WHO are sensible of the Day of your Visitation, by the Light of the Lord Jesus in your Hearts, and who have gladly received the holy Te­stimony thereof, by which you have be­held the great Apostasy, that is in the World, from the Life, Power and Spi­rit of God, and the gross Degeneracy, that is amongst those called Christians, from the Purity, Self-denial, and holy [Page 4] Example of Christ Jesus, and his Pri­mitive Followers; and how Pride, Lust, and Vanity reign, and how Christendom is become a Cage of Ʋnclean Birds: Who have mourned under the sence thereof, and have cried in your Souls, How long, how long, how long, O Lord God holy and true, will it be, ere thou takest to thy self thy great power and reignest! To whom the World is become a burden, and the Vanities and Glory of it but vexation of Spirit: Who despise the things that are seen, which are Temporal, for the sake of the things that are not seen, which are Eternal: Whose Eyes look through and beyond Time and Mortality, to that Eternal City, whose Builder and Maker is God: Whose daily Cries and Travails are to follow Jesus in the way of Regeneration; to live as Pilgrims in this World, for the sake of that Glory, which shall hereafter be revealed, that can never fade away, that you may at­tain unto the Eternal Rest of God: To you, my dear Friends, to you it is, that the God and Father of him that was dead, and is alive, and liveth for ever­more, Christ Jesus, the faithful and true [Page 5] Witness, who hath loved and visited my Soul, hath now moved upon my Spi­rit to write, and visit you with this Epistle. Receive it then, and with it the endeared Salutation of that Love and Life which are not of this World, but overcome the World. Great and fre­quent are my Travails for you, that you may persevere, and not faint, but en­dure to the end; that you may obtain that glorious Salvation and Redemption, that is in Christ Jesus. Yea, for this are my Knees bended before the God of the Spirits of all Flesh, that you may be entirely kept, that you may so run, as you may obtain, and so fight as you may over­come; that an Immortal Crown and Kingdom may be your Portion, when all Sins and Sorrows shall be done a­way.

And that this you may do, hear my Exhortation to you in the Spirit of Truth. Dwell in the sense, that God hath begotten in your Hearts by the Light and Spirit of his Son, who is now in his Son, in you, reconciling you unto himself. Watch, that this blessed sense be preserved in you, and it will preserve [Page 6] you. For where the holy sense is lost, Profession, even of the highest Truths, cannot preserve against the Enemies As­saults; but the Gates of Hell will pre­vail against them, and the Enemy's Darts will wound them, and they will be carried again Captive by the Power of his Temptations. Wherefore, I say again, live and abide in that Light and Life which hath visited you, and be­gotten an holy sense in your Hearts, and which hath made Sin exceeding sinful to you, and you weary and heavy-laden under the burden of it: And hath raised in you a Spiritual Travail, Hunger and Thirst after your Saviour, that he might deliver you; that ye might be filled with the Righteousness of his Kingdom, that is without end.

Dear Friends, God hath breathed the Breath of Life in you, and in measure you live; for dead Men and Women do not Hear, or Hunger, or Thirst; nei­ther do they feel Weights and Burdens as you do. The Day of the Lord is dawned upon you, and it burneth as an Oven; you know it; and all Works of Iniquity are as Stubble before it: You [Page 7] feel it so, they cannot stand before the Lord: His Judgments take hold of them, and consume them. O love his Judg­ments! that with those of Old you may say, In the way of thy Judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee, the desire of our Soul is to thy Name, and to the remem­brance of thee. With our Souls have we desired thee in the Night, yea with our Spi­rits within us will we seek thee early: For when thy Judgments are in the Earth, the Inhabitants of the World will learn righte­ousness. Part, part with all, My dear Friends, that is for Judgment, let him a­rise in your Hearts, that his and your E­nemys may be scattered: That you may witness Him to be stronger in you, then he that is in the World. If the desire of your Soul be to his Name, and the remembrance of him, you will love his Judgments and abide there, the days he alloweth for your purification. Be­hold his blessed Visitation is upon you: His Angel hath Saluted you, and his holy Spirit hath overshadowed you; he hath begotten holy desires in you, I pray that they may never be ex­tinguisht, and that you may never [Page 8] faint. Wherefore look to Jesus that is the Author, that he may be the Fi­nisher. I Testify for God, he has ap­peared to you; yea, he hath said to you as to Andrew, Philip, &c. follow me: And I say unto you, follow him: Come and see where he dwelleth; do not lose Sight of him, let him be lifted up in you, and your Eye be to him: Who, whereever he is lifted up, draweth all such after him. And this is the reason, why People are not now drawn after Christ, because he is not lifted up in their Hearts, he is not exalted in their Souls; he is Re­jected, Opprest, Crucified, and Buried; yea they have Rowled a Stone upon him, and set Guards, that he should not rise in them to Judge them.

But blessed are you, whose Eyes have seen one of the days of the Son of Man: Blessed are you, at whose Doors he hath knocked, to whose Heart he hath appeared, who have received his holy Visitation, who believe it is he, and not another; and therefore have said in your Hearts, with Nathaniel of old, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel; and with Thomas, my Lord and [Page 9] my God. O what have you, my dear Friends, to do, but to keep with him for ever! For whither should you go, the words of Eternal Life dwell with him? He is full of Grace, and full of Truth, and of his Fulness ye have received Grace for Grace. And this is that Grace which bringeth Salvation to all that re­ceive it, embrace it, and will be led by it. For it teacheth such, as it did the Antient Christians, to deny all ungodliness, and the world's lusts, and to live soberly and godlikely in this present evil world, look­ing for that blessed hope, and glorious ap­pearing of the great God, and their Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath given himself for them to deliver them from all sin, and to redeem them from all iniquity. You know that you are bought with a price, now you feel it, and in measure discern the preci­ousness of that Price which hath bought you, namely, the Life of the Dear Son of God. Grieve not his Spirit that is ready to Seal you to the Day of your perfect Redemption: But give up your Bodies, Souls and Spirits to his service, whose they are, that they may be order'd by him to his Glory.

[Page 10]I write not to you as to the World, for you are called out of the World, by him that hath overcome the World; that as he is not of this World, so you may not be of this World. Come then out of it more and more, out of the Na­ture, out of the Spirit, out of the Fruits, and out of the Fashions of the World! They are all for the Fire. Christ said, the World loveth its own. Search with the Light of the Lord Jesus, what there is in you, that the World owneth and lov­eth? For that is its own? And consider what it is, that the World is offended with? Not that that cometh from it self, of its own making and inventing, but that which crosseth its Inventions, that is of another Nature, and springeth from an­other Root. O be not conformed to the Fashions of this World, that please the Lust, which grieveth the Spirit of God; but be ye renew'd in your Minds; and being so within, you will be as a new People without.

They that have been truly with Christ, are quickly discovered, they cannot be hid. So it was of old; the Jews said of the Disciples, these men [Page 11] have been with Jesus; their Speech and Carriage bewray'd them; their out­sides were not like the outsides of other Men; they were not currant with the Fashions and Customs of that time. Nor can they that have been with Jesus, conform to the vain Fashions and Cu­stoms of this World; wherefore be not you, in any sort, of this World, but give diligence to make your holy high Cal­ling and Election sure: For many are cal­led, and few are chosen; and the rea­son is, they are slothful Servants, they hide their Talent in a Napkin, neglect the Day of their Visitation, and work not out their Salvation with fear and trembling: And then the Night over­taketh them, in which they can never work the works of Repentance; and the things that belong to their peace are hid from their Eyes for ever.

But the Lord forbid, that it should be so with any of you! No, no, I hope, yea, I believe better things of you. And I am assured, that as you keep your Hearts chastly to the Light and Grace; that with which you have been visited of the Lord; you shall be kept to Eter­nal [Page 12] Salvation. For they are saved, that walk in the Light: Into the Light the Enemy cannot come; for the Light is Christ Jesus, and the Enemy hath no part or place in him; he is driven out from the holy place by transgression, and he is now a fugitive from Heaven; but he goeth up and down the Earth, seeking whom he may devour, whom he can catch and carry away with his baits and Snares.

Wherefore Wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth, that is, the earthly Inhabi­tants, such as love and live in the earthly Nature; for all such shall be a prey to him, he shall have power over them, and keep up his Kingdom in them. But those that receive and abide in Christ Jesus, the Light, Life and Truth, are out of his reach; they are in the muni­tion of Rocks, under the pavilion of the Lord, and in the safe Ark of the most High God. However, he is permitted to tempt & try, till the time shall come, that he is not only trodden under Foot, but al­so bound and cast into the Lake, that burneth with Fire and Brimston. And he is the greatest Enemy to those that turn [Page 13] their back upon him; wherefore he watcheth to surprize them, that he might take them at unawares, and tri­umph over their failings. And for that reason Christ Jesus preached the Watch earnestly, and with repetition to his Disciples.

Now my dear Friends, there be se­veral things (or, the Enemy in several Appearances) will attend you in this holy march, you are making to the E­ternal Land of rest; of which I would caution you, that you may none of you make Shipwrack of any of those holy beginnings, you have experienced by the Light and Spirit of the Lord. Be­ware of vain thoughts, for they oppress and extinguish the true sense. These vain thoughts arise from the Enemy's presentations of objects to the mind, and the Mind's looking upon them, till they have made their impressions upon the mind, and influenced the mind into a love of them. This is a false liberty, a dangerous, ye a destructive liberty to the holy Sense, that God hath begotten in any. For, as that is not received but hindered by such thoughts, so it is [Page 14] not improved, but destroyed by them: The divine Sense in the Soul is begotten by the Lord: 'Tis his Life and Spirit, his holy Breath and Power, that quick­neth the Soul, and maketh it sensible of its own state and of God's will; and that raiseth fervent desires in it to be Eternally blessed. This is that which Satan rageth at; he feareth his Kingdom, he findeth that he is come that will cast him out of his possessions. He cryeth out, Why art thou come to torment me before my time? He is the Father of vain thoughts, he begetteth them in the mind, on purpose to draw off the mind from that Sense, and to exercise it in variety of conceptions, in a self-liberty of thinking and imagining concerning Persons and things. Here he offereth his Baits, and layeth his Snares, and never faileth to Catch and defile the unwatchful Soul.

Now, if you should say, what are these vain thoughts? I tell you my Friends, All those thoughts and con­ceptions, that either bring not Real Pro­fit to the Soul, or that Grieve, Hurt [Page 15] or Oppress that holy Sense, which is be­gotten of God in the Soul. And that by which Thoughts are to be examined is the Light of Christ Jesus: For as what­ever may be known of God is manifested within man, for there God hath shown it him, as saith the Apostle Paul to the Ro­mans; So what ever is reproved, is made manifest by the light; for whatever maketh manifest, is light, saith he to the Ephesians. By this Light of Christ Jesus examine your own Thoughts; see whence they rise, from whence they come, and what they tend to. O Friends, here is a Mystery; and the Evil One worketh here in a Mystery! For where he can­not prevail to draw out the Mind from its sensible Habitation to embrace his Representations of old Lusts and Plea­sures, that are wicked in themselves, he will present you with lawful Objects, your outward Enjoyments, Business, and Calling, and steal in upon your Minds in the Croud of these Lawful things, and there lay his Snares, hid and covered, and at unawares catch you.

My Dear Friends, Blessed are they that see Jesus their Captain, going be­fore [Page 16] them, and counselling and leading them in all their outward and lawful Concerns, that they offend not. For, my Friends, this know, you may un­lawfully think of lawful things, either in thinking on them unseasonably, mark that, when your Souls should be wholly retired, and exercised in the Lord's Light, to feel his presence, in which is Heavenly Life: Or in thinking on law­ful things carelesly, not with regard to your Guide; he that hath bought you throughout with his own precious Blood, that he might have the Govern­ment of your Bodies, Souls and Spirits; that is, of your Bodily concerns, as well as of the things relating to your Souls and Spirits. This prevents much harm and mischief in Business and Families, and preserveth the Divine Sense that God hath begotten, and the Creature in it: So that its Fellowship and Peace with the Lord runneth as a River, it is not stopt or hindred by the designs of the Enemy. Or lastly, in thinking on law­ful things excessively, too much, more than is needful, without limits, thereby gratifying the fleshly Mind, which is [Page 17] Enmity with God, and that Sense which he begetteth in the Soul. O the Moun­tains that are raised, by such vain Thoughts, betwixt God and the Soul! How doth the Soul come under an E­clipse, lose sight, and at last all Sense of the Living God, like Men drowned in great Waters? And thus many have lost their Condition, and grown unsen­sible; and then questioned all former Experiences, if they were not meer Ima­ginations; till at last they arrived at Atheism, denying and deriding God and his Work, and those that kept their In­tegrity: For whom is reserved the Blackness of Darkness for ever, unless they timely and truly Repent.

But when this subtle Enemy of Man's Salvation seeth that he cannot make you bow to the Glory of this World, that all his Snares that he layeth in the things that are seen, which are Temporal, are discover'd and broken; and that your Eyes are directed to those things that are Eternal, then will he turn Accuser. He will aggravate your Sins, and plead the impossibility of their Remission: He will seem to act the Advocate for the [Page 18] Justice of God, that he might cast you into Despondency, that you may doubt of Deliverance and Salvation. Many are the Thoughts, with which he per­plexeth the Sons and Daughters of Men: But this know, that he was a Liar from the beginning. For the Lord doth not visit the Souls of any to destroy them, but to save them. For this end hath he sent his Son a Light into the World; and they that bring their Deeds to it, are not of the Devil, who hateth the Light. Neither doth the Lord cause People to Hunger and Thirst after him, and not fill them with his good things. Be assured, my Friends, where ever the Lord hath begotten Desires after him, and where ever Sin is become exceeding sinful, yea a burden to the Soul, the De­vil's Kingdom is shaken, the Prince of this World is begun to be Judged, and God is at Work for the Redemption of that Soul. Hearken not to the Voice of the Serpent, for that lost your first Parents their blessed Paradise: And with the same Subtle and Lying Spirit he would hinder you from returning into Paradise. But when he is herein disappointed, he [Page 19] shifteth his temptation, and presenteth another temptation, viz. that though you have begun well, yet ye will never be able to hold out to the end. That the Temptations are so many, and the Enemys so strong, they are not to be overcome by you; and that it were bet­ter, never to profess such high things, than to fall short of them; this will but bring Reproach to the way, and the People of it. Again, that 'tis Curiosity, and Spiritual Pride, and Conceitedness, for you to be thought better then others, with the like Suggestions, on purpose to stag­ger your Resolutions, and weaken your Faith. Ah! he is a Devil still, a Liar and a Destroyer: Look not to him, but to Jesus, who hath called you. Keep but your Eye to him, of whom the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness was a Figure, and he shall Cure you of all Diseases, of all Wounds and Stingings of Serpents and Scorpions, &c. that may attend you in the Wilderness-travail, which is the hour of your Temptation. God is exalting him, in you, a Saviour; therefore is he manifested, viz. to destroy Sin. Yea, stronger is he that is in you, [Page 20] than he that is in the World: He is able to bind the strong Man, and cast him out; do but believe truly in him, and cleave to him. Remember there were evil Spies of old, those that brought false nitelegence, that Canaan was a pleasant Land, but the Way impassible; but the Faithful Enter'd and Inherited. Keep therefore in the righteous Life of Jesus, and walk in his holy Light, and you shall be preserved through all exercises and difficulties unto the Eternal Canaan, the Land of rest. Neither Wonder at these things, that temptations attend you, or that the Lord tryeth and proveth you, it is the way of all that are gone to God. For even Jesus was tempted and tryed, and is therefore become our Captain, because he overcame. Neither be ye cast down, because the Lord sometimes seemeth to hide his Face from you, that you feel not allways that Joy and Refreshment, that you sometimes enjoy. I know what work the Enemy maketh of these withdraw­ings of the Lord. Perhaps he will in­sinuate, that God hath deserted you in his displeasure, that you must never expect [Page 21] to see him, that he will never come again: And by these and the like strategems, he will endeavour to shake your Faith and Hope, and distract you with Fear, and to beget great jealousies and doubts in you; and by impatience and infide­lity, Frustrate your good beginnings. But though David said of Old, in the distress of his Soul, One day shall I fall by the Hand of Saul, yet he overcame him, and had the Crown. Yea, the Lord Jesus himself cryed out in the a­gony of the Cross, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me! Nevertheless he gloriously Triumph'd over all, and lead Captivity Captive, for the joy that was set before him: Which joy is be­bore you; it is the mark of the price of your great and holy calling. Where­fore faint not, neither murmur, if your Spiritual Moses seem to withdraw a while from you. Do not you make Images in his absence, neither wax Wan­ton; but possess your Souls in holy fear and patience, waiting with holy Reverence and Diligence for his appear­ance, who is your victorious Leader.

[Page 22]All these things are for your good, that proud Flesh may be debased, and that the Soul may be redeemed. Where­fore bear the hand of the Lord; whom he loveth, he Chastneth; his Anger lasteth not for ever, but his Mercys en­dure for ever. Shrink not from the pure operations of his holy word, let it divide asunder betwen the Soul and Spirit, the Joynts and Marrow in you; suffer your right Hands to be Cut off, and your right Eyes to be pluck'd out, that do offend, let not the pain scare you. O bear the pure searchings of this Heavenly word! Yea, if your minds be stay'd in it, you will find it to be a word of Patience, which will keep you; for all Virtue is in it. Keep it, and be still: It is good, said one of Old, that a Man should both hope, and quietly wait for the Salvation of God. Yea it it is good for a Man that he bear the Yoak in his youth (this is your youth) and such an one sitteth alone, and keepeth Silence, because he hath born it upon him. Ah blessed are they that bear this holy Yoak, who are come to this Silence, who Dye daily; that not they, but [Page 23] Christ may Live and Rule in them; therefore hear him, and take up his Cross, and follow him. Follow him, keep him Company, he hath beaten the Path, and trode the Way, start not aside at his Cup, neither shun his Baptism: Go with him to Caiaphas, to Pilate, and to the Cross; dye with him to the World, and you shall rise with him unto Life Eternal. Honour, Glo­ry and Immortality are at the end of this Holy Race! O that you may run it with Chearfulness and Perseverance!

But this is not the utmost Strategem of the Enemy; he hath yet a more plausible, and a more dangerous Device wherewith to destroy the holy Sense that God hath quickened, where he seeth these Temptations resisted, and that he cannot hinder a Religious Work in the Soul, by any of his Baits taken from the things that are seen; and that is, his drawing you into Imaginations of God, and Christ, and Religion; and in­to Religious Duties, not in God's way or time; nor with Christ's Spirit. Here he is transformed into the Appearance of an Angel of Light, and would seem Religious now, a Saint, yea, a Leader into [Page 24] Religion, so that he may but keep him out of his Office, whose right it is to teach, prepare, enable, and lead his Children with his holy Power and Spirit. Yea, if he can but keep the Creature's Will alive, he knoweth there is a ground for him to work upon; a place that he can enter, and in which his Seed will grow. If this Will of Man standing, he knoweth that the Will of God cannot be done on Earth, as it is done in Heaven. O this Will is God's Enemy, yea, the Soul's Enemy; and all Will-worship ariseth hence: Yea, it is the Off-spring of the Serpent and of the Will of Man; and it can never please God. Let all beware of this; God is a Spirit, and he will be Worshipped in his own Spirit, in his own Life. The Wor­ship of God standeth in the Will of God; and is not brought forth of the Will of the Flesh, or of the Will of Man. Re­member that the Word came not to Esau, the First-birth, the Hunter that stayed not at Home; but to Jacob, the plain Man, he that dwelt in Tents; to him came the Word of the Lord, that dwelt in a still and quiet Habitation. For in the true silence is God's Word heard, [Page 25] into which the Hunting Nature of Esau, the First-birth, can never come. It can never stand still, and therefore it can never see the Salvation of God. A­gainst this Nature watch, and know Jacob, that inherits the Birth-right; the Election of God (though now a Worm) to wrestle and prevail. Then Worm Ja­cob, is Israel a Prince, to whom belongs the Statutes and the Ordinances. The Word came to Jacob, and the Statutes to Israel: Here is Dominion, Government, Exaltation: This is the Lot of Worm Jacob. Wait therefore, till the Angel move upon the Waters, before you step one step. Are ye Followers of the Lamb, that hath visited you, the Captain of your Salvation? Run not in your own Wills, wait for his Word of Command, do nothing of thy own Head and Con­triving, yet do all with diligence that he requireth. Remember what be­came of them of Old, that offered false Fire: O stay, till a Coal from his Holy Altar touch your Hearts and your Lips. Jesus told his Mother at the Marriage in Cana in Galilee, his time was not come: He rejected the Will in her, and staid, till his time was come, that is, his Fa­ther's [Page 26] time, in whose Hands are the Times and Seasons: Whose Will he came to do, and not his own: Leaving us therein a Blessed Example, that we should also fol­low his steps, that is, not to attempt to perform even things of God in our own Wills, nor out of God's Season and Time, which is the best: For in his Seasons, he is with us; but in our own Seasons and Wills he withdraweth himself from us. And this is the Cause, that the Nations Worshippers have little sense of God in their Hearts, and that their Priests cry out against inward Sense; Lest the People should go alone, and come to a more acceptible Worship.

My dear Friends, as you would enjoy God's Presence, Love and Life, and be acceptable with him, wait in his holy Light and Spirit that hath visited you, against these strategems of Satan, and Wake not your Beloved before his time: Watch against the will, that Instrument of Satan, and Enemy of God's Glory, and your own Comfort. Let it be Bridled, Subjected and kept under Christ's Yoak, yea, subdued, that the will of God may be done in you and by you, which bringeth glory to the Lord, [Page 27] and Eternal peace to the Soul. One Sigh, rightly begotten, out-weigheth a whole Volume of self-made Prayers: For that which is born of Flesh, is Flesh, and reacheth not God's Kingdom, he regardeth it not; and all that is not born of the Spirit is Flesh. But a Sigh, or a Groan, arising from a living Sense of God's work in the Heart, it Pearceth the Clouds, it entereth the Heavens; yea, the Living God heareth it, his re­gard is to it, and his Spirit helpeth the Infirmity. He loveth that which is of himself, and hath care over it, though as Poor, as worm Jacob. For the Crys of the Poor, and the Sighings of the Needy will I arise, saith the Lord: The Poor in Spirit, that hath parted with all, that they may win Christ; that need him only, and Seek him above all: Who have no helper in the Earth, but have denied all earthly helps, that he might bring and work their Salvation for them. And as you are not to run in your own wills, nor to offer up Sacri­fices of your own preparing, so have a care how you touch with those that do; how you bow to their wills, and joyn [Page 28] with their Sacrifices. For all these things greatly help to extinguish the Divine sense begotten in your Hearts by the word of Life. And as you are faithful to the Light and Spirit of Christ, which giveth you to discern and relish between that which standeth in your own will, and the will & motion of the Spirit of God in your selves; so will you by the same Light discern and sa­vour between that which proceeds from the will of Man, and the will and mo­tions of the Spirit of God in others; and accordingly either to have or not to have fellowship with them: For what hath Light to do with Darkness? Or what hath Spirit to do with Flesh? Or what hath Life to do with Death? For the Grave cannot Praise thee, O Lord; Death cánnot celebrate thee: They that go down into the Pit cannot hope for thy Truth. The Living, the Living, he shall praise thee, as doth my Soul this day. This was the Testimony of the blessed Prophet Esaiah, and it standeth true for ever. According to the Prophet, Thou hast ordained peace for us, for thou hast wrought all our works in us.

[Page 29]Wherefore I exhort you in the Spirit of Truth, and in the Counsel of the God of Truth, keep in the Divine Sense and Watch, if you would endure to the end in the will of God. And I say again, Touch not with Man-made Ministrys, nor Man-made Worships, let their words be never so true: 'Tis but Man, 'tis but Flesh, 'tis but the Will; and it shall have no ac­ceptance with God, O this is the Golden Cup of the Whore, that is gone from the leadings of the Spirit, with which the Nations are defiled; have nothing to do with it. Keep to Christ Jesus, God's great Light, follow him, as he shineth in your Hearts, and ye will not walk in Darkness, but have the Light of Life; not of death to Condemnation, as in the World; but unto Life, which is Justification and Peace. And remem­ber that nothing bringeth to Christ, that cometh not from Christ. Where­fore all Ministry that cometh not from Christ, God's great Prophet and High Priest to all true-born Christians, can­not bring People to Christ. Man only gathereth to Man, to hear and believe in Man, and depend on Man: And if the Church of Corinth sought a proof [Page 30] of Christ's speaking in Paul, that had begotten them, and had wrought the Signs and Works of an Apostle in them: how much more reason have you to de­mand a proof of Christ's speaking in the Priests and Ministers of this World, who have not wrought the Signs and Works of Apostles or true Ministers? And by what should you try them, but by the Light and Spirit of Christ in you? Yea, 'tis Christ Jesus, in you, that giv­eth you to savour, if others speak from Christ in them. And this the Apostle referreth the Corinthians to, for a proof of Christ's speaking in him: For no­thing leadeth to God, but that which came from God, even Christ Jesus the Son of God. O let him be your Vine, and know him to be your Fig-tree: Sit under his holy Teachings, whose Do­ctrine shall drop as Myrrh upon your Souls: He will feed you with the Bread of God, that cometh from Heaven, that feedeth and leadeth them thither that feed upon it: And He is that Bread.

Therefore wait and watch unto his daily and hourly Visitations to your Souls, and against all the Approaches of [Page 31] the Enemy, that so he may not take you at unawares; but that you may be preserved from the power of his Darts, and the force of his Temptations by the Holy Armour of Light, the defence of the faithful Antients: If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the Land. Now is your Day, now is your Time; work while the light is with you; for the Night cometh, in which none can work. Not only the Night of Eternal Darkness to the Wick­ed; but the Night of Death unto all: For in the Grave there is no Repentance, neither can any Man there, work the Works of God. You know the Foun­dation: Is he Elect? Is he Precious to you? Have ye chosen him? Yea, I am satisfied you have: See what you build upon him. Have a care of Hay, Straw and Stubble! Have a care of your own Wills and Spirits! Labour not for the Bread that perisheth, as all the Bread of Man's-making doth: But labour you in the Light and Strength of the Lord for the Bread that never perisheth, that Bread that cometh from Heaven, that nourisheth the Soul in that Life that is [Page 32] heavenly, that is hid with Christ in God, the Root and Father of all Life; that of this Fountain you may drink, that is clear and pure, that cometh from the Throne of God, and of the Lamb, and not of the muddy Puddle of Man's In­vention. There is a Bread that perish­eth, and there is a Drink that perisheth, and Wo to them that feed thereon, for their Souls shall perish also, if they Re­pent not. But there is a Bread that ne­ver perisheth, and there is a Fountain that springeth up unto Eternal Life, and Blessed are they that Feed and Drink thereof; for they shall have Eternal Life with God. This is that which only satisfieth what is Born of God; it will feed on no other Bread, nor drink of no other Water. I cannot but warn you all that are come to the Lord's Day, that you cease from all other Food, from Man and Man's Will and In­vention; for that stifleth the Divine Sense, that overlayeth and killeth this Heavenly Birth. There are no Grapes to be gathered of Thorns, nor Figs of Thistles: Keep to your own Vine and Fig-tree Christ Jesus; sit under him, [Page 33] that you may eat of his Fruit, which is the fruit of Life, the hidden Manna; hid from the Nature and Spirit of this World, a Mystery thereunto. Two things consider; first, you must wait till the Manna cometh; and then you are not to be idle; you are to work; and next, as it daily cometh, so it must be daily gathered and fed upon: For the Manna that was gather'd yesterday, will not be Food for to day; it will not keep for that use. As it was outwardly, so 'tis inwardly. Time past is none of thine: 'Tis not what thou wert, but what thou art; God will be daily look'd unto. Didst thou eat yesterday? That feedeth thee not to day: Therefore Jesus taught his Disciples, and us in them, to pray for our daily Bread, for the present suste­nance, and to look no farther, but de­pend upon the Lord, and live by Faith in him, that raised up Jesus from the Dead; so that the time to come is no more ours, than the time past can be re­called.

Wherefore, Blessed are they, that fear the Lord, and confide in him, they [Page 34] shall never be confounded: They shall lack no good thing; for the Lord loveth Israel, he is good unto Israel, and all that are of an upright Heart; whose Hearts look up to Heaven, and not down to the Earth; neither love nor live in the vain Lusts of the World. Such shall abide in his holy Tabernacle, such shall dwell in his holy Hill, even they that walk uprightly, that work righteousness, and speak the truth in their hearts; in whose sight a vile person is contemned, but who honour them that fear the Lord.

O my dear Friends, I know experi­mentally, that this is hard to Flesh and Blood; that which is Born of the Cor­ruptible Seed; but that can never enter into the Kingdom of God: That must be Crucified by Christ that hath Cruci­fied Christ: Blood requireth Blood. Wherefore give that which is for the Famine, to the Famine: For the Fire, to the Fire: And for the Sword, to the Sword. Let all the sinful Lusts be fa­misht, let the Stubble be burnt, and the Corrupt, yea, and the Fruitless Tree that cumbereth the Ground, be cut down [Page 35] and cast into the Fire. Let the work of the Lord be done in you; let him purge his Floor, and that throughly; that you may come out as pure as Gold Seven times tried, fitted for his use that hath chosen you; that you may bear his Mark, and wear his Inscription, Holi­ness to the Lord; so you will be Vessels of Honour, in his House. Therefore I say, let your Houses be swept by the Judg­ments of the Lord, and the little Lea­ven of the Kingdom leaven you in Body, Soul and Spirit, that holy Temples you may be to his Glory. This I know, is your desire, that are on your Travail to this Blessed Enjoyment.

Well, you believe in God, believe also in Christ the Light that hath visited you: And if you truly believe, you will not make haste: You will not make haste out of the Hour of Judgment; you will stay the Time of your Trial and Clean­sing, that you may be as I said, as pure as Gold Seven times tried; and so re­ceive the Lord's Mark and Stamp, his Image and Approbation; that you may be his throughout, in Body, Soul, and [Page 36] Spirit; seal'd to him in an Eternal Co­venant.

Dear Friends, gird up the Loins of your Minds, watch and hope to the end; be not slothful, neither strive; despond not, nor be presumptuous: Be as little Children; for of such is the King­dom of God. Dispute not, neither con­sult with Flesh and Blood: Let not the Prudence of this World draw you from the simplicity, that is in Christ Jesus. Love and obey the Truth; hide his Living Word in your Hearts, though it be as an Hammer, a Fire, a Sword, yet it reconcileth and bringeth you to God, and will be sweeter to you that love it, than is the Honey, and the Honey-comb. Fear not, but bear the Cross; yea, without the Camp, the Camp of this World's Lusts, Glory, and False VVor­ships. But this know, when the Ene­my cannot prevail by none of these Stra­tagems, if you resist him, as the God of the World's Glory, the Prince of the Air, and the False Prophet, then he turneth Dragon; then he declareth open VVar; then you are Hereticks, Fanaticks, En­thusiasts, [Page 37] Seducers, Blasphemers, unwor­thy to live upon the Earth. But in all these things rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great shall be your reward in the King­dom of the Father. VVhat, if your Pa­rents rise up against you; if your Bre­thren betray you; if your Companions desert and deride you? If you become the Song of the Drunkard, and the Scorn and Merriment of the Vile Person? Yea, though the Powers of the Earth should combine to devour you, let not your Hearts be troubled. Shun not the Cross, but despise the Shame, and cast your Care upon the Lord, who will be afflicted with you in all your Afflictions: In the Fire he will be with you, and in the Water he will not forsake you. O let your Eye be to him, whose Name is as a strong Tower, the Sanctuary of the Righteous in all Ages; that you may be able to say in your Hearts with David of old, The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Though an Host should encamp against me, my Heart shall not fear; though War should rise a­gainst [Page 38] me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my Life, to be­hold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavilion, he shall set me upon a Rock. When my Father and my Mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living. Wait on the Lord, be of good Courage, and he shall strengthen thine Heart: Wait I say on the Lord.

O my dear Friends, let it be your daily and hourly work to wait upon God. How often does David speak of waiting upon God? he felt the sweetness of it; therefore retire into your holy Chamber: Be still, and the Lord will speak comfortably unto you. Blessed are they, that wait upon him! whose Expectations are only from him: For though the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their [Page 39] strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. I waited, saith David, patiently upon the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. And this was his Testimony, Behold, the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, to deliver their Soul from Death, and to keep them alive in Famine: For the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such, as be of a contrite Spirit: David knew it, therefore, he could speak it.

O my dear Friends, who are compas­sed about with many Tribulations; the Lord God, your Staff and Strength is near you to sustain you. Have ye born the holy reproach of Jesus, and despised the Shame of his Cross, and did he ever desert you? Be not cast down, though to the Eye of Reason there seemeth none to help, no, not one to save: Though Enemies within, and Enemies without, Encamp themselves about you; though Pharaoh and his Host pursue you, and great difficulties be on each hand of you, and the dismal Red Sea be before [Page 40] you; stand still, make no Bargains for your selves, let all Flesh be silent before the Lord, and his Arm shall bring you Salvation. Yea, when you are ready to go down into the Pit, that your Throat is dry with crying, and your Eyes seem to fail with waiting, his Sal­vation shall spring as the Morning; be­cause his Mercies are to all Generations, and that the Seed of Jacob never sought his face in vain. The poor Man cryeth, saith David; What poor Man was this? He that is poor in his own Eyes; that hath no Helper in the Earth, but God. This poor Man cryed, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his Troubles. Our Souls, said the Righteous of old, waited for the Lord, for he is our Help, and our Shield for ever.

Wherefore, my dear Friends, be not you discomforted, for there is no new thing happeneth unto you: 'Tis the Antient Path of the Righteous: For thy sake, says David, have I born re­proach; I am become a stranger to my Bre­thren, and an Alien unto my Mother's Children: When I wept, and chastned my [Page 41] Soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. I made Sackcloth also my Garment, and I became a proverb to them. They that sate in the Gate, spake against me; and I was the Song of the Drunkards. Save me O God, for the Waters are come in unto my Soul: And the Water Floods are ready to swallow me up. They persecute him, whom thou hast smitten; and they grieve those, whom thou hast wounded. Do you not know this, Dear Friends, are not your Tears become a Reproach, Your Fasts a Wonder, your Paleness a Derision, your Plainness a Proverb, and your Serious and Retired Conversation a by-word? Yea, when the Lord hath Wounded, have not they also grieved? And when the Lord hath smitten you, have not they mocked? But this was David's joy, the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want: He restoreth my Soul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake; he maketh me to lie down in green Pastures: He leadeth me beside the Still waters. Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of death, I will fear no Evil; for thou art [Page 42] with me, thy Rod and thy Staff they Comfort me: Who was the Comforter & preserver of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego, that refused to obey the King's Command against the Commandment of God: They would not bowe to his Image; but rather chose the Fiery Furnace, then to comit Idolatry, or bowe to another thing, then to the Living God. Did not we cast Three Men into the midst of the Fire? said Nebuchadnezzar, Loe I see Four Men loose, walking in the midst of the Fire, and they have no hurt: And the form of the Fourth is like the Son of God. O my Friends, the Fire obeyeth him, as well as the Winds and Seas: All Power is given to the Son of God, who is given to you for your Salvation. Well, Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego, the King calleth out of the Fire, and they have no harm; though the Mighty Men, that cast them into the Fiery Fur­nace, were consumed. The God of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego, is mag­nified by the King's decree, and Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego, are by the King highly Preferred. Here is the end of [Page 43] faithfulness; here is the blessing of perse­verance God will bring honour to his Name, through the Patience and Inte­grity of his People.

And it was this Son of God that pre­served Daniel in the Lyons Den; it was his Voice, that David said divideth the Flames of Fire; he rideth upon the Winds, he sitteth upon the Floods. The Voice of the Lord is Powerful, the Voice of the Lord is full of Majesty: They that trust in him, shall never be confounded. Blessed are they whose God is the Lord: For he is a present help in the Needful time of trouble. The angel of the Lord Encam­peth round about them that fear him, and he delivereth them. O taste, and see, that the Lord is good: Blessed is the Man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, for there is no want to them that fear him. The Young Lyons shall lack, and the Old Lyons suffer Hunger; but they that seek the Lord, shall not want any good thing. Ma­ny are the Afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of them all; for the Lord redeemeth the Souls of his [Page 44] Servants, and none of them that trust in him, shall be made desolate.

For which Cause, my dear Friends, cast away every Weight, and every Burden, and the Sin that doth so easily beset you. Neither look at the Enemys strength, nor at your own weakness; but look un­to Jesus the blessed Author of your Convincement and Faith: The mighty One, on whom God hath layd help, for all those that believe in his Name, receive his Testimony, and live in his Doctrine; who said to his dear followers of Old; Be of good Chear, I have over­come the World. Fear not little Flock; it is the Father's good pleasure, to give you a Kingdom: And they that endure to the end, shall be saved. I will not leave you Comfortless, said he, I will come to you; he that is with you, shall be in you. This was the Hope of their glory, the Foundation of their building, which standeth sure. And though sorrow cometh Over-night, yet joy shall come in the Morning. Ye shall Weep and La­ment, said Jesus, but the World shall re­joyce; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your [Page 45] sorrow shall be turned into joy, and their rejoycing into howling. And Loe I am with you to the end of the World. Be ye therefore encouraged in the holy Way of the Lord; wait diligently for his daily Manifestations unto your Souls, that you may be strengthned in your in­ward Man, with Might and Power, to do the Will of God on Earth, as it is done in Heaven. O watch, that you en­ter not into temptation: Yea, watch unto Prayer, that you enter not into temptati­on, and that you fall not by the temptation. Christ said to Peter, Canst not thou watch one hour? Every one hath an Hour of Temptation to go through; and this is the Hour, that every one is to watch. Jesus the Captain of our Salvation was under great Temptations; he was sad unto Death; he did sweat drops of Blood; but he watch'd, he pray'd, he groan'd, yea, he cry'd with strong cries: But through Suffering overcame: And re­member how in the Wilderness he was tempted, but the Angels of the Lord ministred to him. So they that follow him in the way of the Tribulations and [Page 46] Patience of his Kingdom, God's Angel shall minister unto them all: Yea, he will keep them in the Hour of Temptation: He will carry their Heads above the Waves, and deliver them from the de­vouring Floods.

Wherefore finally, my Friends, I say unto you, in the Name of the Lord, Be of good chear! Look to Jesus, and fear not Man, whose Breath is in his No­strils: But be Valiant for the Truth on Earth, Love not your Lives unto the Death, and you shall receive a Crown of Life and Glory; which the God of the Fathers, the God of the Prophets, the God of the Apostles, and the God of the Martyrs and true Confessors of Jesus; yea, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall give unto all those that keep the pure Testimony of his Son in their Hearts, and patiently and faith­fully endure to the end.

Now to him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you fault­less [Page 47] before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy: To the only Wise God, our Saviour, be Glory and Ma­jesty, Dominion and Power, both now and ever, Amen.