1 
 
MAY 17 1918 
 
 
V 
 
 SERMONS 
 
 ■"^^sWrnGiY, 
 
 OR 
 
 918 
 
 ^^h 
 
 DECLARATIONS 
 
 WILLIAM DEWSBURY, ROBERT BARCLAY, 
 
 GEORGE WHITEHEAD, WILLIAM PENN, CHARLES MARSHAL, 
 
 THOMAS STORY, AND OTHERS. 
 
 A NEW EDITION. 
 
 WITH ADDITIONS. 
 
 YORK : 
 
 PRINTKl) \M) IHlil.ISIlEl) BY W. ALEXANDER AND SON. 
 
 CASTLEOAXE ; 
 
 SOLD ALSO BY HAUVEV AND DARION, LONDON. 
 
 1S24. * 
 
INTRODUCTION^. 
 
 Having lately published several of the 
 Sermons or Declarations of Mr. Stephen 
 CrisPj deceased, which have obtained 
 general acceptation with persons of dif- 
 ferent persuasions ; I often heard it 
 objected^ that though this person clearly 
 owns^ and earnestly recommends the 
 practice of, the principal points of the 
 Christian faith, yet others of the chief 
 leaders and teachers of the people called 
 Quakers, were not of the same opinion 
 in these matters. Now the writer of 
 Mr. Crisp's Sermons, having taken the 
 declarations of several of their public 
 preachers, at their usual meetings, I think 
 myself obliged in truth and justice, to 
 make some of them public in this small 
 Volume, to demonstrate their concur- 
 rence and unanimity, in asserting and 
 pressing the most necessary and practical 
 doctrines and duties of religion^ both in 
 
Tl INTRODXrCTION. 
 
 their sermons and prayers^ that most 
 Christians profess to acknowledge and 
 believe ; thereby to obviate mis-repre- 
 sentationsj and to rectify the thoughts 
 of those who are prepossest with contrary 
 sentiments ; to which end they are now 
 faithfully printed^ and refer'd to the 
 judgment of all impartial readers. 
 
 N. C. 
 
THE 
 
 Concurrence & Unanimity 
 
 Of the People Called 
 
 QUAKERS; 
 
 In Owning and Asserting the Principal 
 Doctrines of the Christian Religion ; 
 Demonstrated in the ^tVlltOltS or, 
 StrlarattOnS, of several of their 
 Public Preachers, Namely 
 
 Mr. Robert 'Barclay^ INIr. William Bezoaherry^ 
 
 ir. George fVhit^head, Mr. Francis Camjieldy 
 
 \x.John BoKater, Mr. William Pemi, 
 
 ^Ir. Charles Marshall, Mr. Richard Ashby, 
 
 Mr. William Bingley, Mr. Samuel Waldenjield, 
 
 Mr. John Butcher, Mr. John Faitghton, and 
 
 Mr. James Park, ^Ir. Francis Stamper. 
 
 Exactly taken in Short-hand, as they were 
 Delivered by them at their Meeting! 
 Houses, in Grace-Church-street, De-con- 
 shire-House, St. Martins-le-Grand^ St}\ 
 Jolm's- Street, Wheeler- Street, and RatcUff^ 
 
 in and about London. 
 
 And now Faithfully Transcribed and Published;: 
 with the Prayer at the end of each Sermon. 
 
 London: — Printed for Nath, Crouch, at the 
 Bell in the Poultry, near Cheapside. 1694 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 I. By William Dewsberry 9 
 
 II. Robert Barclay 33 
 
 III. William Penn 47 
 
 IV. Richard Asbby 54 
 
 V. William Biiigley 83 
 
 VI. Charles Marshall 103 
 
 VII. Samuel Waldenfield 122 
 
 VIII. John Butcher 155 
 
 IX. JohnBowater 172 
 
 X. Francis Camfield 212 
 
 XL George Whitehead 224 
 
 XII. John Vaughton 241 
 
 XIII. William Penn 257 
 
 XIV. James Park 272 
 
 XV. Francis Stamper 287 
 
 XVI. By Thomas Story 309 
 
 XVII. Ditto 343 
 
 XVIII. Samuel Scott 386 
 
 XIX. Deborah Bell 396 
 
Scripture ^rutlis laemonetratetr. 
 SSBMON I. 
 
 PllEACHED BY MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY, 
 
 AT GRACE-CHURCU STREET, MAY 6, 168S. 
 
 My Friends, 
 Except you he regenerated and horn 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 profes- 
 sion, and in vain imagination, and whatso- 
 ever 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 doc- 
 trine, which stands to this moment of time> 
 and will stand while any man breathes upon 
 
 PS III. B 
 
10 SERMON BY 
 
 the cartli. There is no other way — no other 
 gate to enter into life, but by this great work 
 of Regeneration. ^ <y-yu^^^ '<^ ■&/>!.> a^a, 
 
 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 which did grieve the Spirit 
 of God, and which did cause man to be 
 driven out : there is no other way of return 
 again but by this new birth. As you are all 
 driven and forced out of Paradise ; and the 
 flamina: sword and the cherubim 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 jour minds to the Light of 
 Christ Jesus, As the first Adam was made a 
 living soul, so the second Adam is a quicken- 
 ing Spirit, This know for certain, no man 
 or woman can be quickened and raised up 
 into the life of the second Adam, till the 
 life of the first Adam be taken away from 
 them. 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. 11 
 
 So now, let every one of you deal plainly 
 with your own hearts. How came you to be 
 a slain people to tlie 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 imagina- 
 tion about tlie 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 otlier 
 way to it. He will search your hearts, and 
 try your reins, and set your sins in order be- 
 fore 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 
 until you be burtliened with it, until 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 
 
 b2 
 
12 SERMON BY 
 
 your deeds to the Light of Christ, and abide 
 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, de- 
 clared : / indeed baptize 2/ou with water unto 
 rejjentance, but he that cometh after me is 
 mightier than /, the latchet of whose shoes 
 1 am not worth?/ to unlose : He shall baptize 
 you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire : 
 whose fan is in his hand ; and He will 
 thoroughly purge his floor, and zoiil 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 arc regenerated ! Deceive 
 not yourselves. Christ will appear inflaming 
 fire, and tahe 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, that there is no way for people to 
 come to salvation, but they must knov*^ Christ 
 revealed in all their hearts. What is He doing 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. 13 
 
 but rendering vengeance upon the carnal 
 mind, self-pleasing and all inordinate afFec* 
 tions ! He comes with vengeance to take away 
 thy life ; He will baptize 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 fliest for thy 
 life, and wilt 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, tliou hast 
 no part in Him. You must come to Christ to 
 purify you in the fiery furnace. The day of 
 the. Lord shall hum 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 : 
 Zion is redeemed with judgment^ and estab- 
 lished wrth righteousness. 
 
 Do not make the way to heaven easier in 
 your minds and imaginations than indeed it 
 is ; and think it notsufiicient to live in an out- 
 ward observance of the ways of God. If 
 your own wills be alive, and your corruptions 
 
 b3 
 
14 SERMON BY 
 
 remain immortifiedj 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 thy- 
 self, and thy haughtiness is bowed down, and 
 laid low : and thou seest thyself a poor miser- 
 able wretch before the eternal God. What- 
 soever thou knowestof the mind of God, hast 
 thou reformed thy ways ? Come along with 
 me, and tell me w liat is the ground of thy 
 faith and thy confidence. Is it thy obedience 
 and qualificalions ? — because thy obedience is 
 right, and thy qualifications 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 
 thyself, O man or woman ! Dost thou watch 
 over thyself, and keep in a sense of thy dis- 
 solution, notwithstanding all thy qualifications 
 and partial reformation ? Dost thou strive to 
 enter in at the strait gate, and the narrow 
 ■way ? Here is the lost sheep. Thou scekest 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. 15 
 
 the life of thy will, the life of the first Adam; 
 but the justice of God will not suffer thee to 
 make a Saviour of thy duties and qualifica- 
 tions, and to take God's jewels, and to deck 
 thyself with them: tliou canst not be saved 
 without the righteousness of God in Christ 
 Jesus. What sailh thy conscience ? Art thou 
 brought to this change of thy mind, and of 
 thy conversation ? Are you all willing to part 
 with your sins; with your pride and haughti- 
 ness ? Are you willing to part with your viJe 
 affections? This is the work of God's grace 
 upon you. 
 
 Dost thou place thy confidence in thy duties 
 and qualificalions, and take God's jewels and 
 ornaments, and deck thyself with them ? Thou 
 toohest mi/ jewels^ saith the I^otA^ and didst 
 •play the harlot. If thou return to the Lord, 
 and humble thyself, and get through this dif- 
 ficulty, thou wilt be happy for ever. This 
 judgment of God, this flaming sword that 
 turns every way, will keep thee from return- 
 ing 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 zcilh 
 Christ in God.. 
 
16 SERMON BY 
 
 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 condi- 
 tion of poor creatures that are slain by the 
 hands of the Most High. How may I know 
 "when I am slain and baptized, 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 the 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 
 Last done, and canst do, is but thy duty. 
 
 All this thou oughtest to do. Thou art 
 God's creature ; and all this will not justify 
 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 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. l7 
 
 from any thing thou hast done, from any of 
 thy qualifications, from any thing that thou 
 canst do ; so that thou Avilt 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; yet there is a life hid 
 with Christ in God for me, but I can never 
 have it until I be slain into the will of God, 
 and become as a little child, and be stript of 
 all my own excellency that I liave 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 ; and I will give all that 
 life I had, for that Life zchich 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 baptize them 
 into his death, they are they that come short 
 of salvation ; but all those that yield them- 
 selves up to Christ to be reedeemed through 
 
18 , SERMON BV 
 
 jiulgment, and are become as little children, 
 these are in a happy state. You kno\v that 
 our Lord Jesus Christ took a little child in 
 his arms, and said : Whosoever hecomes not as 
 a little child, cannot enter into the kingdom of 
 heaven. You must all of you become as little 
 children, and depend upon tlic mercy and 
 free grace of God ; you must all come to a 
 holy resignation of yourselves to God's dis- 
 posal. 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 : The 2/ 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 baptized, 
 and lay as a little child under his heavenly 
 chastisements. As soon as ever my soul was 
 brought to this in my humiliation, O ! then the 
 dreadful judgment was taken avvaj', and the 
 book of life was opened unto me : and the 
 Lord spake comfortably to me — / have loved 
 thee with an everlasting love. And I was 
 made a Christian through a day of vengeance, 
 and of burning as an oven; and the liaughti- 
 ness and pride of man in me was brought low. 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. 19 
 
 Now in this conformity to Christ's death, 
 people may die into life : Blessed are the dead 
 that die in the Lord ; for the 2/ 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 all 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, to them 
 He is revealed as a Saviour. 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 some to the depth 
 of his sufferings, what was his cry? Mi/ 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 
 driak: 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 
 
20 SERMON BY 
 
 into the kingdom of God ; and there is no be- 
 coming 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. Show me^ Thou whom my soul 
 loveth^ zchere is the path of life, the footsteps 
 of the flocks of thy companions. Why should 
 I he as one that goeth aside? Now every one 
 that lives at home in the bosom of self, take 
 this with you — though you profess the truth, 
 and live in an outward conformity thereunto, 
 yet if you secretly indulge your corrupt wills, 
 and live a fiesh-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^ 1 am absent 
 from the Lord, 
 
 The body of sin is as 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 king' 
 domofGod, For the Lord's sake, for your 
 soul's sake, and for the sake of your eternal 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. 21 
 
 happiness, put not off this work ; but pursue 
 it, and it will be perfected. See how Christ 
 is revealed in 2/ou hy ihe holy Ghost^and with 
 fire, God will redeem you hy the Spirit of 
 judgment and burning. It is not ranging 
 abroad with your minds, but you must know 
 Christ is in you except you he reprobates. 
 If He hath set your eyes and hearts upon Him- 
 self, 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;) Ol 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 your- 
 •elves, and refuse to be crucified with Christ, 
 and to be baptized 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 righteous- 
 ness : salvation shall be brought to us, and 
 oternal life be bestowed upon us ; even that 
 
 P*. III. G 
 
22 SERMON BY 
 
 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 J 
 O! who will not lose their lives for this 
 everlasting life ! Who will not die for this 
 <!rternal life ! Now the matter lies in the death 
 of your own wills. When you have done 
 tise will of God, then watch that your own 
 w ills be slain, and that your cursed self take 
 not the jewels of God, and his bracelets 
 and ornaments, and bestow Ihem upon 
 self, and paint and deck cursed self; and 
 take not the members of Christ, and make them, 
 tlie memhers of a harlot. If you be dead to 
 your own wills, you are risen w ith Christ, and 
 shall receive a resurrection to eternal life. 
 Crucify self, and set the world at naught, and 
 trample upon it, and all things of it ; and count 
 them as dross and dung in comparison of 
 Christ, whom the Father hath revealed to be 
 our life, in the days of our sorrow and mourn- 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. 23 
 
 ing, 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, tiiat thou mayest 
 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 ; v> hat there is of the power of the 
 Lord Jesus, that hath made you to loathe this 
 world, and the inordinate love of thecreature, 
 that you may enjoy all these things as if you 
 €:njoyed them not, Wc cannot, when we are 
 slain and crucified to this world, but say, My 
 life is in Christ. When we come to ascribe 
 nothing to ourselves, and all to Christ, here is 
 a blessed harm^onj — broken hearts, melted 
 spirits, aiul 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 ^vhat thou wilt 
 with me ; it is in thy sovereign pleasure and 
 free gift, whether thou give me life or deny ii 
 to me. 
 
u 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 There must be a resignation of ourselves to 
 the will of God ; it v/as 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 lov- 
 ing-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; forthe fashion of this world passeth 
 away. This is not rantism. 
 
 But let me tell you, a new world comes by 
 regeneration. 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 as 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 tlie enjoy- 
 ments of this world. What is the matter? His 
 own will is gone, and put down under big 
 feet, and whatsoever it is that gives life to all 
 his vain desires and aflections. There is a 
 harmony of all within — a man praising of God, 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. Sir 
 
 and blessing his holy name ; there are not in- 
 tanglcments that shall draw away the heart 
 from serving God, and seeking his glory; 
 and if God shall call the husband from the 
 wife, or the Vvife from the husband, for the 
 glory of his name, there in no whinl»g and 
 complaining, and crying out ; but giving thciii 
 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 nre 
 slain ; and they praise God that they have no 
 desire, but, " Lord, thy will be done ;" always 
 praising God, always having the fear and 
 the glory of God before their eyes. 
 
 All the mischief is hatched in pleasing men^s 
 own wills: that is, the counsel of eyery heart 
 that Christ doth not govern. Will you live 
 as the Quakers, then you must live con- 
 temptibly ; the mistress and maid are hail- 
 fellow well met : every one must walk in 
 humility, and live in acquainlance with the 
 God of heaven ; she that is wrought upon by 
 the same Spirit, must with all diligence be- 
 liavc herself as becomes a servant of the Lord. 
 
26 SERMON BY 
 
 Here is now a new world, and the fashions of 
 the old world arc gone: all pride, haughtiness, 
 crossness, and trampling upon one another, 
 are all gone, all slain, through the operation 
 of Christ. 
 
 What remains now? Christ is in me, and we 
 arc all one in Him. Christ laid down his life 
 for thee and me. Now He reigns in rae, 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 cove- 
 tousnessj 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 th^ heavenly baptism of 
 t^hrist Jesus ? — till I saw the flaming sword 
 ready to slay mo in every way, in everj 
 turning. 
 
 The light of Christ convinced me of sin, 
 3in4 his righteousness justiQed rae ; and those 
 
MR. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. 27 
 
 works were abominable to me Ihat bindered my 
 spuFs passage to Christ. Christ Jesus in 
 Hoarrying: 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 /o Me c^ffy 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 strait and the way is 
 narrow : none come hillier but those that die 
 into a heavenly oneness with Christ. O \ 
 friends! let us empty ourselves, that Christ 
 may fill us ; let us be nothing in our ov/n eyes, 
 that we may be all in Him, and receive of 
 his fulness. 
 
 Now 1 commend you to God's witness, thai 
 you may rem.ember 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 for ever. But if you be 
 *o wise for your souls as to resign yourselves 
 
S8 SERMON BY 
 
 up to Chrifct, and come to Ilim as littlo 
 children, this Avill not hinder your earthly 
 concerns. Though the world may account 
 thee a fool, yet thou hast that part of heavenly 
 wisdom, to do %Yhat tliou dost as unto God ; 
 thou carries! to thy "wife as in the sight of 
 Grod, that she may be sanctified to thee, and 
 thou to her ; and thou carriest becomingly to 
 thy childioii and servants ; and thou uilt 
 abound in grace and in every good work, 
 which "svill be for thine eternal welfare. 
 
 O 1 1 beseech von, j^eople, for the Ix)rd''5 
 sake, wait for the light of Christ, to guide you ; 
 iearn of Him to be meek and lowly, then 
 happy are you , for He dzceUeth xcith the 
 humble^ hut He heJwldtih the proud afar off. 
 This new birth which is a true work, a sin- 
 cere and heavenly work, it will make you for 
 ever. O ! make room for Christ in yonr 
 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 souU, that He 
 may fill them. 
 
 And so I commend 3-ou to God. I have 
 been long held in durance under great weak- 
 
ME. WILLIAM DEWSBERY. ^ 
 
 ness; 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 yoii 
 turn inward; let not these words, passing 
 through a mean vessel, be as a bare empty dis- 
 course 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 rcit upon 
 your hearts — that you may be dead to the 
 things of the world : JVe are not come to Mount 
 Sinai J that genders to bondage ; but zee a>-e 
 corne to Mount Sion, the citj/ of the lizing 
 Gody the heavenlj/ Jerusalem^ and to an innu- 
 merable company of angels, to the general 
 assembly and church of the First-born, xchick 
 are written in heaven, and to God the Judge 
 of all, a?td to the spirits of Just men 7nado 
 perfect, and to Jesus ^ the Mediator of the nez9 
 Govenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that 
 speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
 
 This is the inheritance of the redeemed of 
 
50 THE PRAYER. 
 
 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 clothe us with heaveidy glory according 
 to his promise : / will beautify my house with 
 glory^ saith the Lord. This is the portion of 
 a poor people that cast down themselves be- 
 fore the Lord, that He may lift them up, and 
 be all in all to them: in whose blessed /:;re- 
 sence they shall haze ofjoy^ and rivers of 
 pleasures, at his right hand, for evermore. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Blessed and glorious God ! thy presence 
 and power is with tliy people every where ; 
 and Thou art stretcliir.g forth Ihy Almighty 
 Arm for the salvation of thy cliosenones ; and 
 Thou art influencing their souls, with thy 
 Grace and Spirit, in all their solemn meetings 
 and assemblies. We desire to extol and mag* 
 nify thy great and excellent Name, for all 
 thy mercies and blessi}>gs. We pray Thee, 
 bow down thy heavenly ear, and hearken to 
 the cries and supplications of thy people, 
 that are breathing forth the desire of their 
 
THE PRAYER. 31 
 
 souls to Thee, who art a God hearing prayers. 
 Supply tlicir wants, and establish their spirits, 
 and uphold them with thy free Spirit. Crown 
 all thy chosen ones with thy loving-kindness 
 and tender mercy ; rend the cloud of darkness 
 that Iwings over us; and take away the vail, 
 and bow the heavens, amongst us; and visit 
 ns with thy salvation, and reveal the mysteries 
 of thy truth unto us. And in all our ways 
 let us acknowledge Thee ; and do Thou 
 lead us in the way everlasting. 
 
 Righteous God of Love ! while we live on 
 earth, let our conversation be in heaven, 
 where Christ our Mediator sits at thy right 
 hand. Lot us follow His example, who was 
 holy, harmless, and undefiled, that we may sit 
 in heavenly places with Him. Be Thou a 
 sun and shield to us in our earthly pilgrimage. 
 Whom have, we inheavenbutThee ! and ther« 
 is none on earth that v/e desire beside Thee ! 
 Let us walk before Thee in sincerity and 
 truth; and do Thou conduct us in the way of 
 truth and righteousness, by thy blessed 
 Spirit. 
 
 Blessed be thy Name, for the light ofthj 
 saving trutii, that hath shined in our minds ; 
 
52 THE PRAYER. 
 
 and the Light of thy countenance, that hath 
 been lifted up upon us in our meetings. Thou 
 hast furnished a table for thy people, as in 
 the days of old. We cannot but admire thj 
 great love and condescension towards us; 
 and extol and bless thy holy name, for thj 
 abounding mercies, and the riches of thy 
 goodness to us. We desire to give Thee 
 honour and renown, and praise and thanks- 
 giving, for thy renewed mercies, and spiritual 
 blessings in Christ Jesus ; for whom we bless 
 Thee, and in whom we desire to be found, not 
 having our own righteousness. To Him, with 
 Thyself and thy Holy Eternal Spirit, be glorj 
 fur ever. Amen, 
 
SERMON XX. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. ROBERT BARCLAY, 
 
 AT CHACE-CHURCH STREET, MAT 16, 1688. 
 
 My FriendSj 
 
 This is the testimony that was borne of 
 old, and it is also borne this day, that 
 there may be an agreement between the mem- 
 bers and the head, the word and the power, the 
 notion and the substance : He that hath the 
 Son hath life^ and he that hath not the Son 
 hath not life. So that in this the substance is 
 known, whereby men are redeemed to live 
 unto God ; and to live for God, and to glorify 
 Him. This is the end of the testimony of th 
 gospel of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus, 
 that we may all come to partake of his life, 
 and that by partaking of it we may live upon 
 it; and being made alive to Him we shall 
 then be made able to serve Him ; then shall 
 we be enabled to worship Him, to glorify 
 Him, and to declare of his glory and of his 
 power, and of his wisdom, and of his goodness, 
 
 P*. III. D 
 
34 SERMON BY 
 
 to those tbal are strangers to Him, and to 
 invite all to be partakers thereof. Let all 
 your eyes this day be towards Him, and to 
 the enjoyment of his life, that you may be 
 sensible, and that you may be witnesses of 
 his life. 
 
 And this life is not to be obtained but by 
 death ; there is a dying before tliere is a 
 living. Every plant, seed, or grain that is 
 placed in the earth, dies before it grows up ; 
 there is a dying before there is a living. 
 Those that come to the life of the Son of God, 
 they come to it through deatli ; for it was 
 through dying that He obtained this life : it 
 was necessary that the Son of God, the Prince 
 of Life, should die, that He should be crucified, 
 else He could not finish the work of our sal- 
 vation, and make way for the revelation and 
 the sowing of that seed, and the dispensation 
 of that grace, whereby we might come to 
 have a sliare with Him in that eternal life He 
 obtained for us. They that come to the life 
 of the Son of God, they must obey Him, for 
 they must receive the sentence of death to 
 that life which they derive from Adam, that 
 cursed, that corrupt life of unrighteousness, 
 that life of ungodliness, that life wherein self 
 
MR. ROBERT BARCLAY. 35 
 
 and the "will of man delights, wherein the 
 natural man. the animal man^ hath a life. We 
 must die, and by dying come to be partakers 
 of the life of Jesus. He communicates Himself 
 to us ; and by our receiving Him, we receive 
 Life : He that hath the Son hath life^ and 
 he that hath not the Son hath not life ; and the 
 consequence is, he that hath not this life, hath 
 not the Son of God. 
 
 This is the true way for every one to try 
 and examine themselves by, and to make a 
 true judgment of themselves, that they may 
 know whether they have the Son of God or 
 not ; whether they have Christ or not. If they 
 have Christ, they have the benefits of his 
 death, and of his blood and sufferings. They 
 that have this life in them, they are in the 
 faith, they are partakers of justification, and 
 sanctification, and adoption ; and all those that 
 are under the dispensation of the Gospel, that 
 have the benefits of Christ's death, to those 
 He giveth Himself; and to those to whom He 
 giveth Himself, He givetli tliis life. This is 
 not the life of Adam, a life of unrighteousness, 
 but a life that springs from the heavenly in- 
 corruptible seed. Such as partake of it are 
 born again of the Word of the Lord, that re- 
 
 d3 
 
36 SER MON BY 
 
 mains for ever. This is a life that comes from 
 the Lord from Heaven, the quickening Spirit; 
 and tbis life tends heaven-ward; it looks 
 heaven-ward ; it carries the affections towards 
 the things that are above ; it dwells not in 
 them that have their pleasures in this world ; 
 it looks not to the tilings of this world ; it 
 comes from heaven, and tends to heaven again ; 
 it raiseth the soul that is quickened by it. 
 They that are born of it are made heavenly 
 by it ; it makes all heavenly that are quick- 
 ened by it. Bjj this we may know that we 
 have the Son of God; by this we have an 
 understanding of Him, and are brought into 
 Him that is true. 
 
 And this is the living manifestation of 
 Christ, whereby He cometh into thy soul, and 
 into my soul. This is the gift of God : we 
 receive God's gift, that we may receive life, 
 from and by Him; that we may live this life. 
 This is that which makes the yoke of Christ 
 easy, and his burden light, and his command- 
 ments not grievous to us. The life of Christ 
 doth the work of Christ naturally. Those 
 that are in the flesh, mind the things of the 
 flesh ; those that live a carnal life, they mind 
 the works of the flesh ; it is their joy, their 
 delight and their pleasure, that which their 
 
MR. ROBERT BARCLAY. 37 
 
 hearts are carried after. They rise early, and 
 lie down late, and all for this end, it is that 
 •which their hearts run after all the day long 
 What is the reason of it ? they are in the 
 flesh, in the life of lust ; that life moves thein, 
 and acts them, and governs them. That life 
 useth and eraployeth all their faculties, their 
 understandings, wills, affections, and imagina- 
 tions ; and it useth all the members of theii 
 bodies to please the flesh, and fulfil the lusts 
 thereof; these are the consequences of a life 
 of unrighteousness in those things that are 
 unrighteous. 
 
 But those that have received the Spirit of 
 God, they have received Jesus Christ tlie Son 
 of God ; and this is the consequence, they arc 
 become dead to the life of unrighteousness. All 
 that are dead in sins and trespasses. He hath 
 quickened. Now wlien you have received 
 the Son of God, you have received a new life> 
 another life ; then your affections are set upon 
 things that are above, and you are come to sit 
 in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You sit 
 no more in the earthly place, nor live an 
 earthly life, but in the heavenly place where 
 the heavenly life abounds. For this end the 
 Eternal Son of God came into the world^ihai 
 
38 SERMON BY 
 
 we might have life^ and that we might have 
 it more ahundantlj/ ; that we miglit abound Iq 
 the life of Jesus, and in the abundance of i(. 
 This is that which is recommended to us, that 
 we might receive the Son of God into our 
 souls ; and, by receiving Him, partake of his 
 life : and then let this life produce its actions : 
 JLet the zoord of God dwell richly in you^ in all 
 those things that are Divine, in all those 
 consequences that it brings forth amongst the 
 children of God. 
 
 For it is not tlie things of the earth that we 
 are to remember, and to have dwelling in us? 
 but the Word of God ; and that which pro- 
 ceeds from the life of the Son of God. All 
 words and testimonies, preachings, prayer, 
 exhortation, and spiritual counsel, if it be not 
 from the life of the Son of God, it edifies not 
 the body of the Lord Jesus Christ in love. 
 Let us receive that which comes from the lifQ 
 of the Son of God ; which is manifest amongst 
 us, and shed abroad in our hearts. Let us 
 watch and take care that whatsoever is not 
 of this life may not appear, may not be mani- 
 fest and made known among us. And this 
 life that we receive from the Son of God, is 
 that which will stand us in stead iu the day of 
 
MR. ROBERT BARCLAY. 
 
 SO 
 
 trial ; and as many as live unto God in this 
 Divine life. He is well pleased with them ; 
 and the tempter, the wicked one, cannot toucli 
 them at all, nor reach them, nor hurt them. 
 
 This is my testimony unto you from the life 
 of God, which to the glory and praise of his 
 name hath risen into my soul, in some 
 measure. It is the desire, and labour, and 
 travail of my soul, that you may he inwardly 
 gathered into this heavenly life ; that all my 
 dear brethren and sisters who are of the 
 household of faith, may be inward in this life ; 
 that the fruit thereof may be manifest; that 
 the notice thereof, the sound thereof, the 
 language thereof, may be heard in this assem- 
 bly at all times ; that the Lord our God may 
 be made known to us, through this Word of 
 Life in our hearts, to the praise, honour, and 
 renown of his name, who alone is worthy. To 
 whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 O most powerful Lord God of life, and of 
 glory, and blessedness ! precious in thy sight are 
 thy people, whom, with thy power, Thou hast 
 
40 THE PRAYER. 
 
 visited with the day spring from on high, 
 and upon whom Thou hast breathed with a 
 Divine inspiration, and made them alive to 
 Thyself, through thy tender mercy and good- 
 ness, which, in the Son of thy love, Thou hast 
 freely extended to us ; whereby we are made 
 capable of drawing nigh to Thee, and of 
 having access into thy blessed presence, to 
 enjoy communion with Thee, through the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. We desire to wait upon 
 Thee, and seek fervently after Thee. All our 
 expectation is from Thee, from day to day 
 and from time to time ; that we may receive 
 relief, that we may receive strength from 
 Thee, who art the God of all our mercies. 
 
 Thou hast not been wanting to us in the 
 needful time ; Thou hast had regard to the 
 sighing of the poor, to the breathing and sup- 
 plication of the needy ; wliose desires have 
 been truly after Thee, and the sweet enjoy- 
 ment of thy presence, the feeling of thy 
 blessed power, and the beholding of tlie light 
 of thy countenance, wherein there is life and 
 salvation. Blessed be thy name for ever ! All 
 living praises and holy thanksgivings be, in 
 truth and humility, offered up to Thee, 
 through the dear Son of thy Love, by all thy 
 
THE PRAYER. 
 
 41 
 
 children and people, whom Thou hast souglit 
 out by thy blessed Spirit, and whom Thou 
 hast gathered by the arm of thy blessed and 
 mighty power ; that they might be a people 
 to thy praise, serving Thee in newness of 
 spirit, worshiping Thee in the beauties of 
 holiness, and in spirit and truth, and not ac- 
 cording to the oldness of the letter, not 
 according to an empty and outward formality; 
 but in the sense of the springings up of that 
 pure life, of that fresh spring of life, which 
 Thou hast placed in the heart of a remnant, 
 by thy blessed Power. 
 
 O righteous and holy God! the sense and 
 feeling thereof is beyond words — beyond 
 expression and beyond utterance. Therefore 
 we humbly entreat Thee, by the blessed arm 
 of thy power, gather thy people more and 
 more into an inward sense of the springings 
 of life ; that they may attend upon Thee, and 
 feel life in their souls, and breathings after 
 Thee in their hearts ; that in their daily at- 
 tendance on Thee, they may receive day by 
 day, of those living, suitable supplies of life, 
 virtue, wisdom, and power, whereby they 
 may be supported through all trials and ad- 
 versities, and through all oppositions and 
 
42 THE PRAYER. 
 
 temptations, that tliey may meet withal, (ot 
 the trial of their faith, and for the exercise of 
 their patience ; that all their afflictions and 
 exercises may be sanctiiied to them, for the 
 bringing them nearer and nearer to Thyself, 
 and into a more lively inward and single 
 dependence on Thee, and thy Divine grace 
 and truth, which Thou hast made known by 
 Christ Jesus our only Mediator ; by whom 
 alone we have access to Thee, and whereby 
 we are made capable of beholding the light 
 of thy countenance, and of partaking of thy 
 Divine goodness and blessing, and of those 
 precious promises which Thou hast left upon 
 record, and impressed upon our minds and 
 hearts. 
 
 Thou hast poured into us a living and in- 
 ward sense of tliat pure life of thy dear Son, 
 whereby we may be enabled to live to thy 
 praise ; and O blessed, powerful Lord God ! 
 tiiose that are not convinced and persuaded 
 of thy way and blessed truth, that are not 
 come into it, and to partake of the life of it, 
 that are not yet come to live to Thee, and to 
 live in obedience to thy blessed Son the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, who arc not come under the 
 power of his Cross, that they may be crucified 
 
THE PHAYER. 43 
 
 to (be world, and have the world crucified to 
 them — Lord, awaken them ; utter thy voice 
 that shakes the mountains. Rend the vail, 
 and draw their hearts, and minds, and affec- 
 tions, from earthly and fading objects, that 
 they may come to breathe after Thee ; and feel 
 that Spirit in them wherewith Thou dost in- 
 spire thy people; whereby they may suppli- 
 cate Thee for relief, for strength and victory 
 over the spirit of the world, and over the 
 temptations of the devil and the flesh, which 
 do easily beset men ; and whereby many are 
 led captive, who cannot yet make mention of 
 thy name, and walk in thy truth. Lord, 
 awaken them by thy powerful voice, and 
 incline their hearts to seek Thee while Thou 
 art to be found, and call upon Thee while 
 Thou art near, that Thou mayesi be known 
 in thy glorious visitation. 
 
 The cords of thy love Thou liast extended, 
 that they may lay hold thereon ; that they 
 may be drawn out of the pollutions of the 
 world, and of sin and Satan, that have brought 
 death over them. Let the fear of God take 
 l^lace, that they may be afraid to offend Thee, 
 as knowing that Thou art a jealous God, and 
 that thine eyes are upon all the ways of the 
 
44 THE PHAYER. 
 
 sons of men. Thou art the heart-searching 
 God ; there is no secret can be hid from thine 
 all-seeing ejes. Under that consideration, O 
 Lord ! let many come unto Thee, and reve- 
 rence thy great Name, and not provoke Thee 
 to displeasure against them. 
 
 And O blessed God ! Thou hast been gra- 
 ciously pleased to begin a good work, a 
 glorious work of righteousness, in our days 
 and times. Blessed God and Father ! we 
 humbly pray Thee, carry it on and make it 
 prosper. Prosper the souls of thy people in 
 it, that they may be a growing, thriving, and 
 increasing people, in thy holy ways, and in 
 thy blessed work ; and as Thou hast sown a 
 precious seed, and planted a noble vine by 
 thine own Almighty hand ; and hast given us 
 a root of life, the foundation of our faith, 
 love, and obedience, which foundation Thou 
 hast laid in Zion ; Lord, keep tliy people sen- 
 sible of it ; that they may mind it, and wait 
 upon Thee, and be preserved in that root of 
 life wherein thy blessing is; that thy people 
 may partake of thy blessing, and grow up 
 into the nature of that life, to bring forth 
 fruit to Thee — to increase in faith and love, 
 in obedience and humility, and meekness; 
 
THE TRAYER. 
 
 45 
 
 that the life of true Christianity may be pro- 
 moted and increased among thine heritage ; 
 that they may live in it, and shine forth in it, 
 as thy workmanship, which Thou hast created 
 in Christ Jesus, unto fruitfulness unto all 
 good works ; that they may walk in them. 
 That so, powerful God, and living Creator ! 
 they may live unto Thee, and act entirely to 
 thy praise, honour, and glory, in their day, 
 age, and generation ; and their bright shining 
 forth in the light of truth and righteousness, 
 may appear more and more as an invitation 
 to those that are afar off; in this thy day, 
 wherein Thou art setting up the tabernacle of 
 David, the kingdom of thy beloved Son, and 
 repairing the ruins and waste places thereof. 
 Lord God eternal ! grant that the residue of 
 men may seek after Thee, and be sensible 
 that Thou art at work, and raising a house 
 for thine honour, and promoting the kingdom 
 of thy Son, which is a kingdom of righteous- 
 ness ; that of his government there may be no 
 end ; that all those that desire after peace 
 and after happiness, in the kingdom of thy 
 dear Son, may wait to see Him rule and 
 govern, to see Him reign whose right it 
 is ; that sin may not reign in their mortal 
 bodies ; that sinful lusts, and vile affections, 
 
 P^ III. E 
 
46 THE PRAYER. 
 
 and an earthly mind, may not have power 
 over them, and prevail against them : that so 
 Iheir souls may be lifted up to Thee ; that, 
 blessed, eternal God ! tliey may wait upon 
 Thee, and renew their strength and renew 
 their thankfulness, for the renewing of thy 
 mercies, and the incomes of thy love, which 
 are fresh and new every morning : that they 
 may fear Thee, and wait upon Thee, and 
 diligently seek after Thee, and have sweet 
 communion with Thee, in the enjoyment of 
 thy presence. 
 
 And blessed be Thou, O Lord God eternal I 
 for all thy mercies, preservations, and encou- 
 ragements, so frequently aflbrded to thy 
 people, v/hose eyes and hearts are towards 
 Thee. Our souls are deeply engaged to 
 Thee ; aid we have cause to bless, and praise^ 
 and honour thy great and excellent JName ; 
 and, through thy dear Son, to offer up praise 
 and thanksgiving to thy great and excellent 
 Majesty ; for Thou alone, O God ! art 
 worthy to receive the honour and praise of 
 all thy mercies, benefits, and blessings, by 
 all the living here and elsewhere, who only 
 art God over all heaven and the whole earth, 
 blessed and praised for ever and ever. Amen, 
 
SEHMOM 111. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. WILLIAM PENN, 
 
 VPOlf OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF MF,S. REBECCA THAVBRS, 
 Ay AGED SERVANT OF GOD ; JUiVE 19, 1688. 
 
 Times and seasons pass away, but the Word 
 of the Lord endureth for ever ; and it is that 
 which hath been the root of Life, to the 
 heritage of God, in all ages and generations — 
 that from whence tlieir joy asid hope always 
 sprung — that in which their faith was finished. 
 It was their Alpha, and it was their Omega. 
 In this the righteous began and set forth ; 
 and by this they were preserved in their 
 heavenly race, till they came to their great 
 end, the prize of their high calling, the haven 
 of everlasting rest, after all ti.c storms and 
 tempests of time. It was this which they liad 
 their eye to in the beginning; and tliis was 
 their joy that opened in the eternal Word, by 
 which they were quickened and revived, and 
 that caused them to endure to the end \vith- 
 out fainting; and you shall likewise^ hj/ 
 
48 SERMON BY 
 
 patient continuance in well doings in duetitne, 
 reap if you faint not. 
 
 This was the word of God to the children 
 of God of old, and it is liis word in this day 
 to us : You shall reap if you faint not. 
 Blesssed are you that are called into the 
 vineyard ; you shall have an everlasting 
 harvest. If you faint not now, you shall reap 
 then. What shall you reap ? — vanity, and 
 vexation of spirit, and disappointment? No! 
 you shall reap glory^ honour^ immortality^ 
 and eternal life. 
 
 So, friends, though, every day, we have 
 renewed occasions of remembering our latter 
 end, yet there is that which never shall have 
 end hath dawned unto us, which hath been 
 presented to our view in this glorious day of 
 our visitation. If we lift up our eyes to it, 
 and have regard to it in our rising up and 
 lying down, in our going out and coming in, 
 and in all we put our hands unto — and if we 
 place our interests and portion therein, then 
 our minds will be established ; and we shall 
 not be ashamed now, nor blush before the 
 Lord hereafter. 
 
WILLIAM f ENN. 49 
 
 If our hearts condemn us not^ we shall Lave 
 boldness before God : so shall all travellers 
 that have regard to the word of truth, while 
 they are on their heavenly pilgrimage. They 
 set their faces Sion-ward, and go on, not faint- 
 ing, not doubting, not desponding ; they have 
 an eye to the Lord Jesus Christ, and have their 
 hearts kept by that Word which abides for 
 ever. Their belief and hope is beyond time, 
 fixed upon that which God hath owned to be 
 his Word, before the world was, and sliall be 
 "when time and this world shall be no more. 
 The outward garment, which shall be worn 
 while it lasts, shall then be put off. Blessed 
 are they that know the white linen, that which 
 is whole and all of a piece, which God giveth 
 to his children that love the Lord Jesus in 
 sinceriti/f who is the Resurrection and the Life. 
 He that comes to know and experience this, 
 the second death shall have no power over 
 him. 
 
 Now this change is not only in the outward 
 man, but in the inner man ; there is a putting 
 off that which is fading, mortal, and perishing, 
 and a being clothed upon with immortality 
 and glory. Blessed are they who come to 
 
 e3 
 
50 SERMON BY 
 
 receive that Word of God, which hath been 
 the life of God in our souls. This is a day of 
 Life to us. Blessed are they that shall be 
 placed ill that eternal kingdom and region, 
 where all time shall be swallowed up, and all 
 tears wiped from their ei/es^ and sighing 
 and sorrow shall be no more, O friends I lift 
 up your heads^for the day of your redemption 
 draws nigh. 
 
 That you may not be shaken with every 
 wind of doctrine, know that the foundation of 
 God standeth sure^ that is, his Word that was 
 in the beginning with God, that Word that was 
 God. In this eternal Word, which is God, 
 know your dwelling and habitation, and wait 
 upon God in it. It was David's buckler, his 
 shield and strong tower; it was his Rock. 
 God set his feet upon a rock, that is higher 
 than man's pow er, and all man's wisdom and 
 strength. In this the righteous begin ; in this 
 they travel on. Blessed are they that walk 
 by faith ; that live to the Lord and die in the 
 Lord, and shall be for ever rmth the Lord, 
 They are blessed that wait upon the Lord 
 for a sense of this ; they are above all the 
 changes of time and mortality. 
 
MR. WILLIAM PENN. 51 
 
 It is this that was a reviving cordial to our 
 deceased friend, who received the Truth in 
 early days, the days of the dawning of God's 
 power in this land, and in this city ; the re- 
 membrance of it was sweet to her soul. Let 
 us remember the love of God, and the power 
 and glory of the name of the everlasting God, 
 that shined then, that we may be encouraged 
 to keep together as a peculiar people^ to the 
 praise of Him that hath called us out ofdark^ 
 iiess into his inarvellous light ; that God over 
 all may be glorified for ever — that we may 
 live to the honour of his biessed name — that 
 Christ's kingdom may be set up among us — 
 and that God's great name, and power, and 
 majesty may be exalted, and all flesh be 
 abased before Him. 
 
 We are travellers here in this vale of tears, 
 in this earthly pilgrimage into the land of 
 rest, the heavenly Canaan. Let us follow our 
 blessed Joshua that is leading us into that 
 Land of Promise ; and He will give to every 
 one his lot; and they shall stand in that lot at 
 the last day. O ! blessed are they that are 
 waiting for their lot and portion in that 
 heavenly country to which Abraham had his 
 eye— that city the New Jerusalem, the another 
 
52 SERMON BY 
 
 of US all — and that house not made with 
 hands, eternal in the heavens, whose builder 
 and maker is God. 
 
 This Word which I have been speaking of, 
 is that by which we are Iiumblecl and bowed 
 before the Lord, and instructed in judgment 
 and righteousness. To tliis Word, which is 
 God, I commit and commend you and all the 
 flock of God ; that you may be preserved to the 
 end of your days — that you may then lay down 
 your heads in peace — that your testimony 
 may not end before your lives end — that the 
 Lord may be with us to shelter and over- 
 shadow us in the midst of all our trials and 
 exercises, while we are following Christ in 
 patience, humility, and self denial, and bear- 
 ing his cross; for, no cross, no crown. 
 
 Tliat which is pleasing to God is walking 
 by faith. What is this faith? A pure resolution 
 of living to God, in a holy dependence on 
 Him, and a committing of ourselves entirely 
 to Him, that so we may know and enjoy the 
 purifying virtue of liis word, that we may not 
 offend God; for without fciith, saith the apos- 
 tle, it is impossible to please Him. B?/ what 
 meatiSy saith the royal Psalmist, sJiall a j/oung- 
 
MR. WILLIAM PENN. 
 
 63 
 
 man cleanse his wat/ ? By taking heed there- 
 unto, according to thy word. This is the 
 blessed Word that hath been a root of life 
 in all ages. Let us abide in this Word to the 
 end of our days, and we shall then be blessed 
 with that life which shall never end ; but 
 shall remain when time shall be no more. 
 
 The Lord preserve you by his mighty 
 power in his favour and Divine presence, that 
 you may live to his glory and praise, and die 
 in peace, and be gathered into that blessed 
 and heavenly assembly and church of the 
 Jirst-horn^ who are written in heaven ; and to 
 God the Judge of all, and the spirits of just 
 men made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator 
 of the New Covenant, and the blood of sprink- 
 ling, that speaketh better things than that of 
 Abel ; — that you may eternally magnify and 
 celebrate the praises of the eternal God ; to 
 whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen, 
 
BSHMOBI IV- 
 
 PEEACHED BY MR. RICHARD ASHBY. 
 
 AT ST. martin's LE GRAND, FEB. 16, 1693. 
 
 The testimonies and declarations which are 
 given forth in obedience to the Lord's re- 
 qnirings, are to bring every one of you to a 
 sense and feeling of the inward testimony of 
 truth in your own bosoms — to the feeling of 
 the work and operation of the Lord's Spirit 
 upon your hearts — to give to every one a 
 clear sight and understanding of those things 
 that tend to their souls' profit, and to their 
 spiritual advantage, and a Divine growth in 
 grace. If any of us are satisfying ourselves 
 in sitting down in an outward gathering, and 
 only exercising our natural faculties to hear 
 and to understand, and come not to know and 
 be acquainted, in ourselves, with the inspira- 
 tion of the Almighty, w ord the of Truth, we are 
 strangers to it ; and the good and excellency 
 of it is hid from our eyes. 
 
SERMON BY MR. RICHARD AShBY. 55 
 
 So that it is matter of great concernment 
 for every one to know, what it is to be in- 
 wardly retired — and to know the operation 
 of God's gift upon their souls, and to be ac- 
 quainted with the work of God's Spirit in 
 their inward parts ; else Ave shall be deficient 
 in learning what we ought to know, and fall 
 short of certainty in our knowledge; and we 
 shall be among the number of those that are 
 always learning and never come to any sta- 
 bility, and come not to the power, and to 
 know the substance of all. Such are in the 
 dark; they are groping for the wall; they are 
 at uncertainty, and tossed to and fro, and 
 have not a stability of mind and spirit attend- 
 ing them ; and they come not to know a true 
 exercise: though there may be some inward 
 desires, yet for want of keeping to that power 
 by which they are begotten^ their desires 
 seem to fail. 
 
 O ! my friends, that every one of you may 
 be solid and weighty, that in your minds 
 you may feel the operation of that power, and 
 the inward work of truth that is begun in the 
 soul, as the foundation of eternal happiness 
 that is laid ; that we may know the instruction, 
 and feel the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 
56 SERMOX BY 
 
 in the heavenly Gospel, in which He is car- 
 rying on the work of our salvation ; that we 
 may have an eye unto Jesus and our expec- 
 tations from Him, and be waiting truly upon 
 Him for experience, to come to know Him 
 that is the author and beginner of the work 
 of Faith in our souls, and lays the foundation 
 of eternal felicity. These are such as walk on 
 gradually, and persevere to the end : they 
 look mito Jesus, the Author and Finisher of 
 their faith, the great searcher of their hearts, 
 and manifester of the thoughts and intents 
 thereof. They come to know Him in his 
 ojaices, as He discovers and makes known to 
 man, and showeth unto him what it is that 
 doth obstruct a!id prevent his enjoyment of 
 peace. They that come to be sensible of this, 
 come to know an inward exercise of soul, and 
 are brought to a spiritual exercise that hath 
 a profitable tendency ; so that now they dis* 
 cover those things that are pleasing to the 
 sight of their minds, not those things that 
 please the carnal desire, and bring reproof 
 unto the £Oul. 
 
 Here is the proper effect of faith, when 
 there is impressed upon the soul a sense of sin, 
 
MR. nrCHARD ASHBy. 57 
 
 and of works of unrighteousness ; and 
 here is a foundation laid for true repentance 
 towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus 
 Christ ; for saith the apostle : Hun hath God 
 exalted with his own right hand, to be a 
 Prince and a Saviour ^ to give repentance and 
 remission of sins. He gives repentance to 
 those that come to feel their need of a Phy- 
 sician to heal them. He makes such a dis- 
 covery to their souls— such a sense He gives 
 of their sin and transgression, as makes it ap- 
 pear exceeding sinful. These are such as 
 come to reflect upon themselves, and see their 
 woful state. This will lay low their minds, 
 and bow down their spirits. These are they 
 that come to self-abhorrence, and to have a 
 travail in their spirits ; and they come down 
 into a lowly state, according to what the 
 Prophet Jeremiah speaks. Lam, ii. 29 : He 
 sitteth alone and keepeth silence ; he putteth 
 his mouth in the dust^ if so be there may be 
 hope. Wherefore doth a living man complain 
 a man for the punishment of his sins .2 It is of 
 the Lord's mercies that we are not co7isumed ; 
 because his compassions fail not. 
 
 They that come to be acquainted with the 
 Lord as a Judge and as a Reprover, have a 
 
 P^III. F 
 
58 SERMON BY 
 
 decision made in the soul, and a separation 
 from sin, after it is discovered ; and the judg- 
 ment of God takes hold of the sin and trans- 
 gression, and a man comes under reproof. 
 Here is a time of suffering, and here is sorrow 
 taking hold of him ; here is that which aflects 
 the soul with grief, and brings it into a state 
 of mourning; and he is brought under a sense 
 of God's dealings with him; and he comes to 
 know that sorrow that hath an inward effect 
 upon the soul, to take away iniquity, and 
 make the heart better. He submits to the 
 discovery of that deceitfulness that is lodged 
 in the heart. For saith the Prophet, The 
 heart is deceitful above all things, and des* 
 -perateli/ wicked, who can know it ? I the Lord 
 search the heart, 1 try the reins^ even to give 
 to every man according to his ways^ and aC' 
 cording to the fruit of his doings. 
 
 The Apostle speaking to some, of the heart 
 being turned unto the Lord, said : Then the 
 veil shall be taken away. As God inwardly 
 appears to a man, there must be an humble 
 submission to his searching of the heart; 
 therefore saith the Psalmist, Psalm xix. 12 : 
 Who can understand his errors ? Cleanse Thou 
 me f I om secret faults ; and he knew a cleans- 
 
MR. RICHARD ASIIBY. 6J) 
 
 ing work in his own heart, Psalm li. 10 : 
 Create in me a clean hearty O God! and renew 
 a right spirit in me. Cast me not awaj/ from 
 thy 'presence ; and take not thy Holy Spirit 
 from me. Restore nnto me the joy of thy sal- 
 tation ; and uphold me ziith thy free Spirit. 
 The Psalmist was in a spiritual travail, and 
 came to an experience of this work upon his 
 soul; and he prays the Lord to uphold him, 
 thai what he had done might not be marred 
 again : therefore he begs of God to uphold 
 him with his free Spirit. 
 
 You should all labour to go on in this in- 
 ward work, that will bring you to a repent- 
 ance not to he repented of and to have a pro- 
 fitable evidence that there is fruit brought 
 forth, not the fruit of sin. What fruit have 
 you of those things whereof you are now 
 ashamed ; for the end of those things is death- 
 They that are sensible of this, know that the 
 wrath of the Lord is revealed from heaven 
 against all ungodliness and unrighteousness 
 ofmen^ who hold the truth in unrighteousness, 
 Rom. i. 18. The v,ork of repentance stands 
 in this, not only in denying all ungodliness, 
 but in abstaining from all appearance of evil. 
 Therefore stand upon tliy guard against thine 
 
 f2 
 
60 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 enemy, that he may not prevail against thee 
 by his assaults. If sinners entice thee, consent 
 not to them ; go not in the way of evil men ; 
 turn aside from it and jo ass aioay. Learn self- 
 (lenialjwhich our Lord Jesus Christ doth declare 
 to be of necessity : Except a man deny himself 
 and tahe up his cross and follow me^he cannot 
 he my disciple. 
 
 Thou mayest appear to take up a cross and 
 deny tliyself ; but there must be a daily cross, 
 a denying thyself continually, not giving way 
 to our carnal v/iils, to our own carnal minds : 
 for to he carnally minded is death; and to he 
 spiritually minded is life and peace. 
 
 Here is a work that produceth profitable 
 fruit, that will not bring reproach, and shame, 
 and confusion upon us : the work of the Spirit 
 of the Lord hath not that tendency ; but will 
 bring the soul to possess virtue, to inherit 
 glory: righteousness exalts a nation, hut sin 
 is the reproach of any people. Sin brings a 
 man to shame and confusion of face, because 
 there is a sense comes upon a man, that God 
 will bring every work into judgment, with 
 every secret thing, whether it he good, or whe- 
 ther it be evil. Eccles. xii. 14. We must all 
 
MR. RICHARD ASHBY. 61 
 
 appear before the judgment seat of Christy sailh. 
 the Apostle, that ever?/ one maj/ irccive the 
 reward of the deeds done in his bod?/, according 
 to that he hath done, whether it be good or 
 bad. 
 
 O I this brings shame and confusion of face 
 over a man. Many times the Lord appears in 
 his displeasure ; and the weight of his anger 
 is let forth sometimes, so that it appears in- 
 tolerable; sometimes men are brought under 
 great terror and affliction of soul and spirit 
 because of it. God afflicts men sorely some- 
 times ; and this is in mercy, that we may fear 
 to offend Him, and be brought to tlie doing of 
 our duty, and come up in obedience to what 
 the Lord requireth of us, and hath made 
 known to us: He hath shewed thee, O man! 
 what is orood, Mieah vi. 6. Wherewith shall 
 I come before the Lord, and bow mi/self before 
 the high God? Shall I come before Him with 
 burnt offerings, with calves of a year old ? will 
 the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or 
 with ten thousands of rivers of oil ? Shall 1 
 give m]/ frst'born for mi/ transgression; the 
 fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He 
 hath showed thee, O man ! what is good; and 
 what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do 
 
 f3 
 
62 SERMON BY 
 
 justlj/, and to love mercj/, and to walk humhli/ 
 With thy God^ This, the prophet tells us, is more 
 effectual and efficatious than sacrifices under 
 the law. 
 
 Be faithful, my friends ! to what God makes 
 known ; and give up in obedience to the 
 works of righteousness, and live to the glory 
 of God, and in obedience to the Truth. This 
 tendeth to establish the soul in a Divine hope 
 and confidence, which made Solomon to say, 
 The righteous is as hold as a lion. Why so ? 
 Because the Lord is his strengtli : lie is 
 strong in the Lord^ and in the power of his 
 might. Friends ! see to this,, every one, in 
 your own particular, that you put off con- 
 cerning 1/ our former conversation^ the old man 
 with his deeds, zohich are corrupt ; and put on 
 the New Man, which after God is created in 
 righteousness and true holiness : then you shall 
 find the happy efi"ects of this, the constraining 
 efi'ect and efficacy of the love of Christ, as 
 the apostle did, 2 Cor. v. 14: The love of 
 Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge^ 
 that if one died for all, then were all dead; and 
 that He died for all, that they which live should 
 not henceforth live unto themselves, hut unto 
 Jlim ^ho died for them and rose again. And 
 
Mil. RICHARD ASHBY. 63 
 
 therefore the apostle comes to declare of tliose^ 
 to this effect : He that is in Christy is a new 
 creature : old things are -passed away ; beholdy 
 all things are become new. 
 
 How is he a new creature ? He is the work- 
 manship of Gody treated in Christ Jesus, O 
 the work of the new creation ! how precious 
 is it to be witnessed ! All things are of God^ 
 who hath reconciled us to Himself hy Jesus 
 Christy and hath given to us the ministry of 
 reconciliation. And sailli the Apostle to the 
 Ephesiaiis, Eph. ii. 14 : For He is our pteace^ 
 having made both one ; and hath broken down 
 the wall of partition between us, having 
 abolished in hisjlesh the enmity, even the law 
 of commandments contained in ordinances, for 
 to make in Himself of twain one new man ; so 
 making peace. Here is peace upon a sure 
 foundation, upon a certain bottom. This is 
 the peace that Christ leaves as a legacy to his 
 disciples : Peace 1 leave with you, my peace 
 I give unto you ; not as the world giveth, give 
 I unto you ^ 
 
 What is the difference ? the world's peace 
 is uncertain, and attended with pain and 
 trouble ; but the peace of Clirist maintains it- 
 
64 SERMON BY 
 
 self, in those souls that are gathered into the 
 sense of his power, and under his banner. 
 Saith the prophet, Isa, ix. 6 ; For unto us a 
 child is born ; unto us a son is given ; and the 
 government shall be upon his shoulder ; and 
 his name shall be called Wonderful^ Counsellor^ 
 the Mighty God, the Evertasting Father, the 
 Prince of peace y of the increase of his govern" 
 mcnt and peace there shall he no end. And 
 saith the prophet, Jeremiah xxiii. 5, 6 ; Be- 
 hold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will 
 raise unto David a righteous branch, and a 
 King shall reign and prosper, and execute 
 judgment and justice in the earth. In his 
 days Judah shall be saved, and Israel dwell 
 safely ; and this in his name whereby He 
 shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness, 
 
 Friends, it is the desire of mj^ soul that you 
 may come to know the precious effects hereof 
 to your souls ; that you may know Christ 
 Jesus to be your Lord, and submit to Him, and 
 take his yoke upon you ; for they that come 
 to Christ must know what it is to be under 
 his dominion ; for He is a King, and shall 
 reign and prosper, and execute judgment: 
 The Lord is our Judsce. the Lord is our Law- 
 
 *b'-y 
 
 giver, the Lord is our King, and He willsav 
 
MR. RICHARD ASIIBY. 65 
 
 vs. Therefore, ray friends, be every one of 
 you resigned in your minds and spirits, and 
 live in a dependence upon Him, that you may 
 feel his pov/er overshadowing you from day 
 to day; then you will say, as it is in the Reve- 
 lations, chap. xix. 1 : Halltlujahl salvation^ 
 and glori/y and honour^ and power, unto the 
 Lord our God; the power of his Christ is 
 revealed in us. 
 
 O ! friends, that you may feel that you arc 
 gathered under liis power, into his pavilion ; 
 that He may be a safe hidhig place to you> 
 and (hat you may experience and witness his 
 power from day to day ; then your peace shall 
 be as a river. O ! that you may every one 
 find this in your own particular, and 
 not rest satisfied in outward forms, and 
 in an outv/ard profession; that you may 
 feel the substance, feel the life and pos- 
 session, and have heavenlj/ treasure in your 
 earthen "cessels : then will you be witnesses of 
 immortal life, that is brought to light hi/ the 
 Gospel ; — then you shall be of the number of 
 those that have fought a good fight of faith^ 
 and laid hold on eternal life; and you shall 
 be sensible of the visitation of the Lord, ijivino: 
 spiritual life unto the soul. Thus the Psalmist 
 
66 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 experienced, and declared, All my fresh 
 springs are in Thee. 
 
 Here is an evidence and testimony of this 
 life. O ! labour to have a testimony of t; is life, 
 that ye may have fresh springs from the Lord, 
 and drazo water out of the wells of salvation. 
 
 These are renewed in the soul from time to 
 time. It may be said that the stream is but 
 small to some ; O ! keep to the streams, and 
 partake of them, though but in the lowest 
 degree, that thou mayest feel the risings of 
 them. The prophet Ezekiel was led into the 
 temple: saith he : The hand of the Lord was 
 upon me ; and He brought me thither ; and 
 behold, there zms a man whose appearance 
 was like the appearance of brass, with a line 
 of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed. And 
 he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought 
 me through the waters, and the waters were to 
 the ancles. Again he measured a thousand, and 
 brought me through the waters, and the waters 
 were to the knees ; and afterwards the waters 
 were to the loins. And afterwards, saith the pro- 
 phet, he measured another thousand, and it 
 was a river that I could not pass over ; for the 
 waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river 
 that could not be passed over^ 
 
MR. RICHARD ASHBY. 67 
 
 My friends ! here are divine openings upon 
 the soul, in feeling fresh springs of love and 
 life; and you may come to know and witness 
 refreshings from the presence of the Lord. 
 You are not strangers to the fruits of the 
 heavenly Canaan, and the fruits of the tree of 
 life. When you come to partake of them, 
 you will say, His fruit zoas szoeet unto my 
 taste ; you will find that the Lord will abun- 
 dantly open his bountiful hand, and satisfy 
 his poor with bread. Let your Avaiting be 
 continually upon the Lord, and bread will be 
 give?! to you ; and your waters will be sure. 
 Then you will see the King in his beauty ^ the 
 King of Glory discovering himself. 
 
 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is 
 liberty ; we all with open face beholding as in 
 a glass the glory of the Lord. Here is a pre- 
 cious object indeed ! O the beauty of holiness! 
 how affecting is it to the soul ! the soul is 
 overcome with God ; when the soul comes to 
 the acting of its faith and trusting in the Lord, 
 and depending upon Him continually — to 
 beholding the glory of the Lord, which is of 
 an affecting nature, this raiseth desires in the 
 soul, according to the testimony of the Psalmist, 
 Psalm xvii. 14: Asforme^ I mil behold thy 
 
^ SEllMON BY 
 
 face in righteousness ,• J shall he satisfied zehen 
 I aimJce zcilh thy likeness. The apostle 
 speaks of beholding as in a glass the glory of 
 the Lord ; and of being changed into the same^ 
 from glory to glory ^ as by the Spirit of the 
 Lord. You that know the revelation of God 
 in yon, you will find this change from glory 
 to glory, and a coming up to the beauty of 
 holiness. 
 
 Then, ray friends, here is a pure communiouj 
 a communion with the saints ; the Lord reveals 
 Himself, and makes his spiritual abode in the 
 soul. These are thosethat come to kno^v felloW' 
 ship zcith the Father^ and with his Son Jesus 
 Christ. They that come to know this, know God 
 to be with them, and do know God's power and 
 presence in the midst of them. Then, thou5h 
 man may frown, the Light of God's counte- 
 nance shall be lifted up upon us. And if God 
 be for us, saith the apostle, zoho can be against 
 us ? He that spared not his own Son, but de- 
 liver ed Him up for us all, how shall He not 
 with Him also freely gixe us all good things 9 
 The Lord will bless us zcith all spiritual bles- 
 sings in heavenly places in Christ, Wait upon 
 the Lord, and He will bless thee, and encourage 
 
MR. RICHARD ASHBY. 69 
 
 thee, that thou mayest know additional bles- 
 sings in thy soul. 
 
 This is the intent, design, and import of 
 these declarations that are found among you ; 
 that you may all know a being gathered unto 
 the Lord, and may feel his power, and know 
 the lot of your souls' inheritance : and know 
 that the Lord will continue his mercies to 
 you, and will make good his promise, that, 
 if you cast your care upon Him^ He will 
 take care of you. They that do this may 
 know the Lord to he their portion ; and the 
 lot of their inheritanceio be in Him. In times 
 of distress and tribulation, the Lord will be 
 with them. Israel of old, though they did all 
 partake of an outward Canaan, yet all had 
 not tlieir lot m Shiloh. They that come to 
 sit with Christ in heavenly places, they have 
 their lot in Shiloh, in a peaceable Saviour, 
 the Prince of Peace o 
 
 Take a view of your inward state and con- 
 dition : see. Is the Lord Jesus your lot and 
 portion ? then you shall not want ; but if you 
 are strangers to this, and live in the state of 
 carnal security, sorrow will overtake you. 
 
 P*.III. G 
 
70 SERMON BY 
 
 The prophet saw some to do so ; It is as when 
 a hungry man dreams of refreshment^ hut when 
 he awakes his soul is empti/ and faint. If yoa 
 have not the feeling of the power of God's 
 Spirit, and are at ease, a terrible day will over- 
 take you. 
 
 Therefore, friends, while you have lime, 
 give all diligence. While the manna falls 
 about your tenls, and you are humbled in the 
 sense thereof, know that the Lord will pre- 
 serve you from day to day. Then your bread 
 will be sweet, and your water sure. O 
 friends ! the great prophet hath been sent io 
 you : Behold^ I stand at the door and knock ; 
 if any man hear my voice and open the door, 
 I will come in tohim^ and sup with him, and he 
 with Me. Friends, He will bless you ; and 
 you shall know your provisions which are 
 made for you ; the Lord Christ will bless your 
 store ; for the treasures of heaven fail not, 
 where moth and rust doth not corrupt, nor 
 thieves break through nor steal. And there* 
 fore, friends, have respect io the manifesta- 
 tion and spiritual appearance of the Lord 
 Jesus, that you may feel his power oversha- 
 dowing you from day to day ; that you may- 
 be kept by the mighty power of God. 
 
MR. RICHARD ASHBY. 71 
 
 We must wait upon the Lord from day to 
 day, to be kept and preserved by Him, and 
 be retired from the vanities of the world, and 
 live that life wc live in the Jlesh, bj/ the faith 
 of the son of God ; that we may come to say, 
 with the Apostle Paul : Not I live, but Christ 
 liveth in me : that zee may be united to Him, 
 He that hath the Son hath life, and he hath 
 poz0er ; to as many as receive Him, to them He 
 gave pozoer. Here is a Divine ability : I can 
 do all things through Christ zoho strengthens 
 me. My friends, if every one of you do feel 
 this in your own particular, you will come to 
 a heavenly place, to a kingdom that cannot be 
 shaken; and you will dwell in a sure dwelling, 
 and have the candle of the Lord to shine upon 
 your tabernacles'. Light is so:cn for the righte- 
 ous, and gladness for the upright in heart ; they 
 shall have peace through Him that is the 
 Prince of Peace. It is tlie desire of my soul 
 that you may feel this inwardly in yourselves. 
 
 Therefore, dear friend?, retire to that 
 strength that is treasured up for ) cu in Christ. 
 Be strong in the Lord, and in the pozcer of his 
 might; and let all self-cc>».fidence be laid 
 aside, and trust in the Lord ; for in the Lord 
 Jehovah is everlasting strength. And He 
 
 g2 
 
TS SERMON BY 
 
 changeth not, therefore the sons of Jacob are 
 not consumed; He is the same yesterday, to 
 day, and for ever. Let us take comfort in the 
 unchangeable love of God, who hath given 
 us this promise ; / zmll never leave thee nor 
 forsake thee. Heh. xiii. 5, 6. So that we may 
 boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will 
 not fear what man shall do unto me. Therefore 
 wait to receive strength from Christ, from day 
 (o day. They that build not upon this power, 
 are upon a sandy foundation ; they make an out- 
 ward profession of religion, and have nform of 
 godliness, but that will not avail ; Obedience 
 is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the 
 fat of rams. And our Saviour saith, 3Iatt. vii. 
 22. And every one that hearcth these sayings of 
 mine and doeth them not, shall be likened to a 
 foolish man that built his house upon the sand ; 
 and the rain descended, and the floods camcy 
 and the zoinds blew and beat upon that house^ 
 and it fell, and great was the fall of it. 
 
 Wait upon the Lord; his strength hath been 
 revealed, and his power made known, and his 
 arm made bare; therefore fix your confidence 
 in Him, that so your minds may be established. 
 Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of 
 his mif^htf and take unto you the whole armour 
 
MR. RICHARD ASHBY. 73 
 
 of God' Ephes. vl. IS, 14. This is the armour 
 that God hath made known for his Christian 
 soldiers, that are making war against sin and 
 unrighteousness, who are pghtlng the good 
 Jight of faith. It was the experience of the 
 primitive believers : We are more than con- 
 querors through Him that loved us : therefore 
 feel your strength fixed upon the Lord ; retire 
 and wait upon Him; and be in a watchful 
 frame. The prophet Habakkuk, when he 
 saw distress was coming uponthe churchy says, 
 Ilab. iii. 16. When I heard, my body trembled^ 
 and my lips quivered at the voice ; and rotten- 
 ness entered into my bones, and I trembled in 
 myself that I might rest in the day of trouble. 
 Then saith he, in chap, ii. 1 : I will stand upon 
 my watchy and set me upon the toner, and I 
 will TDatch to see what He will say unto me^ 
 and what I shall answer zchen I am reproved. 
 
 In this spiritual warfare let us be attentive 
 unto Christ, the great Captain of our salvation, 
 that maketh war in righteousness. Let us 
 hearken one day after another ; andtiten there 
 w^U be a holy skill and expertness given to 
 us. You will be expert in the spiritual war, 
 and you will find strength and power given 
 you from the Lord ; and He will be a hiding-- 
 
74 SEIIMGN BY 
 
 place, and a sanctuary to you ; you shall come 
 to the mountain of the Lord, wliere there shall 
 be no distress ; and the voice of the op- 
 pressor shall no more he heard, nor destruction 
 within your walls ; thy walls shall he called 
 salvation, and thy gales praise. And you 
 that know that spiritual dwelling, where the 
 spiritual Jews are. you are come to sing the 
 songs of Zioiij which shall b 3 sung in the 
 strong city, where salvation is appointed/or 
 zealls and hulzearks — zohere the zvicked cease 
 from troubling — cwd zohcre the flocks lie down 
 at noon — where there is a sh do w of a great 
 rock in a weary land, and rivers in dry places. 
 Here is the plenty of all good things, which 
 in God's house is opened to us. 
 
 Now, my friends, if you are sitting down in 
 outward forms, without feeling the operation 
 of God's power and Spirit upon your souls, 
 and be not bnuiglit to an inward conformity, 
 the dreadful day will come, that the Lord will 
 search Jerusalem zdih candles. That God 
 before whom all things are naked and bare, 
 he is taking a view of the imperfections of his 
 people : He is the searcher cf the heart, and a 
 discerner of the thoughts and intents of it ; 
 "whether you fall ahoxt of that power and 
 
MR. RICHARD A5IIBY. 75 
 
 spirit of true religion, or if there be only out 
 ward conformity and not inward obedience. 
 
 The trumpet of the Lord halh been blown 
 in Sion : Lift up ihi/ voice like a trumpet, and 
 tell the home of Judah of Iter trans egression, and 
 the house of Israel of her sins. Where there 
 is only an outward conformity, and not an 
 inward subjection, there distress vviil overtake 
 you : which I have seen in the vision of the 
 Lord, which hath been upon me as a warning 
 to the ren'iiss and careless o;ies, and it was de- 
 livered with a voice full of power in these 
 words : AU foundations shall he manifested^ of 
 what sort theij are ; a zcatcher from the holy 
 one with sezeritj/ shall overtake the un^ 
 watchful. 
 
 Therefore let this be a warning to you all, 
 that you may not fall under the stroke of 
 God's severity. The apostle Paul saitb, 
 Rom. xi. 17. to the believing Romans, speak- 
 ing of the goodness and severity of God : 
 And if some of the branches he broken off, and 
 thou being a wild olive tree, zcert grafted in 
 amongst them, and with them partakest of the 
 root and fatness of tJie olive tree ; boast not 
 against the hrancJies, but if thou boast, thou 
 
76 SERMON BY 
 
 bearest not the root, hut the root thee. Thou 
 wilt saij theUy the branches were broken off^ 
 that I might he grafted in. Welly because of 
 unbelief thei/ were broken off: and thou 
 standest bi/ faith. Be not high-minded^ but 
 fear \for ifGodsjjared not the natural branches y 
 take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold 
 therefore the goodness and severity of God : on 
 them which fell seieritj/, but towards thee good' 
 ness, if thou continue in his goodness ; other* 
 wise thou shall be cut off, 
 
 O, my friends ! ^vliat need is there of a 
 watchful frame ! Think how necessary it is 
 in your own particular, every one of you, to 
 be keeping in your watch tower: The name 
 of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous 
 shall fly unto it and he safe; and "when they 
 are assaulted with the enemy, the Spirit of the 
 Lord shall be with them ; and when the enemy 
 comes upon them as a flood^ the Spirit of the 
 Lord shall lift up a standard for theni agains^ 
 the adversary y and they shall stand still, and 
 see the salvation of God. And they shall find 
 the power of God's Spirit come upon them for 
 sanctification, and they shall be as the purest 
 wheat gathered into the garner of God. 
 
Mr. RICHARD ASHBY. 77 
 
 Therefore, my friends, let the testimonies 
 of truth "which the Lord is pleased by his 
 servants and messengers to send to you, take 
 hold of you, and go along with you, and have 
 a place in your secret thonglits. It is an ex- 
 hortation of the word of truth, which God 
 gives by his Spirit to you, therefore let it b« 
 retained : While ?/ou arc in the lip^ht^ walk as 
 children oflight^ and have no fellowship with 
 the unfruitful works of darkness; and you 
 shall dwell safely^ and he set upon a rock that 
 is higher than you ; you sliall be as stars 
 shining in a dark world, and though there be 
 darkness upon the earth, yet here is light, 
 here is beauty. Those that are in Zion and 
 in Goshen, the songs of the night shall be 
 given to them. Wheii otiicrs are in distress, 
 these are they that have their habitation in 
 the Lord, and find a spiritual repose, and 
 enter into rest; and enjoy that peace which 
 God, through Jesus Christ his beloved Son, 
 doth give unto the souls of his people ; that 
 peace that passeth understanding. 
 
 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, 
 in all wisdom ; teaching and admonishing one 
 another in psalms aud hymns, and spiritual 
 songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto 
 
78 TttE phayeh. 
 
 the Lord, Salvation and praise he ascribed 
 unto our God continually^ for all his mercies 
 and favours ; for to Him honour^ and glory ^ 
 and thanksgiving belong. And as you render 
 praise to the Lord in the name of his beloved 
 Son, you shall find acceptance with Him ; 
 and an answer of peace returned into your 
 bosoms, when you pray as the Psalmist, 
 Psalm cxli. 1, 2 : Loi^d ! I cry unto Thee, 
 mahe haste unto ???e, give ear to my toice, when 
 I cry unto Thee. Let my prayer be set 
 forth before Thee as incense, and the lifting up 
 of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hereby 
 you shall enjoy divine rest, and repose, and 
 refreshment from the presence of the Lord, 
 and that Joy that is unspeakable and full of 
 glory. This is my desire and soul's travail, and 
 the end of my labour among you, that this 
 may be your lot and portion with the Lord, 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Blessed Lord God ! wlio liast in this day of 
 thy power made manifest Thyself, unto thy 
 children and people, who are this day waiting 
 upon Thee — O Lord God ! we pray Thee, 
 let thy infinite mercy more and more be ex- 
 
THE PRAYER. 79 
 
 tended to us ; and we humbly pray Thee, do 
 Thou preserve us a sensible people ; that, as 
 Thou hast afforded the visitation of thy love 
 unto us, we may delight in it. Lord, reveal 
 thy love more and more to us, that we may 
 obey Thee, and delight to do thy will. 
 
 Lord, Thou hast an eye of pity and com- 
 passion upon the sons and daughters of men, 
 whom Thou secst in a lost and perishing con- 
 dition; and Thou wilt remember them in their 
 low estate, because thy mercy endureth for 
 ever. Extend the riches of thy goodness to 
 Euch as are strangers to Thee, that they may 
 come to the knowledge of Thee, through the 
 Son of thy Love ; for tliis is life eternal, to 
 know Thee the only true God, and Jesus 
 Christ whom Thou hast sent, 
 
 O Lord ! manifest thy love to us more and 
 more, and appear in thy excellent glory, for 
 the bringing down of every thing contrary to 
 Thee. Blessed Father and Fountain of life ! 
 set up thy throne, and reign in the hearts of 
 the children of men, that they may own thy 
 rightful government, and submit to thy 
 wisdom ; and become a w illing people in the 
 day of thy power ; and be reconciled to Thee 
 
CO THE PRAYER. 
 
 in the blood of thy Son. Be with us in all 
 the dispensations of thy grace and love; and 
 manifest the operation of thy power upon us, 
 in onr attendances on Thee from day to day, 
 and from one season to another. 
 
 Lord, Thou that hast revealed thy glorious 
 arm and power to thy people, in their many 
 travails, exercises, and afflictions, that have 
 come upon them for the trial of their faith, 
 and the exercise of their patience and humi- 
 lity, and other graces. Let our patience have 
 its perfect -work; and let the trial of our 
 faith be found unto praise, honour, and glory^ 
 at the appearance of Jesus Christ ; and let 
 our humility lay us lew before Thee, that, 
 being humbled under thy mighty hand, we 
 may be exalted in due time, for the sake of 
 Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast exalted atthine 
 own right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, 
 to give repentance to us, and remission 
 of sins. 
 
 Lord, our desires are to Thee, and our ex- 
 pectations are from Thee. Do Thou supply 
 us with all things needful for our souls and 
 bodies, as Thou hast mercifully sustained us 
 hitherto. O Lord ! do Thou bless all the 
 manifestations of thy love and power unto us, 
 
THE PRAYER. 81 
 
 that we may be sanctilled and made meet to 
 serve and glorify Thee ; that we may give up 
 our account with joy at thy tribunal — that we 
 may then be found in Christ, not having our 
 own righteousness ; but, being justified freely 
 by thy grace, through tbe redemption that is 
 in Him, we may enter into glory, and be for 
 ever with the Lord. 
 
 Blessed Father of Life ! remember all those 
 that are scattered up and down upon the hills 
 and barren mountains, and are wandering up 
 and down as sheep without a shepherd. 
 Remember them in this day of thy love and 
 mighty pov^^er; and bring them home to the 
 sheep-fold of Christ, who is the true Shepherd, 
 and Redeemer, and Saviour of souls. Lord, 
 go along with us from this place to our several 
 habitations and employments. Let the angel 
 of thy presence attend us; let the word that 
 hath been preached dwell richly in us in all 
 wisdom. Dearest God of love and life ! one 
 plants, and another waters, but Thou alone 
 dost give the increase. We pray Thee, go 
 along with us, and be near unto us, when we 
 are separated one from another, 
 
 H 
 
82 THE PRAYER. 
 
 Now, Lord ! for all thy mercies, and benefits^ 
 and blessings renewed to us from day to day^ 
 and from one season to another, we desire to 
 offer up to Thee a pure and living sacrifice 
 of praise, and love, and thanksgiving; for 
 Thou alone art worthy, who art God over all • 
 who, with thy blessed Son, and Eternal Spirit, 
 livest and reignest for ever and ever, One 
 God, world without end. Amen. 
 
SERMON V. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY5 
 
 AT GRACE-CHURCH STREET, MARCH 4, 1693. 
 
 Friends, 
 
 It is weiglity upon my spirit this clay to 
 call upon you all, to take into a weighty con- 
 sideration, the end for which the everlasting 
 God hath given us a being, and a day of 
 visitation, and doth vouchsafe to us the con- 
 tinuance of our lives. Without all contro- 
 versy, the great God hath a great end in it : 
 I would to God, the consideration of this end 
 did take impression upon your minds. Cer- 
 tainly it is for this in the first place, that man 
 should serve and glorify the great God, that 
 gave life, and breath, and being to him ; for 
 this is an indispensable duty. And in the 
 next place, there is a duty towards man ; so 
 that there is our duty towards God, and our 
 duty towards our neighbour. 
 
 II 2 
 
84 SERMON BV 
 
 Now, that we may be capable of answering 
 these things — that we may be rightly fitted and 
 qualified — that this great end of God may be 
 answered — that is our duty to God, which 
 every one ought to perform, and I doubt not 
 is acknowledged generally by all to be due 
 to Him. It is therefore to be considered under 
 what qualifications those must be that can 
 perform it acceptably. Now God, who hath 
 required the strict performance of this duty, 
 is a holy, eternal Being, pure and righteous ; 
 whatsoever then is offered to Him, must be a 
 pure offering, and the heart and mind of the 
 offerer must be pure and holy, if it find ac- 
 ceptance with Him. 
 
 Now if it be so, as without all controversy 
 it is ; in the first place, you know, as God cre- 
 ated man for this end and purpose, to glorify 
 Him, so He created him in a meet state and 
 capacity to perform it, for He made man up- 
 right, holy, and righteous ; and whilst he stood 
 thus he had both free access and acceptance 
 with God his Maker. But, alas ! mankind, 
 through the workings of Satan, and through 
 the craftiness and subtlety of the enemy of 
 all rigliteousness, lost this innocent state of 
 holiness, fell from it, and became a plant of a 
 degenerate vine ; yet many are not so far 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY. 83 
 
 follen, but that they have a sense sometimes, 
 and a belief there is a duty and service owing 
 to God, and have gone about to perform it, 
 though they have not been rightly qualified ; 
 for we find that Israel went about to perform 
 this great duty in their unregenerate state. What 
 acceptance did they find ? None at all. Why ? 
 Their hearts were corrupt. We have divers in- 
 stances thereof in Scripture, concerning Israel ; 
 the Lord complains of them by his prophets : 
 He doth not complain that they were short 
 in not going about to do something that had 
 the shew of religion, or in appearing in an 
 outward shew of offering something to God ; 
 no, but it was not pleasing ; for the Lord saith: 
 Bring no more vain oblations. Incense is an 
 abomination; to me^thenew moons and sabbaths^ 
 and calling of assemblies, I cannot awaj/ with* Jt 
 is iniquity, even the solemn meeting, Isa. i. 13, 
 
 What was the reason they were not accept- 
 able ? was it that the Lord had not required 
 those things ? No : what was the reason tlieii ? 
 Their hearts were full of corruption, their 
 liearts were defiled; they were not riglit iu 
 the sight of God ; it sprung from a wrong 
 heart; it was not a vessel made meet. It \sas 
 not prepared and fit for such holy service and 
 joblation. ii 3 
 
S6 SERMON BY 
 
 And again, in the same place, there they 
 seemed to draw nigh to God, and would pre- 
 sume to tread his courts : but what was the 
 return? When t/ou come to appear before me, 
 7Dho hath required this thing at your handsy 
 to tread my courts, seeing you hate to he 
 reformed. 
 
 These people drew Hear to God with their 
 lips, but their hearts were far from Him ; and 
 it is evident the Lord did not accept of them 
 in those performances, because they were in 
 a corrupt, unclean state; but the Lord by his 
 prophet corrected them on this wise : TFash 
 j/e, maJce ye clean ; put away the evil of your 
 doings from before mine eyes : cease to do evil; 
 learn to do well ; — seek judgment, relieve the 
 oppressed. Judge the fatherless, plead for the 
 widow. Come now and let us reason together^ 
 saith the Lord^ though your sins be as scarlet^ 
 they shall be white as snow ; though they he 
 red like crimson, they shall he as wool. No- 
 thing but this change could give them accep- 
 tance with God, 
 
 Now, my friends, this is a great work, the 
 •work of the day that «very man and woman 
 4s concerned in^ and ought to be concerned 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY. 87 
 
 about, to be made meet to approach before 
 the Lord, to come before Him, and perform 
 their duty, that is due from them to God, ac- 
 ceptably; but if any should enquire of me, by 
 what means may we be made meet for this 
 service and great undertaking, I will tell you ; 
 it must be by experience, and sensible feeling 
 of that which was the cause and real ground of 
 man's losing his access to, and acceptance 
 with God at the beginning ; that which shut 
 the door, and became a bar and partition wall 
 between God and man, and which was the sin 
 and transgression that he fell into — this must 
 be removed and taken away ; the root of it 
 must be done away by faith in Him, whom 
 God has sent to restore lost man, Jesus Christ ; 
 and by a sensible feeling of the effectual work- 
 ing of his power in the soul, to cleanse from 
 sin ; or else there can be no acceptance with 
 God. 
 
 How and by wbat means must sin be done 
 away ? God, everlasting in his infinite love, 
 hath ordained a way, because He would not 
 have man to perish and remain in a state in« 
 capable of answering the end which God 
 ordained him to. And what is that way ? The 
 
88 SERMON BY 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ. God hath sent Him 
 into the world, in a twofold manner. 
 
 First, He sent Him into the world in a holy 
 body which He had prepared for Him, as it 
 is written : Xo, it is written in the volume of 
 the book, I come — what for ? to do thy will^ O 
 God! What is God's will? and what is the 
 reason of Christ's coming into the world? 
 That He miglit die for every man, and be a 
 Sacrifice for sin, and redeem man to God ; this 
 was the work that God gave Him to do in that 
 appearance. 
 
 Secondly, there is another coming of Christ, 
 a coming in the spirit : for the first opened a 
 door for lost man, that shut himself out, and 
 by his sin put a bar to his drawing near to 
 God. The first coming of Christ, 1 say, 
 opened a door ; for He became a sacrifice, and 
 an offering, and atonement for mankind, and 
 thereby opened a new and living way for 
 man's coming to God. Andhis second comitig 
 is without sin to salvation, and to bring all 
 mankind that believe and obey Him, into 
 this way or door, and to have an entrance into 
 this new and living way which He has opened ; 
 and thereby to have the benefit of that one 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY. by 
 
 offering and sacrifice, which He hath made for 
 sinners; and God liatli revealed and made 
 this known to the sons and daughters of 
 men. 
 
 Blessed be the name of God ! that Christ is 
 come in the spirit — that He hath sent his 
 Sjnrit into our hearts — that He hath given us 
 a measure of his Spirit to proft withal. The 
 Son of God is come to wash and purge men 
 from their sins, and to destroy the works of 
 the devil, and to waste and consume that 
 nature, that hath separated man from God, 
 and the root and ground of that which hath 
 hindered our approaching near to God. 
 Christ is come to finish transgression^ and to 
 make an end of sin, to take it awai/^ and to 
 brifig in everlasting righteousness. 
 
 I would intreat you all, in the love and 
 tender compassions of God, to open to this 
 coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is come 
 near to you, He knocks at the door of your 
 hearts, by his secret reproofs and heavenly 
 smitings in the soul, and shews people their 
 evil ways and courses. Now, if you in faith 
 open to Christ, when He knocks at the door of 
 your hearts^ He will work the work of God 
 
^0 SERMON Bt 
 
 in you. He will work that in you and for 
 you, that no man can work for himself, nor for 
 another. Now the Lord Jesus Christ is 
 come to work that work, which his Father 
 hath given Him to do; which is, to take away 
 that which hath separated thee from God, 
 and made thee a child of wrath, and an ob- 
 ject of God's displeasure : He will remove it, 
 and wash it away in his blood : it is the blood 
 of Jesus that cleans€th us from all sin. 
 
 O the wonderful love of the Son of God, 
 that He manifested to us in that body which 
 was prepared for Him to do the will of God, 
 in submitting to the death, and being a Sacri- 
 fice once for all ! If thou wilt hearken to his 
 reproofs and instructions. He will work the 
 Work of God in thee^ and He will wash thee 
 and cleanse thee from sin in his own blood : and 
 tliou must be acquainted with this washing, 
 cleansing work, or thou hast no part in Jesus 
 the Mediator ; for He said to Peter : If I zmsh 
 thee not, thou hast no part with me. 
 
 He doth purge, and wash, and purify all 
 that have a part in Him, who is the fountain 
 that God hath set open for the house ofJudah 
 and Jerusalem^ for sin and for iincleanness 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY. 91 
 
 that you may wash in it and be clean. See- 
 ing the fountain of God's love is opened to 
 thee, in the Lord Jesus Christ, turn to Him 
 and feel the operation of his blood: it will 
 take away thy sin and uncleanness, yea, the 
 very root of evil. And ever 7/ plant ^ as Christ 
 said, that the Heaxenlij Father hath not 
 planted, shall be rooted vp. Matt. xv. 13, 
 When thou comest to know the plucking up 
 of these plants, and art willing to be purged 
 by Christ, and washed in his blood, in that 
 fountain that is opened for sin and unclean- 
 ness ; and comest to he made a vessel meet for 
 thy Master^ s use; and comest to be a vessel in 
 God's house, and fit to perform the worship 
 of God, that stands in the spirit ; thou wilt 
 then find acceptance vi ith God, through Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 But this reformation must not be outward 
 only, but a reformation of tlie mind and soul 
 and the inward man, and a being truly recti- 
 fied there ; and this is to m^ake clean the inside, 
 as Christ said. Then thou wilt come to have 
 a discovery of, and to be acquainted with, the 
 mind and will of God ; and thou wilt then 
 feel a cry in thy soul on this wise: — O Lord! 
 enable me to perform my duty to Thee : and 
 
V^ SEBMON BY 
 
 thou "wilt find the promise made good to Ihee ; 
 and here thy waiting will be upon God : 
 The^ that z€ait upon the Lord shall renew 
 their strength / thei/ shall mount up with 
 wings like eagles ; they shall run and not be 
 zoeari/ ; and they shall zoalk and not faint. 
 
 Thus, when thou art waiting upon God, and 
 doing his will, tliou wilt perform thy duty 
 without weariness or fainting, and serve God, 
 and glorify Him in thoughts, words, and 
 actions ; and then thou wilt answer the end for 
 which thou wast made, and wilt worship and 
 serve God in that ability of Grace which He 
 hath given thee, and thou wilt experience 
 what it is to be under tlie conduct and 
 guidance of the Spirit of God, and wilt wor- 
 ship God in spirit and in truth. The Father 
 seeketh such to worship Him ; for the worship 
 of God doth not stand in outward observation, 
 nor in any thing barely that a man can do 
 outwardly, but in spirit and truth. 
 
 They that are thus exercised, they live to 
 God, and in the daily feeling of his redeeming 
 arm, and the ransoming power of the Lord, 
 which hath broken the chains of darkness in 
 which they were held ; and how the Lord hath 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY. 93 
 
 biought them near to Himself, and filled them 
 "with a living sense of that power that re- 
 deemed them : and they cannot but fall into a 
 holy admiration of God, and admire his love 
 and bounty, and wisdom, power and good- 
 ness. 
 
 Here is a man that worships God aright, 
 that truly performs the worship and service 
 of God. When the mind is truly humble and 
 dwells in lowliness^ such find life to spring 
 from God, the fountain of it, and thereby their 
 souls are kept in a lively frame before Him ; 
 for it is the living that worship God ; it is the 
 living that praise Him y the dead cannot 
 praise his name. The grave, saith Hezekiah, 
 cannot praise Thee, O God! death cannot cele- 
 brate Thee ! the living, the living, he shall 
 praise Thee, as I do this day. 
 
 Those that truly worship God in Spirit, 
 they have holiness to the Lord written upon 
 them, stamped on their outside : And as thei/ 
 have home the image of the earthly, so now 
 they hear the image of the heavenly Adam, 
 These perform duty to God aright; and 
 they are made meet to serve Him, and wor- 
 ship Him ; and they have a deep sense of the 
 P*. III. I 
 
94 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 love and mercy of God to them, and in that 
 sense give glory to God, to whom it does 
 belong for evermore. 
 
 Secondly, as there is a duty we owe unto 
 God, so there is a duty which we owe to our 
 neighbour; and this duty cannot be performed 
 but as we are preserved in a sense of that 
 power which hath quickened us to God, 
 Therein we are made instruments in his hands 
 to call upon others to turn to God, and do 
 good to them by our exemplary lives ; and 
 as we make a profession of godliness, so we 
 ought to walk in love, and have bowels of 
 compassion and love to our neiglibours, that 
 they may be saved and brought near to God. 
 And therefore let us shew forth all meekness, 
 goodness, lowliness, justice, truth, equity, and 
 all manner of hoi ij conversation and godliness ; 
 and love God loith all our hearty with all our 
 mind, and with all our soul; and our neighbour 
 as oursehes. 
 
 These are the two great lessons which we 
 ought to learn ; and I am sensible many aro 
 short, in not loving their neighbours as themr 
 selves, but are seeking rather to circumvent 
 and to defraud one another, letting up bitter? 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY. 95 
 
 hess and malice one against another. Too 
 many instances may be given of these tilings ; 
 but our duty is, to endeavour to shew forth 
 our love in justice, equity, and truth in all 
 things, and to be so far from going beyond or 
 seeking to defraud or overreach our neigh- 
 bour, as that we should, upon all occasions, 
 manifest our care and love to Him, that He 
 may be gained and brought over to the love 
 of the truth. This is that which God hath 
 made us witnesses of in his blessed day and 
 gospel ; and it should be our great care and 
 concernment to answer this duty that lies upon 
 us one towards another, faithfully ; and to 
 encourage one another, and watch oner one 
 another for good, and not with an evil eye or 
 prejudice in our minds against any, nor to let 
 in any sourness or bitterness of spirit against 
 any. 
 
 I counsel and exhort you in the love of 
 God, to perform your duty to God, whereby 
 ye may receive an answer of peace and ac- 
 ceptance with Him, an answer of well done 
 from God, which we shall, if we keep and 
 abide in his love. This will bring you to the 
 Fountain of wisdom, and the opening and 
 springing of it. This is (he wisdom that is 
 
 I 2 
 
^ SERMdN Bt 
 
 pom above, that is pure and peaceable, and 
 gentle, and easy to be intreated; and we shall 
 be preserved one in the conduct of it ; we shall 
 not be short in our duty, we shall love one 
 another, and converse one with another. This 
 is a particular mark and token, and a certain 
 distinction, whereby thedisciplesof Christ are 
 manifested and known to the world. 'Hereby') 
 saith Christ, shall men hnow ye are my dis- 
 ciples, if ye have love one to another, John xiii* 
 35. Abide in this love and in the truth, and 
 shew forth the virtues of it. They that do 
 profess the truth, but act otherwise, and are 
 carried away with any of the lusts or plea- 
 sures, and delights of the world, or with the 
 pride, haughtiness, bitterness, and sourness of 
 the spirit of the world, they that are carried 
 away with these, all their love to tlieir neigh- 
 bour will be hindered, and there will not be a 
 sincere exercise of it. 
 
 There are some that make a profession of 
 the truth, and come among us, whose conversa- 
 tions shew they have a root of covetousness 
 remaining in them. They will defraud, and 
 overreach, and cheat their neighbour ; and so 
 bring a reproach upon the truth. They have 
 an ill fame ; they do not perform their duty 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINGLEY. 97 
 
 to their neighbour in love and kindness; 
 neither are they nnder the conduct of that 
 power, that should direct and guide them in 
 their duty to God. 
 
 Therefore, my friends, watch against the 
 enemy in these things; be not ignorant of his 
 devices : then tlie designs of the wicked one 
 will not overcome you, and prevail against 
 you. Live in the fear of God, which is true 
 wisdom; keep yourselves in the love of God, 
 and in love to one another. O what oneness 
 and concord will there be ; and what sweetness 
 and harmony will be among us ! And with what 
 a heavenly loveliness will our conversations 
 shine in the world, when we abound in all 
 the fruits of righteousness, and in love one to 
 another. Behold, how good and how pleasant 
 it is for brethren to dwell together in unity and 
 amitt/ ! This is beautiful indeed ! It is like 
 the precious ointment on the head, theit runs 
 down to the skirts of the garment, O the 
 heavenly garment, the garment of praise, that 
 shall clothe those that live in the love of God, 
 and of one another! O ! the holy robe of the 
 righteousness of Christ shall cover such souls. 
 O ! this is that which shines forth gloriously ; 
 
D8 SERMON BY 
 
 tliey that live in love shall have this beautiful 
 garment to cover and adorn them. 
 
 O my friends ! the weight of this was upon 
 me; O that every one of you may be gathered 
 and made willing to discharge yourselves of 
 this great duty to God, and to one another, 
 that an heavenly opening may be known ! 
 This love to God and our neighbour will be 
 as a munition of rocks, where our bread shall 
 be sure, and our waters shall not fail; when 
 the life we live in the flesh is by the faith of 
 the Son of God. This union and mutual love 
 will cement us together, when we are built 
 upon the foundation of the prophets and apos- 
 ileSj Jesus Christ Himself being the chief 
 corner stone-) in whom all the building fitly 
 framed together^ groweth unto an holy temple 
 in the Lord ; in whom you also are buildedtO" 
 get her for an habitation of God, through the 
 Spirit. If we live in love, as the living mem- 
 bers of Christ, the blood will circulate into 
 ■the life of every member from the head ; and 
 :we shall know the virtue of it. 
 
 If we 'live in love, God's name will be 
 lioaoured, and his truth will be promoted^ 
 
MR. WILLIAM BINdLEY. V9 
 
 from sea to sea, and from land to land, from 
 one part of the world to another ; and many 
 shall be brought to behold the rising of the 
 Sun of Righteousness y and his glory shining 
 in our day, and be preserved in an holy fear 
 and awe of God, and kept from all evil. If 
 we discharge ourselves of this solemn and in- 
 dispensable duty of love to God and one 
 another, then we shall have an answer to our 
 prayers, and of peace in our own bosoms, and 
 know that God ^\ill accept of us; and we 
 shall be supported under whatsoever trouble 
 or affliction shall befall us. God will be our 
 strength and our stay ; and we shall have no 
 cause to murmur or complain : God will bear 
 us up by his Divine power, and keep us in a 
 tender sense of his love to us, while we are 
 living in the daily performance of this great 
 duty of love to God, and mutual love to one 
 another. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Blessed and everlasting Father and Foun- 
 tain of life ! what cause have we to admire 
 thy goodness, and worship Thee, and reverence 
 thy great name! who dost manifest Thyself in 
 thy love and thy tender compassions from 
 
100 THE PRAYER. ' 
 
 day to day ; in afForcling us one visitation 
 after another, and in causing thy love to be 
 shed abroad upon our hearts in our waiting on 
 Thee, and crying and breathing after Thee. 
 Thou openest thy hand from day to day, and 
 iillest us with thy Spirit ; and thou makest a 
 remnant to be as a watered garden, to spring, 
 and bud, and blossom. 
 
 O Lord God of life! thos€ that are plants 
 <5f thine own planting, they have a greenness 
 upon them; they grow in grace, and in the 
 knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 bring fortli the fruits of righteousness before 
 Thee. O God of infinite power and love ! 
 keep them, we pray Thee, that they may be 
 coming nearer and nearer to Thee, and be 
 more and more acquainted with Thee; that 
 they may come to know and witness their 
 being built upon that foundation which can- 
 not be moved. Let the desires and supplica- 
 tions of thy living ones reach to them that arc 
 scattered, and are yet unacquainted with Thee; 
 that know not thy ways, nor what tliy 
 worship is, nor how to perform it. Do Thou 
 open their understandings, that they may sec 
 thy power, in turning their minds and hearts 
 to Thee, and in renewing and changing them, 
 
THE PRATER* 101 
 
 that they may be made tbe objects of thy 
 love, and be brought into a nearness to Thee ; 
 and that they may be made acquainted with 
 the feeling of thy virtue and power upon their 
 souls. 
 
 Blessed God of life! do Thou fill our cup 
 "with thy blessings, and refresh us with the 
 incomes of thy love. Thou causest thy 
 people to drink of the streams of those rivers 
 of pleasure that are at thy right hand ; and 
 Thou causest the rain to descend and drop 
 upon thy tender plants, that they may grow 
 and be fruitful in every good word and work ; 
 and live to thy praise ; and tliat they may 
 exalt thy great name, and magnify thy power 
 manifested to them. Lord, remember Thine 
 every where, those especially who are 
 under affliction, and exercise of body and 
 mind. Open thy hand, and send help to them 
 according to their needs and necessities, that 
 they may be kept and supported under all 
 their trials ; that they may not be discouraged, 
 nor despond in their minds, nor despair of thy 
 love and goodness to them. 
 
 O Lord ! be thou known in thy love ; and 
 shed it abroad upon us by thy Spirit, that we. 
 
10:2 
 
 •THE PRAYEil. 
 
 may all be brought nearer to Thee, and be 
 more acquainted with Thee, who art the 
 Fountain and Well-spring of all our mercies 
 and comforts ; and may have cause to bless and 
 praise Thee, who hast made us heirs of that 
 life and blessedness that shall never have an 
 end. 
 
 We desire to return living praises to thy 
 name for this day's mercies, for the incomes 
 of thy love and thy presence in the midst of 
 US. Lord, our hearts are engaged to return 
 thanks and praise to Thee, and to give glory 
 to thy holy name. Lord, keep us when we 
 are gone and parted from one another, and 
 keep us that we may live to Thee, and not to 
 ourselves, and that we may be instrumental 
 in turning many from darkness to light, and 
 from the power of Satan to Thee, the Living 
 God; that they may receive remission of 
 sins, and an inheritance among them that are 
 sanctified, by faith in Christ Jesus : and that 
 they may shew forth the virtues of Christ in 
 their lives and conversations, and bring 
 honour and praise to thy name, who art worthy 
 of all praise. To whom we desire to give 
 honour, and glory, and thanksgiving, and 
 praise, not only at this time, but for ever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
PREACHED BY MR. CHARLES MARSHAL, 
 
 AT THE CLOSE OF A MEETING IS GRACE-CHURCH STREET, 
 MARCH 11, 1693. 
 
 My Friends, 
 
 The testimony which lives in my soul at 
 this time, is unto the excellency of the love of 
 God in Christ Jesus ; which love is indeed in- 
 comprehensible and unspeakable, the love of 
 the everlasting God through his beloved Son 
 Christ Jesus ; whom, because of the hardness 
 of the hearts of men, and for w ant of under- 
 standing, and of a feeling heart, and of a per- 
 ceiving mind, many of the children of men 
 have not the knowledge of. Herein was the 
 greatness and extensivencssof the love of God 
 unto mankind in sending his Son into the 
 world; who came from the bosom of the 
 Father, that He that knew no sin might he 
 made sin for us, that we might be made the 
 righteousness of God in Him, O the wonder- 
 ful mystery of the incarnation of Christ Jesus ! 
 
104 SERMON BY 
 
 Great is the mystery of godliness ; God mani' 
 Jest in the flesh. The professors of this age 
 have been strangely ignorant of it, and have 
 been ready to reflect on those that admire it 
 and have an high esteem of it. 
 
 But blessed be the Lord our God, that we 
 can say in truth, that we have an esteem of 
 that One Oflfering of the Eternal Son of God, 
 that we can say as the apostle did in his day : 
 By one offering He hath perfected for ever 
 them that are sanctified. This is that which 
 hath opened upon my soul this morning. 
 The Lord God of glory, in this age and gene« 
 ration, hath laid a necessity upon us to preach 
 Christ under the denomination of a glorious 
 Light, for He is the light of the world, and the 
 only Saviour, and so we are to have faith in 
 Him. 
 
 The apostles made it their work to per- 
 suade the people from morning to evening, 
 that Jesus was the Christ, the true Messiah, 
 that made a good confession before Pontius 
 Pilate ; and that He was crucified, died, and 
 rose again, and ascended up into heaven, and 
 sitteth at the right hand of God : and live* 
 
MR. CHARLES MARSHAL. 105 
 
 for ever to make intercession for us. This 
 "was the labour, travail, and exercise of the 
 apostles, to preach Christ crucified and risen 
 from the dead : But the Jews assembled with 
 the chief j)riests and elders, to take counsel 
 together, and gave large money to the soldiers, 
 saying : Say ye, his disciples came by night, 
 and stole Him away while we slept. This 
 was the labour of the apostles and servants 
 of the Lord, to persuade the people, in their 
 day, that Jesus was the Christ ; and that after 
 He was crucified and died, He Avas risen from 
 the dead : but the Jews, the Scribes and 
 Pharisees, they did oppose this ; and said He 
 was not the promised Messiah. But in process 
 of time, through the powerful preach- 
 ing of the gospel, the children of men did 
 receive and believe this testimony, that Jesus 
 was the Christ, the eternal Son of God, and 
 only Saviour. And when the enemy could 
 no longer withstand that belief — when it came 
 over the nations — then the people were 
 turned about, and then there was an admission 
 of that belief that Jesus was the Christ; and 
 many contented themselves with the bare 
 name of Christ, and with a profession of the 
 word, without the power. 
 
 P». III. K 
 
106 SERMON BY 
 
 But tLe Lord of glory hath raised a people 
 in this age and generation, as instruments that 
 might shew forth the power and coming of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ spiritually ; not there- 
 by denying or not in the least opposing his 
 manifestation bodily, which died without the 
 gates of Jerusalem ; for tliisr was the end of 
 his manifestation: For this purpose^ ^^iih. the 
 apostle, was the Son of God manifested, that 
 lie might destroy the works of the devil. 
 
 So that now, friends, that which opens and 
 lives in my soul, and that which I have to 
 say and demonstrate to you at this time, is 
 this : that the Lord God of heaven and earth, 
 hath raised up a people in our day, to preach 
 Christ under that denomination, that the 
 servants of the 'Lord preached Christ in 
 former days, ages, and generations. They 
 gave testimony on thiswise : In the beginning 
 was the Word, and the Word was with God, 
 and the Word was God : the same was in the 
 beginning with God. All things were made 
 by Him ; and without Him was not any thing 
 made that was made. In Him was life, and 
 that life zcas the Light of men, and the Light 
 shined in darkness, and the darkness compre- 
 hended it net. There was a man sent from 
 
MR. CHARLES MARSHAL. 107 
 
 God whose name was John : the same came 
 Jbra witness of the Light, that all men through 
 him might believe. He was not that JLight^ but 
 was sent to bear witness of that Light i that was 
 the true Light that lighteth every man that 
 Cometh into the world. He was in the world, 
 and the world was made by Him, and the 
 world knew Him 7iot, He came to his own, 
 and his ozion received Him not ; but as many 
 as received Him, to them gave He power to 
 become the sons of God, to them that believe 
 in his Nam€* 
 
 Did the apostle John that gave testimony 
 of Christ, as the Light of the world, oppose 
 his appearance in that body that was pre- 
 pared for Him of the Father to do his will 
 in? No, no more than the apostle Paul, who 
 preached his spiritual appearance and mani- 
 festation, opposed his bodily appearance, 
 and being manifest in flesh, when He saith : 
 The grace of God which brings salvation hath 
 appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying 
 ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live 
 soberly, righteously, and godly in this present 
 world. No more do we deny or oppose 
 Christ's bodily appearance, wlio died wiih- 
 
 K 2 
 
108 SERMON feV 
 
 out the gates of Jerusalem ; though we are 
 misunderstood and misrepresented, by many 
 in this generation. The Lord in mercy by his 
 heavenly power remove this misunderstand- 
 ing, and take away this vail from the hearts 
 of the children of men ; and so bring them to 
 a sense and knowledge of the spiritual ap- 
 pearance of Christ Jesus, and the blessed end 
 of his coming in that blessed body wherein 
 He suffered, and tasted death for every man ; 
 not that any man might live in sin, because 
 He died a sacrifice for sin : He did not die for 
 sin, that men should live in sin, hut that they 
 might die to sin and live to God. So likewise 
 we do not preach any thing opposite to 
 Christ's appearance in that blessed body, who 
 was God manifest in the flesh, for therein He 
 wrought salvation for us. He is the Captain 
 of our salvation, and was made perfect through 
 sufferings. He is the first-begotten of the dead, 
 the Prince of the kings of the earth, that hath 
 loved us, and cleunseth us from our sins in his 
 own blood. 
 
 The Lord open the understanding of the 
 children of men, that they may come to know 
 the excellency of his life and love ! When the 
 Lord comes to open and manifest to the 
 
im. CHARLES MARSHAL. 109 
 
 children of men, his great love, in sending 
 his Son out of his bosom, in the fulness of time, 
 to die for us ; (for Christ had a being before 
 the world began ;) when men's eyes and hearts, 
 I say, are wonderfully opened to see this love 
 ot God, then their hearts will be melted and 
 broken, and their prejudices removed, and 
 they will be brought to the obedience and 
 service of God. 
 
 We own the doctrine of the life and death, 
 resurrection and ascension, and intercession 
 of Christ Jesus ; and for any to say we deny 
 this, how inconsistent is it with what we have 
 preached and declared ; and how shameless is 
 it for any to misrepresent or falsely charge 
 us with the contrary, since we have gone 
 through many exercises, and suffered many 
 persecutions, buffetings, and imprisonments, 
 for declaring the truth as it is in Jesus ; so 
 that if in this life only we had hope, we zDcre 
 of all men most miserable ; and if Christ be 
 not risen from the dead., our preaching is vain, 
 and 1/ our faith is also vain. 
 
 We have spoken the truth according to tlie 
 Scriptures of truth, yet how have the cliildjcii 
 of raen been prejudiced aga'nst us^ how maa/ 
 k3 
 
110 SERMON BY MR. CHARLES MARSHAL. 
 
 Lave been bewildered and led into error, and 
 into mis-apprehension, concerning what we 
 have plainly declared among you. 
 
 And now, to give a little ease to my spirit, 
 I would speak something briefly to you. Let 
 the love of God in Christ Jesus, extended to 
 you, affect your hearts. If you are in the 
 living sense of this love, it will engage you to 
 live in obedience and subjection to this hea- 
 venly light, by which you were brought out of 
 darkness^ and redeemed from iniquiti/^ to be a 
 peculiar people^ zealous of good zcorJcs. It 
 "will engage you to live to Christ that died 
 for you ; and as you know a translation from 
 the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of 
 God's dear Son, you will reap the fruits 
 ^nd benefits of his death, resurrection and as- 
 cension, and intercession at God's right hand. 
 
 The Lord God of heaven and earth open 
 all your hearts, that while you have a little 
 time, and are on this side the grave, and on 
 this side eternity, you may serve the Lord in 
 your generation, and fulfil his blessed will, 
 and finish the work which He hath given you 
 10 do ; that you may glorify the name of the 
 Lord God ofheaven and earth, who is worthy 
 of all praise, glory and renown, worship, 
 
THE PRAYER. Ill 
 
 love, service, and obedience, who is God 
 over all, blessed for ever and ever. Amen, 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Most glorious, heavenly, and divine Foun- 
 tain of love and life ! who hast let us see tlie 
 beginnings of thy excellent day, and partici- 
 pate of thy love in making bare Thine arm of 
 salvation, ^vliich Thou hast revealed and 
 made bare in our age — O God of glory, and 
 sovereign Lord of heaven and earth ! it is in 
 the power of thy hand to open the hearts of 
 thy people, as Thou didst open the heart of 
 Lydia, that the things that belong to the 
 peace of every soul may be seen, known, and 
 experienced. 
 
 Lord Godof glory ! our eyes are unto Thee, 
 and our souls are bowed before Thee ; for the 
 shewing of mercy, and the handing forth of 
 the blessings, which Thou promisedst to the 
 children of Israel, by the mouth of thy 
 holy prophets ; that Thou, Father of life, 
 wilt bless them in turning every one from 
 their iniquities and the evil of their ways ; 
 for; Lord God of life! this is greatly wanting 
 
112 THE PRAYER. 
 
 both in this citj, and thrcrugbout the whole 
 nation. Thy mercies and favours have been 
 received by many, and thy loving-kindness 
 hath extended itself wonderfully. 
 
 O glorious Fountain of heavenly love and 
 life ! be pleased to remove that insensibility 
 that is ready to come over the minds of men, 
 that the nearer thy wrath and judgment do 
 approach to us, by reason of that inundation 
 of sin and wickedness that overflows tbe land, 
 the less sense and apprehension there is of it. 
 Lord, open tbe people's eyes and hearts, that 
 they may see, and consider the danger of 
 their state and condition, and be humbled for 
 their sin, and seek thy face, and turn to Thee 
 with all their hearts ; tbat, glorious (}od of 
 life! the souls of thy children may be af- 
 fected with thy goodness, patience, and long- 
 suffering ; tbat this may be the blessed eflectof 
 thy goodness, that it may lead all to repent- 
 ance never to be repented of ; that we may 
 mourn before Thee, for tbe manifold sins and 
 transgressions of the land, against thy Divine 
 Majesty ; that, glorious God of love and life I 
 we may not again provoke Thee to anger^ 
 O ! rend the vail of darkness tbat is spread 
 ^ver this land, that it may not hinder the 
 
"THE tRAYER. 113 
 
 bright beams of Gospel light from sliining, 
 nor the children of men from seeing their 
 spiritual state and condition. Lord God of 
 life ! let trembling and astonishment take hold 
 of the Viicked, that they may have a deep 
 sense of the sins and provocations this un- 
 grateful land is guilty of; that they may 
 lament and mourn before Thee, O Lord ! 
 
 O tender God of love and life ! thy mercy 
 and loving kindness was extended to the 
 inhabitants of ITineveh^ that gLcat city, where- 
 in were more then six score thousand persons 
 that could not discern between thei.: right- 
 hand and their left. Didst Thou not 
 enlighten their minds, and melt their hearts, 
 ■when Thou hadst a controversy with them, 
 and dcnouncedst judgment by thy prophet 
 against them ? Did not the mighty come down 
 from their seats, and the king from his throne, 
 and lay his robe from him ; and the nobles 
 and all the people of the land, did they not 
 all put on sackcloth and sit in ashes, and 
 mourn before Thee, and cry mightily to 
 Thee, and turn from their evil ways ? and 
 Thou didst turn away thy wrath, and repent 
 of the evil which Thou hadst said Thou 
 wouldst do unto them ; and didst it not, but 
 
114 
 
 THE PRAYER 4 
 
 extendedstthy mercy and favour to them, and 
 savedst them with a great salvation. Blessed 
 Lord ! Thou art our God. O ! save us, for we 
 have none in heaven but Thee, and none upon 
 earth that we can desire in comparison of 
 Thee. We have none to make our moan 
 unto but Thyself. Our eyes and hearts are 
 towards Thee. 
 
 Let us hearken to thy counsel, and turn at 
 thy reproof; and let sorrow take hold of their 
 hearts that have rejected thy favours and 
 mercies. O ! give repentance unto life, that 
 thy wrath may not wax hot against the nation, 
 and the inhabitants thereof; and that thy fury 
 and jealousy may not consume and burn them 
 up. O ! make them sensible of the sin& that 
 have been committed, and of the misery they 
 have deserved ; that they may come to Thee 
 for pardon and reconciliation with Thee, 
 through the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 And let not any content themselves with a 
 bare profession of Christ, and the name of 
 Christians, but make us Christians indeed, 
 true Israelites, in whom their is no guile. We 
 pray Thee, let the power of godliness shine 
 forth in our hearts and lives. Let none be 
 
THE PRAYER. 115 
 
 found among us that crucify to themselves the 
 Son of God afresh, and put Him to open 
 shame; and trample upon the blood of the 
 Covenant, and do despite to the Spirit of 
 grace. 
 
 Bring such, we beseech Thee, to true re- 
 pentance, as have made light of Christ and 
 salvation, that they may seek Thee while 
 Thou mayest be found, and call upon Thee 
 while Thou art near. Glorious God of life 
 and love ! thine eye is over all thy people at 
 this time, and their condition is known to 
 Thee ; and the living sense which Thou hast 
 given thy servants of the state and condition 
 of thy people, makes them humble mourners 
 before Thee, and doth bow down their spirits 
 in thy sight. 
 
 O Lord God of glory ! let not thy wrath 
 and indignation break forth like fire against 
 the people of this land; but look down with 
 an eye of compassion from the throne of thy 
 glory, and make bare thy victorious arm, and 
 make them a willing people in the day of thy 
 power ; that they may be moved and excited 
 to repent, and turn to Thee, and cease from 
 their vain conversation, and serve Thee in 
 
116 THE PRAYER. 
 
 sincerity, and in the beauties of holiness. Let 
 the Spiritof life quicken them that are dead 
 in sins and trespasses, and remove the stupi- 
 dity, darkness, and ignorance of those that 
 are strangers to Thee, and know not the 
 things tliat belong to their peace ; and open 
 their hearts and minds, that they may know 
 Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ 
 whom Thou hast sent. 
 
 And O tender Father of life ! Thou art, at 
 this day, threatening this nation, and shaking 
 thy rod over the land of our nativity. Cause 
 the inhabitants thereof to humble themselves 
 under thy mighty hand, and bow before Thee ; 
 and to consider how fearful a thing it is to 
 fall into the hands of the Living God, if thy 
 wrath be kindled but a little. Blessed are all 
 they that, put their trust in Thee. Blessed 
 God of glory ! whom have we in heaven but 
 Thee? and there is none upon earth can help 
 like Thee ; thy loving-kindness is better than 
 life, and thy displeasure more terrible than 
 death. When Thou hidest thy face, we are 
 troubled ; but when Thou liftest up the light 
 of tby countenance upon us, and smilest upon 
 our souls, and with a ray of thy excellent 
 glory shining on us, speakest peace unto us, 
 and openest a door for us into the secret of 
 
THE PRAYER. IIT 
 
 thy presence ; then we are filled with joy un- 
 speakable, and satisfied as with marrow and 
 fatness ; then we dwell safely as in the Muni- 
 tion of Rocks, 
 
 Most glorious, excellent Fountain of Divine 
 Goodness ! be present "Vi^ith all thy people 
 keep them as the apple of thine eye, under 
 the shadow of thy wings: and in all their 
 solemn assemblies, when they meet together 
 to worship Thee, O Lord ! meet with their 
 souls, and let them see that Thou rulest, and 
 art present in the midst of them, who art the 
 Fountain of living waters to those that thirst 
 for Thee, the Living God. Let them, in their 
 assembling together, drink of the brook of 
 Shilo, which runs with pleasant streams; and 
 there let them find refreshment to their souls. 
 We pray, let them see the great design of thy 
 love to them ; in that thou sendest them plen- 
 tiful supplies from heaven, and givest the 
 streams of life, where Thou feedesttliy flocks, 
 and makest them to rest at noon, and to lie 
 down in green pastures, and lead est them by 
 the still waters. Though they walk through 
 the valley of the shadow of death, they shall 
 fear no evil ; for Thou art with them. Thou 
 preparest and furnishest a table for them ia 
 
 P^III. L 
 
118 
 
 THE PflAYER. 
 
 the presence of their enemies ; and they are 
 abundantly satisfied v/ith the fatness of thine 
 house ; and Thou makest them to drink of the 
 rivers of thy pleasures. But, Everlasting God 
 of life ! Thou hast a controversy with those 
 that dwell at ease in Zion ; that do not lament 
 and mourn for the sins and abominations com- 
 liiitted in the midst of them. Shew them 
 that their rest is not the rest of God ; let them 
 cease from their own works, and serve 
 and worship Thee in truth and sincerity ; and 
 let them know there is a sabbath, an heavenly 
 rest for such to partake of. Shew them the 
 many secret workings of the enemy, that they 
 may watch against him, and not be ignorant 
 of his devices, who is going about like a roar* 
 ing lion, seeking to devour them, and to 
 destroy their souls. 
 
 Arise, O God of glory ! and appear in 
 Jacob's dwellings, and search Jerusalem as 
 with candles. Let not thy people spare or 
 hide any darling sin from the slaughter, nor 
 keep Amalek alive, nor save those enemies 
 which Thou hast determined to destruction. 
 Lord God of life and love ! Thou sovereign 
 Lord of heaven and earth ! do Thou gracious^ 
 ly strengthen, and keep in all tenderness, thy 
 
tHE PRAYER. 110 
 
 people every -where. In all tbeir travails, 
 labours, and exercises, let them find favour 
 and acceptance with Thee, in and through 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Mediator. 
 Let them know thy heavenly gatherings ; and 
 there let them abide under tliy shadow. Let 
 their quiver be filled with the arrows of the 
 Almighty, that may reach tlie hearts of many 
 by thy power ; and let their bow abide in 
 strength. Let them hear the heavenly sound- 
 ing of thy trumpet from the holy mountain of 
 thy glory ; and, in all their assemblies, let the 
 pleasant streams of life flow from Thee upon 
 their souls. And, we pray Thee, let them 
 grow green and flourish, and be as a watered 
 garden, bringing forth pleasant fruits. 
 
 Then^ Blessed Father of life and glory ! thy 
 love will be discovered to thy people, when 
 they are in the daily exercise of thy grace, 
 and under the living influences of thy good 
 Spirit — when Thou takest them into thy ban- 
 queting house, and thy banner over them shall 
 be love. Blessed Lord God of glory ! when 
 it shall be thus with us, we shall behold thy 
 heavenly countenance shining upon us, and 
 Ihy glory in the face of Jesus Christ ; and we 
 
litO THE PRAYER. 
 
 shall 1be taken and delighted with the ex:* 
 cellency thereof. Thy blessed banquet will 
 be sweet to our taste ; and we shall be satisfied 
 and overcome with thy love. Then will thy 
 glory shine, and thy voice be heard : Eat, O 
 friends ! drink, yea drink abundantly, O 
 beloved ! 
 
 Now, for all thy mercies and blessings, and 
 wonderful patience, forbearance, and long- 
 suflfering towards us, we desire to offer our 
 thanksgivings to Thee ; for thy tender com- 
 passions extended to those that are sorrowful, 
 afflicted, and bowed down before Thee. 
 Father of life t Thou hast opened thy bosom 
 of love, and given them some ease and re- 
 freshment : Thou hast remembered us in our 
 low estate, and Thou hast been with us and 
 kept us in all our exercises, and labours, and 
 travails ; and Thou hast made Thine to grow 
 up as the lily of the vallies, and as the rose 
 in Sharon ; and hast watered us as with the 
 streams from Lebanon, 
 
 Lord God of glory! we do thankfully ac- 
 knowledge thy wonderful care over us, and 
 love towards us, and to all the children of 
 
THE PRAYER. 121 
 
 men ; and we desire to offer to Thee praise 
 andglory, through Christ Jesus the Son oftlir 
 love, who art worthy of all honour, glorv^ 
 and renown, power, blessings, and praise, 
 who art God over all, blessed for ever and 
 ever. Amen, 
 
 x3 
 
SERMON VI L 
 
 THEACHED BY MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELIX. 
 
 ^T DEFONSBIRE HOUSE, MARCH 11, 169S. 
 
 There is a clay of visitation wliicli the 
 Lord haih extended unto the children of men^ 
 that we might every one of us observe our 
 season and time ; that so we might be exer- 
 cised in those things that relate to our ever- 
 lasting peace and welfare in the world to 
 come ; for we are like to be accountable to 
 the great God for the deeds done in the 
 body. 
 
 Therefore every one had need to weigh 
 and measure their ways and doings, that they 
 may stand justified in the sight of God 
 through Jesus Christ, by whom we are visited ; 
 who hath been given of the Father, not only 
 to be a Light but a Leader to us ; and blessed 
 will all they be that come to be led by the 
 SLord Jesus Christ. For that is a very jprc- 
 
SERMON BY MR. S. WALBENFIELD. 123 
 
 cious state to know this one way ; for He is tLe 
 alone way to the kingdom of God ; and all 
 those that make a profession of Him and re- 
 ject his leadings and his counsel, they will 
 fall short; they will meet with many things 
 in the way, that will turn them from the right 
 way to the kingdom of God. But all those 
 who follow the Lord Jesus Christ, it is they 
 iwho shall receive the crown of immortal and 
 everlasting life and glory. 
 
 This following of Christ is a crucifying of 
 the old nature of m.an ; it is a regenerating of 
 man in his inward parts, without which none 
 of us can come to see the kingdom of God. 
 
 This is not an outward birth, nor an out- 
 ward generation, nor a growing into any out- 
 ward comprehension of things ; but it is an 
 inward mortifying of the deeds of the^flesh ; 
 and that you know no man can do, but by and 
 through the Spirit. If men walk after the 
 fesh, they must die ; but if through the Spirit, 
 saith the apostle, ye mortify the deeds of the 
 body^ ye shall live, I do not speak of out- 
 ward living in this world only, but of living 
 JLo God eternally. 
 
f26 SERMON BV 
 
 tiie time of the law, the Jews' time, Christ Vi&i 
 made known in that dispensation ; only there 
 was a vail over the hearts of the Jews, and 
 tliey did not see so clearly ; and there was an 
 outward sign of it too amongst them ; for in 
 their worship and solemn assemblies, they 
 had an outward sign of it too amongst them; 
 for in their worship and solemn assemblies, 
 they had an outward vail to cast over them* 
 But there is an inward vail too, which comes 
 over the hearts of people, that eclipseth the 
 glory of Christ, and the excellency of Christ; 
 and will do until that is rent and done away 
 hy an Almighty power ; for there is nothing 
 outward can do it : when this comes to be 
 taken off people's hearts, then they can see 
 Christ as He is. 
 
 And what if I should say, comparatively 
 there is a vail over the hearts of many that 
 are called Christians, that hinders them from 
 seeing the beauty and excellency of Christ. 
 They do not know the power of Christ, nor 
 the government of his Spirit in their hearts : 
 for people may profess Christianity as long 
 as they will ; if they do not know Christ to 
 govern them, they are not true Christians. 
 For one of the prophets among the Jews could 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 1S7 
 
 prophesy and foretel of Him ; let us consider 
 it, and find out a right and true interpretation 
 of it, and apply it unto our own souls. Isa. ix. 
 6. For unto us a Child is horn, unto us a Son 
 is given ; and the government shall be upon his 
 shoulder ; and his name shall he called, Woyi- 
 derful, Counsellor, the Mighti/ God, the Ever- 
 lasting Father, the Prince of Peace: Of the 
 increase of his government and peace there 
 shall he no end, the government shall he upon 
 his shoulder. All these appellations and 
 titles are ascribed to Christ Jesus : He hath 
 the government upon Him, to lead and guide 
 Ihem in the way wherein they should go. 
 
 Government is an extensive word, it imports 
 government and authority, and rule. This is 
 applicable to Christ, and teacheth that dignity 
 \vhich was conferred upon Christ, and was 
 really due to Him. No man can parallel it 
 by any expression ; there is reason in it, there 
 is justice in it, there is right and equity in it. 
 Christ hath right to reign and rule for ever. 
 1 do not speak of outward government, but of 
 the government of Christ in the souls of men; 
 and here the devil was the first usurper. He 
 usurped authority in the hearts of the children 
 pf men ; and Christ was forsaken and, deserted ; 
 people went from Him .• for Christ was in the 
 
128- SERMON »y 
 
 beginning of the world, the world was made 
 by Him. Christ's Divinity was from eternity. 
 He was before Abraham was. The world 
 was made by Him ; and when He was in it, 
 the world did not know Him ; and when He 
 came into the world, many were not willing 
 that He should reign over them : said the 
 Jews, We will not have this man to reign, 
 oxev us. 
 
 Now if we should find this among Christians, 
 you would think it more wonderful and 
 strange. It is now too common among the 
 children of men. I pray God set home upon 
 all our hearts, that we may let Him reign 
 whose right it is. We will not have this mart 
 to reign over us, say the Jews. Do any 
 Christians say so ? Did you ever know a 
 Christian say so ? This is but discourse, you 
 will be ready to say. But let me tell you, 
 where people live in disobedience to the laws 
 of Christ, this they do with a witness. 
 
 But some may say, If we had lived in the 
 Jews' time, we would not have crucified the 
 Lord of glory ; and yet they crucify Christ 
 after the Spirit. For a man to live in swear- 
 ing, drunkenness, pride, ungodliness, this is ?k 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 129 
 
 crucifying of Christ, and a rebelling against 
 Christ ; men are not willing that Christ should 
 reign over them. 
 
 So that religion and Christianity is a plain 
 thing : people might run and read it, if they 
 would but consider it. If people were but 
 weighty and considerate in these great affairs, 
 they might come to know under whose 
 government they are. The apostle described a 
 people that were under the power of Satan, the 
 prince of darkness, under Satan the prince of 
 the power of the air ; that some were under his 
 government, and some under the government 
 of Christandhis Spirit. One would think these 
 were two propositions so intelligible, that if 
 people did but know and consider, they 
 would for interest sake escape the evil, and 
 cleave to that which is good. 
 
 Now, friends, I would have you deal can- 
 didly with your own souls, and see which 
 government you are under, the prince of the 
 power of the air, that rules in the hearts of the 
 children of disobedience, or the government of 
 Christ. He that is disobedient to God, to 
 his Spirit, and light, and grace — he is under 
 
 P^ III. M 
 
 M 
 
150 SEBMON BY 
 
 the government and the power of the prinee 
 of darkness. This is fulfilled in the prophecy 
 of the Messiali ; and it was the great iniquity 
 of the Jews, and their great unhappiness and 
 niiserj^j that when the Messiah came into the 
 •world, they would not be governed by Him. 
 Do not you think it much more ungrateful, 
 if we that are called Christians will not suffer 
 Christ to reign over us ? it is unreasonable, 
 and unchristian, and unequal ; therefore you 
 should all consider it. 
 
 I would speak a little of the government 
 of Christ, v/ith some evidence and demonstra- 
 tion, and in a twofold manner, that you might 
 more easily distinguish. There are some 
 Christians that expect that Christ shall come 
 and reign on the earth, and then they hope 
 to be under his government ; but it may be 
 they are not so careful to mind the present 
 lime, and to know his reign and government 
 now. There are another sort of people whom 
 God, in his infinite mercy, hath reached to 
 their consciences, and convinced them that 
 Christ haih a ri,«dit to reio^n now. He had a 
 right to re;gn from the beginning; He al- 
 ways had a right, never forfeited it, never 
 
>IR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 131 
 
 was deprived of it. He hatha twofold right 
 io reign over the sons and daughters of men. 
 
 The first is by tTie right of creation — He 
 created us. None deny, I hope, that the 
 world Tvas created by Christ; therefore He 
 hath a right to govern in it. This is an un- 
 deniable argument ; no man can gainsay it, 
 that there is a right and justice belongs to 
 Him to rule and govern that which He hath, 
 made ; therefore it is the most ungrateful and 
 unnatural thing, for men to oppose the reign 
 and government of Christ. 
 
 Secondly. Christ hath a right to reign over 
 the sons and daughters of men on the account 
 of his purchase. He did not only create them, 
 but He did also purchase them at the dearest 
 rate, with the price of his own precious 
 blood ! We were not redeemed with corrup- 
 tible things, as silver and gold ^ or house^ land^ 
 or earthly treasure ; hut zcith the precious 
 blood of Christy as of a Lamb without 
 blemish^ and without spot. He gave Himself 
 to be a ransom for mankind. He tasted death 
 for cccry man. One would think that every 
 mouth should be stopped ; so tliere is a two- 
 fold right that Christ our Redeemer hath to 
 
 m2 
 
1S2 SERMON BY 
 
 teigu over us ; yet many -will not let Him 
 reign, nor let Him exercise his dominion. 
 What do you think of these ? what will be- 
 come of them f 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ was in the world. 
 
 He spake a parable to the Jews. I will repeat 
 
 it; and I would have you all consider it, 
 
 whether the application may not be made to 
 
 Christians that rebel against Him. Luke xx. 
 
 9, &c. A certain man planted a vinei/ard, 
 
 and let it forth to husbandmen^ and went into a 
 
 far country/ for a long time. And at the season 
 
 he sent a servant to the husbandmen^ that they 
 
 should gi've him of the fruit of the 'cinei/ard ; 
 
 but the husbandmen beat him^ and sent him 
 
 away empty. And again he sent another 
 
 servant^ and they beat him also, and entreated 
 
 him shamefully, €ind sent him away empty. 
 
 And again he sent the third, and they wounded 
 
 him also, and cast him out. Then said the 
 
 Lord of the vineyard, What shall I do .^ I will 
 
 send my beloved Son ; it may he they will 
 
 reverence him when they see him. But when 
 
 the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among 
 
 themselves, saying : This is the heir ; come, let 
 
 us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 
 
 80 they cast him out of the vineyard and killed 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 133 
 
 liim. What therefore shall the lord of the 
 vinei/ard do unto them ? He shall come and 
 destroy these husbandmen^ and shall give the 
 vineyard to others. 
 
 If I should apply (Lis, and bring it over to 
 Christians, how dreadful would it be ! The 
 Lord turned the rebellious Jews out of their 
 country, and overthrew their city, the city of 
 Jerusalem; and destroyed the temple, and left 
 not one stone upon another. Now consider 
 the Lord Jesus Christ hath planted you a 
 vineyard. I will give you Scripture for it if 
 you please : The vinej/ard of the Lord of 
 Hosts teas the House of Israel. I mean the 
 children of men. It was not an outward 
 vineyard. The House of Judah was his plea- 
 sant plant. Now as the Lord looked for fruit 
 from them, so He expects fruit from us. The 
 Lord hath sent his servants in one age and in 
 another age : and hovf have Christians treated 
 them ? they have thrown them into gaols and 
 prisons, and evil entreated them ; and they 
 Jiave boasted and in effect said : — The in- 
 heritance is ours. We have ordinances ; we 
 have these accomplishments, and gifts, and 
 graces ; we need not sucli a silly sort of peo- 
 |ilc to come to us, and preach Christ and the 
 
 m3 
 
1-34 SERMON BY 
 
 light within us. There is no need of that \ 
 but you must be Christians, and com« to 
 church, to this meeting, and the other meet* 
 ing. 
 
 I do not speak by way of reflection ; but I 
 would do it to open your understandings in 
 the mystery of the kingdom of God and true 
 religion. The faithful servants of the Lord 
 have had hard treatment in this country and 
 other countries, in this present age as well as 
 in former ages ; but that is not all, — The 
 Lord of the vineyard, the great Almighty 
 God, hath sent his Son among you. Will 
 you reverence Him, and bring forth fruit to 
 Him? What do you say? have you fruit for 
 Him? I cannot say of a wicked people, 
 " They have fruit for the Lord," for their 
 -fruit is untimely fruit ; their fruit is iniquity 
 and transgression: but the fruit that is ac- 
 •ceptableto the Lord is holiness and righteous- 
 Bess ; this is the fruit that God expects from 
 you. Let me tell you, friends, if you will 
 Hot reverence his Son Jesus Christ, you will 
 be as desolate in the day of judgment as the 
 rJews were ; you may possibly escape the 
 judgment of God in tliis world^ but not 
 
MR. SAMUlSL \VALT3ENPIELD. 135 
 
 'Friends^ countrymen and citizens ^ be you 
 found bringing forth fruit unto the Lord, 
 and be not joined to that which is evil; be 
 not governed by the power of the prince of 
 the air. You know where his rule is. He 
 would rule in your hearts if you should give 
 way to Him ; but resist t^ie devil, and let the 
 kingdom of Christ, and bis holy government, 
 be set up in every one of your souls. Then 
 you will be found bringing forth fruit unto 
 God, which will be acceptable to Him. In 
 the days of old the prophet takes notice of it, 
 where he saith : I found Israel as grapes in 
 the wilderness. I found them so in their in- 
 nocence, in their upright state, in their pri- 
 mitive condition ; your fathers were a kind of 
 first-fruits to me ; they were as the first ripe 
 fruits of a fig-tree, before the time they sepa- 
 rated themselves, and bowed to Baal, 
 
 Men and women in their tender days, before 
 they came to act evil with violence, they 
 w-ere in better esteem with th« Lord. They 
 were then pleasing to Him as the first-fruits 
 of a fig-tree, when they were in their inno- 
 cence and uprightness : and many people liave 
 come into this good frame of mind and spirit^ 
 ^nd yet afterward have gone and separated 
 
136 SERMON BT 
 
 themselves from the Lord, from the power 
 and Spirit of Christ. They have gone from 
 it, just as many did that were called Christians 
 of old. In the apostles' time there were some 
 Christians that took this course; they were 
 acceptable to the Lord for a time ; they did 
 Tan well for a time. And pray how did 
 they begin ? which way did they go ? 
 They began in obedience and in subjec- 
 tion to Christ and his Spirit ; but they 
 separated themselves afterward; and the 
 apostle writes to them ; (do but consider 
 it O foolish Galatians ! who hath bezoitched 
 you that you should not obey the truth^ 
 (why, wliat is the matter !) before whose eyes 
 Jesus Christ has been evidently setforth^ cru- 
 cified among you. Are ye so foolish, having^ 
 hegun in the Spirit, are you now made per- 
 fect by the flesh f So I may say to many 
 called Christians that live in this land, and 
 obey not the truth ; but live in ungodliness: 
 O foolish people ! who hath bewitched you ; 
 you began in the Spirit, and then you looked 
 like Quakers, as some might upbraid you. 
 
 So that you see it was above sixteen hundred 
 years ago that the apostles did preach this 
 truth; preached the Spirit. Wliat have you 
 
MR. SAMtTEL WALOENFIELD. 137 
 
 done? ye did run well; when ye were first 
 convinced you began in the Spirit. How in 
 the Spirit ! the Spirit of Christ did rule and 
 govern you ; there was a right beginning, 
 there was a right Christian Life. Do you now 
 think to be made perfect hij the flesh 2 
 
 So we have abundance of such Christians 
 in the world, that have rejected the Spirit ; 
 and it is no part of their religion to walk in 
 the Spirit. They have given it a hard name, 
 an ill name ; they have frightened people out of 
 it. Take heed of the Spirit, that you be not 
 deceived by it, and misled by it ; you pretend 
 to be led by the Spirit, take heed of it, s^y 
 they. But this was the foundation of the 
 Oospel preaching and ministry in the apos- 
 tles' times. They laid this foundation. I 
 believe a hundred instances might be pro- 
 duced out of the Holy Scriptures to assert 
 this doctrine : you know our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, when He was to go out of the world, 
 said : I go to prepare a place for you : and if 
 I go and prepare a place for you^ I will come 
 again and receive you to myself; and 1 will 
 pt^ay the Father , and He shall give you ano' 
 Iher Comforter^ that He may abide with you 
 
1S8 SERMON BY 
 
 for ever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom th^ 
 world cannot receive. 1 will send the Spirit 
 of truth, that He may lead you into all truth. 
 What ! must we reject this doctrine ? Must this 
 be no article of the Christian faith, to believe 
 in the Holy Spirit ? Is not this a great ob- 
 struction and impediment to religion and 
 Christianity ? Let me tell you, till people come 
 to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to his truth and 
 Spirit, it will never be well with Christendom. 
 This ungrateful use of the children of men 
 in resisting and grieving and slighting the 
 Holy Spirit, hath brought all the judgments, 
 miseries, and calamities, that are come upon us. 
 
 Oh ! how do all manner of abominations, 
 iniquities, and transgressions, abound in the 
 world ! How do they run down like a flood 
 in the midst of us 1 There is no returning to 
 the Lord. If the Lord should send an angel 
 from heaven to set a mark upon the forehead 
 of all them that sigh and cry, and mourn and 
 lament, for the abominations and sins of the 
 people of this nation, which make it desolate, 
 how few would be found that are true 
 mourners for their own sins, and the sins of 
 the whole nation J 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 139 
 
 This is the end and result of our ministry 
 and testimony among you, to turn people 
 from the evil of their ways. This was the end 
 of Christ's coming into the world : For this 
 purpose was the Soti of God manifested, that 
 lie might destroy the works of the devil ; and 
 that people might turn from their evil ways, 
 and forsake the pomps and vanities of this 
 wicked world, and all 1 he sinful lusts of the 
 flesh. 
 
 This is that which you will find to be 
 owned in the rubric of the Church of Eng- 
 land : sure it was an excellent spirit that at- 
 tended people in those days, when there was 
 an introducing and bringing into their church 
 society and congregation. They were very 
 strict in it, if they mean as they say, which I 
 heartily wish. When they are admitted as 
 church members it is allowed to infants and 
 little children to be brought into the church 
 by what they call baptism, or sprinkling of 
 water upon their faces. When this is ad- 
 ministered to them, because they are infants, 
 they have sureties to appear and speak for 
 them, and engage for them : and what do they 
 engage ? They engage against the devil, the 
 great usurper, that so Christ might reign as 
 
140 SERMON BY 
 
 absolute ; the sureties promise and vow three 
 things in the child's name — that it shall for- 
 sake the devil and all his works — the pomps 
 and vanities of this wicked world, and all the 
 sinful lusts of the flesh — and keep God's 
 holy commandments to their lives end. 
 
 There is no Quaker in England that can 
 preach up a doctrine that speaks more ab- 
 solutely against the devil than this. I wish 
 that all the church of England and dissenters 
 likewise, would universally engage themselves 
 in this work against the world, the flesh, and 
 the devil. What brave times should we 
 have then ! how would true religion and 
 Christianity flourish among us ! but they say, 
 and do not. Oh my friends ! it is sorrow to me 
 when I consider it. I do not speak by way 
 of reflection, but out of pure love to your 
 souls. O ! that the Lord would per- 
 suade you all to engage in this holy war 
 against the devil and all his works, the pomps 
 and vanities of this wicked world. I may say 
 it with lamentation — wickedness, pride, and 
 arrogancy, abound in this land, and in other 
 nations. Though the judgments of God 
 have been threatened and his mercies also 
 displayed ; yet neither the one nor the other 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 141 
 
 have awakened us nor allured us ; we do not 
 grow much better. What is this but a ripen- 
 ing of us and fitting of us for judgement, and 
 for a day of slaughter, when God will pour 
 out all his wrath? 
 
 friends ! bow your souls before the Lord 
 God of heaven, and be humbled under his 
 mighty hand ; that so you may escape the 
 wrath that is to come. 
 
 So, my friends, you see the nature of 
 Christianity, as well what was intended of 
 old, as at this day. You have the testimony 
 of the prophets and apostles, and a little hint 
 of the primitive Christians, and of the re- 
 formers of our times, in the latter ages of the 
 world. 
 
 1 do not question but among such of elder 
 times, as were called fathers of the church, 
 and likewise such as Luther, and Calvin, and 
 those of latter days, they were sincere in their 
 beginnings. What an excellent thing would 
 it be if all protestants would put on the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and set up his kingdom, and let 
 him reign in their hearts ! They will, in their 
 prayers, acknowledge, Thine is the kingdom^ 
 
 P*. III. N 
 
140 SERMON BY 
 
 absolute ; the sureties promise and vow three 
 things in the child's name — that it shall for- 
 sake the devil and all his works — the pomps 
 and vanities of this wicked world, and all the 
 sinful lusts of the flesh — and keep God's 
 holy commandments to their lives end. 
 
 There is no Quaker in England that can 
 preach up a doctrine that speaks more ab- 
 solutely against the devil than this. I wish 
 that all the church of England and dissenters 
 likewise, would universally engage themselves 
 in this work against the world, the flesh, and 
 the devil. What brave times sliould we 
 have then ! how would trne religion and 
 Christianity flourish among us ! but they say, 
 and do not. Oh my friends ! it is sorrow to me 
 when I consider it. I do not speak by way 
 of reflection, but out of pure love to your 
 souls. O ! that the Lord would per- 
 suade you all to engage in this holy war 
 against the devil and all his works, the pomps 
 and vanities of this wicked world. I may say 
 it with lamentation — wickedness, pride, and 
 arrogancy, abound in this land, and in other 
 nations. Though the judgments of God 
 have been threatened and his mercies also 
 displayed ; yet neither the one nor the other 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 141 
 
 have awakened us nor allured us ; we do not 
 grow much better. What is this but a ripen- 
 ing of us and fitting of us for judgement, and 
 for a day of slaughter, when God will pour 
 out all his wrath? 
 
 friends ! bow your souls before the Lord 
 God of heaven, and be humbled under his 
 mighty hand ; that so you may escape the 
 wrath that is to come. 
 
 So, my friends, you see the nature of 
 Christianity, as well what was intended of 
 old, as at this day. You have the testimony 
 of the prophets and apostles, and a little hint 
 of the primitive Christians, and of the re- 
 formers of our times, in the latter ages of the 
 world. 
 
 1 do not question but among such of elder 
 times, as were called fathers of the church, 
 and likewise such as Luther, and Calvin, and 
 those of latter days, they were sincere in their 
 beginnings. What an excellent thing would 
 it be if all protestants w ould put on the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and set up his kingdom, and let 
 him reign in their hearts ! They will, in their 
 prayers, acknowledge, Thine is the kingdomy 
 
 P*. III. N 
 
142 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 but they will not let liim have it, but shut 
 Him out ; for the kingdom of God is within 
 men. We read in the Gospel that Christ 
 shall saj to some at the las' day : I know you 
 not, depart from we^ye workers of iniquity. 
 And they shall say : Lord, dost Tho7i not know 
 us 9 we Jiave eaten and drunk in thy presence ; 
 and Thou hast taught in our streets. But He 
 shall say unto them : Depart from me; 1 was 
 a st anger, and you took me not in. People 
 that live in rioting and drunkenness, swear- 
 ing and profanenessj and ungodliness, they 
 w ill not let Christ into their hearts. 
 
 Friends, I do assert the present reign of 
 Christ in the hearts of the children of men. 
 What do you think of it? do yon believe it 
 should be so ? It is said, Isa. ix. 7 : Of the in- 
 crease of his govern?nent and peace there shall 
 he no end ; his kingdom is an everlasting king- 
 dom. The prophet Daniel speaks of it, Dan. 
 vii. 9. 27. / beheld till the tin ones were cast 
 down, and the Ancient of days did sit, zchose 
 garment was lehiteas snow,and the hair of his 
 head like the pure wool. His throne was like 
 the fiery flame, and his 'wheels as burning fire j 
 a fiery stream issued and came forth from 
 before llim ; thousands of thousands minis-^ 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. 113 
 
 tered to Tlim^ and ten tliousand times ten tlieni- 
 sand stood before Him. His kingdom is an 
 everlasting kingdom^ and all dominions shall 
 serve aiid oheij Him. The Messiah^ saith the 
 Prophet, shall Jinish the transgression^ and 
 make an end of sins, and make reconciliation 
 for iniquiti/j and bring in everlasting righte- 
 ousness. 
 
 Some people tliink that the reign and 
 government of Christ is only in Heaven above, 
 where He sits on the right hand of the Majcs- 
 ty on high; but they do not think that He is 
 near the children of men. They do not 
 allow his kingly office, his prophetical, and his 
 priestly office. Many cry out against the 
 Quakers, that they deny all these three 
 offices of Christ. What think you of it? I 
 declare to you that Christ is a King that shall 
 reign in righteousness ; and the isles shall wait 
 for his law. The Law shall go forth from 
 Mount Sion, and the word of the Lord from 
 Jerusalem; so that Christ is spoken of as a 
 King that shall reign and rule ; and his king- 
 dom is an everlasting kingdom. 
 
 As Christ is a King to reign and rule, so 
 He is also a Priest for ever, not after the 
 
 n2 
 
IM 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 order of Aaron, but after the order of Mel- 
 chizedeck. He is a Priest ; Avliat for ? To 
 finish transo'ression — to make an end of sin — 
 and purge it aioay. Now the priests under 
 the law, after the order of Aaron, they could 
 not do this ; they made use of blood ; they 
 sprinkled the sacrifice witli blood : but 
 they could not cleanse the soul from sin. 
 But Christ comes; He is a priest; and He 
 oilers a sacrifice for all ; and He offers up 
 Himself: and by that one offering He hath for 
 ever perfected them that are sanctified. He 
 doth it effectually. So Daniel prophesied : 
 He shall make an end of sin, and bring in an 
 everlasting righteousness, 
 
 O ! say some people, we will allow all this 
 to Christ when He comes to reign with his 
 Church; then shall his reign be one, and his 
 government one. But you should let Him be 
 a King now, and a Priest now. Consider the 
 reason of it, wliy it should be now. There is 
 sin and iniquity in this world, but there is no 
 iniquity in the kingdom of heaven ; nothing 
 that worheth ahominations or makefh a lie can 
 come there. If Christ will purge us from sin, 
 He must come down from heaven among us, 
 and so He doth, blessed be his name for ever. 
 He is the High-priest of our profession; and 
 
MR. SAMUEL WALDENFIELD. M5 
 
 He hath made us partakers of the blessing 
 of cleansing from sin, by the purifying virtue 
 of his own precious blood, and tiie sanctilica- 
 tion of his Spirit. 
 
 Then consider, in the next place, Christ is 
 a Prophet, to teach and instruct his people 
 in the things that belong to their everlasting 
 peace. 
 
 If there was an inspired prophet in this 
 land, we should be willing to hear what that 
 prophet did say, if he had good things to 
 tell, and would warn us what evils we should 
 escape. Friends, you have a Prophet now, 
 but you do not hear Him. This is according 
 to the testimony of Moses of old : A prophet 
 saith Moses, shall the Lord God raise up like 
 unto me, and him shall you hear in all things. 
 Do you hear this Prophet I Who is it ? It is 
 the Lord Jesus Christ ; hear this great Prophet. 
 What if we do not hear Him? He that 
 heareth Him not shall be cut off from among 
 the people. The apostle, when he writes to 
 the Hebrews, asserts the divinity of Christ, 
 and his priestly office ; and we do own and 
 assert the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 also. 
 
 n3 
 
146 SERMON BY MR. S. WALDENFIELD. 
 
 Now to make the application of this to 
 your souls, let Christ be jour High-priest, 
 Prophet, and King — your Lawgiver, Coun- 
 sellor, and Leader, that He may bring yon to 
 glory, to a blessed stale of salvation, and 
 eternal life : and so to the Lord Jesus Christ 
 I do recommend you, asid leave you. You 
 may find much of this fulliiled in you as you 
 give up yourselves to the teaching of the 
 Spirit of God, and of the grace of God ; for 
 if people will not be thus taught, they will 
 never learn Christianity. So that people 
 must come to Christ, the Great Prophet, to 
 learn of Him, and be taught by Him, else 
 tliey can never be good Christians. Do not 
 you read this prophecy concerning God's 
 people : ThcT/ shall he all taught of God: 
 and the apostle Paul tells us: The grace of 
 Godyihe favour of God through Jesus Christ, 
 hath appeared to all men, teaching zis iltaty 
 denying ungodliness and liDorldh/ lust, we 
 should lize soherlj/, righteously, and godljt/, in 
 this present zcorld ; look ing for that blessed 
 hope, and the glorious appearing of the great 
 God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave 
 Himself for us, that He might redeem us from 
 ail iniquiti/, and purify urdo Himself a pe* 
 cMar people, zealous of good works. 
 
THE PRAYER. 147 
 
 So that, my friends, this is an excellent 
 state and condition. The Lord bring yon 
 all into it, and bring you to a certain and 
 saving knowledge of Christ. This is my 
 desire this day ; that you may be Christians 
 indeed, and be followers of Christ, and obe- 
 dient unto Him, who is the Author of eternal 
 salvation to all them that obey Ilim, 
 
 — •♦#♦« — 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Everlasting God, and Fountain of life ! 
 from whom all comforts and blessing's flow 
 iHito thy people, tli rough thy dear Son our 
 Saviour Jesus Cliiist ; before Thee, O Thou 
 great and Almighty God ! we are gatliered 
 and assembled this day. If Thou, Lord, be 
 not with us to open our hearts, we cannot be 
 edified or comforted aright. Therefore the 
 cry of thy servants is, that Thou wouldest 
 this day open tlie hearts of thy people and 
 children, that, Infinite God of Life ! we may 
 have access to Thee, in and through the Spirit 
 of thy dear Son; that Thou mayest help us 
 on in the way that we should go. And 
 Blessed Father of life ! our eyes are unto Thee 
 and our expectation is from Thee ; for Tho 
 alone art the Comforter of thy people aiid 
 
148 THE PRAYER. 
 
 children. Lord, tliy people of old did look 
 unto Thee ; their hearts were only to Thee^ 
 from whence all their blessings came. 
 
 Thou Infinite God, and Fountain of all 
 fulness ! let our souls have respect to Thee 
 this day ; that so, in our solemn meeting and 
 gathering together before Thee, we may be 
 refreshed — we may be opened — we may be 
 comforted and sustained by Thee. Lord 
 God of life ! we have need of thy power, and 
 of thy strength, to sustain us in our pilgrimage 
 and journey through this world. Holy 
 Father ! we beseech Thee to remember us, 
 and lead us, and guide us in thy ways, and 
 preserve us by thy outstretched arm. Thou 
 didst make it bare for thy people of old ; 
 make it bare, w^e pray Thee, this day, for the 
 sake of thy people ; that so. Infinite God ! we 
 may be conducted through the whole course 
 of our lives in this world, that, when our days 
 and time come to an end, our portion may be 
 with Thee, and Thou be the lot of our in- 
 lieritance ; that so we may live with Thee in 
 thy kingdom for ever. 
 
 Glorious God of life ! Thou that didst hear 
 the cry of thy people of old, and didst open 
 
THE PRAYER. 
 
 I4D 
 
 thine ear to their prayer and supplications, 
 hear thy cliildren this day that cry to Thee ; 
 for Thou hast regard to the cry of the poor, 
 and to the sighing of the needy. In all their 
 exercises in this world, in their many afflic- 
 tions and distresses, be Thou near to them, 
 and be Thou near to us here, and comfort and 
 refresh us, we pray Thee ; that so we may 
 persevere to the end of cur days in thy fear, 
 and die in thy favour. O Lord God, Thou 
 Holy One of Israel ! this is the cry of thy 
 children to Thee : for whom have we in heaven 
 but thee? and there is none upon earth that 
 we desire beside Thee. 
 
 O Lord ! extend the riches of thy grace to 
 every one of us, in thy dear Son, in whom 
 Thou art well pleased ; and turn us from the 
 evil of our ways. Lord, our cry is unto Thee, 
 and our dependence is upon Thee. Thou 
 hast remembered thy people of old, and hast 
 remembered us this day. Thou hast stretched 
 forth thy Almighty Arm in this day of our 
 visitation, and hast shewed us the way of sal- 
 vation by Jesus Christ, and gathered many 
 into it. 
 
 Powerful Father of life ! increase thy little 
 flock ; gather the scattered, and bring home 
 
150 ^HE PRAYER. 
 
 the lost sheep of the house of Israel ; that so a 
 humberless number may be gathered from the 
 four Avinds. Say to the north, give up, and to 
 the south, keep not back ; and bring in tliy 
 sons and thy daughters from the utmost ends 
 of the earth. And, Lord God of life! that 
 "whicli hinders the prosperity of thy work, and 
 the spreading of thy truth and Gospel of thy 
 dear Son, remove it and take it out of the way ; 
 and put an end to war and bloodshed, iu 
 thine own time and in thine own way, and 
 create peace on earth, and in thy churches ; 
 and let thy Jerusalem be made the praise of 
 the whole earth, and an eternal excellency, 
 and as the beauty of all generations. Bring 
 mankind into the kingdom of thy dear 
 Son, to whom the gathering of the people is 
 to be ; tliat so thy name may be glorified, and 
 the hearts of thy people opened to honour thy 
 Name; for Thou alone art worthy of all 
 glory, praise, and thanksgiving. 
 
 O Lord God of Israel! Th.ou hast mani- 
 fested thyself among thy people in our day, 
 that thy Name and fame may be great in the 
 world ; and Thou hast made thy Gospel to 
 spread from isle to isle, and from sea to sea ; 
 that so the earth may be filled with the know- 
 
THE PRAYER. 151 
 
 kJge of tbe Lord, as the waters cover the sea ; 
 that the glory of the Lord, and the spreading 
 of his truth, may be from the rising of the sun, 
 to the going down of the same. 
 
 Lord (jod of life and power! bring down 
 the kingdom of sin and Satan in this land, 
 and other lands. It is the sin of this nation 
 that hath brought misery and calamity upon 
 it, and will do more and more : the sins of this 
 nation have justly provoked Thee to send 
 down thy judgments, and to pour out thy dis- 
 pleasure upon the inhabitants of the land. 
 Let thy mercy be now extended to us ; and, 
 Father of life ! be intreatcd to turn away thy 
 A^rath, that tljy judgments may not be ex- 
 ecuted upon the children of men. 
 
 Powerful God of life ! in this day of our visi- 
 tation, let thy word go forth, and thy gospel 
 be preached ; and let thy light arise, and thy 
 grace be extended, that brings salvation, 
 through the dear Son of thy love, unto the 
 children of men. Lprd God of life! M'hen 
 shall the day c:)me that the kingdoms of this 
 world shall become tlie kingdoms of thy dear 
 iSon and our Saviour Jesus Christ, that He 
 
152 THE PRAYEH. 
 
 may reign in righteousness, and rule in judg- 
 ment, that the isles may wait for his law. 
 
 O Powerful God of Israel ! arise in thy 
 glory, and let thy splendour break forth 
 powerfully among all people ; and let them be 
 Thine; and enter into an everlasting Covenant 
 with them, that shall not be broken. Let 
 there be a removing of iniquity, and a doing 
 away of transgression and sin. Lord, bring 
 it down, and make the children of men weary 
 and heavy-laden under it, and to groan under 
 the burtlieu of sin, and cry to Thee, and seek 
 Thee while Thou mayst be found, and call 
 upon Thee whilst Thou art near. Give us thy 
 presence at this time, we pray Thee, and 
 draw nigh to us, and help us to draw nigh to 
 Thee ; and open onr hearls, that we may serve 
 Thee, and worship Thee and thy dear Son. 
 
 And, glorious and Infinite God! Thou hast 
 extended, in a large measure, thy grace to us, 
 that we may serve Thee acceptably ; and that 
 we and all thy people whom Thou hast 
 chosen and set apart for Thyself, may glorify 
 Thee in our age and generation ; that when 
 our days and time come to be at an end, we 
 may live with Thee in thy everlasting king- 
 
THE PRAYER. 153 
 
 dom, and sound forth] praises and hallelujahs 
 unto Thee ; for Thou, O Lord ! art worthy to 
 receive blessing and honour, glory and power, 
 who sittest upon the Throne, and the 
 Lamb, for ever and ever. For all thy mercies 
 and blessings in this day of our visitation, 
 O I make us sensible of thy goodness, and 
 mercy, and loving-kindness to our souls, that 
 we may render to Thee thanksgiving and 
 praise, and honour and worship ; for Thou 
 alone art worthy, who art God over all, from 
 everlasting to everlasting, blessed for ever 
 and ever. Amen. 
 
 P^ 111 
 
Bunmom VIII. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. JOHN BUTCHER, 
 
 AT GRACE-CHVRCn STREET, MARCH 11, 1693. 
 
 My Friends, 
 
 The end of our preaching to you the prin- 
 ciple of the Light within, is, that you might 
 come to the knowledge of Christ as He doth 
 appear nigh to you. He is come nigh to the 
 children of men in our age, that is, by his 
 Light, Grace, Spirit, and Truth, whereby He 
 doth appear in the hearts of men and women. 
 Thus our preaching of Him doth agree with 
 his own testimony, / mn the Light of the 
 world; and He doth exhort all that they 
 should so believe in Him. Believe in the 
 Lighty says He, that you may he the children 
 of the Light. 
 
 What is a child of Light ? He is such an 
 one as, by the operation of the power of Christ, 
 hath known a being turned — turned from 
 
SERMON BY MR. JOHN BUTCHER. 155 
 
 vLat ? From darkness unto light^ and from the 
 power of Satan unto the power of the Living 
 God, And for this \vc do labour, according 
 to our ability, ^vliicli the Lord is pleased to 
 give to us, that people may be turned from 
 darkness unto light ; and the following words 
 are explanatory, jTrom the power of Satan tinto 
 the power of the Living God ; so that it doth 
 appear, people have been under the power of 
 Satan, the evil one that is called the prince of 
 the power of the air. He hath a rule and a 
 government— but in whom ? In the children 
 of disobedience. 
 
 Now the labour of those ministers that were 
 in the days of old, who were the preachers of 
 the Gospel, and glad tidings of the kingdom^ 
 they being such ministers as were of Christ's 
 own making, their labour was to turn people 
 from darkness to light, and from the power 
 of Satan to the power of the Living God; 
 that they might be turned from that evil 
 power and spirit which rules and works in the 
 hearts of the children of disobedience, who 
 rebel against the light that shines in their 
 hearts and consciences. For the man of sin 
 and worker of iniquity hath such a power ; 
 and we all have been in captivity to him ; we 
 
 o2 
 
156 SERMON BY 
 
 have all been in bondage to sin and Satan, 
 which God knew, and the apostle takes 
 notice of it ; salth he, God hath concluded all 
 under sin. We have all been under the 
 power of the wicked one. For what end hath 
 God concluded all under sin ? for what end is it ? 
 that we might be destroyed? No ! God, through 
 Christ the dear Son of his love, hath extended 
 to you the day of visitation, that you might 
 come to the knowledge of life and salvation. 
 
 But wherein may we come to this know- 
 ledge? It is in that way which God hath 
 ordained ; even by Christ, who is the way to 
 God. Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God, 
 He is the blessed Mediator and way to God 
 again. What is God's end in concluding all 
 under sin ? was it that he might destroy all 
 the children of men, that are the workmanship 
 of his hands, that He hath endued with 
 rational and immortal souls ? was it that they 
 might be destroyed ? No, but that He might 
 have mercy upon all. God's end in first 
 making and creating of us was, that we might 
 live to his honour ; and that we might so live 
 in this world, that when we die, we might 
 obtain a life that shall never die, and attain 
 to the possession of the inheritance amongst 
 the saints in light, which Christ by his 
 
MR. JOHN BUTCHER. 157 
 
 precious blood hath purchased for all them 
 that love Him, and give up themselves to be 
 followers of Him, 
 
 Now, my friends, the mercy of God appears 
 so great to all, in and through Christ Jesus, 
 who is the Light of the World, and who is the 
 only way ; and, as my friend observed that 
 spake before me, we have not another way ; 
 nor is there any other name under heaven^ 
 by which we can he saved^ and obtain eternal 
 life. The apostle refers this to the name and 
 power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well ; if so 
 be that it is only by the power of Christ that 
 we must know salvation, where is it that we 
 must attain it ? What shall we do to be made 
 partakers of it, and be saved from the wrath 
 of God which shall come upon the worker* 
 of iniquity ? for it is said, the wicked shall be 
 turned into hell, and all the nations that for- 
 get God. 
 
 People hope to escape the wrath to come, 
 and everlasting misery by Christ, whilst they 
 neglect to improve the present time that is 
 aftbrded to them to obtain salvation. Christ 
 is come to redeem us, that we may know re- 
 demption by Him — from what? From sin : for 
 o S 
 
158 SEHMON BY 
 
 pollution and defilement by sin is the cause 
 why people, notwithstanding all their names 
 and professions of religion, still lie under a 
 secret condemnation in their own hearts. If 
 a man should hold such a profession that 
 none could charge him, none condemn him ; 
 yet if he meet with secret condemnation, 
 though all should speak well of him; if his 
 own conscience condemn him, he would not 
 have any true peace or satisfaction in his own 
 mind; for the testimony of a good conscience 
 is more to him than all the favour and friend- 
 ship of the world. 
 
 The Light of Christ, if you incline your 
 minds to obey it, what will be the effect of it ? 
 This light or spirit of grace and truth, which 
 is all one, is sufficient to save and deliver you 
 out of the temptations and snares of the 
 "wicked one ; for we may every day while we 
 are here, meet with trials and temptations of 
 one kind or other. What shall a man do that 
 he may be preserved from the evil of the 
 world? There arc many provocations and 
 evils that a man meets with in the world. 
 How shall he do to be preservc<l from them ? 
 Christ hath made provision for us in his 
 prayer {John xvii. 15.) to his Father : I pra^ 
 
MR. JOHN BUTCHER. 159 
 
 not that Thou shouldest take them out of the 
 worldy but that Thou shouldest keep them from 
 the eviL 
 
 Christ will preserve me from the evil of the 
 world. When a temptation is presented be- 
 fore me, I shall overcome it, if I obey the 
 light of Christ which will shine upon me, and 
 shew me that this must be done, and that I 
 must leave the other undone. In my own 
 conscience there is something will tell me 
 this thing is evil, and 1 ought not to do it, 
 ■\vhen this power of Christ comes to be closed 
 with ; for it is an appearance of love, grace, 
 j|nd mercy. But if I do oppose and withstand 
 this grace and mercy, I may miss of that 
 power and strength, which is sufficient to 
 overcome, and so be overcome by the temp- 
 tation. The apostle John tells us : As many 
 as received Him, to them gave He power to 
 become the sons of God ; even to them that be- 
 lieve in his name. So that it is they that do 
 receive Christ and Love his light and Spirit, 
 so as to be led by it, that come to know this 
 power of Christ, and thereby an overcoming ; 
 but if people slight and reject the grace and 
 mercy tendered to them, hereupon comes that 
 
160 SERMON BY 
 
 sentence pronounced by the prophet : Thj/ 
 destruction is ofthystlf» A man may destroy 
 his own soul, by giving way to that which is 
 €vil, and rejecting that which is good. 
 
 Therefore, my friends, close with that power 
 which inclines you to that which is good. If 
 I mind it, and make trial of it, I shall find 
 that within me which will incline me to that 
 "which is good. Though I may find some- 
 times a corrupt inclination in me to that which 
 is evil, yet there is something also that will in- 
 cline me to do what is required of me. 
 Why should I reject that which is good ? Try 
 all things y and hold fast that which is good, 
 I have tried many things, but none will do 
 me so much good as the grace and mercy, 
 light and appearance, of Christ to me, if I 
 mind it and close with it. He hath shewed 
 thee, O man ! what is good^ saith the prophet 
 Micah ; iind what doth the Lord require of 
 tJiee, but to do Justlj/, and love mercy ^ and to 
 walk humhly with thy God? 
 
 The Lord hath shewed you what is his 
 will ; be ye doers of it. Say then to thyself, 
 diall I give way to that which tends to 
 
MR. JOHN BUTCHER. 161 
 
 ray own ruin ? How can I do this wichednesSy 
 and sin against God^ Shall I join with 
 the enemy of my salvation, and yield to his 
 temptations, and dishonour God, and ruin my 
 immortal soul ? God forbid! What you know- 
 to be contrary to the will of God, take heed 
 of it; Cease to do evil; learn to do well; he 
 folloTDers of that which is good; take up 
 the cross of Christ; deny yourselves and 
 your own will; know a being crucified to 
 the world hy the cross of Christ, and the 
 world crucified to you. 
 
 Thus as I said before, this is the end of 
 our preaching to you that noble principle of 
 the light within, that you might come to the 
 knowledge of Christ; as He doth appear nigk 
 to you, and will lead you by his Spirit into 
 all truth, and incline you to that which is 
 good, and preserve you from that which is 
 evil, when you are tempted to it. Why 
 should I join with the devil, that dark spirit, 
 that would draw me to that which will destroy 
 my own soul? The Lord Christ is come 
 to turn me from sin, and save my soul. Why 
 should 1 not close with Him ? He hath stood 
 knocking at the door of my heart, till his 
 
162 SERMON BY 
 
 head isjilled zoith deWy and his locks with the 
 drops of the night. 
 
 Many souls have known these wooings and 
 intreaties of Christ, knocking at the door of 
 their hearts, and have let Him in, and closed 
 with his appearance, by his light, grace, and 
 good Spirit, and found the benefit and com- 
 fort of it. Why should not I do so ? why 
 should not I esteem Him as the chief of 
 ten thousand, as the beloved of my soul ? He 
 will be the chiefest of all to that soul that hath 
 chosen Him for the chiefest good. Though 
 there may be some comfort in the enjoyment 
 of the things of this world; yet though they 
 are useful and necessary for my present 
 supply, if I lose them all, and find Christ, 
 and be found in Him, and hold Him fast, I 
 shall count them as nothing ; but despise them 
 in comparison of Him who is the beloved of 
 my soul. 
 
 You that are come to the knowledge of 
 Christ, and have embraced the light of truth 
 in your own hearts, do know the benefit you 
 have by it, in walking in the light, as tlie 
 children of light, and of the day, and in 
 
MR. JOHN BUTCHER. 163 
 
 obedience to Christ, who is the light, and 
 shines in your hearts. 
 
 Friends, I would not be mistaken. I do not 
 preach Christ as the Light of the World, in 
 opposition to his outward appearance, and 
 being manifested in the ficsh, in that prepared 
 body wherein He did his Father's will when 
 He was on earth. All true Christians do 
 esteem and reverence Christ's appearance in 
 the body, wherein He suftercd death, and 
 became a Sacrifice for our sinsy as the apostle 
 saith, Eph. v. 2 : Christ hath loved t^s, arid 
 hath given Himself for iis, an offering and a 
 sacrifice to Godfor a sweet smelling savour. 
 
 If I esteem the appearance of Christ in my 
 ov.n heart, I shall be so far from having a 
 light esteem of his bodily appearance, and 
 of his being manifest in the fiesh, that I shall 
 admire and reverence the great mystery of 
 godliness ; and bless God for the record given 
 thereof in the Holy Scriptures, which the 
 light of Christ is a key to open ; even the great 
 mysteries of the kingdom^ which men, by tlieir 
 parts and acquirements, cannot attain to. For 
 God hath not made known these great things 
 to the wise and prudent, as we may gather 
 
164 SERMON BY MR. JOHN BUTCHER. 
 
 from Christ's own prayer, Matt, xi. 25 : / 
 thank Thee, O Father ! Lord of heaven and 
 earthy because Thou hast hid these things from 
 the wise and prudent J and hast revealed them 
 unto babes ; even so. Father^ for so it seemed 
 good in thj/ sight. 
 
 My friends, walk in the light more and 
 more, that, by the Spirit of the Lord, you may 
 be acquainted with the Divine operation of 
 the power of Christ, which will bring you 
 from under the bondage of sin and corruption, 
 into the glorious liberty of the children of 
 God. Wait to know tliis power in your own 
 hearts, thatyou maij be sanctified throughout 
 in spirit^ soul, and bodj/, and justified freeli/ 
 hy his grace, through the redemption that is 
 in Jesus Christ, Rom, iii. 24. Walk in the 
 light, and in meekness and humility, and in 
 the truth. I John vi. 7. If zee say we have 
 fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness^ 
 we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in 
 the light, as He is in the light, we have fel- 
 lowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus 
 Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Many 
 df you ha,ye known the beginning : go forward, 
 and continue to walk in the truth, that you 
 may know the blood of cleansing ; that, as the 
 
THE PRAYER. 165 
 
 apostle saitli, Rom, vi. 22 : But noz:), being 
 made free from sin, and become servants to 
 God, ye mat/ hare your fruit unto holiness^ 
 and the end everlasting life. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Most powerful, everlasting God of life! 
 who art Almighty in thy power, and canst do 
 whatsoever pleascth Thee, we have cause to 
 bless thy Great Name for thy goodness and 
 mercy, which Thou hast extended to thy 
 people in this day of thy power. Thou hast 
 extended a blessed day of visitation to many 
 that were strangers unto Thee, and unacquaint- 
 ed with the way of life and salvation. Powerful 
 God ! we have great cause to bless thy name 
 for thy .goodness, and that great love which^ 
 in and through thy dear Son Jesus Christ, 
 thou hast extended to us. Thou first lovedst 
 us before we loved Thee. Thou it was who, 
 through the visitation of tliy love, didst 
 beget and raise desires and breathings in the 
 souls of many after Thee, and the knowledge 
 of thy living way. And, blessed Father of 
 life, not only so, but Thou hast answered the 
 desires and breathings that Thou hast raised iu 
 P^lII. p 
 
166 ' THE PRAYER. 
 
 the souls of many, and brought them io the 
 knowledge of the way of life and salvation. 
 
 And, powerful God ! Tliou hast been near 
 to all Thine unto this day, that have been 
 truly given up in faithfulness to thy will, and 
 to answer thy lioiy and blessed requirings. 
 Living God ! tliey that have waited and 
 depended upon Thee to be made partakers 
 of that help and strength that comes from 
 Thee, have been thereby enabled to do thy 
 will ; and this is what we wait f>r, and from 
 time to time draw nigh to Thee for : we wait 
 upon Thee, that we may come not only to 
 Ivuov/, but to do thy will, and answer thy re- 
 quirings. 
 
 Blessed God of life ! we have great encou- 
 ragement from time to time, to draw nigh to 
 Thee, for that comfortable presence of Thine 
 which we have enjoyed in the midst of our 
 assemblies. Many a time the hungry have 
 been satisfied with bread ; and the Fountain 
 of living water hath been opened ; and the 
 thirsty have been drinking of it. Praised be 
 thy name for ever, that Thou hast appeared 
 with us, ar-d hast given us some sensible en- 
 joyment of thy living presence. 
 
THE PRAYER. 167 
 
 O Ijord ! go along w itli thy people ; let thy 
 blessing be with us, that we may hold on 
 through the whole course of our lives in this 
 worldj and live to the praise of thy blessed 
 name. Thou hast given us to see our own 
 weakness and inability, and that we had need 
 depend on Thee every day for fresh supplies 
 of strength; that we may be able to hold on in 
 thy holy way, and lay hold on the hope which 
 Thou hast set before us. There are many 
 trials, tribulations, and afflictions, that thy 
 children and people meet with; and the grand 
 adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, is go- 
 ing about continually seeking whom he may 
 devour. Thy people have nothing but Thy- 
 self to depend upon ; and there is a secret 
 help and power that Thou givest thine, 
 whereby they are enabled to withstand the 
 enemy in all his wiles, and in all his tempta- 
 tions. Living God ! what we are it is by 
 Thee ; it is by the assistance of thy grace and 
 good Spirit that we know a persevering and 
 holding on in thy way. Living Father ! we 
 pray Thee, let us feel every day the conduct 
 of thy grace and good Spirit, that we may 
 admire thy love, and praise and glorify thy 
 great and excellent Name. 
 
 p2 
 
168 THE PRAYER. 
 
 O powerful God ! Thou blessest tlie assem- 
 blies of tliy people who meet together in the 
 name of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, for the 
 enjoyment of thy comfortable presence. 
 Lord, bless and prosper all the meetings of 
 thy people every where, and the labours of 
 those whose mouths thou hast opened to re- 
 fresh the sorrowful, and to bring glad tidings 
 to the poor distressed, needy, and weary souls, 
 that would be glad of rest and deliverance, 
 and those in whom Thou raisest desires and 
 breathings after the knowledge of Thee, and 
 thy blessed ways. Lord, bear up the hearts 
 of those, and strengthen all those good desires 
 aJid breathings which Thou hast begotten in 
 any, that they may come to the knowledge of 
 that blessed rest, where Thou makest thy 
 flock to lie down at noon, and feed est them 
 with living bread, and openest a living Foun- 
 tain to refresh and satisfy their thirsty souls ; 
 that they may praise thy great and excellent 
 Name, which is pure and precious above 
 every name. Thou bast brought many to 
 the knowledge of it ; let thy Truth be exalted^ 
 and thy everlasting Gospel be still preached 
 ii^ the land of our nativity, and in other na- 
 tions ; for the day of grace, the time of iove, is 
 
THE PRAYER. 1^ 
 
 HOW come ; and the day of thy power is 
 broken out in the midst of us. 
 
 Arise, O Lord ! in thy power more and more, 
 and send forth thy light and thy truth, that 
 many may be called and converted, and 
 brought from far, from the utmost ends of the 
 earth, to the knowledge of Thyself and thy 
 Son Jesus Christ, whom to know is life 
 eternal; and let many arise, and praise thy 
 excellent and glorious Name, from the rising 
 of the sun to the going down thereof. 
 
 Blessed Father of life ! make thy power and 
 the riches of thy grace, in and through thy 
 <lear Son Christ, more and more known to 
 the world, that they may be no longer 
 enemies, but be reconciled to Thee, by Jesus, 
 the great Mediator of the New Covenant. 
 Lord, the way is Thine, and the work is Thine; 
 let truth and righteousness be brought in 
 more and more, and bring down the kingdom 
 and man of sin, and the power of darkness, 
 and make thy Jerusalem the praise of the 
 earth. We have seen the beginnings of thy 
 glorious work, and the light of thy gloriouis 
 heavenly day. Thou hast raised and 
 
 p 3 
 
170 THE PHAYER. 
 
 brought in many to walk in the liglit, and 
 to love thy holy way. 
 
 Blessed Father of life! our eyes are unto 
 Thee, and our dependence is upon Thee. 
 Whom have we in heaven but Thee? And 
 there is none upon earth that we can desire 
 in comparison of Thee. Therefore our cry 
 is : What shall we do in this world without the 
 enjoyment of thyself? In thy presence is ful- 
 ness of joy, and at thy right hand are plea- 
 sures for evermore. 
 
 Lord, Thou hast afforded us thy refreshing 
 presence in this our solemn meeting, (glory, 
 ^nd honour, and living praises, ascend to thy 
 Name !) which is asa precious ointment poured 
 forth ; therefore our souls do love Thee. 
 
 O! Thou that didst open the heart of 
 Lydia, open the hearts of all thy people 
 ll^efore Thee, that they may go away 
 ■with a sense of thy love and kindness to- 
 wards them. Blessed Father of mercies 1 
 bless this opportunity to us all that are here 
 -before Thee ; and extend thy blessing to the 
 •nieetings and assemblies of all thy people, 
 '«?herever they ^.re- one may plant and 
 
THE PRAYER. 171 
 
 another Avater, but Ihe increase is from Thee. 
 Our eyes are towards Thee ; we wait upon 
 Thee; whither can we go but iinto Thee, 
 who hast the words of eternal life ? 
 
 Lord God of life ! go along with us =when 
 we are separated one from another ; and let 
 the sense of ihy mercy remain upon our 
 spirits, and be an obligation upon us to walk 
 in faiihfulness, raeeknessj and humility before 
 Thee; that, being led by tliy Spirit, we may, 
 when we have finished our pilgrimage, lay 
 down our licads in peace, and know an 
 abundant entrance into that everlasting kin^r- 
 dom which Thou hast prepared for tliem that 
 love and fear Thee. And for thy mercies 
 and favours, benefits and blessings, which 
 Thou hast made us partakers of, in and 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy dear Son 
 and our alone Mediator, all living praises and 
 glory be rendered to Thee ; for Thou alone 
 art worthy, who art God over all, blessed 
 for ever. Amen. 
 
THEACHED BY MR. JOHN BOWATEH. 
 
 AT ST. JOHn's-STREET, MARCH 18, 1693 
 
 To as many as have received Christ Jesus the 
 jLord^ to them gave Hepozoer to become the sons 
 of God J even to them that believe on his Name, 
 
 Nov/, my friends, they that have believed 
 are to v/ait to receive his power, according to 
 the exhortation of our Lord Jesus Christ to 
 his disciples : TVait until yoii be endued with 
 power from on high, Luke xxiv. 49. Many 
 people make a profession of belief in the 
 Lord Jcsiis Christ, but do not come to know 
 this mighty power to work sanctification, re- 
 demption, and salvation. Let all and every 
 one of yon be concerned in waiting upon 
 God, and attending upon Him, that you may 
 leceive strength, and power, and ability from 
 Him, whereby you may be enabled to per- 
 form your bounden duty, which God requireth 
 of you. He hath shexon unto man what is 
 good, and what the Lord requires of Him ; 
 which is, to do justly, a7id love mercy ^^ and t& 
 walk humbly with God, 
 
SERMON BY MR. JOHN BOWATER. 173 
 
 Every one of us that have believed, let \i» 
 wait for power to perform that which may an- 
 swer the reqiiirings of God ; tliat we may re- 
 ceive ability from Him to enable us to perform 
 our duty, that we may not only be professors 
 of the blessed truth of God, but possessors of 
 it j that we may not only be professors but 
 possessors of life, whereby we may live to 
 God, through Jesus Christ, and perform our 
 duty acceptably to God. 
 
 It is a blessed thing to be found in that 
 which gives acceptance with God. Now 
 there is no acceptance with God, but as we 
 are found in Christ Jesus, in Him that was the 
 promised Seed, whom God promised should 
 ])reak the serpent's head. The serpent be- 
 guiled Eve through subtilty. Now God 
 promised that the Seed of the woman, that is 
 Christ Jesus, should break the SerpenCs head. 
 It is tlirough Him that redemption and sal- 
 vation is known. It is through Christ Jesus, 
 the Mediator between God and man, that man 
 becomes reconciled to God, and no other- 
 wise. He tasted death for exery man ; and 
 He died that He might destroy him that had 
 the power of death, that is the devil. It is 
 through Christ the Mediator that we are re^ 
 conciled to God : and for this, saith the 
 
17 i 
 
 SEHMON BY 
 
 apostle, zcas the Sen of Cod manifested^ that 
 He might destroy the works of the devil. 
 
 Sin, in all ages, Iiatli been the "vvorkoftbe 
 devil; and the devil is the author of sin : but 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, tlie Mediator, He is 
 the author of eternal salvation to all them that 
 oheij Him. So tliat ^vhal soever your pro- 
 fession may be of God or of Christ,/z/5 servants 
 ye are to whom ye obey. Now consider 
 whose servants you are, ^vhether you are ser- 
 vants of sin, or bought by Chrisit Jesus, and 
 redeemed from an ungodly life, and from a 
 vain conversation. We cannot serve two 
 masters ; where there is such a contrariety as 
 light is to darkness, you cannot serve them at 
 one and the same time. There must be a 
 cleaving to the one. See that you cleave and 
 join yourselves to that which is good — to that 
 principle which God hath placed in your 
 hearts ; and this will season your souls ; this 
 will leaven you to God, Lulie xiii. 21. The 
 kingdom of God is like leaven^ which a woman 
 took and hid in three measures of mealy till the 
 whole was leavened, 
 
 God doth give to every man a measure of 
 grace that brings salvation. This Grace hath 
 appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 175 
 
 ungodliness and worldly/ lusts, we should live 
 ioherlij , righteously^ andgodli/^in this present 
 evil world ; yet too many people have not 
 had regard to the grace of God given to them, 
 bat rather trample upon it, and do despite to 
 the Spirit of Grace. The Grace of God in 
 Christ Jesus is extended to all the children of 
 men, without respect of persons ; God is no 
 respecter of persons, but in every nation he 
 that fear eth Him, and worlceth righteousness^ 
 is accepted with Him, Acts x„ 35. 
 
 Now, my friends, we cannot work righteous- 
 ness but by the ability and assistance of the 
 grace of God. Now this grace is from 
 Christ Jesus. John i. 17. For the Law was 
 given hi/ Moses, hut Grace and Truth came hy 
 Jesus Christ; that grace came by Christ 
 which worketh sanctification. Now the Laxo 
 did not make the comers thereunto perfect, nor 
 purge the conscience ; hut the bringing in of a 
 better hope did, by which we draw nigh to God, 
 There is no drawing nigh to God but through 
 Christ Jesus, no redemption but through 
 Him ; lie is a complete Saviour ; He doth not 
 only redeem in part, but He saveth to the 
 uttermost, all that come u?ito God by Him. 
 He is a complete Saviour — He that hath be- 
 
176 SERMON BY 
 
 gotten good desires in our souls, -whereby we 
 breathe after Him, and are raised to pant and 
 desire after that which is good ; and as there 
 is a giviug up to Him who halh begotten these 
 good desires in the soul, the Lord, in his good 
 time, will answer these desires. See that ye 
 be of humble and meek minds, and lie low 
 before Him, and wait on Him ; and He will, 
 in due time, perfect the work which He hath 
 begun. 
 
 Friends, I testify among you at this time, 
 there is not a livino: desire in the soui to that 
 which is good, but Christ is the Author of it. 
 He is the Author of eternal salvation to as 
 many as ohey Him. It is He tliat begun the 
 work ; He met w ith us by his power and 
 " Spirit, when we were strangers to God. For 
 we, as well as others, were in the broad way, 
 going hand in hand with the multitude to do 
 evil ; and we did not seek God, till He did 
 iirst seek us. We did not desire the know- 
 ledge of his ways, till He raised desires in our 
 souls. He met with us in the way of his 
 judgments, causing terror to take hold of trans- 
 gressors ; so that we could not take delight in 
 \anities and yjleasures as we had done, be- 
 cause his terrors took hold of us: blessed be 
 the name of the Lord ! 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. ] 77 
 
 It was good for us that we were afflicted. 
 Before we were afflicted we z^ent astray^ but 
 now we have learned His righteous judgments. 
 Judgments upon the unjust, we have found 
 to be mercy to the just. Blessed be the Name 
 of the Lord, that did seek us out — that met 
 with us — that put a stop to us in our way, so 
 that we could not delight in vanity as we had 
 done. The Lord brought us to a considera- 
 tion of our ways and doings ; He mani- 
 fested to us — If I live and die in this way I 
 am in, 1 am undone for ever. 1 am misera])le 
 for ever, if I do not know redemption and 
 salvation by Jesus Christ. The Lord mani- 
 fested tons, by the shining of his Divine light 
 in our hearts, that we were in the broad way 
 that leads to destruction. We read of the nar- 
 row way that leads to life, and of the broad 
 "way that leads to destruction. We read of 
 the narrow way, but we did not know our- 
 selves to be in that way ; when we saw the 
 broad way that leads to destruction, this begat 
 a breathing in our souls, and an earnest desire 
 that we might know the way that is pleasing 
 to Hira. 
 
 And there being many opinions in th« 
 world, many of us were hurried in our minds ; 
 
 P*. III. Q 
 
178 SERMON BY 
 
 and where we saw any thing of sobriety and 
 weightiness of spirit, we were willing to try 
 them all, that we might know the mind of 
 God. Friends, God raised a travail in our 
 souls, and apjjeared farther to us. God^ that 
 commanded the light to shine out ofdarknesSy 
 shined into our hearts^ Avhereby a discovery 
 was made of that which is good, and of that 
 which is evil. This the Lord discovered to 
 us by the shining of his divine light and 
 grace in our inward parts ; so that we needed 
 not look abroad. We retired inward ; we 
 saw that we had business enough at home ; 
 we saw that \\ hen we had grieved the good 
 Spirit of God we had trouble for it ; and when 
 we answered the breathings of the Spirit we 
 had peace witliin us; so that we must dis- 
 tinguish between that which gave acceptance 
 with God, and that whereby the Spirit of 
 God was grieved from day to day. 
 
 Now, my friends, we came under a travail, 
 Csod by his light and grace discovered to us 
 bis way, so that now we are come to a certainty 
 of the way. Christ is the way to God ; and 
 if any man he in Ch ist, he is a new creatme : 
 he is born again, born of the Spirit, You 
 should all of you be concerned, and consider 
 what you know of a change wrought in you 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER, 179 
 
 hy Ihe power of God ; wliellier you liave re- 
 ceived virtue froui Jesus to stop the issues of 
 sin. It is an easy thing to make a profession, 
 and to call yourselves Christians ; but it is a 
 weighty thing to be a Christian, to be so in 
 reality, united unto God througli Jesus Christ. 
 To be a Christian, is to be a follower of Christ 
 in the way of regeneration and self-denial : 
 Except a man he regenerate and born again-) 
 he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
 
 There are many people would go to God's 
 kingdom when they die, but do not mind 
 to be prepared for it. Many have been 
 pleading for sin in their life, but would go to 
 God's kingdom when they die. Where must 
 people be cleansed from sin, but on this side 
 the grave ? There is no repentance in the 
 grave, nor redemption out of hell. This 
 is the day of your visitation. God hath pre- 
 pared means whereby we may be accepted of 
 Him. Consider of it. The gate stands open 
 that leads to the holy city ; there is none can 
 enter into God's kingdom in their defilements 5 
 their hearts must be purged, their minds 
 purified ; tliey must know the work of sanc- 
 tification, if they will enter into God's king- 
 dom. Nov/ the preparation of the heart and 
 the answer of the tongue are from the Lord. 
 
180 SERMON BY 
 
 I do not question but here are many tender- 
 hearted ones, that liave tender desires and 
 breathings of soul after God; that desire to 
 know peace with God, and reconciliation 
 with their Maker* Now, my friends, there is 
 not another Mediator besides Jesus Christ. 
 He is the alone Mediator and Redeemer ; it is 
 He that gave Himself a ransom for us ; it is 
 He that reconciles man to God ; and we must 
 be found in Him if we will come to have ac- 
 ceptance with God. So let every one of you 
 consider with yourselves, how far you are 
 broken off from your evil ways. TVe are all 
 hy nature children of wrath; consider how 
 far you are broken off from the wild olive 
 tree, from that which is corrupt by nature, 
 and whether you be grafted into Christ. If 
 tliou art grafted into Him, thou receivest 
 strength and nourishment and ability from 
 Him ; and for this end we have waited after 
 ■we have believed ; we have waited for power. 
 
 Many a time we have travelled many miles 
 to a silent meeting. People have wondered 
 what encouragement we could have to travel 
 to a silent meeting. Indeed we have had 
 great encouragement to meet together ; and 
 we have travelled in great hazard and 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 181 
 
 jeopardy, yet we liave met together ; and the 
 Lord hath made us living witnesses of the ful- 
 filling of that promise, Where two or three 
 are gathered together i?t my name, I will be in 
 the midst of them* This was that which 
 beautified our meetings ; and we were willing 
 io wait. There was a disposition of soul in 
 us, that if the Lord did hide his face from us 
 wc were troubled ; if we did not enjoy the 
 Lord, and find Him in the midst of us, it 
 brought a great concernment upon our minds 
 and spirits; and we were willing to reflect 
 upon ourselves, and examine within ourselves, 
 what was the matter that the fountain did not 
 send forth its living streams as at other times ; 
 and what the reason was that it was withheld 
 from us. 
 
 Friends, this was a great exercise upon our 
 minds ; but the Lord graciously manifesting 
 Himself, appeared to us, causing the cloud 
 many times to vanish away ; and the light oi' 
 liis countenance shined on us; and our spirits 
 were revived, and we were comforted. And 
 this was a great encouragement to us to wait 
 upon God. Seeing our own weakness to 
 perform that which is our bounden duty, 
 which God required of us, of necessity thi« 
 
 a 3 
 
1-82 SERMON BY 
 
 brought a constraint upon us to wait upon the 
 Lord, that we might renew our strength ; 
 seeing our own weakness, insufficiency, and 
 infirmity, there was a necessity that con- 
 strained us to wait for a Saviour, for a Re- 
 deemer. Isa. xl. 31. The^ that wait upon the 
 Lord shall renew their strength ; they shall 
 mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run 
 and not he weary ; they shall walk and not 
 faint. 
 
 My friends, we liave need of supplies from 
 God every day ; we have need of our daily 
 bread. And God gives bread to the hungry 
 soul ; He filleth the hungry with good things. 
 This is what wc labour and travail for. Now 
 it is those that are hungry that God takes 
 notice of, and gives bread to ; He hath pro- 
 mised that those that hunger and thirst after 
 righteousness shall he filed. See w hat yon 
 are hunting after this day. What is it that 
 your souls do desire. You have presented 
 your bodies here at this time, what is it for ? 
 is it to hear what a man can say — to hear 
 eloquence of speech — to hear some novelties ? 
 or is it your end to wait upon God ? I would 
 have ev^ery one of you to wait for yourselves ; 
 you that have been acquainted with the mani*- 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 1S3 
 
 festation of the Spirit, wait in it, feel your 
 minds exercised towards God ; wait at his 
 footstool. This was Mary's choice, when 
 Martha was cumbered about many things. 
 Mary attended at the footstool of Jesus; her 
 attendance was upon Him. So, friends, let us 
 all look unto the Lord, and wait upon Him— 
 wait for liis appearance, and for his sal- 
 vation to be manifested to us. Wait that 
 you may know that arm of power which 
 wrought tenderness in you, and did beget 
 desires in your souls after that which is good. 
 Wait that you may be strengthened in that 
 power, that you may be a growing people, 
 that you may grow in grace and virtue, tliat 
 you may grow in grace, and in the knowledge 
 of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There 
 are degrees of grace, and there are several 
 statures and degrees of growth. You may 
 read of several statures, 1 John ii. 13, chil- 
 dren, young men, and fathers : I have written 
 unto ^ou, fathers, because 7/e have known Him 
 that is from the beginning, I have written 
 unto j/ouy ?/Qung men, because 7/e are strong, 
 and the word of God abideth in you, and yt 
 have overcome the wicked one, 1 write unto 
 you, little children, because ye have known the 
 Fuih^r^ 
 
184 SERMON BY 
 
 Now you that make a profession of the 
 truth, see how far you are grown into the life 
 of it; see how far it hath prevailed so as to 
 season your souls, and to make you savoury 
 to God, that you may not only stand in a pro- 
 fession and be professors of life, but possessors 
 of life, of tlie life of Jesus ; tliat you may 
 receive life and ability from Him every day, 
 so as to be enabled, by his power, to perform 
 what He requires of you : now there is no 
 more required of us but faithfulness accord- 
 ing to the ability of grace given. The Lord 
 God hath been free in his love, and hath com- 
 municated to us a talent or talents. Now it is 
 those that arc faithful in a little that He will 
 commit more unto ; but do not expect a 
 greater talent, or more to be communicated, 
 till you have been faithful in a little, which 
 liath already been made manifest to you. 
 See that you be every one concerned for your- 
 selves ; mind your travail : Lay aside evtry 
 weight and burthen, and the sin which doth so 
 easily beset you ; and run with patience the 
 race that is set before you, looking unto Jesus, 
 who is the Author, and will be the Finisher, of 
 your faiths If thou dost give up thyself to 
 Him, He that is the Author will be the 
 Finisher of thy faith, to the joy and comfsrt 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 185 
 
 of thy soul ; He will perfect the work He 
 hath begun in thee* 
 
 I would have neither old nor young to 
 satisfy yourselves with an outside profession 
 of the truth of God : but see that you be con- 
 verted ; that you be hrohen off from the wild 
 olive, and ingrafted into Christ ; see that there 
 be a thorough reformation wrought in your 
 souls, and that you be separated from that 
 which is evil. What doth an outward separa- 
 tion signify, if there be not an inward separa- 
 tion ? 2 Cor, vi. 17. Wherefore come out from 
 amongst them, and be ye separate, saith the 
 Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and 1 
 will receive you, and will be a Father unto 
 you, and ye sh-all be my sons and daughters, 
 saith the Lord Almighty, Wait upon the 
 Lord, and know an inward separation ; for 
 what will it signify to change the name, and 
 retain the corrupt nature, the old nature ; and 
 to live in pride, vanity, lust, covetousness, 
 and other abominations. What doth it sig- 
 nify to make a profession of Christianity, 
 while people live in these sins from day to day ? 
 
 Consider how it is with you, how you stand 
 related to God. I do not question but that 
 
186 SERMON BY 
 
 all Lere make a profession of God, and Christ, 
 and true godliness; and are an j too much 
 like some, tbat profess God in words ^ but in 
 ti)orks deny Him ; being abominable, and to 
 ever?/ good work reprobate ? I would have 
 better hopes of you that are here present. 
 There are many who make a profession of 
 Christianity, tliat are vile in their lives, and 
 wngodiy in their conversations, more like 
 heathens, than weighty, sober, solid Christians. 
 Their lives do not speak them to be Christians ; 
 they have the name of Christians ; they are 
 called so, but their lives speak them to be 
 otherwise. 
 
 Now, friends, I hope and believe, that many 
 of you here present, do abhor those abomi- 
 nations that are acted among many that are 
 called Christians. You that hate and abhor 
 these abominations, do not you retain that 
 ■which is evil in the least degree ; but now 
 there are some that may abhor to be seen in 
 abominable pride, and yet there may be 
 something of that nature that doth in secret 
 e main; and though they may seek to hide it 
 from men in their profession, yet God will 
 find them out : Jf 1 regard iniquitj/ in my 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 187 
 
 heart, God will not hear mij 'prayers* See 
 that you be a clear people, a people re- 
 deemed to God. Do not halt between two 
 opinions, that so you maj^ come forth clear 
 for God. You wliose understandings God 
 hath opened, see that you be preaching for 
 God. Do not keep correspondency with the 
 spirit of the world, though we may have 
 commerce and dealings among men ; be 
 watchful, keep yourselves from the evil of 
 the world, as Christ prayed for his disciples : 
 Johrij xvii. 15 : I praynot that Thou shouldest 
 take them out of the world; but that Thou 
 shouldest keep them from the evil. So that 
 we must have a care, that we partake not 
 with them in their sins, lest we partake with 
 them in their plagues. 
 
 Take heed of mixtures; this was an abomi- 
 nation in Israel ; they were not to sow their 
 land with mingled seed or grain^ nor to wear 
 garments of linen and woollen. Take heed 
 of the spirit of the world, do not mix with it, 
 lest you be corrupted by it, and the enemy- 
 prevail. Sin will Imrden a people. The 
 longer they go on in a course of sin, and the 
 longer people take liberty in that which is 
 
188 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 vain, the harder they v,i\\ grow, and the more 
 stupid and benumbed ; if Ihey answer not the 
 call of God to come out of the abomination of 
 the world. God calleth us to purity and 
 holiness; for^ without holiness, saith the 
 apostle, tw man shall see the Lord : they shall 
 not see God to their comfort, to their joy and 
 consolation. 
 
 See that you be found in that holy way 
 ■which God hath cast up. Many men have 
 been casting up ways of their own devising, 
 but God hath cast up a way for the ransomed 
 of the Lord, that the way-faring man, though 
 a fool, shall not err therein^ The unclean 
 beasts have not trod in this way ; the ran- 
 somed of the Lord, those that are redeemed 
 from their vain conversation, these are they 
 that walk in this pure and holy way, the way of 
 righteousness and truth. See that you be 
 joined to the Truth ; and that will be for your 
 good ; not that God hath need of us, but we 
 have need to be reconciled to Him. Man 
 hath need of reconciliation to God his Maker; 
 for He hath gone astray from Him, and Iiath 
 been separated by reason of sin, and had need 
 be reconciled. 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 189 
 
 Friends, I would have you to prize the 
 mercy of God, and the day of his visitation. 
 He hath stretched forth his hand ; and his 
 love and mercy have been extended to us. 
 There were many good people, zealous people, 
 that desired to see the days that we now see, 
 and have not lived to see them ; but have died 
 in the faith of this, that God would send 
 forth more of his light, more of his grace, to 
 the children of men; and that the light 
 of the moon should be as the light of 
 the sun, and the light of the sun as the 
 light of seven days. Many good people 
 that are gone to their rest have died 
 in the faith of it, though they have never at- 
 tained to see the days that we have seen. 
 God hath stretched fortli his hand to the 
 nations, and sent forth liis servants to declare 
 the glad tidings of peace and salvation, to be 
 perfected through Christ Jesus the Mediator. 
 
 Now God hath made us partakers of this 
 grace and blessing ; blessed be the Lord our 
 God, who Iiath made a remnant partakers of 
 it, that have given up their all, that they 
 might enjoy Truth, and be professors of the 
 Truth. And the Lord hath preserved this 
 remnant through many tribulations, ever 
 
 P^III. R 
 
190 SERMON BY 
 
 since we have been a people. The love of 
 God, and his Almighty power, have sur- 
 rounded us ; and He hath gathered us to be a 
 people. Many of us having living experience 
 ofthe tender iTicrcies and blessina^sof God : we 
 cannot say that He hath been a bad master ; 
 He hath not laid hard things upon us ; He 
 Lath fed his flock like a Shepherd ; He hath 
 gathered the lambs with his arm, and carried 
 them in his bosom, and doth gently lead 
 those that are with young. Isa. xl. 11. The 
 Spirit of the Lord hath led us on gently, and 
 hath instructed us according to our capacities. 
 He hath not laid hard matters upon us, when 
 we were as weak children, but He hath 
 nourished us by degrees, and fed us with the 
 sincere milk ofthe Word, that we might grow 
 thereby ; that we might grow in grace, and in 
 virtue, and goodness, that you may be 
 strengthened in your inward man. The out- 
 ward man cannot long subsist without food, 
 but the body without food will grow weak 
 and feeble ; nor can the soul live unto God, 
 except it receive strength and nourishment 
 from Him, v> ho Jills the liungri/ icith good 
 things^ atid sends the rich empti/ away. 
 
 Wait upon God, that you may be strength- 
 ened, and enabled to perform your duty, and 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 191 
 
 what God requires of you. Obedience is 
 better than sacrifice^ end to obey the voice of 
 the Lord, them the fat of rams. It is in Christ 
 alone that we have acceptance with God ; and 
 He is the Author of eternal salvation to all 
 them that obey Him. Acceptance with God 
 is of sreat value, and much to be desired. 
 O ! many an honest heart desires to have ac- 
 ceptance with God, and enjoy his favour. 
 Sin, in all ages, hath made a separation be- 
 tween God and us ; sin hath caused man to 
 be driven out of the paradise of God. Thou 
 earnest unto separation by sin ; it was sin tliat 
 separated between God and thee ; Thine 
 iniquities have kept good things from thee. 
 
 There is a partition wall between God and 
 us made by sin ; but Christ is come to break 
 it down, and to fnish transgression and make 
 an end ofsin^ and bring in everlasting righte- 
 ousness. This every particular man and woman 
 is to wait for, to wait for the salvation of God, 
 and to be in a travail of spirit and soul \o 
 know the way of truth. After the truth came 
 to be made manifest to our understandings, 
 that we were at a certainty in the ways of 
 God, we found a straitness in ourselves, a 
 want of power and ability to perform what 
 R 2 
 
}92 SERMON BY 
 
 God required of us ; a want of enlargedness 
 from God, and of love to Him. According to 
 the certain knowledge we have of God, let 
 lis see that we be found faithful to Him, and 
 wait upon Him for strength and ability to 
 perform our duty. 
 
 Now, friends, after there were good desires 
 in our souls, we have found ourselves at a loss, 
 for want of watchfulness. The enemy many 
 times hath prevailed upon us, and drawn us to 
 things that were not convenient, whereby we 
 came to have distress upon us ; and many 
 times we were compassed about with sorrow 
 and trouble of mind, in seeing there was such 
 a shortness in ourselves, after we knew the 
 Truth :for to will was present with us^ hut how 
 to perform that which is good we found not, 
 until we received ability from God. We 
 found a shortness in ourselves ; but we found 
 a sufficiency when joined to the grace of God. 
 So it was with the apostle Paul : 2 Cor, xii. 
 7. 8 : Lest I should be exalted above measure, 
 saith he, through the abundance of revelations, 
 there was given to me a thorn in thejlesh, the 
 messenger of Satan to buffet me, 8fc, For this 
 thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might 
 depart from me. And He said unto me, Mj/ 
 Grace is sufficient for thee ; for my strength 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 193 
 
 55 made perfect in weakness. We have had a 
 sufficiency of Grace to withstand the motions 
 of sin ; when we came to Christ we found Him 
 a complete Saviour — that He is able to save 
 to the uttermost all that come unto God hi/ 
 Him . 
 
 Be not content, my friends, to sit down 
 under bare convictions, lest .your carcases fall 
 in the wilderness j but let all of you travel on, 
 that you may possess tlie good land, the land 
 of rest — ^that you may know peace with God 
 for your immortal souls. Israel had much of 
 travel in the wilderness after they came out 
 of the dark land, the land of Egypt. Now 
 (jod showed many signs and wonders for 
 their deliverance -, He fed them and sustained 
 them ; and though they were many years in 
 the wilderness, their garments waxed not old. 
 God supplied them with food ; and caused 
 manna to be rained down upon them^ Thcjy 
 did eat angels' food ; He sent them meat to the 
 full. So thej/ did eat and were filled ; for lie 
 gave them their own desire \ tlie.y zcere not 
 estranged from their lusty but while their meat 
 was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God 
 came upon them ; and their carcases fell in the 
 wilderness ; and, for the hardness of tlieic 
 
 r3 
 
194 SERMON BY 
 
 hearts, they never attained to the land of rest ; 
 though they drew near to it, they did not 
 enter into it. 
 
 They hearkened not to those that brought 
 good tidings, and brought the cluster of 
 grapes from the brook Eshcol, and said to 
 Moses : We came to the land whither thou 
 scntest us, and surelij it Jlows with milk and 
 honey ; and this is the fruit of it. Numb, xiii. 
 SO. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, 
 and said, Let us go up at once and posses it ; 
 for we are well able to overcome it. But the 
 men that went up with him said, We are not 
 able to go up against the people, for they are 
 stronger then we. And they brought up an 
 eml report of the land they had searched, 
 saying : It is a land that cateth up the inhabi- 
 tants thereof; and all the people that we saw 
 in it are men of great stature ; and there zee 
 saw the giants, the sons of An ah ; and we wert 
 incur own sight as grasshoppers. 
 
 Thus they hearkened to those that dis- 
 couraged the people ; and their carcases fell 
 in the wilderness; and they never -went 
 through Jordan with Caleb and Joshua, to 
 possess the land, who were men of noble 9^^ 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 195 
 
 excellent spirits, and followed the Lord fully ; 
 and brought news of the good land, saying : 
 The land which 'we jjasscd through to search 
 it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord 
 delight in us, then He will bring us into this 
 land, and give it us, a land zchich floweth with 
 milk and honey ; only rebel not ye against the 
 Ijord, neither fear ye the people of the land ; 
 for they are bread for us. Their defence is 
 departed from them ; and the Lord is with us ; 
 fear them not. But all ih^ congregation bade 
 stone them zoith stones ; though the Lord had 
 done marxellous things in the sight of their 
 fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of 
 Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them 
 to pass through ; He made the waters to stand 
 as a heap, and they passed through the sea 
 as on dry land. And the zvaters covered their 
 enemies ; and there was not one of them left. I 
 will sing unto the Lord, said Moses, for He 
 hath triumphed gloriously ; the horse and hii 
 rider hath Hethrozicn into the sea. Ps. Ixxviii. 
 106. Psalm xi. Exod. xv. 1. These faithful 
 men, Joshua and Caleb, remembered the 
 Lord, were not unmindful of his power; and 
 the Lord subdued their enemies, and made 
 them as ashes under the soles of their feet j 
 and they went on and prospered, and pre. 
 
\9G SERMON BY 
 
 vailed till tbey came into the possession of the 
 good land. 
 
 Though many fall in the way, and though 
 thy exercises be much, as in the wilderness ; 
 and though thou mayest many times question 
 the way, yet God hath prepared a certain 
 guide for man, the Spirit of Truth that Christ 
 promised : John xiv. 16 : And 1 will pra2/ the 
 Father, and He shall give you another Com- 
 forter, that He may abide with you for ever, 
 even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world 
 cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither 
 Jcnoweth Him; hut ye know Him, for He 
 dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Here 
 is a certain guide to lead you into the way of 
 peace and righteousness, wherein you shall 
 not go astray from God ; He will bring all 
 things to your remembrance ; He will con- 
 vince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of 
 judgment. You must know Him as a re- 
 prover, before you come to know Him as a 
 justifier. 
 
 My friends, God calls upon us : Turn you 
 at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my 
 Spirit upon you; I will make known my 
 words unto you. I have called and ye refused ; 
 I have stretched out my hand, and no man 
 
MR. JOHN BOVVATER. 197 
 
 regardeth; but ye haze set at nought mi/ 
 counsel^ and would none of my reproof- 
 Pi'ov. i. ^5, 24. Though God pourcth out his 
 Spirit abundantly, and niaketh known his 
 mind and will, yet many hearken not to the 
 reproof of the Spirit of the Lord ; but they 
 harden their hearts, and rebel against the light, 
 against God's Spirit that striveth with them. 
 As God's Spirit did strive with the old world, 
 so God will now be striving with the children 
 of men by his good Spirit. If they will 
 hearken to his reproofs, and turn at his re- 
 proofs. He will manifest Himself more 
 abundantly to them. If people will hearken 
 to his counsel, and obey his voice, and turn at 
 his reproofs, He will make known his will to 
 them : Woe to the rebellious children^ saith the 
 Lord^ that take counsel^ but not of me^ sailh 
 the Lord i and that cover with a coverings 
 hut not of my Spirit, 
 
 Those that walk in the Spirit, shall be 
 covered with it as with a garment and be led 
 into all truth. As many as are led by the 
 Spirit of God, are the sons of God. Try 
 yourselves, what spirit you are of. There is a 
 spirit of man; but it is the inspiration of the 
 
198 SERMON BY 
 
 Almighty that giveth understanding. God 
 hath opened the understanding of many by 
 Lis grace, and given thein understanding to 
 know Him that is true. They that are led by 
 the Spirit of God, shall not only know his 
 way, but have their hearts enlarged in his 
 way. Here is our happiness, to travel on in 
 the ways of God's commandments, with en- 
 larofed hearts. God hath sent forth his lischt 
 and his truth, and hath prepared a certain 
 guide for man, that He might not mistake his 
 way ; as He gave to Israel a pillar of a cloud 
 by day, and a pillar of fire by night, to guide 
 and direct them in their travelling and jour- 
 neys in the wilderness. 
 
 Take heed lest the mystery of iniquity 
 work in your minds and spirits, work to a 
 fleshly liberty, to liberty to sin ! The Spirit of 
 God works liberty and freedom from sin, and 
 from the bondage of corruption ; not to give 
 way to it. If Christ hath made you free^ 
 then ye shall he free indeed. Where the Spirit 
 of the Lord is, there is liberty, a freedom from 
 sin : the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 
 and the pride of life, they are not of the 
 Father, but of the world. Many people in- 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER, 199 
 
 dulge tlie lusts of their own mind, and embrace 
 pride, vanity, and arrogance, those things 
 that are evil ; and so corrupt themselves, and 
 go out of the way of God, reaching after the 
 pleasures of the world and the lusts of it. 
 Here people go astray ; but by keeping to the 
 Spirit, w hen the temptation comes to us to 
 gratify our flesh, the Spirit of the Lord lifts 
 up a standard against it. We have tried our- 
 selves and our own spirits; and in our own 
 strength we could never get forward in tlie 
 ways of God. We iiave been convinced of 
 it, that though our understandings have been 
 clear to know the way of Truth, yet by our 
 own striving we can never get forward; by 
 striving in our own wills. 
 
 Take heed that in your striving you do not 
 set up self; but humble yourselves to the dust, 
 and sit at the feet of Jesus : learn of Him to be 
 meek and lowly. He that is the chief among 
 you, let him be the servant of all. Do not 
 strive for high places, nor for honour and 
 dignity, and to be accounted of among men. 
 If we may have the favour of God, we should 
 be content to dwell in a low place ; to be a 
 door-keepei in the house of God, we shall 
 
200 SERMON BY 
 
 think sufficient. I doubt not. will a gracious 
 soul say, but God liatli a sufficiency in store 
 for me, ■whensoever He calls me out of the 
 world. Clirist Jesus, my Lord, is gone before 
 to prepare a place for me ; and He hath also 
 promised: I will come again to receive 7/ on to 
 mi/self; and rchere I am^ there shall my ser- 
 vants be. If Christ be gone to prepare a place 
 forus, we need notquestion our reward ; if the 
 Spirit of God beareth witness with our spirits 
 that we are the children of God; and if 
 children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint 
 heirs with Christ. 
 
 Seek peace with the Lord, seek reconcilia- 
 tion with God in the right way. There are two 
 ways, the way that leads to life, and the way 
 that leads to destruction ; the narrow way, 
 and the broad way. Are you in that way 
 which God hath cast up ? If you are in Christ, 
 Heisthe Way, the Truth, and the Life; if yoit 
 are in Christ, you are new creatures. Con- 
 sider what you know of a change, of dying 
 unto sin, and living unto righteousness. Put 
 off the old 7na?i with his deeds, and put on the 
 New man, which after God is created in 
 righteousness and true holiness. Consider 
 
HR. JOHN BOW ATER. 201 
 
 bow it is with you : whether you live in sin, 
 or in holiness and righteonsness. All sin is 
 of the devil, he is the author of sin; What 
 
 fruit had ye in those tilings whereof ye are now 
 ashamed; for the end of those things is death ? 
 Ye were the servants of sin / hut being made 
 
 free from sin, ye became the servants of right e^ 
 ousness ; and now, being made free from sin, 
 and become servants to God, ye have your 
 
 fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 
 Here is a good change, from being servants of 
 sin to be made free from sin, through the 
 Mediator, Christ Jesus. 
 
 Consider of it, I do not design to enlarge. 
 You have had testimonies upon testimonies ; 
 you have been put in mind of these things ; 
 you that make a profession of the truth, there 
 is a necessity and a constraint upon me to 
 remind you of former things, of things tbat 
 you have been told of and been stirred up to, 
 by the servants of the Lord, to remember. I 
 see a necessity of reminding you of tbem. 
 There are many that are in a profession of the 
 truth, that do not dwell in the life of it; they 
 are sunk down into the form of godlinei^s, but 
 they do not mind the power of it; they do 
 part of the work, they do not go through witii 
 
 P^1II. 8 
 
202 SERlvrON BY 
 
 il, the J are for sparing some sins, that iiiey 
 M'ill not mortify them. They are like Saul, 
 they make profession of doing the will of 
 God : Saul said to Samuel, blessed be thou of 
 the Lord, I have performed the commandment 
 of the Lord. 1 Satn. xv. 14. And Samuel said, 
 What meaiieih then this bleating of the sheep 
 in mine ears, a^id the lozoing of the oxen which 
 I hear. And Saul said, They have brought 
 them from the Amalekites ; for the people 
 spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to 
 sacrifice iinio the Lord thy God, and the rest 
 we have destroyed. 
 
 Now, my friends, there are many people 
 "^vho are willing to give themselves up to an 
 outward profession of religion. They would 
 not be found in profaneness, in that which 
 is an abomination in the sight of God; they 
 would not be found in abominable pride in the 
 view of God's people ; they will not be seen 
 \i\ that which is abominable, and shameful 
 wickedness ; they will keep up a profession 
 of the truth, that they may be without rebuke. 
 Though they are not so vain as to be for the 
 fashions of the world, yet they are of the 
 sasvu- nature and spirit with the men of the 
 world ; and they conform themselves too much 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. SOS 
 
 to the vanity and custom, and fashion of the 
 world, though they will not be seen in tiic 
 height of it. 
 
 There are many other things might be 
 mentioned. In short, 1 would only men(ion 
 this, whether you have not kept a secnet re- 
 serve of some sins, and made a fair pretence 
 for the use of them. This will be a sting to 
 you : He that loveth any thing rnore than me, 
 saith Christ, is not zcorth?/ of me. He that 
 denieth not himself, and forsaheth not all thai 
 he hath for ini/ sake, cannot he my disciple, 
 
 Whenatrialcomes, all must be given up ;and 
 nothing vain and evil must be reserved, that is 
 contrary to the nature of truth. The mind 
 must be subject to the will of God, and sul> 
 dued to the power of God ; there must be a 
 thorough change and reformation ; we mubt 
 know a mortilication of sin, and not do the 
 work only in parts, but we must ^p through 
 with it. Now that we may do this effectually, 
 God hath laid help upon one that is might i/. 
 There are many weaknesses and infirmities do 
 attend us poor creatures, tiiat many (im^s we 
 are ready to faint. Have an eye io Christ ; 
 let us look unto Jesus ; God hath laid help 
 
204 SERMON BY 
 
 upon Hirn^ who is might?/, and who is able to 
 save to the uttermost, not only from that 
 which is vile and contemptible, but He is a 
 complete Saviour, that will save to the utter- 
 most, all that come unto God by Him. 
 There is no coming to God, or being recon- 
 ciled to God, but b}^ Him ; and all that come 
 to God by Him shall have complete redemp- 
 tion for their immortal souls : He is the 
 Author of eternal salvation to all them that 
 ohcij Him, He is the Author and Finisher 
 of our faith. 
 
 He that believeth in Christ will submit to 
 Him, and say in sincerity. Thy will be done. 
 It is an ordinary thing for people to say, 
 Thj/ kingdom come, and th?/ will be done on 
 tarth as it is in heaven. This is a good 
 prayer, that Christ taught his d isciples. 
 There are many people that are often saying 
 over these words ; but they do not give up 
 and resign their own wills to the will of God. 
 If any trial, affliction, and exercise befall 
 them, they are very apt to fret and repine. 
 If God shall take away a near and dear friend, 
 or a wife or a child, we must quietly submit 
 to the will of God, who knows best how to 
 tiisposc of them, whether it be by life or 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. !^J5 
 
 death. Wliea God is pleased to take cliildren 
 from parents, or parents from children, 
 people must not be discontented at the will of 
 God ; but submit to his afflicting hand. God 
 dolh not ajjlict zDiUinglj/^ nor grieve the child- 
 ren of men. He is not willing that any should 
 perish^ but that all should come to repentance, 
 
 God calls upon sinners: Isa.'i. 16, 17 : Wash 
 you^ make you clean: put away the evil of 
 your doings from before mine eyes; cease lo 
 do c'cil^ learn to do well ; relieve the oppressed^ 
 Judge the fatherless^ plead for the widow. 
 Come now, and let us reason together, sailh the 
 Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, tluy 
 shall be as white as snow ; though they be red 
 nice crimson, they shall be as wool. JLet ibe 
 wicked forsake his way, and th€ unrighteous 
 man his thoughts ,• and turn to the Lord, and 
 He zcill have mercy upon Him ; and to our 
 God, for He will abundantly pardon. See 
 that you accept of his mercj when it is ten- 
 dered to you, and answer when He calls ; for 
 He calls upon the children oi^Jieii, lie turn, y^ 
 backsliding i:hildre?}, and I will heat your 
 backslidings, and love you freely, Gud duib 
 not delight in the death of a smner ; iiui 
 
 5 3 
 
206 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 rather that He might turn and live, and find 
 favour with Him» 
 
 Man hath a day afforded to him by the 
 Lord, and time and strength to do the work 
 of the day ; therefore work while it is day ^ for 
 the night comelh, when no man can work. 
 There is a dsy and hour wherein man is ap- 
 pointed to do his work: some are called at one 
 hour, and some at another ; some are called ear- 
 ly, some are called at the sixth hour, and some 
 at the eleventh hour. Now those lliat came in 
 at the eleventh, had their penny, had their re- 
 ward, as well as those that bare the heat and 
 burden of the day. God will be the rewarder of 
 all them that faithfully give up themselves to 
 Him, «nd answer his call in the day of his visi- 
 tation. He that came in at the eleventh hour 
 Lad his penny, as well as he that came in tirht* 
 
 Delay not, my friends, for time is precious. 
 Those that were first bidden and made ex- 
 cusics, were not counted worthy to partake of 
 the supper. Make not excuses: while God 
 worketb with thee by his power, join to it, 
 and answer when God calls; lest it happen 
 to tlice, when tb<m art in distress and callc&t 
 upon God, that He answer thee not, and hear 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 207 
 
 not thy prayers, because when He called 
 thou wouldest not hear Him : Prov. i. 24-28 : 
 Because 1 have called^ and ye refused ; I have 
 stretched out my hand and no man regarded : 
 hut ye have set at nought all my counsels^ and 
 would none of my reproof I also will laugh 
 at your calamity^ and mock zc hen your fear 
 Cometh : when your fear cometh as desolation^ 
 <ind your destruction cometh as a whirlwind ; 
 when distress and anguish cometh upon you,- 
 Uien shall they call upon 3Ie, but I will not 
 answer ; they shall seek Me early j but they shall 
 not find Me, 
 
 The foolish virgins, they had a day and a 
 time ; they made a professiou : they took their 
 lamps, and took no oil with them ; but the 
 wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 
 While the bridegroom tarried^ they all slum* 
 bered and slept ; and at midnight there was a 
 cry mtade : Behold the bridegroom cometh^ go 
 f/e out to meet Him. Then all those virgins 
 arose and trimmed their lumps ; and the fool- 
 ish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, far 
 our lamps are gone out. But the wise, 
 answered, saying: Not sOy lest there be not 
 enough for us and you ; but go ye rather to 
 them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And 
 while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; 
 
208 SERMON BY 
 
 and they that were ready went in with Him i& 
 the marriage, and the door was shut. After'- 
 wards came also the other virgins, saying: 
 Lord! Lord! open to us. But he answered 
 and said, Verily I say imto you, I know you 
 not. Watch therefore^ for ye Inozo neither 
 the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man 
 <^ometh. 
 
 Friends, you see tlie foolish virgins came 
 when it was too late ; therefore prize your day, 
 and keep your •watch. I cannot but admire 
 the mercy of God, that hath extended a day of 
 grace and favour to us, God hath not only 
 striven for a little time, but hath continued 
 striving. Take heed that you harden not 
 your hearts in this day of your visitation^ 
 lest it be said to thee: The harvest is pasty 
 and the summer is ended, and thou art no:fc 
 ^aved. 
 
 Work out your salvation vvith fear nrtti 
 trembling ; for it is God that worketh in you 
 to will and to do, of his own good pleasure. 
 While it is the good pleasure of God to work 
 upon thy lieart, give up thyself in holy obe- 
 dience to Him ; even while the good Spirit of 
 Xsol movetli upoxi tlie face oi tlie watefSw 
 
MR. JOHN BOWATER. 209 
 
 The day of your visitation is not yet over; 
 yield up yourselves to the striving of God's 
 Spirit, that you may be found a willing 
 people in the day of his power. There is 
 balm in Gilead ; there is a Physician of value 
 there. Prize the love and mercy, and for- 
 bearance and long-suffering of God; and bless 
 God that hath not cut thee off in thy sin, and 
 ^n the midst of thy iniquities; and that thou 
 hast not tliy portion with hypocrites, where 
 is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of 
 teeth. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMOK. 
 
 Most blessed and holy Lord God ! Thou 
 art full of grace ; Thou art the same yester- 
 day. Thou art the same to day, and Thou re- 
 mainest the same unchangeable God for ever; 
 unchangeable in thy nature, and unchange- 
 able in thy love. Thou hast not said to the 
 seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain. 
 Where thy people have been gathered; there 
 thy presence hath been. Where two or three 
 have met together in thy name. Thou hast 
 been in the midst of them. Thou hast not 
 been wanting tous,when we have called upon 
 Thee ; but hast been a present help unto us 
 
^10 THTJ PRATER. 
 
 in th'C needful time. When we have been 
 under trials and exercises, and when troubles 
 and temptations have come upon us like a 
 ilood. Thou hast been with us in ail our con- 
 flicts, and covered our heads in the day of 
 battle, and stood by us, and preserved us by 
 thy Almighty arm. 
 
 Thou art a gracious and merciful God, and 
 hast regard to the work of thy hands. We 
 commit our souls to Thee, as into the hands 
 of a faithful Creator. We pray Thee, watch 
 over us and go along with us ; and when we 
 are separated from one another, let us not be 
 separated from Thee. Everlasting God of 
 glory ! let thy presence be with us, and accom- 
 pany us; and lead us into the way wherein 
 Thou wouldest have us to walk, and enlarge 
 every one of our hearts to follow hard after 
 Thee. O infiniie, everlavSting God of glory ! 
 prosper thy servants in their labours and 
 travail, to whom Thou hast given any abilities 
 to speak in thy Name, that they may declare 
 thy Truth as it is in Jesus, and deliver the 
 whole counsel of God to thy people. 
 
 Ol sanctify those mercies which Thou hast 
 ^puchsafed to us at this time, and the blessed 
 
THE PRAYER. 211 
 
 privilege we Lave bad in meeting together, 
 to be partakers of thy grace and favour. We 
 thank Thee for thy unspeakable love, in giv- 
 ing thy beloved Son to die for us, and to re- 
 deem us from all iniquity. We desire to 
 magnify and bless thy Name, that Thou hast 
 drawn near to us, when we liavc drawn near 
 to Thee ; and that Thou hast beautified our 
 assemblies with thy living presence. We 
 desire in all humility to walk before Thee, 
 with a single heart and an upright mind ; and 
 that we may give Tiiee, for all thy mercies 
 and blessings through the Son of thy love, the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, praise, honour, and glory, 
 and thanksgiving, not only at this time, but 
 for ever and ever; for Thou alone, O Lord ! 
 art worthy, who art God over all, blessed for 
 evermore. Amen, 
 
SERMON X- 
 
 ^REACHED BY MR. FRANCIS CAMFIELD 
 
 JT GRACE-CnVRCB STREET, MAT 14, 1693. 
 
 My Friends, 
 
 You have often heard bj the servants of 
 the Lord that Iiave given testimony to Jesus, 
 the only and alone Saviour — you have often 
 heard the report, and the report is (rue, that 
 there is no name under heaven hij which any 
 man can be saved, but the Name of Jesus. 
 And you have oftentimes read also in the 
 Holy Scripture, of this Jesus, the only and 
 alone Saviour. All the hoiy i)rophets gave 
 testimony that He should come ; and when 
 He Mas come, all the holy apostles and 
 ministers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ gave testimony that He was come ; and 
 they were made able ministers of the New 
 Testament ; and their great business was, as 
 instruments in the hands of the great God, 
 to turn men from darkness to light , and from 
 
SERMON BY MR. FRANCIS CAMFIELD. 213 
 
 tM power of Satan to the power of God; that 
 they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an 
 inheritatice among them that are sanctified. 
 You know the Scripture speaks plentifully 
 after this manner. 
 
 I hope there are none here but have be- 
 lieved the testimonies that have been given ; 
 but the great thing is, for every one to come 
 to a consideration of this. Since you have 
 believed the report, that which is every one's 
 concern now, is, to examine themselves whe- 
 ther or no they are really turned from darkness 
 to the heavenly Light. None come to be turned 
 from darkness to light, but they come to know 
 repentance from dead works^ and faith towards 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, And as every one 
 comes to know this, they come to know what 
 it is to lay a good foundation. This was the 
 foundation the primitive Christians laid, as 
 you may remember by the exhortation of the 
 Apostle, in the sixth chapter of the Epistle to 
 the Hebre\vs : Therefore, leaving the principles 
 of the doctrine of Christ, Id us go on unto 
 perfection ; not laying again the foundation of 
 repentance from dead icorks, and of faith 
 toxcards God, 
 
 p^lII. T 
 
214 SERMON BY 
 
 Thus you see he presseth them to go on to 
 perfection. That is the business of every one 
 of you that believe in the Name of Jesus, that 
 you keep walking on in the holy way. We 
 that are come to know this holy way, through 
 the riches of the love and grace of the great 
 God to us, it is our main business to walk 
 in this holy way. They that know any thing 
 of true Christianity, know this to be their 
 great concern, to walk in this holy way that 
 leads to everlasting life. Christ is the Waj/y 
 ilie Trut/iy and the Life ; and every one that 
 comes into this way, and walketh in it, they 
 are going on towards perfection. And they 
 are putting off the old man : they feel in 
 themselves a power at work, that crucifies 
 the old man with his deeds ; then they go on 
 in the Name of the Lord. This power doth 
 work till every one in their own particular 
 comes to be crucified with Christ. It was the 
 primitive Christians' experience, what the 
 Apostle saiih of himself, Gal. ii. 20: Tarn 
 crucified with Christ : nevertheless I live ; yet 
 not i, hut Christ liveth in me ; and the life 
 which I now live in the flesh, I live hy the 
 faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and 
 gave Himself for me. 
 
MR. FRANCIS CAMFIELD. 215 
 
 Great is the mystery of Godliness, Yoa 
 that are engaged in tbe Christian ^varfare, and 
 that live the Christian life, and are making 
 war in rigliteousness against the devil, the 
 enemy of your souls, you know that ^re«/ ?5 
 the mystery of godlmess. This mystery is 
 opened among the disciples of Jesus, among 
 the holy offspring of God, who are begotten 
 (igain through the word of eternal life i who, 
 as the holy Apostle saith, are hegotten of his 
 own will, through the Word of Truth ^ that 
 they should be a kind of Jirst-fruits of his 
 creatures. 
 
 We to whom God hath graciously mani- 
 fested Himself in the blessed Son of his love, 
 Our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus, how^ 
 ought we to walk as becomes the Gospel ! 
 O that the serious and weighty consideration 
 of this, might rest upon every one of us! that 
 we ought to have our conversation as becomes 
 the Gospel of Christ, and be going on to per- 
 fection. You know what the Apostle speaks : 
 Phil. iii. 12 : Not as though I had already 
 attained, either were already perfect ; but I 
 follow after, if that I may apprehend thdfor 
 which also I am apprehended of Jesus Christ. 
 This 1 am sure every true Christian man and 
 
 T 2 
 
216 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 woman will do, as the same apostle did, 
 who saith : / press towards the mark, for the 
 prize of the high calling of God in Christ 
 Jesus. And as every one comes to grow up 
 in the life of righteousness, they* will come 
 to know an increase of faith; they will grow 
 lip in faith, and in that hope which hath been 
 as an anchor to their souls, in the day of their 
 deep exercise ; and they will remain steadfast 
 and unmovable, as they walk in the holy 
 way. And so every one, as they keep humble 
 and bowed before the God of heaven, they 
 will know his teaching more and more, and 
 liave a sensible feeling of it in themselvesj 
 every one in their own particular. 
 
 And certainly it is the business of us all, to 
 be waiting for the fulfilling of those many 
 great and precious promises, which are re- 
 corded in the Holy Scriptures, which were 
 enjoyed by the primitive Christians in the 
 ages that are past and gone ; and in succeed- 
 ing times shall be likewise enjoyed by all 
 true Christian people, as they come to be fol- 
 lowers of Jesus. As we have begun well, let 
 us goon towards perfection ; not laying again y 
 as I said before, the foundation of repentance 
 from dead works j and faith iozoards God and 
 
MR. FRANCIS CAMFIELD. 217 
 
 the Lord Jesus Christ; for whoever expects 
 salvation by Christ the only Saviour, must be 
 going on to perfection ; they must begin at the 
 work of regeneration, and experience in 
 themselves a new birth ; for if we he not born 
 again, we shall die in our sins. You know 
 our Saviour hath left this upon record ; and 
 it remains the same truth to this day. 
 
 And therefore how ought every one that 
 makes mention of the Name of the great God, 
 and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ — 
 how ought every such an one to be weighty 
 and considerate, and examine themselves, 
 whether they are come to know repentance 
 from dead works ; whether they have turned 
 from the evil of their doings. Some are ready 
 to say : I would gladly turn from the evil of 
 ray doings ; but I find I am beset with the 
 devil, the enemy of my soul. Well, if thou 
 believest in the light wherewith Christ Jesus 
 hath enlightened thee, then cry to Him, and 
 He will give thee power to withstand tlie 
 enemy of thy soul. 
 
 Praised and blessed be the name of our 
 God, that a remnant can say : As soon as we 
 
 t3 
 
218 SERMON BV 
 
 did really believe in the Name of Jesus, we 
 received power in some measure, as the pri* 
 niitive believers did who received Christ; we 
 received power to become the sons of God. 
 You that have received this power, let your 
 eye be to the Lord, and cry to Him for 
 Divine assistance ; for of ourselves we are not 
 sufficient : we have not power of ourselves to 
 think a good thought or do a good action ; 
 but we depend upon the power of God to 
 enable us to work out our own salvation ; for it 
 is God that icorheth in us both to will and to do, 
 of his own good pleasure. 
 
 Therefore repentance and remission of 
 sins are preached in Christ's Name ; and with- 
 out the knowledge and Christian experience 
 of this, and believing in the Name of Jesus, 
 we cannot be saved from the wrath to come. 
 Let us wait upon God, who, by our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, saveth all his people from their sins : 
 Not by zoorks of righteousness that we have 
 done ; but, as the apostle saith, according to 
 his mercj/, lie saved us, by the washing of 
 regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, 
 which He shed on us abundantly y thraugk 
 Jesus Christ our Saviour, 
 
MR. FRANCIS CAMFIELD. 219 
 
 Those that have experience of the work of 
 regeneration, and of being renewed in their 
 inward parts where Christ bears rule, when 
 they meet together in the solemn assemblies 
 of the Lord^s people, He will be in the midst 
 of them; and they that come to hear the word 
 of the Lord, and wait upon Him, know it to 
 be so. You that are real Christian people, 
 you know this by your own experience; there- 
 fore wait upon the Lord your God, that the 
 work of regeneration may go on ; and you 
 will find strength more and more ministered 
 to you, and you will feci the pouring forth of 
 the Spirit abundantly upon you. The same 
 Spirit that raised up our Lord Jesus from the 
 dead, and quickened Him, shall quicken you, 
 that you may live to Him here, and with Him 
 for ever hereafter. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Most glorious, powerful, and infinite Lord 
 God of life ! Thou hast sought out a people 
 to serve Thee, and Thou hast made choice of 
 many from among the sons and daughters of 
 men, to honour thy Name in the land of the 
 living; that we might be capable so ta do, 
 
220 THE PRAYER. 
 
 Thou bast opened an everlasting fountain, 
 and the streams of life have reached to us. 
 Thy divine comforts, O Lord ! have been our 
 portion from one day to another ; and we have 
 tasted thy goodness, and our hearts have been 
 deeply affected with it. Blessed God and 
 Father ! when we consider how Thou hast 
 nourished us thy children, and brought us up 
 in troublous times, and made a way for us in 
 the wilderness, and a path in the desert, and 
 brought us through the deep waters ; when 
 we were ready to be overwhelmed, when our 
 souls cried to Thee, Lord, to be present with 
 us, then Thou hast been near unto us. When 
 we have been seeking thy face and thy glory, 
 Thou hast refreshed us with the light of thy 
 countenance ; when we have been walking 
 in thy way, thy banner over us hath been love. 
 And, Lord, out of the mouths of babes and 
 sucklings, Thou hast brought forth praise and 
 glory to thyself. 
 
 O that all who partake of thy Divine good- 
 ness, may magnify and praise Thee ! this 
 hath been our supplication, O Lord ! from 
 year to year. Lord, reach to the nations j 
 gather a people under the shadow of thy 
 wings; secure them from all dangers, and let 
 
THE PRAYER. 
 
 221 
 
 them have great delight in thy ways, and let 
 thy word be sweet to their taste. Most tender 
 and everlasting Father of life, and God of all 
 grace ! we luimbly intreat Thee, gather the 
 inhabitants of this Island, and bring down all 
 haughtiness and pride to the dust ; and bring 
 all thy people to humility, and self abasement 
 before Thee, the God of glory ; that the know- 
 ledge of the Lord may cover the earth, as the 
 waters cover the sea, that thy great Name 
 may be exalted. 
 
 Lord, weentteat Thee, gather together those 
 that are broken and contrite, and are as dead 
 and dry bones. Can these dry bones live ? 
 Thou knowest, O Lord ! Shall I ever be 
 capable of praising the Lord, saith one, by a 
 sense of thy favour to my soul? Lord, Thou 
 canst reach these, and gather to thyself a 
 numberless number, which no man can 
 number, that, everlasting God of power ! 
 shall stand before Thee without spot and 
 blemish ; in whose mouths there is no guile. 
 
 Lord, increase the number of those that 
 seek after Thee, the Living Fountain of all 
 goodness, with tears flowing from their eyes, 
 ^nd sorrow in their hearts™ Everlasting God 
 
222 THE PRAYER. 
 
 of life ! let the day of our tranquillity be 
 lengthened out ; and preserve tlie land of our 
 nativity, and let no desolation be among us. 
 Father of mercies ! many have been visited 
 with dreadful judgments from tliy hand in 
 other nations. O ! preserve this sinful land 5 
 and let thy continued mercies and blessings, 
 and thy long-suffering, prevail upon us, that 
 we may be turned to Thee with all our hearts, 
 and cry mightily to Thee from one day to 
 another — that we may be as so many Jacobs 
 wrestling with Thee to the break of day, that 
 Thou wouldest bless us, and that thy blessing 
 may never depart from this Island. 
 
 O Lord ! hear the cries of thy people, that 
 are seeking thy glory, and the good of their 
 own souls. Let thy mercy prevail for us, and 
 let thy blessing be with all thy servants that 
 cry unto Thee. We beseech Thee, for the 
 sake of Jesus Christ, let not thine anger be 
 kindled against us, lest we perish. And, O 
 Lord ! let thy judgments which are im- 
 pendent be diverted; and stir up thy people 
 to wrestle with Thee with all their souls — that 
 Thou wouldest save this nation — that Eng- 
 land may live in thy sight. Cover us under 
 the shadow of thy wings ; and let the hearts 
 
THE PRAYER. 1223 
 
 of all thy people be turned to Thee, and 
 turned from sin to righteousness, that they 
 may be preserved in thy fear and love, and 
 partake of the Fountain of Life, and may be 
 delivered from the snares of death. 
 
 Father of Life ! preserve all thine that have 
 waited on Thee. Thou art a God that 
 changest not ; therefore we are not consumed. 
 Glory, honour, and praise, be rendered to 
 Thee, for all thy love and favour, blessings 
 and benefits, vouchsafed to us, and for all the 
 opportunities which we have had for our 
 souls. Break and soften the hearts of all thy 
 children; and kindle in their souls a sacrifice 
 of praise and thanksgiving — tliat we may say, 
 it is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous ia 
 our eyes — that we may rejoice and triumph 
 in thy great salvation, through Jesus Christ, 
 who alone is AVorthy,and God over allj blessed 
 for ever and ever. Ameti, 
 
SEBMON XI. 
 
 jiT GRJCE-CHVRCH STREET, OCTOBER 4, 1693. 
 
 The great God who made heaven and earth, 
 the God of our salvation, He hath prepared a 
 sacrifice for Himself in the hearts of a remnant, 
 ■whom He hath gathered by the Arm of his 
 Mighty Power ; and He hath kindled that 
 sacrifice that is of his own preparing, and 
 this, to a remnant, is a manifest token of the 
 love of God, and of his Divine and special 
 Providence, for their safety and preservation 
 that trust in Him, and that are sincerely 
 devoted to his service and fear, and that walk 
 in humility before Him. And this, my 
 friends, is matter of weighty and tender con- 
 cernment upon my spirit, to remind all of 
 you that come to our meeting?, and hear the 
 Truth declared from time to time, that you 
 seriously consider the great work which the 
 Lord is about to bring to pass, which every 
 one should wait for; that they may feel his. 
 
SERMON BY MR. G. WHITEHEAD. 225 
 
 mighty Power preparing their hearts for 
 Himself, and raising up breathings and sup- 
 plications to Him, who is a God hearing 
 prayers that are offered in uprightness and 
 sincerity, from a broken heart and a contrite 
 spirit, which are sacrifices that the Lord hatlx 
 regard to. 
 
 Of old, Manoah took a kid zoith a meat- 
 offerings and offered it upon a rock unto the 
 luord^ and the angel did zcondrousli/^ and 
 Manoah and his wife looked on /for it came lo 
 pasSf Z0hen the flame went up toward heaven 
 from off the altar ^ that the angel of the Lord 
 ascended in the flame of the altar ; and Manoah 
 and his wife looked on^ and fell on their 
 faces to the ground ; and Manoah said to his 
 wife. We shall sureli/ die^ because we hare 
 seen God. But his wife said unto Him : If 
 the Lord were pleased to kill i:s, Me would not 
 have received a burnt-offering and a meat^ 
 offering at our hands, neither zoould He have 
 shewed us all these things. He would not have 
 manifested so great love to us, sure'y a rem- 
 nant may say at this day, from a sense of the 
 great things that the Lord hath shewn us, 
 and of jiis blessed power working in their 
 hearts and inward parts a tenderness au4 
 
 P^ III. u 
 
226 SERMON BY 
 
 subjection to Him, that we owe obedience to 
 the Lord, but tliat, we believe, the Lord intends 
 good to his people ; in that He will exalt his 
 Name in us, and prosper liis own work of 
 righteousness — that righteousness may be ex- 
 alted — that many may come to behold the 
 great things and the worthy things, which the 
 Lord our God will bring to pass in our day. 
 
 These things have been foretold, for the 
 encouragement and for the strengthening of 
 the faith of those whose faces are Sion-ward, 
 whose eyes are turned towards the Lord their 
 Maker, Avho have tasted, in some measure, of 
 the power and of the goodness of the Lord 
 our God — that they may continue in the faith, 
 whereby their hearts may be drawn after the 
 Lord— that tliose ^-vho have been made par- 
 takers of the true and living faith of the Son 
 of God, in his Name and Power, may keep 
 the faith, and not let go the faith— that they 
 jjiaj/ hold fast the profession of their faith 
 loilhout teavering — that the enemy may not 
 be suffered, upon auy account, either to 
 weaken or destroy the faith of any, who have 
 kr^ow!! some degree of faith in the work of 
 God, and concerning his goodness, and 
 care^ and providence, for the safety and for 
 
MR. GEORGE WHITEHEAD. 227 
 
 tbe preservation of them tbat fear Him; who 
 are the called of tlie Lord ; -svho are chosen 
 out of the world, and out of the corruptions 
 of it, that tliey may be a living and [i peculiar 
 people^ and a chosen generation^ to show forth 
 the praise of Him that hath called them out of 
 darkness into his inarvellous light. 
 
 He hath called us, and chosen us fof that 
 very end, that in our lives and conversations 
 ■we might answer his call of Grace, and the 
 Truth which we are made partakers of, and 
 thereby shew forth his praise. And such now 
 have cause to bless the Lord, and praise liis 
 holy Name for all his mercies, for preserving 
 them, and Iielping them in their way, and in 
 their spiritual journey and progress that they 
 are brought into. 
 
 Therefore, dear friends, be ye concerned 
 and be inward with the Lord, and attend upon 
 Him without distraction — that nothing may 
 hurry, discompose, or distract your minds, or 
 turn them about from the faith, trust, and 
 confidence you have in the Lord, which He 
 hath gathered his people into — that every one 
 may be exercised in a watchful state, and in 
 lowliness and humility, and look unto, and 
 
 u 2 
 
SERMON BY 
 
 depend upon the Lord for strength, for help, 
 and power to enable us to stand against all 
 the wiles of Satan — that none may be led into 
 any extreme from the sense of truth, and from 
 a feeling of that power that doth prepare the 
 heart for God, and fix it upon Him— that 
 none may be drawn out either into careless- 
 ness, negligence, slothfulness, or presumption 
 on the one hand : or into difiidence, distrust- 
 fulness, or despair on the other ; but that all 
 may look unto Jesus, who is the Author and 
 Finisher of their faith — that they may be 
 sensible of the benefits of his death on earth, 
 and his intercession in heaven, of the efteet 
 and benefit of bis prayer unto the Father — 
 that their faith when they shall be tried and 
 templed may not fail — that all may witness 
 and partake of this which He told unto Peter: 
 J have prai/edjbr thee, that th?/ faith fail not, 
 Satan hath desired to winnow thee, (to toss 
 thee and blozo thee about,) but I have prai/eii 
 for thee that thi/ faith may not fail. 
 
 So, my friends, and friendly people, let 
 jour faith stand in that power that hath 
 gathered you, in that arm of the Lord that 
 He hath made bare, and stretched forth, to 
 bring a people to Himself j that every one 
 
MH. GEORGE WHITEHEAD. 229 
 
 may live by faith, and have their dependence 
 upon the Lord for strength and for relief— 
 that they may partake of the immediate in- 
 ilnence of his Spirit, which He is ready to 
 minister and communicate to those that are 
 given up to serve the Lord — that your prayers 
 and supplications may be in the spirit, to that 
 God who pourcth out a spirit of s^race and 
 supplicatioti upon his people. And He is 
 daily pouring out his Holy Spirit upon his peo- 
 ple, that their prayers and supplications may 
 reach to Him, who is a God hearing prayers — 
 that they may be prevalent with God for the 
 preservation of themselves and others, and 
 for tlie good of all nations — that they maj^ 
 awaken many to repent, and seeJz the Lord 
 while He mat/ hefound^ and call upon Him 
 while He is near — that they may be turned 
 from the evil of their ways, and from the 
 many provocations whereby the inhabitants 
 of the earth have greatly incurred the dis- 
 pleasure of God — and that they may be 
 sensible how ready the Lord is to turn away 
 his wrath from them. 
 
 This is the desire of the hearts and souls of 
 a remnant, on the behalf of many whom the 
 Lord will yet visit and reach unto, and call 
 
 u 3 
 
2S0 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 out of the dark ways and by paths of sin and 
 corruption, that they may be brought into a 
 capacity to know the way of truth, and 
 righteousness, and peace. And, my friends, 
 while people are sensible that there are 
 true breathings and desires after God, and 
 that there is a particular travail of soul for the 
 good of a nation, and for the converting of 
 sinners from the evil of their ways, this is a 
 sign that God is waiting to be gracious. He 
 may visit a people and a nation with chas- 
 tisements and judgments ; yet 1 am sensible it 
 is for his people's sake, even a remnant that 
 He liath gathered out of the empty pro- 
 fessions and forms ^yhich are in the world : 
 that the Lord is still waiting to be gracious, 
 and extending his patience and long-suffering, 
 that He may convince them, humble them, 
 and overcome them with his love. And 
 when He corrects and punisheth, yet He hath 
 reserves of mercy for them, if they will repent 
 and turn from sin, and humble themselves 
 under the mighty hand of God, that He may 
 in due time exalt them, and bring them from 
 under the weight of their iniquities, and the 
 ^uilt of their transgressions ; that they may 
 receive mercy for his N-ame's sake, and for 
 IjIs dear Son's sake. 
 
MR. GEORGE WHITEHEAD. 231 
 
 This is the breathing and the travail of the 
 souls of a remnant ; and we may truly say, 
 the Lord hath left a Seed, a small remnant 
 that look to Him and trust in Him, though a 
 people and nation have sinned against the 
 Lord, who otherwise had been as Sodom and 
 Gomorrah, if God had not left us a Seed : 
 yetj for the sake of a little seed, even for the 
 sake of the worm Jacob, that wrestled with 
 Him by prayer and supplication, the Lord 
 hath spared many, and waited to be gracious 
 to them. They are truly a people that are a 
 praying people, that have the advantage of 
 all others ; yet I do not condemn all forms of 
 profession. There are some that have a 
 secret sincerity, and a fear of God, and a 
 desire after the Lord, that are as sheex> 
 scattered upon the barren mountains, whom 
 jet the Lord will gather. There are those 
 that have a secret lone-in*: and thirstinjr 
 after the Living God, that desire to know the 
 things that belong to their peace : There are 
 other sheep of Christ zchkh are not of this 
 fold; them also zcill He bring home, that 
 they may know where \.\\e green pasture* 
 are, and be led by the still waters, and iind 
 xelief and refreshment from the Lord. 
 
§32 SERMON BY 
 
 Therefore all those that the Lord hath 
 gathered, and preserved and kept to this 
 moment, and helped them, and continued his 
 mercy to them, should betliankful and sensible 
 of his loving-kindness, who by an invisible 
 power hath given them comfort and refresh- 
 ment, while they have been waiting on Him. 
 Let their minds and hearts be still fixed upon 
 the Lord, and staid on Him ; and He will 
 preserve them in quietness and peace ; and 
 they shall know He will shew his Providence- 
 with them, that their bread may be sure, and 
 their waters may not fail. The Lord will 
 preserve them to the end of their days, in 
 humility and lowliness, wherein they may be 
 capable of instruction; and, by his Holy 
 Spirit, He will lead them in the way they 
 should walk. Those that come unto the Lord 
 with weeping and supplication, the Lord will 
 lead them by the rivers of water, in a plain 
 way, where they shall not stumble. The 
 Lord our God hath prepared a sacrifice ; and 
 He will accept that sacrifice which is of his 
 own preparing; and this, I say, to a remnant, 
 is a manifest token of his love. 
 
 God Almighty preserve you, and bless the 
 labours of his servants among you, who laboar 
 
MR. GEORGE WHITEHEAD. 233 
 
 in the word and doctrine, and in the Gospel 
 of your salvation, whilst they are among you ; 
 that you may know the goodness of the Lord, 
 who waitetli to be gracious, and have 
 renewed experiences of his love, and observe 
 for your encouragement, the tender care He 
 is pleased to manifest towards his heritage, 
 both in this and other places. We have 
 great cause humbly to bethankful to our God 
 for what favours we enjoy, and to be diligent 
 to make the best improvement we can of all 
 the seasons of Grace, and opportunities for 
 working out our salvation, which the Lord 
 is pleased, in his abundant mercy, to afford 
 unto us, 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Glorious and blessed God, who art the 
 God of all grace and mercy, and of all our 
 helps and preservations! unto this moment 
 Thou hast been with us ; unto this day we 
 have had thy gracious presence with us, even 
 in the needful time. Thou hast gathered us 
 to be a peculiar people unto Thee ; thy pre- 
 sence is the very life of our meetings, and the 
 beauty and glory of our assemblies, wherewith 
 from time to time Thou hast succoured, and 
 
12S4 THE PRAYER. 
 
 yeiievcd, and revived thy people ; whose eyes 
 Iiave been towards Tlice, and whose expec- 
 tations have been from Thee, to be supplied 
 and saved by thy bountiful hand, with those 
 living', Divine, and heavenly supplies, where- 
 with Thou hast from time to time relieved thy 
 people, the poor and needy ; those whose 
 souls are bowed down in deep humility in 
 thy sight and presence. So that, powerful 
 Father of life ! we have great cause to re- 
 member Thee in thy ways. We have cause 
 to fear Thee, O Lord ! and to tliink upon thy 
 Name. We desire to call upon Thee, and cry 
 to Thee, and breathe after Thee, and trust. 
 
 We bless Thee for the continuance of thy 
 love and goodness ; for tliy renewed blessings 
 and multiplied favours, we have abundant 
 cause to bless, and praise, and honour Thee^ 
 O Lord ! to magnify thy great and excellent 
 Name for thy love and great goodness, for 
 making bare thy mighty Arm, and stretching 
 it forth to help the helpless, and to relieve and 
 support the poor and needy, whose trust is in 
 Thee, whose confidence Thou hast raised up 
 by thy power, to stand in thy presence. 
 
THE PRAYER. 235 
 
 O righteous, powerful Father of life ! gather 
 thy people more and more into an inward 
 sense, and feeling, and experience of thy 
 power and goodness, that their hearts may be 
 engaged to thyself, to walk before Thee in an 
 holy awe and reverence, and Vv^ith such sin- 
 cerity, humility, lowliness, and tenderness of 
 heart, as becomes those that have the enjoy- 
 ment of thy presence ; and as becomes our 
 solemn meeting and appearing before Thee 
 from time to lime ; that all thy people who are 
 called by thy grace, who are convinced and 
 persuaded of thy blessed Truth, may be truly 
 and livingly awakened, and stirred up into a 
 sense of thy glorious power — that they may 
 know what it is to appear before Thee, and 
 liow they ought to come before Thee, the 
 most glorious, and most high, and holy God, 
 who inhabitest eternity, who dwellest in the 
 highest heavens; and yet hast a place in the 
 lowest heart, in the hearts of those that, with 
 a true reverence, and holy fear, desire to wor- 
 ship Thee with such a fiame of spirit, and 
 temper of mind and heart, as Thou requires! 
 in all them that approach thy presence. 
 
 We beg the influence of thy Grace and 
 Divine Spirit, that we may be thereby com- 
 
^36 THE PRAYEIl. 
 
 fortcd and refreshed. And vouchsafe unto 
 us, O Lord ! such sweet incomes of thy love, 
 and such renew ings of thy blessing, as may 
 settle and establish our minds and hearts in a 
 sense of thy goodness, and of thy power and 
 presence ; that we may not be shaken in our 
 minds, nor weakened in faith and confidence 
 in Thee, by any temptation whatsoever — that, 
 Lord God eternal ! the hearts of thy people 
 may be fixed, trusting in Thee, and in thy 
 blessed Name and Power, and may find safety 
 and preservation — that all thy people every 
 where may be sensible that Thou art their 
 dwelling place, as Thou hast been in all gene- 
 rations. And so. Lord God eternal ! let them 
 dwell in Thee; and do Thou dwell in them, 
 and say, this is my habitation, for 1 have 
 desired it — that, blessed Father of life! they 
 may be sensible of thy love in it — that no 
 calamities, nor distresses, nor sword, nor 
 famine, nor necessities, nor afflictions, nor 
 angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor 
 things present, nor things to come, may be 
 able to separate them from thy love in Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 O Lord ! thy people may say to Thee, as 
 Israel said of old. If it had not been the 
 
THE PRAYER. 237 
 
 Lord who was on our side, when men rose up 
 against us, then they had swallowed us up 
 quick, when their wrath was kindled against 
 us ; then the waters had overwhelmed us, and 
 the stream had gone over our soul. Our help 
 is in the name of Thee, O Lord ! that made 
 heaven and earth. Thy Name, and thy Power, 
 and thy mighty Arm, hath appeared for us, 
 and compassed us about. Thou hast sur- 
 rounded thy people with thy favour, as with 
 a shield; and hast preserved them for the 
 praise and honour of thy Name, and the ex- 
 altation of thy holy Truth. 
 
 And the confidence and trust of a little 
 remnant is, that Thou wilt still be with them, 
 for their confidence is in thy Name, which is 
 a strong tower; and their dependence is upon 
 Thee. Thou wilt not cut off a people whom 
 Thou hast appointed for thy praise; Thou 
 wilt not destroy them, but surround them 
 wilh thy mercy and salvation, as with walls 
 and bulwarks about them. This is the belief 
 and the confidence that Tliou hast raised in the 
 hearts of a remnant. Therefore, O Lord! we 
 have cause to wait upon Thee, and continually 
 to trust in Thee, and breathe and cry unto 
 Thee for thy whole heritage, for all them 
 P^iii. X 
 
258 THE PnAYER. 
 
 whom Thou hast gathered by the arm of thy 
 power; that tliey may be preserved faithful to 
 the end of their days — that they may be saved 
 from the evils and pollutions and corruptions 
 of the world — that they may be obedient to 
 thy call, and to thy heavenly counsel — that 
 they may come to wait upon Thee, and 
 hearken to thy voice, as those that are willing 
 to obey, and not to touch any unclean thing; 
 but. being sensible of thj goodness, that Thou 
 wilt turn away thy wrath from them that turn 
 from their provocations. For this end Thou 
 hast raised desires and breathings, and be- 
 gotten a travail in the souls of a remnant of 
 the sons and daughters of men, particularly 
 for the land of our nativity. 
 
 We pray both for high and low, rich and 
 poor, rulers and people, that, by thy powerful 
 visitation, they may be excited to seek the 
 Lord, and to wait upon Thee, and walk in 
 luimillty in tliy sight and presence — that they 
 may desire none in heaven but Thee, and 
 none upon earth in comparison of Thee. 
 Work an effectual deliverance and salvation 
 for us, both inward and outward, that our 
 (onfidencc may not be in any thing below 
 Thyself. Let every one of us have an under- 
 
THE PRAYER. 239 
 
 standing, and an cje opened for the light of 
 truth, that we may look unto Ther^, and ex- 
 pect salvation from Thee, by Jesus Christ, our 
 Mediator and Redeemer. Remember all thy 
 people here and elsewhere, that are recom- 
 mended to Thee. Keep tliem in a sense of 
 thy power, and in humility before Thee, that 
 they may receive comfort, and wisdom, and 
 instruction from Thee. And do Thou gra- 
 ciously establish their goings, and keep them 
 in the way wherein they are to walk; the 
 way of truth and righteousness, life and 
 peace. Be Thou known in the assemblies of 
 all thy people, and revive and strengthen 
 them. And be with all thy people, in their 
 respective families, that they may be engaged 
 to serve Thee, and fear Thee in sincerity and 
 humility, and call upon thy Name — that 
 Thou, Lord God everlasting ! raayest take 
 care of them, and thy special Providence 
 may watch over them. And let the angels of 
 thy presence pitch their tents about all them 
 that fear thy Name. 
 
 Blessed and everlasting Father of Mercies ! 
 dwell among us ; hide and secure us under 
 the shadow of thy wings, tliat we may enjoy 
 
 \2 
 
240 THE PRAYER. 
 
 communion with Thee, through Jesus Christ, 
 thy dearly beloved Son, and our alone 
 Saviour ; and may offer up living sacrifices of 
 praise and thanksgiving unto Thee, the God 
 of all our mercies, blessings, and deliverances ; 
 for Thou alone art worthy, who art God over 
 all, blessed for ever and ever. Amen, 
 
SEHMOH XSL 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. JOHN VAUGHTON. 
 
 AT GRACE-CHVRCH STREET, APRIL 1, 1694. 
 
 It is a great mercy and kindness, tliat God 
 hath been pleased to open the way of life and 
 salvation unto the souls of many people, tliat, 
 in this our day and generation, were in great 
 distress, for want of the knowledge of it ; and 
 this knowledge is given unto us through the 
 blessed appearance, and revelation of the 
 power and Spirit of our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, to which, my friends, blessed 
 be the name of the Lord ! we have been 
 turned in our day and generation. 
 
 For the message and testimony that God 
 raised up his servants to bear among us, in 
 our day and time, who came in the Spirit and 
 power of our Lord Jesus Christ, having been 
 made the monuments of God's mercy, through 
 faith iu Ilim that died for our sins, and ros^ 
 
 X 3 
 
M2 SERMON BY 
 
 again for our justification — lliat blessed 
 message and testimony which they bare among 
 us, was in evidence and demonstration of the 
 Spirit and pozccr of tlie Lord Jesus. For 
 they came indeed to preach the Gospel of 
 life and salvation ; and the way wliich they 
 look to preach tlie Gospel to us in our 
 day, was the same way that the holy Apostle 
 Paul, in his day, was sent to preach the 
 Gospel, who said, We are sent of God,^o turn 
 people from darkness unto light, and from the 
 power of Satan unto God. The holy Apostle 
 proposed the end for which they were sent, to 
 turn the sons and daughters of men, from 
 darkness to light, and from the power of 
 Satan to the power of God / that ih' 2/ might 
 receive remission of sins, and an inheritance 
 among them who are sanctified, through faith 
 which is in Christ Jesus, 
 
 O friends I this faitli in Christ, is aliving 
 faith : it is Vi faith of the operation of God. 
 God AYorketh it in us by his own Spirit and 
 power. There are many that pretend to have 
 faith in Christ, tliat are strangers to tlie opera- 
 tion of the power and Spirit of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ ; and so do not know, 
 neither are made partakers of that faithy 
 
MR. JOHN VAUGHTON. 243 
 
 which worketh hy love^ that gixeth them 
 victor?/ over the world, and prescrveth them, 
 and keepeth tbcm out of the evil of the 
 word. 
 
 Now, friends, it is my desire that you may 
 turn from darkness i/nio light ; — tliat you 
 may all believe in Christ and walk in Him — 
 that you may be sensible that the hlood of 
 Jesus Christ, the dear and blessed Son of God, 
 cleanseth from all sin, from all utirighteous- 
 ness, and from allfdiJiiness of flesh and spirit ; 
 that so the end of the labour, travail, and testi- 
 monies of all the faithful messengers and 
 servants, whom the Lord hath raised up in 
 this our day, and sent to turn men from dark- 
 ness unto light, and fro77i (he pozcer of Satan 
 to the power of God — that their labour and 
 travail, I say, may not be in vain ; that we 
 may all come to believe in the light ; that we 
 may he children of the light and of the day ; 
 that so we may come to walk in the light. 
 And then, my friends, v/e shall all come to be 
 brought into an heavenly fellowship : Ifwe 
 walk in the light, as He is in the light, we 
 havefeUozoship one with another, and the blood 
 of Jesus Christ, the dear Son of God, cleanseth 
 us from all sins. And this is a work that will 
 
244 SERMON BY 
 
 be profitable for all to know, seeing no 
 unclean thing shall ever enter into the kingdom 
 of God. 
 
 Friends, our justification is indeed in, and 
 Ibrougb, and by tbe Lord Jesus Cbrist ; for 
 bis sake, not our own. Any tbing ibat we 
 bave done or can do, will notbave a tendency 
 to make our peace witb God, seeing tbat we 
 can do nothing ourselves that is acceptable atid 
 well pleasing to God. Tberefore we cannot 
 in tbe least, as batb been unjustly cbarged 
 upon us, disesteem, or put a ligbt esteem on, 
 wbat the Lord Jesus Christ batb done for us, 
 in bis own person without us, nor upon what 
 by bis own power and Spirit He batli wrought 
 in our bearts. But we believe in tbe Lord 
 Jesus Cbrist, both as to bis outward appear- 
 ance, as He was God manifest in th& 
 FLESH, and also in his inward and spiritual- 
 appearance in our souls. 
 
 We believe in Him tbat batb appeared by 
 bis Light, and Grace, and Truth in our bearts; 
 and we know the effectual working and opera ^ 
 Hon of his Divine jjower, to sanctify, and 
 cleanse, and purify our souls. And tbereby 
 we come to bave a real sense of thje ben^Et 
 
MR. JOHN VAUGHTON. 245 
 
 and advantage that the souls of tlic children 
 of men have, in and by the death and siifier- 
 ings, resurrection and ascension, of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Till people come to believe in his spiritual 
 appearance by his light, and grace, and truth 
 in their hearts, and to receive Him and enter- 
 tain Him, and let Him have a place in their 
 souls, that He by his power may purge away 
 sin and transgression ; — while men remain 
 rebellious and stubborn, and will not let Him 
 in, when He stands and knocks at the door of 
 their hearts, that He may come in and sup 
 •with them, and they with Him ; — whea ^\*^^ 
 rebel against his heavenly Light within them, 
 and turn away from his Divine Grace and 
 Holy Spirit, and turn the grace of God into 
 wantonness, lasciviousness, and run into un- 
 cleanness, drunkenness, pride, envy, malice, 
 and bitterness, and into those things that are 
 abominable and evil in the sight of the Lord ; 
 — these men have no real advantage or benefit 
 by the death and sufferings of otir Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and the satisfaction and atonement He 
 hath made for- our sins, hy that one offering 
 and sacrifice of Himself And they do not 
 truly know the blessed end and design of his 
 
246 SERMON BY 
 
 appearance and coming into the world : For 
 this purpose was the Son of God manifested, 
 that lie might destroy the worhs of the devil ^ 
 that He might finish transgression and make 
 an end of sin, and bring in everlasting righte^ 
 ousness. 
 
 My friends, the end of the working of the 
 invisible power and Spirit of Christ, is, that 
 He may have a place in all your hearts, and 
 that you may entertain Him. For the Lord 
 "will draw a line of judgment upon all that go 
 under a profession of Christianity, and own 
 what the Lord Jesus Christ did without them ; 
 t)ut "vi'ill not receive Him, entertain Him, and 
 believe in Him, as He doth spiritually appeal* 
 and shine into their hearts, by his Divine 
 Light, Grace, and Spirit. 
 
 My friends, remember the sore judgments, 
 miseries, calamities, and distress, that came 
 upon the Jews, because of their rejecting 
 Christ in his outward appearance, in that 
 prepared body in which He came to do bis 
 Father's will. They would not own Him 
 in Jiis bodily appearance, but rejected Him, 
 and set Him at nought. They crowned Him 
 with thorns, and crucified the Lord of Life 
 and Glory, 
 
MR. JOHN VAUGHTON. 247 
 
 He said unto them : Except ye helie-oe that 
 I am //(f, j/c shall die in your sim ; and if ye 
 die in you sins, whither 1 go you cannot come. 
 And thus He spake to Jerusalem : O Jerusa^ 
 lem ! Jerusalem ! thou that killest the pro' 
 phets^ andstonest them which are sent untothee^ 
 how often would I have gathered thy children 
 together y even as a hen gathereth her chickens 
 under her wings, and ye would not! Behold! 
 your house is left unto you desolate ; for I say 
 unto you, ye shallnot see me henceforth, till ye 
 shall say: blessed is He that cometh in the 
 nameof the Lord! 
 
 He tells them of tlic calamity and distress, 
 tliat should come upon them and overtake 
 them ; and so it came to pass, because they 
 rejected the love of God, which in Christ 
 Jesus was extended to them, when He would 
 have gathered them, and brought them into a 
 state of reconciliation and peace with the 
 Living God, but they would not. 
 
 So now, my friends, in this day of Christ's 
 inward and spiritual appearance, you have 
 had the testimonies of those that have been 
 sent to you in tlie name, and power, and 
 Spirit of the Living God; and y^i many will 
 
248 SERMON BY 
 
 not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, nor 
 receive Him inwardly and spiritually ap- 
 pearing in their hearts, nor give way to Him, 
 nor wait and attend upon Him, to do that 
 work in them and for them, which they can- 
 not do for themselves. What work is that ? 
 the work of sanctification. For none come io 
 be justified freeli/ hy the Grace of God, 
 through the redemption that is in Jesus Christy 
 as the Apostle speaks, Rom. iii. 24, but the?/ 
 are also sanctified hy the Spirit of Christ, and 
 made partakers of the Divine nature. So that 
 it is absolutely necessary for us to know 
 Christ's power and Spirit, to renew and sanc- 
 tify our souls, and purify and cleanse us. 
 
 When we come to believe in the inward and 
 spiritual appearance of Christ, and to know 
 the work of sanctification, we cannot have a 
 slight esteem of, nor disbelieve or undervalue, 
 what the Lord Jesus Christ hath done with us, 
 in his person ; for we shall come to find the 
 benefit, gain, advantage, and profit of it, re- 
 dounding to our souls, through that one 
 offering, when He offered Himself through 
 the Eternal Spirit, as a La^nb without spot. 
 He offered Himself once for all ; and we have 
 the benefit of it, when we come to receive 
 
MR. JOHN VAUGHTON. 249 
 
 Him, live in obedience to Him, and answer 
 his requi rings, and walk in the Spirit. And 
 then, as the Apostle saitli, If we walk in the 
 Spirit, we shall not fulfil the lusts ofthejlesh ; 
 for all that is in the world, the lust ofthejlesh, 
 the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not 
 of the Father, hut is of the world; and the 
 world passeth awar/, and the lust thereof 
 but He that doth the will of God abidethfor 
 ever. 
 
 Therefore see to it, you that make a pro- 
 fession of it, see that, as you have received the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, you walk as He walked, 
 that you live in the Spirit, and walk in the 
 Spirit, and fulfil not the lust of the flesh; that 
 you live not in malice, envy, or bitterness, 
 and so grieve the good Spirit of God, and 
 bring a burthen upon the souls of the 
 righteous. 
 
 We that are come to the siglit and vision 
 of heavenly things, and have the mi/steries of 
 the kingdom of God opened to us, we are 
 come to be partakers of tlie gift of charity, 
 which is a more excellent way ; if this be 
 wanting, all is wanting. What dolh the 
 Apostle say? Though I speak with the tongue 
 
 P*. III. Y 
 
250 SERMON BY 
 
 of men and of angels, and have not chariti/, I 
 am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling 
 cymbal; and though I have the gift of pro- 
 phecy, and understand all mysteries and xtll 
 knowledge, and though I have all faith so that 
 I could remove mountains, and have not charity, 
 I am nothing ; and though I bestow all my 
 goods to the poor, and though I give my body 
 to be burned, and have not charity, it profits 
 me nothing. 
 
 These things have been often said and 
 declared to jou, friends, and I have now this 
 general testimony to give, in the dread and 
 fear of the Lord God : they that love God 
 above all, will love their neighbour as them- 
 selves ; they will love those that are the 
 friends of God, and of his people ; nay, it is a 
 duty incumbent on them. A new com^nand- 
 ment, saith our Saviour, / give unto youy 
 that ye love one another, as I have loved you, 
 that ye also love one another » By this shall 
 all men know that ye are my disciples, if yc 
 have love one to another : and we are not only 
 to love one another, but to love our enemies. 
 This our Lord Jesus Christ commandeth us, 
 Matt, V. 44 : But I say unto you, love yotir 
 tnemies ; bless them that curse you, do good to 
 
MR. ^OHN VAUGIITON. 251 
 
 them that hate you ; and pray for them that 
 despitefully use you and persecute you ; that 
 ye may be the children of your Father which 
 is in heaven ; for He causeth his sun to shine 
 on the evilj and on the good / and sendeth rain 
 on the just, and on the unjust. 
 
 Now, my friends, that you may keep in this 
 love of God, and love to one another, is the 
 desire and breathing of my soul ; that so your 
 faith may stand, not in the wisdom of men's 
 words, but in the power of God. This power 
 will bring down every high thought and imagi- 
 nation into subjection and obedience to Christ ; 
 that we may walk before Him to all well-pleas- 
 ing ; that, when we come to die, we may lay 
 down our heads in peace, and be found of 
 Him in peace without spot, and blameless ; 
 and, at the end of our days, we may receive 
 the end of our faith, the salvation of our im- 
 mortal souls. 
 
 Friends, to the Grace of God I commend 
 you : the Lord God of life preserve and keep 
 you, that you may be safe in the hands of God, 
 and abide under the shadozo of his wing, and 
 be surrounded with liis Almiglity Arm, which 
 hath hitherto preserved us in all our solemn 
 
 y 2 
 
55S SERMON Bt 
 
 meetings and assemblies, when the enemies of 
 God's truth have risen up against us. The 
 remembrance of it should be sweet and plea- 
 sant to us. When the floods of the ungodly 
 were mustered up against us, and they some- 
 times haled us out of our meetings to gaols 
 and prisons, for bearing testimony to the 
 Truth of God in our day, O ! the sweet and 
 comfortable presence of the Lord that then 
 attended us ! Blessed be his Name, He waited 
 to he gracious to us, and did work manifold 
 deliverances for us ; and praise and glory be 
 given to the Eternal and Almighty God, 
 whose Divine power and providence hath 
 brought a calm ov^r the ijation, so that now 
 we enjoy our meetings without trouble and 
 molestation. O that we may be sensible of 
 the wonderful love and mercy of God to us ! 
 
 Andy friends, it greatly concerns us to be 
 careful in the whole course of our lives, that 
 we may not give any occasion for the obstruct- 
 ing or hazarding of the present peace and 
 liberty we enjoy. O ! there should be a 
 serious care and tender regard to God's glory, 
 and the honour of his great and excellent 
 Name ; and also a care and concern for the 
 reputation of our religion, and religious 
 
MR. JOHN VAUGHTOX. 253 
 
 societies, that none may have any occasion or 
 just ground to bespatter and reproach us, and 
 lender us odious to the government under 
 which we live. 
 
 Blessed be the Name of the Lord, for the 
 freedom and quiet seasons we enjoy, and that 
 are continued by the mighty arm and power 
 of the Lord ! Let all our souls bow before 
 Him, and let us walk and live in a continual 
 subjection to his Divine wisdom and will, that 
 our souls may be all bound up in the bundle 
 of life^ that z€e may serve the Lord with 
 sincerity and perseverance to the end of our 
 days ; that then, an abundant entrance may be 
 ministered to us, into the everlasting kingdom 
 of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Glorious God of life ! the visitations of thy 
 love in thy day of grace and salvation, are 
 very sweet and precious to the souls of thy 
 children. O Lordl we have cause to bless 
 thy Name, that Thou hast extended a day of 
 mercy to us, a day wherein Thou art visiting 
 the sons and daughters of men, a day wherein 
 Thou hast caused the heavenly, Divine light 
 
 Y 3 
 
254 THE PRAYER. 
 
 of thy Son Christ Jesus to shine into our 
 hearts. Thou hast given a remnant to be- 
 lieve in it. The ejes of our understandings 
 have been opened by it ; and we have come ta 
 see and partake of the visitations cf thy tender 
 love to our immortal souls. O ! tlie shining 
 of this Divine light hath made us see our 
 •way out of darkness ; and the day of thy 
 glorious power hath dawned upon us, when 
 many have been in the region and shadow 
 of death; and Thou hast manifested thy 
 loving-kindness to the souls of men, in and* 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 O Lord i be Thou graciously pleased to be 
 nigh to thy people. Preserve them and 
 guide them in thy way, the way of holiness 
 and righteousness, which Thou hast led them 
 into. O! that they may persevere therein ; 
 and obtain salvation to their immortal souls. 
 
 O eternal God of life and glory ! we 
 liumbly pray Thee, send forth thy Light and 
 thy Truth : and open the eyes of the under- 
 standins^s of the sons and dauijhters of men: 
 and make them williiig, in this thy day, to 
 embrace ibe appearance of the dear Son of 
 thy love, in the shinings of his light, and 
 
THE PRAYER. 255 
 
 grace, and truth in their hearts; that they 
 may be sanctified and purified, and made a 
 peculiar people to thyself, zealous of good 
 works. 
 
 O eternal God of power ! let the souls of 
 the children of men come to enjoy thy pre- 
 sence, that their bodies may become living 
 temples for Thee to dwell in. O eternal God 
 of life ! exalt tby own Name and Truth, and 
 make thyself known more and more to the 
 nations of the earth; that they may come to 
 believe in thy dear Son Christ Jesus, and that 
 they may come to know redemption and sal- 
 vation, and the things that belong to the 
 everlasting peace of their souls. 
 
 O Lord I we pray Thee, be with the 
 families of thy children and people in all 
 their exercises, in all their afllictions, and in 
 all their temptations ; be Thou near to ihem 
 to preserve them, and keep them, and uphold 
 them by thy free Spirit, that Thou mayest 
 guide them by thy counsel, and afterward re- 
 ceive them into glory. O Eternal God of 
 life ! be with the young generation of the 
 children of thy servants, that they may serve 
 Thee in their day; and keep their hearts, O 
 
256 THE PRAYER. 
 
 Lord ! by thy mighty power, and let them 
 receive the Word of thy Truth in the love of 
 it; and seal them, by thy good Spirit, to the 
 day of redemption. 
 
 And, O blessed God of life ! let thy work 
 prosper in the midst of the earth — and subdue 
 all that is contrary to thy pure mind and 
 heavenly will, and exalt the kingdom of thy 
 dear Son ; and let his Name be known and 
 trusted in among all the nations of the world, 
 that they may believe in Him, who is the 
 Author of eternal salvation to all them that 
 obey Him ; that so glory, and honour, and 
 everlasting renown, and pure praises, and 
 living thanksgivings, may ascend to Thee; 
 and let all thy sensible ones offer them up to 
 Thee, through Christ the dear Son of thy 
 Love, in whom Thou art well pleased ; for 
 Thou alone art worthy to receive all glory 
 and praise, who art God over all, blessed for 
 ever and ever. Amen. 
 
SERMON :f^iii. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. WILLIAM PENN, 
 
 AT WHEELER-STREET^ APRIL 13, 1694. 
 
 It is the great cause and work of God in 
 which you are all concerned this day. Now 
 that all of you may see how you quit your-f 
 selves before the living, eternal God, your 
 Maker, and answer the visitations of his love 
 in the discharge of your duty — that you may 
 feel an answer of peace in your own bosoms^ 
 and find yourselves nigh who were afar off* — - 
 that you may all know yourselves nearer than 
 "when ye first believed, nearer to the Lord, 
 nearer to his love, and more in his favour — 
 that you may perceive your interest to grow 
 and increase, your Divine, your eternal in-* 
 terest, that which will out-last the world, for 
 it centres in that which shall never have an 
 end — O friends ! see to it tliis day. It is the 
 redemption of your immortal souls, that the 
 Lord God hath visited you for. It is in order 
 to this J and all the religions in the world, 
 
^5S SERMON Bir 
 
 articles, creeds, confessions, and professions 
 that leave out this, they are all imperfect and 
 insignificant, and will not avail men in the 
 great day of account. 
 
 Therefore see to it how the work goes on^ 
 the work of redemption and salvation. Do 
 you feel yourselves near to the Lord ? Do you 
 find yourselves to have more power over 
 your souls ? Do you know yourselves ad- 
 vanced in the work of God ? Are ye come to 
 die daily to that which is contrary to the 
 Lord ? For as you die daily, you live tliat 
 life which you live in the fleshy hy the faith 
 of the Eternal Son of God, Christ Jesus, who 
 hath redeemed you from all iniquity, and 
 called you to glory and virtue* 
 
 Now, that you may all be faithful stewards 
 of the grace, and mercy, and heavenly talents 
 which God hath bestowed upon you, and be 
 all found working, not idle in the market 
 place, Christ Jesus the Lord hath not been 
 wanting to you. He hath piped to you ; 
 Lave you danced ? He hath mourned ; hava 
 you wept ? He bath called ; have you answer- 
 ed his call ? See to it this day, for the glorious 
 power and presence of that God who visited 
 
MR. WILLIAM PENN. 25& 
 
 you in the beginning, is here this day. It is 
 his heart-reaching power, his heart-melting 
 power, his Divine, sweet presence, which 
 brought us out of Pharoah's house, and out of 
 Egypt's land, and took us by the hand and 
 led us peaceably to walk by the rivers of God's 
 pleasures. I say, see to it this day, that you 
 may answer the great love of God, that the 
 Lord doth vouchsafe his heavenly presence 
 in the midst of you, and lift up the light of 
 his countenance upon you, that ye may be 
 found answering his love in his renewed bless- 
 ings; that, as He renew eth his mercies, you 
 may renew your obedience ; and as He re- 
 news his loving-kindness, you may renew 
 your thankfulness; that your souls may be 
 filled with high praises, for it is a day of 
 praises for the Lord. They who have ob- 
 tained a deliverance by God's mighty arm 
 and power, that brought his people out of 
 Egypt's land into the wilderness, and through 
 tlie Red Sea and over Jordan's river, unto 
 the banks of salvation — they who have re- 
 ceived a marvellous deliverance from their 
 spiritual enemies, they do not hang iheir 
 harps upon the willow, but rejoice and praise 
 the Living God. They resolve with the 
 
260 SERMON BY 
 
 prophet : Although the fig-tree shall fiot blo$* 
 soniy neither shall fruit be in the vine; the 
 labour of the olive shall fail^ and the field shall 
 yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from 
 thefoldy and there shall be no herd in the 
 stalls, and although there be plague, sword, 
 fire, desolation, and destruction : yet we tmll 
 rejoice in the Lord, we will joy in the God of 
 our salvation. Is it so with you this day ? 
 Are you come into this divine fellowship, 
 into this intimacy with tlie Lord ? have you 
 this holy frame of soul ? 
 
 O ye sons and daughters of the morning ! 
 the everlasting day of God hath dawned upon 
 you, that you may look into your hearts, and 
 see how it is with you, and see your ex- 
 periences, see the things that your eyes have 
 seen, and you hands have handled. You 
 have tasted the good Word of God, and 
 known the operation of his power. These 
 are things that they have that are children, 
 not empty notions but experience. If we 
 travel on, we shall be enabled to overcome ; 
 and if we take unto us the whole armour of 
 God, we shall be enabled to stand in the evil 
 day; and having done all, to stand. And 
 what is the reward of them that overcome? 
 
MR. WILLIAM PENN. 261 
 
 They shall eat of the frait of the tree of life, 
 that grows in the paradise of God. As man j 
 as are fed from this tree, they are not to be 
 standing idle, but work the works of God; 
 and are brought into the paradise of God, 
 and enjoy the delights of God in the presence 
 of God ; and the Lord will fill and satisfy 
 them with his Divine goodness ; and they 
 shall grow and increase in the Divine lif(j 
 more and more. 
 
 Consider, how doth the work goon? con- 
 sider, the Lord Jesus came in our natures, 
 before He coraeth into our hearts. Now 
 Christ Jesus within us is the hope of glory ; 
 and the mi/steri/ that was hid from ages and 
 generations is now revealed in us : Christ is 
 now come, not only into our natures but into 
 our hearts, into our inward man ; and all those 
 at the door of whose hearts He hath knocked, 
 if they have opened to Him and received 
 Him, He bath come to sup with them, and 
 He hath given them the bread of life, and 
 the cup of salvation ; and they have come 
 into Divine fellowship with Him. And so 
 Ihey have eaten his flesh, and drunk his 
 blood, and fed upon that bread that comes 
 down from heaven ; and all that open the 
 
 P'. III. z 
 
^G^ SERMON BY 
 
 door and let Him in^ihey come to eat of this 
 bread, and they come to see Him that is the 
 desire of all nations, and the Light of the 
 "vvorld ; and they walk in his Light. 
 
 This is an ancient testimony. When you 
 were Hrst turned to the liglit of Christ, it was 
 not a natural but a Divine light that you were 
 turned to, the b'ght of Jesns manifesting Him- 
 self in us ; in this light you received Him, and 
 I desire to know what you have tasted ; what 
 further joy is there? what more excellent 
 object, what more excellent mark than this — 
 than the Light of the nations thatweare come 
 to walk in ? 
 
 Here is divinity ; here is that which was 
 before the world began ; here is made known 
 the Divine nature. It is testified here that 
 you might be partakers of it — that you might 
 be a chosen generation^ a roi/al priesthood^ a 
 holy nation J a pectdiar people; that i/ou should 
 shew forth the praises of Him xeho hath called 
 you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 
 See liovv th.is work advanceth in every one of 
 you, that y<m may be faithful and improve 
 your talents — that you may be able to give 
 up your account to the Lord wilh joi/^ and 
 
MR. WILLIAM PENN. 263 
 
 not with s^rief. When you shall hear a voice 
 saying : Come, come away ; there is no nioro 
 time ; the glass is run — then how joyfully wilt 
 thou hear that voice, if thou hast not been 
 idle, but working out thy salvation, and 
 Answering the call of God, and adoring Him 
 for his love to thy immortal soul; if thou art 
 not, like Martha^ cumbered <ihout many things; 
 but mindest the one thing needful^ that good 
 part which shall not be tahen azoay from thee. If 
 you thus workout your salvation, it will be said 
 unto you : Well done — not, well taught — not, 
 well disputed — huX^well done ^ good and faith- 
 ful servants, enter you into thejor/ of your Lord, 
 
 My friends, time goes apace, and we are 
 wearing off, and in a little while v,e shall be 
 here no more ; time will be gone, and the day 
 of your visitation quickly over: the thought 
 and consideration of this hath affected mc 
 many a time. Look, friends, that you be all 
 travelling on in your heavenly journey as a 
 faithful people — and that the work of your 
 salvation is carrying on — and that Christ is 
 a Redeemer to you — and that He doth deliver 
 you from the dominion of sin, and the bon- 
 dage of corruption. Art thou free ? who hath 
 made thee free ? If the Truth hath made thee 
 z2 
 
264 SLRMON BY 
 
 free — if the Son of God hath made tkeefree^ 
 then art thou free indeed. 
 
 If thou art made free, thy knowledge will 
 be Accompanied with experience, and not 
 notions only : you want not notions, but pos-* 
 session of inward freedom and liberty. Doth 
 your knowledge of trutli make you free from 
 sin ? O the tumblings and tossing that thy 
 soul was in ! O the covenant-making, and the 
 covenant-breaking ! there was no peace, no 
 rest, because you were fallen, and because 
 you did not know dominion and victory over 
 sin, which is only by the life and Spirit of 
 Christ Jesus, which will lead you into tlie 
 path of obedience. Then you will know that 
 in Christ there is Life, and this Life is the 
 Light of men ; and the light shineth in dark* 
 tiess, and the darkness comprehendelh it not. 
 You have life only in Christ, and you have 
 it in Him as in the fountain. This you must 
 know, that you may be delivered from sin. 
 By this saving knowledge of Christ, and be- 
 lieving in Him, the all-sufficient Saviour^ 
 you will come to reign as kings and priests, 
 and sit zcith Him in heavenli/ places. This 
 will bring you to the general assembli/ and 
 church of the frst-horn^ which are written in 
 
Un. WILLIAM PENN. 9G5 • 
 
 hraten, atxl to God the Judge of all, and to 
 the spirits of just men made perfect, and io 
 Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and 
 to the blood of sprinkling; that speaJccth better 
 thing's than that of Abel, 
 
 Whatsoever ijour hand finds you to do, dc 
 it Tc'ith all 2/our might ; and work out j/our 
 oicn salvation with fear and trembling. Live 
 as those that are concerned for heaven and 
 eternity. Be faithful and diligent in your 
 generation, that you may be rich towards 
 God; rich in the love of God, and in peace 
 -witli God, These are heavenly treasures, 
 which moth and rust cannot corrupt, nor 
 thieves break through and steal from you. 
 Walk in the way of righteousness, and in the 
 paths of judgment ; that you may have your 
 fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting 
 life. 
 
 My friends, that which sliould exercise 
 your minds, and which all should have an 
 eye unto, is this, that your hearts be Hxcd 
 upon Gocl, and your affections set upon 
 things above ; that walking in the Spirit, you 
 may be led by the Spirit of God, as the; 
 children of God^ and heirs of Gody to the,- 
 z3 
 
f66 SERMON BY 
 
 inheritance above^ where you shall It for cuer 
 mih the Lord, 
 
 Friends, this is my exhortation to you, that 
 you will keep near to tbe Lord, and live 
 under his guidance and government, and relj 
 upon Christ alone for salvation; and live in 
 the Light, as becomes children of Light. 
 Trust to nothing that will fail you in the day 
 of your dissolution, for then you will be under 
 an everlasting disappointment. See that it 
 be a true foundation that you build upon, and 
 see what it is that you build upon it ; that it 
 be not hay and stubble that cannot stand the 
 fire. Build upon a right foundation, the 
 eternal word of God ; and build right things 
 upon it — that you may be always under tlie 
 guidance, and power, and government of the 
 blessed Spirit of the Living God — that the 
 exercise and desire of your hearts be towards 
 the enjoyment of his living presence, of hi& 
 pure power, and quickening Spirit. 
 
 This is a building which will abide the 
 fire. This is a building upon a right founda- 
 tion. What is that ? The Light of the Lord, 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the 
 world. Here is the right foundation ; let u& 
 
MR. WILLIAM PENN. 267 
 
 be found in Him, and keep close to the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, ^vho is the Author of eternal sal- 
 vation to all them that obey Him, This is the 
 way to be preserved. 
 
 You that have got into a good state and 
 condition, keep init, and live near to the Lord ; 
 and you will feel his daily, his refreshing 
 presence, and his assisting power, to carry you 
 on and conduct you in your travel and pil- 
 grimage ; i^at you may not faint in the way, 
 but, in the end, reap the crown of immortal 
 glory, that God hath laid up for those that 
 fear Him. 
 
 My friends, it was the glorious Light of the 
 Lord, and the Spirit of the Living Eternal 
 God, by which you were visited in your 
 early days. Nay, all the sweet enjoyments 
 we have often had in this place, are from the 
 good Spirit of the Lord, and the light of Life 
 shining among us. Praised and magnified be 
 the Lord's everlasting power, that hath been 
 extended to us. The Lord grant that that 
 
 which was our Alpha may be our Omega 
 
 that that which began to turn our hearts and 
 minds God-ward, may watch over us, and 
 continue with us — that we may be kept as a« 
 
268 THE PRAYER. 
 
 experienced people, a holy peculiar people, 
 zealous of good works — that God may haijC 
 all the honour and praise^ to Avhom it belongs, 
 who is God over all ; who is worthy to be 
 praised, adored, and magnified by us and all 
 his people, henceforth and for ever and ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 a-^^^k^o 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Most glorious and infinite God of heaven 
 and earth ! in thy great and unspeakable 
 mercy. Thou visitest the children of men, and 
 €xtendest thy love from one generation to 
 anoiher ; and yet, in this age in which wc 
 live, tliy day of grace and mercy reaches uulo 
 our souls ; and we have been called by Thee 
 unto righteousness and holiness, that so it 
 might be well with us, when we shall be 
 removed out of this world, and be no mor(> 
 seen of men. 
 
 Everlasting God ! if wc consider aright thy 
 dealing towards us, the exceeding riches of 
 thy grace in Christ Jesus, it may provoke us 
 and constrain us to love Thee, andllnir Tliec, 
 and serve Thee in our generation. Lordy 
 
THE PRAlTER. ^60 
 
 thy visitation hath been effectual upon the 
 hearts of many of the children of men, who 
 are devoted to thy fear and service, and give 
 up themselves to worship Thee in the beauties 
 of holiness. Lord, Thou hast gathered a 
 people to Thyself; and Thou hast brought 
 them through many trials and exercises, and 
 defined them by a Spirit of judgment; and 
 they have been baptized with the Holy Ghost 
 and with fire. 
 
 O Lord God of life ! thy mercy is exceed- 
 ing great, and thy love unspeakable in all the 
 dimensions of it. We pray Thee that Thou 
 wilt be pleased to grant, according to the 
 riches of thy glory, tliat we may all be 
 strengthened with might by thy Spirit in our 
 inner man, tliat Christ may dwell in our 
 hearts by faith ; that we, being rooted and 
 grounded in love, may be able to compre- 
 hend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and 
 depth, and height, and length, and to know 
 the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, 
 that we may be filled with all the fulness 
 of God. 
 
 Blessed Father of mercies ! deliver us from 
 this present evil world, and the corruptions 
 
^70 THE PRAY fiR. 
 
 and pollulions tbat are in it. Let us not live 
 as the children of this world, as those that 
 are of it; but as those that are hastening out 
 of it, to the coming of the day of God ; and 
 help us to grow in grace, and in the know- 
 ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 who hath redeemed us from all iniquity ; not 
 with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 
 but with his own precious blood, as of a Lamb 
 without blemish and w ithout spot ; that we 
 might live to Him that died for us, and be 
 holy in all manner of conversation. 
 
 O ! let the Lion of the tribe of Judah 
 deliver ns from that roaring lion of hell that 
 goes about seeking to devour us. Make it 
 our deliglit, O God! to do thy will ; and let 
 tliy law be written in our hearts, that, by 
 patient continuance in well doing, we may 
 seek for honour, glory, immortality, and 
 eternal life ; and that, while we are engaged 
 in the Christian warfare, we may take unto us 
 the whole armour of God, and resist the devil, 
 and overcome the world; and be more than 
 conquerors through Christ who hath loved 
 ns ; that, having fought the good fight of 
 faith, we may lay hold on eternal life* 
 
THE PRAYER. 271 
 
 And, blessed and heavenly Father ! for all 
 thy abounding mercies and blessings vouch- 
 safed to us and all thy people, and for the 
 refreshing we have had from thy presence in 
 our present meeting, we desire to render 
 praise, honour, renown, and thanksgiving, to 
 thy great and excellent Name ; for Thou 
 alone art worthy, who art God over all, blessed 
 for ever and ever. Amen, 
 
SERMON XIV. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. JAMES PARK. 
 
 jlT RJTCLIFF, APRIL 19, 1694. 
 
 Tliej that come to wait upon the Lord, and 
 draw nigh to Hira, and diligently attend upon 
 Him, they shall receive wisdom and strength 
 from Him, and power to enable them to do 
 the will of God — to fear the Lord, and to call 
 upon his name — to love the Lord Jesus Christ 
 in sincerity — and to work righteousness in 
 their time, day, and generation : knowing 
 Him in whom they have believed, and whom 
 a remnant are come to ; and are baptized into 
 Him, and walk in Hira, as they have received 
 Him, by Avhom they have been taught. 
 
 All are to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and to walk in Him, who is the Lord's 
 anointed, the Judge of quick and dead. All 
 are to have a certain knowledge of Him, bj 
 receiving and embracing Him. Did we ever 
 
SERMON BY MR. JAMES PARK. 273 
 
 know God aright, and the Lord Jesus Christ 
 bis only begotten Son, till we received Him, 
 and kne.v Him to be in us the hope of glory? 
 Many of us have received the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and walked in Him as we have re- 
 ceived Him ; and then we came to know the 
 witness of Him in ourselves. Such as know 
 Him experimentally, can setto their seals that 
 God is true. We have known God the 
 Father at work in us, and his Son Christ 
 Jesus working mightily by his Almighty 
 poAver; in and through whom we come to 
 work out our own salvation with fear and 
 trcmhUng, This causeth a great fear of God 
 to come upon man„ I have known in my 
 time a great trial come upon man ; and then 
 He came to serve the Lord with fear; and 
 that is good service, and that undoubtedly 
 will manifest a good servant, when a man 
 comes to serve the Lord with fear ^ and to rc' 
 joice with trembling ; not w ith an exalted 
 mind, not with a puffed up mind. Keep out of 
 that, beware of that. 
 
 Friends, I beseech you all, in the name of 
 the Lord, and in the fear of God, wait all in 
 God's fear, and then you will be capable of 
 drawing nigh to God. It is Wi^tlen in the 
 
 P^iii. A a 
 
^74 SERMON BY 
 
 epistle of James. Draw nigh to God; and He 
 will draw nigh to you. Then will you feel 
 the Lord to work in yon mightily, and to 
 wash you and make you clean ; and then, by 
 the help of the Spirit of the Lord, you will 
 put away the evil of your doings^ cease to do 
 evil, and learn to do zoell, and endeavour to 
 please God in all tilings. The childr(^n of 
 God are all taught of Him, and their peace 
 is great, and they are established in righteous- 
 ness ; and they have a living experience of 
 that promise of the Lord by the prophet, 
 they shall be all taught of God, their heavenly 
 Teacher. And you that are taught of Him 
 shall find Him near you ; that Teacher cannot 
 be removed into corners. There shall be an 
 invisible eye, a heavenly and spiritual eye 
 opened to you, that you may see the Lord 
 near you : Draw near to Him in faith, and 
 zoith a true heart and with full assurance ; and 
 you will certainly know, and you will see 
 clearly, that God is no respecter of persons ; 
 but that, in every nation, he that j ear eth God 
 and worheth righteousness is accepted of 
 Him, 
 
 God is no respecter of persons ; his love is 
 of large extent with respect to the sons and 
 
MR. JAMES PARK. 275 
 
 daughters of men : Those Thou gavest me, 
 saith our Saviour, 1 have kept; and none of 
 them is lost, but the son of perdition^ that the 
 Scripture might be fulfilled. The mercy of 
 God, through Christ Jesus the Son of his love 
 reacheth all ; there is good will towards men. 
 (Luke ii. 9, 10 J The angel of the Lord 
 came upon the shepherds abiding in thefeld^ 
 and watching over their flock bj/ nighty and 
 said unto them : Fear not ; for, behold, I bring 
 you good tidings of great joy, which shall be 
 to all people ; for unto you is born this day in 
 the city of David, a Saviour, which 'is Christ 
 the Lord, And suddenly there was with the 
 angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising 
 God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest^ 
 and on earth peace, good will towards men. 
 
 And the prophet Isaiah tells us : For unto 
 us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and 
 the government shall be upon his shoulder ; and 
 his name shall be called, TVonderful, Coun- 
 sellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting 
 Father, the Prince of Peace, You sliall have 
 Christ Jesus for your Lord, and King, and 
 Counsellor, and Instructor. Christ Jesus the 
 Son of the Highesi, He will instruct you, and 
 counsel you safely, and then great will be 
 
 A a2 
 
976 SERMON BY 
 
 jour peace. Who can disturb the peace of 
 such an one,or bereave him of it ? Such an one 
 is also established in righteousness, and Christ 
 is made to them of God^ Wisdom^ Righteous' 
 ness, Sanctification, and Redemption; that 
 they may be all endued with that zoisdom 
 which is from above, which is pure, and peace- 
 alley and gentle, and easy tohe intreated. 
 
 Let the same mind be in you, saith the 
 Apostle, which was in Christ Jesus, that great 
 Lord, and King, and peaceable Saviour. Let 
 us come unto Him, and learn of Him that is 
 meek and lowly, and we shall fnd rest to our 
 souls. Come unto Him that hath a good will 
 to all, desiring that all mai) be saved and come 
 to the knowledge of the Truth; and this is life 
 eternal, to know Him that is the only true 
 God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. 
 The children of God desire the saving know- 
 ledge of the true God, above all the idols of 
 the world, and to be made partakers of that 
 life which is eterual, which never shall have 
 an end. They will always fear the Lord, and 
 think upon his Name. 
 
 I beseech you, in the tender love of God, 
 consider this ; it is our great duty \o fear the 
 
MR. JAMES PARK. 277 
 
 Lord, and tbink upon his Name ; ^vberever 
 ■we are, that is good. They that fear God 
 always, they are blessed of God, they receive 
 Divine wisdom from God, how to order their 
 conversation aright, and so more and more 
 daily partake of God's salvation. For the 
 arm of the Lord is stretched forth, and 
 made bare to save those that trust in Him, 
 and neglect not that great salvation, which 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, 
 hath purchased and procured for us, not with 
 corruptible things, as silver and gold, hut with 
 his own precious blood, as a Lamb without 
 blemish, and without spot ; for He was a man 
 of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, his 
 visage was marred more than any man ; whom 
 the Jews slew and hanged on a tree. Had 
 they known it, they w ould not have crucified 
 the Lord of glory. He was the Lord's 
 anointed whom they slew — the Lord of heaven 
 and earth, who had all power committed to 
 Him; and He gave commission to his apostles 
 and ministers to go and teach all nations, and 
 observe all things whatsoever He commanded^ 
 saying to them : Lo, 1 am zcilh you alway, 
 even unto the end of the world. And saith our 
 Lord Jesus Christ to them : Behold, I send the 
 promise of my Father upon you ; but tarry 
 
 A a 3 
 
278 SERMON BY 
 
 tarry you i\\ the city of Jerusalem^ until ye 
 he endued zcith power from on his^h. And 
 they had power given them to work miracles, 
 and to tread on serpents and scorpions; and 
 nothing should be able to hurt them. A 
 mighty, blessed, and glorious power did pre- 
 serve them, and fit and prepare them to 
 preach the everlasting Gospel. 
 
 So now, my friends, my counsel from the 
 Lord to you is, that you will be faithful to 
 what the Lord our God, in his dear Son Jesus 
 Christ, hath manifested and made known to 
 you, be it more or less. You that have re- 
 ceived much, of you will more be required, 
 and they that are faithful in a little, shall bo 
 made rulers over much ; they shall enter into 
 their Master^s joy^ that joy that the stranger 
 doth not intermeddle with. This spiritual 
 joy, this heavenly joy of the Lord hath been 
 our strength ; it hath been comfortable to the 
 children of God from time to time, and from 
 day to day. How joyful will it be to hear 
 that sentence from Christ hereafter : TVell 
 done^ good and faithful serxant^ thou hast 
 Icenfaiihful in a little^ I will make thee ruler 
 over nu'ck; enter thou into the Joy of thy 
 
MR. JAMES PARK. 279 
 
 Lord, Then shall the redeemed of the Lord 
 sing the song of Moses the servant ofGod^ and 
 the song of the Lamb, sai/ing^ Great and mar- 
 vellous are thy works ^ Lord God Almightj/ ! 
 just and true are thy xcays^ Thou King of 
 Saints I 
 
 Now, my fricndsj hearken and incline jour 
 ears from lime to lime, unto what the Lord 
 shall say. Jle will speak peace unto his 
 people and to his saints ; hut let them not 
 return again unto folly. Whoever you are 
 that are true, real Christians, yon have peace 
 with God, through Christ Jesus the peaceable 
 Saviour. We are accepted of God in the 
 Beloved, and have peace with God, in and 
 through Christ Jesus, who is the great peace- 
 maker and Prince of Peace. It is by his 
 meritorious death, and sufferings, and satis- 
 faction made to Divine justice, that we are 
 reconciled unto God. I never did desire to 
 hear any thing, or speak any thing, that had 
 the least tendency to undervalue the death, 
 sufferings, satisfaction, mediation, and inter- 
 cession of our Lord Jesus Christ; but have 
 aluays owned, believed, and preached there 
 great truth?* 
 
280 SERMON BY 
 
 So, my friends, I beseech you all to have an 
 eye to the Lord. If you loill draw to Him^ 
 He will draw nigh to you. If we keep to the 
 Lord, and joy in the Lord, we shall find the 
 Lord near to us, answering our desires. He 
 will keep us in the hollow of his hand, and in 
 the secret paiilion; then will your bread, 
 your heavenly, living bread, he sure, and you 
 will know t]\e breaking of it, and the eating 
 of it ; that bread which Christ gives, is that 
 whereby we are comforted and refreshed. 
 
 So, my friends, the Lord God Almighty be 
 with you. It is not in ray mind to say much 
 at this time; though many things were upon 
 me to speak to you in tlie light of the Lord ; 
 and in the love of the Lord, I shall at present 
 commit you to the Lord Jesus Christ, to cast 
 your care upon Him at all times : in all your 
 afflictions, distresses, trials, and troubles what- 
 soever, keep your eye steadfast, and your 
 hearts fixed upon tlie Lord, and you need not 
 then be afraid of evil tidings. Trust in the 
 Lord at all times ; not for a day, or a week, 
 or a year, but for ever. Cast your care upon 
 the Lord, for He carethfor you. If thy faith 
 be tried, murmur not, but rejoice ; for the 
 trial of your faith is much moreprccious than 
 
MR. JAMES PARK. 281 
 
 of gold that perishethy though it be tried with 
 Jire; that it may he found unto praise^ and 
 honour^ and glory ^ at the appearing of Jesus 
 Christ, in whom though now you see Him not, 
 yet, believing, ye rejoice zoithjoy unspeakable 
 and full of glory. If trials, and sufferings, 
 and tribulations come,do not stumble at them : 
 Think it not strange concerning the fiery 
 trial which is to try you, as though some 
 strange thing had happened to you \ hut re- 
 joice, in as much as ye are made partakers of 
 ChrisCs sufferings ; that when his glory shall 
 be repealed, ye may be glad also with exceed" 
 ingjoy. 
 
 Friends, happy are you, if the Lord shall 
 be pleased to try your faith in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and to try your love and your 
 patience. Verily, 1 say unto you, in the 
 Name of the Lord, we have all need of it in 
 our spiritual travail and progress, and hea- 
 venly journey : Ye have need of patience, that 
 after ye have done the will of God, ye may 
 receive the promise ; the patient and the meek 
 shall inherit the earth, and have an inheritance 
 reserved in heaven. Seek the Lord, my 
 friends, that you may be hid in the day of 
 his wrath, that you may be among his hidden 
 
S8£ 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 ones. When his indignation shall break out 
 against sin and wickedness, would not you 
 be hidden then ? and preserved then ? would 
 not you have the Lord to spare you then, 
 as a man spareth his son that serveth him ? 
 
 The Lord will have mercy upon Sion, and 
 spare his people in the day ofhisjierce anger, 
 until his indignation he overpast. The walls 
 of Sion are the walls of salvation; and they 
 are a bulwark to God's people. When did 
 these walls and bulwarks fail you? Have you 
 not been preserved in your day and genera- 
 tion ? If these walls of salvation had failed, 
 we had not been preserved in Christ Jesus ; 
 we had not now been a people. We have 
 stood the brunts ; we have been kept safe in 
 the strong city^ where salvation is for walls 
 and bulwarks. And so I shall commit you 
 to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, 
 that taketh away the sins of the world, I 
 desire you all to look to Him, and fix your 
 hearts upon Him, who is the Author of eternal 
 salvation to all them that believe in Him and 
 obey Him; to Him be glory, praise, and 
 dominion, who is God over all, blessed for 
 ever. Amen, 
 
THE PEAYER. 283 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Most blessed Lord God ! Thou art Lord of 
 heaven and earth, infinite in love, and life, 
 and glory ; the God of the spirits of all flesh, 
 in whom we live, and move, and have our 
 being; who art near to everyone tliat draweth 
 near to Thee, and calleth upon Thee in 
 truth. Thou openest tliy bountiful hand, and 
 refreshest our hearts with thy mercy and 
 blessing. 
 
 O Lord God of power ! thy mercies are mani- 
 fold, and they are over all thy works ; and the 
 works of thine own hands do all praise Thee ; 
 and thy saints bless Thee, and magnify thy ex- * 
 cellent Name. Thou art pleased to magnify 
 thy law, and to send forth thy light and 
 truth, and to make it honourable in the 
 hearts of many, in the day of thy love, in the 
 day of thy power. Thou art redeeming thy 
 people from iniquity, and purgiug away all 
 their dross, and taking away all their tin. 
 
 G Lord God of life and power! let all that 
 believe in tliy Son Jesus Christ be purged 
 and purified more and more ; lot them be 
 washed and sanctified — that all that may be 
 
284 THE PRAYER. 
 
 done away, and removed out of Ibcir hearts, 
 which is contrary to Thyself — that the glory 
 of thy truth may arise and siiine in their 
 souls. And let all feel the power of thy 
 Truth, and be sensible of it, and believe it, 
 and obey it, that they may follow the lead- 
 ings of thy Holy Spirit, and answer thy re- 
 quirings, and glorify thy Name, and do thy 
 will on earth as it is done in heaven. Let us 
 all receive our daily bread from Thee, and 
 have the light of thy countenance to shine 
 upon us. Comfort the hearts of all thine 
 every where ; be Thou their strength and 
 stay, and a present help in trouble; and solace 
 their souls with the sense of thy love, which 
 is better than wine; and with tliy favour and 
 Joving-kindness, whicii is better than life. 
 Strengthen the weak hands that hang down, 
 and confirm the feeble knees, and succour 
 those that are tempted, and comfort them and 
 relieve them. 
 
 O righteous Lord of heaven and earth ! 
 make known thy mighty power in working 
 upon the hearts of thy people, here and every 
 where. Make known thy Name and glory 
 il|roughout the whole earth. Let thy glorious, 
 everlasting Gospel, be sounded forth and 
 
THE PRAYER. 285 
 
 preached in all nations of the world ; and let 
 thy renown go forth, and thy fani3 be spread 
 abroad in all nations. Let all the enemies of 
 thy people be scattered, and all that make 
 opposition against thy Truth be conquered 
 and overcome by the power of it, and submit 
 themselves, lest they perish in their opposi- 
 tion. And let thy people receive thy Truth 
 in the love of it ; and become willing, in the 
 ihiy of thy power, to serve Thee in the 
 beauties of holiness ; and to gird up their 
 minds, and be kept sober and vigilant, and 
 hope to the end, and live in love and unity 
 with one another, and keep themselves in the 
 love of God ; and, by patient continuance in 
 well doing, seek for honour, glory, im- 
 mortality, and eternal life. 
 
 Let us delight ourselves in Thee, that Thou 
 mayest give us the desire of our heart?. 
 Whom have we in heaven but Thee ? and 
 there is none upon earth that we can desire 
 beside Thee. Thou hast many times refreshed 
 us with the sense of thy love in Christ Jesus ; 
 and Thou hast brought us into thy banqueting 
 house, and thy banner hath been spread over 
 us ; we have been satisfied with the latncss of 
 thy house, and drunk abundantly of the 
 
 Bb 
 
280 THE PRAYER. 
 
 rivers of thy pleasures ; we have sat under 
 thy shadow with great delight, aud thy fruit 
 hath been sweet to our taste. 
 
 Bless us and all thine every where, and 
 mind us of our latter end, that all the days of 
 our appointed time we may wait, till our 
 change come, and be so prepared for our great 
 account that we may give it up with joy, 
 and not with grief. 
 
 Now, blessed God of heaven and earth ! for 
 all thy mercies and favours that we have re- 
 ceived ; and the blessings and benefits, Avhicli 
 Thou hast bestowed upon us, and continued 
 to us ; and for preserving us, from time to time, 
 by the arm of thy power ; and for opening our 
 liearts ai this time, to receive the word of thy 
 Truth, and the intluences of thy Spirit ; take 
 Thou the honour and glory, thanksgiving and 
 praise, which we humbly and sincerely oifer 
 up to Thee ; for to Thee it doth belong, and 
 Thou alone art worthy, who art God over all, 
 blessed for ever and ever. Amen, 
 
SERMON XV. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. FRANCIS STAMPER, 
 
 MT DEFONSHIRE-nOVSE, MAY 3, 1694. 
 
 God hath laid help upon One that is mighti/^ 
 to sa-ce to the uttermost all that come unto 
 God by Him, 
 
 This Mighty One, that the Almighty Lord 
 Jehovah hatli laid help upon for man, is the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of his love ; and 
 they are blessed of God that come to par- 
 take of the help that is in Him, who said to 
 his disciples and followers in the days past, 
 Without me ye can do nothing. 
 
 Friends, this is a deep and a very near 
 word ; and it stands us all upon to consider 
 whether we have Him or not ; for we all owe 
 service, a duty and a worship, to the everlast- 
 ing God ; and of ourselves we cannot perform 
 it, without the help and assistance of his be- 
 loved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ ; and tho 
 Bb2 
 
588 SERMON BY 
 
 comfort of all that believe in Him and love 
 jHim is this, that He is not only able to help, 
 but willing to help. 
 
 Blessed be the Lord God for ever ! may 
 all you say that have been made partakers 
 of his virtue, and of his power, and life ; that 
 have found a willingness in Him to assist you 
 in all your troubles, in all your exercises, in 
 all your afflictions, in all the bowings of your 
 souls and spirits before the Lord ; who have 
 said in your prayers and supplications : Lord, 
 lend me thy help ; let me have thy gracious 
 aid and assistance. Without tliis help of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot do that good 
 that sometimes we desire ; but we are even 
 like to poor Israel when they had forgotten 
 the Lord, when they had been cleaving to 
 that which led them in those steps, the end 
 whereof was destruction. The Lord thus 
 complained by his prophet : O Israel ! thou 
 hast destroyed thyself; hut thy help is in me. 
 
 And, O friends ! what greater love could 
 the Lord God have shewn to the lost sons of 
 Adam, than to have sent his Son, his only be- 
 gotten Son, from the bosom of his heavenly 
 Ipve, to redeem man up to God again — to 
 
Mn. FRANCIS STAMPER. 289 
 
 restore man again — and bring him back again 
 out of that alienated state, and out of that 
 undone condition, that He was fallen into 
 by his disobedience and transgression against 
 the Lord. God hath laid help upon One that 
 is 3Iightj/y mighty to save. 
 
 Is there any poor soul here this day that 
 "vvantsthe salvation of God; that wants to be 
 saved from sin, that so it may be saved from 
 hell, saved from woe, saved from distress, 
 saved from misery ? O ! come and lay hold 
 on Him by fiiith, whom God hath laid help 
 upon. 
 
 My friends, turn your minds inward this 
 day ; have an eye and aregard in youselves, 
 to that pure and divine manifestation of his 
 light, and grace, and Spirit vouchsafed io 
 you ; in that ligbt, look unto Him. Holy 
 men and holy women, godly men and godly 
 women, waited for this in the days of old ; 
 and one of them expressed his joy and satis- 
 fiiction, even old Simeon. When he saw the 
 Lord Jesus Christ brought into the Temple, 
 he took Him itp in his arms, and blessed God, 
 and said : Lord, now let test Thou tiny servant 
 depart in peace, according to thy word ; for 
 B b3 
 
290 SERMON BY 
 
 mwe eyes have seen tliy salvation^ which Thou 
 hast prepared before the face of all people, a 
 Light to lighten the gindles, and the glory 
 of thy people Israel; that He might be for 
 salvation to the ends of the earth. Now here 
 Simeon beheld and saw that wliich he had 
 long waited for and desired after ; and he 
 had this manifested to him by the Holy 
 Ghost, that he should not see death before he 
 had seen the Lord's Christ ; he saw Him and 
 beheld Him, that he might see He was come. 
 
 So some souls, at this day, that are now under 
 another dispensation, they have waited long, 
 and cried to the Lord, and said : Lord, when 
 will the time come? when will the day come 
 that Thou wilt open to me that which my 
 soul hath longed for ? Lord, I have sinned 
 against Thee, when will the time come that I 
 shall have help and power against sin, and 
 find strength against sin, and receive power 
 from on high against my sins, and to resist 
 and overcome temptations, and obtain thy 
 favour;, and, through Jesus Christ, be recon- 
 ciled to Thee whom I have offended ? 
 
 Friends, you that have long waited for the 
 Consolation of God's Israel, hold fast your. 
 
MR. FRANCIS STAMPER. 291 
 
 hope, keepi/otir confidence unto the end, keep 
 your faith and patience. Remember the words 
 of Christ to the Church of Philadelphia : 
 These things saith He that is holy and true, 
 Thou hast a little strength^ and hast kept my 
 xeord, and hast not denied my Name ; because 
 thou hast kept the zoord of my patience^ I also 
 will keep thee from the hour of temptation, 
 which shall come upon all the world, to Xxy 
 them that dwell upon the earth. 
 
 My friends, the hour of tribulation is comings 
 apace, and hastening; it is even at the very 
 door, therefore lay hold on Christ, whom God 
 hath laid help upon. O my friends ! that you 
 may find this help extended to you, in this 
 day of your trial and temptation ; that they 
 who are the hindmost of the flock may come 
 up, the poor in spirit, who are poor in body 
 too, they that are groaning, and crying, and 
 mourning in solitary places, that they may 
 come according to the words of Christ into 
 his slieep-fold. John x. 16 : And other sheep 
 I have, which are not of this fold; them also 
 I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, 
 and there shall be onefold and one Shepherd. 
 
 This one Shepherd is present here, my 
 friends! pray hear bis voice this aftcrnopn^ 
 
292 SERMON BY 
 
 His voice is sweet and lovely, and pierceth 
 the very heart, it calls upon you : Open to me^ 
 my well-beloved. It calls you out of sin, and 
 out of iniquity, and out of that which offends 
 the Lord. O friends ! this voice calls, Open 
 to me, my beloved. You that are turned from 
 this world, from the love of vanities and plea- 
 sures, from those vain delights that perish in 
 the using; and the desire of your hearts is, 
 that you may be more acquainted with Him 
 that is the good Shepherd of your souls, that 
 saith, I call mine own sheep by name ; blessed 
 be you that have this new name. 
 
 I go before them, and they follow me, and I 
 will give to them eternal life, saith Christ. 
 What greater gift can you have ? WJiat better 
 reward can you have? you that have the help 
 of the Lord — you that have the strength of 
 the Almiglity — you that have your depend- 
 ence upon Him — you that can truly say, the 
 Lord hath laid help upon One that is mighty. 
 I feel his mighty Arm, and his mighty power, 
 that hath helped mc, and overcome great 
 things, that 1 thought 1 could never over- 
 come. Open the door of thy heart, saiih 
 Christ, and I will overcome that by which 
 thou hast been overcome. All praise, glory, 
 
MR. FRANCIS STAMPER. 293 
 
 and thanksgiving be returned, through Christ, 
 io the living God and Father of all, 
 
 O my friends ! feel your minds gathered 
 into a sense of God's love, into a pure ex- 
 ercise of his heavenly life and love, that in 
 this we may go on and travel together — that 
 in this we may be exercised together for the 
 glory of God, and the good, and peace, and 
 "welfare of one another. 
 
 Friends, God's care is over his people ; hi» 
 Divine Providence is daily extended towards 
 them, in a plentiful and wonderful manner. 
 There is one promise of the Lord that comes 
 into the view of my mintl, even that promise 
 made to them in ancient times : 3Ij/ people 
 shall dzcell in a sure dwelling, and shall rest 
 in a quiet habitation. Let us pray that every 
 one of us may be of the number of God's 
 people that have a sure dwelling ; for, my 
 friends, great disappointments, great exer» 
 cisesand trouble, will overtake the habitations 
 of the wicked, that are hard-hearted and for- 
 getters of God. 
 
 Let us keep humble, and tender, and 
 revejfnt, in the sight of the God of heaven* 
 
294 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 All our strength will fail us, and all our own 
 wisdom, if we do not keep faithful to Him 
 whom God hath laid help upon. What are 
 we poor worms in comparison of the Al- 
 miglity ! He can do in heaven and earth what' 
 soever He pleaseth, Man is to be wrought 
 upon according to his Divine will and 
 pleasure ; we are to submit to Him, and to be 
 resigned and given up to the Lord God of 
 heaven and earth ; and to lie low before Him, 
 and to come to that in practice which people 
 have been speaking of in words. 
 
 It is part of that prayer which our blessed 
 Lord taught his followers and disciples, 
 wherein He said, Thi/ will he done in earth as 
 it is in heaven. There is no man or woman 
 can really come to Christ, but those that have 
 their wills submitted to the will of God. This 
 is the will of God ; your sanctification. It is 
 the will of God that we should all be sancti- 
 fied ; that we should be holy and pure; then 
 the blessing of the God of heaven will be 
 upon us. 
 
 Among the many blessings that Christ 
 uttered on the mountain, one was this : Blessed 
 are the pure in hearty for they shall see God, 
 
MR. FRANCIS STAMPER. 295 
 
 It doth bespeak this, that the sight of God 
 shall be very clear, to those that are pure in 
 heart, that come to have their hearts and 
 minds subjected to the will of God; for He 
 worleth in them, both to will am! to do, accord' 
 ing to his good pleasure, O ! then they shall 
 know the virtue of this purity of heart ; they 
 shall see God. O ! how precious a thing is it 
 to have that purity which can behold the 
 Lord ! no confession or acknowledgment 
 will be sufficient. 
 
 Thus it was when Nicodemus, a Pharisee 
 and a Ruler pf the Jews, came to Jesus by 
 night. He said unto Him : Rabbi, zee know 
 that Thou art a Teacher come from God ; for 
 no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, 
 except God be with Him, Here was a large 
 confession, that Christ was the teacher of the 
 way of God aright ; yet that would not serve, 
 for Jesus answered and said unto him : Except 
 a man be born again, he cannot see the 
 kingdom of God, 
 
 Friends, it is a near word that should come 
 home to us, and convince us of this truth of 
 God, that we fall not short of this regenera- 
 tion, and of having our hearts and spirits 
 
296 SERMON Br 
 
 renewed by the God of heaven : except we he 
 
 horn again, we cannot seethe kingdom of God. 
 
 This new birth is that by which tlie blessings 
 
 of the God of heaven are conveyed to the 
 
 soul, and that through the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 God hath sent his Son to bless us, in turning 
 
 ever?/ one of us from our iniquities, ajid from 
 
 the evil of our roai/s ; from our sin and vanity, 
 
 from our corruption and wickedness, to the 
 
 pure everlasting God. They know it to be 
 
 thus who come to fear God, and be partakers 
 
 of that wisdom which leads to righteousness, 
 
 jPror. viii. 20: I wisdom lead in the icay of 
 
 righteousness, in the midst of the paths of 
 
 judgment ; that I may cause those that love 
 
 me to inherit substayice ; and I will fill their 
 
 treasuries. Can the treasury ofany heart be 
 
 better filled ? 
 
 O that these words of wisdom might take 
 impression upon every one of your hearts! 
 that you might feel the love of the mighty 
 God shed abroad upon your hearts by the 
 Holy Ghost — that your desires and breath- 
 ings ma?/ ascend like incense, and be a sweet 
 smelling sacrifice to tlie Lord this evffiing! O 
 that every one "was so qualified as to worshij* 
 the living God aright I thai, in the conclusion 
 
MR. FRANCIS STAMPER. 297 
 
 of this meeting, every one's heart may burn 
 within him, and may come, with tende^r 
 breathings and inflamed affections, unto God*? 
 altar, and find acceptance ! 
 
 My friends, the goodness of the Lord hath, 
 been very great towards you ; and his long- 
 sufiering and patience hath been largely ex- 
 tended : He zoilleth not the death of a sinner / 
 but desires thatthej/ should repent^ return, and 
 li-ce. As 1 live, saith the Lord, 1 delight not 
 in the death of a sinner : turn you, turn you 
 from your evil xicays ; why zmll ye die^ O house 
 of Israel I Now if ti.ou sayest — I would fain 
 turn from the evil of my ways ; I would fain 
 have power and strength to do good and 
 overcome evil; then come to Him that is 
 Mighty, upon whom God hath laid help, who 
 is able to save to the uttennost ; not from one 
 or two sins onlj , but from all pollution and 
 wickedness, in all those that come unto God 
 by Him. I am God Almighty, saith God to 
 Abraham, a faithful servant that followed 
 Him; I am the Almighty God: walk before 
 me, and be thou perfect. 
 
 But, say some, that is impossible. But 
 pray consider, God hath aid help upon ons 
 P^ III. c c 
 
2D8 SERMON BY 
 
 that is might 1/ ; and tlion raajst do all things 
 Ibrougb Christ thai strengthens tliee. By hi» 
 Divine power working in lliy heart, He can 
 efibct that work in thee, Avhich Thou canst 
 not do in tliy own strength; tliat work which 
 He will accept of, the work of righteousness, 
 lioliness, and purity ; in A\hich state the bless- 
 ing of tlie God of heaven is conveyed to thy 
 soul : Blessed are the pure in hearty for they 
 shall see God; their eyes being opened to look 
 unto Him in v*/]]om salvation is. In rain do 
 mcnlook for hflp and salvation from the hills 
 and from the monnlains ; look unto me, saith 
 the LordjflWf/ he saved, all ye ends of the earthy 
 Mai. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I change 
 not ; therefore the sons of Jacob are not con- 
 simied, 
 
 O ! here is a good encouragement for you 
 "who are wrestling with the Lord God, to re- 
 ceive a blessing from liis Divine hand; here 
 is good encouragement for you to wrestle. 
 Jacob Avas a wrestler : and lie wrestled with 
 God, and as a prince he prevailed; and he 
 said : I zcill not let Thee go except Thou bless 
 me. Will you be wrestlers with the God of 
 Ju aven for a blessing from his Divine hand ? 
 Labour to be galhered with a pure mind into 
 
MR. FIIANCIS STAMPER. 2D9 
 
 the will of God, as humble, lowly, and meek 
 creatures, submitting yourselves to Him, 
 being sensible of your unworthiness, and that 
 you are less than [not zoorthj/ of] the least 
 of all his mercies. Say — Lord, what am Ithat 
 Tliou shouldest be mindful of me ? What I 
 have received Thou "ravest me : I have no 
 breath, no good tiling, but what Thou gavest 
 me. I depend on Tlicc for all ; and will give 
 Thee the praise of all that I have, and h»pe for. 
 
 Thus you must labour to keep yourselves 
 humble, meek, and tender, and in a self- 
 denying frame, that you may be fit to follow 
 the Lord Jesus, -who invites such to come ^o 
 Him: Come unto 7ne, all you that labour and 
 are heavy laden ^ and I zi:ill give you rest. 
 Take my yoke upon you^ and learn of me, 
 for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall 
 find rest unto your souls ; for my yoke is 
 easy, and my burthen is light, Learfi ofme,^ 
 saith Christ, for I am meek and lowly. It is 
 as if He had said — Be you so too; learn that 
 lesson, and you shall find rest to your souls. 
 What more excellent reward than to have 
 peace with the eternal God ! and not only so ; 
 but in all our trials, afilictions, and exercises 
 ill this life, to be kept in a quiet and peaceable 
 
 c c2 
 
300 SERMON BY 
 
 frame; when the soul can throw itself upon 
 God, and say : Lord, I will cast all my care 
 \ipon Thee ; for Thou carest for me. 
 
 My friends, look unto tlie Lord; there will 
 be great need for it. Many have been the 
 warnings given to the irihabitants of this 
 nation, and of this city, of the dreadful judg- 
 ments of God, that He will certainly bring 
 npon the wicked and hard-hearted, and upon 
 the stiff-necked and rebellious ; and I hope 
 that, through the Divine workings of the 
 Divine Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and through his Divine and heavenly 
 light, that hath attended these warnings and 
 testimonies, many will be stirred up to re- 
 pentance. 
 
 And 1 have this more to say, that the Lord 
 God in the opening of his Divine word hath 
 ^ commanded me : This say to my people in 
 (he city of London, and elsewhere, where I 
 have ordered thy lot, Be of believing hearts, 
 for the vials of my wrath shall be poured out 
 upon the transgressors. Therefore charge 
 the daughters of Sion,that they touch not with 
 the daughters of Babylon; and tell tliem that 
 i/* ther/ partake with them in their sins, ihej/ 
 
MR. FRANCIS STAMPER. 301 
 
 '^hall partake with them in their plagues^ anil 
 in the punishments that God will pour down 
 and execute upon the workers of iniquity; 
 and greater will be their condemnation if tliey 
 do not repent and believe, than of those that 
 have not hud suck opportunities. 
 
 Therefore, children of Sion, look unto tiic 
 Lord Jesus Christ, that Mighty Oiic, upon 
 whom help is laid; in whom is Divine strengtii 
 and power ; and from whom you may have 
 Divine assistance, that we may perform the 
 good which is required at our hands, and 
 which is incumbent upon us, and which wc 
 owe to our Creator — that we may worsliip 
 Him from day to day, and from one time to 
 another. They that perform this service in 
 the strength of Christ, they will feel the 
 savour of his life upon them, and find the 
 sweetness of joy and peace in their soulg. 
 And when we are in our employments^ and 
 callings and business, we shall feel the savour 
 of Divine life going along with us ; and in all 
 our converse and communion one with 
 another, and in our families, we shall instrucf,. 
 and correct, and direct our children; and 
 bring them up in the fear of the Lord, that 
 they may not do as the childrea of Israel whoa 
 
 c c 3 
 
302 SERMON BY MR. F. STAMPER. 
 
 some of (beir Judges were dead : Ever?/ one did 
 that which was right in their ozon eiyes. Let 
 them do what tbey -svill, saith Joshua, choose 
 you this day whom you will serve ; as for me 
 and my house^ we will serve the Lord. 
 
 O ! get your wills subjected to the will of 
 
 God, that you may obey his righteous law, 
 
 and feel yourselves engaged in his service, 
 
 and have the powerful working of jiis Holy 
 
 Spirit in your souls. God will by his own 
 
 Almighty arm and heavenly grace enable 
 
 you to do Avhat He requires, and what is 
 
 pleasing in his sight: He will work in you 
 
 both to will and to do of his own good 2jleasure, 
 
 By grace ye are saved, saith the Apostle, not 
 
 of yourselves, it is the gift of God. To this 
 
 Divine gift we are all recommended. Now 
 
 the Lord God Almighty gather you ail into 
 
 a sense of it. % 
 
 The apostle, when he w rote to the churches, 
 committed them to the grace of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, for guiding and governing them 
 in the whole course of their conversations— 
 that they might live in the pure fear and love 
 of God, and obedience to Him, and in love 
 mad concord one with another — that God^ in 
 
THE PRAYER. SOS 
 
 aU things^ may he glorified ; and praise^ 
 and honour^ and ihanksghings, may he of- 
 fered up to Ilim, through Jesus Christ his 
 Moved Son, and our aloyie Saviour, who alone 
 is worth}/, wlio is God over all, blessed for 
 ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 THE PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 
 
 Blessed God of life! who art the Fountain 
 of all our mercies, the God from wliom we 
 receive all the .o^ood we enjoy, our eyes are 
 untoThee; and we wail and allend upon Tjicc. 
 Thou art pleased, O Lord ! io give unto us 
 all tilings that we sland in need of, which 
 should engage us ahvays to have an eye unto 
 Thee; for thou never failcstany that put their 
 trust in Thee. Many a time, O Lord I have 
 thy people cried to Thee in Ihe sense of their 
 wants, and have bowed before Thee, and 
 lifted up their supplications to Thee ; and, 
 Lord, Thou hast had regard to them many a 
 time ; and for the cry of the poor, and the 
 groaning of the distressed, Thou hast risen, 
 and been a present help unto them. 80 that, 
 O Lord ! we have had encouragement from 
 time to time to draw near to Thee ; for that 
 Thou dost appear iw the mid^t of the 
 
S04 THE PRAYER. 
 
 assemblies of thy people, that do meet together 
 in thy Name,tuid in thy holy fear. 
 
 O powerful Father of life! we have cause 
 to bless thy Name, for that we have a real 
 taste of tljy goodness and of tliy mercy to our 
 souls. Thou, O Lord ! it was, who didst ap- 
 pear in the time of thy love, and visitedst the 
 souls of many that were strangers unto Tliee, 
 and unacquainted with the way of life and 
 salvation. Thou, O Lord! it was who hadst 
 mercy upon us in the day when there was 
 none to help us ; when tliere was none that 
 could save and deliver, then didst Thou make 
 bare thy Almighty arm, and didst bring many 
 to the knowledge of thy living way; and all 
 thine, whose eyes have been to Thee, Thou 
 hast crowned them with thy loving-kindness 
 and tender mercy. Praises, praises be to tliy 
 great and excellent Name, who livest for 
 ever and for evermore. 
 
 Living God of life ! let all thine be pre- 
 served, by thy eternal Arm of power, that 
 they may Live in the world to the honour of 
 thy great Name. Powerful God of life ! oi?4: 
 eyes are unto Thee; and Thou hast given us 
 to sea Thee^ and to ha^ve the li^ht uf tky 
 
THE PRAYER. 305 
 
 countenance lifted up upon us. Father of 
 mercies! we are not able to keep ourselves 
 and preserve ourselves ; but the eyes of all 
 thine are unto Thee, that they may be ac- 
 quainted with Thee, and have tliat Divine 
 help and strength which Thou affordest to 
 thy people and to thy children ; that they 
 may be enabled to run on in that race which 
 Thou hast set before them; tliat, at the end of 
 their days, they may come to lay down their 
 heads in peace, and have an abundant entrance 
 into that everlasting]: kingdom which Thou 
 hast prepared for those that love and feur 
 thy Name. 
 
 Blessed God of life ! be with all thy people 
 here and every where, draw off their minds 
 from the love of this world, and the spirit of 
 it, that they may be brought nearer and 
 nearer to Thee in their love and aflections. 
 
 Blessed God of life ! we have been waiting 
 upon Thee ; and Thou hast graciously 
 appeared in the midst of us; blessed be thy 
 Name. Thy living presence is the comfort 
 of all thine that wait upon Thee. IIow poor, 
 and empty, and hungry, and thirsty, have we 
 come into thy presence ! yet Thou dost not 
 
S06 THE PRAYEn. 
 
 send us empty away ; but Thou hast filled the 
 hungry with good things, and opened a living 
 fountain, that the thirsty souls have known the 
 drinking of. Our souls are constrained to 
 offer praises to Thee this evening, tliat we 
 have found comfort and refreshment from thy 
 blessed presence. 
 
 Lord God of life! go along with us, and 
 bless us, and keep us in the fear of thy holy 
 Name, that we may live in the world to the 
 praise of thy Name. Lord, bless the present 
 opportunity to all that are here before Thee, 
 that we may go away rejoicing, in the senso 
 of thy love and goodness to us, and be 
 engaged to walk in humility before Thee. 
 Lord, let our cry come up to Thee; keep us 
 every day, and preserve us, and pity and 
 help all those that arc crying to Thee, that 
 arc under exercises, temptations, affliction?, 
 trials, and weaknesses of body and mind. Be 
 near to tliem to help them in their distress; 
 and save and deliver them and us from the 
 enemy of our souls, that goes about like a 
 roaring lion, seeking whom He may devour. 
 O powerful God of life ! be \>ith all thine 
 every where, and bless them, and keep them 
 while they are in the world, from the evil of 
 
THE PR AY EH. 307 
 
 it ; that, living Father of life ! both thej and 
 we, for all thy mercies and blessings, which, 
 in the dear Son of thy love, Thou liast be- 
 stowed upon us from time to time, may render 
 living praises unto Thee. And for thy af- 
 fording us thy presence at this time, and for 
 all the seasons and opportunities we have 
 enjoyed for the benefit and advantage of our 
 immortal souls, we desire to return Thee 
 praise, honour, and glory, tlirough thy be- 
 loved Son Jesus Christ, in whom Thou art 
 well pleased ; for Thou alone art worthy, 
 worthy, worthy, who art God over all, blessed 
 jn Thyself for ever and evermore. Amen, 
 
The following Sf rmons appearing calculated to 
 further hoth the original and present design of this 
 Volumej are thought deserving of a place in the 
 present edition. 
 
 All of them, except the one by Thomas Story, 
 which is pointed out as being extracted from a dif- 
 ferent volume, are tc^ken from an 8vo. pamphlet, 
 which, from the date of the Preface, appears to have 
 been published in the year 1738. The Editor 
 «igns himself J. A. and, like the individual who first 
 published the preceding Sermons, appears not to 
 have been a member of our Society ; but to have 
 been impressed with the propriety of preachers of 
 the Gospel attending to the openings of the Spirit 
 of Truth, rather than confining themselves to one 
 particular subject; because, as he observes, *•' All 
 true ministers of the Gospel ought only to preach 
 when they are called thereto by the Spirit of God, 
 who only knows what are the wants of an assembly, 
 and is therefore only able to supply them. But let 
 their ministers beware of failing into the same formal 
 and custo'Tsary way of preaching, wliich they have 
 condemned in others, but wait, in faith and patience, 
 for the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ ; that, 
 when lie appears, thiy also may appear with liim iu 
 glory." 
 
BEHMOH XVI. 
 
 PREACHED BY MR. THOMAS STORT, 
 
 AT GRJCE-CHVRCn STREET MEETjyo. 
 
 Being an Exhortation to Behold the Lamb 
 of God, zoho takclh away the Sin of the 
 JVorld, Sfc, 
 
 John the Baptist, the greatest of Prophets, 
 and more lliau a Prophet, being the ira- 
 nicdiatc fore-runner of onr blessed Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, was sent and conx- 
 rnanded of God, to preach repentance to 
 the people ; and being in company with some 
 others of the servants of God in that day, and 
 communing about the Dispensations of God 
 which then were, and of things holy and 
 divine, and seeing the Lord Jesus Cimiing 
 toward him, and walking before them, he, 
 through the Eternal Spirit, and Divine 
 Light, of which he was a witness and 
 prencher, knew the Son of God, who He was, 
 and for what end He was sent into the worlds 
 P*. HI. pd 
 
310 SERMON BY 
 
 and therefore, in a lioly regard to the Lord 
 Jesus, and ])refcronce of Him to liim self, that 
 great prophet cried out, with awful admira- 
 tion, and divine joy, "Behold the Lamb of 
 God, that taketh away the sin of the world !** 
 Jolm i. 29, S4, 56. Without any manner of 
 question, it was a very delightful sight, a very 
 satisfactory view indeed. 
 
 There were abundance of people in that 
 day who saw Xha Lord Jesus, but not in that 
 same light in which that great prophet and 
 the true believers did see Him, and in which 
 those \^\io believe in Him now behold Him; 
 he saw, and they now see, the exceeding ex- 
 cellency of Divine goodness and mercy in 
 saving inaukind, as the great end of his 
 comiiig ; it was to take av.ay the sin of tlie 
 world. As Ke comprehended the world in 
 one word, including all mankind, so likewise 
 in one word He comprehended ail the sin of 
 and in tlie world. There is no sin therefore 
 (except that which is never to be forgiven) 
 but wiiat the Son of God is able to lake away ; 
 and the whole world being here compre- 
 hended, it fairly implies tliat all mankind 
 have sinned ; and if all have sinned, there 
 must be some law universal manifested which 
 
MR THOMAS STORY. Sll 
 
 we have transgressed ; for wlicre there is no 
 law there can be no transgression. 
 
 This cannot be any thing written without 
 riiankind, whether in tables of stone, in rolls, 
 in books, or verbally commanded : for there 
 never was any law universally dispensed in 
 any such way ; and therefore it cannot be 
 referred to any other than that which God 
 mercifully promised he v.ould write in the 
 hearts of mankind. (Jcr, xxxi. SJ, 33, 34. 
 Jleb. viii. 8 — 12.) which is the restoration 
 of that very same law which all mankind had 
 during the old world, (the neglect whereof 
 brought destruction npon them,) the manifesta- 
 tion of the Holy Spirit of Gcjd, revealing and 
 exerting Himself in the mind, at certain t>mei 
 and seasons, as it pleascth Him. 
 
 And mankind being relapsed since the flood, 
 and departed from the Spiritof God,as the old 
 world did, it is necessary that we should be 
 redeemed, and the same law restored and in- 
 creased ; which is accordingly done by the 
 mercy of God, through Christ, in all who 
 believe in Him. And it is proposed unto us, 
 as our director and guide in the various 
 vicissitudes of life, with regard to matters of 
 
 Dd2 
 
312 , teERMON BY 
 
 religion, in things pertaining to the know- 
 ledge and worship of God, to moral conduct 
 in this world, and with respect also to those 
 things which are eternal ; that, being rightly 
 conducted and governed thereby, in our duty 
 to God and man, during our abode in this 
 world, which is a time and place of probation 
 for another, by adhering to this eternal law 
 of God, the Law of the Spirit of life restored 
 by Jesus Christ, believing therein, and acting 
 according to the openings, manifestations, 
 and dictates of it, we may all be set free from 
 the law of sin and death, (7?ow?.viii. 8.) recon- 
 ciled unto God, and have holy communion 
 with Him in this world, in such m.anner and 
 degree, as the present mode of our being will 
 admit; and, in that which is to come, in the 
 full fruition of his glorious presence, and in 
 joy and consolation unspeakable in Him, 
 without intermission, for evermore. 
 
 That we may be reconciled unto God, I 
 say ; for according to the testimony of Holy 
 Writ, (i/e/-. xxxi. SS.) and the manifestations 
 of this Divine Law in our own hearts, {Ileb. 
 viii. 10.) we have, at onetime, or in one thing 
 or another, if not in many and of'en, mis::ed 
 our way, and acted contrary to the Law of 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 313 
 
 Godj and become transgressors of it : and yet 
 ■vve see, that notwithstanding this, the Most 
 High is infinitely merciful unto us, as He is 
 infinitely just : just to convince us of our sins 
 by this law made manifest in our own hearts, 
 and merciful to forgive us, as we believe in 
 Him, and for tlie future obey his law. 
 
 The Almighty is absolutely perfect in all 
 his attributes : perfect in wisdom, in power, 
 in justice, in mercy, in goodness, in truth, 
 righteousness and holiness. When therefore 
 we act foolishly and wilfully, we sin against 
 his Wisdom. When we distrust his power, we 
 sin against his Omnipotence. When we do 
 that which is unjust, we offend his Justice ; 
 and the unmerciful sin ggainst his Mercy : 
 and if we do no good the iftiage of his Good- 
 ness is defaced in us. Whosoever is false 
 and insincere, sins against his Truth. The 
 unrighteous and unclean offend against the 
 Righteousness and Holiness of God ; for if we 
 mortals do defile ourselves in any respect, in 
 body or mind, we offend the Lord. And he 
 that sinneth against any of the attributes of 
 God, is guiKy of the whole ; for the same who 
 is most merciful, is likewise most just and 
 4rue» In a word more, there is no sin but it is. 
 Bd3 
 
314 SERMON BY 
 
 against God ; and he tluit sinneth defacelh the 
 image of God in Himself; and bccometh 
 unlike unto his Maker. 
 
 We therefore c'o want a Saviour ; vfc want a 
 powerful Redeemer; we vant such an one to 
 take away our sins, and here the Son of God 
 is He : BcJiold the Lamb of God, that talieth 
 away thesinoflhexccrldl Love towards the 
 creatures of God aflectelh tlic mind of man,, 
 being excited by his senses ; and the images 
 of the objects we aflcct being impressed upon 
 our imaginations, our desires after them be- 
 come inflamed, av hereby our love towards 
 God is lessened, and gradually alienated from 
 (he Lord, and wholy placed upon self and 
 other creatures and things, so that we become 
 dead to all sense of God, or real knowledge 
 of Him: as it is written: Lust conceited 
 Ir hf gel h forth sin ; and sin when it isfmished 
 hringeth forth death. James i. 15. 1 John 
 ii. 16. 
 
 Agw'm^ according to the doctrine of Christ: 
 "There is iiolhing from without a man that 
 entering into him can defile him ; but the 
 things which come out of him defile Lira;, 
 for Tom \>ithin,out of the heart of men, pro* 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 315 
 
 cecd evil tliouglils, adulteries, fornications, 
 murders, tbefts, covefonsiicss, wickedness, 
 deceit, lac!viousiicss, an evil ejc, false wit- 
 ness, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these 
 evil things come from within, and defile the 
 man." Matt. xv. IJ, 19. Mark vii. 15, 21, 
 
 But some will say, How and by what means 
 does the Lamb of God take ax£ay the sin of 
 the world? The Son of God, knowing what 
 is in man,^ begins at the thoughts of his heart, 
 where sin is first conceived. And, as by his 
 doctrine, so likewise by his Holy Spirit, the 
 law of the Spirit of Life, He manifests and 
 condemns it there. Every sin, from the 
 greatest to the least, which we mortals are- 
 capable of committing, dcfileth the heart, and 
 produceth impurity in the mind. 
 
 In every sin there are two parts ; first, there 
 is the lust or desire conceived in the heart, 
 and the consent of the will ; and secondly the 
 act of sin, which is contrary to the law and 
 will of God ; and the Saviour of the world 
 laketh them both away. Tiie act of sin,_ 
 which is against the known law of God, i*. 
 pardoned through faith in Christ,^ and *incet& 
 
316 SERMON ur 
 
 repentance and amendment. And the defile- 
 ment by sin is done away by the operation of 
 the Spirit of Christ, ir.v/ardly revealed or 
 made manifest in the heart, where sin is; 
 according to the doctrine of the Apostle John, 
 where, writing unto tliem who at that time 
 had believed in Christ, and were saved bj 
 Him, he saith, " He is the propitiation for our 
 sins ;" and immediately enlargeth the expres- 
 sion abundantly, and saith, " And not for 
 ours only, but also for the sins of the whole 
 world:' 1 John ii. 2. 
 
 In what state was the unbelieving world at 
 that time ? It was dismal indeed ; for the 
 same Apostle also saith, concerning himself 
 and the redeemed in that day ; in the first 
 place, We know that we are of God ; but in 
 the second place, That the whole world iietU 
 in wickedness. 1 Johti ii. 2. and v. 19. 
 
 Christ therefore was sent, in the love anif 
 mercy of the Father, to declare, by that one 
 offering of Himself once for all, the free 
 pardon of the sins of the w orld, upon the 
 reasonable terms of faith and repentance ; and 
 not only to declare the pardon of sin, but also 
 io save the world from the power and defile- 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 
 
 Sl7 
 
 mcnt of it inwardly contracted and reigning ; 
 for saith lie : '• If we confess our sins. He is 
 faidiful and just to forgive us our sins, and to 
 tleanse us from all unrighteousness.'''' 1 John 
 1.9. and iv. 14. And again, "He bath, bjr 
 one offering, for ever perfected those who 
 are sanctified." 
 
 The power and virtue of the Holy Spirit 
 of Christ is so communicated into the minds 
 and hearts of all tliat believe therein, that all 
 the inward defilements, all the impurities of 
 tlie mind, are taken away ; the heart that was 
 defiled is sanctified, made holy, pure, and 
 clean. The man that hath been unrighteous 
 is now made rigliteous ; he who hath been 
 unmerciful is now made charitable and com- 
 passionate. The liar now is reformed, leaves 
 oflf that wicked practice, that heinous sin 
 against God and man, and is made just and 
 true ; speaks the truth to his neighbour, and 
 praiscth God for so great a change, wrought 
 in his heart by the grace of God, through 
 Christ the Lord. The false accuser also re- 
 pents of his false, malicious, detracting accu- 
 sations ; and the false witness of the wrong 
 which he hath done. The envious man is 
 healed of that destructive evil ; his false, 
 
318 SERMON BY 
 
 defaming, slandering, reviling tongue, which 
 he could not tame, is now become gentle and 
 still, by the reformation of his heart by thti 
 same grace, to the glory of Him of whom is 
 the poAvcr, and to ^vhom also the praise. 
 What sin, evil, depravity, or defilement is 
 there, or can bo in the children of men, but 
 ■what llie Spirit of the Son of God is both able 
 and "willing to take away and reform, in all 
 those who believe in his pov/er, as inwardly 
 revealed or made known? 
 
 None of us have seen the son of God at any 
 time outwardly, as that great prophet did ; 
 yet we have believed his report as we find it 
 ^Titlen in tlie Holy Scripture; and through 
 the grace of God, and the eilectual operation 
 of his Holy Spirit, avc have an eye opened in 
 VIS, by which we can see and have seen and 
 beheld the Lamb of God to take away our 
 sins; as many have, through the infinite wis- 
 dom, mercj', and power of God, from the 
 foundation of the world ; and many yet shall 
 to the last period of all time. 
 
 Behold therefore the Lamb of God, this 
 morning, all you whose eyes arc opened to 
 see Him, who to every impure mind is in- 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 31J 
 
 visible: blessed and happy are all Ibcy, who 
 see the Lamb of God takiw;^ away their own 
 sins, and easing them of a loud so insupport- 
 able as the soul-sinking weight of sin ; for He 
 takcth away all sin and all the condemning ef- 
 ccts and remembrance of it, cut of the hearts 
 and minds of all who believe and trust in Him. 
 
 And this faith is given inio the hearts of 
 mankind, through the motions, operations* 
 and inward discoveries, of t'.ie Spirit of the 
 Holy One, Jesus, to whom John the Baptist 
 pointed, as with the finger, that all might go 
 to Him who taketh away the sin of the world ; 
 Wlio came not to condemn the world, for the 
 world is condemned already; but that the 
 world, through Him, might be saved. 
 
 Blessed and happy tl)crefore, I sny again, 
 are all souls in this meeting this morning, or 
 wheresoever they may be througliout the 
 world, who see the Lamb of God taking axoay 
 their own sins ; and such also see Him taking 
 away the sins of mankind every where, to the 
 endless glory of his own wisdom and power. 
 
 Look into your own hearts and minds ; 
 abundance of you, 1 believe, have heard th^ 
 
320 SERMON BY 
 
 everlasting Gospel of Die kingdom of God 
 preached freely, faitli fully, and purely, and 
 with his aiilliority ; and yet this will not save, 
 unless you telle vc in 11 im who is preached. 
 This is the first work of the heart, the first 
 step in return toward Gc;d, to believe in Him 
 whom God hath sent. Hav5 you so looked 
 into yourselves as to behold the Lamb of 
 God in til's adminlstnitioii — as He is an 
 Eternal Spirit, as I!e is the Eternal Word, 
 Wisdom, and Power cf the Father, according 
 to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures ? This 
 is the true and living faith, and this is the 
 only proper Object. 
 
 I doubt not but that you are all Christians 
 by professionj and go under (hat holy Name ; 
 but have you kisown the Son of God so as to 
 take away your sins ? Have you received 
 faith in Him by the work of his power in you, 
 as He is the Word of God ? I thiidc it is 
 worthy of your strict inquiry, every one for 
 one : AYhat liave I seen ? What have I known ? 
 What experience have I of the Son of God 
 taking away my sins? Or another question 
 may arise : Have I ever at all found the weigijt 
 of my own sini^? Have I teen sin as become 
 exceeding sinful ? All who have thus seen siu 
 
mr". Thomas s1:ory. 321 
 
 In themselves become exceeding heavy and 
 unbearable, will cry unto God, with strong 
 tries, from the bottom of the heart, from the 
 very centre of the soul, in true anguish and 
 sincerity in the sight of God, unfeignedly, and 
 not in formality or mockery : " A Saviour, O 
 most merciful, true, and lively Lord God! 
 ■a Saviour, or I am undone and miserable for 
 evermore." 
 
 Till it come to this it will not do. There 
 will be no answer of prayer till then ; and 
 then the Lord will hear ; this cry will affect 
 his merciful ear, and He will then answer. 
 
 Mankind take the things of the highest 
 importance by tradition only; by hear^say 
 they are sinners; by hear-say there is a 
 "God; by tradition He is merciful. But 
 this only will not do; we must become sen- 
 sible of our sins ; they must become extremely 
 loathsome, and exceeding sinful unto us ; and 
 then we shall repent and forsake them, and 
 cry unto God for mercy ; and then we shall 
 find Him merciful in Truth, by a happy ex- 
 perience ; for He will open unto us the way of 
 salvation and deliverance, and the eye of our 
 understandings, to see and behold the Lamb 
 
 P*. Ill, EC 
 
S2S SERMON BY 
 
 of God talcing away our sins, and washing iis 
 clean from all our transgressions ; being mer- 
 ciful to our unrighteousness in the time of 
 ignorance, and remembering our sins no more, 
 hy the sanctifying and justifying work of 
 the word of his power. And then we are 
 saved and redeemed indeed ; and then, ac- 
 cording to the saying of Christ, webring forth 
 llieholy fruits of redemption : "First make the 
 tree good and the fruit will be good also. A 
 gocd tree cannot bring forth evil fruit ; neither 
 can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. A 
 tree is known by its fruit;" so are men by 
 theiis. 
 
 We therefore, in a state of nature, in the 
 first Adam, are opposers of the Spirit and 
 will of God, doing our own wills, and follow- 
 ing our own spirit in its lusts and imagina- 
 tions, contrary to the holy motions and 
 discoveries of the mind of God in our own 
 hearts ; and thereby we become transgressors 
 of the law of God, until the Lord Christ be 
 divinely revealed in us, by whose power the 
 tree is made good ; and then the fruits we 
 brought forth in our first and natural state 
 are done away : all those defiling, condemn- 
 ing evils are destroyed and at an end, and 
 
MR, THOMAS STORY. 
 
 323 
 
 that saying brought to pass in truth : " Trees 
 of righteousness they may be called, the 
 planting of the Lord ; that He might be glori- 
 fied. And the old wastes shall be buildcd, 
 and the former desolations shall be raised up; 
 and the waste cities repaired, and the desola- 
 tions of many generations." Isa, Ixi. 3, 4. 
 
 Here men begin to experience what the Son 
 of God said in the days of his flesb, as we 
 have it upon record in the Holy Scriptures, 
 *' Except a man be born again, (or from above,) 
 be cannot see the kingdom of God." John iii. 
 6. See likewise 1 Pet, i. 23. The word 
 man here is an indefinite term, comprehending 
 all mankind, and admitting of no exception ; 
 and as man cannot bring forth this work in 
 himself by his own power, he must believe 
 in and receive Christ, the power of God, who 
 alone is able to effect this great and needful 
 work, and bring forth this wonderful reno- 
 vation. 
 
 It is by the operation of this power we are 
 enabled to believe therein, as the immediate 
 object of the same faith in our minds, and to 
 see Him who, to the natural mind, is invisible. 
 This faith we may rely upon. In this there 
 
 BC2 
 
324 &ERMON BY 
 
 is certainty; in this we see the Holy Oim-; 
 
 here we perceive Him near ; and though He 
 
 is not visible to the eye of the body, yet the 
 
 mind being of a spiritual nature, and created 
 
 anew, or rather begotten of God, and purifyed 
 
 from all corruption, she then sees the Holy 
 
 One, and becomes enamoured with liis Divine 
 
 beauty, and loves him freely in his own holy 
 
 love. There is nothing wanting but purity 
 
 of mind; nothing hinders us to see and enjoy 
 
 Him who is invisible, and the only true good, 
 
 but our own shadow, the gross darkness of our 
 
 own corruptions, and carnal minds. For we 
 
 may observe what the Lord Jesus saith, as we 
 
 Lave it in the fifth chapter of the evangelical 
 
 account of Matthew the Apostle: "Blessed 
 
 are the pure in heart ; for they sliall see 
 
 God." 
 
 It is the Lamb of God^ as inwardly re- 
 vealed, that takes away all our impurities, 
 the sin of the world, and qualifies our minds 
 to see, or perceive God. Perception, as 
 alluding to the certainty of the senses, being 
 the same with the true knowledge of God, by 
 the operation of his own power, as it is written, 
 concerning all nations : " That they should 
 seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after 
 
MR. THOMAS StORV. 3^^ 
 
 tlini, and find Him, though He be not far 
 from every one of us ; for in Him we live, and 
 move, and have our being." Acts xvii. 26> 
 S7, 28, See also, Ephes. iv. 17, 18, to 24^ &c. 
 
 We cannot feel God with our hands, for 
 He is an eternal, incomprehensible Spirit ; 
 but when the mindj which is a spiritual being 
 created of God, is sanctified, made pure and 
 clean from its own innate corruptions, by the 
 enlivening virtue of the Word of life, then 
 she can feel and enjoy the Divine presence in 
 the Lord Jesus Christy the Mediator ap- 
 pointed of the Father of Spirits to that great 
 and glorious end, and then we have com-^ 
 munion with God through Him, and one with 
 another in Him ; every soul according to the 
 degree of purity attained, 
 
 I make no manner of question^ nor am in 
 any doubt at all this morning, but that there 
 are a great many here in this meeting, sitting 
 in holy silence, who have a sensible inward 
 communion with the true and living God, 
 through the Spirit of Him whom God hath 
 ordained and appointed, in whom we may 
 draw near unto Himself, and worship Him in 
 a way acceptable; and in whom He is well 
 
 Ee3 
 
336 SERMON BY 
 
 pleased ; and I could wish, with all ray heart, 
 that every soul here were now in sensible 
 communion with the Lord, and that not one 
 might be destitute of a real testimony of his 
 good presence, by the Divine influence of 
 Lis grace in their own liearts. 
 
 WJiatever the world may think of us who 
 are called Quakers,, or what we mean by siU 
 ling together in silence, professing at the same 
 time, and from time to time, under that circum- 
 stance, to worship God, we then wait for Him, 
 and upon Him, in the inmost of our hearts, 
 that we may be made sensible of the pure 
 incomes and influence of his living and life 
 giving presence ; that we may all perceive 
 and enjoy Himj in a stale of reconciliatioa 
 with Him. 
 
 This reconciliation is not an acquirement 
 efourown, by any thing we have done, of 
 could do, in our own wills or power ; it is the^ 
 •work of God in our hearts, by his own wisdom 
 and power, through his mercy and goodness^ 
 for the manifestation and illustration of his 
 own glory, and the unspeakable consolation, 
 of the souls and minds of them who believe, 
 and. obey his word, even Christ the Lotd. 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 32T 
 
 Man may, in his own will, oppose tlie work 
 of God in Himself; — lie may reject his graco, 
 and the holy work and teachings of it in his 
 heart; — he may do and follow his own will^ 
 and the dictates of his own corruptions, to liis 
 final desolation and destruction ;^ie may 
 do his own works to his own honour, and self 
 praise, and glory ; but he can never, in his 
 own will, time, or strength, acquire this state 
 of regeneration and reconciliation, whereiu 
 alone there is, or can be, communion with Godj 
 or the enjoyment of his presence. 
 
 This, I say, is the work of God by Jesus 
 Christ : for this end was the Son of God made 
 manifest, that He might destroy the works 
 of the devil. By the works of the devil are 
 commonly understood all defilement and fil- 
 Ihiness of flesh and spirit, as lying, falsehood j 
 hypocrisy, envy, hatred, malice, with all its 
 evil fruits and consequences, gluttony, drunk- 
 enness, pride, vanity, with all the vain glory 
 and other evils in the world, as arising from 
 that secret root of. evil in the hearts and 
 minds of mankind. 
 
 But, in the love and mercy of the Father,^ 
 the Son of God is come, as well at this day ae» 
 
328 
 
 SERMON BV 
 
 in that generation, and will, from age to age 
 throughout all generations, while sin is in the 
 world, still come^ to destroy the work of the 
 devil, and take away the sin of the world, and 
 to bring forth mankind in his own nature and 
 imagCj in righteousness and true holiness. 
 As it is written, " God was in Christ reconcil-* 
 ing the world unto Himself; of two making 
 one new man, and so making peace." 2 Cor, 
 V. 19, and Ephes, ii. 15. And He is doing 
 the same likewise now, and ever will do, till 
 the whole work of redemption and end of his 
 coming be fully accomplished ; as it is also 
 left upon record, as his own word : " I am 
 come that they might have life, and that they 
 might have it more abundantly." John x. 10. 
 The aboundings of eternal life therefore come 
 by the Son of God, as He hath said of old : 
 " He that drinketh of the water that I shall 
 give, the same shall be in him a well of living 
 water, springing up unto life eternal." John 
 iv. 14. 
 
 And therefore you who have thus believed 
 in the Son of God, whose eyes are opened to 
 behold Him, march forward after Him, and 
 w ith Hiraj under the banner of his power, in 
 the -way of regeneration, toward eternity, in 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 329 
 
 tfiat state and condition the Lord hath brought 
 you unto; and He will increase your holiness, 
 and finish the work of his righteousness in 
 you, and clothe you tlierewith completely, in 
 his own due time^ to the glory of the Father, 
 and his own due praise, and your ineffable 
 consolation; 
 
 But to you who have not believed, I cry 
 this morning in the Word of Life: open your 
 hearts to the Lord, for He is knocking at tlic 
 doors thereof: and give Him entrance, ac- 
 cording to what is written concerning Him 
 in tlie Book of the Revelations of John : 
 " Behold I stand at the door and knock," JRev, 
 iii. 19, 20. What door does the Son of God 
 knock at ? Do you tliink is it at the doors of 
 your houses? No, it is at the doors of your 
 hearts; at the heart of every man: "Ifcfwy 
 man hear my voice and open the door, I will 
 come in to him, and will sup with him, and 
 he with Me." 
 
 The Lord knocks by his Eternal Word, 
 ■which is as a hammer that breaketh the rock 
 in pieces. And though he thereby reproveth, 
 rebuketh, and chastiseth the transgressor, it is 
 in fatherly love and mercy, that the sinnen 
 
350 SERMON BY 
 
 may be made sensible of his sins and repent ; 
 for be that sees not bis sins can never repent 
 nor forsake tbem, and therefore, in a gospel 
 sense, cannot be a Son of God. Take then 
 the council of -wisdom : " Despise not the 
 chastenings of the Lord, nor faint when thou 
 art rebuked of Him." Prov, iii, 11. 
 
 And I recommend also to your considera- 
 tion what the Apostle saith on the same sub- 
 ject: " If ye endure chastening, God dealetli 
 with you as with sons ; for what son is he 
 whom the Father chasteneth not ? But if ye 
 be without chastisment, whereof all are par- 
 takers, then are ye not true born sons. 
 Furtliermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, 
 who corrected us, and we gave them reve- 
 rence; shall we not much rather be in subjec- 
 tion unto the Father of spirits, and live ? for 
 they verily for a few days chastened us after 
 their own pleasure ; but He^for our profit, that 
 we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no 
 chastening for the present seemeth joyous, 
 but grievous ; nevertheless afterward it 
 yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, 
 unto them who are exercised thereby.'* Ileb» 
 xii.7, 8,9, 10, 11. 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. S31 
 
 You may here see the great advantages of 
 a due attention and right use of the inward 
 chastisements of the Holy Spirit of the Son of 
 God, to which the churches were directed of 
 old, and are so still : " He that hath an ear let 
 him hear, what the Spirit sailh unto the 
 churches." Rtv, ii. 29. and iii. 22. 
 
 Open therefore the doors of your hearts 
 freely to the Son of God ; believe in Him ; 
 bear his chastisements in you; forsake the 
 evil of your ways ; shew your zeal for his 
 glory and your own salvation, by a sincere 
 repentance, and a forsaking of every evil 
 way ; then, and not till then, shall you be ad* 
 mitted to the communion of the saints of God, 
 the sanctified in Christ Jesus. Would you 
 come to the holy Supper of the Lord ; to the 
 most excellent entertainments at his holy 
 table — then open the doors of your hearts unto 
 the voice of the Son of God, obey his power- 
 ful call there. " If ani/ man hear my voice 
 and open the door!" O the universal love, 
 mercy and goodness of the Most High, 
 through Jesus Christ his Son, unto mankind ! 
 
 When the Spirit of the Son of God is put- 
 ling us in remembrance of any of our failures 
 
339 SJERMON BY 
 
 or offences — when He is reproving and con- 
 vincing us of our sins in our own understand* 
 ings, then is He knocking at the door of our 
 hearts, and then is the time to receive Him 
 and let Him in, by turning out and forsaking 
 all his enemies for ever. This is the way, 
 neighbours and countrymen, to let Him in, 
 and to sup with Him and He with us. 
 
 There is much talk of the Supper of the 
 Lord, and of the holy communion ; and many 
 have obtained great power, worldly riches 
 and honours, under pretences of it, who never 
 knew the Lord, nor opened unto Him, nor 
 have set at his table ; but have set up idols of 
 their own making, and have worshiped them 
 as the true God, and Christ the Lord. They 
 have worshipped tliey know not what ; a 
 piece of bread instead of the Living God ; and 
 yet there is nothing to be done or required in 
 order to partake of the Supper of the Lord, 
 but to hear his Divine voice, to believe there- 
 in ; open the door of the heart, let Him in, 
 and forsake sin ; these are the terms proposed 
 by Himself, under which He hath thus pro- 
 mised, " He will come in and sup with us, and 
 wc with Him." 
 
MR. THOMAS STOUY. 333 
 
 The voice of the Spirit of Christ is inward ; 
 He speaks to the understanding by demon- 
 stration : tlie Supper of the Lord is inward, in 
 the heart and in the mind, where He Himself 
 appears. And blessed be his holy Name, 
 there are many here this day who know this 
 by happy experience, through the mercy of 
 God, that the promise of the Son of God iy 
 fulfilled in them ; "I will come in to him, and 
 will sup with him, and he with Me." You 
 may observ€ that supping with the Son of 
 God infers friendship and entertainment, 
 liberty, and mutual conversation, and in- 
 timacy. And it strongly implies a real, and 
 delightful, nourishing and supporting sub- 
 stance, to be partaken of and enjoyed. And 
 the Lord cometh not empty handed, but 
 bringeth with Him the delightful dainties of 
 the Father's house and table. Divine grace, a 
 feast of immortal love. 
 
 He brings with Him the soul-supporting 
 bread of life eternal, and new wine of the 
 kingdom, completely delightful to every soul 
 who hath ever tasted that tlie Lord is ^ra- 
 cious, and truly good. The Lord brings with 
 Him that Avhich is meat indeed, and drink 
 indeed. The entrance of this word gives 
 P^III. rf 
 
33^ SERMON BY 
 
 life; and all Lis words are spirit and life (o 
 the soul ; for in them is a cogent, powerful, 
 Divine virtue and life. 
 
 He bringeth Himself, and with Him, all 
 that is good, and desirable, and delightful ; 
 that Divine peace and satisfaction, which the 
 world and all things cannot give. 
 
 There is a natural substance, and a sub- 
 stance likewise which is spiritual. He told 
 his disciples of old, that "except they did eat 
 the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of 
 jnan they had no life in them :" but said like- 
 wise, " It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the 
 flesh profileth nothing; the words which I 
 speak unto you they are Spirit and they are 
 life. He that eatelh my flesh, and drinketh 
 my blood, dwelleth in Me and I in him. 
 John vi. 53, 56. 63. 
 
 The soft, gentle, yet powerful words of the 
 Son of God are Spirit and life now as well as 
 then, and ever will be throughout all genera- 
 tions : this is the Lord who standeth at the 
 door and knocks, and enters the willing heart, 
 but not without his divine and living sub,- 
 stancc. 
 
MR. THOMAS STORV. 335 
 
 Again, " I am Ihe Bread of Life," John vi. 
 48. " This is the Bread which cometh down 
 from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and 
 not die," vcr. 50, " I am the Living Bread 
 which came down from heaven ; if any man 
 eat of this Bread he shall live for ever ; and 
 the Bread that I will give, is my flesh, which 
 I will give for the life of the world." John vi. 
 48, 50, 51. 
 
 And again, "Whosoever drinketh of the 
 •water that I shall give him shall never thirst ; 
 but the Water that I shall give him, shall be in 
 liim a well of water, springing up into ever- 
 lasting life." John iv. 14. 
 
 And also, " If any man thirst, let him come 
 unto me and drink. He that believeth on 
 Me, as the Scripture hath said, Deut. xviii. 
 15, out of him shall flow rivers of Living 
 Water; but this spake He of the Spirit 
 ■which they that believe on Him should 
 receive ; for the Holy Ghost was not yet 
 given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." 
 John vii. 37, 38, 39. Isa, xliv. 3. 
 
 Now all these Divine things the Son of God 
 brhngs with Him in his Spiritual appearance? 
 
 F f2 
 
336 SERMON BY 
 
 and in a Divine and Spiritual sense, into every 
 heart whicli bears the voice of the Holy 
 Spirit. Believe therein ; open the door and 
 receive Him. 
 
 The life of the Divine Eternal Word ariseth 
 and springeth up in such a mind, as a living 
 fountain for ever and ever, and lie is Eternal 
 Life in his own nature. And if we open the 
 doors of our hearts thus to receive Him, He 
 will come in, according to his promise of old, 
 which is ever new unto all them who believe. 
 
 This is a real experimental thing ; there 
 are many living witnesses of it at this day, 
 through the Divine goodness, and to the sole 
 glory of the Lord, by whom and from whom 
 this blessing of blessings is come unto his 
 people. All these excellent things, I say, the 
 Son of God brings with Him in his Spiritual 
 appearance; and there are no other condi- 
 tions imposed^ or any other thing required to 
 be done by man to obtain them^ but to gize ear 
 to the voice of the Son of God, so as to open 
 the door of his heart and let Him in. And 
 he who thus receiveih Him, with Him re- 
 ceiveth all things. Horn. viii. o^* 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. S37 
 
 The Spirit of Christ sanctifies and justifies 
 the heart of man from all sin and impurity ; 
 and according to the degrees of holiness we 
 perceive Him, and enjoy his Divine and 
 Living Presence, from time to time, as it 
 pleaseth Him ; as saith the Holy One t 
 " Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall 
 see God." Matt. v. 8. 
 
 But some there are who have come often to 
 meetings, and gone from meeting to meeting, 
 and place to place, to hear and learn one 
 notion of religion after another, of men ; and 
 yet have not heard the voice of the Son of 
 God, nor opened unto Him, and therefore 
 are ready to conclude, there is no such thing,- 
 and so sit down and rest for a time, in shadows 
 and symbols only, in which life and virtue is 
 not to be found ; or proceed in the conduct 
 of their own blind reason or imagination, until 
 the time of the visitation of the Son of God 
 come, and his call and invitation be heard in 
 the heart ; and then that soul begins to live, 
 and can rest no longer there, where the living 
 bread is not to be found, neither the living 
 water, nor the wine of the kingdom ; and 
 therefore hungereth, thirsteth, and seeketh 
 
 Ff3 
 
33S SERMON BY 
 
 after the eternal, living Substance. To such I 
 Lave this exhortation in tlie words of the 
 Apostle : "Let us not be weary in welldoing ; 
 for in due season we sliall reap, if we faint 
 not. GaL vi. 9. 2 T/iess. iii. 13. 
 
 And learn also with him, and of the same 
 Master, " In whatsoever state we are, therc- 
 w ith to be content ; how to be abased, and 
 how to abound; both to be full and to be 
 hungrj' ; both to abound and siiiTer need :^* 
 as in naturals, so in spirituals, "to do all 
 things through tlie power of the Grace and 
 Spirit of the Son of God." Phil. iv. 11, 12, la 
 
 A sense of want is an evidence of life, the 
 dead have it not. Tliere is certainty in 
 sense, or else we know nothing ; not even that 
 we live or have any being. And if so in that 
 which is natural, then how much more are we 
 certain in that which is spiritual. We are 
 more abundantly so, by how mucli the mind, 
 quickened by the voice of the Son of God, 
 and living in Him for ever, is more excellent 
 than the natural body of flesh ; in which, 
 beifjg aptly organized, the natural senses 
 icside. 
 
MR. THaMAS STORY. 330 
 
 Sense of Avant therefore, of hunger and 
 thirst, is a foundation for true desire ; an 
 evidence, I say, of a degree of life ; that the 
 soul is living toward God, though dying to it- 
 self, and to the inventions and traditions of men; 
 and thoua'h it is without much formal know- 
 ledge or speculation, in the many, needless, 
 and unprofitable things, by which true re- 
 ligion hath, through many ages, been loaded 
 and obscured. For a little child in nature 
 desireth the breast, and seeketh after it, though 
 he cannot reason, or asign any cause why it is 
 so ; and yet, being obtained, is thereby nou- 
 rished, and increased from stature to stature, 
 and one degree of strength to another, till 
 capable of stronger food, and thereby becomes 
 able, in time, to do work and service. Thus 
 in naturals, and so in spirituals. 
 
 The outward and visible creation, which 
 revolveth and changetb, is, in that respect, a 
 representation, as in a glass, of the various 
 vicissitudes, revolutions, and states of the 
 mind of man, in her progress through time, 
 until she resteth in her peaceable habitation^ 
 in the immovable and immutable eternity. For 
 vhich she is fitted, in tiiis life, by the invisible 
 
340 SERMON BY 
 
 yet sensible operations of the eternal, invisible, 
 all-forming Word of God. 
 
 I say again, That a sense of want is a sure 
 evidence of life. A man naturally dead hath 
 no sense of want or plenty, nor hath he any 
 desire ; but he who is alive, he who hath 
 tasted of the goodness of God, as it is in Christ 
 the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, sometimes 
 suffers want. He does not always abound 
 with the sensible flowings of Divine life in his 
 heart and mind ; and yet, continuing to desire 
 after it, he is in a state of the blessed, and in 
 due time, shall obtain the desire of his souL 
 He shall be more plentifully filled, and yet 
 not in his own time nor way; for thus it is 
 written, " Blessed are they who hunger and 
 thirst after righteousness, for they shall be 
 filled." Mat. v. 6. 
 
 So long therefore as a man believes in the 
 Son of God, and desires his appearance in his 
 heart, he is in a degree of blessedness, and 
 shall be filled with the Word of Life, the righte- 
 ousness of God; with the light and life of the 
 Lord our righteousnes, the Lord and giver of 
 life, the Prince of Peace, whoruleth and reign^ 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 34:1 
 
 etli for ever, in eternal and never changing 
 love. 
 
 Again, When ^ve are under a sense of want, 
 ■we have an opportunity to exercise our faith 
 and hope toward God and our Lord Jesus 
 Christ ; not forgetting love, and the duties of 
 social friendship one toward another, nor tlie 
 acts of charity also toward mankind in general. 
 In that state we reflect upon our own ways, 
 and consider them, and wherein we may have 
 missed tlie right path in any instance — or by 
 any offence have given cause to the Lord to 
 hide his face from us — or how we have unfitted 
 ourselves for the sense or enjoyment of his 
 blessed presence. 
 
 In this state of povertj^ of mind we may ex- 
 ercise all the graces of the Holy Spirit wrought 
 in the heart, and especially patience ; seeing 
 that when we have done the will of God that 
 is still needful. And then the Lord will ap- 
 pear again in his own time, with the increase 
 of Divine life, and will give her the cup of 
 blessings, the new wine of his kingdom, which 
 cheerelh and establisheth the heart above all 
 other cordials. 
 
342 SfiHMON BY MH. t. STORt^. 
 
 And blessed are they who thus eat and 
 drink in his presence ; and yet more especi- 
 ally happy are they who continue to do so to 
 their lives end. Then all our troubles will be 
 ended for ever ; and we shall rejoice in the 
 blessed presence and open vision of God and 
 the Lamb, and rest with the Son of God ; be- 
 hold his glory, and be entertained by Him 
 with an everlasting feast, and regale of things 
 unspeakable ; where all our tears shall be 
 wiped away, our enemies seen no more, and 
 our sorrows and travails here in this world 
 forgotten for ever. As it is also written, 
 '^ Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither 
 have entered into the heart of man, the things 
 which God hath prepared for them that love 
 Him." 1 Cor, ii. 9. Isa, liv. and v. 4. to the 
 end. 
 
 And that you and I may so behave ourselves 
 in the sight of God, through his grace, during 
 our stay in this world, that we may all arrive at 
 a happy eternity, is the full desire of my 
 heart and soul, tlirough the love of God in 
 Christ Jesus, this morning, among you. 
 
SERMON XVIL 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE 
 
 MEETING-IIOVSE, GRJCECUVRCH-STREET, LONDON, 
 SEPTEMBER 25, 1737. 
 
 This Sermon was printed in a work entitled '' Discourses 
 delivered in the Public Assemblies of the People called 
 QUAKERS, by Thomas Story. Taken in short-hand; and, 
 after being transcribed at length, examined by the said T. Story, 
 and published by his Permission. — London: sold by T. Cooper, 
 at the Globe, in Paternoster-row. 1738. 
 
 And to the Work is prefixed the following Certificate : 
 
 " Having examined these Discourses, I find them agreeable 
 to n'hat I delivered in the Meetings, to the best of my 
 remembrance. 
 
 " TJiOMAS story:' 
 
 As I y/as waiting upon God this evening 
 with you, my friends, I observed the most 
 kind, tlie most mercifnl, beneficent invitation 
 of the Most High URto all mankind, to return 
 from tlie evil of their ^vaysto himself, and be 
 saved. And as I have considered the invita- 
 
34:4i SERMON BY 
 
 tiorij and tlic universal extent of it, I have 
 reasoned in myself from lience, and I think 
 v»ith \ery great clearness, that God hath not 
 precluded at?j/ soul from everlasting life by 
 any act or decree of his, since all mortals upon 
 the face of the earlh are included in this invi- 
 tation, ^vhicli I have occasionally read in the 
 Holy Scriptures not long ago ; and it is after 
 this manner, " Tliere is no God else beside 
 Me, a just God and a Saviour ; there is none 
 beside Me. Look unto 3Ie, and be ye saved 
 all the ends of the earth ; for I am God, and 
 there is none else." Isa. xlv. 21, 22. The 
 ends of the earth here are put for the whole 
 inhabitants of it, and not restricted to any 
 age or time ; and where all are invited, there 
 is not one excepted. If therefore there be 
 any soul here under distress w ith regard to 
 salvation, or any manner of doubt or question 
 about it, that soul is certainly included in the 
 call of God, in this merciful invitation to 
 salvation. 
 
 m 
 
 Is there any one here at a loss, how, and 
 
 where, and after what manner, to look unto 
 
 God? I should be very glad, if, through the 
 
 grace of God, I might be enabled this even- 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 345 
 
 ingto help and rightly direct any one in this 
 point. I say then, that though in our natural 
 state we are all ignorant of God, yet, that we 
 may gradually come to the knowledge of Him, 
 and live with Him for ever. He hath given us 
 natural senses, faculties, reason, and under- 
 standing, that, in the use of them, casting our 
 eyes upon the great book of the Creation of 
 God, we may, with infallible assurance, de- 
 termine that it hath an Almighty, All-wise 
 Author and Supporter; and accordingly the 
 apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, 
 i. 19. 20. speaks very rationally, as well as 
 divinely, on that subject ; for he was, in a 
 particular manner, a minister to the Gentiles, 
 and they being inured to the exercise of their 
 natural reason and understanding, he took them 
 in their own way of thinking, in order to the 
 beginning of the knowledge of God, saying : 
 " Because that which may be known of God 
 is manifest in (or to) them, for God hath 
 shewed it unto them. For the invisible things 
 of him from the creation of the world are 
 clearly seen, being understood by the things 
 that are made, even his eternal Power and 
 Godhead. So that they are (or may be) 
 without excuse." 
 
346 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 Here the Apostle reasons from tlie effects 
 to the cause, and infers an undeniable con- 
 clusion : The tilings that are made, of whose 
 beings we are infallibly assured, even by our 
 senses, tliat they are, that they have real 
 existences, the sun, moon, and stars, the 
 innumerable host of heaven, the earth and all 
 things therein — and our own being, of which 
 we are certain ; these being realities, and not 
 fantastical appearances, beings noble and 
 stupendous, declare themselves in their own 
 still, yet loud and well-known language, even 
 by their own nature, to have an eternal, 
 almighty, all- wise, unlimited Power and 
 Being for their Author; and if mankind 
 be not become altogether without thought, 
 irrational and stupid, (if any one can be 
 so,) 1 hey must needs know, that an eternal 
 incomprehensible Power hath produced 
 all these things. We may and ought 
 therefore to look unto God in the things 
 which He hath made, and thereby understand 
 that He is, and is eternal, without begiiming 
 or end of his Being ; that He is Almighty in 
 power. All-wise, Omnipresent ; that He hath 
 given being to all things, and supports 
 and continues tliem ; that He is infinite in 
 love, goodness justice, mercy, beneficence, 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 3i7 
 
 and truth ; that He is so likewise in righteous- 
 ness, and the Author of all those properties 
 manifest (so far as they are manifested) in 
 mankind. This therefore is the first and 
 most obvious way we can look unto God, as 
 rational creatures, by the things that are 
 made. 
 
 We have been some of us more, and others 
 less time in the world, and have seen, at least 
 in a superficial manner, the things that are 
 made ; let every one of such therefore con- 
 sider, with respect to himself, Have I at all 
 looked unto God according to this invitation? 
 Have I at all been able to perceive Him in 
 his works, or to look upon his works only, 
 without any due regard to Himself, or con- 
 sideration of the things that are made, or the 
 greatness and divine properties and attributes 
 of the Almighty Author of them ? 
 
 And, as we all grant that God is invisible 
 in himself to all coporeal eyes, the next way 
 whereby we may look unto Him with further 
 admiration is, in the constant course of his 
 Providence, whereby He upliolds and con- 
 tinues all his works in succession from gene- 
 ration to generation, and i^rovides for them 
 G g 2 
 
J48 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 all, from tlie liighest to the lowest, from the 
 greatest to the least, without losing or neg- 
 lecting any one species or particular which 
 He hath made ; by w hich we may learn his 
 ©ndless goodness, and that He still regards 
 them all, and ever will. 
 
 And w^e, and all the ends of the earth, have 
 yet still a more excellent way to look unto 
 God for the glorious end of that gracious in- 
 vitation, the eternal salvation of our souls; 
 that is, by the Divine light of his Son, the 
 Spirit of Christ, Avho is before all works 
 and worlds, and was with God when He laid 
 the foundations thereof, under the character 
 of Wisdom, and so declared to be in the Holy 
 Scriptures, where Wisdom saith : '' The Lord 
 possessed me in the beginning of his way, 
 before his works of old ; I was set w^Jrom 
 everlasting^ from the beginning, or ever the 
 earth was. When there were no depths, / 
 was brought forth ; when there were no foun- 
 tains abounding with water. Before the 
 mountains were settled, before the hills was 
 / brought forth ; while as yet He had not 
 made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest 
 part of the dust of the world. When He pre- 
 pared the heavens^ I was there ; when He set 
 
MR. THOMAS STORT. 34D 
 
 a compass upon the face of the depth ; ^vhell 
 He establislied the clouds above; when He 
 strengthened tlie fountains of the deep; when 
 He gave to the sea his decree, that the waters 
 should not pass his commandment; when He 
 appointed the foundations of the earth ; then 
 I zcas hy Him^ as One brought up with Him, 
 And I was daily his delight, rejoicing always 
 before Him, rejoicing in the habitable part of 
 his earth, and my delights were with the sons 
 of men." Prov. viii. 22 — SI. 
 
 Again, ''Wisdom, which is the worker of 
 all things, taught me; for in her is an under- 
 standing Spirit, holy, one only, manifold, 
 subtile, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not sub- 
 ject to hurt, loving the thing that is good, 
 quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do 
 good, kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from 
 care, having all power^ overseeing all things^ 
 and going through all understanding, pure, 
 and most subtile spirits. For Wisdom is more 
 moving than any motion ; she passeth and 
 gocth through all things, by reason of her 
 pureness ; for she is the breath of the power 
 of God, and pure influence flowing from the 
 glory of the Almighty; therefore can no 
 lie filed thing full into her, for she is the 
 
 Gg3 
 
350 SERMON BY 
 
 brightness of the everlasting Light, the un- 
 spotted mirror of the power of God, and the 
 image of his goodness. " And being but one, 
 she can do all things ; and remaining in her- 
 self, she mciketh all things new ; and in all 
 ages, entering into holj/ souls, she maketh 
 them friends of God and prophets ,- for God 
 lovelh none, but him that dwelleth with wis- 
 dom ; for she is more beautiful than the sun, 
 and a])ove all the order of stars : being com- 
 pared with the light, she is found before it." 
 
 This is thus written of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, tlie Wisdom of God, the eternal, essen- 
 tial Light, the Covenant of God with the 
 Gentiles, tlie Word of God and true Light, 
 that lighteth every man that cometh into the 
 world. 
 
 And for a further instrumental help to man- 
 kind, to look unto God for salvation, He hath 
 also given us the Holy Scriptures. They 
 were not all written at one time, but occa- 
 sionally, at several difTerent times and ages, 
 hy the Divine inspiration, and cogent force of 
 the influence of the Holy Spirit of Christ, 
 which is Eternal Wisdom, and is before alC 
 worlds, and before all Scriptures*^ 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 153 
 
 God doth much good unto man by man^ 
 as fallen man is an evil instrument for the 
 hurt of man; as saith the Scripture : "For 
 since by man came death, by man came also 
 the resurrection of the dead. As in Adam all 
 die, so in Christ shall all be made alive." 
 1 Cor. XV. 21. 22. So God makes use of man, 
 some for the help of the rest, according to his 
 good will and pleasure ; and qualifies one and 
 another, and so many as He pleases, from age 
 to age, and generation to generation. 
 
 The Scriptures then were thus written for 
 the instruction of those ages wherein they 
 were written, and to whom they were de- 
 livered ; and being preserved by the special 
 Providence of God, and presented by the 
 same unto us in our own language, they are 
 for our learning also. 
 
 And we may see what a high esteem and 
 notion the Jews had of the Scriptures of the 
 Old Testament, the value and use whereof 
 ■was likewise confirmed by Christ Himself; 
 by the evidence and manifestation of whose 
 Holy Spirit they had been written, long 
 before He came in the flesh, according to th^- 
 
352 SERMON BY 
 
 predictions therein contained. Yet tliey 
 carried their esteem too high; they conceived 
 an expectation from the Scriptures which 
 God never gave them ; it was their own 
 imaginations and misunderstanding that car- 
 ried them to that exorbitant expectation ; yet 
 the Lord Jesus Christ made a right use of it, 
 in order to draw or direct them to Himself, 
 saying : ^' Search the Scriptures, for in tlieni 
 ye think ye have eternal life, and they are 
 they which testify of Me ; and ye will not 
 come to Me, that ye might have life." John v. 
 S9, 40. Certainly no people could have a 
 higher esteem for the Scriptures, or expect 
 more from them than eternal life ; yet their 
 expectations were wrong, for eternal Life was 
 not, neither is it, in the Scriptures, but in 
 Christ Himself, of .whom they only testify. 
 He owned that they testified of Him , but 
 then here was the neglect, shortness, and loss 
 of that people, '' Ye will not come to me, that 
 ye might have life." They would not look 
 unto God in Him who was accompanied by 
 Almighty Power, by which He commanded 
 all distempers, healed all manner of diseases 
 by his word, and raised the dead in hi& 
 Father's power. 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 353 
 
 Their error was not in searching the Scrip- 
 tures, for they were written for their learning, 
 and that thereby they might haveliopeofa 
 Saviour, by the predictions and promises of 
 God contained in them, and they are ever 
 worthy to be searched, believed, and re- 
 garded ; for they testified and do testify of 
 Him. The Power of the Father testified of 
 Him, in all the miraculous works done by 
 Him in their sight, upon which He put the 
 test of the truth of his mission as the Messiah, 
 saying : " If I do not the works of my Father, 
 believe me not; but if 1 do, though ye be- 
 lieve not me, believe the works." John x. 
 37, 38. xiv. 11. Yet they would not be- 
 lieve Him. 
 
 And He likewise told them, '^ He was 
 come that they might have life, and that 
 they might have it more abundantly." 
 John X. 10. And yet they would not 
 come unto Him for it ; they would not look 
 unto the Father in Him ; they would not ac- 
 cept the invitation, and therefore they missed 
 of that great salvation, and have not attained 
 it unto this day, because they will not come 
 unto Him that they might have life, but are 
 
354i SERMON BY 
 
 banished from the Land of Promise, and 
 trodden under foot of all nations. 
 
 It is now several ages since our progenitors 
 bad the Holy Scriptures of both Testaments 
 translated into our own language, strictly and 
 exactly enouoh, with respect to all points 
 necessary to salvation ; and they had, and 
 we still have, the free use of them ; a great 
 blessing, of v/hich some of our neighbouring 
 nations are hitherto deprived. Have we read 
 them with diligence and attention ? Have we 
 duly considered them, and made a right use 
 of them ? What advantage have we reaped 
 thereby ? Are we come unto God, whose in- 
 vitation is recorded therein, and unto Christ, 
 of whom they abundantly testify in every 
 dispensation? What end have we had in 
 reading the Scriptures ? Hath it been only to 
 furnish ourselves with certain texts thereof, 
 whereby to fight one against another, to agra- 
 vate one another, and exercise our passions 
 upon one another, and to support this, that, 
 and the other notion and opinion, true or 
 false ; and never regard the moral precepts, 
 holy examples, or great and necessary gospel 
 truths and doctrines they contain, so as to 
 bring them into practice ? This would be an 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 355 
 
 ill and perverse use, or rather abuse of tliem, 
 and a great neglect. 
 
 Have we indeed looked unto tbe only true 
 and Living God, of whom we read in the Holy 
 Scriptures, with desire and hope of salvation 
 by Him? Have we looked, with sincerity, to 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom they testify ? 
 The Creation of God declares that He is, but 
 we cannot find Him there with all our search, 
 we cannot know Him tliereby. " No man 
 by searcliing can find out God to perfection." 
 We all know, who have so searched, we can- 
 not find Him thereby, we cannot see Him fully 
 and clearly there. They testify of Christ, 
 and are clear and full in their testimony of 
 and concerning Him in all points; but alas ! 
 I am afraid the same charge is too true at this 
 day, against tlie generality of people pro- 
 fessing the Christian faith and religion, which 
 was justly uttered against the Jews in that 
 day, " You will not come unto Me .•" You 
 inight, but you will not come to the Son of 
 God, that you may have life, and know the 
 abound ings of it in you, by Hi?}?, " even as a 
 well of living water, springing up unto life 
 eternal." 
 
3516 SERMON BY 
 
 The Scriptures give a sure report of Christ 
 the Son of God, and that all tliat is to be 
 known of the Father is revealed and manifest 
 in Him. They testify that He is the Eternal 
 Word, Wisdom arid Power of God ; that He 
 was born, as to his bodily appearance, of 
 the holy Virgin Mary ; that the power of the 
 Highest overshadowed her, the holy Divine 
 Influence came upon her, by which she be- 
 came pregnant, in order to that wonderful 
 production conceived in her thereby, that 
 holy thing called the Son of God: of which 
 she being premonished, by tlie Messenger of 
 the Most High, she believed the message, and 
 by faith conceived the true promised Seed, 
 the Redeemer of the world ; that all men 
 might believe in Him, and be born of the 
 Spirit of Him, who was thus, by the Spirit 
 conceived in the flesh ; for in Him alone is 
 the promise of God fulfilled : " The Seed of 
 the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." 
 
 And what do the Scriptures further testify 
 concerning the Son of God ? They bear testi- 
 mony of Him in more points abundance than 
 I have either time or strength, or is needful, 
 at this time to go tlirough ; because most of 
 you now in my audience, (of several persua- 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 357 
 
 sions,) have read the Holy Scriptures, I do 
 not doubt ; yet I desire and exhort you young 
 men and women especially, not only to read 
 llicm, but consider them, that you may under- 
 stand them, and be more fully informed in 
 those points and others by them ; waiting, in 
 the mean time, for the inbreathing of the Life 
 and Light of the Lord Christ, by the influence 
 of whose Spirit they were first written, with- 
 out which they are not rightly to be under- 
 stood, or the true end of them attained. 
 Luke xxiv. 45. John xx. 22. Yet the con- 
 cern and influence I am now under may carry 
 me further on this subject, for your sakes, 
 than I am now aware of. 
 
 The Lord Jesus was concealed from the 
 people till about the twelfth year of his age, 
 and then a glimpse of the Wisdom of the 
 Father shone in Him, and through Him^ 
 among the wise and learned in that day 
 among them ; yet He was not made manifest as 
 the Messiah, until the Divine Influence of the 
 same Power which operated in his bodily 
 production, did anoint or fit him to preach 
 the Gos|:el of Salvation unto his people. 
 And then He was made manifest, not only by 
 wonderful works, but by his doctrines which 
 
 Hh 
 
S68 SERMON BY 
 
 He published among tlie people; yet though 
 He spake as never man spake, with respect 
 to that wisdom and power in whicli He did 
 speak, few there were w lio understood Him ; so 
 that they were still short, at that time, of the 
 ^nie and full end of his appearance; for He 
 was to be made manifest, not only to the 
 Jews, but universally unto all nations, (in a 
 nearer and more divine and excellent way 
 tliau his outvsard appearance was, though that 
 was indeed glorious,) but by degrees, from one 
 dispensation to another, according to the pro- 
 phecy of Isaiah, tlie evangelical Prophet, Avhere 
 lie speaketh of the Son of God, as man in the 
 state of a Servant of God, and even, in a 
 manner, as such (a servant) in the sight of 
 men, and in which He did indeed first appear 
 in the Hesh ; that is to say : " Behold my 
 Servant whom I uphold, mine elect, in 
 whom my soul delighteth : 1 have put my 
 Spirit upon Him ; He shall bring forth judg- 
 ment to the Gentiles. Isaiah xlil, 1. Again, 
 zerses 6, 7. I the Lord liave called thee in 
 righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and 
 will keep Tl.ee, and give Tlieefora Covenant 
 (^f the peo])le, for a Light of the Gentiles, io 
 o]}en the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 359 
 
 from the prison, and tliem that sit in darkness 
 out of the prison-house." 
 
 This prophecy was uttered and recorded 
 several hundreds of years* before the Lord 
 Christ came to that people. We may see 
 plainly by this, there was a fore-promise of 
 Him to all nations, as a Light to enlighten 
 them. The Most Higli is invisible, he 
 dvvelleth in divine eternal Light inaccessible. 
 No creature can behold Him as He is; there 
 is therefore a medium and qualification need- 
 ful to us, whereby we may approach Him, 
 come unto Him^ and be saved with an ever- 
 lasting and glorious salvation ; and therefore 
 he hath sent forth his Word, clothed with a 
 reasonable human mind and human body, to 
 declare Him, according to that saying : " Sa- 
 crifice and offering thou didst not desire, 
 mine ears hast thou opened: burnt-offering 
 and sin-offering hast Thou not required : then 
 said I, Lo ! I come: in the Volume of the 
 Book it is written of me; I delight to do thy 
 will, O my God ! yea, thy law is within my 
 heart." Psa, xl. 6, 7. Isaiah i. 11. Ixvi. 3. 
 Jleb, X. 5. This Son of the Hifirhest, thus 
 
 * About 712 years before Christ. 
 
 II h2 
 
360 SERMON BY 
 
 clollied 'svith liumanity, is the Mediator be- 
 tween God and all other men, by whose holy 
 Spirit and power the mind of man is washed, 
 sanctified, and qualified, so as, through this 
 veil, to behold the inaccessible glory of the 
 Father, and live. 
 
 Now the Word Himself is the glory of the 
 Father thus veiled, and is Light in men, 
 variouslj*^ proportioned in point of manifesta- 
 tion, and proposed as the object of the faith 
 of all men, as He is Divine Light ; the "true 
 Light, which lighteth every man that cometh 
 into the world." Audit is said, " The Gen- 
 tiles shall come to this Light, and kings to 
 the brightness of his arising. Isa, Ix. 2, 3, 
 And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust." 
 Matt, xii. 2L iv. 16. 
 
 The Father hath sent his Son Christ, that 
 all mankind may believe in Him, and look 
 unto the Father in and by Hiin ; and there is 
 not another way. Mankind were in dark- 
 ness, in ignorance, they had lost the know- 
 ledge of God ; and we likewise by nature are 
 all ignorant of God, and can never come to 
 the knowledge of Him, and look to Him so 
 as to be saved by Him, till we look unto Him 
 in his own Lio^ht. 
 
MR. THOMAS IjTOIlY. 561 
 
 The first thing therefore that we mortals 
 must doj ill order to this salvation, is, to be- 
 lieve in this Light, and the power that 
 dwelleth therein, " For without faith it is im- 
 possible to please God," or to be born of this 
 Light, or become a child of God, who is 
 Light. This Faith is called the Faith of the 
 operation of God, because it is raised in the 
 heart by the manifestation of the Light and 
 Power of the Spirit of Christ in the mind. 
 There the Scriptures testify that He is : " The 
 Word is nigh thee, in tliy heart, and in thy 
 mouth, that thou mayesi hear it, and do it :" 
 and again, saith Christ of Himself: "lam 
 the Light of the world; He that foiloweth me 
 shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the 
 Light of Life." 
 
 Again ; we must believe in Him, and receive 
 Him, as He is the Word of God, and as He 
 is God; for the Scriptures so testify of Him, 
 " That in the beginning was the Word, and 
 the Word was with God, and the Word was 
 God. In Him was Life, and the Life was the 
 Light of men." So then this Evangelist 
 plainly declares the Lord Jesus Christ to be 
 the true God, manifested in the proper nature 
 of man. Does the Evangelist thercfoie teach 
 
 uh 3 
 
862 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 that the Divine nature was changed into the 
 human ? No! Or that the human nature was 
 become the Divine nature ? No, truly I but 
 that the human nature, a reasonable soul, 
 clothed with a human body, was assumed by 
 the Divine Word, the Wisdom and Power of 
 God. 
 
 And Jesus Christ being the Eternal Son of 
 God, is not made, but begotten ; neither was 
 He made, as He is man, witii respect either to 
 body or mind, but begotten by Divine In- 
 fluence; and under this consideration, and by 
 virtue of this union, the Lord Jesus Christ, as 
 One with God, is properly and truly called 
 God, being denominated according to his 
 superior nature, and, in that sense, is God. 
 And He is also the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of 
 Truth ; John xiv. 6, the Comforter, in his 
 spiritual nature clothed with humanity, and 
 leadeth into all Truth: and in this union He 
 is also the Lig]it of tlie world, who could never 
 have beheld Him in his unveiled Deity. 
 
 We must therefore not remain in a bare 
 report of God and Christ, though we find it 
 in the Holy Scriptures, and that teslimony 
 is for ever true; but we must look unto God 
 
MH. THOMAS STORY. 363 
 
 through Christ the Mediator, near unto our- 
 selves, as Christ said of his own Spirit. John 
 xiv. 17 ; "He dwellcth with you, and shall be 
 in you ; I will not leave you comfortless; I 
 •will come to you." Again ; " He came unto 
 bis own, and his own received Him not; but 
 as many as received Him, to them gave He 
 power to become the sons of God, even to 
 tliem that believe on his Name," as He is the 
 Word of God, and not only as man. 
 
 The Jews were his own in a more parti- 
 cular manner than other men, by a covenant 
 of works, made with their fathers by the medi- 
 ation of Moses, the servant at mount Sinai ; 
 but they rejected Ciirist as a deceiver, though 
 He is the Son of God, and Mediator of a more 
 excellent law and covenant, which shall en- 
 dure for ever ; yet there was a remnant of 
 them that believed and received Him ; and io 
 them, but not unto the unbelievers. He gave 
 power to become the sons of God. Not by 
 eternal generation, as the Son Himself is, 
 1 Pete?' i. 32. but by regeneration in time, 
 whereby they are made partakers of the 
 Divine Nature: as it is written, "Forasmuch 
 then as the children are partakers of flesh and 
 blood, He (the Son) Himself likewise took 
 
364t SERMON BT 
 
 part of the same, Ileb, ii. 14. So then the 
 Son look part of the human nature, that we 
 might be made partakers of tlie Divine nature 
 in Him, through faith in his power, and there- 
 by become the sons of God ; not by creation 
 only in the first Adam, but as begotten of God 
 by Christ, the Word of his Power, who is the 
 Second Adam, tlie Lord from heaven, the 
 Lord and giver of life, and quickening Spirit, 
 clothed with humanity, like unto us in all 
 tilings, pin excepted: that as He was a little 
 lower than the angels, for the suffering of 
 death for us, so we, by Him the Son, the First- 
 born, might be presented before tlie throne of 
 the Father, perfect in heaven, with the innume- 
 rable company of the l\oly angels of God, and 
 spirits of the just, who on earth looJccd unto 
 God, from all the ends of the same, through 
 tlie Son; and by Him obtained this great 
 salvation. 
 
 NoVv friends, to you in particular do I 
 direct this, who are the offspring of those wlm 
 are glorified in heaven, through faith in tlic 
 Son of God, and that grace by Avhich they 
 did believe, having been ftiithful in their day, 
 and having known this glorious work ofre- 
 o-eneration. It is not by blood, as their 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 305 
 
 descendants in nature ; for of flesb and blood 
 can come only flesb and blood. Nature can 
 bring forth notliing but her own likeness. 
 We are all the descendants of the first Adam 
 by procreation, according to the ordinance 
 of God in nature, and of our next immediate 
 parents after the flesh ; but we must all be- 
 lieve in the Spirit and Power of Christ, in 
 his immediate operation in our hearts, that we 
 also may be regenerated, and born in 
 the image of God, and Divine nature of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have likewise 
 believed in our day ; for if we should receive 
 all the doctrines of truth which they received, 
 and be in the practice of all the establish- 
 ments settled among them by the Wisdom of 
 Truth, by way of tradition only, without the 
 Life and Light of Truth revealed in ourselves, 
 we shall fall short of salvation in the end, 
 notwithstanding. 
 
 But as we are all likewise called of God by 
 his universal grace, and none excluded, we 
 must comply with the means which God hath 
 appointed, in order to obtain this salvation ; 
 that is, to believe, follow, and obey the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, the Word of Life, as He is 
 divinely revealed and manifested in us ; and 
 
366 SERMON BY 
 
 I trust many of you of this jige have already 
 so believed. 
 
 And as He is God, He is omnipresent, and 
 therefore very near unto all mankind, and in 
 US, though we cannot perceive Him in our 
 natural state, because of our want of proper 
 qualifications : we are blind by nature, as to 
 the things of God, and want eye-salve from 
 Him. Saul, tlirough a furious blind zeal, was 
 persecuting the Church of Christ, till " Light 
 from the Son of God from heaven shined 
 around Him, and with a voice from above 
 confounded him, saying, " Saul / Saul! why 
 persecutest thou Me ?" For which unreason- 
 able work he could offer no reason, but 
 liumbly submitted to the just judgment ex- 
 ercised upon him from above. 
 
 We may see then how this great persecutor 
 was co!ivinced of the error of his ways by a 
 light from heaven, and the voice of the Son of 
 God. Oh ! the blind zeal and wickedness of 
 foolish and furious man, in persecuting the 
 children of God! as saith the Scripture, 
 " They that are born after the flesh always 
 pesecute them that are born after the Spirit,^' 
 until God, in goodness and mercy unto his 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 367 
 
 own seed, confounds and rebukes tlieir enemies 
 by his voice from heaven, by his Divine and 
 powerful Word, and puts a stop to their fury 
 and rage. There is a cogent energy in the 
 voice of God above any other power : this 
 persecutor was overcome thereby, and, of a 
 furious persecutor of Christ in his members 
 upon earth, in the spirit and power of the 
 the priests and rulers of tliat day, became a 
 noble instrument for Christ and the glory of 
 God, through those qualifications wrought in 
 Him by the Spirit of Christ, which also at- 
 tended him in liis ministry, whether in pub- 
 lishing the truths of the gospel revealed unto 
 him. given him in charge, or in working of 
 miracles, according to the dispensation of 
 God in that age of the world. We may see 
 therefore in this great instance, how soon the 
 Lord can work so great a change in the hearts 
 and understandings of mankind : but to witness 
 a real change in ourselves, and the comple- 
 tion of it by the salfie power, is what all ought 
 to wait for, and not rest contented in hearing 
 what the Lord hath done for others, though 
 we may firmly believe it. 
 
 " Who art Thou, Lord, that I persecute ?" 
 I observe further upon this, that at that time 
 
SG8 SERMON BY 
 
 the Son of God was exaHcd at tbe right band 
 of the eternal Majesty on high ; glorified with 
 the same glory that He had with tlie Father 
 before all worlds, far above all principalities 
 and powers, out of the reach of all persecution 
 in Himself ; yet we may see He takes the 
 persecutions exercised upon those who believe 
 in his Name on earth, and are born of the 
 same immortal Power and Word of Life, as 
 done unto Himself; for He is not ashamed to 
 call them brethren. What great and glorious 
 privileges then have they who believe in the 
 Son of God, and stand for the glory of his 
 Name, in doing and suft'ering according to his 
 holy will ! Those still look unto God for sal- 
 vation at last, through and out of all persecu- 
 tion and sufferings for his Name's sake and 
 Gospelj and they are not disappointed. 
 
 And we may also see, with thankfulness to 
 the Lord, how by his Wisdom and Power He 
 hath cut down the spirit of bloodshed and 
 persecution in this nation, in a good degree, 
 in this last age: and I do believe, nay 1 am 
 assured of it, that the Lord will cut off that 
 evil spirit by the root, and leave neither root 
 nor branch of it, in his own due time. 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 360 
 
 The name of Saul being changed into Paul, 
 and his heart greatly changed and turned 
 unto the Lord, he was sent on a better errand; 
 for Ills mission was, "To bear the Name of 
 the Lord before the Gentiles, and kings, and 
 the children of Israel: he was filled with the 
 Holy Ghost, made a minister thereby, and 
 sent unto the Gentiles, to open their eyes, 
 and " turn them from darkness to light, and 
 from the power of Satan unto God ; that they 
 might receive forgiveness of sins, and an in- 
 heritance among them who are sanctified by 
 faith in the Son of God." Acts ix. 15, 17, 
 20. XX vi. IG, 17, 18„ 
 
 Now what Light is this the Gentiles were 
 and are to be turned unto, in order to the 
 forgiveness of their sins, sanctification of their 
 hearts, and inheritance among the sanctified ? 
 He is even tiie same that I have mentioned 
 unto you already, when the Father said unto 
 the Son : '-I will give thee a Light of tiJe 
 Gentiles, and a Covenant of the people ;" — 
 unto Him who saith of Himself, '"1 am the 
 Light of the world ;" — unto Him who is the 
 Word of God, the true Light which lighleth 
 every man that comcth into the wo. Id ; — to the 
 true and Eternal God, who is that Lio^ht. 
 
 I i 
 
S70 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 This is the sum of the Gospel, and of the 
 mission of the apostle, and of all the apostles 
 of Christ in that day, and of every gospel 
 minister now, and throughout all generations ; 
 that all manldnd, believing in this Light, and 
 being turned unto Him, may have remission 
 of sins, and inheritance among them who are 
 sanctified through faith in Him ; without 
 which faith, turning, and sanctification, there 
 is not, nor ever wa«, or shall be. any such in- 
 heritance, by any soul who hath known the 
 visitation and manifestation of it, in any 
 measure, and rejected it. 
 
 This Light hath shined in darkness from 
 
 tlie first lapse of mankind, and doth still shine 
 
 there, and ever will, throughout all ages. Man, 
 
 in hi« natural slate, is, in comparison of this 
 
 Light, but darkness. This is that darkness 
 
 of which the Son of God gives this caution : 
 
 "Take heed therefore that the Light which 
 
 is in thee be not darkness. If the Liirht that 
 
 is in thee be darkness, how great is that dark- 
 
 iiess !" It is even total darkness. The natural 
 
 mind, with all its reason and faculties, is but 
 
 darkness, with respect to the knowledge of 
 
 God, or the things of God pertaining io his 
 
 kingdom, according to the apostle who said to 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. Sfl 
 
 the believers in that day : " Ye were sometimes 
 darkness, but now are ye Light in tlie Lord. 
 Ephes. V. 8. Walk as children of Light." 
 Again said the Lord Christ unto his believers 
 and followers in that day : " Ye are the Light 
 of the world." 3IatL v. 14. And this is still 
 the same in all that dwell in the Light and 
 Life of the Son of God, in every age of the 
 world. 
 
 We may see the great change then that is 
 made in mankind by turning from Satan, the 
 prince of the power of darkness, and from 
 mankind themselves, who are by nature that 
 darkness, unto the Son of God, who is that 
 " true Light, which lighteth every man that 
 coraeth into the world." He is always in the 
 world, a witness for the Father against the 
 world, and the sins and corruptions of it: a 
 reprover and condemnor of the world, until 
 they believe in Him, turn unto Him, and re- 
 pent, and forsake the evil of their ways, tlicni- 
 selves, and the evil One; and then that 
 Divine Light shinethoutof that darkness— the 
 blind eye is opened — the deaf ear is unstopped 
 — and mankind behold the beauty of tlie Lord 
 in holiness and in truth, and hear the sure 
 ^olce of salvation by Him. 
 
 I i 2. 
 
379 SERMON Br 
 
 To open the blind eye, &c. This is thti 
 Avorkofthe ministry which God Himself is 
 the author of, who are raised up and qualified 
 by the Word of Truth working in them to 
 that end, and by no other way. And though 
 Ihey preach Christ the Light of the world, in 
 the demonstration of his Spirit and Power, 
 and those truths and doctrines which tend to 
 the opening of the eyes of the understandings 
 of mankind, yet still it is God Himself who 
 worketh this great work, where it is wrought : 
 his ministers are only co-workers with his 
 Holy Spirit therein, or as feeble instruments 
 in liis hand, by whom He Himself bringeth 
 to pass so great works and salvation ; 
 as the apostle saith of the redeemed in 
 that day : '• We are his workmanship, created 
 in Christ Jesus unto good works." Ephes, 
 ii. 10. 
 
 " The Scripture (saith the apostle, Gal. iii. 
 22.) hath concluded all under sin." Was it 
 that mankind should be settled in sin for life 
 in this world, as fools have taught? No, by no 
 means! He speaketh more excellent things, 
 Gal. iii. 2^2. ''That the promise by faith of 
 Jesus Christ might be given to them that be- 
 lieve :" so that it is only declaratory of the 
 
MR. THOMAS STO-RT. $73 
 
 stale of the natural man until He believe in 
 Christ. How then must mankind believe in 
 Christ? According to the promise, I will give 
 thee a Light of the Gentiles ; that all mankind 
 might believe in the Son of God, the Light of 
 the world, according to this promise, and 
 come unto the Father by Him who is Light, 
 and be saved from darkness, and from him 
 ■who hath power in the darkness, which is the 
 devil. Christ is the Wisdom and Power of 
 God, and, as such, is God : his Wisdom and 
 Power is one, and is Himself. He is that 
 Wisdom and Power; and the same is the 
 Word: God is One. The human mind is not 
 God, nor is the human body,- the human 
 mind and body are effects of that Divine 
 Wisdom and Power. The cause is before the 
 effects ; they are subsequent; yet because the 
 Mumanity is taken unto the Divine naturCj 
 absorbed therein, and inseparably united 
 therewith, Jesus Christ, who is that holy and 
 Divine Man, is called God in the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, because of the super-excellency and^ 
 pre-eminence of the Divine nature, with which 
 the human is annexed inseparably for ever : 
 so that the Wisdom and Power of (he Father, 
 in this humanity and union, are one Cjirist^: 
 the Messiah, the Saviour of the worldj undeir 
 
 1 la 
 
B74i SERMON BY 
 
 the character of Jesus Christ; and therefore- 
 let all the world look unto the Father hij Him 
 for Sahation ; for there is no other Name 
 given under heaven, or ever sliall be, but the 
 Name of Jesus, bj which mankind ever were, 
 are, or shall be saved. " He had a vesture 
 dipped in blood; his Name is called 'The 
 Word of God.' " And at the Name of Jesus, 
 whenever, or in whomsoever the Father nameth 
 this wonderful, powerful Name, then shall 
 every knee bov/, and every tongue confess 
 unto Him^ the Judge of the world, either in a 
 ilay of visitation in mercy to life eternal, or 
 ia condemnation unto punishment. 
 
 Now the Lord Jesus Christ, having a real 
 human body, subject unto death, as ours are^ 
 He was crucified therein, according to the 
 Scriptures, as a propitiation for the sins of the 
 whole world, declaratory of the love and 
 mercy of the Father to mankind universally, 
 who sent his Son into the world, not to satisfy 
 a vindictive justice, as that which is of man,, 
 which exacteth the utmost farthing, or else na 
 satisfaction or forgiveness ; but in the w ill of 
 the Father, who sent Him in love^ to declare 
 his love, goodness,, and mercy, and forgive- 
 3B.€S3 of sins unto all mankind, upon conditioii. 
 
MR. TIIOIilAS STORY. ST5 
 
 of faith in this Messenger, and repcn(anc(? 
 from dead works: *^ 1 will have mere ty and 
 not sacrifice." 3Iatt. ix. J 3. xii. 7. Ilosea 
 vi. 6, 
 
 But though the human mind of Christmas 
 separated from his body upon the cross, ajid 
 &o remained for a time, which is the common 
 death ; yet the word and nnnd were never 
 separated from the time of their first uniony. 
 nor ever can be, for then the whole Christ 
 must have been diijsolved, and ceased ; and 
 the same Word, in the same human mind, re» 
 sumed the same human body ; as saith the 
 Lord Jesus : " No man taketh my life from rae^ 
 but I lay it down of myself: I Iiave power to 
 lay it down, and I have power to take it 
 again. This commandment 1 have received 
 of my Father." John x. 18. 
 
 And as the separation of the mind and body is^ 
 the natural death, even so is tlie separation be- 
 tweenthesoul [ofmusj] and the Divine Life of 
 the Son of God, I he death of the soul, by which 
 she becomes totally corrupted, though not 
 mortal in the manner that the body is ; but [the- 
 soul] remaineth in this death, and yet livetb a 
 sensual life in this corruxition, until this cor- 
 
3T6 SERMON BY 
 
 ruplible put on incorniption, and this mortal 
 put on immortality ; until the breath of life 
 from God, in infinite mercy, return into her, 
 and restore her unto life, through faith in his 
 Almighty Word : for in Him still is life, and 
 that life is tlie Light of men; as it is also 
 ■written, " Awake, thou that steepest ; arise 
 from the dead, and Christ shall give thee 
 Liglit." Ephes, V. 14. By this it appears,, 
 that though this Light is in all mankind, as a 
 saving gift from God in the nature of it, yet 
 Ave are not sensible of it, as such, until we are 
 quickened, in some degree, by the powerful 
 voice of the Son of God; according to that 
 saying, " The hour cometh, and now Z^, when 
 the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of 
 God ; and they that hear shall live/' John 
 V. 25. 
 
 It is remarkable^ that the Son of God 
 yielded up his life upon the cross, and was 
 dead, before liis blood was shed ; {John x. 18. 
 Isaiah liii. 10. 12.) ere the spear, in the hand 
 of the soldier, made that large incision in liis 
 holy side, sufficient for tlie reception of a 
 man's whole liand, piercing Him to the heart, 
 whence issued both blood and water ; as an 
 infallible proof, that He was really dead, and. 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY 377 
 
 of the Eternal and Almighty Power, whicli, 
 under that natural impossibility, raised Him- 
 self from the dead. 
 
 But before He departed, and as He was 
 upon the cross between the two tiiieves, He 
 said to the believing and penitent one : " This 
 day shalt thou be with 3Ie in Paradise;" from 
 Avhich we may receive great instruction. 
 
 First, that at what time soever man be* 
 lieveth ifi the Son of God, confesses his sins 
 before Him^ and repents, he shall have mercy 
 and forgiveness; and, if not in a dying hour, 
 if he perseveres in faith and obedience, shall 
 liave a place of rest and divine pleasure with 
 the Lord for ever. And seeing that Christ 
 ■was that same day in paradise, and the thief 
 there with Him ; when the body of Cisrist lay 
 in the sepulchre till the third day after, and 
 the body of the thief was broken upon the 
 cross, after the manner of criminals in that 
 part of the world in those days — what was 
 that Me in Christ, and that thou in the thief 
 which were in paradise that same day they 
 were crucilied ? It could not be in the bodies, 
 and it is impossible that saying could fail: we 
 may therefore learn thereby — 
 
37S SERHrON BY 
 
 Secondly, that the union of the Godliead 
 and manhood of Christ, was not dissolved or 
 separated, by the death of his body, but re- 
 mained perfect notwithstanding. 
 
 Seeing tlien, that the union- of the divine- 
 and human natures constitute one Christ and 
 Saviour, the Lord Jesus remained to be that 
 Saviour, after the death of his body, and 
 whilst it remained in that state, as Avell as 
 before, and since ; and so will remain to all 
 eternity. 
 
 Thirdly, that though the body of the thief 
 was dead^yet the mind was at the same time 
 with Christ in a state of salvation, divine 
 pleasure, and glory ; and so he will remain 
 for ever. According to that saying of the 
 Lord r " I am the resurrection^ and the life : 
 (John xi. 25.) He that believeth in me, 
 though he were dead, yet shall he live. And. 
 whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall 
 never die." From hence we may clearly 
 infer, that though the natural man be ignorant 
 of the life of Christ, and dead to all sense of 
 the knowledge of God, in trespasses and sins, 
 yet by faith in the Son of God, who is the 
 resurrection and life eternal, he shall be raised 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 379 
 
 in this world, into the sense and enjoyment of 
 that life, be united with it, and continuing to 
 believe therein, shall never die with respect 
 to that life ; he shall not be separated from it 
 any more, but shall live with God and the 
 Lamb therein for ever, thou^^h his body sliall 
 die: for this saying of Christ cannot be 
 understood to relate to the temporal life or 
 death of the body. 
 
 The doctrine of a spiritual and eternal 
 life, by Christ who is that life, thereby 
 established, is further illustrated by M^bat 
 Christ said to the tliief upon the cross as 
 above; and that the minds of men are united 
 unto Christ, by the invisible work of regenera- 
 tion, and by Him unto the Father, as Media- 
 tor of the new and everlasting covenant of 
 light and life, and die no more for ever, 
 though the earthly houses and tabernacles, 
 their bodies, be dissolved and be no more. 
 
 But as the body of Christ was raised again, 
 by the same Divine power, by whose holy 
 influence it was formed or begotten of the 
 Virgin, and the same human mind thereunto 
 re-united, as the Scriptures testify, and as- 
 
S80 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 cended as they likewise declare ; some in this 
 last age, apostatizing from the truth and light 
 of the Son of God in themselves, after they 
 had been once enlightened thereby, 
 and being ignorant of his humanity, 
 with respect to his human mind, have 
 opposed his bodily appearance to his 
 spiritual ; saying, " His light within (or in 
 man,) is not sufficient for salvation, without 
 something else;" meaning the body of Christ 
 only, as if that were the whole humanity of 
 Christ, not regarding his soul ; raising also 
 curious and presumptuous questions, and dis- 
 putations, about the body of Jesus, as Satan 
 of old about the body of Moses, not for pro- 
 motion of religion and edification, but for 
 strife, debate, envy and mischief: asking us 
 if we believed, "That Christ is now in heaven, 
 glorified in the same body that lie had on 
 earth, and therein sitting on the right hand of 
 the Father ?'* 
 
 This they intended as a test of their ovru 
 formini)^, concernino: the truth of our faith in 
 Christ. To some of whom i have answered, 
 that though we believe whatsoever is written 
 of Christ in the Holy Scriptures, yet we do 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. S8l 
 
 not presume to take upon us to determine con- 
 cerning the mode of the being of that body in 
 Heaven, it not being declared in the Scrip- 
 tures; only that it ascended out of the sight 
 of those who saw it ascend, and much more 
 is it out of the sight of them who did never 
 see it. Neither could those busy bodies, and 
 untaught querists, conceive any idea of 
 it, much less transfer any adequate notion of 
 it to any other ; but thus much the Scripture 
 saith, {Ephes. iv. 9, 10.) " Now that He as- 
 cended, what is it but that He also descended 
 first into the lower parts of the earth ? He that 
 descended, is the same also that ascended up 
 far above all Heavens, that He might fill all 
 things." Seeing Christ ascended in his bodily 
 appearance, (of which the apostle here 
 writeth,) and filleth all things, how can He 
 remain in the same manner of existence? A 
 circumscribed and material body, as that of 
 Christ was, cannot fill all things, and retain a 
 corporeal mode. And Christ, as the Word of 
 God, filled all things ever since they were 
 created ; and being present every where, at 
 ali times, there is no place where He can 
 ascend or descend, so that this saying of the 
 apostle is applicable to his human ascension 
 only. 
 
 K k 
 
389 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 This put all such as I met with in those 
 days, on this subject, to silence ; and onr doc- 
 trine was by many brethren maintained, 
 that Christ being God, and the Word of God, 
 and the true light which lighteth every one 
 that coraeth into the world, and clothed with 
 his true humanity, and inseparable from it, 
 He is allogetlier sufficient for the salvation of 
 all mankind, without any thing else, or further 
 knoAvledge of his holy body than what the 
 Scriptures declare ; He having done and suf- 
 fered therein whatever was appointed Him 
 of the Father, and so far answered the end of 
 its being and preparation. And that He is 
 the same Saviour, and altogether sufficient, in 
 his inward appearance, without that body 
 (where and in what manner soever the same 
 now exists) is clear, where it is said, " Where- 
 fore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of 
 naughtiness, and receive with meekness the 
 engrafted word, which is able to save your 
 souls." James i.21. 
 
 Then, as the evangelist said, such of the 
 sonjs of men, wlio believed in Christ, as He is 
 the Word of God, and is God, became to be 
 the sons of God ; not by generation, nor the 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. 383 
 
 traditions, impositions, and inventions of the 
 wisdom and wills of men, by which they 
 make the commandments and establishments 
 of God of no effect to themselves and to 
 others ; but as they believed in tile Word of 
 God, the true light which ligliteth every man 
 that coraeth into the world, by the effectual 
 operation of the measure of grace received, 
 by faith therein, even in Him, out of his ful- 
 ness, in whom it pleased the Father that all 
 fulness should dwell. So that it was not any 
 thing of their own acquiring, by any abilities 
 of theirs, that they believed in Him ; but they 
 were made sensible of the Word of reproof, 
 by its own actions and motions in their hearts, 
 manifested there, as the immediate object of 
 their faith, wherein believing, and being 
 thereby sanctified, they then became sen- 
 sible, by blessed experience, of the ilow- 
 ings of his divine love, virtue, and power. 
 As in the case of the distempered person 
 who secretly believed in Him, (yet durst 
 not own it, as if she meant to steal a cure 
 from Him,) and that if she could but touch 
 the hem of his garment, she sliould be 
 whole, He said ; " There is virtue gone 
 out of Me." 
 
 KkS 
 
S84 
 
 SERMON BY 
 
 Again; we may observe farther upon tbis 
 passage, concerning tbe penilenttbief upon tbe 
 cross, that tbis thou of Avbich Christ spake, 
 which the same day should be with the soul of 
 Christ in paradise, in a state of salvation and 
 divine eternal pleasure, was the mind, the 
 soul of the man, and not the body ; from 
 which it followeth, that the mind is the man, 
 without his earthly tabernacle, and that 
 himself is a spiritual body, into which is 
 breathed divine eternal life, by Jesus Christ, 
 the second x4dam, as He is the quickening 
 Spirit, the Lord and giver of life eternal, to 
 all that believe, and follow Him, in the way 
 of regeneration. 
 
 The heart and mind of mankind, even in 
 this life, is capable of a good degree of divine 
 consolation and pleasure, in a state of recon- 
 ciliation with God through Christ, and in 
 fiiithfulness to known duties ; as many in this 
 age, by happy experience through the grace 
 of God, do knov/ ; and so remaining unto the 
 end, are sure of the ocean of the fulness 
 thereof, as soon as they depart out of their 
 earthly bodies ; their minds themselves re- 
 maining spiritual bodies, alive by the life of 
 Christ for ever. 
 
MR. THOMAS STORY. SS5 
 
 And that it may be so with this whole 
 audience, now and to ail eternity, is my sin- 
 cere desire and prayer to the Lord God, who 
 hath thus mercifully invited all mankind 
 to look unto Himself, and be saved. Amen, 
 
 Kk3 
 
SAMUEL SCOTt's TESTIMONY 
 
 AT GnACIOUS-STREET, THE 21th OF yOFEMBETt^ 1737. 
 
 Concerning the Necessity of time!?/ Prepara- 
 iion for Death. 
 
 My Friends, 
 
 In my Vvaithi;^ upon God amongst you at 
 this time, there hath been brought to my re- 
 membrance, that solemn message ^vhich the 
 prophet -vvas sent with to declare unto the 
 King of Israelj when he was visited with sick- 
 ness from the Lord; the tenour whereof was, 
 that he should set things in order : Set thine 
 house in order^ for thou shall die and not live. 
 I would have us consider that such a time, or 
 such a message hath come io many of our 
 friends and acquaintances of late ; and will 
 certainly come, and ought to be expected by 
 all mankind, of all degrees and stations of 
 life, from the King upon the throne to the 
 
SERMON BY MR. SAMUEL SCOTT. 387 
 
 meanest subject. We may remember, that 
 tliis was a very solemn and humbling messag.e 
 to good King Hezekiah, as it will certainly be 
 to every one of us, if we art favoured with 
 our reason and understanding. 
 
 The great God, in whose hajid is our life 
 and being, He is yet sparing and favouring 
 us with time and opportunities, and visitations 
 of Divine love and mercy from on High. O ! 
 that we may be induced thereby iu time to 
 consider of our ways and be wise ! I remem- 
 ber the kingly prophet David, when at a cer- 
 tain time he was under the afflicting hand of 
 the Almighty, he entreated the Lord in a very 
 humble manner; for when the afflicting hand 
 of God is laid upon men, it is of an humbling 
 nature ; they are frequently brought down, 
 into due and proper considerations of them- 
 selves, and of their in\^ard state and condition 
 of soul. O, spare me, said he, that I may re- 
 cover strength before I go hence and be no 
 more! This I take to have been his concern 
 that the Lord would spare him, and give him 
 so long time, that he might be fitted and pre- 
 pared for his change; that his soul might be 
 fitted and made ready to gass out of time into. 
 CLternity. 
 
S88 SERMON BY 
 
 O dear friends and people ! I am concerned, 
 in the love of God, to put you in mind of your 
 latter end, that if you find yourselves in a 
 sinful and polluted state, you may implore 
 Divine mercy to be spared yet a little longer, 
 that you may come under the work of Divine 
 grace, in order to be prepared, and to witness 
 your sins going before hand to judgment ; for 
 as the apostle declared, some men's sins go 
 before hand to judgment, and some men's follow 
 after, which shews an all-seeing Eye takes cog- 
 nizance of mankind, from the highest to the 
 lowest, of their ways and actions, who will 
 render a recompence to every one according 
 as their works shall be ; as they are in His 
 sight, who judgeth truly and righteously, 
 and will not acquit the guilty, nor condemn 
 the innocent. 
 
 Therefore happy and blessed are they, 
 whose sins are going before hand to judgment , 
 that are cryino: out, like the servant of the 
 Lord : O spare me yet a little longer, that I may 
 recover strength ! That I may be made whole 
 and holy, by being washed and purified from 
 all filthiness of flesh and spirit, that I may 
 obtain help from the Lord, and be enabled to 
 perfect holiness in thy fear. 
 
MR. SAMUEL SCOTT. 389 
 
 O friends ! It is a circumstance not to be 
 dallied with, delajed, or put off to another 
 time ; but now is the time to come under these 
 serious censiderations. 
 
 It is not a bare professing, or talking of re- 
 ligion only that will avail, but, how are wo 
 walking and acting, as in the sight of the 
 Omniscient Lord God ? This good King 
 Hezekiah, had attained to the blessed assur- 
 ance of the favour of God, when this solemn 
 and humbling message was brought unto him, 
 yet we read he turned liis face to the wall ; he 
 turned from all visible objects. They who 
 have the greatest share of worldly possessions, 
 what comforts will they administer at such a 
 time ? Nothing will avail but the mercy of 
 God through Christ, and the evidence of the 
 Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirits, 
 that we have been walking in the fear of God, 
 as Hezekiah did, who made his address unto 
 the Lord, and said : Thou hnowest^ O Lord! 
 hozD I have icalked before Thee in Truth and 
 with a perfect hearty and have done that which 
 is good in thjj sight. 
 
 And we find the Lord owned him therein, 
 and spared him, he receiving the message withi 
 
390 SERMON BY 
 
 weepingj and humbling himself before the 
 Almighty. 
 
 O ! This is the way to find favour with 
 God, for tlie lofty ones to come down, and the 
 proud to be abased : so that all flesh may be 
 humbled in the presence of the God of 
 heaven ; for all flesh is compared to grass, and 
 man, in his greatest strength and beauty, to the 
 flower of the field, which soon withereth and 
 fadeth away, as we poor mortals do; but the 
 word of the Lordendureth forever — this word 
 of the Lord that is revealed in men's hearts, 
 and is to be known and witnessed as a fire, a 
 hammer, and sword, to burn up the briars and 
 thorns — that which hath choked the precious 
 Seed ; to break the hard heart that hath been 
 hardened through repeated transgressions^ 
 though pride, arrogancy, and walking in the 
 evil way ; to cut and hew down all superfluity 
 of naughtiness, and to separate between the 
 precious and the vile ; that thereby men's hearts 
 may come to be prepared, and they may re- 
 cover health of soul, through the opera- 
 tions of the Divine Word and Spirit of God, 
 which in mercy is come thus nigh unto men, 
 that they might be prepared thereby to live 
 to his glory while on earth; and spend their 
 
MR. SAMUEL SCOTT. 391 
 
 few uncertain moments in his fear; that when 
 the solemn message comes, that we are called 
 hence, to be no longer stewards, but must give 
 an account of our stewardship before the 
 tribunal of the Majesty on High, it may be 
 with joy. 
 
 If we have known the "work and operations 
 of this Divine Word, and have waited on and 
 submitted thereto, then have we had our fruit 
 unto holiness, and have been bowing before 
 the Lord in our meetings. When there has 
 been no verbal testimony amongst us, we have 
 had recourse to the iuAvard law written in our 
 hearts, we have humbled ourselves, and been 
 saying, as one did of old : How shall I come 
 before Thee^ Lord, the great and Mightj/ 
 One ? Or how shall I bow mijself before the 
 most High God ? So that I may be accepted 
 of Him. 
 
 O that people had but such considerations ! 
 they woukl be brought down ; the lofty looks 
 of men, and pride of all flesh would be abased 
 a.Md stained, their laughter would be turned 
 into mourning, and tlieir joys into lieaviness, 
 it'lhoy were but really concerned to be ac- 
 cepted of the Lord. What think ye ? Will 
 
392 SERMON BY 
 
 llie Lord accept of men and women in their 
 pride and vain glory, and gay attire and 
 fsuperfluity ? Such as mine eyes have beheld 
 with sorrow, upon some in this meeting. I tell 
 ye, nay; for such are spotted and stained with 
 the spots of this world; they are too much 
 taken up with, and following the vain fashions 
 and customs of it, which must be repented of 
 and turned from, if they would find mercy 
 with the Lord, if they are not totally hardened 
 and resolved to have their own ways till tlie 
 last moment of their time. 
 
 O ! Therefore come down all you lofty 
 sons and daugliters in Sion, and put away 
 your pride and arrogancy, that yon may be 
 prepared for this solemn time and message, and 
 may come before the Lord with true humility, 
 in these our meetings for iiis Divine worsliip 
 and service, and not be adorned in such a 
 manner as was spoken against by the apostle, 
 which doth not become a people professing 
 the self-denying religion of our Lord Jesus 
 Clirist. Tliat none may be found coming 
 after such a manner^ I must toil you it is not 
 acceptable to tlie Lord ; but it is a contradic- 
 tion to our Christrian profession, if we hold 
 the Truth, in unrighteousne-^s, and such a con- 
 
:aiR. SAMUEX SCOTT. S93 
 
 versation as doth not become the Gospel of 
 Christ; but may our adorning be that of a 
 meek and quiet spirit, Avhich in the sight 
 of Godj is said to be precious, or of great 
 price. 
 
 O ! That we may be his church and people 
 coming before the Lord, and bowing in spirit 
 T)efore the Most High ; for He will shew nnto 
 us, as He did unto his servant of old, who 
 was concerned to approach Him with accept- 
 ance, and to query whether it might be with 
 any outward offerings, as of calves of a year 
 old, or thousands of rams, or rivers of oil ; 
 and what was yet more near to offer, his first 
 born for his transgressions, the fruit of his 
 body for the sin of his soul. 
 
 He sheweth unto thee, O man ! what is 
 good, and what the Lord our God requirelh 
 of thee, which then was, and still is, to do 
 justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the 
 Lord thy God. Oh ! then, if we are not only 
 professing, but found thus walking, when this 
 undeniable messenger cometh, we may make 
 our application with humble boldness to the 
 Lord : Thou knowest how I have walked be- 
 fore Thee in Truth, and with a perfect heart. 
 
 L I 
 
S94: SERMON BY 
 
 The Lord sliewed great love to Hezekiali, 
 and lengthened out his days yet fifteen years. 
 
 Oh dear Friends! I continue my speech 
 amongst you a little beyond the usual time, 
 Init it is in love and good will to every soul; 
 for it is well known we seek not yours, but 
 preach freely in the free extendings of Divine 
 love, when He opens our mouths to declare 
 of his judgments and mercies unto the people, 
 and to shew forth his praises amongst the 
 children of men; so that we might be pre- 
 pared in time to live to his glory, that He 
 might own us, and shine forth upon our assem- 
 blies, to bless the provision of Sion, and 
 satisfy her poor with bread. O, that these 
 blessings might be readied unto and partaken 
 of by all! 
 
 I doubt not, there is a remnant who are under 
 an inward travail for this every day, that 
 through partaking of Divine strength, they 
 may live in his fear, and so shine forth in a 
 holy humble conversation, as to shew forth 
 his praise and the virtue of that grace and 
 Truth which comes by Jesus Christ, to convert 
 mankir.d unto God, and to make them, holy 
 wliiibt here upon earth, that they may be eter- 
 
MR. SAMUEL SCOTT. 395 
 
 nally happy hereafter ; and when this earthly 
 tabernacle shall be laid low, we may have an evi- 
 dence of a building with God, a house not 
 made with hands, eternal in the heavens, where, 
 with saints and angels, our souls may ever live 
 to bless and adore the Lord our God ; for He 
 is worthy of all honour, worship, thanksgiving, 
 and praise, now and evermore. Amen. 
 
 r. 1 2 
 
BERMON XIX. 
 
 DEBORAH bell's^ 
 
 Upon the Lord's Prayer, 
 
 I have had under my consideration this 
 morning', the excellency of that prayer, which 
 our blessed Lord taught his disciples, and the 
 great benefit there is in it, to such who truly 
 learn it ; from whence I conclude, it is neces- 
 sary, for all that profess Christianity, to learn 
 it ; which none can do, until they come to be 
 acquainted with Him,who is the Author thereof. 
 For notwithstanding we may learn the Lord's 
 Prayer, so as to repeat the words and expres- 
 sions contained therein, and may teach it to 
 one another, yet this will not tend to our true 
 advantage, until we come to learn it from Him, 
 who is the Author, and true Teacher thereof; 
 for as none can call Jesus, Lord, but by the 
 Holy Ghost, so likewise, none can call God, 
 Father, but by the same Spirit. And they 
 that come to be truly acquainted with the 
 
MRS. DEBOaAH BELL. 397 
 
 Spirit of Christy in tlieir own hearts, and arc 
 conformable thereunto, these come to witness 
 a being taught in the school of Christ; and 
 they that learn this holy prayer, these can 
 truly say, " Our Father," having known Him 
 by the operation of his Spirit and holy gift in 
 themselves, to quicken and make them alive 
 unto God. Such can call Him Father indeed, 
 and then can say : Our Father zohich art in 
 heaven^ hallowed be thij Name^ thj/ kingdom 
 comcy thy xmll he done. 
 
 Oh ! these are desirous they may come io 
 know the establishment of his government, in 
 and upon their souls, to that degree, that they 
 may come to do the will of God perfectly, 
 according to the ability and strength they 
 receive, and indeed there is no more required 
 of any creature, then to do according to the 
 strength given them ; but they that come 
 under the government of the Spirit of Christy 
 it is their sincere desire, that his kingdom may 
 come, more and more, and his government 
 may be established in their souls, that so his 
 •will may be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 
 For they are desirous to be conformable, and 
 subject to Him in all things ; because in obe- 
 dience to Him, they enjoy true peace to their 
 
S98 SERMON BY 
 
 souls, and a sure evidence of their being tlie 
 children of God ; therefore these are waiting, 
 and crying to Him, that He will supply all 
 tlieir wants, they are saying, Ghe us this day 
 our daily bread ; for these cannot live without 
 it, tliey have it in their experience, that they 
 have as much need of it now as ever they 
 had, therefore they sensibly cry for it. 
 
 I wish you would look into your hearts, and 
 see what you have experienced, and how you 
 have come to learn this excellent prayer. I 
 do not mean by rote, or what you may have 
 read in holy writ, but what you have learned 
 in yourselves, through the Divine teachings 
 of Him, who is the Author and true Teacher 
 thereof, and whether you are daily exercised 
 in it, and are crying to the Almighty, that He 
 would establish his power, kingdom and go- 
 vernment in your souls ; that so your willi 
 may be subject to his will, and that you may 
 do it perfectly. No doubt then, but you will 
 know Him to break the Bread of Life, and 
 satisfy your hungry souls therewith. Then 
 you will pray to be forgiven, (O ! consider 
 on what terras,) as we forgive those that 
 trespass against us, or have offended us» 
 
MRS. DEBORAH BELL. 399 
 
 When this is brought to perfection in the 
 mind, and the creature prays to be forgiven, 
 on those terms, as ihry freely forgive one 
 anotlier, here is no room for envy, no room for 
 prejudice, or lieart-biirning, or contriving re- 
 venge upon one another, for any little slight 
 oftences ; no, but openness of heart is known 
 towards one another : Lord forgive me my 
 trespasses as I forgive tliem that have offended 
 me J then here is pure love to all, and a com- 
 mitting of our cause to the Lord; then may 
 we hope for forgiveness, as we come to learn 
 this. 
 
 For my part, I can never find, I can have 
 free access to the Lord, or prefer my petition 
 to Him, in this language, unless I come where 
 I find nothing but universal love, and good- 
 Avill towards all the children of men; then can 
 I freely pass by every offence and trespass 
 that is done against me, and make my appeal 
 to Him that is the searcher of hearts, and the 
 tryer of the reins of the children of men. 
 
 May you truly learn this excellent prayer, 
 and know the great benefit which is in it ; 
 then when temptations come, you will pray, 
 that you may not be prevailed upon by thcra, 
 
400 «ERMON BY MRS. D. BELL. 
 
 but that you may be delivered from all tliose 
 things, which you may see are hurtful to your 
 souls, and break your communion with your 
 Maker. Then deliverance will be known, 
 through the efficacy of the Divine Spirit, by 
 which alone is taus^ht this excellent lesson of 
 true prayer ; and such as these can bow in 
 truth, and with th:inkful hearts, and say, thine 
 is the kingdom^ the power^ and the glory j 
 these give due attention unto the Lord, and 
 worship Him that lives for ever and ever. 
 
 I wish we may come to be acquainted Vv itli 
 this, in ail our Meetings; and if all hearts 
 were thus waiting, to be taught by the great 
 Author of our salvation, then would breathings 
 and supplications be put up unto the Lord, 
 which He would accept of, and v» e should not 
 meet in vain, but know our strength to be 
 renewed in Him, and a being enabled to run 
 the ways of his commandments, and to give 
 Him the Praise and glory, who is worthy both 
 now and for evermore. Amen. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Printed by W. AlcNandcr and i^on, 
 Castle^atc, York. 
 
DATE DUE 1 
 
 
 
 
 
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 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U.S.A.