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'\ ■•■T v" V:N I I 'i '\C\ m- '\ '».'• *!*> ?'feL. fopi f^^?k«** ^^K» Printer, ia«t his ^^ «* ■.; :>'- SX:S » .1 ^* TWO MITES |i ON Some of the mo4t important and much dirputed Points of ^ Divinity^ ,C.(t into the T„A>ORv for the Welfw »thePen.r.lof.he*,p„j.di^^ iju unpaaW R«ad„, ^> «^, .: I HENRV ALLmE; - IjJ Semw of the Lo^D M»liii *' ■ Churches. .^?..jt ^ HALtFAJC: Printed >y4 it' ■* #J . I -^ -^1, 4 H I? ' X 'J#/ ^ * k.^ *-> ,^..i C) .„ '•»S^'«-W' ..\. m »«t- ■'«r. >i- r '\. I i^iiJIfeiiii'^if* - Kf^-I ' ^jeigg8Sfe "S^' #' P R E F A C £• TT is .lamentable 'rn,th,^«'M„ b> hJi KebcU,o«.gai„ftG01> J^asphi^gea^H^^^ wto fitch a Sute of Op|K>fltiQ„ w. ||!* ^^ j^L^ ^«ild oppafin more thaTiagti^'S^ ^^ ftaildi npt only condemn«(tin.ia9MfIf, ti"-^^'' '"^^ trife wholly expofcd wthe$iiM^aad^T of the Powers of DarlcjJefsi J^r^jji^; Thodfands ind Teiri df Thbufaii^rj " Siiis evtii wider aftthe ?riv^ of Grace, and ftfirouiidir^ MiM.^ dcnlptioh. And the Detfft^iyfc:! ef^loal for the |)^|ll||gl^ .< "i^^^ «tdhei«it% ^^P^ccigw and inia) ^%!«»* ■ ^:^ ^J^^i »»f>;^if?p^if/ y ^JK^:^ . J" > E F Ai C E deceived, whoprofefs to believe ^ in and embrace the Mbssiah thatis come, when|t t^ f.me Tim, tiicy areas great Strangers to his^filrace and En ' cmie^^in their Heartsasthe Jews that crucified ^im.«d openly rejefted Him « a horrid Impo- or: For there is fcarcely any Men under the Lighi^f th, Cfpei but what c^l themfelve. Chriiliaftg, and are likcwifc conviriced, that the Wajr to Heaven is not through grofs Out-brea- ^ing»an4 Debaachciy, fo that rather than to be mifemble for ever, many will forfakc Drunfeen- ncfj. profane Swearing, Stealing, laying, Fqrrii, . eation, AduItei^C and fuch like Vices, and will «P^<;e fomfe Principles of Religion and praalcc fomccotfemal Performances, and therefore ima- tinc all ja.well, and fo go down to eternal Pcr- ditioa; wSthout much Concern uponUi^irMindsj «»kI thus-Atnjr Jn the W for civil Society, yet all that cm be faid bf «i6 Change («fpeaing their pwn State) i,, that they have ^changed ^om t>t open pix>f«i« c« -^-*lwaiai, «nd fiom one fift of: f King Hope 1 ,' .' a^d 1 iliot h they from Anti- find n of Go tal Soi fullL me, \\ I inter that is may bi tang lee read w ven fo Truth TMQR - Sake-^i • » . , ,^ -'^ ■m^i. : E. and embrace )§e fame Tim?, 'race and En - that crucified horrid Impo- fen under the Jl themfelves :ed, that the f$ Out-brea- ler than to be ke Dtrunlcen. ying, Fqrrti, es, and will and pradlice ercfore ima- ctcmal Pcr- A^Mindsj )ieir Bfcape n Death to It it may hf 'M be fajd ute) li, that profvieco PR E T ACE. Kingdom to another; and fo with a, groundlef* Hope of Heaven are ftill polling down to -Heif, '. .' aj^d tlius knowing, that the Devil (who careth »^- becanfe I PREFACE.. Jpve thus improved them in fome ParticulaMS Forlwouldbcfarfromcafting a Van tway w condemn I^ in general, becaufclimaginca he was ivrong in fome Things, or differed with me in fome Circumftantfals i neither would t by aiur Means approve the whole of any Men's Works or Principles, 'Secaufc I efteemed them as good Men, or found fome Part of thei*)Works really- worthy of Applaufe: This.has beek too raubh the Prac- tice of the World; efpecially of tbofe, Hi^Ha arc fo fond of Eafe, as'to rcceire the Jndgnlent of ^thers, rather than to be at the Trouble of* feari ching for thcmfelvesj And many thereby have' embraced ^rofs Errors, attd laboured nn4cr thenk all their Days, bccaufc they i^ broached a^- held forth by thofc they caUed good M«W ' ' ' ' v* ''^> -•■v — .-V .7, - y- »4- ->--.^ ^ V^a ;;.■. ^■ 5:^;jt3ii£iKs. t- - ^^r**"; ^i6f^„ '-<»,' «* 1 < CHAPTER I. Oft GOm JiECKEts, and Mw^s Fall npt dternd^ "." r • " , _ ;«aWKl,KN0W of nothing, morc^ ' '^ "IX % cffcnti^l in leading poor fal- V? ^Jen Min to Life, than fira ma^L ^ ^o. convince him of his Dca4h ^ . ff o^ ^o Jjad him to Happi-^ ^(Sr>'%JS -nefs, than, to fl^cw him his . ^^.A^eryT And thewforc; in Hopes of being in- ' . 'Jfaimcntal in the bringing my Reader to the X'. ;. Xjiowledge ofthcGnBAT Redeemer, I ihall - '. ;;^ .endcavdur, Firft, to acq^uaint Bim with himfclf ; t u- for who wants a Recovery b\H Jbim that is ftUen ? , •A^ci weU, ah well would it be for the fallen Race. were fromj what they arc mnir^aiemiig ignorant -of their Fall, MiUions Mill g to T^ i IT'v.i te*« t and llion.8V,'r' 1 i> y* „ *"N -ji* iA..i~l r ^) Fallnfit ig . more ' poor fal- han fir (I lis De^li Happi-^ him his , eing in« ' r to the I ihall himfelf; i&Uen? . n Race* iat they dng^or ms «iid itfillion^V.T ^ Millions iive and die ignoMM of the Kccotefy. And ttow,jjt take « fmall.Vicvv of Man*s mi. ft:rable Condition, it isjiccc^r^, to confxdcr the Nature and Caqfe of this his pref^t and mifcr- able State.' For altho' it may be the groundlefl , Opinion of many, that God fore-ordained and determined MW; Vail, or whatfoevcr'cf»m« K? < >l pafs; yet, I dare not prefume w (hj^jfjiSiy upon God by fayihg, that Hd flf tp;mined (tfjditr creed fo Heaivcn-daring a RebeHioft agaiijft Him^ ^?1£» as that was, which w«| fOfnntitted by M>i«i which proved the Ri»in of the new-mtdo W/o^ld^ and fiink an innuiperable Thtoitj . cif. -nvcioiw. - and immortal ^uls into a Labyrinth of Wo and • Mifery : butihould think « far more fafLtO.bcr Jieve^hat the Great BrBRjiALGobi fa^jtng jllf fi^ iiniti^ M Y"*OM and Love, cpblil ^and didf^lit?^^^ fcribe the oi^ly and moft glorious' flafty Aat ' poiEble for Hisowa Glory, andthe-Hi^ his Creatures : And that Plan maAjffli' be accordiiig to his own l^ature ; fe| not poffiblyift: contrary ^o HimielffrAtt&t :/«wHftforn^i:ManJnifi»o [*''V- .. . i^^^'^l,^""?* endoiy'ed with fuc^^ - . ^.SJ r '%. '•k^^:.L^ ;mM i^i.'i^>; J^Jaced in fuch a Station, a3 to render him cap- able of atfiAg «3'« free Agcnh and with hi, own Choice to obey or difobey/ to chufe or rcfufe. to fta|i4 or fall, without beiig in the leaft influenced from, or by his intending to bring about glorious Events after their Fa//; as He waa able in infinite Wifdom to bring Good m of Evil; and 6oD did intend repeemino Lovb *) the fallen World, if they fell; which he well knew, they would : The fame is clearly ex- prefled by the worthy J, FtETCHKi, « fhat ^« in* Cafe, faid he, Man fell, Divine Mercy ♦*^ had decreed ^ Recovery by Jesus Christ.'* And thus Man ftood pure and holy, like an An- CEL, and ftationed as a Governor of the new- p;.? to«de World j(^«; and with a growing Will, whicfr ^'' : tvoiili'toiifirm him in an everlafting State of Hap- piifeftv-or-fink him in ptemal Mifeiy,- according w it turns lb or from God. And for his cen- , tfring to the-DiviNE Being, for everlafting Con- f^rmattoa he was endowed with every neceflary .Qualification, to h!^ve retained his "akobi-ic tf t 1% ^*» sfisild'ii. ^>^.t?i * ( 4 ) ^ State a«dyable of Handing or falling j i^^^ not only had a Right to leave them to' the Freedom of their own Will, but they c^uld be happy no other Way : for no intelligent ^j u^i^ can poiGbly be out ofMifery, while they •, • ^ confined to afty Place or Station againft their ^ r^y^ Will: and a» He foreknew . their Fall, Ifc ,, h-a •„ undoubted Right^aswellasanOppor- ; ^ *«% «P ^cree thereby ^edlfplay of his Power jUf> Git^ci, ajM to bring ,feoutru,h ^venr. «.^ai,ld f«;minate :i{^ for Hirowa Glory, ,1' '^ * * - , > "■ ^ •! ' «'■(-' I.".-. E'f^r^r iSEffy ^' and the Happinefs of His Cre^Wrw: And thcfe Events determined without binding of, or in the leaft infringing on the Will of the Creatur?, Mfijo had^dready (in God's Foreknowledge) made «n abfolutc ufc of his own free Agency, t^oflitfly, ir "iei Nature of Things, be elcftei and redecafed* f a# I dare not prefumeto Tay (asihifiyMJW«) thjtt He could have elefted" ina f^idttmil^Aoit; W Ifc would i kv^t He mhqr pfec^ that tb ey%yql4 •• ••T^*** -sawt ^wfiere toey wji|^~oe ,fOT ever 'lil«rfhtBunghi» Holy NiM*i w|iifc|i km^>>^^ ■'6 ^i»<*„i i. 'Sk? 1. ^ ( M w tliarging Gd0 with the Ncgica of aoing nioffc good than He did, when He had it in His Power* but likewife an evident Contradidlion of his own ihfallible and unerring Word , {b) and whofo- cver believes in an Infinite, unchangeable, and fcir-cadftent God, poffeifed of every poffible Per- fciUon, mull of neceffity believe, that He doth *: all the good that is poffible, or neceflaiy to be done, in the whole Syftem of Creation, confiften^ with Hi, Divine J^falure i or clfe He muft be Sua^;of Neglea or Omiffion : and if fo, then ' there wotild be a Defeft in the Divi^Jk Being, ;, •"^ confe^e* diemr in leverlafting Torment blui^h^ttit -^theii 't%nATOt, ^n ih the B(^oai of i^axftH^fi^ Love, lauding :J^::G^''J!^t-S0t'^^^^' ftf Kb Grace. ^^^«^Mt^(iiyi ^1^0^ not iwid titof ^j> Aofe tc^Siiiilfti iil " Ai i ,VifS W'^'^^w p9 )M. 83* i^. Hek. 6. ilV ■:^. ''X4 m- ■ f! 1 1 ;(9) blafpKeming, ta^e^^han in HeaVcn pniUngJ and yet, fty th^y, I bdiew that God left thcL to go down CO Hell among the Blafpheac^ when He could have clcfted and fxred the«, if he had pliafiid ; but he did not fee fit. No% deair Reader, let me tell you, if that h9 yigl«(aJi hadre been in Heaven, Ji^G©» Wci^ mm^iw^ out^of J|«jfBii|^c kwihly/ hclicve.iti c 1*111^ my dfiwBiadcr^: donot bq. offe^ided, if <'fl»uUc difcovej- to yo,u Uje Vile Nature ^f, that Itorcjynce and Humility, which you feefti ^ he ^, ^ aiding you t^c foiiowingQ^eftian Wh^ ^r i*U ilXk y,fti. -?^^%'^pp tas;r!*f'f'?5,- tV (' «o ), WJUt Wpuld you think of a Servant, who reports about Town, that one oIT his Fellow-ScRvants is murdered' bjr his Mailer, but pretcnds,\iii of" Reverence to his Maftcr, he muft not enquire into ,hi8 Conduct in fo doing; when at the, fame time, if Enquiry was made, it would appear that the Servant not only committed the Murder himfclf, but that againft the Will" and Advice of his kind Matter, and againft all the Rules of his Mafter^s Houfe I I fay, what would you thi/ik of that Ser- vant's Conduct, who, out of a pretended RevereQce. or feigned Humility, is cartyi^n'i^i: aa cvii and falfe. Report againft his '^^^^j^^jHt^wl Therefore I can do no lefs than iflMpbtt not to ' contradia the Word of God, qflp? Refleaions upon him out of a pretended Revertilnce and Htt^ Hiil^ty, or charge Goo with dciighting in. tliic RK* fery of his Qrcatures, when you cimUveaooth^f Cloak for it, but only faying, that you €»e not inquire into the Reafon, bccaufc ftcrct -*5 belong to Cod. ' ; I dare lay that you will vertr^ii^iy ,^ k^owledg^ that there can be no Additk)ii,tt iQ ^|fr«tlH«ppmefs«nd PerfeftionsofGooi:^ ^^mt •(W' ^ hiik m\ ■.■^. t(f V hy tHe H^ppiUis or Mifcry ef HU tiHttit^ j dnd, iffo, thtti what Sort of a Being muft thcjr- tt^orlhip, 'Wrho (declare, that he makcj Creatures t6 delight ill thtir Mifery, when He receives na* tHing thereby t And now, fmce God tannotpof* ^ Ably refccltt any thing from any of His Creaturc»j Either by their Happinefs of Mlfciy, is it not more roafonable, more fcriptural and for the Honour of God, to believe him (a* He really^ ft) a Bcin^,- whofe Nature is pofleiTed of fo much Goodhefs, as to ukt Delight in communicating l6ViAN0 OooiiMESs to all His Creatures, ^hat t^ifl, dr' cati poffibly receive it, than to declare, as ihariy do, that He is pofTelTcd of fuch a Na- turcj as to deal with Hi* Creatures in fuch Ri- gour, zi the decreeing of .their Happinefsand Mi-, • • . t \ tcty, only as an arbitrary Difplay of His Power f ^ For you muft know, that there can be no Laws^ ' J&ecrees or Statutes, either in Heavcft, Earth or ' JETell, bttVwhat 18 a,ilatural llcfleftion of His own Divine Nat^re. And now. Dear Header, mUeai V of believing (as perhaps you hairc lohg done) that %J&6d U of fttch> Njtturcj as to dec ree the Mlfciy,^ . ftfilU trcaturcji, ©r that (which is la lMMt>jI|''^ «4* '''^.•iiP3^^ ^^ ttVy ' ^ : "• leaves them W eternal Mifcry, when He migjit as well havi made them evcrlaftingly happy. I think you can hut believe Him pofleffed of fo much Love *iiD Goodness, a3 to take Delight in the Communications of it to all His Creatures j and that ininfinite Lovk and Wisdom, the whole Creation was l^Kilce into being for that End, FiXf for the ManifeftVtion of his Divine Perfection, Love fcCooDNEtes ; and that all His Creature, might be forever l^appy therein. Yea, methinks, this is a Truth nU only fo much more toth^ , Honour of God, l^ut likewife fo tranft)0«i*^t^ His Creatures, thatWery rational Being,th»t W fiyes to fcc» mull fall in Love with it, and blefi God ror what He ilt in Himfelf. And, for m^ own Part(bleffed be God !) I feel fo mucfe of « divine Sweetnefs in tl^is Truth, that »ySqul leaps for Joy, while I writ^ Jt, andfeemsto.be impV» tient to fpread the fam? from Pole tpJ*olpi. nei- ther can I forbear intreatiijjg jUi, »» wiofc ^<*» 'thefc few Lines may fall (wicthey b|broop^« 'l am in the eternal World) to 4^;]fojr:i^;f*.^» ♦ Hid Trcafiire, and when y<^ ;^^,ficcived^ :iht jJjWJjrJDegree of it*5 Imprcffi^i ■•■f- -*'.jf*-' fts^; 2L <. ^nourifh.„d Chen/hie a the Wdfare of y,,, r«;^'^u» «»id immortal Soul. . ■ fi^T then, what thzll I do, faith o„. „• u .„d '■"'Z''™* >■«» ""gl.t by good Men *nd many Book, that I h.« r.»/ ' Ci»'. decreeing thcFJ^ fZ """"'"« . "Wg the Fan of Man, and w, dj,„. --1-choofi.g.H. ,„,,„,„ ^^^^^ oft^ftBoobofnon,o„Wo,thth„,„,' "Otiing to fuch, Principle but « ."""''<«» ♦.X^ight being let into them . Th.n n u ,*M^.*«.c,„a.e.j;r^;:;'-' .% and Darknef. i. f„„„,i ^ J' '« « «>'r«u, not.0 b!,i Ji ' ."^""''■"• ^pccter /ud^ey ^^^ ^^^^^^ j/ ^V? ^*i .■■\ Por as you muft one Day ftand or fall for youiiir felf, fo I .would advife you to examine for your- fclf ; and it may be, that the grcatcft Part of what you before thought were rich Je>Ycls on thai Point, may; prove to be of little Worth ; and if fo, you will never have Caufe to reflect on me for my Advice. And as for my own Part, .altho* I highly citcem Luther, Calvin, Milamck* TON, and many other great Reformers, «yet I will by no Means, take a Step in the dark to follow them; nor eat'Poifon, bc?aufc it is. miJted wiUi the beft of Food. ^ Will, faith one, fo far I wilt agree %itK yo\n but yet it appears to me; that yoU :«rt. '^bottt denying\ the Doftrine «f Eleaion whoU/ UHn toy Dear Reader ; you Ihall have no mdr? xf^Con to fay, that I deny the Doftrine of Ele^Uoja, |hwi / you hare to accufe a Man of faying ^tft . i| n.cY4r rained, bccaufe he ftya, it cannot>»i|i;in a jlafe . : Bottle that is fcaled up; How can yoft fay ,th«t J deny Eleaion, only bccaufe I refufc tp hoH-li?: - forth in fuch a Manner, a? would, h^; li{ip«>0i . 10 be true ; For wc haye jlrcady "T^cT Elcaron, s^n»anf dfr,.ir,^ A '^4 'mt' .'■• k -^.«,4jr.„U.i„g could h,vc>«n„o„.B. -^Mwr''''"'''"'"'^''-'^*' Scale vmeWifdomfooIiftlydrfMtjjj,, . • ,., w^'y to lie Liberty ofa „^K&F ,. 'I- '. CVip'^tygtel ^te ^f**^^ / fer^-ing tht't Creator of C^oic^- b#tll>HW^ K ■^.■''.'1 /' '( '7 ) -ceiving the Communication, of Hi, Lor. .Hd Goodness j which never can h^ • r , toft .bouei. T 4 " "'■" ^ "" ■">"«« . til" }? the only Wav ^1,,^ r mftrumental i„ ,dminiftering any lL. . rA««^ • . * X. A'lgnt to yoii • interpofcd ( Jf*lJ ..l4, '•:iT'i"y'^K'r,7'' ■w,'^^^ jf%,> ( t»'ftt-;^w.s-- ( i8 ) interpofed between them and tn irreeovemble State, by ftepping into _the whole World by the Spirit and Power of his'Incamation ; or elfe the Diforders that were brought into the World by Sin, would have immediately pyoved it« DifTol- ludon and its immortal Inhabitants have funk into an irrecoverable State of Blafphemy and keen Defpair ; ' and thus the whole Family of Adam was fupported from their own Hell, by*theHand of the incamatis Deity in an animal World with an animal Bodv, and a Coftfcience, which was God's Vice -gerent, to hold them in a Po^bilit^ of Redemption and to render them capable of Jiaving a fccond Choice by the Spirit of Gon, and of cpnfenting to Redemption (e) whgn touched with the Offers of Salvation : by the Hand of a Redeemer ; who in due Time is to give them a Call, and come with his ovm power for * their Relief. And thus the whole fall^ Race, cvt^ ' the very Heathens, (f) are held up by the gJfCIt Redeemer from their own Hedl, in' a^ ^|6 /Cff*" ■ Probation, capable of confcnting to, Ofr^wpS^^B , (O-Geo. 3, 15. (/)Rom.2/j4. «J. ^ ^r'ai^v- « Ay ^ - - .V l)?the REDEBMiNo LovE ; Of clfc Man muljt have been brought to Heaven as a dead Log, or igainft his own Will, which would be impoffible, Jind contrary to th« very Nature and Decrees of GoD; as has been already fufficiently proved.. And tjius, my d*- CREB4 firft originated i or do you dcnjr «ny fucji w4icn His Decre c8 .o ri6ln jMt.oriach_ ^Periods as firft * Uft with Hi|l;i^. wif .t^^y<«. _jf' % "^^ OduU& iLl i.JL'i^'^ :^^imMiSimAku (Zf) -"r any r„ch Period, when Go»'s D..„ *n ;„« • ^"^ ^^'^^ «fe only made ufe of r ^<'*» a" Thing, are NOW : or to be m=r . ,nd th« yoa muft be convinced, th« «»».n"„fiftenuogo bad, before ehefler ■"-S ofTime, to ,alt of r„ - ^ »P"Mng .beChH .. ' "•"""= " '0 8» round '""**^"'"'""'M^«' w^t h,„t ,ou,de„ Reader. Of .hore,,W hold. ^^ ..px.»«I.ov.,„dtheDcc«e.ofGo. , in fuch a Method. "• B„T to proceed, a« I p„n.ifcd ,,,„„,„ 0/'"t P.r. » . n fid^ f.,i t th . ele^ing Lov.-oT— Cou, T:!' ( «»: ) * v/Wmi Cod which is ii unbounded as himfclf, has this inftant broke forth in the Creation of a World of immortal Veflels, capable ofdrinki»g inthi» elefting Love to all Eternity, the very fame in-' ftant Man has rebelled, and {o ruined himfelf ; but elcfting Love ftill being aa unbounded as be- fore, purfues the guilty Rac<^, «nd therefore has laid Help on one migfhty to fave even to the very uttertooilall that will or can poffibly be re- deemed : fgj the very fame inllant this great Re- ftorer of Mankind rides triumphant over Death and Hell, opens this electing Love to all the fallen Race, (irj and decilares that the great Work of Man's Redemption is fihifhcd, {ij that very fame inftant He knocks at the Sinner's I>oor, de- claring that his ELECTING Love is fo great andf unbounded, that it determines the Salvation of arcry foul, that will only confent to be made a Partaker of it; fij and he that confents ihalt certainly be faved, but he that rcjefts this ELtcl TING Lovn, reprobates himfelf; and Kierel^ muft be damned- (LJ And thus, my m^^ . H'J^* W R«vd. i. 20. i P.t. 3. 9. (/^ Mark i&fUS i'l ^^ w ' *rt <«3 ( v..'!, 4v,^ fee the RediemiBg and ELECTiito Wr is fo unbounded, that it- fiin would make every Creature a Partaker of it , ycaypu may fee that ^K i» impoffiWe to be otherway, if God himfeff w unliniitted. And now, if you ihould alk („ perhaps fome may) if they were not clefted be- fore ? t ahfwer ho; bccaufe therfe never waa any fuch Period a. before. WeJJ, but thiH^ ^;^hony a new Doarine, iays^dne ; for I hare ^*n taught, that God firft detcrihined the Hap- V pmeft of the one, ^d the Mifery of the other,' ' without any Reference to their confenting oi'rejcc-" ting ; and after that, by Way of Succefllon, make* ufeofMeahsto bring to that Place and Station, >vhich He hadWore-intended; and that He tould, if He pleafed, have brought them all to' « ftate of Happinefs, True dear Reader, yo^ iav been fotaught, wWchi^ the Way thatHlec. Mon is generally held forth by fome Men , tho* Ijtcfyn^ tofay, that Goo never fentthemon ' th.tEr«nd, for tofl,ut up, and limit that. un. bounded Ocean of B.Bcrx.c- and K«i>H,M,Ha XoVBwhiehheha.openedat„oIef,cxpence J^J ^^ofi^m r^ Son • An d y oui ^ M^i V- i>4^' S»*>ifeijr.^,--'B^.< fath a Principle^ cannot (land any longer, tha4 it i3 rujppoited by almoft blafphemou« Reflec- tions upon the Deity 1 and even, agaiaii His own Word, charge him With Partiality i (m) neither can I fee, how Tuch Men dare pre* Aime to declare True Grace, and unbounded Grace ; when at the fame Time they have got , the Plan contrafted, and fcaned in their own Head fo fcant, as to believe, that there i» not one Dropi of Mercy for the greateft Part of their Hearers; and that God Aever intended any for them i but only makes them a Iham offer,' whidi ftiuft of Courfe, too fliocking to be mentioned, charge Go|> with that mockery and Flattery^ , which, I ilire fay, they wowld toot be willing, fhould be charged againft themfelves^ Inftead o.f this, my Reader, 1 think, Ihave fnfficicntly proved, that the very Nature and •*D«cre«$ * ol* (aot> afe fuch, as to widihold no Oobdirit)i%-\ from a^ of His Ci«atiires^, and th«t Hia^'si.fcai& i*iNO LovB is fo unbounded, as to fill ewegr'yi$^j|^^ ibl that can poffibly receive it: and tA^efixrf Mfc. ^ * ii--1i'ri> i.^ "', .7^*1? Jfplie, .6. 9. Rom. 3. ti '^^*#S4iif«r'^, f-^Ji^ .gunft the y«y Nature „d Decree, of Goo But then what i, the Reafon, faith one. that' whUeJ«...„dE„.„„„,,„^^^^^_^ Go. m. J«o, have I loved .„ Es«w have I hated ? Why. fo, .he fame Reafon. dear Rea-' dc, .h,..heP,™,„intheSpri„gof.h.Vear. oefore either Wheat or T»,.. - you dat he mtend. to gather the Wheat into gLT;"' '""'"'"""'""« =F°' with Go. .1 Thing, are NOW ; U,e Harveft i, come, J*co.ha,confen.ed to bemadea VeffelofL„?. but E.A» ha, wilfully rejcaed thjs eleffing We^ «.d therefore n,„ft ofNeceffity remain, Veffelof wmb. Well X ftould be f„i. . fet-me ale you, why God did not redeem all thofe that you call Eicfl:, when He firft interpofcd between them, and an irrecoverable State? Whr did He give them a Confcience, and keep them fa Ibflg between Heaven and Hell f Or why docs tic make fach a Complaint. ' " How often wdtdd I have redeemed you, and ye would not fit J." For finceit is all only an arbitrary Aft in God ; it may be done whenever He pleafes ; and then why would he wait Year after Year, and com- plain of his Creatures for grieving His holySpirit, and rejefting hijr Grace fo long as he does ? (o) And now, if fuch Inconfiftencies as thcfe are noli enough to convince you, I will now refer you to what is faid by God Himfelf in this Matter. Hath He not declared that in fome particular Places He could jiot do many mighty W<>rk»i. becaufe of their Unbelief ?|>; And may Ijiq£. juftly fay from thofe Words, thai H$ l^uM A^- cleft them ; becaufe thejr would a«fejie&d«^|^: or confent thereto ? Or would ypti caft ^u^ie Upon him and fay, that he could, bccauftf Jtt could hive elefted more *ut Mtouldlidty Atod ,«/tm)Si^: (hfr*** 'y^- «! j.>an*i >5 .. 'C' r . again vra. it not declared of .he Je^, of ^Id, "tint f ^ -uid not enter into Reft, for „;,otfter Rea- font but becaufe of Unbelief Y,;/"^d if you .re tjot yet convinced of the Point J^ in De- hate; let usobfcrve how Eleftion V expreiTed ih piam Words : Why faith the Word,* « Eleft - acdording to the Fore-knowledge of Goo the « Fkther thro* Sanftificition of the Spirit unto " Obedience. Vr; And :^ He faith, "Whom ;; ^'^'"^ .^'''^^"^^^ ^<^ » dM predeftinate to . be conformed to the Image of his Son "A ) ,,?^wwh«Fore.knowledgeorfe.k„owingcould ' th,, be, ,f he deiJt with them >»s inanimate Ma- chines, withont any Regard to their confenti„g orrejeaing; for there wa, nothing in the on<. ^at ihould excite Pity mo« than in th. other' they are equally miferaWe, hctplcfs and con' de«ned by their Fall ; and God has declared,' taiatrtei, no Refpefter of Pcrfons.ftJ I ihall >^«fer you now to what is faid concerning PAt;i.'s , daftgemus Voyage, and then conclude this Point. ^I^u. may remember, that after he had declared - aotpnelafe ihould be loft, <^ ; Ht tells them that --» -f'V*- ^ ■> V that if «ny ihould leave the Ship, they conldnc^ be favtd. (v) Now let mc appeal to any un- prejudiced CKriftian, whether I have not held Vorth ELECTING LovB more according to the very Nature 'of God and hi« Gofpel, and more for" the Encouragement of a periihing World, than \ if I had declared, [that in fome certain Period, long before Man was made, God firft determined the Salvation of the one, iind the Damnation of the other ; or leaves the other to be damned, when he might as well have clefted, himj and then, after a long Sueceffion of Agpa, they are made and falleft; after which. He comes and feparates them, according to hi* Determination ;i the one He brings into everlafting Happinefa ftji an arbitrary h€t of Kindnefs, the other He leava* to exercife th? Difplay ©f his Power on them,. in their eternal Damnation, when He migKt a* i^ell have redeemed them too, if Ke wQuld^ but would not: but if electino Love is fo.ttnbounac4 faith one, then why doth nai Qp%^i\f^^f^ ^ul receive it? To which I anfw?J,,/fe Jthft WC IILeafon that a Man cannot f9r^e^,]g^,jgjp^ K Jamm ^Hkfc «r< - (t'jAfti. 21, 31. :-& vf c» •% ../ 'r'ia^^i I* ■^■^^ >;■•.. -, ""»" '-"■ t't ■ ■!,"''• «""»»' name. fXov. „,„«. hj„ "her Br«n : F„ „„„ ^ / '""'«"" *"«" this wm oy the C«,m,^ *« bef„«rf, cchtroulcd, or broken ...„ oM might b= a„mhn«ed. Y«,, ,h„ „„„,j ? *nn^Mo„i.«f:.rorwhc.,o„h„ldeftr* *dAeWi,, of. Spirit. „hat have ..hey „„L |Wc Ana.,thoV,u„.,berurprired,t3 ^"^rta^:,:;ta7%*;'°"'''''' io", you &„•„.. Charm, of Re„„„,„ *«'*- < ' / will ^i: .fi ^ «w. T«r':9v>-r^%; f '»-*jr f '*lp^i'V % . ft • ( 50 J ' will be fo far from ftoppU»g,oiffQbduiBjywr Will j ^•tjt will but increafe k« uncoatroulable Rage. And thij Will of Maa it fo far from btingT Ibrcedto I^idcwption (as many vainly iq^aginc) that if God waa to attempt i^ th«y wo*ild c\xrik him to hii Face ; yea, had Goo Kava bxokQ forth at once abruptly wiih redoemin;^ X-Ovc o»l the Will of , the Creature, at his fall, it.wouJA immediately have plunged hin> beyond aU Px?ffi- Irflity of Redemption, which ia caOly jrovcd b)f» the infallible Word of God. Did not f(MlMfd»tely ^ iio» if- ^' ^om an Enday I An4 c»deavoi^ tt> Wc ^Jf, ^ ; it as fram. «'TocmeatQr-Crj Avdrtiow Vf dcif Reader, wh« tt^ you o£ fprcia^ Mwi *0 ^ 4«n®tiD» a«w»ft Jua Will I Of «f ik >#i^: .)n«usht to licaweK iua dea4;.9§f ■ ftfil^ W Gen. 3. i; , i , : ainji)*ttf^:i J^i(3*f ^*"" Mf a F:t »u ( 51 ) •' om you fo,b«r admiring d,c i»fiBi,e Wifdom .nd Conddccntion of Goo, i„ ftoppi„g .fc. r,. pidity of tJiia growing «,d deftruflive Will from in e»»ll rapid and delbuaive Courfe, u far as wa. poffiblc by holding of it in an imprifonrf iute m thi, elemental World by the Power of W. inornate Union? While he make, Ufe of Ten TOoufand Means and Method, to reclaim .«? That 5s to fay. to turn'it. Courfe, which i, *c. whole Work of his Incarnation among the ail" Race, and therefor* when all i, done that . "» Poffible be done to turn the Courfe of thit 8~«*g «>d rapid WilV,; prove, wholy i„ef. ^•1. (being rejefled) then God fafth him. ^,.t.. invain«,do.„ym„«. ortryany »»««ri for the Continuance of hi, Forbe«a„ce or «>7«»8withd.em.Infte.dof doingthemany Good, Wjlonly .end to fink d,em Iower/„; There- i"* ':'"»•"*»">" ".cen done prove, abor- .*"' *«r we left, and g. u. th«r own Plaee.fw; vZ'Z'^T *'^"' ^ *"" "««d to eafe gy« "»b.bed. contenting the Doflrine of Eiefli. f"^'-*- W *•»■.. WA«...,7 , ■ S .: on '""'Ir^i^A-* ^''^r «». Ahd now you may fee, thit there is no Bat* between you and redeeming Love, but what Js in your ovm Breaft, held up of Choice; Net- tkcT have you any more Reafon to be difcouraged, or ftand a-loof from, the Feaft of the Gofpel, than «ne of the Jews to hav« Hood and ftarved to.dcath in the Camp of Israei,, when God was rainmgl down Manna upon, thcnxj only b« ^"^ alined it was not pr<;pa-red for Wm ? Yea ^i&hl h^ pot ^^ well fay, that yoa-hni^Itttentiptt tofe<^ Hm, but only caHed hint in to modrhim hM I ^ ,1. I (33) "•« W« i fo unbounded a,,„j. S.lv,rio„ of „ Soul r, '"*' '^« "' "I'ngi, be redeemed- r n "f'rfone Obfemcion n, " ""'^« y»« ».X in ro.e err; """■"*' ' ""i". '^ ^i. Convewion r,:rr " '*«. ^e- '"'»«'. A., he .,„ofl eat I 7""'°- »kV. who p„-d „„ »" " *" °^ ^o^l Srudg. '«'W.«o4.2^''"'"""^'"--''fiu-. «>« Divine Ch^r^X^'^y-^Sp^i of ,f'««HWii^A«n,fo ^de M """"""'J' **«. th« W it J^ 1 ■""" "^'^"'o"^ ' > " ' * * r ;.«*•■■ "Mr • ( 34 ( Salvation of all the fallen Race. And now thinlcj my ndly, if you were cloCfAy to obfcnre the Mtai '^ li«r «^f their Preachiljg, ptthtps you woold miist' the following Remark (as I have often obfa »n thde who thus hold forth a HoMtedLgi^ -U>L Or) V to GbD, and filled with His blectijjo and re- PBBMiNo Lovi^, they will ftretch their Arm* Wide, and tell yoii there is Room enough for every one, yea for the whole World, and that there it 110 Bounds to the Mbrcy and Lovb of the in- finite and eternal Saviour j but when they get tway from God, and yet to preaching the Let. tcr without the Spirit, they will, draw themfelvc^ up within themfelves, and perhaps give you as much Encouragement, as fto tell you, that -.there are fome particular Men, that God has a parti- cular Regard for, and |hath picked out of the World, and is determined to favej and finccyou do not know, hut ypu ar« one of that Number,' you had as good dry, and if you are not, you can but be loft. Now me thinks, by this Time, , you cannot but be convinced, and believe that the infinite God has dona all that can poffibly^be done to make jou happy, and that Hii^ very Na- ture js fuch, as to cleft your eternal Happinefs, ^ Firft, He wa» fclf moved to fpcak you into Being in a St9te of Purity, capable of being happy' in his Enjoyment intreating you to be blefled -frhhiftrweriiiUtttLwei wA. wjien ywjitd ^ !%, ti&^^ ^^^msmmm^ JJ-R/ (36) rained yotirfelf,* his Boweli yearned over you with Pity, and kept you from plunging yourfelf into an irrecoverable State; and at,^ le{s £z« pence, than the Gift of His own Son, had fpread the Gofpel feaft before you/2pdfiers his owa Spirit, to bring you to the fame, without Money 8c without Price, only entreating your Confent : Yea, and is fo far froin wifhing, or determining your De« ftruftion, that He fwcars by Himfelf, (As He can fwear by no greater,) that He has no Plea* fure in your Peath, but that you turn unto Hiio apd live. , . ;♦ Blame not the Bonuels of the Deity: • ManJbaUbe hhf^dy as far as Man permits >' ffeav'n y.iy "Tim \\ ( S? ) V ♦■ Ae«fo.. every SouJ 1, . , '"" '"PPy = . ''ioJ, World «„ tLT r " ""'""*"'• •• 'f *« ■ ««««»*.;». %u.re.„„,^" o^n::r "i^" i»««i.. Qce L If™ ; "' ""'' fcr ever/™; ^,^. ^ « °'^'."»4 1r ^c Father, s them happy ; own to-Perditi. arable, a.ifthe ' »on^7. Chrift 'nd theyrcjcc- ^Creation and ^ ye Inhabit- «■« Wd up by le Great Ae- 'ow Prifoners ^crabJe State, iNo Love at '« pcxiihing v*-«\ R IT. CHAPTER j^. Sfrtl, h •aling cfthcforhidden Frui,. 'T would be unr«fonabIe to imagine, that the Apple,, which Aba„ dia eat, wore of f»ch. poifonou, N«„,e. „ „, ^oifo, him «| 11 h,, Poneritjr. and to caufe a pure Spirit of I-.0HT and tovE to become. fie^,4a,i«,d «.h«o«, Spirit ; ^„d it „o„ld lii,^.^^ ^^ ^, roundler. and unreafonable to imagine. ,nd ,» b«l faith, ** God himfelf cannot make a Creature f « to be in itfelf, as to it's own Nature, any «* Thing elfe, but a State of Emptinefs, of AV^t, ** of Appetite, &c. He cannot niake it to be good *< and happy in, and from it's natural State: ** This is as impoffible, as for 60 d to ceafe to *« be the one only Good, the higheft Life. There^ " fore, that which is natural and creaturcly, caH " go no higher than this ; it can only be a bare " Capacity of Goodncfs and Happinefs j andctn- n* not poffibly be a good and happy Life, but by «' the Life of God dwelling in it, and in ,Unlo^ •« with it?* AnJ therelore as 'idBg as 4^i^a«^ '0 ■■( 41 •) Defircs centered in the Divine Being, and h« ' afpiring after larger Draughts from the infinite Fountain, the Union continued^and he remained pure and holy, by receiving a -continual- Supply of Li^cHT and Love, but no longer, and Man BOW being in a State of Trial, ivas not confined in this Union with God by an abiclute Decree j for thea he could not have been in a State of Trial J nor yet was 'he compelled to break it; but was left capable of chufing for himfelf, and there- by capacitated to Break, or confirm that Union; neither could he be made to aft as a free Agent toy other Way. But here i would not be underftooj, that God gave Confent to him to commit Sin, as GoD*s Will that he fhould fo dti; for it was much againft GoD's-Will, that he TmiiKt. Jer. i'l.BTCHBR. faith, "God did all that a wife and " good Ruler of rational and free Creatures could * do, to prevent Sin." That is by giving them » Tufficient Ability to Hand, and fet before them ^cry Thing, that could make them happy : On the other Hand, He warned them of th.> ^ t rfi nitf •Evil \ Evil, that would enfue^ if they rebelled: (k) Yet afl^r all that God had faid and done, to prtVeht his Ruin ; M^hep He faw, that the Fruit was {)leafaftt to the Eyes, and a Fruit to be 6.k^ fired ; (a) that is to fay, fees another ©bjeft, cx- clufive of his Creator, which he imagined to be worthy of his afpirng after ; he lifted after it, and thereforfli altho* he had been f^ewamedof the l^anger, he drew ofif, forfook and fepiariited frofti his Crfcator, WKo Was tKd'ohiy Fountain of Light arid Love t and then, ahd never till thea did they know any thinj^ of the Bnjoymciits of Tinie arid Senfe i no ri^Ore than the Angels ill Heaven. ]&ut nqwthr^ had fallen into a bi^ftiat World and fehfUal Enjoyments." And the Fafl; <* iscertairi; (faith William Law) that he luf- ** t6d after the knowledge of Good and Evil* ^* and made ufe of the Meant to obtain it : tod **' nofoonerhad he got this Knowledge, butill <* that Day, nay, in that inftant, he died } iEftt ** if, his heavenly Spirit, with it's heavenly Ifi:^ ** dy, where both eztinguifhed in hiiii ; Ibtai , («)Gen. a; 1 7 . (4) G ti. g. <^ n .'fc^-i/u *^ ^ ^.-..,.-^. .^% - •■ ■-'rr,^. r7F^;j»»^>^,;rTl^^ r-f!- U. Xf t 4S } " Soul an immortal Fire that could not die, he " came a poor Slave in a Prifon of bettial FlcA " and Blood/* Thus the union with his Cr^- tor was immediately broke, and fo, of Courfa* lie loft all Communijtation of Light said Lew s •nd thcrafore of Confeqocncc muft become a dark, wrathful, fiery' and malicious Spirit, ftandin^in i fepam^ Station from GOD, and adin^ only ItoiA aPrihcipk offclf» thcnew objeft, whick ^e had afpited after, and fet his heart upon ; not beifagttble to fu^ly that want oi Light and lovti trhich He ftood in Need of: and as the mod H^lidoua Fruit or fragrant Flowers, that grow\ Mien cut off from the Root or Stock, will oft k^d. within icTelf rot, and betome naufeoui ] fc Ofafiy when cutt off* from Goo LooTes all Divine ^oiIt and Love, and becomes a dark, wraths jUl vmSi malicious Spirit : and malcei his owai IfeU ; forthia is the only way that evil ever came into nature, „««'«. filing off from eternal %nd unU rerfal nature : orBreaking off from Immutability ; as nothing but Immaubility, and felf Exiftancti can be felf kaiipy. Awp now wr may fte the wM tderlu^ Condefcenitqii) .| Ir V\.. -- ^1 ^ ^ondtik^ndon of God i^ tlve happjr Pair, wU knowing the fatal Con fcquenccs, that \irov\ld at- tend their Rebellion, forewarned them of the Danger if afpiring aftc^ or falling in Lore with any Objeft, bcfides their Creator; who was the ^eternal and unchangeable Source and Fountain of Light and^ovE. The Day thou catcft there- ofi faith He, thou flialt furely die .(A J He doth. not fey, I will kill thee, but thou flialt furely 4|e ; «5i f He had faid> I do not forwani you, or forbid you to eat as an arbitrary SoVcreiign, or .bepaufc my Happineft is in the leaft d^pen4ai^ oil your Obedience j feut b^aufc yo«r tjaypi- ncfs depends wholly, on t U^ion Kfith vaej J. therefore, out of Love and Pity to you, fprewvii you of the evil ConAs^ufXK;^^^ that will »tl^d .yo}u- Septmttotii fr(«i me. Vou wU (»wcly di^ of J^ mi v^u^UA youtielC die to «i]>it^QMil «Mi 41^ -vine hioHv «nd LoVv ; :&r yon wlUJ>«:fetfkttilf ;iip within yourfclf: •^i^es^vt-^^^Uf^PHi embrafp not, nor afpifc afjof mt 9^^'^P V Objeft <«f JMIght. 3efid€&thiitB<^C«Br« MI. 7. * » i,.l.^i #. .s:?s«^i9« Sf"^l^?Wf" '**^^**^ - ■ .ja,v4<««se3iste«**i». ( *s y l^'yyou with .„ *,( j.,„ .„j^ „j every TWi, •W your H,ppiH=f, depend, upon. W.tt, J t-** l«th much the r.«,e.o f.y on d«."'" A. CommaSa Of ' God noe ,o luft ,f,„. „d eat of d.e forbidden Tree, w« no. ai arbitrary Command of God ^ Obedience, but wa, a moH ti„d and lo,in, formation given by the Goo of Lov. to Hi., .ew.bo„,OiF.fpri„g, coi,cemi„g the State h. wa. ,n, with Reg,^ to the outward World, •• wammg him to withdraw all Defire of enter- o«th« tmiedtlte dying to «.a. di«„e and fceavenly ^fe, which he then enjoyed " ^ B»T fo^emay now objeft and fay, t}Ut it »Mght Ml be in the Power of G.„ nevenh.. M,. |,iav. :conti.u.d the CommunicaUon, ,f ;™'7" «•"•«' "'^•pHmiriveReait.d.: whfch 1. « unreafonaWe. „ to fay, that a M... 2»h«P-. *.«b«hhl.Eye..„igh,f^.j'^ ^'"' ""'""■"«'>«> if the Sun would b.! jKn but continued to flow of his Goodnefs towards him j but? Man had turned his Back againft God, and in fo doing, had fal . ien into fuch a Nature, as did really rejcdl, and Willfully refufe, any Divine Light or Lovg from God, which is evidently manifelled in hi« endeavouring to dcfert, and hide from God^ when God came to him in Love and Pity .(c) For the very Nature of the Divine Being is to flow in Love and Goodness to all his Creatures j but it cannot be irapofed on them agaiuft their Will , and therefore it is, that he creates them frce^Agents, fo tha^either Men or Angel, thai I'all, they muft fall of Choice , and when they are fallen, the Divine Light and Lov^ of God can no more make them happy, until-thdr Nature as changed, than a Serpent would lttf 'kKJ' is '^i.V 1 '? ?^f^^^^^' (W****^^ -",■* H a*'9ii^ ■^ .pi- ■' T47-) ■ ' ;■ ^' thcr receive It from me as un arbitrary Com- f* mand; but out of Pity I inform you, that your "* Nature 16 fuch, that it is^ impoIEble for you V ever to enter into the Kingdom of God, or "enjoy the Priviledge of my coming into the " World, excepting that you are changed, or « tnmsfomvcd from a dark, wrathful and mali. '•' ci«u8 Nature,, to Light and Love, Purity " and HoLiNiss, and rcftorcd to, and united '* With, that eternal and unchangeable Fountain " of Light and Love, therefore marvel not, " that Ifpy unto you, ye muft be born again.'' And thua, dear Reader, I have, in as kw Words as poffible, endeavoured to fliew you the C^ufe of Man's evil l^ture by his Fall. And O how deplorable is his Condition ! How unfpcaJcable the p«i^Qf remaining in an unregeneratc State, g^ Gop^oucof ChristIs tothemaconfuming |i|%< flid nothing but the reftraining Grace pi" Goo* tod the alluring Charms of Tim\and fcnfe, that keepi them out of Dcfpair f , jr«t Mao, poor Man, tipoit the Brink, of Fate^ : ^^^^^"^ ^^'^"^ to aa end lcfs Stat<; .. Regardlefs T. ^' ^tiTiifzmt.fA*;SBi in'-wj < * jS 1 - • irai-y CoiH- , thatyour e for vou r God, or f inco the langed, or and mail* , Purity ind united Fountain irvcl not, n again.'* :w Words lie C^ufc id Ohoiv QjcaJcable «tc State, mfuniing g Grace "ime an4 ofFate^ >tat^ .^ ^ardleff gcgaWHefa of that Soul-tranfportliig Voice j, r Which cllls the guilty Mortsil to rejoice - .+ Tho* threat*ning Storms of Vengeance itolll below. O ! confider, ye that forget God j ye, that defpife the Gp&el, and rejcA the Rbdebmeh's Grace sjflnWer how fhort the Step betweea you and^WIStomlcfs Pit : for ye are condem- ned within yourfelvcs already. Mcthinks, youi" panger is fo great, while in a graceUfs State, Aot none, who have known the Terrors of the Lord, can forbear to perfuadc you to flee from the Wrath to come. O I be intrcate^ to conAdet, v^ta vaft Dillance you arc from God, who^cdAres himfelf, that there is no Peace nor Happinefs for you in the State you are now in :(*) And tirrc- fore, altho* you may not be openly profane, yet you are in a feparaw Staw fypm. G0P I who ia the only Source of Happinefs : and therefore, al- tho' y^u may appear of a kind and loving d^< pofition among &d(en,' with > mfJiy ittwble .1|hU lifications ; and likewife with a dofe Conformli — .(tX}ii* 4t^aat. ■ .. ' . , ^a AJF.fi' .■"■»*',Vyi- .i • sm ti A ' ^i;"" • -'h- ■ i ri' -A " ''^ i - *.-^ \ , J* Ln- % r* i r V. &-4i k. w sk^M y- 1 ■W 1 '.V |.> vi >r '%• If ! fX'49 5 ' «,i„~4 r ,, -^ """" > T"^ would be de- ^HjKlo.g. OSl„gg..d,wa.tho»foMJ;i„ ♦ ^ -Arms ^.'^•"'"^""'"'^ie Satan holds the i 5ait? •Awake, AwaJccO Sinner/ sje.n «^ghtheVergcofth«tinfe„,a]Shore; ta^AfTER nr: »if ct if Def ti a vital union ouidbe de- cut off from '» thatljjive ' Securi^ J 'oul would Urfclf pof- J tiie fallen Jefore you fold thine uns liolds the 10 more . )re; sir Fate. \ tr . fV "^.a/#«Ck.'>V. >? C A P T E R m. HQ W Generations imhom are^ corrupted by, and %. . Mb ^'ndimt^ for orlginanin. Now come to a Confideratipu of thgt myfterious I and much difputcd Point, how Generations yet unborn are guiky of, corrupted by^ and juftl^ condemned for original SiUt which was committed '' fome Thoufand Years ago. And O f What a la* mentablc Oonfiderationis it, that fc^ many, cveh in a Land of Gofgel-light, and many/Avho pro-'v; fefs to be Minifters of Christ, do wholly deny' " Mants being in a fallen State, or guilty of iri/. \ ttal ^in ; and others who,^ groundlefsly hold, that Man is not in a condemned Statdj tho' they ali low'hc is'in a fallen ^tate: Fo.rfaythcj^, Christ^ " fatis/ied Divine Justice, ahd^canceMcd aUDc- ' mands for that Sin for the Whole World, or for. If all that are baptized with Waterjn his Namei^f Now as for the former of thefe. they are fo*«S'^4 from being Chriftians, that they are. wJiqlly cot " ' offfpjtm, and have no lot. or Part in Qf^^'^^*^ "' v.? '4 i^ "7-" %V*'M Ji- 1/ " * ( 5» ) ^ ; thtir own Pxipdplcs :- Forif Men arc not in • W. I?n State of Sin and Miferjr, they have no Need of Christ, or his Gofpel; ^nd^erefore ^heistw to them dead' in vain. Such Peoplemay a, vreU ' throw ofF their Maft,, ^ fiaf i, uyi,j^ ,^ ^am. ff Chnftians, and puhliclciy wear theBadgc of the Pcifts, for they ararealiyRejeaurcs ofC,iRi.T "d all iU5 Benefit,, „d in a ftor, Time except a fpccdy Repentance ihould obftruft. they wiy una. voidaWy £hare . i«iferal,le Part in the Portion ' ^/'^"^^^*- A'*^**.^' the l«tcr. who pretend, ' «iat Cbhist ha, done away all orighaiSIni or ^t«l^ cancelled by o^r being baptised in Hi. Name with Water, ai^ almoft a, far (rqm the Truth, a, the former, and preach not only againft the plain Word of God i(/) but likewife an Inc«i. fi^aacyinitfclf: For if Ch.ut ha, waihed away ^^Sin which i, the Corruption of Nature, why arenot all the ChtWre, of Kfea ,URa and n^l And why arc they i^ot in their Infancy, mftcad of being filled with Spite and Malice, and prone to all Mamxcr of Evil, wafted beyond' ^ny Scnfe of the alluring Chartn, of this v.;n W^ld? t 5« *> And why are they noc filled with the nujiei^t fieams of their Rsdesi4i?u*s Love, and tranf- ported with the Divinb Perfections of their ' Creator i Or why'is it that the Lord, when He looks down from Kcaven Upon the Childrer\ of Afcn, to (ce, if there were any, t^at did un- derftand and feek God, declares, that they uq^ all gonecifidc, that they are all together bqcomo filthy i and that there is none that does good, nq not "one }(gj Qr why docs He fay again, that pel^ruftion and Mifery is in their Wfy. tod that they have not known the Way of Peace./f^j^ But fume M'lll {ny, that the Children imblb. /■, , , . , ^J ' 4)^W. 14. 3. (h) Rom. 3. 16. 17. mumilim Llut^ , ft? (« ) tlitt ill Mankind e.me into tlie WotM with , ' ""'P' Nature, but not condemned : For Aey «y. tiiat ChR.ai^cancdlcd tlie Demands of J"ft.ce for them, but did not change d.eir Na- tureyfo that the^ fliU come into d,e World pol- luted, but not condemned , and therefore it i, dutthere^et Sin in the World, for they „^ Wt to .aforlthemfelvea; „d having ,„ „;, Na.ure,\aItho' they are not under any Condom, "••oni tiey are liable to commit Sin ; by which Means they bec«,e guilty, .„d fo are condem- "Cd. and many finally loft ,o all Eternity. Now tf I had not heard Men deflare fueh Things, I «»>«1<' rcaK^Jy have believed it, tl„: any Man (where the Gofpel-Sun i, in it, Meridian) could ""■ J",'^ bee. imbibed, and retained fueh . confufed, .nconfiftent and Antichriftian Principle. ■ " " '" "*' 'fr" n»«, they fay, that they .« not condemned, beeaufe Chm.t has can- ""•^ *?.'%-!>Hli!L"« <^'«»g«l their Nature. '«y. let me aft, what Condemnation can a Man have worfethan the Condemnation of his own I^.uro,andwh«Benefitiiouldi;^;rCH..s. fe-ij-iiai^ for ill ,.,>;i V-ry/^ his Offences; when he leaves hiin ftill in his owij hellifli Nature, which will torment him, and make him miferable for ever i Which would be like a Man, who pretends, oilt of Pity, to pay hii Neighbour's Debts; but after all his pritend-^ fed Pity and Compaffion, leaves the poor Man to dyt in Goal. O how incqi^itftent *is fuch a Prin- ciplt \ For my own Parti I fliould be alhamed to preach fuch a Christ ; neither do I believe, that a Heaven-born Soul ever did : For God has promifed His Spirit to lead His Peopl^ into lUI Truth Y/7 ^^^ therefore whatever Principle "^cmt Experience contv^di£ls the Word of God, cgjanot be of the right Kiqd; but muft come fronl a dark Quarter i Can any one, that Is brought to tht Liberty ofahs^^oni^^fMSou; poffible believe that God would become incarnate, fuffer and die, td work out Part 6£ the Plan o£^ Salvation 'for the perifhing World ; and after all ^t had bedi done, leave it to thofe poor foUen Wretches to finiih it I when He knew that they wa« whollf prone to ruin themfelves? Does he not d^l jOtBM it. n. m V ■^' '.^-/ 't' ^ s^r y a.. ■Sr; " .*» pla in as ban be exprefled, that \vc had kfe'ttea ourfelvcfi ; but in Him was ouV Help i(k) and j^i His dying Groans, that He had finiihed the Work ?^y^ But fome perhaps may fay, that they have no Expeftation to do the Worlc, but only by the AiSllancc of God's Spirit. But fmce He cancelled tiginal St'tif He has given them a Suf- ficiency to vwM-k for tKcmfdvcs ; and has now commanded them to work out their own Salvation with Fear and Trembling. B^t, bicflcd be Gotv J «cy«rfo learned C(h*I8t, as to get Salvauqn «P<»a working Govcnantany further, (than bcin^ fpabled by the Spirit of Gop to coiifent, and re- ceive a whole Saviour . And as for thofc Words; Of working oUt our xwn Salvation with Fear and Trembling, they are ipoken to^ofeAvhoare al- rcadyjuftificdj and therefore, arenot eomaandcd ^work out their Joftification. &ridcs. if that be ifc« Cafe, thatCHiti8T has thus, by his Death ««i Suferingai «ot Mtnm fuch a Way, as to ^fork out Part of hii Juftification on the Coven;. #iit of Worfcaj. ^ n ^ Glory belongs asanuch OJHci. 13. ,. fi) John 19. 30. ; n, ' lir .yn^^ u. -n.. ; had hu'nr^ i(k} tiidi^ inilhed the r, that they but only at fifice He lem a Suf^ d has now n Salvaxion iu»d -'. ^ Difdmrning hut ^mith verbal found l(fomfhould borrow Toolt- from you, ^ That he fomefamout fForb might dot When once hit Work h willfrefaPd^ Sun he difervot htt dm Rewards ^ ' ^Itoayufily ht may cltum hit DiHt j/lfho* he borroiu/d Toilt from yott^ * '■ Swinihut the borow^dStnngibofOtm ^ c% "Cbst/ htnotr merit to takt rbtctt "* ' ''Trwit muheuco feever we borrow Povw*i^ fol %i -•^-^ ^^lift dtpmdon WorffYWT: nM '" .•fug- !(v«^/«, ' • " * fvt ^^•\ 't'' .■?cs;:^?Sir?iKSiSP^^2 v ■ TiV) Or if nJiji mikt the Gojptl thui : ■ • In any Way depend on tu. We gi'vetbe Law the GoJ^el Place ^ Rewards of Ifibt the Rbom of Grace: We mix Heavens Treafteret with our trajh : To magnify corrupted Flejh. And what faith God himfelFon fjuftification : Knowing, faith He, that a Man is notjujlifiti hy the Woks of the faw, but by the Faith of]niv9 Christ ; for by the Worlds of the Law Jhall n*^ Tlejh be juftified.(m) And again, Uts i^ib^ Work of God, thatyeJbeliekl^ ftnt.(n) And this is his Commandment, tbmt kue believe on his S^oit Jesus C^KiiT.(o) Abraham believed God, and it was eouMed unto him for Ri^hteoufsnefs.(p) And without Faith it is impof- Jible to pleafe God.Cj) Add ytt how many ^ill pretend, againft the plain Word of God, to im out Salvation partly by Works; and partly By Faith , bleeding, the Covenant of Works and tiie Carcnint of .'Grace together. O that fuch '^U':f\!'^/^r(^"^^^^^^' ii< t. ^,Tr jm ■L- V 'Tii • r^. / T, ■te f 5«:) Men. (who briAg Aich Difhonour to the uKUu- nate G^d, arid are fo prejudicial lo the Welfahi of pr&iousand immortal S<>^^M^^ ^ rtfonn'> edl^ or removed, before ^^J^^^^^^l^^ th6 fatal Means of' Ruining a^X n^^^^^« blinded Sona of Men! > ' V l^p^ ' BtJT, tho' I have been naturally lead to fluke fomething of a Degrjcflitori, liiiuft now return t» the Point, I principally intended. And as it !• fp evident by tlw plain Word of Gob, diat the whole Race of Mankind ^re in a ^len State of. Sin andMifery , (which Ib^lieve qo tnutfChriftiM^ will deny.) I need fay no niorc^ oa th»t |lg||rt| but fhall endeavour to (hew, how. ih«|t^ |i| guilty, and juftly condcinnod i9« V|<1 witK whidh many, even thofe, who bdiere iU oi Sin) are much in the j^k a||rifv 4# ¥% A fhould not do juftice to the dealiiigl of 0od wltH- his Creatures, or cletf Jus Throne orG«llt i# their Condemnation, if I ihoold only hold, tb«t An AM ftood a? one Mm 5 lod §^ for,vd m behalf of all his numerous, »nd uabom Seed» without their being m(pmt de^re<«^iye or cgp? • . ~ ■ • ' ■■. ', . -^ ,>« . j.» t'^' leii^;^or M dne^(im7|h^ri£^And^ .i. , j.it Auii i^ 1A3 aS*.ta>^"/S ' it-j .',.», .\'*Mm»!''!^«W.„ ' ; ^S*a3WP rYltl^fl'-fr>'ftfii^jfe>^ ' ;%h"' .^7» t ' • ll another in a far [Country j who mfuft fare and be punifhed accordingly, without confch ting to, or icnowing any thing df what was there afted, or tranfa6led: 'Whieh, I dafe fay, many would think very hard ; and yet they will hold to the Imputation of A dam's Sin. And altho* fit would not Iblk well for Amos (who was taken from the ^tocK fehd SrcAMOrtE) to undertake to correft PAtri in W« Grammar- (who vfras brought lip at the Feet of Gamaliel^) yet I muft acknow- ledge that many, who are called great Writers on ''Tiginal Sin, are either ignorant of the Nature of' Man's Fall, or the meaning of the Word Imputa- tioli. Neither would fuch Men be willing to pay a Debt charged againft them, which they had no Handiricohtraaing;^ and yet thiy v^ll fajs, that ADAM'a'SinR handed down to his'Pbllerity hy Imputatasm The L6%ti deliver nie firom' cafting ftich Reifleaions upon him! Now for to fay. ^ that Thoufands and Tens of Thoufanefs are doo! nied to fcvcrlafting Mifery for fomcthing, thit oiio #Manwasguifty of, almoft Six Thoufand Ycart »^in th e Gaildbn of^D,w^ wtthQut^i|%^ [^ ^X^^lcdgc or Confent, ic^s to ^cUgitit^oi f ^ L«» ^- tl ^-,'ig;^^^ii^^;|^p-p^ ^ re and be ng to, or aftcd, or ly would )ld to the fit would from the o corred ght up at ackncrw- ^ritc'rs on *^aturc of Imputa- ig to pay y had no faji, that erity by tt cafting to fay, are doo. thkt on'o d Veart t (66) with the grcateft Rigour imaginable, afld of e^re* cuting an arbitrary Power over the Works of his Hands, without any Compaffion, Love or Ten- - dcrncfs j yea and without Jufticc. And now, as . it is my Soul's Dcfire to be inftrumental, in. the Hand of God, to ferve my Frtlow-mortals* in the Truths of the Gofpel , let me entreat all thofe, who have any Defire, that I fhould ferve tKeni en this Point, to receive a fewPartitulars, which I fhaU offer, and they fliall foon underftand what be- lieve, and what the Scripture holds forfli in this Matter. » Ydv reihcmber, dearReadbr, the fornierlm- prcffions which you received, and which, I truft, you itill bear on your Mmd i that the great Gph' doth noLcome to the Knowledge of ai^ ^^M by a Succeffion of Ages, or meafurii% ^f^iSj^Ce.^ as Man comes td the Knowledge oi 'l^i^'i l)ut that He fills a whole Immenfity, afid com' pifehehds Eternity, viewing all Things paft, ptt» feiit and to come, as ohe eternal NOW i l^hlctk undeniable Truth, well im{>rcfled on yo^r Millet •Tfr I I ^.r, L.' i% fv ■•If ^ ^ ' r * ' » ~ fK^diftntenpTyoHfrom much drfagrecaDic BtuJ^j d^ ii«rhap8 Kas laiig been a Burden to yovir Ipid, 1 truli* foon be the Me«ll^ ''■'m \ '1 -j-t i? - '"^^i^' V "'i ''^f?*^^ iihi- '-^., (6i ) ing'you, without much Difficulty, to ttnderfUha ^ iomething of this Miftcryj how all the Race of Adam (without Imputation) are guilty of, and juiUy condemned for »rg/««/^/«. AND^rft, confider thijj Great, eternal and all- Wife God now about to f|>eak a World of Man- kind into Being : And fecondly, that He intends tp fct tl^em in a State of Tryal, to aft for theth- rclves| with Life and Death fet before them j «nd Thirdly, that God, Icnowing each one has * Ijrccious and immortal Soul to faVe or to lofe, in. tends that they fhall be able to adl of Choice, Without anyControul or Imjjofitionj and there- ft»rc .c»dpws each of them with a Will, Free- ^cncy CM- Power of Choice, not only becaufe it . ^ rc*foi»abl« 9il intelligent Beings iholild fo aft ; i»tUkmifc, that each one fliould be without any llpMentihe imparUalBar, where He intends ^^^7^ ,•» one Diay appearand be account, fbl^: And laftly, that He coUefts all their Wills; «e-agcncy or Power of Choice, «s •i^ Ffc«! ^^«t, or rtUooai and intcUigent fiojot, M l^-' {62) Words by the worthy. |f4t iM, fkith he, contained ia •* himfelf as in Miniature alkhis Pofterity." A| fllmoft in tb« Fl.K,TCHER. /^ if he had faid, "' God put the Stock qf all Man* " kind (as it were) in one Ship". But jfbme itxay now fay, if they had all remahc^d, or heen left to aft in a fcparate Station, I fhould not have been at a Lofs, how they might each one have •fted for himfelf; bjit I-caHnot fe^ how it wa» poiSble for them to have the falll Freedom to ad their own Choice, when they were thus in their Miniature; or when the Root or feed of all the yrhole World did only conftitute but one Ma», as if they had been fo many Men in t fepcratc Station . To which I anfwer, Man'# free Will % ©r Power of Choice is not a material Suhftance, or local Bulk, but only a Spiritual Facwlty or,. Power of Thought, and ,thcir WxUes litewilfe * - Spiritual Body or Seed ; neither did it r*qwc their Ruin the R<:moval of material Woilds. ^ th^ Dcftruftion of large inanimate Machines, bit only, as has been already obfvervcd, A«>ftt of theFrce-WitL, the 1P^^<^^^Z^ Kftl^^f^:^, >t < Wt .♦' ■ :.;^^ 'if ">: ■ v.- / I. \ ■ ( 63 ) Power of Thought J md therefore U it not r.a. foMbleto believe, a„d eafy to underftand how Adam was inveftcd with all that Tree-Win and Power oC Choice, and how the whole World Body and Soul flood i„ him not temporal nor ammJ, „ ,t.^ „„„ „^ ^^ ^^^.^ j^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^_ • t!! ^"""^ " "«' - "fy for ,»,« V*" to fet all thp World of Mankihd. when «I1 was Spiritual,, capable to aft thefr Freedom and Choice , in. one Body, as in a ThoufandBo- .^:"P-?"»»'« '^y' '■»«'">ne; how we can ,my ^.Cdndemned for that Sin, committed fo ^mny Thoufand Year, ago; even if wc allow that A»*Mwas conftitutedtheSeedof all Mankind- This Objeflion I will anfwer by way of Simili- fude. Suppofe n.AR R..„,,, ,h„ , „^^,^ tity were to be combined together in a Confpi,. . «y ag^nft their King, wouia their feparaL mto different Cities or Kingdoms, after their Re belhon any way e^cnlpate them f Or if one of *f Men were to be apprehended, a Thoufand • MUe. from the Place, and Thoufand Year, after ■ , ^"'^' committed, wquld he not flill be as ■ ■ff'^ " " the TinaiWd Place of A.R,beHit»^- 9f Wttold ,6t a Proof, of hi, being really in that lijT^ >* Confplracy ":*: I Conrpincy, juftly condemn him for the. Cr^n« then, and [there committed *. Fo^ vredo not in^a- gii^e that God made Mankind at a Venture, not . knowing the Number of his Pollerity ; or that if was left to Adam, or any other, whether the World ihould be "peopled, or not : But we havi^ already confidcred, that God in, and with Adam \a,yi the foundation for the whole World; and ii> this fgderal tfead ftands alj that Free'-agcncjr or Power of Choice, whjch the whole; World would have ftood in need of, \p havea^ed ip 4 feparate Station, or a Thoufand, Miles dillant; Tho* there are foii^c Poqr benigh|ed^c%ixr'thf World, who vainly imagine^ that Qod ^ijpw making Souls in thefc Days, as the .World teple* - niflies, tho' againft the plain Word ja£:G*o/.|!^^]| Anid therefore, according l^'jthat,- He i^^obUMd , toi^make a Soul for every lLipfflc8Hnnnbf weeing put i^^^ i*| \J^Jjca- 2. a. 4^ rr ^ ani ui^riptural^^tlia^^cldisl ^ Yorae more Light on (he Matter now ^Pl) Tiz, HoW all the SodlaVa Daughters '•'ilfl .could he as aaiye, and^||[ free in thei* ^It^hoke when they all &odd in Afci, as if they I l»id have been in a feparatc Statklfi Firft, my •kAk Rbabbr, when I fpeak of rfjpir being In |umv«Seed, or in Miniature, you niuft not underaand inanimate, or paffive ; b^ each one iemy capable of Aftion. And now I wUi- give ^ to und^ftandhow fo many cquI4 adl their Oyrii Choice with as much Frerdom as in a fc- • ^f^ Station, by the following Similitude. Sup; . >>fi^iii the Rulesof Singing, you ftrike any Sound PTttgal^ Note, and one, two, thtee, four, five W more I ii^mcdiatcly. ftrike the fame Sound, , «J>6n the fame Key, does that in th^|t Degree •bftrftft your Note, of Sound ? l^^iHJF compelled by the o TWBm . VeaT let me tJk ■\%^ «« fiy one Note, ■<* 1 1 * - 4^J^_ . /\''^'"' ^\ ' {66) - * ■■; owft ? Any other way than they feem to be brought in to your*s ? and increafe ita Strength : And thus if you are not fo Narrow contraAed as to imagine , a xnateml Suh|lance in a Spirit i you may eafily underftand how a Thoufand may a£t each on« , thei^ own Choice, not only without any Compuls Son or ObllruAion frdm the others i but likewift^ without even a Knowledg vf any other : Each one conceiving of himfelf (as each one of Adam's Race certainly will when they ha.]^ thrown off the Fetters of Mortality, and awake from thia Sute of Infcnfibili^, the only Aftorj and fee. themfelves as much aftivc, and guilty as thit particular Man Adam that has already left his. mortal, and Tmprl^nedSUte : Or elfe they coul^ Botpof&bly ha^e fo iJAUcH to anfwer for in the! firft Rebellion as he, yea, tlxey muft othcnyife, be intlrely guiltlefs and clear. And thm Mua^ READBii,^gi,||e br^l^ JO underftand, tha^ ^ ' 1^ -jf^i^'ij >';*, the wht^ W&ffd feir nol|^y. by Adam, but; rea%in Adamj and were as aCUve 19 that SiA^^ as if every one had been tKeve in ' iS 4i , 111' W^. tfit^ ' - (70 ) mitive State, or the End for Which you wis made j as a Man in a deep Sleep, is of his paft Gondudt, or of ^e Conduft ofthofe about hint. And thcjrefor?;, do not be furpiifed. if I fliould tell jfou, that when 70a throw off this 'Made of Mor- ^^lity, and awake in a World of Spirits, you will «« certainly remember your RebclUdB in the Gar- den or Ed.bn, as any Sin that erer you, commitjied ; yea, end as c^eaily as the Man remembers Ebpa^t CohduS:, whenhe aWakes out of his Sleep. I cAnnoe ontradid this, faith one } but iUll it feems hardt '^^J^^^' that I, and the whole World* are in fuchlH|eep Sleep, and fo far front a.Senfe, or real "^Owledge of their original Standing j and what they wetc made for; Well, my dear Rba.* OBR, 11 it is poffible, I will enldeavour %q ^fer your Mind in this Matter^ arid prove to -yout Sati^aBion, that Man is really iii fuch; a S^Vt pf Infenfibiltty. You miifl firft rtmember (af lia* lliniidy been obfenred to you) that Man i^ liis pnmkive ftate was aii immortal ^li^4, cl% ihedWith a^fpirituai and inmiortal Bod/I Vnc) 4herefitfc» ^w hen ha fclli his JmrnorraJ Vtii^pj4 -• imMiitely imprifoiied in that ifflm«»itt-||dy^ I^VWch waA.Ukewife fallen, and thereby Ibfeoihe libthing OftiSi^ '"V; X nothing but Corruption, Darkncr«-and Dcatli , which fallen Body is that Body of Sin and Death, which tlie Apoftle complaihed of, after his^ in- inoft Soul or immortal Mind was redeemed. M • Kowconfider lilcewift, that thi, immortal Body by ,t. F^,, h,s become .elated to an ania.1; World, whcrtby it .rumes an animal Body, made 91 tne dements , whi^h Elements at the great Conflagration is to bd burned up, melt.davvay or cfafoiv^.^;. And now you are brought td fee, how thaHmni^rtal Mind, which Was the ef- ft»tial Part of Man, is impi-iforied by the Fall- andkcptinfuchin(enfibility;yea, wasitoutd^ Pnfon to .a Hke itfelf, it would be a [B^^he. «»er. And now, if j can poffibFy, I will give yott an evident Demoftftration of this, according ' to your oWB Faith. There is your Neighbi>«r'* h<- Ftrft Twenty-five Yeirs/ fhan the''h^ir||^ . ^^' k:Wai utterly infcBfiWiS ot^kr^fhin^^^^ " paft v*.' 1^*: ,.'.,I-J =T=^ V J>aft. And now, my dear Reader^ fmce you are convinced, that fucJi a fmall Diforder, in the animal Mind will plunge the immortal Mind inta. fuch a State of Infenfibility, wjien the immortal Mind ftill remains in itfclf, as ^c was, but oiijy imprifoned j then how can you fjoffibly be aAy ^ way at a Lofs, how the immortal Mind can be fb imprifoned and in fuch a State of Infenftbility, •when it, not only became imprifoned by the Fall *f the immortal Body, but likcwife iiStfercd an fanfpcakable, Change in itfelf ? Or hpiv can yoy. wonder any more, at what t have declared, *nd fefpecially yrheh fo e'Cddently proved ? Good Lord I faith my Reader, if this be the Truth which appears %o evident, to be denied ; then , ivhit a State of Deadh anl Irifenfibility am I in i ,ind how far froft a real Senfe of what I was, when firft made ; or what I now aiiu dnd what I Ihall fpon be ? O ! How can thefe Thin^s^ be, I cannot deny them • and yet it fhocks me to' believe thetti. You feem, dear flsAptR, to be greatly furpriffcd, at what you have litard ; as if '^ it was fofnew, ahd ftrangc a Doarine, that it is are ii Infenl uutesj what i SiSSSiS^ ■,-{4 - -'» ■ ^«'' fince you disv in the Mind into : immortal , but oAly y be any can be fo fenllbility, by the Fall. Sifercd an !v can yov). ared, dtid I ? Good le Truth, ' cd ; then ' am I in J at I wai, lb nd what! ' iingV be,. ks me to' tK, to be rd } as if that it is are im i that |Q^ 'mtC > 74 ) i , fuch a deep Sle^jj, or State of Death and • Infenfibllity : But if you vv#I on]y\^cft a'few Mi- uutes; and taJce>into a ferious Confideratiofl, what has been faid td'you before now by him; ^^ho welljcnew your dcplora^jo. Condition, and '^b, mov'ed with Pity to addrcfs you in thefe ■ Words. 6 S/uggard,ho'w long ^Ut thouJleep?(y) You win not only acknowledge thofe Trifths," butlikev^ifcconfefs, that you ought to have re- ctived^thcm Ijefore now; efpecially w4ien you %t^ Mm' {tj again. A^ake thou that Jltepejl, ^m:i/i/PpmJ^,JDead, and Christ Jh^tl gi've 4hee Light. (tc) ,Sure|y you., We not forgot fuch De- ' ^hftVation& of your Infenfibility, iud folcmn from God : Or, if you have, it it poljble for you eycf to fdtget thatremarkable 0ay,wHcii your deplorable.Coadition fo affefted tJ^mc of .'OtontY, as to caufc Jiim to ^ed Tea4 1 of Con-' doleajice over you*' faying, Ifthu badft: hown^ ,'"***fH' «/ leajl in this th^Day, tU Things thJf *^ 1^ t^iy^JPi0ce ! hut ttojw Mbty art hid from ^*w^«;i^; A^f How iifbi>abi5 iSiffd,: iff • 1 xej«^ thq only^Tkjngs,' which ber^^^^yeuV^ f : ^' ^^ 1 V ■■/.^ ■ ■L-tfi /fi Ifmii. sr ^j&^ ^J ^ " ^iwswP [JLaJlyX ( 75 ) Beacc; efpetlaily when your eternal Friend is weeping over you. Let me mention one more Demonftntion of your Ii|fettfibility ,- which, I am fare, you will never forget, through the Walleleft A|cs of Bteriiity. Father fbr^»Ue thfm ; for- they kno^ju net tuhat they do, ("^;Thiflk, O think therefore, dearREADBR, ha\* infirtitely far you are fallen from a Senfe of the oniy Thing, for which you have your Being : When you could imbrue your Hands in the Blood of your Soul's Friend, at the very in- ftsEOt, wkea he was groaning under your' Load of Sinsi and fuifferiag, to redeem your periftlng 9iid kwrnortal Soul flnom eternaf Mifcry j and all thhyou cottld do with fo litricSenfe of yoorGuilt ittid:Grttelfy. Metluaks^ I have firfBcicmly pro- ved ManVini«idibIeSt«te; but ntftrthelefe, l«jft jroo (litouW n«t be fuMy convinced, F wifl nov*' refer you to « fmall View of the Cq«du€l ofthrf world in Geaerj^. Look around yoii, my dew R«ADi«^, nd fee wiitt Throng* of, . what yod c»U, rationtl Men, with Body and Kfin*^ eW- J^feyed. for BaysAMpfcaw, in almoft an iirdt-- iif^ tut* zg. 34. V'..* fatigable 'k , •' !■ Friend is n of your ill never Bterhity, Reader, a Senfc ive your lands in Ycry in- ur ' Load pcrifhing and a*!! JorGtrrlt niy pro- rfefe, left I ofthti my dent Ihit yovi did' CM* tn indto' ^ ( 76) ; Of fatigable Purfuit of that, which wilt never ahy Service, either in Time, or in Btemity; and yet with as much anxiety-, as if their eternal Hap. jpinefs depended, thereon : Some ftret^ing their Arms from Shore to Shore, to fill their greedy Bags with a litflc perifhing Duft : Somd bending and btJwing, to attain tranfiftory Promotion ; and fome it riolcfs Expencc than Charafter, Health and Rcafon, haunting of Balls, Bowls and Ta-/ verns j uirtil both Body and Soul are plungod into irrecoverable Ruin : Some, twiftin|[«lid tur- ning a Thoufand Way?, to court th« 1^1^ jRp'. plaufe of Mortals : Somei ftraylng up aUtPdoWii from Place to Place, with thdr Bo«cJety of A«gcl«, aiW^B^dm ^f tW ^^fft Orja thi> the Capacity- and Sftrte, they yrferfe jfc^ fatigable ^naffiribjtheir Creator ? 6? if yau^ n^^Ta^T^ t;- (,>!.-■.; ".«, /•■>-"^/'' 4. ri' ^^ I 77 ) , y^further Dcmonftrations of Man's Infcnfibilhy, let me refer you to a Siflner on his dying Bed .but afew Minutes- before his expiring Groan, : .wh^tt. he will plung€,into eternal Perdition, and fiwajte in keen Defpair: And yet, aliho' he kapws; he is juft ftepping into an eternal Wor\d, is pftcn as infcnfible and as unconcerned, as if he \vas orily about falling . into a ftfw hours of ;hile you are a.Prifoner of Hope, befoie you aw^kc in a World of Spirits, where tooJke yoa ^will be convinced of your deplo'rabl^ Coadilion, ,and thcyaft Diftance you have 'fallca from your Creator, by your wilfull and miiijrabia Rebclli(M|j Yea, fo unfpeakably dangerous, and mifcrable is your Condition,, mjr dear Ro^er, that if your Eyes were opened, whilo .in a^hriftlcfa State, you would no more rett, .eat, driijk „o* ileep, without Relief by the Blaod of the Lamb ■than a Man in the Flamei of Firc^Ai^i ^atl -cvyrHappinefs,Eafe or Security^ you nov^hav^^ (c)Vr. 73.% ■ut»*. -^i ■■*'€• ,i K •I =; be -_^-x enfibility, yitig Bed g Groan, tion, and aliho* he al World, , as if he hours of -efs thefe Is by Hii 3f Hope, :s, where ■■-» ^«»v eplorable vc fallca ni/orabis 0U9, and ^er, that ihriftlcf* i*in,lc no* I what-i V ( 7« ) jjonly by Reafon of theTruth,which IHavC been endeavouring to convince yoti of, viz. Yourdfep llcep, Death and Infcnbility. O therefore awake you, that know not Christ^ for your Soul'? Sake, before your Golden Moments are at^a Period f J FINITE Pity is palling by; whpfc Bowels yeai towards you with Compallion, intreatiqg you to be wife for Etcrntty . O Remember, that youc Life is but a Vapour, and you are hahgii^ over a bottoralef^ Giiljph of Perdition, aftdyotarpoo* imprlfoned Sdul df a ftlf-tormeijting- Nature I y Sinjier, why will you fleep aity Joiigfer on the CdK. finesV everlaftirig Defpaif f OJuve Pity,Jhav« Pity upon your precious ajjd immortal Soals ? "Methinksi'feel a GommiferatiQn for you, whiJ^ I write, and can but impbre the invifible Hand of God, to attend thefe feW brokeii' Lines td your Heart;, that you mi^ht be akrmed witK Bartimeus to fit bjr the Wav-fidc^ with tK« fame molt eameft and itiljiortant Requeft : L'oibl that I migh^ecti've Sight. (d) And 01 Lfet mC; as a Well^wilhcr to yourpredou* to^ iinhijJi'fai. Soul, intreat you jp the BoWels^ olr^ jny^ ^ ^r* ^ I i r-'^ Mark '10, 51. •. '/ -^ , . ^ '- ■ ' ' < t .--^i - a m. itH'm m iii m «iii > i« ii ii k a, 'iMsP'' f^ />•; '-i «nd Maiter, ueirtr more to mwgrne .your cfels Jrfe bccaiifeyoru fed ej^fy, or rilnagij« .{«, mflny< do) that your cv^irlafting' Happinefa hangs only upon an arbitrary A« of God*s itoincfs, in faying that he will forgive your Orflnces, or Carry your Soul at the Hour of Delfth among tlvc Saints. For it is as certain as you area living Soal, thajC tbcreii no Forgivenncfs, or Pardon that will ever •b you any good, but that which redeems, and yfOTk$ a Cif^gc in your inmoft Soul, and if that is tot WKwght before jrou leave this mortal World (ddiough you mi^ die without much Concci,ie,fHapp^^^^^ fore heProfpea of enjoying .He Things f^\ and Sehfe, and the reflrai„i„g Grace of i ^;^-^^eepsaMann.,th:w;^ ft"'"^^^^^«-^^-ndure,inHelWo7ha Uf J^^erimentcouldbe tried on the ;bfl;;„^ Mor^onEarth,whofeemsneithertocarerr ' -^^rd any Thing in this World, ::.^ yd ^ come, by de^^rivin,- him 0^ „JI u. HHI!«« ««<1 E^yoymehts, that his ah ■r.; . ahimaJ Na» V jure wards w more is own id) and 1 : and Light Station hange- ^dEn- m can ace of inimal id de'- \ as al] ', and 5?fm<; ^ P, is "and lat ir ipine for, the ^ turc la attached to? with his Confcicnce awtke, And all Grace or Profpcft of Help withheld fron^ every Quarter at the fame Time, he would im* ^ mediately^ be in keen Defpair : O the miferable State of Mankind while in a feparate State from Cod! Yea he is fallen fo far from a Poffibility of being happy, wJiile f- " -m, •*■ i". *t-- ■■■'•. » M ^_ > ^-im V r ttaod ani look upon them, and confider,.*»rhc. thcx it be bcft to "bring them into Heaven, Qr M thcmiown toHcll ; And fo He makei fomc hap- py by giving them the Liberty of coming m among His Saints jii»d Angels, and others he makes miferable by his fliuttiifg them out and calling' thea down to fon^e particular Place of Torment, madeon J'^rpQfeto punilh them : Andmany ima- ;i«c lh?it,if the wicked could get out of that par- jicwlai-PUcQ. and fct aniong^tl^e ^a»n" in heaven, Wy would be ^H>y;oo. O Oiocking Miftake, and curfcd a^fatuation, to keep poor S^uls froRi coming to CHR4ST for the Ch-!i|r^their Na- tures, while the ^irit of Gc4 is ftriving with the Sons of Men. to reftore t^em to God, from whence they are faHen ! Hereby Thoufands are kept in Blindncfs until t^o late tl^ey arc convinced df tlicir irrecoverable Millake among thcBlafphc- mers in Hell. " What is more inconfiftent than to imagine, that- the bringing an Ethiopian among white People, .would make him whiter; or that a Lion WQuld become a Lamb by getting among Sheep > As ---^r^^ KbeT -are 5, Hatho'mioca Avith^^efefo much Wheat j fo fichebub would "be 4 Devil, if ■ ■■• ' he lic liad his andDivBS had excha had excha that the v fity of a r that augr that all i on, whic damned paft Cor their i^ Abrah So that their a^ of thei find. \ yond time 1 wUl State • be < CO ; hap- makes calling' irmejit, ly iijia- latpar- icaven, /liilake, lis from :ir Na- /vith the D, frora inds are invinced Blafphc- ;ine, that' i People, n WQuld o> As ever fo Devil, if he ;, had hU Habitation under G^B^^i^'Wln^ Had exchanged ^^^ "^"^ "^'ITZ,^ t A «.chan«cd Natvjres too. And therefore Uvat the whole WO ^^ ^^ ,,,,i Confeciuence '^^^'^^"ttMifery of the fallen World,!, that augments the MUery .. .Rcflcai- ' bn which will be a great Part of theMuery p.ft Cona.a. which w« th* Ptocu-g c^fe^ „Xl«M Remembrance, notomy «» So that an ever aftmg R^ _ ^ ^^ their aaual violatmg of Go» . Law. of their reicaing Hi. G--;f " ft be fi„a. by wofui Experience, tKeK,Uv^« 4 ,11 Hopes of Recovery i and at the yond aU H0PP= f Durauon, • . Innkins forward into «n »""" ume 1"^'"« ' „,.„ the Torture, of the „ai unfpeat^'l'iy •'"S""' . j^ poor mifable S^l. O bow deplorable «^« ^ LtelWhatcanbeyo^tormentmg^^^J ■ teConvincedbywoMExpenence, th»t|T ' ■ (e) i^ike i6. >$• ■ . j^vl^ '..J ■ *' T-Ji ^': ^^■ * !« ■ > I.** |a ■'-■,' \ •«> ^ ■«■. ifc- \.:.. H/,.< \. \ V \ ^- i' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) X y *' 1.0 1.1 m . Ui lU u [15 L£ 12.0 11:25 III 1.4 m 1.6 ,-a Sciences Corporatioii ^^23 WIST MAIN STRffT WltSTIR,N.Y. MStO (71«)«72-4S0:I ^, ■'/ijlW' tiie Certainty of /^""ng the revolving Rounds of a mifer^M P • nity f AnrI lorti ' ** '""erabJe Eter- beyond ,11 Concc,- T "'"' "■"« "•ill b= that Roct „,.7 '' ^"S "'" Love. --•ence^r!;' ;•["'-"-' ^'"'i'-l.eTo..o„, • Man. ,vho j., „.^^^^ 'X- Z^; T^ ^«'che' litTr ;r' ' ^""''"°^p"'■-' P;;^;^;;ng^may appear Chear- fuli or Mitigation ^e defpairing e Certainty of li/erable Eter- ng -Aggrtva- Jfc being fo lat the Con- "•ment them aJJ Wrath, >D being al] ■ of I,ove, ^ them fo ^'c fo much ^iNEssand ''-If Breath Torment, r^; Try of Light his Dc- ^profane curling, ■ Chear- ( 96) ■\ fuIJ ■ fui, and feem to be fomething fati.fied in hU Mmd5 but let his Lot be caft for a few Hours anionga fmall Number of the Saint,, who are excrcifed vrith a lively Senfc of Divine Things their Hearts melted with the Love of God, and • the.r ■Tongue.^jnfpircdwiththeDrnH^.SpiKiT, fl^outing forth thePraifbs of Mhe RedeLer i a^ " ^°»W be alnxoft the greateft Torment, that could be infliaed'on them. r^;f« that when H Man dies In Ws fallen State, h. carrie. all hi, Darknefs and Enmity i„ his own Mture : He has loll all reftraining Grace, and that animal Body, which gave him a Thirfl for the Enjoy- ments of Time and Senfe: and therefore every Faculty of his capacious Soul is as fo many Swords ' Pointmg at the Divikb Being, thirfting to de. ftroy cv^ry Thing, that i, contrary to hisown Na- ture, and raging to torment every Thing that is like iimfelf : And while he is thus thirfting to Deftroy •very Thing that i, Good, and to dethrone the ^«ty, hi will be crofhed with a lively fenfe of his utter inability ; and all this will not divelt him of that Thirft, which rage, ftill, like a bu«in. creafe ( 8? ) *fc' crcafe it. The Devils that are roaring^^owM the World, for the Dcltruftion of the Children of Men, and to wound and obftruft the Progrefc of Religion (i)\ arc convinced by wofull Ex^ perience,.that all their Induftry and hell i/h Sue- cefs doth but exafperate thtm, and augment their " unfpeakable Mifery ; yet. fueh is their Nature, thttthey are" ttili burning with every Faculty, ^ to find out away, ta vent their Rage, andprol fecute their infernal Dcfigns. And fuch will be thcNtturc of all the Wicked ia Hell,, that by a continual hungering and thirfting to find a Mi- tigation of IVfifery, which at the fame Time, they arc convinced, will never be at a ifl^d ; and raging to aceomplifh and attrfin, -wSKhcy are Aire to be unattainable, will contj2i\ially en. large their infernal Powers of Thirft, and greatly increafc their already infupportaltle Miferies ; And |hu*(too (hocking for human Thought]) They muft. endure the Weight of that Divine Bb'ino. ^ wh<» to their Nature is a coniUming /ire, anj .f «he increafmg Torment of their own Nature to aJI "' Btemity. But as fomething more of this will naturally fall jn, jn one of the following Chap. „ \ (••) «. Per.5.8. (*)Gen.3. ,. ters. ife;» 1^,- T*- ^;&- ng up^down Be I NO, ' ire, and v retoaJf ^ iis will C h ap . tcrs, I (hall no>v conclude with fliort Paraphrafe on that moll comprehenfivc (and ever to be re^ membercd) Expreffion of Condoleancc to the fallen World, expreffed by himwhofaW the unfpeaki- ble Mlfery, that had ufltcrcd in, when his new- made World had broken off from it's Creator by the Rebellion." Adam where art thou ? fij *' as if he faid," where, whefe unhappy Man, "where art thou, or what haft thou done i Le«th of my only begotten Son.fJJ BiH •* where, where, O Adam, where «rt ttiotf?*' « And Of Aronfc, aroofe, my Retukr; ktmfi (k) Geo. 3. 9. fV) Gen. i. 1$. Johns. \6, III i.^ji fers. " I -Awl, % ' , ( 99) and attend tod^atraoft alarming Expreffion of the Deity, not b% to Adam in particular, but like- wife u individually to you, as if you were called. by Name from Heaven with Ten ThoHfand Thun. ders? And think. Of Think, what a Pinnacle of Danger you are on, while out of Christ; and how e^pofed to an irrecoverable State of incrcafing Dcfpair, and be aftonifhed, Q my Soul ? With all the guUty Race, when viewing the fatal Con- feqnentes of ihat Hcavcn-daring Rebellion, whfch we were all equally and perfohally engaged in , ami never, never more expcd a Moment's Peatfe. i5or folid Confolation, neither in Time nor Eter- nity, without a Re-tlniori to that Fountain of I-ight and Love by the incarnate. Deity ; and therefore, hear, O Earth t Earth f Earth ? Hear the Word of the Lor D/;«; l^or Weep alone, but rejoice likewife,for the eterhal Jehovah has found out a way to redeem his fallen Sons from theii^ o\m Hell, His Incarnation hath married all their fallen Race, thus far' as to hold them in a Poflibi- hty 6f Redemption, REDEfiMiNc Love is fpread rtver the whole World, and knocks at the Door f «) J«re«. «^-^|fT ^ ef of every ladinduaJ. (n) tct Eartk rejoice, aid Heaven adore I TOen they hear that Pity has Broke forth t^o the %„ World. Awake, awake O yc pcriihng Sons V Ada!., that i« on th« verge 6f eternal Ruin, finking within yourfelves to unfpeakablc Mifcry. God himfelf has pitied your Condition , and felf moved arifes for your Redemption. Behold, behold, he comes in the cool of the Day with extended Arms ofCompaf. fion to his rebel Offspring. Unbounded Lovt once more invites the whole Family to his kind Embraces. Lift up your Eyes, O ye felf con- demncd Inhabitants of Time, for thfc Riches of etctnal felicity is at your Door and God him- felf fw^io has took on him the Form of a Servant) knocks, and O (hall I fay with a bleeding Hand • Hear, Ohear, and live forever j before the fatal and irrecoverable Blovi^ is ftruck. Your immor- tal Souls came from Eternity j and therefore muft return to Eternity again. And if not redeemed while an Inhabitant of Time, can never be re. deemed thro» the waftelefs Ronhds of a miferabje Eterniiy"; ^or can it poffibly ceafcto exift, bc.^ G I. Cw, 13. y, ,, caWk •i. / ¥w ( 91 ) cauic the EiTcnccs of it never began to be : Bot was a fparlc of the Divine Being. O fly, fly, ini- mortal Souls, fly, from an eternal Hell! "> . CHAPTER V. 0» the glorious Reco*tftry of Mankind by Chr^Jt. NOW from thofc T^ruths, fo awful to be- , lieve, (And fi|tol to deny) I will repair,' A Trembling Soul, to feek the Way of Life, ^ily Sorrows to aliay : which, if not found is Death; mt only fafc to find , but fweet the Triith To all wlit^c Wounds have felt their fallen State. '^•Whbn a World of Mankind, an inmimerahld Gompa^ ©^precious and immortal Souls, had by their own FoUy and Prefumption, ruined and un- done themfelves forever J when they had plunged themfclves into a Labyrinth of Woe, had made -ihemfelves Veflcls of Wrath and Heirs of ever- lafting liiifery, and were wholly eipofed to all t|ie Ravages of temporal, {piritual and eternal Death j then all the Armies of Heaven flood in filent Suf. -ficnce, ^xvith Re g ard to mny Relief) tcknowledgi^ ing l^IANS ', WUl, of B.. ,^ s.mi be : Bnt was y, fly, ini- 5y Christ, vful to be- of Life, d is Death; Truth ilTeri State, mimeralili lis, liikdhy id and dn^* id plunged had made s of ever- [to all tlie >al Death { Glent Suf- ing ing not only ilicit utter Inability of affording tbt Jeaft Relief to. the guilty and defiipiring World • but even to find out, or prefcribe «lPoflibility pf Rccovenr/.; Then O ! -Then it wa, that the Great Eternal GQD (whofe Work tljey hid di. ib-oyed) was nioved with Pity towards them, and felfmoved arofe toreftore them fromrtheir helplefa and undone Conditio;,. A WondeJ of Wonders thatGon himfblf ihould undertalceito look after his fallen and ref.ellious Creatures, k the infinite fixpenceofhisownSoN. Hark a glad nice the lonely De/nrt \beats. Prepare the Way a Goi, t^ Cod a^pearl A God, a God, tht 'vocal Hills re^y, « ^nd Rocks proclaim the approaching ©tiTy. The ANCIENT ofDats, thc Prince of l»8ijq>; Heav£n»s Darling was moved with Pity to underuke the grand Defign. He, who was the Great Jehovah, the great unchangeable 1 AU; ftoops to redeem the fallen World. Let the kl ' lANs, pretend to what they^ ^Ugiott founded oir the - - wUl • '•*♦* . .4irit. Why tcr Angeh lire AoA.M ho VH^ldf State i nay had ^x^i-'M^ W^ <* had they told liim, God had Pify and Comr ** palTion towards him, he had yet been unhel- " ped ; bccaufe in the Mature of the Thing, <* nothing could fo much as ii^ake a Beginning •' of a deliverance but that which made a Begin- " ning 4pa New Birth in him." So that the poor deluded Arians and SpciNiANJ do wholly cut lh,» < '^as ^ \ S'- little' /• *A. little enlarge Whofuppofq ( 95 ) \ '^ on tlvis Poipt, ■ There arc (o |J)1C, _ lat the Qod-Hcad<^r eternal Spirit rufFerc4 a. Goo, and others, who hold' Ckr.st to be. c«ated Man, Jaken into a divide Union With the God-Head ; by which the World is re- deemed. Nowthe former of thcfe are im^^fllble <^ be right; andth^r latter arc bordering on the Aeians Grotind. Bdt feme will fay, that altho' :\ holdf HRisT tp be a created Man^ yet I ca.^- >>ot fee, how I do in -the lean Bprder on th. Ariam Principles, for when I fpeak ofC^^uir being aereatedMan, I mean his Humanity bein. " a created Man. but not his divine Nature ; and that created Man taken into a vital andinfeoara- .^ble Union witJx the God-Head , and thereby. made capable of redeeming the /alien World Now let mc «ft my dear Reader, what differs foch aa 05C frpm the Arian', Christ! You ^^:^thit you mean his Humanity to be a created •Waa , pray what elfe could be created ?. The 4RIAKS and SocNiANs would not prefume to i»7, that theDiviNB Being or the God-Head, thit fupportcdthcMan, was created, and if this >r the Tr ut h, tha t^yhat you call t he Man C»„.t wasj created Mia, then why would not any L ^^ '^ ' n. Man ■t arc fomc, tnal Spirif i Christ ji\c Union ; 'orld is re- impo/Hblc ing on the that altho' '^ct I can- ' 'T on tht of Ct*»lT kity bein^ " - irc ; and infepara- [ thereby^ 1 World. ^ It differs t! You • a created ?. The ifume to »d-Hcad, id if this 'w L Ch HIST not any . Man I 'Si y Map I that was without Sin be a complcat Sir viour for a fallens World "? A5{ii^ but 1 am lurprifcd ; faith one, at thi« C«nftru<1ion put upon riiy Principle, or upon what ) ^have faid " Why Ti\y desir Ready, you have Rea'foh to be furprifcd, vvhcn.'fuch a 'principle is difcovercd in ^ou, but not on the Conllruaion thai I have put thereon; for what I- have faid, is no more than a reafonable Confcqucncc drawn from your own Piin^iplc : Tho' perhaps you will reply igan. that you do hot holdjhat a Man can redeem the World ; for you hold this Man to ffand uni-, led to God, and therefore the wholctjdij -He ad is employed. And pray^, dear Reader, docs %©t the Arians and S<^cinians fay the fame ? For ihey de, i^ot prefurac to fay, that God left thia created, Man to redeem the World pf Kiinfelf without CoDi and a? for his Union: to. God, is not every true Ch^iftian in the fame infeperable^ Union, .^r^. And therefore it is evident, that every truf Qhriftian, when they 'are c^f^catly fanflifiedf would be as complcat a Saviour for « CUlen A^orld ; for- they al| being unitfid^to God r^ {rj Ram. ». 38. 39. john,l4r2< ■ i .i^^L » the i Af« . ;4^.M,.-' ■yss,^ « ^ ^ (S7 ) ' tke whole God-Head might »s well be employed . for the Sapport of 'the one as the other. Now let me aft you, would not the worfhipping of^ fuch « Stviour J)e grofs Idolatry ? Tell me then, faith one, what Manner of Perfon he was, that fnffbred and died for our Redemption ? For you Jiave already faid, that thofe, who hold thit the EriRUAi Spirit, or God as GO0 fuffered and died, are* far fronvth* Truth. True, dear Rea- der, thejr are as far from the Truth, as they would be to fay, that God might ccafe to exift. For if the God.Head, as* Goo, was fubjca to jpain and Torment, or could fufffcr any Death ; then he is not felf-6xift.nt : and therefore may ccafe tocxift. But perhaps you will fay, that the Word of Goo fpeaksof hit being grieved to the Heart, and repenting in his Heart. &c. (s) . wrkich fecms to fignify His being fubjeft to Change or Pain 5 as Grief, tho» in the fmalleft Degree; is Suffering and Pain. To which I an- ,fwer, that with Regard to God's fpeaking of hi* - Repentance, or being grieved in his Heart, in- •fearf of bein g mide fo bad aUfe of. at tochaiy sX /. * Gaa. 6, 6, 601 y employed icr. Novr tipping of I me then, wa«, thftt ? For you 1 that the ffered and ear Rea- as they to cxifl, ubjcft to Death ; fore may fay, that ieved to» &c. (s) jjeft to fmalleft :h I in* I of hi* eart,in- r :h « it e 6oi \ God with being changeable, and fubjcft to Grief and JPaittv ought to be looked upon as an unparal. lellcd Condefccnfion to the ptwr fallen World : For had God expreffcd himfelf in Language like himfelf, we fliould for ever have gteained Stranprs to his Meaning, by rcafon of oS Igno- rance and Nothingnefs i and therefore, in infinite Condefccnfion, he ftoops to converfe with pobr fallen Mortals in their own Language. Now, dear Reader, if you have any Thirft for Light in this important Pointy yOu muft banifli tdl* Thoughts of RjioEMPTioN by any created being, or of a Poffibility of the leaft Degree of Pain, Torment, Grief or Sorrow in the .God- Head, as God, without Incarnation* and then L hope, in a few words, to be inftnsiiu:^;ital of offerjng you fome Light : for which en«|||ine intreatyou to receive the following Truths. FSl^fU. that the fallen Party ii Man, and the Party falleti* from is God. Sei^ondly as Man cannot be/re- flored by Man, he muft be reftored by Goif himfelf. And Thirdly. that God's bavdy fayitii; Law, or fKat He wai aot angry with guilty Maa^' *'#; ( 99 ) &c^ would be of no Benefit to him, (« has al. ready been proved) And Fourthly, that whoever . undertakes to redeem this fallen World, muft do ft by Suffering and Death; and that God M Gqp, is not capaWp of that Suffering and Death, which is Required. And therefore fift% andlaftly, that Goohimfelf fteps down in- to fuch a State 9s to become capabl? of his fuffcr. ^ng and lieath fbr the (kllcn World. Bvr now the Queition may be aiked by fomo, why there mull be Suffering and Death for Man's Reaemption. I anfwer, for the fame Rcafon as God declares, that the Wheat that is fown can- not >e quickened excepted it dicftj h has al- ready been proved that Man is dead ; and as he is thus dead, nothing can do him any good, hut that which tends to quicken and reftore him to ^i which the dead Man himfelf cannot do: TWrefore God muft come into this dead Man by W» Incamadon, And herein we fee that in- fin.teLove and Condcfcenfion of the Deity to « Wlcn World: That when He iSw poor falkn Manznfuchamiferabl e and hclplefa CnAiri..^ (0 I Cor. I J. 3«.^ ' ~ ' ,■■- " that y if *t' ^' 1 \^ s has al« whoever •Id, muft hat God ring and therefore lown in- is fuffcrr that no «mc could adminiftcr any Relief, but JJirafclCi nor He himfclf without fuffcring in th«ir Behalf, which he coild not do, with- out ftcpping down into fuch a State of Abafc- mcnt^ as to take on hixnfclfthe Nature of fallen Man. For as it is Man, that is in a fallen State, (JoD mufl: likcwifc be Man to redeem him. And here I would have my Reader obfcrve, thap I do not mean, that He took on him a Maa, for that is the very Dodlrine I deny : But I fay, that (lOD took the Nature of Man; thai is to fay, God himfelf became like Man; and if you think that this is a radi Expreilion, or a (bangc Cbn« ception of God ; let us hear what is faid by in- variable Truth itfelf.(^«^ " For as niuch thtti " as the Children are Partakers of Flefl^ and « Blood, He , alfo himfejf took Part of the fame, *• that through Death he mig;ht deftroy him, that «« had the Power of Death, that is the Devil.*' And thus we may fee, that God did not create or borrow a Man to be fupportcd under the Weight of the fallen World j but He himfclf too|p on him our Nature, tad bccamft Man, as that V (») Hcb. 2. 14. •i ^ ■..3.x ioae J. ^^^6^^ 'r ( lOI ) i>one but he could lift the miferable World out of its fallen State : And therefore faith He, « O . " Israel, thou hall deftroyed thyfclf, but i« mc " i» thy Help found.'Y^; He does not only fay by me is thy Help, but in me: Yea is not this Truth, that Christ was really the Son of QoD, and God himfelf, as clearly cxpreffcd, as any Thing in the whole Word of God ? And ^s it not as far from being denyed, as that Isaac was the Son of Abraham ? The Word declareth, that he was, and that David w4s the Son of Jesse. And doth ijot the f4me Word of God exprcfly fay, that Christ was the Son df GoD.f'wJ And that God fo loyed the World that He gave his only begotten Son.fxJ Now if hq had borrowed a Man or created a Man, then with WhatPropriety could he fay, that he had given his only Son, and fent his Son to die. But left fome thirfty Reader, that was thirfting for Light might ftill be fome thing in the Dark in this Point, How the Son of God could fuiFer and die ; fi„cJ he could not thus fuffer as God : I will endeavour more clearly toexprefsmyfclf again on thisPoint, * ^"^ ^°** ''' 9.r«.) Mace. 3.17. (*;joh0 3. IfiT by ^ 1«. by ^ by fpeaking in behiUf of God. WhcnUc faw tke World in its miferable fallen State; a| if He had /aid. my new made World is now faUoi " into fuch a deplorable Condition, that no one " but myfelf, c^n poffibly ^fFord them any Re- " licf neither can I, in the Nature of Things, " ever reftore them, but by fuffcring Death ; " which as GpD I cannot do ; nevertholcfi, I " can in infinite Wifdom take upon me their " Nature, and will in infinite Love and Pity « condefcend, to ftep down myfelf into fuch a " Capacity and Station, as to be like Man and '« become capable of fufibring and Death for « them J that I may reftore them to myklf, « from whence they have fallen." And now if my dear Reader fliould imagine, tJut thi« h\ deviating li-om thd Truth, qt th« I have not done th« Word of Go„ J^(U,,e . wc wiUhcair what the Word ei^r«irc» pf itf^f wilhont any^ Eipofition. S'acri/c* tmi Offering, ami Eunu ./% JMngt and offering fo. Sin ^n ^gi^ ^,^ ^. tier hadfi PUafitre iherein, ^uJdcb «m ofiendb^ the />!*,.. then/mdbii L», I ipm t»di thm» - ^ Cfep, (y) Wh^r c^Q be wore ciaiH^^icfr^ ft V) Heb. 10. I. g. —I fid ^,.J1#^SP^? ( i03 ) ftd i He aoth not fay, I will fend. to be done ; but Lo I • y O' Command . «mc. But fome perhap, --Inmvfty, if.hi, bcthf Tr«d.,,hatHc,- " '^*^«'' '°d died on Mou«, Calvary, w,„ »ot.cr«,.d Man; „,>„ „,,,, i„„d„„„d , •'"-g Co of«r called a Man, and of his h,. v,ng .S„„,, ft,, To which I ,nrw„, d,i„k ^. Dc^ Read„, that X am ,bon. .0 wrcft d^ofc -. 7 "" M"n.'/br When Gon became incarn«c *' '~««»rMan, but you muft obfervc, that *;" " »» <■-" Word, ,. hi, being a cr«. «iM.n, and where ihc Scripture fpcka of hjm «M«,, or ofhisSoul,&c; I think no one can "-.derHand „y ,hi„g .jf, ^^^ g^^,^ j_^^^^_ »-. or the incarnate Stat, of Goo, and if he Kecune Mta, Jie certainly muft have Body. Soul •nd Spbit , ««1 which is as dearly demonftmted by God iimfelf, a» can be expreffed." Unto w .'.' \^" " ''O™. "to uaa Soni. given,«,d ^^ the G*e»,„en, ftj] b, upon his ftouUer. ^ «d h« N«„e fluU be called Wonderful, Coun- ^_ «lor. the mighty Go», A. everlafting F*. * '•■■■• ^-^rv •■'• ■ "^i ,j^;r.* that A Sv th th( CO thi wi TOV fall fed, is fhe< td this Glo Stir only and to m and I an NOM Con^ Not '" "T^srgf* ; ;ir^-^^'^. T -^^^^S'^.'W^P'W ( 104) • . '^ that Myftcry of Myfteric,, God manifciicd irt the Flefh : (a) This ia the' Eternal Wordl be- come Flefli, and dwcIlrwiththcSow of Men ^i» is He, that was made a Curfe for us' who hath born our Griefs and carried our Sor,' rows, this is He, that had the Weight of thfc fallen World upon his Shoulders, andwaspref- Jed, as a Cart is prefTed with Sheave,, ^r; thi. 's He, that groaned upon Mount Calyary, and ihed hi. vital Blood for the Sinrof the Ungodly td redeem to himfelf a peciiliar P««,ple :• Arid this i. He, that will one Day appear irt ^Uhir Glory, to judge both the Quick arid the rica'a;d Souls, tied down, the be(UaI.t.nW «nd.„fcr^al Enjoyment, of this enfnaring World • ^^^re^, to .rife and ileep «o longer; Mc^SiKA. ro^, ^,er you. Hell threaten,. ^^oa yaun., .nd the bleeding So. of Go. ^^^^•^7^^ WSom^e I#r«th to comeTaT •^^^^^J^is^^g^ «;"■ infod Juitice ) & fos, the i HelJ, and |n. A Won- Heavens^ i\iiijnfelf is LWake, O urprifc I >me an In- vith\a mor- WgWd, to and \unit&. » and lilout God, ind to Short f PcMortajJ seath youi! eafure, ycl tranfitorjf >g World: > longer?' threatctits,] It o f God / sme; an< ( io6 ) Wl l,.„. ,„„ J,. coW.he«tedF.™„Uifl. /*rjn» of Faith f And f>«« <«=«»« 7o«Fri«d, the Poet of7-^ ye Prifoncr. of Hope , t«™ . ' ^"* ^ whiJe it 15 called to Day whJU ^w . * *-L ^' '^""^ ^e Iamb of «#►•! , ^ke, away the Sins of the VorldurUK » up « down, from City to Cffv c ^r... H J.;.V-:: ^'*:^i: ^fe^Tfe^r I» \ { r;toi J kodu^ ' Hills, afld Vales ; Fire, Airs l«itii;iBii n \ Kings Kai : fuffcrs not • een fuffcr- Foundation iring with : the fallen cm imfliof- p not, fear for behold. People Y'^ ye'perilh- -ved Note^ : Glory 1 Earth^ ow, O ye and* fub> ssut. Re- , and Vil- di the dc- 'inds, and Pirc, Air;. DBBMIR^t ^OYfU of utit. i4' V * « WoM>c ,^o„de„ of i.., N,™. Wki,. . of J«« A»l. „,^ j,„,^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^.^. Rood. And p.- ye flaming Amu« .™.„i J. ..emai TW, ftrike wieh facrcd Flan... t ?""""*«•""' Note .00 g.and ■ for mortal ft^ain. And f„on. .h J„ j . p.„ . ., . ""• W'thyoB to bearing -:; GLORv'""""^' ""'""""' S'™»' A J . GLORy TO TME LAMS *- H A P T E R yj rartaker eA Redeeming Love ^^' x I ""^"' •^^'/""Soing fiifcWe „d,.— ^■ to^ewfomething of that g,o,ioai W.y'rf ' I-tfe and Salvation, that ],„.b«tt op«,ed t!^i^ '^V f..IenWo.dBy^.S„„„,^„J''^^^^^.:f* »« *« Thoufanda „ay m live and df-^i^fe^-'^- d?«i>tion, and beJievine th.r. o.. I^r^^T'^ ^^^^i *.: it '!^«'«'. and bdiX rf.c„ a^**^*^ i \fSfe^' :l?f^:WiiI l^diJy give tto^^gf^l-'-kl -tr. Ha iiiii( /' sV%'fc. i^«^->^ Kf«if~» -^ -« ft f-it ' fA. ( 109 ) fJiall now fpark fomething on the Application of this gloridus Plan to Individuals, viz. How • Sirtncr is thereby' reftored to God from his fallen dtatc, and made Partaktr of EVbr lasting Lovi. And bieidg now on a Matter no lefs imporrant, Hian il^ttirwjiich infinitely concern? all the Softs & Da4i^litfc«-ftf AoAM ; I flHtll a little enlarge oij tlie mifarable' Deception of Thoufands ii^ this ha- pbrtant h^nt j neither dati I" forbear to grieve^ while I'confidcr, fo many of my poor Fellow- Mortals are thus, 'evj^n a Land of Ligk, un- happily deceived, A i^creby irrecoverably min- ed ; who will pre^ehd" to believe in Cj^i$Tt ati J hold forth the abfotute Neceffityof-filling in with the Plan of Salvation, and yet pcrifh to all Eternity. And now wp may reafonably {up* ipb^e, tlut as all Mankind Hand in a ProbatJ(^n- Suttf they, may be rationally ponvincecLjiimgay important Points, aii|^yet not r^deem^^li^ Kavc a Confcicnce, that informs them l^S^^ ttf file Diffirisnce between Good aiid EvUj arf% Intereft j c .iHrithout , , , ^ They ,fwll fay, th«^ thcjr believe thaj Christ died about Scvcutden: Hoadred Vcan ago, to redeem even jhc woril of Sinneh : And vainly imagine/thatiUi that h now neceflao^ ^r their Redemption ia to fall ia with, and praflife fqch and %h external vation;':as »hey hear, -reappointed by Jiimto be obfer^d in his Church: And beings thus «tioi,. ally convinced of thofc External*, thi^y*te fcap, tifedwith Wafer jn the Name -<*f th* Trinixjr Thej^ refrain fwm «U gro^s Out-breakittg iu,d,^J^ bauchery, and i^ay join ^th fo«e Churchy ' People, that^e NJed ChriAians. -a,id ^^ fhemf«r«fesip ^ of the fame Principle, „,!,«6d ^^^ ' Houfe of WorAip once or twice ;^;\Jir^,^p^ con/jjjprable for the Suppon of th^. mdct$,^m ^be^ltothelloor. ii«ndx>n,^ - zealous m ftmym, both Jn public -fBA ^raiW • m.y think they doc much good iii^mmmM~-r I iwir t^ ifinncttf Q^er^i ^P»ny aroimd-thaa^ Th«T^ ^T t^|tMi r ' .^fgcata for Morality, and ittf^ m^^mv '-*^. .KJtdS '«< X ■ V III ) <*> nniiiftcrial Rites and Externals of the Church yea, they may do gll 'this and much I more, and yet have no Lot nor Portion in Christ's fpiri- tual Kingdom, being ftlll in thoir fallen State of Death and Darknefs, wholly labouring on the Covenant of Works, and finally fink into eternal Perdition/^;; And O? What a fatal Miftake is this, to live fo near the Gates of Redemption, to die without much Concern, and go to Hell at laR ! There are others, who will more ftriaiy hold to theWeceffityofthe New-Birth, and declare that Salvation is only hy Free Grace : But then, fay . they, tlie Work of Grace is fo gradual, and im- pcroeptible,^ata Man may be in a fafc State; viz. be born again, and not know it: And will %, that their being influenced to the Externals of Religion, their having fo great Defires to for- f«ke Sin and become Chrillians, their havifg got fo much the Viftoryover the Powers of Corrup- tion, «8 to refrain fw^m any Out-bjccakings, and being fo much affeaed under the public and pri- vatc Means of Grace, , is u great an Evidence of their i>ei^ born ag«in, as they can ever expeft t« flttain »> % - *l^" '>T Churchj aore, and r*s fpiri- 1 State of on the 3 eternal [iftake is ption, to :1I at laft I ' hold to rlare that hen, fay and im- fc State; iad will Externals 's to for- vi¥g got Corrup. gs> andi md pri- ence of xpc6!t t6 >v ( JJZ ) attain In this Worid ; and fo flatter tieijifeives, that they are ingrafted, into Christ the true an<{ living Vine, when- they were never cut off of the old Stock': AVid- therefore not knowing the Righ: teoufnefs that is by faith, they are going abonfc^Slf ^, patch^up a righteoufncfs of their ovfTk.(e} Aftfl it may be faid (tho* with Grief) of fiich People, that' they go a tirefome Road to^Iell : Fbr they have fo much, of whAt they call Repentance, Obedience, Self-denial, Duties A: good Works, that they hav4 wholly barred true Faith and 4 living Saviour oujt of Doors. And I have Reafon to hs^ j there are many more, who feem to have fuch an Averfion to the PhArlfee, that they wUl jihinge thtlm^ ftlvcs^into eternal Ruin on the othef'llaii^ ? JfiaV^ ' ing a dod^r/nal Knowledge oi'^^nitoh^yfiA^ they vainly imagine they havir&a^VVitli '& Truths of the Qolpel, tn^^m^^&gi$^ Saviour, when they have onlf ,%Jii^^{ to the Word of God and his >niihf flPcs ,'' "' ' " -»«• fay they believe in Ch'riit; a»^ .i^fi g^Val tion by fr?e Gnurc alone, and' fo^ 'feA"^li|, Expeaation of Efcape firom.Pfei^'4&^i% attain HoSlay the T ransformation of th? — — — s — -■ ■ \\h Br* <^ MHoni. le^ 3. -• X -f' .n M -*-^'*^"- >-Tl^w*iS«!wiWT!BrTaCWI "^t t I.J f 1 « ( ( 113 1 ^m to,7 W their .nimd Spirits .nimated evcH to foiac T««fporta; when. « the f«,« Time, thejr .re utter Strangers either to Ch*,Jior reftore4 irom its faUen Sute to God, are iHH Spirits of Darknefs. and if their Li^ht be ■D^knefs, W great i« that Darknef.,^^; and ?hcfenwybe.fp fatally impofcdupon by the grand .Adv<^aiy, .ndthe Decdtfulneft of a treachen)u, *l«^ ts not onl;^ to fill ihort of aU the Priviiiges of the«reat Rcdcei^r, but Ukcwifedio like Lambs pn^^^¥^W f^^^^^ them. ^ ^^ th,j fcpc^don of evei-laftiog Happi- i?f IW^ ""^ ^* ^"^' they are on the .Sriak of Ilell, plun^^then^fclves into irreco- 1J«»bteqefpairr«uithu.II,aveReafonto^ • ^ t^e y^ateft p^ pf the Worid of MankincL ■>«-1( f ^f ( 114 ) evtn of thofe, who bait the Name of ChriAitas; are fatally xleeeivcd, and will at laft be fdu^d al mifcrable as the profciftd fafiad. ^ / ^rw /A^ cnudfwitb panting Breath .' • : ^i6* ^/v« -If: ttUC r **4^. ifentlng to :ak of this rrftood any an by no le himfdf, but you hat Capa- ) to a^ by irit of ai^ Milton. m under, confent- ig on the* ng proud le further >or4er on 10I4 any i already of f^len il ^o ^c- ,\n ' ( 116) niteMcrcy by the Incarnation of God has %pcd Mm from afting and ruining himfelf, and put him in a Stateof Probation. Secondly, itis felf evid., cnt that this Spirit or Power of Confcnt cannot be for the building Man up in himfelf, for that is already Man's only Ruin : For it is clearly provad already by the Word ofGooUat iht whole of Man's Ruin and Mifcry. confifted in his falling out of God, into himfflf j and there, fore there can be no pofljble Redemption but his being redeemed out of himfelf back into God again : And this Spirit or Power is for thatytry End not to bolfter him up in himfelf, but^tp . bring him down, and out of himfelf, /W « /« Ay> convince him of; his loft undone Condition, and his utter Inability of helping himfelf, which I dare fay, you will stcknowlcdge is the only pof- fibly way for him ever to be redeemed. And now I thin|cyou muft of Courfe be convinced tlvu this power or Spirit is fo far from helping him 19 boaft, that it is the only poffiblc way tQ ke(|> Jwi^ , irom btwfting; and fo far from buUdinj W# gp in himfelf, or lean him towM4» the 4>o»Rtfc> A K, that the very End and nature df it it wholly the reverie. Yea the only way to bring hhn1wi«i jfi foil the more Ite opens the Door to;rcceivc that ^ut infi- nite .J, ^r**- i ifeiii, rit Cii7) Spirit ^ iigkt, the left Room he has to boaft , btuiufe hfc « more and more convinced of his loft State, Nq^jingBcft, and Inability to help himMf. And hcfc ^ou can but be convinced of the Truth of thi3, becaufe you fee there is no Poffibility of l^dcinptJoB any othec way , for his rejefting this Vm or Li^ keeps him ignorant of liis help- Icff undone Condition, and fupports the boaft. •ngrofprcrtldfelf; wiu^byi^c.is |;ept from an/ Pciffibflity qf being helped. Hut the adhearing to «W« Spirit, or recciting this^ight doth of Courfe ftye ,,«id more adminifter ^onvidtion,. and the MOM Je receives of this Spirit and tight the *«o^c Room there isftill to receive, and thus «»uch of this copviaing ^piritJie i^qft certainly fcenfcht to, and receive, ^ wholly to convince ^<^ m» loft ^onditio,^ ii„4 utter ^.ability of Iiel|.ii4ghimfelf, and when tlius ponvinccd; Ibrcly l^ «»*« acknowledge, that-hc is fo far from any «c^M for boaiWng, that he is obliged to cry ^"t:«^fin*ingPBTn,r^L<;:niavemeorI ^iric,^ the only pol^blt Remedy that he can ^^c -i, to.aft )hit helplcfs and condemned khs9Q£ fr e e and mtbottftdediltty of ; fufcly "om any to cry . le or I he can lenmcd ["©raeg I ■i t» u ih the Great and compleat Redeemer. And zTow you may underftand what is iheantfey ihdfe mucli difputcd and much abufcrf Words, *« the true Light that lighted every Man that Cometh int4 the World.'Y/; And again, « the Spirit i» ** given to every Man to profit tfrithal i**(g) for altho* the refined Arminians have madeufe' of them to build up proud Man within himfelf * ^Tt it is very wideiit thit it was ta bring him out of himfelf, and that all Manltind might be lit a Poffibility of Redemption if they did not rcje« It. And now between thofe two Extrsm^i cannot give you a more clear Defcripti< the Conduft of Zacchius, and i^ii^^JMingi of God with him :fi^J You reiS|fiibcr, tha^ when he wanted R c d b m p t i o'i4.^dr to fee Christ, he begins to elimb up i Imt the Voice of Gon -was make hafte and come ^own. And thus you fee how far all the World of Mankind M held np from their own Hell, and with Ri- ^rEMiNo LoTB at his Door. Fbr ifMtnwt* «bt held up with f^h ^ Pdwtr, j«tfm«C«pt*^ ki^ of confenttng to Redcmpu'oii, k irtift iia-- mr m:. .A ) »'9) •roW^bly fi„k into .„ irrecorerabit Su„, b«i„ft it Im .Ir«,dy been pro«d he could no. be «. . deemed but of Choice ; therefore infinite Good, nef, hoJd. him in ftch State, and c.p.ble of be- 7 «*«•«' ■• For With thi* Power, h. i, t,pMc of recervrng that „ff„.d ^igU. neeeffa-y to eon- j;»ceh,n.ofhi.Wp.ef.,ott.„d„ndL.C„n. dua Converfion. For if,,hat ™ the Truth. a*j«nner, grovvup into Ghriftian, gradually, Aen «* muft not only believe in a Purgatol ^«^«.gre..VarietyofPlac«and3ta.ion!.pJ H«ve. and p^t Hell: For asMen die i„ .„ J««^ rf Life, from an Hour to Threefcor" r«W •nd Ten, fon.e would j„ft b* begini g^cWfdono, fom. three Qsarter,, and perhaps »«-,«• Acre one. who had been ve^ i *|i««oq,, and had arriv^dt. a very oldT^i, »*ht be wholly «niM5 ,,.iuch would h.^ tH^ ,^..: C-\- *» bctkufc lot be ro» lite Good, blc of be- i$ (Capable y to con- int jCon- <5nfcnt.to ■And 7c|P hg in the grccs, or e Truth, idually ; . rgatory, IS, pal-t ' in all ■eefcoro bcgin- niihed^r lerhaps T ij^T & unfcriptural Principles, I /Hall therefore pr»L< cecd further to confider this Point now in hand, viz. H«t«r JcT -^■X-^ . 4« . ^^ of - informed of thfi Natui^ of his Recovery/ b; ar* tending to whit is faid by the Great Rsdebmer himfelf". Behold, faith he, I ftand at the Door *• and knock ; if any NTanhear my Voice, and " will open the Door, I wjll come in and fup " with him, and he. with mc:*{mj As if he had faid, lam now about to deliver a Matter of nolcfs Importance, than that which imnl#ately concerns ^our eternal ttappinefs ; therefore be intreated to attend, -take Notice, or obferve, what I am about to exprefs." That I the great Reftorer '* of Mankind ftand waiting. Day after Day, at " the Dofir of Confcience my Vicegerent, and " knock to quicken, alarm and convince you of " your fallen and deplorable Condition :" there- ^Tc if any Man, Jew or Gentile, bond or Free, Male, or Feinifiu old or young, rich ot pooJ», «onc cxceptcd,(^»; will hear my Vice, adhere fti the Dilates of Confcience, and the moving of myjpirit, and will open the Door, only con- ftm- to give up ail without any refervc, or Ex- pcftetion of Help from any other Quarter and wnr receive „e for hi. Go., hi, Prophe^^.. Fneft,. and h» King ; his prefbnt and cycrUBi^ 4 ■,*p»r»'| m ( 124 ) . Porrfon ; I will come in : Nothing fhall hinder j iicitJierthcGrcatn?fs of his Sin., ftor thetlrength ^f his Enemies i for my Delight 15 with the -Sons of Men :^./ Therefore only wnfent, and the Worjc ihall be^ done. I will takt Poffeffioh of themnerMan, unite you to myfelf, willfup With yd»-andyou with m6; wAJgiVe you the communication, of that Divi^h Light & Lovb, which you Mve loft byj^our Fall. And now to be more plain in this important Poiftt.iH,, (»» I would beuhderftood by eveiy Readerf| mn endeavour to fpealc of the Operations of thi Spiirit of God, in redeeming this ldl\ Soul front it's fallen State, as it may appear to them while under.the Work ; which is firft to convince of Sin, that is, fet« them in Order before him, botK Adual andOrigiijalj and this with fuch Power^ that the Sinner not only hears of hit being '^' Sinneri but feels it in his own Soul : He is can- vincedofhis loft and undone Condition i^^ hi? own Confci%|^ with(>ut lwvi|ig* ,^y Ckum God's MiRl^'y or the leift fcn^.i^m hi» JH«uid. Hc U fo r o nv in r fd o f hUh ^ j c^ i iM^ . diUto,.that he finds his utter JnabiUtj,.ji, ^^^"* - ~ ' ■ ■ '_ -"* * »»i)^ '■h:^ ■*.^ii V .^^'^'' '^/ '% \ / obtain Relief for his perifliiog and immortal Soul, or to extricate himfelf out of that deplora- ble State of Sin and Mifery, which he is now convinced that he has pl^unged himfelf into. He has long; been trying perhaps to recommend him* fclf to Christ by Repentance and Humility j he has been labouring with Prayers anl^Tcars to loveGqD & Holinefs, to hate hi sdvil Ways, and be forry forhis Sins: But the Spirit of God has now wrought fo powerfully on his Heart, that he appears worfe than ever : He finds his Heart ia hard, i^d his Will ftubborn : I^is Nature is at Enmity againft God, and all that is good, and' perhaps filled with blafphemoui Thoughts i^gainft Go© and his Ways \ He has long had »:fecret Hope, tfiat he fhould bc^yet more pre- pared to receive Christ, but liow-aU thcfcHopes fkit ; tnd he appears more unlit than ever : He Ims fonwtimeiB, under fontc agreeable Frames, thought himfelf ahnoft through, and fo would reft on them ; but iwvy ; he appears fo vil«, that Conv«rfionfocm»atagr«irter DilUncethaii ever. iuM been trying every Path he coiili'fi«A i« ; Hopes to find the way out ; whichg m^ftuT^f letdittg ***i?4| .1^ K''je-iu. i^^t/^itAta. «JbJL (V ^ ^^r?l^Wi^W^ w^ t»vA •(»<*«% ^i*-'-;**** I immortal It dcplora- he is now into. He mend iiim^ Humility j ri^Tcars to Ways, and 9f God has Heart, that Is his Heart I Nature is at is good, i Thoughts ,s long had : more prc- thefeHopes i ever : He sle Frames, d fo would foviU, that ;etha» ever. leftding^ leading him cut, has got him more loft & entan^ gled than ever. He has tried every poffible Way, to flee from the W^ath to come, & to recommeni! himfelf to CftRisT, or to prepare tfj'bt conver- ted, but now all appears '" Vstttti"l#i 'lit Pi-. ty towards ^m j neither doth he fee, whcthdr Hft* intends to tiave Mercy on hin\^ornpt i. yet, h^fels determined, ^o caft himfelf at his Feetj aiid^truft wholly to his Mercy, and free Grace for Salva- tion; and cries out with the trembling Leper. iUr^ if thou nuilt.d) And when liit M tl\«8 ^«»B^1 to a Sehfe of his Condition, and jfwUfi Tcrn^^ vlW-to forfakcall^ With ■ g fi ' W' Ji' L ' I n i^ii. Kings *7» 3. 4.' W M»k I. J^^ Es->; i?4L vA.'^h (127 ) Mind turned after God, panting after Redemp. tion from his fallen State, and depends wholly on the Mercy of God thro* Jesvs Christ; then the MDEEMiNO Love enters into his Soulji Christ the Hope of Glory takes Poffcffion cfth^ inner Man ; and altho* fome, by Reafon of Fears and fti:^g Temptations, may not be fo fenfible of their Converfion the very fame inftant, Hour or Day df their Union to Christ j yet they win fqon receive an Evidence of their Redemption ^rom Death to Life, by the fealing Evidences of the Spirit :(r) They will find the Burden of their Sin gone, with their Affeftions taken ofFof this World, and fet ofi Things above, with their licftrts oftentimes drawn out after Christ, un- 4cr a feeling Senfe of the Worth of his redeem- ing Love; at the fame Time, with a Senfe of their owto Vilencfs, and the Vanity of all Things licrc below, together with the Worth and Sweet- ««ft of ^icavenly Things, and the Amiablencfs of the wv?Mi Bbiho, they .find an cncreafing Third: , •ftcr more ^Jburty from Sin and Darknefs, and a continual p.^tin« after th*^^ Enjoyment of God, -gj^IifcaBcfrtcr the m ^Fiir lowI^rSAVMHlfc. i^ ^ .^i^ -•^'as Rederap* Is wholly tsTj then is Soul ij ion ofth" I of Fears ) fcnfiblc nt. Hour they will demption idenccs of larden of ken off of vith their iisT, un- REOEEM.. Scnfe of II Things id Swect- blencfs of ng Thirfl: , fs, and a of God, Al^I^I^ ^ ( 128 } for their Hearts, which before vyere fet ©n Things below, are now fet on Thin| above. ^ Now, Dear Reader, be affured, that there is • not one Spark of true Religion in all the Exter- nals, tliatever were performed, by Man, without this vital Union, to the Lord Jesus Christ : Therefore how groundlefs and dangerous, as wel'l as unfcripiural, is the Dependance on any Ex- ternals for Salvation ; fincc all Religion i;^ a Work of the Holy Spirit on the inner Man f Neither need we fay much to prove, that a tnxi Principle of Divine Love wiH produce an external Con- formitytotheWaysofGoD: For it is as certain that this internal Wor^of the Spirit of God will refleft a chearful Conformity to the" Externals of Religion, as a Fire wil^reflea Lighi; tKcrc- fore, faith the Apoftle, " If artV ^Mkn'-be in ^* Christ, he is a new Creature; OM things " are done away, and all Things' W': BfibolAfe ** ncw.'Y^; That is, they are fo ftr-'^«tebi|4^,,; out of this World, as to have thiir Heahl^p'* Affcd^ions fet on Things above j and theicftwe* uuu> t«*yitt«y remain in this WorJdit %aEJag about a Body of Sia and «*" ■:WtJ ft Cot, $. ly. .^^ft£l li-'u i-^t 1 . . 'ft -- u. fi6~ *f { 129 ) which Means, they are fanftified but in Part, and cxpofed to many Snares ; yet they have not their Life and Enjoyment in the Things of this World : for their Lives are hid with Christ ,(tj tnd therefore they have h^re no continuing City, but arc as Pilgrims and Strangers fceking a bet- ex Country, which hath Foundations, whofe B.uilder and Maker is GoD.fuJ " Fqxcs have *' Holes, and the Birds of the Air have Nefts «' (faith the great Redebmir) but the Son of Man *' hath not where to la^^ his Head.'Y'f; Not on- ly that Partiular Body of Christ, that was on £arth Seventeen Hundred Years ago, but like- wife the Spirit of the Son of Man in the Souls of all hisChildren hath no Place of|left, or A- bodcin this World : For" (^hrist did not come down to this World, to make his People happy ii» their fallen State, or to mend $c patch up their Difordercd World, but to redeem them out of it { and declares himfelf,«f that his ICingdom is ** not of this World, Yw; and therefore, who. €vcr prefumes to namctheName of Christ, and M l Li hci Bfelyea Ch rktia m r (altho' they nj^.- ■>iii Oil' ,'*'wji.^i. ^:*'- ■'■■?• «»^»- ?•"•::, .l^ihdli^SiiML €€ tt ''^M^ i'$^ac^A}bffii^au^ij^AamiM.Mk^ 5^^ in Part, have not ;s of this RIST ,(tj ing City, ag a bct- , whofe ties have ve Nefts n of Man Not on- t was 01) 3Ut like- he Souls t, or A- lot come e happy up their % out of gdom is ■e, who- 18 T, and "#1 (130) tend to be born again) if their Hcarta and Affec- tions are not redeemed* but are flill ^tuag. cm in the Ploafures and Enjoyments of this fallen World, will unavoidably find themfelves firtrily deceived, and eternally rained. I do not n^ein^ dear Reader, only thofe, who are going on iA " carnal Security, Vice *nd Pebaucoeiy, without any Conftraint or Reludtance j or thofc greedy Worldlings, like the unfatisfied Mifer, which . perhaps you may not be guilty of, and fo flatter yourfelf, with a groundlefs Imagination, thatyou are a Chriftian, and that your State is good : But I mean thofe, who have their ConvcrfttioB^ Life and Enjoyment in this WorJd ; wh^ find the Enjoyment of the TOng of Time and Scnfc to be their higheft Good.: For the new-born Soul is redeemetj out of this World, and IflicJC- . fortf the Food, aqd the Life ?ind EnjoymeW of- their Souls are not in this World, but in Heitw; , and on heavenly Things I their Convcrfatiott 1U1er9 of his Body. Therefore how inconfiftant, God difhonouring, and unfcriptur^Yjz^ is that Soul deftroying Doc- trine, that denies the final Perfevf ranee of the Saints, and fends Men to the Covenant. of Works for to confirm their Salvation. •/ And thus, dear Reader, I have endeavoured to fhqv?^ yoaihov^ the fallen Man is redeemed from his fallen Stafie, and rcftored to God ; which if ' you believe, yqu will not look on every one to he a Chriftian, that is called fo. And as I have confidered the man thus far redeemed, I (hall now proceed to ftvow the Nature of Sanftification ; about which many, have beep fo ignorant as to cxpofc theM\felves to great Errors : ^ome holding Jl to be fomething droped into the Soul ^vhich they call Qrace, that may be loft ; becaufe it is caft into fo much filth and Polution : others holding that a Man born again is wholly a per- feft Man, and without Sin. Now it is evident that thefe are both as far from the Truth, as the Eaft from the Weft : Others there be that f^Sai to be fomething free from thofe unfcriptural Gott* ce^tlons, imagine that a Man at thcHourofColt^ " ""t '■ ' •' — ■ — '• — '-fr^ '.: , ,« {k) Rom. 8. 3« j9. Heb. 6, x8. 19- John 6. 3». ' >: Lok© 10 42. ' \ ' '■^^-;i vcrfiott ■ verfion iias his Soul partly cleanfed^ or iii&Aified ; and then God continues to cleanfe the ^oul hy^ Degrees, untill the Soul is yrhoUy fanftified. Now if this were the Cafe then God would nol^^ only Hand united to a Spirit that was part D«- vilj but another tnconfilfiancy likewife muft aprv pear, and that is, if fuddcn Death ihould arreft the Man, his Soul would be torn afunder, .and and Part Loft ; for no unclean Thing can pof- fibly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And if the Man, at Converfion was perfed ; or could as fome imagine arrive to perfection in this world, they could iio more be contained here thaft En^ OCH and Elijah ; Pcrfeftion being notHng lefr than a compleat Salification, and as for their: falling from God after Converfion ; Christ has declared they can no inorts be feperatcd from him than he from his Father/f; Veal the very Na* tmre of tht Thing fei^dcft it impoffible : For what s the Cehvorfion b^ Christ chancing, iiid ta^? king Pofleffion of ith^lntnoft Soul i which is ap the Time of the t^ange complcaily fan^ified*' Ato rtow to iR ew thfe Rgafon Why^the Mantho^r^ ' if ^ tpttvcrtcd is not wholly faiidifiecj, ortWl$hpilt Si|), i«Mf« :«- ^dfl^- John 14. i-)' and 17: aiVJV ' •btSfi -t i-v-f A fe. Uis ) I will Foceed, Man in his fallen State '(as has already* been obfcrvcd, confift* of Body, Soul, and Spirit, viz. an animal, or Elemental Body, a fpiritual and immortal Body, and an immortal Mind, and at t^e hour of Converflon, the Son of God takes poffeffion of the inmoft Soul, orimmortal liiind, but leaveth the fallen immortal Uody in its fallen State- (fiW.CcJ And now when you fee this Divifion, you may not only underftand how that, that is bprji of God caiinot fin iCd) but likewife what isfaid by the infpircdAi>oIlle to the Romans; I have a Law, faith he, in my Members waring againft the Law of Mind, (ej Not a Law in his Mind, againft the Law of the Mind : But of the Members againft the Mind ; for the Mind can* not Sin ; bccaufe it is bom of God, and he de- lights in the "Law of God (fiiith he) affer tl||^ inward Mm.f/) Viz the immortal Mind that j« redeemed j ahd then he goes on to complain of this fallen Body of Death, whith he is bur- dened with j(^^; which rcmainsyet fallen, and when fpeakmg of tlie fame Body again, faith, he W^ for its Redcmption.^i&; And thus you V)«» .ntelligem «,d immortal Spirit, is . Power of Growth, or Seed of Generation t (not of Num. b»s«,^but of Capacity) Uertfore it w«,o nothing b" Room ,0 .a itfeif, („i„ j„ayr^ ^^ < y « 1 1 ill Fo ci , q ■ ■ __r:^ , -:_-K: ;^one Word or two, to thofc happy Follower^! of the Lamb, who are thirfting, for Holiaefs, and the Y'l^ioty over Sin. O ifemember the Kingdonj o^ Oob is withih you, and will Work its own Releafe and gain its own Cdnqueft : if it is not chained and led into Captivity by the old Mm, and every Leap it gets, is fo much Growth for Eternity, .& every| houf it is led captivei or iihprifoned by giv- ing the old Man Liberty, is ari everlalling Lofs. Q therefore as you love your own 9ouI, keep un- der your Body. Yea, faSer the to fay, ftarve the old Man to Death j for every Thin j that feeds Or nouriihes that, ftarvei and imprifons the King- dom of God within you ; that is, obflru£ls the Growth of the irnnoft Soul. But how fliall I know, faith oiie, when 1 am feeding the one and itar- ving theotKer? I anfwer infallibly, when you are nourifiiinsa Spiritof fdf, and enjoying the Creature, (in over fo fmall a Degree) you are fighHng for the old Man ; but when yofl are after the Spirit of the Lamb, and Enjoyment df the Creator, yon are %hting for the new and fpi- ritoal Man. Therefore faith your Lord and ^ Mas I lit,, if y our righ t E y e, or right Arm o i F en d- yoo, i4uck them off i th©*«v«r fo dcartoyo!|,M»d. 1 ^_ ~ occupy ; occupltill I come. NowT fuppo^e the Qaeftioft mil .rife, wh|^h h.B parUy been atbated in ont of the foregoiftg Chapter. : Who, or how many out of thi. l^lcTi Race, are to be redeemed, or how many hath God eleded ? To which I .nfwer again, God doth^clcdt and will fave all ^tt can pofTiblj be redeemed. F«fr you may remember, that it hat been fufficicntly proved already, that the very Nature of God, and his hijh Decree *mong all his Creature,, is a Freedom of Choice. and therefore God cannot r*diem thofe, that ^n not be redeemed, or fave them without their ' Confent, Now, faith one, ft appears to «c .gain, that you would have me deny Eleftion , ind theft # what ihall I do with what is «pr,fled by ChriI* himfelf?" I pray noi, f«th He. for th. WorW, ^k" •* but for thofe thou haft given me^of the ' «« World.'Y*; And befidcs I thought that^iiji, tiNo Love would have been ^e evcrlafting Song '* «f th« Saints. Well, my dear Rcad», I wnfo ftr (as you ihall fee) from te|i!hifl| |r«m .to d«B^ filcaioa. that I would teyh yon io;Jfa j|i3fc in .f^' (fi jolfi ij, 9/ 'V', !..''> l:;:,y--^-, . ■.'•'> ■ \ ■' TTT- .'V, ■ rt,'. ,, ..' ^ '■^ >'" --f th6* ftrSngeft Scnfe : Fd*f.y6u may obfcjve, thit ' t2HitiST prayed not'for the World, but forthoie Ue Father hath ^ivcn him out of the World. •And let me aik you, who are they, but all that ' 'ivill, aiid can be redeemed out of the World ; '«»d they fhaU certainly be redeemed, and ftand as: immoveable by that electing Love as the tvci-iaftiBg Hills : For if the fallen World was given to the So;i of God, to redeem all that can 'be red<;emed, and he has undertakenfor that very ^nti > theii farely you may l^ld Eleftion in the i&ohgeft Senfe, and receive tjiofe Words, which ' yoM mentioned, jull as 4cj^' are expreflcd with •all their Force. A|«r ^ f'or your thinking, that .BLECTiNc Love ^uldbe ihe everlafting Song ^ ^ the Saints, I j^ink fo too, my dear Reader, \«nd am fo far /rom depriving you of that Expcc- 1 ^ti^, .that I would teach you to ftrike a far . higher NojI on the fame Theme : For the Way fou cxpedfed tofing this Song, was to blcfs God for rcde^ag you, when he would not redeem Whir. J Md fo your Song would be no lefs ex- ^enfive than the charging of the Deity with Par. liiftft " ^ • -^ V I ,1 ^V : «« ittjlead of this I would tpacljyou to % '4 (fcrve, thifl It forthoie he World, ut all that e World } and Hand )VE as the ^orld was II that can r that very ion m the ds, which ' jfled with iking, that ing Song Reader^ at Expeco -ike a far the Way blefs God >t redeem > lefs ez- with Par- - ck you to 'r'%^ i>y '40 ) ^ ^fe^k. «ng tie Wonders of electing I.otWJL raited, as to deft all that could poffiWy .feed ted, and determine the Happinefs it took 4«?P Root imd bfought fortb Fruit in Abund- ^^•CfJ I'lWM you may fee, Dear Rea- ^r, that aa^I before declared) it is the Love of '^ia fftllen Wod«^ raid the being attached to th« ps prcciout of yime and Senfe, that^ f*) .. €jr. Tzry. -nfJTWitt. 13. 4- (^O^Klt. 13^^^ (V ««att. I J. 7. {flM*K. 13.8 9^A i.t i ■t-f.. ■■}^^'> ¥«4 i that can he whole » redeem- : my dear c anfwer- Word of >ur Lord It Author )ffer RB- }wed the andchofe away by [1 among were (b : where* tbranceSj > it took Abund- tr Rea- Love of :d to th« pTccioiiA i ,% fU i H2 ) • and immortal Souls from being reftored to Qom You fee, that the carelcfs and fccure Hearers •(^^y-^ the Word were fo negligent, that they let the Fowl^ of the Air jMck up the Seed, fo that they were loftrf others for fear of Tryals, and to Ihun the Craf<( rcjcftcd the Word, and thus by refifting the Calls and flifling th|i|£lnviftions, were loft; while others were jPpEed with the Love' and Caras <>f the World, that the Word of God had n<|' Place in their hearts, aad fo withered away, by which Means they were likewifc loft ; but tiiere was one out of four that caft offaliihtir Idols, heard the Word, and nourifticd the .Spirit of Conviftions j which brought them to a Se^fa or ^: their loft and hclplcfs Condition s.t^y.^htacal^' themfe^veson God's Free-Mercy,. /^rcwk -al}, took up the Crofs, and followed CHRur'iuif;. was redeemed from their fallen State, and «ftpr. ed to God again. Let me npw^cfcr^yeja jq^| ^ IS faid of profane Esau. It i, niat faid^^^fc^L . ' never hath ^irth^right, but that l^iW^^l for what ? Why, for one Mprf^l ofMnh^^fm, i ' was left on Record by Qop tofttf » j> fo|^ i^artimg, through Gtner^tjpwjto. *< heed (faiA God) let! ma af\il ■4 ?*t* ^ » <>»»] r/. fi '*■'•'■■ v; ( H3 ) '*» BitterncfaVpringing up. or profane Perfon like '* Esau, who for one Morfel of Meat fold his Birth-right, and ye know how that afterward, '' when he Would have inherited the Bleffing, he « was rejefred and found no4>lace for Repentance, " altho' he fought jt carefully with tcara/^/ s Agaiji yourtmember, that the Man with one Ta- . leiit was not condemned, becaufe he had none; hilt becai^fe He did not improve it. And r^ow my dear Re«der, I^uft your Mind muft be releaftd inthisMiSkr, Once it has been fo evidently dc- ^di^ /by God himfelf : I am faith one, fo far X^°^*^'^^ *^^' ^ will readily acknowledge, that th^ whole R^afon, why fo many fall Ihort of Sal- ▼?;tion, is, becaufe they arei fo choakcd with the 'hings of Time and Senfe, that lull their Con- {fcicncc, and rejeftthe Spirit of God; bqt yet I mnot fee the Reafon, why fome are more choak- cd with Thorns than others, or why they are fo niuch more attached^to the Things of Time and Senfe, as to tie t^ down from Redemption; while others arcfct at Liberty, and are Tedcenicd .^cptingit be, becaufe that Goo doth notchufe iggV^ fh i ^n uib great ^iMcafufe of ht« compdHng - ^.'fflWet.ia. i6. 17. Spirit . ' ' \. Im w f^ : -•*.^^ '"'\J i' ^ " Spirit, as he gives the others, (as I have beeE^ taught.) Well, mjr dear Reader, fufter me lirft to ihow you the Impoffibility of any Truth, in what you fay, you have been taught j and that, then we ^yill fee, if there is any Light to be ob- tained concerning this Matter. You fay,^ you,^ have been taught, 'thitthc Reafon why they vvcri^.^ loft, when others, were redeemed, was only bc-% caufe that God with-hcld from them that Dc-. , grep of CohAc^int, or compelling Spirit, vvhic\ he gave to ;he others. And fo.y|ouJ-We t)eei»j taught to, charge Qoj) wiUK^i^l||l|ii|iVi{ould' ngr ' be guilty of ydfurfclf; for vrfiAt ^ould you think /-^-f' if I were to charge you ^Ith the following CNincj " viz. feeing a Poor ftarving Beggafpafling by your Door^ (already under as much Mifpry and Diftce(s as he 'could' bear), when your Servant, ^o ' wa» r'^'H bidden to invite him in to your Jr^ble, whifperc4' in your Ear aiM told' you that .yoii had none pravi^ dcd for^him, neither did yo,u jntjend to fcc4 iip *M4? i you replied tKe Beggar did not kiiow t^at,. ^r'ya^^^^ did not intend that he ever fliould ^ow biityriat you wasinearncft. Well, bujc-w^'*'^" **" ****^ -%h one, Yorto put mai «~^bi .». i^fWtt: f ■* t H5 ) , ' Princijie'that I have been taught. You have Rca- ien to be furprifed my dear Reader, for. this is not only a Conftruftion that I have put oiTthat Print ^¥^; but the Principle, itfelf, when it is only examined ; for dq you not fay that God waits Year after Year, on the poor. Sinner, calling him with his Spirit and Gofpel, when Christ never died for him; neither does God intend that he fhall ever tafte one Drop of redeeming Lov^j. And thus thofe Teaci^ you fpeak of, charge the- ^"•^^ ^VM^ijJfekery, Deceit and Cruehy; which a ^mk^^^d not be guilty of. And now my dear Reader f • Whether J fhould be able ^ to offer you any Light or not, in the Matter you enquired after, would you ftill retain fyjh a Prin- ciple, that not only againft the plain Word of God charging the Deitv* with Partiality, but likewife tliat caftsfuch blafphemous Refleftion upon, him, ^nd nov^yon muftobfervc, dear Reader, that as i Verel that Js turned Bottom upwards will not 'wcclvc theBLain as one that [is not; fo I will wadily acknowledge, that fome Souls does not ^^^rjh«fome others do, by Reafon of u againft It ;BuF yet I weold by no Mean» *}^t^,^ ( H6 ) ' .' Means charge this upon the Deity, or fay," that he withheld any Thing from them as an Aft in Go I), which would he immediately againft the exprefs Word orGqo.f&J But a» the very Nature of the Thing is fuch, as cannot be impof- ed upon them againft their Will , fo fome by re- jeaing may .deprive them fclyef of that, which others may receive and enjoy j and therefore If there is any Caulc, why fome are more choake4 with Thorns, and tied down to this bc|lial World, than others, the CaUfe muft certainly be found in Man, and not in thc'^'llaiuis of God. > And if there is any Difference in their ftanding ©r Advantages, let me aflc you the following Qucftion. What is the Caufe of fo great Differ- ence as there is between an Idiot and an Newton, which' may come from the fame Womb ; and an- other Womb brings forth Twins, the one dwf, .:. dumb aud blind, and the other with the tJfc o^ *"/" all thefc Senfcs ? I truft you .will i^t ^^«^ ■ - to fay that God made them fo, or ww^e^^ ^' ^f thofc Diforders : No, faith one," Itclie»cJ||i||V ' Ifuch Things, as well a all other ftocyn|.Sc ^"l.' T- ' «» ( H7 ) ' and monrtrous Births were occafioned by the Difordcrs brought into the World by Sin, that woeful Rebellion againft C^d. Well dear Rea- tjear, altho' I am not about to fay, that aa Idiot cannot be redeemed ; yet thus far I would infer from what you have allowed, viz. Iffuch vifiblc Diforders are "flKjjed into^ tlie World by Man's Rebellion and miferable Fall, it is not reafonable tofuppofe, that if there is not as great or greater Diforders about the inner Man, which might ren- der the Confcience of one Man'morc ufelefs than tliat of the othiT ; yet by the Confufion and dif- orders of ihofc Elements, which coniUtutes the an- imal Body, there may furely be fuch Diforders, as for Tome Men to be more attached to the Enjoy- ments of this animal World than others j 'yea it is not very evident, that among ungcncrate Men, who sire all in purfuit of Happinefs in the Things of Time and Senfi:, fbmc are in purfuit of it one Way, and fome another ; fome arc attached to one Thirig^ and fome to another ; fome whofc God B their Go\d,(iJ and othA-s whofe God is Uieir Belly ;(k) fome are wholi J captivated with ;y V! W Matt. ,9. «. P(^.. 7. •(,) Ephe. 3. V9.- ..S-'^ ■^i.rx..;' , ( H8 ) t^ Pride of Life ; fomc with the Lufts of tJ»c Fle/h { and others employ every Facility of Body and IVIin4 in Purfuit of the vain Applaufes of Mor- tals: Yea have you not feen the Mifcr's Han4s trembling with old Age ; and grafping of Money at the fame Time ? And now, mysdcar Reader, you need not wonder, why one is more choafced with Thorns than another; efpecially when' you confider, that the Indulgence of any flefhly Lull increafcs the Thirft, and ftrengthens the Chains, that ties them down to this animal World. ' And you may like wife remember, that as foon as Man , had fallen and ruined the new-made World, God immediately informs him, that thcfe Thorns and Thiftles wouhPbegin to jtowj^ and which we find by woefull Experience has choaked Tjfoufands of precious a^d immorul Souls from the Bread of Life, And oije Thing more, I would obfcrvc, in reference to the Matter now in Difpnte, namtly» why fome arc more cliiC^ke^ with thofe Thorns than others i that ij, jN3|i|pit confider thik .th^ ^- Nature of Man is fo cdtep^: to the Nature 'iC-; God, that when the Spirit df^ttia isrftrmng wjtjl T > I (/) Gen. I. 1 8. r> T»— — w -• «"4* / kr i «*,_ )■ '4 \ y ."/ ( »49.) the Creature, It will certainly cither harden or foften } and therefore, if this Spirit is rejedcd, it hw a Natural Tendency to harden the Creature, and fcal them down to eternal Perdition : And the , more this Spirit is rejcacd, the deeper Root thofe Thorns and Thiftlcs do get. Therefore, faith God :" If yc will hear my Voice, harden not ** your Hearts. 'Y//;; So that there is no Occa- fion to chnrge the Caufe of this Hardnefs (as many do) upon God j for by rejcfting the only pof- fible^Way, that God could find out to reflore them, it naturally tends to harden them and chain 4 thepi dowH with ilronger Chains ta eternal Per- dition : But when confented to, nouriOicd and chfnihcd, it fhcws-fhe Creature more and more the Vanity of aU Things in this fallen World • hy which Means thofe^ Thorns are rooted out,' and brings them to a feeling Senfe of their State apd Handing, , ^nd the miferable Condition in which they are in ; until! {\ convinced of Help and happiBef, failing from every Quarter, that they will try no longer in the fallen World for Happi^fs , but caft themfelves, with all their («)Heb,2. 7. 8. Corccrns ■■^s^^F^^?*" harden or ejeftcd, it Creature, ; And the loot thofe ore, faith irden not no Occa- (as many Jiily pof- :o rellore md chain •nal Per- hcd and ind more World ; ted out, eir State iticn in of Help er, that orld for II their Concerns, as poor and helplefi on the great Redeemer, who has long been waiting for to , redeem them froni their fallen State ; for fo much as their Minds are emptied of this world fo much the more they are panting after another^ ^nd " thus, dear Reader, I have endcavo.urcd to flievt you, that inilead of believing, "(as niany, do) that th^ Reafon why fo ,many are foftj^ is only becaufe God did not choofe to eleft and. fave them j or that he rather chofe to leavt them to perifli ; wheti He might as Mrell , have favcd them, if he would. Inftcad of #hiclr, I fty, I do not only believe j but have fuffici- ' ently proved, that God doth* ycfl» that his very Nature and high Decrees are fuch, as to delight to do good unto all his Creatures^ and ftows of ^ hi* Love and GSodnefs" to all that will receiv« it: By which Means cveiy Soul, that could pof» fiMy be redeemed, was given to the S- , .'. -*4V ' si f;^v^': ^^i^' I their Milqiy, or by any Ncgbdt hi (Jod, God forbid ; but is occafioncd by tJic Will of the Cre- aturfri, which, inftead of confetitinj to redeem- ING LovB, rcjefts it ; and therefore cannot pof- fibly be redeemed : and that Men and Devils that •re miferablc arc not only the Author of their own Mifery; but that againft the Will of God, the Ntture of God, and the moft endearing E^pref- .^ fionsofhisfovc. And if this is theCafb, as can- ;■ / not be denied, well might the Lord, who had : A)ne f that could poffibly be done to redeem Sin- new, complain of them, and fay, " Ye will not ^come unto me, that ye might have Life/»; ^An» now confider, my dear Reader, as you iwft one day be accou«iable for the Truths you ."kave heard, whether or not, the infinite Goi» Jita not done -every Thing that is neceliary for TOUT Salvation. Has He iot tajj;en all Objedions, ^4«tt vhat you make of Cnoicdj^^ut of the Way f y^t'has He not declared himfelf fo far from tvifluiig; py williiyr your'ljreftruaioii, that He ^mpitumof^ yoy, for j^ot being redeemed, «iid fordefpifii^gj^f-his GntceP Of.then belw«c, m V Vrs^] while RuDBBiiiNc Lovi is at your Door, and do not ruin your precious and' immortal Soul , fince God has been at fo vaft ^^xpeiice to redeem it. And l charge yo<|^^fe Nimc of the Lord Jesus Christ, j^^j/^p^ not build up Walls of Separation I^^^Rd and your own Souls, and then chargc^^vith the Caufe of your Dj^ftruftion : Nay. take heed, that you do not harbour any hard Thoughts of GoD> ' ' or of his Dealings with you j for fucfe Thoughts • •'•' are as Polfon to your Soul, as Ratfbanc for yonh Body i and it is what the Devil will, if po/RbJe; infufe into your Minds, and W giving vyay, to^^^iJ fuch Thoughts has been the Ruin of m%, reft no longer in your fallen State, fin-.-your J ger is inexpreffible? Fly therefore, % to the 4rms of Redeeming Love, for ill Thiitoa;.t,e ready to receive you.^<,; ^ ^c <:pi|vi^^ij3^'f|^ God has neither, had PleafurCj , nor l>^|Bt^^^^ your Damnation ; biit being 4 infini^i^jigi Jhis given his own Son to rcdeent.^^^^^^ * ■ )rottr own Hell, and iiOf« ^jtii:|05^^|i^ "l^affioa vvaits at ywir Odbi^si %uj^r Soul's SAKe to conlcnTto 'te-si, / -^t •yS^ ^ 'Cji^ .ast' I*f Charm. ,,,,,„4p^^^^^^^^^^.^^^^^^^^^ ^-verlamng.Goodncrstoyou. O let .e i„. -eat you. notto reprobate youHdf by rcj.a^^^ '7"^^"°^--But.ccn.u,o;ccelv! It, that your growing, and In^mortal Mind may be reftored ba^ into that infinite Goo from whence you are fallen,- and iorever adore him for What he is iin Himfelf. CHAPTER Vir. 'urul Gifts, nvitball the Jjpjlance o/Man^Ul ^ot p.ake a Man of God. or Ambassador ./ HRlSJ. ^ '^ Sihave thus far bUn taking a Viewof Maii^s •* FtJ}, hisd^ph^jfble State by his Fall, aiid hi. glorious Recovery by Christ; I fhall now take fomeNotfceofthePlanandDifciplineofCHRisTV^ ^iblc fiSngdom, efpecially of his Mik»thr, ^r^^ut firfl endeavour to ihcw, who a« *»ot His, and what will not make anAM.AssA- »«^ of CHR|8*i> 4 l^ . \ ,....■'• "*'Jlt ■■>>' i.&7 IS EVERLAS- g'lt manifeft ' let me in- t>y rcj€6ling ; O receive Mind may God from adore him Man luill SADOR of an's of Mi t ahdhii now take Christ's MUTERS vho are 1BASSA. }tabdat f .»i4 ) ,.'''"''/"'"«'« ^' -*« P"P« Place (« ftaU Wafer be made „a„if.ft, b« .^.j^ , 1 I't,^"*""^ ^™» Heaven, ha, already been tJij Means ofiareelv r„„,j- :, , ^ nS^eCaufe of Anti-Chrift, and the fatal Ln -d,mn,o„alSouk. „-hichGo»ofhi/Mniec Mercy gr^t „,, ,,,^0, and which, by Hi. Afflftl »nce,I,„,end.obearaTei.i„,„„y,3.i„ftj4 this mortal Life. . 1* FiRST. earthly Dignity.' theEfleem of M,n\ or a cortpicuons Station in the World will fl,,\ make a Man of Gob; for if ft „o„id^ thenPa.^" RAOH. Ah.., P.L.T.,HB,„n and N.„ ^^jj »11 have been Men of Goo. Neithe^ willh«„,„' • Leammgor the Art of Philofopfiy «^ii^y^ Of God, for then Socx.s. C.c..o, .»d dl Ac Heathen Philofophers would have, b.^' M« ofGon. Neither will .n outward SJ.«W ofl^., 27' T' «.oft clofe Conformity toExterS - - """'^''""«"' "k«cn..i«ed theI*p,or •' ■ -^ -. .■ 1 • ■, 1 •- ' vl ^ ^■t «v n ''h- ■■#" n % Gloky, would all have beca Men of God: And Sa»l when {Jerfecuting. tjie Church//^ would have beeh a Mm of God. Neither can any Li- ccnchftom, or Impofitidh of Hands by any So- cictj^ of Men, Minifters, Bifliops or the Pope him- fclf make a Man of God j for if it would, then tlic t»ope with his Cardinals, Bifhdps and Friari are all Men of God, or AmbaiTadors of CHRiar j for they a^e all brought ih by tHe moft exaft Or- der of Men. Now all thefe Qualifications are fo far from making them the Men of God, or Ambassadors of Christ; that it has «ot helped them one Step out of the Gall of Bitternefs and Bonds of Iniquity: They are yetatfenmity with both Christ and hi. dosPHL, and are porting the downward Road to. eternal Perdi^. ^„d ^^^ ^^, gard to their being qualified toprich the Gofpel ,the ^reat Gofpel Lawgiver has put this Aiatter be' yondanyRoom formach Difpute, when he de- aares ^em to be Men of Belial, the Children of tne Oml,tind Advocates for his Caufe.^^ J ^ut 6 *i?sr >■ •s.. '*!--•■*.< are qualified by human AffiftgnCe; but likewifc f TCitly imagine, that forae particular ^en have 11 Power to authoring others ? And^h€ffefbrc iome, when they have got a good Living %y thci^'prc- tended MifEon (dr, a«may be faid, bjr malting* Silver Shrines,fr; land imagine thc^ have got fo much afor«hand in the Worldt that they may af. • ford to live without Work, they^will hire one ac * cheap Rate to pi-each for them, ai^^o they let out (what they .call) the Gofpel, as a Truckman dofes his old Horfe: And this is don.e in a Land «f Light among thofe, who are called Chriftians. O aftonilhing f What real Chriftian can forbear to Ihed a Tear over their poor FeUovr-Nfortals, tha^re thus led blindfold by fuch Wretchcs'down^ to mil ! O that God would haften 6n thcTim«| when the Beaft, and the falfe Pwphat (hall reign lio.morc, and Babylon, that Whore of ilte'W«ia», ^ that has crept fb faft into our Protcftdit Cfiuret&s^;^;i- ' fliall be caft as a Mill .Stone into the S«i;^Mjhii*|P more to rife. What Chriftiw, can- e^eJ -fi^-^g^ nighted, as to imaginCi that tlicutt!^ ' Riches of theEverlaftih^ Gofpd.^iik^^l 'l&Llstr '*M I* - «K -^ oil of Souls could ever be fo hjinded about, and tradctl upon by the poor helplcfs Sons of lAcn | I will now hear what is faid by Luther on this Point, v'lt. WlJcther or not human Affilhnce vfrill make a Man of Ood ? Why faith he, " If « is ait Error to {siy, that a Man cannot be aPi- ** vinebut through Aristotle. Nay, faith he, '*' a Miti eaunot be a Divine, except he becojne " one without Aristotle." And again faith he, " A Man becomes a Divine by living, by dying *' and by being damned, (to wit in his own Senfc) /•ndnofby ftudying, reading or fpeculating." And W. Dell, faith, « Let all true Chriftians *• be advifed, that human learning is fo far from *' fitting Men for the Gofpcl and the MIniffr/, " thereof; that indeed there is nothing in greater '* Enmity to Chri»t crucified, nor more cori^ V trary to the Word of the Crofs, thsin that, yea 'V nothing in all the World hath been fuch an *' Introducer , Favourer, Supporter, and Enltrger ". of Antichrift's Kingdom, as human Rcgfon, " Learning and Philofophy." . A»D th^far, dear Reader, I have endetitour- =To«r^5wTSp!ibTc It is KT^^ ^.,be ma -^'/i'^lu / *^i ( i5« ) ! V }out, ane{ of Men i 7THER on Affilbnce h he, " It )t be a,Di- , faith he, ic become I faith he» , by (lying ivn Senfc) culating." Chriiliang ) far from Miniffry. in greater iiorc cQii' that, yea fuch an i Enltrger Regfon, or 9 jM[an Affiftance : Yet tte greateft Part of Uic WorKl cxppcls them no^ptimr Way. But I Ihall now pafs on to confiJer another Point imcb. difputed, even am:)ng thofe; who will prefume to puU th,cm- felves Chriftians viz. Whether or not^ it is ab folufely neceflary for' a'Man to be a converted Man, 'to be qualified, for the Work of the JMiiKis^ try. And as it is ioapoifible touoiyviQce « Hiu^. Man of the Diifcrcnce of Coloi^rs, £b it i« next tp inipolfiblc to convince a Man, Uxat is 4ead ip^ TrefpafTcs and Sins («ltho* he may profefs to be a Chriitlan, and be a very good llri^ JJpnUift) of the Impoflibiljty of an unconverted Man -being a Miniftcrof Christ, and qualified to prcgc^ . *hc everlaftii^g ^o^^*^- Yet J dow^ ■»';^ K Whatctn be moijc indj|}ri|||nt tl ^aniia^^'fenmity with God *aii§ali ir a Servant of Qod, .^d iit ^P Kingdom of Christ, 'feich is i finill&ivine ; when God himfelfsijclaras ^i^KWttefMjjfteriesof theGoip<;lis to ihern%)liih. ^g>cis.^ ;Ther«fore it is as evident, that|i un- inverted Man cannot preach the Gpfp^ as Darknefs cannot give Light j or Ice make a^JVIan warm. But foinc will fay-; an unconverted Man ftiay feem to be Orthodox, may preach good "" Doftrine, . yea he Way niake ufevof the fame Wdrds tbat another does, and then why ;nay I^e not be«8 ufeful, and do as much good, aliho' 'he iiimftlf mhy be a caft away ? To which I an- swer, for the fame Reafon that a Loaf of'Bread painted o.n Canvas will not fatlsfy a hungry Man, or a painted Horfe do toxide. Yea the Peter himfclf made ufe of a ,moft ftrikinj JP*"^<>n »»|^er tojour Requeft„ HK^^m-^Q ^^^MKm htY cannot feg^^ rf^nfflBl P i | i %-.. (iJ>Ro:n. 8: 7. r>/i.Con^. ,4. A'. X^ ' k. I MtrMi 1> )D •■and all [>, ,frid iit Ifhich is ■ted Mau aCrh good the fame altho* •he ich I an- of Bread gryMan, ••^Cawie of Christ: For the fa«e RMfort, falOi "pe, thai a Well without Water i« good for no-. ;^,^«^ tiiing/«^ Now would any Man.prefume to con- ':.^| tradidt the Word of God, and fay chat a Well without VifaS'r would ferye a tliiflly man as well as one with. It iartrue a Man without Grace ipay be al^Ic to deliver found Words^ and elcg-, ant Diifcourfcs, and fo agreeable to the Let- ter of the Word, that you cannot accufe him •£" preaching falfe Do«^rine (and fo may the Dcr \il) but that is not preaching the Gofjje^ For tl^ Letter of the Woi:d, and the Gorpel^re t\to Things The infpired , ^Apoftle .feith." If our *.' Qofpcl'be hid, it is hid to tl\em that are *' Ip^^f'vJ, No^itis evident thjtt.he did not , me^ti the lictter ot thb Word j for that is no^ . hid ever; f^-pm the Infidels ; aod,there are man)^ in the Wpr\d, who have fo much of the Letter ef the Word in their Head?, that they arc almoft a living Concprdajt^cej^nd V^kfiftjr be loll to ail" Eternity for t^^w ant of the ^of^i The S au- DUCES th4t" came tg the Lord, to t^pt ii(ini, very ready with the Letter. oC^mlpiroffav - ^i i-'K-4 were (u) 2P«» 2, 17, *~f4 '»4|^XJ4,^., ym -■■■> ». 'V "*»'?!■•* ■/. ^ . t- I^K^i^; ^iJUMMitii,^ and yet he tells" them, yc do greatly err, mz i«owmg the Scripture, ^w^ Wbll, but I am Airprizcd, faith one, for this is fomething new to m declares it is the ^owcrofGoD, unto Salvation :fzj And Christ £^y«, it is that Voice which the Dead ihalli^eaf and hew, fo zkt9 IWe.faJ And how thiiA^JKi yon injagine» that an unconverted Man cai^' j^ats ■SBiMB wmm - ft; X Cv. I. iS .nd 34. (a) John 5. aj. . ■■■ f !.•"«<> •.--7 4"-^- ( i52 ) the Gof2>er, when the Gofpc! it nothing eire,. but the Voice of Christ : And what can they lay or do, when t^cy never knew the'Gofpel on their own Souls ? The Word declares, they waft firft be made Partakers themfelves i(b) antl the Apoftle, when fpeaking of th^s Matter, faith, knowing, the Terrors of the Lord, we pcrfaade Men/f^ But what can a Man fay, that nevdr knew but only heard of them. Again faith the fame Apoftle." The Love of Christ conftrai- ♦• neth us.'Yo'*^ ?^| -^^pn^fkc^ar they fhaJl pVeach ~^* ornot, for*the' ve^ Nature of the Thing ends "-fr ^^^P".te '. For :1io\v can tlify y^^c^ Cf) Hftb. a. i?; (5) Rom. 10. 15. f (( ' how ..-^ «* haw b it polSble for them to preach when it " is A Matter that they are not only Strangers ** to f/jj but Ignemics- againit//; If they, can '^.preacl^ the Gofpd, why don't they, do it ^ ," Why do they go about with npthing but the *' Letter wjthout the Gofj)el ?** And God knffls|ing the Damage iheywou Id do by atteain- ting it,, has ftnftly forbiddep their being ^recei- ved into his Sanftary/i; But fome who love Letter better than the Spirit of the .Gofpel> e fo foad of un<;onvertcd Preachers, wfll ob- ' ^*^*^ %t^*y* ^^^^ Judas preached the Gofpcl. To .Mini I anfwer that if they have any. Ac* count of Jt^A^ preaching the Gofpel, it muft be in the^AJ<;oran(>r fome profane Hiftory, which I have never read, for there is no fuch Accdimt in the Word of God. It is true he Was called^ and fo were many others, that arc now in Hell, who rejecleS the Calls and Offers of Life.al Jud;^ did: for Judas had the offer ofthf fame Stfe vation, as th«,-0ther Diibiples and a DifpextUtim of ihe Gofpel i> but when the other JOi^plSUlM^ ccpted the offer, and forfook all to follow Oh*1« I i~' i I w iiftSii^ ',>(*) 1. Cor. ». 14.. [{} Rom. 8. j. jit] ' giM itt $.- ' ' ^M ^v^' J^- ,^1-A ) t: df ^V not •nly externa]! jr, but with all the; Heart and^ Soul, he would not; but rather chofe to hug the World, and fo went about with Christ only •s an external I)ifciple : For it is beyond kll Dif- pute, that the Love of the World was his chief Delight ftill, and whilt the other Bifciples were rejoicing to proclaim the cverlafting Gofpcl to their Fellow Mortals, au4 regarded no Trials ia the Way, fo that they nvght..but. win Souls to Christ, he was contriving wftich way to get thVinoft Money (I). But fome may objeft a^galri and fay, that when Christ fent out his Difciples two by two, Judas was fent v/irh them. To which I anfwer, Chi^t ^d i^ottellhimi that if h« would n^>t follow him with his Heart, he i^ould not with, his ^cidf^ neither doth He in thefe Days : If he did^ I Mr many of our Church-Members mull abfcond. The Lord had many external Difciples in thofe Days, ;beHdcs JuDA^j and was fo far from telling them tkat they ihould not follow him with their Bodies, unleft they 4id with their Hearts, that He fejmed grieved when they .tamed hack and Walked no / TW7Pri2777 more %t ■ ''■' i't^X-f^ •.i'Mi i.t66 f more with H'm.fmJ , And therefore ilV whci; ihb .' Lord fent outhw otMr Difcij^es two by two, "Htf g«vc Judas the Offer igain, and lie . refund, "cHuf. ii^g-rafhisrto^ carry the Bag, than ito acccf^t of Grace and a liiTpcnfation of the GofpeJ, then the jcfs i^'hisJaiW your) Plea, and the jftroiger my Argi^eit^. XE,is|ru^|JuD Ay, carried the Bag-v^hith ' J. readiJy'a<^kndWledge^iy UBcpnvci-tcd Man may ■do, and may be as mucfi -offended, v^hcn-a little tempera^ Intel-eft pafles by their Bag or Salary, w he was, when h« faw' % fmall .Bosf of- Ointment" pafa by hi« Bag,|r»> and thought, becaufehe diA not,.S«t it, it was Wholly wafted j and after all. tiie Pretenfionshe made, or any others may make, about preaching the Gofpcj, I find tikt he fold hi« iXord and.Maaer, Goipelaiid tU for-Thit^ l*icps.of Silver :(^/whiciilh*ivfrlte^ many other ttnconvertid MmhXH^^, . Aiad^a ^or h« being chofcn or appf»inted by GitiLfsx doth- not in the leaft demonftrate hii preachitig tb^^CUf* Tptl, or being qualified for" ^ think it is very evident^ thah ''* M. Jfiia 4.=i&._^^ 4«)^9ht a*i. iS» .ii .^ peatedly *sl Li^'^, «v ;*• Peatedly tdukd and rejcfted- thc^Grticc "of God, ; Jxad willfully dcfpifed Ckaisr and all his Be«e- . fits, he Vas then j«ftly given np to that mifferabl^. , E«a. And thus I think it hath been fufficienUy proved how far Judas was called, how far he -wae ^tfaJificd to preath the Gofpcl, without faving Grace, how much good he did in the &ufe of Christ, aiid the:^feble Period of his Mlniftiy. J .'"?< e W God, 1 his Bene- t miftrablc!;^ AjflicienUy far he 'was out faving e Caufe of Mlniftiy, bccayfe 1 s of Anti- their unX, •t I wduld iding for , ^J ^i*As vva* his Ex* py Fate ; to me fa " It has ah a\v- readily ^ beiicve, that they may do mucli gooci in the Caufe of Christ, nevcrthclcfs ; - for gHRisrhlmfelf dc- declafcs, that they will plead a| the (3^t Day how they jpropheded, call out DeVils, ^d di»I mafly .wonderful Works.//; To which I anfy^er, pH^iSTVfkith, they Will make fUth a Plea, bui you mult:furely -obferve, my dear Reader, that ^crcis nothing to prove the Truth of What they plead, but only, their bare fay fo, that they have dohe fuch Things ; which is the very' Natflre of theMoralift:,Jror Inftance obfervc the Conduft ^the y.!upg W.in the Gofpel/^; he confid. r^yg^kr^ th3|>e had kept all the Comitlinds, ^hic)f was aftually^a Falfliooda,and 1 dare fay, " "^fe^^'^' Chtiilian Will ackriowlegde ihat •^°''^i>P#e them all ^i^,-; and tlierefore Witli Regard to the Truth of ^hat thcfc beforementil oned h4ve dw^rea we muft believe that ,cft^: they Of Ch*ist have not kept the: Truth; .fjt Christ hatK declared, that if the blind lead tlii blirid they Will both fall into the Ditch. {Id doth ''°' *^/^'°%:A4 leader fhalf fall into ^"he . ^''^.%''' ^^^} the' ptiicr fhall efc«f e^ bdt He (Wtifi ' ■ JLA^- ., iiiiii^ i • I .. - 1* J:_.:-J:-:_:-5l ^ g . '-fc- h ' •, .they - ^ ■ ^ hLs\A r • .1 they (hall hoth'-hllOJ A^d .gain H.. Uuh d=. dared, that tliofe' that run before thejr are fcnt ftall not profit thePeopk/,; A„d again, U, faith." H>cre „ no Man ^hich ftall do , Mirack in my Na»= pan h-ghtly fpeat Eyilof „e,^,; ,.,,,, j, be oiferwd, that I am not denying thdr bein^ ufeful to the Caufc of Cn.rsr, by God', being able to bring Good out of Evii , f^ ;„ ,i„, S=nfe the moft profligate Wretch on Earth vviil at laa tefoinate to the Giory of Gou. and the • good of hi, People. I will lifee«,fe. dlow tha. fome one may be convifted or L,ftra«cd by fon.e- thmg, which they may do or fay, when they arc n«.her fent or qualified to preach the Gofpel ; •either can it be faid, tha.they were Meiienger. «U..HaidofGo»todowhattheydid,be. caufe they h,^ no Defign „f doing any Good foffibty ^e convinced of Sin, and brought to I 'o % .hat would exculpate the Murde„r, o, "*" °'*°. ''"" "" f commit the Murder for H'lMm.,s.,i.t,T,.r Crnl Tonic old > Commentaries or old Sermons that has been read .^^'Ovc-rforfr, or five times; And thus borrowing or baying old Papers, trade in them, Sc retail Sc fell them to poor blindedSoul«,for the eveVIafting Gof- pel pf tfa^ meek & lovely Jesus.O what a fhockixi- CoD/Ideratidnf Whofe Heart that has ever felt the Worth of preclous'and iiftmcwtal Soul* cap forbear to bleed ? To fe(i whatHavock.4s majle of peri/Iiing Souls, ami by tWc v/ho pretend td bcf their Friends, Ad Inftruftors. No Wonder the infir nite Lover W Souls fo repeatedly denounced futh Woes on blind Guides. O fly theni, ye that lov^ your own Soul^ or the Souls of othei^ aS from the concealed Murderers of Souls. orund(fcotetk Jaws of eternal Perdition. For altho' the)« Jayr appear fo Orthodox, with Regard to the Letter of tKeWord, that you cannot flaw their DoMncs \ ifprtaching declcitts is "ttfnvj will tne old dry >nl fdnic old IS been read rrowing or retail &: fell ailing Gof- a fliockiiig vex felt the :ai^ forbear jfperi/Iiing ti.be their r the ihfi. unccd (ntH re that lov;c_ *» as from idifcotttcd the^ iilajfr e Letter .of Doftrlriej \- fet. ;m„-; ( »72 ) y^f they have hot the Spirit of Christ thty ^tht»d you to eteraif PcrditiQn :fxj and there- fore you are commanded of God to Dee frbm them and forbear to bid them God Speed.f>^ Yea Paul faith he would to God they were eyen cut nff-.fxj bHt where you find any one with the . Spirit of the Gofpch: O deceive ^em as the Voice of the living God ; for he is with them? and the BleiHng they may be in his Hand to your Souls ir beyond all* Expreffion. . e H A PT E R VlII. \ > -^ .[ . ... A I'TflOM have fufficij^Ttfy provad (to 1 Chj-iftians) in the foregoing Chapter, th»c. an unconverted M^h cannot he an Ai«bas»ador , of Christ, yet as the WorTd is fo dark in thp _ 'I'hings that be of Goir, I IhaJJ o^ce nlore dc , monftrate thiJ fame by referii>g the Reader to the/ . wlfe^ mA ever to i»e rcmemjiercd Cpn<%it of the great Gofpel Law-givef, who Wjeil iii^'^^^^^^^ jury that unconvert^i Men had done,, a^ wiii ; ft H ! 4o to iii Caiif# f f ifpcnfation of ^ :cdcnt for the ^imes folemn- ve foF God. aid, " being* rrand'''|f the Ilfare of prc- 3 take, I mull i a Principle if thou haft hou wilt be thou me ? , but know-i the Things ' c ; and the rcafter make ny Church; ^cnt in my III Senfe to I appeal to Lovcft thou both from cryNaturi? l| I I (174) of thS Thing in itfclf, that a.Man muft l?e a Ma^ of Grace, to be z^an of Qod, or Am-eassadoi^ of Christ, viz. a jjgcnerate Man, a M.in with a new-born Soul, a Man that hath been rcllored to G0Dfron> nis fallen State, that hath been llain by the Law ai>l yf ;.<., ( 175 ) Ijcre I belie\ mafiy of the fincere Children of God have ftepped out of the Way, who having a great Senfeof Divine Things, and a warm ^eal for the Glory of Goo and the Salvation of Souls, have imagined, that they were really called from God to go forth as public Ambassadors, when they were not qualified for that Office in the Church of Christ. Nevcrthelefs let it be ob-, . fervcd, that I would be fo far from obftruajng their Ufefi^lnefs, that I fhould be rejojced to find any fincere Chriitian exercifed with fych a lively Senfe. of divine Things^nd would do all that was poffibic for^o enooil^c 'the Emprove- mcnt of their Gifts and Graces, f^t as a Man may become almoll ufelefs by afpiring after a Sta- tion, beyond the Liiftits of J^s Gifts and Graces. I would only obf(?ive the, Command of God/^; and cfncourage them in the Place and Station, ftff which God hath defigned them, ' / If the Loi-d intends a Man for the Miniftry/ / He" deals with him as a rational Creature, "and ^ therefore qualijics him in fome Degree for \hat Station, and by his Holy Spirit call, him there. to, ^^^|ch J jtm «ow to proceed to fpeak upm. I *v \ „X' (-V, i.Cor. 12. 81. and Rom. I'z. 6, ;. $, And V*^ ' ;;hildren of 10 having a warm Zeal 1 of Souls, railed from ORS, when ce in the it be ob-, )bfl:rudliog ejojcecl to 'ith fych a uld do all Emprove- as a Man fter a Sta- d Graces, G0D,ftJ itign, 6ff urc,"ajid for that HI tkcre- tk «poii. /" i I " \ * r , • » Ami npw wkcn I come t^ fpeak of his being caj- Jed and qualified to thi^Work of the Minilby, I daie not prefume to limit God in liis calling, themj eiihjer from the Studerjts at School, ;the. Men ai the Plpw, the JVIaririers at Sea, or tlic Herdsmen ai; the Flock, For He calls tl^ejjji.fro9\, various Callings and different Stations, of Life tA the Work o£ the Miniftrjt pETBJ^and his Bro-, th^ were called from the Y\^i^xy.(d) Pavl from the Feet of (jKUPi\.\\.iy(e) and Amos from the Flock and. Sycamop^sY/^ Yet this I vyou|d obferve, that, altfto' God is able to make a dumb Aft fpcak, yet he doth moft conjmpnly qualify them in fome Degree, let them be, called fro;n wfiatfbever Station they may : And it is nj^^ei that they have fome Degree of. Kujngn, V^ifdpm^ and natural/Qualification ;. neitj^ef cioth.QpD com 'X monly call them ^vitho^t, nor is^ i; any. )ka)f^cf- V" fcntial, whether fuch a Decree as is ntscieiTafy* be obtained either at the Seats olf Leaming/cfr iw the Clofet, or among Mechanics, fo that it ij but acquired. 4|And h^re I would obferve, thjujaltlyjj | hum^n Wifdom alone vvill by no Means t^^Sl^ ( V ) Man . 4. T9 . (r jMi sa. 3 . tf) Airwi i^i^^i't • ■ I, t •/ ■». T 'V / A ( >77 ) a Man for the Miniftry ; yet the greater Degr^ they arc Mafter of (thofe God hath called and ient forth) the more capable they may be of Dc- monftratlon, and the more ufeful in their Day. Bat as for (he Knowledge of the the Tongues, I ani-'far from "believing that in thefe Days, when {o little ufe is made of. the Original, even by thofe, that have it, I fay, I am far from believing that it is cffentially neceflary, or that a Map may not be called without them, ad qualified as clearly and profitably to the Word, and exhibit the Truths of Irlafting Gofpel as with them. Yctl wouM lefpife them, where ever they ma^rjb >ny good, but I muft acknowledge it appeai^Ttome very needlefs for a Man to be at too mjich Pains in Purfuitoftliem, only to attain the Namc^ of a Collegian. And ic is well obferved, that when OUT Lord fpeaks of Miniller« conJng in at the right Door, He doth not fay that the Colleges, Univer- fities, Bilhops, Priefts or Preibyteries are the Way «r the Door j but He faith, I am the Way,^^; and I am the DooT,f^J and whofoever cometh in any other Way ia a Robber and a Thief//; (g) John i^\ 6. (A; John lo. ,. o] -John lo." But i jiiijti^ i ( »7« ) BtfT fomc pij^haps will noijvr f«y, that all ex- traodinafy Calls arc ceafed. and therefore how is it poflibleVor us to know, who God dalls of tends to call for the Work of the Miniftry any o/ Way, than by their corning thro' fuch and .„,„ Degrees of Learning', and thro' fuch and fuch Or- ders of Men, &c. To which I anfwer that if ex- traordinary Calls as you call them arc ceafed, yet the Spirit of God hath not ceafed to work with i the Children of Men } neither is the Spirit of God «ny more limitted now, than it wa^ Seventeen Hundred Years ago ; and therefore I have Reafon to fear, that thdfe Peoj^fe, who make that Objeai- on, are as ignorarxt of the true Religion, and the Way of Life and SaKration as Simon M^ovs; for had they ijnovvn experimentally, what it is to be called from Death to Lifcvfrom Darknefs to Light from the Power and Slavery of Sin anVsatan t6 the Liberty of the Gofpcl, and the glorious Privi- leges of the Son of God. they would not hav6 doubted, whether or^nbt the fame Spirit, that wrought in them that marvellous Work. :^f^able whenever he pleafcd to call ^hem to deliver hi« Word. prca€ liHrf^€o^ermo the Difcharge of any Duty he faw fit for the Honour of his _: _^ _• great _ m ■^ M^' '». ^ ■ - y« ' ,- « ,*'■■ •» ■*■' .- < • • v^ • \ « ."■^i'?-i , » ..»-iW-.- .• 1. ^^i ^^ ijl^lj^ „#■; .-" I j£U£^ j^ ^ .«?'■ ^ i-' \ \ ^'M .f r ^ ■■'m- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) z' y *' 1.0 I.L 11.25 J2& §21 ^ ti& 12.0 1.4 mil 1.6 «" Hiotogiapliic •Sdenoes, Corporation 23 WaST MAIN STMIT WCBiTIR,N.Y. MSM (716)«72-4503 ^/ m A ^/ ^ ,.V ..^ i< J '<^ < ( >79 > great Name of the Welfare of precioui and immoual Souls. For it is the Operation and Teachinjfs of the fame Spirit, which conver- vcrteth his People, that he has promifed to fend to Jead his People into al] Truth.flJ But as I have made fomcthing of a Difgrcflion from the 3ubjedl I intended to treat upon I muft return to fhew how God doth call Men to the Work qf the Mi- niftry. Now GojD hath various Ways to call his People to the Difcharge of Duties, but all by the fapic Spirit, and that with and according to-his Word, * and.fomt Men may be called more inftantancoufly than others. Mosis made many Excufes, before he would confent ;(^/; and the Gdvemors ofls- RAiL and the Kings of Canw^an oiFered them- ' Selves willingly; (m}sind Paul likewHc faith ««^e ♦* was not difobcdicnt to the heavenly Cal\,^*{"J «nd Auoi faith, « I was no Prophet, nor tht V Son of a Prophet, but I was an Herdfman and . f* a Gatherer of Sycamore-Fruit, and as I follow- ** €d the Flock the Lord God took me and faid (*) John ,6 3,. WEj^ad; -t. ,. ,,. ,3. (•) Judgc.s. . 9' ij. {%Ani , A ^.-i au 1 , .- * "•• .-- c : - " ' unto %^'* recious and Operation lich convcr- :d to fend to ut as I have le Subjedl I I fhew how Qfthe Mir [ his People y the fa^nc i-his Word, » mtaneoufly ifcsj before nors of Is- fcrcd thcm- faith«'We :, nor th« dfman and . s I follow* le and faid «)Judg«fS. unto , ( i«o ) , " unto h»e, gtt prophijfy," Now therefore faith J.C (without any AeambJc,) Hear thou the Word of the LordY«;. Simon and Andrew left thcip Fi/hcry and went forth at the Firft Calh And altho' fome may not be fo, foon and clearly con- vinced of their being called as others by which Means they ar^. oficn^tSider great Tr>-als and TeinpWns. yet fooner or later they a«, brought ib clearly to i.c thdr Call, that they catf nolon- gcr withftartd, without contraaing much Guilt upon their Conference. And here I Aall ehdea- ' vour to difcover fome .Particqlars relating t^their . Call, while Gop i, moving ^a their Minds by hia Spirit. * First, as God Ihewed Moses, when about to fend him, the afflifted State of hi, Brethren.^/y fo He ihew, tl^em in an affefting Manner the deplorable Condition that their poor Fcllow-Mor- tar. arclh; fo that they can*t but be touched with a fympathifmg Commifemtion, when feeing thcn> U» fuch a Condition, lying: in all their Giilt, under the condemning Power of [Sin poftiag the downward Road. «id wholly cipofed ^i-tveiy ^ Br eafl Llhey .drai^^te^uggej^^ etcrnit-f^^ . <^^^««'- 3. 7. W Aa.0. 7. ,4. 15- ^6.1^... ^.^'^ diiion L±bV^Vi.d^M ( i8i ) dition, !?ttd as the Prophet was called to pafs by them round about and behold their helplcfs. eondition ;("y; fo they are brought in their Minds to pafs round about the Slate of poor Sinners, and view them in their miferable CondiUon, which *^«°^" ^^c'*" Bowels to yearn over them with Pity : 'And as the Prophet, wiicn afked, whether they could be redeemed or not, cries out with Words that exprcffcd kis Pity Tof them, and his longing dcfire for their Salvation, with an Appeal to the • Power and Goodncfs of God. f* O Lord God *' thou knoweft.'Yr; So they feeing the deplor- able Condition, that Mankind is in, ,re anxioufly y concerned for their S alyation, and appeal to the Goodnefs and fower of God, with fuch arden/ jjj^ Groans and longing Defircs. Q Lord God .' thou'*^ knowcft. And again, they being brought to /;?c* and enjoy fome Thing of that glorious Way of Life and Salvation, which is' come into the %orld by the great Redeemer , the Sweetnefs of which prompts in them a longing defirq to cornmunicat, the fame to their Fcllow-Men. «< The Love of Christ, faith Paul, conftraineth us.'* fo that 4fJfeek 3.37. p]««tri77 37 J to psfs leJplcfs. Minds rs, and which I Pity : ' r they Words snging to t}ie . God eplor- ioufly to the Thpy'*^^ to f(?e ; fLife •Id by vhich iicat« ve of that a feeling Senfc of the Love of God conJtriiri, them to wifh that {>oorftarVing Souls,- that are ilar. ving and perHhing in their ungencrate State, might be brought to enjoy thdt Bread of Life, which iS come down from above. They have been con- vinced by Experience, ftat tlicre is nothing mare i-cafonable, nothing more fafe, and nothing more \ exalted for the prefent and everlafting Hrfppinefs ofthcperifhing Children of Men, than to em. brace- the Offers of REDEEMING Love J whicft makes them long for their Redemption. Again they are brought to fee fo much of tly Etil, and Soul deftroying Nature of Sin, thatthey cannot bear, that their Fellow-mortals ihould be guilty of dcftroyingthcmfelves and difliohouring their Crc- ator ; efpcciaily when they fee how Jnuch he has done for their H.ppinefe, and to redeeitf them from their miferable fallen State ; and at the faihe Time feeifrg fo much of the Beauty of Holinefi^ UndhoWrcafonableit is thaf God fhould be fer- ved, loved and feared by all Mankind make* them -■J tlmoft impatient, that Me« fhould return to thcfr l>roper Place and Station, that thc^mayomter ; —~*S-^m their oHginal Source of Ha^^iliefi. A^ f««ng the Shorttiefs of the time Whitji tkey havtf for ( 183 ) for Rfcpenrance, the innumerable Sna?e» of Death and HeJl, that they arc every Moment expofcd to, •»rul having {bme horrible Vi^cws oftheBottomlcls Gulf ofMifcry, that awaits their unguarded Souls and the unfpeakabic Worth of Goo's cverlalUng Love, which they are in Danger of loofing for ever, almoft crowds them forward beyond themfclves t« go in the Name of Christ In Hopes to reclaim thcin before their Eyes are cbrcd in everl ailing Darfcnefs. - AcA-iif, feeing the All -Sufficiency of Christ to favc to the very utmoll all that come unto Gon by him^.;, beholding the vaft Expcnce he has" been at to redeem them from eternal Dcftruaion, and that unbounded Ocean of Love and Grace,' that floivs through the Mtrits of his Blood : whjch Difcovcrics together ^^-ith a fmaJl Degree of that ' Spirit «f Love and Pity that once wept ovar^' pcriih^g Jerusalem^/; awakes in their Souir incxprcffibic Defircs to go forth in the Name of God with the Gofpel of Reconciliation, and al- «ho* they arc at the fame time cxercifcd with a feeling Scnfc of their own Vilcnefs and Unfitncfs toJpeaJc in the Name of Chr i st, and tli eirut. I y^hem them fit Heb. 7. 25. [^-]tuk« 19. 41. ter . ( i«4 ) ter Ihability of doing any thing iri the CaUfe of* Christ to the Glory of God and the good of Souls, as ofthcmfclvcs:^t feeing the Willing- j ^^s aiid All.fufficlcncy o^CnriisT to go with I y^hcmi they cannot doubt, but he will,j.go with ' them, ftrengthen their Hands, and encourage their Hearts to go forth in the High -ways. Hedges and Ditches to woo and befeech poor perifhing Souls to come to the Marriage-Supper. They fee that in their Lord and Mailer all Fiillnefs dwells, and that in his Strength they can do all things, even to the removing Mountains and raifing the Dead ; and at the iame time being under continual Im- preffion,. of the Divine Spirit, renewing the obliga- tions which they find themfelves under,to go forth in the Name of God even to that Degree, that they dafe notrefufe, neitheir can they refufe wfith- outcoiltrii&iiig much Guilt upon their ConTcicnce. Yea to fo great a Degretf are they influenced by fuch Divine Impreffions and difcovcrtes accom- panied with the Word of God, that they are ctoiyj* ftraitted fomctimes to fay with the Apoftle " Ai ** Necelfi^ is laid upon me, and wo unto me if; -IXpr eadt not tfa? GofpcK 'Yg/" ATid-dro rff tcr C«»3 x.Cor. 9. 16, .*■ i ( 18; ) WW. called by .he SpM. of Go^..^:, it of P„v.d.,ce .0 .h= P„„fa, „Ta„, ,vho profef. „ ''etheAM.„,,„<„3„rcHR,5T, I«„do,.olcr. !''"":''^«*-"^'-''f-".-i„theBo„e,»ofT!!, demef. with the following Line,. _P.«T,let„,e,ftyo„,ye,haeprofcr,,ol,e tteA«A««„„,softheK.KoofHBAVE», „he. thcr or n„, you have been experim e„«;;, acquain- W w„h thofe Truth, iri your own Souls, and if yott have not, .» I fear many who profefs to be .he M,»,3TBM of CaatsT, are utter Strangers to a™, I ftall addrrfa rtyfcif to you in a [„, Words and in great Plainwfs, HAvlyoa. niy dear Reader,- no other Million or Authority to go forth then what you have re- B'fliop., Prieto. Preftyterian,, Synods or «,y •AerEceleiUlUcai Authority by th^Ord«i/f _ "^^^^^ J'»» «P«iftentaJly known a Worlc^ ■ , '^. efs to. be 2N, whe- acquain- '3 and if s to be angers to a fen' Mi/Con itve rc- ;» fifom or any Ittsof Work ( i86 ) -of Divine Grace upon your own Souls ? i^^s th? Glory of God, and the Welfare of precious and immortal Soul« bore with fuch Weight hpon your Mind, that you can call God to Witnefs that you have been made acquainted w^th tiefe folemn Truths? Or will not your Confqence witnefs a- gainft you, & declare that yoi was only animated by fome fclfilh Views, and that all the Call that you know of to the Gofpcl. is that you was early rent to the Seati of Learning, & then as you advan- ced by Degrees in hujtian Wifdom, you imagined that you became more &more acquainted with Uic Gofpcl, and the more qualified to preach, and fo learned to preach the Gofpel by Rule as a Mccha- nic learns his Trade, and that after you was thus qualified, you was examined by thofe you call great %ine8, who judged you fit for the Work^, oftheMiniftry, and fo authorifed you to go forth " in the Name of the Lord, and by thisTimeyou retdly ima^luc that you arc converted, tho' you . cannot tell the Time when» and that ym hav<» ftcafon tobelim hy yoyu ndvttidng in Xfi&yr- iedge by the Judgement of thqfc tht^n^fa jnej fw^ and by tlie Numlfcr that attcnAj yoir Pafinb^^ I * * 4>: ii^that jrou al-c really called of God, and (cat forth with a Difpcnfatioh of the cv^rlaflingGofpel, ^vhidi if it be the Cafe with you, and this is the Call and Authority that you are acquainted with, as I have Rcafon to fear, that there are many, who know no other Gall, then, you will have no caufc to fay, that Ijndge'or condemn you, for you arc alfeidy condemned by your own Gonf^i- ence and the Word of God. \ I And thcitfore, my dear Reader, it is Time for you to begin to look around you, you may plead your natural Abilities, your great Acquire- ments, your Authoritjr from thofe you ctll grcrft Divines, the Number of youf ririfhioners and great Gongrcgations. But I muft tell you plainly that all thefe Things, without a Dirine Commif- fion from Heaven are far Ihort of a fufficient Proof tRat you are a Minister of Ghkist. O f tbsre. fore confider your Danger before it is too late, for if you have all this Time been deceiving your- fclves and others, you have Reafon to tremble and look around for Relief: For how (hocking is the- Thought of pretending to proclaim thatG<^cI j*rluckyou.yeurft#TeiSam^tha^tmg^ V ;Eacmy againft. O f. That you would iw^il. dcr the Danger you are in, the Thjiy-y that you ■redoing to precious and immortal Souls, and tht Jcaloufy of that God, ;whom you have to deal with. There is a greaf^and awful Day approach- ing, my dear Friend, when you muft be account- ai)le at God's impartial Bar for the mm, of thofc poDr unhappy Souls that you are now lea- ding blindfolded down to Hell. Wj^gt ^^ ^j your Salary » or any thing that may animate you, avail your immortal Soul in a few Daye more ? Of remember that Goii's all-fearching Eye. is over you, and that your few flying Moments, which are now fleeting you into ihe Eternal Worlds ^vinJoon be at a Period. Why will you for the Af>plaufe of blinded Mortals or a little temporal IritereJl rifle your precious and immortal Soul on fuch a Pinnule of Danger in the Jaws o^|pco- vcirable Ruin ? O f that ye might be co^ced of the Danger, of .going abdut the World With a Lie in your right^and, and be brought toll ■ flnctre Repentance before the deftin'd Momiitt \ confes, when, too late, you will know yottr'Xi^if'.,. take arid for ever rue your Folly." iB«i iaij»|j^ "l , ,~ ivyj ne . ir% TTaps think that I am cenforious, o?ri }'oo i but if the Word of God, nor yimh^m^h^ -- " '\'. , • • ■ '. .^r''—- '^'' -"' *""- N2 > *"fcii :.:^, tstr. i iSg) ' , -.icitfnce do not acculc, you, neither will I, Jj^t if they are l,oth agtlnll you »hd condemn you. then do not bl«he me. bccaurc I tell you the Truth, ajid the Lord Ichoweth I wifli you well. My Defire «n^ Prayer to God is, that yoiiriSouI may be faWd in the Day of Christ's app^arin^ ' and have many Souls a. S tar, i„ your Crown of ^ rejoicing. But I am not willing that you ftodd ^ >on detfroyingyour ownSoMl and others, t knoiv that yt»u and I fhall one Day meet,^„d bd judged atthc fame Tribunal, where nothing will ftand, but wh« has been tried in the Ballance - of the Sanduary ; therefore do not flatter your- felf that becaufc you have baptized many with Water, and received them into your Churches, that you hare done fo much for God, qr'that • yoirhavci been inftnimental in the Conicrfioh of fo^aily Souls, for yoa* may be ailured, my dear IfrlcAd, that Cpnvcrfion is fomething more than tlic Baptifm of Watei^ the PradUce of Ex- ternals, the Jbijning of Churches, the Sitting down at the Lo^^d's table, ice. For a ma» may do all thefc Things, Sc yit remaip as great a Stranger ^e"^HQM£rANs. I'crha^syouraay go toyrwir "*^, ifc^ Ch«rch ' #- „-if ^^f ,j^'- { i i9« ) Churclior Mcct^g once jw twice « Wedc, .and ^ , dclivor an elegant Difcaurrc , but that you may dAan^ yet na'cr preach the, Gofpel. Of ^rc, fore lie Aire that the Gofpcr has raifc<,yoi^ own SquI from it'j ratl^n^tati/' aud th»t you 'have been madca^ttaker of |^d»£mino L^vt youiO; rr]f,Vbeforc yon prcfumq rotccaHcd a Minis. TER ofCuRisT. or proclaim the Gofpcl to others. For my ow)i Part I had rather that I never had 3 Being, than to be found leading poor blind Souh bJindfoldeddown to Hell : And I know that yoi^. own Soul is ai precious as Mine, and'mu^cxift \to all Eternity either in the grcatcft Happincfs or the extremeftififery. ^ly, O f Why wii] you for a few Days ^f carnal 5«fc and earthly Enjoyments lie down in ev^lailing Sorrow ? ' JThcDay of Grace is not yet over, your Thread of Life is yet lengthened out a Moment longer fpr a Space pf Repentance, and therefore, you may yet efcape from the Wrath to come, and be • Aade an Heir of God's evtrlafting Love, > and , perhaps mky yet be anlnftniment in tJie H»ii^\ of Gob in bringing prtcious Souls hom«,to a Sa-j ' ^^"£',J^i»egn ]d caSccp t cr ^k.y€t^ wards y4h. 'p^ f. toacK^ thcrpforo a Work of Divine Grace u^ tlieir Hearts, but iCiKo of iicavcff to-go t^nrwiih « inpnissr: >l you pnof.hcaoQ,cl<,fP»«, few Words to you by Way of Ad, vice, and that, I truft with the greatcft Tender, Hcfs, in theBowehof our Loud and Mastir. I know that your Work is grcat,^ and that your Day is fhort. You have nothing lefs than the Welfare of precious and immortal Souls (in fome Degree) committed to your Charge. O f there, fore Jet me intreat you to be up and doing, to do the Works of Him that fentyou, while itisoali led Day before the Night cometh, in which nq Man can work.fzj And as you love y6iir owi^ Soul. & the Soul, of others, fhaieoff the Frownsi & the Flatteries of this cnfntring World. Many* of the Servants of the Lord have brought Death- Bpon their own Souls, and fallen into < legal State of Formality byfe«-i«g the Crofs, a'nd by ihunning to declare the whole Counfel pf Qod,' for Fear of offending fome of their principal Hcari . er?,and the great Men of the World, bythcif UOl-f fting for the Applaufe of Mortals, by joining At. finity with the world & the Bfioiflcr. of Antichrift md by carrying about fome of the Baby|rt,,jg|^ (»)JohBj.5. Chap.ia. «. "^■wi ■♦> K^d Stu it ,.!&♦ ;;-;*; ) '95 ) Stuff.. Neither be too anxious for a great Sharff- of this vain World. You have already got ^ far better Portion than this World can pofllbly' afibfd you J and God, who has undertaken for you, will never leave you to want or fuffer be- yond what may be for your Good. The Duft of Peru and the Hearts of all that live arc iu the Hand of your Matter, whp can give or wkhold, as He fees jmay be for your Good. And I think you had better be fed by Raveni, than by Rates and Fines ; yea a few Penny -Worths of Bread will fupport your Bodies thro' the Short Period of yoflr Pilgrimage. l.etme likewifeintreatyou to endure Hardfhips, us a faithful Soldierof Christ Jbsus j Regard no fnjall Tiyals in your Way j for you. may certainly ?jfpea;inv»y, »ot only put- ward ^ut inward ; for Mnlefs ypu experience you calinQt I'reach. And a? for my own Part 1 account it no Privilege to go to Heaven upon a Bed of §ioch, but would rather go thro* a Storni than a Cali^, if I am hut indulged with ftrcngth equal to tl^e Day. I^ither imagine iljat the Great- ncfs of your ^ork confifts. in your public Ad- Bin'ftratio ns every Sabbath, ibr that is-Juitthft - imalleft Partofyoiir Labouf3> if you are ddcr- mined • ( 19^ ) mined tq live and die in die Caufe ?V'Christ. O ! therefore labour Night and Da/ with Tears to fpread the Caufe of your blcffed Mailer, a^d to warn the wicked to flee inm the Wra^h to come, and fpare no Pains to win Souls to Christ. The Foundation ftands fare, and, the Lord knows them that are V{\^.(a) Nei- ther fliall your Reward fail, therefore bcdetermi: ned, by the Grace of God, to fpend and be fpcnt to the Glory of Gou and the Goo) a. Tim. 2. ly. ronlifed you, that thofe that Water. Ihall be alfo watered|<;^; He will ftrengtheii your Hand* and encourage your Hearts with the Confolation.^ «fhis Holy Spirit; which, bleffedb* Goo, 1 have known to be morefweet, more encouraging, and more fupportthg (yea far more) than all the Richer and Enjoyments of Time and Senfe. Yoti , are an a glorious Caufe, yoii feWc a gloriousMaf- * ^ t.r, and glorious, yea iriexpreffibly glorbus wiJi be your everkfting Reward. Rife thctt^ . i»»ft my dear FcHW,Laboure« (if I may p^^ fume to-claim the Title) ink, and exert ^ Faculty of Body attd Mind to fpread'«i^r^: terie,ofthe Crof,, and proclaim the Wonders of RipggM i M o r ■• " " ' ■ II I . (0 PX-OT. II. 25, :h ( i99 ) Go fbrJi, go ^rth yc Hcraldi of the Lord, Girded with all the Armours of the Word. Go fpread redeiminc Love from Shore lo Shojc, And bid the guilty World -to weep no more. Triumphant ride o'er all the Powers of Hell, And fpread the Light where Men in Darknefs dwell. ;Go warn the hard'jied from Mount Sina's Flame^ And heal the wounded with the SAViouR'sNanie. i^°. ^^"^ ^^^ Guilty the attoning Blood, ^J^lAndfeed the Hungry with immortal Food. ^p out with Joy, a frowning World to face, With the tranfporting Neyvs of Gofpel Grace. ".iJurn not afide to court the World's Applaafc, .^|atfpend your Breath in the Redeemer's Caufe. -Withftand the Storm of a few hard Moments more, I'^^'^.y^*;^*^^ fffcly reach the pcacefuU Shore. yfCT ifcc'Regions of eternal Night, " Pj^tC yoiiftaJl reign in everlafting Light. ymr Names are there in the bright World above '^?**:^f«'?yo»'" Portion in unbounded Love. ^^^^"■^■■- - ■g>'^'^»ij|^^ "•^-' ' -f . •N- .>i#**M/" CHAPTEk^:i^ t 4 - »iNV, ■* Ja^ y^,t^>' „ . ,».*1nce. Well may the Lord ^f^i^^^ of God is made of none Effefl tM U^Ttai^X^ t\om.(f) And herein the grand Ad viriiarywlt|i; his Advocates deceive the g^t^i^t^^Sf i|^' . World of Mankind, who under KCioraI Intereft; (let not any one fay I mtoo un« charitable, if their own Confcieace ihould coij- demn them) and the Enemiea of the Caufe of «rCHaisT have l>ecn fubtil enough to labou^ to keep the Worldin IWindnefa, refpeaing thia Mat- ter J telling them, that all Pi-etenfions to fuch powerful Operation* of th cal Expreflioni or elfe th^y oirfy «fo«ft^*to ^ Difcjplesin thpfc Oay v .knt do W ^nc^ii «^ > n««^ : F<^n tht0f^, Ajr they, W^-ve^ I» now f" li«^ i-l, 5^^ VS*^.' ■T^' 'A. \ foy ) and introduce Miniftcrs, to difciplinc the Chur- ches, and tho like, which we will fee into, with- out troubling the L4ity about thofe Matters ; and fo they fcal the Eyes of the poor blind Wqrld ifc Jgnorante refpedlihgj^the Ministry. Tub Enemies of Chrut haVe been (uhiil enough to take two effential Steps. Firft they liavc m»re firmly made them believe, that the i*owcr of Examlriation and Ordination was com- inittcd tii the Clergy, than ever they have made them , 'believe, that Christ WM^the Son of God. And . fccondly, to make that^lKal Step more cffe6lua>, they have reinforced it by trailing the licenfing or approviaj of a Man to the Work of the Mi- iilffry, authorifing ; which hath ^one forth in the w«*Jd' with fo much Power as to tanfi many ah ignorant Perfon to believe, that it is really in thfc^ Power- of fome particular Men Co authori/e othcA^ *«6|»rcidh' Ac cverlaftingGofpel when th< 1cnows,tHat there is no Power neither ii not Angels to authorife for that important Work ot|iA" in 'the whole or ; ^n part. And therefore! toi^'^^af been believed in the World by many 'Plvi|>e Oracle,: thattiach a Man wat ^y %|t^9i^ Affh Me^ ; yet I vtkoilf m Msi' :jJk- JtJ:«I l^i^l^ tenoOMcc an^j^^c^cme, and iikcwife drty ^^K^'^SnHlbden proved in the foregoing jyu:. ^ mP ^^'^ ^«y «« wholly mithorifed hr G^ ATgicreforff Whatever ii dohe by Man ia that Mat- ter, is only circum(Untial and ceremrk difta«uJled^«d A^^^^l^^j^: Aothiiig, or he hai loft «iil'ile(t|^ |»^p g|C /o,of Necef5ty tfifcMaa* ■Jtat^K^tUM^.'^f^^f- "W ' ■W' '*&{ * •m 4 ^5 , Moses gswcthe l^rd of Phar aqh, for hcpnly to^ ^iit 4.0R^r^j A»t lie did not Relieve tkat Pharaoh .woMdrfgwfl Cpnfeqt, bcfqfe he had, tricd.fij A«fcfihi»{fcfalnniiy;;telJ, th* to/d, that hphas tried, sMd, thtMtA jhfi J^'99: feat to, to .go| cofilpleatly au- thdn/cd, wraldiiot confctiit,:a!jd, therefore he can^ i»«>iWiihiv,ilnAtJ»n, mji! dear Reader, how un- H»l>r^iito4htMa« be,.^ifalthefametiine iitf ^nd jiiiiiftlifuhderfAidi a eonftraim,:a*ST. PAirt wa^whenlWiftithv *"ANcce«ty ijlaidupQn.me^ i*r -& jftfoel anto jnec if 1 picadi notthe Gofpel ;!Y/; ftlt-itiiiajr, be objcaeA again by fome (Who. are iwaeAing tinft^rcd; with the Spirit of Popery) ^^lfe#t limr,4^ !liqt; preijejld to infrin^ on God»« ,?f?WtJV^i^,thcri4 ^feW«t»yj4#lr Mo*doc,jft(;nic.a^.j8o^ if.ti>t be lk«t|Mt S^ie,^Qr jEPjnflatc dcpvted.Spirita from Purgatory to Hcaijejj ?. For altho',fo||»eTOajr^ imagine, that Iran on *^ J^jttreroe ^ jnetjt w no> n^ore, than what may eafily be .proved, '|?orift it is 'm the Power of any Maa to. c«m|^lt a ipifav penfation of the Gofpel to others, «ithet jj^ wh9le or in partj by the fame Powes they- |ft»y^ Fardon • Sins, and change Spirits. For it ha^«lrea4jf bej^p^ proved, that the Gofpel and every .Thing; jeleJ^f ft ing thereto is nothing fhort of the^pirit, of tijeii&l ins Gop; and tkerefore as nothing ihort of' l^|_ ^mighty Powir can tforif m'ijf^ii^ J^^^ JV, •■^f'i .1" ( tor ) eofpd » wkoUy. t (pirimal WoA ; we .„ „ad.r ObVd„t„c,„eI„de, dutnone, butGodhio,. fdfcan work«y Thi„g effeitial in qu^ify;„ ••nJ .«thori6„g not „„iy ,h. Am.*,s*„„,s /, Christ, but likwift the moil inferior Officer in the Church of Ch.„t for the Welfare of hi. »y«„„. ««t.a! and eeremonid . And here I „ould o'b. W what wa, fiid by the General- Aifembly of *' ^!'""'' """'■"■J.in .nfwer to the f„Il„„i„- %.tt.o« p„p„fcd by King J.M., the Fi,« ^'^-"^"'-'"'f-'P^or. Who want, the Imp.«t.o..fH«,d.r TheAnfwerwa, ,h„,. The topoiiti,, of Hand, i, „ot etfential, bu, "c.rc.^U.l-„«, indifferen. in the Admiffion " of. Paaor- Sev.«l Churche. inFaANc. fay *e ftme, fo the D„ch Churche., fome i, SwiTZMiAHD and many in GE»«A«r. And yet iii* l»c„.,. Mat„A. .. The« are n,a„y .»^?T''':r°°'y'*" "« I-Pofi'ion of rmM .. t Ju..,.! u, U.e ^6e ag^a^Bihr7 «« ! but "JM^c .^.hi'mif*- v.J»tW J^f^S5f«*r-w, en, and tRe we arc under )ut God him- in qualifyln AiSADORS of or Officer in clfare of his »g or fctting k^iniftry, or 3ut circum- r would ob- ^^cmhly of e following the Firft. » wants the was rhus, cntial, but Admiflion lANCE fay fome in . And yet ■re many sfition of Minifter J " but I ( »o& ) « hut that it mull be by the Kpifcopal.tiands.'?. 5vx left any Ihpuld imagine that I am. to re-* ]q&, or ncgleft thofe external Obfervations,. (wl)ich I; am not, but would only labour to have thpm in th^ir proper Place, and give" them no mp^ipredit thai they deferve.) l^ihall now pafs. .<>n't>^ >> >ji^ .•"f . . ■:MB ►-*#♦■•■ ( "9 ) - • • tfc. RrfempeioB of preciou. .nd imm„„,i ^oalsj tkefe wiU willingly „d joyfully .rife to bid hi) MeirengersGoD Speed: And., .here „e n„ny Wfe Prophet, go,, out into the World, Goo*. Children .re called forth to witnef. between the ^TJ'X"' ^""" "^ *= Miniftersof An. ^f *- ^>« -y W'»">-«, faith theLord:/,. A-dthereforehefdth to hi. People. ye,h.'.r. f»d.w«iWthfo„ef™.„ Degree of th.. Spirit, ^atjudgeth JIThing,,^.; come forth a, Evi. ^«.ce. of tieOofpel. .nd Witneffe. for the Caufe' 17' ''"'"""'■'• Honour., my Name for AeE«c.«r.gement„f my M.„.„„..,, ^ jf„, 4. good of them that *e blind and know no, th. O-ftrent. between Ch..„ and Anfchrift; ,. »^ft« «ddeda« ^Wiclljr to the World by . fc.«c.Ued,.uAorifed and fen. forth thofc Men to d.. grea. and imp„t^, y,^ „, ^_^ ^^.^ ;*!'r!^'"'"™»'y«A».-p..UothePla« ^>«e.<», for which X h,™ already intended .tt««-»,«nj fa whid. I have qualified d..m. «n4 ortal ^ouls) eto bidhij e are mzny orld, Goo'o between the ftersof An- c LordifmJ Ve that arc hat Spirit, th as Evi. r the Caufe'* Name for ^8* ai^dfor w not the tchrift; a- maicema. orld by a ibie God, hofe Men Miniftryj the Place intended m. and ( aio ) And thtis my dear Reader, I thipk, you c«n no longer be ignorant of the Nature . of this extcyn^l Approbation J that it is only the fetting a Man sfc- . part (by an external Sign) to the Work and.Stati- (Ml, to which he already belongs, and thaTit ought to be done for the Honour of Goo, for the En* eoaragement of his Minifters, aijid as a Teftimony againft falfe Teachers j and which may prove 4 Bleffing to thofc poor blinded Souls, that are in- capable of judging between Chiust and Anti- chrift. And therefore I ihall all hear my Voic?/.; And: for your Soul fake do not r^jeft one that has the Voice and Spirit of Christ, nor receive one withbut. CHAP TE R X. nelmpojpbilit^oftbe Po^er of Ordination in the Hands of the Mx^iSTKY, ieikg handU do^n from Timothy and Tirvs. T T is -not ftrange tha? there is fcarcely any . ; Matters of Religion more difputcd than the Call, Quali/ications, an(? Jntroduftion of Men into the Work of the Mirii% fo'r thefe Rcafons. FirH becaufe there is fo nuch DiiFe«nce between th... fmeandthe falfe Miniftcrs. Secon4:y. becgufe that the World is fo blind and ignorant in the Things that be of God. ^Thirdly, becaufrthat a true Mmifter is one of the greateft Bleffings. and a faJfe ^'iiiiteroneofrhegreateft Curfes that a People l*hBA»>-.|6, - _ — ' ^ ' or Aa < ^i?tf ing of tJiig le Voice of '(o) And- lat hgs the cceive one •celjr any than the jVIcn into Dns. FirA ivecn this. »ufe that ' Things a true id a faJfe I People Of Land can have. Fourthly, becaufe ikitt ii o«, thing that the Devil /& hi» Ad^ocate^ labour more for, than to introdu<^e the falfe, .and obftruft the true Minifter. Anc^ laftly, becaufe the Followers of Christ are fo aiixious to introduce the true and obftruA the falfe ^inifter. And as it is a Mattev fa much difputcdi I alfo, as faith Ei.iHU,(^ff; Will /hew my Opinion ; in doing of which I fhdl talc? a View' of the Matter difputcd ; make fomc Re. marks on the Dlfputes, try the Weight of them, • and fee what Inferences m*y be 'drawn from the whole. / Thi Matti now in Difpute is the Righto* Power of Ordination; Some holding it in the Hand of the /Mi^iftry handed down from Timo-. THV and Titus by a lineal Defcent j others hold- ing i^ot onli that, bat lijcewife all the Power of Church -goiirerhmcnt to lie wholly in the Church or. Brothcrhaid. I fhall endeavour to treat of them; feparately^; Firft, I ftall.,b<5gin with the former,. VIZ. The Power of Ordination handed down from. TiMOTflfy and Tixys by a lined Defcent. Now /if I feould let fo m uch Light i^t or i')h fK old «r .ICf.f.iA^tJi^ ^ -. (21 "■«y mat t,0D has appointed fn, ,1, r . "'""'' E«"cy from that Po«-cr, which ^io tr;' "'-"'- ™wrx the- «».c, .of ! "' *" "'■'^''*= P»-- -aft down I ,. n "'"■"olcft.d, and arrive fafe aown to this Day with .11 !,.. t r . ™g« lime, ,t may all bcloft A«» now with «.ga,a ,„ ,^^ *WWcrofGrrfi»,™»- ''"lure ot this as .M^ii^-il^tH^S^ ■ ^^^WM^SuP*-!: ,.iia#ik'i>:jiialn& encies enough ' rational Maw, I firft, we will the Power af TiMOTHV ' whain of Sue- t was the on]/ Introduction HaJve this icr, whether - ng in thefc iinaiion, 'or ver, which idrcd Years liy try the foIJow the bwer muft n to travel arrive fafe ; becaufe furely in of this h uTuch' as one would imagine no Chrlilian Man could hefc lifeve it pbflible to be handed about from Hand tdf Hand by Man ; and if it was (altho* I have fuf- £cicntly proved it to be Inipoi&ble) yet when we come to follow that Chain of Succcffion, we Ihall foon find, it ttaverfcs fo dangeroas a Courfe, and among fo itiaiiy Eneniics, as to )-ender it utterly in- capable of retaining that Power in Cuftody : whicli is to be hahdcd dowii to the End of the eWorld to particular Meh, for in a very fliort time it falls ^in- to the ravaging Jaws of that blafphcmoua Bcatt* whic^ John faw comi»g-«ip but of Hhe Sea, with Seven Heads and Ten Horns, (p) which blaf- phemed againftGoD and his Christ f atld there it la^xpofed fome ilundred Years. Now can i t be imagined, that that Chain can ever cpnac fafe .QUtoftheirHands with that fpiritual Trcafait, :wh their lianH. . '2 "^Rpme, and T H mere was not one tnie Beli.,^j: ">"». "» well „d ., „„. "'!'"'.»*<'»« • Chriftian Man to k rir " " P^^ We for Jl know, .hat a State Of De.,. the un.. » _. ^»^g»nd approving the Mfnii^... of Chr„t. (r)ExQ4,i^, iu "T ?ff /t- .'^ pJt'^'v^i^^ 4f 1^ * i n ^0 theijcvii i •t Bk/pheiner, ■e^unic to fay^ the Devil to". < h'sMinifteri^#^ •^ fas t have . Miniftcrs of on might He ^pme^ and ^^" of f^» ax^one 1^ " • «* '«« to the <^i»lrchof rtd me frofii ^arlrnefi of ioilibfJcfor thingi of ^jtidkc 6f imeutaJIy ^?=rff ( ii6 ) it is no Matter, whether it be done by Men dc*d or alive. Is this not as reafohable, to belieVt that a blind Man is asgood ^ 'Judge of Colours as any. To fay that in trying the Spirits! whether thdy 'be of Christ or Antichrift, it is ho matter, whether it be done%y living Evidences of theGof- pel, who havefome Defgree of that Spirit, that Judges all Things ;ft) or Men 4cad in Trefpa- iei and Sins, who are" Enemies to God, and utter ft. ' , Strangers to the Myftcry of the QoCpcliftJ B^fidcs is it pofljble for thofe. People whom the Spirit pf God is to lead into all Truth^w^ ever to believe, • that God, whcfisaGoD of Purityj and caimot > look on Sin but with abhorrence, did really in- tend that the trying of his Servants fliould he .committed in th« Soul deftroying and Goo-difr honouring Hands of his moft inveterate Foes j when He himfeif declares, that uncircum&fed in Heart Ihould enter into 'his Sanftuary. Nevcf' thclefs Ifliall treat on one Point morej whic^, I truft, will prove the Matter as evident, as. that light is not Darknefs. Let us fuppofc that S^/ Paul did really intend, when Timothy ^ ^iTvs were ordained, that, that Powci Jfeoukl iiZZ ,ft e handed dow^ from;ihen,, and no oth^ way to. the End of the World. Is it "not well Jnown. that fmce that tf^y-, the Schifm. and X>iirentiani have been aJriioIl innunierabJe ; •nd the Diflentcrs. have, at t1,e Time of their coming off. bo« a puBKcTeftimoayagainft the«i M the Churches of Antichfitt , and therefore it \t fcvMent, that old Chain muft by this Time be in «mai^ Piec« as Saue'5 Oi, ,(^) yea fo man. fled aridbh>keri;f^ititis paft thcWifdom of •irflifeMftn on Earth, ybrpofe with TimO- THY ihd T,T0s with-hftti, ever ta patch m, that old broken Chain, or fp farcolleft and ce- ment thefcattered Piece, together, as to obtain •ne wholVor Gofpel Ordination by any Power ^ from th. Power, wfaiclv he committed to T, mo. jHr.nct.TiTv, Seventeen Hxindred Year, ago . Th^,ft,th he, who byScHisMarecutofffrpm .jn«4cft«enflon3.^ And fo it cannot b. iZ X delibl^ j'lJiXi K^ J *'k^'- no otlx^r ,w»y ' it 'not well SchiCaii and innumerabie ; rime of their y«gainft the«i therefore k |« is Time be in y«a fo man. : Wifdom of MJL himfelf, . with TiMd- to patch vtn leQ. and ce- u to obtain any Power * that Ohaia ' dto TiMO- I Years ago, utofffrpm from tlwt 'hich they lot be in- _ delibi;' ■ • • '. ■■ ■■ ■ ' ■ deiibJ^ Hired oH thein : And hxttfy Inhere no fart of 4!t ApoftoHe Pdwfcr (dk k' claimed^ there can be ii'e Suectfflbo td it.** No# in ihii ** Chiweh of RoMi, faith httfgjUh, h hii bcc^ " proved l>y On t;i»rttu!* i| Hlftorun 6fthtl# bWlili •*'« that there have been at Ifeift Thirty Schifms by ** fevcral, fometlmes no lift than fiv* or fix at •* once, jiretending to the Popbdom j iild One of ** the Schifms laftcd more than Fifty Yinta, when « one Pope fat at Rbikt, another if Avigon. «■* Nay BBLtARMiT* is bbliged to iiflrtjowlcc^ ** thit for above Eighty Yckn tt^ethcf ftr iriM « of a lawful i»ope, flft^ hid iid dflfff »m4d> ** thin what was in tfia^ferf.^ Ahd tljirtfo^ kif dear Reader, ifthereiSnb Wky for to iltli^Q/oh }j*el Minified in th^e Hiyk, but by PoWef 4e-* Hved froml'iijotiiv kd^'tiTiik'thio* thw 61# brolceh Chain, (as f6itit dticJitft tHert i* Abty, Wii iii^y bid t fiAAl t^arew^l id all Hojigs of ^er tteiaj^ ftGofpelMicifterik|a)h} kAd fo idieU t6 i!I IhJ^ -, i^Mfeictof zp0it}^ia6i^eU mmaifbxtt^} am1)'b1igcd to (ky, hippy bntf 'wtit fhdti; Mi were upon the Jtz^c of AJUiih, fijtbre ihat thaitt was bMeh. '-^ -**j»fc '"^* ■ -f nyfelf capable ofanfwer- . 7 '"/'^''^ '^ P»'P^^«' tJ^«» " already done by Ihe afonemention^ Sa-v«l Mather. « The«, ^ trt fome, faith her^ho, tho' they eould neve, , m ,j their Heart, to believe the mad Whim . *ofP«pal SucceffionandafuccefEyeOrdination, ^n^-^'^""'^"^'^ •» Ecclefiaftical •* Juhfdiaion or Government, are for giving ^.the PpwerofOrdinaUon into the Hands of . :ff;mop pr a Synod, but it i. to behoped, that r^^'^^^^^^^^ «^«1 know better, than to ght ^l^^li .n-inefUinable IJr«ich of Ecclefiaijcal v(., 7^*"*<«^*"' own Hands, inlothetti^ ^ ofothes,wJv,oughtnottohaveit,«,dwhrk • POiT^flionof it. hi vc alwa y . laaJc the ^ nfe ''%"''- '. ■'' , **iif i,i)rf*"v^ .. *' liat, «liho* that c«n be deriveii •Iter the Gafe^ of the Gofpcl : le Minifter in «t after he wa» ght ever after ivhichisaPJea «nd Inconfifl^ iWe of anfwer- •eady done by. Bit. "Thew y could nevcf le mad Whim . ^eOrdinatioiv, Ecclefidlical « for giving Hands of a •choped^ that than to givt Bcclefiaftfcid totheHindk , and vrhviA »» of it.** Andi think faid Author^ght lik^wiiij have obfervcd, that if the Church wcm thus t(y givf 'this Power into the Hands of the Miniilry, y^t that would by no means rcftorfe the Order, and therefore tliofe Men, who had received tlia Gift from the Church would have no Power td exeirfife it : |oryou kliow, my dear Reader, that accord- ing S what is thus hpld, there was no oth^r Or* der of the Gofpcl.lmt to receive this P the rn.«,fitte„ci«, eh.e .« co.. . •>» Tn.th.of d^oy f^ , I ^ ^^ ?* . ' ;i ' f'ti V.J -p^ v.% :•,!*©*•" miy give ihefe ion, lihali 'ttdt nent upbh jhiA^ c Thing itle'lf ciiearfu] C(5fi. to do fdr tile t»J'y to ihtfeat pie Of the nd- ill the Church Church Pre- hat are coo- nit5 is fuffi. ^O arc thirf . Go^d,ycc :d down by toe fii^r iftratiQli..pr *''-r^ *^ c?cd, as I prorniArd, to difcover wliat ^jay be fonud in Fayo^r of the Power of prdiriajion lying in the Church or the Hands of the Brotherhood, fyr which End I fhall offer Precept and ^xamplc, tp^eth^r by confid?ring the yei;y Nature if' th<^ Thing itfdf. '' '"'. First, let me afk my dear Re^dec* what c^fl bp moreinconljUent, than to believe thai^ ^.CliurcV ihould be depriycd of cKufing, the Mini'ft^r, un-., der whofe In;iprovemcnt tjxey exp^^tp lit all their* .^I>«ys, by feme indifFererit Men that never expeiEl* to hear him more than once or twice juft for hls^ Tryal j or can it be fuppofed that thefe two \x' three Men are better Judges of the Call ailH Qaalt^ fications of the Candidategth an the whole Chhtrhf or Body of Men, which arc to rctcrve Jiiih, 'liv^eil the wifeftof all Men has declaredi ^at-irf ke? Multitude of fcouncil is Safety : 7/)' And *'^e Church 1 ikewife haying'the WelJFare ^ thelr^tiltf in fome Degree at Stake, whHet^cQ^ers pi^ii|Ni are living a Hundreft Mila t^ iiS^, aijd not regarding whether lKc^*^feS^ „_„ again or. not.. . ♦ ; "'f^'^;Sr ***'^ \/i:;.i. ' Si ■ -v^ "T ' n tv-^ f "3 ) -^- ' J^>«-"«-™ro p™,. , Matte,, .wl ^ *«^CW.„fd,eMu,ifte,by.„M«a„ but Wt fiwlW none on the Peril of hi. Life. There-' '^ fitch People muft either be veiy fond of their §^«V«y orelfe they murf^ very ignoran, ; For Stf*! '""' *' «'S'« 'f Eleaion to be i„ the ^^.«dthe«fe,ve,^„f„.ea, f„,n.«ti„n.I W" *««M prefume «, f.^ d„, ^. ^hnrch hrf >» IW *, .«i, the Ceremome, „ why the tter, which wt at the Church it of electing Judgment Ih Means ; but t by OrrUna- 1 a» great an or a hungry Ws Sorrows, -ife. There-" bad of their orantj For to be in the Argument, no rational phurch had 1 Circum- >ci alreiady aft in the ingthat a which £e 6nt f «4 > ftnt and Choice, then if the Church and Candi, date are agreed and married in Heart ^ the Pelv , kwihip of the GofpcJ j pray what hinders -hi to from heing their Paftor ah«ady, whether he hw j^ceivcd the hnpofuion of Hands or not ^ But fome perhaps may object again, and< fay that, altho' tlie Blcftion be eflential ^nd the Ap-j probation but oircumitantial, yet that i^t partica*- lar Matter by itfclf. and that the Minifter| are; the bcft Judges of their Gifts, Grace* and Quali* fications. It is to be hdpeti that thcfc ObjeAion*. will not be found among thofe, wbohav^ dcdved' that the Right of Ordination naightcomc thro*V»»' ' :hurch-of Rom*, as wcllaa thro* a true Church' of Chr^t, or the tlaadsof ixnconycrted Mcn-os: well a«-thofe of true Chriftian* (ajit hiabeeii ob-> ferved'fomc have declared) leli their Objeftiona ihouM^cla/h, Bcfides^ can any rational Man ever- believe, that the Great, Etamal and AlKwiic . Bi- ihop of Souls, who is the Head of the Churcli^ did ever inftitttte fuch aolnconfiitencysajusnvyl** tical Body, as to flatter hb Peoplp with an emprtty; . mnd of Powet-^-inA-Prewgi ttm . that*' he had indulged ;theii|, wjt^ vikg^ of chufmg or eledulpe all the o 4«i 4i. • m • , Cht^^h, bu^forfome particular. EnH^ '. I tdMen oT A , r"cwar Ends, unfcnoWn ^"! "'"'«"=8«»f'he CharchJ For He L *«dy.pld *e»,, ,h„ ifu,ey ihould agrccL ?'*!'' '■■'' ^'■i-g 'h* Acy p,o„Id .&. („h«L Jxt,k*cfc Things i„o a f„iou,Cotf.dei: ■ "^' ^'ko-W be raved fro™ treating an.L. . 'mainftiUinUiedarl rn„ii ' / f "* "«f»f A.. Matter. And now we wiU La, *rr» '*• '»'"'"^"' Natur. of M,«kini for . j;«™^ •" how many „^i i,i,„„^ ^,, ^^ T ^^ f'"^**" rfW. Cturoh. and the great ?rf, ,L ' ^*""*""'«*"«. 'H.l.hi.awnMind J, J tVicife thcPo\ferofJExop^lmunicaJtio^/rt^ whi«li is, thfi mo^ folen^n Ad in ^l thq Church-^ifpip «n^j but like wife tells then^ that, whenever they Ihoold" gather together in hi? Name, he would l^e in the yjidft of tl\em himfclf/^j And therefore* there x;an bj: but little Room now for any further , difpnte about this Matter, who fliall ewrcife the Power: For whethef the Minifter be prcfent «• abfent, it is no Way .cflential, for faith CArist* I tell you that I myfelf will be there : and' not only with them, bm I teUyou likewife, .whatfoeyey they fhall afl;, whether the Minifter confent o'r not, they fhall rcceive^CcJ for I have lead Csiptiviigr captive to give Gifts untp thciasfdj yea if thcjr alk, I will give th?m liberally and upbraid notfej But ,1 will fuppofe we ihould a% the L orii cat^z • cerning the particular Matter now in Pifputc, whether or not the ^hurch hath any Right t0/ct i Man a-part to the Work of the-Miniftry, of bind him by an externaj Sign or Approb^tioti^tji* • the Place and Station, whic|» Qqd Jultl^aIr<^|dy defigncd him ? Why, f«th the Lord, ' ihiv» i^^ir * "■"f*" («) Matt- 1,8. J7. (6) Mut, |8. ap. (0 ^«U» l^||.' ■*-. * .■>.-i. i "7) *"' .f '" "■J' Name Acy /hall receive f b„c fterer thejr fl„i, ,oofc „„ e,^,_ ^^„ .^^ ,^^^_| '" ""''■' >W for I m^frff ^ ,, b. „i,^ tncm. A„D „,„, „y ,,„, j^^_^^ .^.^ poffiblefor tl... M,„er ? Ne,erthelcf, I will „„„, refer yo„ "0. onl^ ,0 ,I,e expref. Command of Goo „„d„ tko Moftie Dirpe„f„io„ ,. where He faith (af ter the Chnrch w.. g,.hered together). And til :?""*"'""'•'»"'= Church, «... p„, their Ha.d, „p„„ ,he Uvt^.f-J B '^tewtfe hi. e,preft Co«„„di„,i. Jo". P«' D»y. to the Church of A.r,oc«ri) which Con»«d ,h. Church im^etliately obev^ if ..-ror^teWoritwhe^u^oIhavecaUedr:: B« perhap, y„„ „„, f.^, ^, ^^ ^_^ ^__^_^_ "" •'"™« •*"»• '"d 4««fore they might S::;::^--fa.r. that the Command did „,t comb •f #« i#U pofllble for reffed than Vi refer ypu 3oD under ^aith (af. er), And • Church) the Go/- h) whkji '«<^ Sen . Barna-, cd them, fc MlNI*- T might Church. ^ did not coiae tp. thi Miniftere, but toth€ Church;' and that it was the Church that exercifed th^t Power, ordained them, and fcht them awajr. dut * it may be objeftsd again that the Word faith plainly, there were certain PropKcts and Tea- «hers, in the Church, wliich fiiay reafonably be fuppofed, was the Caufe of the Command coming- to that Church. To which I anfwer again, tfa«t it is true there were Prophets and Tcachcra in that ChttPch (as I truft, there fxc in every Church joi Christ) but there is not th^ leaft Account of their being one ordained Man amongft aU thofe Prophets and Teachers : And the reafon why they , were called Prophets and Teachers w»a not on Account of theit being ordatai^ Men, Virhich is as evidently to be feen,.fts tlut two and two niakp four. For you mufl obfervc«; dear Reader, that the very Men, which are nov^ called forth to be ordained/ were in the fkntfr' Verfe, and in the stxj famcMauneJr called Pron phets and Teachers j for- tlij* Word; fidthjlM'V phets and Teachers, fuch m BAii#ii1iA>' iild -Saul, Therefore it il ib: e wdea^.jTllii, tfcty wikjjJv !.„.•,» were not called Prophets and Tea^henQ^|p^c of their being ordained Men, but ' t^ule. they^ "W.. *^U. iif:iSi^SiLw.^i^^: ) • ( 229 ) T™thr.V l.« fo ckarlv «„ ■ • ' "'•■ ftl«»a»dorH ? • """' ""'■''' "'='»- iMves and ordain their o„„ lyjj;. ,, ^ ,^ ■ *~«»yol,joaagdn and fay, tk^^Mf •Fi-Mr^.to ordain Elder, ;. * ^•'^^"T ^n^l I - "" r^ ^ ^^^e^T Church. Ta oi. L. ^ 'w'UAati a,^ R^aioa to fear tkA 'Mi -^ .■^ J^. :, -^ ncMte . V 7 i ; 'ficiaVe ii Behalf V the Church in fettih^ a-^wt Itheh- Officdrs : For no true Church of Cfilni^ could i^:4lbhal)ly reje^ AicK kdps, whci^ ^he^ were to be obtained ; but his tellitig them to dr- daih Elders -in every Chiirch ddth in no wa^ cbn. Wude that they had tky Power to aft of drfalh '**tlufivfc of acting in Behalf of the Church, and the Churches l^ing jikewife in the Tkyi of their Infancy, I dai^fay, woufd rejoice to hare -aiif Advictor Affiftance froiSi TiMotftY ihd TiTxb> tvho Were both iftfpired M€n : Befidfcs if -Pxirt- had not known the Power of the Churdi to be d^ cifive, why would he fo often, when any Mafte» -X)f rmportince was at Staie, write to the ChttrtA to exercife thdr PdWcr.fAJ Pavl had lifcc*i(fe tifcfcij decided th^t the GKttch MlCil«i*+>s hiyfUc^liody, and that CnRisT iittifttf Wit fh im Mihthtm.fiJ And thierefore It ^oUld'Hatfe hiba terymnitibT hiih td hdjhmind tiMd-i-M' ti«d titt^s to ekeftjifcahj^ ^\^ct b^fertl^hi¥, ' m his Chureh J tvhlth hfe ladrt hive done. If j^e hid fcoferfiiiided them b tttfclXk aiylNiWtf t^- iltilli>t of atog in »^aff driJi^'dhiifcli: -'-^ *m thi'ti- ' Ski 'iii Ji^'ih-fiS ' Ui-vf Avi% ''m IV. . ■ »iwed he would be in *i. m:?".^«!!ibmce by a Servant of the I^oyd; A,9hvch of Christ, iaithhc, iaftead of^cinK back A« r«))dik .^. Rom. »» •. -'•'. \T«f T. r.-.{ wt '&^ <~^ ' 4 "^7l^»«^ of ,fc .„ie M„^ i^ TIfible JEuMdiH t ti'flii la .i-.; a .. i . K«I.J.o« ,h« ,v„r3 , rrfijioa, 0„b„.^ „^ ««» iSe .n 4. Cufeof CH»„r U»t mkc^fZ fcffion ofhi.K.Mc.nor.hi„l „.tyoAc . Member ofh„M.tt.«ilBody who i,c,tt(ed. Member of ll« CWch,i.6r«ny thing afled, ortniiftaed of «r for Christ, that is done wholly „id,oa,' Christ. ^ S.coN,Lr, wherever yo|i «rtd die Spirit of Chmst , ahho' ,mi,„g ,he ftoft poo,,.«ddlt ' paw People <« Eard. .^ievetW i.W«e done m the Caafe of C,M5T *hei,,4.„ in d,, g^*^ CorpoiatioH., *ith ,He „«,« ■ fejaeft Difci-lia; ff the highe(M»idm . *nllct. Mdi^^ ,^i^ _^^ . ftf TiUe y M ai^ tk ^a ^^ ^1. ^*^ "-^ ***** . ■ '.- if Ti.t--_ '-"'"W ■BIBK-aa iblBttt T^ 4-, '4^ 4 .T-'- X,' 1 1 *" 239 ) , ^^cMtf^kc thatM nihouid be ib .*3lou, for W..clorc.dhc.c«|.o.HeL.w,a„dU,oughr, ^d Goo Service Wl.*« 1.^ &"nc were not willing to W the Siek k..i-j / ■'iJ *r ";• »*' <■«' »"»• Z«1 .M Suiflnca of «dt: J. r'**"''^'"'"^ ««-"■'. yda«,d.Ih.ow„f„^^„^_^, -■,.■■?. ( ^40) innen, a^d/nak- of Men.frjo and how fatal iTo t^iloas for Truth f Saul and thought he periecutihg the ipei ftitious and aidnotcatwrth «y coiildftone '^ The High. Goj)'3 Houfc » nals, that they healed, on the could declare >/feffedwitha iclzchuh. fxj dStriftncisof rhesandlndi- f Bitternefs, Strangers to to Colours. Hell in a naore dangerous dfe, tlun thofc \jirko «re thus contentedly. Aeltereii. uiid«» a ClofOf oC^ Externals, a Fo^m of Godlinefs Wit^iout ehe Poww v Mthe D^vU and his AdvopatqsViir if po#^v fcach them to believe, that |11 ?rctenfi^ni td v^ijU l^el%ion, Conviaions ^ Codycrfiq^js, or J[oy ii| tlie Holy Ghoft i» thefe ©ays is' no^jbing ^ but Enthufiafm, or t^c whimfical Npticww of Im* poftors, and if t^«y do but keep clofc to thoff Forma and Hjfternals, all wUl be wU: ■»4 fo il\c poor deluded Soplt (like Silkworms that lyprjk themfdves to death in a Uttle SMI)«fpei»d.ill theij Dayi patching, vii; holding up a Form of IWi, g'on, until at Igft, when a conquwing D^^-M»*'*^A' V- - - 'i j«|tt^«Clitoc^f f(»x ? Ydnr'Rtfqutft, my dear Rif all Reward! and Patil|hineQt8, thef Will cettainly die with the Hope of the Hypni^ erite, and Will inevitably pwifli to all Eternhyl ' And a«for thcBnd> f<» which the flncere Cha^^ ' ti*n joins with the Chunch of CMiiU'i kJI not fot a $heltci- from fhe eiinild ^kohh. F^ if he is a true Chri(|ifll^ he is already flic!t«rtf4 froia^ that by thfe hxtid of evetiailing Strength :f<^ And itjumi^iJj«-t«rfn^re for Peath r for he '|s fo far prepared for it, that Death wouM lie aGaItt to hifljjr*/ neither tan it bcfor to merit the F*vo\ir of ^on» ; for that he has already: tot, nfeither can he ever hf&it.ft) Now if you would ko^w the gnnd Motive that exchcs theiir>i I will ttfpt yoti t6 Whm itWtfl^^ tiic Ptofihft Dai^. %hy, faith jic, It ftr becanfc M:Wt(jm SUvcr -ifv : ', T hi -■ («« ) Silver/^; Again (faith tlic fame P«,piit) when •Iwoft in an E«afy under . Senfe of the Sweet- aeft of th, Way, of Goi. breaking but in fuch I'-nguage a, thi.. O hour love I thy Law, it i, '^f^^f^^'thcD^.rO So that you ft-^Jt „ wholly «,t of a Lbve for the Way. of OOP, and theprefentEnjoyment, which they find therein , For it ia the Food, Light, Xife «»d Joy of their Soal. , .„d therefore the fame PropheMaith again, I would rather be a |>oor. deeper in the Houft of ay (Jbn, thati to dwell In the Tent, of Wickcdnefa//; Jti, the De- light of t^e Heaven born Souls to go hand in ItnAwith the defpifed Mowers of the Lamb trid to enjoy the PrivHcge* of ^e Gofpcl with' 'them. :'f :/ "''■- ». 7..-. ., ■ :' ■ ■ • " , ■ ^ And now, let me intreat every on^ lijowhofe Hands thefe few Line. ,nay fall, iiat to|atter yonrfelf^ith the Hope, of refgniHg with ChriH forever, bccauf^you beir hi. aumehere. norex- p^'tojdifi dieCh»rchtrkiinphant, bccanlfyou pioftrfi to he * J^^t^ i»f ftc Church nylvapt. ^'^ W «iafcti^^^ae|fbpli& Vii^ins had their Laafps rophct) when »f the Sweet- l but in fuch tyLamr, itif >o that you •r the Ways which they I'ight, tife re the fame ' be a poor- i«i to dweJl is thtDe- go hand in the Lamb> ofpclwitii iato who(e ( to flatter 'ith Chrill I nvHta^t. had their ■/■; tamps as well as yoM.(g) Von may^^rkewlfe find, altho* they had no Oyl, they wete fo con- fident ofthelr^ftanding, that they arofe and trim- med their Lamps without any more Corieen^^^ than the wife Virgins, until their Lampi were gone out in tot?l ^arknefs: For the word faith. Then all thofet Virgins arofc and twmmed their Lamps.^i^^ And tha» you may fee, that your beijig confident is ndt t/fufficient Eyfi deuce that your Standing is^godSi fcr a man may be as confident on the Sand, ae on the Rock ; ' if the JDevll can but make him believe that all -if well. Many a Man has died in Peace, only 1)ecaufefome Prieft or Friar has pretended to par- don their Sijis, The Jews, who to their dying Day, will declare Chriftto b^the grcatell Im. poftor on Eanh, will many of them leave the World with the grcateft Confidence of their fu- ture State being happy ; althoV the t<^brd dt^I •lares that thus dying, it is impoffil^c for them «o be faved ; fij The Mahometans will nian^ ofthein triumph. over Death and the GwiVc till ^ ia^ Momeift. "H^i^ what"tKtnF"|5u m now of your confidrnc«i my dtfii^ Ikj|4«r^ kullt [i] Matt. as. I l/t] M«t.a$. y. iMl^ »• 54 ■■■4ef*v dniy ( H9 } S"n<«» of .r.c JJeJigio,. „ u, W. CwJ/ - *"rfem„gyoUfra«tba,^J^*?"' ■^'' ' >t thjnj( yon aovr think alTure Jii^ wiJiout^i. irity with- «/ dew Hou|, or hen m for f^ch cMsiM ^yin. 'Of »*'.«^'' .(/: -,,, .|»-|r,.., ...^ 4, , , iinppffiblli3. pmaice niany Fomu of J^« * and jm hem taae dne Crmmli^ j,|, ihe livii,^ £,t«4 t^t eomci ddwii fi>om Heavwir. -And O, w^ iviH *a-thtt avail y<»ittJ^^ng^^^o^^., youiai^ cftiab ^ott #e W4j|l bccaufe your Miniftet ha^4g|||an ved >««il aChfiftian: Bttt,Od^ >• w iii |)ii,i i H i i i» j i . n ii iii nn i x^li:Ap;rjg^':prf ,# S«*<. " ».' I » * m Ctt A PTt k Xllt. - , Tht trut Church «/ Christ. Nofir come io take iVAall View of the Form iiid Fiilhion of this Hdufe of Gou, viz. A Gctfpcl Church. And here I can't but admire ^ Cbndua and Prudeflcc of that wife fiuif^ci* (tWiowas It Type df Christ) when abou^ to build; the Houfe of the Lord (which wasliJce- .#ife « Type of CHRisr's Church) in beihg fa ^i*ful^^t<» have every Stone hewed and.fquared fefoitildyc into the DuiJding, that there might be nonoifc of Axes or Hammer* in the Houfe «^^ori i(l) fb there is none that is fit for the -^ingofCHR„T'svifibleKingdom,Mfucha,, •i^wught out of thifbde Mafs ^ Sinnerr into il»^llha,^ofth^SonsofGoo,.whoh.ve been *^frQm Deatii to Life; from theJrState of Con- Jpi«««to a Stateof Juftification:that theremay *^ifc of the Hammer and Ax^ Gonviftion^ m tlw Work of the Law in the vifible C\^nh ^ for unlefs they are brought to a faving. Uiuoii ^. any ©ivihe Life from^itn , aiid tkercfbrc ih> ftead of bciiig any way fcmccable to die CUurcl^ they will be as the aecu^fcd Thing in the Camp i (mj they \*ould be prejudicial to the whole Body and perhaps the mpans 6f Scaling rhcmrdvci down to ctel-nal Perditiori likeivife.^'^; . An^ " -V altho' no Church can have an infallible Know- ledge of the Candidates for Gommunion; neither can we expeft a pure Church on Eartth withwt; ' fome Traitors j yet that ddth not alter the Oaf© withth^Uiibeliever: For he la iw niore fit fo^: Communion or Church Fellowfltip, than if cveis^ Church-Member had art infallible Knowledge of his Staridihg. And altho' the EnemieaofjCHRia'i, bear fo hard againft any futh Thing ni Go{}>^# FdIowlhip,yet,bleiicd be God, there isa.S^ fatisfjMng Knowledge of thofe Things, whicJ^^^^^' World knows nothing of v Yea the Wordof OdiJ^ ' whifch never can fail, has declared that the ^nittit . have Communion with Goi> die Father, Son anci Holy Ghost, and iiQ%l«^ one with Ant>4 ther :fpj And althb* thire ^^re Tares among thd y^^ fi^^imU^!^^^ i«.l]oft. 7. 11, la.- [a] I. CftTtii ' u j"«a. 7. II. la.- i«j I. Cor.iuti,^ Kit ef '^ ■if! «■ ■•\" ( »+9 ) ■ of the Woria gfowiag togeAcr. Yd would by Mean, have „y R«a„ obferve.tha. die Time thofe Tares were town, w„ while Men flept YW |U.d therefore we *ay „.fo„abIe f„pp,re,,ha. had U3e„,vouldnothavebee„ro„,,„,Tares.Butwheh Chnftians get a Ara/from Gon and are tteeping and flumbermgwitl, the (bcJilh Virgins, and Chorehea row formal, loofing the iWer of Godlinef., then '^'y m « great Meafure lofe that Spirit of difcem %wlicHGobof hisgreat IWercy ha, given tohis People: ^,; and then it i, th« Unbeliever, e^ud Jnfofaft,„totheeh„rche,. Bu, I« them croud u>.verfom.ny. or even gather whole .Churehe, 1*.th Unbeliever,, yet none but true BoUever, Jre Member. ofC„.„.., Myttical S„dv, and Wore no«e ^ be „„et Member, of the a«rchM,lu.„t,buif„eh^h.vc.,to„^i„ feeglorao«,ehurchTri„mphant;andfueh„oton. r^v^Fellowftiponewith another, but ttand in laid have Communion with the HolvR ■ • .:^^-e^ive.heirStren::h:S-j:: =tTjffi«.V3.;,.-w..^;;,,, „, ■■^. -■•'-: iiom Go. th.ctera.U'ounMin fc d«, ts,o„A P«uk=»ofA.divi« N.t„c. „4. i„i„^ ^.^ Dcgrc. of U.« Spirit th«juVd. .11 Tlu.g, ,A. teb,„daonEa„h„dbin. Holr ^t" "^'""^ '""""» ^-^'^ ^;!";'7'°'*'"^"^v«^"«af„;^.„^ ' '"' '«*• •« '""•W Th.«f.„ S i, „ . ..rp*.UbI.IVivU.gc»ek.„,^»^„'" PO'Wq, ,0 «„Ue in .hc>cllowftip«,4. (^J Pd «d ^ Hand in H„d in a. W.y. .f <^„^ ™^*"«» .0 b. God IbrWd' liiit ©Vera ffcaven bom a^"ftttul«ght upon l^ the f«me ^piri^ all t«vell«h. fame Cil ,of Reft, and wiir aHmJi^. j, g,, ^ J T~7~-' •If, V 3* 4* thcWor caf' Heaven bom ;aln as |}]bin ■v of fvtch Bif. Greelr, nei-> Femaie, but 1 yet, O too uBfiilied in re too offeh ^n, and in ^all; even io were ail H now the Jtreart, all I Kobe, all nc Father,^ tit upon fc^ ^adie Ci^ thd famtt Kingdom ICingdom, and all join the fome harmonious Bani >'<^ everkfting Praile, where ©ifcord, 8in and Sorrow fliall be no more : And yet againftall this, a^mft the very Nature of the Thing, againft their. own Welfare and exprefs Command'of Gao, (O ^et me fay it with Grief) . there are Har^ and-vSc- I^f'^.. I 5^ Height in the Church, and that thefe Opinion^ C f^Pnld be .reckoned more in a Man, than the SC Pref^ence ^nd Dwelling of God himA*lf and the I A Spirit in him : And for my Part, faith he, I ut- ^^^.terIy difclaim all A.ch Diftinftion, of^an's mak- v^, ing, and will allow of no Diftinflions, hut what X. God himfelf hath^made, and that is this ; ^e ^ > World, and they that are taken out of the World, Sf.'Or the Church and they that are without, or in ^ ^ ^ the Church, the Children that are born after the Nf; Flefh, and the Children that are born after tiflc ,^ t Spirit , or which is all one, faith he again, carnal ^., and fpiritual Chriftians. And D|. Tavlor faith V. (fpeaking. Wittily on the faii^^Matter) That .^ Mor a trifling Caufe to cut off a Man from Comu iJ:^^ Hion of the Church is to do as a Man in the Fable, - >^ ^<^fpyingaFly uponhisNeighbour's Foreheadwent • ^ ^ to beat it off with a Hatchet, and fo ftnick out -his. Brains. And Dr. Stillincflett, faith, tha^ Chriil, who came to take aWay the unAip- pomble yoke of the Jewifh CermOnies, certain- iy did never intend to gall Uie, Necks of the ^gifgpleswith «iother inil^ak of i^, arf^ u would -4Ki ft^ngci^ faith iic, that tKe Church flioiiidrc: «iuirc more then Christ himfelf did, and make i ■ more- .!":; fe Opinionf^ , than the fiSlf and the. :h he, I ut- ^an's mak- , Hut what s this ; ihe the World, lout, or in 1 after the I after' the ain, carnal rLOR faith ter) That >m Comu. the Fable, lead, went [truck out T, faith, ■ ie unfup. ceriain- s of the it would -. J^i Biffre Conditions of Communion, than ourSavIouy di<^ of I^ifciplefliip. And again faith he. That without Controverfy the Main of all the IWf- traftions, Confufions, andDiforders of the Chrif- tiaf^ Church hath hee^ by 'adding other Condi-, tioifs of Comixiunion, than Christ hath done. IJeither vyill I omit here a v?ry plain aii4 com. pre^cnfive AdviceofMr. John Bunyan. JRewar« ,of a jangling Baptiil and a liot Pre/by terian. Anp thu^s, my dear Reader, I have eBTdeavourcd to difcovcr to you. in as few Words as poflible » ,^ true Church of Q^r^st : But the Piivilegea of fuch aChurch being fo fat beyond whpt I.can po^r fibly exprefs, that I ipuft refer my Reader to aiji experimental Knowledge of the upfpcakable TreSj fures of that Field. And if you fliould.^v^r be ^ happy as to partake of the Wonders of RbdbiMt iNtt Love, whereby you may be a worthy Mem • ber of. the true Churchijf Christ; and in the it*' . v." ■',.;,'-.>iii- ' ' ' ■ Courfe ofGoD-sI*r0«i(3d^be, have your Lotrj^.. in any Part of the World, where there m^ ,b<»|j *^ few of t^EolIoweri of the Lamb, my fincerc'-ii^ir' Ji, as yo^ love yoijr ovvn So^«,4iy4 vice the Sptfis of others, that ye immediately fqaKtjte from the Powers ofDarknefs, fh«kc off ill;-4ffiwtjr t V v Vi\ ;_^, I '57) ^l00fW^ OktuetM, that hoia tlieFora, ?f Godlineft witKou, th« Power, .„d g..hery„„* felvM together in the Fellowftipef the j»ipd ' •ndthe Bonds of P«A, «,d fuffern, one from E«thorH.n d.at may i„v.de your, Privilege,, ever ,o„b you of that Power «,d Liberty, whiA ;rourbIefledlordI»thpurchafed for you with , he • )fnce«fl^, own Blood. Ani to all Church!, , lh« gathered and travelling, let #„, yo„ „^ •«1«rthySer«„i„ dieLord, intreatyou to ftand fl>rall the Truth, and Privileges of the gWi ■ td extend .«„eftly for the Faith once delive,ea ttttheiftunts : Keeponen Doom K>r k. ^mbe^bat clofefeagainftall fuch. as canno, f^«fati*aoryEvl!lenoe of a Work of Grace tfeir He^t. and iheir Uniotiothe LoMJ«„, |H»«T : „d.be .„o.^,i„„ „^ ^^c«.. a^w" !^*^•'"■"'^j°f^*W>>''>■. !an Jl^ir*'*""" '*!?'^y«»fCa»„T.y>; fwk't*^ think .f -Water Baptifa. (SjJ Matt. a», 4a. ^^ ?*.,.*, ^: '>i» - -. ( »58 ) IFprI wouH advife til Chriftiaw not to buiM opon fuoh external. ObfemtioM very high, left they might bar out foine greater Bleffing, nordf- teem them beyond tvht|i|ood they may do. Aid w for Water Baptifm, it may jjc obferved, that^ «mqng the great throng of ifs.iealous Advocates, t^cy differ as much in their pofitive Affertions a« black from white. Numbers declare it to be Re- «cnejatidH ; others feem to be fomethinginore«- finq|l in this" Matter,, and vrill only fay, tfa«t it puta the Child in a more fiiir Way for 9onverfion» ^jkys the Lord under fomc Oblfgttion to the <^P,whye many others ftepalmoftas far out of the ' ^ay on the other Side, and will hardly bdievfti Man to be a Chriftian,;th«^ will ^et hi^'eWditA baptized, or that will atot be baptized Jiiiitfelf by,. Immerfion j ai^ fome othcrs^re To offended a]t -aM. M^ater-Baptifip, that they are fupcrftitioufly cnga^" ed againft it. Now it is felf-evident, that thefe cannot all be right, andthei«fofe,if mydear Rea- der & any Defire to know »y Mind on this Mat. ter, I anfwer, that after hearing ^^WarttfeiS D«l n a t es an d greaKiMi rg gme n te fran eveiy Side, tiaA a cloie Application ta the iafidlible^ W^»dl^ ^vUi.Iiirmly believethat ^ ' {vqlt^^N^iUi . '' * . - . ■■ . that ;■»'.'. ■^ ..n. ,;. p.- « ( *59 ) - , that is of any Benefit to an immortal Souf, but the Baptifm that John tells us his Lord and Mafter/houldbaptife with, viz. the Holy Ghost ^nd Firc:(zJ And when a Man Is thus Baptifcd, he will reign wj{h Christ for ever, if he never fee any Water. And as for the Ufe of the Water, my Advice is this ;Jf any true Chriftians are con.' ~ Science bound to be fprinJcIed, they andthcir Chil- drcn, by no Means forbid them ; and.if others are Coafci^^nce bouqd to omit the baptifing of their Infants, but chufc to go all under Water themfeives after Conver/ion, why ftould they not go, and if others are Confcience bound to omit both, for the lord's fiOca do not compel them to ufe it : And by no Mean* fpend too much Time difputing •bout it, nor depend fo much upon it as to bar ' , out fomc greater Blcfling , for it is all (as you wii4 certainly find upon Examination) but a none-ci* ifcntial Matter of no more Importance than it does good, and if any one imagines they ar^ Confcience hound, and really expc« to get or do, fome Good thereby, God forbid, that I ihoul4 hinder, or controul tny Brother's Confcicn«» i^ (') Luke 3. i^. -A tlti^ ■i?-.. M ihofe ii6iic-«flcnti«l Matters; And *$ one Mmi that is baptifcd witK the Holy Qhoft, will be of more Service in the Church of Cum^r, than Ten that gre only baptifed with Water,' I would to God that all his People were- fo tender in tMt Point, as nev^r to bar any from Cdmraunion but fuchw God barsj for if he receiye*'them, whQ, or what am I, that I fliould refufe them. • Kowi as I intend a few more Word'i of Advice to the People of God in one of the" following Chapter* I fliali conclude this Difcourfe with that impor- tant Advice ofthe God ofall Grace to you, and all the Followers of the Ltmb. .Stand* ftH. therefore in die iriberty^ wherewith C^ittT/h^tli inade yon -frtis:, iind ^e ^ot entangled »|;tiii >^^ the Yoke of^ond«gi.(^ And the Lordof h|« infinite Mercy, lead you by his own Wordsjad> Spirit, into all Truth. ^,<-' mm^-mmiDim^ , J' CHAPTER XIV. I* i { 261 ) ' .l'-^ dtt.A PTE jR xrv. •^ HEN the World ,yi?l her cnormouJ^mes ^^=ft-°^ o«ther Day of Probation, ind. WI that wa.„cceff«ry for the WeJf^e of the fall -^^n«.,elusbeendoneb;th. Father, Son and «oly^^^^^^^ wty^jl,haven,ade ' -ft ofMa„k,nd have outftpod the0^ of^G^ace r have abufeci the Patience of Heaven T;i ^ u ' ,,ndc.*eC„rt-eb^^h,o„h„by.heSi„„fiiV I.h.b„.„„ rt<,„ ^„^„^ ror>fleI«&, Now ■ COM. G««P„eof.He,V<.HdVei„.„j;2 w.th>c«hc„ifl. D„kni6,,„a ,HeCh;iftia„ C^r^ ^ W '">f°™"*i'' «'-"'<• V'* Antichriftia; «J0ft SupcrilltionTthcn,:^jifq ^4 -.'fsit.i^i .'■J- mam ous^jrlmes atioii, and, r the fajl ^ > Son and lave made ^ I and the^;, >f jGrace,/ therQb/*^ ■erdition;* n GuiJc,' s in the groaned iin of i]t'e . I Now ■ Y wains' crfpread n Corn. hriftian j h w ith ' I ■^,. awful Scene.. At%Kdnight it is farefairted this ' PttmpwillSwft. '^ X From tenfold JDarknsfs 'fudden as the Spark, JFrom Hmitten Steel ^hm nitrous grai n the fiiaze^ Man ftarting from his Q)uch fhall fleep 119 mOr. All Nature ftruggling in the Pangs of l>eath:.. t '. •*. ■ ' "-^ ' ;^'* YOUMC'S NlQHT-THOUGriTSi TMB-wife Virgins fleeping ^with the fiDolilh, fij th'e^trui Chriftians not only , grown fonT;>»l, * but fm- the Fear^f the Crofs joining Affinity with" • Bftbylon, that whcire of th^Nations 1 groW!ng ncg- • ligent ofth^ Catife of Christ, ^d faying by *; their Coadu«,the"torddelaycthiiHcoming, and .the Power of GodiiHefs fcarcely to be found orf* * -Earth J fake Slicpherds and falfe Chri^ decemag ., :jj'*«^ tra^^ m Purp^^and iino Lini4n, aa^ m«k- ♦ ^ ii^'^miiMndiKofthe "?Sooli of Men, fe)^ ' " \ S®**^''>^GoD,wkichwwLonccjrHott%ofPray«rj *.^ Wivfift -^ .; ■ ^'g^f e » Pigiof Thicftt ; thg- gfee^pen^ct V ,■ • / .- 'V .> ,r *-* '.ff«»*i>! , .^iwJ ( 263 ) «ng,of tl„„„h grown proud .nd iofty .,„ man„„ of Debauchery fprcadi'ng Uke , p,,;;, S'«g= PI.y., B.I1, ,„d M.r,ucr.d., received „ aa ndulgenee from Heaven, .„d .he fimple Recrea- tions of Fancy , while the Herdd, of the Gofpel, ^-y Wd forth the Truth, are accounted. L M« «.d Enthufiaft. , Libraries glutted with Traged,«,Comedi.,,g„„.„e«„ Novel, and 0- "■" profane Hiflories, whii. the Sacred Oracle. «ec..h«.nfa,„oufly rejcfled a, the fapofttion, of deluded Men. or difrejarded « the Fables of ,' ' '""'°«' '■'™™8 ?»a blafphenring „„,„„. . lythe I,«,guage of Troops and Mariners, but •Ifo of Towns and Cuntrift, and revived al the ^xpreffionsofPo«te„ef,,Dr„nlten,ef,aco.,pon Amufemene accounted neither Sin norQifgrac. • *«R.ch«a,t.d,.hePoort„.„p,«,inthT^;; M.«a«dE,ui.y „„,« ^,^ .»d A. vJeftoftheSon, of Men exalted, Sign, r<; W^ .ndR„,„„. ,,^„^ ^^^ ,^^ _^_^^ .J "•"nan War. f«..diu, Defolation thto' the World Jo% iail a Flood ; ived as an e Recrea- hc GofpeJ, ted as mad ted with s and o- I Oracle* ipofitions Fables of J not on- T ( 264) like a Flood ; and thefe with the moil alarming Prodigies become familiar as the common Occur- rences of Nature, and as little regarded as the Shadows of theEvening,or the threSfning Billows to the undaunted Shore, while the fccure arid Un- feeling Inhabitants of the Guilty World arc niar- iying and giving in Marriage, asregardlcfs as the Antedeluvians, (e) O the Midnight Darkhefs thaf now ovcrfpfeads the World ! Darknefs ..covehs the Land and grofs Darknefs the People, fetting.ar nought the moft alarming Difpenfatiqns of God*il Providence, and rejifting the moft (indeai^ing Ex- preflions of Love and Bowels of CompajEoa, Ca]I.< defpifed, Mercie*s abtifed. Warnings negledted. Judgments dcfyed*, Confciences fear#jf, M?nd^ ftuped. Souls condemned, the Day ofQraceoyer, and the World undone. Hark f Hark. The Cry is made, tha Midnight Ciy. ^ BehoM the Bride- groom Cometh. Goye Virjgins, goallye Sonsof Mcil to meet your Judge. (/J Micaxfii. appear* V Michael the great Archangel noW beftrldes fcdth Earthand Sea, and thereby denotes ']bi# Power to .;;^ alarm the ju(^and theUnjuft, the vfatcty^J^omtis .■>.l<*.^ _• i#]>I«h. z^ 3S. 39. [/] Math.,^as,. 8. ■ •' * • - .H ,W* •« Jl ^ f:- !''■■ • i «ad tjve nioftjirofi?und Caverns oft he fearUij with WftedAwn to Heaven, not only claiming tlie At- tendance of. all the Heavenly Hofts. but likewife '"' ^^'"^^^ft-^^ of W God-like Power with his dread Gommiilionfroni the eternal ThXone ;afld ^ th« calling Heaveri, Earth and Sea to attcnd,he lifts his Hand and fvvears (by what) by Hxm, whi .- gaveBei^g ,0 all that do exift, artdwhofe Com. mands Heaven, Earth and Sea obey ; Armies in Heaven, Le^ion^ in Hell, and Miilioh. on Ear^/x «« «I* byHiM preftpved, ^nd mn aU feel his lolemn Awe; by him* the Great I AW, who \ ^Ws um«oved, eternal and UncontroiUM^ ever ynd fc* ever reigns , by Him ITwrcar (fwear whaO -Wiat Time /hall bp no longer. CgJ Jliid ceaf<;, ye rolling Orb^ from^ole to Pol refufe a Gleam of Li^t to the Poor Guil* ty, diftraaed and difiblymg World ;(i) 9^ fa!-' .Icn Nature feels hir aj^roeching Doom. " ^tthit^s I bear ber^ €9Hfciou$^ tf btr Fmte^ ^ Witbffatful Gramgs andbidtiftu Crifs Fill *be pre/agiug Siiu ^ \ VmaiU to fuppof^ tbt tfiigbt . O/tbtprefeittjor^afprmbit^llBfgrift' Mttbinks J hear berfummouall' , ./ s Her guillf Off springy raving with Di^r -\ J'\ And trgmhling try alotult frtptire, ; 1 ^• ■ • ** PoMFHRltJ'hfv- ,<»)»fatt.a4. t%. .^.i-^ ' i^.j^.M* .■ S -■• - .t • The $cas rojir, the Rocks ineit, the E^rtli trembles, the fhundtM-* rattlf , Lightnings play ; Earthquakes rend j Inundations ovenflow ; Hou- fcs barn ; Pyramids reel , Vj^ges, Towns, and Kingdoms fink J while buying Hills exceed Mount JEtWs o| Visuvius's Flames'; the Graves open , the Dead arife j the quick are chanj^ed j and firll the Saists appear ; Hearen'^ LtiVc is fo great for the Followers of the Lamb that Men and Devils fhall bchoM his peculiar >Regard for them ; for the Lord himfelf Ihall defcend from Heaven with i Shou^, with the Voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God, and the Dead in Christ fhall rife firi^i/ij And blcflcd and happy are fhcy that have Part in the firft Rcfurreftion j on fuch the fedond Death hath no Power/i; The King of Kings is now making up his Jewels, and will firft ferve his chofen Sons from the r«de Mifi t»f Sinners. Sti hw the joyful Angdt fy from e^ry quarter of the Sky (Oi. Tb «f.4.a 6. f^j Xav.a6. Wt r» . • "fi » ,' v^. ( 26^ ) % gather and to convoy all \To one capacious flace Above the Confines of this fldmin% Balf^ '&ee^ith nuhai Tendernefs and Love they heitf Thg Righteous Soa/s thro' the tumultuous Air While ihe\ungodly ftand.belo'W R^ing with Shame, Coufufion and DeJ^air Amidjl this flaming Overthro^jt \ Expeaing fiercer torments and acutef- Jr^M Round them inferfud Spirits fly ^^ O Horror! CnrfesiTorturesy Chcuns they cry ^ '^And.roar aloud tvith execrable Bla^hemy. POMPHRET. What awful Throws I What Heart-rending Groans and chearful Shouts ire now heard . thro* the promifcuous and innumerable Throisgt t^f bove Angels fhouting, Seraphs prailing* and Saints triumphing ; beneath Devils blafpheming, and Sinners- roaring. Good Gop ! And where ami ? ;«. , AJl renfijal Ties diilblved, and oS ill Mom * ThreWn ,■ ,A-^^?'^% ■ yo mort fliall Time, or Weight of fpi6i.ftfc r'i -5... fcaown. FaRit vr«\ild not bepbifible fw Mortals ift ( *69 ) Y C. liear, fee. or receive the approachiog Scenes, whick arc fpirhual and immor^r Now all Mortal ^pat^oH ImmoruJity attd/p^es to meet the i«mortal King, to hear «id receive their cverlafting Boom. The Maflc is oow thrown off; theC Prifon-walla are down; and nothing more to interpofc between Man and Scenes un- Jcnown to mortal Efts. Now the Bodies arife^ hut not the Elemental Bodies, for they arc to he bprnt up aad-dt^Tolved,^/; but that fpiritual Body wkitk Man was made with at «rft, and whith fell firort^Goo?this Rebellion, aa^ which ewry Man has tho» fallen, is now to be raifcd «^ reftored ^ its primitive Rcaitude and Purity. /«; TTie Dull 6r fcattei«d P«tidcs V Tin 'fhoufand Saints now. ftarting fr^m tlici; long lumbers, which have been fcattcrcd hy Fi/h, hy Flame, by Rack ; in th«Sie* or ontheLandi aH rife and claim a kindred to each diftant Mote, all purged, all pure, all harmonipus, alf brighti all Aogcjic, and all immortal. • And nov^ their Friend appcart. The hap^y Mom awakes. O blcfe^ Day * ThaiwipemeirTeai ^, and all their grirfaway. Wz. Petw i. 13. u. („) ,:cm» 1 5. 3^44. 4/. 46. * 4r. -\\ ,<^ V «jm :„„ ing Scenes, Now all ires to meet ccivc their OMf tl)rown id nothing ^^^ i Scenes uti- xlies strife i hey arc to It fpiritual t £rfi, and and which - • be raifed nd Purhy. iicir long hy FJ/h. the Laudj Ant Mote^ ir brighti 4 D»y* 46. it 47. V Now an the Sai«V Iutc reach'd the peaceful Shore. ■ . \ tl^here Darknefs, Sto, and Death fhall reign rio more. 1 Thi great ANcrsNT or Davs now owns all his defpifed FollowA-s. Long have they been accounted as the Fihhl and Offfcouring of the Earth, and pramj^d inllhe Daft by the Feet of the Ungodly. long wtre thejr ld«led with Re- proachei, and efteemcdi»s>!adm«B and Enthu- forts; but now they »re ixakdd : Whifc the wicJced World fliall for ever wail, «f^t in vain for Rocks &Mocnta^i^to'j^id©tH|)*|Wir«p, 'that fits iij^nthc Throinfe, and fwm «h« i'acc of the Lamb.^«; Ai»d *ow Ivffi^ toved^«bcni with an everlafting Love, fliall te?tw« ihtniin his kind Embraces, wi^ile An||4^9 n^ Archaft- gels acclamate their faft Arrival Xb tht etflefti^ ^orld. Now breaks forth U>c bri^i^tp^ ftfift-. ning Star j now the Arms of evfrifttig hgn^ encircles them, diyinc Beauty i^klu»| faj, ej^^ Eye, and facred Love lluihes in each. 4ii|e^c. Face. Is t^s the Lamb, cry otit Taii !pMa#< ^^ 4») Ker. «. 16. • s 4 w ftscl- «» • \ L'-Vfe *v,„ ^ f ■i iJit", ^ V *" ^.,^ J r .■■4 IT'. -Itf V ( 271 :jr' >^ And Saints, is thi. the Lamb that was Slain ? Ah flain, the finking World to five. Ii this tj^p ^ Man of Sorrows, that bore our Sins up Mount '" ^AtVARY, and groaned beneath our Qilt ? Is this the great Phyfician of Souls that appeared r fpr our Redemption, when all Help failed from cv^ry quarter; when |)eaA and Hell co^fpired Qur Ruin ; when Deftruaion yawned, Yen- seance threatened,, and Miftry purfqed. Then O fen, in that diUreffing Moment appeared the ^er » Friend, the Comforter .f Mourners with Balm from G....o, to the wo/ded Confcience That brought Salvation to the fallen Race JLet Angels love and eve^ Saint adore TJ»e flaughterj^ W,, who did the World Reftore. Now ,11 the F.«ow„.ofthc Lam. have, left ftjguJ.xW„rid,,„dfo„„d„.„^ ^:""V ;"*«l„.p,oWd.if„.hkp„. P^«pcared the "V" with 'onfcience. 2 Arm of n Race 3ore he World have, left ft, whicli his Peo- ted Joy. Body of feeTlBr yjtatioiis ■'■.,-,•.■11 < I '■ ^ % \ ll"' ■ . ■...! _ *■ ■ , . Temptntions of the grand Advirfii'iyj^p be in- Aiared with th)i Allurements of adecpPn WbrH^ No logger Khali their Breafts throW with Griefs nor their Eyes flow with briny Tears, nor 6vep mourn the Abfencc of their SoiUs chief Delight. Now are they landed beyond al^ the Storms and Tempefts, beyond all Sin and Sorrow : for thefe aie they th|t are come out of much Tri>. bulatioh, whofe , Robes are wafhed and made white in the. B1do4 of tlte Lambj^©^ apd thef* are they that died in the-Lord, apd reft in their Father's Bofom, O what unfpeakable S<;enes c^ Joy nov^ppears, when they awake in hl« l,ikt- u^is aiid are fatisfied i(pj and thofe that have turned many to Righteoufnefs ihall ihtne as the Stare for ever and ever }(^^ while ThOufands by them called home to the Lord are as Stars in thctt Crown, crying out with Shouts of Praijjj. Blefled be Gpn Cor the Feet of thofe, that brought Glad Ti4ing8 to our Souls, that publiflited. good Things in Si0N,^r/ by Whom wp rcccivedr tjia Meffages of Peace Tthefe are the Flamca of Fire fi/ that warned us with Tears to floe ffpm the Wt^tK ((?)Rev. 7 14. (/.)?(. 17- 15. ^jr/pan.ia. 3. Jfc. ja. 7. .{^ Vfyian<>4, 4. ' 7? %wd| -r . /■ '/v. .. mt^. ^ V''"'"" ■■: ■. ' ■.,' . \. wmm. ■ 7' *- ■„ a - » /■ ■ , * /• ' -^ 4 ' V '- ^ (■ ; ■ / / ' - t ■ tif^,,.. .1^;;" ' - * " U • -._^- ■"• ' r' M kl * ?. • *■" ^la^Aia J ■^ O" 4 . 1„^-. It h^ • ^^ . - "■ ■ ■:' ■ };'■ 1 ■ H ..'.,"■■"-■■ ..''■- J " / ■ . " - i ■■'■■ ■ ■ ■■ , y .' '' ■ '' ' ./ ' ;■■ '/.■■'. ■. '■ 4fl I .-.■^ . r. ^ '■•''. ■ ' ■ . f 'm ':■/■ •: ■ „ " - ^ N H " « - /"^ ' ■ . T '- ^- ^'^ J- * • • v' V - . L ■ -^" " '. \ :'.:^^a;:4^^ I^^lji^^ ^H ■ ^^^H ^H ■ ^H ^^^ ^ ^^^^^1 ^^^^^^^^^H ^^^^1 ^^^^H ^1^^ " , HRHi HRRH HRHHHHIli HHHj ■ ^PP ■ * '/ \ ^ip^^ ■ ■■ " r* " i ■ ./' ■w* ' J - rf ' » - ^ I . r.' '' 7 ■■- » ^^^ * • ■ ' >* % 1.0 I.I IM ,ff »^ |2.2 ^ b£ 12.0 L^ llliu i,., irJ^ ' i^ Sciences Corporatioh / 23 WEST MAIN STREET VVfBSTER, N.Y. I4SS0 (716) 873-4503 •• .» . 1 .1 4 .'^'a*:f; v^-T^tiV / ( *75 ) t» come. Bkflcd be thy Name, almighty Pa^ «m, fay thofc^brought to the Knowledge of hi» Love thro' theiaftrumentality ofGodJy Parent., ^.t ever I ^.3 committed to the Care, of fuqh • ^.thfuiSte^ard,. Bieffed be Goo. Ir thel Pr,ye„ coupfel,. and Admonitions , L .bovc' «I1 for the accompanying Influence, of li, Qraee ^d Spirit, that attended them; and iclTed be God, that ever I was Rationed i„ a Land of I'ight, where the Feet of t^ Qof^cl Herald Jwve trodden; and here, fay the Parent., Othou great Defire of Nation.. -we are with thofe that thou haft given u«. Here, blefled Prince, we are for ever thine To found thy Praife. and to thy glory Aine. Thy Son., thy Daughters, dear bought Chil- drcn are ,Thc Price of Blood, RjiDSEMiNc Lovi td fliare. . All HaU. all Hail, fay the Meflcngers of the LorJ, thou great immortal Prince pf Peace, that ever the Gofpcl of RcconciliaUon was commit- ted to eartheo Veflels, and we of all Me* the moft unworthy, fe nt forth to proclaim thp glad i^t^gs df Silvafon tQ OUT Fcllow-mortal.. Our Tryala t —«*■ almighty Pa. •wlcdge of his odJy Parents, CarcN of fuqh / D, for thcii, >; Qut above of mis Grace id Blcffcdb© a Land of )fpcl Herald ents, O thou th thofc that •vcr thine, glory Ihine. >ught Chil- I Lovi tb 'gers of the 'cace, that ! coimnit- Mc"^ the ail. Our Tryala m Tryals were few, and our Sorrows /hort. Lack- ed we any T^ing during our Mortal State ? Al- tho* Earth an^ H^ll were againft us, and GIo. ry to God the Sltfrm is over. Safe;_iWe-oBr tect have trod the Ddjfrtthro' .And reach'dthe €hore, where Sorrows muft Hbrb kll the Prophets, Patriarchs, ApofUcf and Teachers, Jews and gentiles, bond and free, Male and Female, ojd and ^ung, rich and poor that have known the joyful Sound, reft from their Labburs, and their Wort^ follo^v them. Here all the poor Difciples of Christ, that have been long wandering up and down in the World in Shecpfkias, in Goatfkins, in Defarts, in Dens and Caves of the EztthfiJ fit down in everla- fting Joy, with all Tears wiped from their Eyes. Long have they mourned under the Difordcr* of their fallen World ; but now they have ex- changed Sins and Sorrows for immortal Glory, Corruptible puts on incorruptible, an Sleep, and releafed from their JmprilbUPstate. The' Clogs of their fallen State artlj the Mafkof Mor- tality are now thrown off, ' ^nd clearly they re- member their firft ItebcJlion in the Garden of Eden i which brought Deftruftion with all he^ Furies thro* the new-made World. Now they remember the bloody Mount, where the Weeding Saviour bore their Sins, and' opened a State of Immortal Glory to the guilty World. Ah,' He it was, that took away their Sfns, and now they Hold Htm Face to Face ,HbcQ^^ \r i^ py Saula, it 'd a Being ; T Sun arofe to clofe. IfDelight do ftal fiattle- > tflliir fal- rable State, which tliey icmber that ad plunged ai^e redee- :hciV Sleep, ate. The flc pf Mor- y they re- Sarden of ith all her ^fow they e bleeding a State of Ah,' He iow they ^ a l lG lo * '^ .' 7 '>* ^^K*Si.-- ' ( ?76 ) ry »iJd.Confolauoiii the Brightncfs of his Fa- ther's Glorjr, and the exprcfs Image of his Per-, fon. And now All tbe Glorious of the Godhead appear i» the Face of the bleflcd Immanuil ; the leaft Glinjpfe of whofe Vifagc outlines Ten Thoufand Suns. Every Soul is .now ravi/hed, with his divine B^uty j Gratitude fills every Heart and Love fparkJes in every Eye ; while, the Soul-ravifhing Look and Voice of t\e Re- deemer kindle in every Breaft, Flames of immor- tal Love. Blcifed, foprer bleflcd, faith the King 9f Kings are ye that are the Purchafe of my Blood »n4 the Fruit of ihy Bowels. Ye are the Fruit of my Hands, and Trophies of my Viftory, tl^e Favourites of Heaven and the ob- jefts of li^r everlafting Love, Welcome, welcome now to iimortal Glory j welcome to the Seats df Reft Prepared for you by the Sufferings of the King of Heaven. Welcome to the Society of Seraplis, to the Band of Angels and Xrchan. «els. A^elcome to the Glory of Heaven, and all the |oy8 of the ccleftial World. Welcome to the F^elis of Divine Beauty and unbounded ^^^ **f ^g^^'ght. Welcome to the eternal Ages of Felicity, «^d lU the Sweets pf Redbiiiino* Love ^ ^.*77 ) ' " l:«v?. And w9lcom« to your Father's 3ofom. V^y^cvcr more ihall a aoud vail your Saviour's Face, aor Darknefs interpofe between ypu and your God. Behold with Joy and Triumph the ^mpaiTaWe Gulf between you and the Regions pf eternal Darkncfs ; and remember the deJjJo- «blc State from which I Ifcive redeemed you, It was I that beheld you in all your Blocid, caft out InMic open Fields to the loathing of your Pcrfon, and then was th<: T|me of Love; my Bowels yearned over you with Pity, I caft my ikirt over you, and faid unto you, liY^/«; i was the good -Samaritan, that faw you fallen among Thieves, ftrippcd, Mcpunded and kft dead iH T^cfpaiTes and Si^. when the Law and it's E«cutors offered you no Relief, then poured I ^n the Oyl and Wine of my Grace, and bound up your Wounds, and fcaled you on the Heart •f cverkfting Love/^; j followed you with Tendernef, and Love thro' all the Dangers of your Pilgrimage State, .„d have now brought you to your defied Home and everlaftiug Reft ; !!i::!li;:^^reign w«h me, for ever: As Iier*s 5ofom. ur Saviour's :en ypu and rriumph the the Regions the deplo- tcmci you. Blood, caft ng of your l-ovc; my I caft my you fallen i kft dead w and it's -n poured id bound he Heart you with tngers of Iwought Mg Reft ; vcr: As «7« ) I live, ye fliall live alfo. Never, aever, faith the 3nde of the Lamb, fliall we forget the Day of Efpoufah, and the Time of thy Love. O thou, by what Nime {Rail we call thcc ? The mighty God, the everlaftiiig Father, the Prince of Peace, thou great, thou all wife Father of all Spirits, Author of all Beings, God of all Gpicc, 9rlgin of all Exittehcfe, sionrce of all H«^ pinefs, Light of Lights, the Ahgcis Joy, tnil the Scrajihs Triuinph, or greater Wonder ftill, the Sinner's Friend, the Rebels Advocate, the TraitorsPlea. Reigh, O reign rhouKingofKing^ whofe love was Wronger than Death, and wh<» gave thy life a Ranfom for many. OtKou, whofe Body was torn and mangled for our Redemption; keign, reign,, thou grew eternal Saviour, reign O'er all the Hofts of the Angelic Train ; Let Angels bead. Seraphic Armiee bow ; . And the REDEEM er's ranfom'd Virgin glow. With Love Divine to thy Incarnate Name» 1 And Worlds ynnumtercd fpeak thy laftiasfaffie. This, this is He, fay Ahglels and Archangels, that gave being to all our heavehly Hofts ; and this is He, that preserved whole Di- ■lioycl kindle monh Fire. 'odeJ while e Arms of e, vlrhat vrc Aid bleff- n Addition our angeJic ri^e of the iwcets of 'f yonfal- lat facred f Heaven the Loftf ■8 of evcr- :nt on the snate Sa^ you with of jrour . tiyotiA ( aj8b ) mortal State. Often have wc attended you With Chearfulnefsj when commiffioned as miniflcring ^Spirits, invifible to mortal Eye but above all re- member that Day which filled all the heavenly Armies with a joyful Sarprifc and Wonder, when the Creator of the Univerfe hung on Calvart's Hill, and groaned under the Weight of human Guilt; that Day, when Millions of Angels, in- vifible to mortal Eyes, covered all the bloody Mount, where your Redeemer was extended : When, if our immortal State .would have admitted of Sorrows, all Heaven would have beeii dileft itt Mourning. But new Themes of Joy were fooil opened in Heaven, when his expiring Groans declared the grand Work of Man's Salvation was ^nifhcidj and trilimphant Songs .awoke at hi« inighty Conqueft over Death and Hell ; and this, ye Souls for ever bleffed, Ihall be your everlafting Song. Welcome arriv'd ye Saints forever Well To Angel's Glory and eternal Reft, Let Gratitude ^ur Heav*n-bom Souls infpire. While bending round the Throne of facred Fire __._ _ ...: w ~ burning wi^i ^.ove Witefergphlc Lyre, Th« The ^iintr ire now gathered from the four Wind! of He«vcn, freed from all the Infultt of Btith and Hell, all fafdy environed by tke Armi of Omnipotence. And now more ihock- ingScenei appear The Righteous are fevered from the kicked, the Wheat from the Tares; and ntm the Ungodly muft awake and appear before'thea^fiil Tribunal, O! muft the guilty 8pirit« trertibling come To toeet^ieir Judge-, and everlafting Doom. j ^■l;*' ^o«W it be for them now, if fome MTk Cavern or inciimbeht Shade might ihekcr them frdm the ^proaehihg Judge. Q could they ceafe to exift I Jut no, they muft pxift Stran- f gcr» to Annihilatioii, and endure the approaclfl ing Sh«eki O intolerable 1 And muA they ffleeC him once a Man of %>rrow8, but now* a Go© in Glory J And now thty behold Him in all his Grandeur, with all his Saints and Ten Thou- sands of his Angels, all^inged with Light and Glory, to atten^ hiin in the'laft Affiie. %, O my Sou!, is t^iis the Man that once On Calt'ry** Mount fuftaih'd the $inner*« Weight? - W3w&GteTia-*ardwiftiniamo^^^ With Wrpst.^'- t DM the foup be Infttltt of Ded by tkc more ihoek- r are fevered the Tare« ; And ■p|>ear ling come Ung Doom. w, if fonie light ihcltcr Q could exift Stran- tf s approacKi i they meet 9\f a God iim in all ren Thou- tight and tc. that OBce te Sieger's With ( 28i ) With Sorrows frcrd, and gro/n'd npoi the Tree / ' To fave a guilty World, and tp rtftore Poor rebel Man to cvcrlafting' /love. Ah this is He, once a Babe It Bbthlbhbm^ but now Archangel's King ; ontk crowned with„ Thorns, but now with Omnipotence %d Light unapproachable. He. that was once arraigned at PiLAtt'a Bar, now calls Kings, Prilices and Monarchs before him ; Whole Kingdomi^w j yea ahd Worlds^ fubmit to. Jiis Imperial ^wij^, . Milliotis on Earth and Myriad* in Hell con. ' ftraiAed frohi their darA 4bpdcs to attend his awful Court. See, fee th^ubnumbered Throng , . Belial with all the reprobate Sons of Akam who have fealed themfelves down to eternal Fer» dition muft c^owd the folemippir. Nor Man albnie ; the Foe of Goo and Man From hi« dark Den^ blafpheoiing dfiagf hit ' Chain, .. a..^;.. ■■•• ''-■ " Attd rears his brazen Front with Thindcf ^ Jcarr'd ^ - Ree^ives hia Sentence, ahd begins his H^. YOVNO*S ^IO» T*T| |0tPOItyf," t- Tuns* \^.f. \ .^ .1 i» * J ♦»*.'-V .> ^ iH ' TknsE, thefirft Rebels in Heaven, muft ftand ^e a\Vful Day, and view their black Reb^lion. O witk virhat RicluaancewUl they- meet Him' f He tiiat wa« once their ^ther and their Friend aaddidall that Yfaa ntfccffary^r their ererlaf- ting Happinefs. What Tortures will rack thfcm, at the Remembrance of the • cruel Hand, that v/ithout any Temptation or Provocation, was lif- ted in Hcaveui, and bid i)efiance to the God of all Goodnefs, arid ftfuia ion Povrew of Luft has failed, W^^iig^a jr snaw. Ta M "m '/..¥ /^' W tel«had.wiA Regmhi,A«o™pIic« i« »«l»«!.e,7, .nd curii, the 0.y ,h„ he ,^r "° "-^^S^td to *eh Sh™. ■ .hi cv^,,fii„ J ""•^' ""* ■«»» »P!»ar to rtentheir Jadge, «.d b.h*l ,W bi.ckkfm„l Score. Ah ho^ ^T^T".^'^ ^^""^ "■« """•■y Name, «b.ehA»gels„dA«l.,„geh reverence; & f„« **«tS.y ete„fd„. have received every B«a,h *^*«r f O ,wh.t . fljoctteg Troth ! I. this »«*Bi«™- for Repentance tttrtied over to Blaf- I*«V t Now Acy feel that Damnarion, which rr^!!! '"^''■•'^ " ""'""'^^ toP>«»rt "" *""*^' »<• oAe"- B«. 0,00 hte, ttey ;'«w6.«4fl«lth.Wdght«fu,ei,si„„dFoll/ *"'"*' ™" •»««*« e«% throng, w*' cttJieftndror hit BtafphemoBi Tongjw **• re ftriking $ yet I would iS'i fttccef- it Mo|n<;nt le fpiritual ley arc im« ching Eye, ownBre^.) ipine Mor- both Law Regard tq :en warned under, and sr the moft treated all every de- Time a^d -acedf Ah thofe glo. », which juandered and their can they flccp ^i^r' •* t flcep any more, but muft forever wake in aftir- prife pf Mifery. And O how cutting muft the Sight of the Judge be to the enlightened Apoftati that was awakened by the indulgent Saviour, who had been fo long at their Doors, and fo of' ten intreated them to forfake all and to folloy him; while his Headwas filled with the Dtfw, and his Locks with the Drops of the Night. How often has he intreated them not to reject his Calls, nor defpife his Grace, telling them, that his Spirit would not alway s Ibive with Man f How often has his Bowels yearned over theui with Pity, entreating them. to be wife in Time > but they would not have him to reign over them j and thcfe are they that fmned againft the Light ot their own Gonfcience, and againft the moii endearing Expreffions of Love. Thefe arejhcy, who for one Morfel of Meat fold, their Birth- right i and now they find no Place for Repent * tance, akho' they groan with everlaftinf^orrora, ThcA: are they, that for the Love of theWorld> or fome. earthly Enjoyment, or Fear ofthe Crofii^ turned away and walked no more with himftc} ^Thefe «c they that-iaftcd oT- (») Johi)6. 66. dou ( "89 ) ' Ad h. «U .].«, if „, M„ drew b^t, ki, whore W. Acy h.,c fo „ach .bufea , How oft«w«. they w.r,cdwid.T„„. to have Pi- 'y o. their own Souls, while there w„ Hope V the ftithf.1 Servant, „f the Lord , „ho will' •ow «-ife to their Condemnation. Ah how of- «» h«v« they intreated them to hear the Lord'. Meffaje «,d.ceept of Life and Salvation , but : d")- eft«med them « Enemie,. becaufe they toli them die Truth. Bnt now the Gofpel Tmn^ti. blow, no more, the Ambaffador, »f the Lord are all tailed home ; and the Day «f Cnc« it now over; the mediatorial Hour M go«. ttd Jl the unbelieving World is now- i^pwl MtheBar. AU guilty .„d Jl undone. ^ k*" «ieaed tie Gofpel of Ch...t. defpifed V*.. „ **• """P^ "• "^ "»roye 'id to cftin^ » of Goo a. How often •w back, his ■ ail was in meet him, e but hd many other precious and immortal S0UI9 blindfolded down to Perdition j who will now «urfe'them for their Neglcft and faltc Inftruc. tion. Tney have fpent all their Days deceiving the World, and are gone down to the Grave with a Lie in their right Hand j pretending to th^ blinded World a Difpenfation of die Gofpel vra$3 'committed to them ; when at the fame time the/ were both Strangers an4 Enemie^ to both Cu&mv and his Gofpel. And now th^ muft forever me t he tf FftUy u n der the ^^^s ^tt if Aeh* Bim, oA «ring and Saul-dcftroying Praaices ? O how will they now give an Account of their Stew, ardfhip I Thefe, fay their unhappy Children, arc the ungodly Wretches, into whofe Hands our Souls were committed ; who inftead of prayinjj trith and for us, facrificed our Souls to Moloch by their evil and ungodly Inllruftions and Exam- plcs. Often, faith on5, have! heard curfing and Avearing by my Parents, but feldom a Prayer in the Family : They were fond of fupporting *nd decorating my Body, but wholly neglefted tha Welfare of my prepious and immortal Soul. O that »~w.w.,wv /«. yj cruel i'UiuU, curied Mirdcrcft of your Xrhildren ? I ad;no\vlcdge ' >■ } eiieftions of ve deceived, :ncc. irent! nfnarecTaS JoD-dilhon- f O how heir Stewr lildren, arc Hands our af prayinjj to Moloch ind Exam- urfing and a Prayer lupporting neglefted rtal Soul. ■ Care of encoura- ^here the : me, or foufes of O cruel dren ! I lowlcd^e { Z9* ) ' acknowlege, faith another, that I have often fin- ned againfi: Lights and tlie Dictates of my oWn ConCcience, and therefore am juftly eondemiied I yet^e were the curfed Initruments of mjr eiirerla- fting Dcftruftion j and now I muft be youi/ com- pany forever among tJie miferable Bla fphemets in Hell- O that ever I was born td liVc and die in fuch a Family. We were an ungodly Fa- mily on Earth, but we ihall be a far wor|e Crew in Hell, where we muft take up our evferlafting Abode. Curfed be the Womi) thit bor^ nte and , the Paps that gave me fuck, and curfedi be, the unfaithful Minifters, thofe blind Guiaesj that* have negle£led my precious and immortal Soul. O muft I ly down with M^nifters, Parckts, Bro- thers and Sifter* in the Regions of c^crlafting Sorrow, with Devils and damfted Spirits, and. what is far worfe, with tthegiawingt bf a guil- ty^ Con^-ience. The Time was, whe^ I had the offers of Salvation founding in my Ean, but J rejeded tliem : And now the Day is oVer, and X am gone forever. And ah ! What an I unhap<<^ py Being is now the Scoffers of ReligioP» ^ii^ ^. '^~^■ have fo often made a Derffion oT tKi CMtdren of God, and the Truths of the o^crfaftpig ^rt. * V V*, ( »93 ) not iuffer me tp aclcnowlcdge mv «f *e C.r,. „. ,o pk.f, .h. vaia Co. ' ■T" *"■"'»"" i»« i» maiing , Moot of R.li W«I.«d™,Cp„reie„«womdtfcenva,ds„. r;re''j"^''"^^^'^''"^ 'M would by W M«». or «hcr lull u, flccp. J,„, o C«fc«»cc ,. nowwak., .udwiU fl«p„„ ^orc, b«t wJl fo«vc.,„.„,,a tonurc my guil^aud '*''i»'™i« Soul Afc r - - {'*""v"''d *S!T ■" '-"'"^^ -«""'- Hope .o ' . gun ♦ f ^t the true ' of jthc Lord, ^« %n, and ►elieve it was ^iire for my a fcoffed at ^d told them and not to ctiines even / own Con- fatuatcd by cvcrla/ling "^edge my -n forfea 'Ompany of Rdi- were de. •wards re I would But O ^er ,♦ n)y no more, lilty.and Hi un or , [ope to r is be- . gun ♦ f *94 ) gun, Mid will never end. O had I been a StocT or a Stone, or any Thing but a neverdyihg Soul t The Judge approaches, aiid my Unhappy Doom draws nigh. How can I bear that fhocking Sen- tence, depart. O £temity. Eternity ! And rauft I for ever tread the gidomy kegidns of etcmal Darknefs! Mull I wonder and howl with banilhcd Cain, and traiteroua Jddas, and Myriada of Blafphcmous Wretches, tormented with reflec- ting Men and Devils, and fcbrchcd with a guil- ty Confcience, without one Drop of Water to cool my tormented Tongue. But ah. ? too late i pjn convinced of my Folly, and nothing buc Lofs, irrecoverable Lofs, founds through evtry Faculty of iiiy Defpairing Soul. I now remem- ber, how little I regarded the repeated Calls of t bleeding Saviour, and now 1 (hall bt as Httk regarded, wheti I Cry, Lord, Lord, open untomt^ For I am now ffer ever baniflied from theG«tei of Hope, and have nothing to expe^ bat iiiaw- fing Horrors ihro* the revolving Roundt ^M miferable Etei-riity ; and all Things paft, and to come confpiring to make inc 4 tm glirtted with hrcipreffiWe Tonlair pvery Quartet. Ah ? had 1 Teii TbouSud ' Tongues ( «9J ) Tongucar I cbuW aot cxpref. my. riprro«, «,a yet I muftsendure them for even O how in, tolerable are my Paih,. ho^ exquiiite my Hor- . m,. how eternal their Duration, and hdw un- .tera^ie m^ State f Hark the /hriJl Outcries of thofe guiJty Wretches, Lres GNowtHg Hjoitbh them \ Tbn Thoufands Thunders now awe the Atten- tion <.f all the guilty TJrrong to .the dread Tri- bunal ; and now that alifcarching Eye pierce, thro the hidden Receflesof eveiy Soul, and poinw .: «»nt all their Sin., The Sins moft private and Jong forgotten are now all refrc/hed in their Mem. «ry, and all their Shame dtpofed. How heavy Ac Load, how blaek the Score, how Heaven- baring thi ^mifivand how cutting the Laflies ." a guilty Confcieace, which now heaves the ^«1 Bar, and reada thcir,own Condemnation ; «ach one fttnding as feparafc before the Ojpnipo- tent Jodge, aiid as individually judged, as if he .in The Judge and|^ a]on< '->?♦ riarrors, vai O how in. ) ; alone to ftahd the naked Teft, how can their Hearts endUre, ,or . their Hands- be ftron^, t^hcn the Judge of all the Earth undertakes to deal with thcrtr,(^«; whofc very Nature is a Heli to them. For as Jhe Fire diflblves' the Ice by Reafon of the Contrariety of their Natures, fo the approa- chingpudgo increafcs their Torment byjlcafon of the Contrariety of the two Natures ; his Di- vino^ Light, Love and Q^dncfs being fo oppo- fite to their Malice, Fire and Darknefs, |hat their Mifery and Hell is increafcd and inflamed there- by. It is Divine Love and Goodnefs that ihcy hate, and therefore beholding fuCh Love anA Gobdnefs in him is like Fuel to their Souls in- creafmg their infernal Rage. But behold, Hz , comes, and fee Hftii they muft in all his Glory, Light and Parity, aifd hear Him in Juftice and^ Equity fet all their blackeft Crimes togetherwith the Love and Co^idefccnlibn, which they luve fo much abufed, all in Order before th'em^ in infinite Love and Pity to the iFallen World, faith He, I left my Father's Bofom, and came down to fuffer and die for your Redemption ; and in <«}Ezek. 24.. I4. • i It iiiiiUi ♦'■'. B«Pe >• -X h^^ Icifll Waited .tyour fioors. befceching yoU T "*' ''"°* ^*^ WraU, to come : Bat aJl wa. 'gcftcd .nd defpifed. D.y. .„d Hours have my «cmnf laboured for you and w,rncd jou with? Tear. tocrcai,c.from Mifeiy, to embrace tie (^ P^i Call and enjoy the Priviledges ofmyJP^ • »«te Love. And long has- my Spirit been wait- ing: upon you, pndBeeii ftriving with your Con- ftiende« to reftortr you from your fallen State j but •n waaftill in Vain. Ye trampled my blood utider foot M defpifed my Grave. Ye hace rejcaed my ^^^ grieved my Holy Spirit, Ye have «lwifed My Mercy, .and wounded my Caufe. Ye h^vc reproached my Children and derided m/ Minifters. Therefore I will laugh at your Cala- ""Ucs.. and mock now your Fear is conie.f ^; Ye' *«^e chofen Deftruaion, arid ruiaed your own Soula a^ainft all that I have done V could do ftr your evcrfafting Happing ^h,refbrc g. ^°^ ^'^ 8pi"t», and J^MLite <»^ Sm ; ^ learn the Folly qipif^ Qrace • 80 rue the UCs of all my Light and Love ,go' ye Defpife,^. of my Graceand inhabit your own <*i&»^.i >«. "^ ""• ^ ^^'■'■•v . V ^^ -^ • ,pi^ If. /Sfcnv j.fi / . '"W ( «9^ ) : ^^Ouilt, go endure the Hell which your own \^h ^^ *'*''* *"***** ""** ^'^'^ Wnith^ which you hay* trcafufcd up to>ourfelvc» agiinft the Day of. Wrath. RipnicmbiBr how \.j Bowels havo ' yearned over you; and faih would I have ga- thered you in my Arms of/RBDiii4iMo Lov« as a Hengathcreth her Brood uader her W^gj. and ye ^ould mt.(e-) What therefore could I have doae more than I havo done, tg^makeyon happy ? And yet you have made youHelveaffli. ferable to all Eternity. Depart therefore yt cur- fed, into everlafting Fire prepared Iby the Devi! and his Angle*. O what mortal' l^ngue can cr- preft, or what Heart coticcire the unfpcakable Horrors, into Which they have plunged thorn. felvM ! How intolerafcle- is the Aaguilh of tHe guilty Confciencei and howexquMtotheTortuiet of the defpairing Soul .» All friendl forfirke thciii, and Foes oxafperate them j Coafcicace gnawy them, ud S^nts rejeft thiemr-Aigdf def{»i/| them, and Gdn the Author of all goodtbhorri them and banilhes diem for ever i and ill^ help ^ (0 Xttkt f|. S4^' U Mpij m> '\ ► ^ :.f ( 299) ' fails from every Quarter; no Mercy, no Sleep, nor Mitigation ofMifery. Hope/e/j ImmortaU. Honv they /cream andfii'ver. While De'vils pub them to the Pit nuideyaiving Hideous and gloomy to recei've tbim. Headlong down to the Centre. sDr. Watts. O ! tJnhappy Beings f How will they endure an Eternity of increafing Horror,, burning with infernal Rage^ tortured with keen Reflexions, and blafpheming the God that made them [ Their Die is caft, and their Doom is now fettled for ever ; the Righteous are fevered from the Wick- ed } and all the Race of Ab AM;gone to their own Places as they are made by accepting or rejec- ting Redseming Levi. The Wheat is gathered into the Garner, and the Tares caJl into everla- fting Buming/i/; The Spirits of Light to the Realms of Light, and the Spirits of Darknefs to^c Regions of Darknefs.* The great Work ^^'BSi^** 'Redemption Is now finiflied, ajNi the fc- t^^ •A^>AM has reftored the Ruins of th6 Firft. The Globe that fell by Man*s Re^^lliidi, is not awiihikted^ hn^ puriftftd, n nd imn ^ ji l l ikr nnt ft "(^Mait. 15^^24. 43. ■K m^^n/h , \i ( 3o» 1 » glaffy Sm. mingled with'^pire, where liofe that are redeemed by the Blood of the Lafcb m •o reign f„ „„ .^^^ ^^.,^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ Wieked make„„ impaffabl. Gulf between them ""* "" '^'■«'"~«- And now while all the dark Cave™, of eternal Darknef.are (hook with dyi„g Groap hideou, yem, .„d blafpheming ,cL,! Dox?log,ea of eternal Praife , ,„d all the innu- »~.bleTh™ngoi^S«nt,, Seraph,, Angel,. .„d Archangel, crying out Hallelujah f For the Lord GonOmmpotentreigneth. Amen and Amen Methink. I heir the vaftunnumbefd Throne Un..e their Voice in one Eternal Song Shouting they CO,, All Hail foc.m„e Name "J I.et Ldve immortal aU our Hod, inflame ' I To found abroad, thine everlafting Fame. [ Thro «l« iviri^^* Let thankful Shouts thro**all the Realm refound Aikl glide harihonious one revolving round. Let facred Love infpire the* lofty Strains'! That cchoPraife thh>* all the Heav'nly Plains I To God; Ameq, our God for ever reigns, j To b^ underftood by every Reader, I hayc treatedjO« Man's ^all and Recovery in a Me- thod fuitihg ta cwryCaptcityi a(i4,the Concep- tions of the piefent Day : But (jiall now proceed more dofcly to- thANMaire of fowe Particulars. Whpn wcxead of Man andtlus World being nude we muft no more tnjagtne (as tlic common Opinion of the World is) made otit of nothing, ^..t!^inag^(^9 th»jt nothing nude femedung { or -*W Acre waronceiOTie empty void, when God ff-fprihg too Folly ru^. ics fing icir Kingj ark\^orld : Board. . rmicsjoiii / ongs Divirift * aim refound ig round. y Strains 1 nly Plains > er reigns. J ler, I hayc in a Mc- he Concep' >w proceed Barticulars. V[orld being Ke common of nothings netIufig{or whchOdtt ^eahytaOre erftaiidingi ( 302 ) nnderftand, when we hear of Earth, Trces,Water, &c. of fallen Earth { or corporeal Hardnefs, before the fall; than we would imagine the fame corporal Hardnefs after the final Decifion ; or iu Heaven ; For we read as much of ^arth, \7ater, Beafts, and Trees there, as we do in the Creation :faj But if we believe the V^rdof God^^^ we muft be- lieve that he is a Spirit, and will have all his Worlhipcrs fpiritual. And therefore when Man flood forth in the Image of Gop he was poifeffed of an immortal Mind, cloathed with a (piritualBody, ^nd in Poffeffion of a fpiritual Paradifc ; his im- mortal Mind, or Powc^ of thouglit, was originally in God, called his Breath : but now breathed forth into ?i' creatu/ely State, and a^l his fpiritual cloathing. was originally in Good's ctcraal Out- birth, now brought forth likevirife into a creature, ly (landing, ai\d thus w^ fee an off-^ring of the Divine ^einc :(cJ vfhoC^ Wcl^re.now botli in- ward and outward Creature, wholly depends on retaining a Union to its Father ; and that Union confirmed or brp.ken. by the Will of the iiivftrd. Creature; fo that of Courfe when the Willtll|^jr (a) Rev. 21. I. le 12. Chtpter i'/^ j'. Xl»ptet- iil '1.2. (A) John 4. 24. (r) Lukes. 34, Afti 17. 29. and ^1 V- ,/', .4.. » ( 303 ) and broke off from its FAtHER.it carried off all that doadiing, Out-birth, or outward Creature which ftood forth related to it in a creaturely Standing , and being thusjfallen off from eternal and univerfal Nature, it becomes a Curfc and Hell to, and in itfclf; becaufe it was now nei- ther felf wciftant, nor united to felf Exiftance • And therefore this whole creaturely Syftem would immediately have been in the fame Stat^ as the unredeemed Part will be after the Grand De cis.ON, had it not been for the Inte^pofition by God in the Flelh, by which it^ow ftands forth a material World, with corporeal Hardnefs, fo that of Courfe (altho> many have been much puz- ^led to know what Means God would make ufe of. to deftroy tliis Elemental World) when the Incarnation of God has done its Office among the ftIlenR.ce,the Interpofidon ceafing. all corporeal H«-dnefs, or material Elements muft likewife ccafe: and thenallwhofe Will has been turned, or inward Creature redeemed; being again unit, ed to the infinite and eternal Spirit, will carry back all that Cloathing, or Out-birth, which be' >ng3tg ^^ ^^^^n^mmw:m^lnd univcrfaJ S5 :arried off all ird Creature, a crcaturely from eternal Curfc and as now nei- Exiftance: '^ftem would Stat? 43 the JRAND De- ■pofition by ftands forth ardnefs, Co much puz- 1 make ufc when the among the I corporeal ft likewife en turned, gain unit- will carry fhkh be- :rnal and univcrfaJ ( 30+ ) \ unniverfal Nature. And the others whofe Will is not redeemed, (but Hill going its own cjeftruc- tive Course,) will fink forever : both inward and outward Creature in its own Hfill. And thus, my bEAk Reader, unlcfs you believe there is corporeal Hardnefs in God, in Heaven, and Hell, you muft be convinced that the whole caufe of your ftanding now in this corporeal World is only by the interpofing of falfen Nature. And althp' many to fupport a Rigorous Elcftion will pretend there is nothing done by Chr«t for fome particular Men ; yet you may fee it is a,' evident that no Man would ftand in an elemen. tal Wp,jd^ with a Body of Flefh and Blood' any more than the fallen Angds, wa^ti^ot for the Interpofition by Christ, You may Ukcwfc learn that, altho' the greateft part of Profefibrs conceive of Christ as in fome Dillant Region intercecding with the Father for Sinners, or la- bouring to pacify him, as thoVhe was not f9 compaffionatc as the Son, yet tlw Truth is, thq. Kingdom of Grace, and thcInterciffionofChrirt is in die FleA; by God>« Incarnate, SpiriuJr i^now faith one, that the KingdoAl-drOoD. in fome v-'i -) «.- . . . ( JO'S ) ' ^^« DegTce 15 in the hearts ol the true Belie- ver,. True, D.AR Reader, the Kingdom of • G^D has not got PoiTefEon of the inmoft Soul , . or turned the Will of the Unbeliever, a, Jit ha. of the true (if it had the.whole Work would be the turning of your Door on its Hinges, when opened to receive you de- clares a Door open to eternal Rett j, and when fliut warns you of an approaching period to the glorious Opportunity j every morfal of Bread on your Table declares the Bread of Life is fpread for your ftarving, and immortal Souls ; every drop Ofcjld Water.thatentcrs your Lips c!^cs out, « O Sinner! the WaterofLifc is free : Drink and live forever. The flefli on your Bones, and Blood in J^ouiLY c ins declare* W Bbtfd of tfae^LAMl 15F~ if *t it your ,*»A. bong, and andInfe«Fl; rdcmption. Methinks Soul, and I of friend - :e, awakc> ling J look fee, fee], >VE f Re- you tread, fefts your If, for a )ur Door you de- id when od to the Bread on is fpread cry drop ut, '« O and live Blood In your ( 308 ) your Redemption. And now. Dear Reader after you have confidercd the unfpeakable Advan- tage of the Means of Grace, that informs you of your ftanding and is to ill r up that Kingdom with- in, then lifl-en a Moment and you will hear all Things around you crying out, « Awake. Q " Manf Awake, and know thefe two Truths, *• thyfclf; and Redeemer. Linger not on all " the plain, Icaflyebcconfumcd(^^;forasfoon " as the Children of M=n arc all come from the " ^o»n«. the Son will give up all to the Father , " The Interpofition will ccafe, and your dc- " ''t'-oying WILL, if not redeemed, carrymg off " all your Out-birth,. or outward Creature, will " go its ownCourfe and remain falling, finking " ""^ ^'^^ tormenting Nature forever. Away, ' " Away O Man I while thy Creator holds thee " in a poiTibility of Redemption. O I turn, turn, " felf-Murderer f Return back to the God. that *' made thee. Fly before thou art Irrecoverably "gone ; O ? Fly from thine own Hell, to eter- " nal Reft. All Heaven is engaged for thy ctcr- ^1 Welfare ; and RmR^uir^o^h^^ i (s) Gen. 19. 17. " around ?,-.>.--.> ( 309 ) " around thee. Q f Fall out of thyfe^f on the ** Rock of %es/ai^d Live forever. r CHAPTER XV. Some Remarks on the Condu 'S^ f Manikin Mat- ters of Religion efpecially 'when GOg is revi- 'ving a mrk ofprace in the Land, together jljgion,v bccaufc they arc all contchted with •a Form, which the Devil is willing they Ihould have, and which, ii not worth much disputing about J neither have they much of tliac Spirit, which creates a Hungering and Thirfting after • greater Kno^riedgc of Divine Truths, but •are, like People, like Pricft. The Minifteh t^A- ^erfing their little Orb* of Forinality once a Week, and the People with as little Concern give their Attendance, & thui vainly imagine, that iM is well. Thoufands go Hand in Hand down toP^er- dition. But when God of his infinite Goodneis is moved with Pity towards them, and his Bowels yearn over dying Nfortals, and he is pleafcd to come down with the powerful Influences ofiiis HoLv SritiT, to trouble the Waters, and caufe ^fhaking amon g the dry Boney. then the Scene \a changed, and thcWorid is foon i^^. to |>c.in -J' S { 3«i ) ' - «» uproar//; The le.al PricO, and Miniftcrs, whdlav. got their Wclth by trading J„ Purple & fine L,n«en, and of the Souli of Men, find their Merchandize beginning to ccafe, will begin to ,bcftir thei^fejves, ifpoffiblA, to keep the World in Blindness, the Scribes and the Pharifecs or WmalChrimans with them crying out, theChurch is in Dangey. the Church is in Danger ; faying ^ they will eari^eftly contend for the Faith once delivered to tl\e Saints .(g) when at the fame time, they are Cuch Strangers to that Faith, and the fpiritual K^dom. of Christ, that the/ might with mori Propriety fay in plain Words, ^reat is Diana if the EphIsians/.^; Nei- ther are there any kn on Earth greater Enemies to the Power of Goyiinefs, than thofe Tegal Pro- Xfcflbrs^ who Icnow nothing but the Fo^ : And they will do more Damage fn aTime of Refor-' mation, than the opefr Profane : Witnefs that glorious Day, when Cj^rist was on Earth with *>is Di/ciples. Publican* and Harlots would em- brace Him, while the Scribes, Pharifecs and High- f^nefts would ftone him as ah Impollor, and fay .qi AOti^f^o. ir) Jmferrvir-pi) A'i^T^fi?^ tlwrt jS' Miniftcrs, I Purple & find their begin, to le World irifccs or ic Church » faying ith once lie fame iith, and lat thejr Words; Nci-, JnemieJ al Pro; i: And Refor-^ ifs that h with Id em- High^ ad {ky $. that He cafled out Devils |^y Bclzcbu^.fiJ And Ihave reafon to believe, th^t many in thefe Days, in Times of Reformation^i that are called Chrii'- ,tian8, and are very clofc' in their Externals, are a« great Enemies as they. But fomc will /ay; I am fo far from be^ng an Enemy to the Caufe of CHaKT,^hat I fhould rejoice to fee' Religion revive, and fpread throughout the World ; but I do not like to fee Errors, Delufxons and En- thufiafm creeping into the Churches, for that is >H I opj)6fc. Now leP me aik fuch People, what does that differ from the Language of the High Priefts, Scribes and Pharifes P^Did they ' not fay the fame, and had they not for Years pre-, tended to exhibit a promifed Messiah ? And you may reafonably fuppofe that they pretcn-, ded a Dtfire for Religion to cover the Earth, JU, the Waters 4oth the Sea ; and tell the People, ' that the Hour was approaching, when their great Heobimer would come, and you may /ce how much Truth there was in all their Pretenfions; for no fo9iier had He appeared (and exactly ac, cording to the Prophecies too) but they im-! (0 Mark j. as. mediately jy» ^ ( 3»3 ) mediately Rofe up againft Him, and wereyie fii*/! Men to rejea* ftone and crUcify Himj (j) and lab'jured the molt to prejudice the Minds of the People againft Him ; declaring Hb was not the Christ. And why was ail this? Why, he- ckufe he did hot come according to their carnal Inclinations, as they expected. For inftead of liis coming in earthly Pdrtip and Gra-ndeur, as they expected, Hb came in the Forin of a Servant i C^) poor, defpifed andrcgefted; a Man of Sor- rows and acquainted; with Giief i(l) and inftead of increafmg theit Grandeur^ encouraging their Merchandize and patching Up their old Forms aijd Traditions as they expefted, Kb fcourged the Temple^ ovcrfet their Tables, caft out the Money Changers, and the Seatyof them that fold Doves } ^«/and inftead of approving thcmand their Con- rido, iiif doing <11 this with fmall Cords. £o/if ^6 in J«MI««I5. fff)MMt. 8I« 13. ' ^4^^T. nd were 'the y Him, fJJ lie Minda of Hb was not ? Why, he- their carnal nflead of Jiis eur, a« they a Servant} Ian of Sor* ind inftead igtng their >ld Forms :ourged the the Money Id jpoves i iieir Con- y were fo id? to his ftlSenof /cxafjiera* ?ndei, hit i*li a Time of Reformation, when Hi is fcour^ing his Temple, wouM make ufe of more humaa Learning and wordly Grandeur, they wjuld not find fo much Fault, and it would pieafe the World better J but inftead of that, he make* ufe offmall Cords, and dcchires that he will chafe the weak things of the World, «nd thing* dt(^U fed of Men to carry onhis Work, and abafe the Pride of Man /«»; For^is Hfi firft made Choice ''of poor defpifed Men, Fiiher-inen, and Tent- mzkersffj to fpread the ^Gofpcl, ^and mai^ of ; them illiterate Men, (b he doeaTcommonly ftill. BixT fome will fay 4igain, that they do not defpife them, bccaufc they «re poor, and difpi- fed of Mill, or becaufc th«y are illiteratfc, but bccaufe they are led -^wwiy by W 'l«c hretmceihore refer fttdiipebple to ikt Isagtaig^ ahd Conduia of thtiir IVidtoeffiM»> nd Jtelwiv mettSmi amm (0) 1. 6or. 1. 19. ao. ai. O) JMitt. ^ M^ Jllki%l*a* W td f 3«t.£i4.^ ( 3»5 > W be as fond of the true Religiemi and wife for the Day to come j and yet no fooner had God began to j^p^r out of his Spirit and revive his true Religion among a few defpifcd Creatures, who wci«c thereby conftrained to fliout forth his Praifes, but they were immediately offended, and oppofed them as Madmen and Enthufiafts ; who were led away with a blind Zeal and intrtated the Lord to put a flop to fuch a Religion as that -.(q) And I make no Doubt but there were many, who had been pretending to plead with Goo for a Reformation among their Youth anjl Children j and yet no fooner had the Lord coi^ verted a fmall Number of them, and conftrained them by his. Love and Grace to make it mani- feft, but they virere fo offended and enraged, that if it had been in their Power, they would have immediately ptit them all to Silence, and obftruc- ted the YfoTV(f^) altho* it was only the fulfilling ©f the very Prophecies, which they pretended ftrittlyto adhere to, and with which the Lord immediately refuted thcm.(i) Now I have Rea- fcn to imaging that if thofc Children had been at ilk "1.". - . t 3^6 ) at their Recreatfonsi or Houfes of catnal Mirth thofc Men would not have been much troubled about it : And liktfwife I faf (tho» with Caufe to grieve) that when People in thefe Days are meeting for carnal Mirth, fptfndinfe Hour, ovcf a Bottle of Wine in all Manner of Vaiii Difcourfe, «ndthe young People frolicking and JJlayingat Cards, oar legal Preachers, and external Pro.. feflbrs are not much troubled j but when inftead of all that, they are meeting often for the Wor- ihip of Go» and thofe young People inftead of frolieking and finging ca?nal Songs, .re praying and finging Pfalms, Hymns and fpiritual Songs exhorting their Companions tqfly from the Wrath to come, fom^telling what God had done for jheir Souls, a^ proclaiming the Wonder, of R,. DEEMING Love, while others arc fo bunlened with Sin, ihat they are crying out under their Guilt, what muft we do to be favcd ; then the Powers of Antich#ft are offended, aad crying out, awaywithfuchaDcIufion, faying, tl»t they arc tinder an Impofuion led away by a blind Zeal, •nd following Jm pulfe^a»aFit . ^-g^4Ju^P«flfa^ kci and fay of thofe God makes vfc of in his ( 3»7 ) Work, thit they are Iiupoftors, arid difordtfrly Men, and if all fuch Endeavours prove abortive, and they cannot put a flop to the Work, then they will try anotliCr Step, begrnoing to brand thpTO»g«,t% " belong to thy Peace, but now. they arc hid>!f«m " thy Eyc8.'Y«; Who could evex hav» b?li/W(54 it, unJefs they had- feenit, that the fiptypwrft- ftiing Children of hden, CQuId. cy^, h^c. I;^;^ fo enraged againft xhfi only poibJft ^^», th»t God conld find ojjjt for their JE^^4(H9a«impl*i#lftrfw a Dajrqf Gqi>*j (|«cq, tfc« .outefwottilg itf/Wn ipirit, aftjwjflaiig (ax a R>'^i' P^y— ) izunif^i^cliy '9 I \\^ fdl to tlie Houfe.,of (5o» Sce^yatkhf* Jthia Jl lu^ right, and tha,t is not right j fuch • Man it not. pioperl|. tS* iAik fas- , ^M lit;. * 1 .^Jft" '"^'Ad ( 321 ) properly authorized, and another preaches ^ith- out Liccnfe; one is deluded, and another led away by a blind Zeal, and fuch a Min hat(i no ilight to exhort, and thdc private Conference,, repeated Leftures and Night-meetings you. do' not like i for, you fay, it breaJcr up Families, keep. People from their Work, caufmg Servants and Children to be difobedicnt, &c. And was this not the Language of all the Enemies of Christ before you, even from, the Beginning of the World, and had they not the fame Rea- fons for oppofing all the Servants of God, when' feat among them i^^J This was not right, and that was not right, and Christ himfelf was not "ght ifxj and his Difciples were all wrong , fometimes they were drunk with much Wine }fjyj «d fometimes much Learning hitf made them mid.fzj And is it not plain t^e feen, that to fucl^ People as them and you,' all the Work of Goo. is wrong J becaufe it is againft your carnal R^oning and not according to your old TnuiUioM. Do not think t^at I am your En- g^ny, bccayfe I-have^difcovered your evil Con- =!£W i«e: » » t yuAi^i „=iv J ^ *«. :hc3 yifkh" tother led n hat|i no ifercrices, s you ^ do Families, Servants And was :mies of ieginning ne Rea- 5, when ght, and was not wrong ; ine ifyj le them en, that e Work tft your ^our old ur .En- il Con- I a. 13. ^ to, arid intreat you to defift, before it is to late. God knows, I wifli your Souls well j and would rejoice to be inllrumerital in bringing you to a Senfe of your Danger, and ihew you, that you are on the Enemies grou'^di that you might make your Efcap.e from everting Mifery, unto eternal Joy. O be iutreated\to confider, that the infallible Word of God hi^s declared/that unlcfs you have, been born again\of the Spirit of God, you are an utter ftranger tdthe Truths of the Gofpel ; and the Things that be of God arc fooliflinefs to you -^(aj and therefore you may be fo blinded in Sin, fo bribed by carnal Rcafon, and fo chained down by the Prejudice of Edu- cation and Tradition, as to take Light for Dark, nefs, and Darknefs for Light, and if your Light fhould be Darkncfs, how great is that Dirk- nefs i(6J nay you may be fo infatuated by the Devil, and led aftray by a deceitful Heart, as to oppofe the Work of God, and perfecute the . Followers of Christ j and at the famii time vainly imagine, that you are doing God SctviccfcJ You may pretend, that you aw evnel^y conten- ding Tor the Faith once delivered to the Stintt, yl Wi.Cor.ij tl. »j. [*] Mm, i.asi [e]A&» 16. ft* V 1^ •■" if - ju-rTife,,9 { 3^3 ) whea at the fame time you are a ftrangcr to any ^aith ^ Chrift, and afe only figihtine for a poor 4^ Form of Godlinefs, without the Power. ("JJ You may likewifc pretend that you are la. bouring to fupport the Caufe of Christ, and of the Word of God when at the fame time you arc enemies to Chrill, and making, the Word of God of none Effeft through your I Traditions. ^^^ Andifthis Ihouldhc the Cafe, that you are fo unhappily deceiving yourfclf, how can you ftand out in Oppofition any longer, or if you are contented to live with a dry Form, ivithout tlie Power, why will you oppofe the power among others ? Why will you not let them enjoy a Liberty of Confclence ; or if they are deladod, as perhaps you may fay, why do you inake a Scoff at them ? Surely if that was the Cafe, they are not to be laughed ^ but ought to be pitied and prayed for. But pray remem- ber, there is a Poflibility of what you call a pelufion, and Enthuflafm, being the true Work of the living God. Therefore mock not, left yo^, wake your Ban4s ftrong ;f/J for it would be bet'^ tcr for you, that a MiH-ftpne were hanged about your Neck, and you ca ft into the Sea, than to ' ' : T . 14 a. Tim, 3. 5. [f] Maic. 15. 3. [/] Ifa.'zS. aa. offcftd V m ^ ding f\ you, fa uJfciS^ -*% i»j,t ,A-.4% ffWff .%?#*«»! J \ ' m i 3«4 ) offend one of Ch rist*i little One», Pcrlaps yott will uot believe it to be oJF Ggd, becaufe you. cannot undcrftand it } but if you have not tx* pcrimcntally known a Work of Divine Grace ia your own Suul ; if you have not been born again by the Spirit of God ; if you arc not bccoiine a new Creature in Christ Jesus, then it is cer- tain, that you are fo far frotii^ beinj; a Judge i whether m is of God or not, that if it be of GoD^ it will appear to you FoolilhnefsY^/ O therefore be intreated to hear that Solemn Word from Him, ' before wham you muft Ihortly ftand. Behold ye Defpifers, and wonder and periih : For I wor| a Work in this your Day, that ye fliall in. no wife Believe, tho* a Man declare it unto yo}x.(h) O confider what an awful account you muft one Day give before God's impartial Bar, if you fliould be found fighting againft God j for you are not only ruining y»ur own Soul, but you are likewife inftrumcntal in the DeftruAion of the Souls of others, by cafting Reproaches oil the Work of God, and labouring wi^p^^ Souls that are around you, to keep thcaii jfajja^teit^ • I ding where the Waters are tn)uble|t A^ uuto you, faith the Lord, for yc wUl ^icither enter. WiCor. a, 14. X^jAasjs.+i. «* tumm ^ the <* ,i-^' ti^gKii #4fTT,-,-s-^^;7»"|T-;-»»i)pr?[^T ( 3*5 ) die Kingdom yourfelvcs, nor luffer ye them that arc entering to go 'm(fj Why will you bring the Blood of Souls upon you, and wilfully plunge yourfclvcs into eternal Perdition; or if you will ruin yourfelves, why vvill you dell roy others? Pray let them enjoy the Privileges of th^: Gofpel, for as they n»uft one Day be judged foi^ thcD^felves, why may they not have the Liberty of fecking for, themfelves, novy while they are Iprobationers for Eternity. But I fuppofe fome will fiy, we are not againJl their enjoing a Liberty of Confciencc, orfeeking tor diemfclves, but they are forfaking the good old Way, turning away from their Miniilcr., . feparating from Churches,' encouraging fcparate ' Meetings,and the like. To which I anfwer, that by ao Meaas I would advife a Separation in i Church of Christ. Neither is fuch a ^ng common: But perhaps it is you, that have left the good old Way, by fmking into the Form ^ou bring Uy plunge if you vvill ' othcrs\? 3 of thi? judged for', e Liberty \ ' they are lot agajnil or feeking the good Hinillcri', » fcparate wer, that tiou in a a Tiding lavc left he Form 1 they are he Gof. itichrift : ( 326 ) And, if fo, it is no more than what God liim. \fclf has firiftly commanded them.fj) Aad I ■prcfume to fay, that in fuch a Cafe, if youfavr the Difference between Light and Darkneirs, you would be fo far from labouring to keep them in Bondage; that y oil would thirll foi Liberty your- felves. For what Fellowfhip hath Righteous- nefs with JJ«rigliteoufnefs ? What Communion hath Light with Darkncfs ? "What Concord hath Christ with Belial ? Or what Part hath he that believcth with an Infidel ? And what Agreement hath the Temple of God. with Idols ! There- fore how is it poilible for them to travel toge- ther ? For what the Heaven -born Soul laveth, the Moralifts cannot bear ; they may fcem to go together in Peace, in a Time oFDarknefs, btft when God is fhowering down the Bread of Lif<^i the one eats and rejoices, while the other f^- jefts and is offended : Wh^cli I have not aify \been an Eye-witnefs to, in the fliort Gompift i^f my Work in the Vineyard, but h^ve likcwtfe red it by the infalli^blcWord of OoD. ThcfC- foVe let not the Devil pirfuadc ybU, tH«t/^ And, ,| I i« only a ^ancy, or^ind ^al ot i&nie^:mi|^ / : ti]8. Cor. k. 17. Rev. iS. 4. nnlefs « '-^ ' i it? ) ■ uttlefs you arc convinced, my dear Readeh, of thefe Things, before your Day of Grace is ovcr^ you will unavoidably be convinced of them to your cverlaftRjg Sorrow. Neither count me your Enemy, bccaufe I tell you the Truth. There w yet a Time for Repentance, and wKo can tell, but you may yet efcapeevcrlafti^gMifery, and for ever rejoice in what you are now defpifing ; a» St. Paul doth now in that Saviour, whom « he once perfecuted/i; • And for your Encour- •gement I can teftif^., that in the ihort Compaft of my Travels l| have known manyj who have feen oppofin^ tht Work of God as a Dclufion, ind raakin^l^sfpfFatthofc, that are called New- lights a^/s»hcraers, wlio are now Advocates for Uie CajUlof Christ, and rejoicing in that, which they.^once cifled a Delufion and Enthufiafm. Otherisfore let me entreat you in the Bowels of ^ Lord Jb8u4 Christ^ if ever you expeft to fee God's Fate in Love, to confider thefe Things, let them be impreffed on your Mind, when you ^ lie down, and when you arifc ; when you go ©ut, and when you come, in Search your own W AAi 23. 4. Foundation •ITS', ■f\. - Readei-, of ICC is ovcr^ )f them to nt me your h. There \io can tell, [ifery, and dcfpifing ; ur, whom r Encour- t Compafs who have Delufion, lied New- .'ocates for lat, which Jthufiafm. Bowels of ixpeft to 5 Things, rhen you a you go our own ( 328 ) Foundation, confider your Gonduft, exwnine, whether or not, you was ever flain by the Law, and made alive by thcGofpel i whether you have experimentally known a vital Union to the Lord J^v» Christ j whether yoii have ever rcctu ved the Seals of God's Love to your own Soul, and enjoyed the Communications of Divine Grace : And if you have not, why will you riflt yotir precious ahd immortal Soul, on fuch a Pin-° nRclc of Danger ? Why will you fay, that fuch ft Man is not right, and fuch a People are all led iftray ; when the Word of God has decla- red, that (let them be as they will) you are to far from being right, that you are juftly condem- ned, and wholly ^pofed to be caft into Hell every Breath you draw. Why therefore will you pre- teiid to difpute fo much about Relieion, when you have no Religion ? Firft make fure to get « Religion in your own Soul, that will ftand yon Inftead, if God fhould tliis Night call you be* forfe his dread Tribunal : >or why will you fpead foihuchtime difputing about the Chafl^wheA you are not iurci that you will ever Uiie M tht Wheatrririr gctlhe^Beam^t of thiiib owfl Eye, and then thou canft fee dearer, to pull the Mote ''is out ptsi •!"■} ,'** %' ¥%' fft- ( i^9 ) •Ut oFtliy brother's Eye : Firft get the Love of the fllelTcd Jesus flied abroad in your own SouI» tnd then you will be A better Judge between I'ruthtnd Error; tttkd will likewifc be fure to rejoice, when all Difcords and different Forms of Religion Ihall ceafc. O confider how incon- fiflentyou are conducting to be fo zealous for fonxe external ObfervationS, and at the fame Time wholly neglecting of that moft important one 'I^ihg needful, oh whi(ih bangs your prcfent and cVcrlafting ttappiiicfs ? Who that has anyBow- cls of Pity, can forbear grieving to fee the Cruel- ty, that Mankiiid irercife upofl thcmfslves ? I fuppofc, if I were to tell many of niy Readers* thaf it was no Matter, whether or not they were Upti*ed with the Holy Ghost and with Fire, .iHey would not be much difturbcd ; but if I WtTB to tell thctii, it was na Matter, whether tUvy were baptiacd with Water or not,they would OTv out with the greatcft Zeal, away with fuch a Man, «way v i h ftU^ a Man, for the iQaiurch ia tn.Danser. Well might Go d pronoontfc a Woe igmihft fuch People.flJ O take heed therefore, ag^ ^#de», ^^at y e tt-«re^no t found -tmoa| f Jlb^ £/]Matt. 23. 23. thofe f 5** 1 ie Love of own Soul} e between be fure to snt Forms ow incon- us for fomc ime Time >rtant one refent and anyBow- i»e Cruel- ifelves ? I ' Readers » they were vith Fire, but if I whether ley would th fuch a i, ijyiiurch icfcaWoe tWefore, thofe thoiii, agaihft'wliom' fuch Woes tire pitnbunced | and if, upon diligent f^arch into your 6v^ State and Condition, you find'' it to be yxMir unhappy Cafe ; then let m« intreat you for the Lor^s Sake, and for yoar own Soul's Sakt to Lbok around yon, and let every Faculty yf your Soul be wholly attentive to that molt iniportant, and friendly i^^ePbf the King of Hbaven. -La* hour n^^J^lbe, for that Meat which periflieth, but for that Meat which endureth to everlaiting Iiife.^**;; Thus hoping and praying that thcfc few Lines may not be wholly in vaii'M your Souls I fliall conclude with the ejjhieft Groanr And moft imphade Lah^kge of Elibzer. O' Lord God of my Mkfler AnitAHAMj I prty the«' ftnd me good Speed this 'Dky.(n) Send O thoa oompaffionatef Saviour, for thy Name fake; and in Pity to perifliing and iminbrtal Sbuls, theae«> eompanying Influences of thy tilbly Spirit, with the weak Difii'es, and unfaithfuU LabduM^ of diinfe unworthy Senrklfti. I^d, O bleffed Go», , r Word of ^ower, and Peace, to the Hearts o^ tJlofe, into whofe Hd thou mayeft fee fit' t9* •il&i^£«ikfa {m) John A. 271 (n) Gen. 24. 12, Mft li^^^ , > • * - »• 9a!ltkefe Liae«; t^at fomt prcdoui and immor- tal. Soul may have caufe to raife an immortal Notc„to thy Name for thefc TWO MITES:' ■ ^CHA1»TE> XVt. ^mefurthfr Advice, chiify to the F»ilomjert 9/ tb, Lamb. ♦ ■'-.;■■■.■.■ •. ,■ -■ . ^ ^ S I. h?vc thut |one thro* my Defign pit ^thofc imporunt Points, i.^al^novr drop t f^.^^yprds vioreof'Adyicc ancf fetfcouragclnent, chiefly..^ the luppy Follower* of the Lamiu w*omI cfteeAi n the exccilent of ail the Earth swd with l!irliomI expeft tQ enjoy an cverlalling P*y» W»d Jtoyoui Ima^y fay as the Angd toMxR r ; H»ii thou bicflcd & highly favoured of the Lord: (\) jwho haVe bcea wdoenied with the Friccof Blood, jmd are married to the Kin« ^f Heaven t* *n everUiUng Covenant of Lovii O thinic, think my FeUow-TfiveUers to etertal Keft, ^ .Va% you axe indolged^ a^d what v«ft Ob. ligattoils you are under, to be for Goo> :ar^d no H^fNi«dwiR-*fc m ,-,«. :"\-'. *" ^■' nd immor- immortal r ' Defign pit lovrdrop t iragdnent, \t Lamk» the Earth EverlaUiog toMARY; :he£iQRD: ic Price of f Heaven O think, lal Keft, : vttft Ob- >> >and n» . I fl. , ttJier ( 33« ) other ! O therefore be intreated b^ your untrprX thy Senrant, to Hve above the Allurement, of this enfnaring World, and let your Light fo ftine before the World, that other, feeing your good* Works, may glorify your Heavenly Father iCpJ remembring that you have a Portion in the cter- nal World Ten Thoufand Times beyond what this .vain World can Poffibly afford ypu , nci, ther have you any more to do with this World, . than a Pilgrim. All you want Is Joumcy-bregd; jnft tofupportyoiionyour Way: for yon have- «o continuing City here, but aie feekii|g abet. terCottntry,w,hichhathroundationt, whofeM*. ^' ker and BuUder i, Gai>. And white p^ni afting on the mortal Side of the Gnv^' yo«»r. '' the SaltoftheEarth J the Light of Ac World' '• «nd Witheffe. forUie Living GbD, .Of there!! fore be wife «,d affiduou. f^^Q^ ^ .Ck.!.^ «ia the Wel^pf pi^ioi^-irf^ mortdiou/s. Sh,kc off the Frown/ and Flatw . tcries of thi. enfnaring Worjd, iU ni^i. ^^ Setts of the fcomful , . iUnd ,ot in mkM^ -it . , . ' i< ^¥';^T*^5,fel^yi V " WM: ' '-^ . ■i^e^ (333 ) thirft for tKe Applatife of ^iortalsj W take xif yoiif efoft dsdiy, and face a frowhing World ; ictr not tht ittgi of Mfcll, IfeiAcr loVc your Lives *tiW Dditoi • , hut let the World knovir, that yoti * .HtT* tffiAit yr\\k]tiij%i sihd intend toQicrtdand Iftf fpent iit rtij C^ufc. O ! be CJichces, but be Aire to gather Marina every Morning : And^ink not ftrangc, when * your i)lelfod Matter is riding forth in the Gof- p^ of Peace thro* your Towns and Villages, with the I'ower of his Grace, to redeem precious and immortal Soufs, that there appears fo much kifputing, Oppofitions, ahd Separation!, as there \ commonly is : For as it has bein jsrwed, it al- ~^ Wiyi "WU^ And atwiyi witt"bcibr^wh«r^»iMi \lwiving his WerfMttnoBg the CWld#ei of Men. " ,.j . Vi, •^.li.iftXM^i f^-jSSS ( f M^tt-k^ " ( 334 ) -^:. For He has told you, that He .csyne to fend ?W . upon the l^artJi i and that He came not to {eift Peace, btjt the Sword j to Tet the Father Agaiaft tlie Son, and the Son againft the father j twja againft three, »nd three again^ two .i(qj For tj^e Nature of Mankind is fuch, that % Trytj^ «E^ the Gofpel, and the Vitgls of Rclmpn aW^f " tlicm from their Security, an4 Jbteaki their car- . nal Peace ; and the natural J^en £br to rctiin that carnal Peace, will oppofe and w jefijt.th* IWorJc ' ^fpiritofGoD to their own evcrIail.in^i{.uiiB ifr} an^ Will labour h»rd> to obftroft th^ Pow«r (tfJUr ligion- But as the Enemies of |{.el infill are fl« ' only engaged againft the Caufe of CimiST } but likewife waiting, and watchingfar ypur Hflti|ng.| P be furc that you giye no Q^^e q£ Qfcncc, and then when you are perfccuic^ ft>» Q^^lS■T*fi Sake, happy ara-ye. Let iw UUw^ife iuytpje^t you, hot to be offended at thei^ QSfet^c j /pr iTtfip .^ Devil cannot get you to bs.<#eh^d;f(t/th« Wai|. " of Gop, nor to fay m T¥u "^^m^ Mk¥'^ ' wiir, if poffible, ftir up your Minds againft |their ■•-r" ij) j-PJ^ '^'^Mj. 5.?-*1*-£i IX- ^- -: . ,; ■ r*;-' - V Offences ; and as he cannot get you to make Scoff* ^nd Derifion repeat over the Scoffs and Deri- ry fbout and will employ you to car- fions of oihers an^ re)4ting over, what is faid and done by the Oppofers. And be np,t enjjaged iphis Qsoffla^ they be in. thc^ Caufe of Antichrif| :(u2 ThetCff'^^^ fore I woqld intreat fuch Keople, if they, h»v.^[ any ^^ardforthcir^i^^ and im^xortal Soujs, by noT^feanTto^alt any longer between XW0 Opinions, neither turn thejr JBacks ^ij the Work' of God (as I believe many do) (or. fcarofofV fending feme legal Miniftcre, or PJiarifccs, b^ " ?ome im;nediately from among them, and tpuck not the unclean Thing, left yc be polluted wilh * " their Fornication; , a nd by no Mtum {o) Luke II. 23. * • yj:*. vxs J^' 1.- -•' U"; ■' '■f,"*^ V i 357 ) nor UJd them Gob fpccd : for if you do, -you .will. not only go againft the expreft Command of Goi>^(v) but likcwifc wiU be guilty of tte Bi.ooD> of Souls yourfclves. I know the Powers of Darknefs will tell you, that you cannot know the Differenee between Christ and Antichrilt : Bat who jjnuft you l^elieve, Man or the God of Truth, who has not only commanded you to cm- l brace the one," and rejefl; the other ; which would :be incoaOftent, |f there was no Difference to \» known ; b«t has likewife declared in plain Terms : And I think he is the- bcft Expofitor of •his own Meaning. My Sheep know my Voice, and they will follow me, but a Stranger they will not foUow/w^ Now if there waS nothing to be known in thofe Matters, why would the Lord of Glory Co often have fpoken fo pofiti- vely by an exprefs Command, that his People fliould try the Spirits,^*^ and feparate from them, and cbmeDtttfroteimongthem.(0'; Andthera. forcr if thefe feW tines fliould ever fall into the Hands of any of the true Followers of the Lamb, -T-r "uld the b pofiti- I People >m them, id thera- into the eLAMB* lo. 3. 4. «r. 18.4- who ^» who are not indulged with a Goffiei Mlaiilefi but are groaniQg under the legal Improvoneni^ otf unconverted Men ; let me intreat them in the Bowela of the Lord Jb«w« Chuiit, to adhere to thofe Commands ofGou and come out from amongft them, left the Blood of Sods hai^^upoB your Garments : They may think hard at yow leaving them ; but you cannot do thOA agvei^ ter Injury, than to eontioue with them j yoaf bidding them Goufpeed> when they at« decQl« ving themfelves and others, will ntnirally tend to feal diem down in their Becepfion j «nd % «nd by, they are gone beyond all Recovel)^; when if you was bxcomeout from among theaii it might prove a Matter of Convi^on to thear> to put them upon Search, and perhaps ^rof>i the Salvation of their precious and immortalSouli. Neither can you expeft that GooTwill give yo« a faithful Minifter, while yoo' ftand among hh Enemies, fupporting the Caufe of AntichriH • againtthim. --.-,. .■- . -# ', .-^^v'-t^" But fome perhaps may fay, what^fhall wo J i gl_Do my jde a t JRo i der f whjt^ mediately adhere to the Advice o«Iety«, Hid ¥. i^*^- :;,*- J m. iyj*i^is!k^-4^>iei-' •rSi-jtLn^^ ( 339 J' ' ■;'*>' "\ V Kii. not fdrfajce the afTembling yourfclves* together, as the Minner of fomc ie ; but exhort one another daHy; and more efplcially as ye fee the Day approaching -.(kJ And altho^ the Enemies of Re- ligion will bear hard a^ainft you from every Quar- ter, cfpcdally the dead Minifters, and legal Pro- feilbrs ; yet if you wilh well to your own Souls, and the Sotrls of others j affemblc together, tho* four Numbers nniy be fmall, and Gqd has pro- j|ltti«d to be with you, and to blcfs you, and liyU be your Goo, and you ih^Jl be his Pco- jk.(aj Make ufe of the beft Gifts he has given .yo«, andth^t is the Way to have them enlarged ; ^dfn-ay yethe LordoftheHarvell, that he will ftttd forth Labqurersinto his Harvelt and i(any of |i^ Brethren appear to have the Gift of Ex- hortation or Dodrine, put fuch an one forward ^ Iniprovemen^, and by all A^eans n^ajce. ufe of that Power and {{riviledgc, which has been pro- ycd by the infallible Word (^God, to be, your j^rogati^e. . '» . . But fome perjuif* ^'ill fay, that altho* you are apon^ leg^ Miyiltcrs ^ ChuVoltes, yctyov^o^ght ■ f " " ■ Tit (*) llih. 40. 25. {afi Cor. 6." 18. ' not . ,' ^Mi^if^'^^- m'. » « ' 1140 1 not to leave thcni^ but remain with them b Hopes to reform them, ^d do them fome Good. But for my Part, I cannot tell, where they, find either Scripture or Reaf^^jjI^ioM's ftayingin Babylon, hoping to do y^j^^K/ If you come out n-om«mong ^"n»^^^^^ the TrutJ^t^ ^ of the living God, yoa^^^^e Mean* ^i " bringing many a poor Soul ont of Parknqfi into, if marvellous I^ight j but if you r«ijiain among iht^l ypu are not only holding up the I^owers ol' Oar^.. nefs to their Deftr^iftion, b^t are taking an c^^ , feaual Step to bri|e " but few in number, fmce Cjhrist has pijo*. V mifed you his prefcQc^i thi^i to comm.Qiu-> > ^* cate with t^em i|i t^elf falJ^Ordaaacef; . •I know that yon «e fei^ Jifr Kun^ber, i^- '^\ ' ky Strangers in, the Lnd } you likewiie b^ .in-. SI'S' ' vV- J/ yyiei /"M g Boe great ; and yet I know the Caufe of Christ, and the Welfare of precious and immortJiJ,, Sou^s «)ieth near your Heart j gn4 I know that many 'Unopg tlie pinemies of CiiniST arefubtilto an- - noy thofe they cannot deftroy,,and. often, by their i.» « Head-knowledge, may wound your Peace, and rV bewilder your Minds .^ efpecially among the ^tambsj.or weaker Chriftians, who are not fo car ■stmiWeof defending the Truth, by difputiug with ' * them, about the Decrees of Gop the origin of - Sin, the Plan and |>ifcipUne of the Church, the < i Miniftcrial Rights, the Power of Ordination &c. . y^.|«ixl therefore it is, tJ^at I haye endeavoured for /"-V^^Glory of Gdd, for the Convi£Bon of Sinners <■ |-ferlafting Joy, where your wearied Sonlfi ^r ever reft in the Bofom of everlaftilig far beyond the Infoltc of Earth or H«ll^ Itf thf earning ftorms of Sin apd Sorrow * itrfi0t fnUlf Ihall be difentangled from til your mortil Tk»g and theDifordcni of your fallen World} wllirt you fhall be forever tranfported with the DivilA Pcrfeftions of the Deity in the Arnii e| BiiMiNC Love j and where thro' richi freei boundlels Grace, I hope to bear a Part With yop ■ in the lofty Strains of eternal Praife thro* the voWing kounds of a bleflTed Eternity, i»thtf Enjoyment of Father, SON.and HoLt 0t«Wi ~~Wwhom flone be the Frtifc WorldTi AMEN. ^ J-'.- ^ jL^ ' •-.dU. w..A.^w » ^