^^^^^m'^w^m^:^)^^^/ ^v '■ '. n oniG bviei* -remarks to "HiQ. '^SCC *li, , . „ _' vjj. a. J. J. a. i^xx f John, 17 13-1776. Some brief rema rks upon sundry important subjects S O M E • BRIEF REMARKS UPON Sundry Important Subje6its, Neceflary to be underftood and. attenc'ed to by all profeffing the Christian ReligioxV. PrincIpalJy addrefTed to The People called QJJ A K E R S. By JOHN GRIFFITH. LONDON: Printed by W. Richardson and S. Clark : And Sold by L. HiNDE; at tlie Bible, in George- Yard, Lombard-Street. M.DCC.LXIV. ^. THE PREFACE. Candid .Readj:r, WERE it not apprehended by me a duty, thus to offer to thy ferious perufal the following plain and ex- perimental obferyations upon various lubjeds, thou hadd not heard from me in this way. I have often, with many brethren and fitters in the truth, been deeply affeded in viewing the great danger Chriftian profcffors arc ex- pofed to through a prevailing indifference of mind. For when a lethargic llupefadlion hath gained the afcendancy, religion in notion, and froitlefs fpeculation, fatisfy a mind fo depraved. A renovation of heart, without which none can be truly religious, hath not h<:en lought after. Pleafed with the fliell or fovm only, fuch have not been fenfible they wanted the fubftance. A z When The PREFACE. When the fubtil adverfary finds men in this kind of fleep or ftupefadion, it is then his opportunity for fowing the tares amongft the wheat : by fuch means the field of the Chri- ftian church became in procefs of time covered therewith. That v/hich came neareft to my heart, and moil earneftly engaged my atten- tion towards the prefent undertaking (not with- out ardent defires for the lafting advantage of Chriflians of all denominations) was, that the defcendants of a people, who a little above a century ago v/ere very marvelloufly brought out of, and redeemed from, all lifelefs fhadows, and empty forms of religion, to enjoy and be grounded in the bleffed power and life thereof, might be preferved truly fenfible of the way and means whereby our worthy predeceflbrs obtained a firm eftablifhment in the truth, as it is in Chrift Jefus : for it is evident, where the means are neglefted, the end cannot be attained. That many of thefe defcendants in tMs day of outward peace and plenty, inclining to falfe liberty and eafe, do fhun the crofs of Chrift, which would crucify them to the world, is a mournful truth, too obvi©us to be denied. In confideration hereof, I found a concern to throw a few obfervations before them, as near as I could, fuited to the prefent fiate of things ; 5 endea- The P R E F A C E. endeavouring, in fome degree, to offer to the view of the prefent and fucceeding generations, by what means our worthy predeceffors be- came fuch a living honourable body of people ; that the neceffity may fully appear of the fam« bleffed power operating upon their minds, in order to qualify all, that they may rightly fuc- ceed thofe valiants in maintaining the caufe of God. The objeftion which caft fome difcourage- ment in my way, may alfo occur to fome readers 3 viz, that the fubjedis treated of ia this fmall traft have been divers times hereto- fore judicioufly wrote upon by different authors. Thi^ is no more than may be faid of moft other religious fubjedls as well as thefe. Di- vine Wifdom and Goodnefs hath feen meet to revive the fame truths, by different inftiuments, from generation to generation -, the Lord's fer- vants fpeaking the fame thing, as with one mouth. Herein God's gracious condefcenfion to human frailty is very confpicuous and won- derful, by caufing thofe excellent truths, fo efiential to be received that man's foul may be faved, to be frequently revived and inculcated, feeing he is fo liable to forget God, and his reafonable duty to him. Having no defirc to enlarge, I fl:all only add my earncft prayer to the God and Father of The PREFACE. of all fure mercies, that this mite of fimple experimental truths, which I have call into the treafury, may meet the ferious reader, of whatever denomination, with the divine blef- fing in it ! If that gracioufly attend, though what is here offered may be juftly accounted as the barley-loaves, the hungry foul may re- ceive fome ftrength and refrefliment thereby. 30th 8 th Mo. 1764. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Containing tender Advice, Caution, and Counsel to Parents and Children. Page i o CHAPTER II. Containing" fome Brief Obfervations conccrnino; the Nature and Necessity of the New Birth. Page 21 CHAPTER III. Relating to the Nature of True Worship; with fome Remarks upon the State of our So- ciety as in early Times and now. Page 39 CHAPTER IV. Containing Short Remarks upon the True and the False Ministry. Page ^S CPIAPTER V. Containing Brief Observations upon the Nature and Usefulness of Christian Discipline. Page 74 SOME BRIEF REMARKS UPON Sundry Important Subje6ls. CHAPTER I. Containing tender Advice, Caution and Counsel to Parents and Children. I R S T to parents. Very much depends upon a right education of children. I there- fore find it in my mind to make a few obfervations thereon, as it fhall pleafe the Lord to open my underftanding •, without whofe afliflance, and blefling upon our labours, they prove alto- gether fruitlefs. The children of Ifrael were ftridly enjoined to make the training up their children in the law of God their confcant care •, viz. " Hear, O Ifrael, ^'^f- ^- ^ " the Lord our God is one Lord ; and thou Ihalt " love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and " with all thy foul, and with all thy might. And " thefe words which I command thee this day, « fhall be in thine heart, and thou (halt teach ^' them diligently unto thy children, and fliak talk B " of 2 Advice^ Caution^ and Comfel *' of them when thou fittefl in thine houfe, and *' when thou walked by the way, and when thou " liefl down, and when thou rifeft up." jExceeding great is the trufl repofed in parents and heads of families. It certainly lies upon them an indifpenfable duty, as much as they can, both by precept and example, to form the tender minds of their offspring to virtue, as faith the apoflle, Eph. 6. 4. tc ^j^j yg fathers, provoke not your children to " wrath : but bring them up in the nurture and Prov. 12. 6. vine counfcl, both in making and accepting oiTcrs for marriagr, C difap- Advice^ CauticHy and Counfel dlfapproved of their pra6lices, and expoilulated with them on that account, and laid before theni the pernicious confequences of their evil condu6t. Oh ! how very affedting it is, to confider the fearful calamities which came upon that houfe •, and alfo upon Ifraely probably in fome meafure on the fame iaccount. The neglect and imprudent indulgence of pa^ rents in the training up their children, is alfo a painful iofs to the fociety, as the confequence thereof tends greatly to obflrudi the progrefs of truth, by {landing in the way of ferious enquirers as ftumbling-blocks •, when it is feen by fuch, that the fam^e undue liberties they are called out of, are indulged amongfl us, they are offended. Oh ! that parents, children, and all who are unfaithful, and who eafily fuffer the important branches of our Chriftian teftimony to fall, (as indeed they would all appear, if they were feen in a true light) would deeply confider the rpournful confequence thereof, by retarding the progrefs of truth, and grievoufly eclipfing the beauty of Sion ! Then I greatly hope a more lively zeal and holy ardour would prevail, and that the carelefs fons and daughters thereof would arife, and fhake them- felves from the duft of the earth, putting on the beautiful garm.ent of holinefs and truth, that fhe might become more and more a praife in the earth, Having offered a few remarks concerning the nr.portant duty of parents, it nov/ remains to do the fame refpt6ting the indifpenfible duty of chil- (jren to honour and obey their parents in the Lord^ ^vhich to Parents and Children, \ i which is llrongly enjoined in the holy fcriptures, and, in the nature of things, of lading and in- difpenfible obligation. The command is, " Honour thy father and yxo\. lo, " thy mother, that thy days may be long upon "* " the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Read M:z//. xv. 4. Mark vii. lo. Luke ^-^m. 20. Eph. vi. 2, 3. In that which is confident with the law of God, no children can ftand acquitted before the flipreme Judge, for difobcying or dif- honouring their parents. This obedience and honour not only extend to the yielding to what they enjoin or direct, but alio to the prefervation of a reverent awe, and honourable efteem in the heart, anfing from a bottom of love, which would on all juil occafions cherifh and prote6l them. It is a fm of a deep dye to difregard and flight pa- rents, as appears by Dent, xxvii. 16. " Curfed be " he that fetteth light by his father or his mo- " ther •," and Frov. X5cx. 1 7. " The eye that " mocketh at his father, and delpifeth to obey " his mother, the ravens of the valley fhall pick "• it out, and the young eagles fhall eat it." Chap, xxiii. 22. " Hearken unto thy father, and defpile " not thy mother when fhe is old." Chap, xxviii. 24. " Whofo robbeth his father or his mother, " and faith. It is no tranfgrefTion, the fame is the " companion of a deftroyer." On the other hand, very memorable was the kind and watchful Providence, which attended fuch as feared the Lord, and thofe who loved, konoured, and obeyed their parents •, as Jaccb^ C 2 lo[efi.\ 12 Advice^ Caution^ and Cotinfel Jofeph^ Ruth^ Samuel^ and David -^ alfo the Re^ chaUtes. Read the account concerning them, Jer. xxyiv. Refpeding fuch as lived in the fear of an- 3« the Lord, let me recommend the cafe of Darnel^ and the three children, who, becaufe of their faith- fulnefs to God, were preferved unhurt, when by their adverfaries expofed to the greateft torment and danger. It would far exceed the bounds of my intention, to particularize all thofe excellent patterns and examples we are favoured with the account of, which are wonderfully adapted to inftru6t, encou- rage, and improve the youth, as well as others. There are alfo, for caution and warning, examples and very affeding inflances of fearful judgments and dreadful calamities, which fell upon the rebel- lious and gainfayers. May the tender minds of youth, by reading thefe things, (as recorded in the holy fcriptures and other good books) be deeply impreiled with proper fentiments concerning good and evil, and the very different rewards of virtue and vice, both in this world, and in the world to come. It is a very commendable, as well as a very pro- fitable thing, to be converfant in thofe facred wri- tings. Remember what Paul faid of his beloved ^ fon l'lmoth}\ viz. " From a child thou hail known " the holy fcriptures, which are able to make thee " wife unto falvation, through faith which is in " Chrift Jefus. All fcripture given by infpiration '• of God, is prontable for doctrine, for reproof, " for corredion, for inilrudion in righteoufnefs ; " thar 15, 10,17. to Barents and Children, " that the man of God may be perfe6t, thoroughly *' furnifhed unto all good works." But let the youth and all duly confider, that the profiting by thefe facred writings entirely depends upon the holy living powerful faith of Chrift, which worketh by love, purifying the heart \ and whereby we come to fee him who is invifible, and ccnfcquently to underftand the precious mylleries of his king- dom, as far as is proper and ncceflary for us to know them, w^hich is all that is lawful for us to defire. There are many other good and profitable books, but none in which is contained fuch a ftore of rich treafure, and fublime heavenly myfteries, wonderfully wrapped up, and entirely concealed from earthly wifdom, and carnal policy. For none can know the thino;s of God without the affiftance of his Spirit, as appears by i Cor. ii. lo. to 15. and in many other places too tedious to enu- merate. Great hath been the concern of the church in its larged collective body •, as appears by frequent and very prefiing affectionate advice, caution, and counfel to the youth, to read the holy fcriptures, and other profitable books, carefully to refrain from all fuch which may have the lead: tendency to alienate their minds from the holy fear of God> and a fober virtuous courfe of life, or which are barely for amufement, being unprofitable j whereas time is very precious, fhort, and uncertain ; there- fore it fiiould be carefully improved to the foul's everlafling advantage. Moreover, that the youth do yield flrict and careful obedience to the Divine A Monitor ^3 14 Acivice^ Caution^ and Counfel Monitor within, to parents, and all thofe who have the rule over them without, carefully to fhun the vain unprofitable amufements, as well as the cor- rupt converfation of the world •, earneftly admo- nifhing all, to avoid every thing in their drefs and addrefs, which might have the leaft tendency to render them fuitable for an intercourfe, league, or amity with the children of the land •, or of a de- praved degenerate world, that wallows in pollution and great defilements^ left they fhould be drawn afide, Cen. 34. 1. as Dinah was, by going out to fee the daughters Numb. 25. of the land -, and as the children of Ifrael were, by their woeful intimacy with the daughters of Moah and Midian. Read the whole chapter ; not forgetting the dreadful fall of Solomon^ the wifell king, who, by contra6ling intimacy with thofe that were ftrangers to God, and his holy covenant, came to have his heart drawn away from the living and true God, who had appeared to him in Giheon ; and fo greatly debafed himfelf, as to bov/ down to their paltry dumb idols. Time would fail to re- capitulate one half of the mournful inilances re- corded in the holy fcripturcs, and other authentick accounts, concerning the hurtful confequences of God's people mixing and joining with the nations. Nvmib. 23. It is their fafety to be feparate, and to dwell alone. . Our youth have been alfo highly favoured with a living powerful miniftry, which hath often reached the Witnefs of God in their hearts. What a won- derful favour is this ! when we confider that the greateft part of Chriftendom^ almoft ever fmce the apoflles days, have deprived themfelves thereof, by to Parents and Children. by fubftituting human wifdom and learning in its place •, fo that the panting thirfly foul could meet with little from their minifters, but the muddy naufeous waters of Babylon to drink \ neither could they dire6t to the paftures of Chriil's flock ; but counfel was darkened by a multitude of words without knowledge, and the commandments of God made void by the precepts, inventions, and injundions of men. What a blefled time is your lot call in, even when evangelical Light and Truth hath difcovered itfelf in perfed purity ! Oh ! that our youth would confider and deeply ponder in their hearts, that notwithflanding the great and earneft labours many ways beflowed in godly love and zeal for the whole fociety's prefervation in the way of truth and righteoufnefs, yet very forrowful and obvious hath been the declenfion in pra6lice of many amongft us. A mournful inundation of undue liberties has flowed in •, many have made grievous advances in thofe corrupt perifliing plca- fures, and trifling amufements, which our truly pious predeceflTors wholly denied, and turned their backs upon, and have left us large and lively tefbi- monies, by way of warning and caution, carefully to avoid being entangled with fuch yokes of bon- dage. All thefe things have prevailed for want of abiding in the fear of God, and duly confidering that he is ever prefent, beholding all our words and a6lions, be they ever {o much concealed from the view of mortals ; yet he knows them alto- gether. When the mind is fuficred to turn to his pure Witnefs in the heart, we find reproof, cor- rection. t5 1 6 Advice^ Caution^ arid Ccunfcl rc^tion, and judgment, for giving way to wrong things : and as the youth abide in fubje-flion there- unto, they will be afraid to tranfgrefs its pure law in the mind \ which they will find agree exac^lly with the precepts and injunctions recorded in holy writ, refpedling their duty to God, to their pa- rents, and all mankind. The reafon why many, who fee their duty, fail in the performance, is their departing from the perfe6l law of liberty, and of the Spirit of hfe in in their minds. They may be informed concern- ing their duty by outward means and law : but the ability is only to be found arifing from the inward law, agreeable to R.ofn. viii. 2. " For the *' law of the Spirit of life in Chriil Jefus hath *' made me free from the lav/ of fm and death." In obedience and humble fubjedlion to this holy law, youth would enjoy that pure peace, heavenly ferenity, and fweet confolation of foul, v/hich in- finitely furpaffeth all the treafures and pleafures of the earth ^ and would have a well-grounded hope of a happy eternity. It is the adverfary that leads to that obduracy and felf-willed rebellious ftate of mind, to be obferved in fome of the youth, who, by their uncontroulable difpofitions, adminifter great forrow and anxiety to their parents and friends^ being puffed up with vain conceits in their unex- perienced minds, that they are more capable of judging for thernfelves, than thofe of greater ex- perience are for them ^ by reafon whereof too many, it is to be feared, have ruflied on to the ruin of body and foul. Very to Parents and Children. Very great is the danger when the young and unexperienced are proud and opinionated. This naturally raifes above inftru6lion, putting them out of the way of being truly profitable, either to themfelves or others. Such, unlefs their hearts are mercifully turned by a fupernatural pov/er, are never likely to be fit for governing families, or to a(5l as members in the church of God. See- ing, unlefs their unmortified wills and tempers are fubmitted to (however unreafonable) they will break the peace of fociety, and violate the whol- Ibme order thereof, being like the unfubjedted bulls of Bafljan. When any afllime the outward form of religion, and take upon them to be a£live members, with- ciit a change of heart, they prove a painful burthen to living members ; neither can fuch make fuitabie help-mates as hufbands or wives •, nor can they in that (late rightly fill up the honourable flaticns of parents, mailers and miftrefles, friends, neighbours, or-tradefmen. I do therefore, in much affedion, and defire for the welfare of tender youth, caution -find warn them carefully to avoid the company and converfation of fuch, tho' under the fame profefTion ', who difregard their parents, and thole who have the rule over them % who fiight orfpeak contemptuoufly of their betters, fuch as minifters and elders, i£c. or of the Chrillian advices fre- quently given forth by the yearly and pther ipeet- ings, or of the wholfome difcipline cftablifhed am.ongft us as a people in the wifdom- of truth : do not join fuch in marriage, however great the D outv/ard ^7 it Advice^ Caution^ and Counfel outward profpcd: may appear ; for tender religious minds cannot be liappy with fuch in that con- nexion. And as the fear of the Lord is the be- ginning of wifdom, and that which makes and keeps the heart clean, learn it in tender age -, by it you will be taught to remember your Creator in the days of your youth, and, agreeable to the injunction of our blefTed Lord, to feek firft the kingdom of God, and his righteoufnefs, and all things neceflary here will be added. Divine wif- dom, as it is regarded, will direCl your fteps in the courfe of this fhort pilgrimage, in the choice of proper help-mates, and all other affairs of con- fequence. The fame watchful Providence will be over you in care, guidance, and prote6lion, if you look to it, which attended thofe who lived in his fear, as you may read in the holy fcriptures. It greatly behoves you to look diligently to the foot-fleps of Chrill's companions, who walked with him through many tribulations, having walhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Be truly contented with that low, humble, felf-denying way which you fee they walked in ; you can never mend it. If you feek more liberty than that allows of, it will only bring upon you darknefs, pain, and vexation of fpirit. I'ake notice of friends writings in early times, and for a confiderable number of years, how won- derfully tlip pov/er and love of God was with them, and how marvelloufly they were proteded amidft the raging foaming waves of earthly pov/ers, com- bined to lay wafte the heritage, What encou- 4 raging to Parents a?id Children. i<* raging and excellent accounts had they to leave " upon record for us, concerning the mighty pow- erful overfhadowing of the canopy of heavenly love and life in their religious aflcmblies, and of the glory of God fhining forth amongft them ! This, through the mercy of God, is not departed ; though there have been fome removes thereof Dearly beloved youth : Lay to heart the great flacknefs of zeal whicJi appears in too many •, the dirnnefs, flatnefs, and the painful gloominefs, which fpreads itfelf over our aflemblics in this our day, hard to break through, many times deprivino- us of the heavenly places in Chriil Jefus our Lord ! It is net of Him we are in this condition, but it certainly is our own fault, becaufc wrong things are fuffered to prevail. Oh ! that our youth may be ftirred up in a godly zeal to cry out fervently with the prophet Eli/ha^ " Where is the Lord - ^'"s^ * " God of Elijah ? " And to be as vigilant as he in ardent endeavours to be endued with the fame Spirit, to fucceed thofe honourable worthies who are removed from works to receive a blefled re- ward. Confider, the bufmefs of your day is to come up in a faithful fucceflion, maintaining tlie caufe and teflimony of God, left with you by your anceflors, or thofe who are removed as above. Stand faft therefore in the liberty purchafcd for you by great fufferings, and fliedding of innocent blood -, be afraid to trample thereon •, which all certainly do, who turn away from the truth, as it was received, held forth, and maintained by them. May it be very precious in your eyes from gcnc- D 2 ration 2 a "^ Advice^ CautioKy and Counfel, &c. ration to generation, until time lliall be no more ? Thofe who otherwife efteem it, turning their backs thereupon, violating the blefled teilimony thereof in its feveral branches, will (unlels they repent) be wholly rejected and caft off, as being unworthy of fo great an honour, as that of holding forth a ftandard of truth and righteoufnefs to the na- tions ; and others will be called and chofen for that great and glorious work : yea, the Lord is able to raife up of thofe who may be compared to the ftones, and to make them Abrabam^s chil- dren, by doing his works -, while thofe, who might have been the children of the kingdom, may by difobedience provoke him to exclude them. I fhall conclude this affedionate addrefs to our youth with the words of Chriil, by his faithful fervant jobn^ to the church in Philadelphia •, " Be- " hold I come quickly ; hold that fail which thou '^ haft, that no man take thy crov/n. Him that *' overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple " of my God, and he fhall go no more out • and '' 1 will write upon him the name of my God^ " and the name of the city of my God, which is *' New Jerufalem^ which cometh down out of hea- « ven from my God : and 1 v/ill write, upon him *[ my new name.'* CHAPTER On the Nature and Neccjity^ &:c. 2 i C H A P T E R II. Containing fome brief Obfervations concerning the Nature and Necessity of the New^iiTth. THE Handing dcclrine preached by our Lord Jefus Chrift to Nicodemus^ of the neceflity of being born again, John iii. 3—8. and what is delivered by John the Baptift concerning the bap- Wat.^ ^ to, tifm of Chrifl with the Holy Gholl and fire, being the fame in fubilance, which is alfo fet forth by the prophet Malachi, under the lively metaphors of a refiner's fire, a purifier of filver, and /«//^r'j Mai. 3. i, foap, with many other paiTages of like import in holy writ, altho' of the utmoft confequence to be rightly underfiood, weightily confidered, and deeply pondered by all, is by the generality much over- looked, and amazingly ncgkaied. That which alone can lay a fure foundation for happinefs, both in time and eternity, is hardly thought of by many with defire, or even with any degree of feriouf- nefs ; unlefs it be to flum and evade the force of that power, which thereby would feparate them from their beloved lulls, and fleflily gratifications. In order to effed this, many and exceedingly ab- furd have been the conjeflures and dreams of a creat part of mankind •, but all to fhun the crofs-, That corrupt felf, with all its feeming rich treafurc and adorning, might be faved. This felf, in many, has been more fond of a religious kind of orna- ment and treafure, than thofe of any other fort •, towards whom the fubtile transformer hath not been 22 On the Nature and NeceJJity been wanting plentifully to furnifli all thofe minds who have a religious turn. Antichrift, as an emi- nent * author obferves, can bring forth in his church a likenefs or imitation of every tiling that is to be found in Sion. O then ! how greatly it behoves mankind to prefs after a certainty •, fince nothing can poflibly center the foul in a more de- plorable ftate, than a miflake of this kind. But fome are apt to doubt whether fuch a thing as an infallible evidence of our adoption is attain- able here •, tho' fo fully aflerted in the holy fcrip- tures. This is not to be wondered at, with refped to thofe who are in the natural, unrenewed date •, feeing the natural man, according to FduVs .doc- iCor.2.14. trine, " underftandeth not the things of the Spirit " of God, neither indeed can he know them, *' becaufe they are fpiritually difcerned." But I am perfuaded none, who have really experienced the new birth, remain doubtful or fcrupulous con- cerning this important truth. It feems to m^e altogether unreafonable to fuppofe Infinite Good- nefs, who knows the fallibility and great weak- nefs of his creature man, Ihould leave any, whofe hearts are fully devoted to yield obedience to his will, in a ftate liable to miftake 'the fame, or in any wife ignorant of his divine approbation, upon a careful difcharge of their duty to l:iirn. 1 his holy evidence in faithful fouls is indeed the white ftone, and in it a new name written, wliich none know fave thofe who receive it ; being an affurance that their names are written in heaven : from * J. Penington, . whence of the New Birth. f,\ whence arifes a joy, which is unfpeakable and full of glory. A fenfe of the wrath of God againfl evil, doth often make deep impreflions upon the minds of many^ fo that they in painful remorfe are ready to cry out for mercy and forgivenefs of their fins. And feeing this fenfibility upon the mind of man, that he hath difpleafed his Creator, neither doth nor can proceed from any thing in man, but the pure Witnefs of God placed there •, fo it is quite rea- fonable to conclude, that this Divine Witnefs, upon our faithfully difcharging the duty we owe to God, according to its difcoveries, will imprel* our minds with a fweet fenfe of divine approbation, agreeable to Rom. viii. i6. " The Spirit itfelf beareth wit- *^ nefs with our fpirit, that we are the children of " God." With many other paflages in holy writ of like import. When any are really difpofed to be religious, great care fhould be taken in their firft fetting out. Many have been marred upon the wheel, for want of patience to endure proper tempering ; endea- vouring to be formed into vefTels, before they have palTed through the neceffary operation. This has been for want of thoroughly knowing them- felves. For every thing that appertains to the crea- turely will, and forwardnefs of defire to chufe and a6l for itfelf, muft die upon the crofs •, therefore there mud be a remaining as a chaos without form and void, to endure all forts of ftorms and tempefls, until the effedlive Word faith, Let there be light ! making by his own power a perfcd feparation be- tween Oil the Natun and NeceJ/ity twecn the light and darknefs in the little world, {viz, man) as he did in the great world. Until this is really experienced, man is not in a condition to be placed upon the wheel, to be formed into a vefTcl of honour. But there muft be a time for drying, and enduring the furnace. Thefe wonderful operations, which I have, in an allegorical way, only juft touched upon, muft neceflarily make very deep and lafting impreflions upon all, who have been fo happy as fo far to experience the nature of that regeneration, v/ith- out which none can fee the kingdom of God. When any are come thus far, there will be no occafion to make ufe of dreams and uncertain con- jcdures in forming a judgm.ent concerning their adoption. That divine birth which is raifed in them, naturally cries, Abba, Father ! leaving them no room to doubt, when he is pleafed to appear (which they are taught to wait in the patience for) of tlieir hiavlng pafied from death unto life -, or being tran dated from under tlie power of darknefs into the kingdom of the Lord Jefas Chrifl ; which, confifteth in righieoufnefs, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft. The great danger of man's being deceived lies in the myfrerious workings of Satan, who has a • ftrong hold in thofe, who, upon their firil awaken- ing by the call of Chrift, have not fuffered his power fo far to prevail, as to make them willing to part with all for his fake. There is fomething exceedingly reluctant in the flrong fpirit and will of man, to the falling into nothingnefs' of felf, and cf the New Birth, 25 and be wholly given up to be guided and upheld by another. This in part arifes from the excel- lency of his frame, and nobility of liis underfland- ing, who finds himfelf in naturals capable of ef- fe6ling great things, and knows not, till his eyes are opened and enlightened frorh above, but that he is equally capable of comprehending what re- lates to him concernino; the world to come. In- Head therefore of wholly ceahng from his own will, and relying altogether upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he is very apt to be adlive, and imagines God will be pleafed with his diligence, in the performance of v/hat he apprehends to be religious duties ; fuch as praying, fmging, preach- ing, or eagerly ft eking to join others in thofc? performances ; often telling his experiences, and hearing thofe of others. Whereas it would be abundantly more pleafing to the Almighty, and profitable to himfelf, to lay his mouth in the dud, filently to commune with his own heart, and be ftill, until it ihall pleafe the Lord to fend forth his light and his truth, that the poor helplefs creature may move and a6l in a religious fenfe, with an underflanding informed thereby : feeing every thing that is done in religion and worlhip, without the fenfible guidance of the Holy Spirit, is will-wor- Ihip and idolatry : for if the Spirit of Chrifl doth not move and adluate us in religious performances^ we are liable to the Influences of the fpiri: of an- tichrill. Yet fome pf^rhaps, by way of excufc for their not being influenced by the Spirit of Truth in their E religion. r. Gn the Nature end Necejfity religion,- are ready to call it enthufiafm and pre- fumption in thofe v/ho aflert the necelTity thereof, feeming to imagine there is no fuch thing in our time to be relied upon ; yet they will readily own it was fo in the apoflles days. But they can give no good reafon why the fame divine power and efficacy fliould forfake the true church -, fince man- kind have equal need thereof, and the nature of God's difpenfation is now the fame as it was then. Common prudence teacheth us to examine flri6lly into the clearnefs and validity of our titles to earthly eftc.tes, that we may be fully fatisfied we are not deceived or impofed upon by falfe glofies and fpecious pretences. Shall we be lefs folicitous about that which is of infinitely greater moment •, viz. our title to an everlafting inheritance ? Man fhould be very jealous over his own heart, v/hich is apt to be partial towards itfelf, and, through the transformation of Satan, to footh and flatter him into an apprehenfion that he is in the way to everlafting happinefs, when in reality it is quite otherwife. But, alas ! his criterion to form a judgment of himfelf by may be the fame as that of the Thcrifce^ who went up to the temple to pray, or rather to recapitulate his own fuppofed excellencies. He perhaps meafures himfelf by lumfcli, or by comparing his principles and con- clude in life with thofe of others ; whereas nothing Oiould be received as a ftandard in this very im- •portant cafe, but the ftamp of divine approbation .upon the heari ^ agreeable to Roin, Vm. 14, 15, 1 6. , of the New Birth, 27 16. " For as many as are led by the Spirit of " God, they are the fons of God. For ye have not received the fpirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the fpirit of adoption, whereby v/e cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itfelf beareth witnefs with our fpirit, that we " are the children of God." Having offered a few hipxts by way of caution, in order that all into whofe hands this fnali come may examine themfelves without partiality, left they fall inadvertently into an irretrievable muftake refpeding the eternal falvation of their own fouls, I fhall now endeavour to fet forth, from mine own experience, a little of the nature of that new birth, v/ithout which none can fee the kingdom of God \ confequently are no true members of his church, which is his kingdom, and frequently called hea- ven, and the kingdom of heaven, ' in the holy fcriptures. It cannot therefore be fuppofed, that a perfon wholly unregenerate can be properly qua- lified for the performance of any religious duty, or even the leail fervice in that kingdom, which he doth not fo much as fee. I have, by experience from my childhood, found two fpirits or feeds driving in me for mailery or rule : I have difcovered them to be irreconcileable enemies one to the other-, and that I could not ferve them both at the fame time. I had an un- derftanding given me, whereby I knew one of thofe feeds was a m.eafurc of the All-powerful In- exhauftible Source of Goodnefs ; and the other, which had indeed in a manner leavened the v/holc F. ? kimp, Oh the Nature and Neceffity lump, was of a wicked and diabolical nature. By means of this corrupt leaven, I had a ftrong bias to evil of many kinds •, neverthelefs, I often found the good ftriking at the evil, as an ax laid to the root thereof, agreeable to Matt. iii. lo. in order to deftroy that which deprived the Heir of all thinors of his inheritance. I was lono- in a kind o o of fufpence, unrefolved which to join with ^ yet faw ail depended upon my determination, and that I had full power of choice. On the one hand, when the awakening vifitations of God's Spirit were upon me, it appeared very dreadful to provoke an Omnipotent Being, of unmerited kindnefs and mercy, to caft my foul into ever- lafting perdition. On the other hand, efpecially when thofe blelTed imprefTions were fomewhat worn off, it was next to death itfelf to yield up all my I'enfual gratifications, and to expofe myfelf to the fcorn and contempt of the world. However, in procefs of time, the Lord in gracious condefcen- fion broke in upon my foul, by his judgments mixed with mercy, in fuch a powerful manner, as that I was made willing to yield up thereunto, come life or death. For indeed I looked for nothing elfe at that time, but really expedled my frail body v/ould fink down under the weight of that unfpeakable diilrefs v;hich was upon me, and that my fmful foul mufl be centered in a ftate of •everlafLing mifery. Now the cry was with Saul, afterwards Paul^ with trembling and aftonifhment, 5^ 6. cc Lord ! what wilt thou have me to do ?" There was no holding back, or fecret referve then, but whatever of the New Birth. oja whatever was called for was given up with all readinefs -, this being all I could then do. As to performing religious duties, I had them all to learn, tho' I had been trained up from my infancy in a flricl religious way by godly parents. But the very befl outward helps, and tlie moll confillcnt fet of religious principles, only profefTed, cannot at all enrich the foul with heavenly grace. By careftilly enquiring as above, I loon clearly perceived my bufinefs was to watch and pray con- tinually ♦, to commune with mine own heart, or the Witnefs of God therein, that I might receive frefh inftru6lion and help as I had need. Self- denial, and taking up the crofs dail}^ was to be my conftant employ •, in the doing whereof I had much inward peace and comfort, and a well- grounded hope that I fhould thereby find, in the Lord's time, the body of fin fo weakened, as that the yoke of Chrifl would become eafy, and his burthen light. In order to a happy progrefs in the life of re- ligion, the great thing is, by abiding in the Divine Light, to preferve a clear and diftinguifhing {^n- fibility between the flefh and the Spirit. There is no doing this without great care and ileady atten- tion of mind upon the Divine Gift. If the eye goes from this, it is blinded by the darknefs ^ then the man is liable to be milled by a counterfeit light, and various refcmblances, which Satan will call in his way for guidance and inflrudtion, perfuading him all is well and right. To be fo miflcd, and therein cilablillied, is a truly deplorable flate •, ii beip.!2 On the Nature and NeceJJity being very unlikely fuch fhould ever be perfuaded to believe they are miftaken, as they often deride whatever appears doubtful concerning their reli- o-icn and worfnip. This was evidently the cafe with a fet of profefTors of uncommon outward fanclity and punctual exadtnefs in the exteriors of their religion, in the time of our Saviour's per- fonal appearance upon earth •, notv/ithftanding which, thefe very people appeared to be the moil inveterate enemies he had amongft mankind. See- ino- therefore frail mortals are liable to fuch dan- gerous miftakes, how exceedingly circumfpeft and watchful ought all to be ! and what frequent and flrid fcrutinies ought they to make into the flate of their own hearts ! which can be known no otherwife by any, but as the Lord is pleafed to fend forth his heart-fearching light. This is a high favour, which none receive but thofe who ai*e turned from the darknefs, and are fervently con- cerned to put away all the works thereof. Very grofs is the deception of thofe, who imagine the work of their convcrfion to be an inflantaneo?is work. T^^^ can be nothing elfe but a delufion of Satan, to fettle people at reft in a ftate of felf- fecurity as foon as he can. Oh ! v/hat a length of time it takes, to work out that rebellious, fiiff- necked, backlliding nature, which was born in Egypt y before the new generation is raifed up, that is fit to enter the promifed land ! From Vvhat is before hinted, it may be under- ftood, that the Good Seed, or Heavenly Principle, arlfing into afcendancy in us over the evil feed or ^ principle. of the New Birth, ^ i principle^' and leavening the three meafurcs of meal into its own nature, is effentially a being born again, or with water and the Spirit, or being, baptized with the Holy Ghoft and fire ; or man's enduring the operation of the refiner's fire, fuller's foap, and being purified as filver ; all which me- taphors fignify to us, in a very inflru6live manner, the different operations of the Holy Spirit •, which is to the willing foul fometimes as water, to waih and bathe in, and alfo to drink of freely ; at other times as a refiner's fire, to purge away the filth and drofs, that man may be as pure gold, pre- pared to receive the image and fuperfcription of the King' of Heaven ; that fo, where-ever he goes, or whatever he doth, all who have their eyes opened may fee whofe fubjedl he is. It is very obfervable, that the prophet Malachiy when he had elegantly fet forth the nature of the new birth, breaks out in the fourth verfe of the third chapter on this wife : " Then fhall the '' offerings of Judah and Jerufalem be pleafanr " unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in " former years •," which clearly implies man's un- acceptable ftate with his Maker in any religious performances, until he hath previoufiy known the ^cleanfing and refining operations before-mentioned. What then will becom.e of thofe who have intruded tliemfelves into religious fervices, and amongft his faithful followers, not having on the wedding- garment ! who would pafs for his people, yet can- not find, by examining the flate of their nm\d> refpeding religion, that they have trod the p-ath of '< reL''c- On the ligature and I^ecejjity regeneration, nor pafled through the many and and various pangs of the new birth. When man hath, through the powerful pre- valence of the Divine Principle, obtained victory in a good degree over evil, his foul abounds witli evidence and tokens of his happy attainments, through the Lord Jefus Chrift ; to whom with the Father, through the influence of the Floly Spirit, praife, adoration, and thankfgiving, are offered up as incenfe with acceptance •, he enjoys an abundant flow of heavenly love, to thofe efpecially of the fame lineao;e, begotten of the fame Everlaftino; Father, agreeable to i John iii. 14. " We know *•' that we have palTed from death unto life, be- *'■ caufe we love the brethren.'* It is then become as his meat and drink to do the will of God •, he looks with indifference upon worldly enjoyment, when compared with religion and the weighty con- cerns thereof-, his body, foul, and outward fubfbance are offered up to the Great Giver ; being given up to fpend and to be fpent for the promotion of truth, according to the degree of its requirings ; careful that all he doth may tend to God's glory. Thefe particulars, and much more than I can fet forth, are done from the mature refult of a well- informed underflanding and found judgment, which cannot fail of producing great peace and heavenly iblace, whereby he is niightily encouraged to per- fevere. Oh ! that mankind would but come clearly to fee the necelTity of beginning in the Spirit, and walking therein, agreeable to the advice and prac- tice of the Ne-'jj Birth. 33 tlce of the primitive Chriflians ! then they vroiild not fulfil the lufls of the flelli. The fpirit that luileth to envy, and feeks vengeance, would be flain. Plere outward wars and fightings would ceafe of courfe ; the caufe being taken away, the effedl would be no more. A felfifli covetous fpirit, which feeks undue advantage to the injury of others, v/ould be purged out. Plere v/e fliould have power to love our neighbours as ourfelves, and to do unto all as we would be done unto, were we in their ficuation. All thefe, and many more good fruits, would fpring up naturally from the nev^ creation in Chrifl Jefus our Lord. But thofe who have not the ground-v/crk in themfelves, and lack the virtues of the Holy Spirit, which are fet forth in the fcripturcs of truth, are blind, and cannot fee that it is pofilble to attain thofe exalted Chriftian virtues now as it was in the apoflles days ; and therefore imaginations, dreams, and conjec- tures abound amongd cutfide Chriflians (who are numerous) concerning the way and means of obtaining that falvation which comes only by being born from above. Some fay, Lo ! here is Chrifl ! Others fay, Lo ! he is there ! but flill evade the crofs. If that did not flick in the way, they would furely embrace the right thing, as it is fo fully fet forth and defci-ibed in the holy fcrip- tures. The teflimonies thereof have enforced, howeverj an affent to the truth of the dodrine of the new birth, both in Papiits and Proteflants. ^ But alas ! their apprehenfions concerning its nature are ex- F ceedingly 34 C)« the Nature and Necejfity ceedingly obfcure and carnal, making the fprink- ling of infants with a little water (which they call baptifm) eflential thereunto ; nay, the manner of their expreffing themfelves on this fubjecl:, in the confciTion of their faith to the world, feems in my apprehenfion to make tliat ceremony all, or the chief, that is intended by being born from above ; or that the operations of the Spirit for that end are infallibly conncded to the operation of water. Papifls lay, " Vv"e mull believe that Jefiis Chrift *-'- has iiiilitiited in his church feven facraments, or " myilerious figns and inftrumental caufes of di- " vine grace in the foiil : baptifm, by way of a "• new birth, by v/hich we are made children of " God, and wafncd from lin : confirmation, by " which v/e receive tlie Ploly Ghoft by the im- " pofition of the hands of the fucceficrs of the " apoftles "^5 (^(7." The Proteilant Church of England faith, in confefilng their faith to the world, " In my baptifm (they m.ean fprinkling " infanto^, wherein I v/as made a member of Chrifb, " the child of God, and an inheritor of the king- " dom of heaven." After an infant is fprinkled, the prieil fays, " Seeing now, dearly beloved bre- " thren, that this child is by baptifm regenerate '' and grafted into the body of Chrifh's church, "' let uS give thanks, &c:' And again, " We " yield thcc mofl hearty thanks, moft merciful " Father, that it hath pleafed thee to regenerate *' this inflint with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him * P^ pifh Manual of S; iii'.ual ■Txcrclfef, pftge 4. " for of the Ne'U) Birth. ^^ '■'^ for thy own child by adoption, and to incor- " porate him into thy holy church *, ^