thing, as neceiTary to Salvation, but what is 
 contain'd in this Rule *, and cut or carve on 
 nothing that is contained in it, Pfal. 119. 6. 
 Then flmll I not be ajliamed^ when I have a Reftetb 
 to all thy Commandments. 
 , And befides this, If ye would* thrive in 
 the Way, make fure Work to begin with z 
 Do not raflily count the Coft, ^ft* when ye 
 meet with fome Difficulties, that ye laid not 
 your Account with, ye give over. Count the 
 Gain and the Lofe , and be lure that ye be 
 well refolved, and make a right Choice, that 
 ye will abide by, Jofh. 24. Choofe you thts Day 
 whom ye will ferve, whether the gods oh the other 
 Side of the Flood 9 or the God of Heaven and 
 Earth : And then, when ye have chofen him, 
 make a Bargain with him, That ye will be for 
 him y and not for another ^ and that he will be 
 With you, and be to you Solomon's Bleffed Se- 
 cond : Two are better than One •, if the One fall 9 
 the Other will help him up again. Do as Mofes 
 did, make Proteftation To-day againft all Com- 
 pany and Guides that he will fend before you, 
 if he go not himfelf, Excd. 33. / will fend 
 mine Angel before you, and drive out before you 
 the Inhabitants j and take you to a Land flowing 
 
 with 
 
2 2 o 37;£ Lofs and Recovery 
 
 with Milk and Hony. But, fays Mofes, Lord, 
 if thou go not up with us^ carry us not up hence : 
 What care we for an Angel ? will that fave 
 us ? \Vhat care we for a Canaan- ? are we a 
 Flock of Swine to fwill in Canaan ? And what 
 care we for Heaven, if it were not for Chrift? 
 Ye muft fay of the Lord, This God is our God 
 for ever and ever, he faedl be our Guide even unto 
 Death. Thefe Things faid he unto thir poor 
 weary Creatures, Who is wife in Counfel^ and 
 excellent in Working. 
 
 And when he had fo faid, I efpied two Men 
 amongfl the reft, who had heard very atten- 
 tively^ And they faid, Whatjoever the Lord 
 hath fpoken^ we will do • we will keep thy Com- 
 mandments, O for fake us not utterly. The 
 Name of the One was Faith, and the Name 
 of the other Fear. 
 
 Fear. Fear came trembling, and cried out, 
 f perijh ! I fear exceedingly and tremble, left 
 fome Mifchief befal me in the Way, before 
 I win from this Land of my Captivity, to 
 the Jieavenly Paradife, What mail I do? 
 Hell and Earth will all be aeainft me.. 
 
 Faith. What flicnld ye do, Man ? Do as' 
 JSJoah, Heb. ir. Who being warned of God, as 
 we are, and moved with tear, as thou art at 
 this Time, he prepared an Ark, and thereby 
 he and bis ilou r e woe fayed. Do as David did, 
 if Time t^mi rfraid, I \v?U trufi in thee. 
 
 Fesu. What .fliall I then do ? 
 
 1- 
 
of Elect Sinners. 211 
 
 Faith. Why ? Man ! Get God upon your 
 Side, VfaU 46., 7. T^e £0^ 0/ //,?/?* « ;>/*& mj, 
 fta God .of Jacob /'* oz/r Refuge. 
 
 Fear, what (hall we do to get him on our 
 Side ? » 
 
 jRf/r/7. Even let us be on his Side *, and let 
 us give him our Heart, and our Promife up- 
 on it. 
 
 Fear. What Way fhall we do ? 
 
 Faith* Do as Wonderful Counfellor bade 
 yon, enter into Covenant with him, like that 
 Covenant betwixt the Prophet and his Wife, 
 ' Hof. 3. If thou wilt be for me, thou fhalt not be 
 for another Man ; fo will I alfo be for thee. 
 For, the Lord is with us, while we are with 
 him. 
 
 Fear. What Way fhall we Covenant? 
 
 Faith. We may do k in Heart, and by ver- 
 bal Promife. But, that it may be the more 
 lively done, and engaging upon our Hearts, 
 let us write it, and fear and fet our Names to 
 the End of it. 
 
 Fear. What Warrant have we for that ? 
 
 Faith. The Lord's Warrant, If a. 44. 5. One 
 fljall fay, I am the Lord's, another jhall fubfcribe 
 with the Hand to God, and jurname himfelf by the 
 Name of the God 0/ Jacob. Say unto him, I am 
 thy poor fear *d Body \ tho' I be fear d, yet I am 
 thine, \ and deliver me from my Fears, as thou 
 haft done others like me, Pfal.. 34. This poor 
 Man cried, and the Lord heard, and delivered him 
 
 from 
 
22 1 The Lo/s and Recovery 
 
 from all his Fears. And, in this Covenant, pro- 
 jmife to ferve him. 
 
 Fear. Serve him ! Who would refute that, 
 that had gotten Help at fuch a dead Lift, as 
 «ve have gotten ? V^hen the Pains of Hell took 
 hold upon me, and the Sorrows of Death compaf- 
 fed me about, I was as low as could, be, and he 
 helped me, Pfal. nd. I was dead, and he quick- 
 ned me : I was bound with weary Chains, and 
 he hath loofed me. Truly, O Lord, I am thy 
 Servant, I am thy Servant : Thou haft loofed my 
 Bands , my Bands ha(l thou loofed, I will never 
 forget that : If I were two Men, I would ferve 
 thee. / am thy Servant, I am thy Servant* If 
 t were all the Creatures of God, he iliould 
 have all my Service : But iince I am. but one 
 Man, I mall be "his Chamberlain, to crave his 
 Rent of Glory from all the World, Pfal. i*8. 
 Traife the Lord, ye Heavens, Angels, Sun and 
 Moon, Fire and Tempefts, Mountains and Woods, 
 Traife him, all Be aft s and Fowls -^ praife him, Kings 
 and People, both young Men and Maidens, old 
 Men and Children, lend me a Lift with his 
 Praife ; and let me hear nothing but Heaveri 
 and Earth ringing with his Praife. O come ! 
 let us join our [elves to the Lord. And let Fear 
 take him with a trembling Hand to Day : And 
 let Faith hold him ; and let the Covenant be 
 advifedly gone about, and well fecured, # never 
 to be forgotten, J/a. 50. 5, 6. And let 113 
 come abafing ourfelves, as unworthy to wafli 
 the Feet of our Lord's Servants - always 
 ' N fearing 
 
of EleEl Sinners. ii? ? 
 
 "earing left the Heart be not right: But yet 
 ix it as well as we can. 
 
 Faith. Yea, and with ftrong Faith, that he 
 /vill not difdain to enter into Covenant 
 with us. For what ? Man, he hath faid, 
 Jam. I. He ufbraideth none', Carls pot up old 
 Faults : All Bygones are Bygones, and fair Flav- 
 in Time coming Hath he not faid, And him 
 that cometh to me, I will in no-wife caft nut f 
 But withal, O let both of us be careful, that 
 we be holy*, For, he is glorious in Holinefs i 
 and will look on none that are not warned 
 from Sin, that have not got a fan&ifying Sight 
 of the Lamb of God. O 1 let us Behold the 
 Lamb of God^ that tahth away the Sin of the 
 Wprld j who calleth for all that enter into Co- 
 venant with fiim to he holy : Be ye -holy, as he 
 that hath called you is holy ', And that in all 
 Manner of Connjerfation. Alfo, let us be Heart- 
 holy : He calleth for this, Jer. 4. 14. Q-Jc- 
 rufalem, wafli thine % Heart from Wickednefs, thai 
 thou mayeft be faved. For this is a holy Co- 
 venant: We mtift be holy, Luke 1. 72. 
 
 Fear. Howfhall we become holy ? 
 
 Faith. By Faith in 'the Blood of Chrift, 
 AtJs I J, 9. Purifying their Hearts by 
 Faith, Faith is the Hand, ChrifTs Blood like 
 I the Sope and Nitre, Alls 26. 18. That we might 
 receive forgive nefs of. Sins, and Inheritance ammo- 
 
 them that are fa ctlfied through Faith, Faith 
 
 lets fee the Fikhineis of Sin, the Power of 
 ChrifVs Blood to cleanfe frem Sin, and that 
 
 this 
 
±1\ The Lo/s mi ${cc<n>ery 
 this Blood was ihed on Purpofe*fo take away 
 the Sin of the World. And therefore, to this 
 Blood it runneth, and crieth, O waih, purge, 
 cleanfe me, create a clean Eeart. All Things are 
 pojfible to them that believe. Only ' believe, and 
 and all fhall be well. Now, 
 
 When they had faid thus, they fet apart a 
 Time to pray. And then they covenanted with 
 God, each engaged in his own Perfon, faying, 
 
 Lord y I am a condemned Sinner, juftly de- 
 prived of all the Mercies of the Covenant of 
 Works. And that I am by Nature an jilien 
 from the Common-wealth of Jfrael^ and a 
 Stranger to the Covenants of Promife ; and 
 have long lived without God, and without 
 Hope : And all the Threatnings of the Book 
 of God belong unto 'me. And I have been 
 in a League with Hell and Sin, a^d the 
 -World, and many ftrange Lovers -, and yet 
 thought to be faved by a Covenant of Works, 
 and by my own poor Morality. And I con- 
 fefs it were jufl with God to cad me off, and 
 fend me to Ruin, with all the Curfes of a bro- 
 ken Covenant of Works-, yea, and the Ven- 
 geance of the defpifed' glorious Mediator. 
 But, fince it hath pleafed Jehovah, Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghoft, to provide a Remedy for pe- 
 riming Sinners, and One that is able ^nd wil- 
 ling to fave and redeem all that quit their 
 former Lovers, and takeon with Chrift- There- 
 fore, I do herethis Day, in the Sight of. God, 
 
 Fa- 
 
of Elefl Sinners. a 2 y 
 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, and in the Sight 
 :>f all the holy Angels, Renounce my Covenant 
 with Sin, Death and Hell, and with all Idols 
 with whom I have been fo long in Love. I 
 Renounce, I give up with the Wicked of the 
 World 5 I mall follow their wicked Counfels 
 no longer, nor keep unneceffary Company with 
 them. I do, moreover, Renounce all Sin 
 without Exception, fmall.or great, whether 
 more Common, or more Beloved ^ all Soul- 
 deftroying Idols •, away with them all, I will 
 never have more to do with them. Moreover, 
 here, in the Sight of the Heart-fearching God, 
 I give up with, and renounce all Hope of Sal- 
 vation in and by a Covenant of Works, or any 
 Thing that / can do. And do here in God's 
 Strength, notwithstanding, promife to be as 
 dihgent in obferving God's Holy Law, as if 
 I were to be faved by a Covenant of Works, 
 t6 make it my only and continual Rule of 
 Obedience. 
 
 I do here alfo avouch the Lord to be my 
 God : And, raking the Surety of the New 
 Covenant engaged for me, Promife, That I 
 mall henceforth be for him, and not for ano- 
 ther : That this Soul of mine fhall be his ; 
 The Vnderftandwg imployed in fearching out 
 what is moft for his Glory, and mod accept- 
 able to^iim •, The Will, to be averfe to every 
 Thing that may difpleafe him, and to Will 
 and Defire every Thing that he Willcth y I 
 furrender it to him> not what I think belt, 
 
 Q. bat; 
 
116 The Lofs and (Recovery 
 but what he knows bell to be done *, not what 
 I will* but what he will be done. Alfo, that 
 my Hatred fhall *be againft that abominable 
 Thing that he hateth, and my Love .on that 
 which he loveth, and that I fhall have com- 
 mon Friends and Enemies with him« 
 
 I do here alfo freely and heartily reftgn. I 
 give over the Body, to him, that the Feet fhall 
 run his Errands, the Hands work for him, the 
 Ears to hear his Inftrutlions, the Tongue to^ 
 praife him, and commend him to others. I 
 give over myfelf wholly to him, as a living 
 Sacrifice, willing to undergo all Hazards; and 
 Co fummer and winter with him, to go to the 
 Crown and the Crofs with him, to go to the 
 City and to the Wildernefs with him^ ' and 
 not to count my Life dear unto me, nor my 
 Blood to be ilied in Defence of his Truth, and 
 for his Glory -, and that Life nor Death, Per- 
 iecution nor Famine, fhall never Hinder him 
 and me. I do acknowledge, that God's Love 
 was fo great, that he fent his Son to redeem *, 
 and that Chrift that was crucified at Jerufa* 
 lem, is the only Saviour of loft Sinners j and 
 that the H ly Spirit is the Applier of that Sal- 
 tion •, the Convicler, the Comforter, the 
 San^ifier and the Sealer of the Heirs of the 
 Promife, over to Glory. 
 
 I do alio declare, That I would . ndt wifh 
 one Jot or one Title of the weli-prdered Co- 
 venant changed ; but that my Heart. were more 
 changed, and fitter to obferve and perform the 
 
 Terms 
 
of EleEl Sinners. zy 
 
 Terms required : And I heartily biers God 
 that ever contrived thi# Way of making up 
 loft Sinners *, and I blefs thee, that, I think, 
 haft awakned me, and determined, in any 
 Meafure, my Heart to clofe with thee. And 
 I crave Leave to renew this Covenant,as oft as 
 I mall break it •, and I beg it, and I do believe 
 it, that, tho' I fail in ray Part, yet God 
 fhall never fail in his Part, but it may ftand 
 firm like a Rock } and the more 1 believe the 
 Covenant to be fure on thy Part, the more I 
 deilreKfco be fure on niy. Part, that I may be 
 the more like unto thee. I thus, as I can^ 
 mew my Defire to requite Mercy thankfully. 
 And now, I call myfelf upon thee intirely^ 
 both for Strength to keep, and thy Bleifmg to 
 follow upon this Covenant and Refignation. I 
 do here let to my Seal,that this God is my Go( 
 for ever and ever, and mall be my Guide even 
 to Death} and I am his for Time and Eternity. 
 Then the Lord anfwered them, Haft thou, 
 O broken-hearted Sinner, laid hold on me 
 with a trembling Hand ? I will ftrengthen the 
 weak Hands. Haft thou avouched the Lord 
 to be thy God ? I do alfo avouch thee to be 
 • mine : I do promife thee, that thou fhalt keep 
 my Statutes and Judgments to do them. . 1 
 here alfb promife thee, in my Son, that I 
 freely pardon and forgive all the Sins that ever, 
 thou haft committed *, and that I will not purfue 
 the Covenant of Works with thee any, more* 
 nor charge thy Sins upon thee. I alfo promife 
 Q. 2 that; 
 
az8 Tioe Lofs and Recovery 
 that thou fhalt not be a Stranger to the 
 Covenants of Promife, any more *, but this is 
 the Covenant that I make with thee, I will be 
 merciful to your Unrighteoufnefs, and that I 
 will give thee my Righteoufnefs to juftify thee. 
 I alfo deUre to thee, that this Covenant thou 
 haft fubfcribed, it is io well-ordered in all 
 Things and fure, that all thy Sins fhall not 
 be able to wynd thee out of it } and that, tho' 
 the Hills depart, and the Mountains be remo- 
 ved, that my Kindnefs fhall not depart from 
 thee, nor the Covenant of my Peace be re- 
 moved, I promife, moreover^ That if thou 
 break the Covenant, I will puniih thee with 
 the Rod, but my Covenant will 1 not break, 
 nor alter the Word that is gone out of my 
 Mouth. Moreover , I promiie thee, that I 
 will go with thee, and be with thee in Trouble, 
 and will deliver thee*, when thoupaffefl thorow 
 the Waters, I will be with thee. 1 have made, 
 and I will carry thee -, and whatever Duties I 
 A equire, I will give Strength to perform. My 
 Grace fhall be fufficient for thee, and my 
 Strength made perfect in thy Weaknefs. And, 
 that thou meet with many Troubles by the 
 Way, yet out of them all thou fhalt go into 
 Paradife j through many Tribulations fhall you 
 enter into the Kingdom of God. And, befide 
 this, I give you the Earned: oi Heaven upon 
 it, the Spirit of God to feal and make fure 
 the Bargain, Efh. i. 13, 14. That when ye 
 find the Confolations ofjthe Spirit, and his 
 
 Witnefs 
 
of EkSl Sinners. zip 
 
 Witnefs with your Spirits, that ye are in a 
 Covenant-Relation with God, ye may know 
 that "Heaven is as fure to yon, as if ye were 
 in Glory already. And now, that was a 
 fweet Word to them, In whom, after ye belie- 
 ved, ye were fe ale d with the holy Spirit of Promife 5 
 Which is the Earneft the Inheritance, And, 
 that they might be the more fure, he promifed 
 to give them vifible Tokens of his Love, by 
 inviting them to a Feaft, where he was to rati- 
 fy and confirm what he had promis'd} and bade 
 them fanctify themfelves, and come away. 
 And now, when they faw the wonderiul Love 
 of God to them, and the Means he made 
 Ufe of for tranilating of them to this happy 
 Condition, they began and fang as followeth. 
 And Fear, he began thus, 
 Fear. 
 The Lord's Bo* verges did come down, 
 
 when I in Priion lay, 
 A Slave of Satan, Heir of Hell, 
 
 and yet fecure that Day. 
 A dreadful Trumpet he did blow, 
 
 which founded with fuch Might, 
 That I thought I was gone that Day, 
 
 I fell in fuch a Fright. 
 My Heart, it doth yet quake for Fear 
 
 when I think on his Words *, 
 That ev'ry Sentence he did fpeak, 
 
 did pierce my Heart like Swords. 
 And, had not CHRIST fuftained me ? 
 
 Td furely died there. 
 
 Q.3 We'll 
 
t^q The Lojs and Recovery 
 .We'll never ken the Worth of Chrift, 
 
 till once we do defpair. 
 Our Spirits finking under Wrath, 
 
 'and all Helps fecklefs prove - 7 i 
 
 And Chrifl do hank our Hearts with Cords, 
 
 and pull us out with Love. 
 Then all Belays are laid afide ? 
 
 no Sin referved then •, 
 On any Terms to be faved, 
 I think we are right fain; 
 Faith. 
 drift's then receiv'd, and clofed with : ? 
 
 what Promifes he faith 
 To us, are all then heeded well, 
 
 and gripped hard by Faith. 
 He bade me run and covenant : 
 I trow, right glad was I, 
 That I to him might be unite 
 
 by Faith 9 as by a Ty. 
 And now. to Satan and to Sin 
 
 I here do bid adieu : 
 Foi Chrift is mhse, and I am his, 
 
 I'll have no more of .you. 
 I you defy,*and all your Might - 7 
 
 tho' ye a while conteft, 
 Your Life remains, but Power is gone, 
 I'll conquer you at laftv 
 Thanks to God, and not tojne, 
 l ever it was fo. 
 I am for Chrift. Now get you gone 
 to Sorrow and to Wo. 
 
 Sweet 
 
of Eleft Sinners. 231 
 
 Fear, 
 Sweet Paracletes came in Time, 
 
 when fcorcht with Hell within^ 
 Like cooling Waters, Comforts then ' 
 
 about my Soul did run. 
 The Confolations of the Word 
 
 fo fweetly did declare, 
 That by the fame he kept poor Fear 
 
 from running to Defpair. 
 Boanerges and his Fellow both, 
 
 two worthy Men and dear,' 
 God help the Nations that are loft 
 
 and never did them hear. 
 They have fuch Pow'r, when God affifts, 
 
 to comfort and affright, 
 Poor "Things thereby tranflated are 
 
 from Darknefs unto Light. 
 Faith, 
 The Counfellor, that Wonderful, 
 
 came fweetly paffing by, 
 And weary Wights Directions gave, 
 
 I on his Word rely. 
 He called us unto a Feaft, 
 
 where we muft be but fail * 7 
 The Covenant that's made with us 
 
 there we'll get to the Seal. 
 I will creep near, and hold him faft, 
 
 his Promife plead will I. 
 I'll feaft upon his dying Love, 
 
 and Hallelujah** cry. 
 Goodnevos, Then came up Goodntxcs and cried,, 
 M 7 'bines are ready, come to the 'Mtftriage^ 
 Q. 4 M** 
 
r^r The Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 Matth. 22. 4* Come eat of my Bread and drink 
 ef the Wine that I have mingled. All is ready 
 on God's Part, is there any Man ready ? 
 
 Fear .Then anfwered Fw,May a Man that hath 
 prepared his Heartland yet not prepared accor* 
 ding to the Preparation of the Sanctuary, come? 
 
 Goodnews. Yes. The good Lord will par- 
 don fuch, providing they have on the Wed- 
 ding-garment, tho' all be not fo as it ought, 
 Matth. 22. II, 12. 
 
 Fear. A Wedding-garment! What's that? 
 
 Goodnews. It is the Right eouftiefs of Chrift : 
 Have you betaken yourfelves to that ? That is 
 the Wedding-garment that is fought here. 
 For the King did not ask at the'Gueft, Whe- 
 ther he had not failed in Duty, or committed 
 Sin? No } but, How came thou, not having 
 on the Wedding-garment ? And (Thrift's 
 Righteoufnefs is called a Garment, becaufe it 
 hides Shame, Original and A&ual Sin, and 
 covers ail Failings in Duty-, and Infirmitv, 
 and inricheth $nd beantifieth the Perfons that 
 have it, PfaL 45. When, the King's Daugh- 
 ter hath it on, it is faid of her, She is all 
 Glorious , and her Garments of wrought Gold. 
 
 Fear. I was juft now, I and my noble Com- 
 panion Faith, calling off the Rags of our 
 own Righteoufnefs, and declaring we were 
 willing tobefavedby Chrift's Righteoufnefs. 
 
 Gcodvews. Then come away, tho' thou be 
 not free of all Fears. Let us rejoice and be 
 giao 1 , and give Honaur to him, For the Mar- 
 riage 
 
of EUEl Sinners. 233 
 
 riage of the Lamb is come, and bis Wife hath 
 made her f elf rcaty. 
 
 Then they came forward : But poor Fear 
 grew very Gold, and fell a trembling for Cold, 
 and cried out, O what an Habit is this I am 
 in ? I am not able to go to this Feaft, nor fit 
 at the Table, for exceffive Cold, Luke 24. 
 21. 1 thought I had been fafe and fure, and I 
 perifli for Cold : Is there no Way to fave me ? 
 No Fire to be had ? 
 
 Faith. Then his Companion Faith fainted a 
 little at this alfo, Luke 24. 21. But reviving 
 again,i/. 32. he ran in Hafte,and gathered Wood 
 and Coals together, Gal, 5,5. For Faith worketh 
 by Love. And when Faith had wrought a little 
 Space, and blew the Fire, the Flame began 
 to ariie to a high Degree, that he began Co 
 fay, I am like to be burnt, Luke 24. 32. Did 
 not our Hearts burn within h;, while be talked 
 whb us ? And then cried out, Cant. 8. <5. Set 
 me as a Seal upon thine Hearty and as a Seal upon 
 thine Arm : For Love will be my Death, if I 
 be not glewed to the Heart of Chrift •, for 
 the Coals thereof are Coals oi Fire, that 
 burnetii with a mod vehement Flame. And 
 was not this a great and fudden Change ? That 
 he that durft not go to the King's Table, left 
 he had perifhed with Cold, immediately durft 
 not flay away, left he had been burnt to Death 
 with Fire if he had not gone. And ever fince 
 1 faw thjs, I was the more in Love with 
 Frith, that wrought fo, by Love, upon the 
 
 poor 
 
234 Tl- e J-°fi an ^ fycoVery 
 poor Man Fear : For when I faw it, . I greatly 
 rejoiced j for, by Believing, I fee Men come to 
 rejoice with Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory, 
 
 Fear, Then faid Fear, I am fallen into an ex- 
 ceiliye Hunger and Thirft : And with this he 
 fainted again the fecond Time $ and as he 
 fainted, he cried out, Pfal. <53« K 2. My Saul 
 thirft eth for the e, my Flejh longeth for thee 9 in a 
 thirfiy Land, where there is no Water, 
 
 Faith. But when Faith law this, he ran to 
 the King, and faid, Thou haft faid, O Mafter oi 
 the Feaft, That they are blejfed that hunger and 
 thirft; after Right eeufnefs :_ For they [hall be filled, 
 3Be as good as thy Word : For, I fear, if thou 
 make not Hafte, there is a poor Man fainted 
 here, he will be dead ere thou come. And 
 then FAITH carne.again to him, and wondred 
 that he was yet alive : For the Mafter of the 
 Feaft delayed a little to try him, and asked 
 how {ie was fuftained ? And he faid, By Faith 1 
 For / had fainted, yea died outright, except 1 
 had believed to fee the Goodnefs ,ef the Lord in 
 the Land of the Living. Then laid Faith to the 
 Mafter,0 / Give firqng Drink to him that is ready 
 toperip^andWine to him that is of a, heavy Heart : 
 Let him forget his Poverty y and remember his 
 Miferync^ mire; And the Mafter anfwered, 
 / will fatisfy the longing Soul, and fill the Hungry 
 with good Things-, And with that, He brought 
 him into the Banmieting-houfe, (for, He carrieth 
 the Lambs in his B of cm, and gathereth them with 
 his Arm) and fet him down at the Table * 
 
 « for 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 2 3 5* 
 
 >r he could not have come, if he had not 
 een brought : And then fet up a Banner over 
 is Head, wkh this Motto , LOVE. He loved me, 
 d waflied me from all my Sins in his own Shod. 
 fc nd then the Table was f umiihed with Guefts^ 
 id the Food fet upon the Table. But, of 
 tl the Feafts that ever I faw, this was the moft 
 oble : It is called, If a. 25. 6. A Feaft of fat 
 lyings, full f/ Marrow: And fo may they 
 rell be called, for the Bread and the Wine 
 pat was going in Plenty ; there was Bread 
 f Life, and Water of Life , they were the; 
 londuits through which Eternal Life was con- 
 eyed to the Soul, John 6. 53. The Body 
 rid the Blood of Chrift was firft prefented ^ 
 hd then the Maiier faid, Eat, O Friends, and 
 rink abundantly , O Beloved : And Peace with 
 iod, and the Pardon of Sin go down with it a 
 
 2. All the Graces of the Spirit were pre- 
 jnted, ftrengthning, renewing, and comfort- 
 ig Grace ; and when they .were prefented, he 
 lid, O tafte and fee that the Lord is gracious I 
 md then Faith, Hop, Love, Joy, Affurance be- 
 an to increafe, and they rejoiced in Hope of 
 he Glory of God* 
 
 3. There were brought all the Privileges of 
 ie People of God, Jufiification, Ado f ion, 
 ^notification; with Exemption from allMifery, 
 nd a Right to all that could make them hap- 
 y ; And then he faid to them, Let ftrong 
 )rink be given to them that are ready to perifh ; 
 <t them drink and forget thsir Poverty, and re- 
 member 
 
2 1 6 The Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 member, their Mifery no more y Prov. 31. €. 
 They got the Privilege of Servants. 2. Of 
 Friends. 3. Oi Marriage with the Latnb^ &c. 
 
 4. The Word of God was brought : And 
 
 here, they feafted iweetly on the Prornifes, 
 
 Jer. 15. 1 6. Thy Words were found, and I did 
 
 eat them, and they were to me the Joy and Re* 
 
 joking of my Soul. 
 
 5. The firm Hope of Glory, TJal. up. 
 166 . J hoped for thy Solvation, O Lord. 
 
 6. The Prefence of Chrift was the Life of 
 all. For, if that had been a-wanting, they 
 could not feaft: For, when the Bridegroom is 
 taken from them, then they faft in thofe Days : , 
 But they cannot faft as long as he is prefent 
 with them, for he muft blefs the Feaft, and 
 fanffify the Food to them when he comes *, 
 and then they eat which are bidden. His Pre- 
 fence makes a cheerful Feaft, Cant. 5. 1. / am 
 
 come, Eat, Friends. Pfal. 36. 8, 9. They 
 
 (hall be abundantly faiisfied with the Fatnefs of 
 thy Houfe, for with thee is the Fountain of Life. 
 All his Attributes were upmaking : His Power 
 to redeem, //e&. 7.25. 2. His Mercy, 1 Tim. 
 
 1 . t 5. The Grace of God was exceeding abundant 
 towards me, through Faith and Love which is in 
 Chrift: J ejus. 3.°The Jufice and Faithfulnefs 
 of God, 1 John 1. 9. He it faithful and jufi to 
 forgive Sin. 4. The Sealing* and Con felat ions of 
 'the Spirit made it a great Feaft; when* after 
 they believed, they were feded with the Spirit of 
 Promife. Made like God in Holinefs, and Sal- 
 vation 
 
of EleH Sinners. i^y 
 
 ation made fure. This exceedingly cotnfor- 
 ed them, Prov. 15. 15. A merry Heart is a 
 ontlnud Ft aft. I trow, when all thefe Difhes 
 vere preferred, they thought they had got- 
 eti a Feaft. And when they had fo feafted, 
 le faid to them, Ye have a great Journey to 
 r on the Strength of this Meat, and firong 
 Dppofition : But, hold on your Way, and ye 
 hall renew your Strength. And the Time 
 is approaching, when ye fhall drink this Wine 
 lew in the Father's Kingdom. 
 
 And when they had fo continued Feafiing 
 for a fliort Time, they had been fo ierved be- 
 fore, and the Food was fo rare and excellent, 
 that they fell into a Swarf, and cried out, 
 Cant. 2. 4, 5. He hath brought me into the Banquet- 
 ing-houfe, and his Banner over me was Love. O 
 ft ay me with Flagon j, comfort me with Apples, 
 for I am fick of Love. And then I wondred 
 at them, that they could neither bear Well, 
 nor Wo \ for they fainted for Hunger before, 
 and now they fainted with Plenty, and cried, 
 Comfort me with Apples \ or, Straw me a Bed 
 with Apples, for I am fick of Love. It was as 
 wonderful, that they cried for the fame Thing 
 to cure them, that had made them fick: It 
 was Love that made them fick, and yet they 
 would have an Apple of the fame Tree that 
 made them fick to cure them, and a Flagon 
 of the fame Wine that made them faint to-re- 
 frefh them. It is not little will fatisfythem, 
 They were now well feafted \ - and now they 
 
 can- 
 
2}§ The Lo/s arid Recovery 
 cannot work till they win to Reft : Straw me a 
 Bed with Apples. And, not being able to en- 
 dure longer, they went to Bed -, and when 
 they found it fo noble and excellent, they 
 cried out. Cant. 3. Behold, his Bed^ which is Sa- 
 lomon's, —valiant Men are about it ' and foft is 
 it made. It had for its Pillow, Gofpel-promi- 
 ]es- for its Pillars to fupport it, Everlafrmg 
 Arms underneath •, ior Clothes, they were 
 wound in the everlafting Right eoufnefs of Chrift ; 
 and all the Clothes of it lined with Love - 7 it 
 had a fragrant Smell, all flawed with Apples. 
 And; then they faid one to another. This is 
 the Reft where he cfrhfeth the Weary to reft, and this 
 is the Refreshing. Not only was this a Reft 
 from Toil, but a Reft from Fear, a Reft for a 
 weary Spirit from the Curfe of the Law, a 
 Reft from the Juftice of God, and from the 
 Accufations of Conference, a Refting in Hope 
 (Pfal, 16.) of Glorification, from Fears of 
 Death, Hell and Wrath ; fo that they feared 
 little more than if they had been poffeiTed of the 
 Saints everlafiing Reft already.- Befide,they were 
 fafe from Night-fears, and fudden Accidents 5 
 for it had a Guard of valiant Men about it, a 
 Guard of Angels, Pfal. 34. 7. 2. Of Divine 
 Attributes, Zech, 2. 5. Thus faith the Lord, I 
 will he a Wall of Fire round about thee, and the 
 Glory in the Mid(l of thee. Pfal. 91. 4, 5. 'Thou 
 (halt. n'6t fear for the Terrors of the Night, for his 
 kefs jhall he a Shield and Buckler unto 
 ?, and under his Wings fk'dithdu trufrii And 
 
 then 
 
of EleH Sinners* 2 3 9 . 
 
 then they faidj We will both lay us down and 
 fleepy and take our Reft, for the Lord done 
 maketh us to dwell fafely. And then they fell 
 alleep, and fleeping, dreamed each One his 
 Dream, which they told to one another when 
 they awoke. 
 
 Fear's Dream. 
 
 Fear. I dreamed, fays he, and lo! I went 
 aftray upon an Evening from my Father's 
 Houfe j and, behold, I heard a great Noife 
 of Men coming to meet me } and when they 
 were come up to me, they asked me, Whence 
 I came, and what I did in this Place ? I told 
 them, that I had gone aftray from my Father's 
 Houfe, and could get no Place to lodge in ; 
 and that the Night was very tempeftuous with 
 Thunder and Rain, and I was afraid of being 
 loft in fome River, or fall into fome Pit, and 
 be deftroyed. They asked me. If I had any ' 
 Money ? I anfwered, Yes-, but all little enough 
 to carry me Home. 'They anfwered, We are 
 well met, for we have none .- Either render 
 whajt you have, ctherwife we 'fhall put you 
 out of Fear. Which, when they had faid, 
 they led me off the Way, and robbed me of 
 jnany excel lenr. Things, Luke 10. 35. . Then 
 had I Mind of that poor Man, who went from 
 
 .fdlem to Jericho^ and fell among Thieves. 
 And, faid he, O good Faithful, if ye knew 
 how they handled me, ye would wonder : 
 I V/r* Man, they robbed me of my pre- 
 cious 
 
24° Tk e Lofs and Recovery 
 cious Time •, amongft their Hands, I fpent a 
 long Time in the greateft Hurry that could 
 be -, I fbrgat the great Work I had been about, 
 I was greatly taken up with the World, and 
 with perifhing finful Pleafures : They long 
 dealt with me in a fair Way, to difcourfe 
 yet a While with them of the Affairs of my 
 Family, and of the World j and Day would 
 come when I would fee the Road better, and 
 they would divert me in the weary Night :- 
 And when they had thus for a long Time de- 
 tained me with fair Speeches, then they be- 
 gan to threaten, that, if 1 offered to leave them, 
 I ihould never have a good Day again : Thej 
 would kill me out of*Hand •, for, fay they, it is 
 now too late, therefore take any little Reft with 
 us that you may have. Secondly? I thought that 
 I loft, by their Means, many Sermons. They 
 kept me ftill in the Place where I was*, fb 
 that, altho 5 Sermon were at the next Door, I 
 durft not go to hear it, became of their Frowns 
 and Threat?, and glaiking away of Time. 
 Or, if any mould come and preach within 
 Hearing, they all then make fuch a Noife, that 
 I am quite robbed of the Benefit of the Word, 
 Thirdly, They perfwaded me, that for all I had 
 loft, yet there was more ftill to the Fpre than 
 would ferve my Turn *, For, fay they, Are 
 you not converted already, feeing ye are re- 
 formed ? Altho' that Herod's- doing many 
 Things availed him not, they perfwaded me, 
 that that frightful Condition I was in, was true 
 
 Con- 
 
of ElcSl Sinners. 241' 
 
 Converfion : Altho' Fehx came as far, and 
 Judas had gone beyond me in this. Fourthly^ 
 They perfwaded me, that retraining Grace 
 was faving Grace : Altho' that the Enemies of 
 Chi ill were retrained ibr a While, yet, when 
 they could get Opportunity, they crucified the 
 Lord of Glory. And moreover^ they thought 
 to have robbed me of my Crown, had not One 
 come and given me Warning, that, lofe what 
 I would, 1 mould hold that fait ; Hold faft 
 that which thou haft, that no Man take thy Crown ; 
 Which when I would not quit, they wounded 
 me fore, and left me for Death ; and there I 
 haddiedjhadnotOnecometome and cured my 
 -Wounds, and gave me fomething to live upon : 
 And, having reproved me for my heedlels 
 Wandring, he exhorted me to take better 
 Heed in Time coming; and he faid-to me, 
 Let m fear lefr y having a Prcmife cf emrwg into 
 his Refti any of m fhould fecm to ccme JJjon%f it 9 
 For remember, that the Lord, having deliver 
 red his People out of Egypt 9 afterward de- 
 stroyed them that believed not. But be thou 
 in the Fear of the Lord all the Day long; 
 BlefTed is he that fearetb always, hath a hojy^ 
 watchful Fear and Jealoufy. If thou woaldft 
 be a perfect Man and an upright, then fear 
 God, and efchew Evil ; For, laid he, The Fear 
 ?f the Lord is the Beginning of Wifd&mj ind a 
 Pcuntdn of Life to defart from the Snares ofDes.: 
 Go therefore, I fet thee in the right Way 
 : again j hold on your W 7 ay - whence you came, 
 R rs- 
 
2 4 z The' Lofs and ^coVery 
 
 return again $ and work out year own Salvation 
 with Fear and Trembling, And then I faid, My" 
 Flejlj trembleth for Fear of thee, and I am dfi 
 of thy Judgments. And I thought- when I en- 
 deavoured to come back again, I fainted, Ffal. 
 27. And then he helped me, when 1 had no 
 Might, and put forth* his Hand, and took me 
 by the Hand and drew me, and I ran after him 
 in a Pultion of Grace, and in a Conftraint of 
 Love j and, as I ran, I was conftantly crying, 1 
 The Love ofChrlft con ff rain cth m : the Heigh-, 
 the Depth, the Breadth and Length of the Love ok 
 Chrift'jhat pa/feth Knowledge ! And then I awoke 
 in a mixed Frame, Rejoicing with Trembling | 
 and was refremedwhen I found myfelf lying in ! 
 a Bed ftrawed withApples,and lined with Love. 
 
 FAITHS Dream. 
 Ruth. Anc& I alfo (quoth Faith) dreamed^ 
 and behold, I was a Prince in Egypt} niy Fa- 
 ther an old Man near Death, and I to fucceed 
 to him in the Kingdom : And they rook much 
 Delight in me, fo that they brought the Crown 
 in their vain-glorious Manner, and let it upon 
 my Head, to fee how it would fit ne, and 
 that they might delieht themfelves and mc 
 both with fucb vain Foolries of the World ; 
 d I, tho' but yet a Cfiild, pluckt it from 
 ' my Head* and kickt it away with my Foot} At 
 which they were both aftoniflied and offended. 
 1 thought, that upon this I walked out upor 
 the River Nilus, and there I law a Number 
 
 poor 
 
of EleFl Sinners. 245 
 
 poof Men drawing Water out of the River 
 and running to their Brickkilns to make Brick 
 and finiih their Task, left they fhould be 
 beaten. I faw, moreover, ibme Children co- 
 ming down the Stream, drowned in the Water : 
 And {landing aftoniihed at this, to ice the vaft 
 Difference betwixt the Lot of Men in the 
 World ; while 1 was mufing hereupon, I asked 
 what a poor People thefe were, that lived in 
 fuch Slavery - and what Children thefe were, 
 that were drowned in the River ? And then 
 Anfwer was made by One Handing by me* 
 Thefe are the People of the God of the He~ 
 brews ^ the God of the whole Earth, that are 
 in fuch Slavery :, and thefe are their poor Chil- , 
 dren cad into the River, left they fhould in-' 
 creafe and grow ftrong,t And then he asked 
 me, Whether 1 would take Part with thefe 
 airlifted People of God,or if I would choofe the 
 Crown of Egypt f Heb. j 1. Then I anfwered, If 
 
 ' t&efe be the People of God, I will choole fair 
 yather to take Part with them, than enjoy 
 ihe Crown of 'Egypt, and. the .jgleafures of Sin, 
 
 /which 1 know will be but for a Seafon : And I 
 have little Skill of Seafon -pleasures ? for I 
 
 tjcnow that the Righteous {liall be delivered out of 
 Trouble, and the Wicked jludt come into his 
 Steady and I am as fully perfwaded of it, asuf 
 I faw it already with mine Eyes. And fb I 
 took Part with them •, and the Lord called us 
 to come out of that Eftate of Slavery, and 
 fsrve himfelft And fo we came flyirlg away 
 
244 Tk"e Lofs and Recovery 
 to the Sea, which clave and gave us fair Paf- 
 fage : But, our Enemies following us, the 
 Sea overflowed them, and they were drowned. 
 Then faid I, That is true, that, every One that 
 exalt eth himfelf Jhall be aba fed ', and be that a- 
 bafeth himfelf flull be exalted. For, had I ta- 
 ken on the Gown of Egypt, when I refufed 
 it, I had been lying in the Bottom of the 
 Sea to Day ^ whereas, making Ufe of Faith, 
 not looking at the Things that are feen, I am 
 faf'e. For, Faith is the Evidence of Things not 
 feen, Heb. 1 1. i. and 24, 25, 26, 27. By 
 Faith Mofes forfook Egypt, and choofed to fuffer 
 Ajfitlicn with the People of God : He forjook 
 Egypt, not fearing the Wrath of the King, choofing 
 rather to fuffer AffliUion with the People of God, 
 than enjoy the Pleafures of Sin for a Seafon. 
 And then, when I wan out of Trouble, I 
 awaked, finging, The Lord is my God, and 1 
 •will exalt him. And crying out, the Height, 
 the Dep'h,, the Breadth and the Length, "and to 
 know the Love of Chrifjt, which paffctb Know- 
 ledge ! Who le&veth not his own in Adver- 
 sity, and taketh the Wife in their own Craf- 
 tiMefs. 
 
 And, when they had told their Dreams to 
 one another, they were again called to Break- 
 jfaft before they went forth : And a Sight of 
 the Mailer, termed them to Satisfaction, Pfal. 
 1 7. t?» I fall be fatufied with thy Likenefs,when 
 I awake. The Meek fall eat and Jhall be fatis- 
 fied, they alfo fall fraife thee. For now thefe 
 
 that 
 
of EleFl Sinners. 245 
 
 that were before wearied, that they could not 
 pray nor praife, they now being thus refrefh- 
 ed, are all Prayer, all Praife, all I ove. And 
 now they blefs him for renewing their Youth 
 as the Eagles, Pfal. 103. And then 
 
 The Mafter of the Houfe brought them 
 forth to walk in the Garden, and to fee if the 
 Vine flourifhed, and the Pomegranate did 
 bud •, and it was obfervable, that where moft 
 Fruit might have been expe&ed, there leaft 
 was to be found \ for feveral high and well 
 fpread Trees were quite barren % others of them 
 bore the wprft of Fruit, of an infectious and 
 peftiferous Nature •, fome had much Flourifh, 
 and many Leaves, but no Fruit at all : But 
 there was a little Spot of Ground that lay 
 open to the Wind, • that was more fruitful 7 
 for the nipping North- Wind purged the Air, 
 Cant, 4, ult. and there were fome fruitful Butti- 
 es in it, fo low that you could not difcern : 
 Thefe were moft fruitful 7 but Men, not a* 
 ware, were ready ro trample on them r And 
 many other Things were here obfervable •, 
 which, when we had leen, he faid unto us, 
 Judge not according to the outward Abearance 7 
 but judge righteous Judgment^ and be not fatisfi- 
 ed that yehave a Garden* but pray for hea- 
 venly Influences, the fpiritual Wind^;, the. 
 Showers of Grace, the enlivening, comfort- 
 ing and fructifying Influences of the ,Stfn of 
 the fpiritual Word. But, faid he, come in 
 now to the Wardrobe, before ye go, and be 
 
 R 3 mounted 
 
n^6 The Lojs mid Recovery 
 mounted in a Pilgrim's Drefs , Jfbr, every 
 Clothes will not be fit for the Journey that ye 
 have to go* And, when we were brought in, 
 he cau fed us caft off all the heavy old Rags. 
 
 i. Said he, Lay afide the exceflive Cares of 
 the World, Heb. 12. i. that is an heavy 
 Weight *, and be content with as much of it, as 
 Will carry your Charges to the Grave *, for 
 more will do you no Good, Philip. 4. 1 1. Learn 
 fiow*> in whatfoever Condition ye are^ therewith to 
 be content* And learn to lean now to a Word 
 of Promife, Ifa. 33. 16. That Bread fhall be 
 given you, I Cor. 7. 3. Vfe this World , as -not 
 abufin? it, for the Fashion of this World fafletb 
 away. Ufe it only as an Help, not an iiinde- 
 ranee in your Journey : For> too much Care 
 about it is like thick Clay, - Hab. 2. 13. It is a 
 great Hinderance by the Way, and ufeleis at 
 the End of it. Luke 12. 20. when it was faid 
 to him, Ihe^Fooly this Night pall thy Soul be 
 taken from thee , then, whofc jhall thefe Things be f 
 which thou hall fo provided : When thou lift- 
 eft up thine Eyes in Torment, anci had not a 
 Drop of Water to cool thy Tongue. For, we 
 need never bid a Man go to Heaven, as long as 
 they are in Love with the World. John 6. If 
 Chr id would ay h?ve r wrought Miracles, and 
 filled their Bellies, they would have kept clofs 
 by him: But, when^J|e*% all on Things hea- 
 venly, then the next Ccnrfe was, Many vj 
 DijciplM went back and walked no more with 
 him, Judas will not betray Chrift, if ye give 
 
 him 
 
of Elect Sinner si 247 
 
 Jhifti not the World ; but he will fell him for 
 little ere he want all. Wh.it will ye give me, 
 and I will betray him unto y out They fliall have 
 Chriff, Salvation and my Part of Heaven for 
 One thirty Pieces of Silver, and that's not 
 dear. Demos hath forfaken me, having loved 
 this prjefent World. 
 
 2. Lay afide all flayifli Fear of Men. Care 
 neither for their Feud nor their Favour in the 
 Matters of Religion:, for they cannot help you 
 in your Need. Let that awful Example of Jur 
 das, who, to gratify the Rabbles of Jfrael, fold 
 Chrift to them -, and when the Lord fets home 
 the Guilt of Sin upon him, he runs to thefe 
 ntw 5 and cries, to them, O help me now. 
 To gratify you, 1 have fold Chrift and Salva- 
 tion ; Hell is flaming, in my Confidence^ 
 I rather endure any Torment of Body, than 
 bear this. And all their Anfwer is,, What is 
 that to us ? See thou to .that. They will be all 
 miferable ConrTorters to you, when ye have 
 raoft Need. 
 
 3. Lay afide all Sin-, that's a fad Weight. 
 Sin is like an intang.ling Garment,that hinders 
 Men in running j yea, ,like Fetters, that fhakle 
 them, Pfal. 73. 6. Pride compajjeth them about as 
 a Chain, and Violence cover eth them as a Garment* 
 1 Pet. 2. 1,2. Wherefore, laying afide all Malice, 
 and Guile , and Hypocrijy, and Evil-Speaking *, 
 pi off, concerning the Flefi?, the eld M^n with 
 his Deeds* Then, - 
 
 R.4 Secondly 7 
 
248 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Secondly, Clothe your felves in Pilgrim's 
 Drefs* i. Put on the Garment of inherent 
 Holinefs and Righteoufnefs, Job 29. 19. Put 
 
 en Right eoujnejs, and let it clothe you, and let 
 your Righteoufnejs be as a Crown And a Diadem. 
 Think more Shame of any unjuft A&, than 
 to go naked about the City. 
 
 2. Put on the Garment of Chrift's Righte- 
 oufhefs, for Judication, Mat. 22. ii. that 
 is the Garment that covers all Sin and Imper- 
 fections in Duty ', and when this is on, it 
 may be faid of you, ks Balaam faid of Ifrael^ 
 Kum. 23. 31. He beheld no Iniquity in Jacob, 
 nor Perverfnefs in Ifrael. And, it makes plea- 
 fant in the Sight of God, Ifa. 6\. 10. Like a 
 Bridegroom adorned with his Ornaments.. So be 
 ye clorhed with this Garment of Salvation. 
 
 3. Put ye on the Garment of Chrift's Righ- 
 teoufnefs for San&ification, Rom, 13. tilt. Put 
 ye on the Lord Jefas Chrijt, and make no Prcvi- 
 fion for the Flejh. As a Garment to keep you 
 
 warm with Zeal for ChrifFs Intereft, and leave 
 it not for great nor fmall :. Still prefs forward 
 to the higheft Pitch of • Holinefs. ' 
 
 4. Put on the Garment of Humility, 1 Pet. 
 5* 5. Be ye clothed with Humility, to cover- 
 all your other Garments^ for ye will meet 
 with much Dirt call upon you, many Reproach- 
 es that proud Spirits cannot bear- As ye 
 would have the Lord to own you in the Way, 
 is humble ~ tor? To this Mm will he look, th$ 
 
of EleSl Sinner $• 249 
 
 ef an humble Spirit. For, He refifictb the Proud, 
 but giveth Grace to the Humble. 
 
 And when they were thus clothed, he led 
 them in to the Armoury, and armed them with 
 Armour of Proof, Eph. 6\ 12, Sec. Put ye on 
 ttye whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to 
 (land out againfi the Wiles of the DeviL 
 For ye are now to wreftlc, not fo much againft 
 Flefh and Blood, as agaivfi Principalities and 
 Powers , about heavenly Things. Have your 
 Loins girt with Truth • be ay for the Truth, 
 contend for the Truth : Have the Brcafl-pLte of 
 Right eoufaefs, your Feet fiwd with the Preparation 
 of the Go [pel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, She 
 Sword of the Svirit, for an Helmet the Hope of 
 Salvation ; Praying always with all Prayer. But 
 ye are to get no Armour for the Back: If ye 
 ilee, ye are gone *, Jf any Man draw hack, it 
 is to Perdition, my Soul jhall have no Pleafure in 
 him -, I deftroy all that go a-whoring from me. 
 
 And having thus fitted them for the. Way, 
 he took them by the Hand and brought them 
 forth, and faid, Come up to the Top of the 
 Hill whereon the City ftandeth, and I will 
 point out the Way to you : Which he did, and 
 gave them a clear Difcovery of the Place to 
 which they were to go •, and faid, Hold on the 
 Way, and ye will find a plain Way ftraighi: 
 forward a little : tho' ye will meet with rough 
 Ground, and then Up-hill-way, and fa on. 
 And he faid to them, Speed, haftc, flay .net \ 
 See ye how thefe Raters are doing; without the 
 
 City : 
 
^50 The Lofs and Recovery 
 City ? They have yonder Crown that is cor- 
 ruptible to run for, i Car m 9. 23, &c. and they 
 '.have Laws appointed, That tho' they come 
 ? firft to the Crown, yet they lofe it if they 
 obferve not the Laws of the Running ; and 
 they run with all their Might. And, if they 
 for a corruptible Crown, much more we for 
 an incorruptible \ therefore, So run ye, that ye 
 may obtain. And fo he bleffed them, and lent 
 them on their Way : And as they wenn, they 
 fang, faying, 
 
 Both, faith and Fear invited were 
 
 with the King for to dine : 
 What Grace ? what Love ? what Mercy here 
 
 did give us this Propine ? 
 Such noble Feaft, fuch noble Fare 
 
 yet did I never lee ; 
 Both Bread oi Life, and Water too 
 
 refreshing- was to me. 
 The Graces of the Spirit then 
 
 were all fet down for Fare : 
 'Both Peace with God, arid Pardon too 
 
 I got unto my Share. 
 I fed upon the Word of God, 
 
 and's Prefence at the Feaft ; 
 My Soul both fahaify'd and feal'd 
 
 made me a joyful Gueft. 
 When we were Feafted on fuch Fare, 
 
 Ve fick of Love did fail : 
 ■ I wifli the" reft, of this Difeafe 
 
 were lying Bed-faft all. 
 
 • The 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 251 
 
 The Bed whereon we lay that Night, 
 
 it can have no Compare - 
 It evVy Way did anfwer weli 
 
 unto our noble Fare. 
 When in the Morning we did rife, 
 
 we were fa well Composed, 
 A Mais of Prayer, and Praife and Love, 
 
 we praifed and rejoic'd, 
 That ever we did get iuch Feaft, 
 
 or on Inch Bed did ly % 
 We will him ferve, and alfo praife, 
 
 and Hallelujahs cry. 
 
 Faith. Come now, Brother Fw, we are in 
 the Way to eternal Liberty •, the Son hath 
 freed us in a great Meafure already, and we 
 mall become compleatly free within a little. 
 Let us do as we are directed, make all Hade 
 forward in this Way ; And let as not be jlothfa! 9 
 but Followers of them y who through Faith and 
 Tatience do inlferit the Promifes j That we 
 may receive the End of our Faithy even the Sal- 
 vation of our Souls, 
 
 Fear. I was once afraid exceedingly, left 
 we had never come the Length we are *, but 
 I think now, 1 would not eafily yield : But 
 even tho' we Ihould meet with Nebuchadnez- 
 zar tempting us and threatning us, I could 
 teil him, 1 will not wormip thy gods, nor 
 yield an Inch to him, tor all his Threatnings, 
 ProVi 28. 26\ 
 
 Faith, 
 
2 5 £ Tk> e .Lofs and G{eco'Very 
 
 Faith. If ye fhall continue, as I hope ye 
 will, Brother Fear, for my Part I will not 
 yield, for Faith is not eafily vanquifhed : I 
 would {land in this Way of Life, tho' I fhould 
 Hand alone, like Paul before Nero, And no 
 Man flood by me. And tho 5 all Ihould forfake 
 this Way, yet will not I. Did we not folemn- 
 ly proteft, That Death nor Life mould not 
 funder us and our God : Let us go forward 
 couragiouily, for I fhall never be moved, PJal. 
 3.6,7. 
 
 Now, juft as they had fo faid, there appea- 
 red a great Company of Armed Men ; and 
 One Cruelty., the King of the Land, upon the 
 Head of the Army. And they heard Cruelty 
 fay, Whofoever we meet in this Way, let 
 us flay utterly, both old and young, except 
 the fe who have our Mark. 
 
 Army. Content, O noble King Cruelty ! For 
 we think it Mercy to do fo ; and furely it is 
 fo : For there are often de)eclred Fellows 
 Haying here and there in this Road, that if 
 they could get their Will, we would nor fit 
 in Places of Honour -,V we would be a ruined 
 Common-wealth, we would neither have any 
 Thing for' Back nor Belly, Phil. 3. 19. But 
 how mall we know them ? What is the Mark 
 to diftinguifh them from our Kind ? 
 
 K'tng^ Firft, O worthy Army^ and dear 
 Coufms and Soldiers ! They are Men of 
 mean and low Spirits; they cannot brag it 
 out with m a jeftick 'Spirits, cowardly Fellows : 
 
 They 
 
of Elect Sinners. 053 
 
 They will not have any Courage to Hand to 
 the Truth, to feal it with an Oath } but every 
 Word they fpeak (fuch Slaves and bale Spi- 
 rits are they of) they will flip it out fo warri- 
 ly, as if they were before a Judge upon Life 
 and Death with it. 2. Ye will know them 
 by their felfiih obftinate Humours. If the 
 ! King himfelf would but defire a fmall Service of 
 them, offering Rewards and threatning Punift- 
 mencs both, they will tell you they have no 
 ! Leiiure to do it at this Time : They will not 
 go back a Mile or two for the King himfelf j 
 they will tell yon, that they promised to One 
 that fet them in this Way, That henceforth 
 we will not go back. 3. They have no Man- 
 ners : They will give the King as ill Language 
 as he can give them, Dan. 4. 10", 17. They 
 faid once to King Nebuchadnezzar the great, 
 to his Face, Be it known to thee, s O King! that 
 we will not ferve thy gods , nor worjhlp the Images 
 that thou hafl fet up. There is hardly any 
 Thing that a Prince will do, but they will 
 queftion^ by fome nice or precife Rule : It is net 
 for the King's Profit to fuffer them } And there- 
 fore apprehend them, ahd all of them that 
 will not become obedient Subjects, let them 
 be made Examples to others that will not 
 allow Princes abfolute Authority, but are fiili 
 oppofing and calling in queftion what their Plea* 
 fare is. Now, 
 
 As foon as ever thefe two Men faw tbern, 
 Faith faid untg his Fellow 7 Let us withdraw 
 
 a 
 
254 T^ e Lofs and ${eco'Very 
 
 a little from the Way, till thefe bloody Men 
 
 palled by, that we may lave our Lives to 
 do Service afterward. They did* not mind 
 that the Lord could have ftopc the Mouths of 
 thefe Lions \ and that if he had not, yet it 
 would be better Service to him, to Hand to 
 the Truth, and feal it with their Blood ; 
 and that their Trouble would looner be over, 
 and their Glory not only haflned, but their 
 Crown the greater. And fo they both for [oak 
 him and fled, and fell into a Wildefnefs ; and 
 fat down in a Place called Deceit, and under 
 Faljhocd did they hide themfelves, and faid, We 
 are better here than among the Hands of 
 yonder Murdere 
 
 Fear. Then laid Tear, 1 hear a Voice cry- 
 ing continually in mine Ears, lince ever I fat 
 down in this Place, What daft thou here ? I 
 think we be not now where we ffcould be : 
 1 4ear, Brother, all be not right. 
 
 Faith, That fame is the Word that the 
 Lord fpake unto Elijah, when, in his unwar- 
 rantable Fear, he Hed from the Face of idola- 
 trous Jezjibel, who threathed to kill him, 
 I Kings I p. 2, p. And the Word of the Lord 
 came to him, faying, Whjkt deft thou here, Elijah? 
 in a Wildernefs of Doubts and Fears. Let us 
 fee what this meaneth ? 
 
 Then tliere came One Conscience to them, 
 in a very terrible Manner, and looking upon 
 them with an aufiere Countenance, began 
 
 vehe- 
 
of ElcB Sinners. 255 
 
 vehemently to accufe them, and urge them 
 with many Queftions. 
 
 1. Is thy- Heart found in GvcPs Statu' es 7 or, 
 not ? Pfal. 1 19. 80. Whether or not was ye 
 commanded to ftand to the Truth ? Or did 
 you promife otherwife ? Can you juftily, or 
 do you condemn yourfelves ? If you juflify 
 yourfelves, your own Lips would prove you 
 perverfe , and if ye condemn/ yourfelves, God 
 is gi eater than your Hearts, and knoweth all 
 tHat ye have done, 1 John 3. 20. Is this the 
 Way that ye perform your Vows, to bear 
 his Crofs, to be decied to Life, and all for 
 him? 
 
 2. Whether or not is this according to the 
 Grace of God, and to Men in your Station, 
 that believe in God^ to leave hs Cauie and 
 flee ? Have ye a&ed like Nehemtab^ when in 
 Danger and tempted to flee, whoiaid, Should 
 
 fuch a Man as I fiee tor my Life? Such as ought 
 to have been an Example to thefe that follow 
 after them. Should they have iied r who 
 profefTed fuch Courage, and Refolution, and 
 Confidence in God? Should ye have fled, 
 who were fo much obliged to great Love, who 
 loofed thee from when ne left many as 
 
 good to die in Bonuuge ? Should ye have fled, 
 who h.tu fuch Experience of his Hdp ? 
 Should fuch an One a? you have &ii 
 God and Relit ftQcl^ as 
 
 if ye had had *a bad and evil Caufs by the 
 End, that ye thought Shame to own? And 
 * as 
 
256 The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 as if ye had a God that could not be triifted, 
 and could not preferve his own^? Should you 
 have fled, as if ye had' been Malefactors f ! 
 How have ye now reflected upon your Mailer f 
 May not Enemies ask Chrift their old Quefti- 
 on again, John 18. 19. when the Difciples for- 
 fook him and fled, they asked him of his 
 Difciples, and of his Doctrine? What fort of a l < 
 Mailer he was to them, that they will not back 
 him in a Strait ? or, what fort of Do&rine 
 that is that he teacheth, that Men are afha- 
 med to own ? and what for Servants they 
 are, that will keep no Paclion with him . ? 
 
 3. What think ye of your felves now, that 
 are become like the Wicked, aad thefe* tem- 
 porary Time-fervers ? Like Herod, that did 
 many things, . and heard John the Baptift 
 gladly : And like Judas, that^ when Chrift mull 
 Hand alone, would make his bell Advantage, 
 and make lure the great Ones to be his Friends, 
 that no Evil came to him ? How may A- 
 poftates from Chrift fay, How art then become as 
 One of us ? Art thou alio drawn back to Perdi- 
 tion ? How founds that Word with you, Now, 
 if any Man draw bad, my Soul . fall have no 
 Pleafure in him* How is it with you now ? 
 had it not been better for you never to have 
 known the Way of the Lord, than after ye 
 have known" it, to depart from it? And, If 
 any Man put his Hand to the Plough, and look 
 back, he is not meet for the Kingdom of God. 
 Where is your Advantage ? Can voufeave the 
 
 old 
 
of EkH Sinners. 257 
 
 Did Pleafure and Satisfa&ion in Sin, that ye 
 were wont to have ? Ye are now like a broken 
 Husbandman, that has no Trade to live by, 
 and loft "his Livelihood. What hath offended 
 you at Chrift ? He had more Ground to have 
 been offended at you, and letten you ly to have 
 perifhed, when he came to redeem you with 
 his own Blood, than ye have to be offended at 
 him now, for not making your Way eafier* 
 And what will ye anfwer when ye are repro- 
 ved ? 
 
 And when Cunfcience had fo faid, then they 
 began and reafbned with one another, and 
 Fear began thus. 
 
 Fear. Alas, Brother ! Where is your Faith ? 
 Are not you afhamed to read Heb t n. when 
 Mofes feared not the Wrath of the King ? where, 
 by Faith they ficpt the Mouths of Lions , mt to 
 Flight the Armies of the Aliens. Might ye not 
 have encouraged me to go forward, Man, and 
 encountred with them ? We are afhamed, that 
 flew before them ere ever we entred the Con- 
 fli£t : For One is enough to engage with Ten 
 thoufand, if God be with him *, and furely he 
 would have been with us, if we had been with 
 him •, and now we have forfaken him, and I 
 fear he caft us off for ever. I doubt much If 
 we can look for any Thing except a fearful 
 Looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation to 
 devour the Adverfavies of the Lord. And now* 
 what can I fay ? What if we die in this Con- 
 dition ? what will our Thoughts be ? what "will 
 S our 
 
258 Tlie Lo/s and Recovery 
 
 our Language be on Death -bed ? will it not; 
 be this, when we are gafping in the Jaws of 
 Death? My Heart and Flefti faileth me, and God 
 alfo faileth me for ever ? We have not a God 
 to lippen to,for we have left him. And now we 
 had better been killed by them, and we would 
 have died at Peace with God, an excellent Ex- 
 ample to others, and our Karnes and Memories 
 favoury to fucceeding Generations. Should we 
 not have holden Heaven fure, not knowing 
 how foon we fhall leave the Earth ? And,what i 
 will we think when we fall into Hell ? Will \ 
 we not pitifully cry, O come and fee the End 
 of Sin in thefe who know no End of Sorrow ? 
 
 come, learn the Price of Time from thefe 
 that are eternally loft for the Lofs of Time ? 
 What ? Man ! we had no Armour for the 
 
 ,Back} Had we not the Breaft-plate of Righ- 
 teoufnefs ? Might we not have gone forward ? 
 But, what do 1 thus to bewail my Condition ? 
 Is his Mercy clean gone for ever ? Hath he in 
 Wrath fliut up his Mercy ? And, fails his Fromije 
 for ever ? And no Wonder, for we have fail'd 
 in the Condition. 
 
 Faith. All is true, and ye lay aH the Blame 
 on poor Faith, and I am guilty. But, what ? 
 
 1 am Faiths but 1 am not GOD : I am but a 
 poor Creature, and, when left to my felii what 
 ,wil) I do ? Abraham, with all his Faith, failed, 
 when he went in to Hagar. Job, for all his 
 
 j failed, when he faid, Job 13. Surely 
 waink me is he turned. And again, The' I h 
 
 cdled, 
 
of EleEl Sinters'. ijp 
 
 called, and he had anfwered wf, yet I would not 
 believe that he hadfpoken. What ? Man, Peter 
 wanted not Faith, and yet he denied Chrift ! 
 All the Difciples, when they faw a Tempta- 
 tion juft like this, forfook him and fled - 7 yet 
 Faith was not quite gone. 
 
 Fear. Ye (peak as if there were yet Hope. 
 
 Faith. Hope, Man ! Defpair is the great Sin 
 againft the Remedy. The Floods are gone over 
 me, and all thy Waves and thy Billows. And I 
 will tell you, Man, what David faid in fuch a 
 Cafe, Pfal. 42. Why art thou caft down, O my 
 Soul . ? why art thou difquieted within me ? .Alt ho 9 
 he (lay me, yet will I truft in him. He jtlfo frail 
 be* my Salvation, Job 13. 15, Itf. 
 
 Fear. But, if it were only Affli&ion, I would 
 not fear •, but Sin is at the Bottom of all. 
 
 Faith. Altho 5 it be fo, Pfal. 107* Fools for 
 their Sin and Tranfgrejfions bear fore Afflictions^ 
 they abhor all Kind of Meat : Yet, They cry to 
 God, he heareth, and delivereth them from aH 
 their Difircjfes. Yea, Man, the Spirit of God 
 hath taught poor Things to make their Sins 
 Arguments in Prayer to obtain Mercy, PfaL 
 25. 10, 11. & 40. 10, 11. Pardon mine Iniqui- 
 ty, for it is very great : And let thy Loving-kind- 
 nefs and Mercy continually preferve me 7 for I am 
 brought very low. Innumerable Evils compafs me 
 about. Bid not Mofes, in Prayer for the Sons 
 of Levi, make their Sins an Argument to get 
 the Mercy ? Let thy Urim and thy Thummim 
 be with thine holy One, whom thou didfl prove at 
 S 2 MaiTah, 
 
% do Tl^e Lo/f ^»rf (Recoyery 
 
 MafTah, and with whom thou didft ft rive at the 
 Waters of Meribah. Come and let m return to 
 the Lord ' 7 Let us fc arch and try cur Ways j Let 
 us confefs and for Jake our Sins , and we [hall find 
 M^rcy. And when they began to come back, 
 they lamented. 
 
 Faith faid, I cannot tafte. what! eat or what 
 I drink: O what a comfort leis Condition is 
 this ! 
 
 Fear faid, I cannot fee where I am going, 
 Jfa.%9* IO. We grope for the Wall m blind Men, 
 7ve grope as if we had no Eyes? we mourn all like 
 Doves , we roar all like Bears* I am full of Confu- 
 fion : See thou to mine Affliction^ for it increafeth. 
 Pfal. 43. 3. O fend forth thy Light and thy Truth, 
 and let them be Guides to me , and bring me to 
 thine holy Hill, where thou dwelleft. And, 
 
 When they were weeping and groping in 
 the Dark, Wonderful Counfellor came again to 
 them (for his Eyes were yet uptfn them) and 
 laid, Why have ye contemned , the Counfel of 
 the Moft High ? I might laugh at your Calami* 
 ty. What do ye here ?■ Rev. 2. 4. I have fome- 
 what again ft thee, bqcaufe thou haft left thy firft 
 Love ; Remember therefore from whence thou art 
 fallen } and repent. Rev. 3.2. Be watchful, and 
 ftrengthen the Things that are ready to die • for I 
 have not found thy Works perfect. Improve thefe 
 Gifts and Habits of Grace that remain •, and 
 tho 5 thou haft broken thy Covenant with me, 
 yet I have not broken it with thee. / will cha- 
 fiife thee with the Mod? but my Covenant will I not 
 
 break* 
 
of Elett Sinners. 261 
 
 break. And then, He^ like a good Shepherd, 
 that leaves the Ninety and nine in the Wilder- 
 nefs, to feek the ftraying Sheep, brought them 
 back, reftored their Soul-, and made them to walk 
 in the Paths of Right eoufnefs. And, when he 
 did fo, he bade them hold on their Way, ancl 
 not truil to themfelves. 
 
 And then they fang , 
 Some Kings arid Armies on the Earth 
 
 are Enemies to Grace : 
 When our Attainments we did truft, 
 
 we trembled at their Face : 
 And, fleeing for to fave our Life, 
 
 into the Mire fell we; 
 We leap'd into the Fire, to flum 
 
 the Biting of a Flie. 
 For Grace a noble Creature is, 
 
 for to give it its Due : 
 But, if ye make it God or Chril!, 
 
 ye'll foon repent, 1 trow. 
 For Confcience then on us did fall \ 
 
 fo galling were its Words, 
 Before we yoke with it again, 
 
 we'll venture on their Swords. 
 He made us reafon with ourfelves, 
 
 with many Sighs and Tears, 
 That we almoft had quite defpair'd, 
 
 He put us in fuch Fears. 
 The Counfelior that's Wonderful 
 
 whofe Mercies do abound, 
 
 S3 R ^ 
 
\6l The Lofs and (Recovery 
 Reftor'd our Souls, and brought us back, 
 
 wheu none to help was found, 
 Let us him follow as a Guide, 
 
 and then we fhall hold on \ 
 And praife and blefs, and blefs and praife 
 
 his holy Name alone. 
 
 Faith m Now* Let us go on in the Strength of 
 the Lord 9 making Mention of his Right eoufnefs : 
 For now we fee that our own Strength and 
 Righteoufnefs will go but a little Way with us. 
 
 Fear. We know that now by Experience : 
 But bought Wit's dear. I fear it fit to us at 
 the Grave's Mouth, what we have loft by 
 leaning to our Grace and Strength, as it did to 
 David, 2 Sam. 23. 4. But tell me, what were 
 the Caufes that we fo iboa made fuch fhame- 
 ful Apoftafy ? 
 
 Faith. It was not all yonder Army nor Pdwer 
 that had the Wyte of it *, it was Corruption 
 that dwelleth in us, Ropt. 7. So then, if I do 
 that which I would not, it is no more I 9 but Sin 
 that dwelleth in me. Sin in us is like Tinder, 
 that's ready to take Fire with Satan's fiery 
 Darts : When he threw in the Temptation to 
 flee, Sinful Yew got all in a Flame, and we 
 both fbrfook him and fled. And, how hath 
 indwelling Sin prevailed on many of the Saints ? 
 as Lot , David, Peter and Paul) Rom. 7. The 
 Law in the Members not only warreth? but 
 leadeth us away Captive : We have need to 
 be mortifying it, killing it 5 and calling it out 
 
 of 
 
of El eft Sinners? 263 
 
 oi Doors ; and do as Matters do with mafter- 
 Ful Tenants, that they cannot get removed, 
 they complain to the Judg^ competent for 
 Help : So let us cry to God, X) wretched we, 
 who fljall deliver us fronuthe Body of this Death ? 
 And we new Beginners, who were not fo well 
 experienced with the Power of Sin in the 
 Godly, and Satan's Malice, that violently af- 
 faulteth young Beginners, to make ah their 
 Life a Life of Sorrow, too eafily were decei- 
 ved. 
 
 2. The Temptation was great, and we yet 
 not well entred in the Way, and like to have 
 our Throats cut at the Threshold \ the Vio- 
 lence and Suddennefs of the Temptation, and 
 not having Time to advife, Luke 22. 53. It 
 was an ffmr i and the Power of Darknefs. 
 
 3. To try their Graces (for God never gives 
 Grace, but it mufi be tried) therefore he per- 
 mitted it to be fo^ Matth. 7. When theHoufe 
 is built on the Rock, the Rains come, the Winds 
 blow, and the Floods beat upon it ; and tho° 
 it fall not, yet it may fearfully fhake and trem- 
 ble, as if it were to go all to Ruin. Is Mofes 
 a meek Man ? O what a People! fo fretting, 
 fo backward, fo difcontent, is he try fled with, 
 to try his Patience. So Job's Patience, Abra- 
 hams Love is well tried : Thou fkyeft thou 
 loveft me, I know thou loveft thy Son Ifaac ? ; 
 If thou wilt efTer him to me, I will know that 
 thou loveft me indeed. 
 
 S 4 4. To 
 
2 6j\ . The Lofs and ^ecb'Very 
 
 4. To prevent Pride, and keep them purely 
 depending oivChrfft -, when they fee how lit- 
 tle they can do, and how much Chrift hath to 
 do for them. I heard of One that faid, He 
 got more Good of his Sms than of his Graces •, 
 meaning, that his Sins humbled him, but he 
 was puffed up with his Graces. Paul got much 
 of Heaven revealed to him *, but, left he 
 fhould be exalted above Meafure, the MefTen- 
 ger of Satan is let loofe upon him, to keep 
 him humble. Here is the Wifdom and Love 
 of God feen , that makes Satan , wicked Men, 
 yea more, the Sins of the Godly turn to their 
 Good. 
 
 Fear. Let us now enquire after the Way to 
 Celeftial Paradife *, for fo we are commanded, 
 Jet, 6. 16. Stand in the Way and fee, and ask 
 for the good Way, and walk therein, and ye jhall 
 find Refi to your Souls. 
 
 Faith. The Way is plain before us, I fee 
 to the End of it. 
 
 Fear. I tremble at that Word •, Is it not too 
 confidently fpoken ? Mind what we met with 
 for cur Confidence the other while. 
 
 Faith. No, not at all: But God. hath fulfilled 
 .that Pramife to me, JU. 33. 16, 17. Ibtoi 
 Eyes fij ail beheld the Kfajg&n his Beauty, and the 
 La^d that is afar <ff[ 
 
 Fear. Glad am 1. O tell me what Sort cf a 
 Way it -if, 
 
 F-iith. There are many Ups and Downs in 
 it : For the rnofl Part, it is very (Irak. 
 
 1, It 
 
of Elect Sinners, l6j 
 
 i. It is a Scripture-way, Ifa. 8. 20.. To the 
 Law and to the- Teftimcny. 2. It is a holy Way, 
 Ifa. 35» 6". h fmll be called the Way cf Holincfs* 
 3, It is a peaceable Way, Prov. 3. 17. All the 
 Ways of Wifdom are Ways cf Pleafantncfs 9 and 
 her paths Peace, Ye faw, we had little Peace 
 with God or our Confciences when we were 
 out of it. 4. It is a fate Way: On every Side 
 it is hedged up with Walls of Salvation^ Ifa. 
 25. 1. 5. It is the Way of Life, or a living 
 Way ; and no Wonder, for Chrift is the - 
 Heb, 10. 20« It is a new and living Way, through 
 the Vail) that is to fay, his Flefu 6. It is a ftrait 
 Way, as we ihall find, Mat, 7. 14. 7. It is a 
 Way that ends well, Heb. 10. 22. It ends a- 
 morsg an innumerable Company of Angels : In 
 leads to the heavenly Jerufalem, an Eftate of 
 endlefs Felicity, in the Beatifkk Vifion and 
 Fruition of God, Pfal. 37. 37. Mark the Per- 
 feci:, and behold the Man of Vfrightnefs * for the 
 End of that Man is Peace. In all thefe Refpe&s, 
 well doth Paul call it the moft excellent Way, 
 I Cor* 12. 31. Tet (hew I unto you 'a more excellent 
 Way, 
 
 Pear. I greatly love the Way, and I greatly 
 love the End - I will not divide what God hath 
 joined. But O to be at the happy*End,the noble 
 ■ End ! That is a wonderful Way, Chrift th 
 rhink,wecanni*cfpend ourTimemore profitably 
 in the Way,uian refreih ourfclves in difcourfing 
 about this Noble Way, CHRIST. Therefore, 
 O Faith ,who hold ycur Eye ever on Chrilt,as we 
 
 both 
 
t66 71?e Lofs and Recovery 
 both ought to do *, for we are bid to Run, lool - 
 ing unto JESUS. Shew me what Sort of a 
 Way CHRIST is. 
 
 Faith. Chrift is the Way, that is to fay, The 
 Caufe by which we attain to Happinefs, John 
 1 4, 6. J am the Way \ no Man comet h to the Fa- 
 ther hut by me. 
 
 I. He is the Way to Honour, John 1. Tr, 
 '12. To as many as receive him, he gives Power to 
 become the Sons of God. 2. To Riches, Prov. 8. 
 18. Riches and Honour are with me, yea, durable 
 Riches and Right eoufnefs. 3. To Peace, Eph, 
 2. 14. He is our Peace, And he fays to the 
 Difciples, In m? ye fhall have Peace. He is the 
 Way, as a King, in giving Laws to direct, Ifa. 
 8. 20. To the Law and to the Tefiimony. Gal. 
 6. 16. As many as walk according to this Rule, 
 Peace jliall be upon them, and Mercy. He is the 
 Way, as a Prophet, to teach, by his Spirit, 
 the right Manner of walking ; that we may 
 not only run, but fo run, as we may obtain : 
 That we may do all from a right Principle of 
 Love to God conflraining us : In a right Man- 
 ner, eying Chrift for our Example -, Looking 
 to JESVS, muft we run, and to do with all 
 our Might whatever we do : And alio to a 
 right End, the Glory of God, and the Good 
 of our Souls. He is the Way, as a Pried, who 
 hath, by the Sacrifice of himfelf^ reconciled 
 us to God, and continually interceedeth for us 
 with the Father. He is the only Way, Ads 4. 
 12. No other Nme given under Heaven , whereby 
 
of EfeB Sinners. 167 
 
 we can be fayed. He is an eafy Way y Mat. 1 1 . 
 
 !' 29* 'take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me \ for 
 my Take is esfy, and n.y Burden is light. To 
 repent, acknowledge Sin, fbrfake it, and be- 
 lieve, and yield fincere Obedience } which lie 
 will work in us to do. 
 
 Fear. Put I am afraid that we miftake the 
 Way. What can be the Reafon of my fo 
 great Fears ? Is there fo great Reafon to fear ? 
 
 Faith. There is no Reafon for a misbelieving 
 and dumpifh Fear •, for that keeps Men from 
 A&ion, Pfal. 1 37. 'Tis obfervable, that they 
 fat and wept by the Rivers of Babel, made no 
 Means to relieve themfelves. And Joflma 
 (Chap. 7. 10.) got a Reproof for this, Anfe y 
 vet thee up, why liefy thou weeding upon thy Face ? 
 Men come bell Speed in Mortification, and in 
 the Way of Duty, when they have Courage \ 
 the Building of the Temple went fpeedily on, 
 when the Peoples Hearts were to it : When 
 Perfons are in a joyful Frame, they run the 
 Way of commanded Duties \ and the Lord 
 meeteth him that rejoice th and worketh Right eouf- 
 r?ejs. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Joy and 
 Confolation, and loveth beft to dwell in a 
 cheerful Heart : But a cautious and wary Fear, 
 left we miftake the Way, is warrantable ; a 
 Fear that maketh Men provide for their Safety, 
 as Noah, being warned of God^ moved with Fear, 
 prepared an Ark to the faving cf kimfelf and of 
 his ffcufe. Fear, and fn not. In this Refpecl, 
 
 it 
 
2 6% The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 it is moft warrantable ; and, Happy is the Man 
 
 that feareth always. 
 
 But, as to the Grounds of your Fear, thefe 
 are fotne of them. i. »The Greatnefs of the 
 Prize, we are running for •, the glorious Reft 
 that we /hall have up above, if we were there, 
 Heb. 4. 1. Let us therefore fear^ left- a Promife 
 being left of cntring into his, Reft, any of m jhould 
 feem to ccme Jhort of it. As if a Man were to 
 appear before a Court, where his Rights to his 
 Bftate were to bewailed in Queftion, and he 
 had far to go, and little Time to advife, Vexed 
 himfelf, and laid, What if I be too long ere I 
 win there ? what if I miftake the Way ? what 
 if I lofe all for want of an Advocate > or, I 
 may mifinform him myfelf ? and many other 
 Doubts -, whereas there is no Caufe of Fear % 
 but the Weight of the Matter depending rai- 
 feth Fears. 
 
 2. The Greatnefs of the Journey, and our 
 great Weaknefs and Inability. 'Tis a long 
 Way to Paradife, Up-hill-way, and many E~ 
 nemies by the Way ; and our Strength is 
 fmall, which makes us often cry out, And who 
 isfufficient for thefe things f 2 Cor. 2. 1 6. Pfal. 
 38. 3. I am feeble and fo,c broken. But hold up 
 thy Heart, Man , for thy Sufficiency is of 
 God. Pfal. 44. i6, 17. For God fliall ftand by 
 thee^ that thou fhalt fay, All this- is come won 
 ris- 9 yet have not W foraottcn thec y neither dealt 
 fdfiy in thy Covenant. 
 
 1 • 3.The' 
 
of Elt£i Sinners. i6cy 
 
 3. The natural Blindnefs not yet quite taken 
 ■way, makes thee fear left thou miftafce the 
 ^Vay. I cannot lee, I cannot perceive, I can- 
 liot behold, was Job's Complaint, Job 23. But 
 M not dilcouraged : Lean to ChrifTs Arm j 
 C me up cut of the IVildernefs, leaning on this Be- 
 
 ved. There is a iweet Promife for yon, / 
 mil bring the Blind by a Way that they knew not, 
 and lead them in Paths that they have not known , 
 J will make Darknefs Light before them^and crook- 
 ed Things ft raight : Thefe Things will I do m to> 
 them>> and not for Jake them. 
 
 4. Thou doubteft and feareft left thou win 
 not to the End of the Way, becaufe thou 
 thinkeil thy Sins are lo great, that God will 
 for fake thee, and be wroth with thee. But be 
 not call down for all this \ for ye think one 
 Thing, and God'thinketh another, Jfa. 55.8, 
 9. My Thoughts are not as your Thoughts y 'neither 
 are your Ways my Ways, faith the Lord, For as 
 the Heavens; are higher than the Earthy jo are my 
 Thoughts higher than y ,urs -^ and they are Thought j 
 ofPeact^ and not of Evil, I fa, 1 . 1 6 7 \ Q.Tho* thy Sins 
 be a<s Cnmfon and Scarlet , / will wake them as the? 
 Wool and the Snore. Tho' thou be moil filthy 
 with Sin, I will make thee clean and white. ' 
 
 5. Thy Fears arife from want of the right 
 Knowledge and Uptaking of the Majefty of 
 God \ wherefore it is laid, Pfal. 9. 10. They 
 that know thy N^me, will put their Tmfi in thee ' 
 for thou haft not forjaken them that feek thee. 
 Thefe that unaVftand thy Nature and Perfec- 
 tions, 
 
27° The Lofs and QtygoVery 
 tions, Bounty, Faithfulnefs and iSoodnefs, thy 
 rich Giace, and have had Expenlnce of thy 
 reaoy i.elp and pardoning Merely thefe will 
 not fear, but put their Trull *in'*thee» But 
 thefe that know thefe Perfe&ions of febd, muft 
 fay, with the Prophet, fflvjh.^7> 18. Who 
 is a God like unto thee, who pardSSkft Iniquity * 
 2 Sam. 7. 19. Thefe that know him, can fay, 
 Js this after the Manner of Man, O Lord f Ma- 
 ny Fears arife from this, tfrat we know not the 
 Manner of the God of the Land. 
 
 6. Thefe Fears arife from the Want of 
 their believing Chrift's Willingnefs and 
 Ability to fave to the uttermofi all that come 
 to G> d through him, Heb. 7. 25. and John tf. 
 37. And him that cometh fo me, I will in no 
 wife caft cut. However weak ye be, he is 
 Cautioner for you, Heb. 7. 22. and do ye 
 think that he will drown in the Cautionry ? 
 
 7. Thy Fear arifeth from thy not taking 
 up aright the Nature of the Covenant of 
 Grace, 1 . In the Freedom of it, all to be done 
 for Chrift's Sake, and ye to be juftified by his 
 Righteoufnefs ; and that it is enough for you, 
 in Point of juflification, that Chrift hath not 
 finned, but is compleatly Righteous, Jer, 23, 
 6. He is the Lord our Righteoufnefs, 2. Not 
 confidering the Durability of the Covenant of 
 Grace, That all the Sins of thefe that are 
 in it, cannot wynd them out of it, 2 Sam. 
 23. 5. Tho" I have t>een a Liar, an Adulte- 
 rer and Murderer, yet the Covenant is ever- 
 
 + I aft fag * 7 
 
of EleB Sinners. 271 
 
 } aft trig vf>nce * n it* anc * f° r ever m lt * 3* The 
 not conlidering the Extent of free Grace in 
 this Covenant : It doth not^only extend to 
 this Man, or the other Man, that hath not 
 come the Length of notorious Sins \ but, to 
 all that accept of the Conditions tkerein pre- 
 scribed, and of Mercy upon the Conditions > 
 John 6. 37. To all Sinners, whatever their 
 Sins be, yet he that comet h j and ay, he 
 that cometh. It is not, Is Manajfeh a Warlock 
 and a Blood -fhedder ? But, Is he a Corner ? 
 It is. not, Is Saul a Blafphemer and a Perfe- 
 cuter? But, 1$ he a Comer? It is not, Is 
 Adam One that hath overturned the whole 
 Covenant t>f Works, and loft liim&i^nd 
 all thef-vWorld, a Murderer of the 7 whole 
 WorldY Souls and Bodies? But, Is Adam* 
 Comer >£>tf he be, he is very .welcome. And,*- 
 him tb'A ••c-cmetk 'unto me 7 J will in nowife caft 
 out, 
 
 8. Id arifeth from the Want of a firm Per* 
 fwailon,/ That the Lord hath made a Cove- 
 v0$i us. Why ? poor Fear., Why doft 
 thou qoubt of th#t ? Haft thou made a Cove- 
 nant with Kim ? He hath as fure made a 
 Covenant with thee , efpecially if thou aims 
 ;fincerely to keep it, and mournefl for the 
 breaking of it, and renewed it again, Jer. 50. 
 ^. When a Covenant*breaking People isks 
 the Way to Zior/ 9 to renew their Covenant, 
 they are faid to go to feek the Lord their 
 God. He comes and meets a People thai: go 
 
 to 
 
lyi The Lofs and Recovery 
 to engage with him, Dent* 26. i<5, 17. When 
 they avouch the Lord to be their God, that 
 very Day the Lord avoucheth them to be his 
 People. * 
 
 Fear.' What ihali I do when I am per- 
 plexed with thefe Doubts and Fears about my 
 being in the Way ? 
 
 Faith. Pray much, Pfal. 43. 3. O fend forth 
 thy Light and thy Truth, let them be Guides to 
 me* Pfal. 34. 6. This poor Man cried, tie 
 Lord heard, and delivered him cut of all his 
 Troubles. v. 4. I fought the Lord 9 and he 
 heard me, and delivered me from all my Fears. 
 2. Be much in the Exercife of Faith, PfaU 
 27.- 1 3. I had faint ed, unlefs I had believed to 
 fee the Goodr/efs of the hord p in the hand of the* 
 Living. 3. Wait upon the Lord till his Time 
 tome to deliver, Pfid, 27. ulr. Wait upon- the 
 Lord, and be /hong, and he pall ftren^then thine 
 Heart, I Cor. id. 13. Watch ye, (land faft 
 in the Faith y quit yourfehes like Men, and be 
 ftrcng. Be not like Children, that the leaft 
 Touch will difcourage- and carl: down ; but, 
 like Men, that will manfully refjft the Temp- 
 tation. When Satan takes Occaiion of your 
 feared Temper and Conftitution, join not in 
 with him* to fay, All he obje£rs is true - ? 
 but refift, and let Baal plead for himfelf. 
 4. Meditate much on the Word of God. 
 This was David's Courfe when under Fears, 
 I thy Servant djid meditate on thy Statutes. Thy 
 Tefimonies are my Delight? and they are my 
 
 Conn- 
 
of BleEl Sinners. 27£ 
 
 Counfellors in all my Doubts and Fears. Prayer 
 and Meditation are like the two Spies that 
 went to view the Land of Canaan : The one 
 vieweth, the other cutteth down and bringeth 
 home the Comfort : Meditation is the Eye 
 that vieweth the Comfort* Prayer is the Hand 
 that bringeth the Mercy : Meditation cannot 
 find out a real Want, but Prayer will bring 
 in a real Mercy to fupply that Want. 
 
 Fear, I am afraid that the great Multitude 
 that came out with us, when they heard Boaner- 
 ges preach to them,never come fafe to the End 
 of the Journey. I am fure that it hath been 
 fad Days with them, when they met with 
 King Cruelty and his Army : Let us look back 
 and fee what is become of them \ for we hard- 
 ly efcaped them ourfelves. And if the Rtgh-> 
 teous fcarcely be faved, where pall the Vngodly 
 and Sinner appear ? 
 
 Faith. I fcarce fee the tenth Man of them 
 coming forward. 
 
 Fear. What moved them to undertake^ 
 fince they utterly gave over fo foon, and 
 turned over to the Perfecutors Side ? 
 
 Faith, i. Some fudden Flafhes of Fear and 
 Joy, arifing from the Eloquence of thefe 
 two noble Preachers, and alfo ipme common 
 Work of the Spirit upon them, convincing 
 and terrifying them h for many are convinced 
 that they are loft Sinners, that never are 
 converted, and become faved Sinners ; As 
 Judas, I have finned, but yet went on. And 
 T If mi 
 
' 274 Tkt L°f s <*#d (Recovery 
 
 Herod heard John the Baytift gladly , and did many 
 "things. 2, They thought that they would 
 not meet with fb much Oppofition in the 
 Way *, they did not count the Cofl what; 
 Heaven might coft them ^ and hence meeting 
 with thefe Difficulties they looked not for, 
 and more Coft than they reckoned upon, 
 they take fecond Thoughts, and refolve not 
 to have fuch a coftly Heaven : Therefore, 
 they that anon with Joy received the Word, 
 Matth. 13. yet, in the Time of Perfecution, 
 they fell away. 3. They looked to be in 
 Refpe& with great Men •, and feeing it is 
 the quite contrary, that they will have all 
 the Mifchief that great Ones can do them : 
 And to lofe the Favour of great Men for 
 Chrift, any Thing except that : This they 
 cannot. And therefore the Jews iaft Argu- 
 *ment to Pilate, to pafs Sentence on Chrift, 
 when nothing elfe would prevail, was. If 
 thou let this May go, thou art not Celar'x Friend, 
 And when he heard that, he delivered up 
 Chrift to be Crucified, John 11. 47, 48. If 
 we let him alone , all Men will believe m kirn, 
 and the Romans will ccme and take away our 
 Tlace and Naticn. They dooght not hear of 
 loofing their Places for Chrift. 
 
 Fear. Em I trow they did Covenant with 
 God •, Did they not ? 
 
 Faith. Yes, they did} But it was through 
 Force of the Fear of Hell, and Self-love : 
 
 Their Hearts fiid oue Thing, and their Mouths 
 
 _ — - — - ^ an(H 
 
. of EleB Sinners. 275 
 
 another, Tfal. 73. 34, 36. When he flew them, 
 then they truped in him, and they enquired early 
 after him. But their Hearts were not tight with 
 God, neither were they fledfaft in his Covenant J 
 And what worth is an unftedfaft. Hollow- 
 hearted Man's Covenant with God ? Tho' he 
 ftiould write a thoufand Sheets of Paper on it, 
 'tis not worth a Farthing : If it be not only 
 this, the more Paper that's in them, they make 
 the greater Fire to warm Women and Chil- 
 dren at the Crofs of Edinburgh in a cold Day ; 
 but. if the Day be hot, when we need no 
 Fire, they do more 111 than Good. 
 
 Fear. But you faid, That Fear of Hell and 
 Self-love moved them to Covenant : Might 
 not thefe two Motives have prevail'd with 
 them to kep their Covenant ? 
 
 Faith. Not at all : For Fear of Hell drives 
 a Man ftraight to Hell, if there be no more. 
 Take the Example of Judas, Hell was flam- 
 ing in his Conscience : Alas ! / have finned} 
 and / have betrayed innocent Blood. And he 
 takes the neareft Way to Hell, he ran and 
 hanged himfelf. Balaam was as fear'd for 
 Hell as a Man could be, when he faid, Numb* 
 24. 17. / (halt fee him, but not now ', I Jhdl be- 
 hold him, but not nigh : That is, I will be ex- 
 communicate from God*s Prefence, for my 
 Sin of coming to curfe Ifrael, if I mend not 
 my Manners. Bnt did this have any faving 
 ErTeft upon him ? No : He went on^ and 
 taught Bdak to caft a Stumbling-block before the 
 T 2 Chil- 
 
276 T*be Lofs and Recovery 
 Children of Ifrael, • to tempt them to Idolatry 
 and Fornication. The Fear of Hell will not 
 do it. 
 
 %. Self-love will not do it either. For, as 
 a Fountain may fend Streams hither and 
 thither* yet thefe Streams never go higher 
 than the Fountain from whence they arofe •, 
 So it is here. Self-love may make a great 
 ado in the World, but yet it never goes 
 higher than Self: For thefe Men that take 
 up Religion for fedr of their Souls in Time 
 of Profperity, will ■ quit Religion for fear of 
 their Bodies and Eftate in Time of Perfecu- 
 tion and Adverfit^. God, I thank thcc, I am 
 wot like other Men : I do this, I do that. A 
 vain-glorious Fool, feeking Self-Probation, is 
 never juftified. 
 
 Fear. I fear many have fcarce come the 
 Length to have thefe fame Motives, fecklefs 
 as they are. Pray tell me, What are the true 
 Motives that excite Men to Covenanting with 
 God, that thefe excited by them will hold on? 
 . Faith, i. Love to God and Chrift, 2 Cor. 5. 
 '14. The Love of Chrift conftraineth us, becaufe we 
 thus judge^ That Chrifl died for us* Cant. 8« 
 6. Love is flrong as Death, many Waters cannot 
 quench Love, neither can the Floods drown it.- All 
 Affli&ions are ineffectual, Rom. 8. ult. All 
 Things (Sword or Famine,) Jhall not feparate m 
 from the Love of Chrifl. And the Spoufe, Cant A 
 5. 7. The Spoufe, fick of Love: The Watch- 
 men fmitingj wounding, taking away the Vail 
 
 from 
 
of EleB Sinners. 177 
 
 /torn her, could not turn her back : Nothing j 
 can keep them . from the Bofom of Chrift, 
 that are deep in Love with him. 
 
 2. Love to Cbrift's Work is another Mo« 
 tive that faileth not. A Balaam-) that is for 
 the Wages only, Let me die the Death of the 
 Righteous , give me the Wages : He faileth ; 
 for he had no Delight in the Work. But 
 they that think the Commands an Heaven up-' 
 on Earth, Pfal. 119. J have chofen thy Com* 
 mandments to be mine Inheritance for ever: Ye 
 may as well pluck a Man out of Heaven, as 
 out of the VVay of Obedience •, for it is an 
 Heaven to them. So thefe that are like the 
 Hebrew Servants, that love the Matter and 
 his Work, they perfift and hold out for ever. 
 
 3. Thefe that are more for Holinefs here, 
 than for Happinefs hereafter, will hold on. 
 Balaam that was for Happinefs, he turns a- 
 way \ but a David, he is for Holinefs. O 
 make me Holy, PJai. 51, 2. wafh, purge, 
 cleanfe : Make me holy? come of Happinefs ,, 
 what will j and he perfevereth, and can fay 
 at the Grave's Mouth, 2 Sam. 23. 5. God hath 
 made with me an everlafling Covenant, 
 
 Fear. But our Sins were as great as their Sin 
 was, we forfook him and fled. How ihall 
 we difference betwixt the Sins of the Godly, 
 and the Sins of the Wicked ? For there mull 
 be fome Difference, as appeareth from Deut. 
 32. 4,. 5. They have corrupted thcnfelves, their 
 Spot is not the Spot of my. Tecjk^ 
 
 J 3 
 
27 & The Lofs and Recovery 
 
 Faith. Yet there are fome Differences as to 
 | the Circumftances of the Sin: For, as "the 
 f Wicked may do the fame Duties, pray, read, 
 j hear, &c, that the Godly do, and yet all is 
 \ Sin, Ifa. i. 14. Their New-moons and Sab- 
 [ baths, the Lord cannot away with them •, 
 
 becaufe they perform not thefe Daties in a 
 I yight Manner : So here, the Godly may be 
 
 guilty of the fame Sins, and yet differ from 
 
 the Sins of the Wicked, as to the Manner of 
 
 their committing of them. 
 
 1. The Godly fin not refolvedly 5 if they 
 do, it is againft their Refblutions, John 13. 
 ad finem. Althc? I fhould die with thee, yet will 
 I not deny thee. And, Pjal. 17. 3. / have pur ~ 
 pofed that I Jhall not tranjgrefs 3 Tho* they 
 fometimes are ftcllen from their Feet, .fur- 
 prized with a Temptation : But the Wicked 
 fin wilfully and refolvedly, PfaL 30". 4. He dc- 
 vV.eth Mi/chief upon his Bed, 
 
 2. The Wicked fin with the whole Con- 
 lent of the Will, Exod. 5. 2. / will not let hi* 
 People go. It was no Matter to him what God 
 commanded, if it were not his Will to do it, 
 (yen. 6. 5. All the Imaginations of their Hearts 
 m-e only Evil y and that continually. Nothing at 
 all in them to counterbalance Sin : But the 
 Godly fm not with the haill Cojafent of fcfoe/ir 
 Wffl, rbut againft it, Rom. ?• 1%. I do , 
 which I allow net. And it is no mure /, but 
 Sm that dwdleth in me. It is I, and not I. 
 There are two l\m the Man-> ftriving like the 
 
 cWO 
 
of EIccl Sinners: 279 | 
 
 two Twins in the Womb of Rebehlah, each 
 like to deftroy other, and to make an End of 
 the Perlon ', A Law in the Members^ warring 
 again ft the Law of the Mind^ leading Captive to. 
 the Liw of Sin and Death, Mark 14. 63. Peter J 
 denied his Mafter, and as he did it, he with-1 
 drew into the Porch ; fhew'ing his Averfion 1 
 from that Sin, that at that Time he was not 1 
 able to refift. 
 
 3. The Sin of the Wicked is fuch as they 
 do not complain of, nor cry to God for Help ; 
 for they are not fenfible of it, PfaL 10. 4. Ihc 
 Wicked will net call upon God. But the Godly 
 complain of Sin, Pfal % 6. 3. My Soul is djo 
 fore vexed, but thou, O Lord, how long ? O 
 wretched Man that 1 am ! who jlmfl deliver me 
 from the Body of this Death ? 
 
 4. There is fomething of Love to Chrift 
 going along with the Sin of the Godly, Matt. 
 16. 22. When Peter diffwaded Chrift from 
 going to Jerufalem to fuffer, there appeared 
 Love to Chrift \ Far be it from thee, Lord. He 
 would fain have had Chrift fafe 3 fo great was his 
 Love to Him. But the Sins of the Wicked 
 are out of pure Hatred and Malice *, not the 
 leaft Degree of Love to Chrift, Holinefs nor 
 Religion, Mat. 27. 18. Pilate hew that for 
 Envy they had delivered Chrift to him* They 
 hate God, becaufe he will not let them live in 
 Sin and give them Heaven } they hate Mini- ^ 
 fters, becaufe they will not fay that gracelefs' 
 profane Men are in the Way to Heaven, iKwgs 
 
 T 4 izA 
 
i8o 77;e Lojs and Recovery 
 
 ''21. 8. 'then is one Micaiah, but I hate him, }cr 
 he never Jpeaks Good of me, but always Evil. 
 What ails him, that he will not fay that God 
 will never be offended at me for killing Naboth, 
 and taking his Vineyard ? what aileth him, 
 that he will not fay the Lord will never heed 
 it, that I worfhip the Calves ia Dan and Bethel ? 
 what ails him, that he hinders me to go up 
 to Ramoth-gilead ? He might fay as the reft do, 
 and then I would love him : But I will go, 
 whether he will or not, fince it is my Pieafure. 
 Well, Ahab) it is upon your Peril ^ ye will 
 pay dear for the groundlefs Feud* at honeft 
 Micaiah before ye come back, and fee that ye 
 hated the wrong Man : Ye mould have hated 
 the falfe Prophets, that flattered you in among 
 the Hands of your Murderers-, and loved flfir 
 caiah, that fought to preferve you. So it is 
 at this Day •, the plained Preachers are moft 
 hated. What ails them ? they will not let us 
 live in Sin, and have an Hundred Calves iii 
 bur fuperfiitious Worfhip. 
 
 5. When the Godly fin, they mourn for 'it, 
 and rife again, as we have done \ and as Veter, 
 who wept bitterly j and David, who rofe, re- 
 pented, and fell no more into the Sin : But the 
 W ; cked never rife by Repentance. And this 
 is one great D fYerence : For the Godly may- 
 fometimes fin deliberately, as Eayid fat down 
 and contrived how to kill Z/riah ; but yet he 
 repented and rofe again. 
 
 Fear. Bleffed be God, we have had a long 
 
 Calm 
 
of EleEl Sinners* 2 8 1 
 
 Calm and pleafant Way, and I have been de- 
 lighted much in your Company : But one 
 Thing I wonder at, that, immediately after io 
 great a Sin, the Lord brought not on greater 
 Calamities. 
 
 Faith. The Lord is a good Mafter : His Af- 
 fli&ings are his Work, his flrange Work ? but 
 Mercy is the Work he delighteth in : He re- 
 joiceth over his People to do them Good. We 
 wring Miferies out of his Hand :, He is at this, 
 before he afflift, What jhall J do ? O Ephraim, 
 what jkili I do to thee ? Judah, what jhall J d$ 
 to thee ? And, He doth not ajflitl willingly? nor 
 grieve the Children of Men, And befides, He 
 will not contend for ever? neither will he be always 
 wroth, left- the Sprit jhould faik before him? and 
 the Souls that he hath made. 1 think it fit now 5 
 that we fhould fmg, Vfal. 103. 8. 
 
 The Lord our God is merciful, 
 
 and he is gracious, 
 Long-fuffering, and flow to Wrath, 
 
 in Mercy plenteous. 
 He will not chide continually, 
 
 nor keep his Anger (till : 
 With us he dealt not as we finn'd, 
 
 nor did requite our 111, &c. 
 
 For, after Peter's Fall, He manifefted his 
 Love fmgularly to him, left he fhould break 
 his Heart, Mark 16, Go tell my JDifciple's and 
 feter? the good News, That / go before them 
 
 nto 
 
2 8 1 The Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 into Galilee : There Jhali ye fee me, as I faid unto 
 you. See ME who will, Peter jfhall be one : 
 Poor Man, he is near my Heart \ I will not 
 requite him as he hath finned. 
 
 Fear. Well, let us ipend this Calm as well 
 as we can ^ but I fear a Blaft yet. I would ask 
 one Thing at you, as long as it is in my Mind, 
 What came of the fick Perfons, that fell fick 
 in Prifon, and fome of them like to die When 
 Boanerges and Paracletes came among them ? 1 
 fear they had not Power to ftir, to come away 
 with the reft, whgi the Trumpet of the Jubi- 
 lee was founded. 
 
 Faith. The moll Part of them are lying there 
 yet, and their Difeafe is fo increafed, that it- 
 would break art* Heart of Stone to fee them 
 curling and blafpheming, becaufe of their ex- 
 ceffive Pain, Rev. \6.2i. 
 
 Fear. What is the Reafon ? Did not Chrift 
 the Phyflctan come down among them ? Mat. 
 Sp. 12. The Whole need not J 'he Phyficiav y but 
 they that avc Sick, I came not to call the Right e- 
 tffrj, hut x Sinners, tb Repentance. 
 
 Faith. Yes, he did. But, to fet afide this, 
 confider. That he will have Mercy on whom he 
 mil have Mercy y and whom hf will he hardneth. 
 His Sovereignty appeareth here, that he ope- 
 ned our Priion \ for we could no more break 
 through Iron Gates, and break the Fetters of 
 \ Brafs that were upon usy than thty could cure 
 J themfeives. Beiide this, I fay^ There are 
 fome aggravating Circumstances cf their Dif- 
 eafe, , 
 
of EleB Sinners. 285 
 
 eafe, that proves the fame to.be inctireable ; that 
 tho' there be $ aim in Gilead, and a Phyjician 
 there, yet the Difeafe is not cured, Jer. 8. tut: 
 
 i. When the Lord gives up with them, and will 
 not ware Means upon them, becaufe they would 
 not be bettered thereby, If a. i. 5. Why Jhotild ye 
 be ftricken any more ? Te will revolt more a?zd 
 more. Pfal. 81. 11. My 'People would not hearken 
 
 to my Voice, fo I gave them tip : And then 
 
 they wandred in their own Coimfeh. Ha*b. 2. 13. 
 Is it not of the Lord of Hofts that the People la- 
 hour in the very Fire, and weary themfelves for 
 very Vanity ? The Lord in Jultice gives them more 
 Toil and Vexation in the Way to Hell, than the 
 Godly have in the W av t0 Heaven : And not 
 only does he give up with them, but he commands 
 his Minifters to do fo too, Prov. 9. 8. Reprove 
 not a Scorncr, left he hate thee. Minifter, I have 
 given up with them : l*bey are joined to Idoh, let 
 .them alone. Let thou them alone alfo, reprove 
 them not, they are not worthy of a Reproof; 
 they are obftinate and incorrigible, and fcornfully ' 
 reject all Means of Amendment : I will not pi/nim 
 their Spoufes when they commit Adultery ,norv heir 
 Daughters when they commit Whoredom ; Hell 
 lhali pay the Fare for all. Do with them, Mini- 
 fter, as Phyficians do with a Perfon in a defperate 
 Difeafe, Give them over for Death ; all that 
 .thou wilt gain by thy Reproofs , will be their Hatred 
 and Malice : That's a Sign of One given over t> 
 eternal Death, and fick unto Death, whofe W oiiirds 
 are incureable. : And this was the Cafe of marty of 
 them. 
 
 z. When Men go on' in Sin over the Telly of 
 Convidions, and Rods lying on for Sip : Like 
 Cnhtj that was convicted of Sin, and yet flyeth 
 
 from 
 
284 We Lofs and ^fcovery 
 
 from the Prefence of the Lord. And Jtidas, that 
 confefled that he %ad betrayed innocent Bloody and 
 yet runs away and hangs himfelf : And that tho 3 they 
 be frrutten, yet revolt more and more. Some leek 
 to allay Convi&ions by Throng of earthly Affairs, 
 as Cain, in his building of Cities. Some do drink 
 away Convictions, they go from eyil to worfe'j 
 as Jude fays in his Efifile; They walk in the 
 Way of Cain. Like thele that came to apprehend 
 Chrift, John 18. 4. who tho' he fmote them to 
 the Ground, yet they rofe again and laid hold on 
 him. The Sting ftill ftayeth, they have no Will 
 that the Difeafe fhould be removed, and (6 they 
 continue in Sin ; which, akho' the lefTer Sort of 
 Sins, bringeth forth Death : Whereas the greatelfe 
 Sins left and forfakea, the Perfon obtaineth Mercy. 
 This is a f Sign of a mortal Difeafe, when it pre* 
 vaiieth and ftill continueth : And this alfo was to 
 be found among them. 
 
 5. It is a deadly Symptom^ when Sin is into the 
 Heart, and hath the whole Love and AfTe&ions. 
 They fay, that a Difeale is deadly, when it goeth 
 3nto die Heart ; fo is Sin, when it hath Place in 
 the Love and Affections, ■. and Men delight in it ; 
 It is a Sport to them to do Mifchief. And altho' 
 there be in the Perfon fome Strivings of Confcience 
 againfr. it, yet the Perfon takes Sin's Side, and 
 (oves k moil : Whereas the Strivings of the God- 
 ly in it, the Perfon loves HolinefsS Side mofi:, and 
 fi$s, Rom. 7. j 5. What I hate, that do 7. But 
 \t the Wicked do, that they have an Heart - 
 This is a Sign they are under an incure- 
 able Weafe; Sin, like a Sicknels, hath taken them 
 by the Heart. 
 
 4. It is a deadly Token, where the Difeafe flil 
 iricreafeth ; when the perfon goes back from the 
 
of EleEl Sinners. 285 
 
 fProfeffion of Holinefs, and groweth worfe and 
 worfe, ftill nearer Hell, and unfitter for Heaven^ 
 
 Luke 9. 61. No Man having pit his Hand to 
 the <P lough, and looking back, is fit for the King- 
 dom of God. It had been better for them never 
 to have known the righteous Ways of the Lord* 
 than after they have known them, to depart from 
 the holy Commandment. They may h$ar for a, 
 YVhile with Joy, and go back; do much,and lofeall 
 for want of doing more; climb up till their Hands be 
 upon the Threihold of Glory, and then come tum- 
 bling down to Hell 1 Their Cafe is held out to be 
 deplorable, Heb. 6. 3, 4, 5. For it impffible for 
 them that have once been inlightned, and have 
 tajled of the good Word of God, and of the Towers 
 of the World to come, if they fhall fall away; 
 to renew again by Repentance. For their Con- 
 sciences were once tender of Sin, but now they 
 are bold in Sin ; That is a lad Sign of an incure- 
 able Difeale, and fuch was the Cale with many of 
 them. 
 
 5. 5 Tis a deadly Token, when they feel not the 
 Pain of the Difeaie. When we come to a fick Per- 
 forj, and ask how they are, and they fay, I feel 
 no Pain; then their Friends begin to weep, and fay, 
 He's but a dead Man : So is it here. When People 
 are lying in Sin, and feel not the Hurt of Sin, do 
 not cry out for Pain, O what fhall I do ? I am 
 pricked and pained at the Breaft : That is a Token 
 that the Perlon is not whole, but the Difeafe in- 
 curable, Eph. 4. 19. Who being fiafi Feeling, have 
 given tbemfelves over to work all Uncleannefs with 
 Sreedinefs. 1 Tim. 4. 2. Having their Confcience 
 feared as w\th a hot Iron. Such laugh at thefe 
 that complain of the Hurt of Sin : For whom the 
 Lord healeth, he firft woundeth, Hof G % a. He hath 
 : torn 
 
2 8 6 Tlie Lofs and (Recovery 
 
 torn, and he will heah Afts 2. 37. They were 
 pricked at their Hearts, before they were healed. 
 But, the Man that is ienfelefs, and fcds not the 
 Huf t of Sin, ye may fay of luch a Man, It is an 
 Evidence that he is a Son of 'Perdition. That's a 
 Sign of an incurable Difeafe : And fuch was the 
 Sicknefs of many of them. 
 
 6. When nothing will go down, nor flay upon 
 the Stomach, "neither Food nor Phyfick ; but, in- 
 ftead of vomiting up the noxious Humours, they 
 vomit up the Phyiick. Many vomit up the In- 
 ftru&ions and Reproofs of the Word in the Face 
 of the Minifter, by hating die Minifter, inftead of 
 leaving the Sin reproved, Tfal. 50. 16. Thozi ha- 
 reft Injiruciion, and c aft eft my Word behind thy 
 "Back. Prov. 29. 1. He that being ojten reproved, 
 hardneth his Neck, ftiall be deftroyed, and that- 
 without Remedy. That's a Token of an incu- 
 rable Difeafe : And fuch was the Difeafe of many 
 of them. 
 
 7. When all Cures are tried, and the Means that 
 do Good to others, do no Good to them,, but Evil, 
 Hill they grow worfe. So, when a Sinner is un- 
 der the moil: lively Preaching of the G of pel, the 
 Sacra?rients are adminiltrcd., and Rods on the Back 
 of all ; and there are many converted thereby, and 
 yet they are grofTer Sinners than ever : And, it 
 may be faid of them, as of that Mifcreant of Na- 
 ture, k'hh is that King Ahaz, ?mbo 9 in the Time 
 tf his Affliction, finned yet the more. Or, this is 
 
 : Ay . the fame, whofe Difeafe is incurable, 
 a Phyfician ihould ufe all Means with a fkkPer- 
 and come and ask him, ^.How art thou now? 
 he fhould fay, As ill as ever, I am no better 
 t the Phyfician fay, I wonder at it ; I 
 >w«d the Jail Remedy on you, and tha> 
 
 hfyonc 
 
 Inn 
 
of Elect Sinners* 21 
 
 >evond which I can ware no more ; thefe f hiags 
 iave cured manyl therefore thou mayeft prepare 
 or Deaths you are not a Man for this World ? So, 
 ,vhen the Lord hath done what he can, and hath 
 Adthhoiden nothing, and thou art no better, we 
 nay lay to fuch, 'Prepare to meet thy God, for thou 
 ookeft not like a Man for Heaven : I would, have, 
 biergtd thee, and thou wafi not purged $ therefore 
 your Iniquity pall not be purged till ye die. When, 
 thou haft lived twenty ,thirty,or forty Years under 
 the Gofpel, and no better, thou art in Peril of thy 
 Salvation :' Forty Tears have I been grieved with 
 this Generation ; So I fware in my Wrath, that 
 they-fiould, not enter into my Reft, Pfal. 95. 10, 
 11. And many that live under the Gofpel, he 
 fays of them, [Twenty Years have I been grieved 
 v/ith this Generation, I fwear in my Wrath that 
 they fhall not enter into my Reft ; yea] Within 
 the Space of three Years ye fhall be cut d 
 sThe fruitlefs ¥\%-tree y Why cumbreth it the Gr 
 [And if he do not take them away by. Death 
 pronounceth that Curfe, Let never. Fruit grew on 
 ,thee henceforth, Luke 15*. 41, 42. Now, the 
 ^Things that belong to thy (Peace, are hid frovz 
 thine Eyes. 
 
 THE POEM. 
 
 jGod fends Afflictions us upon, 
 
 our Graces for to try, 
 And keep us humble, left our B; 
 
 prove great, when lifted high. 
 The Way that leadeth unto Life, 
 
 is Holy, Strait a»d Good : 
 For Chrift he i$ the only Wa» 
 
 by Faith m'$ prfcio" c Blood, 
 
*8# he Lo/s and Recovery y & 
 
 , \ , r w, he asks the Way to Life, 
 
 and fears he go aftray ; 
 I e Matter's weighty, he's but weak.* 
 
 and knows not well the Way ♦ 
 Becaufe Sin doth remain in Part, 
 
 ana ignorant is he 
 That Chiiil is Willing : And his Sou? 
 
 lure teal'd he doth not fee- 
 Why ? Many that at firft fet out 
 
 in Heaven are not feen j? 
 Becaufe Mans Fear> and World's Care 
 
 come flipping in between. 
 Their Motives were, They feared Hdi, 
 
 and their own (elves did love : 
 But Springs that rife but from the Earthy 
 
 go ne er to Cloud* above. 
 But if our Motives we would have 
 effectual to prove ; 
 muft be Chriit, and HoJinefs, 
 and his Work that we love. 
 
 Godly come the Wicked's Length, 
 fibth to baekilkle and fall : 
 'et periffr not like wicked Men , 
 
 caufe they leave them all. 
 lie Sins of wicked Men again 
 remecjikfs do prove : 
 Becaufe they per fever e in them, 
 and to the End them love. 
 Lord, lead us fafely in the Way, 
 
 and. Light fend from on high, 
 \And we therein (hall pfflevere, 
 anil Ihlklvjabs cry. 
 
 A^