IF theſe DECLARATIONS are well received, (as it is thought they will, by the truly pious and religious of every Denomination) the Printer propoſes to publiſh more of the ſame Kind.

THE Worſhip of God, of the Great God, is Pure; he is a Holy God, Of Purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity; and all they who will Worſhip God, whoſe Souls are breathing to have a Return of a Teſtimony in his Sight, muſt offer up pure Worſhip, and it muſt come from that which is pure: For that Purpoſe the Greatneſs of the Love of God is made manifeſt in Chriſt Jeſus; and there is a diffuſing of his Grace and Virtue in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men, whereby he hath laid a Foundation for his own Worſhip; becauſe his Worſhip muſt be pure. Therefore he hath freely given unto us, through his Son, the Knowledge of that pure Principle of Life and Grace, from whence and out of which, all true Worſhip doth ſpring, and all true Honour to God ariſeth, and real Obedience to his holy Will ſprings forth out of that which is from himſelf.

And therefore all that will be Worſhipers of God aright, muſt firſt know and be ſenſible wherein the Ability and Capacity ſtands, that may enable them to ſo great and ſo good a Work. Some have conceived it to ſtand in their own Will, and according to the Working of their own Will, they have framed Worſhips, Religions, and Obſervations, thinking thereby to pleaſe God: But you know the Apoſtle in a few ſhort Words lays down a poſitive Chriſtian Doctrine, Without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God.

Now this doth declare and ſignify, that there muſt be ſomething upon which this Faith muſt work, that muſt be the Object and Foundation of it: Faith as it worketh in the Creature, worketh upon ſomething; it lays hold upon ſomething in which there is a Capacity of pleaſing God. Now if we are all by Nature Children of Wrath, and that no one of himſelf can pleaſe God, then there muſt be ſomething that is ſupernatural that muſt be the Object of that Faith, by which Men alone can pleaſe God; and this muſt be made manifeſt to the Creature for its Help, for to be its Director and Supporter in that Work, that is too mighty for himſelf, too great a Work for a Man or Woman, too deep, too profound for any Man's Abilities, Power, Wiſdom, and Acquirements, that he can attain to in this World, to worſhip God aright: To worſhip God, that is, to perform a pure Worſhip to a pure God; Who can bring a clean Thing out of an unclean? Now if we are all obliged to bring a clean Worſhip, a pure Worſhip to a pure and Holy God, who hath created us and all Things; where ſhall we have it? Not out of an unclean Heart, not out of a defiled Mind; there is no bringing it forth from thence, for that is the State and Condition that Men are fallen into by Sin, in which their Minds and Conſciences are defiled, their Hearts are polluted, and their Affections depraved and ſet upon wrong Objects; and in this State none can ſerve God aright: That which is pure and holy muſt be firſt made known, revealed, diſcovered and believed before People can perform a right Worſhip to God.

And therefore in vain it is, to go and drive People to this and that Worſhip, and force People to this and that Service and Conformity, upon the Account of the Worſhip of God. This is vain Worſhip; when they have done all, it is not acceptable to God; the poor Creature hath no Return from the Lord, for God accepts no Service or Worſhip, but only thro' his Son. And if ſo be, Men cannot pray and preach in the Spirit of his Son, and cannot preſent their Complaints and Supplications to God, but by the Aſſiſtance and Help of his bleſſed Spirit, there is no Reaſon in Religion why People ſhould expect a Return and Anſwer from God of the Prayers they make: For it is the general Doctrine of Chriſtendom, That Chriſt Jeſus is appointed of God for a Mediator between God and Man, and all the Acceptance we have, or deſire to have, muſt be through him: and therefore if we pray without him, and perform this and the other Dutys without him; it is contrary to the Doctrine of Chriſtianity to think that ever we ſhould have Acceptance in God's Sight.

Therefore there is a Neceſſity for every Man and Woman that deſires to be religious, that hath a religious Mind, and is willing to worſhip God, and ſerve God aright, there is a Neceſſity that they come to the Knowledge of Chriſt, who tells us that he is The Way to the Father: They that go any other Way, go a wrong Way; but they that go unto God by Chriſt, they do receive from him Power to draw near to God; and through him they receive from God all thoſe Bleſſings that their Souls ſtand in need of.

So here would be an End of all Religions the World is full of, of all the ſeveral Worſhips that Men have made: They have invented and found out ſeveral Ways for People to worſhip and ſerve God: This and the other Ceremony, this and the other Obſervation and Method of Preaching and Praying: If all this be without the Aſſiſtance and Divine Help of the Mediator, thro' whom alone we can juſtly expect Acceptance at God's Hands, it is all good for nothing. Therefore the firſt Leſſon of a Chriſtian in Point of Worſhip, is that he come to the Knowledge of Chriſt, by whom, and thro' whom he may expect Favour with God.

Now ſay ſome People, We are already come to the Knowledge of Chriſt, we have read the Relation in the Goſpel of his Conception, Birth, Life and Death, Reſurrection and Aſcenſion: Now where this Belief doth give a Man this Kind of Chriſtian Knowledge, that doth open a Door and Way for him into the Preſence of God: This is a Queſtion that ought ſeriouſly to be conſidered, for if we err in this Queſtion, we err in all; this is like ſtumbling at the Threſhold, and never come into the Houſe. If we miſtake in laying hold of Chriſt, we miſtake in our Worſhip, and in all Matters that relate to Life and Salvation.

For if we muſt have another Sort of Knowledge of Chriſt, than we can have from the Reports of others; if I muſt have Chriſt revealed in me before I can have the Hope of Glory; if I muſt have the Spirit of Chriſt in me, to help me to put up my Requeſts and Supplications before he can preſent them to the Father, then all literal Knowledge and Faith cannot ſtand Men in any Stead, but this is evident by the Teſtimony of all the Writers of the New Teſtament. Chriſt and his Apoſtles did concurrently ſignify, that the Hope of a Chriſtian, that the Power and Strength of a Chriſtian, it all lies in this, In that they had known the Revelation of Chriſt, and the powerful Operation of the Spirit working in them; this was that which was well pleaſing to God; many Scriptures might be ſpoken of, but you know the Scriptures, and can read them, and ſee in them the concurrent Teſtimony of all Holy Men to this Day, that the Knowledge they had of Chriſt was a divine Knowledge, a ſpiritual Knowledge, it was knowing him after the Spirit, it was a Revelation of Chriſt in them, that ſeparated and diſtinguiſhed them from Reprobates, even the Knowledge of God thro' Jeſus Chriſt their Lord: Why ſhould not we come to this Knowledge as well as they? The Lord is the ſame, and his Power is the ſame and his Arm is not ſhortened: We may ſee as much Need of divine Aſſiſtance, and divine Love as ever Men did; we can perform no Duty, either of Prayer or Preaching, without divine Aſſiſtance; not ſo much as a Sigh or Groan, that may have Acceptance with God, without the Help of his Spirit, Rom. viii. 26 The Spirit helpeth our Infirmities, for we know not what we ſhould pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itſelf maketh Interceſſion for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered. If we go about the Duty of Prayer without divine Aſſiſtance, we ſee what ſad Work we make of it; if we pray not in the Spirit and with the Underſtanding, how can we receive the Thing we pray for? But if we Pray in the Spirit, and with the underſtanding alſo, then the Spirit helps our Infirmities; the Spirit that came from God brings us the Things we ſtand in Need of.

So that a Chriſtian hath a Foundation for his Worſhip and Chriſtian Performance; what is that Foundation? Nothing that is corrupt, if it be, it is good for nothing; for nothing that is corrupted and that defiles, can be acceptable and pleaſing to God; we are all polluted and defiled by Nature; how can carnal Men worſhip a Spiritual God? Carnal Men that are in Death and Darkneſs, cannot worſhip that God that is Light, and dwells in Light, that is inacceſſible, that is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity. Carnal Men want a Foundation for their Worſhip, and will do till they come to that Foundation that God hath laid.

Now, that I may ſpeak intelligibly what the Lord hath laid upon my Heart, I would ſay thus; There is an univerſal Benefit and Privilege diſtributed and given freely of God, unto the Sons and Daughters of Men, in their natural State, through his Son, Jeſus Chriſt, in that he hath cauſed his Light to ſhine, and his Grace to be extended to every Man; for the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation (for it is not by Works) hath appeared unto all Men, and bringeth Light, by which every Man may ſee how to worſhip God; God hath enlightened every Man, and this Light comes by Chriſt the Mediator; this Mediator is the Way that Men muſt walk in, if they will come back again to God; for Men are run out and departed from God; if Men will draw near to God, and take ſome Footſteps towards the Kingdom of God, from the Kingdom of Sin and Satan, they muſt mind the Way, the Way muſt be their Director, they muſt not go which Way they liſt.

This is that which was propheſied of Chriſt, ſaith God by the Prophet Iſaiah, I will give him for a Leader. I would fain return to God, and go out of the Kingdom of Sin and Satan, to the Kingdom of God: God hath given Chriſt to lead me, if I knew that Way he will lead me in, I would go that Way. As ſoon as a Man takes hold of Chriſt, his Grace, and Spirit, and Life, he will be ready to ſay, I am corrupt, my Senſes are corrupt, my Mind is depraved, my Conſcience defiled and polluted; but I have found out ſomething that God hath beſtowed upon me, that is Eſſential, Holy and Pure, that did never conſent to my Corruption, but is a Witneſs for God againſt it: Here now a Chriſtian lays hold on Chriſt, the Leader; which Way will he lead me? If thou layeſt hold of this Guide, he will lead thee out of Evil, he will teach thee to ceaſe to do Evil, and ſpeak Evil: This Light will lead thee to nothing that will diſhonour God, or defile thy own Soul: But this is not all, we muſt not only ceaſe to do Evil, but we muſt be doing ſomething; there muſt be a breaking off from Pride, Fooliſh Jeſting, Evil Communication; but this is not all that he will lead me to; let us learn that Leſſon, Ceaſe to do Evil. This Doctrine was preached before Chriſtianity was preached, as it is now preached; the Prophets of old preached this Doctrine to the Jews that were under an outward Adminiſtration, Ceaſe to do Evil, and learn to do well, then I will plead with you, and diſcourſe with you, ſaith the Lord: Come now let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord, though your Sins be as Scarlet, they ſhall be as white as Snow; though they be red like Crimſom, they ſhall be as Wool.

This is the firſt Leſſon that a true Chriſtian learns in his turning to God, in his Change and Tranſlation, to ceaſe from that which is Evil: Here is a Ceſſation of Rebellion, and here is ſome hopes of being reconciled to God; a Man hath been a Rebel againſt his Maker, but he hath now received help to reſiſt thoſe Temptations that prevail over him; But there is no worſhiping yet, there is a forward mind in Men to do ſomething that is pleaſing to God; but there are ſome that are not troubled at all for their Evil Ways, and dread not God's Anger, but make a mock at Sin, that draws others to it, and make themſelves merry in it: But there is a Sort ſo far touched with a divine Senſe of God's Love to them, that they have alſo a Senſe of his Anger and Indignation, becauſe of their Sin; and they would fain be out of his Anger; and who can blame them? When a Man feels the Anger of God burning like a Fire in his Boſom, who can blame that Man if he deſire Peace with God? If he be under a Senſe of the Diſpleaſure and Indignation of the Almighty, he muſt not haſte too ſoon out of that Condition he is brought into; for this is God's Purpoſe, and this is the Fruit of all his Troubles and Afflictions, to take away Sin: God had no other End or Deſign in the Affliction that came upon him, than to take away Sin; when God hath brought a People into a diſtreſſed and dejected State for their Sin, the Fruit that God expects, is the taking away of their Sin, and he will hide Pride from them, and humble them before him; if this be the Purpoſe of God that he intends to purge and purify his People; then ſaith the poor Creature, if God deſign to purify me from Sin, then I will pray to God to ſupport me, and bear me up under his Indignation: That is the Cry of the Soul that he may not be brought too ſoon from under the Judgment of God, but he may be ſupported and hid in the Hollow of God's Hand, until the Time of Remiſſion and Refreſhing comes, that he may behold the Light of God's Countenance.

Here is Encouragement for every one that is acquainted with this divine Principle of Grace, that will be led by it, and follow it ſo far as to be led out of Evil; then they will be ſitted to do ſomething in the Work of God; every Sigh and Groan that thou haſt, the Aſſiſtance of the Spirit of God to help thee in, is Part of Worſhip: All thy Brokenneſs of Heart is part of Worſhip; hereby thou acknowledgeſt the great God, that he is able to help thee on in thy Way, and to pardon thy Iniquity, and blot out thy Tranſgreſſion, and give thee all thoſe heavenly Bleſſings that thy Soul doth ſtand in Need of: Then thy Soul will bow down to God in Acts of holy Worſhip, and ſay, with an humble Confidence and Expectation, God will do all thoſe things in me, and for me, that will promote my Salvation. It is nothing in Religion for People to go from Praying and Preaching to Sinning; but God muſt have a holy Sacrifice, and that muſt come out of a pure Heart: Now when a Man is brought by the Help of God, and by the divine Aſſiſtance of the Mediator, Jeſus Chriſt, to break off from his Sin, then he ſtands fair to become a Child of God, and to be a Servant of God, and to do ſomething for God in his Generation, and to offer to God Praiſe and Thankſgiving, and to perform all other Duties that God ſhall lead him into.

But ſome will ſay, What, muſt we do any thing? I have deeply weighed that Queſtion, what a poor Man or Woman muſt do, that is come out of Bondage? There is a Propenſity in People to be doing, they would fain do ſomething, they would be doing; they ſay, What ſhall I do? If I do ſomething that pleaſes not God, I had better let it alone; and I can do nothing acceptable to God without divine Aſſiſtance: Such an one that ſees his own Impotency and Inability, will caſt his Care upon God, and will ſay, The Lord is able to lead me and guide me: I am ready to do thy Will, O God: Make it clear to me that this is thy Will, and that this is that which thou requireſt, I am ready to do it, tho' it be croſs to mine own Will: He is ready to go on in God's Way, in the Way of Chriſtianity; ſuch an one that hath the true Knowledge of Chriſt, if he ſpeaks, the Spirit of Chriſt ſpeaks in him; if he prays, it is through the Aſſiſtance of the Spirit of Chriſt, through whom God alone is appeaſed and reconciled, and through whom they may receive a Bleſſing from God's Hands: But for Men to run on in their own Wills, and to do a thing becauſe they Will do it, they had better ſit ſtill; this doing in their own Wills, hath filled the World with a Sort of Chriſtians that want Acceptance with God, which is to be had alone through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and the Want of the Guidance of God's Holy Spirit, is the Miſery and Downfal of Chriſtianity in our Days.

Therefore it is our Work and Buſineſs to build upon that Foundation which God hath laid; no Worſhip is pleaſing to God, but that which ariſeth from that Spring that is pure and Holy: If I cannot find that which will keep me from all pollution and defilement, if I cannot find that, I muſt ſtay till I can; for to begin a Worſhip and a Religion without that which I know is acceptable to God, it is but loſt Labour, and Time ſpent in vain.

Therefore, Friends, let every one that deſires to be religious, turn their Mind inward, wait for the Gift of God, which is eſſentially pure, that never did conſent to Evil, that never mixed with the Corruption of Nature, but bears witneſs to the Light, that will guide you and lead you, and conduct you, firſt out of Sin, and then it will lead you into that Worſhip and Religion, and the Performance of thoſe Things that are pleaſing to God, They that are come to this Worſhip, they do not only know what the Lord requires of them, and when he requires it of them, but they are given up into the Hands of God; they pray, preach, exhort and live according to the Will of God.

It is hard for People in a carnal State to believe this; but you that are Believers, that are come to know the Gift of God in yourſelves, and the Neceſſity of being ruled by him; you will believe us, for none elſe will believe us; let us preach to as many People and Nations as we will, none will receive us as true Miniſters, but thoſe that have the Truth in their own Hearts; if there be any that deſpiſeth the Grace of God in his own Heart, he hates that which chides and reproves him; if there be ſuch a Man, he will hate me becauſe I am a Miniſter and a Witneſs of the Grace of God, and of that Truth in the inward Parts, which is the Ground and Foundation that Man hath of Acceptance with God. A wicked carnal Wretch will ſay, I hate ſuch an one, I hate the Light, that which checks me, and witneſſeth againſt me; thou art ſuch an one as beareſt witneſs againſt me, therefore I hate thee: It is very true, it cannot be otherwiſe: Now our deſire and Labour is, that Men may come to the Love of the Truth in themſelves.

You know there are a great many other Miniſters, whoſe Labours are to perſwade People to believe what they ſay; to lay down a Doctrine, and prove it by Scripture and Reaſon, and ſet it home upon their Minds by ſuch Teſtimony as the Scripture affords, and hereupon they prevail upon the Minds and Judgments of People, to believe what they lay down.

It is eaſy to lay down a Poſition, and prove it, and convince People that it muſt be according to Scripture; but when a Perſon is convinced of a Principle of Truth, he is not Regenerate thereby, and come to God; therefore, though he cannot deny the Doctrine of Truth in Words, yet he can deny it in Works, and doth not rightly come to love it. If People would believe what we ſay, and obſerve what Argument we bring for proving a Poſition, they may be convinced of the Doctrine of Truth, and come to a Profeſſion of it, and yet be Strangers to it, till they come to love it in themſelves; if it were not for this, we would leave Preaching, if God had not given a Meaſure and Manifeſtation of the Spirit to every Man to profit withal: You have it in yourſelves, we are but as Monitors to you, to put you in Mind of it; you have ſo much Buſineſs in the World, that you have not had leiſure to take Notice of it.

A Man may have a rich Jewel, and be poor notwithſtanding, till he comes to know the Value of it. A Man hath a rich and precious Jewel, a Pearl beſtowed upon him that would make him rich in Faith and Love to God, and qualify him for the Kingdom of God, and make him an Heir of it, but he knows not, nor underſtands the Value of it, and eſteems it not; therefore God hath raiſed up Miniſters to put you in mind of it, that you may be happy forever, and live in Bleſſedneſs to all Eternity; Whoever hath an Ear to hear, let him hear; and when they hear what we ſay, let them take the Benefit of it to their own Souls. We bring not Truth to you, but God hath beſtowed it upon you; you will be rich indeed, if you do as a Man that bought a Field where the precious Pearl was, and digged till he found it. Come to the Foundation upon which you ſhould build all your Hopes of Happineſs, and depend not upon your own Works, or religious Performances, for Acceptance with God; for there is no Acceptance with God, but only through Chriſt, we are only accepted of God through him: Thoſe that will become Chriſtians indeed, and worſhip God as he hath ordained and appointed himſelf to be worſhipped; they muſt come to the Principle of Light and Grace in their own Hearts, which they have in, and through Chriſt, and they will find Acceptance with God.

Except ye be regenerated and born again, ye cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

THIS is the Word of the Lord God to all People this Day; this lies not in airy Profeſſion, and in vain Imaginations, and whatſoever elſe it is that you deck yourſelves withal; you muſt every particular Man and Woman be born again, elſe you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. This was the Doctrine of Chriſt in that prepared Body wherein he appeared in the World, and preached to Nicodemus, that ſtanding Doctrine to this Moment of Time, and will be ſo while any Man breathes upon the Earth; there is no other Way, no other Gate to enter into Life, but by this great Work of Regeneration. Now to enforce People to come to this great Work, and to ſet forward from Earth to Heaven, all being driven out of Paradiſe, by the Cherubim ſet with a flaming Sword, there is no returning to that bleſſed Life, but by the Loſs of that Life that did grieve the Spirit of God, and which did cauſe Man to be driven out; there is no other Way of returning again but by this new Birth. As you are all driven and forced out of Paradiſe, and the flaming Sword and the Cherubims are ſet to keep the Way of the Tree of Life, ſo you muſt return into the Favour of God again, by the Light of Chriſt; and you have Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept, here a little, and there a little, to direct your Minds to the Light of Chriſt Jeſus. As the firſt Adam was made a living Soul, ſo the ſecond Adam is a quickning Spirit. This know for certain, no Man or Woman can be quickned, and raiſed up into the Life of the ſecond Adam, till the Life of the firſt Adam be taken away from them.

So now, let every one of you deal plainly with your own Hearts, how you came to be a ſlain People to the Life of the firſt Adam, in which Life there was a Working of the Myſtery of Iniquity in every Part of Man. One cries, Lo here is Chriſt! another, Lo there is Chriſt! and every one is following his own Imagination about the Letter of the Scripture; this is ſtill but the vain Spirit of Man, running and ſtriving to recover himſelf; and this is the Cauſe there is ſo much Profeſſion of God, and ſo little of his Nature appearing among the Sons and Daughters of Men. Now all of you that come to be Regenerated, you muſt come to the Light of Chriſt, there is no other Way to it. He will ſearch your Hearts, and try your Reins, and ſet your Sins in Order before you, and trace out the Iniquities that compaſs you about; therefore you muſt ſee yourſelves a loſt People, a ſinful People, and ſo come to feel the Weight of your Sins upon your Conſciences, there is no other Way to come to Life; you will never complain of Sin till you be burthened with it, till you have a Trumpet ſounding in your Ears, to awaken you, that you may ariſe from the Dead, that Chriſt may give you Light; there is no other Way, dear People; you muſt bring your Deeds to the Light of Chriſt, and abide in the Sentence of Condemnation; if you ſave your Lives, you loſe them; if you will loſe your Lives for Chriſt's Sake, there is no Danger of your eternal Life. John the Baptiſt, Chriſt's Forerunner, declared, I indeed baptiſe you with Water unto Repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, the Latchet of whoſe Shoes I am not worthy to unlooſe, he ſhall baptiſe you with the Holy Ghoſt and with Fire, whoſe Fan is in his Hand, and he will thoroughly purge his Floor, and will gather his Wheat into his Garner, but the Chaff he will burn with unquenchable Fire. What is it the better for you to read the Scripture, if you know not this Fiery Baptiſm, which all muſt know that are regenerated; deceive not yourſelves, Chriſt will appear in flaming Fire, and take Vengeance on all them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

I ſtand here as a Witneſs of the Lord of Life this Day; there is no Way for People to come to Salvation, but they muſt know Chriſt revealed in all their Hearts. What is he doing but rendering Vengeance upon the carnal Mind, ſelf-pleaſing and all inordinate Affections; he comes with Vengeance to take away thy Life, he will baptiſe thee with the Holy Ghoſt, and with Fire. If thou knoweſt not this, thou art not a true Chriſtian, thou wilt never look Death in the Face with Joy, nor go down to the Grave with Triumph. If thou liveſt at Home in the Body, and flyeſt for thy Life, and will not be willing to loſe thy Life for Chriſt, if thou art called to it; and if thou wilt not have Chriſt to waſh thee (ſome for Shyneſs, and ſome for Self-Love will refuſe this,) if Chriſt doth not waſh thee, thou haſt no Part in him; you muſt come to Chriſt to purify you in the fiery Furnace; the Day of the Lord ſhall burn as an Oven, (as the Prophet ſpeaks) this is a dreadful Day, a Day of Vengeance, the Day of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who redeemeth his People from their Sins; Sion is redeemed with Judgment, and eſtabliſhed with Righteouſneſs. Do not make the Way to Heaven eaſier in your Minds and Imaginations than indeed it is, and think it not ſufficient to live in an outward Obſervance of the Ways of God. If your own Wills be alive, and your Corruptions remain unmortified, the Judgment of God will be your Portion; therefore in the Lord's Name come along with me; I am come to declare what I have heard and ſeen of the Father. Come and examine thy Conſcience; haſt thou brought thy Deeds to the Light? Then thou haſt received Condemnation upon thyſelf, and thy Haughtineſs is bowed down, and laid low, and thou ſeeſt thyſelf a poor miſerable Wretch before the eternal God. Whatſoever thou knoweſt of the Mind of God, haſt thou reformed thy Ways? come along with me, and tell me what is the Ground of thy Faith, and thy Confidence; is it thy Obedience and Qualifications? Becauſe thy Obedience is right, and thy Qualifications are right, What uſe doſt thou make of them? Read the Book of Conſcience; Haſt thou no Ground for thy Faith? Thou haſt put on the reformed Faith, and liveſt an unreformed Life; ſearch and try thy ſelf, Man, or Woman. Doſt thou watch over thyſelf and keep in a Senſe of thy Diſſolution, notwithſtanding all thy Qualifications and partial Reformations? Doſt thou ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate, and the narrow Way? Here is the loſt Sheep, thou ſeekeſt, the Life of thy Will, the Life of the firſt Adam; the Juſtice of God will not ſuffer thee to make a Saviour of thy Duties and Qualifications, and to take God's Jewels and to deck thyſelf with them; Thou canſt not be ſaved without the Rigteouſneſs of God in Chrſt Jeſus. What ſaith thy Conſcience, art thou brought to this Change of Mind, and of thy Converſation? Are you all willing to part with your Sins, with your Pride and Haughtineſs? Are you willing to part with your vile Affections? This is the Work of God's Grace upon you. Doſt thou place thy Confidence in thy Duties and Qualifications, and takeſt God's Jewels and Ornaments, and deckeſt thyſelf With them? Thou tookeſt my Jewels, ſaith the Lord, and didſt play the Harlot. If thou return to the Lord, and humble thy ſelf, and get through this Difficulty, thou wilt be happy forever. This Judgment of God, this flaming Sword that turns every Way, will keep thee from returning to Sin, and bring thee to Chriſt, and cut thee off from all Hope of Salvation but by him, and make thee to ſee the abſolute Need of a Saviour, and that thy Life is hid with Chriſt in God.

It is God's infinite Goodneſs to Men, that he will hide Pride from them, and humble them under his mighty Hand. This is the Condition of poor Creatures that are ſlain by the Hands of the moſt High. How may I know when I am ſlain and baptiſed, and come to have Sincerity? They that have this Baptiſm enter into the Heavenly Life. If you love the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, it will be thus with you; God will make ſhort Work in the Earth. He will ſet thy Sins in Order before thee, and make thee watchful unto Prayer, and lead thee to Holineſs of Life and Converſation, and make thee abhor thyſelf, and deſpiſe all the Pomps and Pleaſures and Vanities of this World. When he hath adorned thee with his Graces, then watch for the Light, and in the Light of Chriſt thou ſhalt ſee Light, and that all thou haſt done, and canſt do, is but thy Duty. All this thou oughteſt to do: Thou art God's Creature, and all this will not juſtifie thee in Order to thy Eternal Salvation, for theſe Services thou oweſt unto God. If thou diligently wait, thou ſhalt ſee more Light; then the Sword that proceeds out of the Mouth of Chriſt, who is called the Word of God, will cut thee off from all thy Hopes of Salvation from any Thing thou haſt done, from any of thy Qualifications, from any Thing that thou canſt do, ſo that thou wilt be a hopeleſs Soul, nothing in thy own Senſe and Apprehenſion. The Power of the firſt Adam muſt die before him, and thou wilt cry out, I am a dead, loſt, and undone Creature; but there is a Life hid with Chriſt in God for me; but I can never have it till I be ſlain into the Will of God, and become as a little Child, and be ſtript of all my own Excellency that I have attained. I muſt come to a Senſe of my own Miſery, and fall down at the Foot of God. When I am become as a little Child, humbled and ſlain as to my own Will and Confidence in my own Righteouſneſs; I will not then queſtion but I ſhall live a holy Life, but I will give all that Life I had, for that Life which is hid with Chriſt in God: O! there is none come ſo far, that ever miſs of Eternal Life. All ſhuffling People that would have Salvation by Chriſt, and will not let him exerciſe his heavenly Power, his princely glorious Power to baptiſe them into his Death, it is they that come ſhort of Salvation; but all thoſe that yield themſelves up to Chriſt, to be redeemed through Judgment, and are become as little Children, theſe are in a happy State. You know that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt took a little Child in his Arms, and ſaid, Whoſoever becomes not as a little Child, cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. You muſt all of you become as little Children, and depend upon the Mercy and free Grace of God; you muſt all come to a holy Reſignation of yourſelves to God's Diſpoſal: If you come to Chriſt as little Children, and depend upon him, you cannot miſs of Salvation; it is entailed upon ſuch Souls as hear the Voice of Chriſt; they that hear the Voice of the Son of God, ſhall live.

I ſtand here as a Witneſs for the God of Heaven. I never heard the Voice of Chriſt (as his Follower) till I was ſlain and baptiſed, and lay as a little Child under his Heavenly Chaſtiſements. As ſoon as 〈◊〉 my Soul was brought to this in my Humiliation, 〈◊〉 then the dreadful Judgment was taken away, and the Book of Life was opened unto me, and the Lord ſpake comfortably to me, I have loved thee with an everlaſting Love; and I was made a Chriſtian thro' a Day of Vengeance, and of burning as an Oven; and the Haughtineſs, and Pride of Man in me was brought low. Now in this Conformity to Chriſt's Death, People may die into Life; and bleſſed are the Dead that die in the Lord, for they reſt from their Labours, and their Works do follow them. Away with all your own Wills, and your Pride, and Haughtineſs, and your Hypocriſy, and Deceit, and Dependency upon any Qualification of your own. You muſt come to have your Life ſeparated from you, elſe you will all periſh. Thoſe that will die with Chriſt, and be willing to die for him, he is revealed as a Saviour to them. He was before us in the Days of his Fleſh, and complied with his Father's Will, he was nailed to the Croſs. The Son of God when he was come to the Depth of his Sufferings, What was his Cry? My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? This was for thy Sake, and my Sake, and every Man and Woman's Sake that do believe in him; he drank the Cup which his Father gave him to drink; If it was done thus to the green Tree, what ſhall be done unto the dry? He went before us, and when he cometh again he will take us to himſelf, and take us from the Filth of Sin, that we may be made new Creatures.

Now except we be born again, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God; and there is no becoming new Creatures, till we be ſlain to the old Man. Thou muſt be ſlain to thy Pride and Haughtineſs, and the Corruption of thine own Will, and all Selfiſhneſs, thou muſt have God to burn it up in thee the Holy Ghoſt will deſtroy and burn up nothing in thee, but that which will bring an eternal Fire upon thy Soul. Shew me, thou whom my Soul loveth, where is the Path of Life, the Foot-ſteps of the Flock of thy Companions? Why ſhould I be as one that goes aſide? Now every one that lives at home in the Boſom of Self, take this with you, tho' you profeſs the Truth, and live in an outward Conformity thereto, yet if you ſecretly indulge your corrupt Wills, and live a Fleſh-pleaſing Life, and conſult with Fleſh and Blood, and are not rent off from your Luſts, you cannot enjoy the Lord of Life; While I am at home in the Body, I am abſent from the Lord.

The Body of Sin is a Loadſtone to draw you from the Life of God, and from glorying in the Croſs of Chriſt: This is Fleſh and Blood, and Fleſh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. For the Lord's Sake, for your Soul's Sake, and for the Sake of your Eternal Happineſs, put not off this Work, but purſue it, and it will be perfected. See how Chriſt is revealed in you by the Holy Ghoſt, and with Fire. God will redeem you by the Spirit of Judgment and Burning: It is not ranging abroad with your Minds, but you muſt know Chriſt is in you except you be Reprobates. If he hath ſet your Eyes and Hearts upon himſelf, and made you to water your Couch with your Tears; if he hath broken your Sleep, ſo as you have cried out, I ſhall be damned and never come to Salvation; (this will be your Cry; it was once my Cry,) O let not your Eyes ſlumber, nor your Eyelids take any Reſt, till you be ſure the Lord is your God. If you find theſe Qualifications you are on your Way; otherwiſe you will be like a deceitful Bow, and never abide in Judgment. If you reject the Counſel of God againſt yourſelves, and refuſe to be crucified with Chriſt, and to be baptiſed with his Baptiſm, you will never have Life; but by his Baptiſm, and through the heavenly Operation of his Spirit, if thou haſt Faith in Chriſt's Name, thou ſhalt be married to him in everlaſting Righteouſneſs. Salvation ſhall be brought to us, and eternal Life be beſtowed upon us, even that Life which is hid with Chriſt in God, he will give to every poor mournful Soul, that ſubmits to his bleſſed Will, and believeth in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; This is not a Faith of our own making, nor a Garment of our own Embroidery, but that which the Lord hath given to us. O happy Man or Woman, that obtaineſt this Gift of God! O! Who will not loſe their Lives for this everlaſting Life? Who will not die for this eternal Life? Now the Matter lies in the Death of your own Wills: When you have done the Will of God, then watch that your own Wills be ſlain, and that your CURSED SELF take not the Jewels of God, and his Bracelets and Ornaments, and beſtow them upon Self, and paint and deck curſed Self; and take not the Members of Chriſt, and make them the Members of an Harlot: If you be dead to your own Wills you are riſen with Chriſt, and receive a Reſurrection to eternal Life: Crucify Self, and ſet the World at nought, and trample upon it, and all Things of it, and count them as Droſs and Dung in Compariſon of Chriſt, that the Father hath revealed to be our Life, in the Days of our Sorrow and Mourning, in the Day of our Calamity, in the Day when we cried, our Hope is loſt.

Thus it hath been with the holieſt People on Earth. It is not by Works of Righteouſneſs of thy own that thou canſt be ſaved; Chriſt comes to cut all theſe down, that thou mayſt be ingrafted into him, and juſtified by his Grace. Do not make this Matter of Talk, and ſay, I have heard this and that; but look into your own Hearts, and ſee what heavenly Workings are there; what there is of the Power of the Lord Jeſus, that hath made you to loath this World, and the inordinate Love of the Creature, that you may enjoy all theſe Things as if you enjoyed them not. We cannot when we are ſlain and crucified to this World but ſay, My Life is in Chriſt. When we come to aſcribe Nothing to our ſelves, and all to Chriſt; here is a bleſſed Harmony, broken Hearts, melted Spirits, and yet joyful Souls; poor Creatures that were mourning and ſighing and crying before the Lord in retired Places, and yet rejoicing in Chriſt Jeſus. I am riſen with Chriſt; I ſaid, my Hope is cut off, I will lie down in thy Will, O God; do what thou wilt with me, it is in thy ſovereign Pleaſure and free Gift, whether thou give me Life, or deny it to me. There muſt be a Reſignation of ourſelves to the Will of God; it was ſo with the Lord Jeſus, and it is ſo with every true Saint of God; you muſt be humbled as little Children, before Judgment be taken away, and the Loving-kindneſs of God ſealed up to your Souls. If you ſeek this Work of God, you will find it; if you ſeek it upon your Beds, in all your Labours and Concernments, in all your Stations; and Relations; if you preſs after the New Birth, you muſt uſe this World as if you uſed it not, and live a married Life, as if you were unmarried; for the Faſhion of this World paſſeth away. This is not Rantiſm.

But let me tell you, a new World comes by Regeneration; a Man is not lifted up in his own Mind, but laid low in his own Eyes; he waits for the Wiſdom of God to govern him, and he is a Steward of the Grace of God, to give to them that ſtand in need. When a Man is regenerated and born again, he is as contented with Bread and Water, as with all the Enjoyments of this World: What is the Matter? His own Will is gone, and put down under his Feet, and whatſoever it is that gives Life to all his vain Deſires and Affections; there is an Harmony of all within, a Man praiſing of God, and bleſſing his Holy Name; there are no Intanglements ſhall draw away the Heart from ſerving of God, and ſeeking his Glory; and if God ſhall call the Huſband from the Wife, or the Wife from the Huſband for the Glory of his Name, there is no whining or complaining, and crying out, but giving them up, and a praiſing and bleſſing God when they are called to ſuch an Exerciſe; and if they are not called to that, then they ſet their Hearts to glorify God in their ſeveral Places and Stations; then they have a full Content in a bleſſed Reſignation. Here their Wills are ſlain, but they praiſe God, they have no Deſire, but Lord thy Will be done; always praiſing God, always having the Fear and Glory of God before their Eyes. All the Miſchief is hatch'd in pleaſing Men's own Wills: That is the Counſel of every Heart that Chriſt does not govern: Will you live as the Quakers? Then you muſt live contemptibly, the Miſtreſs and Maid are Hail-fellow, well met. No; every one muſt walk in Humility, and live in Acquaintance with the God of Heaven; ſhe that is wrought upon by the ſame Spirit, muſt with all Diligence behave herſelf as becomes a Servant of the Lord. Here is now a new World, and the Faſhions of the old World are gone; all Pride, Haughtineſs, Croſſneſs, and trampling one upon another are all gone, all ſlain, through the Operation of Chriſt.

What remains now? Chriſt is in me, and we are all one in him. Chriſt laid down his Life for thee and me; now he reigns in me, and he hath prepared my Body to die for the Truth, as his prepared Body was laid down for my Sin. It is a Kind of fooliſh Profeſſion, to make Profeſſion of Chriſt, and live in Covetouſneſs, Profaneneſs, Senſuality, and the like; they that are come to this heavenly Birth ſeek the Things that are above, thou canſt do no other. Make the Tree good, and the Fruit will be good. You muſt be ingrafted into the Vine of God's Righteouſneſs: O! ſlight not the Day of your Viſitation. What was it to me to read of any being born again, till I was ſlain, and knew the heavenly Baptiſm of Chriſt Jeſus? Till I ſaw the flaming Sword ready to ſlay me in every Way, in every Turning. The Light of Chriſt convinced me of Sin, and his Righteouſneſs Juſtified me, and thoſe Works were abominable to me, that hindred my Soul's Paſſage to Chriſt. Chriſt Jeſus in marrying my Soul to himſelf, ſeized upon me, and did work effectually in me: There is the Teſtimony of Chriſt in me, he hath ſealed up my Soul to the Day of my Redemption: Here is a certain Paſſage, and a certain Way which never any miſs of, that loſe their Lives for Chriſt: If you be not ready and willing to loſe your Lives for Chriſt, you ſhall never come here: The Gate is ſtraight, and the Way is narrow; none come hither but thoſe that die into an heavenly Oneneſs with Chriſt. O Friends, let us empty ourſelves, that Chriſt may fill us: Let us be nothing in our own Eyes, that we may be all in him, and receive of his Fulneſs.

Now I commend you to God's Witneſs, that you may remember what hath been ſpoken, among you; but conſider, if you do not hearken to it, it will follow you, and be a Plague to you to all Eternity. If you will not yield up yourſelves to Chriſt, this Day that burns like an Oven, this Fire you muſt dwell with when out of the Body, there will be no quenching of this Fire forever; but if you be ſo wiſe for your Souls, as to reſign yourſelves up to Chriſt, and come to him as little Children, this will not hinder your earthly Concerns. Tho' the World may account thee a Fool, yet thou haſt that Part of heavenly Wiſdom, to do what thou doſt as unto God; thou carrieſt to thy Wife, as in the Sight of God, that ſhe may be ſanctified to thee, and thou to her; and thou carrieſt becomingly to thy Children and Servants, and thou wilt abound in Grace, and in every good Work, which will be for thine Eternal Welfare.

O! I beſeech you People, for the Lord's Sake, wait for the Light of Chriſt to guide you; learn of him to be meek and lowly; then happy are you; for he dwelleth with the Humble, but he beholdeth the Proud afar off. This New Birth, which is a true Work, a ſincere and heavenly Work, it will make you for ever. O make Room for Chriſt in your Hearts, or elſe he is never like to dwell with you. He loveth to dwell with the poor and humble and contrite Spirit; he abhors the Proud, he will empty your Souls, that he may fill them.

And ſo I commend you to God. I have been long held in Durance under great Weakneſs; and I was reſtleſs, till I could come up to this great City of London, to preach the everlaſting Goſpel among you; and you ſee I am among you here: Pray every one of you turn inward; let not theſe Words paſſing through a mean Veſſel be as a bare empty Diſcourſe of Truth to you, which you only hear, and take no further Care of your Salvation. Take heed of deſpiſing the Light that ſhines in the midſt of you, and be preſſing forward to the heavenly Work that is laid in the Power of Chriſt Jeſus, even through Judgment into Death, and then he will give eternal Life. The Lord confirm this, that it may reſt upon your Hearts, that you may be dead to the Things of the World. We are not come to Mount Sinai, that genders to Bondage, but we are come to Mount Sion, the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innumerable Company of Angels, to the general Aſſembly, and the Church of the Firſt-born which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of juſt Men made perfect, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the Blood of Sprinkling, that ſpeaketh better Things than that of Abel. This is the Inheritance of the Redeemed of the moſt High, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord: let us reſt in Hope, till he bring us to Humility and Lowlineſs of Mind, that he may cloath us with heavenly Glory according to his Promiſe, I will beautify my Houſe with Glory, ſaith the Lord. This is the Portion of a poor People, that caſt down themſelves before the Lord, that he may lift them up, and be All in All to them, in whoſe bleſſed Preſence they ſhall have Joy, and Rivers of Pleaſure at his Right Hand for evermore.

THE Great and Bleſſed God that made Heaven and Earth, the Seas and the great Fountains of the Deep, and Rivers of Water, the Almighty JEHOVAH, who is from Everlaſting to Everlaſting. He alſo made Man and Woman; and his Deſign was to make them Eternally Happy and Bleſſed. And therefore He made Man in his own Image; In the Image of God created he him, Male and Female created be them: He made them after his own Likeneſs, Holy, Wiſe, Merciful, Juſt, Patient, and Humble, endued them with Knowledge, Righteouſneſs, and true Holineſs. But Man and Woman through their Tranſgreſſion loſt this Image of God, and with it loſt their Happineſs and true Bleſſedneſs, that God made them in a Capacity to enjoy.

Now in this State of MISERY, into which we are Fallen, we are come ſhort of the Glory of God; and it is out of this wretched woful State we muſt be brought, elſe we ſhall never ſee the Face of God with Comfort. This is an eternal Truth of God, and recorded in the holy Scriptures, John iii. 16. That God ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting Life. God ſo loved the World, he gave his Son to be a Light unto the World, that all might ſee their Way back to God again: For Sin hath darkened the Underſtanding, and clouded the Mind of Man and Woman, and alienated them from the Life of God, and their Hearts are hardened through the Deceitfulneſs of Sin. But now is the Acceptable Time, now is the Day of Salvation, the Day of God's Grace and favourable Viſitation, wherein he viſits Men and Women, Illuminates their Minds and Spirits with a Light from Heaven, that they might ſee the deplorable State and Condition wherin they are, and what they are doing: It is in this Light, that they have a Day of Grace vouchſafed to them, that it will be well with them, both here and for ever. They that receive this Light, and come out of that which they are called from, which is Sin, they may come to enjoy Peace with God. It was Sin that firſt ſeparated between God and Man; and it is Sin now that hinders Man from Acquaintance with the Lord, who brings Peace unto him: It is by this Light, that we are to acquaint our ſelves with God, that we may be at Peace. Thus ſaith the Lord by the Prophet, It is Sin hath ſeparated between me and you: Sin hath made a Partition Wall between God and us, and God hath ſent his Son into the World to break down this Partition Wall that Sin hath made; that ſo fallen Man might return to God, and come into Paradiſe again, out of which Sin hath caſt him.

Now, none can bring us back to God, and into Favour and Communion with him, but our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: He is the Light and Leader of his People. There is no Name under Heaven by which we can be ſaved, but the Name of JESUS: It is he that ſaves his People from their Sins; and it is in him alone that we are bleſſed: Bleſſed is he whoſe Tranſgreſſion is forgiven, and whoſe Sin is covered: And for the Sake of Chriſt alone it is, that the Lord imputeth not Iniquity to us. Now pray, Examine yourſelves, whether you be in the Faith, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Prove your own ſelves, how that Jeſus Chriſt is in you, except you be Reprobates. Examine yourſelves, whether you have choſen the Lord for your God, and Chriſt for your Redeemer? And whether you have forſaken your Sins, and turned from your evil Ways, and anſwered the Viſitation of the Love of God in your Souls? Do you believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who came to ſeek and to ſave them that were loſt? He is the Phyſician of Value, that was wounded to heal our Wounds: He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions, bruiſed for our Iniquities, and had the Chaſtiſement of our Peace upon him; that by his Stripes we might be healed: It is he alone that could do this. Who is ſufficient for theſe Things? The Lord hath found out One that is ſufficient; he hath laid Help upon One that is Mighty, that is able to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come unto God by him. God hath given him the Spirit without Meaſure, and filled him with Grace and Truth, that of his Fulneſs we might all receive, and Grace for Grace: He is mighty to ſave the Sons and Daughters of Men, and to give them Power to become the Children of God.

This was teſtified of old, John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name. Men want Power over their Sins: When Sin appears to be exceeding ſinful, they would overcome it, and be rid of it, when it is troubleſome: And when they are under a deep Conviction of the Evil of it, and ſee the woful and miſerable State that Sin hath brought Mankind into; how they have loſt the Image of God, and the Favour of God; they then deſire to be reſtored and brought back again into their primitive State. You that know the Truth of God, ſee how the Work goes on in your Hearts; ſee how the Image of God is carrying on upon you. Conſider, that the Lord is a holy God, of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Approbation: There is no Peace to the Wicked, that walk in the broad Way, and grieve the holy Spirit, and do not anſwer his Divine Call. There is a two-fold Call concerning Man, a Call to Repentance, and a Call to Judgment. The Call to Repentance, is in this Day of God's Viſitation; they that receive it now, that are ſo wiſe, as to anſwer God's Call, and believe in the Son of God, and in his inward Appearance, that obey his Voice, when they hear his Call, ſaying, Come away, come out of thy Sins, come out of the Wickedneſs, Filthineſs, and Pollution of the World; come into the Divine Nature of the Son of God; come into his Life: Into what Life? Into the Spiritual Life, the Divine Life. Thou haſt been dead to God, and alive to the World: Now that thou mayſt be dead to Sin, and alive to God, come unto him that hath all Power in Heaven and Earth committed to him. O come unto Chriſt, the Dear and Bleſſed Son of God, in this Day of Grace and Salvation, and receive Power to overcome thy Sins! Then thou wilt be a Conqueror, and overcome the Devil.

We are of ourſelves altogether inſufficient for theſe Things, we are weak and impotent; and our Saviour hath told us, Without me ye can do nothing: We are juſtified freely by God's Grace, through the Redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt; not juſtified by our own Works. How great a Contradiction is it to Charge them with the Contrary, that ſay, They cannot Preach nor Pray, but as the Spirit of God moveth them. Bleſſed be God, that hath made us ſenſible of our own Weakneſs, Emptineſs, and Poverty. Our Help hath been in the Name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth, who hath given us his Son to be an Helper, and an all-ſufficient Saviour to us; with him he hath given ſufficient Power and Strength, whereby we are enabled to overcome the Devil, the Enemy of our Souls: So that we may be enabled to ſtand againſt Principalities and Powers, againſt ſpiritual Wickedneſs, and conquer all the Powers of Darkneſs, and fight the good Fight of Faith, and finiſh our Courſe with Joy, and keep the Faith; ſeeing there is laid up for us a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, ſhall give us at that Day; and not only to us, (ſaith the Apoſtle) but unto all them that love His Appearing. We have not an High Prieſt which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities; but was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin: Chriſt, our Redeemer, was tempted, that he might ſuccour thoſe that are tempted. When the Devil tempted our Saviour in the Wilderneſs, and could not prevail, he went away and left him: The Prince of this World found nothing in him, upon which he could faſten his Temptation. Chriſt will enable thoſe that believe in him to overcome the Devil, and to be more than Conquerors, through him that hath loved them: He came into the World to purge and purify his People, and to be the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that believe in him, and obey him. But it is ſaid, He did not many mighty Works among ſome to whom he preached the Everlaſting Goſpel, becauſe of their Unbelief: Many will not believe in the Inward and Spiritual Appearance of Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of God, who is the Light of the World; they will neither believe in the Light, nor walk in the Light, which will enable them to conquer the Evil one, who is the Prince of Darkneſs: It is only through Chriſt Jeſus, the Great Captain of our Salvation, that we are victorious.

Therefore, my Friends, open your Hearts to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, receive this bleſſed Gift of God, which he offers to you: And can God give you a greater Gift than the Son of his Love? And will not you gladly receive him, and that great Salvation which he hath purchaſed for you with his own Blood? But, ſay ſome People, we have received Chriſt, and believe in him, and believe the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures. But let me aſk you, Who keeps Houſe all this while? What have you done for Chriſt? Chriſt hath died for you; but haſt thou lived to him? And haſt thou died to the World, and died to thy Sins and Luſts? Conſider with your ſelves, It is both your Great Duty and Intereſt to die to Sin, and live to Chriſt that died for you. And we muſt ſtand at Chriſt's Tribunal, and give an Account to him of whatſoever we have done, whether good or bad; and he will judge us at the great Day of his Appearing. Bleſſed are you, that receive the Bleſſed Son of God, that now ſtands in Spirit at the Door, and Knocks: Open your Hearts, and make Room for him, and let not the World keep him out, and he will come in, and ſup with you, and you with him: And he will do that for you, which you cannot do for your ſelves. The Spirit is willing, but the Fleſh is weak: He will give thee Power over Sin, and over the World, and over the Devil: When ever he ſhall aſſault thee with his Temptations, Say, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou favoureſt not the Things that be of God. When People come to be ſpiritually minded, they will taſte and ſavour the Things that are ſpiritual and heavenly: If they be not Things of God, do not touch with them, have nothing to do with them; but walk in the Spirit, and ſavour the Things of the Spirit. And hearken to the Counſel of Chriſt, who ſpeaks unto you in the Name of Wiſdom; O ye Simple Ones underſtand Wiſdom, and ye Fools, be of an underſtanding Heart; hear, for I will ſpeak of excellent Things, and the Opening of my Lips ſhall be right Things; bleſſed is the Man that heareth me, watching daily at my Gates, waiting at the Poſts of my Doors: for whoſo findeth me, findeth Life. Hearken to the bleſſed Counſel of Chriſt, hear this Voice and obey it: They that do his Will, ſhall know his Doctrine: The Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will ſhew them his Covenant.

They that have the ſaving Knowledge of God, and Chriſt Jeſus, which is Life eternal, they will walk in a correſpondent and ſuitable Manner to that Knowledge, and be holy in all Manner of Converſation; they will not be only nominal Chriſtians, but true Chriſtians, Iſraelites indeed, in whom there is no guile: the will receive Chriſt Jeſus, who is God's Gift, and know the Operation of his Power in their Souls. Theſe Perſons are fit to live, and prepared to die; when Chriſt who is their Life, ſhall appear, they ſhall appear with him in Glory. When the Sound of the Laſt Trumpet ſhall be heard at the End of the World, Time ſhall be no more; Come away! that Day ſhall not be terrible to them that have put off the Old Man, and put on the New Man; and have begun to live a new Life, and to have new Affections, new Thoughts and Reſolutions, and have laid up their Treaſure in Heaven, where their Hearts are alſo: They have that Peace which the World cannot give, and which Death cannot take away. Bleſſed are they that take Sanctuary in the Name of Jeſus, as in a ſtrong Tower; they ſhall get Power over their Sins, and over the Vanity of their Minds, that die to Sin, and live to God, and feel the conſtraining Power and Efficacy of the Love of Chriſt, who hath loved them and waſhed them from their Sins in his own Blood, and made them Kings and Prieſts to God.

My Friends, Hear the Voice of Wiſdom, who hath ſaid, Whoſo findeth me, findeth Life, and ſhall obtain Favour of the Lord: But he that ſinneth againſt me, wrongeth his own Soul. Be you early Seekers: Seek the Kingdom of God in the firſt Place. The Lord calls from Heaven; My Son, give me thine Heart: Let thy Anſwer be, Lord, take my Heart, purify and cleanſe it; break it, and make it new, make it fit for thy Acceptance, that I may find Favour in thy Sight. Without me (ſaith our Saviour) ye can do Nothing: Therefore deſire him to do it for thee, and to work in thee both to will and to do of his own good Pleaſure. How dreadful is it to appear at the Bar of God's Juſtice, as miſerable Sinners! Thoſe that have not Chriſt, the Great Mediator, to plead for them, are miſerable indeed; therefore lay hold on Chriſt now; believe in him, lay hold on his Power and Spirit, in this Day of your Viſitation. If thou art under the Power of Sin and Satan, thou mayſt receive Power from Chriſt to overcome all the Power of Darkneſs: If the ſtrong Man armed hath got Poſſeſſion of thy Heart, Chriſt will lay Seige to it; and if thou be willing to open the Door, Chriſt will come in and caſt out the ſtrong Man, and ſpoil him of all his Goods. Me will caſt out the grand Enemy of thy Soul, and take Poſſeſſion for Himſelf; that thou mayſt be delivered from the Power of Satan, and from the Bondage of Corruption, and brought into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God: And if the Son of God make thee free, thou ſhalt be free indeed. For this End Chriſt came into the World, for this Purpoſe was the Son of God manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the Works of the Devil: And he will not loſe the Deſign of his Coming, but will finiſh Tranſgreſſions, and make an End of Sin, and bring in everlaſting Righteouſneſs.

Let us all come to Chriſt, and let none deceive themſelves, and live in their Sins, and yet think to come to Heaven: Be not deceived (ſaith the Apoſtle) God is not mocked; for whatſoever a Man ſows, that he ſhall alſo reap: He that ſows to the Fleſh, ſhall of the Fleſh reap Corruption; but he that ſows to the Spirit, ſhall of the Spirit reap Life everlaſting. Labour for a ſure grounded Hope, a juſt Hope in the Mercy of God for Pardon and Salvation; then you muſt know a Work of Chriſt upon you, and the Power of the Spirit of Chriſt within you, ſubduing your Will to a holy Subjection to the Divine Will; that you may ſay with the Apoſtle; I am crucified with Chriſt; nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, and the Life which I now live in the Fleſh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me. Then the Call to Judgment will be joyful to you; for you ſhall then be juſtified and acquitted before the whole World, at that great and general Judgment, and have an abundant Entrance into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, and it ſhall be well with you for ever, Now, Say to the Righteous, it ſhall be well with him; not that it doth ſo appear at preſent; for through many Tribulations we muſt expect to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; and many are the Troubles of the Righteous; but the Lord will deliver them out of them all. So that if in this Life only (ſaith the Apoſtle) we have Hope, we are of all Men moſt miſerable; yet Say to the Righteous, It ſhall be well with him; whatſoever their Tryals, Troubles. and Tribulations are, the Lord will deliver them in the beſt Time; they have Heaven in their Eye, and they look to Recompence of Reward. Now what haſt thou in thine Eye? Is it the high Calling in Chriſt? Is this the Mark thou aimeſt at, and which thou haſt in View? Is this the Port and Haven that thou art ſailing to, looking unto Jeſus, the Author and Finiſher of our Faith, who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the Shame? Heb. xii. 2. The Apoſtle, after he had been ſpeaking of the Suffering and Martyrdom of thoſe great Saints, of whom the World was not worthy; Heb. xi, how that through Faith they ſubdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteouſneſs, obtained Promiſes, ſtopt the Mouths of Lions, quenched the Violence of the Fire, eſcaped the Edge of the Sword, out of Weakneſs were made ſtrong, waxed valiant in Fight, and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens; of Women, that received their dead to Life again, and others were tortured, not accepting of Deliverance that they might obtain a better Reſurrection; then he comes to ſpeak of the Sufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and bids us, Look unto him. Heb. xii. 1, 2, 3. Wherefore ſeeing we are compaſſed about with ſo great a Cloud of Witneſſes, let us lay aſide every Weight, and the Sin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us; and let us run with Patience the Race that is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus, the Author and Finiſher of our Faith: Who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, and deſpiſed the Shame, and is ſet down at the right Hand of the Throne of God. For Conſider him that endured ſuch Contradiction of Sinners againſt himſelf, leſt ye be wearied and faint in your Minds. Bleſſed are they that can endure all theſe Things, Shame, Reproach, Contumely and Diſdain, Perſecutions and Afflictions that attend the Teſtimony of Jeſus! Bleſſed are they that can endure the Croſs, and deſpiſe the Shame! It is an internal Croſs, which thou muſt endure for Chriſt, or thy own Heart will reprove thee, check thee and condemn thee, for it: But if thou comeſt to know a being crucified with Chriſt, thou ſhalt reign with him, and be raiſed up to eternal Glory with him. Unleſs thou knoweſt a Dying to the World, and a being crucified with Chriſt, thou canſt not have a well grounded Hope of everlaſting Happineſs.

Therefore now, Friends, Examine your ſelves about your Title to Heaven. It is the Wiſdom and Practice of the World, to examine their Titles and Settlements, and to ſee they be ſure, and firm, and ſtable before hand: So we ſhould make ſure for Heaven and eternal Glory, and of an Houſe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens, before this earthly Tabernacle be diſſolved; then for us to live, will be Chriſt, and to die will be eternal Gain. Bleſſed are they that bear Record of the Word of God, and of the Teſtimony of Jeſus, that bear his Name and teſtify and join with him againſt the Spirit of the World, and the Prince of the Power of the Air. It is within, that thou muſt join with Chriſt's Appearance, that ſo thou mayſt be chriſtianized, and thy Mind made truly Chriſtian: Thou muſt be purified in thy Spirit, and baptiſed with the Holy Ghoſt, and with Fire, and know the powerful Operation of the Lord: They that have not Experience of the New Birth, they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

O my Friends, ſet before you the Example of Chriſt, who was holy, harmleſs and undefiled; his Life was glorious in Holineſs: And as it becomes you, ſo it highly concerns you to be holy in all Manner of Converſation. For if you imitate not the Life of Chriſt, you cannot be ſaved by his Death: He came into the World, to redeem you from all Iniquity, and to ſave you from Sin and Hell; Labour to anſwer the Dignity of your High and Holy Calling, with a Converſation becoming the Goſpel of Chriſt: for you are called to Glory and Virtue. Whatſoever Troubles, Temptations and Tribulations may attend you in your Pilgrimage here below. If you be faithful and ſincere, you will have Peace with God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. In all your Labours and Travels on this Earth, you may look up with Joy, for you have a ſerene Heaven over your Heads: Let Chriſt be precious to you; open the Door of your Hearts to him, who is the King of Glory: He is oppreſſed in the Hearts of the Unclean, but he is exalted and lifted up in the Hearts of the Faithful: Bleſſed are they that ſet him upon his Throne in their Hearts! O learn of Chriſt to be meek and lowly: Your Humility will exalt him, and will alſo exalt you at the laſt: Be faithful to the Death, and you ſhall receive a Crown of Life: Thoſe that have eternal Life in their Eye, and depend upon Chriſt alone for Salvation, they have laid a ſure Foundation. All other Foundations will come to Nothing; they are founded in Time, and in Time the will come to moulder away: But that City that GOD is the Builder and Maker of, that Abraham had in his Eye, will never decay nor moulder away: Let us have this always in our Eye, that nothing may intercept our View. We have here (ſaith the Apoſtle) no continuing City; we ſeek one that is to come. In this World we are as Sheep among Wolves: Fear not, little Flock, (ſaith our Saviour) It is your Father's good Pleaſure to give you a Kingdom. If we be the Sheep of Chriſt, we ſhall follow him: For his Sheep follow him, and know his Voice, and a Stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they know not the Voice of a Stranger. My Sheep (ſaith Chriſt) hear my Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give unto them eternal Life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any pluck them out of my Hands. Here is Encouragement for us to Labour abundantly in the Work of the Lord; for our Labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord. Let us, with Moſes, chuſe rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleaſures of Sin for a Seaſon; and eſteem the Reproach of Chriſt greater Riches than the Treaſures of Egypt, and have Reſpect to the Recompence of Reward.

Friends, I beſeech you, in the Fear of God, look up unto JESUS, the GREAT MEDIATOR of the New Covenant, the Author and Finiſher of our Faith; that by patient Continuance in Well-doing, you may ſeek for Glory, Honour, Immortality, and eternal Life: Which you ſhall obtain, if you perſevere to the End: For he that endureth unto the End, ſhall be ſaved.

Be not weary of Well-doing; for in due Time you ſhall reap, if ye faint not. He that hath appeared as a God of Salvation, and a mighty Preſerver of his People in all Ages of the World, and hath been ſo both to the primitive Chriſtians, and to all our Chriſtian Friends that are gone before us to an eternal Reſt, if you faint not but follow them, who through Faith and Patience do inherit the Promiſes, you ſhall lay down your Heads in Peace in him, when you come to die: And when Time ſhall be no more, you ſhall be for ever with the Lord.

To GOD be Praiſe, Honour, and Glory, who hath ſtretched forth his mighty Arm to Save: Who is the Arm of the Lord but Chriſt Jeſus, the Redeemer of Souls? When we had undone our ſelves, and loſt our ſelves, in wandering and departing from the Lord, the true and living God, into Darkneſs and the Shadow of Death, he ſtretched forth his Almighty Arm to gather us, and to bring us into the Paradiſe of God again, when we were driven out by our own Sin from the Face and Preſence of the Lord. Chriſt Jeſus, the Great and Good Shepherd of his Sheep, came to ſeek and to ſave them that were loſt: The loſt Sheep that have wandered from him, he will take them on his Shoulder, and bring them to his Fold: And he will make them lie down in green Paſtures, and lead them by the ſtill Waters, and ſatisfy them with the Rivers of Pleaſure that are at God's right Hand for evermore. He hath promiſed, That he will feed his Flock like a Shepherd, and gather his Lambs with his Arm, and carry them in his Boſom: I hope CHRIST JESUS the GREAT SHEPHERD, will find ſome here this Day, that have gone aſtray, and gather them with his Divine Arm, and keep them by his mighty Power, through Faith unto Salvation. To Him be all Praiſe, Honour, Glory, Dominion, and Thankſgiving: For He alone is worthy, who is GOD over all, Bleſſed for ever and Ever! Amen.