CONCERNING PERSECUTION.

THE Spirit it self beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the Children of God; if Children, then Heirs of God, and Joynt Heirs with Christ: and if so be that we suffer with Christ, that we may be also glorified together; for I reckon, that the present Sufferings of this time, are not worthy to be compar­ed with the Glory which shall be revealed in us. Who shall seperate us from the Love of Christ? shall Tribulation, or Distress, or Persecution, or Famine, or Nakedness, or Pe­rill, or Sword, as it is written? For Christs sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter; nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors, through Christ that lov'd us: for I am perswaded, that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Things present, nor Things to come, nor Height, nor Depth, nor any other Creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Here is and ought to be the Noble Resolution of the true and faithful Christians in Christ Jesus; and as the Apostle said to the Corinthians, We are made a spectacle unto the world, and Angels, and men, &c. And we are counted fools for Christs sake, and we are buffetted, and have no certain dwelling place; and being reviled, we bless; and being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we Intreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and as the off-scouring of all [Page 4]things; but the Lord comforts us in all our Tribulations; for as the Sufferings of Christ abounds in us, so our Consolation also a­bounds with Christ.

And so it is no new thing for the Christians now to be troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in dispair; for our light afflictions which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, &c. and though our outward man perish, yet our inward man is renewed day by day; blessed be the Lord forever.

And as the Apostle saith, I take pleasure in Infirmities, in Reproaches, in Necessities, in Persecutions, in Distresses, for Christs sake. And here the Apostle triumphed over all, which should be every true Christians practice.

And you may read how Paul said, how that beyond measure he persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it; but when he was converted and became a member of Christs Church, then he preached that faith which he sought to destroy; so you may see, as it is written, He that's born after the flesh, persecute him that is born after the spirit, even so it is now; therefore what ever Christendom doth profess and talk, the Birth must be minded, of what Birth you are; if it be the birth of the flesh, he will persecute him that is born after the spirit, the true be­lievers in Christ; for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake: so this gift is not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake, and so count all things but loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus, for whom I suffer the Loss of all things, and count them but dung that I may winn Christ, and be found in him, that I may know him, and the power of his Resur­rection, and the Fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conforma­ble unto his d ath. To this all should mind to be conformable, and know the fellowship in his sufferings.

And the Apostle encourages the Thessalonians, who saith, [Page 5] that we our selves glory in you, &c. for your patience, and faith in all your persecutions, and tribulations, that ye endure, which is a ma­nifest token of the righteous Judgments of God, that ye may be wor­thy of the Kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer, seeing it is righ­teous with God to recompence to them that trouble you; and so you that are troubled, rest with us (saith the Apostle) therefore bre­thren we are comforted over you in all your afflictions, and distresses for your faith; stand fast in the Lord, that no man should be moved by these afflictions, for your selves know that we are appointed there­unto (saith the Apostle,) for we told you before that we should suffer tribulations, even as it is come to pass. For Christ hath suffered; and being tempted, he is able to Succour them that are tempted in all their sufferings, and though Christ he where a Son, yet learned he Obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect he be­came the Author of eternal Salvation, to all them which obey him; and so if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him: and Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer Adversity, as being your selves also in the body, in bonds. Here is a sensible feeling of one another that are born of the spirit, and a Fellowship in suffe­rings, who are persecuted by that spirit born of the Flesh.

And the Apostle saith to the Hebrews, call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were Illuminated, ye indured a great Fight of Afflictions, partly while you were Gazing-stocks, both by Reproaches & Afflictions, and partly while you became Com­panions of them that were so used; for ye had Compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your Goods, knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a better and induring Substance: cast not away your Confidence, which hath great Recompence of Re­ward for ye have need of Patience, that after you have done the will [Page 6]of God, you may receive the Promise; but if any draw back (to wit, in the time of Sufferings) the Lords soul hath no pleasure in them.

Moses by Faith chusing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, then to injoy the Pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Aegypt, for he had respect unto the recompence of reward, and by faith forsook Aegypt, not fearing the wrath of the King, for he indured as seeing him who is invisible: and ye may see what cruel tryals of mockings, scourges, bonds, and Imprisonments, and afflictions, and torments, the saints went through, in the 11^th of Hebrews.

And saith Peter, if when you do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God, for even hereunto were ye called: if a man for Conscience sake towards God suffer grief; this is thank-worthy, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an Example, that we should follow his steps, who when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatned not, but committed himself to God who judges righteously; for Christ hath once suffered for sin, the Just for the Unjust, that he might bring us to God: for­asmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the Flesh, arm your selves likewise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the Flesh hath ceased from sin; but the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory, (saith the Apostle) by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle you; cast all your care upon God, for he careth for you, and Rejoice, inasmuch as you are made pertakers of Christs Suffer­ings, &c. and think it not strange concerning the fiery tryalls, which are to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you; for if ye be Reproacht and suffer for the name of Christ, happly are ye, for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you: on their part, he is evill Spoken of; but on your part, he is Glorified: if any man Suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glory­fie [Page 7]God on this behalf, wherefore let them that Suffer according to the Will of God, commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing, as to a Faithful Creator; and if ye suffer for Righ­teousness sake, happy are ye; and be not affraid of their Terrour, neither be troubled, having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evill of you, as evill doers, they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good Conversation: for it is better if the will of God so be, that ye suffer for Well doing, than for Evil-doing; for we both labour and suffer Reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of them that believe.

And the Apostle said, He was appointed a Teacher of the Gentiles, for the which Cause he also suffered, &c. but he was not ashamed; for he knew in whom he believed; and said, Though he suffered as an Evil-doer, even unto Bonds; but the Word of God is not bound; nay the eternal word of God that lives, and abides and endures forever, by which all things were made and created, this word of God cannot be bound by that which was created by it, and doth not live and endure forever; therefore saith the Apostle, I endure all things for the Elects sake, that they may also obtain the sal­vation which is in Christ Iesus, with eternall Glory; it is a faith­ful saying, if we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with him; and if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him; and if we deny him, he also will deny us, &c.

And you may see what Persecutions and Afflictions came upon the Apostle at Antioch, and at Iconium, and at Listra, what Persecutions he endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered him: yea and all that will Live godly in Christ Iesus, shall suffer Persecution (Mark shall) if they live Godly; but evil men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse, decei­ving and being deceived, therefore he exhorts Timothy, to watch in all things, and endure Afflictions, &c. for he was ready to be offered up, for the time of his departure was at hand, and he had fought the good fight, and finisht his course, [Page 8]and kept the faith, and there was a Crown of Righteousness laid up for him, which the Lord the Righteous Judge will give him at the Last Day, and not to him only, but unto all them also that Love his appearing, for God hath not given to us a Spirit of Fear, but of Power, of Love; and of a sound mind; therefore the Apostle saith unto Timothy, Be not thou therefore ashamed of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou a pertaker of the affliction for the Gospell, according to the Power of God, who hath saved us, and called us by a holy calling, &c. And Iohn saith, I know thy works, Tribulations, and po­verty; but thou art rich; fear none of those things, which thou shalt suffer: behold the Devill shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tryed, and ye shall have Tribulation Ten dayes; but be thou faithfull to death, and I will give thee a Crown of life: this was spoken to the Church in Smyrna. And you may see in the 11th Chap. how the witnesses of Christ suffered, and when they had taken away their Lives, and the dead Bodies lay in the Streets of the great City, which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt; so not naturally called so, where Christ our Lord & Saviour was crucified; that was through the great Letter Professors, the Jews, before the Witness was slain; but after three dayes and a half, the Spirit of Life from God entred into the Witnesses, and they stood upon their Feet, which frightned their Enemies; and the Witnesses were called up to heaven, and the same hour there was a great Earthquake, and the tenth part of the City fell, and was shaken down: so here was the reward upon the City and the Persecuting Citizens.

And again, you may see how the Dragon persecuted the Woman, the True Church, which brought forth the Man Child, after he was cast out of Heaven by Michael and his Angels; but the Woman (or True Church) was nourish­ed for a Time, and Times, and Half a Time, in the Wil­derness; and the Earth helped the Woman; and the Earth [Page 9]opened her Mouth, and swallowed up the Flood, which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth after her; and the Dragon was wroth with the Woman, and went to make war with the Remnant of her Seed, which kept the Commands of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus.

Now you may see what the Devil, the Dragon, and all his Followers persecute, and what his Wrath is against, the true Church, the Woman, that brought forth the Man Child, and they that kept the Commands of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ: and then the Dragon he gave his wicked persecuting Power to the Beast, and he also was to continue Forty Two Months; and he got up in such a Rage in the Devil's power, that he opened his Mouth in Blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, and [mark] them that dwell in Heaven; not them that dwell upon the Earth, for all that dwell in the Earth worship him, but those whose Names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb, slain from the Foundation of the World, to wit, they do not worship him. He that hath an Ear to hear, let him hear.

But what became of the great City, and the whore, or the false Church, and the Beast, and the Dragon, with all his false Prophets? are not they at the end burned, and cast into the Lake of Fire, and the lamb and the saints have the victory?

And David declareth, how he was Persecuted, and said, Let them be confounded, and put to shame that seek after my Soul; let them be as Chaff before the Wind, &c. Let their Way be Darkness, and Slippery, &c. False Witnesses rise up, and lay to my Charge things that I Knew not; they rewarded him Evill for good, to the spoiling of his Soul, and his Adversaries gathered themselves together against him, with hypocriticall Mockery in feasts; they gnash upon me with their Teeth, yea they open their [Page 10]mouthes wide against me, and Say, Aha, Aha, &c. but God will save his afflicted people, and bring down the high looks of of them that afflict them.

And David mourned by reason of Affliction, and said, I am afflicted, and ready to dye from my youth upward, &c. and said, Lord remember David in all his Afflictions; and he said, The wicked in his pride persecuted the poor; My times are in thy hand; O Lord deliver me from the hand of my Enemies, and them that persecute me; And also David cryed to the Lord, and said, How many are the days of thy Servant? wilt thou execute Judgment on them that persecute me? They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me; the proud have digged a pit for me, which are not after thy Law; (and they that do so now are not after thy Gospel) And David said; O Lord my God, in thee I put my trust; save me and deliver me from all them that persecute me; for the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not the prisoners; let the Heaven and Earth praise him, the Sea, and every thing that moveth therein. And David saith, they that sate in the Gate spake against me, and I was the Song of the Drunkards: and do not the Drunkards make Songs of God's people now?

And you may see the sufferings and afflictions of Job by the Caldeans: and Sabeans, and the Tryals and Temptations of his Wife, and his pretended Friends; and also he saith in his afflictions, they that are younger than I, have me in derision, whose Fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flocks, the Children of Fools, Children of base men, now am I their Song, yea I am their by word, they abhor me, &c. and spare not to spit in my face; upon my right hand rises the youth, they put away my feet, they rise up against me, &c. they marr my path, set forward my Calamity, &c. But you may see how the Lord delivered Job out of all his afflictions and miseries; for it was alwayes the wicked that abused the righteous, in their sufferings, and afflictions.

And Jeremiah said, O Lord my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction! The Lord is the fortress, and refuge, and strength of all his people in the day of their afflictions, and persecutions; and did not the Lord con­found all Jeremiah's persecutors? did not Jeremiah tell his persecutors, the Lord is with me as a terrible one, therefore my persecutors shall stumble; and they shall not prevail they shall be greatly ashamed, for they shall not prosper; and their ever­lasting confusion shall never be forgotten? And did not this come upon the persecutors that put Jeremiah in Prison, and Dun­geon? was not Jeremiah delivered, and his persecutors went into Captivity, and he set at Liberty from his Prison? Jer. 52. you may see what became of his persecutors, whether they did not go into Captivity and into Prison.

And Isaiah, speaking by Prophecy of Christ, how he was oppressed and afflicted; yet he opened not his Mouth, and was not he brought as a Lamb to Pilate's, and to the Jews Slaughter, and as a Sheep before the Shearers; and he was taken from Prison, and from Judgment; who shall declare the Generation of the suffering-Lamb, slain from the founda­tion of the World; for the Transgression of his people was he stricken: the Smiters and the Afflictors, and the Oppo­sers, and Imprisoners, Despisers, and Rejectors, cannot de­clare the Generation of Christ the Lamb of God. And Isaiah saith, If thou loose the Bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burthen, and let the oppressed go free, &c. if thou draw out thy Soul to the hungry, and satisfie the afflicted Soul, then shall thy Light rise in obscurity. But what will become of such that do op­press and lay their burthens, and afflict the Just? Their Light will be darkness. And the Lord saith (speaking of the Children of Israel) In all their afflictions, he was afflicted; and the Angel of his presence saved them; in his Love, and in his pitty he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carryed them all the days of old; and God said, I sent my Angel before thee to keep thee in the way, &c. And when the Children of Israel cryed [Page 12]unto the Lord, he heard their voice, and delivered them from their persecutors, and afflictions. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the afflictions of my people, which are in Aegypt, and have heard their Cry, by reason of their Task-masters; for I know their sorrows: So here you may see the Lord doth hear their Cryes, and is sensible of the afflictions and Sorrows of his People, therefore commandeth his people, Not to afflict the widow, nor the Fatherless, nor the stranger; for if they did, they would cry unto the Lord, and he would make their Wives Wi­dows, and their Children Fatherless.

And Amos Cryed, Wo unto such that Chant to the sound of the Violl, and Invent to themselves Instruments of Musick like un­to David, that Drink Wine in Bowles, and anoint themselves with Chief Oyntments; but they are not grieved for the Afflicti­ons of Joseph; for I know your manifold Transgressions, and your mighty Sins, they afflict the Just; and that is it that afflicts the Just in our Age, and are not sensible of the afflicti­ons of Joseph, nor of the Afflictions of the righteous in our age. And Christ saith, And shall not God avenge his own Elect, with Cryes day and night unto him? And did not Christ tell the Jews, how they had slain and persecuted the Prophets? And he said, how that they should Persecute his Apostles and Prophets? And what are become of those persecuting Jews? And Christ said, to his Disciples, They shall lay hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the Councils, & Scourge you in the Synagogues, and cast you into Prison, being brought before Kings & Rulers for my name sake; and it shall turn to you for a Testimony; settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer, for I will give you a mouth and Wisdom (saith Christ) which all your Adversaries shall not be able to gain-say, nor resist. Therefore it is good for all to look unto Jesus, both for Wis­dom and for strength in all their Tryalls, and Sufferings, and Persecutions; for without him they can do nothing.

And Christ saith, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for their's is the Kingdom of Heaven, Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all man­ner of evil against you falsly for my sake, rejoyce and be ex­ceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven; for so persecu­ted they the Prophets which were before you; But I say unto you, love your Enemies; Bless them that Curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that dispightfully use you, and persecute you. And Christ saith to his Disciples, You shall be hated of all men for my Name sake; But he that endures to the End shall be saved; but when they persecute you in this City fly you to another; for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over all the Cities of Israel till the Son of Man come; but when they deliver you up, Take no thought, how or what you shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour, what you shall speak; for it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of the Father that speak­eth in you: And further, Christ saith to the Jews, Behold I send unto you Prophets and wise-men, and some of them ye shall kill, and Crucifie; and some of them ye shall scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from City to City, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the Earth, &c.

And also, you may see how John Baptist was cast in Pri­son, for reproving of Herod; and his Wife's Daughter plea­sed Herod with her DANCING, and Herod promised with an OATH, to give her whatsoever she would ask, and her Mother advised her to ask JOHN BAPTST'S HEAD, and she had it given her; now this was the fruits of Trans­gressing the Law of God, and of her DANCING, and OATHS and SWEARING, Contrary to the Command of Christ, who saith, SWEAR NOT AT ALL.

And also, Christ saith, I was hungry, and ye gav [...] me no Meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no Drink; I was naked, and ye Cloathed me not; in Prison, and ye came not unto me; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; and sick, and ye visited me [Page 14]not, &c. And Christ saith, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not unto me: And such shall go in­to everlasting punishment; and the righteous into life eternal.

Is it not the Practice of the Professors now adays, in­stead of Cloathing the naked, to take away their Cloaths? And take away their Meat and Drink instead of giving them Meat & Drink? and Cast into Prison, instead of Visiting them in Prison? yea such as pretend to be Preachers of the Gospel, though they do not hear them; but such are Transgressors of his Command, who saith, Freely you have Received, Freely give.

And Ahab the King said, Take Micah the Prophet, and put this fellow in the Prison, and feed him with Bread of Afflicti­ons until I come in Peace: And Micah said unto Ahab, If thou return at all in Peace the Lord hath not spoken by me; so Ahab was slain according to Micah's Prophecy.

And did not the Prophet Hanana reprove Asa the King? And the King was in a great Rage, and put the Prophet in Prison, because he reproved the King who, relied on the King of Assyria, and not on the Lord God?

And you may see in the Acts, how the Priests & the Rulers cast the Apostles into Prison, and Charged, them That they should Preach no more in the name of Jesus. And Stephen said to the Chief Priest & the Rulers, Which of the Prophets have not your forefathers persecuted, and slain them which shewed before the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have been now the Be­trayers and Murderers, who received the Law, &c. and have not kept it? When they heard these things, they were cut to the Hear, and gnashed on him with their Teeth, and stoned Steven to death, Calling upon God, saying, Lord Jesus re­ceive my Spirit.

And Paul said, I have persecuted this way (which was the way of True Christianity) unto death, binding and delivering into Prison both men and women; the high Priest both bear me witness, and all the state of the Elders from whom also I recei­ved [Page 15]Letters, and went unto Damascus to bring them which were there, bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished: This was Paul's Confession when he was converted, and persecuted for Christ's sake by old persecuting professing Jews.

And Herod persecuted the Christians, and killed James, and imprisoned Peter, whom an Angel delivered through the Prayers of the Saints, and the Angel of God struck Herod that he dyed miserably.

And you may see in the 16th of Acts, how Paul and Silas were cast into Prison, and how the Lord wrought a wonder­full Deliverance to his Glory to them; and how often you see the Jews sought the life of Paul, after he was converted; and the Heathen Romans had more tenderness, who let him have liberty, & to dwell two full years in his own hir'd house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the King­dom of God, and teaching those things which concerned the Lord Jesus; and no man forbad him.

And the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he had done Good on the Saboth day, who was Lord of the Saboth: And Christ said to his Disciples, Remember the word that I said unto you (To wit, his Disciples) the Servant is not greater than his Lord; if they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you, &c. All these things will they do unto you for my name sake. And this Persecution and Imprisonment the Apostles and the Saints came to witness after Christ was risen; and there­fore you may see in his Epistles he Salutes his Fellow-Prisoners, and the Apostle saith, he that is Born of the Flesh persecutes him that is Born of the Spirit; even so it is now, each Birth manifests both their works and Fruits.

And the Apostle saith to the Corinthians, give no offence in any ihing, that the Ministry be not blamed, but in all things approving your selves as the Ministers of God, in much Pati­ence, in Afflictions, in Necessities, in Distress, in Stripes, in Imprisonments, in Tumuls, in Labours, in Wantings, in Fast­ings, [Page 16]by Pureness, by Knowledge, by Long-suffering, by Kindness, by the holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the Word of Truth, by the Power of God, by the Armour of Righteousness, on the Right hand and on the Left, by Honour and Dishonour, by Evil Report, and Good Report, as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we Live; as Chastized, and not killed; as Sorrowfull, yet alwayes re­joycing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things. These are good Examples for the true Christians to follow.

And do not you read what became of Iezabel, that per­secutor of the Lords Prophets? And what is become of all the persecutors of Gods people since the beginning? that Birth Born after the Flesh, will it not have the same por­tion to the end of the World? is it not recorded to be the Birth of the Flesh; and is not to Inherit with the Heir of the Promise; but is shut out from that Inheritance?

To all the ELECT of GOD, Chosen and Faithful, who have known the Work of the Lord, and his Dealings, and his Eternal Hand, his Spirit and Power, in preserving of you to this day, and in this Glorious Gospel Day of Christ Jesus, who are built upon him, the Holy Rock and Foundation of God, that standeth sure, and are fed with the Heavenly Bread, & feel the Springs of Living Water, and enjoy the Presence of the Lord, who daily gives the Encrease.

AND now Friends, with the Eternal Power and Heavenly Light of Christ, with it you have seen, and do see, and will see that which Christ hath spoken in the 23d of Matthew, and 8th of Luke, which he taught to the great Multitude in Parables, when he sate in a Ship; Behold (saith Christ) a Sower went out to sow his Seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the High Wayes side, and it was trodden down, and the Fowls of the Air devoured it; and some fell upon the Rocks or Stony Places, where they had not much Earth; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away. So he that receiveth the Seed into rocky or stony Places, the same is he that receiveth the Word with Joy, yet hath he not Root in himself, but dureth for [Page 18]a while, or for a while believeth, and in Temptations fal­leth away; for when Tribulations or Persecutions arise because of the Word, by and by he is Offended; and upon too many such have we seen this Parable fulfilled in Times of Persecutions, and Tribulations, and Sufferings; the Persecuting Sun, when it is up, they are scorch't, and withered away, and so come to nothing. And some fell among Thorns, and the Thorns sprung up and choaked it: And they also that received Seed among the Thorns, are they that hear the Word, and when they have heard, go forth, and are choak't with the Cares of this World, and Deceitfulness of Riches, and Pleasures of this Life, and become Unfruitful, and bring no Fruit to perfection: and this is seen to be the Condition of too many. But the other fell into Good Ground, and brought forth Fruit, some Thirty, some Sixty, and some an Hundred fold: So they that received the Seed into the Good Ground, are they which in an honest and a good Heart have heard the Word, and understand it, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, some an hundred fould, some sixty, some thirty, as was said before; these are the honest and good hearts, upon whom Christ the Son of Righteousness shines, that nourishes his good seed, who brings forth fruit unto perfection, who lives over the Deceitfull Riches and Cares of the World, and the Pleasures of this Life, that pass away, who are not offended nor moved at Tribulations and Persecutions, but [Page 19]patiently do endure them; such do bring forth Fruit unto Perfection, yea an 100.60. and 30. fould, in Christ Je­sus, who bruses the Serpents head, who makes men and wo­mens hearts like the high way, thorny rocky and stony ground; for men and women, whose hearts are like unto the High Ways, stony, rockey and thorny ground, the seed hath fallen into these grounds as before, and these grounds all can talk of the Seed, and of the Word, but bring forth no fruit unto perfection. And therefore let all consider what ground you are, and Fruit you bring forth; and when you hear the Word of the Kingdom, that ye under­stand it, which none can without the Light and Spirit of Christ (and walk in it) but he that shall endure to the end in the light, in the grace, truth, and spirit, and in Christ, from whom you do receive these, shall be saved.

For the Apostle saith, the Just shall live by faith; and this is not by any faith which men make, but by the faith which Jesus Christ is both the Author and Finisher of in your Hearts and Consciences? and in this faith ye have access to God, and do please him; but if any man draw back (to wit, by not living by this Faith, doth not the Lord say) my soul shall have no pleasure in him? but we are not of them who draw back unto per­dition, that is a sad drawing-back; but of them that be­lieve to the saving of our souls.