NOTHING has render'd the Cross of Christ of less Effect, nothing has been a greater stumbling Block and Rock of Offence to weak Minds, than a Supposition, now currant among us, that most of what is contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was design'd only for our [...]rd's first and immediate Followers, and conse­quently calculated for one or two hundred Years. ▪Accordingly many now read the Life, Suf­f [...]rings, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, in [Page] the same Manner as learned Men read Caesar's Commentaries, or the Conquest of Alexander. As Things rather intended to afford Matter for Spe­culation, than to be acted over again in and by us.

As this is true of the Doctrines of the Gospel in general, so it is in particular of the Operations of God's Spirit upon the Hearts of Believers, for we no sooner mention the Necessity of our receiv­ing the Holy Ghost in these last Days, as well as formerly; but we are look'd upon by some, as Euthusiasts and Madmen; and, by others, repre­sented as wilfully deceiving the People, and un­dermining the established Constitution of the Church.

JUDGE ye then, my Brethren, whether it is not high Time for the true Ministers of Jesus Christ, who have been themselves made Partakers of this heavenly Gift, to lift up their Voices like a Trumpet; and if they would not have those Souls perish for which the Lord Jesus has shed his precious Blood, to declare with all Boldness, that the holy Spirit is the common Privilege & Portion of all Believers in all Ages; and that we also, as well as the first Christians, must receive the Holy Ghost e'er we can be truly called the Chil­dren of God.

For this Reason, (and also that I might Ans­wer the Design of our Church in appointing the present Festival) I have chosen the Words of the Text.

THEY were spoken by Jesus Christ when as the Evangelist tells us, he was at the Feast of Tabernacles. Our Lord (herein leading all an [Page] Example) attended on the Temple-Service in general, and the Festivals of the Jewish Church in particular. The Festival at which he was now present, was that of the Feast of Tabernacles, which the Jewes observed according to God's Ap­pointment in Commemoration of their living in Tents. At the last Day of this Feast, it was custo­mary for many pious People to fetch Water from a certain Place, and bring it on their Heads, singing this Anthem out of Isaiah, ‘And with Joy shall they draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation.’ — Our dear Lord Jesus observing this, and it being his constant Practice to spiritua­lize every Thing that he met with, cries out, If any Man thirsteth, let him come unto me, rather than unto that Well and drink. — He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath spoken, (where it is said, God will make Water spring of a dry Rock, and such like) out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water.— And that we might know what our Saviour meant by this living Water, the E­vangelist immediately adds, But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.

THESE last Words I shall chiefly insist on in the ensuing Discourse, and shall treat on them in the following Manner,

First, I shall briefly shew what is meant by the Word Spirit.

Secondly, I shall shew that this Spirit is the common Privilege of all Believers.

Thirdly, I shall shew the Reason on which this Doctrine is founded.

[Page] Lastly, I shall conclude with a general Ex­hortation, to believe on Jesus Christ, wherby alone we can be qualified to receive this Spirit.

AND, First, I am briefly to shew what is meant by the Spirit.

By the Spirit, or the Holy Ghost, is to be un­derstood the third Person in the ever blessed Trinity, consubstantial and co eternal with the Father and the Son, proceeding from, yet equal to them both. For to use the Words of our Church in this Day's Office, that which we be­lieve of the Glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any Difference or Inequality.

THUS says St John, in his first Epistle, Chap. v. Ver. 7. There are Three that bear Record in Hea­ven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these Three are one. And our Lord when he gave his Apostles Commission to go and teach all Nations, commands them to Baptize in the Name of the H [...]ly Ghost, as well as of the Fa­ther and the Son. — And St Peter, Acts v. Ve [...] [...]. said to Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? And Ver. 4 he says, Thou hast not lied unto Men, but unto God. From all which Passages, it is plain, that the Holy Ghost, is truly and properly God, as well as the Father and the Son. This is an unspeakble Mystery, but a Mystery of God's revealing, and therefore to be assented to with our whole Hearts. Seeing God is not a Man that he should lie, nor the Son of Man that he should deceive.

[Page 9]I proceed Secondly, to prove, that the Holy Ghost is the common Privilege of all Believers.

BUT, here I would not be understood of so receiving the Holy Ghost, as to en [...]ble us to work Miracles, or shew outward Signs and Wonders. For I allow our Adversaries tha [...] to pretend to be inspired, in this Sense, is being Wise above what is written. Perhaps it cannot be proved, that God, ever interposed in this extraordinary Manner, but when some new Revel [...]t [...]on was to be established, as at the first Settling of the Mo­saick and Gospel Dispensation.— And as for [...] own Part, I cannot but suspect the Spirit of those who insist upon a Repetition of such [...] es at this [...] now become nominally Christian, as least (tho', God knows, little of the Power is left among us) there need not outward Miracles, but only an inward Co­operation of the holy Spirit with the Word, to prove that Jesus is that M [...]ssiah which was to come into the World▪

BESIDES, it is possible for thee, O Man, to have Faith, so as to be able to remove Moun­tains, or cast out Devils ; nay, thou mightest speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels, yea, and hid the Sun stand still in midst of Heaven; yet, what would all these Gifts of the Spirit a­vail thee, without being made Partakes of his sanctifying Graces? Saul had the Spirit of Go­vernment for a while, so as to become another Man, and yet was a Castaway And many, who cast out Devils in Christ's Name, at the last will be disowned by him. If therefore thou hadst only the Gifts, but was destitute of the Graces of the Holy Ghost▪ they would only serve to lead thee with so much the more Solemnity [...]o Hell.

[Page 10]HERE then, I say, we join issue with our Ad­versaries, and will readily grant, that we are not in this Sense to be inspired, as were our Lord's first Apostles. But unless Men have Eyes which see not, and Ears which hear not, how can they read the latter Part of the Text, and not con­fess that the Holy Spirit, in another Sense, is the common Privilege of all Believers, even to the End of the World? This spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should re­ceive. — Observe, he does not say, they that be­lieve on him for one or two Ages, but they that believe on him in general, i e. at all Times, and [...] all Places.— So that unless we can prove that St. [...] was under a Delusion who he wrote these Words, we must believe tha [...] we, even we also, shall receive the H [...]ly Ghost, if we believe on the Lord Jesus with our whole Hearts.

AGAIN, our Lord, just before his bitter Passion, when he was about to offer up his Soul an Offering for the Sins of the World; when his Heart was most enlarged, and he would undoubtedly demand the most excellent Gift for his Disciples, prays, that they all may be one, as thou, Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us — I in them, and thou in me, that they be made perfect in one; that is, that all his [...]ue Followers might be united to him by his Holy Spirit, by as real, vital, and mystical an Union, as there is between Jesus Christ and the Father. I say all, his true Followers. For it is evident from our Lord's own Words, that he had us and all Beli [...]vers in View, when he put of this Prayer, Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their Word; so that, unless we treat our Lord as the [Page] High Priests did, and count him a Blasphemer; we must confess, that all who believe in Jesus Christ, through, the Word or Ministration of the Apostles, are to be joined to Jesus Christ, by being made Partakers of the Holy Spirit.

THERE'S a great Noise m [...]de of late, about the Word Enthusiast, and it has been cast upon the Preachers of the Gospel, as a Term of Re­proach — But every Christian, in the proper Sense of the Word, must be an Enthusiast.— That is, must be inspired of God, or have God in him. For who dare say, he is a Christian, till he can say, God is in me? St. Peter tells us, we have many great and precious Promises, that we may be made Partakers of the Divine Nature. — Our Lord prays, that we may be One, as the Father and He are One; and our own Church, in Conformity to these Texts of Scripture, in her excellent Communion Office, tells us, that those who receive the Sac [...]ament worthily, ‘dwell in Christ, and Christ in them; that they are One with Christ, and Christ with them.’ — And yet, Christians in general, must have their Names cast out as Evil, and Ministers in par­ticular must be looked upon as Deceivers of the People, for affirming, that we must be realy united to God, by receiving the Holy Ghost. Be asto­nished, O Heavens as this!

INDEED, I will not say, our▪ Letter-learned Preachers deny this Doctrine in express Words — But however, they do it in Effect. — For they talk professedly against inward Feel­i [...]gs, and say, we may have God's Spirit without [...]eeling it, which is in Reality to deny the Thing itself. And had I a Mind to hinder the Pro­gress [Page 11] of the Gospel, and to establish the Kingdom of Darkness, I would go about, telling People, they might have the Spirit of God, and yet not feel it.

BUT to return,— When our Lord was about to ascend to his Father, and our Father; to his God, and our God; He gave his Apostles this Commission, ‘Go and teach all Nations, baptiz­ing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’ —By the Term, All N [...]tions, 'tis allowed, are meant all that should profess to beli [...]ve on Jesus always, even to the End of the World. And accordingly, by Authority of this Comm [...]ssion, we do baptize them in this and every Age of the Church. And if this be true, then the Proposition to be prov­ed will be undeniable. For though we translate these Words, baptizing them in the Name; yet as the N [...]me of God, in the Lord's Prayer, and several other Places signifies his Nature, they might as well be transl [...]ted thus, baptizing them into the Nature of the Father, into the Nature of the Son, and into the Nature of the Holy Ghost. — And consequently, if we are all to be baptized into the Nature of the Holy Ghost, e'er out Baptism be effectual to Salvation, it is evident, that we all must actually receive the Holy Ghost, e'er we can say, we truly believe in Jesus Christ. For no one can say, that Jesus is my Lord, but he that has thus received the Holy Ghost.

NUMBERS of other T [...]xts might be quoted, [...]o make this Doctrine, if p [...]ssi [...]le▪ still more plain — But I am astonished, that any, who call themselves Members; much more, that many who are Preachers of the Church of England, should dare so much as open their Lips against it. And [Page 13] yet with Grief, God is my Judge, I speak it, Persons of the established Church seem. more generally to be ignorant of it, than any Dissenters whatsoever.

BUT, good God! My dear Brethren, what have you been doing? How often have your Hearts given your Lips the Lye? How often have you offered God the Sacrifice of Fools, and had your Prayers turned into Sin, if you approve of, and use our excellent Church-Liturgy, and yet deny the Holy Spirit to be the P [...]rtion of all Believers? In the daily Absolution, the Minister exhorts the People to pray, that God would grant them Re­pentance, and his Holy Spirit— In the Collect for Christmass Day, we beseech God, that He would daily renew us by his Holy Spirit. — In the last Week's Collect we pray'd that we m [...]y evermore rejoyce in the Comforts of the Holy Gh [...]st — And in the concluding Prayer, which we put up every Day, we pray not only, that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, but that the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost may be with us all evermore.

BUT farther —A solemn Season is now ap­proaching, I mean the Ember Days, at the End of which, all that are to be ordained to the Office of a Deacon, are in the Sight of God, and in the Presence of the Congregation, to declare, that they trust they are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, to take upon them that Administration — And to th [...]se who are to be ordain'd Priests the B [...]shop is to rep [...]at these solemn Words, R [...]ceive thou the Holy Ghost, now c [...]mmitted unto thee, by the Imp [...]sition of our Hands — And yet, Oh that I had no Reason to speak it, many that use our Forms, and many that have witness [...]d this good [Page 14] Confession, yet dare talk and preach against the Necessity of receiving the Holy Ghost now as well as formerly; and not only so, but cry out against those, who do insist upon it, as Madmen, Enthusiasts, Schis­maticks, & Underminers of the Established Constitution.

BUT you are the Schismaticks, you are the Bane of the Church of England, who are always cry­ing out, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord; and yet starve the People out of our Communion, by feeding them only with the dry Husks of dead Morality, and not bringing out to them the fatted Calf, I mean the Doctrines of the Operations of the blessed Spirit of God.—— But here's the Misfortune; many of us are not led by, and therefore no wonder that we cannot talk feel­ingly of the Holy Ghost.—— We subscribe to our Articles, and make them serve for a Key to get into Church Preferment, and then preach con­trary to those very Articles to which we have subscribed. — Far be it from me, to charge all the Clergy with this hateful Hypocrisy — No, blessed be God, there are some left among us, who dare maintain the Doctrine of the Reformation, and preach the Truth, as it is in Jesus. — But I speak the Truth, in Christ, I lye not.— The Generality of the Clergy are fallen from our Articles, and do not speak agreeable to them, or to the Form of sound Words, delivered in the Scripture — We be unto such blind Leaders of the Blind! How can you escape the Damnation of Hell? It is not all your Learning (falsely so called) it is not all your Preferments can keep you from the just Judgment of God — Yet a l [...]ttle while and we shall all app [...]ar before the Tribunal of Christ. — There, there will I meet you.— There Jesus Christ that great Shepherd [Page 15] and Bishop of Souls shall determine, who are the false Prophets, who are the Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing — Those who say, that we must now receive and feel the Holy Ghost, or those who ex­claim against it, as the Doctrine of Devils.

BUT I can no more. It is an unpleasing Task to censure any Order of Men, especially those who are in the Ministry — Nor would any thing ex­cuse it but Necessity: That Necessity which ex­torted from our Lord himself so many Woes against the Scribes and Pharisees, the Letter-learned Rulers and Teachers of the Jewish Church.— And surely, if I could bear to see People perish for lack of Knowledge, and yet be silent towards those who keep from them the Key of true Know­ledge, the very Stones would cry out.

WOULD we restore the Church to its primitive Dignity, the only Way is to live and preach the Doctrine of Christ, and the Articles to which we have subscribed. Then we shall find the Number of Dissenters will daily decrease, and the Church of England become the Joy of the whole Earth.

I AM now in the Third Place, to shew the Rea­sonableness of this Doctrine.

I SAY, the Reasonableness of this Doctrine. — For however it may seem Foolishness to the natural Man, yet to those, who have tasted of the good Word of Life, and have felt the Power of the World to come, it will appear to be founded on the highest Reason, and is capable, to those who have Eyes to see, even of a Demonstration— I say of a Demonstration. For it stands on this Self-evident Suppositon, that we are fallen Creatures, or, to use the Scripture▪Expression Have a [...] died is Adam.

[Page 16]I KNOW indeed, 'tis now no uncommon Thing amongst us, to deny the Doctrine of original Sin, as well as the Divinity of Jesus Christ, who is God over all, blessed for ever — But it is in­cumbent on those who deny it, first to disprove the Authority of the Holy Scriptures — If thou canst prove, thou Unbeliever, that the Book, which we call The Bible, does not contain the lively Oracles of God; if thou canst shew, that holy Men of Old, did not write this Book, as they were in­wardly moved by the Holy Ghost, then will we give up the Doctrine of origina [...] Sin.— But unless thou ca [...]st do this, we must insist upon it, that we are all conceived and born in Sin; if for no other, yet for this one Reason, because that God, who cannot lye, has told us so.

BUT what has Light to do with Darkness, or polite Infidels with the Bible? Alas! As they are Strangers to the Power, so they are ge [...]rally as great Strangers to the Word of God. And there­fore, if we will preach to them we must preach from their Hearts: For talking in the La [...]guage of the Scripture, is but like talking in an unknown Tongue. Tell me then, O Man, whosoever thou art, that deniest the Doctrine of original Sin, if thy Conscience be not sea [...]ed as with a hot Iron! Tell me, if thou dost not find thy self by Nature to be a Motly Mixture of Brute and Devil? I know these Terms will stir up the whole Pha­ris [...]e in thy Heart; but let not Satan hurry th [...]e hence. Stop a little, and let us reason together. Dost thou not find, that by Nature thou art prone to Pride? Otherwise, wherefore art thou now off [...]rded? Again, dost not thou find in thy self the S [...]eds of Malice, Revenge, and all Unchari­tableness; And what are these but the very Tem­pers [Page 17] of the Devil? Again, do we not all by Na­ture follow, and suffer ourselves to be led by but natural Appetites, always looking downwards, never looking upwards to that God, in whom we live, move, and have our Being? And what is this but the very Nature of the Beasts that pe­rish? Out of thy own Herrt therefore will I oblige thee to confess, what an inspired Apostle has long since told us, that the whole World by Nature lies in the Wicked One, i.e. the Devil; that we are no better than those whom St. Jude calls Brute Beasts. For we have Tempers in us all by Nature, that prove to a Demonstration, that we are altogether Earthly, Sensual, Devilish.

AND this by the Way will serve as another Ar­gument, to prove the Reality of the Operations of the blessed Spirit on the Hearts of Believers, against those false Professors, who deny there is any such thing as Influence of the Holy Spirit that may be felt. For if they will grant that the Devil worketh, and that so as to be felt in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience (which they must grant, unless they will give an Apostle the Lye) where is the Wonder that the good Spi­rit should have the same Power over those that are truly Obedient to the Faith of Jesus Christ?

BUT to return. If it be true then that we are all by Nature a Motly Mixture of Brute and Devil, it is evident, that we all must receive the Holy Ghost, e'er we can dwell with and enjoy God.

WHEN you read how the Prodigal in the Gospel was reduced to follow a Condition, as to eat Husks [...] Swine, and how Nebuchadnezzar was turned [...] to graze with Oxen, I am confident, you pity [Page 18] their unhappy State. And when you hear, how Jesus Christ will say, at the last Day, to all that are not born again of God, Depart from me, ye Cursed into everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, do not your Hearts shrink within, you, with a secret Horror And if Creatures with only our Degree of Goodness cannot bear, even the Thoughts of dwelling with Beasts or Devils, to whose Nature we are so nearly allied, how do we imagine, God, who is infinite Goodness and Purity itself, can dwell with us, while we are Partakers of both their Natures? We might as well think to reconcile Heaven and Hell.

WHEN Adam had eaten the forbidden Fruit, [...] fled and hid himself from God. Why? because [...] was N [...]ked; that is, He was alienated from [...] Life of God, the due Punishment of his Disobedienc [...] Now we are all by Nature naked and void of God, as he was at that Time, and consequently, till we are changed, and cloathed upon by a Divine Nature again, we must fly from God also.

HENCE then appears the Reasonableness of our being obliged to receive the Spirit of God It is founded on the Doctrine of Original Sin And therefore you will always find that those who talk against feeling the Operations of the Holy Ghost, very rarely or very slightly at least, mention our Fall in Adam. No, they refer St. Paul's Ac­count of the Depravity of Unbelievers, only to those of old Time. Whereas 'tis obvious on the, con­trary, that we are all equally included under the Guilt and Consequences of our first Parent's Sin, even as others; and to use the Language of our own Church-Article, bring into the World with us a Corruption, which renders us liable to God's Wrath, and eternal Damnation,

[Page 19]SHOULD I preach to you any other Doctrine, I should wrong my own Soul: I should be found a false Witness towards God and you. And he that preaches any other Doctrine, howsoever dignified and distinguished, shall bear his Punishment whosoever he be.

FROM this plain Reason then appears the Necessity why we, as well as the first Apostles, in this Sense, must receive the Spirit of God.

FOR the great Work of Sanctification, or making us holy, is particularly referred to the Holy Ghost. And therefore our Lord says, Unl [...]ss a Man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

FOR Jesus Christ came down to save us not only from the Guilt, but also from the Power of [...]. And however often we have repeated [...]ur Creed, and told God we believe in the Holy Ghost, yet if we have not believed in him, so as to be really united to Jesus Christ by him, we have no more concord with Jesus Christ than Belial himself.

AND now, my Brethren, what shall I say more? Tell me, are not many of you offended at what has [...]een said already? Do not some of you think, [...]ough I mean well, yet I have carried the Point a [...]le too far? Are not others ready to cry out, if this be true, who then can be saved? Is not this driving People into Despair?

Yes, I ingenuously confess it is. But into what Despair? A Despair of Mercy through Christ? No, [...]od forbid; but a Despair of living with God with­ [...]t receiving the Holy Ghost. And I would to [...]od, that not only all you that hear me this Day, [...] that the whole World was filled with this Des­pair. [Page 20] pair. Believe me, my Brethren, I have been doing no more than you allow your bodily Physicians to do every Day. If you have a Wound in your Bodies, and are in earnest about a Cure, you bid the Surgeon probe it to the very Bottom. And shall not the Physician of your Souls be allowed the same Freedom? And what have I been doing but search­ing your natural Wounds, that I might convince you of your Danger, and put you upon applying to Jesus Christ for a Remedy? Indeed I have dealt with you as gently as I could: and now I have wounded, I come to heal you.

FOR I was, in the last Place, to exhort you all to come to Jesus Christ by Faith, whereby you, even you also, shall receive the Holy Ghost, For this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.

THIS, this is what I long to come to. Hitherto I have been preaching only the Law, but behold I bring you glad Tidings of great Joy. If I have wounded you before, be not afraid, behold, I now bring a Remedy for all your Wounds. Fo [...] notwith­standing you are all now su [...]k into th [...] Nature of the Beast and Devil, yet if you [...] beli [...]v [...] on Jesus Christ, you shall receive the quick [...]ni [...]g Spirit promised in the T [...]xt, and b [...]restor [...] to th [...] gl [...]ious Liberties of the Sons of God. I say, if y [...]u believe on Jesus Christ▪ For by Faith we are sav [...]d; it is not of W [...]rks least any one should boast [...] ho [...]ver s [...]me M [...]n may say there is a F [...]n [...]s, req [...]ed in the Creature, and that we must [...]ave a Righteousness of our own, befo [...]e we can lay hold on the Righteousness [...]f Christ; y [...]t if we believe [...] sure. Salvati [...]n is the free Gift of God [...] [...]ist J [...]su [...] our Lord and who [...]ever b [...]lieveth on him with [...] whole Heart, though his Soul be as black as [...] [Page 21] shall receive the Gift of the Holy G host — Behold then, I stand up, and cry our in this great Day of the Feast, Let every one that thirsteth come unto Jesus Christ and drink. He that believeth on him, out of his Bell [...] shall fl [...]w not only Streams or Rivulets, but whose Rivers of living Water. This I speak, my B [...]ethren, of the Spirit, which they that believe on Jesus shall certainly receive. — For Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, to Day, and for ever. He is the Way, the Truth, the Resurrection, and the Life. — Wh [...]soever believeth on him, though he were d [...]ad, yet shall he live.— There is no Respect of Persons with Jesus Christ.— High and low, rich and poor, one with another, may come to him with an humble Confide [...]c [...], if they draw near by Faith. From him we may all receive Grace upon Grace — For Jesus Christ is full of Grace and Truth, and ready to save to the uttermost all that by a true Faith [...]urn unto him —Indeed the Poor generally receive he Gospel. and God has chose the Poor in this World rich in Faith. But thou [...]h not many Mighty, not many Noble are called; and though it be easier for a Cam [...]l to go through the Eye of a Needle, than for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God, yet even to you that are [...] do I now freely offer Salvation by Jesus Christ, if you will renounce your­selves, and come to Jesus Christ as Poor Sinners, I say, as Poor Sinners; for the Poor in Spirit are only [...]o bl [...]ssed a [...] to have a Right to the Kingdom of God. —And Jesus Christ calls none to him but those [...]ath thirst after his Righteousness, and feel themselves neary and heavy laden. with the Burden of their Sins [...]us Christ justifies the ungodly. He came [...] to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance.

Do not then say, you are unworthy, for this is a faithful and true saying, and worthy of all M [...]n to [Page 22] be received, That Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners; and if you are the chief of Sinners, if you feel yourselves such, verily Jesus Christ came into the World chiefly to save you — When Joseph was called out of the Prison-House to Pharaoh's Court, we are told, that be staid some time to pre­pare himself; but do you come with all your Prison Cloaths about you; come poor, and miserable, and blind & naked as you are, and God the Father shall receive you with open Arms as he did the return­ing Prodigal. He shall cover your Nakedness with the best Robe of his dear Son's Righteousness, shall seal you with the Signet of his Spirit & feed you with the fatted Calf, even with the Comforts of the Holy Ghost —Oh let there then be Joy in Heaven over some of you believing. Let me not go back to my Master, and say, Lord, they will not believe my Report: Harden no longer your Hearts, but open them wide, and let the King of Glory in. Believe me, I am willing to go to Prison or Death for you, but I am not willing to go to Heaven without you.—The Love of Jesus Christ constrains me to lift up my Voice like a Trumpet — My Heart is now full —Out of the Abundance of the Love which I have for your precious and immortal Souls my Mouth now speaketh — And I could now not only continue my Dis­course till Midnigth, but I could speak till I could speak no more — And why should I despair of any? No, I can despair of no one, when I consider Jesus Christ has had Mercy on such a Wretch as I am — However you may think of your selves, I know that by Nature I am but half a Devil, and half a Beast.— The free Grace of Christ prevented me. — He saw me in my Bleed, He passed by me, and said unto me Live. And the same Grace which was sufficient for me, is sufficient for you also. — Behold, the same bl [...]ss [...] Spirit is ready to bre [...] [Page 23] all your dry Bones, if you will believe on Jesus Crist whom God has sent. — Indeed you can never believe on, or serve a better Master, one that is more mighty, or more willing to save. Indeed I can say the Lord Christ is gracious, his Yoke is easy, his Burden exceeding light. After you have served him many Years, like the Servants under the Law, was he willing to discharge you, you would say, We love our Master, and will not go from him.— Come then, my guilty Brethren, come and believe on the Lord that bought you with his precious Blood. Look up by Faith, and see him whom you have pierced. — Behold him bleeding, panting, dying! Behold him wit [...] Arms stretched out ready to receive you all. Cry unto him as the penitent Thief did, Lord, remember us now I en in thy Kingdom, and he shall say to your Sou [...], Shortly shall you be with me in Paradise. —For t [...]se whom Christ justifies, them he also glorifies, [...]en with tha [...] Glory which he enjoyed with the Father [...]fore the World began — Do not say, I have bought a [...]ece of Ground, and must needs go see it; I have bought Yoke of Oxen, and must needs go prove them; I have married a Wise, I am engaged in an eager pursuit after the Lust of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, and there­fore cannot come — Do not fear having your Names cast out as E [...]il, or being accounted a Fool for Christ's sake. Yet a little while, and you shall shine like the Stars in the Fir­mament for ever.—Only believe, and Jesus Christ shall be to you Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and eternal Redemption.— Your Bodies shall be fashioned like unto his glorious Body, and your Souls fall into all the Fulness of God.

Which may God of his infinite Mercy grant through Jesus Christ; to whom, with thee, O Holy Ghost, three Persons, and one God, be ascribed, as is most due, all Power, Might, Majesty, and Dominion, now, and for evermore, AMEN! AMEN!